The 40th Section: The Great Locust Disaster
"Will there be locust disaster next year?"
Lao Cheng grasped Yun Yan's shoulder, looking at the bright sunlight outside the tent with a mixture of confusion and skepticism. Who could predict future events? Although Yun Yan seemed almost godlike in his abilities, Lao Cheng still had doubts about the truth of his words. It wasn't that he didn't believe Yun Yan, but this matter was too important, and if something unexpected happened, they would be accused of spreading rumors and causing panic. Especially during these unstable times, caution was necessary. If they ignored it, that would be the safest approach - no one would know, and there wouldn't be any trouble. But thinking about the terrible disaster Yun Yan described, with its devastating consequences, even Lao Cheng, a seasoned warrior, felt a chill run down his spine. It was a dead end, indeed. If it were just himself, Lao Cheng might not have been so troubled, but now that Yun Yan had found his family and the Yun clan's future looked promising... if this young man were to die in the disaster, it would be such a waste.
"Uncle, don't be troubled, Master is a god-like figure. Although I personally cremated his old body and scattered the ashes in the Yellow River, I still can't confirm whether he's really dead or not. It's possible that he used this trick to force me into the world again. This isn't the first time either. Last time, because we were escaping from Islamic pursuers, we had to pretend to be dead, and maggots even grew on my body. I was only eight years old then, and with great effort, I dug a hole that could fit my body. Unexpectedly, Master came back to life and took me on a wild run of three hundred miles, finally shaking off those Islamic pursuers. Since he said there will be a locust plague next year, it's definitely going to happen, no mistake." Old Cheng was left speechless by these words, his eyes wide with wonder. A body infested with maggots could still come back to life? This was the most absurd thing in the world! If Cloud wasn't speaking with a completely serious expression, who knows, maybe he would have kicked him already. Just as Old Cheng was about to open his mouth, Cloud stopped him.
"Uncle's concerns, I, a junior, cannot be unaware of. Since I have already entered the world and received an official position from Your Majesty, getting people's money and eliminating disasters is indeed a true principle of the world. I believe in my family teacher, and it is the responsibility of being a younger brother to bet one's life on the correctness of his words. I have decided to submit a memorial alone, so Uncle need not get involved in this muddy water."
This was the first time Yun Yan had decided to take action, thinking of a strategy on the way back. He recalled the African famine he saw on the computer in later generations, the emaciated doll-like child being stared at by vultures, and the girl who should have been curvaceous but lay like a skull on a pile of grass, Yun Yan's scalp felt numb. If he didn't remind Li Erjun, once the locusts came, the entire Guanzhong would become a hell on earth.
Historical records state: "Guanzhong was all locusts, eating grains, crops, and trees, everything was exhausted, wherever they went, it blocked out the sun, obstructing people and horses from moving, filling ditches and gullies to the brim." This must be the scale of hundreds of millions of locusts. These locusts were not eating grass but eating humans, Yun Yan would never watch it happen.
Lao Cheng was taken aback, is this still the young man who usually has a playful smile on his face? Is this still the skin kid who was kicked out by himself? Just now, Yun Ye said that he couldn't let this disaster happen without doing anything, Lao Cheng felt a little different. This child has grown up and taken responsibility. No matter whether there will be a locust plague next year or not, Yun Ye's courage and kindness are not something that those who only care about their own interests can compare to.
He turned around and took out a black glazed jar from under the bed, blew off the dust, opened the mud seal, took a big gulp, and handed it to Yun Ye. Yun Ye also drank a big mouthful without saying a word and handed the jar back to Cheng Yaojin. Lao Cheng and Yun Ye looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
Lao Cheng laughed that another talented person had grown up in the Great Tang Dynasty. Yun Ye smiled, feeling that he had finally broken through his usual cautious and safe approach to things, and a strong sense of determination was ignited in his chest. No wonder people on websites later said: "It's better to be a hero for a few minutes than to live a dull life." Being a hero feels great, at least it tricked Lao Cheng into taking out the fine wine he had been hiding for many years.
