Chapter 260: If We Are Guilty

And at this moment.

Dunhuang, which had the whole world worried, was already the same as Changzhou had been a few days ago.

It had fallen into a deathly silence.

The streets of Dunhuang, which once could be considered flourishing, were now left only with patrolling Garrison and piles of unmanageable trash left at the doorways.

A terrifying atmosphere permeated the entirety of Dunhuang.

In contrast to this terrifying, deathly silence were the occasional shrill cries, seemingly announcing that yet another person had failed to hold on against the Malaria and had died just like that.

A thousand villages are overgrown with vines where people have left, ten thousand households are desolate as ghosts sing.

Likewise.

There were also the privileged class within the city, the Powerful Clans, who wanted to flee this Hell on earth.

However...

The Prefect of Dunhuang, Chang Shuwen, would not give them this opportunity.

The escape of refugees from Changzhou had already caused panic throughout the world. How could he dare to let anyone else out? Moreover, in the face of a plague, sealing the city was the best choice.

Therefore.

His measures were very forceful.

No matter who it was, as long as they dared to flee, they would be executed without exception! There was no dissuasion, just direct killing!

"My Lord, My Lord..."

At this time, another subordinate ran in while crying: "Today, it is another two thousand people..."

Chang Shuwen's heart sank, and a sense of despair surged into his mind.

Two thousand people a day...

What kind of speed is this!

Terrifying!

Could it really be that the Heavens have sent down this plague to punish them? But he, Chang Shuwen, has governed diligently and remained incorruptible; why must he be tortured like this!

He let out a miserable laugh: "Hold on... it will pass, it will pass."

The crowd wept together.

Will it pass?

Everyone knew that a plague was an unsolvable natural disaster. They could only wait slowly, wait slowly for those who were doomed to die to die just like that, because there would be no one coming to truly aid them...

Those physicians were probably just sacrifices in the Bitter Remonstrance for power, right?

Because what use was there for them to come here?

It was just adding more targets for infection to this terrible Malaria.

As more and more people were attacked by the Malaria, the problem of insufficient manpower would inevitably arise.

By that time, it would again be a matter of fending for themselves.

The Yinzhou Army, which had long been contacted and intended to pass through Dunhuang, probably wouldn't dare to come anymore, right?

There were supplies, and there were medicinal herbs...

Hmm.

Chang Shuwen thought to himself, let's hold on for as long as we can.

He only hoped that Dunhuang would not become a dead city under his watch.

He suddenly laughed out loud and stood up: "Everyone, rest assured, I, Chang Shuwen, will certainly live and die with Dunhuang! Until the plague is gone, I will not leave!"

"My Lord..."

"My Lord, you..."

The crowd was moved to tears.

Chang Shuwen waved his hand: "Go, follow this official to inspect Dunhuang! Tell the commoners that we are still here, and that we, just like them, have always been on this land!"

"Yes!"

Just at this moment.

Another person ran in frantically: "Prefect, outside... outside..."

Chang Shuwen was stunned: "What is happening outside?"

The man panted: "The Yinzhou Army has arrived, ninety thousand Yinzhou Army soldiers!"

"What?"

Chang Shuwen was dumbfounded. The other officials also looked at each other in dismay.

Now that Dunhuang was already a city of plague that made the whole world turn pale at the mention of its name, this Yinzhou Army had actually not changed its route and was heading entirely toward Dunhuang?

Could it be that the world-renowned Prefect Liu had not received the news?

That shouldn't be!

Chang Shuwen was somewhat unable to understand.

The subordinate added: "My Lord, that Prefect Liu said, he said... open the city gates, he wants to overcome the difficulties together with the people of Dunhuang!"

Boom!

A buzzing sound echoed in Chang Shuwen's brain, and then his expression changed drastically: "Absolutely not! Absolutely not! The Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce has already supported us a lot, and a plague is no small matter, this... go, go, go, everyone follow me!"

The group of people walked together to the city gate.

Sure enough.

The ninety thousand victorious Yinzhou Army soldiers, stretching as far as the eye could see, had by this time arrived about ten miles outside the city of Dunhuang.

A person rode over on horseback and shouted loudly: "Prefect, my Young Master has come to provide aid! Please open the city gates; we are willing to overcome the plague together with Dunhuang!"

Chang Shuwen sighed: "Prefect Liu's benevolence is known to all under Heaven, and this official is moved to tears. However, a plague is no child's play; I hope Prefect Liu will take a detour as soon as possible, otherwise, otherwise..."

