Among the crowds of people watching the excitement on the street, a group of eunuchs hurriedly walking against the flow of people, and they were still very conspicuous.

Everyone thought that the Qiao family was indeed blessed by heaven. Even when the second son of the Qiao family proposed marriage, the palace sent people to congratulate them.

Qiao Tianjing was holding Jiaojiao and frowned when he saw this scene.

Not quite right...

He walked quickly forward, exchanged a glance with Liu Fuzi, and in an instant, a smile appeared on his face, and he politely welcomed the man into the house.

As soon as he left everyone's sight, Liu Fuzi hurriedly approached Qiao Tianjing and said in a low voice:

"Mr. Minister, urgent news has come from the northern border. The emperor has summoned you and Mr. Qiao to the palace immediately!"

Jiaojiao's heart skipped a beat when she heard that. Something really happened!

Qiao Tianjing did not dare to delay and led Liu Fuzi to find Qiao Zhongguo. The two of them did not even change into their official uniforms and rode their horses straight to the palace through the back door!

This was a serious matter to be discussed in the palace, and Jiaojiao could not go with them. She could only wait anxiously for news at home.

Qiao Zhongguo and Qiao Tianjing walked all the way to the palace gate, where they met Xiao Hongda and Tan Hanchi who were rushing over. They looked at each other and felt that something was wrong.

When they arrived at the door of the imperial study, they saw that the door was wide open. Shen Yuanzhan was standing in the hall with his hands behind his back. Beside him stood an old man with white hair and beard. It was his old acquaintance, Doctor Zou.

Qiao Zhongguo and others entered the hall. Before they could salute, Shen Yuanzhan spoke in a deep voice:

"My dear ministers, there is no need to be so polite. Today, I received an urgent report from my uncle on the border. Wuding Pass is in chaos!"

Shen Yuanzhan raised his hand and handed over the secret report. Seeing this, Qiao Zhongguo hurried forward to take it.

The Wuding River served as the boundary between the Yong Dynasty and the Northern Kingdom. Wuding Pass was set up to the south of the Wuding River, where an army of 200,000 was stationed all year round.

After Shen Yuanzhan ascended the throne, he made important use of the Ren family, the Empress Dowager's maternal family.

The Empress Dowager's brother, Ren Chongyuan, was also a brave and skilled general, but because of his relationship with her, he gave up his military power and stayed in Beijing to serve as an official.

The next month after Shen Yuanzhan ascended the throne, he appointed Ren Chong as the commander of the pass and ordered him to go to Wuding Pass to take charge of military and political affairs and shoulder the important task of guarding the border.

At this time, Qiao Zhongguo had already started the secret report, and Xiao Hongda and others immediately came forward.

Everyone's eyes fell on the secret report, and after a moment, they all gasped!

The secret report said: Half a month ago, some people in Wuding City suddenly felt unwell and had a fever all over their body. No one paid attention to it at first. As a result, three or five days later, the patients developed rashes all over their bodies and had a long-lasting fever. Many old people and children died one after another.

Ren Chong felt something was wrong when he heard the news, and immediately checked the military camp. It turned out that some soldiers in the army had developed the same symptoms in the past few days!

The military doctor went to treat the patient, but his face turned pale when he saw the patient's condition. He said that the disease might be typhoid fever, which is extremely difficult to treat!

Ren Chong took measures immediately, but by the time this secret report was sent, typhoid fever had spread throughout the city and the army, with three to four out of ten people dying.

It was almost the end of the year, and the weather in the north city was freezing cold. The epidemic had not been properly addressed and countless people died, causing panic among the people of Wuding.

Ren Chong was extremely worried. He felt sorry for the suffering of the people and was afraid that the epidemic would not go away. He was also afraid that the northern country would take advantage of the people's misfortune, so he hurriedly sent a letter asking for help.

This is why Imperial Doctor Zou is also in the palace at this moment.

Qiao Zhongguo slowly put down the secret letter in his hand, his face full of shock and grief, even his breathing was extremely heavy.

When marching and fighting, soldiers eat and live together, with hundreds of thousands of people gathered in one place. The most feared thing is epidemic. Once it spreads, almost no one is spared!

Even the strong and healthy soldiers find it difficult to hold on, let alone the elderly and weak people at the border?

