Fenghou

The official yelled in fright, "Boss, there is no infection in the humble position, it was just a stench."

It was useless for the officials to shout any more, and they were forcibly dragged away by the soldiers.

Barry Zuren looked at the sky, it was already slightly blue, and he immediately ordered: "Go to the Marshal's Mansion!"

The Marshal's Mansion is Brother Li Cha's mansion. It is the only mansion in the whole city that covers an area of ​​more than five acres. He was granted the title of King Xia, and he sat in Fuzhou.

The palace was brightly lit at this time, and Brother Li Cha had already got up. Of course, the reason was not because of the epidemic, but because of the military situation.

Shang Dongyan, the lieutenant general who was on duty at night, discovered the emergency. The Song army was about to gather, and it was likely to launch an attack on the city. He immediately notified the commander Xia Houliang.

"I didn't see that the other party had a large siege weapon, at most it was a siege ladder. Don't worry about it, our army can withstand it."

"My lord, I'm afraid that the opponent will attack fiercely. We have to take countermeasures."

Brother Li Cha took a sip of hot tea and said unhurriedly: "Before I asked you to prepare a large number of blankets and quilts, just to deal with the fire attack of the Song army. It will be wiped out, Wan Yanchang said that they have tried it many times and it is very effective, we can just copy it."

Xia Houliang bowed and said, "I understand!"

Brother Li Cha said again: "I have fought with the Song Army no less than a hundred times. I know the characteristics of the Song Army's operations. They are very dependent on siege weapons. Without large siege weapons, they will never attack the city desperately. The Western Army used to be like this. Chen Qing is also from the Western Army, and his army will also inherit this characteristic, so tell the brothers to be vigilant, but don't panic too much."

"Humble post obeys orders!"

Xia Houliang saluted, turned around and hurried away, just in front of the stone steps, he met Bari Zuren, and the two almost bumped into each other.

Bari Zuren was so worried that he didn't bother to say hello to Xia Houliang, so he went straight into the lobby.

"My lord, I have something urgent to report!"

Brother Li Cha waved his hand, "I'm a little tired, I want to go to rest, I'll talk about it tomorrow if I have anything to do."

After finishing speaking, Brother Li Cha turned around and left, Barizu Ren shouted anxiously: "My lord, a plague has already occurred in the city!"

"what?"

Brother Li Cha stopped and looked back at Barry Zuren in shock, "What did you just say?"

"My lord, a plague broke out in the northwest corner of the city, and the situation is very bad."

Plagues have occurred many times in the history of Xixia, causing serious consequences. The rulers of Xixia attach great importance to plagues, and Brother Richard is no exception.

He also asked anxiously: "How could there be a plague? How is the situation now?"

Barry Zuren was a little speechless, how could there be a plague?With people and livestock living together so densely, it's no wonder that plague didn't happen, but he couldn't say that.

"The specific reason is still being investigated. At present, only one yard has been found to have a plague outbreak. Those who should be buried, burned, and quarantined have also been quarantined. But it is night now. How many people have actually been infected with the plague will not be known until dawn." Know."

"where is it?"

"In the northwest corner, around Daxian Lane."

Brother Li Cha frowned, "Are there more old people over there?"

"Exactly, many people over the age of 50 are arranged there."

Brother Li Cha pondered for a moment and said: "Seal off the entire northwest corner, no one is allowed to enter, and no one is allowed to come out."

Bari Zuren was shocked, "My lord, there are more than 1 people living there!"

Brother Li Cha said impatiently: "I'm not saying to leave them alone, block them first, prevent them from infecting the army, and then treat them, let those who are not infected outside, and those who are infected stay inside. The key is not to let infected patients affect the whole city."

Barry Zuren nodded, as long as he is allowed to release people, he quickly said: "The humble official will control it, but the humble official needs the assistance of the army."

"I'll give you two thousand troops, and then I'll give you all the barracks, and seal them up tightly!"

……

The fire could not be wrapped in paper, and at dawn, the news of the plague in the northwest of the county spread throughout the city, and the whole Fugu County panicked. The northwest corner was sealed off, which made people panic even more. Almost all the people living in the northwest corner ran out, most of them were old people, and cried out through the barracks. Two thousand soldiers were strictly guarded, and no one was allowed to cross Yingzhang escaped.

