Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 847 Locusts
"My child, remember!" Hu Liang said solemnly: "It's just that Tubo invaded Hexi. Father, can you do something about it!"

"Now is not the time to consider this!" Wang Wenzuo said: "I must stay in Chang'an before the queen gives birth!"

"The war in Tubo——"

"There is no harm in delaying the war in Tubo!" Wang Wenzuo explained patiently: "Hu Liang, you have to understand that the key now is Chang'an. Chang'an is fine. Even if there are one or two setbacks in Hexi, it is not a big deal. Chang'an There is a problem here, even if Hexi wins, it will not help! "

"But Ganzhou has been besieged. If Ganzhou falls, the road from Longyou to Anxi will be cut off, and Anxi will not be able to last long-"

"These are not big problems!" Wang Wenzuo interrupted his son's argument: "The Tubo people have limited troops. Even if Hexi is cut off, the towns in Anxi will not be taken over in a few years. I have enough time to deal with it! "

"Then in my father's eyes, Anxi and Hexi are just abandoned sons, right?" Hu Liang suddenly asked.

Wang Wenzuo was stunned when he heard his son's question. He hadn't heard such a sharp question for many years. He looked at his son again and nodded: "Yes, if necessary, I might give up these two places!"

"Father, is the authority of Chang'an so important to you?" Hu Liang asked, "Isn't it enough to have so much land in Hebei and Haidong?"

"Hu Liang, do you think I am unwilling to leave Chang'an because I am greedy for power?" Wang Wenzuo laughed: "As long as Your Majesty recovers health tomorrow, I will return to Fanyang the day after tomorrow, and I won't stay even a day longer!"

"But it's impossible for Your Majesty to recover, isn't it?" Gu Liang asked.

Wang Wenzuo avoided his son's gaze and was silent for a moment: "Your Majesty's illness is caused by the blockage of blood vessels in the brain. The parts of the brain that manage speech, tongue, hands and feet are also affected. It is really impossible to recover!"

"Father, you know the cause of His Majesty's illness!" Hu Liang's eyes widened: "Then why don't you tell the imperial physician and prescribe the right medicine? Wouldn't this cure His Majesty's illness?"

"Because it's useless for the imperial doctor to know!" Wang Wenzuo smiled bitterly: "This is beyond his ability. No, it should be said that it is beyond the ability of this era. Maybe there will be a way to cure it in a few hundred years. In this era, it is There is no way!”

Hu Liang opened his mouth, but did not speak. It was obvious that his father knew exactly what illness the emperor had, but he did not want to tell him how to treat it. Why?

"Forget it, let's not talk about this!" Wang Wenzuo sighed: "Don't let other people know what I just said, especially your wife, otherwise I'm afraid it will cause some bad associations. Do you understand?"

"My child understands!" Hu Liang nodded. He hesitated and asked, "Can father tell my child the treatment for the Emperor's illness?"

"You want to know?" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "That's okay. First, by observing the patient's symptoms and using some kind of instrument, we can determine the location of the disease on the patient's head. After determining the location, we can then treat it, or use Some kind of medicine can be used to unblock blood vessels, or the patient's skull can be opened, and then a knife can be used to cut open the blocked blood vessels to clear them."

"This, how is this possible?" Gu Liang's eyes widened: "Wouldn't the person die after the skull is opened? What other blood vessels are there? What other instruments can confirm the location of the disease on the patient's head?"

"This -" Wang Wenzuo was stumped by his son's question. He suddenly found that it was impossible to explain the principles of modern medical treatment of stroke to a person who had no basis in natural science and modern biology. He thought for a moment: "Hu Liang, if you really want to know, go home and kill a rabbit, then cut the body open and see with your own eyes how the rabbit's body is composed, and then ask again." That’s my question!”

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Henan, Bianzhou.

After the Yellow River passed through Yanjin, the flow rate of the river slowed down a lot. This raging river seemed to be tired. It lay its body on this vast and flat land, fell asleep soundly, and turned over from time to time. Move your arms. For thousands of years, people have cultivated fields and built cities around it, making it the most densely populated and affluent region in East Asia, as well as the region with the most frequent natural disasters.

"Ambassador Liu, we are here, please get out of the car!" The governor of Bianzhou respectfully opened the curtain of the carriage. The bright afternoon sun shone into the carriage. Liu Peiji subconsciously turned his head to avoid the strong sunlight. After a while, , he got used to the outdoor sunshine, and the alluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River spread out in front of him, covered with a large number of wheat fields.

