Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 308 The Whole Army Makes an Effort
Fortunately, the doctors Xie Mingchen and others accompanying them were already skilled in smallpox vaccination and treatment in the capital. Under Jiu Que's orders, they quickly began the procedure, first gathering the soldiers who hadn't contracted smallpox and showing them the marks on their bodies from the vaccinations. Those soldiers who had suffered from smallpox, though not yet infected themselves, felt immense psychological pressure seeing the unsightly marks on the bodies of the nomadic people and the fallen comrades during daily battles. Now, seeing that the court had not only sent provisions, doctors, and medicine, but also a method to prevent smallpox, most immediately accepted the vaccination. Those who remained hesitant worried about the potential negative effects of vaccination, but seeing the energetic appearance of Jiu Que and his entourage dispelled their concerns.

As I said before, if it were someone else hosting this event, they wouldn't have believed it so easily. But since it was Jiu Que who was hosting this time, and the foundation she had laid was so solid, everyone trusted her, and indeed, she did not disappoint their trust.

Lin Chongshan was the first to express his support. On the platform, Xie Mingchen and the other doctors explained the ins and outs of smallpox vaccination three times over. Just as they were getting hoarse from talking, a dark shadow flashed before their eyes, and then a general as imposing as an iron tower sat down in front of them.

Before anyone could react, Lin Chongshan lifted the shirt off his arm, revealing his wheat-colored wrist with several shallow scars.

"Come on, I'll plant first!"

The soldiers below all turned their attention to this side. Everyone knew about the relationship between Lin Chongshan and Ying Jiuque. If even Lin Chongshan had been vaccinated against smallpox in front of everyone, wouldn't that prove that the method was indeed safe and effective?
Knowing the gravity of the situation, Jiu Que solemnly performed the smallpox vaccination on Lin Chongshan together with Xie Mingchen. Below them were thousands of soldiers watching their every move. Jiu Que was a little nervous, but after seeing Aunt Lin's eyes filled with trust and certainty, she quickly calmed down.

"Aunt Lin, it will hurt a little."

"It's okay, I believe in you, just come on!"

To ensure everyone could see clearly, the platform was built very high, allowing most soldiers to see Jiu Que's cautious movements clearly. Regardless of whether this method was effective or not, judging from Lord Ying's attitude, everyone felt that he couldn't possibly harm them.

Lin Chongshan, who had just been vaccinated against smallpox, did not have any special reaction. She moved her wrist, and if it weren't for the faint scar on it, who would know that she had already been able to resist smallpox?

Since Lin Chongshan took the lead, the soldiers no longer had any resistance. However, due to the large number of soldiers in the Northern Frontier Army, and the need to guard against another attack from the grasslands, not everyone was vaccinated at once, as some people might have a slight reaction to the smallpox scab powder. To ensure the normal operation of the military camp, Jiu Que chose to vaccinate in batches.

And under her and Lin Chongshan's strict orders, this matter was not leaked. In this critical moment, the soldiers' safety was paramount. Thanks to Emperor Jingtai's support from the rear, his supply of smallpox scab powder was plentiful and sufficient. After all the soldiers had been vaccinated, Jiuque secretly sent doctors to the countryside to vaccinate the people of Dajing in the border city. This was both to save lives and to reassure the soldiers, whose families were all in the border city.

When everyone works towards a common goal, even a large number of people can achieve surprisingly high efficiency. After three days and three nights of tireless effort, all the soldiers in the Northern General's camp were vaccinated against smallpox with the help of doctors and fellow soldiers. Those soldiers who had unfortunately contracted smallpox were not abandoned; they were gathered together in the military medical tents and treated by highly skilled doctors.

During this period, wave after wave of soldiers fought against the steppe people at the forefront, and those they faced were all people who had been vaccinated with smallpox.

Under Jiu Que's strict demands, and given that the nation was at a critical juncture, no one would reveal the discovery of a cure for smallpox to the enemy. Jiu Que, however, intended to use this information to catch the enemy off guard.

Lin Chongshan was an expert in warfare. Jiu Que didn't offer advice casually; she simply showcased the large quantity of weapons she had brought on this trip, especially the firearms that would be extremely useful on the battlefield.

It's no exaggeration to say that when Lin Chongshan saw box after box of well-preserved firearms and blasting bombs, his eyes lit up like lamps.

"You led your men to make all of this? Jiu Que, you are truly our lucky star. With these things, we can catch that old bastard Sachi off guard."

To be honest, Lin Chongshan had been seething with anger for over a month of fighting. She had never fought such a frustrating battle before. Most of the grassland people on the other side were infected with smallpox, but she didn't know what kind of stimulant Sachi had given them. Even knowing they were terminally ill with smallpox, they still fought desperately. She wasn't a general who didn't care about her subordinates; the harm and fear caused by smallpox were simply too great, and no one was unafraid of it.

But ever since Jiu Que arrived here, the dark cloud hanging over the general's head has been dispelled.

Now they can turn the tables and disrupt the morale of the steppe army. Does that old bastard Sachi really think they're trapped by smallpox and can't fight back? They managed to hold out for so many days before they even had a way to prevent smallpox, let alone now that they have a magic weapon to turn the tide.

Everyone is making preparations in full swing.

Sachi wasn't idle either. He hadn't expected that even after smallpox, something feared by people for a thousand years, spread, the Northern Frontier Army could still maintain its morale and fight against them for so long. Especially considering that even the enemy's general had contracted smallpox, the Northern Frontier Army hadn't fallen into disarray at all. On the other hand, on their grasslands, the situation was already spiraling out of control.

More and more reports of human and animal deaths and injuries came to him, and Sachi's heart bled as he saw those numbers.

Although he had foreseen this outcome before deciding to do it, the number of casualties was simply too high, and it was increasing every day. Even Sachi, who had decided to risk his life for his ambition and revenge, couldn't help but feel a little regretful at this moment.

But he was never a soft-hearted man; after a brief moment of regret, his fighting spirit intensified. Although some of his herdsmen would die or be wounded now, what he was doing would benefit future generations! If he succeeded this time, his people on the grasslands would become the masters of this world!

(End of this chapter)