Regardless of whether Li Ersheng's original intention of swallowing the locusts was for show, one thing was undeniable. The positive effects of swallowing the locusts alive were irreplaceable by any other method!
"Hiss! Quick, look! The 15 villages in Lantian County were completely cleared of the locusts yesterday! And it is estimated that the remaining villages in Lantian County will also be cleared of the locusts today! "
"How … How is this possible?"
"It's true! The Marquis of Yong 'an used 150 thousand chickens to form the Sky Chicken Brigade, and the children from the Han Village and Plum Village are all proficient in training chickens. Yesterday, those children led the Sky Chicken Brigade from the Han Village and Plum Village all the way north. They used more than four hours to clear out the locusts in 15 villages! At this speed, they will definitely be able to clear out all the locusts in Lantian County today! "
"Yes, yes, yes! It's true! My cousin is from the Wang Village in Lantian County. Yesterday, the Sky Chicken Brigade indeed went to their village. Now, there are basically no more locusts in the fields! "
"Hiss! So using chickens to kill locusts is really a reliable method? "
"Of course! Look at this news. Didn't the Marquis of Yong 'an say that an adult chicken can eat up to 300 locusts a day? 20 chickens can more or less guarantee that there are no locusts in one mu of land. Marquis's Sky Chicken Brigade had 150 thousand chickens that day. Logically speaking, they should be able to clear out all the locusts in Lantian County in two days! "
"150 thousand! How did the Marquis of Yong 'an raise so many chickens? "
"Hey! Do you know who first proposed the policy of reducing taxes for raising chickens last year? It was the Marquis of Yong 'an! He first implemented it in the Han Village and Plum Village, but the Marquis of Yong 'an is kind and gave out free chicken seedlings to the villagers. Not only can the villagers reduce their rent by raising chickens, but the eggs that the chickens lay also belong to the villagers! I heard that in just one year, the villagers from the Han Village and Plum Village earned dozens of strings of coins just by selling eggs! "
"So much? No wonder the villagers from the Han Village and Plum Village built new houses! "
"But my brother-in-law is also from Lantian County. Why didn't he receive such treatment?"
"Hey! Your brother-in-law should be from another village in Lantian County, right? One had to know that the Han Family Village and the Plum Village were the first villages to be incorporated into Marquis's fief. How could their treatment be the same? However, now that the entire Lantian County belongs to the Marquis of Yong 'an, the disparity between the various villages will definitely become smaller and smaller. I heard that Marquis is now getting people to pull wires into Lantian County. The people of Lantian County are getting more and more fortunate ~! "
"Sigh! That's right! I heard that the electric light is very bright! It's dozens of times brighter than a candle! "
"Eh? Do you think Marquis knew in advance that there would be a locust plague this year? Otherwise, why would he buy so many chickens in advance? "
When the commoners saw the news about Lantian County's locust eradication, they could not help but discuss it. However, it was unknown who said that Li Zexuan might have predicted this year's locust plague. The others could not help but look at each other. They all had the same guess!
"Hey! Have you all forgotten? Marquis is the son of a deity. Even if he predicted this year's locust plague, what's so strange about that? "
"That's right, that's right! I heard that the government's policy of reducing taxes on raising chickens last year was all pushed by Marquis! "
"If that's the case, Marquis is our great benefactor!"
"His Majesty is an ancient sage. Marquis must have been sent by the heavens to assist His Majesty!"
"That's right, that's right! Our days will definitely get better and better! "
Li Zexuan had never thought of letting the commoners know that he had mentioned the locust plague prophecy to the government last year. However, he did not expect that with all the coincidences, some of the commoners had guessed it themselves. Moreover, the results of their guesses were very close to the truth!
"Did you see that? Tomorrow, Marquis will bring the Sky Pheasant Brigade to the neighboring counties to eradicate the locusts! What are we waiting for? Let's go home and prepare first! "
"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go home and catch the locusts! The locusts we catch now can be sold for some money. When the Sky Pheasant Brigade comes, we won't be able to catch any more locusts! "
"Haha! Look at you, Zhao Ergou, are you speaking human language? Do you think that the locusts will be eradicated too quickly? When the time comes, can't you just not let the Sky Pheasant Brigade go to your fields? "
"That … That won't do! How can locusts be more expensive than grain? Without grain, our families will have to starve! "
As the government of each county was purchasing locusts, the commoners were actually feeling a little conflicted. If the locusts were eradicated too quickly, they would not be able to catch locusts and sell them for money. However, if the locusts were eradicated too slowly, the crops in the fields would all be destroyed!
