Locust Plagues: A Scientific Explanation of the Natural Disaster Behind "Retreat Due to Exhausted Supplies" in the Chaos of Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Brief Introduction
Locust plagues are one of the most severe agricultural bio-disasters in history, often referred to as "Flying Hunger." In the chaos of the late Eastern Han Dynasty depicted in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, warfare and natural disasters were intertwined, often becoming key variables determining the outcome of battles. Although the novel primarily focuses on character strategy, the plot points involving "retreating due to exhausted supplies" often implicitly contain natural disaster factors, including locust plagues. Understanding the causes and impacts of locust plagues helps us gain a deeper understanding of the logic of warfare and the suffering of the people during the Three Kingdoms period.
Core Knowledge Points
1. What is a Locust Plague?
A locust plague refers to the phenomenon where locusts reproduce in large numbers within a short period, forming swarms that migrate and devour crops. Locusts belong to the Order Orthoptera, Family Acrididae, and exhibit two forms: gregarious and solitary. When environmental conditions are suitable (such as rainfall following drought), locusts rapidly transform into the gregarious phase, their body color darkens, and they develop a strong instinct to migrate.
2. Why is the Destructive Power So Great?
- Stunning Appetite: A swarm covering one square kilometer can consume an amount of food equivalent to the daily ration of 35,000 people in a single day.
- Strong Migratory Nature: Swarms can fly hundreds of kilometers with the wind, causing the disaster area to expand rapidly.
- High Target Specificity: They primarily devour Poaceae (grasses), directly destroying staple crops like wheat and rice.
3. Historical Background
The climate in the late Eastern Han Dynasty was abnormal, with alternating droughts and floods, providing a breeding ground for locust reproduction. Historical records indicate multiple outbreaks of "drought locusts" during this period, leading to total crop failure and causing common people to become displaced.
Connection to the Content of Romance of the Three Kingdoms
1. The Realistic Dilemma of "Retreat Due to Exhausted Supplies"
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, grain and fodder are the lifeline of warfare. For example, when Cao Cao campaigned against Lu Bu at Xiapi, he faced pressure to retreat due to insufficient supplies; after Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, the collapse of Yu Jin's large army was also related to difficulties in logistical support. Although the book does not extensively describe "locusts blocking out the sky," frequent mentions of "famine," "expensive rice," and "insufficient supplies" are literary projections of natural disasters like locust plagues at the time.
2. Natural Disasters Exacerbating Human Calamities
During the Three Kingdoms period, warlord conflicts led to neglected water conservancy, further exacerbating the frequency of locust plagues. In the book, when Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an, the phrase "common people were displaced, and corpses of the starved lay everywhere" along the route was not only due to warfare but also included food shortages caused by natural disasters. Locust plagues caused the already fragile agricultural system to collapse, forcing armies to "halt the campaign" due to "exhausted supplies," thereby altering the course of the war.
3. Strategic Impact
In the novel, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions also ended in retreat due to "exhausted supplies." In reality, the difficult roads of Shu combined with potential pest infestations and climate issues along the way made logistical transportation costs extremely high. Natural disasters became natural barriers constraining military operations.
Conclusion
As an unignorable natural force in the historical background of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, locust plagues profoundly influenced the historical process of "retreating due to exhausted supplies." They remind us that the victory or defeat of a war depends not only on strategy and military strength but is also constrained by the natural environment and the foundation of people's livelihood.