Chapter 11 Chapter 10 Shiyang River and Daliangzhou
There is such a river, since the history of human writing, it has been closely related to the fate of local humans. From the Hunu River in the Xiongnu period, to the "Nanshan Valley Water" in the Western Jin Dynasty, and to today's Shiyang River, it gave birth to A splendid civilization, which carries the hologram of Chinese river culture.
There is such a river, although it is located in a remote area, it always affects the nerves of the central government. From the emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty to the Premier Wen Jiabao of the Republic, officials of all dynasties have devoted a lot of effort to the management of this water.
There is such a kind of river, which is no more than a thousand miles long and covers only tens of thousands of square kilometers, but it can always become the fixed star of local history. The turbulence of the water revitalizes, and the sandstorm also takes advantage of the withering of the water to wreak havoc.A few silver lines scattered among the oases can always touch the nerves of big countries.
It is the Shiyang River.A river named after animals is full of vicissitudes and vicissitudes of history.
This is a political river. Relying on this river, several separatist regimes emerged in the west, namely Nanliang, Xiliang, Beiliang, Qianliang, and Houliang, which were collectively called Wuliang in history.
Without Shiyang River, there would be no Liangzhou.Without Liangzhou, there would be much less glory in Chinese culture.Mr. Chen Yinke gave a high evaluation of Liangzhou culture in "The Origin of Sui and Tang Dynasties". He said: "Its culture continues the style of study in Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, and develops [Northern] Wei [Northern] Qi, Sui and Tang systems. It inherits the past and the future. , continue to help the decline.” A Japanese sinologist said: “If you want to understand Dunhuang studies, you can’t understand Liangzhou; if you want to understand the Silk Road, you can’t understand Liangzhou; if you want to understand China, you can’t understand Liangzhou.”
Shiyang River, a flowing river of culture.It gave birth to the brilliant Liangzhou culture and thus became an important source of Dunhuang studies.Kumarajiva, carrying the mission of Mahayana Buddhism, lived in Liangzhou for more than ten years. It was the water of the Shiyang River that moistened his cool throat.The coolness gradually swayed to Xi'an, and then to China, nourishing the land of China.
Shiyang River carries civilization, suffering, blood and tears, and hope.It has gone through thousands of years of vicissitudes, bathed in the smoke and rain of history, from the distant ancient times to today.After experiencing the baptism of contemporary civilization, it will flow into the future and emit new splendor.
The Liangzhou raised by the Shiyang River is not just the Liangzhou District of Gansu today.Since the establishment of the county in the Han Dynasty, the name of "Liangzhou" has changed many times, sometimes it is called "Wuwei", sometimes it is called "Guzang", sometimes it is called "Xiliang", sometimes it is called "Qianliang". Big and small.When it was the largest, it occupied more than half of Gansu, and it also expanded to several surrounding provinces. It was called "Liangzhou Dama, rampant in the world" in history.However, the status of Liangzhou in Chinese history cannot be measured by the size of its territory.To study Chinese culture, you cannot bypass Liangzhou.For example: when Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains, Liangzhou was the most critical stop. The Buddha’s light came to the west and spread since then, and there was a later pattern; Kumarajiva, the four major Buddhist scripture translators in China, lived in Liangzhou for more than ten years , His understanding of Chinese Han culture was completed in Liangzhou.Up to now, his famous tongue that can’t be burned is still buried in Liangzhou, accepting the pilgrimage of passing generations; if you study Chinese architecture, you can’t avoid Liangzhou, the models of old capitals such as Beijing and Xi’an, The original source is Liangzhou. ... In short, many aspects of Chinese culture originated in Liangzhou.In Chen Yinke's "On the Origin of the Sui and Tang Dynasties", there are many corresponding evidences.
Liangzhou's geographical location is very important.It connects Lanzhou in the east and Xinjiang in the west, separated by mountains in front and surrounded by deserts in the back.It is adjacent to the Qilian Snow Mountain, a natural ice bank that stretches for thousands of miles in the south, and the Tengger Desert, which is boundless with yellow sand, in the north.
For Liangzhou, there are many praiseworthy words in history books, such as praising its pasture: "the land is vast and sparsely populated, and the water and grass are suitable for animal husbandry"; Different recipes", "crowded with mulberry and thick"...
From the Gulang Gorge in the upper reaches of the Shiyang River, we can see the strategic importance of the Shiyang River Basin.This gorge is known as the "Golden Pass and Silver Lock" in western China. The narrowest part is only a few meters wide. One man guards the pass, and ten thousand men cannot open it. Therefore, many stories have been left, such as: the female general of the Yang family in the Song Dynasty, when he conquered Xixia , to Gulangxia, desperate, jumped off the cliff to commit suicide, leaving behind the legend of "twelve widows dripping tears cliff".The West Route Army also fought a battle with Ma's Army in Gulangxia, and suffered heavy casualties.Here, as long as you have a machine gun, it will be difficult to pass.Indeed, it is a long and narrow corridor with steep cliffs, like a bee waist, with small paths winding westward.The entire Liangzhou is surrounded by Qilian Mountains in the west, Tengger and Badain Jaran deserts in the east, and the "Hexi Corridor" in the geography book in the middle.Strangling Liangzhou is equivalent to strangling the throat of the Silk Road.
Because of its important geographical location, Liangzhou has become an important city on the Silk Road and a city of economic exchanges, which also determines its profound cultural accumulation.Liangzhou has been more stable since ancient times.There is an ancient rumor: "In Qinchuan, blood has no wrists, only Liangzhou leans on the pillars to watch." An important economic and cultural town, in the Tang Dynasty, there was a saying that "Liangzhou has 100,000 houses, and the Hu people half-play the pipa".
Liangzhou has a long history. According to textual research, humans were active in the Shiyang River Basin during the primitive clan commune period. More than 4,000 years ago, copperware began to be used here.In the Spring and Autumn Period, it was a territory of Xirong.When King You of Zhou favored Baosi, and after Fenghuo played with the princes, the ancestors of Liangzhou people were among the soldiers from the west who invaded the land of Fenghao.After the Warring States Period, Liangzhou was the residence of the Yueshi, and later occupied by the Xiongnu King Xiutu.During the Han Dynasty, Huo Qubing, the Hussar General, led an army to attack the Xiongnu and won the victory. Hexi Corridor cried loudly: "Death to Qilian Mountain will make my livestock no longer live; death to Yanzhi Mountain will make my women colorless." Emperor Wu set up four counties in Hexi, and Liangzhou was named "Wuwei" at the beginning, which belonged to the central territory.
