Survival countdown

Chapter 28

The county government of Anyang County, Yangzhou, Huainan.

The county magistrate Lu Liangshi took off his official hat sweating profusely, and said in a daze: "What should I do? What should I do! Isn't Wang Guozhi's case closed long ago? Why did Deng Wen'an suddenly appear? Why did he go to the execution ground? Can you still bring the case back? You even sent a Fu Envoy—— Fu Envoy!"

Lu Liangshi's legs went limp, and he sat slumped on the stool with a dull expression on his face: "If something is found out, it's not easy to lose an official job, and I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my head."

The master paced back and forth, racking his brains to think of countermeasures: "Deng Wen'an's case is actually very easy to solve."

Lu Liangshi asked as if grasping at straws: "How to solve it? Wang Guozhi's mansion is still in Jiangyang County, and his neighbors all know him. Deng Wen'an also has an old father in Jiangdu County. If you find all the people, face the evidence, and the case is clear at a glance, how can you argue?"

Master: "Those people can testify to Deng Wen'an's identity, but can they guarantee that Deng Wen'an did not participate in the robbery and murder? Are you sure that Deng Wen'an is not Wang Guozhi's accomplice?"

Lu Liangshi's mind turned quickly, "You mean—"

Master: "Bitting Deng Wen'an to death is an accomplice of Wang Guozhi. According to the law, he should be executed. Not only are you innocent, but you should also be rewarded!"

Lu Liangshi clapped his palms: "Okay! Okay! Let's just say that." He stood up and laughed, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was a clever plan. He shook his head and said, "It's really rainy, the willows are dark and the flowers are bright, and the road is turning!"

"My lord, don't be too happy." The master persuaded from behind: "How can an unjust case be worthy of His Majesty sending an imperial envoy to investigate? I am afraid that the case of Deng Wen'an is used to investigate whether the officials for disaster relief in Huainan have cut corners and enriched their own pockets! I I heard that before the floods in the two provinces of Beijing, Tokyo, and the west, every time the disaster relief would send imperial envoys to visit secretly, and secretly investigate whether anyone embezzled the relief money, it is estimated that the imperial envoys are of the same nature this time."

"Private visit in a micro-service?" Lu Liangshi frowned: "I'm playing this game with the master, I really have to kneel. It seems that the 70 disaster relief funds allocated for the disaster can't be swallowed too much, take out 25...forget it, no more Fifty thousand will be used to help the victims."

"My lord is merciful, I'll go back and dial the abacus."

"Hey, wait a minute, first put those victims in Guiantougang outside the county, and don't let them in. Once they come in, they will make noise and rob food, and when they are arrested, they will have to cry and cry for injustice. Tian first use some old rice and rice bran to deal with it. Anyway, it’s a group of disaster victims, so it’s good to fill their stomachs. When the news of the imperial envoy’s arrival is confirmed, then replace it with normal rice porridge.” Lu Liangshi broke his fingers and said: “It’s all A group of Pixiu that can only get in and out, how much money will it cost me, my lord."

***

With a waist of [-], he rode a crane to Yangzhou.

Yangzhou is prosperous and prosperous, and there are ten steps away from restaurants and tiles, and there are endless songs and dances. It is no exaggeration to describe it.People who haven't come to Yangzhou always want to experience the prosperity of "Suzhou and Hangzhou in the sky above" in their dreams, and those who come to Yangzhou don't want to leave again.

Not only the common people yearn for Suzhou and Hangzhou, but also Beijing officials and local officials yearn for this cornucopia. There is also an anecdote circulating in the official circles, saying that after a certain upright official arrived in Yangzhou, he sprinkled golden sand and poured golden leaves into the Little Qinhuai River, and the golden reflection was reflected in the water. It is especially beautiful with the fire in the sky.

The anecdote is not true or false, but it can be seen that Yangzhou's status in people's hearts is directly linked to gold and silver.

