Chapter 237.1
The locust plague is one of the three great natural disasters!
Every time a locust plague occurs, it comes with a reduction in grain production, leaving the people hungry and unable to satisfy their hunger!
Even now, there are no particularly good methods to deal with locust plagues, mainly focusing on prevention.
If prevention fails, the only option is to spray pesticides on a large scale, but how could such measures exist in ancient times?
Therefore, when this matter was reported back to the imperial court, it received the courts immediate attention.
Great Luo Emperor frowned and said, My dear ministers, the southeastern lands have been struck by a locust plague of a magnitude that occurs only once every fifty years! The harm caused by locust plagues is well-known to all of you! Now, with the autumn harvest approaching, we will face a shortfall this year if the crops are devoured by the locusts! My ministers, does anyone have a good strategy?
After speaking, he eagerly looked at his trusted ministers.
However, the officials exchanged glances and then bowed their heads, unable to come up with an effective solution.
In truth, there was no solution. When a locust plague occurred, one could only resign oneself to fate.
Alas! Great Luo Emperor sighed deeply, feeling that the life of an Emperor was too difficult!
Ever since he was chosen by the Taoist Sect last year, his luck has been really terrible!
If it wasnt a tornado, it was an earthquake, followed by a once-in-a-century Ice Disaster.
Now, he faced both drought and locust plagues just when he thought things might improve.
It seemed as if the heavens were particularly attentive to him, sending nearly all natural disasters to his domain.
And on top of that, various man-made calamities
It was as if they wouldnt rest until he was tormented to death!
At that moment, Song Yufei gracefully arrived.
Seeing her, Great Luo Emperors eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, Fairy Yufei, our Great Luo is suffering from a locust plague, and we are at our wits end! Does your Taoist Sect have any methods to deal with this?
This Your Majesty, this is a natural disaster. How could it be resolved with human power? Song Yufei replied with a wry smile.
Your Taoist Sect has many great and capable individuals. Are you truly without any solutions? Great Luo Emperor asked unwillingly to accept defeat.
Song Yufei hesitated for a moment: Its not that there are no methods, but the solution we have is harmful to both sides!
Fairy, please tell me about it! Great Luo Emperor pressed on.
In the past, our sects predecessors saw the people suffering from the locust plague and unable to eat, and they couldnt bear it. After much painstaking effort, they finally developed ten types of poison! Spraying this poison on the rice seedlings would kill the locusts that ate it! They once used this poison to solve a locust plague!
Great Luo Emperor was overjoyed: Isnt that a good solution?
Your Majesty, you are not aware of the full picture!
Song Yufei replied with a bitter smile: This poison can kill not only locusts but also people! When the poison adheres to the rice seedlings, it will be absorbed by the grain, turning it into poisoned food! Those who eat this poisoned food, if they are in good health, will fall severely ill, and if not, they will die!
I see! Great Luo Emperor sat down, disheartened.
If they used this poison, the grain would be ruined and inedible.
His main reason for wanting to eradicate the locusts was to save the grain, not to destroy it!
However, no matter how difficult it is, I must resist the heavens with all my might and solve this locust plague! Great Luo Emperors fighting spirit reignited.
After surviving so many disasters, what is one more locust plague?
Seeing his high spirits, Song Yufei admired him and said, This is how the wise ruler we have chosen should act! Since Your Majesty has such determination, our Taoist Sect will support you with all our might!
Thank you, Fairy, and thank you to the Taoist Sect!
Following that, they dispatched a large number of experts to deal with the locust plague.
The method to solve the problem was very simple and crude. They had to rely on their own martial skills to kill the swarming locusts.
With one punch and one palm strike, they instantly cleared a space.
However, the effect was not very noticeable because there were simply too many locusts. No matter how many they killed, it seemed endless.
Moreover, his reproductive capacity was astonishing. After just a day or two, the situation was back to square one.
This really worried the Great Luo Emperor.
However, at this moment, Song Yufei arrived and said with a smile, Your Majesty, theres no need to worry. Before returning to report to my sect elders, I conducted some research and finally found a solution to the locust plague!
The Great Luo Emperor was overjoyed, What brilliant strategy do you have?
Song Yufei held a tightly sealed jar in her hand and smiled, Your Majesty, this is the poison I mentioned that can kill the locusts! Just use this, and the locust disaster will naturally be resolved!
Fairy Yufei, didnt you say that this poison could kill not only locusts but also people? Therefore, its not appropriate and I cannot use this poison! The Great Luo Emperor shook his head.
Your Majesty worries too much!
Song Yufei laughed, After our sects research, we found that spraying this poison on the rice fields indeed turns the crops into poisoned food! However, if we change our approach and burn this poison in dry hay straw, the poison will spread with the smoke into the air. This way, we can not only kill the locusts but also reduce the harm to the crops!
Hearing this, the Great Luo Emperor was greatly intrigued, What you say makes sense, Fairy. Lets give it a try!
So, Song Yufei immediately sprang into action.
She had people prepare a large amount of dry straw, then sprinkle it with the poison and set it on fire.
The smoke billowed into the air.
Many locusts that encountered the smoke quickly flew away as if avoiding a deadly threat.
Although the locusts were not poisoned to death, the effect was already quite good!
The Great Luo Emperor laughed heartily, Look, Fairy, the poison is working! Everyone, quickly lights all the dry straw and spreads it throughout the fields! I want to leave the locusts with nowhere to hide!
Yes, Your Majesty!
In less than an hour, the dry straw mixed with poison was lit all over the fields.
The smoke slowly rose, spreading throughout the fields.
The locusts scattered in all directions, and those that couldnt escape fell straight from the sky, clearly poisoned.
Seeing this scene, the Great Luo Emperor was even happier.
Having the assistance of the Taoist Sect really made a difference!
Even when faced with a natural disaster, he could still get through it safely!
The dry straw was burned continuously for two days, and the smoke filled the sky, significantly reducing the number of locusts.
The remaining locusts, seeing they could not eat food, flew away.
Your Majesty, the locust plague has migrated!
Where to?
Report to Your Majesty, they have migrated towards the southeast!
The southeast direction?
Isnt that Great Xia?
After hearing this, the Great Luo Emperor was secretly pleased.
Great Xia, oh Great Xia, you too have your day of misfortune!
You dont have the assistance of the Taoist Sect. Lets see how you get through this disaster!
It would be best if the locusts devoured all your crops!
Keep me constantly informed about the locust situation in Great Xia, and report immediately if theres any news!
Yes, Your Majesty!
***
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