Compared with the history of China with frequent wars, Liangzhou is really a stable corner.Because of the nourishment of the Shiyang River, the land of Liangzhou is always rich in water and grass, rich in people and resources, and rich in Jialongyou.As long as the year is auspicious and it rains and snows, the Shiyang River will always be able to sing cheerful songs. Even in the early Yuan Dynasty, Genghis Khan's iron cavalry razed many famous cities in the world to the ground like hot soup and snow. When flowing like the Yellow River, Liangzhou is still a stable harbor.Jiuquan, which also belongs to the Hexi Corridor, was massacred by Mongolian soldiers, with blood like rivers and seas and heads like rolling sand. It is said that 400,000 people died.The dynasty called Xixia was completely wiped out from history by the Mongols, and even the documents became rare items.However, Liangzhou, which was the accompanying capital of Xixia at that time, miraculously survived and completed an important alliance in Chinese history—the "Liangzhou Alliance" attended by the Mongolian prince Kuoduan and the Tibetan religious leader Sakya Pandita. ".Previously, Tibet was a "wanderer who wandered the world", and since then, it has officially belonged to China.After Sakya Pandita passed away, he was buried in the Baita Temple in Liangzhou.The Ling Pagoda has become an important evidence that Tibet belongs to China.
Liangzhou, which snores beautifully in the warm harbor of Shiyang River, has become a refuge for scholars in the Central Plains.Whenever there was a war, they would come to Liangzhou to take refuge, as Hu Sansheng noted in "Tongjian": "In the chaos of Yongjia, the people of Zhongzhou avoided Hexi, and Zhang's [track] used it as a courtesy, and his descendants passed on one after another without losing his clothes. , so the name of Liangzhou is Toshi.” The scholars who gathered in Liangzhou left a considerable cultural wealth.
There are two destinations for this cultural wealth: one is to display culture. In addition to the part that has become the main source of Dunhuang studies, there are many ancient books that have been handed down in the form of manuscripts. Their completeness, originality, and value are not found in Dunhuang. Below, some completeness seems to exceed the unearthed ancient books.Most of the unearthed ancient books have corresponding manuscripts here, but many things are unique to Liangzhou, such as filial piety, Baojuan, etc.; the second is hidden culture, such as folk customs, public mentality, and people's group personality.At present, it is the latter that should be studied the most.
Foreigners who are familiar with Liangzhou say that Liangzhou is "weird", an elusive "weird" - of course, the locals are familiar with it, and no one has been surprised by this "weird" for thousands of years.On the contrary, outsiders who sensed the "weird" smell were soon soaked in this "weird", and then couldn't help multiplying the "weird" smell, and became infected with the authentic Liangzhou atmosphere.
Since the Han and Tang Dynasties, many foreign nationalities have been assimilated in this way.They can wield their golden weapons extremely powerfully, drive iron horses, and cross the land of the Central Plains; but as soon as they enter Liangzhou, they melt silently into the cultural pond in the Shiyang River Basin, without even splashing a drop of water.
They have all become authentic Liangzhou people.
Perhaps, they also felt the "strangeness" in Liangzhou, but before they even had time to sigh, they themselves became the source of the "strangeness".
Relative stability has led to a gathering of humanities, and the collection of Buddhist and Taoist culture has become a cultural gene of stability.Over time, a strange cultural circle has formed in the Shiyang River Basin.This vicious circle culture is both closed and inclusive.Its closedness makes the regional culture completely different from other places, and even Buddhism and Taoism have a distinct brand of Liangzhou; its inclusiveness has promoted the great integration of the nation.Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, there have been Rong, Zhai, Daqi, Wusun, Qiang, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Tubo, Uighur, Dangxiang, Mongolian, Manchu, Hui and other ethnic groups on this land successively. Nationalities are also assimilated.
In this cultural circle, there are not only Tang Zhonghan who can breed geniuses, but there are also many witches and masters of the Han Dynasty. The elegant Xiliang music and dance, the popular Xianxiao Baojuan, the masculine Gongguzi, and the feminine folk tunes can all be played. Each has its own place, each with its own uniqueness.
Due to the rich and closed culture of the Shiyang River Basin, many scholars know little about Liangzhou. Even Mr. Yasushi Inoue, a Japanese writer who is very familiar with the Western Regions, can only briefly mention Liangzhou when he writes about it.He can write about Dunhuang, Loulan, and Chang'an, but he can't write about the Shiyang River Basin.Because it cannot enter the cultural circle of the Shiyang River Basin, even the idea of a genius seems very false.
For thousands of years, the wheel of mainstream culture can roll like a giant thunder in the Central Plains and even the borderlands, but the Liangzhou cultural circle keeps it out time and time again.Faced with waves of impact from foreign cultures, the strange circle smiled frankly: "You can't change me." Sometimes, this strange circle will generously open the door, but its purpose is not to absorb, but to assimilate.It can open the door and bow to "steal", lure the enemy to go deep, and then assimilate.
The difference between absorption and assimilation is that the former takes the essence and discards the dross; assimilation is "pickled", just like Liangzhou people pickle, mix cabbage, radish, celery, etc. I, I have you, indistinguishable from each other, harmonious.At that time, the advantages and disadvantages coexist, the dross and the essence coexist, and all kinds of flavors are mixed together, making it difficult for you to judge by good or bad.
In this vicious circle, everything is alienated, even the Buddhism that "takes precepts as teachers" is not immune.Have you ever seen people in Han who drink alcohol, eat meat, marry wives and have children, but are ordered to be "monks"?There are in Liangzhou.In Hongxiang Township, Liangzhou, there is this kind of ancestral industry. You can marry a wife and have children, you can drink alcohol like meat, and you are usually a layman. You have the value of survival, and you can be ordered as a "monk".Although this is an isolated phenomenon, its symbolic significance is very important.
In the Shiyang River Basin, you can hardly find any outside-the-circle theories that are purely "used in doctrine".It is absolutely impossible here, as in places in the south, where one doctrine is suddenly popular and another is popular, and the mouth is open and closed, and many foreign terms are mixed in.
Looking back at history, every time the wave of the times beats across the land of China, it may only bring ripples to the Shiyang River Basin.The mountain torrents broke out outside the strange circle, and the stagnant water inside the strange circle was slightly turbulent.The call of the times is always far away, unable to wake up the sleeping Liangzhou people.Occasionally, someone sober would want to roar a few times deafeningly, but perhaps they would not even hear an echo.Before long, he too must be drowsy under the infection of yawning.My novel "Desert Sacrifice" is written about this state of existence.The Shiyang River Basin is a strange cultural living fossil, which is very necessary to understand and study.
It can be said that after the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the collective character of the people in the Shiyang River Basin became a stagnation point in the historical process.This point can be proved by the Xianxiao, Baojuan, and folk tunes that have been passed down for hundreds of years.They may be people from the Qing Dynasty with their braids removed, and their shadows can even be found in any dynasty. The only thing that cannot be attached to them is the word "modern man".
This feature is also reflected in the fate of the Shiyang River. This is a river of destiny in the west that has lasted for thousands of years. Its governance has been similar for thousands of years. , has been trapped in the quagmire of history, and failed to find its own path. It was not until entering the era of the Republic that it saw a new opportunity.
Let's go and see the Shiyang River that raised Daliangzhou.
