Donning n95 protective suits and biological masks, the group, fully armed, headed towards Yangzhou City.
As soon as they hit the main road, their attire attracted everyone's attention.
"Look quickly!"
"Oh my! What is this fashion statement?"
"Could this be a hidden sect making a collective appearance?"
"These clothes look so strange..."
"Look, they're completely covered from head to toe. Are they afraid someone will steal their farts?"
Hearing this, Fang Er instantly pointed at the speaker.
"Slap him!"
"Yes!"
Ge Luoyang darted forward, and without a word, delivered a resounding slap to the man's face.
"Slap..."
The sound was crisp and clear, like pearls scattering on a jade plate.
The man was dazed by the blow. Looking at Fang Er's group and then at the onlookers gathering around, he became indignant.
Pointing at Fang Er, he cursed, "You damn..."
"Slap..."
Before he could finish a full, Sichuan-accented curse, Ge Luoyang slapped him again. Then, grabbing him by the neck, he roared,
"You dare utter another curse word, you hear me?"
"If I don't stuff your head up your ass, then your mother must have good skills!"
The man stiffened his neck, his face turning bright red.
Damn it, at least let me go so I can curse!
I can't even breathe, how can I curse...
"Stop! Committing assault in broad daylight, is there no law anymore!"
From within the crowd, a scholar in brocade robes emerged, speaking as he opened his folding fan and gave it a few ostentatious shakes.
Fang Er found it utterly disgusting.
With the New Year approaching, even though Yangzhou was in the south, it wasn't so hot that one needed a fan.
This guy was clearly putting on a show!
Changsun Ling'er suddenly let out a delicate sigh, "Pah! Shameless!"
Fang Er: ???
Seeing his bewildered expression, Changsun Ling'er covered her eyes with one hand and pointed at the fan in the scholar's hand.
"Look at the fan surface..."
Fang Er stepped forward and snatched the fan from the man's hand. After a glance, he quickly closed it.
Damn it!
This fellow was parading around on the street in broad daylight with a folding fan depicting erotic art, and he wasn't beaten to death!
"Tie up both of these scoundrels and take them into the city!"
The others behind him surged forward, pinning the scholar and another man to the ground.
The surrounding citizens, startled by this ferocious display, retreated one after another.
Where did these violent ruffians come from!
They looked so clean and fair in their attire, but when it came to fighting, they were ruthless, even more ferocious than those heavy-headed soldiers of the supervisory army!
Pushing through the crowd, the group proceeded in a grand procession towards the gates of Yangzhou City.
...
Yangzhou Supervisory Prefecture.
Upon hearing that Fang Er and Sun Simiao had arrived, Zhang Gongjin quickly led his subordinate generals to the entrance to greet them from afar.
"Hahahaha, Brother Fang! True Man Sun!"
"Now that you two are here, Old Zhang is truly at ease. Please, come in quickly!"
"Bang!"
Fang Er, however, did not offer him a pleasant reception. He kicked Zhang Gongjin directly.
Caught off guard, Zhang Gongjin landed on his bottom with a thud and asked in bewilderment.
"Brother, what's the meaning of this!"
"Meaning?" Fang Er pointed at the citizens coming and going outside the Supervisory Prefecture and sneered.
"Since there's an epidemic, why haven't you blocked the roads and sealed off the entire city?!"
"Do you want the entire Great Tang to fall into chaos?"
"How many heads do you think you have to lose!"
Having experienced several major epidemics in his later life, he was furious at the current situation in Yangzhou. His voice was so loud that it startled Changsun Ling'er beside him.
If it weren't for the protective suits, his spit would have washed Zhang Gongjin's face.
Zhang Gongjin was also taken aback. He had never seen Fang Er so enraged. He quickly got up from the ground and said with a wronged expression.
"Brother, you're truly blaming Old Brother here!"
"I just returned, and the helicopter broke down halfway. You can't blame me for that, can you?"
In front of Fang Er, he truly couldn't stand his ground.
Even Li Xiaogong was beaten to a pulp. If it came to actual fighting, he would be even worse off.
After explaining, he glared at the nearby generals and roared angrily.
"What are you all standing around for!"
"Don't you quickly seal the four gates and cut off the waterways!"
Seeing that his words seemed sincere, Fang Er didn't press the matter further.
He noticed two familiar faces among the generals and stared at them for a while, unable to recall who they were.
As if sensing something, the two men stepped forward and bowed.
"Formerly of the Conqueror of Barbarians Army, now Commander of the Divine Spear Army of the Yangzhou Supervisory Prefecture, Meng Zhong!"
"Formerly of the Conqueror of Barbarians Army, now Deputy Commander of the Divine Spear Army of the Yangzhou Supervisory Prefecture, Lü Huo!"
"Greetings to His Highness Prince Kun!"
What the heck?
These two have now become a commander and deputy commander?
They were trained at Fang Family Manor back then. No wonder they looked so familiar just now!
"Hahahaha, long time no see! You've become much stronger than back then!"
"We have to thank His Highness for your promotion!"
The two men quickly bowed again.
Fang Er chuckled and patted them on the shoulders: "Alright, now is not the time for reminiscing. When the epidemic is resolved, this Prince will treat you to drinks!"
"Old Ge, take them to the granary to transport all the remaining supplies!"
After sending them off, everyone entered the main hall of the Supervisory Prefecture. The Prefect of Yangzhou was summoned to provide an explanation of the situation.
This epidemic had begun half a month ago.
Initially, only a few individuals in a merchant caravan were infected. After falling ill, the person took a lot of medicine, but it was ineffective, and they died within nine days.
Not only that, but a few days after the caravan entered the city, similar patients began to appear in the city.
It was only then that the news was reported to the Prefect of Yangzhou, Marquis Tuntian.
He initially thought it was just a common minor epidemic and didn't pay much attention.
However, as more and more infected people died, he realized that this was an epidemic!
That's when he sent the telegram to Li Shimin!
"What are the symptoms of the infected?" Sun Simiao asked, stroking his beard after the Prefect finished.
The Marquis Tuntian replied, "Reporting to Master Yaōzōng, according to the physicians, the symptoms are mainly high fever, cough, weakness in the limbs, and dizziness."
"Some have also experienced coughing up blood and diarrhea."
"Young friend, shall we take a stroll through the streets?" Sun Simiao looked at Fang Er.
Fang Er nodded and got up: "That's a good idea. Sitting here won't solve the problem. We need to see it for ourselves."
"Brother, won't you have some food first?" Zhang Gongjin asked from the side.
"Look at our attire, how can we eat?"
Fang Er rolled his eyes at him through the biological mask.
"This outfit is disposable!"
"Setting aside its cost, every moment's delay could lead to someone dying. Can you eat with peace of mind?"