Last year's locust plague, this year's locust plague is again, and it is menacing, to say that Cui Weizhi, as a county parent official, is naturally already anxious. Yao Chong, the prime minister of the dynasty, who advocated the hunt and killing, seemed to have the upper hand and had already sent locust hunters to various places to supervise the capture of locusts, but the opposition was even stronger. Not only did Lu Huaishen, who was also the prime minister, think that catching locusts would hurt peace in heaven, but many ministers in the DPRK and China were fighting against each other. It is said that Ni Ruoshui, the assassin of Bianzhou, had a tough attitude and refused to send locust catchers sent by the imperial court!

Therefore, even if there was no Cui Jianxuan's words, he originally planned to use the dead horse as a live horse doctor, and when he saw this Jingzhao Du Lingdu Nineteen, who was sent to the door to talk about catching locusts. At this moment, sitting in the study, he watched the bamboo curtain in front of the door being raised high, and then a young man in cloth about thirteen or fourteen years old was brought in to the door, and immediately carefully looked at the visitor.

Compared with the slightly older Cui Jianxuan, this young man has a thin figure, his clothes are not so simple as a little shabby, and the black sè cloth shoes on his feet look a little white. However, the other party did not bow his head respectfully like most of the children of the family when they saw the elders and officials, but calmly looked at him, and what surprised him even more was that the other party did not bow down after stepping forward.

Cui Yunzhi naturally didn't care about this, frowned slightly, and then asked bluntly: "You are Du Jiulang?" You came to me to catch locusts? ”

"Not bad."

As soon as Du Shiyi stepped into the door, he found that there was a bamboo curtain hanging behind Cui Yunzhi, and the figures in it swayed as if there were still people. However, he didn't know if this high-ranking lady had such a habit of peeping at guests, so he said straight to the point, "In the Fang City of Dengfeng County today, several grain stores and rice shops have said in an instant that the grain has been sold out, and the people are all complaining, if you don't go all out to catch locusts, this year plus last year's locust plague, Dengfeng County will be full of locusts, and this autumn will be a bad harvest!" Therefore, when I took the liberty to come to see Ming Gong today, I volunteered to take responsibility for the locust hunting. ”

This time, Cui Yunzhi, who was still a little careless and listened to it, sat up straight all of a sudden. He stared at Du Shiyi intently, and only after a while did he ask in a deep voice, "You mean, you are willing to take on the task of catching locusts?" Young man, do you know what is involved in such a big event? ”

"What Ming Gong said, I naturally know everything. The locust plague not only hurts the peasants, but if I leave it alone, I don't know how much more hunger will be in the countryside, so although I am weak, I am still willing to give it a try! ”

In order to cope with the inquiries of the imperial court, Cui Yunzhi's locust hunting notice has been issued for several days, not to mention that there are few ordinary people who respond, and even the servants are mostly prevaricating to each other and refusing to take responsibility. At present, such a Du disciple who suddenly appeared was willing to take on such a heavy responsibility, and after being surprised and happy, he quickly calmed down again.

"Du Xiaolangjun, please sit down and speak." With a smile, he invited him to sit down, and ordered someone to serve peach pulp, and then he asked with blazing eyes, "Since Du Xiaolangjun is from the Jingzhao Duling clan, why is he willing to come to capture the locusts in Dengfeng County?" ”

"Don't hide it from Ming Gong, I was seriously ill for a time, so my sister brought me to Songshan for medical treatment. Now that I have been cured of a serious illness, I have been living at the foot of the mountain. I learned that the locust plague had only passed last year, and this year it was the locust that harmed the people, so that Gu Gui hurt the people, and he couldn't buy rice and noodles with money. Seeing that Cui Yunzhi was slightly relieved, Du Shiyi said in an accentuated tone, "Moreover, it's not that I'm alarmist. This year is no longer just about catching locusts, but about curbing locusts, otherwise it is very likely that locusts will make a comeback next year. In this way, year after year, thousands of miles away, it is a great event! ”

