I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

Chapter 79

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. What Yang Yi suggested sounded reasonable, yet no one dared to try it. Smallpox was incurable once contracted. With such a deadly disease, no one could afford to be careless.

Wu Zhao pondered aloud, “Yang Yi, your words make sense…”

Yang Yi smiled. “We can test my cowpox method on a few death row prisoners to see if it works.”

Everyone was stunned, casting strange looks at Yang Yi. This man seemed to be a nemesis for death row prisoners—encountering him spelled nothing but bad luck for them.

…

The next day.

Before the assembled civil and military officials, Yang Yi had the prisoners inoculated with cowpox.

…

Half a month later.

In the hall, Xu Jingzong rushed in, panting despite his age.

“Your Majesty…” he called, his voice breathless. “The prisoners who were inoculated with cowpox have fully recovered! They’re alive and healthy, even living among smallpox patients without showing any signs of infection!”

“What?!” The hall erupted with gasps, officials staring in disbelief.

They could hardly believe that Yang Yi’s cowpox method had actually worked. This was smallpox, a disease that had been unsolvable for thousands of years. They turned their gazes to Yang Yi in awe and amazement—this was nothing short of miraculous!

Wu Zhao grasped the edge of the dragon throne, her phoenix eyes sparkling with joy. “Yang Yi, it worked!”

Even with her usual calm, she couldn’t contain her excitement. This terrifying smallpox epidemic had been resolved by the Great Zhou!

Her admiration for Yang Yi deepened. This minister was truly capable of anything.

Yang Yi gave a slight bow, smiling. “Your Majesty, now that the cowpox method has proven effective, we should proceed with the next phase of my strategy against the Qing.”

Everyone was momentarily stunned, and then a chill spread through the hall as they remembered the ruthlessness of Yang Yi’s plan.

Wu Zhao hesitated before nodding.

“Though it is cruel, they are our enemies.”

Yang Yi’s smile remained. “Exactly. They have only themselves to blame for opposing the Great Zhou.

“We will collect more pus and vaccinate our soldiers. Once fully protected, they can take smallpox-infected materials to the battlefield and deliver them to the enemy.”

A shiver ran through the room. Those who provoked Yang Yi truly had dreadful luck. His strategy was beyond ruthless.

Zhang Jianzhi suddenly spoke up. “Prime Minister Yang, wouldn’t this spread smallpox to Qing civilians as well?”

The hall fell silent. Faces grew somber as everyone recognized the grim implications. Smallpox was mercilessly contagious; if they infected the Qing soldiers, the civilians would inevitably suffer, too.

Yang Yi’s expression didn’t waver. “Yes, the civilians will likely be infected. However, as part of our plan, we will offer them an alternative. If they surrender their cities to the Great Zhou, we’ll vaccinate them against smallpox using the cowpox method.

“If they resist, then let those loyal to the Qing die of the disease. Whether it claims tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, it doesn’t matter to us.”

No wonder Yang Yi had called his own plan cruel—it was inhumane. Smallpox didn’t discriminate between good and bad; once infected, anyone could fall victim to it.

Only the Great Zhou’s chief strategist could speak of such a ruthless plan with such calmness.

…

Changcheng

“General Heichi, an urgent report from the court.”

A soldier hurried in and respectfully handed over the report. Heichi Changzhi nodded and, despite his fatigue, opened it. One glance was enough to jolt him awake—his tiredness vanished as his eyes widened in shock.

Guo Jingzhi, standing nearby, looked at him curiously. “General, what’s going on?”

Heichi Changzhi managed a bitter smile. “Prime Minister Yang has devised another poisonous plan to destroy the Qing…”

The soldiers exchanged stunned glances. It was yet another ruthless scheme from that notorious strategist.

Guo Jingzhi blinked. “Prime Minister Yang’s strategies may be ruthless, but they work. General, what exactly is his plan this time?”

Heichi Changzhi gave him a strange look.

“Ruthless? This goes beyond ruthless; it’s inhumane.”

After a moment’s silence, he continued, “There’s been an outbreak of smallpox in Luoyang. Prime Minister Yang has ordered the smallpox pus brought here—he wants us to smear it on our weapons and secretly infect the enemy with smallpox.”

Silence.

The room fell deathly still. Guo Jingzhi swallowed, a chill running down his spine.

“General, you’re serious? If we use smallpox pus, won’t both we and the enemy suffer?”

Everyone shuddered, nodding in uneasy agreement. Even battle-hardened warriors feared the devastation of smallpox; not even a God of War could stand against it. Prime Minister Yang’s plan was nothing short of terrifying.

Heichi Changzhi replied slowly, “Prime Minister Yang has developed a method to prevent smallpox. Once vaccinated, our soldiers won’t be susceptible to the disease.”

A collective gasp filled the room. Prevent smallpox? The soldiers’ minds reeled. Their Prime Minister Yang wasn’t just ruthless; he was ingenious.

Guo Jingzhi exhaled in relief, a faint smile forming. “If we can prevent smallpox… Though the strategy is ruthless, all is fair in war.”

The soldiers nodded in agreement, their faces set with newfound resolve.

Heichi Changzhi cast a strange look at Guo Jingzhi. “Prime Minister Yang added that if the Qing soldiers retreat and spread smallpox among their own civilians, we will not vaccinate those civilians. The disease will run rampant unless they surrender their cities.”

Another shiver ran through the soldiers. They all knew how contagious smallpox was. If Qing soldiers were infected, then the Qing civilians would inevitably fall victim as well.

To use smallpox not just to kill enemy soldiers but to force civilians to surrender their cities? Such a plan would let them capture cities with little resistance and perhaps even reach the enemy capital!

It was astoundingly ruthless.

Even as seasoned soldiers, they couldn’t help but feel a chill settle over them, their hair standing on end.

Yang Yi’s plan could cost hundreds of thousands—even millions—of lives. No wonder he was known as the Great Zhou’s foremost strategist. The Yama King himself would make way for Prime Minister Yang—indeed, he was a Living Yama.