Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 1044 - 107: Mannaruo

These past couple of days, Prince Chu has been in the capital of Wusun. Guided by the people arranged by Liang Run, he toured the famous places in Wusun’s capital and tasted the unique local delicacies. However, during these two days, he ate the most locusts — braised locusts, fried locusts, grilled locusts, salt and pepper locusts, and Wusun’s special flavor.

Previously, in the Northern Territory, Prince Chu ate locusts every meal. At first, when he heard locusts were edible, he didn’t believe it, thinking it was nonsense. Later, knowing it was Zhao Yao who said locusts could be eaten, he no longer doubted and started eating them without hesitation. To his surprise, whether braised, fried, or grilled, they all tasted quite good.

He ate them every day in the Northern Territory and didn’t tire of them, so upon arriving in Wusun and seeing locusts for sale here too, he bought some to eat. Wusun’s special locusts, though oddly flavored, weren’t too bad to eat.

Prince Chu also discovered that in Wusun, besides locusts for consumption, there were many locust-related items for sale. For example, handcrafted grass locusts, wooden carved locusts, locust patterns embroidered on fabric or clothing, and even on fans. Besides those, other places also featured locusts. However, these locusts appeared rather peculiar, all chubby and round. Initially, they seemed strange, but the more he looked, the more inexplicably cute they appeared.

Noticing locust designs everywhere in Wusun’s capital, Prince Chu was filled with curiosity, so he asked Liang Run what this was all about.

"It’s all Prince Han’s idea," Liang Run said, handing his purse from his waist for Prince Chu to see, "Look, there’s a locust embroidered on the purse too."

Prince Chu took Liang Run’s purse, looked carefully, and saw a strange locust embroidered on the front along with the phrase "Fight poison with poison."

"Fight poison with poison?" Prince Chu didn’t understand what locusts had to do with fighting poison with poison.

Liang Run explained: "Aren’t locusts a natural disaster? By embroidering or carving locusts onto purses, clothes, or other items, it’s meant to fight poison with poison."

Prince Chu’s expression turned peculiar, thinking: locusts are indeed a disaster, but how can embroidering or carving them fight poison with poison?

"More precisely, using a disaster to counter a disaster," Liang Run continued, "Prince Han also said this would make people no longer fear locusts and not panic at their mention."

Prince Chu chuckled: "Only my tenth brother could come up with such..." He pondered over his choice of words, "Such whimsical ideas."

Liang Run thought to himself, indeed. Previously, he thought he was used to Yao Yao’s "eccentric" ideas, but when Yao Yao said locusts could be eaten and even made money, he was still stunned, considering Yao Yao’s idea ridiculous. He believed no one would eat locusts or buy locust-related items, yet he was proven wrong, as the locust business thrived.

"Are these locust-related items selling well?" Locusts have historically been a disaster, leading to famine, and many perished from hunger during locust plagues. Everyone feared and detested locusts, including the nobility and ministers. Even though locusts are now food, people would still dislike them and unlikely buy locust-related products. His tenth brother’s idea might not work.

"They’re selling remarkably well. Here in Wusun, every household purchases locust-related items," Liang Run said, noticing Prince Chu’s shocked expression, almost bursting into laughter. "They’re selling exceptionally well within Great Zhou too. And Annan, Johor, those countries are selling well too. Now they even engrave locusts on glass."

Prince Chu exclaimed in astonishment: "Really?"

"Really."

"How... is that possible?" Prince Chu was flabbergasted. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Your Highness, although everyone fears locusts, if they can fight poison with poison, people are very willing to buy them, as no one wants another locust disaster to happen." This aligns with Yao Yao’s saying, "Better to believe it might happen than dismiss it altogether." "Besides, locusts have become dishes now, and everyone’s fear of them has diminished. Restaurateurs in the Western Regions are eager for another locust plague, so they can profit handsomely from locusts."

A few days ago, learning locusts are edible and beneficial for beauty and vitality, merchants from various Western Region countries began capturing and purchasing locusts.

These days, all locusts have nearly been captured and eaten. Previously, locust plagues would leave nothing but barren land and no harvest. This year, where locusts passed, they themselves were no more. It’s likely locusts never imagined they’d become dishes one day and be completely eaten.