Chapter 346: The Chaos in the Northwest (Part 9) [Two-in-One]
The night was dark.
Only the faint moonlight remained beneath the sky.
Half a mile outside the village, a defensive line of wooden barricades and fences formed the city, with two soldiers guarding it every five steps. There were three such defensive lines in total, preventing people from the epidemic area from entering or leaving.
Every night, the soldiers had to keep their spirits up even more.
The epidemic zone was shrouded in the shadow of death, filled with despair and deathly silence. Not to mention the common people and slaves, even the soldiers and doctors sent here could not withstand the pressure.
Many people tried to escape under the cover of night in order to survive—escaping this place would offer a glimmer of hope, but staying would inevitably lead to contracting the disease! Once infected, they would become unconscious within a few days, followed by convulsions in their limbs and cyanosis of their skin.
Some patients, in just seven or eight days, transformed from obese individuals into emaciated, dried-up corpses, their bodies bluish-black and bruised, as if drained of their life force by some vengeful ghost. Their expressions were ferocious at the time of death, their eyeballs almost bulging out of their sockets.
Some patients vomit blood continuously after the onset of the illness, their cheeks become thin and sunken, but their bodies swell rapidly as if inflated, stretching their skin to almost transparent. If any external force is applied, that taut skin will burst open on the spot, and flesh and blood will spurt up to the roof beams.
A doctor who was nearby was hit directly by the blast.
The foul-smelling internal organs were thrown all over his face.
The next day, the doctor also developed symptoms of the epidemic and died soon after. His body was carried out to an open space outside the house.
There is a shortage of manpower in the epidemic area. At first, soldiers helped carry and bury the bodies, but in the last two days they have been too busy to keep up.
"Halt!" The soldier on guard noticed the commotion, gripping his longbow, and shouted a stern warning, "Go back!"
The person who came ignored him and wouldn't listen.
He warned again.
"I'll say it again—go back!"
An arrow landed on the man's fleeing path.
It was right next to the other person's toes.
At this moment, the person finally responded.
His voice broke as he pleaded, "Please, soldiers, let me out! I'm not sick! I'm not infected! Look, I have no symptoms at all! I'll die if I stay here! Let me go! You're treating human life like dirt!"
The two soldiers on guard remained unmoved.
The person holding the bow is preparing to pull the bowstring back forcefully.
If the person remains obstinate, the next arrow will be aimed at the head or heart, killing them instantly!
Fifteen minutes later.
Someone came and dragged away the still-warm bodies and loaded them onto a wooden cart. There were already three or four bodies of varying ages on the cart, all with fatal wounds to the head and chest. As the cart rolled, blood dripped from the gaps in the wooden planks.
Similar scenarios occur several times every night.
The soldiers' expressions changed from initial reluctance to indifference; their eyes were numb, their movements mechanical, repeating the process of drawing their bows and releasing arrows.
It was as if the arrow had not killed a living person, but one or two insignificant animals.
They also did not want to shoot unarmed civilians.
But judging from the sheer power of this epidemic, it's clear that it cannot be contained within the defenses. Once it spreads, the entire Shangnan region will fall. The death toll won't just be a few people, but tens of thousands, or even more!
No one can bear such an outcome.
The soldiers held their position for several more hours.
Dawn was breaking.
The soldiers were wondering when they would get their shift change.
What was that sound?
Having spent the night on edge, his senses were dulled. He thought he heard the sound of horses' hooves? He wasn't sure until another soldier on guard duty said, "There is a sound!" As he spoke, a figure on horseback gradually came into view.
"stop!"
Another soldier is holding a spear.
The spearheads were pointed at the approaching people, and the soldiers on guard nearby also heard the commotion and were ready to come to their aid at any time.
The man said, "Let them pass!"
The soldiers wouldn't pay him any attention.
"The prefect has decreed that no one is allowed to enter or leave this area!"
"You bastard, you don't even recognize me?"