As soon as these words came out, Cui Yunzhi chuckled in his heart. However, before he could pretend to be disapproving and put down an alarmist remark, he only heard another voice from behind the curtain: "You said that the flying locusts will go back and forth for years if they are not properly controlled, what is the evidence for this matter?" ”

Hearing the clear voice inside, Du Shiyi glanced at Cui Weizhi, who was silent, and said calmly: "The locust plague is the most prosperous between summer and autumn, because the hundred grains are about to ripen, so it hurts the farmers the most. However, if the locusts cling to the grass and trees to give birth, once the autumn and winter are warm and they hide for the winter, it is very likely that the locust plague will occur again in February and March of the following year. The Han book contains, in April of the fourth year of Emperor Yongchu, locusts in six states; And in March of the fifth year of Yongchu, it was a Kyushu locust again. The next year was not worse than April of the previous year, but in March, because the locusts were the seed of the past. Now last year and this year, there are flying locusts all over the sky, who knows that if it is inexhaustible this year, it cannot be cured, and it will recur next year? Although I am not talented, even if it is just for my own livelihood, I am willing to do my part! ”

Although it was Cui Jianxuan who was questioned just now, at this moment, Cui Yunzhi had already been moved. If he had to toss again next year after the locust plague last year and this year, even if he was a son of a famous family surnamed Qinghe Cui, he would inevitably be implicated. Just when he hesitated, another sentence from Du Shiyi came to his ears.

"There are many people in the court, the locust plague is caused by immorality, catching locusts is useless, it hurts the heavens and peace, it is better to sacrifice to the Bala Temple, or use good governance to drive locusts out of the country, Ming Gong must have heard such words. However, if it is true that the people have sacrificed to the Bala Temple and practiced good governance, but the locusts are still raging, then the word Ming Gong is really true! The locust plague is as fierce as a tiger, if Ming Gong does not give up, I am willing to take this matter with all my might! ”

"Good responsibility!"

At this moment, as soon as the back curtain moved, Du Shiyi saw a young man a few years older than him striding out with his hands behind his back. However, his gaze swept over his soft and handsome face several times, but he still felt that he was incomprehensible, and he couldn't help but be stunned for a while.

Cui Jianxuan didn't pay attention to it so much. He stared at Du Shiyi with great interest, and suddenly said with a smile: "I went to Chang'an last year, and I also heard that Fan Chuan Du Jiujianglang was hanging by a thread, and I thought at that time, but there is only one less prodigy who can do a few poems, not enough to worry about, I didn't expect to meet today, but it is to be impressive!" ”

After saying this, he turned to Cui Yunzhi and arched his hand and said, "Seventh Uncle, I ask you for a favor, how about agreeing to Du Jiulang's invitation?" Anyway, this is not harmful to you, Uncle Seven, and you will have an explanation for catching locusts. ”

Cui Jianxuan's words were rushed to say, Cui Yunzhi could only cough dryly, and then said with a smile: "Okay, since Du Jiulang has such a determination to take responsibility, then I will leave this matter to you!" All the officers in the county office are dispatched by you! ”

"Thank you Ming Gong!"

Seeing that this matter had been completed, Du Shiyi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in her heart. However, when he was about to say goodbye, Cui Jianxuan said again: "Seventh uncle, such a big event, I will also follow to watch and watch, if there is any progress or interference, I can report to you at any time." Du Jiulang, you have to let me see your true skills! ”

Cui Yunzhi was stunned to see Cui Jianxuan rebelling, and he forced Du Shiyi out together, and it took a long time to wake up. Annoyed, he sat down on the couch and was about to call someone to call this nephew back, but he opened his mouth, and Zuihou still didn't make a sound.

