Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1022 - 97: The Xiongnu and the Locust Plague

Having toiled for more than ten days, the folks in Swamp Prefecture at last wrapped up the early rice gathering. Now, they'll take some solid downtime in the coming days, since the month's close will kick off the rush to sow the next rice crop.

This season's early rice turned out bountiful, hitting yields twice those from before. Zhao Yao has to hand over only a third of what they reaped.

The imperial court requires Lingnan to ship grain up to the capital two times each year—once with the early rice and once with the late crop. A third planting, if it happens, doesn't need sending because few spots in Lingnan grow it.

That one-third share for the early rice isn't some new court rule; it's just that this year's portion matches the standard yearly tribute. From this, folks catch a hint of how massive the early harvest has been.

Right after gathering the early rice, Zhao Yao rushed this year's court tribute to the capital. From the leftover two-thirds, he held back one-third and shipped the rest northward.

Besides dispatching some early rice north, Zhao Yao went ahead and purchased a good amount of outland grain himself, then forwarded it to the north as well.

Zhao Yao moved quicker than the capital in getting grain dispatched. Yet, prior to his shipment hitting the north, a swarm of locusts had already struck. Shrewd northern traders jacked up prices, sparking widespread dread among the northern populace.

While northern people fretted over empty bellies, Zhao Yao's grain rolled in. His initial load totaled a thousand catties, and once there, it swiftly curbed the soaring northern grain costs, leaving the local merchants fuming.

Those northern grain dealers aimed to cash in big during the crisis and refused to let anyone undercut their gains. As they schemed to hassle Zhao Yao's grain escorts, Chu Ying from the Northern Border Camp mustered troops to safeguard Prince Han's delivery.

Worried his shipment could fall prey to shady northern dealers, Zhao Yao penned a note to Chu Ying, directing the transporters to pass the grain straight to her.

The grain bearers made it north and promptly handed the message to Chu Ying.

Upon scanning Zhao Yao's words, Chu Ying wasted no time and rallied her forces to secure the incoming grain.

Though dispatched under the court's banner, sharp observers could tell Prince Han orchestrated this grain rush himself, given how it outpaced official commands.

Three days following the arrival of Zhao Yao's grain wagons in the north, the court's directives on the locust outbreak finally arrived.

The court fired off a string of edicts in quick order. One ordered northern regions to unlock their stores for aid. Another slammed down harsh penalties on price-gouging grain sellers. A further one tasked northern areas with spearheading locust hunts. Yet another pushed for using ducks in the north to devour the pests. One more commanded Northern Border Camp troops to guard supplies, keep northern peace, and execute any chaos-stirrers. Another named Prince Han to oversee the plague response. There was even another...

As these edicts hit the north, the court also dispatched a slew of officials northward, including Prince Chu. He carried dual missions: first, to handle locust crisis affairs alongside Prince Han; second, to probe for graft or uprising amid relief efforts. The prime focus lay in checking if northern officers or Prince Han had ties to the Xiongnu.

Prince Chu's arrival meant three royals now held post in the north: Prince Han, Prince Dai, and himself. The emperor had sent Prince Dai to the Northern Border Camp before the locust disaster unfolded.

The Xiongnu had lately been raiding northern edges, eyeing a push south. After conferring with Prime Minister He and his circle, the emperor dispatched Prince Dai northward.

Once Prince Dai reached the border, he teamed up with Chu Ying to counter the Xiongnu border threats.

The Xiongnu at first shrugged off news of Chu Ying and Prince Dai's coming, since neither had clashed with them yet.

Pre-Prince Dai's border arrival, Chu Ying hadn't truly squared off against the Xiongnu. For one, he sought to gauge their real aims; for another, he had to assess his northern troops' mettle.

Noting Chu Ying couldn't hold his own, the Xiongnu ramped up border raids. Right as they geared for a major southward thrust, Prince Dai showed up at the front.

Facing the Xiongnu's clear invasion plans, Chu Ying and Prince Dai dropped the probes and went all-in. The Xiongnu, cocky and dismissive at the start, suffered a crushing loss.

Having tasted Chu Ying and Prince Dai's prowess, the Xiongnu quit their underestimation, but alas, they still couldn't match the pair. Another rout followed, worse than the first. Post-this thrashing, the Xiongnu steered clear of bold moves.