Shen Xi ultimately decided to go with Song Zhen to persuade Feng Tao.

The ruler must take precedence; at this moment, she needs to make herself known to the public to better secure her future rule.

Along the way, we passed through the jungle and came back to the road we had taken to the mountains. Here, the number of refugees was sparse, and it was difficult to see large groups of refugees anymore.

"Commander, the drought is getting worse and worse. Even the jungle where we are staying is becoming less and less green, and fewer and fewer refugees are surviving and escaping here."

Di Yingxue was essentially her personal secretary; she would report any problems to Chen Xi.

Chenxi sighed. The disaster victims in the north wanted to flee south, but little did they know that war had broken out in the south. Many people, in order to avoid the war, began to think about fleeing north.

But where could they truly find peace? The people, cut off from all information, had no idea.

Di Yingxue took out a honey candy and handed it to Chen Xi.

"Where did it come from?" Sugar was so precious at this time.

"Yesterday, Zhao Rong led his men to discover a nest of wasps, disturbed the nest, and harvested honey. Li Qin just made some candy and gave it to me, saying that the commander could eat it anytime on the road to replenish his energy."

Shen Xi smiled wryly. Even if she liked sweets, she didn't need to be pampered like a treasure all the time!

Candy! That's for luring children.

Seeing Di Yingxue's eager and expectant gaze, she could only gulp it down in one go.

It's sweet, a kind of sweetness that's hard to describe.

It's been so long since I've eaten something so sweet.

The allure of a piece of candy is magical; once you've eaten one, you want two.

After feeding her two pieces, Ke Di Yingxue carefully put them into her pocket and treasured them as if they were the most precious treasure in the world.

Chenxi suddenly recalled a story from the past: a bowl of braised pork was a delicacy in times of war. But in later, peaceful times, braised pork had become a common food, and many people had begun to eat vegetarian or lean meat.

The thought of braised pork made Chenxi's mouth water even more. It had been almost two months since she'd had a proper meal!

Di Yingxue chuckled. The leader usually appears very mature and reliable in his work, with everything planned out, but sometimes he can be quite adorable.

When the 1.9-meter-tall Feng Tao appeared on the not-so-high West Gate, Chen Xi looked up and sized him up: a northern man with a dark red face, looking weathered and worn.

Around thirty years old.

Song Zhen stepped forward first, cupped his hands, and called out, "Feng Tao, do you still recognize me?"

Feng Tao came after hearing that more than a hundred people had appeared at the West Gate. His conflict with Wang Datong at the North Gate was not over yet. Wang Datong was too hateful and had killed many local residents and refugees who were unwilling to submit to him.

Once he seizes all the city gates, he'll lock Wang Datong up and beat him to death, avenging the magistrate!

He certainly knew Song Zhen.

Without any special formalities, he simply cupped his hands in greeting, but replied loudly and excitedly, "Magistrate Song, it's you! You're still alive! That's wonderful!"

Song Zhen was surprised by the other party's excitement, as if he were his savior.

As Feng Tao spoke, he ordered someone to open the flimsy city gate: "Quickly let Magistrate Song in!"

Song Zhen waved his hand and said loudly, "Feng Tao, don't open the door yet. I need to ask you something first."

Feng Tao paused, his hand that was about to open the door froze, and the person who was about to open the door also stopped moving.

Feng Tao still shouted loudly, "County Magistrate Song, please feel free to ask me anything."

Song Zhen asked directly, "Has anyone in the county town contracted the plague?"

Feng Tao's dark red face revealed an abnormal underlying condition, but his voice remained loud: "I don't know what kind of plague it is, but many people have fevers, and there is a lack of medical care and medicine. Many people have died."

Fang Chenyan approached Chenxi. He had excellent eyesight and had already noticed the man standing on the dilapidated city wall, which was more than two meters high, looking unwell.

"Sir, it seems that Feng Tao has contracted the epidemic."

Shen Xi was still stunned when she saw the dilapidated city wall that was only two meters high. She searched through the original owner's memories and found that in this era, the city walls of ordinary county towns were only five or six meters high, which she thought was a bit short. But when a city wall that was more than two meters high appeared in front of her, she was still stunned.

With such low walls and in such a dilapidated state, they certainly weren't meant to defend against enemy troops; they could only hold off some honest civilians.

Fang Chenyan's words snapped her out of her daze, and she carefully observed Feng Tao's complexion.

That's definitely not normal. That dark red color shouldn't be that intense on a normal day, so it must mean the fever is quite high.

As expected, this guess was confirmed. Feng Tao did not hide anything from Song Zhen: "Not only have other people had fevers, but I and several of my confidants have also had fevers. Is this really a plague?"

We had speculated about the plague before, but no one wanted to think that way. Even the most ignorant people knew how serious the plague was.

When Song Zhen nodded and confirmed that it really was a plague, Feng Tao and his confidants' expressions changed. Their suspicions had become reality, and it was a cruel truth.

"Magistrate Song, then you shouldn't go into the city, lest you catch the virus."

Song Zhen pointed at Chen Xi: "Don't be afraid, this is my newly recognized leader, our leader. She can cure the plague."

Feng Tao looked at Chen Xi with a puzzled expression...

Is this tiny little girl a cure for the plague? Or is she a leader?

Song Zhen emphasized again: "She is indeed our leader, and she is followed by a thousand people. Don't you believe me?"

“I naturally believe what Magistrate Song says.”

Since Magistrate Song said so, it must be true. Without saying a word, Feng Tao immediately expressed his willingness to follow Song Zhen and join Shenxi's ranks.

Shen Xi was stunned: She didn't say a word or put in any effort, and she just took the person in!

It seems that using the right people is much more effective than her personally taking charge.

In her previous life, she died suddenly because she was too worried and overworked, and she liked to do everything herself.

She was afraid Song Zhen wouldn't be able to handle it, so she came along. Who would have thought that her presence wouldn't have any effect, and the matter would be resolved perfectly.

With a wave of his hand, Shen Xi instructed Feng Tao to lead the hundreds of sick people, as well as those suspected of having the disease, directly to the sanatorium under construction, guided by several members of the medical team.

The area is divided into observation area, isolation area, mild case treatment area and severe case treatment area.

Those without symptoms or who had not been in contact with patients were in the observation area; those who had been in contact with patients were in the isolation area; and those with mild or severe symptoms were sent to the treatment area.

The arrival of hundreds of patients and over a hundred suspected cases at once was indeed a daunting task. Fortunately, they were able to temporarily provide for themselves with food, and those with milder conditions were able to take care of each other.

Shenxi allocated more than 100 people to assist the sanatorium.

Initially, some people were unwilling to follow Feng Tao away from the county magistrate to the mountains.

Feng Tao directly ordered that those who were unwilling be expelled from the team and left to fend for themselves.

At that time, most people were just trying to survive. Feng Tao had obtained some grain, and by following him, they still had a chance to live.

Xie Aixia from the cleaning department angrily threw down her shovel: "Is Chenxi trying to kill me with exhaustion?!"