Chapter 596: Locust Plague (2)

On September 24th, Han Jianming sent a brochure urgently from Yanzhou Babaili. In Yanzhou, a plague of locusts occurred.

After Yuxi finished reading it, her expression relaxed. Although locust plagues occurred in both Yanzhou and Linzhou, they were not as overwhelming as those in Henan and Shanxi. This should be due to the killing of the eggs. Furthermore, because they took precautions in advance, they killed these locusts in the fastest and shortest time.

During this period of time, she had been worried about locust plagues, but when the locust plagues really happened, Yuxi calmed down instead.

Because Linzhou and Yanzhou are the places where the drought is the most severe, and they are also the places where locust plagues are most likely to occur. Han Jianming offered to come here that day.

Looking at the piled up locust corpses, Liu Yongnan asked strangely: "Master Han, why don't you burn these locusts?" Burning them will completely eliminate future troubles.

Han Jianming smiled and said: "It would be a pity to burn them. These locusts can be used to feed chickens and ducks. I heard that after eating chickens and ducks, they will lay more eggs." This locust plague can be wiped out in the fastest time Yes, and it was also thanks to the great help of Liu Yongnan.

Liu Yongnan's eyes lit up, and he said, "What you said is true?" Chickens and ducks were also raised in their barracks before, and the eggs of these chickens and ducks were eaten by the lieutenant soldiers. It's just that the drought was too severe and there was no water, so all the poultry were eaten.

Han Jianming nodded and said, "Of course it's true."

Liu Yongnan was only excited for a while, then shook his head and said: "It's a pity that all the chickens and ducks are gone now, so we have to burn them." Although it was a pity, since they couldn't be preserved, it was better to burn them earlier to save trouble.

Han Jianming smiled and said: "Not now, and it's not that we won't raise them in the future. First dry these locusts, and then grind them into powder and store them. After raising chickens and ducks, feed them to eat, so they can lay more eggs." .”

Liu Yongnan expressed doubts about this: "Really?"

Han Jianming shook his head with a smile and said, "I'm actually not sure about this. It was Doctor Bai who said it. He said that it's delicious after being fried. How about we try something new today."

Liu Yongnan laughed straight: "Master Han is interested in this, so Liu will accompany him." I think they caught those snakes and insects on the grass and ate them raw, but now they fry them in oil, which is simply too extravagant.

Han Jianming said: "Today we will also be extravagant." Because of the drought, Yunqing and Yuxi's couple reduced their meals to two dishes and one soup. The officials below were also very frugal when they heard this. Driven by Yunqing and Yuxi, the atmosphere in Northwest China is still very good. During Han Jianming's one-month stay in Yanzhou, every meal consisted of one dish and one soup, and most of them were vegetarian dishes.

During the meal, Liu Yongnan also took out his treasured spirits to entertain Han Jianming.

Han Jianming shook his head and said, "Now is the critical moment, so I don't dare to drink alcohol. I'll keep this wine, and when I've dealt with the locust matter, we two brothers will get drunk again." The locust matter was not resolved, and he I dare not slack off for half a moment.

Liu Yongnan said cheerfully: "Okay, then I will keep this wine for you. After the matter is settled, we brothers will drink it again." The locust plague is of great importance. take this responsibility.

The cook brought up the fried locusts. Liu Yongnan smiled and said: "Looking at this appearance, it should be good." After speaking, he put one in his mouth, nodded after eating, and said, "It's fragrant and crispy, delicious." It's unpalatable when eaten raw , I didn't expect it to be so delicious when fried. Liu Yongnan decided to fry a plate every once in a while to eat.

To catch locusts, not only rely on officials and soldiers, but also rely on the common people. The common people are not doing white labor, ten catties of locusts are exchanged for one catty of yams. As soon as this condition came out, the people were still very active. Of course, when locusts appear, it is not enough to just kill them. You have to check whether they have laid eggs in the places they pass by. If eggs are laid, the eggs must be removed, otherwise there will be endless troubles.

And doing these things is very exhausting.

Yunqing heard Han Jianming say that the fried locust tasted very delicious, so he said to Yuxi: "We will also fry a plate at noon to try."

Yuxi showed a look of disgust, but she didn't refuse, and said, "If you want to eat, let the cook in the front yard fry it!" It was too hard for her to ask Mama Bai to cook this dish.

At noon, there was an extra plate of golden dishes on the dinner table. When Zao Zao saw it, he immediately picked one up. After eating, she was still full of praise, and said to Liu Er: "Sister, this is delicious, you can try it."

Liu Er asked Yu Xi with a look of disgust: "Mother, what is this thing? Why does it look like a bug?" Looking at this thing, she lost her appetite.

Yuxi was worried that Liu'er would vomit if she knew it was a locust, so she answered irrelevantly and said, "If you don't like it, don't eat it." She couldn't eat it either! She didn't stop Yunqing and let this thing appear on the table, just hoping to send a signal to the outside world, that is, locusts are edible, and they taste very good. If everyone follows the trend and eats locusts, the harm of locusts will be reduced invisibly.

That night, Yuxi received a note from Fu Minglang. Fu Minglang said in the notebook that there was also a plague of locusts in Jinzhou, but because the number was not large, they were quickly hunted down. In addition, Fu Minglang also mentioned a phenomenon in the notebook, that is, locusts do not eat mulberry trees, and the mulberry trees planted before are intact.