When they were about to take a second sip, Lao Cheng suddenly said that this matter should be planned carefully and not acted on impulsively. Yun Ye was kicked out of the commander's tent once again.
What is a hero? These days, beheading generals and snatching flags doesn't count as heroic, it's been seen too many times, especially among the Left Guard Generals, who have each killed several enemy generals. It's not impressive anymore. If you can single-handedly flip over a rhinoceros bull and stab it in the heart with one knife, letting its blood flow into a basin without spilling a drop, then you are a true hero. That's exactly what Cheng Chumou is doing now, earning thunderous applause from the crowd. This guy sat up straight, puffing on his bloody military pipe, and with a single flex of his arms, hung the bull on a horizontal bar. Immediately, butchers came to disembowel the bull. The entire military camp became a slaughterhouse. General ordered that all cattle and sheep that couldn't be taken away be slaughtered and made into dried meat, Yun Heng also made sausages with the internal organs and dried them for storage. The Left Guard was frantically storing food, the soldiers didn't understand why, thinking they were going to war, each one abnormally excited.
The great general has not smiled for over a decade, the crown prince has not smiled for over a decade. The cow deputy commander who just returned had red eyes as if he wanted to devour people. Chancellor Changsun Wujie came again and left in a hurry. Yun Yan, who was recently appointed as the Marquis of Lantian County by His Majesty, also hasn't smiled for several days. Something big has happened. Could it be that the Turks have invaded the pass?
"Will there really be a locust plague?" This was Niu Jin's fifth or sixth time asking Yun Ye in the past ten-odd days.
Since Cheng Yaojin told the prince about this matter and the prince passed it on to the empress in a family letter, Old Cheng began his crazy grain-hoarding action. All the surplus grains in Longyou were purchased in large quantities, and with the autumn ending and cattle and sheep being fat, they started slaughtering them in batches. And hunting teams were sent out to hunt wild game in the mountains of Longyou. Cheng Yaojin's actions naturally shocked Changsun Wuji, who asked about the reason and also started hoarding grain, causing a sharp rise in grain prices in Longyou. Liu Fulü immediately sent 5,000 guan copper coins to Yun Yan, no longer mentioning the idea of using grain as payment. Grain was constantly transported into the military camp, and every time they accumulated 10,000 stones, one hundred taizi you led soldiers to escort them to Chang'an. The auxiliary troops in Longyou were responsible for transportation. Changsun Wuji became even more ruthless, exchanging food salt for Tuyuhun cattle, sheep, and horses, and then exchanging these animals for grain, cleverly taking advantage of both sides, starting to crazily plunder Tubo and Tuyuhun, which originally had little grain. On the one hand, it was to prepare for grain, and on the other hand, it was also to reduce the ability of these two countries to launch a war.
Niu Jinda returned with great fanfare, reading out the imperial edict promoting Yun Yan to Marquis of Lantian County. Cheng Yaojin was also promoted one rank for his contributions in building materials, becoming a General-in-Chief of the second grade. Niu Jinda became a General of the third grade, Cheng Chumo was promoted to fifth grade as a Commander of the Imperial Guards, and even Zhang Cheng, who had first met Yun Yan, became a ninth-grade officer, a truly meteoric rise.
Niu Jinda said that in the Taiji Palace, in front of all the civil and military officials, the Emperor himself smashed a large jar, dug up the earth, and harvested seven potatoes weighing six catties and four taels. The entire hall was almost driven mad, with some wailing and crying, others beating their chests and stomping their feet, and still others looking up at the sky and howling. The Emperor was overjoyed, tears streaming down his face, without a hint of majesty or martial valor.
As he spoke, he saw that the Crown Prince, Old Cheng, and Yun Rang had not a single smile on their faces. After understanding the reason, one punch shattered the case table, and there was no longer any joy.
