Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 423: Pingzhou (Part 6)

How to store and place the medicine is Sun Guangbai’s responsibility. Lu Cong only manages the grain affairs.

The citizens who drink herbal soup every day to prevent the epidemic have already gotten used to drinking a bowl of black, deathly bitter decoction. Now that the epidemic is mostly under control, their natural focus shifts more towards grain.

They have replanted the grain, but it will take several months until the harvest. During these months, they must rely on the grain sent from Nanyang County to survive!

Lu Cong fully understands the thoughts of the people, and he grandly accepted the grain. When the grain was stored, he casually picked a few bags to open, and the golden corn kernels and rosy sweet potatoes rolled out from the bags, causing the onlooking citizens to cheer with joy.

A few mischievous children rushed forward, picking up the sweet potatoes from the ground and stuffing them directly into their mouths.

The parents of these children turned pale with fright, rushing over to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

This Mr. Lu is different from Doctor Sun. When he changes his face, he truly changes, and when killing, he never shows mercy.

Fortunately, Mr. Lu was in a good mood today and did not get angry, merely saying, "It is not a crime for children to eat a few sweet potatoes. Take your children back and admonish them a bit."

The few citizens were so touched that they almost broke into tears, hurriedly taking their troublesome children away.

That night, Lu Cong stayed up until the third hour, writing a letter over ten pages long. Naturally, this letter was written to the Commandery Princess. In the letter, he reported every detail of what he had done in Pingzhou to the Commandery Princess.

A month later, the Commandery Princess again sent people to deliver grain and medicine, along with a reply letter.

The Commandery Princess’s reply was not long, her words concise and powerful.

"You have done very well."

"Continue with peace of mind, I, the Commandery Princess, will always support you."

The saying "A soldier dies for a confidant" must be truly like this.

Lu Cong, a man in his thirties nearing forties, almost burst into tears.

In the past, when he occasionally thought privately about the Commandery Princess, he felt a bit regretful. For instance, the Commandery Princess is wise, decisive, dignified, and generous, but she happens to be a lady.

Now he thinks, so what if she’s a lady! He just wants to follow the Commandery Princess and accomplish true achievements.

...

Time flew by, several hurried months passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was autumn again.

"Commandery Princess! Commandery Princess!" Chen Jinyu entered the study excitedly: "Great news! News has come from Pingzhou that Doctor Sun has finally developed a prescription to treat the epidemic. The epidemic in Pingzhou is completely under control."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes lit up, standing up suddenly: "Where is the letter?"

Chen Jinyu, full of joy, presented the letter.

Jiang Shaohua quickly tore open the envelope, skimming through it at a glance, then reading it carefully again, smiling gleefully: "Good, good, good! Great!"

"Doctor Sun really did it!"

Doctor Sun had been in the epidemic area, constantly adjusting the prescriptions. After several months, it finally showed results.

The epidemic in Pingzhou is under control, and the surviving citizens have already harvested a new crop. Since it’s the first year of planting new crops, the yield is far less than Nanyang County, but the harvested grain is enough to last until the next year.

The once devastated Pingzhou now finally counts as stable.

"I, the Commandery Princess, want to write a memorial to request credit for Doctor Sun and his son." Jiang Shaohua said with a smile: "Chen Sheren, come and grind ink for me."

Chen Jinyu gladly agreed.

Before Jiang Shaohua could put brush to paper, Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng hurried over. The two Chief Historians, having heard the good news, were all smiles.

"With Doctor Sun’s merits, he should originally have been promoted three ranks." Chief Historian Chen said with a smile: "Unfortunately, the Imperial Hospital has strict regulations on ranks, the highest medical official is only Standard Fourth Rank. Doctor Sun is already Fifth Rank, if promoted two ranks, he’s at the top."

Jiang Shaohua raised an eyebrow with a smile: "Then let’s credit half the merit to Sun Guangbai, and let father and son be promoted together."

Chief Historian Feng was delighted for another reason: "This year’s autumn harvest, our Nanyang County has another bumper harvest, having opened up over two hundred thousand acres of wasteland last year. Grain production is double that of last year. Pingzhou can also be self-sufficient, no longer needing grain to be sent over, it’s simply joy upon joy."

For the previous half year, a significant amount of money and grain was allocated every month to support Pingzhou, and Chief Historian Feng felt heartache every time he looked at the accounts, almost like bleeding.

Jiang Shaohua and Chief Historian Chen both knew Chief Historian Feng’s temperament, and couldn’t help but share a smile.

"Oh, there’s another matter I must remind the Commandery Princess." Chief Historian Chen lowered his voice: "With the chaos in Pingzhou settled and the epidemic quieted, the court will surely send officials to take over Pingzhou..."

Before Jiang Shaohua could respond, Chen Jinyu, with bright eyes, interjected, "Why! Before, the epidemic plagued Pingzhou, claiming many lives, nearly turning it into a ghost town. It was our Commandery Princess who sent people to treat the epidemic, and our Nanyang County’s grain that fed Pingzhou citizens."

"Now that Pingzhou is stable, the court sends people to take over Pingzhou, isn’t that reaping the harvest!"

"This is infuriating!"

Jiang Shaohua smiled, calming the furious Chen Sheren: "Don’t worry, I have already made arrangements for this matter. Pingzhou must return to court jurisdiction, there’s no denying that. However, who will be the new Pingzhou Governor, that is not for Prime Minister Wang to decide, but for me to recommend a suitable candidate."

Chen Jinyu instantly cooled down: "Who does the Commandery Princess intend to recommend as Pingzhou Governor?"

Chief Historian Chen calculated for a moment and suggested three names.

These three were court officials who had good relations and frequent interactions with Nanyang Prince Mansion, with ranks ranging from the fourth to the third rank. According to the court’s rules for official appointments, officials from the Capital City could be promoted by one rank when assigned outside, making these three candidates suitable.

Jiang Shaohua gave a slight smile to Chief Historian Chen: "They indeed spoke for our Nanyang Prince Mansion. However, they ultimately are not people of the Nanyang Prince Mansion. The position of Pingzhou Governor can only and must be held by someone I trust."

Chief Historian Chen’s eyebrows moved: "The Commandery Princess couldn’t be intending to recommend Lu Cong, right!"

Chief Historian Feng was startled and quickly looked to the Commandery Princess: "Commandery Princess, Lu Sheren made a grievous mistake in the past and is a convicted criminal. The court has a precedent against appointing criminals to official positions. If you were scheming for him a position of low rank, it would be one thing. But Pingzhou, a position under all eyes, and a Standard Second Rank Governor... the difficulty is too great and too conspicuous."

It’s not whether it can be done, but whether it’s worth it.

Hearing the implication in Chief Historian Feng’s words, Jiang Shaohua smiled: "Precisely because it’s under all eyes, I wish to secure for Lu Cong the position of Pingzhou Governor."

She intends to use this matter to reveal the true strength of the Nanyang Prince Mansion to the court ministers.

She wants everyone to see the true power of Nanyang Prince Mansion.

To show everyone in the Prince Mansion, as long as they truly follow, she will give them a promising future.

In Jiang Shaohua’s tone, there was a hint of ambition and resolve.

Chief Historian Chen was speechless, Chief Historian Feng silent.

Only Chen Jinyu clapped joyfully in agreement: "The Commandery Princess is right."