Chapter 297 On Equal Ground
"The cowpox vaccine should be administered by the medical school. When I arrived, I heard General Chen say that almost everyone in the eight states of Jinzhou Prefecture has been vaccinated—"
Zhou Ying's heart gradually sank.
She thought of an even more terrifying thing. If everyone in the world knew that Jinzhou Prefecture had cowpox vaccine, wouldn't everyone be willing to join her, Xu Zhenying?
Xu Zhenying raised her arms and called for help. She only needed to say that any city that came to her, Xu Zhenying, could receive free smallpox vaccine. I'm afraid that countless cities would voluntarily surrender their cities.
The more Zhou Ying thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.
She once thought that Xu Zhenying was just stronger in terms of soldiers and horses, but now that she has stepped into Jinzhou Prefecture, she realized how desperate it feels to be completely unable to compare with him!
Zhou Ying felt a pang of pain in her stomach. "I'm afraid we won't be given this smallpox vaccine."
General Ma said, "Sir, it's written on the sign at the door. It's free for local residents of Jinzhou Prefecture, and ten cents for outsiders."
General Ma's tone became noticeably more excited later on.
Looking at the soldiers with expectant faces, Zhou Ying felt mixed emotions. Going to the enemy's territory and eagerly enjoying their new things seemed like a betrayal.
She even regretted coming to Jinzhou Prefecture.
She only needed to take a tour around Jinzhou Prefecture, and the soldiers around her would be reluctant to go back and stay in Jinzhou Prefecture to be used by her, Xu Zhenying!
Zhou Ying gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go get vaccinated! Who wants to be so mean to themselves?"
The soldiers immediately smiled happily.
Wouldn’t you be happy?
By getting the cowpox vaccine, you can stay away from smallpox for the rest of your life. It's like a pie in the sky.
After receiving the cowpox vaccine, Zhou Ying put the important matter on the agenda. After a long walk around the city and asking around, they finally found the Jinzhou Prefecture Relief Institute.
Zhou Ying squatted at the door for about half an hour, and then finally saw the familiar figure.
Almost immediately, she took advantage of the moment the man came out, rushed forward, grabbed the man's wrist, and shouted in a low voice: "Sister-in-law!"
Fang Ruyu was suddenly grabbed by someone and was frightened out of her wits. Then she heard a familiar voice and looked up, only to see Zhou Ying's face!
Her face suddenly changed and she screamed for help almost without hesitation. Zhou Ying panicked and immediately signaled General Ma to take action. Several people covered Fang Ruyu's mouth and dragged her into a secluded alley on the side.
Zhou Ying kept begging: "Sister-in-law, please don't scream. I need to talk to you about something. I'll just say a few words and then leave. Can you please not scream?"
Seeing that it was Zhou Ying, and that she only brought a few people with her, and that she didn't seem to have any intention of harming her, Fang Ruyu gradually stopped struggling from her panic and fear, but she was still nervous. "What...what do you want to do? Are you still unwilling to let our Fang family go? I'm warning you, this is Jinzhou Prefecture's territory. If you dare to mess around, I will shout immediately. The patrolling guards are nearby!"
"Good sister-in-law..." Zhou Ying stepped forward and took Fang Ruyu's hand affectionately, but Fang Ruyu directly shook her off. "What sister-in-law? Stop yelling at me and insulting my innocence!"
Zhou Ying asked with tears in her eyes, "Is my sister-in-law still angry with my brother?"
At the mention of Zhou Heng, Fang Ruyu's emotions suddenly became very excited. "Who is your sister-in-law?! Your brother sent people to kill my entire family, making me, Fang Ruyu, a demon who brought disaster to the country and the people in history books. My whole family was almost beheaded. How dare you call me sister-in-law?!"
"My dear sister-in-law, I won't call you that. How about I call you Miss Fang?" Zhou Ying compromised, wiping away her tears as she spoke, "My brother assumed you were still angry with him, so he sent me all the way to the enemy camp, just to clear my brother's name."
Zhou Ying's tears streamed down as she held onto Fang Ruyu's hand, refusing to let go. "Miss Fang, my brother was truly wronged! He truly thought you were dead back then! The person who assassinated you wasn't sent by my brother, it was clearly that damned Zhu Ci! Zhu Ci wanted to eradicate the entire clan and clear himself of suspicion, so he sent someone pretending to be my brother's men to hunt you down! When my brother heard about your death, he nearly vomited blood and died. He was bedridden for half a month before he felt slightly better. After he recovered, the first thing he did was to raise an army in rebellion, saying he was determined to seek justice for you and the Fang family!"