It's a pity that Zhao Baiyu's trip to Huainan this time did not go to Yangzhou, the most prosperous city, but to Jiangyang, a county under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou Prefecture.

When leaving the capital, I took the official road, and once I entered Huainan, I immediately took the waterway. The boat drifted along the water, and walked for more than half a month. Yan Bing, who was very excited at first, sat on the bow of the boat with his head drooping. A disheveled face.

"Goro, how long is the journey?"

"I can see the pier." Zhao Baiyu fiddled with the beads on his left wrist, and looked at the vast river. There was a water stele in the distance. In Yangze country, the flood has receded a lot. "Go into the cabin and change clothes."

Yan Bing: "Why change clothes?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Have you heard of Weifu's private interview?"

Yan Bing's eyes lit up: "The opera is often sung!" He hurriedly changed into his patched clothes, and came out to meet Zhao Baiyu who was wearing a short faded cloth. "Goro, you look like a scholar who failed the exam in Beijing."

"You want to say thin skin and tender flesh, don't you?" Zhao Baiyu took off the cloth towel that tied his hair, tied it up indiscriminately, grabbed a few scalps and said, "We are dressed too neatly, we don't look like we are covered in dust and sallow and thin, no Like refugees."

Yan Bing did as he did, and was curious: "Why do you pretend to be a refugee?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Let's go to the place where the disaster victims are resettled first."

Yan Bing took the ashes that Zhao Baiyu had prepared at some point and threw them on his face: "But aren't we here to investigate Deng Wen'an's case?"

Zhao Baiyu: "I guess there are quite a few people checking passers-by at the gate of the city right now, trying to find the imperial envoy in advance." Lifting the curtain, he motioned Yan Bing to look ahead: "There are even a few yamen servants at the wharf who are interrogating you later. Don't talk, they will suspect people with a Kyoto accent."

Yan Bing was anxious: "I, I, can I deceive them by pretending like this? Will I not look like a refugee?"

Zhao Baiyu: "You are my younger brother, your name is Zhao Xiaowei, and my name is Zhao Dawei. My family has a small property. Because of the sudden flood, the fields were flooded and I fled here."

Yan Bing nodded repeatedly.

At this moment when the boat docked, there were officials outside yelling loudly that the people inside came out quickly. There were three or forty people on the same boat, and they all landed and were interrogated one by one.When it was Zhao Baiyu and Yanbing's turn, the venomous-eyed official pointed them out, and asked where they came from vigilantly.

Zhao Baiyu lowered his head and said that he came from Xuzhou. The fields at home were flooded, and he was separated from his parents and servants. He could only flee to Jiangyang County with his brother who could not speak.

The officer heard that his accent really didn't look like he came from the capital, and it happened that there was a person who fled from Xuzhou who spoke next to him, and his accent was similar to Zhao Baiyu, so he believed it seven to eight points.

Turning around the two of them, looking inside and out, although the skin is tender, but the eyes are panicked, the face is pale, like a frightened bird, really like a son in distress.

A yamen servant next to him said, "Don't waste time, I can guarantee that the two of them are definitely not imperial envoys! If it is said that the imperial envoys are visiting incognito, they should not pretend to be refugees. How could you be a student of a sage, a close minister of the emperor, do such an insulting thing? Don’t worry, I’ve never seen an imperial envoy pretending to be a beggar or a refugee. That’s the face of hunting on behalf of the sky, representing the emperor and the court.”

That's right, scholars are arrogant, not to mention scholars who have been high officials for 20 years. Wouldn't it be an insult to ask them to take off silk and satin and wear common clothes?

Besides, imperial envoys should not be protected?

One of these two is dumb, and the other is helpless. If they are really imperial envoys, they can kill them now while they are in trouble.

With a wave of his hand, the officer drove away: "Go, go!"

After walking a long distance, Yan Bing said, "Are they guilty of being a thief?"

Zhao Baiyu: "It's clear at a glance."

Yan Bing suddenly remembered something: "Will Deng Wen'an be silenced?"

