Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 381: Plague (Part 2)

This plague does not exist in Jiang Shaohua’s memory.

In her previous life, there was neither the Pingzhou rebellion nor this outbreak of plague. This terrifying plague, far beyond anyone’s imagination, just how many variables will it bring to Da Liang, no one knows.

Jiang Shaohua felt heavy-hearted and angry. The heaviness was for the chaos of the world and the suffering of the people, but the anger was due to the court’s impotence in dealing with it.

With the outbreak of the Pingzhou plague, the court actually plans not to send anyone to Pingzhou to quell the plague. Instead, they hastily recalled the imperial army, leaving the people of Pingzhou to fend for themselves.

Are they not afraid of the plague spreading from Pingzhou, bringing calamity to more counties?

With no way out, the people of Pingzhou had no choice but to rebel. With no food to eat, they resorted to eating human flesh. Is this really all the fault of the people?

To take a step back, even if Pingzhou is a thorn in the court’s eyes, now that a plague has broken out, the court should actively send Imperial Physicians to cure the plague.

Behind doing nothing is a court already rotten to the core, a group of shortsighted and excessively greedy courtiers who are only good at fighting for power, and a cowardly emperor who cannot control the court.

Jiang Shaohua’s heart felt as if blocked by a giant stone, with anger bubbling up and yet nowhere to vent it.

She wore a stern expression and forcefully slapped the table.

The sturdy table, with a slap, collapsed noisily.

"Convey my command," Jiang Shaohua said coldly: "Set off back to the mansion tomorrow morning."

Song Yuan acknowledged with a clasped hand and immediately withdrew to deliver the order.

The Princess’s inspection of various counties usually took half a year. This time, cutting it short and returning to the mansion was unprecedented. This showed the Princess’s anger and concern over the strong outbreak of plague in Pingzhou.

Upon the Princess’s command, the trusted aides immediately packed their belongings. Yin Zhu Tu Bai was already accustomed to such busyness and stayed up till midnight to pack everything properly.

The next morning, at dawn, Jiang Shaohua led the group to set off.

County Magistrate Gao led the officials to bid farewell to the Princess. The steeds galloped away, kicking up clouds of dust; the Princess’s entourage quickly disappeared from sight.

County Magistrate Gao furrowed his brows and let out a long sigh.

When drought comes, the people can dig wild herbs and strip tree bark to barely fill their stomachs. When locust plague comes, the more daring ones catch locusts and can barely fill their stomachs despite the nausea. When war comes, the people can at least abandon their homes and flee south.

When plague comes, what should the people do?

Not only the Princess, but as County Magistrate, he also worried about these things.

...

Rushing all the way, there was no need for words.

Three days later, Jiang Shaohua arrived back at the Nanyang Prince Mansion.

Chief Historian Chen was sick for a while at Bowan County, and only returned to the mansion with Yang Shi after recovering. Upon returning, he received such bad news; he was anxious these days, and even had blisters on his lips.

Chief Historian Feng was even more exhausted, his eyes red. As soon as the Princess entered the main hall and sat down, Chief Historian Feng’s first words were: "What does the Princess plan to do about the Pingzhou plague?"

Actually, this question itself is problematic. The Pingzhou plague is something the court should deal with, what does it have to do with Nanyang County?

The Nanyang County Princess just needs to take care of the people of Nanyang County. The lives and deaths of the Pingzhou people and rebel army have nothing to do with the Princess.

Yet when Chief Historian Feng asked this, no one found it inappropriate.

The greater the ability, the heavier the responsibility. All the officials of the Nanyang Prince Mansion greatly revered their Princess, and all felt that the Princess couldn’t ignore this matter.

Even after traveling for three consecutive days, Jiang Shaohua showed no signs of fatigue and said solemnly: "I specifically returned to the mansion to discuss countermeasures with you all."

"First, inform the Tang Family and Personal Guard Camp to cease further operations of northern grain shops. Withdraw all available manpower."

"The matter of sheltering the starving must be temporarily halted. Especially those fleeing from the direction of Pingzhou, must not be accepted to avoid the spread of plague."

The officials looked grave and unanimously agreed: "The Princess is right."

"One must seek self-preservation before helping others."

"Indeed, the matter of sheltering the starving must be slowed down. Under no circumstances should the starving bring the plague to Nanyang County."

Chief Historian Chen found it incumbent to say: "I will write the letter immediately and send it out."

No one is a saint. The people of Nanyang County must be prioritized, then we’ll see what else can be done.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Chief Historian Feng: "This year’s autumn harvest, the Taiping Grain Warehouse in each county is full. Quite a lot of surplus grain has been sent to the mansion. How much stored grain do we have now?"

The amount of reserved silver and grain at Nanyang Prince Mansion has always been a secret. Only Jiang Shaohua and the two Chief Historians know the real figures.

Chief Historian Feng would not reveal the numbers publicly, simply responding: "Currently, without reckless use, the stored grain is enough to feed the people of Nanyang County for three years."

This figure is indeed reassuring. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Jiang Shaohua slowly exhaled, saying softly, "This is the ideal situation. We must prepare for the court’s further grain requisitions. Also, convey my command to accelerate the reclamation of fields and replanting of crops in the Fourteen Counties. I want next year’s grain to be doubled."

Chief Historian Feng accepted the order with a bowed hand.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Shen Mu: "Minister of Industry Shen, slow down the production of armor and weapons, focus all efforts on making new plows. Strive to ensure every household in Nanyang County has a new plow."

Minister of Industry Shen agreed seriously.

Jiang Shaohua then instructed Chief Clerk Wen to inventory the granaries and build additional ones. Even the Criminal Room, which had been idle for a long time, needed to strengthen inspections.

Then, Jiang Shaohua summoned Doctor Sun for a discussion.

Doctor Sun usually focused on medicine making and diagnosing patients, occasionally visiting the military camp to study medicine, and rarely participated in mansion officials’ discussions. Today, the Princess formally summoned him, and he understood the reason.

The news of the Pingzhou plague had already spread throughout the Nanyang Prince Mansion. The Princess, due to this, interrupted her inspections and rushed back to the mansion, obviously intending to take action.

After Doctor Sun sat down, before the Princess spoke, he took the initiative, "Princess, I volunteer to go to Pingzhou."

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled.

Jiang Shaohua felt touched and apologetic: "The Pingzhou plague is prevalent now, and we still don’t know exactly what the plague is, let alone what medicine to use. Going there is really too dangerous."

"No matter how dangerous, it must be done." Doctor Sun said solemnly, "Da Liang has existed for over two hundred years, and five major plagues have broken out. Each time killed several thousand to tens of thousands, with the worst, thirty years ago, wiping out an entire county."

"With the outbreak of the Pingzhou plague this time, no one knows how many rebel soldiers died, and even some imperial soldiers have been infected. If this continues, the entire Pingzhou may be affected."

"There are at least twenty or thirty thousand people in Pingzhou. If the court abandons them, we at Nanyang Prince Mansion will take responsibility."

"I have studied medicine for many years, and now is the time to make use of it. Please let me go!"