However, cases of vomiting and diarrhea have occurred in the whole city, but most people dare not say a word, for fear of being driven into the northwest corner to wait for death. From the eyes of the people in the city, the northwest corner is almost like the underworld.

At this time, tens of thousands of soldiers in the city were waiting in battle, and there were two large formations of Song Army crossbow troops outside the city, one in the northeast corner and one in the southeast corner.

Brother Li Cha was right. The Song army did rely heavily on heavy siege weapons such as large trebuchets. Without large siege weapons, the Song army would not be able to attack the city.

But the fact that the Song Army did not directly attack the city does not mean that the Song Army will not launch an offensive.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The battle drums were beating fiercely, and 150 steps away, [-] crossbowmen stepped forward in turn, launching an intensive battle of crossbows and arrows at the head of the city.

Rows of dense crossbow arrows were fired at the top of the city, and the soldiers of the Song Army shot at high angles, causing the arrows to almost fall from the top of their heads.

The Dangxiang soldiers on the top of the city raised their shields one after another, struggling to resist the raindrops of crossbow arrows falling, or squatting close to the city wall, there happened to be a dead corner where they could escape the crossbow arrow attack. Even so, the Dangxiang soldiers and the people in the city still suffered heavy casualties After a few rounds of launching, nearly 2000 people died under the crossbow arrows.

This is the Song Army creating an atmosphere of war, not only targeting the morale of the defenders in the city, but also conducting actual combat rotation training for the Song Army soldiers.

The bow and arrow battle took turns outside the cities in the southeast, northwest, and continued for four days. On the morning of the fourth day, Brother Li Cha finally went to the city.

On the head of Nancheng, Brother Li Cha watched tens of thousands of Song troops launch a bow and arrow battle against the city, and a poisonous plan was formed in his mind. If the Song army broke out in the epidemic, wouldn't they be defeated without fighting?

If the Song army brought the plague to Xixia again, causing the plague to break out in the hometown of Xixia, and killing all those damn Han slaves, maybe one day, they can return to their homeland.

The more Brother Li Cha thought about it, the more he felt that this plan was brilliant. He had made up his mind, so he turned his head and said to Xia Houliang: "Find hundreds of brothers, be careful, go and replace the corpses that died of the plague with armor, and add a few arrows." , Throw it to the city and let the Song army collect the corpse!"

"Wait a minute!"

Brother Li Cha stopped Xia Houliang again, he may not be able to achieve his goal with just corpses, it is better to add corpses and living people.

Brother Li Cha pondered for a moment and then said: "After dark, drive all the people in the northwest corner out of the city, and let Song Jun take care of them."

Xia Houliang persuaded: "My lord, many parents of the soldiers are among them. Expeling them may seriously affect the morale of the soldiers."

Brother Li Cha said coldly: "Then expel those sick people out of the city. If any soldiers ask, they will say that there is no medicine to treat them in the city. I can't bear to see them die. Please ask Song Jun to treat them."

Chapter 9 Chapter Five

At night, the soldiers on the top of the city abandoned their corpses to the southeast corner. This strange behavior was immediately discovered by the Song Army scouts on the battlefield.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, several important generals were discussing the battle plan for tomorrow. General Li Muqing proposed the idea of ​​a fire attack, replacing ordinary crossbow arrows with fuel oil arrows, and shooting arrows into the city from all directions, causing a fire in the city.

But Orihiko didn't quite agree with this plan, mainly because the houses in Fugu County are mainly made of mud and stones, and there are very few wooden houses, which is just a waste of gunpowder and arrows.

During the discussion, a soldier reported at the entrance of the big tent, "Qi Du Tong, the scouts came to report, the enemy army threw down hundreds of corpses from the top of the city, for some reason? In the southeast direction of the county."

Everyone was startled, what does this mean?Orihiko asked, "Have the scouts checked?"

"The scout said that he was afraid of the enemy's deceit, so he dared not go forward."

