A soldier waved his hands at the child and said, "Go away! You are sick but still moving forward! Go away..."
The little boy shrank his neck. He wanted to say that he was not sick, but out of fear, he walked away.
Seeing the child leave, the soldier who was chasing him away burst into laughter: "What a little fool! He even wants to help carry firewood!"
"They are all fools..." The soldier pouring the kerosene said without even looking up, "They cut and picked up all this firewood."
Those people had no brains and no memory and believed whatever they heard. Ever since the court announced that the plague was a punishment from heaven brought about by Bian's army and promised to cure them, these people had nothing but gratitude towards the court.
Some people were so sick that they could hardly walk, but they still had to kowtow to them every time they saw them. They were as thin as firewood, but they still diligently helped them collect firewood.
But they didn't know that these firewoods were not used to boil water and cook food for them, but to cook them.
"You've all raised donkeys, right? They look pretty much the same..." The soldier pouring the kerosene continued in a tone of self-awareness, "Donkeys are easier to raise than horses, more docile than horses, and more hardworking than horses... When I was a child, my family raised one. It was very human-like. When my father went to work in the mountains, it would go home by itself and fetch water and food for my father to take up the mountain. Later, the donkey got old and we wanted to kill it for meat. My father took a knife to kill the donkey, and guess what happened? It didn't even try to hide, but just stood there looking at us, and it fell down when it was almost bleeding dry... Isn't that stupid!"
The two soldiers next to him laughed.
There was a young soldier who didn't want to laugh. He didn't find it funny. Instead, he felt that the donkey was pathetic and pitiful and didn't deserve to be mocked and teased like this. But if he said such words out loud, he would become a joke.
The world is often like this, especially in today's world. Many times he can't tell how to judge right from wrong.
But looking through the cracks in the shed at the ignorant people, he couldn't help but ask, "But... aren't the people sent by the court to treat them about to arrive? Why must they..."
"Treatment?" The soldiers around him sneered, "What can we use to treat them? If we really want to settle them all, there will be at least 20,000 to 30,000 people. How can we afford their daily food and medicine? Our military pay is tight, how can we afford to feed these useless people?"
The soldier still felt uncomfortable: "But General Xiao has instructed..."
This time, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by someone with a cold look: "Don't forget, our coach's surname is Li."
As if afraid that the apparently stupid young soldier might not understand, the speaker added: "He is the saint's nephew!"
Isn’t the saint’s attitude tilt obvious enough?
In the current situation, if you just follow orders, you won't go wrong.
Another companion patted the young soldier on the shoulder and "comforted" him, "God punishes the dead, there is nothing we can do about it..."
As for the thorough investigation afterwards, it was naturally all Bian Chunliang's fault.
"Now the Bian army is about to run out of luck. Once we win the battle, we will return to the capital cleanly to receive our reward..."
When a person dies cleanly, things will naturally be clean too.
The soldier lowered his head and looked at his palms, which were dirty from carrying firewood, with a confused look on his face... Was it clean? After everything was ready, a soldier lit a torch.
At this time, the little boy who had just left came over with an old man. The old man was stunned when he saw the torches, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Excuse me for asking, I wonder what the soldiers are doing..."
He looked to be in his fifties or sixties, and was wearing a tattered long gown. Several soldiers recognized him. He had some prestige among the common people. It was said that before Bian's army entered Yuezhou City, he was also a wealthy and charitable man.
Most of the people living in these rows of shacks came here with him.
Seeing that the old man had clearly realized something but was still trying to please him, the soldier who had just talked about the donkey joked, "Old man, we are just trying to help you heal your illness!"
While he was speaking, the soldier holding the torch had lowered it and lit the dry wood doused in kerosene.
The fire spread with a loud bang. The old man was horrified and asked in panic, "Why are you doing this, sirs? This cannot be allowed!"
In a hurry, the old man rushed forward and tried to grab the torch. The smiling soldier stopped smiling and kicked the old man back to the ground.
The little boy burst into tears out of fear: "... Mr. Zuo!"
The old man said to the little boy, "Xiaoao, hurry up...let everyone run!"
Upon hearing this, the little boy turned and ran away, crying and shouting, "The general has set the fire, Mr. Zuo wants everyone to run!"
"Old bastard!" The soldier stepped on the old man's back, drew his sword and said, "Keep guard, anyone who dares to run away, kill them all, and throw them back to burn them all!"
