Under the tree outside the Han family's courtyard.
The old man and the young man were silent.
Finally, Qin Qiong broke the silence. He looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late.
Call Zhijie. Let's go back to Chang 'an. "
After saying that, he walked towards the courtyard door, leaving behind a bleak figure.
Li Zexuan looked at the old man who had fought for the country all his life. He couldn't bear it. Seeing that Qin Qiong was about to reach the door, he said, "Uncle Qin, please wait. I'll tell you the truth!"
Qin Qiong stomped his feet, turned around, and then walked over. He looked at Li Zexuan and nodded with gratification. After saying "good child", he quietly stood to the side and listened to Li Zexuan continue.
Li Zexuan thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Qin, the reason I have so many chickens is because of a prophecy my master left behind. My master said that in June next year, there will be an unprecedented plague of locusts in the Tang Empire …"
…
As Li Zexuan spoke, Qin Qiong's face grew more and more serious. After Li Zexuan finished telling his father the story he had told that night, Qin Qiong couldn't help but point at Li Zexuan and scold him.
"You bastard! Why didn't you tell His Majesty about this earlier? Can you bear to watch the people of the other provinces starve to death when the plague of locusts comes? I only realized today that you, Li Zexuan, have such a heart of stone. What good will it do you to let the people starve to death? Could it be that you, the son of an immortal, really want to become an immortal? "
Qin Qiong's words pierced Li Zexuan's heart, and Li Zexuan was instantly covered in wounds. He thought of all the hard work he had done in the past few months, only to be criticized by Qin Qiong as selfish. The grievance and anger in his heart immediately gushed out. He could no longer hold it in and roared angrily.
"Do you think I want to hide it? If I told His Majesty the truth, would His Majesty believe me? They might even punish my family and implicate my nephew's parents. Moreover, once this matter spreads out, it will surely cause panic among the common people. At that time, countless people will madly fight for food, and it will surely cause the price of food to soar. How can this nephew bear such a crime? "
Qin Qiong was stunned. Li Zexuan took a deep breath and continued.
"The plague of locusts is only my master's prophecy. If the plague of locusts doesn't come when the time comes, wouldn't the people of the world have worried for nothing? When that time comes, I will definitely be condemned by everyone and be cursed for eternity. I'll be fine. At worst, I'll be like my master back then, living in seclusion and living a carefree life. But what about my father, mother, and sister? They still had to continue living on the land of the Great Tang. Moreover, do you really think this nephew can bear to watch the common people suffer? If that was really the case, then why did that brat bother to raise 150,000 chickens in the Han Village and Plum Village? Do you think this kid has a heart of stone? Like you, this nephew loves the land of the Great Tang and deeply loves the people of the Great Tang. This nephew also wants to save them very much … "
After Li Zexuan finished speaking, he let out a long sigh and leaned against the tree trunk dejectedly. He closed his eyes and said no more. If one looked carefully, one could see that there were tears in his eyes.
Qin Qiong stood there with a complicated expression. His expression changed for a while before he finally sighed. He walked over and patted Li Zexuan's shoulder lightly.
"Little Xuan, this old man misunderstood you just now. Please don't take it to heart."
Li Zexuan hurriedly said, "Uncle Qin, what are you saying? I know that you truly care about the country and the people, and your heart is for the common people. This nephew's tone just now was very offensive. Please don't take it to heart! "
He had suppressed the matter of the locust plague in his heart for a long time. He knew that what he was doing now could only save a portion of the common people. When the time came, there would still be tens of thousands of common people who would suffer. He felt very uncomfortable, but he had no other choice. Call him selfish or cold-blooded, but he had to consider his family before doing anything. Today, he finally found someone to vent his feelings, but he was criticized. The negative emotions that he had suppressed for a long time finally erupted. Although he felt much better now, he also realized that his tone just now was too harsh.
Qin Qiong shook his head and said, "It's normal for young people to be angry. This old man will not blame you. But Little Xuan, is there really no other way? "
Li Zexuan thought for a while and replied, "Since ancient times, haven't the kings of the past been helpless in the face of the locust plague? I also want to save more common people, but this nephew's ability is limited. There really is no other way. "
Qin Qiong was silent for a long time. Then, he sighed deeply. At this moment, he seemed to have aged ten years. He angrily punched the tree trunk and said unwillingly, "This old man will go back today and draft a secret report. Tomorrow, I will present it to His Majesty. If His Majesty has any blame, this old man will bear it!"
Li Zexuan was shocked. He waved his hand to stop him and said, "Absolutely not! The locust plague is only a prophecy. There is no conclusive evidence. Uncle Qin, please think twice. Don't be rash! "
Qin Qiong shook his head and said, "Little Xuan, it's better to believe in this kind of thing than not. Otherwise, when the locust plague really comes, all we can do is wait for death. Moreover, the weather this year is so abnormal. It's just May and it's already so hot. This old man estimates that there will be a drought this year. As the saying goes, after a drought, there will be locusts. Your master's prophecy is not without reason. Your strength is limited. If you want to save all the common people of the Tang Empire, you have to rely on the power of the imperial court. "
"But …"
Li Zexuan wanted to continue dissuading him, but Qin Qiong waved his hand and stopped him.
"Little Xuan, you don't have to persuade me anymore. This old man has been on the battlefield all my life. It's not easy to see the world at peace and the common people living and working in peace. I will not watch them starve to death because of the locust plague. My hands are already stained with the blood of countless people. I should have been taken away by the heavens long ago and fallen into the cycle of reincarnation. Now, I can still use this broken body to do something for the common people. Even if I am condemned by His Majesty or condemned by everyone, this old man will have no regrets! "
Li Zexuan was moved by the old man's sad words. He felt that he was so small compared to Qin Qiong. At this moment, he felt that a man should take responsibility like Qin Qiong, so he said,
"Uncle Qin, this happened because of me. How can I let you take responsibility? Uncle Qin, please report to His Majesty. If His Majesty wants to punish you, I will take responsibility with you!"
Qin Qiong said in surprise, "How can I do that? Little Xuan, you are still young and have a long way to go. Don't let your emotions affect your decisions."
Li Zexuan said firmly, "I am not letting my emotions affect my decisions. This is a decision I made after careful consideration. If Uncle Qin does not agree, I will write to His Majesty alone!"
Qin Shubao saw that Li Zexuan had made up his mind, so he could only nod and say, "Alright, I will also write your name in the secret memorial. The two of us will write together. It's getting late now. Call Zhijie and let's go back to the city! "
… …
Li Zexuan returned to the small courtyard and found Han Yuxi waiting for him in the courtyard. He smiled at her, indicating that he was fine.
Cheng Yaojin sat in the courtyard with his eyes slightly closed. He probably hadn't completely recovered yet. He didn't see Han Lizheng. He was probably still drunk.
Li Zexuan went over to say a few words to Han Yuxi and reminded her again to be careful when she entered the city tomorrow.
Then, he pulled Cheng Yaojin, who was slightly sober, and called Hu Jing and his brother over. Anyway, they were just two children and weren't heavy. Each of them could sit on one more.
Just like that, the five of them rode three horses and left the Han Family Village. Under the setting sun, they rushed towards Chang 'an City.
… …
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