Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Making a Fuss Over Nothing

After lunch, as they needed to prepare, it was more than an hour before they set off.

Huangfu Jingchen calculated the days, four days back and forth, and wondered how things were going with Wenjin.

Jiang Ning desperately tried to prevent Huangfu Jingchen from going to the area plagued by the epidemic.

He was the Prince Cheng’s Heir, how could he go to such a dangerous place?

But Huangfu Jingchen had already made up his mind, and he was only the Guard, he couldn’t really tie him up.

Seeing that he couldn’t stop him, he decided to go along, but Huangfu Jingchen stuffed a silver note in his hand, instructing him to purchase medicinal materials and find doctors. He also summoned Bian Ming and Yan Nan to handle this matter together.

Shang Jingwang brought a strong lineup this time, and in just an hour, he gathered all the medicines from the city’s pharmacies and ordered each medical clinic to send at least one doctor. A team of more than thirty people set off for Wangshan Town.

However, considering that too many people would slow down the travel, they divided into three groups.

The first group rode horses for a fast advance, the second group used existing carriages and set off at the same time, and the third group used carriages that the Government Office was collecting and followed later, with the Prefecture Minister leading the team.

However, Huangfu Jingchen had promised Shang Jingwang that if he made a move in this epidemic, he wouldn’t allow his contributions to be erased, so he asked Jiang Ning to handle this matter as well.

Huangfu Jingchen was, of course, in the first group riding horses, along with Shang Jingwang, two doctors, and personnel from the Government Office.

Huangfu Jingchen suggested Shang Jingwang bring the Government Office’s troops. Shang Jingwang understood immediately that as it was an epidemic, quarantine was necessary. Entry and exit must be prohibited, something that couldn’t be managed with just a few people.

Of course, bringing a lot of Government Office troops wasn’t practical, so he brought a portion and planned to dispatch more from nearby counties if needed.

Though Xia Wenjin had persuaded Mayor Wang to establish quarantine points, the situation worsened in the few days that followed. Zhang Jiantang, seeing more and more people flocking to his clinic, finally realized something was wrong.

Previously, he had boasted to the mayor that his years of experience wouldn’t mislead him, that it was just the poison of miasma. Now, realizing something was off, as miasma was a personal ailment, not something that affected every household, and the symptoms were similar and increasingly severe, with even his miasma pills having no effect.

Remembering Xia Wenjin’s mention of the epidemic, he suddenly became frightened. He didn’t have a treatment for this disease, and it was contagious.

He no longer dared to treat patients, began to drive them away, and prepared to close his clinic and escape with his family.

But this reaction was also anticipated by Xia Wenjin. This irresponsible charlatan, who scraped patients’ bones and cut their flesh, couldn’t be allowed to stand by. Who asked him to be the town’s only doctor?

Besides, since the epidemic had started, he had been in contact with many patients, and if he truly escaped, it would pose a risk.

She had also spoken to Mayor Wang about this, and he was furious at Zhang Jiantang for making false promises, feeling deceived when the situation wasn’t as he had said. He immediately sent someone to warn him.

In addition, he stationed people to follow Zhang Jiantang, ordered his clinic to remain open, and forbade him from driving patients away. His clinic was also set up as the town’s quarantine point.

Zhang Jiantang wept bitterly. Why hadn’t he trusted that young man? If he had believed him then, he would have fled immediately, and who would have thought of him at that time? Now he couldn’t escape, and his clinic was requisitioned.

Though the mayor said he would pay him a salary and reimburse his clinic’s medications at cost, was it a matter of money? It was a matter of life!

With someone watching, he didn’t dare run away.

Mayor Wang also personally went to the County Government.

Xia Wenjin reminded him that he couldn’t handle this on his own and had to report it, so he hurriedly rushed to the county seat.

When Yanglu County Magistrate Kong Tixin heard that yet another report of an epidemic had come, and that the report came personally from the mayor of Wangshan Town, he was very annoyed. Was Wang Bolao stupid? Being fooled like this?

