Chapter 603: Buying Life with Money

"It's over, it's really a plague. Zhili, you, what you said at the beginning was actually true. Why didn't I believe you? It's over now. When the plague comes, the death of a whole county is the least of it. My position as an official has come to an end. Why are you still......"

The prefect said this as he walked towards Meng Zhili. After he finished speaking, he saw that the other county magistrates were also here.

"To see the prefect—"

Several people saluted together.

"Alright, alright, we can't even save our lives, so why bother being polite? When the time comes, you, me, and him, no one can escape, we'll see each other in the underworld."

The prefect was furious when he saw that they showed no sign of urgency.

"Don't worry, sir. I just sent the letter to your house. Didn't you receive it?" Meng Zhili said, pursing his lips.

"Letters? What letters? I receive so many letters every day. I don't have time to read them all. If you have anything to say, say it in front of me now."

He sat in the main seat with a familiar look.

The four county magistrates and one county magistrate were all standing in front of him.

As long as he didn't let them sit, they had to stand.

Perhaps he was anxious or angry, he never spoke and asked them to sit down.

"I have learned that there is a medicine that can cure the plague, and it has been tried. As for the medicine, I have already sent it to several gentlemen, and also sent another copy to the prefect. Ruling Prefecture has become like this, I am afraid that Yingnan Prefecture will not be much better.

Please forgive me for being so nosy. You'd better write a letter to the prefect of Yingnan Prefecture as soon as possible, and don't forget to remind the inspector. The sooner you do it, the more people you can save. If the higher-ups investigate, you can keep your official position, and maybe even get credit for your achievements."

You know, there was a rumor before that the governor of the province of Xishu was preparing to resign. If he resigned, who would take over?

Meng Zhili did not say it explicitly, but to be able to become a prefect, one must be a smart person, and the latter stood up happily.

"Zhi Li, are you serious?"

"What I said is true." Meng Zhili clasped his hands together and bent his waist.

"Okay, okay, if I escape this disaster, I will come to thank you in person. Don't worry, I won't take away your credit. You discovered the prescription, so the credit is naturally yours."

When the prefect was speaking, Meng Zhili did not interrupt.

......

Before he learned that someone from the imperial city had investigated the matter, he absolutely could not bring his goddaughter to the world. He could not trust even the prefect. If the news got to Enxin Province and the inspector sent assassins, he would be in danger, but his goddaughter must not be in danger.

Another five days passed.

Yaozhou County has almost become a deserted city.

The county town originally had only 30,000 people, but after being killed and burned, only a few thousand people were left.

Corpses or burnt gray bones can be seen everywhere in the city.

It's simply impossible to start, it's terrifying to look at.

It's like purgatory on earth.

"What's going on? Is anyone else infected?" asked Zhang Zhixian, who was enjoying his beautiful concubine in the county government office, while burping.

"In reply to your Excellency, every household in the city was searched. Anyone with a cough or a red face, as well as useless old people, were dragged out and burned. I also took advantage of the situation to search for some gold and silver treasures.

The amount is so huge that these people can't even explain where they got it from. They must have stolen it. I have already punished them. As for the money, it will naturally be handed over to the adults to deal with."

The one who replied was Zhang Zhixian's confidant.

He has always been domineering in the city.

He never paid for food and drink in restaurants, but this time, under the pretext of searching for infected people, he pretended to drag away everyone in every restaurant, even if they were not infected. Unless they were offered money to buy the lives, fifty taels of silver for a life, or if they didn't have money, the house deeds and land deeds would be fine. No money? Then they would all be burned as if they were infected with the plague!

When we got to the merchant's house, the price had gone up again, five hundred taels of silver for a life.

What’s worse, he would burn the people and take away all their money, including the land and houses.

This man kept half for himself and gave the other half to Zhang Zhixian.

Only half of it is more than the empty treasury.

"Oh, really? How much money in total?" Zhang Zhixian was not short of money at all. Since he became an official, he had extorted too much from the people. Even the taxes in Yaozhou County were much higher than those in other places.

"Six hundred thousand taels of silver, fifty thousand taels of gold, countless jewels and ornaments, countless paintings and calligraphy, countless houses and fields..."

"Wow, that's quite a lot. Put it in my backyard. You did a good job. I'll give you five hundred taels as a reward. Go and get it yourself." Zhang Zhixian gave him a rare look.

Seems to be very satisfied with his plundering behavior.

"I dare not. Five hundred taels is too much. I only want five taels. I can do things for you, sir. Even if I don't have a penny, I am willing to serve you."

I have to say that he coaxed Zhang Zhixian very well.

As a result, the reward for silver was increased from 500 taels to 1,000 taels.

Zhang Zhixian had no idea that the subordinate he was rewarding was as rich as he was.

"Okay, you can leave now. Don't bother me if you have nothing to do. My beloved concubine, let's go to bed. Serve me well. You can choose any jewelry you want."

Drive away subordinates.

Zhang Zhixian held his concubine's slender waist and walked towards the bedroom.

"Master, what should Madam do? She will be angry if she sees me picking first."

The beautiful concubine acted coquettishly, and her voice was like that of a fox spirit, which attracted Zhang Zhixian's heart.

"Her? A yellow-faced woman, I won't give it to her. You are the only one allowed to choose. Of course, you have to serve me first, the master. Do you understand?"

"Well, Master is the best to me—"

She lowered the curtain beside the bed, took out a medicine bottle from under the pillow, poured out two pills, and stuffed them into Zhang Zhixian's mouth.

"Don't forget to take your medicine, old man."

"Of course I have to eat it, otherwise how can I play with you, hahaha."

For three days and three nights, he did not leave the room, and had the maid bring him food and drink.

Until one night four days later.

Zhang Zhixian, who was half asleep, suddenly felt a chill on his neck. Thinking the window was not closed, he cursed angrily.

"Xiao Cui, why didn't you close the window? Believe it or not, I will kill you!"

After cursing, he turned over and slept inside.

However, as soon as he moved, he felt a sharp pain in his neck.

“Ouch—”

Zhang Zhixian screamed in surprise. When he opened his eyes, he saw five men in black standing in front of him, staring at him.

And on his neck, there was a sword.

In the candlelit room, the sword seemed particularly sharp and reflected light. The light stung his eyes and made him shed two tears.

"You, who are you?" Zhang Zhixian trembled with fear.

The beautiful concubine beside him had been tied up with her mouth gagged and was kneeling on the ground.

"He's the one who wants to kill you." The leading man's voice was like ice and snow in winter, freezing cold.

"I, I have money. I'll give you silver. No, no, no, I'll give you gold. Please spare me. Please, kind man, let me go."

Zhang Zhixian was shaking more and more violently and even wet his pants.