Holding the megaphone made by Li Tai, Li Zexuan walked out of the workshop. He planned to go home and prepare for a trip to the Black Armored Army's camp tomorrow.
When he asked Li Tai to make a megaphone, it wasn't just to lay the foundation for the future invention of the telephone. It was also to use the megaphone in the army.
In ancient times, there were no megaphone or walkie-talkies. Large scale battles usually used drums and banners to convey the commander's orders. For example, in the era of cold weapons, this wasn't just for cheering. It was also to convey orders. One must know that when tens of thousands of people were in a formation, it wasn't the information era. Being able to control the soldiers was the foundation of a battle. Soldiers who didn't understand the drums and banners would often end up in a tragic state. If they didn't raise the flag, didn't pay the flag, didn't advance when the drum sounded, and didn't retreat when the drum sounded, they would usually be beheaded.
In ancient times, hundreds of thousands of people were mobilized. There weren't many combat soldiers, and most of them were auxiliary soldiers and civilian workers. There weren't many dynasties like the Song Dynasty that raised imperial guards like pigs. In the early Song Dynasty, 200,000 imperial guards could fight all over the country.
In history, when an army of more than 300,000 was involved in a war, it was more likely to be defeated than won. To give a few examples, the first was the Battle of Fei River. Before the 830,000 soldiers could be gathered, they were defeated by the 80,000 soldiers of the North Mansion Army. The second was the Sui Yang Emperor's conquest of Goguryeo. The third was the Battle of An Lushan Rebellion. The fourth was the Battle of Song Jinfu.
These were all battles where the lesser army won. Although the main reasons for the defeat were different, the lack of coordination and communication between large armies was an unavoidable reason. If too many soldiers were concentrated in a frontal battle, it would be easy for the army to collapse.
Therefore, it is not without reason that there are so many battles in the history of our country where we win with a small number of people. The main reason was that the elite troops were few in number but flexible in command. This allowed the generals to fully display their commanding ability. For example, in the Battle of Hulao between Li Er and Dou Jiande, Li Er defeated 100,000 soldiers with less than 10,000 soldiers.
Therefore, in future battles, both sides would use the strategy of attacking separately. Although the total number of people involved was large, there were rarely more than 50,000 people on a specific battlefield. This was because 50,000 people was basically the limit of sound and light transmission. Therefore, in ancient times when there were no loudspeakers or walkie-talkies, the generals on the battlefield relied on the golden drum and banner, and the tacit understanding and experience between each other. Whoever carried out their intentions better would win.
But with a loudspeaker, it was a completely different story! This toy could transmit the battle orders from the general very far away, and could bring out the cooperation between the various small armies to the maximum! In a real large-scale battle, the situation on the battlefield was often complicated, and tactics had to be adjusted at any time. Just relying on the Golden Drum Banner to pass down orders was not realistic. As for using messengers to pass down orders, there was no guarantee that the battle orders would be effective!
Think about it, if a general's orders were transmitted through a loudspeaker during a battle, not only could it be transmitted very far away, but compared to the Golden Drum Banner, the loudspeaker could also transmit more complicated battle orders!
If one was worried that the battle orders would be overheard by the enemy generals, they could set up a complete set of tactical secret orders beforehand. This way, not only could the tacit understanding between the armies be maximized, but it could also prevent the enemy generals from overhearing the battle orders. It could also suppress the enemy in terms of momentum!
After all, sometimes being loud was also an advantage, wasn't it?
As he walked, he planned the use of the loudspeaker in his mind. Suddenly, Li Zexuan felt that something was wrong, because at this moment, the sky suddenly darkened!
Li Zexuan couldn't help but raise his head and look towards the eastern sky. He saw small black dots with wings covering the sky. It was currently afternoon, and the sun was still in the southwest, but these small black dots covered the sky and covered the earth, as if they were going to cover the entire sky!
Compared to the total solar eclipse two months ago, the scene of countless small black dots gradually nibbling at the sky was undoubtedly more terrifying!
"The plague of locusts is here!"
In the blink of an eye, Li Zexuan reacted. Wasn't this the plague of locusts that was recorded in the history books in the sixth month of the second year of Zhenguan?
As a modern person, Li Zexuan had seen locusts before, but he had never seen a plague of locusts before. This was because people in his era liked to eat fried locusts, and the locusts in nature were not enough for them to eat. So, there were often people who artificially raised locusts. Under such circumstances, how could there be a plague of locusts?
This was the first time in his two lives that he had seen such a large-scale plague of locusts. It was impossible for him not to be shocked! The densely packed locusts that blotted out the sky and covered the earth were definitely a painful torture for people with trypophobia. Li Zexuan did not have trypophobia, but when he saw the flying locusts that blotted out the sky and covered the sun, he could not help but feel his scalp tingle!
