It was nearly the Hour of Hai (around 9–11 p.m.) before Zhang Jing finally left the military camp.
“My lord.”
As they made their way back to the city, Cheng Yu spoke with a thoughtful expression.
“Now that we know a great disaster will strike next year, wouldn’t it be better, after the autumn harvest, to place all grain produced within our territory under government control? That would reduce unnecessary losses.”
“The people could continue receiving their food from the village granaries.”
“Once next year’s autumn harvest is over, it would not be too late to allow each household to cook at home again.”
Knowing that a locust plague was coming, Cheng Yu worried that there would not be enough grain.
If they continued their current policy of distributing grain to households, at least twenty percent would inevitably be lost through waste and spoilage.
Those twenty percent amounted to several million shi of grain.
At a critical moment, that difference could save countless lives.
“Zhongde.”
Instead of answering directly, Zhang Jing calmly asked, “If I were to announce to the world that a great locust plague will strike next year, how many people do you think would actually believe me?”
“Uh…”
Cheng Yu paused for a moment before shaking his head.
“I’m afraid very few would.”
“A man as extraordinary as you, my lord, appears only once in a thousand years.”
To foresee next year’s disasters while still in this year…
Even Cheng Yu himself would never have believed such a thing— Had Zhang Jing not been his lord.
“Enough with the flattery.”
Zhang Jing shot him a glance before continuing, “It’s actually to our advantage if the common people elsewhere don’t believe us.”
“If the other warlords don’t believe us, so much the better.”
“After the autumn harvest, we’ll be able to purchase grain much more easily.”
“When disaster descends next year, the territories ruled by other warlords will descend into misery, while Taiping Prefecture continues to prosper.”
“Then we’ll send our law enforcers throughout the realm to spread the news.”
“Tell me, Zhongde, What do you think will happen then?”
Cheng Yu’s proposal was something Zhang Jing had already considered.
It was obvious that communal kitchens would reduce waste.
But compared with forcing his own people to tighten their belts…
Zhang Jing would rather let the people under the other warlords suffer instead.
At the same time, he could establish himself in the minds of the people throughout the realm as a benevolent, almost saintly ruler.
“My lord is truly wise!”
Cheng Yu’s eyes shone brilliantly.
Overcome with excitement, he bowed deeply.
“This great locust plague is nothing less than Heaven’s gift to us.”
“Without expending a single soldier, Taiping Prefecture will be able to absorb well over a million commoners next year.”
Only now did Cheng Yu fully grasp the situation.
It wasn’t that he lacked the ability to see it.
He had simply learned of the coming disaster too recently and hadn’t yet had time to think that far ahead.
Given enough time he would have reached the same conclusion himself.
Now he understood completely.
The drought and the locust plague awaiting next year were nothing less than a tremendous gift bestowed upon Taiping Prefecture by Heaven.
“I’m glad you understand.”
Zhang Jing nodded.
“We already possess the initiative.”
“If we still fail to profit from next year’s locust plague and instead allow it to harm ourselves that would be the greatest joke under Heaven.”
“After you return notify all the civil and military officials in the city.”
“We will convene at the prefectural residence tomorrow at the Hour of Si (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM).”
“Your subordinate obeys.”
Cheng Yu bowed respectfully.
…………
The next day, Wuyan City.
Inside the main hall of Taiping Prefecture, the civil and military officials sat according to rank.
Since Zhang Jing had yet to arrive, they quietly conversed among themselves.
“Zhicai.”
Seated at his place, Guo Jia leaned toward Xi Zhicai on his left and whispered, “Did you see any sign that next year will bring a locust plague?”
“Oh, stop it.”
Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes.
“How could I possibly possess that kind of ability?”
“You’re our teacher’s prized disciple.”
“Don’t tell me you saw it?”
“Oh, give me a break.”
Guo Jia twitched the corner of his mouth.
“I know a thing or two about celestial observation, But predicting events an entire year in advance?”
“I’m nowhere near that capable.”
“Fengxiao.”
Xi Zhicai lowered his voice.
“Do you really believe there’s going to be a natural disaster next year?”
“I’d rather believe it than dismiss it.”
Guo Jia pondered for a moment.
“Our lord isn’t the sort of man to make baseless claims.”
“I just don’t know how he managed to see it.”
