The wheat has already headed and filled, showing a yellow-green color. Outside Jiuyuan City is an endless ocean of wheat.
But further east is a large black bean field, about one hundred hectares in size. The black beans are ripe for harvest. More than a thousand soldiers are busy harvesting the black beans in the bean field.
Black beans are mainly used to supplement food for war horses. Every autumn, herdsmen from the northern grasslands bring a large amount of high-quality dry pasture to Fengzhou in exchange for food and salt. However, feeding war horses solely with forage is not conducive to war horses gaining weight. They must be properly fed.
Add black beans.
At this time, Xue Changshou came galloping on horseback from a distance and rushed to Guo Song. He cupped his fists and saluted and said: "Your Majesty, I have just heard some news."
"What news made Xue Canjun anxious?" Guo Songxiao asked.
Xue Changshou said worriedly: "This is the news from Yulin County. A locust plague broke out in Shengzhou and Xiazhou. Lingzhou is on tight guard. I wonder if the locusts will come to Fengzhou?"
The smile on Guo Song's face disappeared and he frowned, "It's hundreds of miles away from the desert, so he probably won't come here!"
"Beizhi just went to look through the county annals and asked some elderly people. It is recorded in the county annals that the locust plague in Shengzhou in the 14th year of Tianbao did affect Fengzhou. Several elderly people also confirmed that this was true. The locust plague was in September.
It came in the middle of the year, resulting in almost no wheat harvest that year."
"Is there any record of locust plague in Fengzhou?" Guo Song asked again.
"Also, in the autumn of the 11th year of Kaiyuan, a plague of locusts from the grasslands also ravaged Fengzhou and Lingzhou. The grain output of that year was reduced by 70%. The imperial court later urgently transferred 200,000 shi of grain to Lingzhou and Fengzhou."
Guo Song thought for a while and asked: "Do locust plagues often break out in the south?"
Xue Changshou understood what Guo Song meant. Was it a coincidence that the locust plague came to Fengzhou?
He shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is what I am most worried about. There has only been one locust plague in Shengzhou. That locust plague flew hundreds of miles to Yulin County, and then invaded Fengzhou from Yulin along the Yellow River.
"
Guo Song's face became a little serious, and he immediately ordered: "Go back to the military mansion immediately and summon military and political officials to discuss countermeasures."
In the lobby of the Three Towns' Economic Strategy Mansion, dozens of civilian officials and military generals gathered together. At this time, the soldiers brought in dozens of elders, all of whom had experienced the locust plague in Tianbao's fourteenth year.
Guo Song slowly said to everyone: "I believe everyone knows that there is a drought in Shengzhou and Xiazhou this spring and summer. As the saying goes, locusts will come after a long drought. So today I received news that a locust plague broke out in Xiazhou and Shengzhou at the same time. Tianbao
In the 14th year, the locust plague in Shengzhou seriously affected Fengzhou, and the situation this year is not optimistic. If we don't respond early, our food will be completely gone, so we have gathered everyone together today to discuss how to deal with the locust plague."
After Guo Song finished speaking, there was a murmur of discussion in the lobby. Leng Qian, the head of the Leng family among dozens of elders, stood up and said: "Shijun Guo, please let me say a few words."
Leng Qian was also very anxious. The Leng family also had 300 hectares of wheat fields outside the city. The locust plague had caused heavy losses to the Leng family. He would never want to see the same thing happen again.
The lobby fell silent. Guo Song nodded and said, "Clan Chief Leng, please speak!"
Leng Qian then said loudly: "Everyone, I have experienced the locust plague in Tianbao in the 14th year. I also personally led hundreds of young men to swat the locusts. I have learned a lot of lessons and experience. I think I can say something about how to eradicate the locusts.
Tell me what I think."
“Clan Chief Leng just says it’s okay!”
Leng Qian nodded and said to everyone: "The locust plague is very terrible. Millions of locusts flew in like dark clouds, wiping out all the plants and crops wherever they passed. It is impossible to destroy them all. The only way is to destroy them all."
The best way is to change their flight direction. By winter, they will naturally become extinct. This is a lesson we learned later. We realized afterwards that we should use blocking methods to force them to change their flight direction, but it was too late.
At night, the locusts wiped out all the crops in Jiuyuan County and then headed north."
Guo Song nodded and asked, "What method does Chief Leng think is better to use to stop them?"
"First of all, there must be a large number of people. Men, women, old and young must go into battle together and form several long human walls. Secondly, smoke must be used. Locusts are afraid of smoke. This is what we discovered later. When the locusts came, we burned a large number of wheat straw and bean poles.