What epidemic? Where did this epidemic come from?

He had just gained a new concubine, it was her birthday, a grand feast at the house, and such a joyful day. Reporting an epidemic was really spoiling the mood.

Still, he met with Wang Bolao.

Wang Bolao cautiously reported the current situation to Kong Tixin.

At this time, Kong Tixin’s thoughts were on his concubine’s smiling face, thinking of the grand banquet and fine wine in the back hall, and he had no mind to deal with him. Midway through his report, he impatiently asked, “How many have died?”

Wang Bolao was taken aback and replied, “Three have died.”

Kong Tixin was furious. “Only three people have died and you call it an epidemic! Would an epidemic stop at three deaths? Nonsense! I think you, as a mayor, don’t want your position anymore!”

Wang Bolao was stunned and fearfully said, “My lord, this is a serious matter, three people have already died.”

Kong Tixin’s cold, sharp gaze bore into him. “I ask you, how old were the three who died?”

Wang Bolao, who had indeed looked into the matter, replied, “Reporting to my lord, one was fifty-seven, one sixty-one, and one sixty-three.”

Kong Tixin sneered, his gaze turning even sharper. He slammed the table and shouted, “Wang Bolao, don’t think I don’t know about the matters in Wangshan Town! It’s too close to the mountain, and every summer there’s a miasma, old and weak people die in threes and fives every year. This year some people with ulterior motives stirred things up, and you come here spouting nonsense. Do you want a beating?”

Wang Bolao understood the implications of this stirring up by someone else. Had that older young master been to the County Government? But County Magistrate Kong didn’t believe it.

He was instantly both terrified and angry.

Terrified because Kong Tixin didn’t believe and was angry, fearing he might truly lose his position as mayor.

Afraid because if Kong Tixin knew he was compelling every village to build quarantine points, forcing them to provide manpower and resources, it would be a waste of the common people’s effort. If anyone complained to Kong Tixin, he might even end up in jail.

Angry because he felt duped by Xia Wenjin. Xia Wenjin had said that Young Master Huang was from the Capital City, of unusual status. It was that belief that gave him the courage to gather the village chiefs and build extensive quarantine points. They were prepared to investigate every village for people with red marks as Xia Wenjin described. But if Young Master Huang was truly exceptional, how could Lord Kong say he had ulterior motives? He felt Xia Wenjin had doomed him.

He was unsure if it was truly an epidemic, but it was clear there were more patients than in previous years.

But what could he do now? Lord Kong didn’t believe it.

This made him both uneasy and somewhat comforted, thinking: Maybe it’s really not an epidemic? Calling it an epidemic and contagious was just Xia Wenjin’s opinion.

But the matter was significant, and Wang Bolao wanted to make one last effort, saying, “My lord, these symptoms are different from the past; it must be an epidemic!”

Kong Tixin was infuriated and shouted, “Guards!”

The Government Official waiting outside entered, and Kong Tixin pointed at Wang Bolao, “Seize him and give him ten heavy strokes! As the town’s mayor, you have a soft ear, acting rashly based on rumors. Wake him up!”

Wang Bolao was alarmed; he had come to report but was about to be beaten? Before he could react, several men pressed him to the ground, and with a loud crack, he felt a sharp pain on his backside, quickly shouting, “My lord, please forgive me! It’s my mistake, my blathering, please spare me!”

Kong Tixin waved a hand to signal stopping, but the board already struck five or six times with loud cracking sounds.

Kong Tixin looked at him askance, “Now you know you’ve been blathering?”

“I know my mistake! I know my mistake!”

Seeing the fear and cowardice in Wang Bolao’s eyes, Kong Tixin coldly said, “What are you still hanging around here for? Get back to your Wangshan Town! Or are you waiting for the county to feed you?”

Wang Bolao, dejectedly, said, “My lord, forgive me, it was my overreaction.” He limped away.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep