Jagged Warlord

With his own bank, it is much more convenient to do things. Li Mohan even innovated the way his troops are paid.According to the old military salary payment system, the officers were sent down from one level to the next.In this way, it is inevitable that officers will deduct soldiers' salaries. Although Li Mohan has more confidence in his officers, and there is a system of high salaries to support integrity, it is not safe to place all integrity on personal morality. At least Li Mohan I think so.

Therefore, Li Mohan set up an accounting office in the army, responsible for calculating the military pay of each soldier.Then, an account is opened for each soldier in the Chinese Commercial Bank, and all monthly military pay is deposited into this account.In this way, unless the guarding envoy has no money, there will never be any deduction of military pay.

Just when Li Mohan was about to flex his muscles, an unexpected locust plague disrupted Li Mohan's plan.

Speaking of which, this locust plague is inevitable, because just last year, in 1913, Henan had just experienced a severe drought.

People have long noticed that severe locust plagues are often accompanied by severe droughts.There is a record in the ancient books of our country that "drought and locusts".Several major locust plagues in Africa in recent years have also been linked to severe local droughts.The main reason for this phenomenon is that locusts are warm and dry insects, and the dry environment has many benefits for their reproduction, growth and survival.Because locusts lay their eggs in the soil, the soil is relatively solid, and the water content is most suitable for them to lay eggs when the water content is 10% to 20%.

The drought caused the locusts to reproduce in large numbers and grow rapidly. There are two reasons for the disaster.On the one hand, in dry years, due to the drop in water level, the soil becomes firmer, the water content decreases, and the ground vegetation is sparse, so the number of eggs laid by locusts increases greatly, sometimes up to 4-000 eggs per square meter of soil. 5 egg masses, and each egg mass has 000-50 eggs, that is, there are 80-20 eggs per square meter.At the same time, in dry years, the water surface of rivers and lakes shrinks, and the low-lying areas are exposed, which also provides locusts with more places suitable for laying eggs.On the other hand, plants grown in arid environments have lower water content, which locusts feed on, grow faster and have higher fecundity.

On the contrary, the rainy and humid environment has many adverse effects on the reproduction of locusts.The high water content of the plants that locusts feed on will delay the growth of locusts and reduce their fertility. Rainy and humid environments will also make locusts epidemic, and rain and snow can directly kill locust eggs.In addition, the increase in natural enemies such as frogs will also increase the mortality of locusts.

Ever since, telegrams reporting the disaster from all over the country flew to the guarding mission like snowflakes.

"What's going on? If there are locusts causing disaster, then just mobilize people to kill them. If the funds are not enough, the guarding envoy can allocate special funds." Li Mohan was surprised to see the helpless Wang Shihua arriving, "You are standing there like this what?"

Liu Musheng waved the paper fan and said, "It's not that the county magistrate Wang didn't do anything, it's just that the villagers are ignorant and think that locusts are heavenly insects, and they can only burn incense and pray instead of killing them."

Wang Shihua also said: "Before I was humbled, I sent people to the countryside to organize the people to cull the locusts, but they were stopped by the gentry and the people, and some even beat the staff. The most disgusting thing is that some gentry took the opportunity to collect money from the people. Earn money in the name of sacrificing witchcraft."

"It's unreasonable." Li Mohan slapped the case, "What age is this, and you still come to feudal superstition? County magistrate Wang, you go prepare to organize manpower. This time I will send troops to the countryside with you. Who dares to stop and kill locusts? Military law disposal."

These words lifted his spirits, and Wang Shihua immediately regained his spirits, and said: "Yes, I will organize the manpower for the humble job."

But Liu Musheng said: "Young master, wait a minute, blindly using force may backfire."

Li Mohan asked in surprise: "Then master, do you have a way to get the best of both worlds?"

Liu Musheng put away the paper fan with a huff, and asked with a smile, "Master, have you ever heard the story about Tang Xuanzong exterminating locusts?"

Li Mohan shook his head and said, "I would like to hear the details."

Liu Musheng opened the folding fan with a clatter, shook his head and said, "In May of the 4th year of Kaiyuan, a large-scale locust plague occurred in Tang Dynasty. The people still set up an altar to ask heaven to take back the locusts. But Yao Chong said that the people all over the world should catch and kill the locusts together. The government and the public were panicked. But Xuanzong thought it was feasible, but no one in the court except Zhang Jiuling agreed. Xuanzong was determined to exterminate the locusts and ordered all the locusts to be exterminated. However, it could not be carried out. The officials from the top down to the common people believed that they could not be killed. Zhang Jiuling, who demolished the altar, was also given to The matter was reported to Xuanzong, and Xuanzong became worried. Yao Chong asked Xuanzong to take the lead in eating locusts because of the fact that the king of Chu ate leeches. Xuanzong agreed and agreed to eat locusts. Even Gao Lishi came out to object. It happened that the palace people It was reported that Yao Chong's youngest son had a sudden heartache and fell to the ground. Gao Lishi and Lu Huaishen told Xuanzong that this was the retribution Yao Chong swore at that time that only one person would bear the burden. Yao Chong's youngest son died soon after, opposing the extermination of locusts Some people even made a big fuss about it. It was Yao Chong who argued hard, persisted to the end, and finally extinguished the plague of locusts."

Li Mohan was stunned, and said with a smile: "Master, you want me to take the lead in eating locusts?"

Liu Musheng put away his smile and asked seriously: "Do you dare, young master?"

Li Mohan smiled and said, "Locusts are high in protein, why wouldn't I dare?"

Both Liu Musheng and Wang Shihua were taken aback, obviously not understanding what high protein meant.

Li Mohan could only briefly explain to them, and the two of them understood.

Wang Shihua said: "Since locusts can be eaten, it is also a great supplement. Why not cook the locusts and make disaster relief food after killing the locusts?"

Liu Musheng smiled and said, "You really know how to calculate."

Li Mohan said: "This is also a way, but I think this is not to save food, but to break the superstition. This time to kill the locusts, we must also destroy the superstition of the locusts. Those who are grasshoppers and the temple or something , will be dismantled together.”

Disaster relief is like fighting a fire. Li Mohan immediately rushed to Yucheng County, the worst-hit area, with a large team.In order to increase the momentum of locust extermination, Liu Musheng also came up with the idea of ​​hiring a group of allegro talkers with money to compile the event of locust extermination into an allegro and sing along the way, which was very lively.

Li Mohan appreciated this very much, and said that Liu Musheng was thoughtful.

When I arrived in Yucheng, I saw locusts everywhere, which made my scalp tingle.Locusts devoured crops, and indeed all vegetation.The rustling sound of countless locusts gnawing on the crops makes one's hair stand on end.

Li Mohan immediately called Liu Xian, the county magistrate of Yucheng County, and immediately criticized him, "The locusts are infested, and the farmland has lost harvest. How do you become the county magistrate?"

Liu Xian said with a look of grievance: "I am wronged. When the locust plague first broke out, I organized people to exterminate the locusts. However, the gentry bewitched the people to engage in witchcraft. I can only lead the people from the county government to do my best. However, there is a shortage of manpower."

Li Mohan saw that his hair was messed up, his beard was not shaved, and the soles of his shoes were full of mud, it didn't seem like he was lying.Then he asked: "Since this is the case, you have tried your best. How about this, you gather all the gentry. I will talk to them."