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. Nowadays, the country's grain reserves are not much, and if there is another bad harvest or no harvest, the people will be in chaos. ”

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 God. ”

Yao Chongyi couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "In this way, in the future, when it comes to the extermination of locusts, you don't want to issue an edict in the name of the emperor, but let me issue a letter in the name of the minister." Even if God blames me, it's just that I have nothing to do with you! ”

Although Yao Chong said it very clearly, Li Longji was still not sure of 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. It's just two pots of boiled beans, and there is no meat at all. This is still something that Lu Huaishen painstakingly sorted out to entertain guests. As you can imagine, you are usually more frugal. Can such a person not be admired? So. His moral influence was 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.

Once, because Yao Chong's son died, he went home to deal with the funeral and took more than ten days off. All the official documents were piled up in front of Lu Huaishen. Lu Huaishen looked at it. I didn't dare to approve any of them, there was no way, Lu Huaishen had no choice but to come to Li Longji.

Lu Huaishen reported to Li Longji: "Your Majesty. Wechen can't do anything, you remove Wechen. ”

Li Longji smiled when he heard this: "I appointed Yao Chong to do things, and I appointed you because you are honest and upright, and you can set an example for officials in the world." I didn't expect you to do anything. You can go back with confidence. Wait for Yao Chong to come back and deal with it. ”

After Yao Chong came back, in less than an hour, all the approvals were completed, and Lu Huaishen was so impressed that he threw himself to the ground. Because of this, what Yao Chong said in general, Lu Huaishen echoed it. So at that time, he was known as the "Prime Minister with Food", and he accompanied Yao Chong to eat.

Now, I heard that Yao Chong was going to hunt down locusts. Lu Huaishen felt that it was inappropriate. So, he had the audacity to raise his objections.

"This locust is also a living creature. Killing is to hurt and be angry, and to be hurt and angry is to invite 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's use of the theory of "heaven and man induction" is a classic way to persuade the emperor. Celestial and human induction is a kind of self-blame mentality that politicians are powerless in the face of disasters. 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 will issue edicts to punish themselves, open warehouses to release grain for disaster relief, and organize people to exterminate locusts, while emperors who do not have enough common sense will 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 it be controlled by manpower', whether to eradicate or not, the two sides are fighting very fiercely.

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 Li Tao, early this morning, he did not go to the council hall, but came to the Lantian Palace. When he hurriedly came to the Lantian Palace, he was told by Pei Yue: The little master is out.

Yao Chong looked disappointed and was about to turn around and leave, but Pei Yue stopped him: "Elder Yao Ge, the little master 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 to Guozi Siye was personally sent to Jiang Jiao's mansion by Yao Chong. Yao Chong made it clear that Li Linfu would go to Guozijian tomorrow morning to take up his post.

Appointed on the same day and appointed on the second day, Li Linfu set a record for the fastest 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 Li Tao.

"King Lantian, could it be that you already knew about the locust plague in Bianzhou?" Yao Chong was angry.

Li Tao nodded: "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?" Li Tao said disapprovingly.

Yao Chong thought about the resistance he had encountered in the past few days, and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Besides, I'm going to tell you in advance, will you still do Li Linfu's matter for me?"

"You're so cunning!" Yao Chong said angrily: "Li Linfu has already gone to Guozijian to take up his post, now you should help me solve the problem, right?" ”

Li Tao smiled: "I'm already doing this, you can go back with peace of mind and wait for my good news." ”

After sending Yao Chong away, Li Taojing came to see Li Longji from the palace.

"Tao'er, you're here just in time, I have something to discuss with you!" Li Longji, who had a sad face, saw Li Tao, and his eyes shone brightly.

"Third uncle, I know what you want to discuss with me, you'd better let me say a few words first, how about it?"

"Okay, let's talk first!" Li Longji readily agreed. (To be continued......)