It forms a thick smoke wall. Even if a small number of locusts rush through the smoke wall, they will be extinguished by our human wall in time. I think this is the only way."
Guo Song nodded and praised: "Chief Leng's words are very good, very comprehensive and pragmatic. Do you have anything else to add?"
Xie Changzhi, the magistrate of Jiuyuan County, raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, may I also say a few words!"
Guo Song smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, magistrate, please tell me."
Guo Song immediately waved his hand and asked Leng Qian to sit down.
Xie Changzhi then said: "The Leng family is actually right. The term "killing locusts" is not correct. It should be changed to driving locusts. We cannot destroy the locust plague with human power. We can only wait for winter to eliminate them. The only thing we can do is to drive away the locusts.
, change the flight direction of locusts. I have learned a lot about the experience of exterminating locusts in the Central Plains in the past few years. Concentrating manpower to drive away locusts is the most basic and effective method. The second method is also to smoke, but if pine branches are used to light the smoke, the effect will be
Even better, smoke contains pine oil, and locusts don’t like this smell. We happen to have abundant pine forests here, so we can take advantage of it..."
Everyone was talking about it. You said a few words, and I expressed some opinions. Gradually a consensus was reached. One was to concentrate manpower to drive away locusts, and the other was to use smoke to drive away locusts. The two were used in parallel. However, everyone debated endlessly on some details.
For example, when using manpower to drive away, what tool is better to use? Some people suggest using pine branches to beat, while others suggest using shields to resist. Everyone has their own opinions.
At this time, Guo Song waved his hand and said, "Then let me say a few words!"
The lobby gradually became quiet, and Guo Song smiled and said: "First of all, I want to explain to everyone that locusts are actually a very delicious food. They are deep-fried until browned and sprinkled with salt. They are best used with wine.
......."
Before Guo Song finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, and someone shouted: "Actually, Shijun Guo is right! Locusts are grasshoppers. When we were young, didn't we catch grasshoppers and cook them with fire? They are indeed delicious.
"
Guo Song pointed at Xue Changshou and said: "Let Xue Canjun say a few words. He is a military doctor and has the most say."
Hundreds of pairs of eyes looked at Xue Changshou. Xue Changshou said slowly: "Eating locusts can indeed strengthen your body and prolong your life."
As soon as these words came out, there was a burst of applause in the lobby.
In the subsequent discussions, Guo Song proposed using pine branches to drive away locusts, using nets made of mosquito nets to catch locusts, using large tanks to contain locusts, and burning pine branches to drive away locusts. At the same time, he mobilized all the people and soldiers to conduct drills and do
Very well prepared.
After careful consideration and preparation, everyone feels confident. As long as there is sufficient preparation for any disaster, the loss will be minimized. This is everyone's life experience.
The discussion lasted until the afternoon, when everyone dispersed. At this time, Li Ji said to Guo Song: "Has the envoy considered that Xue Yantuo's army came to retaliate?"
Guo Song said lightly: "Of course I have considered it. I am going to write a letter to Sijie Khan and ask him to gather a large number of troops on the border of Xue Yantuo, so that Xue Yantuo will not dare to act rashly. In return, I will send 10,000 shi
Food is given to the Si Jie Department."
"This is a good idea, a typical strategy to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao." Li Ji high-fived and praised.
Guo Song nodded and said: "I have a relationship with Sijie Khan. He still owes me a favor. I believe he will give me this face. In fact, I am not too worried about Xue Yantuo's army. I am a little embarrassed now. What about the people of Yulin County?
manage?"
This is indeed a big issue. The discussion just now did not touch on this issue. It seems to have nothing to do with everyone. However, as the governor of Fengzhou and the manager of the three towns, Guo Song cannot only consider Jiuyuan County, but also Yulin County, which has just been placed under Fengzhou.
A key point, and millions of locusts are coming from the direction of Yulin County.
"What do you mean by the envoy?" Li Ji asked cautiously.
Guo Song pondered for a while and said: "I am considering moving all the people in Yulin County to Feng'an County. I will use military field grain to compensate for the food losses in Yulin County. In this way, the people from the three counties can gather together and establish a business in Feng'an County."
Defense net to drive the locusts back northward."
"The envoy originally wanted to drive away locusts in Feng'an County?"
"Of course, you thought I would be in Jiuyuan County? It's too close to the main grain-producing area and too dangerous. If Feng'an County fails to drive out locusts, we can retreat to Jiuyuan County to establish a second line of defense, so Jiuyuan County
Counties also need to be prepared.”
Li Ji nodded, "The envoy will give the order! Gather the troops from the three surrendered cities and withdraw together with the people of Yulin County. I believe the people of Yulin County will understand the envoy's decision."