The most arrogant in history

Chapter 376: Instigation of rebellion.

Xue Changfeng laughed and said, "That's true. Xiahou Chang assembled a group of literati who did nothing but fabricate your crimes and then vigorously publicized them in their jurisdiction. The people of the Central Plains don't know the truth and think you are the reincarnation of a demon."

Ye Kun sighed: "This is also a headache for me. If you want to conquer the Central Plains, you must first win the hearts of the people. The people of the Central Plains have misunderstandings about me, what should I do?"

Xue Changfeng thought for a moment and said, "Why not send back a group of old and weak soldiers from Xiahou Chang's surrendered soldiers? These surrendered soldiers know Lord Ye, and when they return, they will naturally speak for Lord Ye among the people."

"That's one idea. I'll discuss it with everyone when I get to Xiangyang."

Ye Kun nodded slightly.

After fifteen days of tiring journey, Ye Kun and his group arrived in Xiangyang one after another.

In Xiangyang, a number of new houses were built to accommodate officials at all levels.

Ye Kun's palace is just a simple large courtyard with five entrances, an office and a large conference room.

Even with this seemingly shabby palace, Ye Kun was furious, saying it was too extravagant and a waste of the people's money.

Because before the unification of China, the Hanzhong Palace was just a temporary building.

Once Luoyang is captured, Ye Kun will move there.

After moving to Xiangyang, Ye Kun first handled major government affairs and adjusted the scope of responsibilities of officials.

In fact, the officials in Jingzhou had already been swept away by Ma Zhao.

Ma Zhao replaced more than 20 county magistrates in the 73 counties of the eight prefectures of Jingzhou, demoted more than a dozen county magistrates, and severely punished a number of corrupt officials, local gentry and ruffians at the grassroots level.

Ma Zhao did not dare to touch officials above the rank of county magistrate, he only dared to threaten them.

After all, we have just taken over Jingzhou, and our priority is to stabilize the overall situation.

Ye Kun made use of Ma Zhengyang, Feng Shengzhi, Xue Changfeng and others, and used them to suppress the local powerful forces in Jingzhou. At the same time, he vigorously developed the Hundred Household Villages and strengthened control over the grassroots.

At the same time, Ye Kun adopted Xue Changfeng's opinion and released a group of veterans from the Central Plains.

This group of veterans, totaling 2,000 people, are all over 45 years old.

Before releasing them, Ye Kun personally comforted them and gave them dry food, clothes and travel expenses, so that they could go back to give birth with peace of mind and reunite with their families.

After these people go back, they will naturally publicize Ye Kun’s benevolence and righteousness and win some people’s support for Ye Kun.

Ye Qingyang proposed to build a water and land highway from Hanzhong to Xiangyang.

One of the water routes runs along the Han River.

A road splits through Phoenix Mountain and leads directly to Xiangyang.

Because Phoenix Mountain is not high, construction is not difficult.

After looking at the map and plan, Ye Kun approved Ye Qingyang's suggestion to build a fast transportation line from Hanzhong to Xiangyang.

Once the rapid transportation line is completed, it will only take three days to travel from Hanzhong to Central Plains!

There will be no more wars in the future. Such a transportation line will be the lifeline connecting the Central Plains and Hanzhong, which will be of great benefit to economic development.

In addition, Ye Kun also requested to build two cross-river bridges on the Han River.

One is upstream of Xiangyang and the other is downstream.

In this way, the Han River can be connected to the north and south, and preparations can be made for transporting troops and food to the north to conquer the Central Plains in the future.

Ye Qingyang was in a dilemma, and he pondered: "The river upstream is narrow, so it can be built, but the downstream is wide, and I am afraid that it cannot be built, or after it is built, it will not be strong..."

Ye Kun pointed at the map:

"We have no problem with the theoretical technology for building bridges now, but we lack the material technology. However, there are plains on both sides of the river downstream of Xiangyang. We can split the Han River into two waterways and build a connected double-span bridge. You can do the research first, then come up with a rough plan, and then we will discuss it."

Ye Qingyang thought for a moment and said, "If the supply of cement and steel bars is guaranteed, I can complete the task."

