"Quick, quick, quick! Young Master has ordered everyone in the village to go to the chicken farm and chase the chickens out! Those who passed the test last year, gather at the village entrance and go to the chicken farm to chase the chickens! Quick, quick, quick! Han Xiaodong, you go and inform the village on the west side. Lao Niu, you go and inform the village on the west side. Da Niu and Er Niu, you two go and inform the village on the north side. I'll go and inform the village on the south side! "
Not long after Li Zexuan left Cloud Mountain, Plum Village and Han Village at the foot of Cloud Mountain began to move. While other villages were still immersed in the fear brought about by the locust plague, the hundreds of families in these two villages had already begun to rescue themselves according to Li Zexuan's orders!
"Elder Hu, why are we going to the chicken farm at this time? Where are we going? "
"We're going to the fields to eat the grasshoppers! Young Master said that the total number of chickens in Han Village and Plum Village is close to 150,000. In just half an hour, these chickens will be able to eat all the locusts in the fields! Everyone, hurry up! The sooner we gather, the less damage the crops will suffer from the locusts! "
"Good heavens! You can do that? Our village only has three to four thousand mu of farmland. Won't we be able to clear out all the locusts in no time? Elder Hu, wait! I'm going to the chicken farm now! "
Hu Hanyun brought up Li Zexuan's name, and the response was immediate. Compared to the other villages outside, the people of the Han Family Village and Plum Village were much less fearful of the locusts. After all, last autumn, the people of the two villages had caught autumn locusts and sold them at the Yanhuang Academy. Therefore, when the locusts came today, the people of the two villages were relatively calm. They only had anxiety in their hearts, but not fear!
Almost at the same time, hundreds of yamen runners from Lantian County were mobilized. They carried the notice brought back by County Magistrate He and started to post it on the roads and villages outside the city. The title of the notice was, "United as one, against the locusts!"
The content of the notice was simple and clear. The general meaning was, "Marquis Yong An Order: There is no such thing as the Locust God in this world. The locust plague is not to be feared.
From today onwards, the Lantian County Yamen would start to purchase locusts from the commoners. One copper coin for two catties, and there was no limit.
In addition, the Sky Chicken Brigade formed by the one hundred and fifty thousand chickens from the Han Family Village and Plum Village will sweep through the entire Lantian County's farmlands from the north to the south. I hope that all the villages will chase out the chickens raised by our villages and cooperate with us. We must work together to eliminate the locusts in the farmlands as soon as possible! "
Seeing this notice from Li Zexuan about eliminating locusts, the citizens of Lantian County finally calmed down. Especially when they saw the news that Lantian County was prepared to purchase locusts, the citizens could no longer sit still.
"Let's go! What are you waiting for? Marquis said it himself, there is no Locust God in this world. Let's go catch locusts, we can sell them for money and wipe out the locusts in the ground! "
"Right, right, right! Call the kids at home to catch locusts! "
"Marquis said to chase the chickens at home to the fields! Let's go! "
Under Li Zexuan's reorganization, the entire Lantian County Yamen became very efficient. Not only did the yamen runners post notices, they even went door to door to mobilize the citizens. As a result, the citizens of the villages were instantly mobilized. Those who chased the chickens, those who went into the fields to catch the locusts, the tens of thousands of citizens of Lantian County gradually embarked on the path of self-preservation.
…
At this moment, the court was bustling with activity.
"… Based on the news that I have received, Qi Province, Qing Province, Bian Province, Hua Province, Zhengzhou, Jin Province, Luo Province, Chen Province, Xu Province, Shang Province, Yong Province, Bing Province, Lu Province, and Chang 'an, fourteen provinces and more than two hundred counties have all encountered a locust plague. Moreover, the locusts are overwhelming and are spreading towards Feng Province and Qi Province. The scale of this locust plague is extremely large. Even in the previous dynasty, it is extremely rare. I have summoned all of you here today to discuss a plan to eradicate the locusts! If any of you have a good plan, please speak freely! "
In the Taiji Palace.
The civil and military officials, who had just finished their morning court session, were once again summoned by Li Er. Li Er sat at the head of the table and looked at everyone with a serious expression.
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, the citizens have believed that the locusts from the sky represent the wrath of the heavens. The people will definitely spread rumors about this. The most important thing now is to stabilize the people's hearts. Your Majesty should personally go to the fields, kill the livestock, set up incense tables, pray to the heavens, and grant amnesty to the people to calm their hearts!"
The leader of Confucianism, Kong Yingda, stood up and cupped his hands at Li Er.
