Chapter 309: Locust Plague
"It's not serious, but I think we're going to have a poor harvest this year."
Recently, Qin has reduced the amount of grain it sells to Chu. If a large-scale drought occurs in Chu—
In fact, the situation was worse than Zhao Yuanxi knew.
Not only did a drought occur on the border between Chu and Wei, but there was also a locust plague. The drought exposed a large amount of land, providing locusts with suitable land for laying eggs. With the arrival of rain, the drought was alleviated, but the locust eggs hidden in the soil also hatched. The vegetation that had grown with great difficulty became food for the locusts.
A large number of locusts gathered together, changing from their original solitary form to a gregarious form. In order to find food, these locusts formed swarms and began to migrate around, eating all the vegetation along the way.
After Zhao Yuanxi read the report submitted by his subordinates, his expression became particularly ugly.
No matter where the locust swarms fly, they will cause devastating damage to the local area. Even the Qin State cannot afford such losses.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't sit still anymore, so he went to find Ying Zheng immediately.
Ying Zheng had just received the news and had just taken action against the State of Chu when the State of Chu created this chaos for him.
The locust swarms will not refuse to set foot on this land just because it belongs to Qin.
The Chu State had a well-developed water system with many rivers blocking the way. Even if the locust plague spread, it would not reach the heartland of Chu State. However, it would not be so easy for the Qin State to deal with it. Once the Qin State's food supply was damaged, not to mention attacking Chu, the Qin State itself would be in considerable trouble.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is here."
Zhao Yuanxi hadn't been here for a long time. The two looked at each other, feeling indescribably complicated.
It was Zhao Yuanxi who spoke first. "Have you heard about the locust plague in Chu?"
"I just received a memorial from the prefect of Yingchuan County." Ying Zheng ignored the strange feeling in his heart and showed her the memorial in his hand.
Compared with the results obtained by Zhao Yuanxi's information network, the memorial submitted by the prefect of Yingchuan County was obviously much more detailed. The current area affected by the locust plague in Qin State, the degree of the disaster, and the direction of the locust swarms' daily movement were all written in great detail.
Locust plagues can only be prevented. Once a locust plague occurs, according to the current level of technology, it can only be dealt with through manual capture.
After reading it, Zhao Yuanxi closed the memorial and said without hesitation, "I'm going to Yingchuan County."
"The Queen Mother wants to personally deal with the locust plague? What are you going to do?"
The Yingchuan County Magistrate has already sent people to do the hunting by manpower. Could it be that the Queen Mother has any better idea?
"There are many ways to kill locusts. I may not have a better way, but I want to try to solve the source of the locust plague."
The cause of the locust plague is nothing more than drought followed by flooding. The long-term drought environment and concentrated rainfall provide a suitable growth environment for locusts. What Zhao Yuanxi wants to do is to solve this drought and flood problem.
"This will only be an attempt. If Yingchuan County goes smoothly, by the time you conquer Chu, the locust plague problem in Chu will be alleviated."
Not only the State of Chu, but also places across the country that are prone to locust plagues can have a set of countermeasures.
Ying Zheng stared at her and sighed deeply, "Actually, you don't have to worry so much."
"What about you? What are you worrying about every day?"
Although their ultimate goals are different, the paths they take are the same.
Ying Zheng could also be a king who maintained the status quo, defending Hangu Pass and developing the economy of Qin, but didn’t he still inherit the will of successive Qin kings and be determined to unify the world?
He couldn't enjoy himself peacefully, and neither could Zhao Yuanxi.
He fights for his ideals, and Zhao Yuanxi also works hard for his ideals.
"I will be back as soon as possible, but Fusu and Ziying will still have to be left in your care. Fusu has been thinking about you these days, but he's afraid of upsetting you and making me worry, so he hasn't come to see you. You don't often summon him, but he actually misses you very much."
Ying Zheng lowered his eyes and said nothing. He didn't even notice when the Queen Mother left.
Zhao Yuanxi also wanted to live a quiet and peaceful life with Ying Zheng, but reality did not provide them with this opportunity.
She acted quickly, transferring Zheng Guo from Yunzhong County back and recruiting a group of craftsmen who were good at building water conservancy facilities. Together with some Mohist family members, the group prepared to set off in such a grand manner.
Fusu and Ziying were standing at the door to see her off, but Ziying suddenly started to make a fuss, hugging Zhao Yuanxi's thighs and refusing to let go, crying, "Grandmother promised not to leave us, and you're not keeping your word!"
Zhao Yuanxi rubbed Ziying's head and comforted him softly, feeling a little guilty, "Grandmother will be back soon this time."
Yingchuan is not too far from Xianyang, and the travel time will not be as long as in Yunzhong County. Moreover, this time she is going there to control the locust plague, not to open up wasteland and cultivate crops.
Ziying insisted, "I don't believe it unless Grandmother takes me with her."
Fusu looked up at his grandmother and said, "Mother, just take Ziying with you! He won't cause any trouble for you!"
"But is it okay for you to be alone in Ganquan Palace?"
"I can take care of myself, and don't I still have my father?"
Zhao Yuanxi half squatted down and rubbed Fusu's little face, "Fusu has grown up."
Zhao Yuanxi could only make three rules with Ziying first.
Ziying said that as long as he could go with his grandmother, he would say anything, and he would be happy even if he couldn't have snacks every day.
“It’s going to be hard!”
"I'm not afraid of hard work."
“You might not have enough to eat!”
"Ah, isn't Big Mom also hungry? Then I can eat a little less."
Zhao Yuanxi chuckled and couldn't help pinching Ziying's chubby little face. "Don't worry, you won't starve."
There will still be food to eat, but the conditions will certainly not be very good. After all, it is a disaster-stricken area and we can't ask for too much.
Ying Zheng stood on a high place and watched the Queen Mother's convoy leave.
Fusu finally climbed up to the city wall and saw his father standing there in a daze. He walked up to him and held his father's hand.
Ying Zheng came back to his senses and looked down at the person beside him, "Who brought you out?"
A guilty look flashed across Fusu's face. "I couldn't bear to leave my great mother, so I followed her out secretly. I'll be back later. Didn't my father also come out secretly?"
"When will it be your turn to teach me a lesson?" Ying Zheng patted Fusu's head. Seeing him tiptoeing and staring eagerly at the direction the Queen Mother left, he couldn't help but say, "They took Ziying away without you, and you're still here, reluctant to leave her!"
Fusu disagreed, "Grandmother didn't take me with her, not because she loves Ziying more, but because Ziying needs her more than I do. Ziying cried secretly for a long time last night. If Grandmother doesn't take him with her this time, he will be very sad!"
"Then you're not sad?"
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