This was because there were too many locusts in the sky!
In the past, he had relied on his pitiful knowledge of history to predict that there would be a plague of locusts in the second year of the second year of Zhenguan with Li Er, but he had never thought that the plague of locusts would come so suddenly and fiercely!
This wasn't a plague of locusts! This was similar to the dark swarm of locusts that Li Zexuan had seen in doomsday movies in his previous life. This was a catastrophe for the common people!
Even though the Tang Empire had made ample preparations to deal with the plague of locusts, Li Zexuan couldn't help but waver. Would the preparations made by the Tang Empire's imperial court really be able to withstand this plague of locusts?
"Plague of locusts! This is a plague of locusts! "
"Divine punishment from the heavens! Divine punishment from the heavens! "
"Oh my god! My crops! "
"The wrath of the Locust God, this is a catastrophe for the common people!"
The people who were still working in the fields could not help but be terrified when they saw this horrible disaster. Some people panicked and ran back to their homes. Some people hit the ground with their heads and cried bitterly. Some people knelt on the ground and put their hands together to pray to the heavens!
A moment ago, everything was calm and peaceful, but in an instant, it was replaced by a widespread panic. It wasn't that the people were weak, but the scale of this plague of locusts was too terrifying!
Li Zexuan estimated that if he were to catch all the locusts flying above his head, there would be at least a thousand pounds of them, not to mention the black swarm of locusts in the sky!
One could only imagine how terrifying the number of locusts was!
"Marquis, please return to the residence as soon as possible!"
Pang Feiji and the rest of the guards surrounded Li Zexuan as if they were facing a great enemy. They waved the swords in their hands to chase away the locusts that were flying lower. Pang Feiji quickly turned to Li Zexuan and shouted at him when he saw the chaos in the fields.
At this time, Li Zexuan had already recovered from his initial shock. He ordered expressionlessly, "Go to Cloud Mountain! Feiji, immediately bring some men to the county office and ask Magistrate He to come over. Also, inform my parents and my wife that I am safe! Also, get someone to invite Uncle Hu, Second Master Liu and Liu Qingfeng over! Immediately! Immediately! "
Pang Feiji turned to look at the three brothers beside him. Li Zexuan usually only brought three or four people with him when he went out. Today was no exception. Therefore, he said to Li Zexuan anxiously, "But, after we leave, who will protect Marquis?"
Li Zexuan said calmly, "Protect? It's just a few locusts. Do you think I need your protection? The ones I really need to protect are the people of Lantian County. Don't talk too much. Go and come back quickly! "
Pang Feiji wanted to say that the panicking people might accidentally hurt Li Zexuan. However, when he thought of Li Zexuan's shocking martial arts, he decided not to say those words. Instead, he clasped his hands and said, "I will obey your orders. Marquis, please be careful!"
After saying that, he waved his hand and brought one of the guards to Lantian County. The other two guards split up and went to Han Village and Plum Village!
…
"The plague of locusts is here! The plague of locusts is here! "
"My family's crops! It's going to be the summer harvest in a few days! "
"Run! There are so many locusts. They're going to eat us! "
"Run! Run! "
The twenty counties around Chang 'an City were all in a state of panic. Unlike the solar eclipse, the plague of locusts had a destructive effect on the human world. Furthermore, there were legends of the Locust God among the people. There was no one who was not afraid!
Some of the villagers even set up incense tables at the entrance of the village and knelt down to pray for the Locust God to send down a divine order for the plague of locusts to go away!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This is bad! Locusts, the sky is covered with locusts! Chang 'an City and the surrounding counties are all covered with locusts. Wherever the locusts go, not even a blade of grass will grow! "
A eunuch suddenly ran into the quiet Ganlu Palace. The news that the eunuch brought was no different from a sudden clap of thunder that exploded in the Ganlu Palace!
Li Er stood up from the dragon bed with a 'whoosh'. He said with a serious face, "What did you say? There's a plague of locusts around Chang 'an City? "
"Yes … Yes! Your Majesty! Now, the people everywhere are fleeing in panic. The crops that are about to mature in the fields are all covered with locusts. Moreover, there are many locusts flying in the sky, covering the sky! "
The eunuch was terrified. This was probably the first time in his life that he had seen such a terrifying scene!
