"In fact, apart from the seeds, I'm here today for the finance minister." Li Shimin looked at Su Lingnong.
"I'm afraid. What's the matter, Your Majesty?" Su Lingnong said hurriedly.
"Since ancient times, there must be a plague of locusts after a drought. Today, it was a drought in early spring. Although the army and people in Guanzhong worked together to survive the drought, I'm afraid that there will be another plague of locusts like the one in the second year of Zhenguan. So, I want to find the finance minister to check the situation and make preparations in advance."
Li Shimin thought of the common plague of locusts in the second year of Zhenguan and couldn't help but shiver.
"Your Majesty, since the second year of Zhenguan, Your Majesty swallowed the locusts and declared your will to the gods and ghosts. From then on, the Tang dynasty will no longer have to worry about the plague of locusts." Su Lingnong complimented.
Hearing Su Lingnong's compliment, Li Shimin felt complacent. It was the most dazzling thing in his life when he swallowed the locusts and killed them.
Li Shimin pretended to be modest but actually showed off, "Although I've killed the locusts at that time, I'm afraid that the locusts will go back on their words after a few years and cause more harm."
During the drought in spring, Li Shimin killed the Dragon King angrily and got rid of the ignorant superstitions. Of course, he didn't believe that he could subdue the plague of locusts forever by swallowing one.
"The Minister has already ordered me to come immediately if there is any sign of the plague of locusts. The Minister hasn't been in the court these days, but everyone in the Agriculture Temple knows that I'm in the Mo Mansion. I haven't come to report the plague of locusts." Su Lingnong was confused.
Li Shimin also said gloomily, "Besides, there is no sign of the plague of locusts in the counties of Guannei Circuit. I'm also worried, so I come to ask the finance minister to go to the outskirts of Chang 'an to investigate."
There must be a plague of locusts in a drought. This was a thousand-year law. Li Shimin couldn't be at ease until he confirmed it himself. Meanwhile, he was also worried that some county officials would hide the plague of locusts and not report it for fear that it would cause a disaster.
Merton said, "Your Majesty, I know a thing or two about this."
Li Shimin looked at Meton and immediately said, "If you didn't mention it, I would have forgotten. Mo Magazine didn't report any signs of a locust plague either!"
Meton nodded and said, "At this time, there are no locust plagues in Guanzhong. One reason is because it is spring, and the army and people are fighting a large scale drought, which lessens the drought."
Su Lingnong nodded. Reducing the drought could indeed slow down the locust plague.
"The second is the Guanzhong area. Ever since the Mohists created the artificial incubation technology, they were the first to sell chicks, ducks, and geese to the Guanzhong area. Now, the families in the Guanzhong area are raising chickens and ducks. These locusts are natural food for the chickens and ducks," Meton continued.
Li Shimin's eyes widened. He stared at Merton in disbelief. "You're saying that these chickens and ducks destroyed the plague of locusts?"
Meton nodded gravely and said, "It is natural for chickens to eat insects. The people in Guanzhong do not have enough food. How could they bear to use food to raise chickens and ducks? The locusts covering the mountains are the natural food for the chickens, ducks, and geese. The people in Guanzhong caught large amounts of locusts to feed the chickens and ducks. They even drove the chickens and ducks into the fields like herding livestock and had them hunt for locusts to feed themselves. "
"Herding chickens and ducks." Li Shimin's eyes lit up.
Meton praised. "Your Majesty's description is very apt. The people saved on food and destroyed the locusts. This method is killing two birds with one stone."
"Chickens and ducks can destroy a plague of locusts?" Su Lingnong said in disbelief. In his long life, every time there was a plague of locusts, it was a struggle that made people despair.
"Of course one or two chickens and ducks are not possible, but what about thousands, or tens of thousands?" Merton asked. Before this, due to the scarcity of poultry, it was impossible for such a large scale of chickens and ducks to appear. But ever since the Mohists created artificial incubation technology, the number of chickens, ducks, and geese was no longer a limit. It was possible for herding chickens and ducks to destroy locusts. Otherwise, even if they knew the method, they could only sigh helplessly.
"Of course, it is not possible to destroy a large scale plague of locusts. But it is possible to use this method to destroy a plague of locusts that has just arisen and a small one. The Mohists outside the city are herding ducks to destroy locusts. Your Majesty, are you interested in watching?" Merton said.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Su Lingnong said impatiently. If this method of destroying locusts could succeed, then it would be the good fortune of the people.
Outside the city gates, the Mohists' experimental fields.
"Gugugugu!"
When Li Shimin and the others got off the carriage, they heard a deafening sound wave.
"What is this sound? Why is it so loud?" Li Shimin asked in shock.
Su Lingnong's expression immediately became very interesting. He said loudly, "Your Majesty, this is the sound of domestic ducks."
Li Shimin thought to himself. Although he had been in the palace for a long time, it was not as if he had never seen domestic ducks. Although domestic ducks were a little noisy, they were not so noisy.
Meton smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, this is the sound of tens of thousands of ducks."
At this moment, the sun was already setting in the west. Li Shimin saw a spectacular scene.
Ducks carrying round bellies full of food were chased out of the fields by the disciples of the Mo Family. Everywhere they went, locusts would fly in all directions. However, they were all caught by the ducks with lightning speed and swallowed.
Ten ducks, a hundred ducks, a thousand ducks, and even tens of thousands of ducks. Each of them was like a soldier returning from a victory, proudly boasting about their military exploits.
"Young Master!" Mo Da saw his young master and quickly went forward to greet him.
"How is the eradication of the locusts?" Su Lingnong quickly asked.
"Lord Su, we have invested close to ten thousand ducks this time. In just one day, I guarantee that the locusts in the hundreds of mu of experimental fields will be completely eradicated." The tanned Mo Da knew that Lord Su in front of him was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, so he quickly replied.
"A small domestic duck can eat so many locusts?" Li Shimin was surprised.
"Lord Su, you may not know, but domestic ducks eat a lot. Moreover, they are slow and easy to control. It is much easier than herding chickens." Mo Da wiped his sweat and smiled. Although he did not know Li Shimin, he knew that the young master must be an important official to accompany him.
Li Shimin did not believe it. He personally went to the fields to investigate. In the end, he found that wherever the domestic ducks walked, not only were the locusts completely eradicated, even some insects were wiped out.
One must know that in this era, there were no pesticides or chemicals. The locusts could be said to be endless. He did not expect that herding ducks would have such an effect.
"Your Majesty, it is difficult to eradicate locusts. In addition to being able to reproduce in large numbers, they are also difficult to catch. Moreover, they can fly and migrate. As long as they are discovered in advance and released, the plague of locusts can be eradicated before it sprouts. Moreover, the herding ducks raised by the people are fat and delicious. It is a rare delicacy." Merton said.
Su Lingnong was immediately excited. "Good! With this good method, the Tang dynasty will no longer fear the plague of locusts. "
He looked at Meton with gratitude. Before this, Meton had already promoted the artificial incubation technology throughout the Tang dynasty. The Tang dynasty certainly did not lack chickens and ducks. As long as the method of herding ducks was promoted throughout the country, the occurrence of locusts in the Tang dynasty would almost be reduced to a minimum.
"Misfortune is a blessing in disguise; a blessing in disguise. The ancients did not deceive me." Li Shimin sighed.
Cotton seemed to be a blessing in the Tang dynasty, but it hid a disaster that caused the currency of the Tang dynasty to collapse. The plague of locusts was originally a great disaster, but it could be solved by the method of herding ducks. It was a delicacy.
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