Fang Ruyu gritted her teeth, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "I don't believe your nonsense! Everyone knows that he has already proposed to His Highness. If he really wanted me, how could he do such a thing!"
"Sister-in-law, you're being wronged! Xu Zhenying's firearms were truly too powerful. We deployed a hundred thousand troops on the battlefield, and nearly half of them were killed or wounded. In my brother's heart, you've always been the only one. If he hadn't been forced into a desperate situation, who would be willing to marry such a tough woman like Xu Zhenying? How can Xu Zhenying compare to my sister-in-law? How can she compare to the bond we've shared since childhood?! The whole world is wronging my brother, but Miss Fang and my brother have been childhood sweethearts. Doesn't she know what kind of person he is?!"
Fang Ruyu turned her head away and bit her lower lip to prevent the tears from falling.
"If it weren't for Miss Fang's concern, how could my brother have been willing to let me come to the enemy camp in person to explain to you? My brother said that what he feared most was that you would misunderstand him like everyone else. What about hunting down the Fang family? What about killing them all? Does Miss Fang really believe that my brother is such a cruel person? Back when we were still living in the palace, our mother's status was low, and my brother and I were bullied. If it weren't for Sister Fang's repeated assistance, we probably wouldn't have survived. This kindness is not only remembered by my brother, but I remember it too. Sister Fang, are you the only one who has forgotten?"
Fang Ruyu couldn't hold back her tears, and finally said, "Since you said he didn't do those things, then why didn't he come to me? Why didn't he even write me a letter of explanation?"
"How could this be?!" Zhou Ying was horrified. "Zhu Kui was the closest to Jinzhou Prefecture, and he was the one who delivered all my brother's letters. Didn't you receive any of them? My brother thought you harbored resentment towards him and refused to forgive him, which was why you refused to reply. He was so heartbroken and nearly died of illness because of this, that he sent me here to explain to you in person."
Zhou Ying uttered a "Pah" and her expression turned sinister. "That damn Zhu Kui! I later learned that Zhu Kui had secretly defected to the Jinzhou Prefecture. How could he be willing to forward my letters? I'm afraid he gave them all to your Highness!"
"Really?" A look of heartache flashed across Fang Ruyu's face, and then joy gradually appeared in her eyes. "I knew... he wouldn't do that kind of thing. I know him, and I trust him!"
Fang Ruyu stamped her feet anxiously again, "How could he destroy his body like this for me! You were right next to him, why didn't you try to persuade him?"
"Sister, my brother just loves you. How can anyone persuade him of his feelings? He's under pressure to recruit soldiers and rebel, and at the same time, he's worried about your well-being. You have no idea what he's going through on a daily basis. If you saw it, you'd be heartbroken!"
Fang Ruyu turned her head away, "But he really wants to marry His Royal Highness Prince Zhao——"
Zhou Ying wiped away her tears. "Sister, my brother has fought tooth and nail for you, and you, on the other hand, keep blaming him! This important matter of marriage used to be decided by parents and matchmakers, but now my brother is really forced to do so. If he doesn't find a way to solve the firearms problem, I'm afraid all his generals will flee! Now that the Great Zhou Dynasty is eyeing us covetously, my brother has to deal with Jinzhou Prefecture while also dealing with the Great Zhou Dynasty's attacks. He's completely overwhelmed. Even this so-called marriage was proposed by his subordinates after he was sidelined!"
"Firearms? Are those things really that powerful?"
"Isn't it?" Zhou Ying's eyes were filled with joy, but her tone was even more miserable. "The firearms made us flee in panic, unable to fight back. Now Jiang Yongkang doesn't want our territory anymore. They even insulted us, saying that fighting is useless and that we still have to help the poor. Jinzhou Prefecture can't handle it now, so they let us survive for the time being. But when Her Highness Prince Zhao is free, she can completely overthrow my brother's foundation with just firearms! By then, he can only become a prisoner. Ha, being a prisoner might not be bad. Who knows, he might be stabbed by his subordinates and have his head cut off as a tribute—"
Zhou Yingfu held Fang Ruyu tightly again: "Sister Fang, it's so great that I can see you now. Why don't you go back and tell the old man of the Fang family and ask them if they are willing to go with me. If they are willing, I will bring you to my brother even if it costs me my life, so that he can rest assured!"
"Leave?" Fang Ruyu opened her eyes wide with fear. "Where to?"
