freenovelworld Chapter 188 Divine Doctor's Assistance
Chapter 188 Divine Doctor's Assistance
"Send a few clever underlings out of the city to scout out what these people are up to," Li Dayong said angrily.
He always had this feeling that the other party didn't take him seriously at all, which made him lose face.
"Yes," the bandit replied.
"What's the situation in the city now?" Li Dayong asked the clerk again.
“Hundreds of families in the city, whose homes were in low-lying areas, were destroyed by the flood. They were moved to a refugee camp twenty days ago. The camp is ravaged by a plague, and many people in the city have contracted the disease. There is also very little food left.” The clerk sighed as he spoke.
"We will confiscate the grain stored by the rich and give it to them to eat. The sick must also be treated, and everyone in the city must be well-fed." Li Dayong made a decision: "For everyone who is willing to join my army, the grain allowance will be doubled."
He knew that people would rebel if they were starving, so he had to stabilize the situation, which required food and medicine.
"Do you still have any medicine?" he asked.
The advisor shook his head: "There's not much left. Even if you eat it, the illness won't get better. People are still dying. This plague is too serious."
Li Dayong frowned.
"The main problem is that most of the wells are polluted, and only a small number are still usable. In this sweltering summer, if we don't accept the imperial court's disaster relief, we will probably have a hard time surviving."
"Shut up, take him away, take him away." Li Dayong gestured to the people around him to gag the clerk.
Those around him immediately acted, gagging him and taking him away.
But Li Dayong was also feeling frustrated. Being trapped in the isolated city was not a long-term solution. He had originally planned to take down the three major camps and then control the surrounding area, but now it seemed that he didn't even dare to leave the city.
He couldn't understand why they wouldn't come and hit him.
When Shen Li's army arrived at the village, their first impression was the smell; the air was thick with the stench of decay.
The river has not yet receded, villages and houses have been washed away, and small animals and people have died one after another. It is the height of summer, and the decaying matter has polluted the water source, so an epidemic has naturally formed.
People left the village and gathered on the nearby mountains. The mountains, which should have been lush and green, were now barren, and the hillsides were covered with refugees.
Some refugees looked somewhat spirited, leaning against the barkless tree trunks, while others lay there on the verge of death, their lips cracked and their eyes lifeless.
The moment these people saw the army, fear was immediately apparent in their eyes, because the imperial court sometimes treated plague patients by burning or burying them alive, which was the best way to prevent the plague from spreading further.
Some people held onto hope, thinking that maybe they had come to rescue them.
"Fellow villagers, don't be afraid. I am an imperial censor sent by the court to provide disaster relief. We have some dry food and water here, but not much for now. Each household can send one person to collect it."
Shen Li noticed their concerns and spoke up immediately.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they all rushed forward in a swarm, vying to be the first to step up, afraid of being outdone.
The soldiers covered their mouths and noses with cloth, and upon receiving Shen Li's order, they stepped forward to maintain order and distribute dry rations.
“There should be many refugees elsewhere. Send people to distribute supplies and then gather them together.” Shen Li and Ma Zheng waved their hands: “Give the order that they be gentle with the people.”
"Yes." Ma Zheng responded and left.
"Chen Su, take the remaining soldiers and set up camp on the spot. Let the old people and children sleep in the tents tonight."
"Yes."
Shen Li made arrangements in an orderly manner, but she was still worried. She had put in a lot of effort to control the plague in her previous life, and she didn't know when she would be able to develop a cure in this life.
"Miss, please sit down for a while." Lian Qiao helped Shen Li sit down on a wooden post, feeling sorry for her young mistress who had dry lips.
When has her young lady ever suffered like this?
"Miss, you should wrap yourself up a bit," Peony said, handing over a piece of cotton cloth.
Shen Li nodded, and Shaoyao wrapped the cotton cloth around her mouth and nose and tied it behind her head.
"Is Miss worried about Xuzhou City?" Lian Qiao asked, noticing Shen Li's troubled expression.
Peony must have thought the same thing. It wasn't a difficult task originally; all she had to do was deliver the food, herbs, and doctor. Who would have thought the rebels would be so formidable?
Keep in mind that there were still tens of thousands of people in the city, plus those from the surrounding villages who followed the rebels in to loot food, bringing the total to probably close to 100,000.
We can't ignore it, but we can't win it by fighting. Who wouldn't be worried in this situation?
“No.” Shen Li shook her head slightly: “That’s easy to handle. I’m just worried about when the plague can be effectively controlled.”
If she had known she would be reborn, she would have left behind a prescription in her previous life.
"no?"
Neither Forsythia nor Peony expected to receive such an answer.
This matter is incredibly complicated, okay? It can't possibly be easy to handle, can it?
Just as Shen Li was worrying, she suddenly heard a voice from afar: "Li girl, you're so unfair! You're not taking this old man with you at a time like this?"
She looked up in surprise and saw Old Man Zou riding up on horseback. Although his hair was gray, he was unusually energetic.
Shen Li was a little confused when she saw Old Man Zou. Why didn't she remember that there was a famous doctor in the manor? Perhaps it was because he hadn't made a move in her previous life?
She paused for a moment before remembering that in her previous life, her cousin Xiao Qi died in battle after the defeat in the northern border, and her maternal grandfather Xiao Zhan was greatly affected, causing his health to deteriorate. At this time of year, he was seriously ill.
Old Man Zou, having received a great favor from his maternal grandfather, naturally refused to leave.
Meanwhile, the maternal grandfather is enjoying his retirement at home, waiting for his grandson to return and report on his work. Just a few days ago, he said that he would hold a family banquet when his cousin returned.
Shen Li was still thinking of bringing up her cousin's marriage at the family banquet to see if she could propose to the Lin family.
Thinking of this, she was quite emotional. Everything was indeed different, and her and Lin Wan'er's efforts had not been in vain.
"Senior." Shen Li stood up to greet you, "It's so good that you could come. We still need you here to keep things in order."
"When you say nice things, it's never anything good," Old Zou joked, then casually asked, "Why is Xuzhou City locked up like this?"
"It's been occupied by the rebels," Shen Li said truthfully.
"What?" Old Qiu's eyes widened. "Then why aren't you attacking the city? What are you waiting for?"
"Not to mention that a fight would result in mutual destruction, even if we were to break in, there would be no cure. You should hurry up and diagnose the illness. I have a way to handle this matter." As Shen Li spoke, she led him to a makeshift shed erected by the villagers, which was full of people infected with the plague.
"I'm going in, so don't come any closer." Old Man Zou covered his mouth and nose and said to her, "Before I came, the Duke instructed me to take good care of you."
"It's alright. I believe you can definitely make the medicine, senior. Even if you get sick, you won't die."
"You're quite the smooth talker, girl." Old Man Zou, though he said it with a hint of disdain, was quite pleased with what he heard. He waved his hand and said, "Go and wait."