“Our previous strategies were all implemented in three steps: spreading rumors, gathering evidence, and gaining people’s trust. This has now been fully implemented across the entire project.”
"Leaving aside other prefectures and counties, in the three prefectures of the Jingzhao region alone, we set up eighteen official post stations to collect locusts. The officials appointed by the emperor were all prefects or county magistrates, and they also repeatedly summoned the people to taste the locusts themselves."
"And the results?"
Sun Jian pressed for more information.
The minor official replied directly, "Your Excellency, the effect is excellent! The people are scrambling to catch locusts, either to exchange them for grain or money, or to try them at home!"
Sun Jian nodded.
Isn't this great?
The public has come to believe this viewpoint deeply, and people have even started trying it out as early as ten days ago.
There are many locusts, but there are also a lot of people suffering from them.
Moreover, the vast majority of the existing population in Daqian are starving people and refugees.
Like hungry wolves howling for food, these countless locusts were their food!
Sun Jian remembered clearly that among the various clauses added by Yao Tianzheng were provisions for distributing nets and tools to the people, even for setting up huge traps in various counties to capture large numbers of locusts, distributing poultry, raising young birds, and even providing seeds to the people after the disaster, etc.
Why not just continue following the strategy?
Who knew that just as Sun Jian was about to say to follow the strategy, the minor official immediately poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
"But……"
"But ever since the locust plague began yesterday, no people have been sending locusts to the official post stations set up by the Prime Minister's Office!"
"Even the common people who previously followed the government and vowed to catch locusts and get rich have stopped coming..."
"From what we know so far, the situation is like this in the Jingzhao region alone. People are either fleeing or seeking refuge with relatives. It's already in complete chaos!"
"Wow!"
Sun Jian was completely bewildered by the minor official's words.
It seems that this is the biggest problem!
The extent of the locust plague is merely a matter of strategy and methods.
But if the people themselves fall into chaos and lose confidence in fighting the locust plague, then even the best methods will be useless!
After hearing what the minor official said, the officials all wore mournful faces, feeling extremely distressed.
Since the locust plague began, there has been no good news, but the bad news has certainly increased tenfold!
Judging from the current situation, even if the locust plague does not rage, controlling the disaster will be extremely difficult.
Sun Jian frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "I understand!"
Everyone turned to look, puzzled by the meaning behind it.
Sun Jian didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I understand why our previous strategy was executed so well, but now it's difficult to carry out."
"Because people's hearts are in turmoil!"
"The people's fear of locust plagues is still deeply ingrained! It's not something that can be changed in just over ten days!"
"This comes from ancestral traditions and superstitions about gods and ghosts!"
Sun Jian's words were very simple.
That was in this era, under the rule of such a feudal dynasty.
People are extremely superstitious. If you ask them to catch a few grasshoppers to exchange for grain or money, they will be very happy to do so.
This is the same principle as sending them to hunt for grain.
But a locust plague is a different story!
From childhood, they have heard their ancestors describe the horrors of locust plagues. In the minds of the people today, locust plagues are not a ravages of locusts, but the wrath of the locust god.
Once it escalates to supernatural beliefs, it's not something that can be corrected in ten days or half a month.
There are no problems with the strategy or policy!
Even in Sun Jian's view, there was no problem with the counties that had lost contact.
The biggest problem is that morale has collapsed!
Some died, some fled; before the locusts could even harm them, they harmed themselves first.
It's less about controlling the locust plague and more about controlling people's hearts.
Minister of Works Xing Kang spoke first: "Sir, we understand what you mean, but what should we do now?"
"Yes, sir! All the states and counties are still out of contact. What should we do?"
Minister of Revenue Mi Zhu also spoke up.
These high-ranking officials were willing to lower themselves so much in front of Sun Jian, not because they lacked backbone or official authority.
These two men were different from Li Kui, the Minister of Personnel, and Xue Zhen, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies.
They truly care about all living beings and the common people.
If Sun Jian could solve the locust plague, they would be willing to call him not only Mr. Sun Jian, but also Grandpa Sun Jian.
Although these kinds of people are somewhat incomprehensible, they really are like that.
Sun Jian didn't mince words and said directly, "If we want to control this locust plague, we must first win over the hearts of the people and unite them."
"The locust plague is so severe, and the situation is changing rapidly. There's no time to prepare step by step! Right now, we can only use clever tactics!"
Upon hearing that Sun Jian had a solution, everyone's eyes lit up.
"Sir, speak quickly!"
"Yes! Sir, please tell us! What should we do now?"
What's the rush?
Sun Jian rolled his eyes at them.
Things may be urgent, but you can't panic. If you panic, you won't be able to do anything well!
"Regardless of the reason why those counties lost contact, we can be certain of one thing: the locust plague has spread to the area surrounding Jingzhao!"
"Moreover, I can almost certainly conclude that the locusts are only present in the area surrounding Jingzhao! Other areas should not be too severely affected yet!"
"Historically, it takes about 3 to 5 days for a locust plague to spread from its initial stage!"
Sun Jian was not talking nonsense. He had read reports and analyses about locust plagues in his later years, and even searched for them online!
Whether it's the great locust plague in Africa or the locust plagues that have occurred in the history of China.
Without exception, they all started from a point, then expanded to a whole area, and finally dispersed in waves.
This means that if a locust plague is the first to occur, then in a short period of time it will definitely only appear in this one place.
Even if there are locusts in other places, they are just scattered piles of locusts, not a large-scale migration!
The messengers from various prefectures and counties have not yet arrived, which may be related to the locust plague around the capital, or it is very likely that there are many refugees fleeing.
But all the main roads were blocked long ago by the massive migration of refugees...
Not only can't horses pass through, but even a passing rat would be eaten alive by you!
"We must not allow it to spread and migrate within the next three to five days!"
"Lord Yao, how much of the disaster relief grain and funds allocated by the imperial court to the Zongli Yamen are still available?"
"There are still 100,000 dan of disaster relief grain left, plus another 30,000 dan of seed grain."
"The disaster relief funds total 200,000 taels of silver, but the national treasury is currently empty, so only 100,000 taels of silver can be allocated first."
Sun Jian stroked his chin and said calmly, "We have enough grain, but we're still short on money!"
"But I have a way!"
After saying this, Sun Jian immediately gave instructions to the junior official who had reported earlier.
"Go and summon them! Generals Li, come in!"
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