Chapter 134, He Dajia

The manager was still speaking enthusiastically:

"Lord He and the county magistrate are both in the fields recently, calling on everyone to catch locusts. If you want to find them, I can lead the way."

Qi Chengming stopped and, under Qin Liusong's terrified gaze, readily accepted: "Okay."

The group set off again.

This time they left the city by car, taking a long road. Along the desolate roadside, there were faint traces of burning ruins still emitting smoke, some people kneeling and weeping, others arguing loudly.

"What's wrong with them?" Qi Chengming noticed that there were many such burning bonfires along the roadside along the way.

"It's... an altar for offerings. Ordinary people don't have the means, so they just make offerings directly on the ground." The steward said this with a strange sense of fear, his voice dry and stilted.

"What are you offering sacrifices to?" Qin Liusong asked bluntly, sensing that the steward's attitude was strange.

“…Locust God.” This was what Steward Hua, who was sitting outside the carriage, heard. He lifted the curtain and said with certainty.

"Then the magistrate ordered it to be burned." The steward explained somewhat awkwardly, "...There are always people who are afraid of locusts, and when a locust plague comes, they kneel down and beg for mercy, asking for forgiveness."

"You don't seem to believe in these things?" Qi Chengming became interested. He now felt that this manager was quite reliable.

"Lord He's mansion swarmed locusts to make new grain, and also ground them into flour to be sent to our factory as animal feed," the steward replied frankly.

The locust plague was terrifying to everyone who saw it. But the manager was used to seeing locusts crushed into powder, and he would bring them in batches to the factory to feed the piglets, saving money in the process.

From then on, the manager was no longer afraid.

"...Hmm, did Lord He try eating locusts in every way possible? Did they discover that some people die after eating locusts?" Qi Chengming pondered for a moment, trying to subtly remind him.

He felt that the ancients' love of food should not be underestimated; the fact that the He family could come up with two uses for it was quite remarkable. Even in modern times, locusts are basically fried and eaten.

but……

People allergic to locusts would indeed be more susceptible to illness, even death, if they ate them. In the eyes of the ignorant and uninformed people of ancient times, wasn't this a form of punishment from the locusts?

"Yes, this is a big problem." The steward was a little troubled, but then quickly breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, the piglets were fine after eating it—when Lord He found out, he also made everyone who wanted to take the new grain dip their food in the foam, and only those who didn't feel uncomfortable could take the grain."

Qi Chengming was surprised by how considerate they were, and his impression of them improved even more.

"..." He suddenly thought of something and opened the talent list of the infrastructure system.

He San Tie's name was indeed recorded there.

This doesn't sound very scholarly. In the original book, he gave himself a pseudonym, and everyone called him Mr. Yanlai.

Qi Chengming showed no excitement, but instead sighed silently.

He increasingly felt that the infrastructure system was great in every way, except for the list of talented individuals, which raised many questions.

Let's leave aside the high-ranking official from Yangzhou last time. This time, how did a frustrated minor official from a small riverside town, far away, inexplicably become loyal to him?

Qi Chengming simply couldn't understand this logic.

Perhaps it really was all due to their positive impression of the Marquis of Weiyong's grandson; that was the only way he could think of it. Or perhaps…

This only means that some people have never stopped paying attention to him from the beginning. Or that his fame is now so great that it can no longer be concealed.

Qi Chengming thought about it very carefully.

He's not bragging, but what he's managed to pull off with the infrastructure system so far will be groundbreaking.

Qi Chengming would not underestimate those officials; they were all outstanding individuals who had risen through the ranks, and the opportunists among them were particularly ruthless.

Perhaps that's the reason?

Qi Chengming suppressed his speculations once again. Without being able to return to the capital to observe the ministers loyal to him, all these thoughts would be futile.

He'll show loyalty, but he still needs to be meticulous in his recruitment efforts, and even more so.

...

The carriage finally came to a stop.

Qi Chengming leaned out of the car and saw two men, their robes dusty and covered in mud, chatting and laughing in the field.

"Hiss..." Qin Liusong gasped, all the jealousy and resentment in his heart vanished, and his mind went blank.

Qi Chengming felt a chill run down his spine. He paused for two seconds in the carriage before getting off without hesitation.

Please, don't be so delicate.

Don't let people really think you're spoiled.

Qi Chengming forced himself to convince himself that all he could say was that modern people were simply too civilized...

Look at the scene now.

In this field, swarms of locusts lingered among the ridges and blades of grass, a sight that could make one's vision go black. Countless slender limbs and bright red bodies rustled and swayed blurrily on the yellowish-brown ground, triggering a fear of trypophobia and an ancient version of 3D terror.

Even with such a high density, these locusts are sparse compared to the locust plague. It is likely that the locusts that were not full or that fell behind after the plague left are still foraging for food in the soil, eating these leftovers.

No wonder there are so many people here, each carrying a bag; they're here to catch locusts.

"...I've long admired your name." Qi Chengming got off the carriage and saw the two people who had been startled and turned to look at him. After a long pause, he managed to utter a word of praise.

That's ruthless.

Qi Chengming fully understood the ancients' fear of locust plagues.

"And who is this...?" Magistrate Huo immediately recognized the young man who had alighted from the carriage as someone of considerable status. He was dressed in rich clothes and had an extraordinary air about him, looking like a wealthy merchant. His attitude immediately became several degrees warmer.

