Bai Qingyan’s brows and eyes carried a smile, her words clear and measured, unhurried and composed. In her speech and demeanor, she fully displayed the authority and commanding presence of one holding high position.
Lin Kangle suddenly understood, turning to glance at Wang Xiping.
“But… what if the people of Great Liang don’t know that the Liang Emperor has already obtained the prescription?” Lin Kangle asked.
“What if the people of Great Liang don’t know that the Emperor prioritized sending medicinal materials to the frontline soldiers first, disregarding their lives?” Wang Xiping also asked.
“Therefore, my eldest sister had already arranged for Zhao Ran to obtain a merchant’s travel permit. After our people entered Liuzhou City, using the excuse that their subordinates had all died from the epidemic, they would recruit personnel with generous rewards, carrying goods, traveling to Great Liang’s capital, Han City. Naturally… our people would bring the Liuzhou people along, spreading word along the route that Jin had given the prescription for treating the epidemic to Great Liang’s Liuzhou City defending general Yang Wuce, and would also tell everyone that it was the Jin army that saved the lives of these Liuzhou people who had been abandoned in the Taoist temple to await death.”
Bai Jinzhi clasped her hands behind her back, her brows and eyes full of shared pride and a hint of smugness as she spoke. Her eldest sister always left backup plans in her actions – how could it be as simple as what Lin Kangle and Wang Xiping had seen?
“Back when Great Yan recovered Nanyan, wasn’t it because the people knew… that Great Yan’s recovery of Nanyan would benefit them, which is why Great Yan’s recovery of Nanyan went so smoothly! Now that the eldest sister is doing this… It’s the same principle!” Bai Jinzhi smiled as she glanced at Bai Qingyan, then continued speaking to Wang Xiping and Lin Kangle, “Throwing the prescription to the Liang Emperor – how to choose, do you think it will be difficult for Emperor Liang and the Liang court?”
Bai Jinzhi picked up the local gazetteer from her table and tapped it: “After all, among the medicines for treating this epidemic, there’s one irreplaceable Chinese herb called scutellaria… Jin, Great Yan, the Rong tribes, and Xiliang all have it, but only… Liang and Wei rarely have it!”
“Our Jin is currently at war with Liang, and the epidemic in our own Kingdom hasn’t been completely cured yet! So we definitely won’t give Liang any scutellaria!”
After Bai Jinzhi put down the gazetteer in her hand, she continued: “Liang initially planned to join with Wei to attack Great Yan. Even if Great Yan is willing to sell scutellaria to Liang, it would surely be at an astronomical price, and the quantity wouldn’t be much! As for the Rong tribes… Beirong is currently being beaten by Nanrong and can barely defend itself. They’ve asked Liang for aid several times, but Liang has never sent troops. At this critical juncture, if Great Liang asks Beirong for scutellaria, won’t Beirong grab Great Liang by the throat… demanding that Great Liang send troops to help Beirong?”
Lin Kangle and Wang Xiping suddenly understood, especially Lin Kangle, who quickly stood and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Princess Zhenguo’s thoughts and considerations are extremely thorough! This subordinate was presumptuous!”
“Both generals are acting for Jin’s benefit – what presumption is there to speak of?” Bai Qingyan smiled gently.
The physicians in Liuzhou City had already examined the people who had previously recovered and returned to the city. Taking Jin’s medicine to treat the epidemic had indeed helped them all recover. However, the prescription that the physicians outside the city had sent back contained several very expensive medicines, especially scutellaria, which was indeed very troublesome. Scutellaria was essential for treating the epidemic, but Great Liang’s scutellaria production was extremely limited and needed to be purchased from other countries.
After the physicians in Liuzhou City obtained the prescription that Yang Wuce brought back, they discussed it repeatedly and discovered that this prescription was perhaps an improved version, with two very expensive medicines replaced by commonly used drugs, but scutellaria was still in the prescription.
