“Later, this subordinate announced that anyone wanting to leave Great Zhou’s cities had only this one day – if they missed it, they couldn’t leave. After that, anyone trying to leave would be executed without mercy! Another group left then!” Qian Yongzhong said.

Bai Qingyan nodded, signaling for Weizhong to clear away the meal, and dabbed her lips with a cloth: “How many citizens left in total?”

“Three hundred sixty-four people!” Qian Yongzhong remembered the number clearly. “Most were elderly family members who insisted on leaving. These elderly people were old citizens who had once endured hardships together with Yan, and they don’t believe Yan would refuse them as Yan citizens! Among them were also young people who didn’t want to leave Great Zhou’s cities, but couldn’t resist their parents compelling them with filial duty – after all, it was stated beforehand that if they left, the entire family must leave together, with no one remaining behind.”

“However… now that Your Majesty has returned, the rumors of Your Majesty fleeing have been disproven, and the citizens in the city can feel at ease!” Qian Yongzhong’s deputy general said this to comfort Bai Qingyan.

“Within three days at most, these people will probably return and request entry to the city, perhaps… bringing even more Yan refugees with them. Remember – not a single one can be allowed in!” Seeing Weizhong bring hot tea, Bai Qingyan waved for him to place it on the table, her gaze fixed on Qian Yongzhong and his deputy. “I will only stay here for two more days, then exit through the west gate to the next city to comfort the people’s hearts in other cities. This trip will certainly take several days. During this time, if Physician Hong selects a prescription, I won’t return – you send someone to deliver Physician Hong’s chosen prescription to rendezvous with me!”

When those citizens who left the city discover there’s no way to survive outside and try to return, if Bai Qingyan were still in the city, those citizens would inevitably kneel and beg. If Bai Qingyan didn’t allow these citizens to enter, she would appear heartless. Only if Bai Qingyan went to the next city could the citizens not blame her.

Moreover, Bai Qingyan knew the route Bai Qingjue was taking to various cities. By staggering her route from Bai Qingjue’s, she could comfort as many citizens as possible.

“But once I leave, you two will have to play the villains! The citizens wanting to return will certainly plead with you both. You two can use imperial orders as an excuse not to allow these citizens into the city, and the medical station must also be well-guarded by troops!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were solemn. “If anyone relies on superior numbers to force their way into Great Zhou’s cities, you needn’t show mercy!”

Bai Qingyan’s words made Qian Yongzhong and his deputy feel that she was treating them completely as trusted confidants, speaking so openly about how they would need to be the villains.

“Your Majesty, rest assured! We two subordinates understand what’s important! Since these old Yan citizens don’t want to be our Great Zhou’s people, once they’ve left, they shouldn’t think of coming back! This will also let the old Yan citizens in the city know that our Great Zhou isn’t a place they can come and go as they please!” Qian Yongzhong felt satisfied thinking about when these old Yan citizens who left Great Zhou’s cities would return, bringing Yan refugees with them, wanting to enter Great Zhou cities and become Great Zhou citizens.

Who told them not to believe their Great Zhou Emperor’s words, even thinking His Majesty was deceiving them when he said Yan cities wouldn’t allow refugees to enter – such petty commoners!

Where could they find an emperor as good as theirs? They were truly blessed but didn’t know it!

“Good, then… I entrust this place to you both! After we achieve a great victory in the territorial contest, I… will certainly reward according to merit!” Bai Qingyan said with a smile to the two men.

Qian Yongzhong and his deputy immediately knelt to express gratitude, then very concernedly urged Bai Qingyan to rest early before withdrawing.

“Your Majesty, documents have arrived from the capital, just delivered! And also a letter from the Empress Dowager!”

Weizhong felt sorry that Bai Qingyan hadn’t rested properly all day, squeezing in time to meet with Qian Yongzhong and his deputy during the meal break. He wanted Bai Qingyan to rest well, but if it weren’t important matters, Bai Qingjue wouldn’t have sent documents here. Weizhong didn’t dare make decisions on his own and conceal them.

“Bring them here!”

Weizhong quickly handed the documents to Bai Qingyan.

This was a memorial submitted by Qin Shangzhi, indicating that Sima Sheng’s grandson, the hydraulic engineering expert, intended to continue widening the river channels beyond their original width. This would ensure that even during abundant rainy seasons, flood damage could be reduced.

Qin Shangzhi’s memorial described the problem in great detail and included blueprints…

It said that if Great Zhou’s treasury was currently tight, they could build according to the previously established plan, then widen the river channels later after winning the territorial contest.

After reading carefully, Bai Qingyan also reviewed the court ministers’ opinions that Bai Qingjue had sent.

The Great Zhou had already issued Great Zhou government bonds, so they weren’t afraid of treasury constraints. Though Qin Shangzhi hadn’t said it explicitly… Bai Qingyan could see that he was worried that Great Zhou might end up making wedding clothes for Yan.

After a long moment, Bai Qingyan picked up her brush and approved the river channel widening.

First, widening later would be more troublesome than building the river channels now.

Second, if floods occurred after the river channels were put into use, it would harm their own citizens’ lives, not worth it!

So Bai Qingyan wrote two letters: one for Wei Bugong to allocate funds and fully support Qin Shangzhi’s river construction, and one for Qin Shangzhi.

“Two letters – one to be delivered by express horse to the capital, one by express horse to Qin Shangzhi!” Bai Qingyan told Weizhong.

“Yes!” Weizhong took orders and left with the two letters.

The letter to Qin Shangzhi contained just three words: “Approved for widening.”

Upon reading the letter, Qin Shangzhi would naturally understand how to proceed with construction.

Seeing Weizhong leave, Bai Qingyan opened the letter from her mother, Dong Shi. She had anticipated her mother would scold her, and indeed… seeing what her mother had written, Bai Qingyan understood her mother was quite angry this time.

However, in the end, worry for her daughter’s departure without a farewell overcame anger. Dong Shi gave countless instructions for Bai Qingyan to be careful, to listen to Physician Hong, and absolutely to take care of herself for the sake of Xile and Kangle. If she dared get hurt or fall ill, upon returning, she would be punished to kneel in the ancestral hall and not allowed to see the two children.

When Weizhong returned after dispatching the two letters, he surprisingly found Bai Qingyan still holding Dong Shi’s letter, leaning against the cushions with closed eyes, asleep.

“Your Majesty…”

Weizhong called softly, but Bai Qingyan didn’t respond. He didn’t dare call again and wake her, so he fetched a thin blanket to cover her, ordered people to quietly move the brazier closer, then extinguished the lamps and quietly stood guard beside Bai Qingyan.

·

Wei Bugong was summoned to the palace by Grand Commandant Lu, Minister Dong, and Prince Huguo, who conveyed Bai Qingyan’s command for him to gather medicinal herbs, provisions, and silver to send to Great Zhou’s cities in Yan, ensuring no shortage of supplies needed for the plague-stricken cities.

Additionally, medicines and supplies needed to be transported to the border between the Great Zhou and Yan to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

Grand Commandant Lu, watching Wei Bugong, who lowered his eyes thoughtfully, asked: “Does Minister Wei have difficulties?”