The atmosphere in the study was extremely stifling.
Li Zongyuan's parents had already believed in their son's prophecy, but even if they knew about it in advance, what could they do? At most, they could stock up a batch of food in advance to ensure that their family members wouldn't starve to death.
But there would still be tens of thousands of people starving to death because of the lack of food. Although Li Zongyuan's parents weren't exactly good people, they knew that many people would starve to death in the future, but they couldn't do anything about it. Their hearts were filled with grief.
Li Zexuan had been worried that if his father knew about the locust plague, he would try to stock up on food in advance so that he could raise the price of food and make a fortune from the disaster. But looking at his father's sorrowful face, Li Zexuan knew that he was overthinking things. He secretly chided himself for being a petty person.
However, knowing that his father wasn't a petty merchant, Li Zexuan felt gratified in his heart. He walked in front of his father and firmly said, "Don't worry.
"Father, if we don't try, how can we know that we can't fight against the heavens? Master once said that the world thinks that men can't fight against the heavens, but they don't know that it's just an excuse that the weak find for themselves. As long as we try our best, then men can defeat the heavens! "
When Li Jingmo heard his son's words, he felt his blood boil. He raised his head and asked his son,
He raised his head and asked, "Xuan 'er, have you thought of a good idea?"
Li Zexuan sat back down on the stool, took a sip of tea, and nodded.
"Ever since I returned from Mount Longhu, I've been thinking of a solution. In those days, when I thought about how the Great Tang would starve for thousands of miles in a year, I was so worried that I couldn't eat or sleep …"
"Cough cough! Don't talk nonsense, get to the point! "Li Jingmo hurriedly interrupted.
He cursed in his heart. You still have the face to say that you can't eat or sleep? You eat in different ways every day, and you even made a chicken to eat. And you don't even wake up until late in the morning!
Madam Li was also amused by her son's shameless words. She realized that her son's skin was getting thicker and thicker. But this was also good. A thick-skinned person wouldn't suffer losses easily. In Madam Li's eyes, her son was good.
Seeing that his parents' expressions were not as dejected as before, Li Zexuan knew that his goal had been achieved, so he stopped fooling around and seriously said,
"Today, I thought of a method that can eliminate the locusts to a large extent. At the very least, it can ensure that the grain in our family's farmstead will not be harmed!"
Li Zexuan saw a rooster snatch away a grasshopper brought by Iron Egg today, so he came up with a plan.
In this era without chemical pesticides, Li Zexuan could only think of using biological control to deal with locusts. The overwhelming number of locusts was obviously not something that could be caught by hand. They could only breed animals that could hunt locusts.
The power of biological control was not to be underestimated. Li Zexuan read a technical post in his previous life. According to statistics, a black-spotted frog could hunt more than 135 locusts (the larvae of locusts) per day, a swamp frog could hunt more than 120 locusts per day, a toad could hunt more than 160 locusts per day, and an adult bird could eat 167 adult locusts per day.
Imagine if tens of millions of white birds could be brought in now. When the locusts outbreak next year, just these tens of millions of white birds could eat all the locusts in the Tang Empire overnight.
However, because birds and frogs were not easy to breed on a large scale, Li Zexuan wanted to set up a large-scale chicken farm. He wanted to use all the resources of the Han Family Manor to breed as many as they could.
Li Jingmo had traveled extensively for so many years, but he had never heard of a method to deal with the locusts. Hearing this, he asked curiously, "Xuan 'er, what method have you thought of?"
Li Zexuan did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Father, if there is a method to deal with locusts that can guarantee that the Han Family Manor will not suffer any losses when the locusts come, but it will require our family to fork out a large amount of money. Father, are you willing to do it?"
Li Jingmo glared at him and said angrily, "You brat, what kind of person do you think your father is? Saving a life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. If there is a way, how can your father not help?"
Madam Li also agreed, "Xuan 'er, if you have a method, just say it. Your father and I will support you fully. If the money is gone, your father can still earn more. However, to see so many people starve to death, I'm afraid I won't be able to rest in peace for the rest of my life! "
Li Zexuan was also touched by his mother's sincere kindness. He nodded and continued, "Father, your method is simple.
"Father, your son's method is very simple. Our family will be responsible for providing the Han Family Village with chicken seedlings. Let all the villagers help us raise chickens. Based on the number of chickens raised by each villager, we will reduce their rent by 10% to 30%.
When the locusts come next year and the chickens have grown up, we can have the farmers herd the chickens into the fields and let the chickens eat all the locusts.
This way, not only will the crops be protected, the chickens will also grow faster. When the locusts are over, we can sell the chickens or supply them directly to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. In this way, we won't lose money and can even help the farmers. "
Li Jingmo listened to his son's plan while thinking in his heart. When his son finished, he realized that his son's plan was logical and logical. He had considered all the problems and couldn't help but feel gratified. However, he still had a question in his heart.
He asked, "Xuan 'er, your idea is quite thorough. It may not be impossible. However, with just these chickens, can we really eat all the locusts in the Han Family Manor?"
Li Zexuan smiled confidently, "Father, don't underestimate the chickens.
"Father, don't underestimate the ability of chickens. I once read a book that said that an adult chicken can eat up to three hundred locusts a day. By then, I estimate that twenty chickens can almost guarantee that there will be no locusts in one mu of land. As long as the plan goes smoothly, we can fight against the heavens!
Moreover, the chickens fed with locusts will grow faster and their meat will be incomparably delicious. After the locusts are over, if we supply the chickens to the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, we can definitely raise the price. "
Although Li Jingmo didn't know which book would record such a boring matter, seeing his son's solemn vow, he nodded thoughtfully.
Madam Li then asked, "Xuan 'er, if we herd the chickens into the fields, what will happen if they eat the crops?"
Li Zexuan smiled, "Mother, with so many locusts in the fields, the chickens definitely won't have the appetite to eat the crops!"
Madam Li was enlightened.
Li Zexuan saw that his parents were more or less convinced and asked his father,
"Father, how much money can we spare at this stage?"
Li Jingmo thought for a moment, then said, "Give me three days, and I can probably spare three hundred thousand strings of cash for you!"
When Li Zexuan heard this, he was shocked. He knew that his father was rich, but he didn't expect him to be so rich that he could spare three hundred thousand strings of cash in just three days.
Currently, the entire Tang Empire's annual revenue was only about twenty million strings of cash.
Moreover, this three hundred thousand strings of cash was only a portion of the liquid assets. Adding in the immovable assets, Li Zexuan couldn't imagine how rich his family was.
When Li Jingmo saw his son swallowing his saliva in shock, he couldn't help but feel a little proud. He had finally regained some of his status in the family.
Li Zexuan was stunned for a moment before saying, "Father, let's spare some money.
You can get someone to buy food. We'll stock up as much as we can. With more food, we'll have more confidence. As for the other one hundred and fifty thousand strings of cash, I'll use a portion to buy chicken seedlings for the Han Village and build a chicken coop. The remaining portion will be kept for emergencies. Father, what do you think? "
With a solution, and more importantly, with the support of his father's strong financial strength, Li Zexuan was in high spirits. He secretly rejoiced that he was reborn as a rich second generation. Otherwise, even if he had a way to control the locusts, it would only be a small matter. But now, it was completely different. If the plan went smoothly, Li Zexuan could save a large area of people.
Li Jingmo stroked his beard and said, "Okay, we'll follow Xuan 'er's plan. But today's matter must not be spread, or our family will be in trouble. "
Li Zexuan knew that this was a serious matter. He nodded and said, "Father, don't worry. I know the severity of the matter. In a few days, when Iron Egg's injuries are healed, I'll go with them to the Han Village and discuss this matter with Han Lizheng. The sooner this plan is carried out, the better! "
Li Jingmo nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Madam Li smiled meaningfully and said, "Xuan 'er, you're not young anymore. It's time to think about marriage. Mother thinks that Miss Han is not bad."
Li Jingmo's face was full of question marks. He didn't know what was going on.
However, Li Zexuan's old face turned red, and he was greatly embarrassed. He hurriedly fled.
Madam Li shook her head and laughed, "This child …"
… …
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