The physicians tested the new prescription on patients for three days according to the new formula and found it was indeed effective. They declared that this new prescription greatly reduced the cost of treating the epidemic.
Yang Wuce hurriedly wrote another memorial, writing vaguely about Zhao Sheng’s treason, mainly describing how Zhao Sheng had given him this prescription, then had someone send this prescription by fast horse to Han City.
After sending someone to deliver the prescription to Han City, Yang Wuce couldn’t help but think again of Zhao Sheng’s words…
He sat beside the small table, staring at the flickering flame of the oil lamp on the table, recalling Zhao Sheng’s words… that Yan’s current destruction of Wei was preparation for future unification.
Yang Wuce stood up, holding the oil lamp as he walked to the map to study it carefully. Thinking again of the war situation between Yan and Wei, he understood that Zhao Sheng’s words were not false.
Previously, Yan had divided into two large armies to attack Wei. When Xiliang invaded… Emperor Yan ordered that Second Prince Murong Ping and General Xie Xun were not allowed to return to rescue Great Yan, but must continue attacking Wei. This already showed Emperor Yan’s determination to destroy Wei.
Yang Wuce suddenly thought that the Fourth Prince Wei Qiheng, who had previously left Qingxi Mountain pass to seek peace with Jin, could it be… because Jin had made up its mind to destroy Liang this time, that Jin killed their Great Liang Fourth Prince?
Skilled and battle-tested generals have never been lacking in this world! What’s lacking… are true sovereign lords who can pacify the realm! And the most difficult thing for us generals is to encounter a sovereign lord capable of pacifying the realm to serve loyally! Great Yan has already made its move. If Brother Yang misses Princess Zhenguo, in the future… he can only huddle in this Liuzhou territory, watching others contend for supremacy in this chaotic world!
Zhao Sheng’s words appeared in his mind again. Yang Wuce gripped the oil lamp tightly in his hand, his heavy breathing making the flame in the lamp flicker.
He paced back and forth in front of the map, his gaze fixed intently on the map illuminated by firelight.
So Princess Zhenguo would heal the people of Great Liang because Princess Zhenguo was already determined to have Great Liang, viewing the current people of Liang as subjects of Jin.
Yan had already made moves. Emperor Liang was not a sovereign lord with the ambition and ability to pacify the realm. Should he remain loyal to his lord and defend Liang to the death, or should he choose, like a wise bird selecting its tree, and strive for that great achievement of leaving his name in history?
Opportunity doesn’t come twice – Yang Wuce suddenly felt the urgency pressing upon him, his heart in turmoil.
Yang Wuce felt his mind was in terrible chaos. He raised his hand to rub his face and shouted: “Someone come! Go invite Deputy General Li!”
The Capital.
After morning court, the Crown Prince was first summoned to the sleeping quarters by the Emperor. The Emperor said… the Nine-Tiered Platform had consumed a great deal of Jin’s manpower and resources. After a year of construction, it was now nearing completion. The Minister of Works estimated conservatively… that it would be completely built within half a year at most.
The Emperor instructed the Crown Prince to search throughout the Kingdom for five hundred boys and five hundred girls who would accompany the Emperor to ascend the Nine-Tiered Platform on the day of its completion.
Summoning five hundred boys and five hundred girls to ascend the platform with the Emperor was not a difficult task. The Crown Prince solemnly promised the Emperor that by the day the Nine-Tiered Platform was completed, he would find five hundred boys and five hundred girls for the Emperor.
The Emperor praised the Crown Prince’s filial devotion as commendable and contentedly dismissed the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince emerged from the great hall with undisguised joy in his brows and eyes. Before he could share with Quan Yu the news that his father had just praised him, he heard Quan Yu say that Zhang Duanning had returned alone, carrying a personal letter from Princess Zhenguo, and requested an audience with the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s heart skipped a beat. Without delay, he immediately ordered someone to drive back to the Crown Prince’s mansion. He didn’t even have time to change out of his court robes before meeting with Zhang Duanning.