The rider was extremely anxious.
The soldiers ignored his explanation.
Although he felt the voice sounded familiar, familiarity wasn't enough to guarantee entry. To get in, one needed a warrant personally written or stamped by the prefect; they only recognized that.
Besides this, I wouldn't recognize even the Heavenly King himself!
"No entry means no entry!"
"Dare to come any closer, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"
A dozen arrows were already aimed at this man, both openly and secretly.
The visitor was furious upon seeing this.
He had arrived in such a hurry that he hadn't prepared a pass. Just as he was hesitating whether to reveal his identity with the Martial Token or force his way in, a familiar shout rang in his ears: "Stop! Everyone stop!"
The vigilant soldiers simultaneously ceased their attack.
The newcomer exclaimed with elation, "Twelfth Brother!"
The owner of the voice rode forward on horseback.
"Ninth Brother?"
Chao Lian, who was called "Twelfth Brother", could hardly believe his eyes. How could his Ninth Brother have become like this?
These two are Gu Ren's sworn brothers.
One is in the ninth row, and the other is in the twelfth row.
Xing Jiu had a pointed, monkey-like face, and looked like a mean-spirited person who was not a good person. His thick, unkempt beard almost covered his entire face. His long hair was blown into a mess by the wind, and he was only wearing an undergarment.
"Ninth Brother, what happened to you???" Seeing the state of Ninth Brother after being robbed, Chao Lian was shocked and speechless for a moment.
"Is my elder brother there?"
Chao Lian said, "Yes!"
Literary minds and scholars are protected by literary spirit.
Staying in the epidemic area is not very risky.
With manpower scarce in the epidemic area, Gu Ren had no choice but to go there to help and also to keep an eye on things to prevent any chaos.
"Quick! Take me to see my elder brother!"
Chao Lian waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to open the entrance.
These soldiers were his personal retainers, and naturally obeyed military orders. The two brothers didn't waste any words, spurring their horses at full gallop, and finally arrived at their destination after a long and arduous journey.
A temporary treatment center separated from the epidemic area by only a low wall.
Unlike the deathly silence of the epidemic zone, which resembled a living hell, the temporary shelter was a bit more lively, though everyone seemed to be in a hurry.
Before the two brothers even got close, they heard a heated debate coming from inside the house; the voices sounded familiar.
One of them was agitated: "Control? Control? This has been the talk for over half a month. When have we ever actually controlled it? A true man makes a decisive decision! Only by withdrawing from these two locations and sealing off the entire territory can we ensure the safety of Shangnan. Sixth Brother, do you know how many people have been running away these past few days? We can defend against it for a while, but can we keep an eye on it forever? If even one person escapes, Shangnan is finished!"
The psychological stress brought about by the epidemic is not only unbearable for doctors and ordinary people, but also for them.
These are all secondary; the most important thing is that the spread of this vicious epidemic will affect even more innocent civilians. Unfortunately, his sixth brother refuses to give up and continues his futile efforts.
In his opinion, one should give up when it's time to give up!
“Yes, eldest brother, sixth brother, what the third brother said was a bit harsh, but he was thinking of the bigger picture… The epidemic has only been going on for a short time, and more than half of the two villages are infected, even more than three hundred of the soldiers we brought have been infected…”
Not every soldier has martial aura protecting them.
Most of them are ordinary people, just physically strong, and unable to keep the disease out.
Several people shared their opinions one after another. Even if they didn't give up now, the remaining people would all die in seven or eight days. The natives in the epidemic area were already mostly infected; the new cases were all soldiers or slaves brought to work.
Persistence has become meaningless.
One person even went so far as to suggest massacring the entire village and burying the bodies.
Gu Ren and his companion both turned ashen-faced.
But he couldn't bring himself to reprimand these sworn brothers.
