Chapter 84 084 Hand it over to me.

Although the two spent every day together, Zhao Jialing felt that the time they spent together was still not enough. Sending Xie Lanzao to Yuzhou now would mean being worlds apart. She knew the journey wasn't particularly dangerous, but worry still lingered in her heart. Because of this concern, even the slightest disturbance would cause her great anxiety.

However, the locust plague could not be delayed; even a moment's delay would leave many people homeless due to the loss of their crops. The following day, Emperor Jialing issued an imperial edict, appointing Xie Lanzhao as envoy to the various prefectures of Henan to control the locust plague. Although it was called Yuzhou, both men knew in their hearts that there were other areas besides Yuzhou where the locusts had to be eradicated completely.

The civil and military officials were somewhat surprised upon hearing the edict. Firstly, because of Xie Lanzhao's relationship with the Emperor, and secondly, because it was unusual for a prime minister to be sent on a diplomatic mission. While loudly praising the Emperor's wisdom, they pondered how to take advantage of Xie Lanzhao's absence to accomplish certain things, such as allowing the Emperor to establish a harem. In the past, it was always the emperor who was advised to distance himself from beautiful women and release palace women, but the Emperor, being a woman, was indeed somewhat unusual. Court officials submitted memorials, and the people jointly offered their advice through a copper box.

Distressed, Zhao Jialing ignored the voices and methodically arranged for the officials to distribute grain from the imperial granary for disaster relief. Remembering Xie Lanzhao's suggestion, she patiently reviewed agricultural books and summoned insightful agricultural students from Mingde Academy to hear their advice. The students proposed measures to improve the locust-infested areas and construct irrigation systems to regulate soil and water, all of which Zhao Jialing carefully noted down.

"San San, why didn't you issue a mission at this time?" Zhao Jialing rubbed his temples and sighed.

[Isn't all of this in the book? It's a good time to dig deeper.] The Wise Ruler System is well-reasoned and based on solid evidence. The closer the host gets to a wise ruler, the less effective the system becomes, which can be considered a kind of successful completion of merit.

The official road from Chang'an to Luoyang was under construction. Although the project was not yet fully completed, a section of smooth road had been built, which somewhat shortened the journey to Luoyang. Half a month later, Xie Lanzhao and her party arrived in Luoyang, but she did not stay for long. After mobilizing the grain and fodder in the granaries, she did not wait for the disaster relief grain and fodder, and immediately led her people to Yuzhou by fast horse.

Heading south from Luoyang, the route passes through Ruzhou and Xuzhou, both of which were also plagued by locusts, though the situation was not as severe as in Yuzhou. This was largely due to the efforts of the prefectural governors who led the people in eradicating the locust plague. Since the grain belonged to their own people, the more powerful and wealthy the landowners, the more urgent their desire to eliminate the locusts.

However, relying on nets and swatters was not very effective. Locusts fear humans, but even after flying away, they immediately return, and when a swarm arrives, it suffocates those trying to rescue them. Even on the road, Xie Lanzhao would take time to read agricultural books and exchange ideas with the students from the agricultural college. The books recorded two effective methods: one was to raise ducks to eat the locusts, but this was clearly too late at this time. Perhaps duck flocks could be concentrated in the Huainan area, but this was impossible in the Henan prefectures. The other method was to burn them, as the saying goes, "Hold those locusts and throw them into the flames." Locusts are attracted by light; if a fire is lit at night, the locusts will inevitably swarm, and then they can be burned to extinction.

Xie Lanzhao stayed in Ruzhou for a few days. Seeing the effectiveness of the fire-based locust control efforts, he instructed the accompanying imperial censor to send the news to other prefectures ahead of time, encouraging their governors to lead the people in eliminating the locusts. Ruzhou's initial success in controlling the locusts naturally boosted morale. However, the governor of Yuzhou refused to comply, insisting on the theory of "cultivating virtue in the face of natural disasters." Xie Lanzhao was furious upon hearing this. He saw the pedantic scholar clinging to his principles, inflexible and inflexible. He only considered whether something violated the classics; if it did, even if it seemed reasonable, he refused to implement it. This matter concerned the safety of the people; how could the governor of Yuzhou's actions be tantamount to nurturing a disaster? This was a natural disaster, but if it spread to an incurable state, it would become a man-made calamity.

Yuzhou.