"Who dares to silence his words on the cusp of the storm? The public opinion alone cannot be suppressed, not to mention that Deng Wen'an was imprisoned in the prison of Yangzhou Prefecture, and the county magistrate of Jiangyang County could not stretch his hand so far. As for the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture... not until the time when the dog jumped the wall in a hurry , will not destroy the Great Wall by itself." Zhao Baiyu said thoughtfully, "According to Wei Bo and Adjutant Cui's footsteps, it is time to go to Jiangyang County now."

"A meeting with them?"

Zhao Baiyu didn't say a word, and asked the fishmonger on the wharf where the victims were resettled, and the fishmonger replied, "Guolhougang outside the city."

"According to the law, shouldn't the gates of the city be opened to let refugees in?"

"Hey! The sky is high and the emperor is far away. The word of the county master is the law!" The fishmonger saw that Zhao Baiyu was still gentle, so he kindly talked to him: "I think you speak gentle, you should be a rich man, and you can read a few words. I advise you to find a job casually in the city, and don’t go to the disaster-stricken areas.”

Looking left and right, the fishmonger lowered his voice: "I have an uncle who cooks rice porridge in the disaster-stricken area, not to mention that the rice porridge is damp old rice that has been stored for three or four years, and there is also rice bran that is eaten by pigs for the disaster-stricken people. Said there...someone fell ill!"

Zhao Baiyu's heart twisted, his expression changed drastically: "Is it acclimatization or common fever?"

The fishmonger shook his head: "I can't see it. Several people have fallen ill one after another in the past few days, and I heard that some of them died. If the environment is not acclimatized, it should have shown up two months earlier."

Zhao Baiyu: "Have you asked the doctor to see it?"

The fishmonger showed a strange smile: "Doctor? In the current flood, who cares about the fleeing victims? Please don't ask the doctor for money? The medicinal materials you eat don't cost money? How can our county magistrate be willing to cut out his heart!"

Zhao Baiyu: "But the imperial court sent an imperial physician to escort the medicinal materials. Didn't they arrive?"

Fishmonger: "The imperial court? When it comes to taxes and food, it is an imperial court that loves the people like a son. When a disaster is imminent, no one comes out to make decisions. If it weren't for these corrupt officials who are greedy for the money of the Mozhi River, the embankment would collapse?"

A colleague next to him scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? You don't want to die!"

The fishmonger fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Baiyu stopped the fishmonger who was leaving in a hurry, and kept asking what was going on about the corruption of Mo Zhihe Yinzi. All over Huainan.

"Who passed it on?"

Even Emperor Yuanshou didn't know that Zhang Conglu found out that Zhihe Yinzi was corrupted. How could it spread all over Huainan?

"I don't know, that's what everyone says anyway. Let me see, the official doesn't have a good thing... Forget it, let's not talk about it."

Yan Bing stopped Zhao Baiyu very vigilantly: "No! You must not go to the resettlement center for the victims! It may be an epidemic, and floods are the most likely to cause epidemics. There are no doctors or doctors here. It may not be very strong, what if it is infected? How can I explain to the Prince of Lin’an? You can go if you want, first go to Wei Bo and Adjutant Cui, and you have to write to the King of the Xiaojun, and he agrees.”

Huo Jingtang didn't come to Jiangyang County with him, at first he said jokingly that he didn't want to come here to suffer, but later it was Zhao Baiyu who followed him without saying a word, and he couldn't stand it any longer before letting go of another important job in the body.

Zhao Baiyu blinked: "I don't know where Huo Jingtang is, how can I contact you?"

Yan Bing: "Come here! Some time before leaving, the King of the Xiaojun gave you a sea dongqing, and even took you to a suburban villa to teach you how to boil an eagle. No one else can contact the King of the Xiaojun, what else can you do?"

With regard to Xiaojun Wang's obsession with Wulang, can you rest assured that he will go to Jiangyang alone?

Zhao Baiyu walked out of the city gate with Yan Bing in his arms: "Before I entered the county palace, how did you think I was doing?"

