"Severe illness requires strong medicine; a cold affliction should be treated with a decoction of Shu Qi, Gan Cao, Ma Huang, and Pin Li," the physician Huang stated to Sun Yu within the shelter.
"Physician Huang..." Sun Yu shook his head upon hearing this. "While cold or warm affliction might be more likely, we cannot rule out wind affliction, five-organ affliction, and so on. We who practice medicine must be extremely cautious, clarify the pathology before administering medication. Moreover, your Pin Li decoction is too potent; it should be treated with gentler methods."
"Physician Sun truly is a master physician!" Just then, a group of over twenty people suddenly arrived outside the shelter. The elder leading them, around sixty years old, praised loudly.
These twenty-odd people, all wearing bamboo hats and straw raincoats, carrying medicine baskets on their backs and treading on straw sandals, were nonetheless drenched by the rain. Their trouser legs were rolled up, their legs caked with mud and rainwater, but the medicine baskets on their backs remained dry due to oilcloth wrapping.
The origin of these twenty-odd people was unknown, and they appeared like refugees in their tattered clothes. Yelihu waved his hand, and his soldiers "swished" as they surrounded the newcomers with various weapons.
"Where did these savages come from? Seeking medical help? Wait outside and await inspection by the masters," Yelihu commanded loudly, his hand resting on his saber.
"Tika... tika... tika..." Just then, the sound of hurried hoofbeats arose. A contingent of over a hundred horsemen emerged from the misty rain, arriving before Yelihu and his men.
"Brother Suo, Brother Xu, why have you two come?" Yelihu greeted joyfully, addressing the two men at the forefront, Suo Dacheng and Xu Mancang.
"What are you doing?" Suo Dacheng pointed at the elder and the twenty-odd people and asked.
"Oh, Brother Suo, some savages of unknown origin, your humble subordinate is leading men to..." Yelihu replied.
"He is a distinguished guest of the Grand Governor! I usually consider you sharp, why are you so foolish? Quickly invite Elder Deng inside," Suo Dacheng interrupted before Yelihu could finish.
*I don't even know him...* Yelihu muttered to himself, then hastily and respectfully ushered Deng Qingzhai and his twenty disciples into the shelter.
"Kid, the Grand Governor treats him like a grandfather. Let's see how you explain yourself later," Xu Mancang said with a smile as he passed Yelihu.
"Later I'll call him grandfather. Is that acceptable now?" Yelihu, knowing Xu Mancang was teasing him, chuckled dismissively.
...
"Yelihu, how many troops do you have at your disposal?" As Deng Qingzhai, Sun Yu, and others discussed the epidemic, Suo Dacheng, Xu Mancang, and Yelihu, who understood nothing of medicine, naturally could not participate. Thus, the three sat down in a corner of the shelter, and Suo Dacheng inquired.
Rainwater dripped from the shelter roof onto their armor, making a ticking sound.
"Commander Pan has assigned all the troops of the Bamu Battalion to me, a total of one thousand one hundred and twenty-three brothers. General Suo, what has happened?" Yelihu asked in surprise.
"Too few..." Suo Dacheng glanced at Xu Mancang and shook his head slightly.
Xu Mancang nodded.
The troops Zhou Fugui had dispatched to Quyang, Shuyang, and Houqiu counties numbered only a little over three thousand and were scattered across the three counties.
Truth be told, Zhou Fugui could not spare any more troops.
Donghai Commandery comprised twelve counties. After Zhou Fugui pacified Donghai Commandery, he still had to go to various places to suppress the remnants of Murong Hong and garrison the commandery. Therefore, his troops were stretched thin.
The escape of the Xianbei tribes had caused Zhou Fugui considerable trouble.
"Alas, Brother Suo, Brother Xu, what exactly has happened?" Suo Dacheng and Xu Mancang's cryptic conversation made Yelihu anxious.
"Bang!" Xu Mancang patted Yelihu's rain-soaked shoulder armor and said, "Aren't you a clever kid? Can't you guess? Something big has happened!"
"What big event? Is it about the epidemic?" Yelihu asked in astonishment.
"Someone is rebelling!" Xu Mancang glared at Yelihu and said, "You're supposed to be an informant for our Xue Pi Army, where were you? Aren't your senses sharp? Didn't you hear any rumors?"
"Someone is rebelling? Oh dear, Brother Suo, Brother Xu, you two brothers are truly wronged..." Yelihu repeatedly protested, "Your humble subordinate was ordered to escort Official Sun and others here, along with many food and medicine carts. There was also civil unrest in Muyang County. We were simply too busy."
"If the Grand Governor were here, what would he say to you?" Suo Dacheng asked.
"How... would... he... say... it?" Yelihu stammered.
"The defeated often make excuses; they are incompetent. The victorious are often silent and are capable talents," Suo Dacheng replied coldly.
Escorting Sun Yu and others to Muyang County and quelling the unrest there should not have prevented you from dispatching scouts and spies. Yelihu had indeed been somewhat negligent.
