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Chapter 423 Pingzhou (VI)

How to store and place the medicinal materials was Sun Guangbai's responsibility, while Lu Cong was only in charge of the grain.

The people who drank medicine every day to prevent the plague were already used to drinking a bowl of black and bitter medicine. With the plague basically under control, the people naturally paid more attention to food.

They replanted crops, but it would take several months for the harvest to come. During these months, they had to rely on the food sent by Nanyang County to survive!
Lu Cong knew the people's thoughts very well, and accepted the grain with great fanfare. When the grain was put into the warehouse, he randomly picked up a few bags and opened them. Golden corn kernels and red sweet potatoes rolled out of the bags, causing the onlookers to cheer and jump for joy.

A few naughty children rushed forward, picked up the sweet potatoes on the ground, and stuffed them directly into their mouths.

The parents and family members of these children were so frightened that their faces turned pale. They rushed over, knelt down, and kowtowed to beg for mercy.

This Lord Lu is different from Doctor Sun. He really turns against others when he wants to, and never shows mercy when it comes to killing people.

Fortunately, Lord Lu was in a good mood today and did not get angry. He just said, "It is not a crime for the children to eat a few sweet potatoes. You can take the children back and give them a lesson."

These people were so moved that they almost burst into tears and hurriedly took their unfortunate children away.

That night, Lu Cong stayed up until the third watch and wrote a long letter of more than ten pages. This letter was, of course, addressed to the princess. In the letter, he reported to the princess everything he had done in Pingzhou, in great detail.

A month later, the princess sent food and medicinal herbs again, and brought a reply letter.

The princess's reply was not long, but her words were concise and powerful.

"You did very well."

"Keep doing it with peace of mind. I will support you in everything."

This is probably what it means when a gentleman dies for his friend.

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

In the past, he would occasionally think about the princess in private and feel a little regretful. For example, the princess was smart, resolute, majestic and generous, but she was just a girl.

Now he was thinking, what's wrong with being a girl! He just wanted to follow the princess and do something real.

……

Time flies, several months have passed, and it is autumn again.

"Princess! Princess!" Chen Jinyu walked into the study room excitedly: "Great news! News came from Pingzhou that Imperial Doctor Sun finally developed a prescription to treat the plague. The plague in Pingzhou has been completely brought under control."

Jiang Shaohua's dark eyes lit up, and he stood up suddenly: "Where is the letter?"

Chen Jinyu presented the letter with great joy.

Jiang Shaohua quickly opened the envelope, read it quickly, and then read it carefully again. His eyebrows curved and he smiled happily: "Good, good, good! That's great!"

"Doctor Sun really did it!"

Doctor Sun stayed in the epidemic area and kept adjusting the prescription. After several months, he finally saw results.

The plague in Pingzhou was under control, and the people who survived had already harvested a new crop of grain. Because it was the first year of planting new grain, the yield was far less than that of Nanyang County, but the harvested grain was enough to last until the next year.

Pingzhou, which was once in ruins, has finally settled down.

"This princess wants to write a memorial to commend Dr. Sun and his son." Jiang Shaohua said with a smile: "Mr. Chen, come and grind ink for this princess." Chen Jinyu gladly agreed.

Before Jiang Shaohua could even pick up his pen and write, Chief Clerk Chen and Chief Clerk Feng came hurriedly. The two chief clerks came with smiles on their faces when they heard the good news.

"With Dr. Sun's contributions, he should have been promoted three levels." Chen Changshi laughed and said, "Unfortunately, the ranks in the Imperial Hospital are strictly regulated, and the highest medical officer is the fourth rank. Dr. Sun is already the fifth rank, so he can only be promoted two levels."

Jiang Shaohua raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Then half of the credit should go to Sun Guangbai, and both father and son will be promoted together."

Feng Changshi was happy for something else: "This autumn harvest, our Nanyang County has another bumper harvest. Last year, we reclaimed more than 200,000 mu of wasteland. The grain output is twice that of last year. Pingzhou can also be self-sufficient, and there is no need to send grain there. It is double happiness."

For the past six months, a large sum of money and grain had to be allocated every month to support Pingzhou. Every time Feng Changshi looked at the account book, his heart ached so much that he almost bled.

Jiang Shaohua and Chen Changshi both knew Feng Changshi's temper, and they couldn't help but smile at each other.

"Oh, there is one more thing I want to remind you, Princess." Chen Changshi lowered his voice and said, "The chaos in Pingzhou has been quelled, and the plague has also subsided. The court will certainly send officials to take over Pingzhou..."

Before Jiang Shaohua could say anything, Chen Jinyu had already glared at him with her bright eyes: "Why? Pingzhou had a plague before, and so many people died. It was almost a deserted city. It was our princess who sent people to treat the plague, and it was our Nanyang County's grain that fed the people of Pingzhou."

"Now that Pingzhou is stable, the imperial court will send people to take over Pingzhou. Isn't this just picking a ready-made peach?"

“This is too infuriating!”

Jiang Shaohua smiled and comforted the angry Chen Sheren: "Don't worry, I have already made arrangements for this matter. Pingzhou will be under the jurisdiction of the court again, there is nothing to argue about this. However, who will be the new governor of Pingzhou is not up to Prime Minister Wang, I have to recommend the right candidate."

Chen Jinyu calmed down and sobered up instantly: "Who does the princess want to recommend as the governor of Pingzhou?"

Chen Changshi thought about it for a moment and came up with three names.

These three people were all court officials who had close ties with the Nanyang Palace, and their official positions ranged from fourth to third rank. According to the rules for court officials to take up posts, officials from the capital could be promoted one level when they were sent out to other places, and these three candidates were all suitable.

Jiang Shaohua smiled at Chen Changshi and said, "All three of them have indeed spoken for our Nanyang Palace. However, they are not from the Nanyang Palace. The post of Pingzhou Governor can only and must be held by someone I trust."

Chen Changshi frowned: "The princess is not trying to recommend Lu Cong!"

Feng Changshi was stunned, and quickly looked at the princess: "Princess, Lu Sheren committed a serious crime in the past and is a criminal. The court has a convention that criminals cannot be appointed as officials. If the princess finds him a low-ranking official position, it will be fine. But it has to be the governor of Pingzhou, which is in the spotlight, and the second-rank governor... This is too difficult and too eye-catching."

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

Jiang Shaohua heard the hidden meaning of Feng Changshi's words and smiled: "It is precisely because of the public's attention that this princess wants to help Lu Cong get the post of Pingzhou governor."

She wanted to use this incident to show off her prowess to the officials in the court.

She wanted everyone to see the true strength of the Nanyang Palace.

She wanted everyone in the palace to see that as long as they followed her sincerely, she would give them a good future.

Jiang Shaohua's tone revealed ambition and aspirations.

Chen Changshi was speechless, and Feng Changshi remained silent.

Only Chen Jinyu clapped his hands happily and agreed: "The princess is right."