However, most of the people still knew what was important. Compared to the small amount of money they could make from selling the locusts, the crops in the fields were undoubtedly more important! Now that they knew that the Sky Pheasant Brigade was going to cross counties to eradicate the locusts, the commoners from other counties quickly rushed back home and called on everyone at home to capture the locusts before the Sky Pheasant Brigade arrived!
In this way, they could not only make a small fortune, but also quickly eradicate the locusts and reduce the loss of crops!
It had to be said that Li Zexuan's combination of taking down the locusts and Li Zexuan's Sky Pheasant Brigade crossing counties to eradicate the locusts was really a beautiful combination. It instantly ignited the hope of the commoners who were originally in a state of despair due to the locusts' plague. They joined the team to eradicate the locusts and save themselves with high morale!
…
"Mr. Zhang San, this is the sea map to the North American continent. I have marked some of the small islands that can provide supplies for the fleet. The location of some of the islands may not be very accurate, but the general direction is definitely correct! The people living in the North American continent are a group of uncivilized people. I call them the Indians!
They are the natives of the North American continent. They do not have a unified dynasty like the Tang Empire. At this time, they should still be living in a tribal way. Mr. Zhang San, if the people you bring really reach the North American continent, remember not to kill the innocent at the beginning. After all, compared to the entire Indian community, your people are still too small! You have to win their trust first, strive for their help, and gain a firm foothold in the area! "
In the morning, after Li Zexuan had breakfast, he brought a package to Yanhuang College and found the bearded man. At this time, the bearded man was tasting wine with Li Zexuan. Li Zexuan did not avoid Wang Ji and directly told the bearded man the purpose of his visit!
A complicated expression flashed across the bearded man's face. He put down the wine glass and took the sea map that he had been longing for from Li Zexuan. But strangely, at this time, he did not have the intention to open it and take a look. Perhaps he was reluctant to part with it!
Sighing, the bearded man clasped his fist at Li Zexuan and said, "Thank you, Yamachō!"
He was not a wishy-washy person. Even if he had thousands of words in his heart, he was not willing to be wishy-washy and long-winded. All his feelings were expressed in these four words, "Thank you, Yamachō!"
Wang Ji, who was sitting at the side, was a little surprised. He looked at the bearded man and said in astonishment, "Mr. Zhang San, you're leaving the college?"
The bearded man looked at his drinking buddy who had accompanied him for nearly a year. A trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but on the surface, he laughed heartily and said, "Haha! There's no banquet that lasts forever in this world. Although the wine in the college is good and the people are good, the vast sea is what I, Zhang Zhongjian, yearn for! The next time I step foot on Tang Dynasty's soil, I'll definitely find you, Old Wang, and drink for three days and three nights until we're drunk! "
Wang Ji's face revealed a trace of sadness. He sighed and said, "Since Zhongjian likes sailing and adventuring, then go! A person's life is only a short few decades. To be able to do something you like, this kind of life is the most exciting! But with Zhongjian gone, this old man will have one less drinking buddy. No matter how fragrant the Immortal Drunken Wine is, I'm afraid it can only intoxicate the person but not the heart ~! Haha! Yamachō, Zhongjian, you guys chat. I'll take a walk around the workshop! "
After saying that, Wang Ji shook his head and walked away. Looking at his hunched back, he seemed to have aged a little!
"Mr. Wang has a proud and aloof personality. I'm afraid there aren't many people in the world who can make him a confidant! Does Mr. Zhang San still insist on leaving? "
Li Zexuan paused for a moment and suddenly said.
The bearded man said faintly, "Since we're confidants, why should we care about distance? Besides, Tang Dynasty is flourishing with each passing day. With a wise ruler like Li Shimin and a virtuous minister like you, Yamachō, this old man can't imagine what Tang Dynasty will be like ten years later. Maybe when this old man can't survive overseas, I'll return to the college dejectedly and beg Yamachō for food and Old Wang for wine! "
Probably only the bearded man had the guts to call Second Master Li by his name in Tang Dynasty!
Li Zexuan said sincerely, "As long as Mr. Zhang San is willing, the doors of Yanhuang College will always be open for you!"
