Chapter 72

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong realized something was wrong.

His gaze suddenly turned to Gao Yang.

How dare this child!!!

But Gao Yang continued, "Old General Wang is both civil and military, and in his conversation, he is extremely knowledgeable about the habits of locusts; he should be the best candidate!"

"I believe that Old General Wang, leading fifty thousand duck soldiers and chicken generals, will definitely return in great victory!"

Wang Zhong was incredulous.

The other officials also had their mouths twitching.

Wang Zhong is a fierce general of the current era. If he leads duck soldiers and chicken generals to provide disaster relief, he will never be able to lift his head in the circle of military generals in the future.

This Gao Yang is ruthless enough!

Only until this time did they squarely face Gao Yang's name as a poisonous strategist.

This kid is quite sinister.

"Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhong shouted, wanting to stop all this.

Wu Zhao took a deep look at Gao Yang and then looked at Wang Zhong, "The grandson of the Duke of the State is right. Using chickens is like using soldiers. It concerns the locust plague, and I don't trust ordinary people. Old General Wang is indeed the best candidate!"

"For the sake of the millions of people in Guanzhong, I ask Old General Wang to work hard for this trip!"

"Issue the decree: immediately promote the Great General who Breaks the Captives, Wang Zhong, to the Great General of the Ducks, and urgently requisition all the chickens and ducks in Changan at the market price to rush to Guanzhong for disaster relief!"

Wang Zhong's mouth twitched violently.

He didn't expect that he wouldn't get the honor of the Great General of the Cavalry among the military generals, but instead got a Great General of the Ducks!

If he accepted this, how could he face his old brothers in the army in the future?

It's shameful!

Wang Zhong looked unwilling, but when he touched Wu Zhao's unquestionable gaze, no matter how unwilling he was, he could only grit his teeth and agree!

"I, your subject, obey Your Majesty's decree!"

If it weren't for the occasion, Gao Feng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This Wang Zhong had been making things difficult for Gao Yang for the past few days; this slap in the face was simply too satisfying!

What a Great General of the Ducks.

Even if this Wang Zhong returns after meritorious service, he won't be able to go out for a month.

The entire Da Qian knows that there is an additional Great General of the Ducks!

This time, it can be considered that the entire Duke of the State's mansion has raised its head.

Song Li also had a complex expression, his gaze fixed on Gao Yang, secretly regretting in his heart.

Wu Zhao continued, "Gao Yang, although I think your method is useful, the locust plague is difficult to eradicate."

"I remember you just said that when locusts attack, covering the sky and sun, there are not many methods, but the implication is that there is a method, right!"

Wu Zhao looked expectant.

She had to be fully prepared.

Gao Yang nodded, "That's right. If the locusts really break out, covering the sky and sun, my next plan is to judge the trajectory of the locusts, use the grain of a place as bait, add flammable materials, and burn them all in one fire!"

"Burn the locusts with fire to reduce the disaster!"

Hiss!

Once Gao Yang's fire attack came out, the officials' scalps went numb.

This move is simply self-damaging by a thousand to hurt the enemy by eight hundred!

In their minds, it was as if they saw locusts coming in dense swarms, then slowly entering the fertile fields, and a big fire burning fiercely.

This is a truly ruthless person!

In this fire, although the grain is gone, the locusts will also suffer at least millions of casualties!

Even more!

One plan is more ruthless than the next!

First catch and eat, then send natural enemies, and if that doesn't work, use fire, hurting the enemy by a thousand and self-damaging by eight hundred.

The locusts really had bad luck to provoke this living King of Hell!

Wu Zhao looked at Gao Yang a few more times.

Shangguan Wan'er also couldn't help but swallow her saliva, thinking about what she had done.

The officials also couldn't help but look at Gao Yang.

Is this the poisonous strategist?

Isn't the Duke of the State's mansion full of loyalty, acting openly and honestly?

How can there be such a ruthless person!