Li Er's heart skipped a beat. He was about to speak when another eunuch walked into the palace. The eunuch said urgently, "Reporting! Your Majesty! The Governor of Qi Province has sent an urgent report! There is a large plague of locusts in Qi Province. The locusts are flying towards the capital! "
Li Er heard this and said angrily, "Bastard! The locusts are already in Chang 'an City. How did the Governor of Qi Province's urgent report only reach the palace now? "
Zhao Song whispered beside Li Er, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Qi Province is about one thousand and eight hundred miles away from Chang 'an City. Even if it's an urgent report, it will take a few days to reach there! Also, the source of the locusts is definitely not just in Qi Province. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many locusts! "
Li Er woke up from his rage. He brushed his sleeves and said, "Quickly go to the tower and ring the Jingyang Bell. Summon all the officials to the palace for a meeting! We will add an afternoon court session today! "
The morning court session had just ended a few hours ago and Old Li had already called for an afternoon court session. However, this was something that could not be helped. The plague of locusts was too big of an issue. It required the cooperation of all the six departments in the imperial court to effectively resist the plague!
As for the Jingyang Bell, it was started during the Southern Dynasty. Emperor Wu of Qi placed the bell on top of the Jingyang Tower because the sound of the drum could not be heard in the palace. When the palace servants heard the sound of the bell, they would get up early to decorate it. Later generations called it the 'Jingyang Bell'. Every day, the Jingyang Bell would ring to announce the start of the morning court session. All the officials would go up to the palace to arrange themselves. Later generations would use the sound of the Jingyang Bell as the standard.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
An eunuch in the palace cupped his hands and accepted the order.
Li Er thought for a moment, then looked at Zhao Song and ordered, "Zhao Song, leave the city immediately and make a trip to Lantian County. Invite the Marquis Yong 'an into the palace!"
Since last year, Li Zexuan had helped Li Er solve countless problems. As a result, Li Er was now somewhat reliant on Li Zexuan. Whenever there was a problem, he would subconsciously think of Li Zexuan!
Of course, on the other hand, it was Li Zexuan who brought up the locust plague prediction last year. As the saying goes, whoever started the trouble should end it. Now that the locust plague had arrived, of course, Li Zexuan had to be invited to discuss the disaster relief together!
Zhao Song's expression turned serious. He cupped his hands and said, "This old servant obeys the order!"
After that, he did not dare to delay any longer. In a flash, he rushed out of the palace!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After a while, on the palace tower next to the Vermilion Bird Gate, there was a series of deep and melodious sounds of bells and drums. The huge sound waves gradually spread throughout the entire Chang 'an City!
Chongren Lane. When Zhangsun Wuji heard the sound of the bells and drums, his expression changed. He said, "Men! Prepare the horses quickly! I want to enter the palace! "
A lady beside Zhangsun Wuji asked curiously, "Old Master, we just finished the morning court assembly. Why are you entering the palace now?"
Zhangsun Wuji hurriedly explained, "Madam, listen! When the Jingyang Bell rings, it means that something big has happened in the palace. The last time the Jingyang Bell rang in the afternoon was two years ago! "
Two years ago, it was the ninth year of Wude, the change in the Xuanwu Gate!
The lady's expression changed, and she hurriedly said, "Then I will help Old Master change his clothes!"
Zhangsun Wuji nodded. He looked up at the dark clouds of locusts in the sky and whispered, "The locust plague has appeared. His Majesty should be urgently summoning the officials into the palace to discuss countermeasures!"
…
Cloud Mountain, Yanhuang College's conference room.
Li Zexuan sat at the head of the table, while County Magistrate He, Hu Hanyun, Second Master Liu, and Liu Qingfeng sat below him. Strangely, Li Gang, Yan Silu, and Ma Zhou from Yanhuang College were also present!
Li Zexuan's face was solemn. After seeing that everyone was present, he said in a low voice, "The locust plague is here. I believe all of you have seen it. Some people see the locust plague as the wrath of the Locust God. What do all of you think?"
Old Hu straightened his neck and said, "Young Master, I, Old Hu, may not be well-educated, but in my life, I only respect the heavens and earth. I don't respect ghosts or gods. What bullsh * t Locust God? It harmed our crops, so we should destroy it! To be honest, Young Master, I, Old Hu, ate a few bowls of it last year! "
Second Master Liu nodded and said, "Xiao Hu is right! Young Master, the locust plague is very serious now. The crops in the fields are about to be harvested in a few days, but such a large scale locust plague has appeared at this time. Young Master, if you have a good idea, as long as it can kill the locusts, I, Liu Wanshan, will do it! "
Liu Qingfeng and County Magistrate He were both scholars. They were not as reckless as Second Master Liu and Old Hu. The two of them forced a smile and said, "Yes! We will listen to Marquis! "
Li Zexuan nodded and said with a serious face, "Good! I don't believe in the Locust God. Even if there is a Locust God in this world, he is an evil god that torments the living. I will not kill him! Next, I will arrange a few things. You must remember them and carry them out strictly because this is a matter of life and death for the 80,000 people of Lantian County! "
…
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