Chapter 130

For humans, locusts are small and can fly, making them difficult to catch, but for ducks, locusts are a dish to eat.

This dish is truly delicious.

Because the ducks were eating with great relish.

Ducks of all sizes and colors surged into the locusts like another mighty river, scattering and reducing the locusts at a visible speed.

The ducks flapped their wings and quacked excitedly, filling the area outside the city with flying duck feathers and ear-piercing noise.

But no one was annoyed or dissatisfied with it.

On the contrary, everyone was overjoyed.

The people below the city gate no longer even look at the emperor; they're all too busy watching the ducks.

"Oh dear, that duck looks fierce, it looks like mine."

"Nonsense? This duck has a black spot on its rear end; it's clearly mine!"

"Impossible! This is a gigolo I personally invited back. How could I possibly mistake him?"

"Then I'll personally open the cage and let it out!"

"My goodness! Those ducks in front are so fierce, they're practically generals among ducks!"

"Whose gigolos are those?"

...

Just like people watching sports competitions thousands of years later, ordinary people today are also arguing about this battle between ducks and locusts.

Some commented on the ducks' fighting prowess, some vied for the title of duck owner, and others were busy writing poems to praise them.

Qin Su excitedly tugged at Emperor Jingxi's hair: "Father! Father! Look, that's our duck army! The most powerful of all the ducks!"

Emperor Jingxi hurriedly tried to salvage his hair, reassuring him, "It's alright, I see. Don't strain it like that."

Qin Su didn't notice that she had pulled her father's hairstyle crooked. The seal clapped: "Duck Army is mighty!"

Upon hearing this, an official nearby smiled and said, "We must thank Your Highness for starting the trend of duck farming in the Great Yu, which made this locust control effort so successful."

Qin Su had only vaguely heard that duck farming was popular in Dayu, but she didn't know it was related to her, so she was surprised: "Why are you thanking me?"

The officials were surprised that Qin Su knew nothing and looked at Emperor Jingxi in astonishment.

Emperor Jingxi said noncommittally, "The princess is in the deep palace and is not very clear about what is happening outside. Just tell me directly."

After considering the measures, the officials told Qin Su about the "duck culture" that had been going on for the past few months.

He concluded by flattering Emperor Jingxi, saying, "I have long heard that Princess Zhaoyang was personally raised by Your Majesty and possesses an extraordinary temperament. It seems that when the princess wanted to raise male prostitutes, it was also a sign of divine guidance. This is a symbol of Heaven's protection of the Great Yu. Your Majesty is destined by Heaven and is truly a true dragon emperor, a great ruler for all ages!"

Qin Su: "..."

What are you talking about? She raised ducks to fight with geese. It was a plan she and Ye Yan devised. Her father wasn't happy about it at first.

Or is it fate?

Now that the ducks are useful, it's become a sign of divine intervention, a sign of foresight and divine protection. These bearded adults are just blindly flattering them.

Qin Su inwardly grumbled, but knowing what could be said in public and what was inappropriate, she simply chuckled and turned away to look at the ducks.

Emperor Jingxi laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, Heaven has blessed my Great Yu! Zhaoyang is also blessed with an opportunity!"

In officialdom, everyone is shrewd and astute. Upon hearing Emperor Jingxi's words, the crowd immediately responded, "Heaven blesses the Great Yu! Your Majesty is wise!"

"May Heaven bless the Great Yu!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Princess! May Heaven bless the Great Yu!"

The cheers echoed from the city walls to the foot of the walls, from outside the city to inside the city, a deafening roar that even drowned out the quacking of the ducks.

Qin Su turned around, glanced at the people who were raising their arms with genuine emotion, then looked at the officials with joyful faces and Emperor Jingxi with a gratified expression, and then looked at the duck-locust war that was coming to an end outside the city, feeling a little lost and helpless.

She didn't understand why everyone was so happy.

Isn't the locust plague a bad thing? Just because a solution has been found now, does that mean the court officials and the emperor have done a good job?

She started raising ducks, and officials followed suit, even sparking a duck-raising craze in Dayu. Is this really a good thing? Or is it because the outcome was positive this time that people feel there's no need to investigate further?

But those in positions of power are also human. This time, a twist of fate brought about a good result, but what if it turns out bad next time?

Could pandering lead to disaster?

Many questions lingered in Qin Su's mind, leaving her at a loss and even somewhat apprehensive.

Even though the whole city was celebrating at this moment, she felt a sense of loneliness for the first time.

Suddenly, Qin Su felt a warmth in her hand. Looking down, she saw that Ye Yan, who was standing behind Emperor Jingxi, was holding her fingers.

Qin Su moved her lips, and Ye Yan shook his head slightly, holding her fingers and shaking them a few times, as if to comfort her, or as if to tell her: Don't worry, I'm here for you.

Their eyes met briefly before looking away without saying anything, but Qin Su's jumbled emotions immediately relaxed.

It's like walking alone in a wilderness, suddenly looking up and finding someone waiting ahead with a lamp, instantly bringing warmth and peace of mind.

...

No one noticed the two children's actions; everyone was already preparing to clean up the battlefield for the duck-locust war.

The locusts that were once feared were now easily defeated by the duck army in just one hour, suffering heavy casualties.

Of course, some locusts flew away, and it was impossible for all the ducks to be caught, but that's okay. Now that the people have a way to deal with it, they are not afraid of the locusts making a comeback.

Moreover, given the current number of locusts remaining around Beijing, they are no longer capable of causing large-scale disasters.

The government officials drove the ducks back to the city. Most of the ducks had biological instincts and could return to the people's homes on their own. A very small number of ducks did not recognize the way and had to ask people to help them find their way. If any ducks were unfortunately injured, killed, or lost, the government would provide compensation after verification.

Everything was in perfect order, and Emperor Jingxi returned to the palace with his daughter in his arms, completely satisfied.

As they descended the city wall, Liang Danxin noticed that His Majesty was in a good mood and chimed in, "No wonder the ancients said that it's like a spring breeze overnight, with thousands of pear trees in bloom. These duck feathers filling the sky are just like pear blossoms fluttering in the air."

Emperor Jingxi joked, "The duck soldiers are willing to sacrifice themselves; they deserve praise."

Looking at the fluttering duck feathers, Qin Su thought of what Ye Yan had told her before about making clothes from duck down, and asked him, "Can these duck feathers be used to make clothes?"

"Duck feathers can be used to make clothes?" Emperor Jingxi asked in surprise, as this was the first time he had ever heard of such a thing.

Ye Yan said, "This won't do."

Without the Industrial Revolution and precision instruments, how could we have made down jackets?

Wait a minute, in modern history, Huang Daopo, a famous cotton textile expert, made technological reforms to the textile machine during the late Song and early Yuan dynasties. So, logically speaking, the Dayu should also have had a primitive version of the textile machine.