Chapter 291: Allowing locust plagues to wreak havoc is not the behavior of a wise ruler

"Your Majesty! Everything in Wu County, Lingnan Road is true. We would never lie even if we die!" Wei Shutong and Li Zhongyan knelt down, horrified.

I had good intentions and valued talent in the beginning, but now I have brought disaster upon myself and I can't help but feel regretful.

"Tell me, who are the Su family? Why are you hesitating?" Tian Khan was furious.

"Your Majesty, the Su family from Huanggou Village, Wu County is, is the former Chang'an County Magistrate Su Bucheng!" Wei Shutong said with his eyes closed.

As soon as he finished speaking, tears started to flow. He was from the Wei family, a noble family in Jingzhao, and was of the same clan as Wei, the wife of Su Buyun, the third brother of the Su family, the magistrate of Chang'an County.

The villagers of Huanggou accidentally learned that they were related to the Su family in a roundabout way, but they dared not acknowledge them.

Unexpectedly, Magistrate Su was indeed a practical person. He used the Jiangdong plow to benefit the people of the world, and he did not keep the vermicelli, tea oil, and honey for himself, giving the poor a way out.

He really couldn't bear to see the Su family suffer another misfortune, so he pretended not to know and kept it secret.

"Su Bucheng, the former magistrate of Chang'an County? The man who risked the world's condemnation to kill locusts?" Tian Khan was stunned, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses!

Wasn't this the same official who had been stripped of his official position and exiled to Lingnan last year? To offend the locust god and incite villagers to exterminate locusts was sheer treason!

Judging from the time, it shouldn't have been long since he went there before he caused a stir, not only alarming the county government, but also the prefecture, Lingnan Road, and even the special envoy!

No wonder, no wonder! Tian Khan recalled those reports, all of which were vague about the Su family, a villager in Huanggou Village.

The Minister of Agriculture who went there not long ago mentioned Su Buyun by name, but did not give any further instructions.

So everyone knew about it, except me! What a shame!

The more Tian Khan thought about it, the angrier he became. Rather than saving his face, this group of people were standing on Su Bucheng's side. Wasn't this a naked demonstration of how wrong he had been in the first place?

After hearing this, Empress Changsun understood. So that's how it is!

The magistrate of Chang'an County was criticized by the censors for exterminating locusts. The Khan was furious and exiled him to Lingnan. The queen had just given birth to the ninth prince and was in confinement, so she was unaware of this.

After she came out of confinement, she occasionally heard people vaguely mention that the magistrate of Chang'an County had offended the locust god, angered the Khan of Heaven, and was severely punished.

Tian Khan's face turned blue and white, changing unpredictably.

The two important ministers, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, stood quietly with their heads bowed, not daring to interrupt.

"Erlang!" Empress Changsun stood up, gently took her husband's hand, and signaled him to calm down with her eyes.

"Guanyinbi!" There was anger, grievance, and hesitation in Tian Khan's eyes.

Putting aside the question of whether offending the locust god was right or wrong, let's just talk about everything Su Bucheng did in Lingnan. The people benefited from it, and he, the Heavenly Khan, all of which greatly promoted his benevolent policies.

How could he not like such a talent?

If he could tolerate Wei Zheng, how could he not tolerate a hard-working low-level official?

But if everyone from top to bottom were to deceive him, wouldn't that mean he was a tyrant? How could the Khan feel good about it?

What was wrong with worshipping the locust god? Tian Khan felt like a clown, and the pride he always had couldn't accept that kind of humiliation!

"Erlang! County Magistrate Su should be punished for offending the Locust God!" Empress Changsun said softly.

"But he's been able to reform himself in Lingnan and achieve such remarkable feats. Erlang is a man of great generosity. Why not give him another chance? Let him fully utilize his talents, okay?"

"Your Majesty, there is a severe drought in Guanzhong this year, and there are locust plagues in several states..." Fang Xuanling interrupted at the right time, but stopped talking.

