The rivers were misbehaving! Instead of staying in their nice, neat riverbeds, they were splashing and gushing all over the land. Imagine your bathtub overflowing, but much, much bigger – so big it covered fields and villages!

The Emperor, a kind leader named Shun, was very worried. "Oh dear, oh dear!" he said, wringing his hands. "This water is everywhere! We need someone to fix this."

First, he asked a man named Gun to try. Gun thought, "I know! I'll build big walls of dirt and rocks to stop the water!" So, he and his helpers built and built. But the water was very strong. It just pushed the walls down or flowed right over them. For nine whole years, Gun tried, but the floods just seemed to get angrier. Poor Gun! His plan didn't work.

Then, Emperor Shun thought of Gun's son, a clever and strong young man named Yu. "Yu," said the Emperor, "your father tried his best, but the water is still a big problem. Can you help?"

Yu looked at the rushing waters. He thought hard. "Hmm," he said to himself, "blocking the water didn't work. Water likes to flow. Maybe instead of stopping it, I should help it go where it needs to go – out to the big, big sea!"

So, Yu gathered many helpers. Instead of building walls, they started to dig. They dug long channels, like little roads for the water, to guide it. They cleared away big rocks and piles of mud. Yu worked harder than anyone. He traveled all over the land, measuring and planning.

For thirteen long years, Yu worked. He was so busy helping the water find its way to the ocean that he barely rested. It's said he passed by his own house three times during those years. He heard his little baby son crying inside once, but he knew he had to finish his important job for everyone. He just waved to his family and kept on working!

Sometimes, people said a friendly dragon would appear and use its tail to show Yu the best paths for the water. Other times, a giant turtle might help clear away heavy mud.

Slowly, slowly, Yu's plan started to work! The water began to flow into the new channels. It rushed happily along these new paths, all the way to the sea. The fields started to dry out. People could come back to their homes. They could plant their crops again.

Everyone was so happy and thankful! They cheered for Yu. "Hooray for Yu! He saved us from the flood!"

Yu had shown everyone that sometimes, the best way to solve a big problem is not to fight it, but to understand it and guide it. Because he was so wise and worked so hard for all the people, Yu became a great hero, and later, a very respected leader. And that's the story of Yu the Great, who tamed the wild waters.

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