"Of course we're going to Qiongzhou! Your engagement with my brother hasn't been annulled, so you're still engaged. My brother said that he's forced to marry Xu Zhenying now, but as long as you agree, he's willing to ask Xu Zhenying to marry you. In the future, you and Xu Zhenying will be equals—"
On par with Xu Zhenying?
Just thinking about it made Fang Ruyu feel terrified.
Who dares to snatch Xu Zhenying’s husband?
Fang Ruyu seemed to sober up a little and hurriedly shook her head: "No. No. We can't go to Qiongzhou—"
Zhou Ying shook her hand off and said angrily, "My brother rebelled to avenge you, and now you refuse to return to him? Fang Ruyu, you are too hard-hearted—"
"That's not the case!"
"What's that? Don't tell me you're reluctant to give up the splendor and wealth of Jinzhou Prefecture? Fine, fine, I know it. You, Fang Ruyu, just despise the poor and love the rich. Now that your Fang family has turned things around, you don't even take my brother seriously, do you?"
"No!" Fang Ruyu said in a clear voice, a look of pain on her face, "I didn't mean that."
"Then are you willing to go to Qiongzhou with me? If you are willing, once Xu Zhenying refuses the marriage proposal, I will find a way to take you away."
"Reject the marriage?" Fang Ruyu's eyes lit up slightly. "Are you saying that His Highness won't agree to this marriage?"
Zhou Ying laughed, "My silly sister! My brother said that Xu Zhenying is a man with high ambitions and will definitely not agree to a marriage proposal. He sent us on this trip for three reasons: first, to investigate the situation in Jinzhou Prefecture, second, to see if we could decipher the firearms blueprints, and third, of course, to find you!"
Fang Ruyu blushed and even felt shy, "He...he...how could he let you take such a big risk for me!"
"My sister-in-law is about to run away, my brother is worried!"
Fang Ruyu's face was even more embarrassed: "You... stop talking."
"Sister-in-law, are you still willing to go to Qiongzhou with me? If you don't want to, I will wait for you until you agree."
"This matter is of great importance. Please allow me two days to think about it."
Zhou Ying looked regretful. "Then I'll wait for your reply, sister-in-law. Don't forget, my brother has been waiting for you to get married."
After saying that, Zhou Ying sighed again, "It's a pity that we only found you this time. The blueprints for the firearms are still nowhere to be found. If we don't solve the problem of firearms, our Qiongzhou will always be controlled by others. Who knows, Xu Zhenying might even attack Qiongzhou one day——"
After Fang Ruyu looked around and saw that there was no one around, he seemed to have thought of something and frowned.
Looking at Zhou Ying, who was in tears, she seemed to have made up her mind. "Don't worry, I...maybe I can find a way to get the blueprints."
Zhou Ying looked at her in shock.
Fang Ruyu quickly made a gesture to silence him, "Leave the blueprints to me, I'll figure it out."
Zhou Ying shook her head. "Sister, you can't take risks for us. The people in the research institute are heavily protected. Ordinary people can't get close to them... We... we have to find another way..."
"No need. I'm at the Fang family. My eldest cousin and sister are both ministers. They often come into contact with the research institute. At worst, I can go and look through their study and maybe find a clue."
Zhou Ying was so moved that she burst into tears. "Sister, my brother didn't wait for you in vain. If you can resolve this firearm crisis, it will be equivalent to saving my brother and me again! From now on, I, Zhou Ying, will only recognize you as my sister-in-law!"
The two people said goodbye reluctantly and talked secretly for a long time before leaving.
After watching Fang Ruyu enter the orphanage, Zhou Ying raised her hand to wipe away her tears. General Ma stepped forward and asked, "Sir, has Miss Fang agreed to help?"
A smile played on Zhou Ying's lips. "The eldest daughter of the Fang family is simple and naive. She has been devoted to my brother since she was young. A woman with no opinion of her own will naturally take the bait if you just give her a little sweetness."
General Ma sighed, "Who could have known that the precious jewel of the Fang family could be so foolish?"
Zhou Ying restrained her expression and frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with others slandering Fang Ruyu. "She's just simple-minded and trusting. Back in the palace, she was very kind to me and my brother. If this goes through, I will definitely ask my brother to give her the title of concubine."
In fact, not many people in Jinzhou Prefecture knew about King Ming's proposal to marry King Zhao.
Most people who only knew Ming Wang sent out an envoy, and then took away sweet potatoes, pencils, many math textbooks, and even some cotton-padded clothes in stock. Everyone in the envoy was also vaccinated with cowpox vaccine, and they all smiled when they left.
