Chapter 1521
The Final Battle, State
Chapter 1521 The Final Battle, A Myriad of Faces
"Can we go to the ward to pick them up now? Won't we be turned away?"
"Yes, yes, yes. If we get stopped at the checkpoint and are charged with rioting, it won't be worth it."
dong dong dong dong!
Drums resounded throughout the resettlement streets and alleys of the western city.
A messenger carrying a military flag shouted: "A new joint order from the Prince of Ye and the two gates of the government forces: the resettlement area is hereby abolished. All personnel in the resettlement area may go home on their own. They may go to the ward to pick up patients and bring them home. They may then go to the city's material distribution point at their residence to collect reunion supplies and have a sumptuous reunion dinner with their families!"
dong dong dong dong!
"The Prince of Ye and the imperial army warn those with malicious intent: these two days are for you to have a reunion dinner with your families, not for you to go on a rampage and break the law. Anyone who dares to take advantage of this opportunity to commit evil, especially to bully women, will be executed by slow slicing! You still have some time to be executed by slow slicing. If you're not afraid of pain, then try it!"
In dire straits, everyone faces a slim chance of survival, but what people fear most is pain. Dying slowly and painfully is far more unbearable than being beheaded.
"Wei Jun and the students of the local martial arts academy will patrol the streets and alleys to maintain order until the very last moment!"
It's time for a decisive battle. The Wei army isn't all dead yet. Order is still in place, so even if you're not afraid of pain and want to commit a crime, you'll most likely end up being caught.
Well, how should I put it? It depends on the person.
"Bah, you corrupt official! You failed to defend the city and cure the plague, plunging all the Wei people into dire straits. Can't we even have a little fun before we die?"
"Damn your ancestors, Gou Sheng'er! I knew you were up to no good! Neighbors of Quan Shen Lane, come quick! Seize Gou Sheng'er and hand him over to Wei Jun at the sentry post, so that every household in Quan Shen Lane can have a peaceful and clean reunion dinner!"
People from the same street or alley were usually settled in the same resettlement area, so the houses on either side were almost all in the Inugami Alley.
"Gousheng, you're courting death again. Fine, fine, since you won't learn to behave, then as your neighbor, I have to teach you how to be a decent human being!"
A large group of people from the same alley rushed towards Gousheng'er, punching and kicking him until he passed out. They then carried him to the main sentry post on this resettlement street and handed him over to Wei Jun.
And they are not isolated cases.
In the open space in front of the checkpoint on this resettlement street, more than a dozen people are already being held captive. They are all outspoken and have prematurely revealed their intention to harm others.
Wei Jun's approach was simple and brutal: "Any witnesses?"
“There are witnesses. Alright, send them directly to the West Gate Tower to help the Wei army, they are short of manpower.”
"Waaah, sir, sir, I know I was wrong! I was just being a smooth talker, I didn't mean to really harm anyone!" Gou Sheng'er almost fainted from fright as soon as he woke up, and hurriedly begged for mercy.
Wei Jun, the sentry: "Hmm, the perpetrator has confessed. Come on, send him to the city wall to fight the enemy ahead of time."
He then shouted to the surroundings, "Anyone who doesn't want to enjoy a couple of days of family reunion is to be sent to the west gate tower to fight the enemy, so that the soldiers can come down and have a reunion dinner!!"
By the end, he was roaring, showing how much he hated these people who "have good fortune but want to do evil"!
Ding ding ding—
"Bring all the criminals over here. They'll be sent to the west gate tower to work in a bit. The people of Wei should spread this word so that the wicked will be deterred and the good people will be safe!"
"Yes, sir! We'll shout this all the way home and on our way to pick up our relatives and friends, so that those with the guts will be wary!" The Wei people on this resettlement street responded one after another, already showing some of the spirit of the 'Wei army'.
They kept their word, constantly repeating it on the way home with their families and on the way to pick up relatives and friends from the ward.
It's very effective! It makes many people who have become ruthless because of their desperate situation shrink back because of fear... See, once the punishment they face is shouted out, the effect is immediately apparent.
Instead of mentioning punishment, they just keep advising you, "You should be a good person. What you're doing is wrong." Tsk tsk, do you think bad people will listen to your useless babbling?
Bad people won't listen; they'll just laugh at you in their hearts!
……
dong dong dong dong!
"Patients in each ward, please pack your belongings. Your family and friends are coming to pick you up!"
The patients, doctors, soldiers, and laborers in the ward have learned of the latest royal decree: do not treat the epidemic, do not defend the city, reunite for two days, and then go out of the city for a decisive battle, using their last strength to deplete the enemy's forces for the Great Wei.
They were overjoyed and longed to leave the ward, go home, and have a simple meal with their families in their familiar homes.
But they hesitated...
"Weng Sushi, Xue Yufu, Gu Yao... from Ward 3 of Zhongcheng are coming out soon. Your relatives and friends have come to pick you up!"
After reading out a long list of names, numbering several hundred, all of whom had family members who came to pick them up.
But a single ward can house at least a thousand people, and those whose names weren't called were all those who had already passed away.
The deceased were also 'collected' by relatives and friends, but their bodies and belongings were burned because they carried plague bacteria.
Relatives and friends could only follow the old custom by placing three incense sticks in a bowl filled with rice and wheat to welcome the soul of the deceased home: "Go home, go home with the incense, stay at home, and after we die in battle, we can reunite at home and go to report to the King of Hell together."
King Yama: Don't come! It's full, there's no room left!
"Mother, we've come to take you home!" Weng Su's four children were heartbroken to see her so ill that she couldn't walk.
Madam Weng Su waved her hand: "We can just meet a few meters apart. I won't go back. I heard that touching or inhaling the breath of a sick person can also cause infection... You two take good care of yourselves, enjoy yourselves for a couple of days, go out of the city to fight the enemy, and do what the people of Wei should do... What if we manage to drive the enemy back in this battle? I can't let you get infected..."
Not only Ms. Ong Su, but many patients had this thought, fearing that the extremely small possibility might come true, but their family members would die because of their infection, and even if they died, they would not be able to forgive themselves.
"Mother!" Weng Su's children cried bitterly, trying to comfort her.
Madam Weng Su did not agree, only saying, "You can bring Mother a meal every day for the next two days, so we can have a reunion meal together."
"If the government troops provide meat and vegetables, remember to send a portion to your Master Cao's house after they are prepared. Although your father is no longer here, this filial piety cannot be stopped."
Weng Su's husband learned his craft from Master Cao and supported the whole family with his skills. However, he passed away four years ago due to illness. Nevertheless, whenever there is a festival, Weng Su's family would cook a good meat dish and send a portion to him across two streets as a donation from the apprentice's family to the master who taught him the craft.
"Yes, Mother, don't worry, we will send tribute to Master Shi's family; we will take care of the ancestral worship." The eldest son of the Weng family said with tears in his eyes. He was very sad, but he spoke clearly and logically, which showed that he was a capable person.
"Okay, go back... Eldest son, take good care of the family... Eldest son, be good to yourself!" Weng Su called out, turning around and heading back to the ward first, afraid that if she lingered, the children would stay in the ward and catch the epidemic.
"Don't worry, Mother! There are Wei soldiers and female mountain women patrolling the streets and alleys. The Weng family has also sent people to visit us. We're doing alright!" the Weng brothers and sisters shouted.
At the ward guard post, there were many such shouts, cries, and joyful sounds of family members arriving!
Many infected patients also chose to go home with their families and spend the next two days together.
dong dong dong dong!
"People from Wei in the central district can go to the capital government office to collect their reunion supplies by taking the wooden tag they received during registration!"