"Is this here?" Liu Peiji asked as he got off the carriage.

"Reporting to Shangguan, the most serious locust plague in this state is here!" the governor said with a bitter smile. Only then did Liu Peiji realize that the field in front of him was covered with a thick layer of locusts, with several locusts crawling on each wheat stalk. On the ground, more locusts were squirming, looking like a sticky liquid. He shuddered subconsciously: "It has reached this point!"

"Yes!" the governor said with a bitter smile: "It has happened in previous years, but this is the first time it has been as serious as this year! This year's summer grain harvest may not be possible!"

"Why don't you think of a way?" Liu Peiji asked, "Are you just sitting there waiting for death?"

"Shangguan, how can such a huge locust plague be resisted by human power?" The governor said: "Xiaoguan has ordered us to pray to the gods and Buddhas of this state, hoping that the gods and Buddhas will bless us and bring a heavy rain to drive away the locusts, so that we can still plant seeds again. One crop, I hope, can make up for one or two!”

"Blessed by gods and Buddhas?" Liu Peiji snorted coldly. He looked at the governor in front of him. His plump white cheeks were filled with a helpless smile. An unknown fire could not help but rise in his chest and go straight to his forehead.

"What if the gods and Buddhas don't protect us?"

"That's beyond the power of the official!"

Liu Peiji walked to the wheat field and avoided the locusts on the ridge. He picked up a trampled locust, looked at it twice, and suddenly asked: "President Wang, I remember that you were a top performer in the past two years." , If nothing else happens, you should be promoted next year, right?"

The governor of Bianzhou was slightly stunned. He didn't know what this big shot from Chang'an meant by asking him. He thought about it and decided to be careful: "Shangguan has a good memory, but I still don't know whether he will be promoted next year. I have no choice but to obey fate!"

"Wang Governor, do you think that you are going to another place next year anyway? You don't need to worry too much about Bianzhou. You can just deal with it. It's up to your successor to worry about it anyway, so you can just let the locust plague go unchecked." "

Only then did the governor of Bianzhou realize that Liu Peiji's words were unkind, and hurriedly said: "Why did Shangguan say this? The locusts are a natural disaster that cannot be controlled by human beings. How can we say that this state is letting it go?" "Watching locusts devouring spring seedlings, doesn't it mean that we are letting it go?" Liu Peiji said coldly: "And what you just said about praying to the gods and Buddhas for a heavy rain to drive away the locusts is sheer nonsense?"

The governor of Bianzhou was a little annoyed by Liu Peiji's scolding: "I also hope that the locusts will leave and keep the people of the state safe. How can this be nonsense?"

"There are no states and counties around Bianzhou that belong to the Tang Dynasty? If the locusts go to other states and counties, won't they harm crops?" Liu Peiji said angrily: "You talk about keeping the people of a state safe, but you pray to the gods and Buddhas to let the locusts go. What’s the difference between destroying the fields of other states and counties and beggaring one’s neighbor?”

"This -" the governor of Bianzhou was asked. Ordinarily, based on the level of governance at the time, the actions of the governor of Bianzhou were not considered the worst. But as the saying goes, the higher the official level, the more senior officials will kill people, like Liu Peiji. This kind of Beijing official with the title of Minister of Household Affairs is even more unusual. If such a hat is removed, the governor of Bianzhou will shed at least a layer of skin.

"That's what Shangguan means!"

"Of course we have to organize the people to fight and exterminate the locusts!" Liu Peiji said angrily: "Although Bianzhou has been severely damaged, as long as these locusts are eliminated here, at least the spring grains of other states and counties can be preserved, and grains can be obtained for relief. Bianzhou! The government can order the people to reward them with a certain amount of money for every stone they get from locust corpses. This will also encourage the people to kill the locusts!"

"Yes, yes, I have remembered it!" The governor of Bianzhou was already sweating profusely on his forehead. He quickly stepped aside and ordered his entourage to arrange the matter. Liu Peiji sighed in disappointment. He was also employed by a local prefecture and county. It should be said that he had no expectations for the level and moral integrity of Datang Prefecture county officials. But when he saw this kind of official standing in front of him, sitting back and watching the spread of the locust plague, I still feel like my forehead is congested.

