Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1018: Chapter 95: Imminent Locust Plague in the North (2)

"Of course, but can they fly so far to the north?" Lingnan is thousands of miles away from the north, and most birds can’t fly that far north.

[I’ll ask.] They are trained to fly to the capital, so they can naturally fly to the north as well.

"By the way, after you get to the north, I need you to do something else for me."

[Yao Yao, tell me.]

"Once you reach the north..."

After Zhao Yao finished speaking, Bai immediately flew away. That night, it took many sparrow brothers and other birds and headed north.

After Bai flew away, Zhao Yao summoned the Hidden Guard and handed him the secret message about resolving the locust plague that he had written.

"This secret message is very important and urgent, you must deliver it to the capital with utmost speed."

The Hidden Guard received his orders, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will immediately arrange to deliver it to the capital with haste."

Zhao Yao nodded at him, and he retreated.

After the Hidden Guard left, Zhao Yao called Tong Xi in, "Go and get Yiyue."

Tong Xi’s face changed drastically upon hearing this, and without any delay, he rushed out to call Yiyue.

Moments later, a very ordinary-looking woman walked in.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"You must take people and immediately set off to the north to investigate the locust plague situation."

"Locust plague?" Yiyue asked in shock.

"Yes, locust plague." Zhao Yao briefly explained to Yiyue about the impending locust plague in the north, "I’m worried that after the locust plague occurs, northern grain merchants and other merchants will seize the opportunity to hoard grain and raise food prices. Once you get to the north, keep an eye on them, especially Prince Han."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao gave Yiyue some additional instructions before letting her leave.

Yiyue acted quickly, and soon she left Swamp Prefecture with some scouts.

Tong Xi saw Zhao Yao’s grave expression and asked concernedly, "Your Highness, what has happened?" He rarely saw His Highness in this manner.

"There is going to be a locust plague in the north."

Tong Xi exclaimed, "What, locust plague?" His face was filled with fear, "Your Highness, is this true?" Although Tong Xi had never experienced a locust plague, he knew the devastation it could bring. Both he and others were terrified at the mention of locusts.

Zhao Yao spoke with a grim expression, "I wish it weren’t true."

"Your Highness, if a locust plague occurs in the north, then..." Tong Xi dared not continue.

"If dealt with in time, things might not be so severe, but..." Even at Xiao Jin’s fastest speed, it would take five days to reach the capital. Once Father receives my message and sends people to the north, it will take several more days. In the end, all this might take ten days, by which time the locusts might have already arrived in the north. "It might be too late."

"Too late, then won’t the north..." Tong Xi asked anxiously, "Your Highness, could the locusts fly to Lingnan?"

"No." Zhao Yao said, "I have already written to Father, telling him how to suppress the locust plague."

Tong Xi asked curiously, "Your Highness, how to suppress the locust plague?"

"Eat."

"Eat?" Tong Xi did not understand, "Your Highness, do you mean eating locusts? Can locusts be eaten?"

"Of course they can be eaten, stir-fried, deep-fried, and they’re delicious." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "Although locusts are pests, their nutritional value is quite high, eating them can supplement protein, even beautify and improve complexion, stop coughs and relieve asthma."

"Ah, locusts can beautify and improve complexion, stop coughs and relieve asthma?" It was the first time Tong Xi had heard such a thing, and his face was filled with disbelief. "Is it true?"

"It is indeed true." Zhao Yao instructed Tong Xi, "Go and call my second uncle."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Two moments later, Liang Run appeared before Zhao Yao. Upon seeing him, Zhao Yao told him about the upcoming locust plague in the north. After hearing this, he reacted just like Tong Xi, his face filled with fear.

Zhao Yao explained to Liang Run how to deal with the locust plague. Liang Run was shocked to learn that locusts could be eaten and had so many benefits.

"Second uncle, you should depart for the north tomorrow, and once you get there, start buying locusts everywhere."

"Buying locusts?" Liang Run was full of astonishment.

"Second uncle, as long as someone is paying money to buy locusts, many people will find ways to catch them, which will help solve the locust plague quickly." Money can make things happen, especially with locusts. "Once you buy the locusts, have the chefs at the restaurant deep-fry and stir-fry them."

Liang Run thought Zhao Yao’s idea was good, but...

"Yao Yao, I believe locusts can be eaten, but will others believe it?"

"Second uncle, once you arrive in the north, start promoting that eating locusts can enhance beauty and improve complexion, invigorate masculinity and strengthen kidneys, surely there will be people who buy them, and many will. " Zhao Yao winked at Liang Run, "Especially emphasize invigorating masculinity and strengthening kidneys."

Liang Run instantly understood Zhao Yao’s intention and gave a knowing smile. He gave Zhao Yao a thumbs up, "Yao Yao, you are brilliant."

"Hehehe..." Very few men can resist the temptation of enhancing masculinity and strengthening kidneys. "Second uncle, by then, there will be no fear of people not eating locusts."

"High, very high indeed," Liang Run grew increasingly impressed with Zhao Yao’s business methods, "Who would have thought locusts could make money. Once I arrive in the north, I must certainly try the taste of locusts."

"Second uncle, are you going to..."

Seeing Zhao Yao’s misunderstanding, Liang Run quickly explained, "No no, I’m not, don’t get the wrong idea, I just want to taste them because you say locusts are delicious."

Zhao Yao gave a look of "I understand, you don’t need to explain," "Second uncle, for safety’s sake, we must prepare enough grain to prevent grain merchants from taking advantage of the situation to raise grain prices." Over the years, Zhao Yao had constantly instructed the Liang family to purchase grain. In fact, they didn’t need Zhao Yao’s instructions as Liang Run would already have bought and stored grain just in case.

"Alright."

"By the way, I will ask my grandfather to send some ducks to the north."

"Send ducks to the north? What for?"

"Ducks eat locusts." Worrying that there might be too many locusts, Zhao Yao decided to send some ducks to the north.

"Ducks eat locusts?" It was the first time Liang Run had heard this.

"Yes, to ducks and sparrows, locusts are delicacies." Zhao Yao continued, "Ducks that eat locusts will have very delicious meat. After ducks eat locusts, they can be made into roast duck, killing two birds with one stone." Influenced by people from the capital, northerners also enjoy eating roast duck.

"Then we can make a fortune." Doing business is indeed Zhao Yao’s forte.

Zhao Yao gave Liang Run some more instructions before letting him go. After he left, Zhao Yao hurriedly wrote a letter to his grandfather, asking Governor Liang to do whatever it takes to buy ducks. Though acquiring a hundred thousand ducks might be impossible, buying as many as possible would help.

Once everything was arranged, Zhao Yao began to feel a bit better.

"Sigh."

Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s sigh, Tong Xi asked, "Your Highness, haven’t you arranged everything to deal with the locusts? Why are you sighing?"

"I’m worried Prince Han might interfere." Just after Zhao Yao said that, he immediately took out paper and a pen, writing letters to Prince Chu and Prince Wei, informing them about the impending locust plague in the north, asking them to keep an eye on Prince Han to prevent him from taking advantage of the situation.

After writing two letters, Zhao Yao instructed the people from the Dark Guard Camp to deliver them to Prince Chu and Prince Wei Mansion with utmost haste.