The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Most Likely a Fool

The military strategist said, ”Lord Yu’s decisive actions are the best way to prevent the epidemic. By cutting off the source, we don’t have to worry about the epidemic spreading.”

Wen Hao, recalling something, said to the military strategist, ”Oh right, I heard that Shang Jingwang, the Prefect of Huainan, is also in this Wangshan Town. He wanted to come see me, the Commander, before, but Lord Yu already informed me of this matter and instructed me to ignore him. This man is indeed fearless, knowing there’s an epidemic here, yet he rushed over! When the fire starts and bows and arrows close in, none will survive. After all, the Huainan Prefect is an official of the Court; it won’t cause any trouble, right?”

The military strategist laughed, ”You worry too much, my lord. That Huainan Prefect is merely a Fifth Rank official. If he recklessly approaches the epidemic site and now faces a calamity, who can he blame? You are Fourth Rank, and even if something happens, it cannot be traced back to you as it is all under Lord Yu’s command.”

Hearing this, Wen Hao felt relieved and laughed, ”He’s probably a fool. People avoid places with epidemics like the plague, yet he rushes to court death!”

The military strategist agreed, ”Isn’t that so? I’ve heard of this Huainan Prefect Shang Jingwang, top of the class from over twenty years ago, capable of achieving something. However, due to his straightforward nature, he offended people and was exiled as a County Magistrate for over twenty years, finally reaching a Fifth Rank Prefect. Evidently, he lacks abilities and sponsors. If he had, he wouldn’t still be a Prefect now! Even if he dies here, Lord Yu will find a way to clean up the mess, ensuring you are not implicated.”

Wen Hao found it reasonable and nodded, ”Mr. Liu’s analysis makes perfect sense. Rarely have I seen someone as foolish as Shang Jingwang.” He sighed, ”There must be over three thousand people in this Wangshan Town? Even during my years on the battlefield, I never killed so many people. Now to kill them all, I feel some reluctance!”

The military strategist shook his head and smiled, ”My lord, it’s not about reluctance now. Consider this, in battle, killing three thousand enemies is merely a small victory. Here, preventing the spread of the epidemic could save not just three thousand but thirty thousand people or even three hundred thousand! My lord, you are doing something tremendously beneficial to Nanxia and the people. Sacrificing these three thousand lives is to prevent Yanglu County, Northern County, and Nanxia from being implicated!”

Wen Hao slowly nodded, ”Mr. Liu has enlightened me; it was my feminine kind-heartedness!”

The military strategist laughed, ”Not at all, my lord is benevolently minded!”

Wen Hao said, ”Lord Yu’s carriage should arrive tomorrow. Within this day and night, precautions should be tightened so that no villager escapes.”

The military strategist replied, ”Rest assured, my lord, your previous arrangements are flawless. I will have people reinforce the guard, ensuring no one escapes, not even Shang Jingwang!”

Huangfu Jingchen, hearing all this, almost gritted his teeth in anger. In their eyes, over three thousand lives were just a number.

From their conversation, it was clear that everything was prearranged, just waiting for Yu Shikui to execute.

Yu Shikui is arriving tomorrow.

Now Shang Jingwang counts as the highest official in Wangshan Town, yet he is still insignificant before the Military Commander and the Prefectural Governor. Because he was in the epidemic zone, he is also a target for removal.

Who can stop Yu Shikui?

Even as the son of a Vassal King, he cannot.

Huangfu Jingchen did not move, quietly retreating along the original path. Any actions now would alert the enemy, and if Wen Hao acted prematurely, the people would be the ones hurt. He decided to wait until nightfall.

He can’t stop Yu Shikui or Wen Hao, so he must resort to extreme measures.

Returning to the quarantine zone, Huangfu Jingchen relayed everything he heard.

Shang Jingwang’s face turned a bit pale.

Though he dared to come personally, hoping for career advancement, he also worried for the local people. His heart was with the people. Now, he and the locals were abandoned by Yu Shikui.

The epidemic solution had made significant progress; the epidemic here could be resolved in at most ten days. Yet now, the highest official of Northern County wants to burn them all to the ground.

What does that make their month-long efforts?

What does it make their sacrifices?

What does it make their achievements?

They worked tirelessly to save more lives, to prevent this populace from dying miserably to the epidemic. Hundreds already died from the epidemic, isn’t that enough?

Would the lives they strove to save ultimately become nothing but ash in the eyes of the Prefectural Governor and Military Commander?

Shang Jingwang said, ”I’ll go see the Commander and explain the situation here. Maybe knowing we have a solution, they will give us some leniency and time!”

Huangfu Jingchen glanced at Xia Wenjin.

Xia Wenjin was the first to awaken and survive the severe epidemic through the solution. But her case was incomparable. She possessed martial arts, naturally having better constitution than these villagers.

Moreover, being a doctor, she was mindful of prevention, knowing her condition well even after contracting the epidemic, administering the right medicine to herself.

But even then, she remained weak, her complexion pale, not resembling a fully healthy person.

Even if she personally testified, it’s doubtful anyone would believe her. ℯ

After all, she was saved from death’s door, finding no rest after recovery, continuously busy. Her recovery was slow.

Huangfu Jingchen likely considered this earlier and gave up the notion. He turned to Shang Jingwang, ”Lord Shang, when you filed your report to Yu Shikui, he and Wen Hao had already planned this outcome. Knowing you were here, fearing obstruction, he instructed Wen Hao to avoid you. You cannot meet him!”

”Then what do we do?” Wen Hao exclaimed anxiously, ”We can now treat the disease, albeit slowly, not seeing immediate results, but I believe you can cure them all. Now that there’s hope, are we to be wiped out? I must meet with the Commander and tell him the truth here, begging him to grant us time!”

Xia Wenjin bitterly smiled to Shang Jingwang, ”It’s not about whether the Military Commander gives you time, but Yu Shikui. This man’s calculations are insidious, disregarding human lives. In his eyes, whether Wangshan Town’s populace is three thousand or thirty thousand, it makes no difference. A thorough burn is his supposed best prevention against the epidemic. If he cared about human lives at all, he wouldn’t directly order the Military Commander to quarantine with troops, nor prepare kerosene, saltpeter, and sulfur in advance.”