"Bitter. Difficult. Thanks to your blessings and fate, otherwise you would have died in the back house of the Zhao Mansion." Yan Bing replied without hesitation.

"Don't you just get married? Don't you all treat me like porcelain as soon as I get married. Before Huo Jingtang, I went up the mountain of swords and down the sea of ​​fire alone. I don't fear the sky and the earth. Why do I shrink back now that I have a family? Do you have to report to Huo Jingtang when you do something? He tells me to do whatever I want, he is my husband and he doesn’t treat me as fragile, you guys love to restrain me more than he does.”

Yan Bing was moved, but felt something was wrong but couldn't tell.

"Besides, I'm an imperial envoy, and it's my duty to be aware of people's sentiments. Do you think I'm a stupid official who fills up the position? A corrupt corrupt official who only takes his salary and doesn't do anything?"

"I don't want to. But right now your duty is to solve the unjust case and restore Deng Wen'an's innocence."

Zhao Baiyu patted Yan Bing on the shoulder: "In order to solve the unjust case, the victims and the epidemic situation must also be investigated." After a pause, he looked serious and lowered his voice: "Yan Bing, do you know what a refugee looks like? How terrible is it? If we don’t care, there will be mountains of corpses, hundreds of miles of dead bones, and wailing.”

The disaster relief measures in ancient times were far less rapid and transparent than those in modern times. People could starve to death during the escape, and in severe cases, the human tragedy of exchanging children for food could also occur.The flood receded, and the disaster relief was slow. What was really scary was the epidemic. In ancient times, there was no modern medical condition, and the epidemic was always regarded as a scourge. Although there are many golden prescriptions, the epidemic is ever-changing and highly contagious. Just in case!

After searching for people and asking directions all the way, Zhao Baiyu and Yanbing finally arrived at Guaitougang.

Looking down from a high place, you can see the soupy river in the distance, thousands of thatched huts that could collapse in the wind, and temporary shelters built with only a few bamboos and a piece of rag in the middle plain.Underneath the victims were crawling in the muddy ground, dirty all over, with numb expressions. There were fathers weeping bitterly while hugging the pale corpses of their sons; Those who are bright and shuttle back and forth are speculators who take the opportunity to buy women.

The sky was overcast and the wind was howling.

The grief of the working people at the bottom is silent and heavy.

Yan Bing was so worried that he no longer prevented Zhao Baiyu from going deep into the disaster-stricken area.

In the middle of the journey, a child next to him suddenly vomited while clutching his abdomen, vomited acidic water, and fell unconscious on the ground. Several victims rushed over to check.

But after a while, officials pushed away the crowd cursing, and asked a few victims to lift the children with simple wooden planks and throw them in the epidemic area.

A young man was full of grief and indignation: "He just ate the rice bran and old rice you used for disaster relief, so he became sick and vomited. You didn't find a doctor to treat him, but sent him to die under the pretext of 'disease'. You gangsters are corrupt and pervert the law." Does the official still have a conscience?"

The officer kicked the young man down and threatened the victims with a knife: "It would be nice to fill your stomachs. Do you know how much money the imperial court gave to feed you? The imperial court money has been hollowed out. Our county masters eat pickles and porridge to save money." Give you rations for disaster relief, what else do you want? Do you want to make trouble? Make trouble! All of them will be dealt with as rebels!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked, and they retreated one after another, not daring to make trouble anymore.

Seeing the child being carried onto the plank, an old doctor in ragged clothes was helped out, tremblingly said: "It's the epidemic."

"what?"

"I am a doctor from Jishitang in Pizhou. I have seen many patients these days. They vomited, lost strength, couldn't eat, gradually weakened, and died of exhaustion. That's right, the five epidemics are all easily infected, no matter how big or small, Symptoms are similar - it's the epidemic!"

"!!"

Everyone was terrified, and retreated one after another like avoiding a tiger. Even the victims who were carrying the plank couldn't help but backed away, not daring to get closer.