The governor submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting the emperor to broaden channels for public opinion and cultivate virtuous governance. He himself made disaster relief the top priority in the prefecture. The prefectural government opened its granaries for relief, even providing seeds for the following year. He also went to great lengths to reduce expenditures, not only cutting back on his own food and clothing but also reducing the salaries of the prefectural officials as much as possible. As for wealthy households, he issued a direct notice ordering them to contribute their surplus grain… Despite his good intentions in providing disaster relief, there was widespread resentment in the prefecture and counties. The prefectural officials whose salaries were withheld were dissatisfied, as were the wealthy households.

The wealthy households were the ones most eager to eradicate the locusts, as they owned vast tracts of land and suffered heavy losses; how could they not do their utmost? Yet, the state forbade the killing of locusts and insisted on erecting shrines to the Locust Generals in the fields, burning incense and worshipping them—was this any use?

When Xie Lanzhao led his troops to Yuzhou, a heavy atmosphere permeated the prefecture and its counties. Rumors were rampant, saying things like, "If you cultivate virtue, locusts will avoid your territory; if locusts reach Yuzhou, it's because the governor is without virtue." This rhetoric echoed the governor's own words about cultivating virtue, but its edge was pointed directly at him. If they had arrived any later, what would those people have done? What fate awaited the governor without virtue?

Xie Lanzao's face was stern and cold, as if covered in frost. She strode into the governor's mansion and angrily demanded, "Why haven't you eliminated the locusts?!"

The governor was horrified, but he still insisted on his so-called way of governing, firmly believing that as long as he cultivated virtue, the locusts would naturally retreat. He stared at Xie Lanzhao and said coldly, "First there was the great flood in Guanzhong, then the locusts in Henan. Your Majesty is virtuous and has been blessed by the gods. Now that disasters have occurred, it is because Yin and Yang have lost their way, and because the ministers have failed. Heaven has sent down a warning. Xie Zhongshu, you are still young and do not fear the mandate of Heaven, but I dare not risk the lives of the people of an entire prefecture."

The turmoil in Chang'an naturally reached the provinces, and the governor of Yuzhou looked at Xie Lanzao with disdain. Such a young prime minister, rising to the top of all officials, relied solely on nepotism, which was despicable.

“You—” The person who came with Xie Lanzhao showed displeasure.

Xie Lanzhao raised her hand. She wouldn't get angry because of these slanderous words. She said, "I came to Yuzhou to eliminate locusts by His Majesty's decree. I dare not sit and watch the locusts devour the seedlings."

The governor of Yuzhou was unwilling to relinquish power, but his subordinates preemptively bowed to Xie Lanzhao. Whether it was an edict from the prime minister or a decree from the palace, accepting it was better than watching the disaster spread and having his salary withheld. The subordinates' submission embarrassed the governor, who still had some followers, such as the military advisor—who had seemingly escaped the salary cuts. There were also a swordsman and a white-robed official who followed the governor closely.

In that moment of silence, Xie Lanzhao gave a wink to her entourage behind her. Even the Emperor's decree couldn't persuade such a stubborn person. If the other party had the power, they wouldn't harm her; they could simply keep her politely confined in the prefecture until everything was settled. Xie Lanzhao had considered this; she didn't want to be controlled by others, and her entourage included guards from the firearms battalion.

The volley of gunfire was extremely effective in deterring the governor of Yuzhou. He stood frozen for a moment, a look of fear appearing on his face. Finally, he bowed to Xie Lanzhao, saying with endless sorrow, "Your subject accepts the decree." This sorrow, of course, arose from his violation of the rites; he still believed he was on the right path.

Xie Lanzhao ignored the governor of Yuzhou and said, "In the past, locusts damaged crops, but we thought it was a minor matter and didn't get rid of them. In the end, all the crops and vegetation were destroyed. Today, locusts are flying high in Yuzhou, darkening the sky and multiplying to an unprecedented degree. Locusts are not impossible to get rid of, but if we let them devour the crops, won't the people of Henan starve to death? Saving people and killing insects is the only way to go. Locusts are afraid of fire, so we should have the people of each county light fires at night, dig pits next to the fires, and burn and bury them at the same time. This will eradicate them completely."