"I'm afraid there is no need to indulge in large-scale mergers. This year, Henan is also full of refugees! The general really thinks too much!" Liu Peiji sighed, and looked north: "We can only hope that Hebei can really feed us. So many mouths open!"

After scolding the governor of Bianzhou, Liu Peiji refused the banquet request prepared by the other party, boarded the four-wheeled carriage, and continued eastward. This time he left Chang'an to appease the locust drought in Henan. He had carefully considered it on the way. Considering the current situation in Chang'an, it was actually a good thing for him to leave. No matter who would be the winner in the future, he only had to finish this job well. , are the basis for further progress. Therefore, he made up his mind to visit various states and counties as soon as possible to obtain first-hand information about the locust plague, and then come up with strategies.

"Mr. Lang!" The guard's voice came from outside.

"What's the matter!" Liu Peiji raised his head.

"There are refugees gathering ahead, do you want to go around?"

Liu Peiji poked his head out and saw a crowd of people not far away in front of him. It was probably not more than six or seven hundred people. Judging from their attire, they should be refugees fleeing famine. Liu Peiji thought for a while: "No need, let's go over and ask what's going on!"

Liu Peiji and his party passed by, and the group of refugees knelt down one after another. Regardless of men, women, old or young, they were all dressed in tatters and covered in dust. Their faces were full of despair and fear, and they looked at Liu Peiji who came out of the four-wheeled carriage.

"Get up and talk? Everyone, get up!" Liu Peiji said. He could see that every villager was hungry and tired. He didn't want these poor people to kneel on the ground to answer his questions.

After hearing this, the refugees struggled to get up. An old man had to be helped to stand up, while another six or seven-year-old girl remained kneeling and looked curiously at Liu Peiji, who was wearing a scarlet robe.

"What's going on?" Liu Peiji pointed to the old man. Usually the oldest person is also the leader of the group: "Where are you going?"

"We are encountering a locust plague!" the old man replied: "Locusts are flying over the sky. There is no sunlight in broad daylight. They have gnawed everything clean, including the seedlings in the ground and the mulberry trees in the yard. It’s like peeling off a layer of skin. Everyone feels that they can’t survive, so they have to escape and find a way to survive!”

"Then why don't you swat these locusts?" Liu Peiji asked, "just watch these bugs eat everything up?"

"You don't dare!" An old woman next to her hurriedly waved her hand and said: "I heard from the monks in the temple that these locusts are divine insects in the sky. If they are killed indiscriminately and anger the Bodhisattva, they will only bring more disasters! "

"Godly insect? More disasters?" Liu Peiji frowned: "Which temple monk said that?"

"It's Changmenji!" A woman next to me said: "The ascetics in the temple are efficacious. Whatever you say works! Don't dare to offend them!"

"Changmen Temple?" Liu Peiji secretly wrote down: "Then where are you going now?"

"Returning to Langjun, I want to go see Bianzhou. It's a big land over there, and it's easy to find a way to survive!" the old man replied carefully.

Liu Peiji nodded: "There is a locust plague and drought in the whole of Henan. I'm afraid it's not easy for you to find a way out. On the other hand, there are many livelihoods in Hebei, especially in Cangzhou, so it's easier to find a way out. You can try it!"

"Thank you, Mr. Lang, for your advice!" Everyone knelt down and kowtowed in thanks before standing up and leaving. Looking at the backs of these refugees, Liu Peiji suddenly sighed: "What could be more miserable than leaving home and wandering around? Watching locusts gnawing at your crops, but being frightened by some false words from Samanas, you dare not kill the insects. , The harm of ignorance is greater than this!”

"Mr. Lang, do you want to inquire about the details of Changmen Temple?" the attendant asked in a low voice.

"Yeah!" Liu Peiji nodded: "If it's normal, that's all. If we hit the edge of the knife at this critical moment, we can only operate on these bald thieves!"

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Nagatoji Temple.

The four-wheeled carriage traveled very quickly. In the evening of the same day, Liu Peiji and his party arrived at Changmen Temple. From a distance, the temple covered an area of ​​about four or five acres, with three or four courtyards. There was heavy smoke. The road in front of the temple was paved with square blue stone slabs. , there are two rows of stone lampposts on both sides of the stone road, which looks very impressive.

"These bald thieves!" Liu Peiji cursed secretly: "Come here, please go to the temple and let the abbot come out to greet me!"

(End of this chapter)