"Locust borers, farmers find them and kill them, because they cause harm to crops." [Lu Shi Chun Qiu·Unyielding]

"How are the locusts exterminated everywhere?" The emperor picked up the cup and took a sip, then sighed softly, and finally talked about the focus of the current government: "There are also drought conditions in Sanfu, Sili and other places. We should report them as soon as possible."

"I sincerely promise you." Zhao Wen, Ma Rixi and others looked at each other, picked out the good ones as much as possible, and said, "Since March, when the government issued an order to lead the people to search for locust eggs and kill locusts, at first the common people did not believe in locusts.

They only care about cultivating young crops and are unwilling to deal with them carefully. The government does not dare to force them, but only invests in purchasing locust eggs. Only the military and civilian villages in various places have to obey the imperial edict and work seriously. They have been searching and burning them for two months.

There are countless locust eggs..."

"The government dare not force orders, but they can give gentle advice. I heard that some officials are very effective in persuading people to search for locust eggs." The emperor raised his hand to interrupt Zhao Wen.

Zhao Wen understood and immediately replied: "Your Majesty has learned from your wisdom that local officials have indeed set a lot of standards when it comes to searching and collecting matters under the imperial edict. For example, Zuo Fengyi Zhongfu is strict in self-discipline and manages the county with great political integrity.

The people all admired the sound and followed it. Wang Yi, the governor of Hedong, exchanged salt for the people to collect locust eggs and submitted them to the government. According to the report, the common people in a county in Hedong were all enthusiastic about collecting locust eggs, and there was almost no worry about locusts.

So far, except for occasional locust swarms in a few counties, the rest of the places have never been protected from disasters."

Zuofeng Yi Zhongfu and Wang Yi, the governor of Hedong, achieved the same effect in different ways. If we want to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages, in the eyes of the people at the time, Zhongfu's method of morally influencing Li Shu was undoubtedly the best, and Wang Yi's method of driving profit was superior.

The ways of the people are not easily taken seriously by others. This can be seen from the order in which Zhao Wen talks about the two people's deeds.

But in the eyes of the emperor, he admired Wang Yi's approach even more. After all, not everyone could influence the common people with their own moral cultivation like Zhong Fu and others. In the end, governance of the world still relied on those professional administrative officials.

Without systematic training, there were too few professional officials who met the emperor's requirements. These had to rely on the gradual "recruitment of talents" by educational institutions such as Taixue and the Department of Civil Affairs.

"Whenever there is a drought, there must be locusts." The emperor said happily: "The imperial court has built rivers and ponds for two years, and there are new farming methods and farming tools in Guanzhong. It can be said that it has been prepared for drought for a long time. Even if the drought is severe this year

, the end of the year is just a reduction in grain production. As long as the imperial court does not tax taxes and provides timely relief, the common people will have a way to survive. Therefore, what I am most worried about is that the locust swarms eat the seedlings and leave the people with no harvest. Now I listen to you

If so, I am relieved."

"All of this is the result of your Majesty's strategizing, diligent administration and love for the people. The ministers are just performing their duties and being driven away by your Majesty." Dong Cheng immediately flattered him, not forgetting to show his merit: "I heard that

Some people in Jingzhao did not believe that locusts laid eggs. In order to show their faith to the people, Hu Miao, Yin of Jingzhao, together with the Chang'an Order, used some unknown method to hatch locusts from the eggs they collected. When Li Shu saw it, they were convinced.

The implementation of the decree was extremely smooth. Later it was spread to other counties and counties, and they all imitated and believed in it. It was difficult for them to come up with this method."

"Let the officials remember it first, and then we can summarize all the achievements at the end of the year." The emperor nodded and said casually.

At this time, although the imperial court did not say that the government was well-organized and people-friendly, after so many rectifications of officials, it could be regarded as an administratively efficient government. In addition, the water conservancy was improved and the treasury was full, which reduced the pressure of the locust plague. The imperial court was fully capable of dealing with Guanzhong.

During this severe drought, ministers such as Zhao Wen and Ma Rixi who assisted in governing the country became much more relaxed in their affairs.

"Although the imperial court has made preparations, the power of God is unpredictable and cannot be defeated by human power." Ma Rixi, who had been silent for a long time, coughed and finally said: "According to the report, Youfufeng, Hongnong and the southern part of Jingzhao Counties such as these have long been connected to rivers and dry streams, and different wells are drying up. The old and the weak cannot afford to draw far away, and the poor and widowed have to bear the water alone. It is said that there are local people selling land and children in order to obtain food rations. If the imperial court and the government do not care about it, there may be some Disappointing.”