The official was the first to react: "Quick! Take the person to the epidemic area and isolate him. Are you a doctor? You go in with him to see a doctor. Go, go back and report!"

The yamen servants quickly moved into action, but in two or three hours, the battalion was dispatched from the inspection department to surround the guillotine post, and ordered people to sprinkle lime around it. They also searched for doctors from the city, and only sent some medicinal materials for clearing away heat and detoxification. Entry is not allowed, as if to let them wait to die.

Zhao Baiyu was so angry that his fingers trembled, "Reckless disregard for human life! What a magistrate of Jiangyang! I thought he hastily settled Deng Wen'an's case because he wanted to make meritorious deeds. It turned out that it was not an exception. Reckless disregard for human life is the norm! Huo Jingtang is right, Jiang Chen The heart of contempt for the imperial court has become more and more rampant."

If you don’t believe the news that the imperial envoy is going to Yangzhou, the county magistrate of Jiangyang County doesn’t know about it. If he knows, he dares to blatantly disregard human life. It can be seen that the local emperor is used to it, and he has long forgotten the deterrence of the court and the duties of parents and officials!

Yan Bing: "How about revealing your identity now?"

Zhao Baiyu was not confused: "It's just the two of us, it's too risky to reveal our identities. Let's check the epidemic situation first, and send a letter to Adjutant Cui and Wei Bo at night. I guess we should go to Jiangyang County. As soon as they arrive in Jiangyang Yang County, you don’t need to take the initiative to reveal your identity, the magistrate of Jiangyang County will come over by himself.”

***

At the same time, Wei Bo and Adjutant Cui came to Jiangyang County half a day late, lingered in the streets and inns, chatted with the people, asked about the disaster situation, folk grievances, and local parents' and officials' comments. They still spoke with the accent of Kyoto Prefecture, and they were spotted by the patrolling yamen. , Go back to the mansion and report to Lu Liangshi.

Lu Liangshi jumped out of bed at a loss: "Here you come? Quickly, come with me to meet the imperial envoy! Hat... where is my hat? And shoes, put them on for me quickly." He hurriedly ran to the door and bumped into the master, couldn't help getting angry : "What are you doing so recklessly!"

The master grimaced: "A catastrophe is imminent, master! There was a epidemic in Guaitougang, and the servants decided to seal off the disaster-stricken area on their own initiative. I heard that there have been dead people there. What should the imperial servants do if they find out?"

Lu Liangshi almost fell down: "Why didn't you tell me about the epidemic? Are you trying to kill me?"

The master felt guilty: "There are not many medicinal materials allocated by the Yangzhou government—"

"I don't think there aren't many, you should sell them all!"

Or corrupt officials know best about corrupt officials, Lu Liangshi and his master are like dogs, one is greedy for disaster relief money, the other is greedy for disaster relief medicinal materials, when the disaster is imminent, he just wants to smother the problem to protect himself, completely disregarding the life and death of the people.

Lu Liangshi: "What can we do?"

Master: "Why don't we deal with the affected areas first before the epidemic breaks out? Block their mouths—"

"How many victims are there? Tens of thousands, do you dare to kill them all? I really can't see that you are much more ruthless than me." Lu Liangshi rolled his eyes at the master, and motioned for the yamen guards behind him to tie him up: "Anyway, we have to find Personal top bag, who is not looking for? If your hands and feet are not clean, don’t blame me for abandoning the car to keep you handsome.”

The master was tied hands and feet, and his mouth was covered, and he stared and struggled desperately.

Lu Liangshi: "Hurry up and procrastinate. Remember to hang yourself first and send it to the inn where the imperial envoy lives, and say that he was greedy for ink, disaster relief silver and medicinal materials, and committed suicide in fear of crime." Turning his back, he kept patting his head: "Trouble, why is it so troublesome? ? I have to take out the silver in my pocket again, why am I so unlucky?"

