Chapter 601 - 476: Prevention Guide

Scattered messages have been gathered at Dongshan Prefecture’s office.

Indeed, there are fever patients resembling the symptoms of the "麻疫," prompting medical halls to start self-checks following the alert.

All physicians involved were greatly frightened.

They all recalled the fever patients they diagnosed, since all consultations require registration, making it easy to trace.

There are numerous medical halls in Dongshan, totaling around fifty to sixty small and large establishments.

Large medical halls are easier to investigate, but smaller ones are more troublesome, along with traveling physicians. Due to their affordability, many common folks opt for them.

Hence, the investigations are quite challenging, but necessary. Otherwise, if one outbreaks, Dongshan City, home to millions, might suffer hugely.

History has seen numerous instances where a major epidemic has destroyed a city.

Pei Jian feels as though he’s sitting on a "pile of firewood," the fire beneath already lit, just waiting to see how far it will burn.

"Mr. Dong, a suspected case was found at Yachun Hall on the east street of Shanqing Square. Chief Tian Yuan from the Medical Bureau along with Huiming Pharmacy have already gone to confirm it."

"Mingye Square also has two suspected cases..."

"Qingyue Square, Mingchuan Square..."

Suspected cases continue to be reported, leaving Pei Jian feeling his scalp tingle with fear. If multiple outbreaks occur, the entire Dongshan City could be doomed.

How can one prevent such a major epidemic?

"Is the street clean?"

"It’s still the first month of the year, but constables from each square office and the Arresting Department, along with part of the county’s military, have been ordered to the streets. The Clean Street Order has been issued urgently, but such a sudden ban will inevitably provoke public dissatisfaction and criticism."

"At this stage, it can’t be directly stated, avoiding widespread panic. What’s the reason for cleaning the streets?" Pei Jian asked with a cold expression.

"Capturing remnants of the Green Blade Sect!"

"That’s a good excuse, driving people home first. Order the square officials to close each square from tomorrow morning, conduct door-to-door screenings, quarantine suspected patients, and register those who closely contacted suspected cases!"

"Yes."

...

Imperial Envoy Su Mobai residing at Shanglin Temple heard the news about the "麻疫" in Dongshan, feeling deeply troubled.

The case itself already had him entangled—suspicions from the Emperor, severe punishment for the Green Blade Sect and the Ye Family, while sparing Marquis Lingyang.

But such a move disrupts the Crown Prince’s plans; upon returning, the Crown Prince’s faction would surely despise him. If the Crown Prince ascends the throne one day...

He would be utterly doomed. Even if he decides to resign upon returning, it wouldn’t happen in a short time.

It’s hard to say the Crown Prince won’t take revenge on him due to this.

Pei Jian is someone linked to the Crown Prince. Without making the excuse of acclimatization issues, this Venerable Prefect wouldn’t be visiting him daily with troubles.

Cui Xiang, too, recklessly relies on his connection to Consort Xue, daringly meeting Ye Shengyuan and Marquis Lingyang’s wife He Yun multiple times privately.

Desperately sculpting Marquis Lingyang as someone deceived and entirely unaware, even so, the fact that Marquis Lingyang exploited his connections to engage in smuggling with Beiyuan is undeniable.

Furthermore, officials and checkpoint leaders bribed along the smuggling line keep overturning previous confessions.

Some even retort, claiming they confessed under duress, unaware of the Green Blade Sect’s smuggling weapons and armor among the goods they thought were urgently needed salt, tea, and porcelain for the grasslands.

Of course, some have not changed their statements, but they altered testimonies to smuggling pig iron instead of discussing weapons and armor.

With many engaging in pig iron smuggling at the border due to Beihu’s backward forging technology, they couldn’t make fine weapons even with pig iron. Thus, for peaceful coexistence with Beihu, the court sells pig iron quotas annually.

Pig iron is a restricted cargo, but not banned for sale. Yet, only the court can conduct this trade; others can’t do it privately.

Tied to this, he technically isn’t betraying the country or committing treason.

The aim is to strip Marquis Lingyang of treason charges, replacing it with aiding the enemy through smuggling, thus carrying relatively lighter penalties.

As long as life is spared, better days will follow.

Besides, this affair involves Consort Xue and King Qi, though indirectly, but the wealth gained from smuggling by Marquis Lingyang aided Consort Xue and her sons, making them beneficiaries. Therefore, although Consort Xue couldn’t be unaware of the smuggling, she must be punished, too.

King Qi seems to be less implicated...

On one hand stands Pei Jian, on the other is Cui Xiang, both urging Su Mobai to conclude the case promptly. With powers to determine the case’s nature bestowed by the Emperor, all eyes are on him now. Delaying a verdict is evidently inappropriate.

This unexpected "麻疫" adds further complication. If he just wraps up the case and leaves Dongshan, fine, but the problem is he’s here.

It’s a matter of bad luck having the epidemic hit.

Now the hope is for early detection and control, minimizing the impact; else, he might get implicated himself.

There’s no choice; it’s fate.

Knowing this, Su Mobai can’t hide in Shanglin Temple. He could certainly choose to remain there, but Pei Jian can’t compel him.

He’s an Imperial Envoy to investigate the case, local matters he can query but not administer, especially epidemic prevention; success might not bring merit, yet failure assures blame.