The old man who was being stepped on cried and begged, "Please be kind, all the soldiers. These are innocent people who have suffered. There are also many children who have not been infected with the disease..."
No one paid attention to his words, and the spreading fire quickly turned the shacks built on three sides into a sea of fire.
Hundreds of people were accommodated here alone, and a few dozen steps away, there was another gathering hut where people were already preparing to light a fire.
The people cried and tried to flee, but there were soldiers guarding the exit with swords raised, like the Yama King guarding hell.
The deputy general sent by Li Xian was watching from the side. At this time, his men came to report that the imperial envoy had arrived.
The deputy general turned around and saw that there was indeed a convoy of carriages and horses approaching. He frowned slightly and took a few steps forward to meet them.
These imperial envoys arrived faster than expected, and came directly to the place where the people were resettled. They were more attentive than he thought.
The leader was Song Xian. When he saw the fire ahead, his face changed immediately. He got off his horse, walked forward quickly, and asked immediately, "What happened?"
The deputy general glanced at his official uniform and said in a friendly tone, "Don't worry, sir. It's just that the shed accidentally leaked."
Song Xian had a hunch that something was wrong: "Then why is no one putting out the fire?"
He looked closely and saw some people crying and running away, but they were blocked by the fire. His mind buzzed and he blurted out: "...Are you going to set fire to these people?!"
The deputy general's face darkened: "My lord, be careful with your words!"
Song Xian was about to say something else when Fang Ting, the Minister of Rites, who had just gotten off the carriage, came over. The deputy general raised his hand and saluted Fang Ting: "Greetings, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy. I am Yan Chenglu, the deputy general under the command of Duke Hanguo."
The purpose of this self-introduction is self-evident.
Fang Ting frowned quickly, and then immediately signaled to his subordinates beside him to slow down the medical team at the rear and not rush to approach this place.
This action made Song Xian's eyebrows jump wildly: "Master Fang, they are setting fire and killing the infected people!"
Fang Ting raised his hand and interrupted Song Xian.
The deputy general named Yan glanced at the young official with a sneer, bowed to Fang Ting, turned around and walked away.
Song Xian was extremely anxious: "Minister Fang..."
"Censor Song, do you know what kind of imperial decree have we come here on?" Fang Ting looked at Song Xian and said, "To quell the epidemic and stop the spread of the plague."
The anxiety in Song Xian's heart suddenly seemed to be frozen.
What does this mean?
Is the way to quell the epidemic to kill everyone?
"Although this method..." Fang Ting sighed, "it is the safest."
Moreover, this place is under the jurisdiction of the military, and Duke Hanguo is the saint's nephew. If they quarrel with Duke Hanguo's subordinates because of this, it is not a good choice and it does not make much sense.
"Sure..." Song Xian's eyes turned red with excitement, and he lowered his voice and asked, "May I ask, is this the instruction of the saint?"
Fang Ting looked at him and shook his head, with a reminder in his eyes: "Song Yushi, you and I both know that the saint has never given such instructions--"
The saints just asked them to solve the plague.
Song Xian understood suddenly - the sage would not express it explicitly, but there would be no shortage of ministers who would try to guess the sage's intentions and act accordingly... In this way, no matter what the outcome, the sage would never make a mistake.
Is this the most brilliant way to be a king?
"Song Yushi came here on his own initiative, and the Saint agreed to his request, which shows that the Saint intends to promote him..." Fang Ting sighed and reminded: "After returning to the capital to report this time, Lord Song will definitely be promoted again..."
He would be happy to give some advice to such a promising young man.
Song Xian's mind was only buzzing. Get the job done? He didn't have to do anything. Just watching these people being burned alive was enough to get the job done, right? Then this job was really "easy".
Song Xian felt the fire burning and deforming the air, and heat waves rolling in, but he felt an endless chill from the soles of his feet.
Fang Ting raised his hand and patted his shoulder, and finally said: "Sir Song is still too young... You still need to think carefully about everything and put the overall situation first."
Song Xian took a step back, lowered his eyes, raised his hand and saluted: "Thank you for your reminder, Lord Fang. I have already understood the pros and cons of this matter."
Fang Ting felt relieved and nodded, "Let's go back to the car and tell you in detail..."
As he spoke, he turned around, and Song Xian followed him back with his head lowered.
Song Xian clenched his ten fingers into a palm in his sleeves, and countless voices mixed in his mind. Official career, future, the emperor's heart, the overall situation... These are all very important. Any one of them is like a mountain, enough to smash a sixth-rank official who has no foundation in the court to pieces and be doomed.
