The Necromancer of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 112 From Disaster to Near Extinction
There was no locust plague in Yecheng, and the barbecue recipe spread to the people. Within two days, not to mention locusts outside the city, even the larger grasshoppers were caught.

The people who were full of expectations were annoyed that they could not enjoy the meal, and batches of locusts were sent from Youzhou.

It was Zhen Yan who took over the locusts.

He kept some big and fat ones for the auction house to use, and set different prices for the others according to their size and classification.

The largest and fattest locusts, dead ones, cost one copper coin, and live ones can only buy two.

Despite the high price, the first batch of locusts were sold out quickly.

Tian Feng's family members also participated in the rush to buy locusts in the market.

Several domestic servants who had snatched the locusts brought them back to the mansion with joy on their faces, but they happened to be bumped into by Tian Feng.

"What did you bring back?" he asked the servants.

"Return to the lord." A servant replied: "Yecheng rises to roast locusts, and the mistress told us to grab some."

"The locusts are still robbing?" Tian Feng looked blank: "Isn't this thing everywhere?"

"It has long been lost outside the city." The servant replied, "These locusts were still sent from Youzhou."

"Youzhou?" Tian Feng thought of the locust plague in Youzhou.

Before leaving Yecheng, Yuan Xu once said that it is difficult to curb the spread of locust plagues by relying on birds.

Tian Feng really didn't expect that he would capture locusts from Youzhou and send them to Yecheng for profit.

"Madam wants you to buy it back, what do you plan to do?" Tian Feng asked.

The servant replied: "Send it to the kitchen and bake it according to the recipe circulated in the market."

"Don't send it to the kitchen." Tian Feng ordered: "Send it to Jucai Ling, ask him to arrange someone to bake it and send it."

Although he didn't understand why it was sent to Jucailing, the servant could only accept it.

The locusts sent by Youzhou became a rush to buy in the market.

In fact, although roasted locusts are delicious, they will not cause panic buying.

Having once been the head of the Zhen family, Zhen Yan really has a way.

He arranged for some people to go to the market to drive up the price of locusts, buy them back at a high price, and then send them out for recycling.

Everyone has the mentality to follow suit.

Some people purchased locusts wantonly, and the people of Yecheng soon joined the panic buying trend.

Soon the locusts sent from Youzhou were often out of stock.

Sitting in Jucai Ling's office, Zhen Yan had a sad face.

He wasn't worried that the locusts were out of stock. The reason for his sad face was actually what was in front of him.

In front of him were the locusts sent by Tian Feng and his servants.

Ordinary officials dare not buy locusts and send them to him, even if they are sent, he will not take care of them.

However, Tian Feng and others have high positions and powers, and some even determine whether he can handle affairs smoothly.

None of the few who sent the locusts was something he could offend.

Tian Feng and others asked him to arrange a cook to roast the locusts and send them home.

Knowing that the ingredients on the market are different from those at the auction, they certainly would not choose to bake them at home.

Sending it back unchanged will definitely offend a group of people.

Send them all to the cook to bake, and things at the auction house will be delayed again.

"Invite the cook." He couldn't think of a suitable way, so he ordered his followers to invite the cook.

After a while, the cook came.

Zhen Yan asked him, "How long will it take to roast all these locusts?"

The cook looked at the locusts that were placed in several bamboo cages, and said with a miserable expression, "There are so many, how long will I have to roast them all by myself?"

"I'm just asking how long you need to bake." Zhen Yan asked urgently.

"If you don't have a whole day, you won't be able to get out." The cook replied.

"These are sent by Tian Gong, Pang Gong and others." Zhen Yan said to the cook: "Arranging you to bake will definitely delay the auction. But if you don't bake, I will definitely offend them."

"It's really too busy." The cook replied: "The auction house is busy all day long."

"What do you think?" Zhen Yan asked, "Could it be possible that I will return it?"

The cook thought for a while: "Actually, Tian Gong and others only want enough ingredients. As for who bakes it, it should not be so particular."

Zhen Yan's eyes lit up: "Are you sure?"

The cook replied: "Roasting locusts is not difficult, as long as the ingredients are sufficient, the kitchen can do it."

"Fortunately, you reminded me." Zhen Yan waved her hand: "Go and do your work."

After the cook left, Zhen Yan sent all the condiments and locusts to the kitchen.

There were a lot of people working in the kitchen, and it didn't take long for Tian Feng and others to receive the roasted locusts.

Tian Feng and others also sent locusts and asked him to arrange someone to roast them.

Zhen Yan would not let go of this opportunity to make a gimmick, making people publicize it in Yecheng.

People with high positions and powers were also eating locusts, and the price of locusts in Yecheng doubled immediately.

After all, the recipes spread to the market are incomplete.

The guests who had eaten roasted locusts at the auction house all talked about the difference between the baked locusts on the market and the auction house.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhen Yan held several more auctions.

Every auction ends with huge profits.

Roasting locusts was popular in Yecheng, and the news was carried to various places along with the businessmen.

In addition, the condiment recipes on the surface of Yecheng City were also taken elsewhere by merchants.

In Youzhou, Yuan Xu looked at the formula he got.

"How?" Yuan Xi asked, "Is it different from the one used by the fourth brother?"

"There's a big difference." Yuan Xu replied, "Without important ingredients such as cumin and pepper, it's no wonder it tastes delicious."

"Cumin, chili?" Yuan Xi was confused.

He didn't know the farm existed, and certainly hadn't heard of the emerging crops.

"Next year at the latest, the second brother will see it at the market." Yuan Xu replied: "Although this recipe is modified, it must have come from the auction house. The cooks there are from Sichuan, and their best thing is to figure out how to make dishes. It tastes better. With this thing, the plague of locusts can be said to be over.”

"A lot of farmland is barren because of locusts." Yuan Xi said: "Even if we replant now, there will definitely be a shortage of food this year."

"Second brother, don't worry." Yuan Xu comforted: "I have arranged for Wei Ji to handle this matter. Not only will Youzhou not be short of food this year, but it will also have a good harvest."

"Fourth brother means..." Yuan Xi vaguely guessed something.

"Hybrid rice seeds." Yuan Xu said, "Youzhou will not be too bad for the yield per mu in Taiyuan."

When Yuan Xu mentioned hybrid rice, Yuan Xi was overjoyed.

"Although the locust plague has been contained in time, the reduction in grain production is certain." Yuan Xi said, "Xianxin gave new rice seeds, and for the people of Youzhou, it is really a blessing in disguise."

At the beginning in Taiyuan, Yuan Xu decided to improve crops, considered many different seeds, and finally chose rice seeds.

In Taiyuan after 2000, due to severe vegetation damage in the northwest and perennial drought, rice is not suitable for growing.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the north was full of forests, and the desert was still further north.

Taiyuan has abundant rainfall, so there is no problem in planting rice.

Taiyuan can grow rice, and of course Youzhou can too.

"I've been away from Yecheng for a long time." Yuan Xu said, "It's time to go back. Second brother has to worry about Youzhou."

(End of this chapter)