Royal road

With the din of gongs and drums and constant shouting, several men rushed to the field with their shoulders on their shoulders.On the shoulders, a statue of a god is wearing a blue and yellow outer garment, with a beard on the head and teeth in the mouth, with a hideous appearance.But no one dares to neglect this mud tire. This is the locust god that has been enshrined for decades. We must send him to the village to drive away the plague of insects!

"Hurry up!" someone yelled in front of him.

I saw people from Bailai Village all guarding the fields.The incense table has been prepared, and three animals are enshrined on it.It is really not easy to come up with such offerings after the calamity year.Just wait for the locust god to come!

"The locust god is here! The locust god is here!"

They were sweating profusely from running, and those people didn't dare to rest, so they hurriedly unloaded their shoulders and put the statue on the altar.This time, everyone fell to their knees and kowtowed reverently.

It has been famine for a year last year, and we can't suffer from another disaster!This is the ration of their whole village!

The village elder took the lead in singing the prayer, and the incense smoke emitted smoke, covering the surroundings of the divine case.Everyone didn't even dare to raise their heads, for fear of offending the locust god.However, the sky failed to fulfill one's wishes, and a palpitating buzzing sound came from the sky.

"Locusts...locusts..."

Some people's feet went limp and they fell to the ground, and more people screamed.The worms all over the sky didn't seem to care about the case at all, just like a burst of dark clouds, they fell on the green wheat seedlings.There was a soft rustling sound, it was the sound of insects gnawing on the green shoots.A man went crazy and wanted to rush into the field, but was held back by his neighbors.

"Great Immortal! Great Immortal, please be kind..."

The village elder cried so much that his face was full of tears, he kept kowtowing his head, bloodstains were soaked on his forehead.But why would locusts care?

After an unknown amount of time, there was a bang, and the locusts covering the sky and the sun flapped their wings together, and flew up into the sky, leaving only the empty ground, where even the weeds and bark were gnawed clean.

Such disasters happen more than once.Several states that experienced a severe drought last year were infested with large locusts.Locusts grow wings, travel hundreds of miles a day, and come out in groups, which is hard to guard against.I can only pray for the blessing of the Locust God, and let the disaster bypass my village.However, in another land, people worship another god and Buddha.

"The locusts are coming! Hurry up!"

The villagers who heard the call of the gong all hurried towards the entrance of the village.In the empty field that had been secluded long ago, the fire piled up one after another, like a high red wall, the flames were so bright that the stars and the moon were even eclipsed.

The familiar sound of flapping wings reappeared.However, this time, the locusts seemed to be in a daze, and instead of rushing towards the wheat field, they rushed towards the raging fire!

Just a flick of the flame swallowed up an unknown number of insects.The smell of burnt meat exudes in the air, but at this moment, no one dares to be negligent. The villagers hold up the nets more than ten feet wide in twos and threes, and kill the insects that have not penetrated into the fire.The crackling sound, like rain hitting lotus leaves, makes the back of the listener go numb.However, in the face of this overwhelming insect swarm, most people looked calm and showed no fear.

The net full of flying insects was quickly tied up, and after a while of beating, someone took a bamboo basket and poured it into it.Near the campfire, while adding firewood, the insect repellent men secretly picked up two burnt yellow insects and stuffed them into their mouths.Some can still remember to say two prayers, and some eat so much that their mouths are full of oil, so how can they care about other things?

After such a night of tossing, at dawn, the woman who got up early came to the edge of the field with her children.Or carry a basket, or hold a net, and catch fish that slip through the net along the ridge of the field.

A young child pounced on a green worm, and was about to tear off the thin wings of the worm, when the woman next to him hurriedly stopped her: "Good dog, this is not for playing. Put it in the bag first, and wait until Go home, mother will bake it for you."

Xu Shi thought of the taste of plump worms, the child swallowed his saliva, nodded vigorously, and stuffed the worms into the cloth pouch.

A group of women and children kept bending down to catch insects, just like hardworking birds.The wheat seedlings that have already jointed and headed are shaking gently in the breeze.

■

"Both Sizhou and Jizhou received news that only two counties were severely affected. The rest of the counties and counties had timely eradication of locusts, and the summer harvest should be fine." When he said this, Duan Qin only felt that his heart had been settled.

Bingzhou has been exterminating locusts for several years, with remarkable results.Even if a few pinches of locusts emerge, they can be extinguished quickly.In addition, the terrain of Bingzhou is relatively high, and it is not easy for locusts to fly over the mountains.

However, Bingzhou can avoid it, and Sizhou and Jizhou, which have not been recovered for a long time, are inevitably plagued by insects.Not to mention that there are too many fields that have been barren due to the war and have not been recultivated, and larvae are easy to breed.Even if great efforts are made to kill the insect eggs, the nearby Yongzhou, Youzhou, Yuzhou and other places will also fly in transit insect swarms.Sizhou, Jizhou and Pingchuan, how can we stop the migration of locusts?Therefore, it is still necessary for all counties to work together to eradicate migratory locusts.

However, in addition to digging pits and filling them, bonfires were also used for the extermination of locusts.Who would have thought that locusts, like moths, would throw themselves into flames?Therefore, if you encounter locusts at night, you only need to light the fire wall to kill most of them.

There are also nets for culling, taking advantage of the dew to wet wings in the early morning, catching and exterminating insect pests, etc.There are many methods, but the most critical one is "locusts can be eaten".

