The Qin State's locust eradication campaign lasted for three months.
From autumn to winter, almost all the leaves on the ground were eaten by locusts.
Locusts' favorite food is plants from the Poaceae family, such as leaves of cotton, which they should not like to eat.
But after forming a locust plague, a large number of locusts gathered together and swarmed onto the leaves when they encountered them. Most of the locusts were in a semi-starved state.
At this time, they eat all kinds of leaves.
They even take a bite of the flesh of dying and injured livestock. Fortunately, they do not attack living creatures, otherwise there is no telling how many people would be killed by so many locusts.
The locusts in Qin were well controlled, and the plague did not break out immediately. The locusts came to Qin after wreaking havoc in the east, giving Qin time to harvest.
The Qin State also planted a large number of potatoes and sweet potatoes buried in the soil. Even if the leaves of these crops were eaten by locusts, it would not affect the harvest.
When December was almost over, perhaps God had finally had enough of the trouble, and heavy snow fell, dealing a fatal blow to the locust plague.
The human-locust war that the Qin people had been fighting for a whole year and for nearly three months finally came to an end.
Prince Chu of Qin ascended the altar to pray to heaven and earth, to worship his ancestors and gods, and for the first time, to worship all those who participated in the locust-killing war in the Qin State.
Crown Prince Zheng stood beside Prince Chu of Qin, looking up at his father who was trying hard to suppress his cough, his hands clenched in his sleeves.
After only one year of not seeing each other, the king and father were like two different people since they met in Shouchun.
When they met in Shouchun, the king's father was also ill and did not look well.
"My Lord and Father, it's time to rest." Prince Zheng said reluctantly.
Prince Chu of Qin smiled and patted Prince Zheng on the shoulder, saying, "I can't rest yet."
Prince Zheng bowed his head and said nothing.
The purpose of Crown Prince Zheng's return to Xianyang was for the coming-of-age ceremony in the first month of the lunar year.
The Qin royal family wore the crown later than the Zhou Dynasty, and only wore the crown at the age of 22. According to historical records, King Zhaoxiang of Qin and Qin Shihuang, who first became the King of Qin and then the crown, and King Wu of Qin, who was crowned as a prince and then the King of Qin, all did so.
Crown Prince Zheng turned twenty-one in the first month of the year, or twenty-two in lunar age, so it was time for him to have his coming-of-age ceremony.
After the ceremony of coming of age, Prince Zheng will succeed to the throne and directly assume the power of the King of Qin. This is a major event for the Qin State.
It just so happened that the locust war in Qin had ended successfully, and the food that was snatched and shipped from the south could barely allow the people of Qin to survive another year without too many people starving to death. Qin needed to hold a grand ceremony to boost morale. Under such circumstances, the ceremony of crown prince Zheng was prepared in a grand manner.
In Crown Prince Zheng's dream, he was performing the capping ceremony of the King of Qin, which should have been much more grand than the capping ceremony when he was the crown prince.
But after looking at the preparation process, Prince Zheng found that his coming-of-age ceremony now seemed to be much more lively than his own coming-of-age ceremony when he was the King of Qin in his dream.
With Xunzi in charge, the etiquette of the Qin State at that time was more formal than the Qin Dynasty in Prince Zheng's dreams.
Prince Chu of Qin added many additional procedures for Crown Prince Zheng, such as asking the two queen mothers and important officials who had taught Crown Prince Zheng to give him their blessings.
Xue Ji is on her way north with grain in her convoy. She will also come to attend the crowning ceremony of Crown Prince Zheng.
After Prince Zheng read the process, there was only one word in his mind: "tired".
It’s tiring just looking at it.
But the elders were very excited and wanted to continue adding procedures. Prince Zheng could only put on a bitter face and let the elders do whatever they wanted.
When Prime Minister Lin Zhi took the lead, Changping Jun Zhu Xiang seconded, and Prime Minister Cai Ze abstained from adding a few sacrificial songs and dances before Prince Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony, Prince Zheng became angry.
"I'm going to wear heavy clothes and stand in the open air to watch singing and dancing on a snowy day?!"
Zhu Xiang and Lin Zhi took turns patting Prince Zheng's shoulders, with a very kind smile on their faces: "This is the only coming-of-age ceremony in your life, and you should have everything you need. Don't worry, you won't be cold."
Prince Zheng immediately went to Xunzi to complain.
Xunzi thought about it and sighed, "Although it is a bit too complicated, but since the Lord agrees, let's do it this way."
Crown Prince Zheng was so angry that his face turned red, and he went to Queen Dowager Huayang and Queen Dowager Xia to complain.
The two queens dowagers were very curious and asked what the sacrificial song and dance were.
Prince Zheng: “…”
He finally discovered that the elders did not consider his feelings and only cared about having fun.
It's just a ceremony, just go through the process, why bother for a whole day? Isn't this just a waste of work time
Zhu Xiang listened to Prince Zheng's complaints and laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.
Ying Xiaozheng’s current complaints are just like those of young people getting married in later generations.
The newlyweds just want to get married and be done with it, at most having a few friends and family get together. But the elders must make the wedding as grand and lively as possible, with music and singing, and all kinds of rituals going through the motions.
Speaking of newlyweds...
Zhu Xiang asked Zichu, "Zheng'er has reached adulthood, where is the Crown Princess you prepared for him?"
Zichu said, "I think Zheng'er is very opinionated and wants to choose his own wife, so I have only prepared a few candidates for his wife, and will give them to him after he comes of age. Is there any pregnant woman among the women you arranged for Zheng'er? If there is, you can give her a title first."
Zhu Xiang was puzzled: "Ah? What person in the room?"
Zichu: “?”
Zhu Xiang: “?”
The two looked at each other.
Lin Zhi coughed dryly and asked, "Could it be that both of you thought that the other party would prepare a woman for Zheng'er to teach him about human affairs, so you didn't prepare anything?"
Zichu: “…”
Zhu Xiang: “…”
Cai Ze held his forehead with his hand: "So Zheng'er still doesn't understand human nature?!"
His voice rose high and he was about to roar.
As a son of an aristocracy, the crown prince of Qin, you are still ignorant at the age of 22? ! What are you two doing! !
Zichu immediately said, "Zhu Xiang raised Zheng'er, this is his fault."
Zhu Xiang scolded, "Not only did you give birth to a child but didn't raise him, you even want me to worry about Zheng'er's backyard affairs!"
Zichu immediately refuted.
Zhu Xiang spoke bluntly and insulted.
Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Lin Zhi and Cai Ze pulled them apart to prevent the two patients from becoming too excited and fainting.
"Okay, hurry up and send the person you've chosen to Zheng'er, and ask him to try to give you a grandson next year." Lin Zhi smiled bitterly, "Zheng'er is in good health, so he will definitely give you a grandson very quickly."
Zichu, who was being pulled by Lin Zhi, stretched out his foot to kick Zhu Xiang, and coughed, "If I don't see my grandson before I close my eyes, it's all Zhu Xiang's fault."
Zhu Xiang, who was being held by Cai Ze, also stretched out his foot to kick Zi Chu: "That's your own fault!"
"OK OK."
"You two are both wrong, stop arguing."
"Hurry up and arrange for someone to go over there for Zheng'er."
"Give Zheng'er a month's vacation and let him work hard in the backyard. He will not be allowed to leave the yard until after a month."
After listening to this, Zhu Xiang hesitated and said, "You guys make it sound like Zheng'er is a breeder... ahem."
The three people, including Ying Xiaozheng's biological father, gave Zhu Xiang a calm look.
Is not it
Zhu Xiang smiled bitterly: "Okay, okay." Zheng'er's family really has a throne to inherit.
However, Zhu Xiang was very confident in Ying Xiaozheng's fertility. Everyone knew that Qin II alone killed more than 30 brothers and sisters, so his Qin Shihuang's children were very fertile.
Alas, after Zheng'er comes of age, we can no longer call him the First Emperor's son, but Ying Xiaozheng.
Zhu Xiang was extremely melancholy.
"How come Zheng'er has grown so big in the blink of an eye?" Zhu Xiang gestured at the door at his waist. "It seems like it was just yesterday when Zheng'er was this big."
Zichu said: "Zheng'er was very energetic when he was born, and his cry was particularly loud. He has been extraordinary since he was young."
Lin Zhi was also melancholy: "Zheng'er can no longer ride on my neck and become a general."
Cai Ze cursed, "Don't mention this again! Every time you let Zheng'er use a wooden sword to poke my hair! Am I a straw man for martial arts practice?"
Zichu immediately asked, "There is such a thing? Tell me in detail!"
Zhu Xiang said: "Then there is a lot to say."
Zichu and Zhu Xiang ended their argument. The four of them put their hands in their sleeves, stood under the eaves, and talked about Ying Xiaozheng's childhood while watching the snow.
When Ying Xiaozheng came to his father, Prime Minister Changping Jun, with documents to do some work, he saw the elders put aside their government affairs and gathered together to talk about his dark history.
Ying Xiaozheng was furious: "I didn't wet the bed!"
Zhu Xiang: “Yes.”
Lin Zhi: “Yes, it is.”
Cai Ze: "It seems... Never mind, Zheng'er said no, then no."
Zichu: “Hahahahahaha.”
Ying Xiaozheng turned around and left in shame and anger.
Halfway through the walk, he remembered that he was here to do some work for his elders, and turned back angrily, "What are you standing here chatting about! There are so many documents, have you dealt with them all?"
Zichu continued to laugh: "Look at this prince, he is urging me, the King of Qin, to work."
Zhu Xiang laughed loudly: "Yes, he is disobedient, King Qin, punish him!"
Lin Zhi said with a straight face: "How can a prince reprimand a monarch in this world? He must be punished!"
Cai Ze thought about it and decided to join the group: "How to punish?"
Zichu said, "Didn't Zhu Xiang say that Zheng'er likes sweet-scented osmanthus cake the most? I will issue an order that the prince is not allowed to eat sweet-scented osmanthus cake from now on."
Zhu Xiang laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back: "Too cruel, I agree!"
Lin Zhi was still serious: "Given Zheng'er's personality, he will probably issue an edict to change the name of osmanthus cake after he becomes the King of Qin, and then we can continue to eat osmanthus cake."
Cai Ze couldn't help but laugh: "It's something Zheng'er would do."
Ying Xiaozheng walked in, threw the documents on the table, turned around and ran away.
He is going to complain to Mr. Xun!
Not only did these four people fail to handle government affairs properly, they also laughed at me!
Zichu said, "He must have gone to see Xunzi again."
Zhu Xiang shook his head: "Little snitch."
Lin Zhi said, "Okay, stop looking at the snow and get to work."
Cai Ze rubbed his shoulders and sighed, "There are so many things to do. Where is Li Mu? We don't need him to lead the troops now, let him come as well."
Zichu sighed, "I notified him a long time ago that he was coming, but he insisted on going to Yanmen County. Alas, I think he was just being lazy."
Zhu Xiang nodded: "That's right."
Lin Zhi said, "Not really. The grassland was hit hard this time, so it was necessary for him to go to Yanmen County to reorganize military affairs to prevent the invasion of the northern barbarians."
The four of them chatted while picking up the documents that Ying Xiaozheng had thrown around in anger.
"It's a pity that Li Mu can't come to attend Zheng'er's coming-of-age ceremony."
“It’s really unfortunate.”
"Maybe he can come back."
"When he comes back, don't let him leave. Let him stay and do some work."
Zhu Xiang and Zichu held each other's shoulders and swayed from side to side with laughter.
Lin Zhi also held his forehead with his hand: "Cai Ze, is it really necessary for you? Are you really that tired?"
Cai Ze snorted coldly and flicked his sleeves: "You come and try to be the prime minister."
Lin Zhi immediately said, "No need to try."
Zhu Xiang and Zichu continued to hold each other's shoulders, swaying from side to side with laughter.
Xunzi, who was brought in to "give advice" after being complained by Ying Xiaozheng, had just walked into the yard when he heard wanton laughter from inside the room door.
He also smiled and sighed, and said to Ying Xiaozheng: "It seems that they have already started to deal with government affairs, don't be angry."
Ying Xiaozheng held Xunzi's arm and snorted coldly, "Xun Weng, come with me. If Xun Weng is not here, they will still bully me."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "Then I will take the documents I need to deal with to Xun Weng. I don't want to work with them."
Xunzi said, "It's up to you. I also want to introduce you to some useful people."
Ying Xiaozheng nodded: "Okay."
Ying Xiaozheng would really rather make a few more trips than work in the same room with four elders.
Zhu Xiang and Zichu ridiculed Ying Xiaozheng again, Lin Zhi followed suit, and Cai Ze dissuaded them from going too far.
On the second day of the first lunar month, it was Ying Xiaozheng's twenty-first birthday, and it was time for the coming-of-age ceremony.
As expected, Xue Ji and Li Mu arrived on time.
Li Mu also gave Ying Xiaozheng a knife, saying that it was something seized from a certain leader of the Northern Hu people and came from the Western Regions. It looked good and Zheng'er would definitely like it.
"Can the Western Regions also make swords?" Ying Xiaozheng really couldn't let it go. "I thought the sword was invented by my uncle."
Zhu Xiang laughed and said, "I don't have such ability."
Ying Xiaozheng held his head high and said, "When I become the King of Qin, I will send people to make peace with the countries in the Western Regions."
Zhu Xiang made a relieved expression: "It's not bad, it's not bad, it's repaired, not conquered."
Ying Xiaozheng said unhappily: "I'm not stupid. The journey to the Western Regions is long, and there is a desert in the middle. Even if we conquer it, Qin will not be able to rule it."
Zhu Xiang pretended to wipe away tears: "Zheng'er has matured."
Ying Xiaozheng: “…” My fists are hard, but I can’t beat my uncle. Damn it!
Qin Wangzichu smiled and said, "Stop teasing him."
Xue Ji twisted Zhu Xiang's arm.
Zhu Xiang quickly put away his strange expression and coughed dryly: "Zheng'er, it's time to go out."
Ying Xiaozheng felt awkward for a moment and nodded: "Yeah."
Before he left, he knelt down in front of Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji, kowtowed, then stood up and left.
After he comes of age, he can no longer treat his uncle and aunt as a child; nor can he serve his adoptive father and mother as an adopted son.
So before that, he had to be polite.
Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji's eyes turned red, but they tried hard not to cry.
When Ying Xiaozheng got on the carriage, Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji covered their faces and burst into tears.
"Okay, stop crying. You still have to attend the Zheng'er's coming-of-age ceremony." Zichu said, "It's time for me to leave too."
Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji nodded and supported each other as they got into the carriage.
They will also bless the prince in the capacity of Lord Changping and Lady Wujun.
But from this moment on, Prince Zheng could no longer get along with them like ordinary parents and children.
The Qin kings of all dynasties held their coming-of-age ceremony in the Qinian Palace in Yongcheng, and Crown Prince Zheng was no exception.
At this time, the Qinian Palace had been decorated very solemnly and all the ministers had returned from their respective counties, waiting for Prince Zheng to be crowned.
As expected, Prince Chu of Qin added all the possible elements to the crowning ceremony of Crown Prince Zheng.
When the left foot got tired, the Qin ministers switched to the right foot, and when the right foot got tired, they switched to the left foot, all with a bitter smile.
They understood how much the King of Qin valued the Crown Prince. But every time they encountered such a situation, they realized that they did not fully understand how much the King of Qin valued the Crown Prince.
Prince Zheng walked towards the platform step by step.
On the high platform, Prince Chu of Qin and the two queen dowagers were waiting for him.
This time, Prince Chu of Qin specially asked the two queen dowagers to appear as well, to participate in the crown prince Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony as elders.
Prince Chu of Qin put a crown on Crown Prince Zheng, and the two queen dowagers helped Crown Prince Zheng change into new clothes and accessories.
Changping Jun Zhu Xiang and Wujun Lady Xue Ji also made an exception and came to the high platform to put a long sword and a short sword on Prince Zheng.
The Qin nobles always carried two swords, one long and one short. The long sword was used for ceremonial purposes, and the short sword was used for cutting meat. This was a custom inherited from the time when they lived together with the Northern Di.
Prince Chu of Qin said: "Zheng'er, you have grown up, and the Qin Kingdom will be handed over to you in the future."
Prince Zheng looked at his father's haggard face and bowed, "Yes, father."
Prince Chu of Qin hesitated for a while, and when Prince Zheng straightened up, he suddenly hugged Prince Zheng in his arms and patted him gently on the back.
Prince Zheng was stunned.
All the ministers were shocked.
Zichu said, "Zheng'er, your father has been unkind to you in many ways. Fortunately, Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji raised you."
Prince Zheng whispered, "Father Jun is very good to Zheng'er, and he is not unkind."
Zichu laughed and said, "Zhu Xiang scolds me every day for only caring about giving birth but not raising children, but I still have some self-awareness."
Prince Zheng said nothing.
Zichu said: "In the future, you must take good care of your uncle and aunt. They must be the people who value you the most in the world."
Prince Zheng's voice lowered: "Yes, Zheng'er knows."
Zichu loosened his arms and said, "Okay, come, follow me."
He held the hand of Crown Prince Zheng and walked step by step to a higher place to take the final step, offering sacrifices to the heavens, the earth, the ancestors, and all things in the Qin State.
From then on, Crown Prince Zheng came of age.
At this time, the five countries were ready to take action.
There has been no locust plague in nearly ten years. A locust plague of this scale has not been seen in decades. The five eastern countries underestimated the power of this locust plague.
After the locust plague, all five countries suffered poor harvests.
Later, heavy snow covered the land, and crops for famine relief could not be planted in the snow; animals such as pikas that could fill their stomachs on the ground were almost extinct; the vegetation had first been eaten by locusts and was now frozen to death by the heavy snow, so there was nothing to eat.
Locusts even ate plant fibers such as mulberry and hemp, and some common people didn't even have clothes to wear.
In the past, they could fill their bedding and clothes with dry grass, but now the locusts have eaten everything. Not only are they hungry, they are also cold.
Many common people died of hunger and cold.
When too many people died, epidemics came.
Just like there will be a locust plague after a long drought, and there will be a major epidemic after the locust plague.
What’s funny is that when large numbers of people were freezing to death or starving to death, rats, which were previously impossible to find, suddenly appeared.
The hungry common people immediately caught mice to fill their stomachs, but since they had no firewood, they could only eat them raw, and thus they were infected with the plague.
The plague killed more people, which attracted more rats, which were eaten alive by the starving people, and then more people were infected with the plague.
The kings and nobles of the five countries began to panic.
But they were not too panicked.
Aren’t epidemics and famines normal? At this time, all we need to do is divert domestic conflicts.
In the history of Zhu Xiang’s previous life, the locust plague in Qin State was also “locusts coming from the east, covering the sky and the sun.”
But at this time, the young King of Qin and Lu Buwei, who had just come to power, were selling their titles to raise food, while the State of Zhao sent Li Mu to attack the State of Yan, which was being attacked by Zhao, and the State of Wei was holding a funeral for the King of Wei. The King of Han and the King of Qi did nothing.
As for the State of Chu, the locust plague had little to do with them, so it was normal that they ignored it.
At that time, there were no famine relief crops, and Zhu Xiang had not given advance notice, and the extent of the disaster in the east was even more serious than it is now. But they did nothing either.
Now they are ready to unite and do something.
The cause was Guo Kai's proposal to King Yan of Zhao.
"Your Majesty, Zhao is now devastated by a locust plague, and the ignorant people are extremely resentful, and they all praise Zhu Xiang. Why don't you send troops to attack Changping County in the name of welcoming Zhu Xiang back? Changping County has a lot of grain, which can help Zhao solve its food shortage. I heard that all the people living in Changping County are from Zhao, and they must be loyal to Zhao. Perhaps once the Zhao army arrives, they will open the city gates and surrender."
Upon hearing this, King Yan of Zhao agreed very much and immediately convened a court meeting to prepare to send troops.
The ministers of Zhao State also coveted the grain in Changping County, but they did not dare to send troops on their own, so they proposed that King Zhao unite with the five countries to send troops together.
The other five countries all suffered heavy losses, and even Yan State put aside its hatred with Zhao State and joined the allied forces.
The State of Qi originally did not want to send troops, but after the other four countries threatened not to sell it grain, it had no choice but to send troops to attack Qin.
There is no Lord Changping in Changping County.
Moreover, even if Changping Jun was in Changping County, if Changping County was in danger, Changping Jun would evacuate in advance. The Zhao people would not welcome Changping Jun back, and Changping Jun would not go back.
All the scholars in the world understand this.
Changping Jun's nephew, Prince Zheng of Qin, came of age this year. Prince Chu of Qin held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Prince Zheng that was unprecedented in the history of the Qin State, once again confirming the prince's stable position.
Prince Zheng must be the King of Qin. How could Lord Changping leave Qin and become an enemy of his only blood relative
But the common people of Zhao State did not know this.
They are really stupid.
He has never been to school, cannot read, and has never even left the village.
Their brains were empty except for survival, and they had no doubts. They foolishly believed whatever the King of Zhao sent to tell them.
They really thought that if they conquered Changping County, they could welcome back Duke Xiang of Changping.
I heard that Duke Zhu Xiang killed the locust god in Qin State, so not many people starved to death in Qin State this year.
Duke Xiang of Zhu also frightened the god of plague, so there was no plague in Qin that year.
As long as Duke Zhu Xiang returned to Zhao, there would definitely be no more locusts and plagues in Zhao.
Duke Zhu Xiang was also the incarnation of the god of agriculture. He could make the fields of Zhao grow endless food, so the people of Zhao no longer had to worry about hunger.
There was no food to fill their stomachs, no clothes to cover their bodies, and the State of Zhao did not even provide the common people with enough food, wages and weapons.
The people of Zhao, however, volunteered to join the army, and were determined to follow Pang Nuan to fight Changping, even if they had to drink blood and eat dead bodies along the way.
Pang Nuan was in great torment.
He knew that this was a complete lie. These people from Zhao were sent by the King of Zhao to die.
Even if Changping County could not be taken, as long as these hungry Zhao people died, the crisis of Zhao would be resolved.
But he had no choice but to lead this group of people to their death.
According to the request of the Zhao court, they would put the sick people in the vanguard, so that the plague could be spread to Changping County.
By doing so, it would not only drive away the plague-ridden people in the country, but also weaken the Qin State.
With a heavy heart, Pang Nuan selected a group of generals that the King of Zhao had already made a list of, and asked them to lead the Zhao army, more than half of whose soldiers came from the plague area, to attack Changping.
He took another troop and joined the allied forces from the other four countries.
The Qin State soon learned of the movements of the five countries.
King Chu of Qin ordered Wang Jian and Li Mu to return to the south of the Huai River. Wang Jian attacked Chu, and Li Mu led his fleet to attack Qi, thus disintegrating the Five Kingdoms Alliance.
Lian Po and Meng Ao were the main generals, fighting against the allied forces of five nations.
Prince Zheng found Zhu Xiang.
"Uncle, the king's father is in very bad health." Prince Zheng said with a sullen face, "Uncle, please stay for a while and go with me to persuade the king to rest, okay? I will supervise the country, and uncle will take care of the king's father's health and let him rest."
He gritted his teeth and said, "If the Lord Father disagrees, we will lock him up!"
Zhu Xiang, who was packing his luggage and preparing to inspect the severely affected areas in Guanzhong and Guandong of Qin State, and who was also preparing for spring ploughing even in wartime, smiled in a way that Prince Zheng could not understand when he heard this.
It seems bitter, seems proud, and seems helpless like indulgence.
"To bear the disgrace of the country is to be called the master of the country; to bear the misfortune of the country is to be the king of the world."
"Zheng'er, at this critical moment for the Qin State, who can let the King of Qin rest?"
"I can't, and neither can you."
"Xia Tongta is the king."
Prince Zheng was silent for a long time, then nodded with sobs.
"Well, Junfu is the king. Uncle... take care."
(End of this chapter)