Chapter 1: The Miserable Transmigration

  What is meant by "drought and locusts" is that severe droughts are often accompanied by severe locust infestations. This is because locusts are a type of insect that thrives in warm, dry environments, and the conditions of drought provide many benefits for their reproduction, growth, development, and survival.

  Locust disasters and droughts are different. Droughts only need to wait for rain, and the problem will be solved after the rain falls. However, locust disasters are different, they have a habit of living in groups, with strong reproductive power, polyphagous, can eat many kinds of plants. Its flying ability is very strong, making it difficult to prevent and control. The eggs are deeply hidden underground, making them even harder to destroy. Once the locusts wreak havoc, I'm afraid the entire Henan province will be plunged into several years of famine that cannot be eradicated.

  Locust disasters have always been one of the more troublesome disasters for later generations, and for the current Great Ming, it is even more intractable.

  However, Zhu Houzhao asked Jiang Xia why he would know that there would be a locust disaster in Henan afterwards, and Jiang Xia hesitated for a moment.

  How to answer this question? Should I tell him that in drought years, due to the decrease in water level, the soil becomes more solid, the water content decreases, and the surface vegetation is sparse, which will greatly increase the number of locust eggs, with up to 4-5 thousand egg blocks per square meter of soil, each containing nearly eighty eggs, meaning there are about four million eggs per square meter?

  Such a professional answer would probably make Zhu Houzhao feel like he's listening to heavenly music. Fortunately, Zhu Houzhao added, "Can you really calculate it, big brother? Are you an immortal?"

  This sentence coming out of Zhu Houzhao's mouth was not a joke, but a real question, and Jiang Xia also felt that in Zhu Houzhao's tone of inquiry, there was still a hint of excitement. It is very clear that Zhu Houzhao is a very superstitious person.

  In fact, Zhu Houzhao was fond of religious and spiritual matters throughout his life. He was well-versed in Buddhist scriptures and Sanskrit. He even called himself "The Great Celebration Dharma King Xi Jue Dao Yuan Ming Zi Zai Da Ding Feng Sheng Buddha". All these are enough to prove that Zhu Houzhao had no doubt about the existence of ghosts and monsters.

  Jiang Xia glanced at Zhu Houzhao and thought it would be too troublesome to explain the locust disaster, so he nodded and casually said: "To be honest with you, second brother, I learned some divination skills from a strange person when I was young. Last night, I observed the celestial phenomena and found that the comet fell towards Henan, and I had an epiphany. This time, you must believe me no matter what, remind your uncle to tell the emperor during the court meeting, so that we can make preparations in advance."

  Zhu Houzhao saw Jiang Xia's seriousness and immediately nodded. Then Zhu Houzhao asked Jiang Xia with some tension, "Big brother, is your divination technique very effective? Can you predict a person's past and future?"

  Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao and thought to himself, "This guy is so superstitious, he can't be thinking that I'll calculate his fortune for him?" Jiang Xia immediately shook his head and said, "Fortune-telling and divination rely on a kind of fate. It's called the heavenly secret, which cannot be revealed. Obtaining the heavenly secret is difficult, but revealing it after obtaining it will lead to even greater calamity. If you've studied numerology, I'm sure you've heard of 'five flaws, three deficiencies, and the decline of heaven and man'?"

  Zhu Houzhao's face immediately turned solemn as he nodded, and his eyes also became respectful towards Jiang Xia. However, at the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. If Jiang Xia's divination skills were really that powerful, then his own identity would likely be discovered sooner or later.

  Before he could catch his breath, Zhu Houzhao thought of another important matter and his face was once again filled with worry.

  Locust disaster. In Zhu Houzhao's memory, when he was young, a locust disaster broke out in Hebei Province. At that time, the land of Hebei was almost completely destroyed, and all were swallowed up by locusts. The court exhausted the national treasury to relieve the disaster but saw no effect. Finally, Hebei erupted with "no sun or moon, the Zhu family will perish." A stone tablet with 3,000 heads of blood. To put it simply, this matter is actually very simple, and there is nothing more than the severe disaster in Hebei Province, and the court has exhausted the national treasury and has no power to rescue.

  The last somewhat talented scholar had an idea, he dug a hole and buried a stone tablet, on which was written the eight large characters "Day and month without light, Zhu family will perish". Then he invited a Taoist priest to point out the auspicious geomancy land, in order to dig a new well.

  The Taoist had already accepted the silver from the scholar, and so he pointed out the place where the stone tablet was buried according to the scholar's request. After digging up the stone tablet, everyone was shocked. The meaning of the stone tablet was very clear and easy to understand: the sun and moon together form the character "ming", and when the sun and moon lose their light, it means that the Ming dynasty has no future; as for the last four characters "Zhu family will perish", anyone who can recognize characters would know what they mean.

  Everyone said that the Hongzhi Emperor was incompetent and should follow the will of heaven to overthrow the Zhu family dynasty. As a result, Hebei erupted in rebellion. After learning about this matter, Zhu Youtang immediately dispatched a large army to surround and annihilate them, eventually capturing the ringleader who spread the rumors and implicating many others, executing nine clans. In total, more than 3,000 people were killed, thus avoiding a large-scale rebellion in Hebei.

  At first, Zhu Houzhao couldn't remember the beginning and end of this matter very clearly, but the scene where his father was restless for several months due to the locust disaster was still vivid in his mind. Zhu Houzhao made a fist and bowed to Jiang Xia, saying: "Big brother, I will definitely tell my uncle about this. If a locust plague really breaks out afterwards, and we can successfully prevent it, then I represent the people of Henan to thank you."

