Chapter 1372
Not Knowing How to Choose
Chapter 1372 Not Knowing How to Choose
"..." Wen Tao was stunned: "Angel Qi, I didn't, I just..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was pinned to the platform by the imperial guards and publicly flogged twenty times.
The screams of agony made Wei Min, who was present, shut his mouth in fright.
"Your Excellency, the torture of Wen Tao has been completed," a royal guard reported.
Qi Shitian nodded, glancing down at the unconscious Wen Tao with his phoenix eyes: "Drag him aside, so as not to disturb His Highness the Prince of Ye from continuing to speak."
Good heavens, that's absolutely inhumane!
Wei Min was terrified.
"Yes!" The imperial guards immediately carried out the order, dragging the unconscious Wen Tao aside like a dead dog.
Wen Xiangnan still had some uncle-nephew affection, so he secretly went to take care of Wen Tao and slipped him a protective pill that was a must-have for aristocratic families.
After a few drumbeats, the Prince of Ye continued, "Earlier, the soldiers of the Death Squad went to discuss with the patients that the court would buy their lives with gold, silver, land and other valuables. Most of the patients agreed and have already taken the medicine to commit suicide."
Don't think it's inhumane. In ancient times, this would have been considered a benevolent act that would have been recorded in history. It's not like Wen Tao said, where they would just lock the door and burn you to death.
"The remaining dozen or so patients are all in milder condition. The medics are risking their lives to treat them and use their lives to research the disease."
"So there really are plague patients in the city? Then we can't stay in this city anymore, we have to get out of the city quickly!" someone shouted from the crowd. They were all people with some wealth who valued their lives.
"Release the arrows," Qi Tianshi ordered.
The eunuch beside him immediately pulled out a hidden arrow and fired it at the person who had shouted.
Whoosh! A short arrow, about the length of a palm, dodged the others and pierced the man's shoulder deeply, hitting the bone. The man was in so much pain that he knelt on the ground, howling in agony: "Ahhh, it hurts! Help me! Help me!"
"Angel Qi, you must not harm anyone!" King Ye hurriedly rebuked Angel Qi.
Qi Tianshi ignored him.
Some of Wei Min even thought he was hypocritical, spit on him!
"Come, read a passage from history to everyone, and then read a few passages about the previous dynasty, the prosperous Zhou dynasty, and the laws of the Great Wei regarding the plague!" Qi Tianshi ordered.
Two eunuchs immediately brought out historical records and the laws governing plagues from various dynasties, and read them aloud to the public.
"That year, a great plague struck. The city was sealed off, and the army was used to besiege it, trapping and killing the inhabitants to prevent the plague from spreading to other places!"
Fearing they might not understand, I explained it to them again in plain language.
Wei Min was heartbroken.
"The previous dynasty's specific laws regarding plague...enforced all those who spread the plague outside the affected areas!"
"In the prosperous Zhou Dynasty, where all nations paid tribute, the laws against plague were as follows: 'Isolate areas and strictly seal them off to control the plague; if the plague spreads to an area of thirty li or infects more than three hundred households and still persists, seal off the affected area, prevent those from leaving, and slaughter them to save the remaining population!'"
This was the Great Zhou Dynasty, where all nations paid tribute; the Great Zhou Dynasty, with the Tai Zhou Palace as its capital; the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was revered by many famous figures, scholars, and emperors of later generations.
This is all it can do to deal with plagues.
"According to the Wei law, in the event of a plague, a designated area shall be isolated to control the plague. If the area is expanded to thirty li or more than five hundred households are infected, and the plague persists, the area shall be sealed off to prevent the people in the plague-stricken area from leaving, and then they shall be slaughtered!"
After the eunuchs finished reading, Qi Shitian said, "Did you hear that clearly? Throughout history, the way to deal with plagues has always been to slaughter those within the fiefdoms!"
"Then hurry up and slaughter everyone in the west of the city! Kill the plague, and only then will our entire city be safe!" the Wei people shouted again. Qi Tianshi was speechless... Even the King of Hell isn't as ruthless as you guys.
Qi the Angel: "You need not worry about preventing the plague. I am His Majesty's angel, and I will act on His Majesty's behalf in critical moments!"
You're not much better than the King of Hell, are you already preparing to slaughter him?
The students who understood trembled with fear.
Especially Jie Ren and Jie Kun... If they had known it would turn out like this, why would their family have spent money on supplies to buy study slots? Are these study slots? This is a death list! Waaah!
The two boys really cried, tears streaming down their faces, feeling that their lives were too miserable and that they had paid money to have a fatal accident.
Da da da!
"Good news! Good news! Commanders Zhao, Xiaoling, Tang, and Zhong have led their cavalry to annihilate three thousand soldiers of Dong Zisheng's butcher tribe in the outskirts of the city. They have also eliminated two enemy ambush lines between Dongming Prefecture and the capital city, captured over three thousand pieces of warhorses, armor, and other spoils of war, and seized five large granaries where the enemy was hiding. They are now leading their troops to move the supplies back into the city!"
A group of messengers rode up on horseback, excitedly bringing good news and breaking the atmosphere of despair in front of the Wuyuan Gate. Everyone felt that, well, it seems we haven't reached the end of the road yet, and we can hold on a little longer.
What if we win?
What if the angel Qi slaughtered the western part of the city and eradicated the plague?
If they insist on leaving the city now, wouldn't they be giving up their military achievements?
The villagers' imaginations were more vivid than any traditional opera performance.
"Are Commander Zhong and the three Commanders safe? What are our army's losses?!" the Prince of Ye asked urgently from the high platform.
This group of messengers had come to Wuyuan to deliver messages before. Recognizing the men, they immediately reported, "Reporting to the Prince of Ye, all the military officers are safe and sound. Although our army was ambushed by Dong Zisheng's butcher tribe, the casualties were no more than thirty-one men. It was a great victory!"
The Prince of Ye was still very upset... Thirty-one people, though it was just a number, represented each and every one of his own lives.
"Give them five times the compensation, send them their military identification numbers, and I will personally write to their hometowns, instructing the local government to take care of their families. Anyone who dares to mistreat the orphans of heroes will be executed by the court!"
During this period, the King of Ye wrote many letters, all to the hometowns of the soldiers who died in battle.
He feared that once the soldiers were gone, their families would be neglected and bullied two years later.
"On behalf of the entire Wei army, I thank King Ye for his benevolence!" General Chu stepped forward to express his gratitude.
Everyone was shocked: Good heavens, he finally spoke! He had remained silent throughout the entire conference, and everyone thought he was mute!
"Come, please let all the soldiers who delivered the victory report rest and have some meat and rice!" said the King of Ye.
Soon, Wei soldiers led them aside and served them hot chicken rice... From yesterday to today, the kitchen in Wuyuan has been killing chickens and making chicken rice without a break.
dong dong dong, dong dong dong!
The drums sounded again, and the King of Ye looked down at the people of Wei below the platform and solemnly bowed to them: "My fellow countrymen, at this moment, we are bound together by life and death, so I have not hidden anything from you and will tell you the whole situation. I hope you can understand it and then make a choice for yourselves!"
Wei Min: "..."
silence.
A moment later, someone else asked excitedly, "Does the King of Ye mean that we can decide for ourselves whether or not to leave the city? The Wei army won't stop us?!"
Qi Tianshi, Jiang Dalang, and even General Chu and Qu Tongzhi sneered: Don't worry, the Wei army will not stop you. The Wei army is only responsible for defending the city and resisting the enemy!
"If no symptoms of plague such as high fever, chills, or lumps appear, the government troops will not stop those who wish to leave the city," the Prince of Ye clearly told them. "However, once you leave the city, you will bear all the consequences yourself!"
You dare to defy your Wei royal ancestors and expect us to be arrogant? Then why did you invite us to this conference? You're just wasting our time!
The people of Wei cursed inwardly, feeling heartbroken. They were just ordinary citizens, and faced with such a powerful force, they really didn't know what to do.
Uncle Qin clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "Look at you all, confused, aren't you? Don't know what to do? Then don't make a choice, just follow the government troops through the second gate. At worst, you'll die together in the city, which is much better than dying in the wilderness after leaving the city!"
You scoundrel, you dare to curse us? Come down here if you dare, and we'll beat you to death!