"Erlang, Magistrate Su is such a genius. Why not give him a chance to redeem himself and make meritorious contributions?" Empress Changsun took over.

"Guanyin Bi!" Tian Khan was in a dilemma. Isn't it a slap in his own face to let Magistrate Su deal with the locust plague?

"You can leave now!" Empress Changsun smiled.

He ordered Wei Shutong and Li Zhongyan to withdraw, leaving only two important ministers, Fang and Du.

"Erlang, the locust plague cannot be underestimated!" said Empress Changsun.

"Guanyin! Isn't the locust plague a punishment from heaven? It must be because I did something wrong. Heaven sent it as a warning. If I kill the locusts, won't Heaven be even more angry?"

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was not only an eternal pain in the heart of the retired emperor, but also a shackle that the Khan had to bear throughout his life.

"Erlang, you've done a great job! The whole court can see it, and the people of the world can see it. You've implemented benevolent policies, allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment! Your prestige is unparalleled!

How many emperors in history could have done this? For such a wise ruler to be punished by heaven, that must be because God is blind!

So why do we still have locusts, destroying the entire year's harvest for innocent people?"

"But can this natural disaster really be controlled?" Tian Khan was shaken.

In the face of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, locust plagues, frost disasters, and earthquakes, human power is very small, helpless, and completely unable to fight against them.

"Erlang, how can you know if you don't try? You are the true dragon emperor. Which one will you protect, the locusts or the common people?

It is said that God is merciful and benevolent. If that is the case, why does he allow locusts to wreak havoc and harm all living things?

How could a wise ruler watch the locust plague spread, leaving the people without food and displaced?

Allowing the locust plague to wreak havoc is not the behavior of a wise ruler. If this continues, the country will be in danger!" Empress Changsun said slowly.

"Your Majesty, what the Queen said is absolutely right!" Fang Xuanling bowed.

"Keming, what about you?" Someone agreed, and Tian Khan felt confident.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that last year several villages in Chang'an County had good harvests, all thanks to County Magistrate Su leading his men in exterminating locusts!

Now Guanzhong is suffering from a severe drought and the locust plague continues. In addition, there are five other states suffering from locust plagues due to drought. I think we should summon the magistrate of Su County to destroy the locusts!

If it is implemented in time, perhaps there will be a harvest this year!" Du Ruhui replied.

Just now, Wei Shutong glanced at him, and he immediately understood who the Su family in Huanggou Village was.

Su Bucheng's wife, Ms. Du, was from his Du family. As they were both from the Du family, he had such a talent and a bright future, so naturally they were willing to give him a push.

With the queen present, and not the furious Khan from last year, the two important ministers had a chance to mediate.

It’s not that Du Ruhui is snobbish, it’s just that he has never had any contact with the Su family. He just has the impression that Su Bucheng’s wife is from the Du family.

Wei Shutong's glance was to ask him to save people, to save the Magistrate Su!

Someone who is willing to save someone regardless of his own wealth must be someone worth saving! The two envoys insisted that the story of Huanggou Village was true.

When I think about the locust plague that hit the entire capital last year, only a few villages in Chang'an County still had some output.

Thinking about it this way, Su Bucheng is indeed a great talent, with insight, courage, and the courage to be the first.

"So..." Tian Khan considered.

What excuse could he use to save his appearance and reinstate Magistrate Su?

"Your Majesty, Su Bucheng has made great contributions to fertilizing the fields in Wu County and is good at governance. I suggest that you transfer him back to Jingzhao Yin to solve the drought in Guanzhong." Fang Xuanling suggested.

Solving the drought in Guanzhong is just an excuse. What really needs to be solved is not only the drought, but mainly the locust plague.

"Yes!" Tian Khan agreed.

The Secretariat then drafted an edict to pardon Su Bucheng's crime on the grounds of his contribution to fertilizing the fields, and urgently recalled him to the capital.