The sudden news of Wei army anomalies shocked the still-resting Lian Yu awake. Ministers and generals debated with differing opinions. One was to have General Liu immediately lead troops to the border for interception; the other was to wait for complete Chao army surrender before deploying troops, to prevent contingencies.
Otherwise, once the main army left and the lurking Prince Jin faction caused trouble while Chao army hadn’t surrendered, they’d face enemies front and back.
Lian Yu finally decided: in two days, if Chao army didn’t surrender, Liu Shouping would lead one hundred fifty thousand soldiers ahead, must intercept the army heading to Wei territory, detain Wei Chenghui and his three sons, and if Wei Chenghui had no sufficient reason, kill him if necessary.
During these two days, Lian Jie appeared to induce Chao army surrender multiple times, stating that returning to the emperor’s command would spare them death penalty and offering food as inducement.
Inside and outside Lian Yu’s tent, the atmosphere among ministers and generals was tense – just as war ended, war began again!
By the third evening, Chao Huang sent a deputy to negotiate, demanding immunity from death for Quan and Chao.
Quan Feitong briefly met Lian Yu, saw his tightly furrowed brow, and smiled as he was shackled. Lian Yu’s expression darkened, but after consultation with his ministers, they finally agreed, imprisoning the two under heavy guard.
Qiu Jing was taken to where Grand Dowager Consort Ai and Lian Yue lived – not imprisoned but not free either, unable to come and go without imperial decree.
However, that midnight, the recently surrendered Chao soldiers suddenly developed problems – many soldiers showed fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. An urgent decree returned to the palace, and the Imperial Medical Academy urgently left the city to consult with Lian Jie.
During diagnosis, some severe cases actually died. Meanwhile, Lian Jie and others reached preliminary diagnosis – suspected plague.
At this news, all ministers and generals were greatly alarmed.
Normally, with war causing massive human and animal casualties, if encountering spring outbreak season with rotting corpses inadequately disposed of and accumulated putrid air plus triggering factors, epidemic often resulted. Though this area had experienced several major battles, corpse disposal was relatively timely. Additionally, where Chao army was located had no massive corpse accumulation. Conversely, Murong army had been constantly disposing of corpses, digging pits for burial. If epidemic were to break out, it should start from Murong army’s side.
Everyone was puzzled, but Lian Jie was meticulous. Under Lian Yu’s urgent orders, after a day and night of searching, he finally found the cause.
It turned out that at the forest where Chao army was stationed, there was a lake in the west corner – this was the middle and lower reaches of a river. Lian Jie traced upstream and found several severely decomposed corpses. Based on the deceased’s condition, they had been infected with plague before death.
Due to food shortages, Chao army had been drinking from this water source for days, even using river water to wash and cook game, thus contracting the corpse-borne virus.
Previously, Xiao’an had sent people to bring back Grand Dowager Consort Ai and Lian Yue. At this time, except for Huang Zhongyue who mysteriously disappeared from the rear of Chao camp, Liang Yida and other officials were brought back. Though prisoners, people like Liang Yida who knew how to read the wind immediately offered opinions at the urgently convened ruler-minister meeting.
It turned out that not long ago, a small town not far from the capital had suffered a fierce plague outbreak due to circumstances. The disease developed rapidly with great spreading potential. Local authorities reported to the court, the Personnel Ministry handled the matter, and Liang Yida, Gao Chaoyi, and Li Zhaoting had all rushed to the epidemic area for investigation. The court had also sent medical officials and soldiers for treatment under Lian Yu’s orders. After medical treatment and strict control, the epidemic was gradually suppressed.
Even so, over two-thirds of this town’s population died. Remaining infected were still under isolation treatment with continued deaths. The only consolation was that this fierce, terrible epidemic didn’t spread extensively – otherwise it would have been a great disaster.
Liang Yida believed these corpses likely came from this town. Though corpses of plague victims were usually burned to ashes, inevitably a few newly dead hadn’t been destroyed in time.
Details about the town’s symptoms were immediately confirmed by Gao Chaoyi – almost identical to Chao army’s current outbreak.
But corpses from the small town couldn’t walk – how did they reach this location?
Throughout the army, everyone was shocked and suspicious.
Ministers believed someone must have secretly transported newly dead bodies from the small town here. Generally, army cooking was very careful – if using nearby water, they’d certainly inspect water sources. Murong army did exactly this, but Chao army was like trapped beasts, completely unable to leave the encirclement to check upstream water sources!
Since Chao army had used this water for days, the plague poison was deeply embedded. Once it erupted, though medicine was administered, soldiers continued dying – nearly five thousand dead. The remaining forty thousand plus were almost all symptomatic, with nearly ten thousand in critical condition. Fewer than three hundred showed no major discomfort.
