The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

It has almost become common knowledge that a severe drought is followed by a large locust plague.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of history can spot this problem.

In the 28th year of Duke Xiang of Lu, there was no ice in the spring. In the summer, there was a severe drought; in the autumn and winter of that year, a locust plague broke out in the eastern part of Lu, causing serious damage to crops.

In the first year of the Jian Shi era of Emperor Cheng of Han, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong in the summer. After autumn, swarms of locusts flew in from the east, covering the sky and reaching Chang'an. Even the ancestral temples and the imperial palace were covered by locusts.

In the second year of Emperor Ping of Han's reign (Yuan Shi era), the entire country suffered from drought in the spring and summer, followed by a large-scale locust plague, which was particularly severe in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou. The people suffered no harvest and a large number of people fled.

The fifth year of Emperor Guangwu of Han's Jianwu reign, the first year of Emperor Huan of Han's Yongxing reign, and countless other examples have precedents.

Fang Xuanling and others could not possibly have been unaware of this.

Why didn't anyone pay attention to this before?

There is only one reason.

A locust plague has already occurred this year.

However, the impact of the locust plague is almost negligible.

The drought has already killed all the crops. What good is a locust plague if there are no crops for them to eat?

A disaster is called a disaster because it has a huge impact on people's lives; only then can it be called a disaster.

This year's locust plague was almost entirely overshadowed by the drought, so it naturally didn't receive much attention.

Moreover, in conventional thinking, when drought comes, locust plagues also come.

That's all in the past now, isn't it?

"That's not how it works. The locust plague this year did have a relatively small impact, but that doesn't mean the locusts didn't lay eggs." Chen Huai'an didn't try to explain it from a scientific perspective, but instead said, "During land reclamation in Guanzhong, a large number of locust eggs were unearthed, which is the most straightforward omen."

"Next year, there might be a severe locust plague."

Li Shimin's expression darkened further. He could distrust others, but in this matter, he could not distrust Chen Huai'an.

Chen Huai'an has never made a mistake when he says such things.

He said there would be an even more severe locust plague next year, and Li Shimin had no choice but to believe him.

The good mood of recovering Lingnan without bloodshed vanished instantly.

Li Shimin sighed and asked, "Minister Chen, do you have any good ideas?"

"Locusts..." Chen Huai'an pondered, "There are still ways, but they are only temporary solutions, not permanent ones. But at least we can prevent them."

"Please speak, Minister Chen," Li Shimin said with utmost seriousness.

The others perked up their ears, and Feng Qiao'er blinked, staring curiously at Chen Huai'an.

"First, we will cultivate the riverbanks and wastelands. We will conscript laborers to deeply plow the riverbanks and abandoned land along the Yellow River and Wei River, bringing locust eggs from deep within the soil to the surface. These eggs will freeze to death in the harsh winter or be eaten by birds," Chen Huai'an said calmly.

"Secondly, in conjunction with water conservancy projects, we will dredge the drainage ditches in Guanzhong and Henan, and transform the low-lying areas that are perpetually flooded into fertile fields or paddy fields. Locusts only lay their eggs in dry, bare soil, and cannot reproduce in large numbers in paddy fields or lushly vegetated land."

"Third, the government used the reduction of corvée labor as an incentive to encourage people to cultivate wasteland and raise ducks, and strictly prohibited people from catching birds."

As he listened, Fang Xuanling's expression grew increasingly strange: "Apart from the third point, haven't you been doing the first two points all along?"

"Yes," Chen Huai'an said frankly, "I did the first two things as I went along."

Just as Fang Xuanling was about to press further, Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't worry about such a trivial matter."

"Huai'an, why did you urge people to raise ducks?"

"Raising ducks, do you think it can prevent locust plagues?"

"Of course!" Chen Huai'an said seriously, "Your Majesty should not underestimate raising ducks. Ducks' favorite food is locust eggs. A single duck can catch at least several hundred locusts a day."

"If there are enough ducks, they can effectively control the locust plague!"

"Alright, we'll do it your way!" Li Shimin immediately made the decision. "Quickly come up with a plan and send it to me. Also, secretly send someone to dig up some locust eggs; I want to see them myself."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Chen Huai'an replied.

"..."

After the banquet ended, Chen Huai'an walked out of Xiande Hall and was about to leave when he suddenly felt someone pulling him from behind.

Turning around, he immediately smiled: "Chengqian, is there something you need?"

Li Chengqian pointed to the distance, and Chen Huai'an understood, so he followed the little guy over.

Li Chengqian turned his head and asked, "Sir, Father Emperor has really found you a great beauty. Are you not satisfied?"

Chen Huai'an was taken aback, then shook his head and chuckled: "Chengqian, you're still young and don't understand many things. It's impossible for me and Miss Feng to be together."

"Besides, do I look like the kind of person who judges by appearance? If I wanted to, countless beauties would be willing to throw themselves at me. I just don't want to get married."

As he spoke, his eyes dimmed, yet also held a hint of relief.

As an immortal, he was destined to experience endless loneliness, watching helplessly as one old friend after another departed, while he could do nothing about it.

He doesn't know how many times he will experience something similar to Pei Ju's in the future.

Chen Huai'an really didn't want to build relationships with too many people and then repeatedly experience that feeling of helplessness.

If it were before, he might have had a slight desire to find a partner, but since finding his sister and niece, he no longer has those thoughts.

As Chen Huai'an was thinking about these things, Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "Sir, I am a junior, but I am not ignorant."

"I know you're thinking that you're a powerful Duke, holding the positions of Minister of Revenue and Minister of Works, and that Lady Feng is the legitimate daughter of Feng Ang, the overlord of Lingnan."

"If you two join forces, your power will be too great."

"You don't want to arouse Father's suspicion, but you seem to have forgotten one fact: this was arranged by Father himself. If Father were truly suspicious, why would he have arranged it again and again?"

"Sir, the Emperor was right about one thing: you are overthinking things."

Chen Huai'an shook his head and remained silent.

Who knows if this is a test?

Just like Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang that day, did they really meet him by chance and then follow him out of curiosity?

Chen Huai'an didn't know, and didn't want to know.

These two people are truly capable, there's no doubt about that, and he is also very special, there's even less doubt about that.

That's why he recited that line of poetry that day.

Just then, Chen Huai'an suddenly realized something, frowned, and tapped Li Chengqian on the head: "You dare to gossip about your husband's private affairs? You've got some nerve!"

Li Chengqian covered his head and grimaced, saying, "Sir, I am the Crown Prince. You said it yourself, so it is right for me to question you."

Chen Huai'an was amused: "Alright, alright, you're the Crown Prince. So next time I see His Highness the Crown Prince, should I perform a grand ceremony?"

"I wouldn't dare," Li Chengqian replied cheerfully, not intimidated by Chen Huai'an.

Since ancient times, respect for teachers has been highly valued. Even the emperor, let alone the crown prince, cannot put on airs when meeting his teacher.

"Alright, kid, you're trying to tell me what to do now. Your homework will double this month!"

Li Chengqian: "..."

"Oh, by the way, prepare some things for me and send them to your father later."

"..."