When they learned that Gu Ren was going to enter the epidemic area, they were the first to respond to the call, risking their lives and working tirelessly to help, but their efforts could not stop the rampant spread and sweep of the epidemic.
"Brother, make a decision soon!"
Gu Ren's voice was hoarse: "This matter—"
Before he could finish speaking, Chao Lian brought in Lao Jiu.
"Big brother, I'm here!"
Gu Ren's brow twitched when he saw Lao Jiu.
Everyone was surprised by Lao Jiu's appearance.
To prevent the epidemic from causing trouble, they brought one-third of their troops to the epidemic area, while the remaining two-thirds were stationed in various places in Shangnan, where Lao Jiu and a few others were responsible for guarding the area.
"Ninth Brother, what brings you here?" Upon seeing the Ninth Brother's attire, her lips twitched slightly. "What are you—"
Tear!
Without a word, the Ninth Brother tore the crumpled dried mustard greens undergarment to shreds. The tearing sound drew everyone's attention, and they all turned to him with surprised and puzzled looks, forgetting their argument. He reached down and untied the long strip of cloth that had been tied around his waist, unable to hide his elation: "I received some news last night and rushed to bring it to my eldest brother! Sixth Brother, look, it's definitely what you wanted!"
Gu Ren and Lao Liu exchanged a glance.
He took the item, still warm from Lao Jiu's body.
One of them was a letter.
The inscription reads "To Brother Gu Ziyi, Your Kindness".
The handwriting was flamboyant and unorthodox, unlike anything Gu Ren was familiar with.
"Whose letter?"
Gu Ren asked questions as he disassembled the package.
Lao Jiu said, "Who else could it be but the River Governor?"
He Yin?
Gu Ren immediately thought of Shen Tang.
Upon opening it, it was indeed written by Shen Youli.
Shen Tang thoughtfully considered that Gu Ren was anxious and didn't have much patience to listen to her pleasantries, so she got straight to the point in the letter, stating her purpose.
In short, the same epidemic also occurred in Shentang, but because of good luck, it was discovered and controlled early, and they even stumbled upon some practical treatment experience.
Fortunately, the situation in Heyin is currently stable.
She thought of her fellow sufferer, Gu Ren, who was far away, and how they had formed an alliance to fight the enemy together. So she had her trusted subordinates copy a prescription and medical record, along with various epidemic prevention measures, hoping it would be of some help to Gu Ren.
Gu Ren read it quickly, taking ten lines at a glance.
My hands were trembling.
The others were also scratching their heads in curiosity.
Guess the contents of the letter and Shen Tang's intentions.
finally--
Gu Ren slammed his hand on the table.
Overwhelmed with emotion, his fingers trembled uncontrollably as he exclaimed "Good!" three times in a row!
"Brother, what exactly is written inside?"
Gu Ren managed to calm himself down.
"There's hope! Hahaha, there's hope!"
The letter circulated among the people.
Some people were excited, while others were skeptical.
"Brother, is what Shen Tang said true?"
Gu Ren said, "If it were Wu Zhaode who said it, I would believe it at most three-tenths of the time, but I believe Shen Youli!"
Apart from the letter, the handwriting in the other documents is that of another person.
The document details dozens of key points for epidemic prevention, such as dividing areas, arranging patients according to the severity of their illness, finding and killing rat carcasses, boiling water, burning patient corpses, and burning clothing and utensils that patients have come into contact with. Severe patients can be kept alive using either gentle or forceful methods, while the treatment of mild and moderate patients can be based on medical records, with adjustments made to the prescription dosage.
Following Shen Tang's instructions, Gu Chi also provided a combination of pictures and text to explain how to make and use masks, simple protective suits, and gloves, demonstrating Shen Tang's unique thoughtfulness in every detail.
Most importantly, this epidemic is actually a combination of "epidemic disease" and "Gu worms." The former can be treated with medicine, but the latter can only be saved by drawing out the Gu worms. Once the Gu worms lay eggs, the host's vital energy and blood will be drained, and there will be no hope of recovery. Action must be taken quickly!
Gu worms?
This thing is familiar to everyone.
Since returning from Sibao County, they have all been worried about the thirteenth prince's health, taking turns to help Shao Chong subdue the Gu worms inside his body. The process was extremely painful, and Shao Chong struggled on the brink of death several times. Fortunately, everything is developing in a positive direction.
"Thirteen was harmed by the Gu worm, and now another plague caused by the Gu worm has appeared. Who is secretly harming us?" Some hot-tempered people slammed their hands on the table and smashed it.
Gu Ren also thought of this.
It is suspected that someone secretly orchestrated this scheme to harm him.
As for who this enemy is, it is currently unclear.
but--
Everything you do leaves a trace.
Gu Ziyi will remember this debt!
If he catches me, I will repay him tenfold or a hundredfold!
"Big brother, sixth brother, are these methods really effective?"
The others are fine, but the cremation of corpses...
To be honest, I can't really accept it.
The person who wrote these things was worried that people wouldn't follow them, so he repeated the important things three times.
Gu Ren hardened his heart: "Burn!"
Those not yet buried should be burned.
Even those already buried must be dug up and burned.
Now that things have come to this, they have no other choice.
Gu Ren's usual amiable demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold and ruthless gaze.
"Now, pass down the order—everyone who sees a rat must kill or burn it! Drink only boiled water; anyone who drinks raw water will be flogged thirty times and publicly shamed! If there isn't enough firewood, even if it means demolishing houses and burning belongings, we must boil water. Even if all of that is burned, we'd rather die of thirst than touch a single drop of raw water! Sixth brother, send people to move all the patients to one place, and isolate everyone who has been in contact with the patients in an observation area!"
The sixth brother bowed and accepted the order, saying, "Yes, sir!"
"12. Dispatch manpower to make masks and other supplies."
Chao Lian accepted the order: "Yes, sir!"
Gu Ren continued to order: "Tenth Brother, send men to move the bodies. Dig them up three feet into the ground, make sure not a single one is left behind, and burn them all! Anyone who obstructs or refuses to leave after being persuaded shall be killed!"
Then they sent people to clean up the area.
No corner or nook should be overlooked.
The common people were forced to bathe and cleanse themselves, and anyone who refused was subjected to the punishment of having their head shaved. This punishment was not particularly lethal, but it was extremely humiliating.
The usually kind and mild-mannered Gu Ren displayed an unusually strong and unyielding attitude this time, brooking no resistance! His brothers, who always followed his lead, had no objections. Even if they did object, it was to Shen Tang's epidemic prevention strategy, not to Gu Ren.
Gu Ren followed the instructions exactly.
A similar situation also occurred at Tianjin Tianhai.
However, Tianhai was the last place to discover the epidemic, giving it ample time to prepare, and it was brought under control as soon as it began to spread. On the third day, they received a strategy guide shared by Shen Tang. Before the common people of Tianhai could even begin to fear, the epidemic was already under control.
Looking at the intelligence report from Shangnan, Wu Xian felt a chill run down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat: "Qin Qing, we owe you a huge favor this time!"
乛乛
When you clicked into your bookshelf today, did you see "Retreat the Emperor" pop up?
Hehe, this recommended spot was won by Shiitake Mushroom in a lucky draw last month using monthly tickets.
With hands on hips, righteous and self-righteous
What's wrong with female-oriented content?
Books written by female authors can still be published, as long as the author blushes!
I'll wait for Shiitake Mushroom to go out and lose some weight, then I'll come back and continue writing.
P.S.: I feel like updating to 10,000 words a day is a bit of a stretch, but 8,000 words a day is definitely a sure thing!
PPS: You know what? This afternoon I had to outwit and outmaneuver Yingying to resist her claws and cuteness overload, and bravely and firmly defend my keyboard.
(End of this chapter)
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