This suggestion seemed to hit the mark. The emperor thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: "First issue an edict to exempt the counties affected by the disaster in Guanzhong from all taxes this year. Then spread the edict to various places to open warehouses and open warehouses to ensure that the people can make a living."

Everyone agreed, and the emperor asked them some more questions, and then asked them all to go back. It was already afternoon. Usually, if the emperor had nothing to do at this time, he would take people to Shanglin Garden for horseback riding or hunting with others, but now It was an eventful autumn and the weather was hot, so the restless emperor had no intention of leisurely travelling.

After the emperor sat on the Diaoyutai for a while, he thought about it and felt that something was missing. He was troubled in his heart, but his facial expression was very well controlled. Mu Shun on the side could not see the clues, so he reminded him at the right time: "Your Majesty, it is Duke Huan's turn to lecture today."

The imperial servant Zhao Qi and the imperial censor Zhongcheng Huandian were the emperor's two mentors. Although the emperor was smart, he still had some shortcomings in the concise and profound meanings of the scriptures. Therefore, Zhao Qi and Huandian took turns every day. He taught classics to the emperor. Sometimes he even had to consult his secretary Ling Xun Yue, Lantai Ling Shi Cai Yong, Taizhong doctor Zheng Xuan, doctor Han Rong and other great Confucian scholars. At the end of the day, almost half of their time was spent on reading. This also contributed to the emperor's reputation as a studious and diligent thinker and his increasingly sophisticated Confucian literacy.

Today is Huan Dian's turn to teach the Emperor the Book of Documents. Several generations of imperial teachers from the Longkang Huan family started their careers by explaining the Book of Documents. They are erudite and knowledgeable, making them the authority on this theory. Huan Dian is also meticulous and rigid. Jie Zishou was promoted by Situ Yuan Kui and was transferred to serve as the censor. He often rode a horse on the streets, which frightened everyone in the capital. Later, he moved the capital with the imperial court, paid homage to the censor, and was granted the title of Marquis of the Pass. The emperor's master was still upright and honest, and was convinced by the scholars in Guandong. He was very friendly with Yang Qi and others.

"Huan Gong follows the rules. He doesn't say anything unless he is sitting in danger, and he doesn't teach unless he is in the royal family." The emperor seemed to have remembered something, frowned, and said: "The teaching place used to be in Shiqu Pavilion. Now we can go there. I If you have anything to say, please tell Duke Huan first and ask the secretary to come over later."

Secretaries such as Wei Dan and Wang Can usually had to study with the emperor under famous teachers without any accident. Today they deliberately avoided it. They must have something to say to Huan Dian. Mu Shun kept this in mind and agreed. go.

The emperor walked down from the Shiqu Pavilion in a car. The water in the stone canal under the eaves of the pavilion was gurgling, dancing with light like gold. The people in front of the pavilion were standing still, writing books as usual. In the Tianlu Pavilion opposite the Shiqu Pavilion, the person responsible for collating the "Han Chronicles" After hearing the news, Cai Yong came over and followed him to greet him under the car. This scene seemed familiar, except for the clear and clear sound of the piano that day.

Recalling what happened that day, the emperor looked at Cai Yong and said jokingly: "Your wife is still hiding in the pavilion?"

Cold sweat broke out on Cai Yong's forehead, and he said with a smile: "I know that I violated my etiquette last time, so I dare not enter the palace to offend again."

"You have taught your daughter well, and all your children are well-educated and well-mannered. Last time, you treated it as a nice thing to talk about, and I have never blamed you. If you feel sorry for yourself because of this, and make the eldest princess lose her good companion, it is not because of me.

." The emperor said with a smile, with a magnanimous look: "I heard that the eldest princess and your daughter have a good relationship and often study scriptures together. If she doesn't want to come to the palace anymore, Cai Gong will allow her to go to the eldest princess's house often.

let's go."

"I promise." Although he knew that the emperor did not have any ill feelings towards Cai Zhenji, Cai Yong still couldn't figure out what the emperor meant and agreed somewhat mindlessly.

The emperor nodded, said nothing, and walked straight into Shiqu Pavilion.
Chapter completed!