After leaving Lanzhou, not long after heading west, there are mountains lying across, and the terrain is dangerous.Sitting in the car, although you can't see the steepness of the mountain, your eardrums will suddenly swell.This mountain, 3562 meters above sea level, is the gateway to the east end of the Hexi Corridor, called "Wushaoling".After passing through this portal, one enters the "corridor".Those mountains, like hibernating badger pigs, bite each other head to tail, lingering and winding, twisting and scurrying, without knowing where they end up.This is the famous Qilian Mountains.The word "Qilian" is said to mean "heaven" in the Huns dialect, so Qilian Mountain is also called Tianshan Mountain.
The ancient Liangzhou was rich in water and grass, and it was a famous pasture in the Han Dynasty.Ban Gu's "Hanshu" says: "The land is vast and the population is sparse, and the water and grass are suitable for animal husbandry, so the livestock in Liangzhou are the best in the world." Once you pass Wushao Ridge, you will immediately find the large grassland. "The cattle and sheep in the wild are small, and the eagles and falcons are high in the sky."The green carpet is ups and downs with the terrain, cattle and sheep are playing in the grass, the jade flute is pastoral, and the silver stream is gurgling. The scenery is picturesque and beautiful.The most eye-catching one is Tianzhu White Yak, which is "the only one with no other branches" and is an authentic local specialty.Its meat is fresh and tender, its fibers are delicate, and the protein in its milk is obviously higher than that of other cattle; its tail and tassels were once tributes to the imperial court, and they are very precious. In the old days, they were used to make beards, fly whisks, and fake white hair. Wait.Going west again, passing through narrow gorges and bare mountains, you will merge into a vast fertile land.The nearby wheat waves, the distant snow-capped mountains, the endless fields, and the blue sky so blue that you can wash your face will make you feel refreshed physically and mentally!
In Liangzhou, there are many scenic spots: such as the Tiantishan Grottoes, which were excavated in the Northern Liang Dynasty, more than 1,500 years ago, earlier than the Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes, and are representatives of early grottoes in my country.After the grottoes were excavated, Tan Wuzhen, an eminent monk from the Western Regions, came from afar to learn Chinese, preach scriptures and teach the Dharma, and translated more than ten Buddhist scriptures, including "Dajijing" and "Huihuajing", with a total of more than 100 volumes, occupying an important place in the history of Buddhism. Important locations; such as Haizang Temple, built between the Song and Yuan Dynasties, where Basiba, the national teacher of the Yuan Dynasty, lived here; such as the Mozuizi Han Tombs, which are famous for a large number of cultural relics unearthed from the Han Dynasty; there are many, no longer enumerate.
Among the unearthed cultural relics in Liangzhou, the most famous one is the bronze galloping horse, also known as "horse stepping on flying swallow", "horse super dragon bird" or "Tianma".Its land is called Leitai, which is in the northern suburb of Liangzhou City.Leitai is a place for praying for rain in ancient times. It is made of rammed loess. It is several feet high and has a radius of 100 meters. There is Leizu Temple on it, so it is named.
Because Liangzhou has always been dry and rainless, a special industry was born in the early years: praying for rain.Most of those who pray for rain are Taoist priests, who have sat still and have so-called ancestral spells.Whenever there is a drought, the county magistrate will go to negotiate with the Taoist priests under the urging of the people: within a limited time, ask for rain, and pay hundreds of shi for food; if the rain is not asked, the rain prayer will be burned to death.Most of the places to pray for rain are on the Thunder Terrace.
The attitude of Liangzhou people towards Thor is very interesting.Normally, they offer offerings and burn incense to the god of thunder, which is very respectful, but if it does not rain, the rain prayers will come up with a series of methods to rectify the god of thunder, for example, bombard the pillar of thunder with a thunder bowl that has been sentenced to force Thor rains.It is said that many times, Thunder God is very obedient, and Taoist priests can pray for rain within the time limit.
Leitai mostly enshrines Taoist gods. In addition to Leizu Hall, there are also Sanxing Hall, Beidou Seven Star Hall, Nandou Six Star Hall, etc., so it has become a Taoist holy place in Liangzhou.Every first and fifteenth day of the lunar new year, Leitai Lake is crowded with people, wishers, wishers, marketers, and businessmen, all fulfilling their wishes, and it is very lively.Hundreds of witches also flocked here, singing, dancing, or learning arts, bustling and bustling, becoming a unique scene in Liangzhou.
The bronze galloping horse was discovered in 1969.When local farmers were digging a war preparation tunnel on Leitai, they discovered a large Han brick tomb.There are hundreds of precious cultural relics unearthed from the tomb.The most eye-catching thing is the bronze galloping horse. It flies into the air with three legs, screams with its head held high, and steps on a flying bird with one foot. up the balance of the horse.This horse, which incorporates the high wisdom of ancient Liangzhou people, has exquisite artistic conception and superhuman imagination, has been exhibited in more than ten countries, and has repeatedly caused a sensation.Later, it was designated as a national tourism symbol by the National Tourism Administration.
Because Liangzhou's land is fertile and flat as a stone, the thousand-year-old Shiyang River always generously offers its cool milk to people. Liangzhou is one of the famous commercial grain bases in the west, and is known as "Liangzhou is not cool rice and grain river". .Its agriculture is neither irrigation nor cultivation, nor irrigation nor harvesting. Water conservancy has always been the main factor related to people's livelihood.Historically, since the establishment of the county in the Han Dynasty, Liangzhou has experienced thousands of years of misty rain, just as Liangzhou Xian Xiaozhong sang: "The mountains are empty, the water is empty, the mountains and rivers are connected everywhere. The dynasty is empty, the country is also How many heroes have been changed in Liangzhou City.” In the thousands of years of historical evolution, the name of the owner can be changed, but what can’t be changed is the awe and governance of the Shiyang River, and the prosperity of the water will lead to the prosperity of Liangzhou. If the water declines, Liangzhou will decline. The well-being of the people and the stability of the society are largely dependent on the water of the Shiyang River.
The Shiyang River Basin is one of the three major inland river basins in Gansu Province. It is located in the eastern section of the Hexi Corridor, west of Wushaoling, and at the northern foot of Qilian Mountains.The southeast is connected with Baiyin and Lanzhou in Gansu Province, the northwest is adjacent to Zhangye City, Gansu Province, the southwest is close to Qinghai Province, and the northeast is bordered by Inner Mongolia.It is the area with the largest population, more developed economy, the highest degree of water resources development and utilization, the most prominent contradictions in water use, and the most serious ecological and environmental problems among the inland river basins in Hexi, Gansu Province.
