Chapter 62 153 Yao Chong Kills the Locust

After Tang Zhongzong was restored, he let his wife Wei Hou take power, reused Wu Sansi, and messed up the government.In 710 AD, after the death of Emperor Zhongzong, Li Longji, the son of Emperor Ruizong of Tang Dynasty, raised troops and killed Queen Wei, and supported Ruizong to restore him.Two years later, Ruizong abdicated the throne to Li Longji.This is Tang Xuanzong. When Tang Xuanzong, who was in his twenties, first came to the throne, he wanted to restore Tang Taizong's career.He appointed Yao Chong as the prime minister, rectified the government, and reversed the chaos in the Zhongzong period.The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty reappeared.

When Xuanzong was working hard to govern, a huge locust plague occurred in Henan.On the vast land of the Central Plains, swarms of migratory locusts appeared everywhere.When the locust swarm flew by, it was so dark that even the sun was covered.Wherever the locust swarms landed, the crops were all eaten up. At that time, people had no scientific knowledge and believed that the locust plague was a disaster sent from heaven to people.In addition, some people deliberately engage in superstitious propaganda, so all places burn incense and pray for gods in order to ward off disasters and pray for good fortune.Seeing that the crops have been ruined so badly by locusts, people have nothing to do with it.

The disaster has become more and more serious, and the affected area has also expanded.Local officials had to complain to the imperial court. Prime Minister Yao Chong wrote a memorial to Xuanzong, saying that locusts are just a kind of pest, and there is nothing that cannot be cured.As long as the officials and people from all over the country work together to repel the locusts, the plague of locusts can be extinguished. Tang Xuanzong trusted Yao Chong very much and immediately approved Yao Chong's memorial.Yao Chong issued an order to ask the people to light fires in the fields at night.When the migratory locusts saw the flames flying down, they would massacre them; at the same time, they dug a big hole at the edge of the field and burned them while beating them.

As soon as this order was issued, Ni Ruoshui, the governor of Bianzhou (now Kaifeng, Henan), refused to execute it.He also wrote a memorial, saying that locusts are natural disasters, and manpower is irresistible. To eliminate the plague of locusts, the only way is to cultivate virtue. Yao Chong was very annoyed when he saw Ni Ruoshui's memorial. He sent a letter specifically to blame Ni Ruoshui, and warned him severely that he would be responsible for the famine that would result if locust plagues were prevalent and he did not take measures to relieve the locusts. Ni Ruoshui saw that the Prime Minister's words were very strong, so he dared not disobey.He mobilized officials and people from all over the country to exterminate the locusts with the method prescribed by Yao Chong, and it was really effective.In Bianzhou alone, 140,000 tons of locusts were wiped out, and the disaster eased.

Ni Ruoshui conceded defeat in the face of the facts, but there are still a group of officials in the Chang'an court who think that Yao Chong's method of exterminating locusts has never been done before. Tang Xuanzong was also a little shaken when he heard that there were many people who opposed it.He asked Yao Chong again, and Yao Chong replied calmly: "As long as you do things in a reasonable way, you can't follow the old rules. Besides, in the years of the big locust plagues in history, they were not extinguished well, causing serious famines. Now Henan and Hebei, the accumulated There is not much food, if there is no harvest this year because of the locust plague, the people will have no food to eat in the future and will be displaced, and the country will be in danger."

When Tang Xuanzong heard that the locust plague would not be eradicated and threatened national security, he also became afraid and said, "According to you, what should we do?" Yao Chong said: "The ministers said that my method is not good, and His Majesty also has concerns. I don't think His Majesty will care about this matter, and I will handle it. If something goes wrong, I am willing to be dismissed." Tang Xuanzong nodded in agreement. When Yao Chong was leaving the palace, an eunuch quietly grabbed his sleeve and said, "To kill too many insects, it always hurts peace. I hope my husband will think about it."

Yao Chong said: "This matter is settled like this. Please don't say any more. If you don't kill the locusts, there will be wasteland everywhere. The people in Henan will all starve to death. Isn't this hurting peace?" Because Yao Chong considered the safety of the country and the lives of the people, and disregarded the opposition of many people, he resolutely exterminated the locusts, and the plague of locusts in various places finally subsided. Yao Chong is famous for his ability in handling affairs.Once, Yao Chong's family had a funeral and asked for ten days off, and the court's official affairs were backlogged a lot.The other prime minister, Lu Huaishen, didn't know what to do and was in a hurry.Ten days later, Yao Chong returned to court, and within a short period of time, he finished processing the outstanding documents on the desk.The officials next to him looked at it, and none of them did not admire him.Yao Chong himself was a little proud, and asked an official, "As a prime minister, can I compare with anyone in ancient times? Can I compare with Guan Zhong and Yan Ying?"

The official said: "It doesn't seem to be comparable to Guan Zhong and Yan Ying, but it can also be called a 'prime minister who saves time'." In the first 20 years after he ascended the throne, Tang Xuanzong appointed several famous ministers besides Yao Chong, such as Song Jing, Zhang Shuo, Han Xiu, Zhang Jiuling, etc. He was more willing to accept prime ministers and ministers. Based on their correct opinions, some measures conducive to economic development have been adopted.During this period, the Tang Dynasty had strong national power and abundant finances.It is said that at that time, the warehouses in all states and counties were full of grain and silk, and the prices of rice and silk in Chang'an and Luoyang dropped.Historically, this period was called the "Government of Kaiyuan" ("Kaiyuan" was the reign title of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty).