The moment the purple light shot into the sky, the entire Imperial Examination Hall was silent.

Most people were still in a state of complete bewilderment, not knowing what had occurred.

There was only an indescribable intuitive response, causing inexplicable emotional excitement.

Luo Wenhuan stiffly turned his neck, gradually shifting his gaze towards the direction from which the purple light rose.

He was looking, looking to see where this purple light originated.

Then, Luo Wenhuan's breath halted.

Simultaneously, a panic of "just as expected" arose in his heart.

At the end of his vision, where the purple light came from, it was indeed Chen Xu's essay!

That essay lay quietly on the small table in the center of Chen Xu's cell.

The small table, the essay radiant with light, the stark contrast hit people's hearts.

Why?

Why is it precisely him?

What kind of essay could cause purple smoke to rise from the paper the moment it was written?

Luo Wenhuan sat stiffly in his cell, filled with endless doubt and suspicion, pondering over and over.

He wished his eyes were on Chen Xu's exam paper, unable to see through the essay at a glance.

Luo Wenhuan wrote three strategies for controlling the Locust Demon.

First, dispatch a great general to slay the leader demon;

Second, recruit some bird and beast demons, utilizing their own antagonistic characteristics to jointly exterminate all locust demons—this is a strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf;

Third, unite scholars across the nation to use magic to transport southern clouds and rain to the Northern Border, alleviating the great drought there.

In this way, both the drought is alleviated and the locust plague naturally will dissolve.

This is indeed a strategy of cutting off the fuel from the fire!

Three consecutive Demon Suppression strategies, each progressive, each deeper.

Moreover, when writing the strategies, Luo Wenhuan was not only imagining.

He analyzed the possible weaknesses of the locust demon leader's nature, specifying which kind of general should be sent to slay the demons.

He also designed an array for transporting southern clouds and rain, detailing the characteristics of the array in writing.

Making his strategies not only theoretically feasible but also possessing a certain basis in magic.

Luo Wenhuan finished writing with painstaking effort, originally extremely proud.

He couldn't imagine any strategy for controlling demons higher than his.

Luo Wenhuan's inability to imagine naturally stemmed from his limited vision. People find it hard to comprehend things they've never encountered before.

Chen Xu at the time wrote:

"This student, right, once heard 'drought leads to locusts,' this is the inevitable Way of Heaven.

The Drought Demon wreaks havoc, the earth scorched for thousands of miles, springs dry up, lands crack, locusts thus seize the moment of rising Yang, breeding countless..."

Yet so-called 'drought and locusts arise together,' is this truly the case?"

He opened with the origin of the locust plague.

Historically, people understand that 'drought and locusts arise together,' certainly not wrong, but actually still don't fully see the root cause of the locust plague.

The locust plague can rage, firstly naturally because locusts have acquired the prerequisite for mass spawning.

And locusts lay eggs, most preferring dry riverbeds and reduced vegetation—

Vegetation reduction, soil losing water, initially causes mass death of frogs and cicadas.

The true natural enemies of locusts are not birds, but frogs and cicadas!

Simultaneously, soil losing water, vegetation coverage decreasing, also leads to reduced water content in plants, and locusts prefer to feed on such plants.

Drought will also make locust fungus hard to survive, "locust fungus" is harmful to locusts. If locusts get this harm, they will contract "Grass Embracing Plague."

Once the Grass Embracing Plague spreads, locust populations will die massively.

Thus, locusts can't form swarms, naturally making locust plagues unlikely.

Chen Xu analyzed various prerequisites for the formation of locust plagues, finally concluding:

"The cause of locust plagues lies not only in drought but also in imbalance of water and drought, vegetation decline, predominance of Yang Qi, lack of Yin Moisture, devastation of frogs and snakes, cicadas struggle to survive..."

At its core, the appearance of locust plagues is caused not only by drought but more by ecological imbalance!

In today's age, there is no notion of ecology.

Chen Xu thus summarized: "Time sequence disorder, Yin and Yang disarray."

And the disorder in time sequences is not merely a natural disaster but a human calamity!

After all, why would vegetation suddenly massively reduce? This is due to human actions.

This returns to the previous question: "Inappropriate use of axes, reckless logging, leading to the rooting out, loss of water and soil, loss of earth Qi."

In Longchuan region, vegetation has lost eight-tenths, the ability to retain water has long been extremely weak.

A rainless April reveals riverbeds, interrupts mountain streams, dries up well water.

Among the people, due to the rapid decline in drought fear spreads, thus causing a series of malignant incidents.

Such as group fights over water, food snatches due to reduced grain production.

Including but not limited to, house burglary, wealth-driven murder, child selling... even human-caused vegetable consumption, etc.!

Public resentment boils, demon Qi grows, demon harm intensifies. This ebb and flow, the disaster is grim.

Writing here, Chen Xu realized that some in the Imperial Court might see the same point.

Hence, the previous small question: axes entering forests at appropriate times.

Chen Xu didn't know if they saw the first layer, whether they saw the second or third layer, or even if they understood it but had a solution?

He is not omniscient, some issues cannot be deeply explored at this moment.

He could only use pen and ink as his Divine Artifact, completing the essay he ought to write at this moment.

Based on the causes of locust plagues, suppressing the locust demon:

First, cultivate national forests, restore land and conserve water.

Specific methods include a dozen varied measures.

Such as closing mountains to foster forests, prohibiting axes for three months in spring;

Following the Yin and Yang wood cutting principle of cutting Yang wood in mid-winter, Yin wood in mid-summer;

Reviving ancient rituals, reinstating Great Li "Field Laws," establishing two departments for controlling logging and periodic tree planting;

Such as "without trees, no coffin," "people plant, officials supplement," etc.

Moreover, cultivation techniques should be spread among the populace.

For instance, transplanting in January, stub division, soil mounding to protect roots for robust root system.

Especially important: making the people love their trees!

How to make the people love their trees?

Draw them with benefits, move them with emotions, make them understand harms.

With rewards and penalties, lure them, punish them.

Over time, water and soil restore, this becomes a strategy for generations!

But these alone are not enough.

How to plant trees in the current Northern Border drought?

Chen Xu thus proposed a further step, developing water infrastructure, diverting southern water north.

The south often has floods, the north often faces droughts, why not connect southern and northern water systems through canals, lakes, reservoirs, river weirs?

Simultaneously, address the management of northern rivers.

Jiuchuan area has perennial sediment accumulation, causing river congestion, floods raging in rich water periods, difficult survival for fish and shrimp in dry periods, mountain waters treacherous in torrents, narrow parts restricted in flow.

People have long suffered, agricultural irrigation tough.

If river channels are not cleaned, how to plant trees?

But water infrastructure building is never a short-term or localized achievement, every detail is a study.

The essay's length is limited, local exam strategy essays cannot be overly detailed.

Chen Xu took examples from the Cyan Forest mountains he personally traversed, based on the Yuan Cang River, selecting a site to explain reservoir construction, water-drought balance.

Including location selection, number model, mutual life dependency of plants, insects, fish, etc.

Finally, he cited sage classics to conclude:

"All things gain their harmony to live, gain their nourishment to grow."

"Even if demons arise, their nature remains harmonious; even if inherently evil, their harms easily curbed, not leading to great calamities, ultimately turning into disasters."

"The root of locust harm does not lie in slaying one or two demon leaders. The leaders can be easily slain, but to stop locust harm requires a long-term strategy."

"Develop water infrastructure, clear drought and flood, nurture national forests, and cultivate all things."

"Prevent locust plagues before they arise, eradicate the seedlings of disaster."

"This is the strategy for suppressing the locust demon."

At that moment, Chen Xu set down his pen.

Suddenly felt a surge of emotions, the Sea of Literature trembled.

"Those good at battle gain no great glory!"

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