Chapter 1063: Agree to Them

The city had also changed.

Whether because spring had arrived and the weather was warming, or because the war had ended and the streets were now crowded with more people and increased commerce, all manner of foreign faces jostled together, occasionally interspersed with Han faces, giving the impression of great prosperity.

Pan Yun's gaze swept across them and saw that most of the Han people in the city carried the bearing of warriors; she knew they were soldiers stationed nearby.

The two skillfully found their residence, pushed open the door, and the people inside immediately stepped forward respectfully, bowing: "Young Lady has arrived!"

Zhao Shizhu and Hu Ning had still not revealed their identities; they continued to blend into the city as scouts, gathering covert intelligence.

Although Telianguti had stationed Ming troops, the city still remained under the authority of the original Oirat tribal court.

Zhao Shizhu led Pan Yun to the top floor and reported in a low voice: "The city appears calm on the surface, but beneath it, unrest brews. The local Oirat nobles strongly resent the imperial court's troop deployment, and even the neighboring Chahar Khanate is stirring."

Pan Yun nodded slightly and asked: "Who is the commanding officer of the garrison?"

"His name is Lan Lu. He seems to have sensed the movements of the Chahar Khanate and Telianguti; recently, he has concentrated his forces along the border. But…"

Zhao Shizhu hesitated.

Pan Yun said: "Speak plainly."

Zhao Shizhu: "I'm not afraid of enemies breaking in from outside—there's a garrison stationed a hundred li from Telianguti that can respond swiftly. But if the enemy rises from within the city itself…"

He whispered: "The imperial court's rule over the steppe is unstable, plagued by constant rebellions—it may tie down our domestic forces. Telianguti is not wealthy. Why must the court insist on annexing this place?"

He truly did not understand. This land yielded little profit, yet demanded massive human and material investment to govern.

In his view, setting up a few intelligence outposts like his own, keeping watch to prevent them from growing strong, and ensuring rapid response if they raided again would be enough. This place was entirely unnecessary to hold.

Pan Yun said: "The imperial court has its own considerations. Just follow orders."

"But…"

Pan Yun raised her hand to stop him and asked: "Has anyone from the Telianguti court been ordered to go to the capital?"

Zhao Shizhu's eyes lit up immediately: "Yes. I heard it's the third prince of the court who has been dispatched—he's due to depart in a few days."

"What of Miao Zhen and Tao Yanbai?"

"They've been summoned to the court," Zhao Shizhu paused, then said: "They learned the two Daoists are from the Central Plains and wish to have them accompany the prince. These past few days, they've treated the two Daoists with great hospitality."

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow and nodded: "That's good. For now, at least until the third prince returns from the capital, they won't act."

Even if they leave after attending her birthday banquet, it will be September, perhaps even October, before they return to Telianguti. During this time, this land will be safe.

Zhao Shizhu stared blankly: "And after they return?"

Pan Yun said confidently: "After they return, they won't dare stir up rebellion—at least not for a while."

Yu Qian and the others aren't fools; they won't do nothing.

Even Zhu Qiyu knows he must intimidate them—how much more so the hundred officials?

After exchanging information, Pan Yun went with Seeing Miao Zhen to tour the city.

Within the Three Tributary Prefectures, the signal devices were still restricted to the military and had not been deployed among civilians, but the steppe tribes had already heard rumors: the Great Ming court possessed a divine artifact capable of transmitting messages instantly.

Their armies suffered defeat precisely because their troop movements were constantly known.

The Oirat court knew that once they entered the Central Plains, they would be closely watched; to better understand the Central Plains and for convenience, they decided to hire Miao Zhen and Tao Yanbai as interpreters to accompany them to the capital.

Miao Zhen and Tao Yanbai were now wholly focused on their cowpox research. Though they had achieved a stage-by-stage victory, they believed the cowpox virus could still be further weakened.

They wished to take advantage of the current trust among the steppe herders to inoculate more people and conduct further study, so they refused the court's request.

The court seemed to know their intentions; using its authority, it issued an order prohibiting herders from inoculating with cowpox and forbidding outsiders from practicing medicine here.