The clerk in charge of the prefecture acknowledged the order and immediately dispatched men on horseback to report the news to the various county offices. After they left, Xie Lanzhao turned to the governor of Yuzhou and said, “There is an old saying that encountering a two-headed snake on the road is an ominous sign. Shu'ao killed the snake, but the misfortune did not befall him; he later rose to the position of magistrate, which shows divine protection. Killing locusts to save the people is a boundless blessing; what is there for you to fear?”

The governor of Yuzhou hesitated, speechless for a moment.

The method of burning locusts proved effective in Ruzhou, and naturally, it also worked in Yuzhou. Under Xie Lanzhao's guidance, the people of the prefectures stopped praying and burning incense, and instead worked together to drive away the locusts. After a period of time, they had eliminated 150,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) of locusts. However, burning locusts in only one prefecture was insufficient; all prefectures needed to coordinate their efforts. Otherwise, even if one area was eliminated, the locusts would simply move on to another, and the people would still suffer. The prefectural governors were only officials of their own prefectures, and most chose to protect their own counties, as this was considered a meritorious deed. The fate of other prefectures was not within their concern. Fortunately, with Xie Lanzhao's coordination, the number of locusts eliminated through the combined efforts of all prefectures was immeasurable.

When the news reached Chang'an, it caused an uproar throughout the court and the public, with many believing that driving away the locusts would be extremely inconvenient. The numbers were shocking; just a glance at them was enough to send chills down one's spine. Amidst the uproar, officials from the Censorate cautiously spoke up: "The public opinion is that driving away the locusts is inconvenient. Killing too many insects will disrupt the harmony of heaven and earth." In the eyes of Confucian scholars, all life is part of heaven and earth, and heaven favors life and abhors killing. Natural disasters are warnings; one just needs to wait for them to pass. As for the people who lost their crops, they can wait for disaster relief; things will pass eventually. This is how it has been handled in every dynasty.

Zhao Jialing was so angry he almost laughed, but he asked coolly, "The crops in Henan are destroyed, the people are displaced, and the masses are starving to death. Does that not hurt the harmony?"

The censors did not continue to argue; they had fulfilled their responsibility by bringing the voice of the people to the emperor's ears. However, while the civil and military officials of the court fell silent, the discussions among the people did not diminish, as many feared that harming harmony would bring disaster upon themselves.

Inside the princess's residence.

Zhao Xianju looked at the prince consort with concern and asked, "Is it really appropriate for us to spread rumors like this?" The locust plague was ultimately a matter for Henan, and the people of Guanzhong didn't care much about it. The rumors were spreading like wildfire because someone was pushing them, and Zhao Xianju and Gao Shao had contributed a great deal to this.

Gao Shao said, "It is His Majesty's will."

Zhao Xianju: "...What exactly is His Majesty after?" She couldn't figure it out. After a moment's thought, she said, "Could it be that he wants to use this as an excuse to remove Xie Lanzhao from her official position and let her stay in the harem in peace?"

“It wouldn’t be that bad,” Gao Shao said. What difference would that make from killing Xie Lanzao? His Majesty knew what was going on, and she would just do as he said. But how did the princess come up with this idea? She stared at Zhao Xianju for a moment, and when Zhao Xianju guiltily looked away, Gao Shao understood. She said, “You’ve considered dealing with me like this?”

Zhao Xianju coughed lightly: "That's not true."

In the palace.

Zhao Jialing had not seen Xie Lanzhao for several months.

At first, I couldn't wait to go to Yuzhou, but later, I gradually calmed down.

Xie Lanzhao was fighting locusts in Yuzhou, so she had to work hard too, instead of getting lost in the bewilderment and sorrow of losing her partner.

The waterwheels that brought coolness have turned through the sweltering summer, and the breeze now carries the crispness of early autumn. The experimental seed fields, untouched by locusts, have delivered good news—a bumper harvest. Whether it's the existing grains of Dayong or the entirely new crops, yields have increased after being cultivated according to the methods in agricultural books. The recent drought in Henan relied on stored grains from previous years. But fate is unpredictable; if consecutive droughts occur, even the old granaries won't be enough. However, planting these new grains greatly enhances their resilience against disasters, and sooner or later, the people will be free from famine.

Besides the drought and locust plague in Henan, Zhao Jialing was also keeping a close eye on the situation in the north. This year's harvest was poor, and the Turks in the north were naturally struggling as well. Every year at this time, Turkic cavalry would raid southwards. These small-scale border skirmishes, with their elusive presence, rarely escalated into war, but they still caused considerable trouble. If one were to question the Turkic court about this, the Khan would only accuse them of being "thieves" or tribal leaders, completely absolving himself of responsibility.

