Chapter 2613 Epidemic
Nan Yan turned and looked at him.
After a long while, he said softly: "This is what the emperor said before, that he had already arranged it, right?"
Zhu Feng looked up at her.
There was a hint of a smile in his eyes, and he said, "Tell me what I have arranged. Let me hear it."
After saying that, he continued eating.
Nan Yan held the small bowl of soup in both hands, and stopped drinking the soup. She thought seriously, even with some effort, and fished out some ideas from her brain, which had been almost a mess due to her illness for several days, and sorted them out carefully.
Then he said, "It's... water."
Zhu Feng said: "Continue."
"The Emperor went to the Yulian River several times before to inspect it. Although he brought Xue Yun with him to discuss the matter of her joining the harem, he actually went to check the direction of the Yulian River's flow."
“…”
"White Tiger City is right on the banks of the Yulian River, so it's not easy to take action."
“…”
"If we take action against them, we will also be implicated. Therefore, the emperor thought of the lower reaches of the Yulian River. The military camp where Monk is stationed draws water from the Yulian River."
Zhu Feng didn't comment, and only said: "And then?"
"Then,"
Nan Yan tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "I once patrolled the city alone for half a day and discovered that the city's water trucks were beginning to bring back large quantities of water, enough to supply the city for at least several months."
“…”
"I think the Emperor is worried that the outbreak will be difficult to control, so he wants to eliminate the possibility of the disease spreading to Handongwei from the source. That means using only clean water sources."
Zhu Feng asked, "Then how do you know that the epidemic was caused by me?"
Nan Yan said, "Because since those days, even the emperor and I can't eat too much meat at meals."
“…”
"Logically, the supplies for the Seven Guards of Guanxi are provided by Sichuan and Shaanxi. At other times, the roads might be blocked and supplies might be insufficient. However, everyone knows that the Emperor is inspecting the Handong Guards in the northwest. Unless the officials in Sichuan and Shaanxi no longer want to work, there's no way they'll be short of supplies here."
“…”
"Even if their supplies can't be delivered for the time being, Chen Zixiao is such a loyal minister and a good general. Even if we have to cut off his flesh, it will be used by the emperor. How could there be a shortage that will end up on the table of me and the emperor?"
“…”
"It is very likely that there has been a lot of consumption recently."
“…”
"Besides, it's the Emperor's expense."
Nan Yan looked at him and said seriously, "I know that the emperor, after reading history books, was very fond of the two great warriors, Wei and Huo, who served Emperor Wu. He revered them as heavenly generals and often lamented Huo Qubing's untimely death. When I was young, I once heard my grandmother and her family tell a piece of unofficial history. They said that Huo Qubing died because the Xiongnu buried dead cattle and sheep near a water source, which infected the water with an epidemic. Huo Qubing contracted the epidemic from drinking that water and eventually died young."
“…”
"The Emperor uses this method..."
Zhu Feng didn't say anything, just curled the corners of his lips.
Nan Yan opened her eyes wide: "Really!"
Zhu Feng still didn't speak, but Nan Yan looked into his eyes and knew the answer.
She sighed deeply and said, "So, when the Emperor took me to Monk's camp, he strictly controlled everyone's food and water. Even the people led by Ying Shao had to bring their own dry food and water. On the surface, it was to pretend that Monk was trying to poison them, but in reality, it was because the water they used was not drinkable."
Zhu Feng finished the food in his bowl and put down his chopsticks.
Then he said, "You, it's not like you just know it now."
Nan Yan blinked: "Huh?"
Zhu Feng said with a sullen face, "I took you to Monk's camp. When we left, did you remind Xiu Yun to be careful when drinking water?"
"Well……"
Hearing this, Nan Yan lowered her head.
Zhu Feng said with a sullen face, "You know, if Xiuyun listens and gets the meaning of your words, and tells Monk, then my plan will fail."
Nan Yan said softly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
In fact, at that time, she did not completely guess Zhu Feng's plan. She just knew that he often went to inspect the Yulian River, saw the busy water trucks in the city, and felt that there were fewer meat dishes on the table.
She vaguely felt that there might be something wrong with the water.
Later, when they returned from Monk's Camp, they saw vehicles carrying waste from the city heading towards the Yulian River, and she became more certain of her guess.
Nan Yan said softly, "Actually, I didn't mean to save her. I just knew she was pregnant and I couldn't bear it."
“…”
"The child is innocent after all."
Zhu Feng glanced at her and said solemnly, "Forget it."
“…”
"At least there's nothing wrong now." Nan Yan breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "So, have Monk and the others really withdrawn now?"
Zhu Feng said, "According to what Ying Shao said, Monk's statistics show that they lost nearly 30,000 people. Even if this number is off, it's not much. But the epidemic is different."
“…”
"He lost at least half of his troops during this expedition."
“…”
"In the next few years, he will not easily send troops."
Nan Yan hurriedly asked, "So, what about Arslan?"
“…”
"I'm afraid he won't be infected with the disease over there."
Zhu Feng glanced at her and said calmly, "He doesn't need the plague."
No need for epidemics?
When Nan Yan heard these four words, her heart moved slightly.
For some reason, these words sounded like they had a hidden meaning - if not the epidemic, then what?
But seeing Zhu Feng's mysterious look, she thought she couldn't get the answer from him. She could only hold the bowl obediently and drink the remaining warmed soup in one gulp.
She wiped her mouth and was about to get up and go back to the couch to rest for a while, when she suddenly remembered something.
She turned back to look at Zhu Feng: "By the way, Your Majesty, I have been unconscious for the past two days. Is there any news about Xue Yun?"
Zhu Feng said: "No."
"ah?"
Nan Yan opened her eyes wide: "Haven't found it yet?"
Zhu Feng glanced at her and said, "You're even more anxious than I am."
Nan Yan frowned and said in a deep voice, "I don't think about anything else. I just think that she is a weak and lonely woman walking on the grassland like this. It is inevitable that something bad will happen to her."
Zhu Feng let out a deep breath.
Judging from his expression, he was obviously not at ease either.
Everyone knows how difficult it is to travel on the grassland. Even the team he sent out needs guides and guards. Civilian caravans traveling in these places also need to hire armed guards.
She almost risked her life by leaving alone like this.
It seems that she has really been pushed into a desperate situation.
I just don't know if I can force anything out of it.
At this time, Xiao Shunzi hurried in from outside, knelt down and saluted, and said, "Your Majesty, there is news about Doctor Xue!"
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