Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1044 - 107: Mannaruo

Over the past few days, Prince Chu has been residing in the capital city of Wusun. Under the guidance of individuals arranged by Liang Run, he spent his time exploring the city’s famous landmarks and sampling unique regional delicacies. However, his diet these last two days has consisted heavily of locusts—braised, fried, grilled, seasoned with salt and pepper, or prepared in the signature Wusun style.

While in the Northern Territory, Prince Chu had grown accustomed to eating locusts at every meal. Initially, he dismissed the idea that these insects were edible as absolute nonsense. Yet, once he learned that it was Zhao Yao who claimed they could be eaten, he abandoned his doubts and began consuming them without hesitation. To his own surprise, he found them quite delicious, regardless of whether they were fried, grilled, or braised.

He never grew tired of them during his stay in the Northern Territory, so upon finding locusts on sale in Wusun, he immediately purchased some. While the local Wusun preparation had an unusual flavor, they were still quite palatable.

Prince Chu also noticed that Wusun was flooded with various goods featuring locust, beyond just the edible kind. He saw handcrafted grass locusts, intricate wooden carvings, and garments or fans decorated with locust embroidery. Many of these depictions appeared rather peculiar, sporting round, chubby bodies. Though they seemed strange at first glance, he found that the more he stared at them, the more charming they seemed.

Intrigued by the prevalence of locust motifs throughout the capital, Prince Chu asked Liang Run about the meaning behind them.

"It is entirely the idea of Prince Han," Liang Run replied, reaching for the purse at his waist to show it to the Prince. "Look, even here, a locust is embroidered on the fabric."

Prince Chu inspected the purse closely. On the front, he saw a peculiar locust design accompanied by the inscription, "Fight poison with poison."

"Fight poison with poison?" Prince Chu remained confused about how a locust related to such a concept.

Liang Run explained, "Are locusts not a natural catastrophe? By carving or stitching locust images onto clothing and daily items, the intent is to counteract that poison using the very essence of the pest."

A strange expression played across Prince Chu’s face. While he recognized that locusts were indeed a disaster, he could not fathom how depicting them could serve as a remedy.

"To be more precise, it is the use of disaster to repel disaster," Liang Run continued. "Prince Han also stated this would help the populace lose their fear, ensuring they no longer panic at the mere mention of a swarm."

Prince Chu chuckled, saying, "Only my tenth brother could conjure up such..." He paused, searching for the right term, "...such whimsical notions."

Liang Run kept his own thoughts to himself. He had once believed he was accustomed to Yao Yao’s "eccentric" nature, but when he first heard that locusts were both edible and a potential source of profit, he had been stunned, believing the idea was ridiculous. He had been certain nobody would ever buy such products, yet he was proven entirely wrong as the industry blossomed.

"Are these items truly selling well?" Prince Chu asked. Historically, locust plagues brought famine and death, earning the hatred and fear of everyone, including the elite. Even if they were now considered food, he found it unlikely that the public would intentionally purchase products themed after their own misery. He doubted his brother’s scheme could succeed.

"They are selling exceptionally well. Every household here in Wusun collects them," Liang Run responded, suppressing a laugh at the shock on the Prince’s face. "They move just as quickly within the Great Zhou borders, and the markets in Annan and Johor are reporting the same success. People have even started engraving them onto glass."

Prince Chu exclaimed in pure astonishment, "Truly?"

"Truly."

"How... could that even be possible?" Prince Chu was completely blindsided.

"Your Highness, even if everyone fears the locust, if they believe it offers a way to ward off further catastrophe, they are more than willing to buy, as no one wants to face a real plague again." This was in line with Yao Yao’s philosophy: it is safer to be prepared than to ignore the danger. "Furthermore, now that locusts have become a staple dish, the terror they once evoked has faded. In fact, restaurant owners in the Western Regions are practically waiting for another swarm so they can generate massive profits."

Only a few days ago, once word spread that locusts were both edible and beneficial for one's complexion and vitality, merchants from across the Western Regions began hunting them down for trade.

Indeed, almost all the locusts had been caught and devoured. In the past, a locust plague would leave behind only barren soil and a non-existent harvest. This year, however, wherever the swarm moved, the locusts themselves were the ones being harvested. The insects likely never imagined they would one day be transformed into delicacies and wiped out by the very people they intended to starve.