According to relevant information, the Shiyang River, known as Gushui in ancient times, is divided into upper, middle and lower sections.The upper reaches of the main stream of the Shiyang River, known as the Zamu River, originate from the Daxue Mountain on the north side of Lenglongling in the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains, and flow into the valley in the northeast. The slope is steep and the flow is turbulent. 249 million cubic meters.In the middle reaches of the Shiyang River, it leaves the mountain from Taerzhuang and enters the eastern section of the Hexi Corridor. When it flows through Wuwei, it receives alluvial fan spring water along the way, and then flows to the northeast. It is named Shiyang Dahe.The lower reaches of the Shiyang River, starting from the north of Hongya Mountain, are now built into two main canals, east and west, continuing northeastward, and finally sinking into the desert north of Dongzhen, Minqin County.
The water of the Shiyang River all originates from the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains. The river system is mainly fed by rainwater, and also has ice and snow melt water.The annual average discharge of the mountain pass is 50.5 cubic meters per second, and the annual runoff is 1.591 billion cubic meters, accounting for about 70% from June to September.The upper reaches of the Qilian Mountains are rich in precipitation, with 64.8 square kilometers of glaciers and residual forests, which are the water sources for rivers.Qianshan Huangchengtan is an excellent pasture, and its middle reaches flow through the flat land of the corridor, forming the oases of Wuwei and Yongchang, and the irrigation agriculture is developed.Downstream is Minqin Oasis.Terminal lakes such as Baiting Lake and Qingtu Lake have all disappeared recently.Fifteen reservoirs with a capacity of more than 1 million cubic meters have been built in the whole basin, among which the Dajingxia, Huangyanghe, Nanying, Ximahu, Hongyashan and Jinchuanxia reservoirs are the largest.
In terms of contemporary administrative divisions, the Shiyang River Basin covers 4 cities and 9 counties [districts], namely Liangzhou District, Minqin County, Gulang County, Tianzhu County in Wuwei City, Jinchuan District and Yongchang County in Jinchang City, Shandan County and Sunan County in Zhangye City, and Jingtai County in Baiyin City.The main administrative divisions of the basin belong to Wuwei and Jinchang. Wuwei City is an area dominated by agricultural development, and Jinchang City is a famous non-ferrous metal production base in my country.The transportation in the basin is convenient, the products are rich, and the non-ferrous metal industry and agricultural product processing industry are developing rapidly. It is an economically prosperous area in the inland river basin of Hexi.The total area of the basin is 41,600 square kilometers, the total area of cultivated land is 6.25 million mu, the current total population of the basin is 2.27 million, and the population density is 55 people per square kilometer, which is about 3.4 times the average population density of Hexi. The scope of the basin includes Wuwei, Jinchang and Zhangye Among them, Wuwei City is the key area for economic, political and social development in the Shiyang River Basin.
The water system of the Shiyang River Basin originates from the northern slope of Lenglongling in the eastern part of Qilian Mountains. The snow water winds from east to west and forms eight upstream rivers, namely Dajing River, Gulang River, Huangyang River, Zamu River, Jinta River, Xiying River, Dongda River and Xida River.Eight waters flow to the downstream, and the various streams meet and merge into the main stream, which is called Shiyang.According to expert information, the current water resources in the Shiyang River Basin are 1.76 billion cubic meters, of which 1.56 billion cubic meters are self-produced surface water resources, 99 million cubic meters are groundwater resources that do not overlap with surface water, and 1.01 billion cubic meters are transferred from outside basins. One hundred million cubic meters.Its characteristics are as follows: First, the distribution of surface runoff is uneven within a year, the interannual change is cyclical, and the total amount shows a downward trend; second, the inflow of water in the downstream Minqin Basin decreases sharply year by year;
According to official information, the Shiyang River Basin is a typical resource-based water-scarce area. Based on the current population and cultivated land, the per capita self-produced water resources are 755 cubic meters, which is about 1/3 of the country's total; the average cultivated land per mu is 270 cubic meters meters, less than 1/6 of the country's total.The current total water consumption in the basin is 2.877 billion cubic meters, the total water consumption is 2.075 billion cubic meters, the water resource consumption rate is 109%, and the annual overexploitation of groundwater is 432 million cubic meters. The current total agricultural water consumption is 2.434 billion cubic meters, accounting for 85.7%.Due to repeated reuse of upstream and downstream and overexploitation of groundwater, the development and utilization rate of water resources in the basin is as high as 172%.
Due to the sudden population increase and economic development, the incoming water is decreasing and the water consumption is increasing. The supply and demand are seriously out of touch, the contradiction is becoming more and more acute, and the ecological environment continues to deteriorate.In the past, Minqin Oasis had mostly lakes with lush water plants and rippling blue waves. It was once a famous camel farm, raising tens of thousands of camels.In the past thousand years, most of the people who shuttled back and forth on the ancient tea-horse road were Minqin—the camel caravan called Zhenpan at that time.When Zuo Zongtang regained Xinjiang, it was the camels raised by Minqin Oasis who transported the military food for him. They made an indelible contribution to the unification of the motherland.But now, the oasis that raised the camel caravan for a thousand years has long since dried up.The water from the upper reaches is decreasing, and the mineralization of groundwater is increasing sharply. In some places, people and animals cannot drink, and the farmland cannot be irrigated.
From time to time, rolling from the west to the east, even the yellow dust raging over the capital city, a large part comes from the abandoned bare land in Minqin.
The most terrifying thing is the wind and sand.The yellow sand creeps in, burying houses and crushing crops, squeezing people's living space even more cramped.
Minqin may become the second Lop Nur.
Relevant experts believe that the reasons for this situation are as follows: First, the water resources in the river basin are inherently insufficient, and the relative carrying capacity of glacier resources is weak, which makes it difficult to adapt to the development of the contemporary economy; second, the use of water resources is uncoordinated, and the scale of agricultural irrigation is too large ; third, weak water resources management, it is difficult to effectively control the total water consumption of regions and industries in the basin; fourth, the utilization efficiency of water resources is low;
After 2001, Premier Wen Jiabao issued several instructions, clearly stating: "Minqin must not be allowed to become the second Lop Nur. This is not only a determination, but a goal that must be achieved."
Let us turn our attention to history again.
The development of the Shiyang River Basin has been repeated many times in history. The main development periods are the Western Han Dynasty, Wei Jin, Sui Tang, Ming and Qing Dynasties, etc., between the Five Dynasties to the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the middle and late Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China. The development scale is small and the oasis Much retreat and depression.
Liangzhou is one of the earliest birthplaces of human beings.According to archaeological excavations, as early as 4,000 years ago, the ancestors of Liangzhou thrived in the Shiyang River Basin and created a splendid civilization.Due to the favorable location, the ancestors of Liangzhou have always been strong and good at fighting, and their totem is the wolf.Historically, the ancestors of Liangzhou people in this period were called Xirong. It is said that Xirong was a kind of Xiqiang. Later, a poem written by a Tang Dynasty poet made the word "Qiang", which was originally a rare word, famous all over the world. The poem said :"Why bamboo flute complain willow, spring is not degree Pass."