  "Slap!" Jiang Xia slapped Zhu Houzhao's head.

  This sudden move almost scared Zhang Yong and Liu Jin to death, subconsciously the two clenched their fists, ready to make a move and take down Jiang Xia as soon as Zhu Houzhao showed anger.

  Who knew that Zhu Houzhao didn't show any signs of anger, but instead covered his head with one hand and said with a wronged expression: "Big brother, why hit me?"

  Jiang Xia glared at Zhu Houzhao and said, "Who are you hitting? I first helped your uncle settle the disaster relief silver matter, and now I reminded him of the locust plague. If both things are done well, it's a great achievement, isn't it? You're just going to say thank you and that's it? At least you should reward me with tens of thousands of taels of silver!"

  "What? When we became sworn brothers, didn't you say that we would share good fortune and bad together? Why do I have to repay you for helping me?" Zhu Houzhao said, still covering his head.

  Jiang Xia rolled his eyes and gave Zhu Houzhao a pair of white eyes: "Haven't you heard that brothers should settle accounts clearly? Haven't you heard that older brother is like father and older sister-in-law is like mother? Don't you know what 'filial piety comes first among all virtues' means? As your older brother, I'm just like your dad, so you should at least give me some silver to show respect. Besides, you don't know, your... ah, no, I made a mistake, your older brother hasn't even married yet, shouldn't I save up for my own dowry? And also..."

  "Stop!" Zhu Houzhao immediately stopped Jiang Xia from continuing to speak. He raised his hands and said, "I'll give it, I'll give it, no matter how much silver you want."

  "This is about right." Jiang Xia stretched out his hand in front of Zhu Houzhao's face.

  Zhu Houzhao stared blankly and asked: "What's going on again?"

  "Pay in advance."

  In the past, Zhu Houzhao would often go to the Leopard House after dismissing the morning court, but now he comes to the Xiangyang Mountain Villa first. In the past, whenever Zhu Houzhao came to the Xiangyang Mountain Villa, he would inevitably stay until late afternoon and sometimes even stayed overnight, finding two girls to serve him.

  But today was different, Zhu Houzhao left at noon. When he left, he shook his head and muttered to himself: "In the future, I must not bring silver here, more than 10,000 taels of silver, but not a single coin was left for me. A carved dragon jade pendant was also taken away by him, and that Dongzhu... Alas..."

  In the backyard of Xiangyang Manor, in Cui Nian Nu's room. Because Cui Ru Shuang needs to live in Xiangyang Manor recently, she and Cui Nian Nu have been separated, each living in a separate house. Jiang Xia, who had just extorted a large sum of money from Zhu Hou Zao, sat in Cui Nian Nu's room counting the treasure bills in his hand, while Cui Nian Nu stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.

  Jiang Xia's eyes shone brightly as he counted the thick stack of treasure bills, and after finishing, he directly divided them in half and handed one portion to Cui Nianshu: "Nianshu, these are yours."

  "Big Brother Jiang, I don't want to."

  "Why?" Jiang Xia was puzzled, as he had also given silver to Cui Nian Nu before, and she had accepted it.

  Chui Nian Nu said: "My father has been recuperating for the past few days and his body is much better now. He has already found a private school to teach, so I don't lack money to spend."

  "It's not like you're lacking it anyway, having a spare is always good. Or if you like gold and silver accessories, you can just buy them yourself."

  "It doesn't matter, just don't." Choi Yeon-soo said stubbornly.

  "Alright, I won't force you then." Jiang Xia nodded slightly and tucked the treasure into his bosom. He couldn't help but be moved by the faint scent of a maiden's fragrance wafting from Cui Nianshu's body. He took her hand and led her to stand in front of him.

  Jiang Xia suddenly held Cui Nian Nu in his arms, his eyes fixed tightly on her face.

  Chui Nian Nu's beautiful face was flushed with shame, she didn't dare to look at Jiang Xia, but also didn't object to anything Jiang Xia did to her.

  This flower has been beside him for a long time, and several times before he almost picked it up but was interrupted by others. Jiang Xia felt that he couldn't wait any longer, today he must pick this delicate and charming flower and put it in his pocket.

  Jiang Xia lowered his head and went down...

  "Niang nu, today is your birthday, how do you want to celebrate?"

  A pleasant voice came from outside the door, and this voice was like a magic spell to Jiang Xia. Jiang Xia had an urge to cry, and he muttered to himself: "Cui Ruxue, you...you're so bad."

  Hearing Cui Ruxue's voice, Cui Nianslave quickly broke free from Jiang Xia's arms. She looked at Jiang Xia with some apology and then leaned in to whisper in his ear: "Brother Jiang doesn't need to worry, tonight I'll come find you myself."

  Jiang Xia's expression suddenly changed, and he coughed twice before forcing himself to defend: "Nianshu, you're thinking too much, Jiang Da Ge is actually a very pure person."

  Cui Nian Nu smiled: "I know, Jiang Ge is very pure."

  When she said those three pure words, Cui Nianshu couldn't help but glance at the "little tent" below Jiang Xia's body.

  Jiang Xia suddenly felt a sense of embarrassment and muttered in her heart: "This girl... has learned to be bad."

  Sorry everyone, yesterday the company where Lao Hu works had a sports meeting and Lao Hu was the host, so he couldn't get away. The update will be made up for, sorry again to everyone.