A county magistrate of a certain region should not be so enthusiastic towards merchants. However, if the magistrate is from a poor area and desperately needs to attract merchants, then it is a different story when he encounters a merchant who has no interests to speak of.

"My nephew's surname is Qi. He was originally on his way to Jiangnan to do business, but he heard about what happened here..."

Qi Chengming hesitated for a moment before speaking. The other party was the county magistrate, and it wasn't appropriate for Steward Hua to speak on his behalf at this time. Qi Chengming, inexperienced, quickly added, "I heard there's good business here..."

Magistrate Huo was taken aback, not yet understanding where the business came from, when the man laughed, handed the bag to someone else, and walked over to greet him warmly: "What a young talent! Your judgment is truly excellent..."

Qi Chengming instinctively exchanged pleasantries, but his gaze fell on the other person who hadn't come over.

Mr. Yanlai seemed curious about the developments here as well, listening silently to their conversation with a vacant look in his eyes. He appeared rather dull and honest, which didn't quite fit Qi Chengming's impression of him as a brilliant and talented individual.

Qi Chengming didn't show it on his face, but he was somewhat surprised inside.

...It's surprising that the He family is like this.

"Oh, Lord He, come quickly. He knows more about this. We in Guanyang can discuss any business deals..." Magistrate Huo could tell he wasn't good at this, and he was already trying his best to mediate. He looked at Lord He as if he had seen a savior, and seemed to trust him a lot.

Qi Chengming finally got to greet Lord He in a proper manner. He acted like a businessman who had come to do business, and then he came up with a plan: "...I intend to set up a chicken and duck farm. This idea came from the piglets in your county."

"To eat locusts?" Magistrate Huo asked excitedly.

Even if the locust plague were over, it would still be a huge problem. Although Magistrate Huo didn't think a chicken and duck farm could accomplish much, any method that could help eliminate the locusts as quickly as possible was a good one! Any merchant who was actively attracted to the farm deserved his leniency and convenience!

In this way, the merchants gained wealth, the people of Guanyang gained a livelihood, and the fields were freed from locusts. What a truly benevolent person... this young talent!

Magistrate Huo initially wanted to call him a "naive young man," as this young master was clearly inexperienced and lacked the shrewdness of a businessman, instead being overly soft-hearted. But given the state of their county, it was precisely when they needed such a philanthropist!

“Yes… chickens and ducks grow very quickly, and they can help fill the food gap.” For some reason, He Dajia was stunned for a long time before finally agreeing.

Magistrate Huo looked at him with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding what was wrong with Lord He, who was usually very opinionated.

Like the new emperor, Qin Liusong kept his eyes fixed on Lord He the entire time. He looked him over from left to right, but couldn't see any threat in this dull, reserved, and seemingly dim-witted fellow.

In this way, even if the new emperor appreciated him, Qin Liusong felt much better.

Manager Hua stood silently by, listening intently as the prince discussed the details of doing business with others. His mind raced, and he diligently took notes. They were originally supposed to go to Jiangnan, but now it seemed they would have to stay in this small town for a while to get the chicken and duck farm up and running before leaving.

The original itinerary and plans were all scrapped, but Manager Hua didn't complain at all; he only felt gratified and warm inside.

In this way, they can also help the people of Guanyang.

He wasn't a particularly kind person; he wouldn't help others for no reason. But... he always had a slightly different impression of places afflicted by the locust plague. The prince was so soft-hearted and benevolent that even if these people weren't his subjects, he wouldn't stand idly by.

Following such a ruler... who wouldn't feel at ease?

...

—He Santie was uneasy.

Since being reborn, he has hardly paid attention to anything else. He is busy from the moment he opens his eyes, working from morning till night, making every second count in preparing for the locust plague that will strike his hometown in the future.

He used to be arrogant and conceited, and he didn't have much to say to others. His wife and children sometimes thought he had a bad temper. He Santie recalled the realistic sounds of battle, the cries in his memory, and his own utter helplessness and despair at the end.

This time, he'll try his best to change his temper.

He Santie patiently cultivated good relations with the county magistrate and several other prominent local families. He went from idly indulging in poetry to actively participating in family affairs, offering insightful suggestions based on his foresight. He also spent a large sum of money to attract the traveling merchant caravan under the future new emperor, and they signed a cooperation agreement in the area...

He finally had some security.

That's all he can do, and that's all he can do—do you expect him to announce a locust plague in advance?

He Santie didn't know what fate awaited him; the best he could hope for was being bewitched by a demon, stripped of his honors, and drowned.

Now, Guanyang is teetering on the brink of collapse, but it has managed to hold on and has not turned into the devastated and horrific scene he remembers.

...So be it. Even if he is summoned to the palace by His Majesty again and has to force a smile amidst his worries to paint for the emperor, a true man born into this world can endure it.

Only when a new emperor ascends the throne will his ambitions have a place to be realized.

Yes.

He Santie wasn't actually very familiar with that Crown Prince, the future new emperor. His official rank was still too low.

But at least, He San Tie has seen the Emperor's face...

Therefore...

Why would the second prince, who hadn't yet become the crown prince, suddenly appear in his hometown of Guanyang County, hiding his identity and leading only a small group of people?!

He San Tie was so frightened he was stunned.

-----------------------

The author's note: Yes, Qi Chengming's life in his previous life was not as smooth as it is in this one. At the time when Guanyang's incident occurred, he had not yet sorted out everything and went out to visit his ministers. He was still in a stage where he was willing but unable to do so.