Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 542 Time is like water
"father!"

When Xue Lang came back from the outside, he immediately received a warm hug and kiss from Shui Nu's little baby.

Xue Lang smiled and picked up his daughter, kissed her, and asked with a smile, "Is Shui Nu good today?"

"Be good! My brother is also good!"

That small appearance made Xue Lang kiss her again, and went in together.

On the first day of August in the ninth year of Wude, the sage Li Yuan worshiped his ancestors in the Taimiao, worshiped the sky in the Circular Mound, and held a grand ceremony for the appointment of the prince.Ten days later, the sage Li Yuanchan was located in the Prince's house and lived in Daxing Palace.Li Shimin ascended the throne as the emperor, and the next month he made the eldest son of the original princess the queen, and the eldest son Chengqian as the prince, and changed Yuan Zhenguan.

In the same year, because of leaving his post without authorization, he won the post of admiral of the navy of Princess Pingyang of An Guo, and was fined for three years.In the spring of the first year of Zhenguan, the eldest son of Xue Lang and Princess Pingyang, whose nickname was Tannu and whose real name was Xue Jingpu, was born. Xue Lang stayed at home and never served in the court.

Xue Lang just came back after he went out to check the situation of the farm.

In the ninth year of Wude, it was a warm winter, hot summer, and little rain. The Yellow River Basin was a bit dry, including Guanzhong, and the grain production was also reduced due to the lack of rainfall.In the first year of Zhenguan, it was still a warm winter, and the water level of the Weishui River dropped more than in previous years. If the rain is still scarce when the rainy season comes next year, the drought may continue.

Xue Lang went out to look around. Many waterwheels had been built around Chang'an City. Because of the well-developed water conservancy facilities, it can be expected that the grain production will decrease, but it is not yet at the point of failure.

However, Xue Lang was worried about another matter, which was also recorded in history.In order to have something to say, he went to the field and squatted for several days, checked it carefully, and he was sure.

Seeing Xue Lang frowning, Princess Pingyang put Tan Nu in the cradle and asked, "Why are you so worried?"

Xue Lang said: "Jianling, have you heard a word?"

"What?"

"There will be locusts in a long drought!"

Even Princess Pingyang looked serious: "You mean, there may be a locust plague in the coming year?"

Xue Lang nodded, and ordered people to carry the soil he had dug from the field to the eaves of the porch, and waved to Princess Pingyang, who immediately came out to watch him pick up the soil: "See? These are locust eggs! "

Princess Pingyang glanced at it, her expression remained the same, she was slightly puzzled: "This is locust eggs? Seriously? I heard people say that locusts are the eggs of fish and shrimp. Shouldn't they be in water? Why are they in clods of soil?"

Xue Lang was dumbfounded for a moment!The face was full of disbelief: "My lord, this locust belongs to the insect family. Both fish and shrimp belong to the animal family. The fish is a chordate, and the shrimp is an arthropod. It is a different species from the locust. This locust is made from the eggs of fish and shrimp." Hua...who mistook the disciples so much?"

Princess Pingyang's eyes wandered twice, and she asked calmly, "What about insects, notochords, and arthropods? How are they different?"

Xue Lang immediately explained: "This is the classification of species in biology. Let me tell you..."

Xue Lang slowly explained to her what biology is, how it is classified, and what is the standard.Princess Pingyang let out a breath while listening.

After listening, he took a closer look at the insect eggs in the soil, and his expression became solemn: "There are so many insect eggs!"

There are several rows of locust eggs in a basket of soil clods.This is just a basket of soil. If it is per mu of land, this kind of soil does not need to be much, only one third...Princess Pingyang did not dare to think about it, and felt her scalp tingling.

Xue Lang patted the soil on his hands, washed his hands with the water brought by the servants, and said, "Come with me!"

He dragged Princess Pingyang to the ear room, and when he reached the ear room, he opened the door, and the room was full of baskets, and the baskets were full of clods.Xue Lang squatted down, began to scrape the clods of soil, raised his head and called Princess Pingyang, and said: "I dug this last year, come and see!"

The soil clod was completely dry, and the insect eggs inside were shriveled, but the locust eggs could still be seen.Xue Lang said: "There was little rain last year, so I was afraid of locust plagues, so I paid special attention to it. The soil clods in this house were all collected from your farm and the fields near our farm. Insect eggs are not much. So, last year, I just asked people to dig the soil deeper, burn it, and sprinkle lime powder. Not to mention the continuous drought this year, and the temperature is warmer. I paid attention, and sure enough, the insect eggs in the soil More than last year, with this density...there will definitely be a plague of locusts in the coming year!"

Princess Pingyang's expression became serious: "This matter...are you sure?"

Xue Lang patted the soil on his hands, and said: "Ninety-nine is not far from ten! You have seen the comparison of the eggs in the soil. With this year's density, when the eggs hatch next spring, it is almost certain that there will be a plague of locusts." !"

Princess Pingyang thought a lot for a moment, smiled wryly, and said: "So...do you think about how to do it?"

Xue Lang said without hesitation: "Since I have the worm eggs in the clod to testify, it's not empty talk. I'm going to report it to the saint."

Princess Pingyang sighed slightly, and said: "Now is the first year of Zhenguan, and when the spring begins, it will only be the second year of Zhenguan. The saint has only been on the throne for two years, not to mention the successive years of drought, and locust plagues are about to break out..."

Although the words have not been exhausted, the meaning is already clear.Originally, Erlang's title to the throne was unfair, but after he took the throne, it was so unfavorable. Judging from the ancient feudal superstition, people might say it was a curse from heaven.

Princess Pingyang replied: "Youyang, you reported it with a public heart. If you were framed by villains because of this, and if Erlang wanted to punish you because of various considerations...what should I do?"

Xue Lang resolutely said: "You can't pretend that you don't know! If you can prevent the disaster before it happens, the locust plague is not terrible. If it happens, it will be a disregard for human life. I have a bad conscience. Besides, natural disasters are natural disasters. The causes of natural disasters are complicated. What? This natural disaster is related to the virtues of those in power, and I think it’s just playing the piano indiscriminately!”

This resounding appearance made Princess Pingyang's heart warm, this is her Youyang.After a slight smile, he asked: "Just now you said that if you take precautions before they happen, the plague of locusts is not terrible... But there is a solution? If you have it, write it down and submit it together tomorrow. This is the best way to avoid villains Frame you to confuse the public."

Xue Lang nodded.

For more than a year, he has been idle at home, and he does not go to court except that he will attend the feasts of princes and ministers when saints entertain princes and ministers on festivals.However, the number of times he entered the palace was more, either with Princess Pingyang, or with Shui Nu, or alone, all of them entered the palace to accompany the old man, with the old man together, and the Weng and his son-in-law. Either fishing and playing chess, or painting and reciting poems...Of course, Xue Lang did the painting, and Comrade Li Yuan recited poems.

Although Comrade Li's poetry is not very good, it is much better than his stupid son-in-law.As for the question of who will sing the poem, after listening to Xue Lang sing once, Comrade Lao Li realized that he would sing it himself every time he wrote it. If Princess Pingyang was present, he would let Princess Pingyang sing and let Xue Lang sing... ...Lao Li said that he still wants to live a few more years.

(End of this chapter)