The northern region, the Shanyu Protectorate.

This place was the front line against the Turks, repeatedly besieged by Turkic tribes. When the Turks advanced southward, they even killed the governor. However, the Protectorate General's atmosphere was different now. It was headed by a seasoned general. He was exceptionally brave, and now he had received telescopes from Chang'an, carried by scouts and watchtowers, allowing them to see the Turks approaching from afar. Cavalry's strength lay in speed and surprise attacks, but this advantage was neutralized by these "long-range eyes."

In addition, they received brand-new firearms, the most impressive of which were cannons. Although there were only three cannons, the general was confident that he could defeat the invading Turks.

The Turkic cavalry always came when food was scarce, and this time was no exception. However, the invading Turks clearly underestimated the firearms of Dayong. Their daring adventure failed to yield food as before; before even reaching the Protectorate, they had already fallen into a trap—the Protectorate soldiers had planted fire mines beforehand, which unleashed their devastating power the moment the cavalry stepped on them. In a series of explosions, the Turkic cavalry were blown to pieces! The remaining soldiers, bewildered and terrified, rallied, trying to retreat quickly, but the Dayong soldiers, who had finally achieved some triumph, were not about to give them the chance.

The Turkic leaders who received the envoy's message were indeed alarmed by his words, and coupled with the Turkic inability to form an alliance, they sent hostages to Chang'an. However, since they hadn't witnessed it firsthand, the gloom dissipated somewhat with the passage of time. Furthermore, news from Sogdian merchants that Dayong had acquired many novel seeds and grains inevitably made the Turkic tribal leaders envious.

When the harvest was bad, desire ultimately triumphed over fear. The Turkic court secretly contacted the Xi and Khitan, but their request for an alliance was rejected, and the Turkic Khan couldn't act rashly. However, since the court's headquarters remained inactive, the Khan turned a blind eye to the actions of the tribal leaders. The spoils of war would go to the court, but if there was a defeat, it wouldn't be their responsibility.

Although he had mentally prepared for defeat, the Turkic Khan was still greatly shocked when news of the crushing defeat reached him. The Protectorate's forces had penetrated deep into enemy territory, and among those captured by Dayong were high-ranking nobles of the Ashina clan! He didn't know the specifics of the scene, but the envoy who had previously sent him immediately recalled the earth-shattering spectacle and frantically recounted its description. The Turkic Khan acted decisively, immediately sending the noble's warriors and subjects to the Protectorate for their disposal. If Dayong executed them, it would further inflame the emotions of the various tribes.

While this move provided an explanation to Dayong and prevented war, it chilled the hearts of the Turkic tribal leaders. The Protector-General of the Shanyu Protectorate was well aware of the Turkic Khan's sinister intentions. Aside from the nobles being escorted to Chang'an, the tribespeople were all taken in by the Protector-General and registered in the household registers, just like previous refugees or prisoners, and settled in various places. Afterwards, rumors were spread throughout the Turkic tribes that the Turkic Khan was merely using them as pawns, and that all powerful tribal nobles would be sent to Dayong, making the entire Turkic territory his alone.

The Turkic situation was turbulent, but for Chang'an, this was good news, a great joy. Although there was overall peace with the Turks, as long as their wolfish ambitions persisted, the border could not truly be at peace. When the time was right, a war would inevitably break out, so that that vast land would truly return to the embrace of Dayong, instead of being a fickle and subservient entity.

With peace restored in the north, the locust plague in Henan was also completely eradicated, and Xie Lanzhao, having arranged for disaster relief, finally returned to Chang'an. The rampant rumors in Chang'an, intentionally or unintentionally fueled by Zhao Xianju and Gao Shao, had not completely disappeared and reignited just as Xie Lanzhao was about to step into Chang'an. The great flood in Guanzhong, the locust plague in Henan, and even the Turkic incursions on the border became irrefutable evidence of the prime minister's dereliction of duty; as for why these were quelled, that was naturally due to the virtuous rule of the sage.

The court officials had a duty to respond to the public sentiment, so they submitted another memorial: "Your Majesty is of supreme virtue and benevolence, and grieves for the people. Now, the yin and yang are out of balance, which is because your subjects have failed to meet the will of Heaven. People in the streets have already said that the prime minister is unable to balance the yin and yang, which has caused this constant rain and caused that constant drought... We only hope that the wise ruler will investigate this matter."

