The kind of Emperor who disregards personal safety, abandons the comfort and safety of the Imperial City, and steps into a plague-stricken city to inspire the people is exceptionally rare. Their Majesty not only came but also stepped into this treatment center.
The fact that the Emperor entered the treatment center today has made these people from enemy nations thankful they have become subjects of the Zhou Dynasty. This is truly remarkable, and not every emperor has such courage.
Even if this is just a means for the Emperor to win the peopleâs hearts, Qian Yongzhong is still in awe. The peopleâs trust is rightfully theirs, the Emperor of Zhou!
Qian Yongzhongâs throat was choked with emotion, his eyes reddened as he watched the people, who had swept away the shadow of death, the hostility, and despair, seemingly filled with vibrant vitality. A fierce and surging emotion churned in his heart.
He believes... once this plague is eradicated, the people will surely sing praises for their Emperor of Zhou. Which common people wouldnât hope for an emperor who keeps these insignificant commoners in mind? When the people of Yan spread this by word of mouth, then Zhou will be where the hearts of the people lie.
Today, Qian Yongzhong truly experienced the power of the peopleâs loyalty.
No wonder when their Majesty rebelled against the Jin Dynasty and ascended the throne as a woman, many cities within the borders of Zhou applauded, never thinking that their Majesty could not be an Emperor because she was a woman.
After comforting the afflicted people, Bai Qingyan still needed to go to the treatment center in Lincheng. Before leaving, she reminded Doctor Hong not to overexert himself, as he was elderly. Treating the people is important, but so is Doctor Hongâs health. Doctor Hong is the spiritual pillar for these officials, and if he were to fall, it would cause unease among them. If the officials are uneasy, how can they properly treat the patients?
"Yingshuang, take good care of Doctor Hong!" Bai Qingyan instructed Yingshuang, "And donât be greedy for food here, listen to Doctor Hong in everything, understand?"
Yingshuang nodded repeatedly, "Understood!"
After leaving the treatment center, Bai Qingyan spoke to Qian Yongzhong: "I still need to visit the nearby towns to check on the situation. Iâm estimating that after dark today, many people will leave the city. If people want to leave, you donât have to stop them. Distribute some travel funds per person and let them go. But... before they leave, make sure to remind them repeatedly, as I have seen Yan Kingdom cities closed tightly during my journey, not allowing refugees to enter! Moreover, once they leave the cities of Zhou, they will no longer be subjects of Zhou. Their household registration will be erased, and they wonât be allowed to re-enter the city ever! And if they do leave... the whole family must go, no one can be left behind in the city!"
Bai Qingyan set these rules based on previous experiences in Xiliang. Back then, in Xiliang cities... many people wanted to leave, but it was the young men who left, leaving behind their women and children, thinking that if protected by Xiliang troops, they could let their relatives leave later. If the Xiliang troops didnât protect them, they could return, especially since their relatives were in the city, they could ask for appeals.
Later, Bai Qingyan issued a strict order, which deterred those left in the cities of Xiliang, but after all, the relatives of those who died outside the city harbored resentment towards Zhou.
This time, Bai Qingyan is determined not to leave any such hidden dangers.
Qian Yongzhong looked at Bai Qingyan in confusion, "Your Majesty, may I speak frankly? Didnât you risk coming here to stabilize the peopleâs hearts, to reassure them to stay peacefully in the Yan cities of Zhou? If they see distribution of travel funds and still leave... learning by example, wouldnât our cities of Zhou then be emptied? This... is not the population count also a matter of measure, which is disadvantageous for us in Zhou!"
He thought the Emperor of Zhou came to ensure the people donât cause trouble and stayed obediently within the cities of Zhou!
"Besides, we donât know how many people will leave. If the number is large... the silver given as travel funds to the people, what will happen within the city?" Qian Yongzhong worried that there wouldnât be enough silver, as silver is most needed to fight the epidemic. If military pay couldnât be issued, the soldiers might not put in their effort!
Bai Qingyanâs demeanor was gentle as she spoke: "Just do as ordered! You donât have to worry about the silver. I have sent a letter back to Dadu City, instructing Minister of Revenue, Wei Bugong, to arrange for silver and supplies, which will be sent continuously, ensuring there will be no shortage for epidemic control materials and military pay."
Seeing that Bai Qingyan saw through his concerns about military pay, Qian Yongzhong was somewhat embarrassed.
Though Qian Yongzhong didnât quite understand, since the Emperor had given the order, Qian Yongzhong had no reason not to comply, cupping his fist in salute: "I shall obey!"
Over the course of one day, Bai Qingyan visited two treatment centers and two cities. At the places he visited, the people were tearfully grateful, crying out long live.
Many educated people in the Yan Kingdom had become fully convinced of this Emperor of Zhou. A phrase like âAll subjects of Zhou are under the protection of Zhou; even from afar, we will be savedâ cannot help but make the people of Yan tearfully grateful.
A teacher said: "To prosper a nation one must first secure its people. We assumed ourselves to be Yan subjects, yet the Emperor of Zhou treated us equally, seeing us as Zhou people! Should Zhou not prosper... it would be against justice."
When Bai Qingyan returned, it was snowing heavily and already deep into the night. After bathing and changing, she had Wei Zhong summon Qian Yongzhong and his deputy to dine with her while asking Qian Yongzhong if any people had left the city today and inquiring about the situation.
The deputy, after saluting Bai Qingyan, said: "At first when Your Majesty arrived, no one left. Later... when Your Majesty went to the treatment center and then other cities, the people suspected that Your Majesty had gone due to the serious plague situation, so just before dusk, many people packed up and left with their families! At that time, General Qian was..."
Qian Yongzhong nodded in agreement and continued to Bai Qingyan: "According to Your Majestyâs instructions, these people were given travel funds when they left, and perhaps seeing the money aroused restlessness in some, while others, upon hearing that leaving the cities of Zhou meant the removal of household registrations and never being allowed back, changed their minds and returned with their families."
Qian Yongzhongâs deputy nodded and added, "Naturally, there were also those who thought themselves clever, deeming Your Majestyâs words about Yan cities not allowing refugees to be exaggerated. They believed that since they had suffered alongside the Yan Kingdom, the Yan Court trusted them and incorporated them into the cities governed by Zhou. So, they took the travel funds and left."
Bai Qingyan had not witnessed the commotion at the city gates today, but it indeed was bustling.
But in the end, due to Bai Qingyan, the Emperor of Zhou, personally coming to the cities of Yan, many peopleâs hearts were comforted, and most of them stayed.