The secret report said that 30 to 40 percent of the victims died, and it would take at least half a month for the news to get back to the capital. I'm afraid that Wuding Pass is now a place of grief and sorrow!

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhongguo felt heartbroken!

"Your Majesty, what is your decision?"

Shen Yuanzhan exhaled slowly, looked at Doctor Zou beside him, and said in a deep voice: "Doctor Zou, tell me what you just said."

Doctor Zou looked worried and quickly replied, "There has been no cure for typhoid fever since ancient times. The way to avoid the epidemic is to rely on yourself and avoid the poison. If General Ren had followed the doctor's advice, he would have isolated the patient."

"As far as external forces can help, we can only use herbs such as Atractylodes, Angelica dahurica, and Bupleurum as supplements. If there are weak people, try to reduce fever and protect the heart meridian, but in the end..."

Having said this, Imperial Doctor Zou also shook his head sadly.

There have been epidemics in ancient times, and each time they were extremely devastating. Countless people in the medical field hoped to find a way to cure the epidemic, but - it was as difficult as climbing to the sky!

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

At this time, Qiao Zhongguo suddenly stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I would like to go to Wuding Pass to reinforce General Ren."

"Your Majesty, could you please order people to prepare Atractylodes lancea, Angelica dahurica and other things as soon as possible? As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will rush there day and night!"

This typhoid epidemic was a great disaster for the Yong Dynasty.

There are smart people in the palace. After reading the secret report, they know that the epidemic came in a strange way. If it was not a natural disaster, it must be the work of the northerners!

At this time, the Yong Dynasty was in a critical period of preparation for war. Although it had not yet reached an alliance with Nanli, the Northern Expedition was inevitable, and the three kingdoms all knew it!

The Northern Kingdom probably knew that its national power and military strength were inferior to those of the Yong Dynasty, so it took a risky tactic, struck first, and used such a heartless method!

In this case, the war between Yong Dynasty and Northern Kingdom will surely break out ahead of time. At this time, the alliance between Yong Dynasty and Nanli has not yet been reached, and Northern Kingdom can also throw out conditions to Nanli to muddy the waters!

Moreover, epidemics are the most torturous thing to people, and the Northern Kingdom chose to take action at the critical moment of the year, in order to use the epidemic to crush the morale of the soldiers guarding the pass!

If someone was unwilling to die of illness in a foreign land and took advantage of the chaos to escape from Wuding Pass, once the disease spread along the way, it would be an absolute disaster for the Yong Dynasty!

If the Northern Kingdom suddenly launches a surprise attack during this period, I am afraid that the entire Wuding Pass will suffer heavy casualties, and even the country may be lost!

Although Qiao Zhongguo had retired from the battlefield long ago, his military power in the Yong Dynasty and the Northern Kingdom was still there. You should know that the Wuding River and Wuding Pass were named after Qiao Zhongguo.

I'm afraid that Wuding Pass today has become a hell on earth. The epidemic is terrible, but the scattered people's hearts are even more terrible!

There is no doubt that Qiao Zhongguo is the stabilizing force that can stabilize people's hearts. He is the best choice to go to Wuding Pass with reinforcements and supplies!

Shen Yuanzhan had already guessed that Qiao Zhongguo had such a request.

Lord Qiao used to be the elder he admired the most, and now he is his most useful minister. As a king, he must serve the country and the people. Even though he knows that this journey is extremely dangerous, he still has to agree to Lord Qiao's request.

Thinking of this, Shen Yuanzhan secretly sighed, he stepped forward to help Qiao Zhongguo up, and said in a gentle voice:

"Qiao Aiqing, I will entrust the people of Wuding Pass and the 200,000 troops to you. This trip--"

Qiao Zhongguo shook his head and stopped Shen Yuanzhan from saying anything else.

"Your Majesty, since I am receiving your salary, I should share your worries. Moreover, the people of Wuding are in dire straits right now. I am so worried that I wish I could grow wings and travel a thousand miles a day."

"Your Majesty, please do not worry about me. I am strong and tough, and I will definitely return safely!"

Having said this, Qiao Zhongguo grinned at Shen Yuanzhan with a hint of ruffian in his smile.

Seeing this, Shen Yuanzhan was deeply grateful.

It was a blessing for the Yong Dynasty to have a Qiao Zhongguo.