Xu Shen specifically explained the word "Qiang" in "Shuowen Jiezi", "Qiang, also the shepherd of Xirong".The Qiang people were famous for their ability to sing and dance in history. Later, the Xiliang music and dance that prevailed in the court of the Tang Dynasty originated from "Qiang" music.
It is very funny that the totems of the "shepherds" of "Qiang" turned out to be wolves who are used to eating sheep.Shepherds hate wolves, but why do Qiang people regard wolves as their totem?This is a topic worthy of historians' attention.The ancestors of Liangzhou people have always been ashamed of dying in bed and proud of dying in battle. "Book of the Later Han Dynasty Xiqiang Biography" records: "Xiqiang...death in battle is auspicious, and death from illness is ominous. Animals and beasts that are resistant to cold and bitterness, even though women give birth, do not avoid wind and snow. They are strong and brave, and they have the western gold industry Qi." Liu Hun, a minister of the Tang Dynasty, said: "Rong and Di are also wolves."
At that time, the Shiyang River or other rivers became another totem of Xirong, besides wolves: water.The worship of water has always been deeply rooted in the collective unconsciousness of ancient Liangzhou people. From some dream analysis books unearthed in Dunhuang, the imagery of water is always associated with wealth or auspiciousness.
In the Western Zhou Dynasty, King You of Zhou smiled for the Bomei people, and played with the feudal lords. The ancestors of the Liangzhou people, like other Yi people, would be called Xirong in history. The name of the Western Zhou Dynasty was erased from history.At that time, the snow line of Qilian Mountains was the lowest point in history, and the abundant glaciers provided rich river water. The ancient Liangzhou was surrounded by green grass, and where the river overflowed, it could always pour out boundless greenery.At that time, the ancestors of Liangzhou people rode big horses, drove fat sheep, lived by the water, and grazed grass;They love peace, although they have fertile fields and thousands of miles, they don't like fighting. Except for the action of punishing King Zhou You, they are too lazy to compete with the so-called Central Plains people for the name of the world, or for the benefits of the temple.At that time, snow water flowed all year round, except for the occasional torrential rainstorm, the most frequent trickles.The year-round snow water poured out a boundless oasis, leading to the Western Region along the Hexi Corridor.The Shiyang River has become an important link to unite the ancestors of Liangzhou people.It was under the maintenance of this bond that the ancestors of Liangzhou gradually changed their names. In later history books, we often see that name - Yuezhi.When Zhang Qian was on an envoy to the Western Regions, Yuezhi was a name that could not be avoided.
At that time, the news of the rich water and grass in the Shiyang River Basin gradually spread, and groups of herdsmen came, and tribes came one by one.At that time, the rivers were full and the grasslands were huge; the land at that time was wide enough to accommodate countless galloping horses; people at that time loved peace and lived in harmony with nature and human beings.
Soon, two bigger tribes also came here, one was Wusun, and the other was the Da Yuezhi who grew up later.The Dayue clan occupied a large field on the east bank of the Shiyang River, and Wusun occupied the west bank, and all kinds of forces lived in peace for many years.
Greed comes from profit.While the river water brought a lot of wealth, it also made people greedy. Therefore, the first water war in history broke out.Around 180 BC, the Da Yue clan mobilized their own tribes to attack Wusun's territory, killed its king, plundered its land, enslaved its people, and monopolized the Shiyang River Basin.
The pages of history turn surprisingly quickly, and it has been more than 2,000 years since then.The Qilian Snow Peak seems to be the same, but the snow line is rising year by year, and the endless green snow water, under the restraint of human beings, has gradually changed its appearance and finally become rare.
Since then, the Shiyang River Basin has frequently changed owners.There is only one focus of contention among those owners: water.
In Liangzhou, there has always been a saying that "water is wealth".Anyone who dreams of water is very auspicious.Water is an eternal theme.
When you stand at the top of Jiayuguan City and look west, the black Gobi that has been scorched by the sun for thousands of years will tell you the importance of water.Without water, it's just a dead place.As a result, a song spread throughout the Hexi Corridor: "Out of Jiayuguan, both eyes are full of tears." God." It can be seen that the narrowness of its living environment.
When you stand on the edge of the Tengger Desert and watch the yellow sand like waves gradually rise and disappear, you will understand the preciousness of water.To the east of the desert is Mongolia. In order to prevent those stronger men from robbing this place with rich water and grass, governments of all dynasties have displayed their troops here.Later, a group of herdsmen who moved north to Mongolia crossed the desert and extended their living area to the Hexi Corridor, becoming the fresh blood of the Yuezhi people.
At that time, Shiyang River was called Hunu River.a strange name.
In 176 BC, the Hun King Mao Dun Shanyu rose up in Mobei, and he planned an important military operation.As a result, the Huns cavalry overwhelmingly overwhelmed them, accompanied by the men's shouts and the women's wailing.Because of the moisture of the water plants, the horse's hooves did not splash the dust, but the blood light chased the Yuezhi people.They knew that the Xiongnu also needed fat and strong horses, and they also needed fresh and plump aquatic plants. They had been peeping at this fertile land.Of course, they peeped at the empire called Qin from afar.Later, they set their sights on the big man again.That's a big piece of fat!There are beautiful beauties and palaces that are dazzlingly gorgeous.To capture that place requires a large number of horses.The Yue family has this horse.So, they drove here and cut off the heads of the men who dared to say "no" to them.They occupied the Qilian Mountains, the Yanzhi Mountains, and the pastures overflowing with countless streams.They started their self-righteous business.
Since then, Liangzhou has become the pasture of the Huns.On this land, many "kings" of the Huns appeared.I have taught for many years in Shuangcheng Town, Liangzhou District, which belonged to King Xiutu thousands of years ago.Thousands of years later, there are still frequent disputes over water, and watering has become one of the biggest events of the year for local farmers.People often beat their heads and blood to fight for a little water, and there are many people who fight with their lives.Topics and disputes about water have also lasted for thousands of years.However, no one knew that the land where they lived once had a man named King Xiutu.People can't remember these officials and kings. The eternal topic they remember is: water.
Yes.water.
The Shiyang River Basin has become a unique historical stage, where people from different camps and different nationalities perform to their heart's content, and the master changes from time to time.People became wolves and killed each other, and the sound of killing caused by the scrambling for water and land has been heard for thousands of years.I once described this situation vividly in my novel "Hunting the Plain".In order to compete for water source and pasture, two groups of herdsmen did not hesitate to lose their humanity.Therefore, I said in the "Inscription" of this book: "On the hunting ground of the soul, you and I are both prey."
A thousand-year-old Liangzhou man, a thousand-year prey.
After the Xiongnu occupied the Shiyang River Basin, they gained their geographical advantages, greatly increased their power, and rose rapidly, becoming the confidant of the Han Dynasty.King Xiu Tu got a good land and was greedy for a new life.He no longer bothered to go nomadic with grass. He wanted to build a city wall and rule the valley from generation to generation. He became the first important person in Liangzhou.His greed made Liangzhou a city in the strict sense.That city was built with loess. There are two of them. One is Xiutu King City, which is under the jurisdiction of Shuangcheng Town where I have been teaching for more than ten years, and the other is Liangzhou City.However, Liangzhou City at that time had another name: Guzang.It is said that the city is seven miles long from north to south and three miles long from east to west.
However, King Xiutu didn't understand that his earthly wealth was brought by the river water, and he regarded everything he got as a gift from heaven.Of course, from the point that the auspicious snow fell from the sky and turned into a river, we can also think that King Xiutu was right.
At that time, King Xiutu was always offering sacrifices to the heavens, and he used the most noble things he considered to sacrifice to the heavens. He made a special golden man for offering sacrifices to the heavens.His sacrifice has become a unique water control etiquette in the history of the Huns.In the thousands of years since then, many highly religious ceremonies, such as offering sacrifices to the Dragon King, offering sacrifices to the water god, and offering sacrifices to the jellyfish empress, have become a unique water control measure on the land of Liangzhou.This ritual has a unique effect in affecting the local people's cherishment of water and many other aspects.People in Liangzhou don't waste water. Anyone who wastes water will have bad luck at home.The most unlucky thing is to go into the water.
所以，我一向将关于水的诸多礼仪和习俗当成治水措施的一种，我们也可以称之为“精神文明建设”。
休屠王当然不知道，那个叫刘彻的汉子早就盯上了他。
而且，上天已经也为他安排了一个克星，那人的名字叫霍去病。
当霍去病抢走了他的祭天金人之后，休屠王的名字便从此成为历史。
失去石羊河流域对匈奴的打击是致命的，那些以战死沙场为荣的汉子们是轻易不流泪的，但这次，他们痛哭着。他们的哭声响彻了千年，直到今天听来，仍有种撕心裂肺的痛楚：
亡我祁连山，使我牲畜无繁息；
亡我焉支山，使我妇女无颜色。
失去了石羊河滋养的匈奴汉子们像中战败的哥萨克那样唱着属于自己的歌，他们就这样没入了历史的最深处。他们的远去成了一个历史之谜。几千年后的今天，匈牙利的数千名汉子向政府递交了申请，要求承认他们是匈奴族。据说，他们便是唱着悲歌从石羊河流域撤出的匈奴汉子的后裔。一本叫《匈奴史》的书中记载了那些人的足迹，他们像旋风一样卷向了欧洲，以横扫一切的气势，成立了一个帝国。
公元前121年，霍去病缴获了休屠王祭天金人之后，狐奴河流域正式归入西汉版图，被命名为“武威”。
历史上对大汉在河西开疆设郡立县的评价极高，这成为汉武帝“武功”之一。但历史总是在忽略那个时候的血腥：匈奴头如滚沙，汉兵也血成汪洋。据说，霍去病仅在夺得休屠王祭天金人时，就有数以万计的匈奴死于非命。历朝争夺凉州这块宝地的代价，总是滔天的血浪。
《资治通鉴·汉记》记载：“浑邪王降汉，汉兵逐匈奴于漠北，西域道可通。乃于浑邪王故地置酒泉郡，稍发徙民以充实之，后又置武威郡，以绝匈奴与羌通道。元鼎六年【公元111年】乃分武威、酒泉置张掖郡、敦煌郡，徙民实之。”
《史记·平准书》称：“初置张掖、酒泉郡，而上郡、朔方、西河、河西开田官，斥塞卒六十万人田之。”
从此之后，对狐奴河流域的治理正式进入中央集权的视野。除了建郡设县之外，西汉政府还徙民实边、戍兵屯田。中原大地先进的屯垦引水灌田等农耕技术随着徙民的风尘脚步进入了凉州。《汉书·沟洫志》称：“民皆引河、渭、山川水灌田。”从那时起，“凉州八景”中“绿野耕牧”的局面就开始形成了。
自大汉朝在凉州开始了引水灌田之后，凉州的地名大多跟水有关，如二坝、三坝、石头沟、黄羊川、西营河等。我的家乡的地名虽变了多次，但全跟水有关，如陈儿沟、夹河、红湖等，附近则是新泉、刘家沟、陈家沟等，因为其地域的划分，大多以沟为界。我任教时的双城镇，亦多以沟命名，如羊儿沟、高头沟等。那个曾经有着极大的象征意义的休屠王城，早就变得不知所终了。据历史记载，休屠王城只存在了三百多年。但那种夯土成墙的建筑方式，却一直影响着凉州人的民居，时下仍有许多用这种方式打桩盖房者。据说，夯土筑成的桩墙要比一般用土坯砌成的结实。但无论咋个结实，岁月之水也没有叫那休屠王城存在更多的时间。倒是那狐奴河，从匈奴诞生的年代，一直流到了今天。它的名字可以一次次变，但它的作用跟那水的分子结构一样稳定，一直从上古流到了现在。
汉武帝建立了河西四郡之后，又在今武威市境内置四县，即姑臧县【城址在当今武威市城区一带】、张掖县【城址在今武威市张义堡一带】、休屠县【城址在今武威市四坝乡三岔堡一带】、鸾鸟县【城址在今武威市城西北一带】，四县统属武威郡。
随着河西四郡的建立，雄才大略的汉武帝开始了一次大手笔的动作：移民。这也许是历史上最早的最大规模的一次移民了。匈奴汉子的退出，留下了大片大片无人的丰美草原。这儿到处是一块块连向天际的银白色的湖泊，清凉的雪水蜿蜒而来，浇出一大片绿洲。大片荒芜的土地需要人耕种。新拓展的边疆需要人守护。汉武帝大笔一挥，一大群汉子就从那时的中原匆匆而来了。
