In the great hall of the governor's mansion, used for receiving guests, Zhou Fugui, the Governor of the East Sea, Prefect of the East Sea Commandery, Marquis of Pingliang, General Jianzhong, and Commander of the Xuepi Army, looked coldly at the assembled men. "My lords, have you forgotten the original intention for establishing the Xuepi Army?" he asked. "To alleviate the suffering of the people and resolve their difficulties – this was the original intention, the very tenet of our Xuepi Army. Now, a great plague has struck the East Sea Commandery, and we are to abandon the common people and flee from the East Sea? Would that not be a betrayal of our original intention?"
Those who had spoken of fleeing earlier now hung their heads in shame.
"Cang lang!" With a sharp sound, Zhou Fugui suddenly drew his heavy sword and, with a swing, cleaved off a corner of the low table.
"Pa!" The severed piece fell to the ground. The sound was small and light, yet everyone in the hall heard it with perfect clarity. At this moment, even the sound of a needle dropping to the floor would have been clearly audible.
"From this day forward, anyone who dares to speak of fleeing will meet the same fate as this table!" Zhou Fugui stated, planting his sword in the ground and looking at everyone with a cold gaze.
A wave of fear washed over the assembly. All stood up, bowed, and listened attentively. Li Qing and Yang Hu's eyes were filled with tears as they looked at Zhou Fugui. Yang Hu, in particular, was overcome with such profound shame that he felt he could die. This shame was not for any other reason than that he had misinterpreted Zhou Fugui's intentions.
Yang Hu even had a nascent feeling that he had found a wise lord worth following for a lifetime.
"Pa!" After a long pause, Xu Mancang first slapped himself hard. Then, addressing Zhou Fugui and Suo Dacheng, he said, "Second... Commander, Brother Suo, I was wrong. This old Xu's heart was clouded with pig's oil, and I even thought of fleeing... Commander, give the order! This old Xu will be the first to charge. If I don't charge, then I must be motherless! I will fight that evil spirit to the death!"
The crowd found this both amusing and exasperating.
Could they even see this evil spirit? Who were they supposed to charge and fight to the death?
"Brother Suo, the evil spirit is unseen and formless. Who are you going to fight?" Yang Xinhong asked next. "Commander, why don't we invite the Great Immortal Ge to perform a ritual to expel evil?"
"Yes, an excellent idea!"
"Quickly, invite the Great Immortal Shi Ge!"
"Great Immortal Shi Ge's magical arts are profound; he will surely expel the evil and bring blessings!"
"Even if Great Immortal Shi Ge's magical arts are strong, he is but one person. Why not capture all the bald monks, nuns, and Daoist priests in the East Sea Commandery and force them to perform rituals to ward off misfortune and seek blessings..."
"This plan is brilliant! Commander, please approve it?"
"I have another method, I have another method..."
Hearing this, everyone expressed their agreement. Under Zhou Fugui's strict command, the discussion revolved around how to deal with the great plague. No one dared to mention fleeing again.
Everyone knew that Zhou Fugui meant what he said and would do what he promised. They absolutely could not violate military law, lest they fall victim to military discipline before even contracting the plague.
"It is permissible to have Daoist Ge or other Buddhist and Daoist priests perform rituals to ward off misfortune," Zhou Fugui stated. He knew full well that inviting Ge Rufeng to perform rituals was completely irrelevant to the epidemic, but he could not change anything in the short term and did not wish to dampen the good intentions of his subordinates. Thus, he nodded and issued an order: "Immediately close the city gates of all prefectures and counties. No one is allowed to enter or exit freely. Those passing through Qu Yang, Shu Yang, and Hou Qiu counties are to be strictly investigated. Anyone found to be from Qu Yang, Shu Yang, or Hou Qiu counties is to be apprehended immediately and confined to the great prison."
"Commander, for those infected with the evil Qi, why not behead them?" Xu Mancang asked, waving his hand fiercely.
"Nonsense!" Zhou Fugui roared with anger, cursing loudly. "What crime have they committed that you wish to behead them? How absurd! I have ordered them confined to the great prison, not for imprisonment, but for... for 'interruption,' yes, 'interruption,' to interrupt the infernal evil Qi from spreading to others. These people are to be well-fed and cared for in prison, and physicians are to be summoned to treat them."
"Your subordinates obey the Commander's order!" the generals said in unison, their expressions solemn.
"The Commander's heart is truly like that of a Bodhisattva!" Yang Hu exclaimed.
In the past, during epidemics, those infected were left to fend for themselves, or even buried alive in inhumane ways to stop the spread. Yet Zhou Fugui treated them kindly and would even summon physicians to treat them? Was this not the heart of a Bodhisattva?
Zhou Fugui glanced at Yang Hu and continued, "The epidemic is rampant and advancing with great ferocity. The primary task is to prevent human-to-human and animal-to-human transmission. Therefore, immediately post notices, instructing everyone to maintain personal hygiene and protect themselves, in accordance with the Way! This should be even more strictly observed in the army: wear white garments over armor and wrap weapons with white cloth. White garments and white cloth must be washed daily and boiled in hot water; wash your hands and faces frequently with soap, and also your buttocks. Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, Baima Wu, An Minghai, Pan Jiangui, Yeli Hu, Heli Lang, Hugujin, your habit of not wiping your buttocks after defecation must change."
"Hahahaha!" The crowd, after a moment of surprise, erupted in laughter.
Xu Mancang opened his mouth as if to ask why, and indeed, many of them wanted to know the reason for Zhou Fugui's order, or why such measures were being taken.
"Minor offenses will be punished by flogging, major offenses by beheading!" Zhou Fugui said coldly, cutting off Xu Mancang's unspoken question. Time was pressing, and Zhou Fugui had no time for explanations, nor would they be easily understood. Thus, he had no choice but to use strict orders to restrain them.
