Chapter 460

He could be said to possess both the smoothness of officialdom and outstanding ability himself.

After Su Qiao arrived at Quanzhou Prefecture, he had Ma Kui inquire about the situation of the officials there.

This Wang Da Nian had also entered his line of sight.

To speak of ordinary days, Wang Da Nian was also an extremely calm and steady person.

Not to mention striding with square steps, looking slow and sluggish, he also wore a faint smile on his face, as if everything was under control.

However, today this Wang Da Nian was vastly different from before; the whole person was in a state of panic!

"My lord, Imperial Envoy, save me!"

Su Qiao had just entered the courtyard when this Wang Da Nian threw himself out.

315, Plague Outbreak!

What is going on?

Su Qiao and his group were startled.

He pulled Liu Rushi back half a step.

Ma Kui and Sun Youxu drew their swords respectively, blocking in front of Wang Da Nian.

If he hadn't seen him a few times before and recognized him as Wang Da Nian, his head would surely have been chopped off!

Wang Da Nian, having fallen to the ground, looked up.

Seeing the blade only a few centimeters from his neck, he immediately dared not move recklessly.

"My lord, my lord, spare my life! This subordinate has news to report; please, my lord, save the people of Quanzhou!"

Wang Da Nian was like a petty resentful woman, lying there and staring at Su Qiao.

Su Qiao glared at him, then patted Liu Rushi's arm, telling her to go back and rest first.

Only then did he turn his head to give Ma Kui and the others a look, telling them to put away their weapons for the time being.

"Enough, you are all grown-ups, yet so rash. Speak, what exactly is going on?"

Su Qiao walked slowly into the courtyard; the Embroidered Uniform Guards, seeing no danger, mostly went to rest.

Only Ma Kui and Sun Youxu remained, following closely without leaving a step.

Wang Da Nian hurriedly got up from the ground, brushed the dust off his clothes, and then followed cautiously behind.

"My lord, Quanzhou is now in danger; only you can save the people of Quanzhou!"

Wang Da Nian said to Su Qiao with a bitter face.

Su Qiao had someone bring tea; Wang Da Nian, of course, also had fresh tea.

Listening to his words, he was still somewhat unclear, or rather, quite puzzled.

"What danger could Quanzhou Prefecture have? The soldiers of the garrison were trained by Grand Secretary Sun, with high morale; the Quanzhou Navy might be slightly weaker in combat power now, but their numbers are sufficient and can still defend the safety of Quanzhou Prefecture. What other danger is there?"

Do not look at the short time Su Qiao has been in Quanzhou Prefecture, but he knows quite a lot about the situation there.

Especially since he met Zheng Zhilong and his family this morning.

While drinking with Zheng Zhilong at the banquet, Su Qiao also managed to pry out quite a few things from their mouths.

Although Quanzhou Prefecture is not the safest place.

it is absolutely much safer than Jiangzhe.

So what danger is Wang Da Nian talking about?

Wang Da Nian hurriedly said, "My lord, no, no, not these; it is a plague!"

"What?"

Su Qiao's eyes widened; he was truly stunned.

A plague?

Damn it!

Even in later eras, this was not easy to control.

How did a plague appear in Quanzhou Prefecture?

What to do if the heart feels a bit panicked?

"Where did the plague come from, and how many people are infected now?"

Su Qiao was no longer in the lazy state as before; the whole person was truly much more alert, and most of the alcohol smell had dissipated.

Wang Da Nian hurriedly said, "My lord, this plague is actually my judgment. Just a few days ago, two corpses drifted to the seaside from somewhere unknown; the fishermen did not take it seriously and simply fished them up and buried them."

"Who would have known that only a day later, they developed fevers and fell ill? The villagers thought they had offended some evil spirit, so they called a shaman to exorcise it, but it had no effect; instead, more people developed fevers and contracted the epidemic disease!"

"And after that?"

Su Qiao could not help but interrupt his words, his brows tightly furrowed together.

Discovering such a matter should have been reported immediately; at the very least, he should have known about it.

Now, looking at the way Wang Da Nian came to report, it seemed as if he had come to find him alone.

This is not right!

"My lord, after this, I was the first to know, because the officials below notified me first. I immediately told Prefect Zhou Xun. Prefect Zhou Xun initially took it quite seriously, isolating all the sick people separately, and called many Physicians to discuss it, but there was simply no effect."

"What is the situation now?"

"Now three villages are finished. Prefect Zhou Xun suppressed it, forbidding any report, and said he wanted to hide it from you, directly burning the three villages. But early this morning, something happened inside the city!"

When speaking to this point, Wang Da Nian was almost crying.

Hearing this, Su Qiao's heart also gave a "thump."

His heart was just worried that the plague had infected the entire city.

Now that it suddenly appeared inside the city, this is a bad signal; who knows who has been infected, or what the transmission route is?

"Where is that person, and how was he handled?" Su Qiao could not wait and hurriedly pressed on.

Wang Da hurriedly said, "It's in Chengnan. Fortunately, the two courtyards surrounding it are empty. I have already ordered people to cordon off the area. I truly have no other recourse. Informing the Prefect would seem useless. I hope the Imperial Envoy, with your vast experience, can quickly offer a solution!"

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao glared at him with resentment and said, "Such a major matter should have been brought to my attention this morning. Why did you drag your feet until now?"

"But no one knew where Your Lordship had gone..." Wang Da felt extremely aggrieved.

Su Qiao: "... Uh!"

He seemed to be wearing plain clothes, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had not worn their official robes either; finding them was indeed somewhat difficult.

Besides, Su Qiao had accepted Zheng Zhilong's invitation and entered Zheng Fu, so hardly anyone knew where he was.

However, Su Qiao knew this was not the time to dwell on such trivial matters.

Lives were at stake; martial law had to be imposed immediately, and troops mobilized to the area.

Otherwise, once the plague spread, with so many people inside Quanzhou City, everyone would be doomed!

"Immediately, go mobilize the troops. Set up checkpoints at the docks and overland routes to control access. Close the city gates. Also, go directly to the Prefectural Yamen and notify all officials of Quanzhou Prefecture to attend. I am convening a meeting!"

Su Qiao had no time to change clothes. He had someone notify Liu Rushi to keep them from going out, then headed straight for the Prefectural Yamen.

The Prefect, Zhou Xun, and the Vice Prefect, Li Heyu, were abruptly notified by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The two inquired slightly with Quanzhou officials and learned that Wang Da was following Su Qiao.

They immediately understood; Wang Da must have sold them out.

He had told the Imperial Envoy about the plague.

This was not at all what they had discussed beforehand!

That son of a bitch sold out his teammates!

The two exchanged a glance, their teeth grinding with hatred, yet they had no recourse.

They could only wait for Su Qiao to arrive.

0.3 When Su Qiao arrived at the Prefectural Yamen, Quanzhou Prefecture had been completely placed under martial law.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's Cavalry Command, along with Yamen Runners and Constables, guarded the four gates as tightly as an iron bucket, allowing entry but forbidding exit!

Additionally, places like the docks were completely surrounded. Those ships wishing to leave could not take anyone with them; it was not allowed!

Bringing people in was also not allowed!

They could only drift on the sea by the shore!

The foreign merchants could no longer endure it and went to the Maritime Trade Office to protest to the officials.

As a result, the Maritime Trade Office was now completely different from its former amiable appearance.

Dare to cause trouble, and you will be arrested; dare to fight, and you will be beheaded!

In any case, it was a direct order from the Imperial Envoy.

If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up; anyone daring to act recklessly would be dealt with.