Cui Jianxuan deliberately came from Luoyang, the eastern capital, to Dengfeng County, not to visit his uncle, let alone to go to Songshan to pray for God and Buddha, but on the order of his grandmother Du De, the wife of Qi Guotai, he planned to go to study at Lu Hong, the famous hermit master of Hanging Lian Peak! However, Cui Jianxuan seems to be a talent, but he has a strange temper, he often offends people when he is flat, he doesn't like to read, and he hates poetry the most, so he must be taking advantage of Du Shiyi's proposal to delay now!

"Forget it, it's not my son, it's also his business if he wants to get involved...... Cui Yunzhi muttered to himself, and then asked a servant in the room to call Cui Yuan, and then ordered in a low voice, "You go to Yongfengfang in the eastern capital in person to deliver a letter in a few days." Let's just say that Eleven Lang saw that the Dengfeng flying locusts were plagued, because Jingzhao Du Lingdu nineteen admonished me to catch locusts, and he was moved for a while, and he also went to work! Remember, don't say much else. ”

After Du Shiyi was enthusiastically pulled out of the door by Cui Jianxuan, before she could say a word, the young man who looked like a woman suddenly let go of his hand. Seeing that he was standing lazily with his hands folded, not only did he lose his initial enthusiasm, but he was also too lazy to think about the good show on his face, and when Cui Yuan entered the house, he hurriedly came out, and said with a smile on his face that he was waiting for the dispatch, so he asked him to gather all the officials of the county office. However, after a full quarter of an hour, standing in front of the public hall, he looked at the seven or eight people in front of him, and even if he had predicted it in advance, his heart couldn't help but sink.

Sure enough, as soon as I heard that Du Shiyi had actually taken over the locust hunting from the county commander Cui Yunzhi, the messengers looked at me, zuihou, or the middle-aged messenger who reported to Du Shiyi at the beginning stood up with a smiling face: "Du Xiaolangjun, it's not that we are prevaricating and unwilling to do our best, it's really this matter...... It's a tough thing to do! Last year, I didn't know how much manpower and material resources were spent to catch locusts, but the harvest of zuihou was not even enough to make ends meet. What's more, even in the DPRK, there are many people in the DPRK who say that this incident hurts the peace of the heavens, and the greater the strength of this locust hunt, everyone is afraid of being punished by heaven! ”

"It turned out that it was because I was worried that I would be punished by heaven and heaven." After a pause, Du Shiyi smiled and said, "If it's because of this, you don't have to worry. I, Jingzhao Du Ling Du Nineteen, was already a mortal person who was seriously ill, and my sister took me to this Songshan Songyang Temple to seek medical treatment. However, medicine has not yet been obtained, but because of my sister's sincerity, I have been blessed by the king of the underworld, and the first king has entrusted my dreams, so I can see the sky again and then renew my life. I can live comfortably and comfortably, but now it is just to repay the kindness of the king of the underworld, so I took over the matter of catching locusts. ”

Seeing that some of the servants were surprised and some were suspicious, obviously unable to believe it, he said with a smile: "If any of you don't believe it, you can go to Songyang to visit the Taichong Taoist for verification, and ask me if I will heal myself without medicine!" All in all, since I dare to take this matter, if there is a retribution from heaven, I will naturally bear it alone! If you are afraid, you don't have to come, but if you are not afraid, start with Ming rì and follow me to the fields! I can assure you that not only will you be safe after the locust is exterminated, but you will also have additional rewards! ”

Cui Jianxuan, who was standing behind Du Shiyi, was looking around idlely, but when he heard Du Shiyi's recovery from Chen's illness, and heard him say that he would bear the retribution of heaven, Zuihou even promised him a rich reward, and his eyes gradually widened. When he saw Du Shiyi striding towards the outside of the county office, he suddenly hooked his finger thoughtfully at a servant standing next to him.

When the others approached, he commanded in a low voice: "You go to Songyang Temple to inquire, whether what Du Jiulang said is true or false!" ”