"I don't know if Dingguo Gong is coming, what advice do you have?" Lu Xiangxian was very surprised by Zhang Baoer's arrival.

Zhang Bao'er also politely explained his intention directly, and after he finished talking about the locust plague, he deliberately teased: "Mr. Lu, I don't know if this is a big deal, but I, a mediocre person, can't sleep, so I'm here to ask you." ”

"There is nothing in the world, and mediocre people disturb themselves", this is a famous sentence that Lu Xiangxian once said, but it was borrowed by Zhang Baoer at the moment.

Lu Xiang got up first and hugged him: "It's not just a matter, this is a big deal, Dingguo Gong, what do you need me to do, please say ......"

……

In the past few days, Yao Chong has been anxious.

Three days ago, the twists and turns of the Bianzhou Thorn History were sent to the imperial court in an expedited manner of 500 miles, and a locust plague occurred in Bianzhou, which may spread to the entire Henan Province.

Yao Chong was taken aback when he saw the twist. Experienced people know that after a great drought, there are often large locusts. Although Yao Chong had never seen a plague of locusts, he knew that locusts were overwhelming the sky like dark clouds. Everywhere they passed, not only the crops, but also the bark of the trees, they were eaten cleanly. Henan Province is the most important grain-producing area in Datang, and if there is a disaster in these places, Datang's grain reserves will become a problem. As the saying goes, if there is no food, the people will be unstable, how can the community be stable?

Yao Chong didn't dare to slack off, and immediately played Li Longji.

Li Longji asked Yao Chong, "How should this matter be resolved?" ”

Yao Chong replied without hesitation: "Immediately issue an order, let all states and counties immediately organize manpower and material resources to hunt and kill locusts!" ”

Li Longji doubted: "This locust is overwhelming, how can it be killed?" ”

Yao Chong was anxious: "Even if you can't finish killing, it's better than sitting idly by." In the past, because of the plague of locusts, there were all things about the destruction of the country. Now there is not much grain stored in Datang, and if there is another bad harvest or no harvest, the people will be chaotic. ”

Li Longji listened and did not refute Yao Chong, but he still looked hesitant and hesitant.

Yao Chong asked, "Your Majesty, if you have any concerns, just say it." ”

Li Longji sighed and said, "The locusts are a natural disaster, are they sent by God to warn me?" I am the Son of Heaven, and the extermination of locusts will not offend the heavens. ”

Yao Chong couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "In this way, in the future, when it comes to the extermination of locusts, Your Majesty will not issue a holy decree, but let the ministers issue a letter in the name of Shoufu." Even if God blames it, it is also a strange minister, and it has nothing to do with Your Majesty! ”

Yao Chong said it very clearly, but Li Longji still couldn't make up his mind, and in the end he decided to immediately convene a court meeting to discuss the matter.

During the court meeting, Yao Chong once again put forward the idea of exterminating locusts. As soon as his words fell, one of them raised an objection. Yao Chong was dumbfounded when he saw this person, and it was none other than Lu Huaishen, another prime minister, who came out to oppose him.

Lu Huaishen was born in the Lu family of Fanyang, a high-ranking family in Shandong, and was an authentic nobleman, but he was very honest as an official and lived a very simple life.

Once, when Lu Huaishen fell ill, two colleagues went to see him. He kept people to eat. After a while, the meal was served, and it was just two pots of boiled beans, and there was not a single meat. This is still something that Lu Huaishen painstakingly typed out to entertain guests. As you can imagine, you are usually more frugal. Can such a person not be admired? Therefore, his moral influence is particularly great.

Although Lu Huaishen is a high-ranking person, he has never opposed Yao Chong. Lu Huaishen knew that his talent was not as good as Yao Chong's, so he didn't dare to make up his mind easily. Hearing that Yao Chong was going to hunt and kill locusts, Lu Huaishen felt that it was inappropriate. So, he dared to raise objections.

"This locust is also a living being, killing it will hurt the harmony, and the injury and the anger will cause trouble!"

Lu Huaishen was influenced by Buddhism to say this.

Lu Huaishen's statement was echoed by many ministers.

Not only did Lu Huaishen and other ministers of the court disagree with the killing of locusts, but many local officials also handed over their opposition. The biggest voice of opposition is Ni Ruoshui, the assassin of Bianzhou, who has the most serious locust plague.

Ni Ruoshui wrote in the recital: Locusts are natural disasters and cannot be solved by manpower. The so-called natural disasters are the warnings of the heavens, and the emperor should be allowed to cultivate virtue. If the emperor does not solve the problem from his own point of view, but blindly hunts and kills locusts, it is a fate of wood and fish! During the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Emperor Liu Cong of the Later Han Dynasty also caught locusts, and in the end, more and more were caught, and even the country died! This is a lesson from the past!

Ni Ruoshui used "heaven and man induction" to advise the emperor, which is irrefutable. Since the Han Dynasty, there has been a saying that heaven and man are sensitive, because of the panic of the inexhaustible number of locusts, and the powerlessness of the prevention and control of locusts, they think that the locust plague is the condemnation and warning of God. Knowledgeable kings would issue edicts to open warehouses for disaster relief, organize manpower to exterminate locusts, and some emperors would even pin their hopes on divine power.

As a result, two voices appeared in the court. Some people believe that "as long as the whole body works together, we will be able to cure the locusts, and even if there is a local area that cannot be cured, it is better than raising the plague." However, many people think: "Locusts are a natural disaster, how can we control manpower", whether to eradicate or not, the two sides of the struggle is very fierce.

Li Longji had no choice but to temporarily withdraw from the dynasty and discuss it again the next day.

After discussing this three times, there was still no conclusion, and seeing that time was lost in meaningless arguments, Yao Chong was anxious.

Yao Chong suddenly thought of Zhang Bao'er, early this morning, he did not go to the council hall, but came to the Dingguo Mansion. When he hurriedly came to the Dingguo Mansion, he was told by Uncle Hua that his uncle was out.

Yao Chong looked disappointed and was about to turn around and leave, but Uncle Hua stopped him: "Elder Yao Ge, my uncle asked me to tell you that as soon as Li Linfu arrives, he can help you solve this big trouble." ”

Yao Chong didn't say a word, turned around and went to the official department.

In the afternoon, Li Linfu's letter of appointment for Guozi Siye was personally sent to Jiang Jiao's mansion by Yao Chong. Yao Chong made it clear that Li Linfu must go to Guozijian early tomorrow morning to take up his post.

He was appointed on the same day and took up his post the next day, setting a record for the fastest appointment of an official in the history of Datang.

The appointment letter was personally delivered by the first assistant of the current dynasty, and Yao Chong also created the only special case since the opening of the Tang Dynasty.

……

Yao Chong finally met Zhang Bao'er.

"Dingguo Gong, didn't you already know about the locust plague in Bianzhou?" Yao Chong was angry.

Zhang Bao'er: "That's right, I knew it two days earlier than you." ”

"Now that you know, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Yao Chong said angrily.

"Even if I tell you, do you have a way?" Zhang Baoer said disapprovingly.