Wang Zheng's position as the prefect of the border town has remained unchanged for several years, which is also Hua Luan's intention. If he were promoted to prefect, he would definitely have to move to Beining to live. However, Pingyang County is a military stronghold, and the real power of guarding a region is no less than that of a prefect.

"Following the floods in Jiangnan, a plague has ravaged the land. The lives of the people are more precious than a thousand pieces of gold; the harm of the plague is greater than that of a fierce tiger. In recent times, the plague has spread rampantly throughout the countryside, and the people have suffered greatly. The Prefect, mindful of the plight of the people, hereby issues this proclamation to inform them of the severity of the epidemic and to clarify the essentials of epidemic prevention. It is hoped that everyone will unite as one to overcome this difficult time."

First, avoid contact with people from Jiangnan.

"Secondly, Fengyuelou, together with the Huo, Xu, Hou, and Zhou families, will provide lime for the people of the border town to receive in fixed quantities each month according to their household registration. If refugees have arrived in the border town, the lime will be distributed by the constables and yamen runners every month or every half month."

"Thirdly, those who contract the disease must be isolated immediately to prevent the spread of the infection. The government has set up clinics and prepared good medicines to treat the sick. Those who are sick should go for medical treatment as soon as possible and should not delay."

"Those who abide by the law and assist in epidemic prevention will be rewarded; those who violate the law and harm epidemic prevention will be punished. The government will strictly enforce the law to distinguish between good and evil."

"I hope that all my people will unite as one to fight this epidemic. Though the epidemic is fierce, people's hearts are even stronger. If we stand together, we will surely overcome this difficulty."

The constables under the jurisdiction of the border town were reading official announcements at the county gate. Huo Xiaolong and Hou Xiangxiang stood in Doctor Gu's clinic, watching the people gathered together listening attentively.

"Hopefully this plague is one we've seen before."

"I hope so," Hou Xiangxiang muttered to herself, frowning.

Doctor Gu shook his head as he looked at the two girls who had practically grown up under his nose. He thought to himself, his last disciple, that she still didn't have her own medical skills, even though the two girls had made up her mind to do something a long time ago.

Hou Xiangxiang studied medicine back then because she didn't want to be outdone by Da Nier and Huo Xiaolong.

This reason isn't entirely unacceptable, but as a doctor, it's too one-sided.

To become an excellent and outstanding doctor, talent and hard work alone are not enough; you also need a strong sense of conviction, a conviction that belongs only to you.

The refugees arrived as expected. Fortunately, winter had already fallen in the border town when they arrived, and the weather was cold. Most people, except those who had to go out to make a living, stayed at home to hibernate.

The dryness of the region, unlike that of the Jiangnan region, made the epidemic much easier to treat.

But when the girl in red stood on the city wall and saw those who were still wearing thin clothes, or even barely clothed, in the dead of winter, the scene pierced her heart. Her brows furrowed, and she methodically gave instructions to the swords behind her.

"Throw the cotton-padded coats off the city wall. Before throwing them down, have their leader report how many people there are, and have him arrange for everyone to have cotton-padded coats, regardless of age or gender. If anyone fights or tramples over them, shoot them on the spot. If there are enough cotton-padded coats, and someone is left without any clothes, go directly to their leader to settle accounts. Do not overreport or underreport."

"Yes," Huo Panlijian replied.

“Lower five large iron pots down with ropes, and let them distribute the rice, flour, oil and grain themselves. The soldiers will guard the city wall and report any injustices at any time.”

Wang Zheng couldn't manage so many things by himself. He had to find houses for these refugees, as well as a place to isolate the corpses, and he also had to take care of things in the border town.

Plagues always make some people uneasy.

Now, which soldier guarding Pingyang County doesn't know about Fengyue Tower, and who doesn't recognize Huo Xiaolong's face? He has the ability, and he has the backing. People with great power can say whatever they want.

In short, Huo Xiaolong would not allow the people behind the city walls to have any contact with the refugees.

Not even a little bit.

The refugees below the city wall suddenly erupted in commotion, and a group of people abruptly cleared a space in front of them, keeping a considerable distance from the person lying down.

"She was covered in red welts, the plague! She was carrying it with her!"

The refugee leader, who was still shouting through a megaphone to communicate with the soldiers on the city wall, immediately deflated upon seeing this situation. It was a plague! If this one person got infected, who knew how many of the people he had helped would also get infected? Pingyang County didn't even open its gates now, throwing this talking thing down from the city wall, wasn't it just to prevent people from getting sick?

"Sir, she's the only one of us who made it this far. I don't know how she survived. If possible... we can bury her or burn her body."

"First, count the number of people, then tell me how many there are. Do not overreport or underreport. We will discuss this later."

The man, whose clothes barely covered his skin, resigned himself to his fate and walked towards the group, gesturing for the people behind him to find some firewood to burn the man who had contracted the plague, as a way of making a statement to the border town government.

"Don't move!"

"Don't move!"

Seeing the refugees trying to leave, the soldiers on the city wall raised their bows and arrows at Huo Xiaolong's signal.

We can't let these people wander aimlessly in the deep mountains. If they run into a hunter or something, how can we control the plague?

"Sir, we will handle her properly, please... please... give her a way out."

The refugee leader, surnamed Wu, was originally just an ordinary man named Wu Tao from Jiangnan who made a living in the fields. He had no other choice but to lead this group of people out to escape the famine.

The more people there are, the greater the chance of survival.

If it weren't for his wife and children, he wouldn't want to care about so many people.

Huo Xiaolong picked up the megaphone and shouted.

"If I tell you not to move, then don't move. Send two of your close associates to help the woman who fainted to that side away from you. Then draw up a large area for yourselves and report the number of people in your group as instructed. You will not lack food and drink, and you will also have a place to stay."

Wu Tao couldn't quite make out the woman's face, but he felt that her voice sounded very much like that of the wives of officials, yet there was something different about it; the wives of officials spoke gently and considerately.

The woman on the city wall spoke with a strong and steady voice. Even the daughters of officials in Jiangnan were not allowed to leave their homes and show their faces. For some reason, she was able to stand on the city wall and command the soldiers.

"My name is Huo Xiaolong, daughter of the border garrison commander. I will be in charge of all your food, clothing and daily necessities."

"I don't care what you're like in Jiangnan, but in this border town, men and women have equal rights and benefits. If you want to live, you have to be obedient, understand?"

After the girl finished speaking, she raised her hand to gesture at the man, asking if he understood or not, and to give a reaction.

Wu Tao nodded.

"Understood, I understand."

The city walls of Pingyang County were very high. He had just seen them up close and found that they were built in a way he had never seen before. The soldiers guarding the city were all riddled with arrows, and there were also catapults on top. Therefore, Wu Tao did not think he could fight against the city.

Who cares who it is? Anyone who gives him a way out is his ancestor.

At this point, why bother distinguishing between men and women?