***

Xiao Wence, the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture, soon received a letter from Jiangyang County, saying that there was an outbreak of an epidemic there, asking for more medicinal materials and people from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Hmph! Deng Wen'an's case has not been resolved, so I have the nerve to ask for money and someone!" Xiao Wence did not get angry, and knocked on the letter paper and said: "If An Huaide and Song Ling hadn't been fighting openly and secretly, the government would have never Being involved in that case, why are you now tied to the same boat as Lu Liangshi, an idiot?"

An Huaide is a princeling, but Song Ling, the envoy of Huainan, is a disciple of the ten kings. He has a bad temper and prefers to work against An Huaide. In terms of the relationship with the son-in-law, give An Huaide a little extra.

Originally, Song Ling was supposed to be put in charge of Deng Wen'an's case, but An Huaide insisted on taking it over. Xiao Wence had to fight on the same front with An Huaide to save face, and was forced to board Lu Liangshi's boat.

Lv Liangshi is an idiot who is greedy and stupid, but he prefers to be very lucky. The higher-ups fought tricks and asked him to have two more Buddhas to protect him by mistake, so he would come to the door if something happened.

Judge Zuo said: "Comfort first, wait for the imperial envoy to leave, and find a reason to solve it."

The right chief said: "There is no need to allocate money, he has to spit out as much as he swallows, otherwise he will make more progress. The medicinal materials and imperial physicians still have to be given, and the epidemic cannot be allowed to spread, otherwise it will really not be closed!"

Xiao Wence: "I'm worried that the imperial envoys will notice the disaster-affected areas due to the epidemic, and then find out that Lu Liangshi has embezzled the relief money and dealt with it together with the unjust case, implicating us."

Zuo Judge: "Lv Liangshi said that he has found someone to cover the bag, let's believe him for a while. As long as you don't investigate Zhang Conglu and He Dao's money being swallowed up, you don't have to be too wary of the imperial envoy. Besides, I heard that this imperial envoy is too young , for the first time in the officialdom, the means must be immature, and it should be easy to deal with."

Xiao Wence thought for a while, then nodded: "Okay. I will send three carts of medicinal materials and two imperial physicians there. Then I will go to the inspection department and dispatch more battalions to guard the disaster-affected area. We must strictly guard against the epidemic area, and even flies are not allowed to fly out." One!"

After a long while, he sighed, "I hope there will be no danger and no more mistakes."

***

Adjutant Cui received Hai Dongqing's letter, but before he responded, Wei Bo was about to rush to the disaster area with his sword in hand to bring out Zhao Baiyu.

"What are you in a hurry for?"

"I'm not in a hurry now, should I wait until Goro dies?"

"What's the use of you going? Let's not say that the disaster-stricken area is now tightly sealed, and the battalion is stationed there. Even if you say on the spot that the envoy is in the disaster-stricken area, no one will open the door! The epidemic-stricken area is the law of the scene The regulation doesn’t work if anyone goes there! Besides, if you go there and shout, it’s like scaring the snake, and instead scares Lu Liangshi, telling him to have a reason not to open the district, not to send medicinal materials and food, and kill Mr. Zhao alive.”

Wei Bo calmed down, but was still furious: "What do you think should be done?"

Adjutant Cui: "Master Xiao Zhao asked us to pretend to be imperial envoys, so we can use this identity outside to intimidate Lu Liangshi from going too far."

As soon as the voice fell, there was a commotion outside, followed by dead silence. It didn't take long before hurried footsteps approached, stopped at the door of the room, and heard a loud shout: "Lv Liangshi, the county magistrate of Jiangyang County, came with the sinners who embezzled the medicine for disaster relief." Please ask your lord to make an apology!"

Adjutant Cui sneered: "Look, here we come."

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The author has something to say:

As far as the epidemic is concerned, all are easily infected with each other, regardless of size, and the symptoms are similar. ——classic scriptures

(Actually, the plague usually occurs in the spring of the second year. If enough people die and the temperature changes, the plague will easily break out. However, the text is brought forward for the sake of the plot.)