据《汉书·西域传》记载：“其后骠骑将军击破匈奴右地，降浑邪、休屠王，遂空其地，始筑令居以西，初置酒泉郡，后稍发徙民充实之。”
他们不仅仅是移民，也是严格意义上的拓荒者，他们改变了石羊河流域的格局，完成它从游牧向农耕文明的过渡。
那时的凉州，地广人稀，谷苞在《论西汉政府设置河西四郡的历史意义》一文中说：“匈奴休屠王和浑邪王在河西地区游牧时，其所部只有五万多人。大汉虽然占据了河西，但因属民极少，边疆并不稳定，更不能断匈奴之右臂。所以，开发河西地区，成为当时非常重要的任务。其主要措施，便是实民充边。”
那些徙民大多是当时难民，其构成较为复杂。据《汉书·地理志》记载，他们“或以关东下贫，或以报怨过当，或悖逆亡道，家属徙焉”。就是说，那批大移民的人中，大多是政治犯和刑事犯，更有因为贫穷无助而被强制性迁移的。
从公元前111年开始，大汉朝开始了西部历史上很重要的一次移民。那些风尘仆仆的汉子们从关东、中原等地走向了一个他们十分陌生的世界。那时的大凉州满目翠绿，水洼遍地，百鸟啾鸣，风光无限。但那些汉子却看不到他们的命运轨迹，他们或茫然，或惊喜，因为其中不乏因“谋反”面临杀头危险而终于逃脱了大难者。他们浩浩荡荡，一路溅起的尘埃掩蔽了历史的天空。他们丢下了对故土的留恋，却丢不下他们的农具和诸多的农业知识。在农业文明的洗礼下，他们远比那些善骑的匈奴们更懂得如何驾驭水。他们成为那个叫狐奴河的最早的真正的治理者。
他们带着他们的家和希望，离开了那个著名的国都长安，沿着未来的丝绸之路，过天水，越兰州，穿过古浪峡，进入了霍去病的长剑打下的那块地方。
据《汉书·大宛列传》记载：公元前102年，汉武帝“益发戍卒十八万，酒泉、张掖北，置居延、休屠以卫酒泉”。
狐奴河张开了宽阔的胸怀拥抱了这批来自远方的客人，客人们也以自己丰富的水利知识回报了河水。
《汉书·地理志》记录了当时的狐奴河流域的景况，称：“自武威以西……习俗颇殊，地广民稀，水草宜畜牧。故凉州之畜为天下饶。”
汉朝的开发，已不仅仅是定居于水草丰美之处养殖畜牧了，而是开始了对荒漠化地区的利用，除了迁徙大量的人口之外，朝廷还派遣了大量的士兵进行屯田。他们化剑为犁，将征杀的战马当成了耕畜，用杀人的双手握住了锄把。他们的额头沁出了汗水，但这汗水，已不再是为屠杀同类所流了。他们的敌人是那沉睡了千年的荒漠。他们之前，那河水随性而流，随意漫延，人们只是被动地跟了那四处流溢的绿色，仿佛逐臭的蚊蚋。他们的到来，使这块土地上的人类开始真正成为主人。那流水，变成了人类手中的彩笔，可以率性地涂抹出心中的诗意了。那绿色开始渗向无边的荒漠，狐奴河流域开始洋溢出无量的生机。据《史记·河渠书》记载：“自是之后，用事者争言水利，朔方、西河、河西、酒泉皆引河及川谷以灌田。”《汉书·沟洫志》也记载：“今西方诸郡，以至京师东行，民皆引河、渭、山川水灌田。”
更为规范的是，那时的水利建设已有了明确的分工，有专门的河渠卒，从事治渠引水等事宜。其人员也为数不少，据汉简记载：“……谨案属丞始元二年戍田卒千五百人为梓马田官写泾渠乃正月酉淮阳郡。”瞧，仅仅是为疏通河道的“写泾渠”，就有1500人之多，在地广人稀的那时，其场面不可谓不大。
让我们想象一下那种壮观的场面吧。那时虽然原野辽阔，人烟稀少，但一条充溢着无数生机的沟渠还是从遥远的狐奴河扭向茫无边际的戈壁和荒漠，一条条汉子在挥舞着锹，疏通着河道，他们挥汗如雨，斗志冲天。此刻，霍去病的杀伐余音方息，匈奴远去的蹄声遥遥可闻，成群的野兽们呼啸着来去，它们睁圆了惊诧的眼睛望着大地上那巨大的龙，它们显然还不习惯这群陌生的客人。过去，这种喧嚣的场面只是在战争中出现，一群挥汗如雨的汉子舞刀杀向另一群同样挥汗如雨的汉子，吼声震天，血流遍地。但此刻，那闪烁的银亮不是刀戈而是锄锹了。我很喜欢这种场面。我想，人类中最壮观的应该是这种场面，而不是那种硝烟弥漫的战场。
这是凉州历史上第一次真正的大开发，而且是具有划时代意义的大开发。汉武帝采取了六条重大措施：修长城，筑寨垣，设亭障，移民实边，戍兵屯田，大兴水利。可耕之地迅速得以垦辟，农业区域迅速扩大，农业生产迅速发展。那时的开发很是规范，由国家设置专门的田官，用来管理农业生产。政府采取了谁开发谁得益的政策，先由国家供应相关的生活用品和农具，渐渐达到了自给。除了兴修水利、凿渠灌溉之外，移民们还将农业发达地区的诸多技术应用于开发。从那时起，凉州有了真正的农业，而且其风格千年相若，如将动物粪便用以肥田，如二牛抬杆似的耕耘，如深翻用过的土地疏松土壤……这种种田方式甚至延续到了20世纪90年代。我曾写过一篇文章称：“千百年来，凉州人的生产方式变化不大，二牛或二驴抬杆，便构成所谓'绿野耕牧'了。许多原该牲畜干的活，多由人干了。在干活这一点上，凉州农民把自己降到了动物层次。他们无疑是勤劳的，但相应也是愚拙的。自汉朝建郡以来，这块土地上甚至没有产生过一项哪怕多少可节省自己体力的发明。若有不甘劳苦异想天开者，便会被命之为'二杆子'。这称谓，跟'二流子'相似，已带谴责味了。”
汉代那种绿野耕牧的场面，无疑是先进的。此后的凉州，耕畜并重，富甲于陇右。据《汉书·地理志》载：“谷籴常贱，少盗贼，有和气炎应，贤于内郡。”
在河西屯田之前，西汉在此驻有大量的障塞戍卒，以防匈奴，所有边防的军粮皆从内地调来，路途遥远，费力甚多，常常是花费十石的代价，才可能运来一石粮食。《汉书·食货志》记载：“中国缮道馈粮，远者三千，近者千余里，皆仰给大农。”自从在河西开渠重耕而来，戍卒们的军粮不再从内地调来，节省了大量的人力物力。多年之后，屯田的成果显著，《史记·匈奴传》称：“是时边城晏闭，牛马布野，三世无犬吠之警，黎庶亡干戈之役。”
有趣的是，过去边防的军粮靠内地运送，现在，当内地有了饥荒时，反而要从边地调粮了。据《汉书·元帝记》载，公元前42年，内郡“连年不收，四方咸困”，朝廷就从边郡调积谷去救济灾民。
除了移民实边、戍兵屯田、大兴水利，朝廷还开始兴修长城。凉州境内的长城便是汉长城，作家张弛曾写过一个中篇小说《汉长城》，便叙说了跟它有关的故事。
