Chapter 2 Talking about the future
"What? Going to Yunnan again?"
Zhu Yuhuan rubbed his ears and looked at Xu Wangzhi, who was shocked, and muttered, "Why are you shouting so loudly?"
Xu Wangzhi looked incredulous and asked, "Your Highness, didn't you just come back from Yunnan? Why are you going to Yunnan again?"
Zhu Yuhuan said helplessly, "This trip to Yunnan is to reform the natives and reduce the burden of the southwestern border. This is the only way to prevent things like Luchuan from happening again. If both the north and the south are affected, the country will be dragged down by both sides."
The most important thing is that Yunnan is a place far away from the emperor, and Zhu Yuhuan can use this as an opportunity to take advantage of the information gap.
Although Xu Wangzhi didn't understand what was going on, he knew Zhu Yuhuan would never waste his time, so he asked, "How long will the trip to Yunnan take?"
"It will take at least three or four years."
Xu Wangzhi exclaimed, "Is Yunnan that big?"
Zhu Yuhuan smiled and said, "Of course. Although the Jingji area is large, it is nothing compared to the entire Yunnan area."
Xu Wangzhi chuckled and said, "I heard that the Pocket Prescriptions were written by King Ding of Zhou while he was collecting herbs in Yunnan and understanding the people's illnesses..."
When Zhu Yuhuan heard her say this, he looked at himself with his eyes fixed, and he understood what Xu Wangzhi meant.
She sighed helplessly and said, "Yunnan doesn't have the prosperity and stability of the two capitals and Zhili..."
Xu Wangzhi had already guessed what she was going to say and waved his hand, "That's no big deal. Nothing in the world can be accomplished without hardship. Besides, I've already seen all the medicinal herbs in the two capitals and Zhili. It would be better to go to Yunnan. Besides, don't you want to reform the natives? I can teach medicine there, and wouldn't that also be considered 'educating' the local people?"
Xu Wangzhi's brain was no less smart when it came to what it was supposed to do. Even Zhu Yuhuan was stunned when faced with Xu Wangzhi's smooth and fluent words.
Zhu Yuhuan knew she had made up her mind and asked, "What about your apprentices? What should they do?"
"With my mother here, I can still teach them to identify herbs." Xu Wangzhi said this with some pride, "What's more, they have all made progress now. I have arranged for them to take turns seeing patients in the clinic. There is no problem treating some minor illnesses and minor ailments."
Traveling around and meeting more patients to gain experience is crucial for a doctor. Xu Wangzhi has been in the capital for over a decade. If it weren't for these students, he would have been restless long ago. However, entering and leaving the major cities requires someone to escort them, and ordinary people cannot freely move to other cities, so Xu Wangzhi can only wait for an opportunity.
Now that Zhu Yuhuan is going to Yunnan, Xu Wangzhi can use the princess's title to leave Northern Zhili and gain some experience.
Seeing her confidence, Zhu Yuhuan said, "Since that's the case, there's no room for regret."
"Don't worry, I won't regret it."
Zhu Yuhuan was still a little worried and added, "Don't think Yunnan is a good place. Otherwise, the Great Ancestor would not have exiled King Ding of Zhou to Yunnan. You have to focus on getting on the road, so you don't have much time to observe the herbs."
Xu Wangzhi didn't say anything, but just waved his hand to indicate that he heard it.
Zhu Yuhuan thought about it himself and decided that apart from preparing craftsmen, drawings and other things, he would also prepare officials who would accompany him to Yunnan.
Every year, there are many students selected for the spring examination. Except for some officials who are sent abroad, many of them can only hold sinecures and have to wait for vacancies in the six ministries before they can be considered to have formal official titles. Now that the policy of converting native officials into officials is to be implemented, these officials who were originally unemployed in the capital can finally "have something to do."
As for whether they are willing or not, that is not something Zhu Yuhuan needs to consider.
Although Yunnan is not in the sight of the emperor, it may not be an opportunity to display one's talents. For Zhu Yuhuan, people who can make achievements in Yunnan should naturally have a better future, so she is certainly not stingy in recommending them.
In other words, Zhu Yuhuan was confident enough to "tame" her because he could follow her step by step.
"By the way, how is Shi Jing?"
Xu Wangzhi was stunned at her sudden question, then said, "Before he left, he told me and Zhong Ge'er that he was being assigned to the Xuanfu area as a centurion, and he even had a few soldiers under his command." She couldn't help but secretly glance at Zhu Yuhuan's face and asked curiously, "Why are you asking about him suddenly?"
"Xuanfu..." Zhu Yuhuan naturally noticed her gaze and waved his hand, saying, "Don't let your imagination run wild. I'm just curious about where those selected in the martial arts examination were sent to."
Xu Wangzhi curled his lips and said, "Of course they're divided into two types. Those with wealth and power will stay in the capital, while those without will be sent north... I heard that the Wuliangha and the Oirat are very arrogant. They've already opened up trade and allowed tribute to the capital, but they're still harassing the border. I don't know if he can withstand it. I hope nothing bad happens."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled helplessly and said, "Although trade is open, the grasslands are divided. Even if the Oirat attacked the border and plundered the people and supplies, they can explain it to the court afterwards. If it's not a major incident, who would care about it?"
Xu Wangzhi said somewhat unhappily, "Aren't our lives lives? Isn't this forcing people to become refugees to survive?"
Zhu Yuhuan certainly understood this, but the Ming Dynasty had just finished the battle of Luchuan and needed some time to recuperate, so it was impossible to rashly start another war.
Furthermore, Yesen was now completely obedient to the Ming court. Even if, as Huang Jinfeng had predicted, the Oirat tribute mission had begun to swell in number and occasionally oppressed the local people on their way to Beijing, they still publicly submitted to the Ming. Furthermore, the Ming's focus was currently on the southwest. If the reform of the native system in Yunnan was effective, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou would likely follow. In the meantime, the prudent approach was to avoid large-scale warfare.
But given Zhu Qizhen's personality, no one can guarantee what decision he will make.
Especially since Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu, the only two people who could stop Zhu Qizhen in the cabinet, have left officialdom, the remaining people may find it difficult to rein in a galloping wild horse.
Zhu Yuhuan simply said, "It's a good thing for these military officers. Small-scale wars to drive out the enemy also help them grow."
Xu Wangzhi approached Zhu Yuhuan and asked curiously, "Will we go to war with the Oirat?"
Zhu Yuhuan raised his voice slightly, hummed in confusion, and asked, "Why do you ask that?"
"Everyone is well aware of your great victory in Luchuan. They are all hoping that the court will send you again to achieve another great victory in the north." Xu Wangzhi patted Zhu Yuhuan's shoulder with an expression of pride, and said, "Especially Princess Shunde. Your conquests and captures are like divine help. Some people even write storybooks for you."
Zhu Yuhuan blinked, feeling a sense of foreboding.
No wonder Zhu Qizhen's attitude was a bit strange. It was most likely that he was influenced by these views.
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