Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 1094 Locusts can be eaten

The increase in national power and population means that Xiangfu Kingdom can raise more troops and have greater capital to fight the world.Moreover, the migration of a large number of Han Chinese in the Hexi Corridor and Hehuang can completely solve the hidden dangers of the rule of these two places.In addition, after this incident, Ye Chen will definitely win the hearts of the people of the world, and this is the biggest gain.

Han Xizai, Ma Wentao, and Jia Xian should have understood these things, but these days they have been preoccupied with the possible consequences of drought and locust plagues, and their previous experience told them that the danger of a large number of refugees is too dangerous, so let them But it was ignored.At this time, Ye Chen woke up a little bit, but it was like enlightenment, and found that this might be an opportunity to solve the biggest problem of Xiangfu Kingdom.Of course, if the state of Song is unbearable, perhaps this is still an opportunity to conquer the world.

"The Ministry of Zhongshu should make a plan as soon as possible, and make preparations for migrating a large number of refugees to the Hexi Corridor, Hehuang area, Qinghe Prefecture, and Hetao Plain. I still say that no matter how many refugees come from the Song Dynasty, we will accept them all, and we must ensure that They won't starve to death." Ye Chen finally said again.

Han Xizai, Ma Wentao and Jia Xian solemnly agreed.

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Since ancient times, farmers have been the most industrious people in the world. Even though this year has been dry and there has been no rain for several months, they have planted crops on the land that can be cultivated.It's just that this year's crops in Longzhou and other six states are really worrying farmers.The wheat in Longzhou matures nearly a month later than the wheat in Kaifeng in the Central Plains, and it is now ripe.

Last year, after the water from the river was pumped out by wind turbines and then irrigated into the fields through neat canals, the wheat seedlings were knee-high, and the budding rapeseed must also be full of vitality.However, the height of this year's wheat seedlings is less than half of that of previous years, and they are of different heights and sizes. Most of the ears of wheat are empty.In fact, this is because Xiangfu Country has complete water conservancy facilities. A few months ago, the water in the river could be pumped to irrigate the fields. Otherwise, all the crops would have died a month or two ago.

"Your Majesty, the yield of wheat per mu of paddy fields in Longzhou last year was [-] catties. This year I'm afraid there will not be even [-] catties. If there is another locust plague, the autumn harvest will definitely not be harvested in time. Most of them are all fed to locusts, and there is no harvest. Outside Longzhou City, in the field beside the official road, Ma Wentao looked at the dry and low wheat field in front of him, and said to Ye Chen with a heavy face.

Ye Chen knows how terrible it is for the number of locusts to reach a certain level. The video of the locust plague in Africa in later generations will make everyone in the world feel cold hands and feet, and Ye Chen will do the same when watching this video in later generations.

Nine out of ten people in these six prefectures are farmers, and all the farmers produce in the fields. It's just that this year's crops obviously can't be counted on, but farmers can actually start some side jobs.

Ye Chen pondered for a while, and said: "Preach my order, tell the people exactly what the locust plague is likely to happen, tell them that the crops in the fields are hopeless, and let them buy some pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, and sheep." Wait for the livestock to be bred in large quantities, and then issue a notice that all the meat or eggs raised by the people in these six prefectures will be purchased by the local army and used as food for the soldiers."

Han Xizai, Ma Wentao, Jia Xian, and Zhang Zhiwen, the prefect of Longzhou who hurried over after hearing the news, instantly understood what Ye Chen meant, and quickly respectfully said yes.

Following Ye Chen's will, the vigorous breeding industry in Longzhou and other six states began to be promoted with the great help and support of the state and county governments.

Since then, all the people, old and young, have been busy in the rural villages of these six states. The doll who just came back from school held a piece of steamed bun in her hand and carried a pot of water on her back. Chased out from home, leading pigs, driving sheep, or hawking chickens, ducks and geese, looking for food all over the world, even the elderly in their 70s and [-]s ran out of their homes with a cane, digging some fresh tender meat everywhere. Grass is used to feed livestock.

Ye Chen's move actually kills three birds with one stone. It not only solved the livelihood problem of the farmers in the six states this year, but also made it difficult for the locusts to find much to eat even if they hatched out of the ground. The locusts starved to death when they were not able to migrate long distances in their larva stage. .In addition, before locusts grow wings, chickens, ducks and geese are their natural enemies, and many of them will be eaten in the fields.

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Xiangfu College stipulates that Saturday in the seven-day system is the favorite day for Xiangfu College students, because today everyone does not have to go to class, they can play Cuju, read books alone, and of course they can go out of school together to eat and drink have fun.

But today, this Saturday is a bit different. As soon as I woke up in the afternoon, nearly a thousand students gathered in the square near the specially reserved hill in the middle of Xiangfu Academy.

It's no big deal, everyone is here to watch the fun.