Qin Zhangfeng, riding his horse, laughed heartily: "Rest assured, my young master has long had a Method for dealing with the plague; just let us in!"

The crowd was shocked.

A Method for dealing with the plague?

This statement was shocking, but who would believe it?

Chang Shuwen was left between laughter and tears, thinking to himself: Has this Prefect Liu lost his mind for the sake of the Emperor's promise of a King of a Different Surname? His opinion of him plummeted instantly.

He insisted: "General, this matter is of great importance and concerns the fate of Longyan; this official dares not act recklessly. Please inform Prefect Liu to take a detour!"

As for Chang Shuwen's attitude, Liu Zheng had actually guessed it long ago.

Qin Zhangfeng roared for a long time, but Dunhuang simply would not open its gates.

Qingyang Shuo laughed: "It seems that no one dares to believe in this plague-extermination Method."

Liu Zheng nodded and said: "No matter, there are still twenty thousand patients from Changzhou outside the city. Let us start from here!"

Having an army at the city gates is indeed a sensitive matter.

And especially at a time like this.

Besides...

Since ancient times, there has never been a good Method for dealing with the plague, yet you happen to have one? Who would believe it? Once you enter, get infected with the plague, and then carry it away, who would bear that responsibility?

Chang Shuwen's approach was not wrong.

Although he was also worried about the safety of the people in the city, Liu Zheng had no other choice.

The ninety thousand Yinzhou troops could only temporarily camp outside the city.

At this, the refugees who had fled from Changzhou were stunned.

"Who are these people?"

"Run! Everyone, run! These are people sent by the imperial court to kill us!"

"Run? Where to? Isn't it death wherever we go? Heaven is destroying me!"

"That's right, I can't run anymore..."

In just three short days.

Nearly thirty thousand people who had fled from Changzhou had already seen nearly ten thousand die! Of those remaining, few were in good health, and looking at the dark mass of the Yinzhou army, they immediately fell into despair.

If only they had known...

Why run to this Dunhuang?

Not only did they bring disaster to others, but they also harmed themselves.

The more they thought, the more desperate they became; these people simply stopped running, clutching their heads and crying, waiting to be slaughtered by the imperial army.

However...

What happened next left them unable to understand.

That imposing general came over, scanned the area, and then said coldly: "All of you, get up, line up one by one, and come here to register!"

"If you want to live, obey!"

"Those who try to escape will be executed without mercy!"

The crowd was startled.

They could still live?

And... are these people not afraid of death? Are they not afraid of catching the plague? These ninety thousand people actually began to set up camp all around them.

This...

This is not an imperial army!

Someone recognized the unique green uniforms of the Yinzhou army and exclaimed: "This is the Yinzhou army! This is the Yinzhou army! They are the ones who returned in triumph from the Western Regions!"

The group of people immediately had mixed thoughts.

An old man stood out first, his eyes filled with excitement: "Is your Excellency General Qin under Prefect Liu?"

Qin Zhangfeng nodded.

The old man fell to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "General Qin, you absolutely must not! The Yinzhou army is a brave force of Longyan; you cannot be harmed by the likes of us!"

"You must leave quickly!"

"Don't worry about us!"

"That's right, General Qin, the men of Yinzhou are all good men! Save your lives to go kill those barbarians!"

Others also urged them one after another.

Liu Zheng, standing to the side, was left between laughter and tears, shaking his head and sighing.

If they had known this, why flee from Changzhou?

When a person is about to die, their words are good...

He had not expected that the reputation of his Yinzhou army was actually quite good.

He rode his horse over and said calmly: "Everyone, the Yinzhou army has arrived, so you will not die. Listen well to General Qin and live on!"

"If you all trust me, Liu Zheng, then do not waste time, understand?"

The crowd looked at each other in dismay.

Live?

They knew this Prefect Liu had great supernatural powers, but this was the plague, this was the plague...

But before they could speak.

The Yinzhou army was already busy at work.

Since he knew it was Malaria, Liu Zheng did not make them "wear Masks"; during the three days on the road, the ninety thousand Yinzhou troops had all learned how to squeeze juice from the Stinking Mugwort.

And so.

Under the dumbfounded gazes of that group of Changzhou patients.

A foul stench began to go to their heads a little.

What is this for?

Some children started crying on the spot.

If we are guilty, just behead us...

Is this imperial court trying to suffocate us with the stench?