秦国统一六国后,向岭南用兵,秦始皇二十八年(前219年),派监郡御史禄开凿灵渠运粮,沟通了湘江和漓江。
The canal was dug in 219BC at the order of Din Shihuang ( the First Emperor of China ) , to facilitate the transportation of grain for the military after he sent his troops south to conquer the territory south of the Meiling Mountain .