Chapter 697: Small Official

If a locust plague occurs in local officials' posts, the officials will take the blame and impeach themselves, but Su You can no longer take care of it.

Now we need to quickly put out the signs of disaster.

I don't know who the unlucky person was who spread the word, saying that the locust plague would lead to officials being demoted, and that Xiao Su Shaobao would probably not stay in Kaifeng Mansion.

Now the farmers were anxious. During the day, men, women and children all went out to kill the locusts using ancient methods.

The so-called ancient method is thanks to Yao Chong, a famous official during the Kaiyuan period.

Before Yao Chong, the locust plague was a manifestation of the emperor's moral incompetence. The court did not support hunting and killing, believing that it was impossible to eliminate the densely packed locusts that covered the sky and covered the fields. This was a punishment sent by God.

Usually, people build temples to pray and ask the Locust God to receive magical powers.

The story of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty eating locusts is certainly commendable for his courage, but his actions and words caused God to transfer the guilt to himself, which had some counter-effects and made everyone more afraid of the power of locusts.

In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, there was a big locust attack in Shandong. The people "all burned incense and offered sacrifices to pray for mercy. They saw the seedlings being eaten and dared not approach them with their hands."

Prime Minister Yao Chong proposed for the first time that the government should organize the people and take the initiative to eliminate locusts.

When Yao Chong expressed his suggestion in the court, he was immediately questioned by many people. Bai Juyi mentioned this matter in his poem - "What's the point of catching locusts? It only makes hungry people work harder."

Fei. Even if one insect dies and hundreds of insects come, how can manpower be used to predict natural disasters?"

The first question of those who doubt is: "There are too many locusts, how can we kill them all?"

Yao Chong's reason is simple: "There are locusts everywhere now, and the people are almost running away. How can we sit back and watch the locusts destroy the crops and ignore them? Even if these locusts cannot be killed, it is better than raising them, right?"

Deputy Prime Minister Lu Huaishen asked: "If we kill too many locusts, will it harm the harmony of heaven and earth?"

Yao Chong's answer was: "In the past, the king of Chuzhuang recovered from his illness by swallowing leeches, and Sun Shu'ao got blessed by killing snakes. How could he not have the heart to kill locusts, but let the people starve to death!"

Ni Ruoshui, the governor of Bianzhou, refused the entry of the censor sent by Yao Chong to exterminate locusts, and wrote to Yao Chong: "To eliminate natural disasters, we must rely on virtue. Liu Cong once hunted and killed locusts back then. Not only was there no effect, but the locust plague became more serious.

Obviously it’s because of lack of virtue.”

Yao Chong immediately replied after receiving the letter: "First of all, Lao Ni, the Liu Cong you are talking about is an illegal emperor. How can his virtues suppress evildoers?"

"Now that we have a wise king on the throne, his virtues are naturally better than those of evildoers. It is a bit inappropriate for you to compare him with our emperor."

"Secondly, historical records show that for wise local officials in ancient times, locusts could not enter their jurisdiction. You said that accumulating virtue can prevent locust plagues, but now there are locusts flooding in your jurisdiction. Is it because there is something wrong with your morality? Lao Ni

?”

After receiving the reply, Ni Ruoshui was so frightened that he peeed and acted quickly. He killed 140,000 shi of locusts in Bianzhou that year!

The emperor directly went to Yao Chong for questioning: "They are all saying that Aiqing does not understand the principle of harmony and harmony between heaven and earth. I originally thought so too. It seems that my idea is wrong?"

Yao Chong replied: "In fact, since ancient times, there have been lessons learned from the failure to control locust plagues in time, which resulted in tragedy."

"During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Shandong was also plagued by locust plagues. At that time, their monarch was really not as wise as your majesty. As a result, he could not bear to hunt and kill them, but instead caused disasters to the people. In the end, the crops were destroyed by locusts, and the people's livestock even came to the point where they were eating each other's hair.

"

"Nowadays, the people in Shandong have no extra food. If the locust plague is allowed to spread, I'm afraid the people will flee. Even if the locusts may not be completely eliminated now, it is better than watching them eat up the crops little by little!"

Yao Chong's determination promoted the government's decision to intervene in the locust plague. It was also from that time that the ancients began to study effective measures to eliminate the locust plague.

