I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 405: Strategies for Controlling Locusts (5k I'm a Rookie)

"Locust plague?" Liu Bian muttered this word that was both familiar and unfamiliar to him.

He remembered that in his previous life, even in an industrialized modern society, many countries still did not have the ability to control locust plagues. There were news reports of locust plagues, but they did not occur in the country.

Liu Bian immediately thought of the trick he remembered for dealing with locusts: "How about gathering chickens and ducks to eat the locusts?"

Looking at the ministers in the Yuntai Palace, Liu Bian asked this question.

For the senior officials in the palace, locust plagues are not unfamiliar and they have rich experience in fighting them.

However, since locusts are regarded as a natural disaster, it is inevitable that

Let alone the reign of Emperor Huan, fifteen years ago, during the Xiping and Guanghe years of the previous emperor, there were locusts for many years. The previous emperor summoned Cai Yong to ask for a solution, and Cai Yong replied by citing classics: "Locusts are caused by greed and harshness."

He was just short of pointing at the late emperor's nose and scolding him for selling official positions in Xiyuan.

But now, none of the officials present could help but accuse Liu Bian of being greedy. After all, the most money Liu Bian had taken since he ascended the throne was from confiscated property, and 70% of the confiscated property money went into the national treasury and was used to pay salaries to officials.

All the ministers also understood Liu Bian's style, which was to only speak the truth and not lie.

Lu Zhi first answered Liu Bian's question: "Your Majesty, chickens and ducks can eat locusts, but they will only eat scattered locusts and newly born locust nymphs. Once the locusts gather and their bodies change color, chickens and ducks will no longer eat them."

Although Liu Bian did not know that locusts would change their shape and emit pheromones that their natural enemies disliked after gathering, he did not doubt that Lu Zhi would deceive him on this issue, and asked again: "Since chickens and ducks do not eat swarms of locusts, then humans can eat them, right?"

Liu Bian certainly knew that the rhetoric about using millions of foodies to wipe out the invasive species crayfish was just a rumor spread by marketing accounts, but it must be true that locusts can be eaten... He vaguely remembered that Li Erfeng had eaten locusts himself in order to break the people's fear of locusts.

Liu Bian noticed the expressions of the officials in the hall. It seemed that it was not a consensus that locusts could be eaten at this time!

If necessary, although Liu Bian felt that his taste was not strong, he could still imitate.

Only when you work with Erfeng together can things be accomplished!
“Humans are indeed edible!”

Liu Bian looked at Huangfu Song who was speaking, hoping that his general could give him a satisfactory answer.

"When I was in my hometown, I saw villagers catching locusts with a long pole tied with a cloth, or roasting them over fire, or cooking them after drying them."

"But..." Huangfu Song paused.

The most feared thing in everything is "but", but Liu Bian could only prick up his ears and listen.

"Once locusts form a swarm, they will often gather in larger and larger numbers. Once they arrive at a place, it will take only a moment for them to eat the entire place clean. Locusts come and go like the wind. Unless you are well prepared, it is difficult to catch locusts for human consumption. Locusts are greedy by nature. If there are injured or dead locusts, they will eat their own kind."

Is this a plague of locusts? Nothing edible is left.

But in other words, although there are many difficulties, as long as we prepare early, there is still a chance to catch locusts. Liu Bian thought so and listened to Huangfu Song say -

"But locusts are limited in number and can only fill the stomach for a while, which is far less than grain. Therefore, we should hurry to harvest the grain."

Seeing that the method of eating was not effective enough, Liu Bian stopped using his creative ideas and honestly asked about the lessons learned from past locust plague control.

"Your Majesty, I personally think that locusts should still be caught. This is because many people now fear locusts as if they were gods, and some even set up platforms to worship them. Therefore, we should not only catch them, but also follow the example of the past and send messengers to the counties and states affected by locust plagues to reward people who catch locusts."

"Master Lu is right." Upon hearing Lu Zhi's suggestion, Liu Bian immediately agreed and added, "If the people are still afraid of locusts, I am willing to eat locusts myself and set an example!"

Before Liu Bian could react, the other officials in the palace were excited. Cai Yong even shouted, "Your Majesty, your body is worth a million gold. I am willing to eat locusts for you!"

There were many ministers like Cai Yong who wanted to sacrifice themselves. Dong Zhuo, Gai Xun, Yang Xu...

"No need. The best effect will come from eating it myself!" Liu Bian looked at Cai Yong who spoke first. Even if he was his father-in-law, he would not give up this opportunity.

"I would like to eat with Your Majesty!" Cai Yong said again, his emotion beyond words.

With Cai Yong taking the lead, how many people dared to say they would not eat with the emperor? Whether they were sincere or not, the ministers pleaded for permission one after another.

Lu Zhi coughed lightly, stopping the chaos in the hall.

He added: "Since ancient times, catching locusts is not as good as catching nymphs, and catching nymphs is not as good as digging out eggs. To cure locusts, we must cure their root cause."

"What does it mean to dig eggs?" Liu Bian asked. It can't be done by digging them out bit by bit with manpower.

Then he got the answer: digging eggs means re-cultivating the river beaches, mud flats and other places where the "fish and shrimps" exist.

Then Liu Bian discovered the problem.

It is not only the fallacy of the origin of locusts, but also that arable land can only reduce the number of locusts, while the hatching time of locusts will be changed because of the different depths of eggs in plowed land, which is more difficult to control.

But in the absence of pesticides, unless there is enough manpower to manually check for insect eggs, the only option is to plow the land repeatedly and let the sun kill the eggs that are turned up.

Afterwards, the emperor and his ministers agreed on other ways to control locusts. First of all, wheat must not be left in the fields in areas where locust plagues might occur and must be harvested as soon as possible.

The second is to supplement the strategy of catching locusts - bonfires can be lit at night to attract locusts to the net, making it easier for people to catch them. Catching locusts can also be rewarded with money and food.

As soon as the decree was issued, many officials who had served as envoys the year before and did not stay in the local area to serve as county magistrates were listed.

In a tavern west of Luoyang city, Zhao Yan, Du Xi and Fan Qin, three people who belonged to three public mansions respectively, gathered at a table again.

"We have to travel today and cannot drink too much. How about we drink this cup together?" Zhao Yan said.

"Good!" Du Xi and Fan Qin responded in unison.

After getting together, they will immediately set off and rush to various places.

The year before last, they went out on patrol as envoys, and they had a superior who was in charge of them. It was not until later on that they began to act independently.

This year, they were able to take charge of their own affairs with their subordinates when they set out.

When they parted, Du Xi shouted, "Locusts are nothing to be afraid of! I hope to return victorious with you and meet here again!"

In Nangong Zhuolong Garden, Liu Bian stared in a daze at the lush garden in front of him.

"Are you still worried about the locusts?" Cai Yan's gentle voice brought Liu Bian back to his senses.

"Yes!" Liu Bian held Cai Yan's hand with his backhand and sighed.

(End of this chapter)