While the officials of Shun'an Prefecture were secretly complaining, Qi Hongxin, who would have to move to a new county and new prefecture in three to five years, wasn't feeling unhappy?
Every time he changed positions, he not only traveled thousands of miles, but also came to a difficult and problematic county. Even Qi Hongxin himself felt exhausted.
You have worked so hard, how can you still be so slack?
But in order to eliminate the locusts, he could only suppress his displeasure, glanced at it, and said: "The locust plague is related to people's livelihood, even if it is wrong, it doesn't matter. This meeting is to find a good way to eliminate the locusts.
Most of you are Jinshi-born, so I think you won’t be so empty-headed that you can’t even come up with an idea, right? Feel free to speak freely regardless of whether it works or not.”
He pointed at one casually and said: "County Magistrate Liu, since you just came back from Wu'an County, it's up to you to talk about it first."
Although the former prefect was dismissed and questioned due to civil unrest, he was usually smooth in dealing with people. Such blunt ridicule by Qi Hongxin made officials in Shun'an Prefecture who had originally planned to remain silent become a little restless.
The fat and white magistrate of Wu'an County was called out in public again, and his forehead was sweating and he was complaining in his heart.
However, County Magistrate Liu actually read some books and after careful reflection, he found some useful information.
"Sir, when it comes to killing locusts, I have read the county annals before. The previous method was to gather the villagers to hold up an eight-foot-long white cloth with bamboo poles, drive the locusts to one place, and then concentrate their efforts to attack them."
"The swatting locusts can be buried on the spot."
As he said this, everyone was indifferent. This method was too tiring. Of course it didn't matter if it tired the people, but it wouldn't solve many problems at all.
Magistrate Liu looked at everyone's reaction and said: "Of course, it is feasible for locusts to use fire to deal with the fire. However, the locusts are scattered... Before using fire, they need to be gathered together.
Everything is perfect."
"Use fire?" Qi Hongxin nodded: "This method is indeed feasible, what do others say?"
Seeing that Qi Hongxin did not drag Magistrate Liu to ask him to continue speaking, others were relieved.
I originally thought that the other party was going to take advantage of the situation to get angry again, but I didn't expect that he let it go so easily. The originally tense atmosphere relaxed because of this, and other people also took the initiative to speak out.
But these people have never had any experience in exterminating locusts. There has not been a locust plague in Shun'an Prefecture for more than ten years. They usually focus on farming, and there is nothing they can do about it.
However, there was an older county magistrate who came up. He thought for a moment and said, "Actually, although the locusts are scattered and difficult to eliminate, there is still a way to drive them into one place. But it needs to be
With the investment of manpower and material resources, I am afraid that the entire government will have to participate to make it happen."
"Tell me about it." Qi Hongxin's eyes fell on him, encouraging him.
Facing the unclear looks from his colleagues, he hesitated for a moment before speaking again: "Locusts are insects, and they should also like light. There is nothing you can do about them during the day, but lighting a bonfire at night may attract the locusts."
This method... seems possible to try? Qi Hongxin's originally suppressed anger finally dissipated a little.
Although Shun'an Mansion is a mess and most of the officials here muddle along, it is not that there are no people capable of getting things done.
"But just lighting a bonfire, I'm afraid this little light won't be enough to attract locusts." Someone suddenly said.
Qi Hongxin nodded again: "Then what can you do?"
The man choked and thought carefully: "The bonfire is not enough, but we can use lights to ignite it."
Someone else said: "Then we need to set up lights on separate roads in areas where locusts are densely populated, and use closely coordinated lights to attract large numbers of locusts."
After all, just lighting a few lamps, like a bonfire, cannot solve a big problem.
Because a few officials took the lead, other officials who were originally reluctant to speak were also inspired and joined the discussion one after another.
Not to mention, in line with that sentence, the Three Stooges are better than Zhuge Liang.
These people present were just muddle-headed before, and the new prefect also had some difficulties in getting them to work.
But if they really have to think of a way, it's not that they can't come up with it. They are either Jinshi or Juren. They are well-read in poetry and books. Even if they don't have common sense in farming, they can brainstorm some clever ways and it won't be difficult for them.
The final result was to trap and kill them with bonfires.
When it gets dark, bonfires are lit. In addition, lights should be set up on separate roads in areas where locusts are densely populated. Use closely coordinated lighting to attract large numbers of locusts. Locusts that are then burned by the fire will lose their ability to fly.
A large number of people took the opportunity to hunt and kill him.
But even after the method was decided, some people still felt it was inappropriate.
"First of all, it's just a matter of paying off the bonfire. Although it also costs firewood, you can always make do with it. But setting up lights on the separate roads will cost a lot more. Organizing people to beat them will also cost money and food. We are short of this now."
"And there's one more thing."
The officials who questioned Qi Hongxin in the farmland first talked about the cost. Then they did not question Qi Hongxin's decision. Instead, they made a U-turn and mentioned the status of the locust god among the people.
"My lord, I have to mention this matter only if I am a lower official, but this matter is indeed not a trivial matter. If you are not careful, it may cause trouble."
"Now some people are inciting the people, saying that culling locusts will offend the locust god."
"Locust God?"
Qi Hongxin repeated the word, glanced at the officials present, and sneered: "What kind of god is this? Has it been canonized by the imperial court?"
Seeing that his face was not kind, the official was not afraid and just bowed: "This is a rule handed down from the previous dynasty. Although the Locust God has not been canonized by the court, he has great faith among the people and should not be underestimated... If it causes a commotion, he will
Not good!"
When he was appointed magistrate, the people lost his official position and maybe even his life.
Qi Hongxin listened for a while and sneered: "You have read the books of sages since you were taught. You have strange power and chaos, and the Son of God doesn't say anything. You don't care about anything outside the Liuhe. And when you became an official, you didn't learn it when you were observing politics?
"
"Local officials have the responsibility to cut off obscene priests. How can you still be concerned about how evil spirits and demons can discuss this in court?"
"This is really ridiculous." Qi Hongxin suddenly laughed up to the sky. After laughing, he said coldly: "You just said that someone is inciting the people, which is threatening the government. At this juncture, they are really killable. You should hurry up."
Go find out who is spreading this rumor and who is inciting the people?"
Although he had a sneer and an air of being indisputable and unquestionable, when others saw him, even if they wanted to tactfully persuade the new prefect not to burn the three fires so brightly as soon as he took office, but during this period of contact, they understood that,
The new prefect is not someone who can listen to persuasion.
No wonder he has not been promoted for many years. Even if he has made meritorious service, he can only continue to be the prefect. With his bad temper, he has offended many people!
Some officials couldn't help but curse.
In the end, the only thing that could not be resolved at the meeting was the issue of funding.
It has to be said that Qi Hongxin can think of ways to do other things, and even suppress officials to make them do things according to his own wishes.
He was really at a loss when it came to money matters, but it was definitely not his style to just wait and do nothing without money.
"I will solve this matter. You just need to make preparations to exterminate the locusts first." Qi Hongxin said, because he was really worried about this group of people, and added: "You all go back and send people to observe the ground at all times."
If there is any change in the situation, please report it to me immediately."
Afterwards, the meeting adjourned and Qi Hongxin sighed deeply as he watched these officials file away.