中国历史上最激动人心的工程不是长城，而是都江堰。在秦始皇下令修长城的数十年前，四川平原上已经完成了一个了不起的工程。它的规模从表面上看远不如长城宏大，却注定要稳稳当当地造福千年。关于李冰有一个神话传说，就是斗河神，传说河神每年都要两个黄花闺女做自己的媳妇。李冰把自己的两个女儿送给河神，酒祭河神并与之大战N个回合的故事。

　　When King Zhao of Qin conquered Shu , he appointed Li Bing governor of the area. At that time there in the river was a river deity(河神), who each year demanded two virgins as his wives. One day, the official responsible for the matter came to report to Li, "This time a million copper coins must be collected to buy two women for the deity." "Don't worry," Li Bing comforted him, "I have got girls for him already." When the day came, Li had his two daughters properly dressed, ready to be thrown into the river. He stepped onto the terrace for the ceremony and poured a libation, saying, "Today, I am greatly honoured to become a relation of yours. Please, my River God, come out and honour the occasion with your respected presence, and allow me to propose a toast to you." After saying these words, Li emptied his cup, put it down and waited. The wine in the cup for the deity, however, only stirred a little and remained full to the brim. Flying into a rage at this, Li said in a stern voice, "Since you look down upon me so, I have no choice but to fight you." Li drew out his sword, and the next moment disappeared. Quite a while later, two grey buffaloes were seen fighting on the other side of the river. Soon, Li reappeared, ordering his subordinates to help him, saying, "The buffalo facing south with a white stripe on the middle part of his body is me. That is the ribbon for my seal." Then he disappeared again to go back to his fight. Finally, his chief secretary killed the buffalo facing north. That was the end of the river deity and all the trouble he had caused.

　　公元前277年，李冰官任蜀郡太守，受命于秦昭王的治水重任。为了追究水患的由来，李冰翻山越岭，迈着艰难的步子去察看了滋江地势，掌握了岷江出高山峡谷后河面开阔，流速顿减的特点，发现了可资修渠的有利地形，并吸取了岷江两岸人民多年来与洪水斗争的经验，终于合理地选择了渠首的位置，因势利导巧妙地布置了都江堰的渠首工程。

　　"沧桑有变古堰永存，水旱无常清流不息。”李冰治水，功绩千秋。史书记载他的治水事迹："冰乃壅江作堋……于是蜀地千里，号为陆海"。从此，成都平原。旱则引水侵润，雨则杜塞水门，水旱从人，时无荒年，天下谓之天府。古人忘不了李冰，祭祀他的活动极为隆重，"李大守疏江驱龙，有功于西蜀，祠祭甚盛"。

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（实习编辑：高奕飞）