Some people said that the two sides were going to unite to attack the Zhou Dynasty.
Otherwise, so many signals would not be released.
However, this move made the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty quite nervous. If the two parties joined forces, they would have no chance of surviving.
Xu Zhenying was very happy when he received the letter from Feng'er in Bianjing City.
It is said that a concubine in the harem joined them and has been committed to alienating the relationship between the emperor and the retired emperor. It seems that the relationship between the two has reached the point where they are incompatible and are just about to tear each other apart.
In particular, the matter of Jinzhou Prefecture donating cotton clothes to the northern front was reported to the retired emperor, and General Zhao Yi was almost charged with "collaborating with the enemy and selling out the country."
The retired emperor insisted on bringing Zhao Yi to justice, while the emperor tried his best to protect him. The two had a huge argument in the court.
The decision to donate cotton-padded clothes was made by Xu Zhenying after discussion with several ministers under him.
Although she really wanted to do a good thing and let the soldiers in the north delay the Tartars for some time, it must be said that as a politician, she naturally had her own calculations.
Last year, General Zhao Yi purchased 100,000 cotton-padded coats from Bao'an Prefecture. Xu Zhenying gave them a 20% discount on the market price and donated 10,000 cotton-padded coats to commend the bravery of the soldiers on the northern front.
Afterwards, he ordered Feng'er to secretly establish contact with the secret agents in the court and reveal the matter to others.
In this case, the fact that General Zhao Yi and this traitor were secretly colluding with each other could no longer be concealed.
Poor General Zhao Yi, he had no idea that he had become the biggest grudge in history.
When the matter was exposed, the soldiers in front of the north were excited and almost mutinied. If the emperor had not suppressed it with all his strength, General Zhao Yi might have become the next Zhao Kuangyin to wear the yellow robe.
Xu Zhenying even felt that she was a little too insidious. As a staunch materialist, she even went to worship the gods and Buddhas and asked for forgiveness for the evil things she had done.
At the same time, this incident also sounded a wake-up call for Xu Zhenying.
She was still taking a big step. If she really forced Zhao Yi to rebel, wouldn't she have another powerful enemy?
Moreover, this move will tie Zhao Yi and the emperor even more closely. If the situation changes in the future, it is possible that the two will join forces to become the emperor emeritus.
Xu Zhenying's goal was to cause chaos in the Great Zhou Dynasty, rather than for the Great Zhou Dynasty to unite and resist her.
However, the court is still arguing over the connection between Zhao Yi and Jinzhou Prefecture. At this critical moment, Xu Zhenying can only let Feng'er and the others keep their heads down and behave themselves. It is better to be still than to move, so that poor General Zhao can have a break.
At the same time, she asked Feng'er to shift the battlefield and stop staring at the piece of fat meat in Zhao Yi's hand, and send some brave merchants to the Tartar territory outside the border to do wool business.
She even explained to Feng'er the uses and methods of making wool, and asked her to collect as much wool as possible. The next year, she would take the land route to Gongzhou and other places closest to the north, and then ask the officials there to organize female workers to make wool and sweaters, which would increase employment opportunities and people's income.
In this way, through mutually beneficial cooperation with the Tatars, on the one hand, their vigilance can be lowered and their trust in the three words "Xu Zhenying" can be cultivated; on the other hand, their combat effectiveness can be reduced through economic invasion.
Just imagine, if people outside the Great Wall knew that wool yarn could bring huge profits, would they abandon horses and raise sheep?
This is a boiling frog model. By the time they wake up, they will probably no longer be a match for General Zhao Yi.
Even though Xu Zhenying carefully calculated and thought over and over again, wishing she could hold the direction of all people and things tightly in her hands, she had to admit that personal power was limited, and she felt powerless most of the time.
Many people and many things seemed to be running away in a direction beyond her control.
The plate has grown so big, and she keeps stirring up trouble everywhere. The time for the fall of the Zhou Dynasty is definitely getting closer.
Perhaps, it won't be long before she ascends the throne.
She even began to wonder what kind of life she would live after retirement.
The dream was still beautiful, but unfortunately the reality dealt her a severe blow. On the twentieth day after Master Pei and the Sixth Princess left with carts of supplies purchased by Jinzhou Prefecture, Fang Ningmo and others came anxiously to report that Fang Ruyu was missing.
Fang Ruyu and the Sixth Princess ran away!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