When news reached the imprisoned Quan and Chao, both were shocked. They were also lightly infected. Quan Feitong smiled: “Chao Huang, fortunately we haven’t eaten these past days. This minister also prefers hot soup, and the water we drank was boiled – we barely saved our lives.”
Chao Huang lacked his composure and angrily said: “Lian Yu is so vicious, treating my soldiers like this! If we hadn’t surrendered, we’d all be dead. His army has other water sources, so naturally they’re fine.”
Quan Feitong almost immediately said: “He didn’t do this.”
“He didn’t?” Chao Huang was stunned.
“This isn’t his style. Besides, even with sufficient water, we could hold out at most seven or eight days. He need only wait a few more days – we’d surrender and he’d take our men, or we’d starve if we didn’t surrender. Spreading plague poison is excessive. If epidemic spreads, even if he immediately withdraws his army, the local people would suffer.”
“Who did this, wanting to put our soldiers to death? I was hoping these warriors would be grateful to you – not just now, but when I escape in three to five years, they’d be useful to you and me.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment: “Whoever it was, something big will happen in the capital within days. These people want to weaken Lian Yu’s surrendered army strength while making him panic. This move is quite clever.”
His expression showed three parts pleasure, three parts disdain, three parts cold calculation.
…
The civilian problem he mentioned was exactly what Lian Yu and his ministers and generals worried about.
Originally once Chao army surrendered, General Liu would lead troops away and Lian Yu could break camp and return to the capital. However now, though General Liu led one hundred fifty thousand soldiers away first, Lian Yu and his army still couldn’t leave immediately.
Some ministers suggested killing all Chao soldiers and burning their corpses, but Lian Yu suppressed this and issued orders.
Yan Da and Xiao Yue personally supervised soldiers building isolation areas. Before completely controlling the epidemic, no Chao soldier could leave. Lian Jie led Imperial Medical Academy personnel for treatment inside, while Murong Ding assigned over a thousand soldiers to help brew medicine and cook.
Provisions needed were brought back by Lian Qin leading troops from outside. Gao Chaoyi and Minister Cai immediately disguised themselves to investigate the original epidemic area, checking if anyone had stolen corpses and who was responsible.
Simultaneously, Lian Yu transferred several from Imperial Medical Academy and sent people to the capital to find ten famous doctors as assistance, along with soldiers to diagnose villages along both banks of the river.
Indeed, due to drinking from the same water source, riverside villages were infected. Fortunately the court acted quickly with timely medicine delivery and immediate isolation for treatment, preventing epidemic spread. Still, nearly a thousand households suffered greatly.
Lian Yu almost forced himself to arrange all this. Once everything was temporarily settled, he collapsed again into unconsciousness.
Xiao’an tearfully ordered breaking camp.
However, after soldiers marched just a few li, they received urgent reports – something happened in the capital!
Tens of thousands of troops from Xinshui direction attacked the capital. About one hundred thousand troops stationed inside and outside the capital city, while another forty to fifty thousand entered the city, heading straight for the imperial palace.
The army proclaimed along the way that they were Prince Jin’s army – Prince Jin should have ascended the supreme throne, but was harmed and imprisoned by the late emperor. Now Prince Jin’s descendants returned to restore order and reclaim the throne!
The current emperor wasn’t heaven’s mandate. Heaven punished treacherous ministers – epidemics even broke out among civilians, first in towns outside the capital, now in villages near the capital.
Xiao’an was both shocked and furious. Though she’d long known these Prince Jin remnants would act opportunistically, she hadn’t expected them to strike immediately when Liu Shouping left and epidemic broke out, with such swift intelligence. Even Lian Jie had to leave the epidemic area and return to the army to take charge.
Liu Shouping had left fifty thousand troops, plus remaining capital Murong army numbers – one hundred thousand total – all heading to the capital for battle.
Outside the capital, the city towers were already occupied by Jin army. Several defending generals’ heads hung from the city walls! Below the gates, the army was densely arrayed with sharp weapons and iron armor. A leading general with several deputies in formation, nearby soldiers holding large banners.
Chao army wore jujube-red uniforms, Murong army wore lake-blue uniforms, but these soldiers wore green armor.
This was Wei Chenghui’s troops’ distinctive mark.
However, those banners fluttering in the wind bore a large character “Jin.”
Seeing this, everyone looked at each other speechlessly. After a long moment, Lian Jie exploded with fury, his eyes red with anger: “Si Lanfeng, weren’t you killed by Wei Chenghui? You even sent trusted subordinates to report. So you and Wei Chenghui are both traitors – you’re Prince Jin’s descendant?”
Half a li away, the general smiled slightly and replied: “Seventh Master, Lanfeng served under your command and was always well cared for – deeply grateful. But Lanfeng is of humble status, merely Prince Jin’s retainer. You and His Majesty will soon see our young master’s majesty.”
The war is about to conclude, then return to the abundant emotional drama. Guess who wins – actually everyone should know by now.