"During the time in Youming Valley, I received divine methods from an immortal, which revealed how to prevent the spread of epidemics. Therefore, this order of mine is by no means a jest. I hope all of you will diligently obey it." Zhou Fugui, still uneasy, used the story of the immortal to deceive them.
As long as it wasn't transmitted through breathing, and as long as they followed these instructions, Zhou Fugui was confident he could halt the spread of the epidemic.
"Your subordinates obey the Commander's order!" the generals shouted in unison.
"Li Qing, Suo Dacheng, and Yang Hu, remain. The rest of you, go and attend to your duties," Zhou Fugui ordered with a wave of his hand after glancing at the generals again.
.......
"Commander, I do not understand your intentions, and so... I ask for your forgiveness," Yang Hu, who had remained along with Li Qing and Suo Dacheng, said respectfully as he rose from his seat within the inner chamber.
"There are many things you do not know. Hmph, so rash," Li Qing retorted with a cold snort.
Zhou Fugui cast a sideways glance at Li Qing and then said to Yang Hu, "The epidemic is rampant and advancing with great ferocity. I have asked the three of you to stay behind to discuss the epidemic in detail. Sir, there is no need to speak of unrelated matters."
"The Commander is magnanimous!" Yang Hu knelt by Zhou Fugui's side and asked, "The white garments, white cloth, and washing hands with soap... are these truly miraculous methods from the immortals?"
Zhou Fugui couldn't help but chuckle and glanced at Li Qing.
"Naturally!" Li Qing replied. "In the Youming Valley of Saibei, our Commander was favored by an immortal. All the soldiers of the Xuepi Army know this."
Yang Hu nodded, still half-skeptical.
"Sir..." Zhou Fugui said to Yang Hu, "I am new to the East Sea Commandery, and I truly know nothing of its affairs. With this epidemic striking, my mind is in turmoil, and I do not know how to deal with it. Could you, sir, offer some advice?"
The epidemic was rampant and advancing with great ferocity; it could not be solved by simply wearing a few white garments or wrapping a few pieces of white cloth or dispatching a few soldiers. Zhou Fugui naturally had some plans, but as he said, being new to the area, he was unfamiliar with the people of the East Sea Commandery and wished to hear the suggestions of Yang Hu and the others.
Yang Hu had previously served as an official in Changshan Commandery in Yan Province. He was known for his incorruptibility and his proficiency in governance.
"Commander, I am from Changshan..." Yang Hu said. Seeing the disappointment on Zhou Fugui's face, he smiled slightly. "Dealing with an epidemic essentially boils down to people, resources, and money."
"I wish to hear the details!" Yang Hu's words aligned closely with Zhou Fugui's own thoughts, so he was overjoyed.
"The key to treating an epidemic lies first and foremost in the hearts of the people. If the people's hearts are unstable, everything will fall apart. Therefore, I believe: First, provide medical care, medicine, and money. The epidemic is fierce, and the common people are suffering, mostly lacking the funds to seek medical treatment or obtain medicine. The government must provide medical aid and medicinal relief. If the common people receive medical treatment and medicine, their hearts will surely be stable. Commander, to implement medical aid and medicinal relief, a temporary office should be established, perhaps named 'Huimin Shu' or 'Shuyao Suo,' specifically responsible for medical and medicinal relief. Commander, your method of interruption is a wise strategy and the highest form of goodness, but there is no need to confine them to the great prison. A temporary government office can be established, perhaps named 'Anji Fang,' to receive and treat the sick. Commander, you have overlooked one matter: the corpses of those who have died from illness. Exposed corpses or those buried too shallow can cause illness in humans and animals. Therefore, funds and personnel must be allocated to designate areas for burial. This is the second point. Third, carefully examine the medicine and food, which must be differentiated and allocated separately for soldiers, commoners, and prisoners, etc. Commander, with the epidemic raging fiercely, the soldiers bear the important responsibility of maintaining order and quelling unrest, so soldiers must not fall ill. If they do fall ill, they must be treated first. Additionally..."
Yang Hu spoke eloquently, and Zhou Fugui nodded repeatedly, feeling utterly impressed.
"I have found a treasure!" Zhou Fugui thought joyfully. He had saved Yang Hu out of pity, and because he was a subordinate of a "former acquaintance." He had never imagined Yang Hu to be such a talented person.
Zhou Fugui desperately wanted to exclaim, "He who obtains the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix obtains the empire!"
"Where is the scribe?" Yang Hu had spoken too much, and Zhou Fugui felt his memory was insufficient. He turned and shouted.
"It's all recorded..." Li Qing said, holding a book and a brush, and giving Zhou Fugui a glare.
"Heh heh, the strategist has worked hard." Since the army had no scribe, Li Qing served as the scribe. Zhou Fugui chuckled.
"It's easy to say, but difficult to do," Li Qing said. "People, resources, and money? Let's not talk about people for now; I have over ten thousand soldiers, which is barely enough. But what about resources and money? Where will they come from? Commander, besides medical treatment and medicine, there is also food and fodder. My ten thousand soldiers need to eat, and the hundreds of thousands of common people in the East Sea Commandery also need to eat."
"Brother Li speaks wisely," Yang Hu said, spreading his hands and looking at Zhou Fugui.
I just offer advice, the rest is your responsibility. This was Yang Hu's implied message.
Li Qing and Suo Dacheng also looked at Zhou Fugui simultaneously.
"Why are you all looking at me? I can't conjure up food and fodder out of thin air either," Zhou Fugui said irritably.
"The Prince of the East Sea's mansion, and the Xu and Huang families of the East Sea," Li Qing reminded Zhou Fugui after thinking for a moment.