Dad, we are so stable, should we do something?

In the city

Tang Nian, a yamen runner from Hu County, was deliberately delayed and intercepted outside the city gate yesterday. He was not allowed in until this morning, but was still isolated by the prefect. Tang Nian arrived outside the prefect's gate early in the morning. This time, he didn't have to wait long. The prefect had someone bring him in, but the housekeeper only asked him to kneel outside the lobby, saying that he came from Hu County and everyone was afraid of the plague. Tang Nian felt that the other party could understand this, so he didn't say anything. When he saw the prefect sitting in the main hall, he knelt down hurriedly, "Your Excellency the Prefect, I am a yamen runner from Hu County. I am here on the orders of the county magistrate to inform you that there is a plague in our Hu County. Someone deliberately dumped filthy things into the main river of our Hu County, causing the people to be infected with the plague. Now Hu County has been closed, but now Hu County is densely populated and seriously infected with the plague. We are in urgent need of manpower and medicinal materials. I hope the prefect can send people to rescue our Hu County."

"How could this happen? Is the whole county infected with the plague now?"

"I am not sure of the number of people at the moment, because I set out yesterday. I dare not make any rash comments on the current situation."

"Okay, I also sent someone to Hu County yesterday. When I come back, I will have detailed information."

"Sir, this matter cannot be delayed. If the plague spreads, the surrounding counties will also suffer. Our lord said that the infected may have left Lake County during this period."

Hearing this, the prefect was a little hesitant. He wanted to delay for another day or so, but he was afraid that the people he sent to other counties might not notify them in time. People from Hu County had already arrived in other counties. He didn't dare to gamble. He just wanted to take Hu County, not his entire prefecture. "Come here, notify He Tongpan and ask him to prepare people to support Hu County."

Tang Nian felt relieved when he heard that the prefect was going to support Hu County.

Then the prefect ordered people to take Tang Nian away to rest, but because he came from Hu County, he was afraid that he might also have the plague, so he arranged to arrange for him to stay in a remote courtyard near the city gate, let him rest for a few hours and then quickly return to Hu County.

Tang Nian was a lowly person, so he didn't dare to disobey. He was also in a hurry to go back, but he hadn't slept all night, so he needed to rest for a while. After resting for about an hour, he left, and the guard at the city gate came to tell the prefect.

At this time, in the prefect's house, He Tongpan was sitting below him. "It's good to go. I don't know when you need me to leave."

"Whenever the magistrate thinks it is appropriate to arrive in Lake County."

"How about tomorrow at noon?"

"Then listen to the judge. But you must leave at least 7% of the supplies for our city. The people I sent to other counties should be back soon. The judge will wait for the results. If there are problems in other counties, I can send some to other counties for rescue."

"Your Excellency is right. We should have a result tonight. I remember the imperial court issued an order that if the plague cannot be controlled, the city can be burned down. Maybe then Magistrate Tian and Magistrate Hu will have to make some sacrifices."

"What?" The prefect was a little frightened when he heard it, but he had no choice but to reply, "Yes, Tian County Magistrate Gao Yi."

"Then, sir, I will go and gather the herbs and manpower, and we will set out at midnight tonight."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work."

After the two finished talking, He Tongpan left. The people outside the prefectural government followed He Tongpan in groups. At noon, they saw He Sima sent people to the East City to move the medicinal materials. They moved back and forth, and finally moved a cart to the government office. The people who followed sent someone to notify Tian Yuyu.

"Young Master, we followed Pan He and the prefect for the whole morning. They talked for most of the morning. There was no movement after Pan He left the prefect's house. But at noon, we saw someone being sent to East City to move medicinal materials to the government office. But they seemed to move very slowly on purpose. It took an hour to move out a cart of medicinal materials. There was another cart behind it that seemed to have changed hands several times, with both the cart and the people changed, and it took a long way to arrive." The person who came was Chen Da, a subordinate of Li Gui.

"They are trying to delay time. Is there any latest news about the medicinal materials from Li Gui?"

"Master, Brother Li and his men have already bought the herbs and are heading to Hu County. The earliest batch is expected to arrive this evening, and the latest batch should be delivered by tomorrow. Uncle Fu's batch may arrive at about the same time. There should be more than enough herbs for Hu County."

"That's good. I hope I can make it in time. Is there any other news from Lake County? How are my father and the others doing?"

"My lord, he is ill, and it was a little serious last night. But Miss Xing'er went to find someone to treat him, and I believe there should be a way." Chen Da and the others did not want to tell the young master about the situation in Hu County at first. Magistrate Tian had been ill for a few days. They only knew that Tian Xing'er went to Guo's house to find someone, and they didn't know what happened next. "But there will be the latest news reported tonight, so don't worry too much, my lord, good things will come to you."

"What? My dad is sick. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"You didn't ask." Chen Da said in a low voice, but even if he asked, he planned to lie first, because the young lady asked them not to tell the young master first.

Tian Yuyu was a little annoyed that he was so careless that he didn't think about his father's safety. He thought about taking advantage of this opportunity when the prefect and others went to Hu County for support and he would take his men to follow secretly.

Seeing Tian Yuyu frowning and saying nothing, Chen Da wanted to change the subject, "By the way, Master, I heard from Brother Li and the others that a large number of people in several counties near Hu County started vomiting and having diarrhea. They were probably infected with the plague. They almost couldn't get out. Fortunately, they split up and left immediately after buying the herbs. I heard that the city gates over there were closed not long after they left."

"The plague has spread to the surrounding areas so quickly. Have you heard about this happening in our city?"

"Don't worry, young master. We are in the city. No one is allowed to enter since it was closed that day. It is very safe. If it weren't for the plague, everyone would have probably made a fuss, after all, the city gates were closed for so many days."

"Then you are so well-informed, you are quite capable."

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Master."

"By the way, I expect the prefect and his men to delay for a while longer. They will probably set out at midnight tonight at the latest. I want to follow Judge He and his men out of the city tonight. Can you get me into the team?"

"Master, you don't know how to fight, so don't go with us. It will be bad if you are discovered. Our people will soon send a message back. Please wait. You can't help us in Hu County now."

Tian Yuyu looked at Chen Da sharply, somewhat dissatisfied. "Tell me immediately when the news from Hu County comes in."

"Yes, Master." Chen Da didn't know whether the Master was going or not, so he had to agree first. "Then Master, I will go back first. I will probably have news in an hour or two, and then I will come to inform you."

"Okay, you go down."