Chapter 2475 - 2449: Secret Schemes

Manbao’s smallpox matured quickly, and she only ran a mild fever. It never exceeded thirty-seven point eight degrees. After just two days, the pustules had matured and formed scabs, almost ready to be peeled off.

Director Xiao and his team came to take a look and nodded in satisfaction.

The Emperor, upon hearing that everything was proceeding smoothly, couldn’t help but smile and said to Bai Shan, "In a short time, this disease will be eradicated from my Great Jin."

This was not possible. The Imperial Hospital had made an estimation that even if all youngsters under the age of sixteen were willing to be vaccinated, it would still take at least seventy to eighty years to eradicate smallpox completely.

Moreover, aside from whether those under sixteen would agree, they currently did not have the capability to cover every corner of Great Jin.

This is a monumental task with a long road ahead. Director Xiao privately mentioned to his subordinates, "Even in times of peace and prosperity, it would still take two to three hundred years."

And who can guarantee peace and prosperity for the next two to three hundred years?

Just a couple of years ago, they were all constantly worried about the princes fighting for the throne. So, regarding the Emperor’s confidence, Director Xiao didn’t even bother to remind him. Let him enjoy his happiness, as time would eventually set him straight.

Bai Shan knew it was impossible because the regions were very poor. Not to mention the distant ones, even in Qili Village, who would be responsible for the cowpox vaccine?

The County Governmental Office?

Or the County Medical Office?

By the way, Luojiang County still doesn’t have a medical office. Currently, there are only thirty-eight counties equipped with medical offices.

This is even after a few more were gradually established this year; before that, there were only about twenty.

Yet the entire Great Jin has three hundred and fifty-eight jurisdictions and one thousand five hundred and fifty-one counties. No, that’s not right. After the pacification of Gaochang, two jurisdictions and six counties were added, and sometimes, for easier management, the interior jurisdictions are adjusted or merged.

Just think about it! Even if each jurisdiction had one medical office, it would require three hundred and sixty. At the current rate of establishing local medical offices, how many years would it take?

The Emperor didn’t get acknowledged, but it didn’t prevent him from enjoying himself. After envisioning the future, he happily summoned Wei Zhi to ask how the new city plans in Yongzhou were progressing.

Wei Zhi stated that the site surveys had been completed. They adjusted the location within the Emperor’s designated area to maximize the new city’s potential, but most parts remain within the assigned area.

The Emperor was satisfied after looking it over and immediately approved, "Let the Ministry of Public Works build it."

Wei Zhi, however, declined and suggested delaying the construction of the new city by a month. He said, "Your Majesty, it is currently the busy farming season. It would be better to levy labor after the summer harvest is over."

Yes, even if it’s the Ministry of Public Works tasked with the construction, they would still have to recruit laborers.

After some thought, the Emperor agreed and could only regretfully delay it by another month.

Bai Shan, kneeling quietly to the side, thought to himself, shortly after a month, it would be time for the autumn harvest, meaning people would be working year-round without rest. With such labor intensity, life in Yongzhou for the laborers might be tough, and who knows what the Ministry of Revenue plans to provide them to eat.

Having observed labor service from a young age and having conducted a series of investigations, even writing articles on the matter, Bai Shan knew that the hardship for laborers wasn’t just due to the intensity of labor, but also their diet.

Actually, if their diet could match the intensity of their labor, they could endure it. But from his years of experience, he found that food provided by local County Governmental Offices often couldn’t keep up with the laborers’ physical demands.

While Bai Shan was lost in his thoughts, the Emperor had dismissed Wei Zhi. Unable to resist, he revealed a bit of a secret to Bai Shan, "Zhou Man’s fief is in Liyang, isn’t it? Since a new city is to be built there, she can set up some shops or similar places on her fief."

Bai Shan was momentarily taken aback and replied, "Your Majesty, you can’t build houses on arable land, let alone shops."

The Emperor was momentarily stumped and after a while said, "Among the five hundred households allotted to her, there are bound to be some barren hills and fields within the residential vicinity. Building a few shops should be permissible, right?"

Bai Shan replied, "There’s a Liyang County in between, and it doesn’t connect with the new city."

The Emperor could only express regret, and upon returning to the harem, he remarked to the Empress, "I don’t know what the county magistrate of Liyang was thinking, zoning Zhou Man’s fief near Wannian County. If Bai Shan hadn’t mentioned it today, I wouldn’t have known."

The Empress asked him, "Why did you think of asking about Zhou Man’s fief?"

"Isn’t it because I find her loyal and considerate? Thinking that there’s not much else I can reward her with, I thought of giving her something. Who knew her fief isn’t near the new city but is instead near Wannian County. The distance makes it futile."

The Empress squinted slightly, "What did you want to give her?"

"I wanted to give her a means to prosper," the Emperor boasted gleefully, "I originally planned for her to build shops on her fief. By renting them out, she could earn a substantial income."

The Empress blinked and said, after a while, "I recall we have two imperial estates in Yongzhou. One is north of the city and quite expansive. You mentioned giving it to Mingda as part of her dowry."

The Emperor nodded.

"There’s also a small one to the southwest. Who do you intend to give that to?"

"That, too, will go to Mingda," the Emperor replied, eyes crinkled with delight. "I’ve already marked it for Wei Zhi and his team to build the new city. We will build a villa there for Mingda, along with two streets of shops. Those will all belong to Mingda. She has, after all, expanded her personal guard by three hundred. If the Ministry of Revenue doesn’t fund this part, Mingda can support it herself."

Two streets of shops should be enough to support three hundred people, right?

In this way, out of the eight hundred personal guards, three hundred would essentially be Mingda’s private soldiers. Even if something were to happen in the future, the guards wouldn’t need to be returned to the Princess Residence; they could remain, thereby protecting the children from being bullied.

The Empress looked at the "thoroughly thoughtful" Emperor, unable to speak for a moment.

Yet the Emperor still sought praise from the Empress, "Zitong, how do you find my arrangement?"

The Empress watched him silently.

The Emperor gradually retracted his smile and spoke earnestly, "I’ve thought it through. Wei Zhi and the others won’t object."

"The land is mine. Worst case, I won’t ask for help from the Ministry of Public Works. I’ll have the Imperial Treasury construct it. In any case, I am determined to build two streets of shops for Mingda." The Emperor paused here and said to her, "Changyu’s fief is a bit too far, so I can’t do the same for her. I’ll instead give her an inn in the capital."

The Emperor felt a bit pained as he considered it. That inn was an asset he acquired back when he was still in the prince’s mansion. Although its business was mediocre, he used to frequent it with the State Duke Su and others to drink.

The Empress rubbed her forehead and reminded him, "For now, don’t speak of this matter openly, wait until the new city is built."

The Emperor knew she had agreed and was immediately delighted, "Alright, I’ll listen to everything the Empress says."

Not really!

The Empress glanced at him without speaking.

While the Emperor secretly schemed to save some private funds for Mingda, Manbao’s scabs finally fell off, leaving three shallow pox marks on the inside of her arm. She pressed them gently with her hand, feeling nothing. They were just a bit bumpy.