Su Ziji frowned deeply: "The original arrangement of the Qi Governor's Mansion has already reduced the locust plague, and now this sudden outbreak of the locust plague must be strange, obviously too weird, Mr. Cen, you go back and immediately let your friends in the rivers and lakes investigate this matter to see if there are monsters who are causing trouble." ”

"Besides, quickly go to other counties to find a grain family, regardless of coarse grain or fine grain, but you don't buy and sell it yourself, but give it to the people of the government to take the lead, understand?"

As soon as it was sold, it was mud rotting in the crotch of the pants, and it was impossible to tell.

"Don't worry, Childe, I understand. Knowing the urgency of these two things, Cen Rubai was going to go and find someone to do something.

It can be seen that in the matter of controlling locusts and exterminating locusts, Qi Hongxin is dedicated.

It's a pity that although he has ideas, but in this situation, he has no power to return to the sky, and after half a day, Su Ziji saw that his voice was hoarse, and he mobilized the people to hunt and kill locusts, taking the lead, as if he was tireless, but even so, as the locusts gathered more and more, the people also changed from panic and anger at the beginning to fear and despair now.

"My lord, the situation is not right!" Receiving a ranger's whisper, Su Ziji turned around and caught up with Qi Hongxin, Qi Hongxin wiped his sweat and asked with a gloomy face: "What did Master Su find?"

"Yes, someone took the opportunity to spread rumors among the crowd. ”

"Say to the people - you still dare to hunt and kill locusts, I don't see that this locust plague is the revenge of the locust god!"

"In the past, you culled so many locusts according to the requirements of the government, but what happened to the result? Aren't you killing more and more? Now you continue to kill and plant crops, even if the seedlings grow, more locusts will come, so that you will not harvest any grains!"

"My lord, this kind of remark is very convincing in the context of the initial results of the locust eradication, but then the locusts are all over the sky. ”

As he spoke, Su Ziji pointed: "Look!"

Qi Hongxin looked at it, because of the folk sayings, the people who had an instinctive fear of locusts, heard such remarks, and then saw such a scene of locust plague, they were all frightened and pale, and the tools in their hands were thrown to the ground one by one, and even many people knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the locusts flying in the sky.

Of course, there are also those who are not afraid of rumors and are not afraid of the so-called locust gods, but because the crops are almost finished, and the government does not give any rewards, they are also disobedient and refuse to work hard.

"Hateful, hateful, whoever dares to spread this rumor, come and investigate it immediately and correct it immediately. ”

"My lord, now the people are desperate, boiling like fire, you are being hunted and killed, the people don't know that they are spies, once there is incitement, I am afraid that there will be a civil uprising!"

Su Ziji was startled, and at this time, he couldn't hide his edge, and said loudly.

Seeing that Qi Hongxin's whole body was shocked, he softened his tone again: "Your previous arrangement was very proper, but now the situation of this locust is very strange, I'm afraid it will be difficult to solve." ”

"I will say something to the heart, that when the people's original field is finished, they will not destroy the locusts. ”

"It's useless to urge, that's the real reason for their strike. ”

"What can you do?" Qi Hongxin immediately asked.

"Under the locust plague, not only the grain grains in the province will not be harvested, but also other counties will also suffer, the lower officials suggested that in order to stimulate the enthusiasm of the people, one bucket of locusts can be exchanged for one bucket of rice. ”

"The people are superstitious, but as long as there is profit, let alone locusts, even if there is a locust god, they will kill it for people to see. ”

"Moreover, there is no harvest of grain grains, and there is no green and yellow crop, and the people have no food, which is easy to provoke civil revolt...... Of course, this cost a lot of silver grain, but now it happens to be 270,000 taels. ”

Without waiting for Su Ziji to finish speaking, Qi Hongxin immediately understood: "You don't need to say it, this method is very good, and the official immediately ordered - tell the people that one bucket of locusts is exchanged for one bucket of rice." ”

"Also, don't be afraid of losing the grain in the county treasury, and the government will immediately send people to other counties to buy grain. ”

"My lord, the official grain purchase may not be fast, you can buy grain from the private sector, or allow the private sector to buy grain, as long as it does not exceed 30% of the market price, you can make a deal. ”

"There is a locust plague, the price increase is inevitable, thirty percent is necessary, without this money, the big households will not sell grain, and they can't be forced to levy at this juncture, right?"

Su Ziji reminded Qi Hongxin to wake up immediately, and instructed the master and several officials: "Take the official token and purchase food immediately." ”

"The market price can be traded within 30%. ”

"Also, whoever dares to hoard grain and sell it at a high price, the official will take him to correct the law, and the grain in the house will only be allowed to be 30% higher. ”

"Yes!"

As the order was delivered, the people, who were already desperate, suddenly gave a shot in the arm and cheered, and not only that, but the women, children, and old people who were hiding in the house all flocked out.

There are constantly bonfires lit, and people are constantly killing with nets and cloths.

For the people who depend on the sky for food and the earth to support their families, the fear of the so-called locust god is actually a helpless act, and it is also a belief born from humble places. ”

Su Ziji didn't continue to stay with Qi Hongxin, but went elsewhere, and when he saw these scenes, his gloomy face gradually smiled.

"Only with interests can the people be truly mobilized. ”

It is impossible to break the beliefs that are deeply rooted in people's hearts by virtue or obligation.

"Not to mention the people, even the government is the same, if you change to another prefect, once the farmland in this province is eaten by locusts, I am afraid that you will immediately stop beating and let the locusts go to other counties - because if only you are eaten up, heavy punishment is indispensable. ”

"But the surrounding counties have all eaten up, and the officials are not responsible. ”

"That's why the government is doing nothing. ”

"Chirp!" was thinking, when suddenly something furry at his feet arched himself, looked down, and found that two foxes, one big and one small, who had gone to the waves for this time, were sliding around him with their fur slippery, and they were looking up and chirping at themselves.

Although I couldn't hear the fox's language all the time, it was only when I was hungry and begged for food that the two foxes would be so well-behaved.

Su Ziji looked at them a little speechlessly: "You two, you only know that you want to eat with me, but you don't do anything, do you really treat yourself as a pet?"

"Chirp!" the fox stopped doing it, and they all scrambled to scream.

Su Ziji suddenly thought for a moment and motioned for them to follow him.

The so-called coachman who drove the car was Zeng Nianzhen, who was deliberately left by Cen Rubai's side, who was driving the ox cart at this time, and was following the side of the road, Su Ziji did not have to avoid him, and got into the ox cart with two foxes, one big and one small.

In the car, with the book in place, Su Ziji handed the book to the two foxes and asked them to point and speak.

Sure enough, the foxes obviously didn't admit that they were eating dry rice, and they didn't even fight this time, but muttered two sentences, and the big fox turned the book, pointed to a few words, and read them together, which was actually related to this locust plague.

"Are you saying that this locust plague is the work of monsters who have escaped from the gang?"