Chapter 253: The Terrifying Malaria

One thousand people?

Liu Zheng was startled.

Qingyang Shuo was even more ashen-faced. This man, who had always remained calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, felt his heart skip a beat.

Because he knew that a plague was too terrifying!

At this moment, there were already one thousand people! If it were not controlled, all ninety thousand of the Yinzhou Army would likely suffer!

"This..."

"How could there be Malaria?"

Qingyang Shuo asked.

Liu Zheng shook his head. In this desert, what wasn't there? The bones of various animals, human bones, viruses bred after decay, and in this place where no one had set foot, there were even various insects and birds that one had never seen before, and even viruses.

Whatever happened, it would not be very strange.

Moreover, the incubation period for Malaria is also around ten days or so.

It seems these people already had abnormal conditions when they were in the Western Regions.

He immediately gave the order for the entire army to set up camp and rest in place.

"Have they been quarantined?"

Liu Zheng asked Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan nodded and said, "When I discovered it today, I separated the one thousand people into a single unit and had them march at the rear."

People of this era actually had some experience with plagues. Therefore, as soon as he discovered it, Jiang Xuan quarantined these one thousand people.

Malaria is not a joke. Even in later generations, humanity did not dare to take Malaria lightly at all. Liu Zheng immediately gave the order, having Jiang Xuan take his Dark Night Squad to strictly monitor and quarantine the camp of those one thousand people, and to set up a cordon.

Then he ordered Qin Zhangfeng to conduct various screenings of other people who had been in contact.

If there were any with fever, chills, or heavy sweating, they must be strictly monitored.

The ninety thousand Yinzhou Army soldiers were suddenly as if facing a formidable enemy.

Regarding Malaria, Liu Zheng did not hide anything. Because he knew that the more one hid it at a time like this, the bigger the issue would become; it was better to let the soldiers cooperate with the screening.

Liu Zheng made some thick Masks himself, then followed Jiang Xuan and the accompanying Military Medical Officer to the quarantine point of those one thousand people.

"Ouch, ouch..."

"So cold, I'm so cold..."

"Am I going to die soon..."

As soon as Liu Zheng arrived here, his brow furrowed deeply. Throughout the camp, everyone was showing different symptoms, and some medical officers were busy providing treatment. It had only just been discovered, yet some people had already entered the chill stage! In other words, this was Malignant Malaria! It was the most dangerous and lethal type of Malaria.

With Malignant Malaria, the patient's clinical manifestations are extremely severe; the chill stage is relatively not too obvious. However, the fever stage can last for thirty-six to forty-eight hours.

Malaria.

Since ancient times, the areas around the desert have been high-incidence zones.

At a glance, many people were already pale, shivering uncontrollably, their lips cyanotic, and some had already begun to have high fevers, body aches, and shortness of breath.

The severe cases had already begun to have convulsions, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

In short.

The entire camp was a tragic sight.

Liu Zheng felt his heart sink as he watched.

"Young Master..."

At this time, the Military Medical Officer of the army walked over and said in a low voice, "Young Master, the situation is already very serious; we must abandon these people!"

Liu Zheng frowned: "What did you say?"

Qingyang Shuo also came over and sighed: "Young Master, it must be done, otherwise the other eighty-nine thousand Yinzhou Army soldiers will not be saved!"

At this moment.

Outside the cordon, many Yinzhou Army soldiers had also arrived, and upon hearing this, they also began to shout.

"Young Master, these people cannot be kept!"

"Young Master, we must leave quickly!"

"Young Master, you must not be indecisive!"

Although these people saw their brother units suffering, they had no choice but to suggest this. After all, who doesn't want to live?

Those one thousand people who were quarantined burst into tears upon hearing this. However, what made Liu Zheng feel even worse was that there were actually some who supported Liu Zheng in abandoning them, letting them fend for themselves.

Because they also knew that they had contracted Malaria, and this was fated by Heaven; if Heaven wanted them to die, they must not infect others or harm others.

"Young Master, don't come over!"

"Young Master... leave quickly, take the brothers and go!"

"We, we, don't worry about us..."

Although these people were suffering, their minds were still clear, and those desperate gazes made Liu Zheng's heart ache. He walked in without hesitation, choking with sobs: "Let me see..."

A group of people, however, were unwilling to let him get close.

"Young Master, leave quickly, if possible, help me take care of my wife and children!"

"Young Master, in the next life, we will still be your soldiers!"

"That's right, still be your soldiers, it was a pleasure!"

The scene was heart-wrenching and brought people to tears.

They knew that their hope of survival was slim. So they suggested simply leaving them some living supplies and letting them stay here to let fate take its course.

Qingyang Shuo also slowly closed his eyes.

People of this era had no Method at all when facing Malaria. They could only find a way to stop the losses.

Those medical officers were also helpless, their eyes red.

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would shake his head and say, "We are not leaving. Since these are the soldiers I, Liu Zheng, brought out, I must be the one to take them back!"

The crowd was greatly alarmed.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master, this must absolutely not be done!"

A group of people all tried to persuade him.

At this moment, even Liu Dahao and Qingyang Shuo did not agree with Liu Zheng's approach.

Liu Zheng, however, was very stubborn, shaking his head and saying, "In the conquest of the Western Regions, all you brothers have rendered meritorious service. We did not die in the Western Regions, so I, Liu Zheng, will not let you die in a foreign land!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Those who had contracted Malaria were deeply moved.

One man, not young in age, suddenly knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly: "Young Master, you must absolutely not sacrifice the greater for the lesser! Take the brothers back, and look after our wives and children..."

"Otherwise, what will become of our wives and children at home?"

The group of people wept together.

An atmosphere of despair began to spread. Some people even took out their swords and blades, held them to their own necks, and threatened Liu Zheng that if he did not take the other Yinzhou Army soldiers away, the thousand of them would commit suicide on the spot.

Despair!

Tragic!

At this, even the Yinzhou Army soldiers outside the cordon wept like rain.

"Young Master, let us go..."

Qingyang Shuo also wiped away his tears.

Liu Zheng shook his head: "We are not leaving! I have a Method. Everyone, do not give up hope of living. Listen to me, you must not give up hope. Brothers, put down your swords and blades! Brothers, listen to me, will you?"

The group of people were all stunned.

A Method?

What Method could he have?

This was Malaria!

Someone smiled bitterly: "Young Master, we know you have vast supernatural powers, but this Malaria is truly no laughing matter."

"Young Master, say no more..."

Liu Zheng shook his head: "If you still consider me your Young Master, then trust me one more time! Put down your swords and blades!"

Having said this, the group of people slowly put down their swords and blades.

Liu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, turned back, and said to Qingyang Shuo, "Sir, you must appease the brothers' emotions. Allow me to go and return shortly!"

Qingyang Shuo was stunned: "No, Young Master... this is Malaria."

Liu Zheng said decisively, "I said I have a Method, so I have a Method! Jiang Xuan, take one hundred men and come with me!"

Everyone present was stunned.

Even the Military Medical Officer did not believe what Liu Zheng said this time.

This terrifying Malaria had swallowed up countless lives since ancient times; no one had a Method, and one could only rely on tenacious vitality to pull through. And yet, he claimed he had a Method?

But they were not allowed to say anything.

Liu Zheng and Jiang Xuan had already taken the men and ridden away from there.