"Use stones and less cement. The lifespan of cement is only a few decades, but stone can last for thousands of years. When we build the road in Phoenix Mountain, we can also build a few quarries and transport the big stones here."

“This will require a lot of manpower.”

"The army and militia will participate in the construction, and I will recruit civilians. I guarantee you money and food!"

Ye Kun is very arrogant.

In the past, the Da Ding Kingdom conscripted laborers to build roads and bridges, and required the laborers to bring their own tools, dry food, and even firewood.

Ye Kun did not need it. He contracted the food for the laborers, ensuring that they had good food, and also provided them with work clothes, gloves, tools, pocket money, and a medical support team and technical support team.

Civilians with special skills will be valued and receive salaries.

So no matter what big project Ye Kun wants to do, it is not difficult and all the laborers are willing to do it.

Ye Qingyang took the order and gathered his team to discuss the research.

In the blink of an eye, it is mid-July.

As expected, what Qin Chou said came true. A small-scale locust plague occurred in parts of Jingxiang, north of the Yangtze River.

Fortunately, I was prepared.

Ye Kun ordered the entire nation to exterminate the locusts and the entire army to participate.

The people released all their chickens and ducks and went into the fields to kill the locusts.

Young men wield gauze nets to catch locusts against the wind. There are also gauze walls that form barriers.

The captured locusts are thrown into a pot of salt water and boiled, then taken out, dried, and sealed in jars to be used as chicken feed in the future.

Trenches were dug on the wasteland and fires were set in the trenches, using the locusts' tendency to move toward light to lure them away and kill them.

Children dragged logs along the road, crushing the locusts back and forth.

Some officials suggested that locusts could be eaten and called on the people to eat them.

Ye Kun hurriedly stopped him and explained: "Locusts are not a disaster, so you can eat them. But when a locust disaster occurs, locusts are poisonous and eating too much can kill people!"

Many people believe that locusts are edible, and many people have eaten them.

But if there is a locust plague, it is best not to eat it.

Everyone has different physical conditions. Some people are allergic and can actually die if they eat locusts.

Because the entire Jingzhou area had been cleared of swamps and wastelands after rice seedlings were planted, the locust plague was not that severe and was quickly extinguished as soon as it appeared.

Xiahou Chang was in a terrible situation.

From Nanyang to Luoyang, there were thousands of miles of red earth. The common people were suffering terribly. They knelt down and cried loudly.

The rice at this time had just begun to fill with grain, and we were about to eat the new rice, but it was all eaten by locusts overnight!

When a locust plague occurs, people will not starve to death immediately.

But when autumn and winter come, the people will not have enough food and a large-scale famine will occur.

Therefore, the people in Luoyang and Nanyang areas were in a panic, not knowing how to survive the coming autumn and winter.

Xiahou Chang was unable to control the locusts, but he still came up with something wrong. He organized scholars to curse Ye Kun, saying that Ye Kun went against the will of heaven and deliberately bred locusts in the Xiangfan area, and sent them into the Central Plains with the help of the south wind, causing the people to suffer.

Ye Kun was furious and ordered Gongsun Erniang to make a thousand flying lanterns, distribute thousands of leaflets, and go into the Nanyang area to curse back at Xiahou Chang.

The leaflet read: "The locusts are a natural disaster, not a trap set by Ye Kun. Since they flew away from me, please bring them from your place!"

Another leaflet read: "Xiahou Chang's immorality led to the locusts. If he doesn't commit suicide to thank the world, when will he?"

Some leaflets also contained a complete set of locust control experience: "Xiahou Chang, the King of Hanzhong has taught you how to prevent and control locust plagues. Why don't you kneel down and thank him?"

What's even more terrible is that Ye Kun instigated the people of Central Plains to rebel:

"It is better to rebel than to starve to death. If Xiahou Chang does not send food to help the disaster, we will attack Chang'an and eat his flesh!"

"Welcome the people of the Central Plains to come to Xiangyang Jingzhou. Here we have food and drink, and meat for every meal!"

Xiahou Chang was furious at Ye Kun's counterattack, but he had no way to refute it. He took the initiative to stop the public opinion war and consider disaster relief.