Yu Xi put down the booklet, and said in a low voice: "There are still things that locusts don't eat, which is rare."

Although there were locust plagues in 17 counties in six states, they were caught and killed in time and did not cause serious consequences.

Soon, the news of a heavy rain in Gansu spread to Haocheng again. Yuxi said to Xu Wu: "Gansu has already had two heavy rains, and Shaanxi should be about the same."

Xu Wu nodded and said, "It's the end of September. If it doesn't rain anymore, the common people will really have no way to live." In the past three months, more than 20,000 people have died in the entire Northwest. This is on the premise that they are fully prepared.

Yuxi weighed in her heart for a long time, and said, "If a well in the back garden is opened to the outside world, what do you think?" Yuxi felt that the drought in Gansu has been eased, and the situation in Shaanxi should be almost the same.

Xu Wu shook his head without thinking, "It's raining in Gansu, but Shaanxi hasn't had a drop of rain yet. None of us can predict when the drought will end." Besides, there is another reason she didn't mention. The hottest season is about to pass, and now it is not a good thing for Yu Yuxi and Yunqing to provide water to the people of Haocheng.

Yu Xi thought for a while and said, "Forget it." Yu Xi was also hesitating just now, otherwise she wouldn't have asked Xu Wu.

Not long after Xu Wu went out, he came back again: "Princess, this is a letter from Yang Duoming." The letter written by Yang Duoming this time is quite thick.

After reading half of the letter, Yu Xi's expression darkened.

Xu Wu asked cautiously: "Princess, but what happened to Master Yang?" Yang Duoming is also a fifth-rank official, so it is not too much to call Master Yang.

Yu Xi said: "In Henan, many people killed the elderly and children to eat, not only eating them but also selling them..." After that, Yu Xi couldn't say.

When Xu Wu heard these words, he didn't even move his eyebrows and eyes: "Henan is plagued by drought and locusts, and the common people have no way out. Those who want to survive can only do such unreasonable things." Exactly Said that they no longer feel that this is hurtful. If you have this thought, you will not sell human flesh.

After Yuxi was silent for a while, she continued to read Yang Duoming's letter. After reading it, Yu Xi said to Xu Wu: "Qing Ge is dead, and he was with He Gao Gao when he died." Qing Ge was given to He Ye, but the relationship with He Gao Gao was not severed. As for why they died when they were in love/love, Yang Duoming is not clear yet, he is still looking for the reason.

Xu Wu said: "The goal has been achieved, and her life and death are no longer affected." Such a woman would be considered dirty at first glance.

Yuxi said: "She lost her life doing things for us, no one can deny this." And Yuxi thinks that this matter should not be simple, Qingge has received special training, she is the only one who makes men die in bed, How can I be killed by a man.

Xu Wu said: "Then let Lord Yang give her a lavish burial!" Qing Ge has no family members, and they can't even if they want to take care of the Buddha.

When Yun Qing came back from the outside, he opened the curtain and just heard the word "burial", and asked, "What were you talking about just now? What kind of funeral?" Hearing that Qing Ge had died, Yun Qing didn't take it to heart. But when he heard the current situation in Henan, he looked worried: "The people in Henan have reached this point now?" Cannibalism is fine, but they still sell human flesh, it is really tragic.

Seeing that he had nothing to do, Xu Wu withdrew by himself.

Yunqing weighed in his heart for a long time, and said to Yuxi: "Yuxi, only when we capture Henan can the common people escape the sea of ​​suffering."

Yuxi shook her head and said: "Not for now, we have to wait until the drought is over." The rear is unstable, and the bigger the territory it occupies, the more dangerous it will be. Maybe because of the woman, Yu Xi acted very cautiously, and she would not do it without enough certainty.

Yunqing knew that Yuxi's concerns were right, but if he didn't do anything, he would feel uncomfortable. After thinking for a while, Yunqing said: "Yuxi, when the time comes to send troops to attack Henan and other places, there are not enough troops." How can Yunqing not know that Yuxi is not willing to be content with this three-acre land in the northwest! If you want to conquer cities and territories, you must have enough people, horses and food. There is no shortage of food for the time being, but the number of troops is indeed a little short.

Yuxi heard Yunqing's meaning, this is to recruit troops from Shanxi and Henan. Yuxi thought for a long time, nodded and said: "Yes, but the number of people can't exceed one hundred thousand. And when recruiting soldiers, it was stated that we only care about food and don't give salary. But after the war starts, salary will be paid." Even if this condition is a bit harsh, Yuxi will I believe that many people are willing to join the army.

Seeing Yun Qing's hesitation, Yu Xi said: "One hundred thousand is already the limit, we can't afford any more." Now that the situation in Gansu and Xihai has improved, otherwise she would never agree to Yun Qing's request. This is the suggestion.

Yun Qing nodded and said, "That's 50,000 in Shanxi and 50,000 in Henan." The disaster situation in Hubei is not as serious, so I won't go there to recruit troops.

This matter is settled.

ps: I made a common sense mistake. The three provinces of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu belong to the Yangtze River Basin, and their floods have nothing to do with the Yellow River. Most of them have been revised, and there may be omissions. If you see it, please point it out, thank you. ~~~~(>_