The heat wave was burning behind him, but Song Xian still felt that every inch of his body was cold and stiff.
A shrill scream came from behind, and Song Xian's body suddenly stiffened, as if he felt a stone hit him in the face by a slingshot.
He listened again, and the cries for help became more and more frequent, like more and more stones hitting his face and body heavily - just like when he was bullied by Ming Jin in the past.
The humiliation and powerlessness I felt at that time suddenly came to my mind again.
What flashed through my mind was the image of the young crown prince riding a horse back to the capital in the past.
In the past, that person returned justice to him because he had the ability to do so, but his power is still insignificant now...
Song Xianmeng closed his eyes.
"...Lord Song!"
The officials cried out in surprise, Fang Ting looked back and saw Song Xian suddenly jumped onto the horse.
"drive!"
Song Xian drove his horse and galloped towards the direction of the fire.
Now his ability is still very limited...
But if he is unwilling to use even this tiny bit of power to seek justice for others today, even if he holds a high position in the future, he is destined to be just a figurehead!
He would not become that kind of person! The child who was tied to a tree and bullied in the past would not allow himself to become that kind of person!
"I am the imperial envoy Song Xian. The emperor has ordered that no one should be harmed by the infected people! Anyone who disobeys the order will be severely punished!"
Song Xian rode his horse and shouted, pulling off the official badge from his waist and speaking loudly.
Seeing him in his official robes, the soldiers in charge of guarding him were all panicked when they heard his words - the saint forbids killing the people with the plague? Did someone misunderstand?
Since it involved the imperial decree, no one dared to be careless. The civilians whose clothes were burnt also heard the shout and saw the soldiers hurriedly put away their swords and rushed out.
Song Xian jumped off his horse and displayed his "official authority" that he had never shown before: "Put out the fire! Save people!"
"I am here on the orders of the Emperor! Let's see who dares to cause trouble and hurt the people!"
He walked quickly and shouted, pushed away a stunned soldier, and pulled up the old man who was trampled on the ground.
The old man stood up with difficulty, tears streaming down his face: "This sir..."
While Song Xian was supporting the old man, he whispered in his ear: "Go... Go quickly!"
The old man's body stiffened for a moment, and there was even more gratitude in his eyes when he looked at Song Xian. Without even bothering to salute, he limped into the fire and directed the people to escape.
Fortunately, the sheds here were built in the open air. Although many people were injured, they had not lost their ability to move due to inhaling large amounts of smoke.
Fang Ting sighed anxiously: "How foolish... How dare you misrepresent the emperor's will!"
In this way, no matter how it ends, even if Song Xian will not be punished openly, it is impossible for him to be reused by the saint again!
After studying hard for more than ten years, your future is ruined in one day. How foolish!
Therefore, we cannot let these young and inexperienced people be placed directly in real jobs without any training or accumulation!
The deputy general named Yan cursed and tried to command the soldiers again, but the situation was chaotic and the voices were mixed. As the people kept fleeing, the situation seemed to be out of control.
Song Xian knew that he couldn't really save these people by himself, so he hurriedly grabbed a soldier who was helping the people out of the fire and tried to ask: "...Are you General Xiao Min's man?"
Sure enough, the soldier nodded repeatedly.
Song Xian hurriedly said, "Report the situation here to General Xiao immediately!"
Because he was concerned about the plague, he knew a lot about the situation here. He knew that it was Xiao Min who had taken the initiative to rescue and resettle thousands of people suffering from the plague.
The soldier was choked and said with tears in his eyes: "Someone has gone to report to the general!"
They were ordered by General Xiao to properly resettle the people, and the reason they did not stop Li Xian's men from doing this was not because they were disloyal to General Xiao. On the contrary, it was because they saw the emperor's attitude that they did not dare to make a decision for General Xiao, who was now ill.
Some people will do whatever it takes to achieve success without any scruples, while others are forced to survive in the gap between humanity and power.
Song Xian: "I'm afraid someone will intercept us. To be safe, go and report it first!"
"yes!"
Just as the soldier was about to leave, Song Xian hurriedly asked, "Wait, how many sheds like this are there?"
"...More than a dozen!" On the other side, the little boy who ran out to report the news answered the girl on the carriage, pointed forward, and cried, "From this village to that village! There are so many people!"
"Don't be afraid, don't cry!" The girl stretched out her hand to him: "Come, get in the car and lead the way, let's go together to report the news!" (End of this chapter)
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