Yesterday, Han Zixiu and Ma Mengru, two influential figures in the senior class of Xiangfu College, among the four great sons of Xia Jing, were going to conduct an experiment today.

The content of the test is: whether two iron balls of the same size but different weights will fall to the ground at the same time when they are dropped from the same height.Ma Mengru didn't know where to come to the conclusion, and insisted that they landed at the same time.And Han Zixiu thought what Ma Mengru said was extremely absurd?How could a ten-pound iron ball hit the ground at the same time as a one-pound iron ball?If so, is weight still useful?

Ma Mengru proposed a bet of 300 taels of silver, and Han Zixiu wanted to increase the bet, but Ma Mengru refused, which made Han Zixiu more convinced that Ma Mengru was not confident enough. The 300 taels of silver Han Zixiu didn't pay attention to, so he proposed another special bet. The loser should write a big-character poster and stick it at the gate of the college, admitting that he is not as good as the other party.

Ma Mengru and Han Zixiu have been arguing over who is the top of Xia Jing's four princes. This bet seems to be just a big-character poster, but in fact it is a battle for the title of the top four princes. It even involves the left minister Ma Wentao and Right Prime Minister Han Xizai dispute.When Han Zixiu made this bet, he expected that Ma Mengru, who was more concerned about fame than him, would not agree, but the latter agreed without hesitation.

The iron ball was prepared by Han Zixiu himself. In order to make a complete distinction, he borrowed the name of his grandfather Han Xizai and asked a master craftsman in the weapons and equipment production base to make him a ball with the same shape and volume, but a weight of five catties. An iron ball weighing twenty kilograms.Iron balls with such a large difference in density are not easy to handle in this era.

Under the supervision and on-site observation of more than 1000 teachers and students of Xiangfu College, Ma Mengru and Han Zixiu each sent a guard, holding an iron ball, to climb up a protruding platform on a hill that is more than ten feet high. People stood on the grass at the foot of the mountain, eagerly anticipating what would happen in the end.

Ma Mengru and Han Zixiu had already agreed that the guards of the former would be in charge of supervision, while the guards of the latter would carefully hold the two iron balls painted in bright blue in their hands.Under the watchful eyes of everyone, there is no way to fake it.Following the command given by a teacher from the School of Physics that Han Zixiu invited, Han Zixiu's guard shuddered and let go of his hands at the same time, and two iron balls fell from his hands at the same time.

The two iron balls landed at the same time, people who were close could see clearly, and those who were far away only heard a sound, which surprised many people. What surprised Han Zixiu was that there was no scene where the heavy ball landed first as he thought. But the two iron balls really landed at the same time.Han Zixiu didn't give up, and ran over to check the iron balls on the ground carefully again. There was nothing wrong with it. One five catties and one twenty catties were the iron balls he had prepared.

There was an uproar in the audience.

Han Zixiu and many other people looked at Ma Mengru. The scene just now overturned their previous understanding on this aspect.

Ma Mengru smiled and said: "These mysteries can only be explored and researched by the geniuses of our School of Physics. For example, you, Han Zixiu, who studies in the School of Biology, even a genius in the School of Biology will not understand."

Not reconciled, Han Zixiu gritted his teeth and said, "But before that, I have asked several students of your physics school why they didn't know."

Ma Mengru said proudly: "This is the mystery that I discovered through my own research three days ago. How would those idiots know?"

Han Zixiu couldn't understand Ma Meng's despicable expression when he was like this, and said with a sneer, "Do you dare to make another bet with me in the field of our biology school?"

Although the two of them usually competed a lot because of their youthful vigor and the fact that the two old men behind them didn't get along, they were actually good friends in private. Ma Mengru also knew Han Zixiu very well, and had long expected that the latter would not be reconciled. He smiled and said, "That depends on what kind of bet you play."

After thinking for a while, Han Zixiu said, "Your Majesty and the princes of the court are most troubled by everyone, right?"

Ma Mengru was stunned for a moment, and said, "The thing that bothers His Majesty and the court princes the most is naturally the locust plague that Longzhou and other six states will face."

Han Zixiu said, "That's right, the content of my bet is related to this matter."

Everyone at the scene was immediately interested, and Ma Mengru said, "Han Zixiu, don't play tricks, just talk about the content of the bet!"

Han Zixiu said, "I said those locusts can be eaten, do you believe it?"

Yesterday, when Han Zixiu and some teachers in the School of Biology heard that there might be locust plagues in Longzhou and other six states, they conducted research for a long time to see if they could relieve the imperial court's worries. And so on all kinds of weird ways.One of them was born in a very poor family, but he studied well. A classmate named Teng Fengping said at the time that his family had roasted and eaten locusts during the famine, saying that the taste was not bad.At that time, many people were disgusted.

Han Zixiu has taken a fancy to Teng Fengping's talent, and usually has a good relationship with him, and regards him as a right-hand man who can make great achievements after graduation.

(End of this chapter)