石羊河流域的汉长城起于现古浪县的圆墩子，沿着今天的长城乡一路北行，经九墩滩到达民勤。汉长城的特点是依水而据，其走向便是河水的走向，更筑诸多寨垣亭障以驻兵。至今保存相对完整的，是今凉州区长城镇的高沟堡。因风沙掩埋千年后始现于世，据说便是汉唐时的兵营，其格局十分清晰，可看出士兵的营寨、宿舍和运兵道等。
汉武帝建长城的目的是为了边防，为了防那些时时纵兵袭来的匈奴们。那些虎狼汉子在沙漠对面的蒙古高原虎视眈眈着。历朝在这儿都驻过兵，那些兵将们每天都在城墙上耀武扬威，他们的吆喝声早渗入了茫茫黄沙不知所终了，但那长城却客观上在日后的千年里成了最好的防沙屏障。
两千年的岁月早已将那曾经不可一世的汉长城削剥得所剩无几了，许多地方只剩下了一线浅痕。它们或毁于风沙，或毁于人力，或毁于战火。笔者曾到长城一带考察，发现许多农民竟然在刨那些长城上的土来垫圈肥田。在他们眼中，那些曾经是战争衍生物的“边墙”，是最好的肥田材料。虽然这客观上破坏了汉长城这一古老的文化遗产，但却跟“铸剑为犁”有着几乎相同的象征意义。
此后的凉州，成了东西文化的重要纽带，它东连兰州，可抵长安，西达新疆的西域诸国，两种文明由凉州开始了融合，并相得益彰了。冶铁、穿井等技术在西域得到了推广，丝绸开始西行并铺就了绿洲丝绸之路。西域的胡葱、胡萝卜、胡瓜、胡桃、胡椒等许多贴了“胡”字标签的特产开始流向东部。从那时起，无数的驼队驮着丝绸和各种文明，织成了人类历史上的又一伟大奇观。
随着岁月之河的流淌，时代又翻开了新的一页。这“新的一页”当然包括对石羊河流域的开发。只是，我们不知道，那种开发，究竟算不算一种掠夺？经济确实在一天天繁荣着，但隐患往往伴随着繁荣。
东汉末年，王莽篡汉，无下大乱，窦融于公元23年携家来河西，就任张掖属国都尉。他广交豪杰，百姓归心。王莽败死之后，河西诸豪推窦融为大将军，管理河西五郡的事务。此时的匈奴，又开始强大起来，屡屡强兵压境。窦融除“修兵马，习战射，明烽燧之警”外，还大力发展河西的农牧业生产。他在张掖、酒泉置有“农都尉”，于公元32年又将郡级更名为“典农都尉”，专门负责河西地区的农牧业。
这段历史时期的治理和开发，有两种方式：一种是军屯，由军事长官直接负责军队的农业开发；一种是民屯，允许农民个体经营。据《居延新简释粹》中载：“秦胡、卢水土民……田民不遣。”说明此时的石羊河流域已有了定居下来专事耕作的农民。其农作物也有了麦、谷、米三大类，总计有二十多种。
东汉时，牛耕已普遍了，马除了用于军事之外，也有用于农事者。光武帝曾下诏保护耕牛，不得滥杀。《居延新简释粹》中也记载了窦氏大将军公元30年颁布的文告：“明告吏民，诸作使秦胡、卢水士民畜牧……不遣。”窦融于建武十二年奏事时，“官属宾客相随，驾乘千余辆，马牛羊被野”，可见农牧业之盛况。光武帝也于公元28年，下诏于河西，严令吏民“毋得砍伐树木”，这对于防止石羊河流域的水土流失起到了积极作用。
公元36年，任延任武威太守，任职时间，置水官专理水利。据《后汉书·任延传》载：“河西旧少雨泽，乃为置水官吏修理沟渠，皆蒙其利。”
经过政府多年的关注和开发，经过那些拥有着相对先进技术的迁民的梳理，石羊河流域变得十分富有。山头森林茂密，大地绿草成茵，天苍苍，野茫茫，风吹草低见牛羊。其富足之声，随着渐渐稠密的驼铃和马蹄声传向四方，多有心动而迁来者。不过，此时的迁，已不是汉武帝时刀兵的相逼了，而大多是欣然自愿来凉州的。此时的祁连山上的冰川和雪线仍很低，大靖河、古浪河、黄羊河、杂木河、金塔河、西营河、东大河、西大河等诸多河流将大山的清凉送入那肥沃的绿洲，现名腾格里的那个沙漠也是绿苇摇曳，遍地绿色，湖泊四布，水鸟成群。即使在两汉间天下大乱时，凉州仍是在和平的港湾里打着香甜的呼噜。《后汉书》称：“天下扰乱，唯河西独安，而姑臧称为富邑，通货羌胡，市日四合。”诸地遭遇饥荒年时，更不乏携妇将子来凉州逃命的百姓和士人，“安定、北地、上郡流入避饥者，归之不绝”。这些人汇入凉州，不仅仅增添了劳动力，更带来了他们承载的文化。所以，两汉之后，凉州便开始出现人文荟萃的局面，逐渐成为西部的文化重镇。现在中国旅游标志的铜奔马，便是东汉时铸造的，即使把它放在当时世界的坐标系上，它仍然代表了顶尖级的水平。
正如成长的大树其阴影也会颀长一样，那开发带来的隐患已开始暗生。
大自然开始了对人类的报复，灾难的魔影遥遥而来。
《资治通鉴·汉记》载，公元109年，凉州遭受了水灾和雹灾，许多地方发生了“人相食”的惨剧，又载：“十二月，并、凉二州大饥，人相食。”公元107年，又发生了旱蝗饥荒，大量的农民外出逃荒。
据《通鉴》记载：公元143年9至11月，凉州“地百八十次震，山谷坼裂，坏败城寺，民压死者甚众”。
由于天灾频发，人祸遂生，百姓多成为流民，官兵亦混迹其中，史称“兵夷杂处，时有兵难”，社会秩序十分混乱。地主豪强开始形成，《三国志·魏书》称：“旧大族田地有余，而小民无立锥之土。”曹魏控制河西之后，开始平定动乱、整顿吏治、抑制豪强、移风易俗、招怀流民，恢复个体小农的生产。
三国魏明帝太和二年【公元228年】，徐邈任凉州刺史，在位期间，他治水有功。他禁厚葬，断淫祀，风化大行。据《三国志·魏书·徐邈传》记载：“明帝以邈为凉州刺史，河右少雨，常苦乏毂，邈上修武威、酒泉盐池，以收税赋，又广开水田，募贫民佃之，家家丰足，仓库盈溢，乃支度州界军用之余，以市金帛犬马，通供中国之费。”
西晋时期，石羊河流域各河流随石羊河名统称“谷水”、“南山谷水”等。永宁元年【公元301年】，张轨任护羌校尉、凉州刺史。据《甘肃名人传记》载，他是安定乌氏【今平凉西北】人，是五凉政权之一的前凉的实际建立者。他励精图治，改进技术，兴修水利，发展生产，繁荣经济。因此，前凉吸引了濒于战乱的各族百姓前来避乱，河西成为当时北中国安定繁荣的福地。
据《前凉录》记载：“永宁初出为持节护羌校尉，凉州刺史，于时鲜卑反叛寇盗纵横，轨到官即讨破之，威著西州，化行河右，课农桑，拔贤才，置崇文祭酒，征九郡胄子五百人，立学校以教之，春秋行分饮之礼。”
东汉魏晋时期，河西的农业技术与中原诸地已相差无几。那种落