Half a month ago, at the border between the two cities.

Soldiers and officers were distributing porridge in an orderly manner, and the line of people was so long that it seemed endless.

Standing next to the soup kitchen were Su Yi and his servant, Changbai. Changbai had just returned from another place. "Master, all the bodies have been dug out of the collapsed houses. Should we bury them now?"

In the summer, with more than half a month to pass, one can imagine the extent of the corpse's decomposition.

Su Yi said, "I'll go take a look."

Changbai hesitated for a moment and then said, "Master, you'd better not go see it."

That scene was so cruel that he felt like vomiting and couldn't stand it.

Su Yi glanced at him unhappily, then mounted her horse and went to the place he had indicated.

It was a remote village; all the bodies unearthed from the surrounding county were transported there.

The air was thick with the stench of decay; most people couldn't bear to look at the scene.

"How's the digging going over there?" Su Yi asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, we have dug three pits, each two zhang deep, as instructed."

Su Yi: "Has the lime powder arrived? And the paper money and the monks too?"

"arrive."

Standing at the highest point of the pit, Su Yi gave the order, "Everyone, listen to my command. Put on your protective gear, sprinkle all the corpses with lime powder, and then bury them all in the pit. Remember, no one is allowed to touch the corpses with their bare hands."

Another official from the capital worriedly said, "Lord Su, I'm afraid the people won't accept this solution."

Su Yi said expressionlessly, "Tell them whether they want to be buried or contract the plague; it's up to them."

Everyone knows that a major disaster is followed by a major epidemic. Many older people have experienced this. When they heard about it, they were afraid and hesitant, but they tried to persuade us: "Sir, can we take it back and bury it ourselves, so that we can worship it in the future?"

"The corpses have been left in this hot weather for so long that they have already begun to rot and are difficult to identify. If we delay any longer, a plague will surely break out, and you know the consequences."

Although the people were grieving, they did not make a fuss. They all knew that once they contracted the plague, they would surely die. So they kept quiet. The soldiers carried the person to the deep pit that thousands of people had dug day and night. Some people went down the dug steps and spread lime powder thickly around the soil.

They would sprinkle another layer of lime powder on the corpse before putting it in, layering one layer and then sprinkling another.

Both pits were filled in the same way; after the last one was lowered, a thick layer of lime powder was sprinkled on top. Hundreds and thousands of soldiers began to fill them.

It took everyone taking turns burying it for a day and a night before the big pit was finally filled.

The area around the perimeter was filled with women weeping and burning paper money, as well as monks performing rites of deliverance, which provided great comfort to those who had lost loved ones.

Just when things were resolved on one side, another problem arose on the other.

An official who had been dispatched elsewhere reported that the local people did not agree to the burial. After handing over the follow-up work here, Su Yi rushed to another location overnight to handle the matter.

The people disagreed because the soldiers here treated people like livestock, even swearing at them for their stench without offering any explanation.

The people naturally erupted in anger. Su Yi publicly punished the leading official and then patiently explained that he had also invited monks to perform a ritual for the deceased and people to burn paper money on the side.

The people gradually relented, saying, "It's not that we're unwilling, it's just that that official is too bullying. If he speaks nicely, we'll cooperate. Who doesn't value their life? Who wasn't born of parents? Who wants their loved ones to be abused after they've died?"

After Su Yi persuaded them, everyone accepted the advice. They knew it smelled terrible, and some areas were even infested with bugs. If it wasn't dealt with soon, it would really be unbearable.

This method was used in the two counties most severely affected by the disaster. As for the other less severely affected counties, the few dead had already been buried by the villagers.

Once those corpses are dealt with, everything else will be much easier to handle.

For a year, no one was allowed to live within a ten-mile radius of the burial site to eliminate any possibility of a plague.

As for the villagers in those places, they were all gathered in a town and supported by the imperial court. If there was nothing to do after a month, they would settle in other villages one after another.

Other villagers who live far away are also not allowed to leave at will.

In the hot summer, there was no need for blankets or heating, so all the money was used to buy food. With two meals a day, the people were extremely obedient and followed the rules after they were full.

As long as they have enough to eat, no one wants to become a vagrant. They need to wait for the government to make arrangements so they can go back and rebuild their homes.

The remaining officers and soldiers stayed behind to help with cleaning, fumigation, and reconstruction in various towns and villages.

In this way, even if one unfortunately contracts the plague, the risk of infection can be reduced to the greatest extent.

Everyone praised the imperial envoy as a good official, a benevolent official who served the people, even though they didn't even know his name.

They praised the newly enthroned emperor as a wise ruler who enjoyed the support of the people.

The news reached the capital with urgent delivery. The emperor was overjoyed and praised Su Yi highly during the morning court session. All the ministers felt that Su Yi's actions were correct and breathed a sigh of relief.

After working day and night for over twenty days, Su Yi himself had lost weight and was unshaven, looking nothing like his former self.

"Master, you should rest for a while."

Su Yi said, "I'm fine, you should go and rest."

He meticulously planned down to how much silver and grain each villager would receive as a subsidy after leaving, and how much farmland each family of villagers who needed to relocate would receive as a subsidy.

I was just about to set off for Nanchang County, a place that was implicated but not seriously affected.

They traveled by water, and Su Yi slept for three days and three nights before waking up.

"Master, we've arrived at the Nanchang County dock."

The magistrate of Nanchang County had already arrived with his soldiers to receive him. "Lord Su, you must be tired from your journey. Please come in."

As they walked, Su Yi asked, "How is Nanchang County now?"

The county magistrate patted his chest and assured him, "Your Excellency, rest assured, we will distribute porridge before the imperial relief grain arrives, and distribute it to all towns and villages as soon as it arrives. The distribution will be based on the severity of the disaster, and we will also send soldiers to help repair houses. It is already underway, but we may be a little slow due to a shortage of manpower."

It's fine to go slowly; it's hot, so you can sleep anywhere. Su Yi then asked, "Which town is the worst affected?"

"In Heshui Village, Heshui County, more than ten people died. They have all been buried far away as instructed. The collapsed houses in the village are being repaired. The survivors are living in the village and are all being supplied with food."

"Come with me and take a look."

The magistrate said, "Sir, it is getting late. Why don't you have dinner and rest first, and go tomorrow?"

Su Yi thought about it and realized there was no rush; going tomorrow would be the same. So he said, "Let's go then."

The magistrate led the group to the yamen and served them simple, home-cooked meals. He apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, sir. Money is needed everywhere these days, and the yamen's expenses have been reduced."

Su Yi knew the magistrate wanted to impress him, but he didn't expose him. "It's alright, this is fine."

After resting for a night, I went to Heshui Town early the next morning, planning to explore the town first before visiting the villages near the county seat.

In Heshui Village, the Liu family's gate was tightly shut, and the horse in the yard was nowhere to be seen.

Everyone in the village is talking about it: "Who do you think stole the Liu family's daughter?"

"I don't know. I haven't been out for several days. I went out yesterday and haven't come back since. I still haven't found them today."

"Such a beautiful child, I'm afraid we'll never find her again, it's so pitiful."

"Shh, don't say anything. The village chief has given instructions not to mention this today."

"Yes, yes, yes..."