After hundreds of years of development, many methods have been developed.

It is nothing more than searching for insect eggs; using a net modified from a flour bag, catching them all over the mountains and fields; digging trenches to drive the locusts into the trenches, and then burying them deeply; and lighting firewood piles at night to attract locusts and kill them.

Today's Song people have already done some simple research and analysis on the causes of locust plagues.

They have discovered that locust plagues are prone to occur wherever there are sudden droughts and floods.

Therefore, many "informed people" inferred that the locust plague was caused by shrimp eggs being stranded, turning into locust eggs, and finally hatching into migratory locusts.

With the help of microscopes and the scientific biological experimental observations of Tianshi Dao and Huangsong Jinyu Village, this theory is naturally self-defeating!

The main reason is that the wetland tidal flats formed by sudden surges and recessions have newly grown young grass suitable for locusts to grow, giving locusts a good living environment, making disasters prone to occur the following year.

The drought from last year to this summer caused many water pools around Kaifeng to turn into wet grassland. Su You has always been a little wary.

But his problem is that if the locusts haven't appeared yet and the people are asked to plow the tidal flats to dig out their eggs, they will definitely attract fierce opposition and criticism.

So we had to pay close attention, and when the first batch of locusts emerged from the soil, we immediately organized manpower to burn and kill large areas before they could fly.

Only with solid evidence in hand did we dare to order the residents of sixteen counties to initiate disaster relief measures.

First, the tidal flats are plowed to dig out the insect eggs for birds to eat.

Second, organize large-scale burning and fumigation.

Third, follow the example of Emperor Renzong, who encouraged the people to search for insect eggs, order their purchase, and exchange them with the same volume of grain!

Fourth, through the power of Tianshi Tao, under the guise of purchasing traditional Chinese medicine - locusts are good for nourishing and strengthening the body, treating coughs and asthma, and malnutrition in children. Sitong Company paid for the adult locusts - fifteen cents per dou!

No matter the size, no matter the weight!

Finally, emergency locust-luring gas lamps were used. Manual trapping was too energy-consuming. With high-brightness gas lamps, locusts could be lured into the trap, falling into the large smooth metal funnel under the lamp, and then sliding into the bucket and drowning.

It goes without saying that Xiao Su Shaobao's prestige was so great that all sixteen counties in Kaifeng Prefecture immediately took action and launched a defense battle to compete with locusts for food.

In Xiangfu County, Su You led the science and engineering team to live at Liu's house again to examine the effectiveness of locust luring lamps.

Only now did Liu Da know that the person who stayed at his home was the famous Xiao Su Shaobao.

Shi Wei brought a plate of fried locusts to the table: "Brother Xiaoyou, you can encourage the people to eat this. You made it for us when we were young, and it was actually quite delicious."

Looking at the pale faces of Sun Neng and Liu Da's family, Su You shook his head: "This thing needs to be oiled to make it delicious, and it needs to be sprinkled with seasonings to make it fragrant. It is impossible for the common people to eat this."

After speaking, he picked one up with his fingers and put it into his mouth: "Well, it tastes like locusts in Sichuan. It's good. Everyone should try it."

Zhang Qi followed Su You and ate this food when he was a child. Now insect dishes have become a popular dish in the Yi area of ​​Kuizhou, and a few people sat down to eat.

Everyone in the surrounding working group looked at each other, and a delicate green-robed official walked out in twos and twos. With tears in his eyes, he bowed his hands to Su You and said, "The beetles destroyed the crops. He is a thief of the people. Even though he can be burned and eaten, it is not enough to redeem him."

Shao Bao sets an example. How can no one follow suit? So please give some locusts and let Shao Bao bite them together!"

"Oh?" Su You couldn't help but be a little curious: "They are quite brave, but there is no need. I only eat them because they taste really good, and I don't mean to set an example."

The green-robed official was very embarrassed: "Then... then please give me a few coins from the young master, and let me taste them. If they are good, you can... or you can promote them..."

Su You waved his hand: "No, there is no need to make trouble with such side dishes. Since you are interested, I will give you a few coins to try."

The junior official took the fried locusts and without even looking at Su You's half-smiling expression, he poured it into his mouth and swallowed it like a pill.
Chapter completed!