From the perspective of the ancients, Kong Yingda's suggestion was not wrong. Looking at the previous emperors, most of their reactions to the locusts' plague were like this!
Because the people of ancient times did not have complete scientific knowledge, many people had a panicked mentality about the locusts' plague. The ancient concept of the unity of man and nature naturally made people associate it with the wrath of the heavens as a warning to the human world.
There was a saying that went well: the idea determines the way out! With such an idea, the next thing to do would definitely not be to think of an effective method to control the locusts' plague, but to pray in the fields, praying for the locusts to show mercy. But obviously, the locusts' army would definitely not do as the emperor and the citizens wished. After the locusts ate up all the grains in the citizens' fields, those rulers who were slightly more far-sighted would open the granaries to the citizens, so that the citizens would not be driven into a corner and rebel!
Once Kong Yingda's words were spoken, many officials in the imperial court immediately echoed in agreement.
"Your Majesty, Chancellor Kong is extremely right! The most important thing now is to stabilize the people's hearts! "
"That's right! Your Majesty, please set up an altar to pray and grant amnesty to the people! "
Li Er, who was sitting at the head of the table, couldn't help but frown when he heard that. This was because he didn't think that praying to the heavens could make the locusts disappear.
Seeing Li Er frown, Zhangsun Wuji stood up and said, "Your Majesty, although Chancellor Kong's words are reasonable, I believe that the most important thing now is to issue an imperial edict to announce to the world, to summon the citizens to take action immediately to resist the locusts' plague!"
When Kong Yingda heard that, he couldn't help but ask, "May I ask Duke Zhao, the locusts' plague is a calamity from the heavens, how are the citizens going to resist it?"
Zhangsun Wuji said, "Our Tang Dynasty has millions of citizens, if everyone goes to the fields to catch locusts, why would we worry about the locusts' plague not being extinguished? No matter what, I believe that the effect will be better than praying to the heavens! "
Kong Yingda was slightly angry, "Nonsense! Let's not talk about how the locusts cover the sky and the sun, there are countless citizens who believe in the locusts as divine worms. If Duke Zhao wants them to catch locusts, how would they be willing? "
Zhangsun Wuji said with a stern face, "Chancellor Kong, you are also a well-read person, you should know better than anyone that the talk of divine worms is complete nonsense. Locusts eat the crops and harm the citizens, they should be pests. I believe that Your Majesty should immediately issue an imperial edict to label locusts as pests, to encourage the citizens to kill them out of anger!"
"That's right! How can a mere locusts be divine worms? If they are killed, then so be it. Don't tell me that the heavens will send down divine punishment because of this? "
Cheng Yaojin couldn't help but speak up.
His family's manor was currently being harmed by locusts, and he didn't have any good feelings towards locusts! Moreover, Old Cheng had killed countless people in his life, how could he be afraid of killing locusts!
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also expressed their views at this moment, "I agree with Duke Zhao's suggestion!"
Actually, there were many officials who understood that the talk of locusts being divine worms was nonsense. There were still many rational people, but they lacked a leader to stand out! Now that Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui all stood on the side of "killing locusts", there were instantly many voices of agreement.
"Your Majesty should issue an imperial edict to summon the citizens to kill locusts!"
"Locusts aren't divine worms, they are pests and should be killed!"
Li Er's frowning brows finally relaxed at this moment. He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Since ancient times, food is the most important thing to the people, and locusts eat crops as food, harming the common people. How can they be called divine worms? Today, a plague of locusts has broken out in dozens of prefectures of the Tang Empire, and the people have no way to make a living. Today, in the name of the Emperor of the Tang Empire, I issue an imperial edict to summon the people of the world to hunt locusts together. If the heavens are angry because of this, I am willing to bear the divine punishment as the Emperor, and I will not regret it! "
Li Er's loud voice was like an oath to the heavens and the earth. His voice was like a great bell, and it resounded in every corner of the Taiji Palace. When the officials heard this, they were all moved. Although they didn't believe that locusts were divine worms, no one in the palace today was disrespectful to the heavens and earth, and even more so to the gods and ghosts! In their eyes, Li Er's words were definitely a benevolent emperor who sacrificed himself to save the common people!
"Father! You can't do this! If the heavens really have divine punishment, then let it descend on your son! "
Li Chengqian, who was standing below Li Er, was anxious and hurriedly bowed.
"Your Majesty, please take back what you said just now. If the heavens have divine punishment, I, Zhangsun Wuji, am willing to bear the divine punishment for Your Majesty with my old and weak body!"