As the saying goes, "One regrets not having studied when the time comes to use it; one does not know the difficulty of things until they have gone through them." Suo Dacheng came from a poor family and had no opportunity to study in his youth. After joining the army, especially after leading troops, and particularly after becoming Zhou Fugui's aide, he realized the importance of reading. Thus, whether on marches or during battles, he always found some time to read. Though it was cramming at the last minute, it was still effective.
"Your humble subordinate knows... his crime..." Yelihu could only lower his head and admit guilt, though he still felt some resentment.
Firstly, Yelihu didn't fully understand. Secondly, Yelihu believed he was still not wrong.
"Dong... dong... dong..."
"You Hun kid, the Xiaocheng Cult is almost at our doorstep, and you're still not convinced?" Xu Mancang saw Yelihu's indignant expression and began to berate him while patting his iron helmet.
"What is the Xiaocheng Cult?" Yelihu asked in surprise, dodging.
*I'm not a Hun,* Yelihu grumbled internally.
Yelihu had only followed Zhou Fugui since arriving at Xue Lin City and was naturally unaware of the Xiaocheng Cult.
"An evil cult that excels at deceiving people, primarily composed of Tōtuos. They almost took our lives back then; the Grand Governor also nearly died at their hands," Suo Dacheng replied.
"Tōtuo...?" Yelihu was stunned. After a moment, he recounted to Suo Dacheng and Xu Mancang the incident of him shooting a Tōtuo upon arriving in Muyang County.
"Dong... dong... dong..."
"Hun kid, confused kid, you still aren't wary after this incident? And you dare claim innocence?" Xu Mancang was furious upon hearing this. This time, he truly landed blows, punching Yelihu three times while raging.
"Mancang, have you forgotten the Grand Governor's words?" Suo Dacheng glared at Xu Mancang and said.
Xu Mancang frequently scolded his subordinates, so Zhou Fugui had already cautioned him.
"Brother Suo, Brother Xu... I understand now..." Yelihu said, straightening his tilted helmet. "Your humble subordinate will immediately gather troops to capture the Xiaocheng Cult rebels and cut them into ten thousand pieces."
"Good, that's someone from our Xue Pi Army!" Xu Mancang said with satisfaction.
"General Suo, disaster has struck..." Just then, Fu Zhuo, the chief clerk of Muyang County, rushed over, dragging Du Li, the commandant of Muyang County, with him, saying to Suo Dacheng in a panic.
"Chief Clerk Fu, what is the cause of your panic?" Suo Dacheng asked.
"General Suo, General Xu, the counties of Quyang and Houqiu have revolted. They've incited people from surrounding counties and townships, killed many officials and yamen runners, and are now looting, killing, and burning everywhere," Du Li replied.
"Xiaocheng Cult?" Suo Dacheng, Xu Mancang, and Yelihu said in unison.
"How many people?" Suo Dacheng asked afterward.
"The exact number is unknown, but it is estimated to be tens of thousands," Du Li replied.
"How can this be?" Yelihu exclaimed in shock.
"The people of the Xiaocheng Cult not only plunder the common folk and steal wealth, but they also abduct women and even spare no men," Du Li continued.
"These beasts of the Xiaocheng Cult!" Yelihu, filled with rage, lunged forward, grabbed Du Li's collar, and roared.
"Let go of Commandant Du!" Suo Dacheng chided Yelihu, then angrily asked, "Tens of thousands? And they killed so many officials and runners, what do they want?"
"What do they want? Rebellion, of course! Brother, let me gather my troops and go settle accounts with those beasts!" Xu Mancang fumed.
"Why are you panicking?" Suo Dacheng pulled Xu Mancang back, glared at him, and then asked, "What is the situation in Quyang County?"
"Upon hearing the news, Quyang County descended into chaos. Many civilians have fled to various places. However, reports indicate that the main rebel force has not yet reached Muyang County town," Du Li replied.
"Hmm..." Suo Dacheng nodded and then said to Xu Mancang, Yelihu, Fu Zhuo, Du Li, and the other twenty-five people, "There is something you may not be aware of. The Grand Governor sent a message stating that the imperial army has sealed off all the entrances and exits to Donghai Commandery, allowing no one in or out."
"What?" Xu Mancang was furious. "The dog emperor, to commit such a despicable act! Brother, why don't we..." *Mmph mph mph...*
Suo Dacheng hurriedly covered Xu Mancang's mouth and glared at him fiercely, implying that he was putting Zhou Fugui in danger by shouting.
The two were fellow villagers and brothers for many years. Suo Dacheng knew Xu Mancang's character well.
Xu Mancang understood and swallowed the word "rebellion" down his throat...
"This is outrageous, utterly outrageous! In the imperial court, how can they know the suffering of the common people!" Fu Zhuo felt disheartened and unsteady, muttering to himself.
"Chief Clerk Fu, what do they want..." Du Li asked, supporting Fu Zhuo and weeping.
"County clerks, there is no need to be so disheartened," Suo Dacheng said, looking at Fu Zhuo and Du Li. "The Grand Governor said that the court's actions are merely out of fear of the epidemic, fear that it will endanger the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. Hmph! They fear it, but do they not care about our lives?"
In truth, Zhou Fugui and Suo Dacheng's words were merely to stabilize morale. Suo Dacheng himself could not help but harbor resentment.