Chapter 633 - 486: Who Will Go to Dongshan?

After listening to Ling Yu’Er’s recount.

Lin Miao felt that this "Ma Yi" in Dongshan increasingly seemed like a human disaster, as the physician could not possibly carry the "Ma Yi" virus and then pass it onto Su Yi.

Of course, it’s not entirely impossible if she unknowingly carried the "Ma Yi" virus.

But this possibility is very small.

The physician is also a doctor herself, and her journey back from the capital involved contact with very few people, and if those she contacted were carriers of Ma Yi, the problem would be severe.

King Qi and those around him, the person in the cold palace, and Old Poison Four...

These people should not have been infected with "Ma Yi," nor become its source, otherwise, news from the capital would have already arrived.

Then there are only those few vagabond criminals who kidnapped "Su Yi" halfway.

The problem is, these vagabonds, who robbed people on the way, have no reputation, making them difficult to find; but if they had obvious symptoms, they could be located.

However, martial artists have strong physiques, and even if they carry the "Ma Yi" virus, the symptoms might be mild, and the fatality ratio low.

If martial arts were truly without benefits, so many people would not pursue it so fervently.

According to Su Yi’s time of infection, she was one or two days earlier than Mr. Cen.

Thus, the civet cat they discovered hardly seems like the source of "Ma Yi," but from where did the "Ma Yi" virus on the civet cat come?

And how did it appear in the village temple of Erli Village?

Moreover, the epidemic in the city seemed more serious than outside; aside from population density, it likely also had multiple points of outbreak.

The source of "Ma Yi" in the city is more than one, seemingly having spread from outside to inside the city.

But when Yue Mei’Er sent people to investigate the villages and towns in the suburbs, they found "Ma Yi" propagation only in suburban villages, while further places showed no abnormalities.

Of course, some transportation hubs closer to Dongshan City have also seen outbreaks of "Ma Yi."

From an epidemiological standpoint, the outbreak times in these places were almost synchronized, differing by at most a day or two.

This is wholly inconsistent with the rules of epidemic propagation.

Epidemic spread requires a source and the first infected, such as the first patient—the zero patient.

Of course, if it’s an epidemic following a disaster, it’s a different case; after floods, mass epidemics break out, even if they erupt at multiple points, it’s still traceable.

Yet for this "Ma Yi" in Dongshan Prefecture, it flared up quietly and violently, moreover, winter isn’t the epidemic season; in cold weather, the viruses are not active, spreading weakly.

In temperatures of minus tens or twenties, the germs themselves might not survive such harsh conditions.

If it erupted a month or two later, in warm spring, it would be far more plausible.

Without evidence, conclusions shouldn’t be drawn casually.

However, if it was man-made, there must be a purpose.

Otherwise, why would those who caused this great epidemic use "Ma Yi" to murder without reason and crazily play this deadly game?

Lin Miao in two lifetimes has not seen such people, and besides, this kind of widespread propagation hardly seems doable by one person.

There must be a powerful mysterious organization behind this.

...

"Mr. Pei, have you found my daughter?" Su Mobai returned to Shanglin Temple, anxiously waiting for a day and night, finally couldn’t bear it, and ran to Pei Jian’s government office to inquire.

But in Cui Xiang’s view, Su Mobai, the Imperial Envoy, seemed to have colluded with Pei Jian, and appeared to join the Crown Prince’s faction.

However, he had no choice, as Su Mobai was a second-grade official, an Imperial Envoy; unless he committed major mistakes, what could he, a mere fifth-grade Ministry of Justice official, do?

But that didn’t hinder him from writing a letter to the capital, accusing before Consort Xue and King Qi.

In fact, within the capital, Emperor Zhao Rui had already received an urgent eagle message sent by Pei Jian and the Imperial Envoy’s headquarters, but chose not to disclose it.

This is a "Ma Yi" that would kill many people; once the news spread, it would cause panic within the court and among the masses.

Thirty years ago, the "Ma Yi" in Jezhou affected thirteen counties in one prefecture, leaving less than thirty percent of people alive.

It also implicated surrounding prefectures; the court took about three years to extinguish this "Ma Yi," losing over a billion taels of silver in population and property.

Afterward, the court used tax exemption and migrating populations from other places; even twenty years later, Jezhou has not regained its former population.

If another occurs in Dongshan Prefecture, what will become of this northwestern first city? When Zhao Rui received the memorial, his hands uncontrollably trembled.

The "Ma Yi" in Jezhou coincided with his inheritance of the throne; his father’s health collapse was somewhat related to this major event.

Could it also happen to him?

Zhao Rui was deeply fearful, dismissing all palace maids and eunuchs, spending one night alone in Yangxin Hall.

Anyhow, he didn’t sleep a wink all night, and early the following day, Mr. Yao risked beheading to visit him; scared badly.

In one night, the Emperor’s temples had turned nearly half gray.

"Summon Fu Qingzhu, Leng Qingfeng of Imperial Pharmacy, and Chief Minister Tang Jing, Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze for court discussions!" Zhao Rui’s eyes were bloodshot, coldly looking at Mr. Yao as he ordered, "Now, do not disclose a single word of my condition, or face extermination of nine generations!"