Chapter 654 - 493: Young Master, What a Strategy

"Young Master, you truly have a way with people. Situ Wan will probably follow you wholeheartedly in the future. Even if you ask her to leave Wendao Sect, she probably wouldn’t hesitate."

"What I said is all true. There is not a hint of deceit," Lin Miao replied. "My woman, giving birth to my child, isn’t that quite normal?"

Yue Mei’Er was not surprised. If it weren’t like this, she wouldn’t be so devoted either. As long as a man is sincere and doesn’t deceive, that’s enough for a woman.

"Young Master, do you really intend for Situ Wan to send news of ’Shenxiao Dao’ back to Wendao Sect?"

"Of course. An evil cult like ’Shenxiao Dao’ should be dealt with by the court and righteous sects like Wendao Sect. We should focus on curing and saving people. Isn’t that better?"

"What about the madam, when are you planning to tell her?"

"Let’s wait a little longer, no rush."

"How many patients were admitted today?"

"Steady, but the infection trend within the city seems to be slowing down. Also, the government has posted a notice extending the street ban isolation by another five days!"

"Hmm, ten days is indeed a bit short. Extending by five more days would allow for a limited lifting of the ban, restoring some production and daily order. Pei Jian still has some determination."

"It’s all thanks to the Young Master’s suggestion. Otherwise, with this epidemic, at least a third of the city’s population would have died, and with shortages and soaring prices, if it spread to surrounding prefectures, it would be similar to the epidemic thirty years ago in Hedong," Yue Mei’Er said.

"I’ve prescribed a medicinal bath recipe for Situ Wan. Please send it over to her," Lin Miao said.

"Is the Meridian Passage Realm medicinal bath recipe from Wendao Sect? Did she reveal all their secrets to you?"

"Not exactly, just a few recipes. I’ve slightly modified them based on her constitution, which will make them more effective. You’ll have a portion later too."

"Alright, actually, the Sacred Sect has quite a few recipes too. It’s just that many materials are hard to find here. Once the Young Master returns, we can pack up the Sacred Sect’s herb reserves and bring them back. That way, we won’t lack cultivation materials," Yue Mei’Er said.

"Let’s discuss that later," Lin Miao said. "I’m going on rounds."

"Alright."

...

The tenth day of the street ban order arrived quickly.

The number of cases in the city showed a slight decrease. Whether the peak has passed still depends on the number of new infections in the upcoming days.

If the numbers continue to decline, it indicates that the street ban has been effective in quickly controlling the epidemic, reducing infection numbers and mortality rates.

Many still remember the epidemic thirty years ago, which left behind a lot of documentation.

The outbreak was quite sudden, and within a mere half-month, a prefecture of hundreds of thousands of people was overrun, and it rapidly spread further.

Each day saw hundreds, even thousands, of deaths. The most terrifying day recorded several thousand deaths.

In the aftermath, less than a third of the population survived, and children and the elderly suffered the most fatalities. Among those who fled, less than half survived when they returned.

At least 300,000 people died.

Since Dongshan Prefecture’s lockdown, only a little over a thousand have died, most with all efforts to save them, and none due to lack of medical care or resources.

The number of patients under quarantine with mild or severe symptoms is about 20,000, with a mortality rate of 5%, which is very well controlled.

With the current trend, the number of infections is gradually decreasing, and the number of deaths is declining continuously.

The lockdown has halted the transmission of the ’epidemic,’ and with the entire city undergoing thorough disinfection, the survival rate and concentration of the epidemic virus have been greatly reduced.

However, the situation outside the city poses a challenge due to the vast area, making lockdown measures difficult.

Nevertheless, Lin Miao has mentioned in the follow-up strategy that people from outside the city who wish to enter can do so after a "ten-day" quarantine.

As long as the epidemic does not re-enter Dongshan City, any outbreak in other places can be contained using this method and eradicated.

...

"Crown Prince, slow down, My Lord, I’m too old to endure the bumpy ride..." Leng Qingfeng initially wanted to ride in a carriage.

However, the Crown Prince insisted on taking the lead, riding ahead on horseback.

The Crown Prince clearly wanted to reach Dongshan ahead, leaving the convoy loaded with supplies and medicine behind.

Therefore, they spent most of the journey on horseback, with only brief stops for meals and rest. Zhao Yuanze, having made significant progress in cultivation and abstaining for nearly two months, hadn’t fully regained his strength but was notably stronger than before.

This rugged journey posed little challenge for a young man of thirty.

Even as someone who hadn’t faced much hardship since childhood, the Crown Prince gritted his teeth and persisted, wishing to arrive in Dongshan ahead of everyone.

As long as he arrived, Pei Jian would have backing. The most crucial element in epidemic control is the steadfast implementation of plans, and the most damaging is constant changes in directives.

Thirty years ago, lessons were learned the hard way due to officials’ reluctance to take responsibility and profiteering during the disaster, leading to ineffective commands being altered beyond recognition, eventually causing the epidemic to spread and everything to collapse.

Such mistakes cannot happen again.

If there were no Imperial Envoy in Dongshan, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be concerned. Pei Jian is a decisive and resolute individual; if he can maintain control, he will certainly prevent the situation from escalating.