Who would have expected that this pest, which has harmed countless people, could be preserved?After Zigong came up with the idea of ​​"serving locusts to gods", the enthusiasm for exterminating locusts in various places increased several times.As long as there is the blessing of Buddha, who is afraid of little bugs?I am afraid that the more you eat, the more you will win the Buddha's favor!

The locusts are not small in oil and water, and they taste delicious. For the people who have no money to eat meat, they are really a rare delicacy.In times of famine, the soil and bark can be eaten up, so what is a mere locust?

Numerical methods in parallel finally curbed the pests.As long as there is a good harvest of grain this summer, the pressure on the refugees will be alleviated in the second half of the year.But a great joy.

"It's good not to delay the summer harvest." Liang Feng also let out a long sigh of relief, "The counties and counties affected by the disaster should replant some small beans and velvetleum. I'm afraid there will be locust plagues in autumn, so we need to plan early."

Locusts don't like to eat beans and hemp, which is also one of the ways to deal with pests.Duan Qin nodded: "It's just that the plague of locusts continues in Youzhou, and the Tuoba Department wants to sell more cattle and horses in exchange for food. There are also Jizhou seaports. I'm afraid there won't be too many merchants this year."

Locust plagues are also devastating to nomadic peoples.The Tuoba tribe can be regarded as an ally of Bingzhou, and the gang still needs to help.What's more, the other party is in a calamity year, so buying livestock now can be regarded as taking advantage of the fire and looting, with no harm at all.

Liang Feng frowned, "Is the disaster in Youzhou so serious?"

"Not only Youzhou, but the situation in Yongzhou and Qinzhou is also quite unbearable..." Duan Qin was half-speaking, and suddenly he was agitated, "Will things change?"

Liang Feng looked solemn, and said to the servants beside him, "Please Zhang Canjun come to the back hall."

Under the catastrophe, it is better to make plans early.

■

"If it hadn't been for the loss of Pingyang and Hedong counties, Chang'an would not be in such distress. I think it is still necessary to raise troops to take back the two counties and revive the country's prestige." Under the imperial steps, the servant Wang Yanlang said.

He was born in the nobles of the Huns, and married his granddaughter to the emperor, so he is naturally full of confidence.Even Liu Yao had to let him be three-pointed.

However, let it be let, Liu Yao's face also changed suddenly when he was pointed at his nose and scolded like this.Whose fault is it for the loss of Pingyang and Hedong?It's not all pushed on yourself!They also didn't think about it, when Qinzhou was in turmoil, who worked so hard to wipe out the rebellious soldiers?

It's good now, the false emperor Xingtai in Yongzhou has just been wiped out, and these people suddenly raised their voices.Obviously premeditated!

Gathering his mind, Liu Yao said: "Wang Shizhong's words are wrong. The locusts in Yongzhou are in short supply. How can we raise troops? I think we still have to wait until the disaster year..."

"Spend the year of disaster?" Someone on the side asked eccentrically, "How do we get through it? Borrowing food? Has King Qin forgotten how our clan dealt with the famine back then?"

How to deal with it?Naturally go for it!The Xiongnu great chanyus back then, which one was not like this?Harassing the border and plundering people's money and food is the only way to resist the famine.Even when the big Han is strong, they still have to rob other tribes, how can they help themselves?

"Now my emperor is no better than before, this matter cannot be taken lightly..." Liu Yao still wanted to hold on.

Wang Yan sneered: "Does the King of Qin have a disaster relief plan?"

Liu Yao was dumbfounded.Disaster relief?How to save?The locusts rained like rain, and they couldn't stop killing them. The grain harvest in Guanzhong was almost wiped out.First, there was a severe drought, then a great famine, and the Jin people continued to cause chaos. In just a few years, the Han Kingdom became such a crumbling state.On the other hand, the original mortal enemy, Bing, Si, and Ji prefectures did not cause too many locust plagues. Is this really arranged by heaven?

Shaking his head violently, he drove this dangerous thought out of his mind, and said forcefully: "Even so, attacking Bingzhou may not be feasible..."

"If your Majesty recruits Qiang and Di, you can raise another army. Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses will overwhelm the border, and you won't be able to take the east of the river?" Wang Yan refused to give an inch, "It would be even better if we can go all the way east and take Sizhou I heard that Luoyang stored a lot of food last year, as long as we invade the city, we can solve the urgent need!"

Luoyang has lost the emperor, and it stands to reason that it should be easier to attack than before.But Liu Yao was still a little hesitant. Now that the two generals Wang Mi and Shi Le have died one after another, Luoyang City has changed its defense again, so it may not be easy to fight.However, when his eyes looked towards the palace, a chill suddenly surged up.

No, this is no longer a question of whether to fight or not, but how to solve the dilemma he faces.

Two consecutive years of catastrophe have shaken the minds of the nobles of the Xiongnu, and more and more people no longer trust his ability to lead the army.Even if they tried their best to wipe out the rebels, they would not be able to withstand the crime of losing Pingyang and Hedong.

And without the military spirit, it is extremely dangerous for him, the adopted son of the late emperor.The little emperor was getting older, and sooner or later he would regain power one day.But their own strength is weakening step by step.Not to mention taking power from the hands of the emperor, I am afraid that it will be difficult to protect himself.

He's got to have a few wins.Even if it's just taking back Hedong, or taking a small victory like Henan County!

Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands and said to the emperor on the throne: "Your Majesty should decide this matter!"

The little emperor on the seat hesitated for a moment: "Pingyang is the old capital after all..."

This sentence is enough.

Liu Yao fell to his knees immediately: "I am willing to take back the old capital for Your Majesty!"