Zhangsun Wuji bowed deeply and said in a deep voice.
The officials followed suit and bowed. "Your Majesty, please take back what you said just now. If the heavens have divine punishment, we are willing to bear the divine punishment for Your Majesty!"
The emperor loved the people, the officials loved the emperor, and the officials were willing to die for the emperor. This harmonious scene between the emperor and his officials could be considered as a beautiful story in the beginning of the Tang Dynasty!
Li Er heaved a sigh of relief, then shook his head and said, "I am the emperor of a country. I am doing this for the common people of the world, for the country. I have a clear conscience. I don't believe that the heavens will punish me because of this! Zhao Song, immediately write a decree and announce what I said just now to the world! "
Zhao Song said with a heavy face, "This old servant obeys the decree!"
Kong Yingda cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wholeheartedly for the common people, and will definitely move the heavens! But the locusts in the various counties are endless. If we only rely on manpower to catch the locusts, when will we be able to catch all of them? At that time, the crops in the fields would have been completely destroyed! So, I hope that Your Majesty can make plans early and order the various counties to prepare to open their granaries to appease the people! "
Li Er's face did not show any signs of panic. Instead, he smiled confidently and said, "Minister Kong, do you still remember the decree that the imperial court issued last year?"
Last summer, under Li Zexuan's pressure, Li Zexuan offered three strategies to deal with locusts. One of the strategies was to use the decree to reduce taxes on chickens to attract the common people to raise a large number of chickens. Then, when the locusts came, the chickens would be used to kill a portion of the locusts!
However, due to the fact that the locust plague prophecy could not be leaked out, only Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, these three important officials of the empire knew about it. Furthermore, these three officials were ordered by Li Ersan to keep it a secret. Thus, most of the officials did not know about the deeper meaning behind the decree of reducing taxes for raising chickens!
Kong Yingda heard and nodded. "Of course, I remember! But Your Majesty mentioned the decree to reduce taxes on chickens. What's the benefit of dealing with locusts? "
Li Er smiled, then nodded towards Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Auxiliary Machine, you speak!"
Zhangsun Wuji clasped his hands and said to Kong Yingda, "Chancellor Kong, last year, under the imperial court's decree to reduce taxes on chickens, the number of chickens raised by the common people in the various counties increased greatly. Chickens love to eat locusts the most. If the common people were to drive all their chickens into the fields, I believe that many locusts could be eliminated! Moreover, last year, the imperial court sent a fleet down south to exchange for grain. Now, the granaries of the Great Tang Empire are filled with grain. Even if the common people lose a portion of their crops, the imperial court has the ability to save them! "
Not only Kong Yingda, the other officials in the imperial court were shocked. They were not shocked by the strategy of using chickens to eliminate locusts. Instead, they were shocked when they thought of the imperial court's decree to reduce taxes on chickens and exchange for grain. This year, when the locusts came, Li Er and Zhangsun Wuji just happened to propose the strategy of using chickens to eliminate locusts. How could there be so many coincidences in between?
Could it be that when Li Er proposed the decree to reduce taxes on chickens, he had already predicted that there would be a locusts plague this year?
Thinking back to last year when the imperial court sent a fleet to the south to trade for grain, this … all of this seemed to have been planned by Li Er. Kong Yingda and the other officials looked at Li Er with a trace of horror in their eyes!
Our Emperor is actually able to know about the future? Terrifying, this is really terrifying!
This was the common thought of all the officials who did not know the truth!
After a long silence, Kong Yingda still felt that something was wrong. He clasped his hands towards Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Chickens can eat locusts, but last year, as the common people were buying chicken seedlings, it caused the price of chicken seedlings to skyrocket. In the end, every household could only raise 30 to 40 chickens at most. However, every household has at least 30 to 40 mu of land. These 30 to 40 chickens are just a drop in the bucket!"
When Zhangsun Wuji heard this, he could not help but be silent. Because what Zhangsun Wuji said was the truth. Last year, the price of chicken seedlings in Chang 'an City was definitely the most expensive in the past ten years. Even if the imperial court launched the policy of reducing taxes on chickens, the common people could not raise many chickens in one household!
It was not that they did not want to raise them, but that they could not afford to raise them!
Li Er, who was sitting at the head of the table, could not help but turn gloomy.
"If 30 to 40 chickens are not enough, then how about 150 thousand?"
At this moment, a loud voice came from outside the Taiji Palace. Immediately after, a dignified young man strode in. Although this young man was not wearing an official's robe, his aura was extraordinary. Who else could it be other than Li Zexuan?
…
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