Shen Lie knew very well what this sudden and terrible locust plague meant.
Locust plagues, floods, and droughts, these three major disasters are obstacles that no dynasty can overcome in all dynasties. They mean refugees, rebellions, and people starve to death.
It means social unrest, it means...
Those scholars who seek fame and reputation are going to criticize the emperor again.
Shen Lie frowned and began to worry about Zhu Yijun.
In this extremely superstitious era, there was such a serious locust plague, and under this trend of scholars selling themselves to seek fame.
I'm afraid there's no way of escaping the label of the emperor being immoral.
"Why."
Shen Lie frowned and sighed quietly, his mood became heavy. He seemed to see the livid and ugly face of the young emperor.
In anger, Shen Lie trampled several more big grasshoppers to death. At this moment, he suddenly discovered that he seemed to have really regarded the young emperor who trusted him as his best friend.
I started to think about him and worry about him involuntarily...
In silence.
Time passes minute by second.
Soon it was noon.
Two hours had passed since the locust swarm descended. The terrifying sight of locusts all over the sky disappeared, and the villagers walked out of their houses one after another.
However, a more terrifying scene occurred.
At this time, the swarms of migratory locusts that landed on the ground began to spread in all directions, landing in groups in the fields, densely packed everywhere, gnawing crazily on the immature crops.
This scene made Shen Lie's hair stand on end.
He had only seen descriptions of locust plagues in novels before, but now that he was personally there, he realized that this thing was far more terrifying than imagined.
After all, there are no pesticides or insecticides in this era. In the years when the locust plague breaks out, there is basically no solution to the overflow of locust swarms.
And when the locust swarms eat and drink enough here, they begin to breed in large numbers again...
There was dead silence all around.
Afternoon.
Shenjiazhuang.
Several hours have passed since the locust swarm descended, but the swarm still has no intention of leaving the Yanshan Mountains. It seems that it is attracted by the lush vegetation and the gratifying growth of crops here.
Look at this posture.
The swarm of insects has no intention of leaving until they finish eating the crops here.
at this point.
Shen Lie had no choice but to gather his energy and gather the people in Zhuangzi, asking everyone to use various tools to catch as many locusts as possible and recover some losses.
Following the village owner's order, the villagers picked up their weapons one after another and silently began to kill the locusts everywhere. However, the effect of killing the locusts by manpower was very limited.
Better than nothing.
Shen Lie was leading his men to exterminate the locusts when he faintly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from outside the village. When he turned around, he saw Zhang Jingxiu coming on horseback with a few guards.
She was obviously in a anxious mood, and rushed in from outside the village through the open door.
Shen Lie was stunned.
He quickly dropped his broom and rushed forward.
"Uu."
With a woman's scolding, Zhang Jingxiu, who was wearing a plain white outfit, got off his horse and stumbled into Shen Lie's arms regardless of the people around him watching.
Her soft and sweaty body began to pant violently in Shen Lie's arms.
But said nothing.
Shen Lie quickly reached out and hugged her, comforting her softly: "It's okay, I'm fine...what can a mere locust do to me?"
Zhang Jingxiu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that he was safe and sound, but his soft and slender jade arms still hugged his sweetheart's thick waist and refused to let go.
The sweaty pretty face is also close to Shen Lie's chest...
A moment.
Dozens of eyes from all around looked over.
In embarrassment.
Shen Lie could only lower his hands and comfort him softly: "Okay, okay, everyone is watching."
But the eldest lady's temper came over, and she hugged Shen Lie tightly regardless of her, but refused to let go. At this moment, she had already forgotten what was outside her body.
After another period of silence, Tian Hong lowered his head, covered his mouth and coughed lightly, then scolded with a cold face: "What are you looking at...go to work!"
As the villagers withdrew their gazes one after another, and walked away under Master Tian's fierce gaze. When no one was around, Shen Liecai hugged his sweetheart with his backhand.
Hugging her soft and slender waist, Shen Lie was as tender as water.
at dusk.
When the sun sets, the Yanshan Mountains seem to have returned to their previous calm, but the locust plague is still spreading in all directions, and the entire Gyeonggi area is dark.
In the inner house.
As Shen Lie brought out a large plate of fried locusts, he reluctantly smiled at Zhang Jingxiu, Tian Hong, Victor and others.
Although the mood is bad.
But as the owner of the village, Shen Lie still forced a smile and said: "Come on, come on... I'm going to eat fried locusts today!"
Finished speaking.
Shen Lie grabbed a fried locust and stuffed it into his mouth, and ate it like a catharsis. It tasted like chicken, and each bite was crunchy and crunchy. The protein content was several times that of pork.
Zhang Jingxiu was originally in a depressed mood. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but smile and rolled his eyes at his sweetheart.
Tian Hong, Victor and a group of grown men imitated Shen Lie and began to eat lavishly, muttering and cursing while eating.
After venting their feelings, several people started chatting.
Tian Hong was bored, holding a grasshopper thigh in his mouth, picking his teeth, and asked suspiciously: "Where did this swarm of insects come from, and why was there no warning in advance?"
Zhang Jingxiu also frowned and thought seriously.
This locust plague is really strange.
Shen Lie also frowned and thought for a moment, and began to follow the clues. The locust swarms were flying from the northwest. Where is the northwest of the Yanshan Mountains? Naturally, it is the Great Wall. After passing the Great Wall, go to the northwest...
My heart skipped a beat.
Shen Lie suddenly figured it out and hurriedly said in a low voice: "It comes from the grassland."
Hearing the word grassland, Zhang Jingxiu, Tian Hong and others all changed their expressions. After a moment of silence, they thought of a more serious problem.
Zhang Jingxiu said dullly: "Is there also a locust plague on the grassland?"
Shen Lie nodded: "Nine times out of ten."
Then several people became silent again.
a long time.
Tian Hongcai said in a low voice: "When you said that, I remembered that a friend who came back from the grassland a few days ago once mentioned that there has been a severe drought in the grassland this year..."
Severe drought will trigger locust plagues.
As Tian Hong's roar confirmed Shen Lie's guess, everyone's hearts sank again, and a terrible thought emerged in their hearts.
When the Mongolians on the grasslands suffered from locust plagues and their livestock were largely exhausted, it meant that the Mongols were going south again to harass the Ming Dynasty border and plunder grain and grass.
This has been the case for thousands of years.
Shen Lie felt depressed again. Seeing that it was getting late, he said softly: "Qi Jiguang, isn't Marshal Qi guarding the nine sides? The Mongols must not dare to attack in large numbers."
After hearing the name of Qi Jiajun, everyone felt a little at ease.
Shen Lie then whispered: "It's getting late... go to sleep."
Everyone dispersed in frustration.
At midnight.
The bedroom is as quiet as water.
Shen Lie squatted in the corner and washed his face, touched the blood stains on his face caused by the locusts, and couldn't help grinning. This locust swarm is too fierce!