"Xing obeys!"

After arranging all the matters, only Zhuang Qishi remained among the ministers.

"Teacher Zhuang."

"Zhuang...I am here."

Although Zhuang Qishi was somewhat embarrassed, as this form of address violated the proper etiquette between a teacher and student, the atmosphere had already reached a point where if he didn't say it, he might become the target of everyone's criticism.

Fortunately, Sun Jian still showed him some respect and continued to address him as "teacher."

"Teacher Zhuang, please immediately order people to send the nets, locust-catching tools, and poultry that have been prepared in and around Kyoto to the various disaster relief centers!"

"We don't care about distant areas; all usable materials are concentrated in the Jingzhao region! This is the only disaster area!"

"I, Zhuang, obey!"

"Seniors, act swiftly, and there must be no mistakes!"

Seeing that everything was arranged, Sun Jian waved his arm, and everyone bowed to him again before turning back to their own business.

Based on Sun Jian's previous arrangements, they could roughly guess his plan.

They all deeply admired Sun Jian's organizational skills and even his ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

If everyone present works together to do this, the locust plague might actually be suppressed, or even eradicated!

Sun Jian continued to arrange other matters with the remaining officials, who then went about their tasks separately after receiving their orders.

At this point, Sun Jian had sent everyone in the Prime Minister's office away.

After arranging everything, Sun Jian breathed a long sigh of relief.

Sitting in the chair, sipping the tea that had long since gone cold, I began to ponder in my heart.

His plan was meticulously crafted, with each step linked to the next.

Why would the fleeing people rather leave their homes and become refugees or displaced people than leave the Jingzhao region? The answer is actually quite simple: they were afraid that after the locust plague, the land would be barren and devoid of vegetation, and they would starve to death.

But if Sun Jian were to give them food and money now, these people would certainly not choose to continue fleeing when they see hope.

However, money and grain are ultimately limited. If the problem is not addressed at its root, the people will surely rebel again once the money and grain run out in a few days and can no longer be distributed.

This wave of money and grain only served to alleviate and calm people's anxieties. To truly quell the locust plague, it is crucial to make the people accept that the locust plague was not the wrath of the Locust God, but a natural disaster.

The key to completely quelling the locust plague lies here!

Sun Jian knew that it would be difficult to motivate the people by simply having officials actively catch locusts and then deep-fry them for food.

The people are not afraid of locusts, but they are afraid of the wrath of the Locust God.

If the people cannot immediately accept the absence of the locust god, and cannot be encouraged to actively capture and eat locusts, the locust plague will still pose a risk of migration and spread.

"We need to find a way... a way to suppress the people's fear..."

Sun Jian stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the hall.

The current situation is very clear.

His previous arrangements could be fully implemented within an hour.

By then, most of the people who had fled from various places had gathered in their original locations, and relief centers had been set up there, with troops and officials assigned to them.

Meanwhile, the villagers who were still in the city gathered outside the east gate.

It can be said that a large number of people are ready, the tools are available, and there are leaders to guide them.

An hour later, all that's left is a trigger, a chance to persuade the people.

In this way, the locust plague will surely be resolved!

"What method can be used to get the people to accept ideas that have been deeply ingrained for thousands of years?"

To be honest, when Sun Jian was making those arrangements, he hadn't really thought of a reason to persuade the people.

The reason why everyone was asked to gather at the east gate of Kyoto in an hour was not only because the arrangements needed time.

Sun Jian needed this hour to think things through.

Changing the deeply ingrained mindset of the people that has persisted for thousands of years is not something that can be solved by simply making up a few idle words or having a few respected people speak!

Even if you summon the emperor himself, he could personally catch and taste the fish.

Even ordinary people might not buy it!

The king is supreme, but the gods are even higher in the hearts of the people than the king!

This is a view shared not only by the common people, but also by all the civil and military officials in the court.

Sun Jian believed that even now, many ministers and military officials still could not accept the strategies he proposed.

But the emperor and his ministers had already made the decision, and there was nothing they could do but follow this line of thought.

Sun Jian grew increasingly anxious, even feeling a chill run down his spine: "Damn it, I can't possibly perform two magic tricks to fool the people, can I?"

Holy crap!

etc…

A magic trick?

Just as Sun Jian was scratching his head, looking anxious and unable to think of a solution, a sentence he muttered to himself gave him a wake-up call.

For a moment, a golden light flashed in Sun Jian's eyes, and the next second he suddenly understood, as if enlightened.

He just used the phrase "magic trick" to think of a future technology called artificial rainmaking!

People might not really believe in magic tricks; they just think of them as magic shows!

But if the people could see with their own eyes that they were publicly praying for rain, and then using artificial rainmaking techniques, and that the rain actually came...

They even predicted the timing of the rain and the time when the sky would clear up!

Add to that a barrage of brainwashing rhetoric.

Wouldn't that make the people accept all of this?

The dry Jingzhao region has not seen rain for two years, and today the sun is shining brightly with no sign of rain whatsoever.

Even if the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and large-scale agricultural households were to come and see, they would never mention the possibility of rainfall.

Ordinary people may lack education and knowledge, but when it comes to the weather, they are all experts!

Furthermore, some rainfall can alleviate the locust plague to some extent...

It's even easier to catch them!

Sun Jian clapped his hands suddenly, confirming his idea.

He still had several hundred points in his backpack, and even two more chances to win a prize.

Although winning science and technology awards relies on luck, the probability of winning an artificial rainmaking launcher, which is a type of thermal weapon, is extremely slim.

But Sun Jian came from a later era, and he understood the principles of artificial rainmaking.

Even though the launcher is restricted by the system and cannot be obtained through points redemption or lotteries, he can still find other ways to obtain it.

All Sun Jian needs is a catalyst such as dry ice, silver iodide, and salt powder to make it rain!

He does understand the principles of artificial rainmaking.

This method utilizes the principles of cloud and precipitation physics. By seeding the clouds with catalysts, cloud droplets or ice crystals grow to a certain size and fall to the ground, thus forming precipitation!

It would be best to draw the launch tube, of course. If I don't draw the launch tube, I just won't get it. I can use an iron bucket with gunpowder!

As for those materials, they don't belong to the category of firearms, so Sun Jian can exchange them with points!

"Damn it, if you master physics and chemistry, you can go anywhere in the world without fear!"