Wen Mohan and his party rushed all the way and arrived at Zhang County before dawn. They pushed open the city gate, and the inside was silent, not even a dog bark could be heard. Carriages entered one after another. After everyone entered Zhang County, the city gate slammed shut, trapping everyone inside.
"What's going on?" The guard beat on the city gate, but there was no response.
Wen Mohan glanced coldly at the closed city gate and ordered his men to prepare in place, waiting for dawn to confirm the situation in Zhang County.
A streak of fish maw white appeared in the east. The sun, like a mischievous child, poked its head out of the sea of clouds, then leaped up. As its radiance poured down, Wen Mohan, sitting on his horse, watched the scene before him. Even with his excellent composure, he couldn't help but vomit on the spot.
The entrance to the city must have been cleaned, so they didn't find any bodies when they entered. However, after going about a hundred meters further in, bodies were everywhere, mixed with mud, emitting a strong stench that made people nauseous.
"My lord, we cannot proceed further!" The accompanying imperial physician rushed forward and stopped Wen Mohan's horse. "My lord, this tragic scene is likely not just due to the flood. I fear it is... a plague!"
Upon hearing it was a plague, everyone became agitated. Some guards, terrified, ran to the city gate and banged on it fiercely. "Let us out, open the gate, let us out."
Wen Mohan's face turned pale. How dare Pang Tong and the others conceal the situation inside? Dead bodies everywhere, rotting corpses, flying insects. Apart from the buzzing of insects, only silence remained. He didn't even know if anyone was still alive inside!
"Everyone, cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief. Do not touch the corpses. For now, only the city gate area is clean. We will temporarily set up camp by the gate and must find a way to deal with the corpses. Otherwise, as the corpses rot and insects bite, the plague will spread faster."
"Set up camp here," Wen Mohan immediately ordered.
"Those who handle the corpses, wrap your hands with cloth. Do not touch them directly. Gather the corpses together and burn them. We will also brew some medicine. I don't know if there are any living people left. If there are, perhaps we can ascertain what kind of epidemic it is!"
"Everyone, obey the order. Having entered Zhang County, our lives no longer belong to us. However, we must also fight against heaven. While saving others, we must also save ourselves." Wen Mohan calmed down and began to assign tasks.
"Su Cheng, lead a team to search for survivors in the city. Wei Feng, lead a team to gather the corpses and pile them in an open area for concentrated burning."
"The medical team, find a way to prevent the epidemic as soon as possible, and try your best to find a cure."
"Another small team will search for clean water sources and start a fire to cook. If there are still survivors, food is what they need most. Everyone, get moving immediately."
"Yes."
After the initial panic, everyone began to search in an orderly manner. Wen Mohan turned to look at the closed city gate. Man'er, if I unfortunately die, will you remember me?
By the time Xiao Man's people arrived, Wen Mohan and his group had already entered Zhang County. They had no choice but to return and report.
Xiao Man closed her eyes, suppressing her inner worries. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Haste was useless at this point. Since things had come to this, all she could do was to do her best to save the people inside.
"Send a message to Senior Wan, asking him to rush to Zhang County day and night. If there is anyone who can save the people in Zhang County, it is him."
"Yes, Master."
"Also, send a message to He Qingyi and tell her to make her own choice. This is a good opportunity to make a name for herself, but the possibility of death is even higher. Let's see if she dares to risk her life. If she succeeds, she will be famous throughout the world. If she fails, she will perish."
"Master, it is too dangerous here, why involve her..."
"Which doctor who saves lives and heals injuries does not walk at the forefront of disease? If you fear death, you cannot become a famous physician!" Xiao Man said coldly. "If she dares to come, let Father help her, and let her come openly!"
"Yes."
"Also, send a message to Nangong Yu and tell him to take over the West District military camp." Xiao Man hesitated. "He... have him lend Ye Qing and have them wait outside Zhang County. We will handle the city, and the outside will be up to them!"
"Master is going into the city?" Qin Xue was shocked. "Are you crazy?"
"Besides an experienced imperial physician, the doctors around Mohan are all apprentices. They can only treat minor ailments. But Zhang County has a plague. If I don't go in, before Senior Wan arrives, they will all die inside!"
"Master, let me go in. You cannot put yourself in danger!" Qin Xue said immediately. "If I go in, I will do my best to protect Lord Wen."
"Silly girl, you don't know medicine. Wouldn't you be seeking death by going in? You still need to help me gather medicinal herbs outside. There are probably no medicinal herbs in Zhang County."
"I will immediately send a message to Ah Jin and have him send all the medicinal herbs over. Master, please don't go in."
"You should have confidence in me," Xiao Man patted Qin Xue's head. "Don't worry, I will be fine!"
"Master, can you not go?" Qin Xue made her last plea.
"Who else knows medicine here besides me?" Xiao Man said gently. "There are still tens of thousands of people inside. I can't just watch them die."
Qin Xue inwardly regretted why she chose to learn perfumery instead of medicine. If she knew medicine, she could have entered Zhang County in place of Xiao Man. But she didn't!
Qin Xue also wanted to knock Xiao Man unconscious and tie her up, preventing her from entering Zhang County. But she understood that it wasn't easy to attack Xiao Man, let alone this method would only delay her for a while, and she would eventually go in!
"Your subordinate will accompany you in."
Xiao Man shook her head. "A'luo will accompany me in. You all wait outside the city."
Xiao Man stood outside Zhang County, her face clouded. Pang Tong was truly ruthless, giving people no way out. He sealed the city gates, and then, from who knows where, he moved massive stones to completely block the city gates of Zhang County. It would take at least seven or eight days to move them. In seven or eight days, according to Zou Yang's words, everyone would probably be infected!
Seeing this, Qin Xue felt a little delighted. With the city gates blocked, her master couldn't go in. Of course, the people inside couldn't get out either. She could only blame Lord Wen for his bad luck.
"Bastard!"
"Master, your subordinate will immediately have people clear the rubble at the city gate to try and open the road as soon as possible."
Xiao Man looked around. She had to get in as soon as possible, find out what kind of epidemic had broken out, and then find a cure as quickly as possible.