In just two days.
The news of Sun Jian praying for rain for the people outside the East Gate quickly spread throughout the entire Jingzhao region. From wealthy farmers to women and children, everyone knew about it.
After all, there were 200,000 people watching on-site, witnessing it firsthand.
No one dared to question the authenticity of this matter.
Sun Jian's name was already renowned throughout the country, and after this incident, he almost became a living god in the hearts of the people.
Everyone has made Sun Jian seem like a mythical figure.
Some say that although he was not at the East Gate at the time, he was at the small gate at the Northeast entrance, and he personally saw Sun Jian fly into the air, silently chanting incantations to pray for rain for the Great Gan.
Some people say that Sun Jian was not only a reincarnation of an immortal, but also knew the unpredictable art of summoning wind and rain. With Sun Jian's protection, Daqian could be guaranteed fifty years of peace.
That's nothing compared to what some say: he even witnessed Sun Jian summon two giant dragons, ride them into the sky, and begin to part the clouds and bring rain...
Because of this statement, many poor people began to enshrine small statues of Sun Jian in their homes in order to ensure peace in their families and good health for their relatives.
The craftsmen who sculpted Sun Jian's body using Guanyin clay carved it exactly according to the image of Sun Jian standing on two dragons.
While listening to the story, the image seemed quite majestic, after all, riding two dragons and standing on clouds. However, when Sun Jian saw his own statue, he was so angry that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and he wanted to argue with the craftsman.
If you're going to carve dragons, fine, but why make both dragons have their mouths pointing towards your crotch?
And it felt like it was being bitten tightly...
Most importantly, at first glance, it looks like a long whip protruding from the hem of my shirt, swinging and splitting as it goes...
Of course, the rumors about stepping on two dragons are just that—rumors. Only a very small number of people actually worship the small statue of Sun Jian.
The vast majority of people still prefer to believe that Sun Jian was a reincarnation of an immortal and still retains some supernatural powers in this life.
Even immortals who are banished to the mortal realm are still mortals at heart.
While we should admire and respect them, there is no need to burn incense and make offerings to them.
After the news spread, public opinion and rumors did not stop, but continued to spread from the Jingzhao region to other prefectures and counties in Daqian.
The people were no longer afraid of the locust plague and joined the ranks of those fighting the disaster, catching locusts, and eating locusts.
There were already many refugees and displaced people in Dagan. When they learned that locusts could be fried or roasted to fill their stomachs, they became like hungry wild beasts, devouring insects at will.
After trying the crispy, chicken-flavored fried locusts, people everywhere not only participated in catching the insects with their whole families, but some even started buying insects from others to fry at home because they couldn't get enough to eat.
Sun Jian was pleased with the news; he hadn't expected the rainfall to be so effective.
Now, locusts have not only become food in the Daganjingzhao region, but also a form of hard currency, and even a second form of currency.
Some cloth shops, rice shops, noodle shops, oil shops, and restaurants spontaneously offered to use locusts to weigh and exchange for their goods.
Sun Jian estimated that if this trend continued, the locust plague in the Jingzhao area would be largely controlled within a week.
Even if they can't be completely wiped out, they definitely won't amount to anything.
If the locusts were to become rampant again, Sun Jian could launch another artificial rainmaking projectile to suppress them and create a good opportunity for the people to catch them.
An unprecedented crisis was thus resolved, and everyone inside and outside the court was overjoyed.
When Emperor Qianwu saw the reports from various places, his smile was wider than an AK-47, and he repeatedly praised Sun Jian, declaring him a pillar of the state.
Sun Jian did not dare to take all the credit, and instead gave some of the credit to other officials.
He himself understood that it didn't matter whether it was heavy rain or a particular direction or strategy.
The fact that the execution was so successful is partly due to the planning and arrangements made by Yao Tianzheng and several other adults.
This is like playing chess on the battlefield; not only do you need to use strategies properly, but you also need your soldiers to be brave and determined to fight.
Only in this way can one truly be considered to have won.
Emperor Ganwu was not impressed by Sun Jian's humility and refusal of merit. He planned to promote and reward Sun Jian at the next court meeting after the locust plague was completely suppressed.
As for Li Kuangyou, Lin Chengdu, and Fang Wenyue, who caused trouble outside the East Gate, although they were dead, Emperor Ganwu did not let them go.
I've already ordered a thorough investigation these past few days, and I believe we'll have results soon.
As for the retainers, family members, and servants in the three men's residence, they had already been imprisoned.
It wasn't just Emperor Ganwu who wanted to do this; the common people and the officials, led by Yao Tianzheng, also wanted to do it.
Sun Jian has not returned to his residence in the past few days. Instead, he has been accompanying Yao Tianzheng and many other civil and military officials to various disaster areas for disaster relief.
He followed the same method in every region he visited, directing and instructing the people to fight against the locusts.
They also allocated corresponding grain and seeds to the local government to facilitate agricultural reconstruction after the disaster.
If there were insufficient manpower in some areas, Sun Jian would leave some troops to assist the local officials and soldiers in helping the people.
Three more days passed in the blink of an eye, and Sun Jian, along with Yao Tianzheng and many other civil and military officials, traversed the entire Jingzhao region.
The locust plague has been completely suppressed. Although some areas were still affected by the locusts, it was no longer a serious problem.
Thus, Sun Jian used only five and a half days to completely eliminate this once-in-a-century locust plague!
Emperor Qianwu was overjoyed and, with a stroke of his pen, bestowed upon Sun Jian the title of General Fenwei and granted him the title of Marquis of Yiting. However, the emperor did not rush to issue this imperial edict but wanted to wait until Sun Jian and his entourage returned to the capital in triumph to meet the emperor.
It is extremely rare in history for a young boy to be appointed as a general and granted a title!
Even if Sun Jian's contributions were undeniable, it's likely that such a generous reward would still attract opposition from some people!
But Emperor Ganwu had already figured it out: even if there were criticisms or advice, Emperor Ganwu would still support Sun Jian.
Sun Jian's achievement this time can be described as unparalleled throughout history, and there will be no one like him in the future.
The imperial edict ordered him to suppress and control the disaster within seven days, limiting the affected area to the Jingzhao region.
Who would have thought that Sun Jian not only completed the task in five and a half days, but also completely eradicated the locust plague!
Most importantly, Sun Jian's actions not only solved the locust plague in the Jingzhao region, but also in the entire Dagan region!
Let alone being appointed as a general or a marquis, Emperor Ganwu even wanted Sun Jian to take on the position of governor of a province.
As the saying goes, some are happy while others are sad.
Those who learned of Sun Jian's news included not only other court officials and soldiers, but also Lin Xuanfu, Sun Jian's long-time nemesis.
——
Kyoto City, Lin Mansion.
Prime Minister Lin Xuanfu and the Second Prince Li Chengru were playing chess in a pavilion in the back garden of the mansion when a servant came to report news of Sun Jian. Lin Xuanfu's hand, which was about to place a piece, froze in mid-air...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
