I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 197 Collusion

Once the government notice was posted, it quickly attracted a large number of loyal citizens.

"Zhao Tongsheng, come quickly and read what's written on it?"

Zhao Tongsheng, on whom high hopes were placed, barely touched the ground as he was skillfully pushed to the front row by the enthusiastic crowd, watching and saying:
"The government said that there would be a locust plague, and asked every household to raise chickens and ducks to resist the locusts. They also recruited people who were good at raising chickens and ducks to set up breeding farms. The government was preparing to carry out large-scale breeding."

"Oh dear! The floods have just passed, and now there's a locust plague!" The people who fled from Wanzhou beat their chests and stamped their feet in despair. What bad luck they had! Why did disaster strike wherever they went?
"Stop wailing! Who can stop God from bringing disaster?" a more understanding commoner advised. "The princess and the officials have already come up with ways to help, so let's just listen to them and do as they say."

The surrounding people echoed, "Yes, they may not be able to do other things, but they must do what the princess has ordered them to do."

“I know how to raise chickens, and I need to register at the government office now. Who will come with me?” a woman called out.

“Me! I’ve been responsible for feeding the chickens and ducks at home since I was five years old. After coming to Wuwei, I also set aside a piece of land in the yard to raise them. I can tell at a glance whether the chickens and ducks are eating well or sleeping well.”

"And I!"

"I am coming too!"

The women around them eagerly raised their hands to sign up, while the men looked around and asked, "Then what are we going to do?"

"Of course, it's washing clothes, cooking, taking care of our parents, and raising the children!" The woman who spoke first took off the tattered cloth from her waist and threw it to her husband beside her. "The Princess's orders are the most important. We're busy, so these chores are naturally for you to do."

The man nodded in agreement, tying the rag around his waist. "Don't worry, I'll take care of things at home."

The woman was pleased with her husband's understanding and waved to the sisters who had signed up. Together, they marched in a grand procession toward the government office.

"My lord! My lord!" A bailiff rushed into the hall, panting. "Countless women have gathered outside, applying to participate in the breeding program."

"Really?" Lu Ying stood up abruptly, saying as she walked out, "How long has this notice been posted? How come people are registering so quickly?"

Don't you even need to think about it?

The bailiff replied, "It was posted less than a quarter of an hour ago."

Lu Ying suddenly stopped and turned her head to give Shen Jiawen a deep look.

A smile flashed in Shen Jiawen's eyes. "My lord, the princess is more popular with the people than you and I imagine."

Lu Ying took a deep breath and strode to the front of the government office. Looking at the people who were constantly coming from all directions, he suddenly felt that the locust plague was not so terrible.

The prefect of Qinzhou, hundreds of miles away, felt that there was nothing more terrible in the world than a locust plague.

If so, it happened under one's own jurisdiction.

"My lord! My lord!" The official in charge of agriculture scrambled into the hall, shouting, "It's terrible, my lord! The people have rebelled!"

"What?!" Qin Prefecture Prefect Mu Liang suddenly stood up. "How dare these unruly scoundrels! Men, immediately send troops to suppress them!"

"My lord," Zhang Anzhi, the junior magistrate, reminded him, "the soldiers stationed in Qin Prefecture have all been dispatched to guard the city gates and official roads throughout Qin Prefecture. Where would they find the troops to suppress the people?"

"Then what should we do? Are we just going to let those unruly people rebel?" Mu Liang pointed to his official hat. "If word gets out that the unruly people are rebelling, I'll lose my official hat and my head!"

“My lord, it is better to guide than to block. The locust plague in your territory is a natural disaster, beyond human control. If you can minimize the impact of the locust plague, you will not only be blameless, but also meritorious!”

"Do you think I don't know? When the agricultural officials reported the presence of insect eggs in the fields in June, I immediately sent people to spray pesticides, but what was the result?!"

Mu Liang grew increasingly angry as he spoke, "But the number of insect eggs is increasing!"

The Minister of Agriculture, panting heavily, pointed to the heavens and swore, "I have traveled all over Qin Prefecture and distributed the pesticides purchased at great expense according to the quantities on the fish scale register. I have personally instructed the prefectures, counties, and villages below to ensure that every acre of land is sprayed." As for whether the officials in the prefectures, counties, and villages below listen to him, that is not his concern.

Zhang Anzhi didn't bother looking at the fat, gruff-faced Minister of Agriculture. Although he had served for less than five years, he was well aware of the rampant corruption and bribery among officials in Qin Prefecture.

"My lord, since the government has already devised a countermeasure, even if the locust plague is not eradicated, the court will at most punish you for dereliction of duty. But if it incites a popular uprising, that would be a capital offense with your head and your property confiscated!"

Zhang Anzhi lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, saying, "I beg Your Excellency to personally come forward to appease the people and at the same time submit a memorial to the court to discuss ways to prevent the locust plague."

“We cannot submit a memorial!” Mu Liang refused resolutely. “This matter must be covered up.”

"My lord!" Zhang Anzhi tried to persuade him again, but Mu Liang had already lost his patience and stormed off to the back room.

The Minister of Agriculture lowered his head and sneered, then bowed and hurriedly chased after him.

Zhang Anzhi knelt on the ground for a long time. When he got up again, his knees were numb. He pushed away the yamen runners who came forward to help him up, returned to his study, wrote a letter, and summoned his most trusted subordinate, "Send this letter to Wuwei Prefecture immediately."

The men took the order and left.

Inside the back hall, Mu Liang was pacing back and forth, pondering a way to break the deadlock.

The Minister of Agriculture, with his hands hanging down and his eyes darting around, said, "My lord, I have a plan, but I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

Mu Liang said impatiently, "Speak quickly if you have something to say!"

"My lord, based on my inspection, the insect eggs have spread throughout Qin Prefecture, and many of them have already hatched into larvae. Using pesticides to kill the insects is no longer effective."

Most importantly, the prefectural government no longer had the funds to buy medicine.

"Tell the important point!"

"I have a plan that can completely eliminate both eggs and larvae!"

Mu Liang's eyes lit up. "What plan?"

“Fire,” the agricultural official said with a cold smile. “Even the most powerful insects will be reduced to ashes by a single fire.”

A glint of light flashed in Mu Liang's eyes. "Brilliant plan, brilliant plan!"

He pondered ways to burn the fields, "There are still more than two months until the autumn harvest. The crops in the fields are growing well now, making them good seedlings for starting a fire."

"But a fire starting out of nowhere," Mu Liang pondered, "what if the higher-ups investigate..."

"My lord, Heaven is blind! The days are getting hotter and hotter, and the people are so anxious that they are seeking out shamans to perform rituals to ward off the disaster."

The Minister of Agriculture said casually, "The people are so ignorant that if they accidentally set fire to the crops during a sacrificial ceremony, it would be something no one could have predicted."

"Yes, you're right. When the time comes, we'll arrest the foolish civilian who accidentally started the fire and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice, and this matter will be perfectly resolved."

Mu Liang looked at the Minister of Agriculture with admiration, "I've always been mistaken about you; I never realized you were such a talent. What's your name?"

The Minister of Agriculture quickly knelt down, saying, "This humble official, Tan Cai, dares not accept such high praise from you, sir."

"You deserve it," Mu Liang said, helping the man up. "I'll leave this matter to you. When I'm transferred back to the capital, I'll inform His Highness Prince Wei, and the position of prefect will be yours."

"Your humble servant will certainly not fail in your trust, sir!"