“I’d like to learn that skill myself.”
“…”
Xi Zhicai chose not to respond.
“Master Zhongde.”
Wang Du looked toward Cheng Yu.
“So you’re saying we need to build even more granaries throughout the territory?”
“Aren’t the ones we already have sufficient?”
“Not enough.”
Cheng Yu answered decisively.
“We need additional granaries capable of storing another five million shi of grain to prepare for any emergency.”
“But—”
Before Wang Du could continue, Zhang Jing emerged from the inner hall.
“We pay our respects to you, my lord!”
All the civil and military officials immediately rose to their feet and saluted in unison.
“At ease.”
Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“Please, be seated.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Everyone returned the salute and took their seats.
“I assume you’ve all heard by now.”
Seated at the head of the hall, Zhang Jing looked over the assembled civil and military officials.
“If the celestial signs are accurate, then next year Yan Province will inevitably suffer a locust plague.”
“For Taiping Prefecture, such a disaster would be nothing short of catastrophic.”
“Of course, the other provinces and commanderies of the Central Plains will fare no better.”
“Fortunately, We still have time to prepare in advance.”
“We can reduce the devastation caused by the locust plague to a level we can endure.”
“Zhongde.”
Turning to Cheng Yu, Zhang Jing said, “Tell everyone how Taiping Prefecture should respond to the coming plague.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Cheng Yu rose to his feet and bowed respectfully.
“In my humble opinion, since Taiping Prefecture has been blessed with advance knowledge…”
Over the next while, Cheng Yu laid out everything he and Zhang Jing had discussed the previous night, adding his own thoughts and recommendations.
After hearing his report…
Many of the officials quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Their anxiety over the coming locust plague had largely disappeared.
Instead, their thoughts turned toward how Taiping Prefecture could reap the greatest possible advantage from the disaster next year.
“My lord.”
After Cheng Yu had finished, Xun You rose and bowed.
“In my opinion, we must not underestimate the locust plague.”
“If poultry truly can suppress locust swarms then we should begin raising them next year to lessen the disaster’s impact.”
“I concur.”
Xi Zhicai stood as well.
“If we’re going to raise poultry we should establish an Office of Animal Husbandry to oversee their care.”
“That will reduce unnecessary grain consumption and make it easier to deploy them against the locusts.”
Raising poultry required grain.
Given the current state of the four commanderies, expecting ordinary households to keep large numbers of chickens, ducks, or geese was simply unrealistic.
Only Taiping Prefecture possessed the resources to undertake such a project.
Compared to the devastation a locust plague could bring the grain consumed by poultry was a trivial expense.
Their only concern was whether using poultry to combat locusts would actually work.
Still, since the idea had come from their lord, they could only trust him and give it a try.
If it proved effective so much the better.
And even if it didn’t the birds could always be slaughtered for meat.
No matter how they looked at it, there was little to lose.
“We concur!”
As soon as Xi Zhicai finished speaking, Guo Jia, Man Chong, and the others all rose and bowed in agreement.
“Very well.”
Zhang Jing nodded.
“I had already intended to establish an Office of Animal Husbandry.”
“However, when the Qihuo Army was first formed, we faced an acute shortage of provisions.”
“When Taiping Prefecture was first established, we likewise lacked sufficient grain.”
“That was why the matter had to be postponed.”
“Now that the autumn harvest is almost upon us, it is time to put this plan into effect.”
“Zhongde, I leave this matter in your hands.”
Did Zhang Jing simply not want to establish an Office of Animal Husbandry?
Of course not.
In fact, he had been looking forward to it for a long time.
After surviving on such plain fare for months, he, too, wanted nothing more than to sit down and enjoy a hearty meal of meat.
Unfortunately, Taiping Prefecture’s grain reserves had never been sufficient to support such an undertaking.
“My lord is wise!”
The moment Zhang Jing finished speaking,not only did the civil officials beam with delight, even military officers like Taishi Ci and Yu Jin on the right side of the hall shot to their feet.
Their faces were filled with unconcealed joy as they clasped their fists and shouted in unison.
Zhang Jing looked at the reaction of his officials and couldn’t help but think to himself, “Good grief… Have I really been treating them too harshly?”
“Look how excited they are just because they’ll finally get to raise some livestock.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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