Chapter 102: Natural disaster? Man-made calamity!

In the chaos, Shen Hong recalled the ancient method.

He rose and spoke loudly: "This plague is the spirits' punishment; only through sacrifice can we appease the spirits' anger."

Zhang Shi beside him frowned and said: "Your Majesty, since ascending the throne, His Majesty has always advocated solving problems with scientific methods; have you forgotten how the earlier prophecies and rumors were debunked? Doing this now is probably inappropriate."

"What do you know? Although His Majesty is both civil and martial, I am the Imperial Medical Director of Great Han; don't I know how to treat patients?"

Shen Hong glared angrily at Zhang Shi, his beard and hair standing on end.

"Sir Shen Hong, we are officials of the Imperial Medical Bureau; we should rely on medicine and science to solve problems, not hope for the spirits' blessing."

Zhang Shi again spoke loudly: "Now the epidemic is so severe we must act quickly, otherwise the consequences are unimaginable."

However, Shen Hong would not listen to Zhang Shi's advice, coldly saying: "Zhang Shi, don't meddle. With so much successful experience, we should handle this problem with traditional methods; that is our duty."

Shen Hong strode out of the medical station, stood on a slightly raised earthen platform, and swept his gaze over the panicked crowd before him.

At that moment, the sky was overcast, heavy clouds seeming ready to press down at any time, making the already oppressive atmosphere even more gloomy.

In the distance, a few crows croaked on the dead trees, adding an ominous feeling.

"Everyone listen!"

Shen Hong raised his volume; his voice trembled slightly in the cold wind yet revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"This epidemic is the spirits' wrath; only sincere sacrifice can dispel the disaster. We must follow the rules handed down by our ancestors and absolutely cannot defy the spirits' will!"

His eyes showed fervor, his hands waving.

The people whispered to each other, their faces full of fear and hesitation.

Someone muttered softly: "Will it really work?"

"We can't let more people die..."

Yet in this helpless panic, facing the unknown plague, Shen Hong's words were like a lifeline; even with doubts, the crowd gradually felt his aura and began unconsciously gathering around him.

Soon, the villagers, following Shen Hong's instructions, drove one healthy cow and sheep after another to the makeshift altar.

The altar was hastily built of rough stones, surrounded by multicolored banners that snapped in the wind, the banners painted with various strange symbols said to communicate with the spirits.

Shen Hong personally picked up a glinting cold blade and walked toward the largest bull.

The bull stared with frightened eyes, struggled fiercely, the ropes pulled tight.

Shen Hong took a deep breath, then thrust the blade into the bull's neck; blood gushed like a spring, splashing on his face and body, yet he disregarded it and shouted loudly:

"Spirits above, accept our offering, forgive our sins, dispel this terrible plague!"

Blood spread across the ground, the stench permeated the air, making some people involuntarily cover their noses and mouths, yet in this tense solemn atmosphere no one dared to speak.

Immediately afterward, others also began slaughtering cows and sheep; for a while, lowing cries and wails intertwined.

Zhang Shi watched this scene from the side, anxious beyond words yet helpless.

He several times tried to step forward to stop it, but were blocked by men arranged by Shen Hong.

Seeing Shen Hong's frantic actions, Zhang Shi could only sigh to the heavens: "If this continues, only more people will be endangered; what can we do?"

The sacrificial ritual continued; Shen Hong led the people in repeated kowtows before the altar, their foreheads striking the ground with dull thuds.

Every face showed devotion, silently praying for the epidemic to end soon.

And on the second day.

Yesterday's sacrifice had no effect.

In the makeshift medical station, the pungent smell of medicine mingled with the nauseating stench of blood; the malaria epidemic surged like a flood, instantly inundating the place.

Shen Hong, the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, now stood dazed in a corner, eyes vacant, staring fixedly at the ground, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his hand trembling unconsciously, as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, unable to break free.

"Malaria... such a large-scale malaria..." Shen Hong's lips twitched slightly as he muttered, his voice full of fear and helplessness.

From inside and outside the wards came the patients' wails and relatives' grief, the scene oppressive to the extreme.

"What are you imperial physicians good for! Why can't you cure my kin? Do you want to kill him?"

Zhang Shi, hearing the family's blame, felt filled with guilt and helplessness.

He came to the wall where the panicked Shen Hong stood, about to discuss how to solve the predicament before them.

But then Shen Hong resolutely rose, walked to the patients' families, and said: "Yesterday's sacrifice received no response from the deities; I think we should perform a human sacrifice!"

"No, sir!"

Zhang Shi immediately stopped him, saying: "We ought to follow His Majesty's edict."

"Shut up, seize him!"

Shen Hong ordered his left and right to take Zhang Shi away, turned, strode toward the outside, and loudly commanded the attendant beside him: "Prepare at once; we will hold a sacrificial rite!"

The attendant stared, stunned, obviously at a loss by this sudden order.

"What are you standing there for?" Shen Hong roared angrily: "Go get the best beef, and... boys and girls!"

The attendant's face showed difficulty, he whispered: "Sir, this... boys and girls, really..."

"Cut the nonsense!"

Shen Hong interrupted him: "This is the only way; if we can't save these people, we'll all die!"

If the news of the epidemic outbreak spread, he would not only lose his future but also his life.

At the same time, he secretly buried the dead, trying to conceal the severity of the epidemic.

As long as the truth is not made public, he could temporarily stabilize the situation.

Yet Shen Hong's approach was doomed to be futile.

The sacrifice's effect was not obvious, and the uncremated corpses from the blood offerings emitted a putrid smell, attracting more flies and mosquitoes.

These pests became vectors of the virus, further spreading the epidemic.

People began to feel panic, not knowing how long this disaster would last nor whether they could escape it.

In the streets and alleys of the disaster area, people began to spread various superstitious sayings.

Some people thought this was the spirits' punishment for their sins.

Then more people began to hold various sacrificial activities, through sacrificing cattle and sheep, even boys and girls, to beg the spirits for forgiveness, to eliminate the impact of the disaster.

These superstitious actions not only had no effect, but instead exacerbated the spread of the epidemic.

Shen Hong had become obsessed, continuously holding sacrificial rituals, while strictly ordering a blockade of information.

The house-arrested Zhang Shi finally took advantage of an opportunity when Shen Hong went out, escaped, and headed straight for the disaster zone's main camp where Liu Ju was located.