Zhao Jialing did not rebuke the court officials who submitted the memorial. Instead, he calmly said, "Before leaving the capital, the Prime Minister had already made it clear to me that controlling locusts is a matter of human affairs. If, in order to save the people and kill the insects, she offends Heaven and brings disasters, she will bear the consequences."

The court officials were slightly taken aback by these words. They hadn't heard the Emperor's thoughts lately, nor knew what divine mission the Emperor might have, and could only speculate as before. "Bearing the burden alone"—how could that be? Did His Majesty actually intend to reduce the Grand Secretary's responsibilities to pave the way for her entry into the palace? If she were a concubine, she certainly couldn't be a Grand Secretary. But stepping down like this would be too ugly; would His Majesty really do that?

Zhao Jialing took in the expressions of his courtiers, then changed the subject, saying, "With the Prime Minister like this, how can I remain unmoved? I also pray to Heaven: 'Locusts devour crops and harm the lives of my people. If these creatures are sentient, they should devour me alone, without harming the common people.' What do you all think?"

The court officials were terrified, but the chief minister, who was knowledgeable in state affairs, exclaimed, "No!"

Zhao Jialing said calmly, "I am the Son of Heaven, the mother of all people. If the disaster is transferred to me and the people can live, then it is my blessing."

The emperor declared that he was not afraid of disasters. The court officials could no longer continue their previous rhetoric about the ways of heaven and earth, and could only say that it was their responsibility, but if there was any disaster, they would inform Heaven and were willing to share the burden.

Whether these words were spoken willingly or not is unimportant; Zhao Jialing simply kept them in mind.

Xie Lanzhao was almost in Chang'an, and she wanted to go to greet her, but she suppressed her excitement for the sake of her own plans.

【The third omen was auspicious when Lanzao stepped onto Zhuque Street.】 In the Bathing Hall, Zhao Jialing sat upright, his expression solemn.

She had a purpose in sending Gao Shao to stir up rumors, and this reversal brought even greater momentum.

Does killing insects disrupt harmony? No. In the future, such a pedantic scholar should not cite classical texts as examples!

The horses' hooves clattered.

Xie Lanzhao was weary from her journey, but her eyes shone with extraordinary brilliance. No amount of dust could diminish her outstanding demeanor.

Many people were watching from the street, after all, Xie Lanzhao was at the center of the rumors and the epicenter of the disaster. Of course, there were also wise people who argued with those who slandered Xie Lanzhao, but the arguments did not drown out the rumors; instead, they made the atmosphere even more suffocating and oppressive.

The Qilin appeared out of thin air in this atmosphere, surrounded by smoke, and with each step it took, snow-white auspicious clouds appeared beneath its feet.

Xie Lanzhao's expression changed slightly. She pulled on the reins and dismounted. Shen Jun, beneath her, bent his front legs and knelt before the Qilin, lowering his head in a submissive manner.

A moment of silence fell over the streets, and after a while someone called out in a trembling voice, "The Qilin has appeared, a wise man has emerged!"

Ignoring the noise of the bustling city, Xie Lanzhao quickly guessed where the Qilin had come from. His Majesty must have made it? It was meant to build momentum for her. Her thoughts raced, Xie Lanzhao overwhelmed with mixed emotions. As she thought of Zhao Jialing, the Qilin gently touched Xie Lanzhao, its front legs slightly bent, and its body leaned downwards.

"Huh? Really?" Xie Lanzhao's eyes sharpened.

She met the Qilin's gaze and seemed to read its emotions.

Riding a Qilin?

This was something she could never have imagined. She thought the records in history were all supernatural tales.

A sense of absurdity washed over her, and Xie Lanzhao reached out and touched the Qilin's head. What would happen if she rode it? Would she reach the clouds? Her thoughts raced uncontrollably.

Xie Lanzhao composed herself and brought her wandering thoughts back to the present.

She murmured to herself, "Leave everything to His Majesty."

Inside the Daming Palace.

Zhao Jialing received the message from the system.

Her eyes were darting around.

Leave it all to me.

[I want her to walk a path adorned by thousands, I want her to be blessed with good fortune, I want all my subjects to acknowledge that only she can stand shoulder to shoulder with me!]