The two countries went to war.
Every day.
Linghu Lan would receive memorials from the border.
With Guo Feng guarding the frontier, Linghu Lan felt much more at ease. Guo Feng always sought progress in battle with a steady approach, so she figured he wouldn't make any major mistakes.
only……
Misfortunes never come singly, but blessings never come in pairs.
Not long after.
A plague broke out in Yucheng.
This plague came fiercely and quickly swept through the entire city of Yu.
Linghu Lan's eyes turned red when she saw the document.
"Your Majesty, Your Regent, this plague is likely caused by evil spirits. We should exorcise them as soon as possible."
"Indeed, Your Majesty, please offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and order local monks to perform rituals to expel evil spirits, so as to prevent the plague from spreading to other places."
"Currently, the plague is only occurring in Yucheng and its surrounding areas. I believe that all the people in the surrounding areas should be moved to Yucheng to prevent panic and people from wandering around, which would only spread the epidemic further!"
A female official looked up and said, "Your Majesty, Your Regent, before this epidemic, Yu City experienced more than a month of continuous rain. In fact, there were already signs of the epidemic at the beginning. A doctor had already reported the situation to Prefect Ma Siqin of Yu City, but she refuted the doctor's claims as rumors and imprisoned him. It wasn't until the epidemic spread and broke out that Ma Siqin neglected her duties and acted arrogantly. I beg Your Majesty and Your Regent to investigate thoroughly!"
Linghu Lan's flesh was in pain.
The cause of this outbreak is not hard to guess.
Yucheng had just experienced a major battle, and being located south of the Yu River, with a warm climate and continuous rain, bacteria thrived, leading to the outbreak of the plague.
But……
"His Majesty gave Yucheng 100,000 taels of silver after the war to bury the corpses. Did Ma Siqin follow His Majesty's orders? What happened to the soldiers' bodies? Investigate! If it is found that Ma Siqin embezzled funds, execute her without exception!!!"
Linghu Lan angrily threw down the memorial, her heart filled with worry.
"Order that a convalescent home be built in Yucheng. All those infected with the epidemic shall be transferred to the convalescent home for centralized treatment. Anyone who disobeys shall be executed!"
"Allocate 500,000 taels of silver. Those who die of illness, regardless of their wealth or whether they have relatives, shall all be provided with coffins and buried deeply. Anyone found to have embezzled such funds shall be executed!"
"The original burial sites of fallen soldiers will be re-examined. If the burial depth is insufficient, the bodies will be burned and lime will be sprinkled to kill the poison from the corpses. For each family of a soldier who died for the country, a reward of fifty taels of silver will be given. A monument will be erected at the burial site, inscribed with the name of the fallen soldier, so that future generations will remember him. The burning was not a last resort, but his merits will be remembered by the people. Anyone who embezzles or disobeys orders will be executed!"
"The Imperial Medical Academy is ordered to organize doctors to rush to Yucheng to participate in the treatment. They will be provided with both financial and medical resources. Any doctor who goes to Yucheng will receive a separate reward from the court!"
"..."
One by one, government orders and measures were implemented in an orderly manner.
The courtiers were completely convinced this time.
"Your Majesty, we obey!"
After the court session ended, the officials were still discussing the matter, as they were all deeply troubled by the news of the outbreak.
On one side is war, and on the other is the pandemic.
Both are major events that are costly and exhausting, and both are quite distressing.
But the regent announced a series of measures in one breath, which immediately put everyone at ease. With a leader in mind, they were much more relaxed when carrying out their duties.
Not long after.
One measure after another reached Yucheng.
The corrupt officials, including Ma Siqin, were investigated and punished. New officials were appointed and a convalescent home and a soldiers' cemetery were established.
Led by the Imperial Medical Academy, doctors were summoned from all over the country to Yucheng, and people were recruited from various places to participate in the burial.
Everything was back on track, and there was no public resentment or riots.
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