The bearded man's eyes flickered, then he sighed and said, "This year in the college has been the most relaxing year of this old man's life. There's no scheming, no hard work in martial arts, no bloodshed, and no fighting for hegemony. I've only taught a group of students, accepted a disappointing disciple, and had a drinking contest with Old Wang. It's really enjoyable!"
Hearing the words' accepted a disappointing disciple ', Li Zexuan almost laughed out loud. Back then, the bearded man wanted to train Cheng Chumo, so he accepted him as his personal disciple and taught him martial arts. However, Cheng Chumo's innate ambition was not to learn martial arts. Every time, he would use studying and preparing for exams to avoid the bearded man's training. The bearded man was not only Cheng Chumo's master, but also a teacher of the college. There was no reason for him to stop Cheng Chumo from learning the college's curriculum. Therefore, after a year, Cheng Chumo's martial arts did not improve much!
The bearded man did not have any intention of laughing. Instead, his gaze became somewhat resolute and he continued.
"The comfortable days have passed, and I've enjoyed what I wanted. Next, this old man will go back to the original days of being blown by wind and waves and licking blood from blades! With Yamachō's sea map, this old man can move unhindered on the sea. I, Zhang Zhongjian, want to see how high the sky is and how big the earth is! Haha! "
Facing such a heroic bearded man, Li Zexuan could not help but feel his heart waver. After a moment of hesitation, Li Zexuan took out a small booklet from his bag and said.
"The North American continent is rich in land and minerals. I have a few plants here that I need Mister Zhang San's help to bring back. Their appearance and growth habits are all recorded in this booklet! There are two things that are especially important. Mister Zhang San, please send people to find them and send them back to Great Tang no matter what!
The first thing I call a potato. Its body is yellow and perfectly round. The first leaf is a single leaf and is complete. As the plant grows, it will gradually form feathery compound leaves. The underground tuber is round, oval-shaped, oval, and so on. It has bud eyes and red, yellow, white, or purple skin. The yield of this thing is extremely high, more than a thousand catties per mu. It can be used to cook, and during times of famine, it can also be used as food to allay hunger! "
The bearded man said in surprise, "A thousand catties per mu? There's such a treasure in this world? "
One had to know that the grain crops of this era, such as rice and wheat, only had a yield of about a hundred catties per mu. If the harvest was not good, it would not be surprising to have a yield of several dozen catties per mu. Thus, when the bearded man heard that a potato could produce a thousand catties per mu, he immediately felt that it was inconceivable!
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "There's only more, not less. More importantly, potatoes are more drought-resistant than rice and wheat. Thus, Mister Zhang San, please bring back potatoes! There's also another crop, I call it corn. This thing is also very drought-resistant. It can produce at least three to four hundred catties per mu. The plant is tall, the leaves are flat and wide, and the carpels are spherical or oblate. After ripening, the carpels and carpels will be exposed. I've already drawn out its specific appearance. When the time comes, Mister Zhang San can have people follow the map and search for it! "
With the potato from before, the bearded man was no longer surprised by the corn. He took the small booklet from Li Zexuan's hands, then cupped his fists and said, "Yamachō has given me such a detailed map. It's just a few seeds. As long as I can find them, I'll definitely send someone to deliver them to Yamachō!"
Staying in the academy for a year and finding a few plants for Li Zexuan was originally the condition that the bearded man had promised Li Zexuan. There was nothing to dispute.
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "Other than potatoes and corn, there are other crops that are recorded in this booklet. If you can find them, that would be the best. If you can't, it's also fine!"
The bearded man nodded and said, "I'll definitely do my best!"
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Actually, if Mister Zhang San can wait for another half a year, I might be able to help you build a bigger and better ship for your voyage. The risk will definitely be much lower!"
The bearded man waved his hand and said, "Haha! Thank you for your kind intentions, Yamachō! However, this is the best season to go out to sea. In a few more months, the fleet might encounter wind, waves, rain, and snow on the way. Besides, the ships we have now are enough! If we really encounter a storm at sea, no matter how big the ship is, it won't be able to withstand it! "
Li Zexuan said helplessly, "Since Mister Zhang San insists on leaving, I won't stop you! I'll be going to another county tomorrow, and I don't know when I'll be back. Mister Zhang San can leave on your own after everything is ready! As for the compasses needed for the voyage, Mister Zhang San can ask Mister Wang for a batch. However, you must be careful not to let the compasses fall into the hands of foreigners! "
The bearded man said happily, "Yamachō, don't worry! I'll definitely not let the compasses fall into the hands of foreigners! "
"En!"
…
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