Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 1017 - 95: A Locust Plague Looms in the North

Zhao Yao finished writing the letter, tied it to Xiao Jin’s leg, and solemnly instructed it: "Xiao Jin, you must fly back to the capital as fast as possible. Once you reach the capital, immediately hand this letter on your leg personally to my father, and do not give it to anyone else, nor lose it, understand?" This letter is extremely important, concerning the lives of thousands of people. If it weren’t for the urgent situation, he would have had the Hidden Guard send it to the capital.

Xiao Jin nodded obediently: [Yao Yao, rest assured, I will fly back to the capital swiftly and definitely won’t lose your letter.]

Zhao Yao believed Xiao Jin could accomplish this, and gently patted its little head, warmly saying: "When you return from the capital, I’ll treat you to a big meal."

Upon hearing "big meal," Xiao Jin’s eyes sparkled brightly. It raised one wing, patted its chest, and said to Zhao Yao: [I will definitely complete the mission and come back for the big meal.]

"Do you have the strength to fly now? If so, fly to the capital immediately." The letter Zhao Yao had just written was too urgent, otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked Xiao Jin to help deliver it.

[I’m full of energy now, I’ll fly away immediately.] Xiao Jin flapped its wings and soon disappeared into the night sky.

Zhao Yao stood at the window, watching Xiao Jin leave.

General Hu came over and rubbed its big head against Zhao Yao’s leg.

[Yao Yao, what’s happening?] Animals have the keenest instincts, and General Hu sensed the tension from Zhao Yao.

Coming back to his senses, Zhao Yao squatted down and reached out to pat General Hu’s big head, speaking heavily: "Something big has happened." A monumental event.

[What’s the big issue?]

"The North is about to have a locust plague." The content of Zhao Yao’s letter to the Emperor was about the locust disaster. "Thanks to you, otherwise, I wouldn’t have noticed."

[Us?] General Hu tilted its head, looking at Zhao Yao with a puzzled expression, [Yao Yao, we didn’t discover any locust plague, nor did we go to the North. Also, what is a locust plague?]

"If it weren’t for you and Xiao Jin hunting in the woods every day, I wouldn’t have known about the impending locust plague in the North." Zhao Yao discovered the clues from Xiao Jin and General Hu’s earlier words. "A locust plague means locusts, and locusts eat grain, leaving not a single grain wherever they go. If a locust plague occurs, the entire northern populace will have no food to eat, leading to numerous disaster victims, which is very unfavorable for Great Zhou."

While General Hu is an animal, being raised by Zhao Yao since childhood, it’s much smarter than the average tiger.

[Yao Yao, does it mean many people will go hungry?]

"Yes, many people will go hungry."

General Hu asked with concern and urgency: [Yao Yao, will you go hungry then? If you run out of food, I’ll go into the mountains to catch deer for you, catch lots and lots of deer so you won’t be hungry.]

Listening to General Hu, a warmth filled Zhao Yao’s heart. He rubbed General Hu’s face and said with a smile: "I won’t go hungry."

[Yao Yao, if you ever feel hungry, you must tell me.] General Hu rubbed against Zhao Yao’s palm, [I’m very capable now and can catch many things for you to eat.]

"Of course, my General Hu is capable." Zhao Yao gently patted General Hu’s head, "Now go out and help me call One Hundred back."

[Okay.] General Hu wagged its tail and promptly jumped out of the window, quickly disappearing from Zhao Yao’s sight.

After General Hu departed, Zhao Yao returned to the desk and wrote another letter. The content of this letter was about the locust plague and how to address it.

Once Zhao Yao finished writing the letter, General Hu returned with One Hundred.

One Hundred is a sparrow, a descendant of Lai Yi, and had been meticulously trained by Zhao Yao. It took over Lai Yi’s role, leading all sparrows, responsible for gathering information and delivering letters.

"One Hundred, take some of your brothers to the North." Zhao Yao instructed, "The North will soon experience a locust plague. Go there to investigate the situation and send a sparrow back to tell me once you gather information."

[Locust plague?] One Hundred knew about locust plagues. Although no emotions could be seen on its small face, joy could be heard in its voice. [Locusts are good things; we love eating them.]

"Once you reach the North, find ways to gather all sparrows and other birds to eat locusts." Zhao Yao now hoped that the locust plague in the North wasn’t as severe as he imagined.

[Sure.] One Hundred further said, [Yao Yao, can I bring many brothers and other birds to the North to eat locusts?]