Zhang Xiao stroked his beard and said: "There is indeed a possibility. The enemy soldiers pretended to be corpses. When our scouts went to check, they captured them in one fell swoop. They captured them and went to the city to torture information. The enemy probably wanted to know about our logistics and food situation. "

What Zhang Xiao said made sense, and Orihiko immediately ordered: "Keep the scouts away, wait until dawn!"

The soldier who reported the letter went out, but he ran back not long after he left and said, "Report to Commander Zhe, the scout said something happened again!"

"What happened again?"

"The east gate of the city opened, and hundreds of people came out of the city from inside. They staggered and supported each other. They looked like sick old people."

Everyone looked at each other, what's going on?Could it be that the old man was just covering, and the main force of the enemy army was behind, preparing to attack the Song army's camp?Even thinking about it is impossible!

At this time, Shao Long, who had been sitting in the corner without speaking, suddenly said, "It might be an epidemic!"

"What?" Everyone looked at him together.

Shao Long said unhurriedly: "When I mentioned throwing corpses just now, I thought about whether some sick people pretended to be soldiers who were killed by arrows and threw them down the city. Infection, and now there are many sick old people, if these old people are infected with the disease, the consequences may be disastrous."

Everyone broke out in a cold sweat. Two days ago, they were still saying that if 10,000+ people and millions of livestock were squeezed into a small county, it would be easy for disease to occur. Could something really happen.

Zhe Yanzhi immediately said: "Order [-] cavalry to dispatch, hold them with spears, and prevent them from approaching the camp."

Immediately afterwards, Orihiko ordered that the scouts who were on duty outside tonight were not allowed to return to the camp, and went directly to the wounded barracks to wash and change clothes.

The situation was critical, Niu Gao personally led [-] cavalry to rush out of the camp, and stopped hundreds of sick elderly people two miles away from the camp.

The cavalrymen raised their gleaming spears and shouted sharply, "Don't get close, or you'll be shot to death!"

An old man from Dangxiang, who can speak Chinese, approached and shouted: "We are all seriously ill, and there is no medicine in the city to treat us. Help us!"

"What disease do you have?"

"Diarrhea, vomiting, fever all over, and you will die in seven or eight days."

Niu Gao's mind 'hum! 'A sound, this is the plague!Fortunately, Shao Long had thought of the poisonous plan used by the other party, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Go northeast. There is an empty resettlement camp over there. Our military doctor will give you medicine and treatment."

The Song army had a complete set of methods to deal with the Xixia people, and it was very successful. The extermination order was mainly to eliminate the nobles and the army, not ordinary people. Then they are scattered in various counties, far apart, with at most dozens of households in one county, and they have changed their native place. To survive, they have to speak Chinese and change their living habits. In two generations at the latest, they will all integrate into the Han nationality.

Therefore, the Song army will not kill the old and weak, women and children, and will still try their best to treat these sick old people. To the northeast, a few miles away from the Song army camp, there is a camp for shelter and resettlement, which is to house ordinary party members after the city is broken.

……

Orihiko almost stayed up all night. The sudden outbreak made him dare not be careless. The main thing was to investigate. All the scouts who had been close to the city had to be quarantined. At the same time, they sent people to nearby counties to gather doctors and issued a notice. Strictly investigate and tell all the people not to contact party members, and to notify the government immediately after discovering party members.

In addition, Orihiko also knew that Huju Mountain in the southwest of Fuzhou was rich in lime, about forty miles away from Fugu County. Orihiko immediately sent [-] soldiers to Huju Mountain to mine lime in large quantities.

When it was five o'clock, news came from everywhere that all the scouts were normal and not infected, but they needed to be observed for a few more days.

Almost all of the more than 400 elderly people were infected with the disease. A dozen of the most serious elderly people died shortly after arriving in the barracks. The military doctor diagnosed it as the plague.

In the big tent, Zhe Yanzhi said to Niu Gao: "We still have to find a way to get rid of the hundreds of corpses in the southeast corner, otherwise there will be hidden dangers, and the wind will blow those dirty things to our camp."

Niu Gao said without hesitation: "Just use fire. Send someone to bring a skin bag of fire oil to burn, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth, and burn all your clothes when you come back. Generally, you won't be infected."

"I'm afraid that the soldiers on the top of the city will shoot arrows!"

Niu Gao laughed, "I promise not. They hope that our soldiers will come back to spread the disease after being infected. I firmly believe in this."

Orihiko nodded, "I'll arrange someone right away, so I don't know how the epidemic situation in the city is going?"

"According to those old people, it has only just started a few days ago, and the disease is mainly in the northwest corner. There are all old people's settlements there. The party army used barracks to isolate it, but their groundwater is connected, and they cannot be separated at all."

Orihiko frowned, "Speaking of which, we have to be careful when drinking water here!"

"I also thought of this. We go to the upper reaches of the Fugu River to get water, and then the water must be boiled, so there will be no problem."

Orihiko immediately sent hundreds of soldiers to burn the corpses. They were wrapped tightly, their mouths and noses were sealed with thick cloth, and they took the kerosene bags to the southeast corner of the city. Soldiers spotted them, but did not shoot arrows, leaving them to dispose of the corpses, hoping they would all be infected.

The Song army sprayed kerosene, and the fire blazed up, and hundreds of infected corpses were engulfed by the fire.

Now that the plague broke out in the city, the Song army was not in a hurry to attack the city, and the original bow and arrow battle was also cancelled. The whole army was disinfected with lime, mainly the latrines and roads were covered with lime, and the whole barracks was filled with a strong smell of quicklime. odor.

……

Autumn wheat in Jingzhao City and Guanzhong has been harvested and put into storage, and various farmland and water conservancy projects are busy again.

Due to the cooler weather, Chen Qing's family moved from Qifeng Pavilion to various yards on the shore. In the study, Chen Qing paced back and forth with his hands behind his hands. A plague broke out.

Because they discovered it in time, they prevented the plague from spreading in the army. At present, no plague has been found in the army, but it can be prevented before it happens. Orihiko asked for military doctors and medicines to be supported as soon as possible.

Chen Qing was considering whether he should go and see for himself.

At this time, Lu Xiu walked in and put a cup of ginseng tea on the table, "I heard from Qiaoyun, is your husband going to Fuzhou?"

"It hasn't been fully decided yet, but the possibility of going is relatively high."

"My husband is worried, so let's go and have a look! It can also boost the morale of the frontline soldiers."

Lu Xiu didn't know that there was a plague in Fugu. If she knew, she would definitely persuade her husband not to go, it was too dangerous.

Chen Qing nodded, "You are right, I need to inspect the former enemy to boost the morale of the soldiers."

He smiled at Lu Xiu again: "I will go for a month and a half at most, and I will rush back to celebrate the New Year."

Lu Xiu thought for a while and said, "If it's just for inspection, then bring Ah Ying with me. I can rest assured that she will take care of your husband's daily life."

Chen Qing smiled happily: "Okay! This time, I will take her to Fuzhou. When I come back, I will go to Yanzhou. I can take a look at her hometown by the way."

Chen Qing finally decided to go to Fuzhou for inspection, and he immediately ordered the military to assemble doctors and medicinal materials.

Two days later, Chen Qing left Jingzhao with [-] doctors, [-] cavalry, and [-] camels loaded with supplies and medicinal materials, and headed toward the east of the river.

Chapter 9 Breakthrough

More than half a month has passed since the siege of the city, but the gates of Fugu City are still closed, and only a few hundred old people opened it once when they left the city, and never opened it again. It is decreasing every day. At first there were nearly 3000 defenders on the top of the city during the day, but now there are only about [-] left, and they are listless. Most of the time they sit against the wall, and only a raised spear shows their existence.

The camp of the Song Army had been withdrawn five miles away, and the generals of the Song Army were a little scared. The military doctor determined that the plague in the city was a severe plague. More than 300 old people who came to ask for help died, and none of them could be saved. They were surprised, wondering how serious the epidemic in the city has become?

At night, someone yelled desperately from the top of the city, jumped down, and there was a muffled 'bang', and there was no more movement.

The surrounding Song army scouts shook their heads secretly, and another soldier committed suicide in despair. Basically, people jumped to the city to commit suicide every night, but not during the day.

The scouts of the Song army always kept a distance of about [-] steps from the city. This was the limit of how close they could be to the city. If they went any further, they might be infected.