Chapter 67

Cui Xinghe looked toward Gao Yang and said, "Magistrate Gao, this official admits that you have great talent, but this plan is simply unfeasible."

"In history, no locust plague has ever ended by eating them!"

Gao Yang looked at Cui Xinghe with a smile on his face, but the words he spoke left Cui Xinghe stunned.

"Magistrate Cui, you are right, but you are also wrong."

"Earlier, I confirmed with Your Majesty whether the locusts in Guanzhong are already rampant or if there are mostly eggs; this point is of vital importance!"

Cui Xinghe was stunned, and the entire Imperial Study was stunned.

"Magistrate Gao, what do you mean by this?"

Cui Xinghe frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Gao Yang's gaze swept across the officials in the Imperial Study and said, "When I was young and mischievous, I happened to meet an old man with a celestial appearance in a ruined temple on the mountain. He left behind an ancient book, and there were records of locusts in that book."

"There are many types of locusts in the world, but the main ones that cause devastation are only two: the desert locust and the migratory locust. The locusts devastating the Da Qian realm are mainly migratory locusts."

"And whether it is the migratory locust or the desert locust, their internal structure is very special; they are divided into solitary and gregarious types."

"To put it simply, when the locust plague has not yet broken out and the locusts have not yet formed swarms, they are entirely green, or their main parts are green. At this moment, the locusts are non-toxic, and their meat is tender and rich in protein and amino acids. After being fried, they are just like flying shrimp."

As Gao Yang spoke, he couldn't help but lick his lips.

In his previous life, he was also resistant to insects until he went to Guangdong and accidentally ate these fried locusts, which he found heavenly.

Afterward, he checked the information on locusts, and finally, comparing them to the locusts of Da Qian, they were almost identical.

Naturally, they were edible.

If they were different, it didn't matter; at worst, he would be exiled to Lingnan and face death.

For a moment, the Imperial Study was silent.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Locusts are divided into solitary and gregarious types?

Wu Zhao was even more stunned.

Green locusts are not only non-toxic, but their meat is delicious and rich in what—protein and amino acids?

"What are these proteins and amino acids?" Wu Zhao couldn't help but ask.

Gao Yang explained simply, "It roughly means they are very nutritious."

Everyone was stunned.

Locusts can be linked to being delicious?

It was simply unheard of!

"Once locusts cover the sky and earth, their behavioral habits change, and they turn gray-black and yellow. Their temperament becomes irritable, and they even produce toxins within a few hours. If commoners eat too many, it will harm their bodies."

"The poisonous locusts that Magistrate Cui and Prime Minister Xu spoke of are these gregarious locusts."

"But right now, the locust plague in Guanzhong has not yet broken out. We can fully encourage the commoners to catch the green locusts and turn them into food, avoiding them becoming gregarious locusts after the plague breaks out. Our Da Qian has a large population and a long-standing food culture; there will always be those with adventurous tastes who will choose to try it!"

"It is not impossible for locusts to become a delicacy."

Hum!

Everyone looked at Gao Yang, who was speaking eloquently in the center of the Imperial Study, their heads buzzing.

Locusts are divided into two categories?

Solitary and gregarious?

And the green solitary locusts are non-toxic and super delicious, while the gregarious ones are poisonous?

Cui Xinghe was stunned.

Xu Xuanji was stunned.

Wu Zhao was also stunned.

Everything Gao Yang said completely exceeded their cognition.

Locusts can also become a delicacy?

After the shock, Wang Zhong spoke directly, "Absurd, too absurd! If these locusts are green, how could they turn gray-black?"

"How is this possible!"

As he spoke, he bowed to Wu Zhao and said, "Your Majesty, the grandson of the Duke of the State is spouting nonsense and deceiving the public. I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

Gao Yang glanced at Wang Zhong but did not speak.

This matter involved biological evolution; even he did not know the principle of why solitary locusts change color and produce toxins once they become gregarious.

But it was a fact.

Wu Zhao looked at Cui Xinghe and asked in shock, "Magistrate Cui, can locusts exist in two forms?"

Cui Xinghe was also stunned, "Your Majesty, locusts are indeed divided into two types; there are green ones and gray-black ones. The outbreak of the locust plague is indeed, as Gao Yang said, gray-black locusts!"

"But that they are poisonous and non-toxic, and that they change from green to gray-black simply due to the difference between solitary and gregarious—this cannot be verified!"

"I feel this matter is too ridiculous and definitely impossible!"

While hesitating, Cui Xinghe still cast his vote in opposition.

Wu Zhao also became conflicted; Gao Yang's words were truly shocking.

Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao and said firmly, "For the sake of the people of the world, I, Gao Yang, a Junior Official of the Ministry of Revenue, am willing to serve the country!"

"I am willing to test the locusts caught by Your Majesty's order myself, the more the better. Furthermore, all green locusts can be sold to me at a low price, and I will find a way to dispose of them."

"In this way, it can be considered serving the country!"

Hiss!

Testing locusts with his own body!

Is this Gao Yang so righteous?

Shangguan Wan'er was shocked.

Those are locusts, yet Gao Yang is willing to test the poison with his own body for the sake of the people.

This character was something she had misjudged.

Gao Yang remained calm, but inside, he was laughing with joy.

In his previous life, these non-toxic locusts cost a few yuan a skewer, the price was no worse than beef or mutton, and they were delicious; he loved eating them.

He had an idea in his heart that he might be able to use these locusts to make a fortune and also gain a good reputation.

After all, for the sake of the people of the world, he, Gao Yang, was the first to test the locusts with his own body; if this spread, it would have great benefits.

Walking in the world, one naturally needs fame and profit by one's side.

Wu Zhao felt a wave of conflict in her heart, and her impression of Gao Yang even improved quite a bit.

To be able to stomach such things as locusts, he was truly a warrior.

Moreover, the plan Gao Yang gave really had feasible points.

Song Li wanted to speak out to stop it, but after thinking about it, he remained silent.