The Minister of Justice, Lei Yun, couldn't help but say, "Magistrate Gao, does this plan of yours damage the harmony of Heaven? Locusts are also living beings, and they are also lives!"

"Is this big fire too cruel?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang sneered, "After the locusts run rampant, there are starving people everywhere, countless families are separated, and people even trade children to eat!"

"Minister Lei, are these commoners not miserable?"

Lei Yun was stunned, "You!"

But he couldn't speak.

Wu Zhao also said with a cold face, "Locusts have made my Da Qian people unable to live, causing so many casualties; they are not worth sympathizing with at all!"

"I support the fire attack!"

Yan Zheng hesitated for a long time, and then said, "Your Majesty, I have a concern!"

Wu Zhao looked at Yan Zheng, somewhat surprised. She just said that the Imperial Study was much calmer today.

It turned out that Yan Zheng had been silent all along.

Wu Zhao said, "Censor Yan, please speak directly if you have anything to say."

Yan Zheng said sorrowfully, "Although Magistrate Gao's method is good, whether it is using the imperial court's grain to encourage commoners to catch locusts, or the final burning of locusts, I fully agree."

"It's just that commoners have always believed that locusts are a great disaster from Heaven, a will of Heaven. Many commoners dare not defy Heaven, and even when locusts arrive to ravage the fields, they kneel and kowtow one after another, praying for the locusts to leave early. What should be done about this?"

He sighed, "Eliminating locusts is difficult not only because of the locusts but also because of the hearts of the people. If the hearts of the people are not united, I fear the effect will be minimal!"

Once these words were spoken.

Cui Xinghe also said with a solemn face, "Your Majesty, what Minister Yan says is reasonable. Historical books in various places all record that 'Locusts are a natural disaster, not something human power can reach; it is better to cultivate virtue to ward them off!'"

"Let alone commoners, even some officials believe that locusts are a punishment from Heaven and cannot be stopped by human power. This is also a major reason why locust plagues have been severe for years!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhao frowned tightly.

These words were not spoken without reason. The ancients were ignorant and regarded locust plagues as punishment from Heaven. When the locust plague arrived, many commoners kowtowed on the side, and as a result, there were more and more locusts, and the grain harvest was completely lost.

If they didn't really have anything to eat, they would never eat locusts, fearing that Heaven would descend with more punishment.

This is a very sad thing.

Wu Zhao frowned tightly, but suddenly thought of manipulating people's hearts. Is there anyone more black-hearted than Gao Yang in front of her?

"Gao Yang, do you have a way?"

Wu Zhao said.

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang showed a bit of conflict on his face, "Your Majesty, this method naturally exists, but..."

"Forget it, forget it, I won't say it. If the locust elimination effect is a little worse, it's a little worse."

Gao Yang said to himself.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhao immediately reprimanded, "Gao Yang, it concerns millions of people in Guanzhong; if you have something to say, just say it directly, why be so evasive."

Prime Minister Xu Xuanji also said, "Your Majesty, the Junior Official of the Ministry of Revenue has a countermeasure but doesn't say it; this is the crime of deceiving the Emperor!"

"He should be punished severely!"

Seeing this, Gao Yang could only say, "Your Majesty, it was you who asked me to say it, so I will say it!"

"I implore Your Majesty to forgive my sins!"

A bad premonition emerged in Wu Zhao's heart.

But she still said, "Speak quickly, I forgive you."

Gao Yang stared at Wu Zhao and said slowly, "Your Majesty, the root of the commoners' fear comes from the unknown, from Heaven!"

"This situation is easy to break. After all, Your Majesty is the Empress of Da Qian. In the hearts of the commoners, Your Majesty should follow the will of Heaven and rule over all the people!"

"Your Majesty only needs to eat a locust in public, and then burn some locusts in public, telling the commoners that locusts are just pests and not a punishment from Heaven. Once the commoners' cognition changes, they will naturally fight to eliminate locusts for the sake of the crops!"

Once these words were spoken, all the officials in the Imperial Study suddenly widened their eyes, looking at Gao Yang in shock.