Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

When Chen Dao and Diao Chan arrived in Ye County, things were relatively peaceful.

A temporary grain depot has been set up outside the city, and grain is being transported there.

This was intended to support Heishan. Ye County was very close to the eastern pass of Heishan. Both Youzhou and Heishan needed food relief, and Ye County was an important transit point.

Liu Bei did not forget the food shortage in Heishan. In his letter to Zhuge Xuan, besides asking whether Zhuge Zhen could be allowed to enter the palace, he asked Zhuge Xuan to report on the progress of the grain transportation and to discuss the relocation of people from the mountains with Zhang Yan.

Black Mountain cannot support too many people, so those who have fled into the mountains must be gradually relocated to Jizhou so that more people can settle and cultivate the land in Jizhou.

With spring planting just around the corner, county officials and villagers are all very busy, especially the temporary grain stations distributing grain and seeds, which look quite lively.

Chen Dao and Diao Chan successfully met Zhuge Xuan and delivered Liu Bei's letter.

But that very night, Zhuge Xuan found Chen Dao and Diao Chan at the guesthouse and told them to return to Chang'an overnight.

"I have just received news that a plague has broken out in the county... I must immediately seal off the county."

Zhuge Xuan looked extremely anxious: "Marquis Chen, you are the Prime Minister's personal guard. You must ride back to Chang'an immediately and report to the Prime Minister that this epidemic is incurable..."

Chen Dao's authority to command troops is still limited; he can only lead one guard squad at a time. However, his rank is already that of a Marquis, a title bestowed upon him by Zhao Yun for his meritorious service in the vanguard.

"plague?!"

Chen Dao and Diao Chan were both stunned upon hearing this: "What kind of plague?"

"The clinic says it's a nuclear plague... I'm not sure how many patients there are, or who's infected... I've ordered a city lockdown to control the epidemic. You need to leave the city immediately with my warrant."

Zhuge Xuan whispered about the situation: "You should also not go through Black Mountain. Many patients came from Black Mountain, and there may be an epidemic in Handan, Chaoge and other places as well."

Nuclear plague is bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death.

This thing is incredibly contagious and highly contagious. It's spread through droplets, and almost everyone infected will cough up blood and sputum, making it extremely difficult to control its spread.

The only way to control it is to impose a city lockdown.

Just like Zhang Jiao once did.

"A city lockdown? Commander Zhuge, this could easily lead to unrest among the people..."

Diao Chan was no ignorant woman; her first reaction was that it would definitely incite a popular uprising.

"With the outbreak of the plague, unrest among the people was inevitable. There is no cure for this plague. If it spreads, who knows how many people will die."

Zhuge Xuan smiled bitterly: "You should leave quickly. I have already sent this message to General Guan, asking him to lead his troops to block all the passes. You should return to Chang'an and report to the Prime Minister... I have this last letter, please give it to the Prime Minister as well."

"A suicide note? Is Commandant Zhuge not leaving this county? Are you going to trap yourself in the city, sir?"

Chen was shocked.

"If I don't confine myself within the city, how can I command my officials and soldiers..."

Zhuge Xuan waved his hand: "You should leave quickly. This is also a military order. I will temporarily take control of this city as the governor of Wei Commandery. There may be chaos tonight."

Chen Dao had no choice but to bow deeply and immediately leave the building with his squad and Diao Chan.

……

In the afternoon, just as Chen Dao and Diao Chan arrived in Ye County, the Ye County Medical Clinic, which was the hospital built by Xiuniang, discovered a plague patient among the patients brought in for treatment.

The patient was a minor leader from Black Mountain. He had originally led a group of people to migrate out of the mountains, but he kept coughing up blood when he received relief food and seeds from Zhuge Xuan, so Zhuge Xuan sent him to the clinic.

When the patient was brought to the clinic, he was already coughing up frothy, bloody sputum, had bruises on his skin, and was also experiencing severe nosebleeds.

These are the symptoms of plague. The clinic is aware of this disease, knowing that it is a rapidly contagious plague and that it is incurable.

At this time, whether it was the temporary residences for the mountain people, the grain stations for distributing seeds, or the clinics, they were all densely populated areas.

The weather has been cold these past two years, resulting in many people contracting cold-related illnesses and coughs. In addition, the recent war with the Southern Xiongnu has left many wounded, and the clinics, which charge low consultation fees, have been overcrowded.

The clinic staff were aware of the risks and went into emergency mode after the plague was confirmed. They forcibly quarantined all those who had been in contact with the patient, including the doctors and caregivers who treated him, and placed them in the morgue.

Subsequently, the clinic issued a high-risk warning, requesting Zhuge Xuan to investigate the Black Mountain tribesmen and grain transport laborers to see if the source of infection could be found and controlled.

Zhuge Xuan knew the matter was serious, so he stopped distributing food and first checked on the sick.

The results were not optimistic.

In just one afternoon, it was discovered that many people at the temporary grain distribution stations were infected, as were many mountain people who came from Heishan, county officials in Ye County, and even Li Pan, the governor of Wei Commandery, had been infected...

During this period, the officials of Ye County were busy distributing grain, and there were always large crowds, which made the plague spread particularly quickly.

Li Pan was old and had been coughing for years. Before he could even go to the clinic, he learned that he had contracted the plague. He was shocked, frightened, and at a loss.

Seeing people infected everywhere, the source of infection is no longer important.

Zhuge Xuan immediately took over the position of governor and put the medical clinic in charge of preparing for a large-scale quarantine.

That is, first lock down the city, and then investigate one by one.

Zhuge Xuan mobilized all the garrison troops in the county to block all four gates of Ye County, and immediately sent someone to inform Guan Yu to request reinforcements from the main force.

However, not everyone is willing to follow such arrangements.

Especially those who had just moved out of Montenegro.

For them, the lockdown was like the imperial court luring them out to kill them.

Many of them knew that the plague was terrifying, but it was precisely because they understood this that they were unwilling to be confined to the city and wait to die—because they knew the plague was incurable.

Some people are currently asymptomatic, and they know that staying in the city would give them a greater chance of getting infected.

Zhuge Xuan's decision to seal off the city was correct and necessary, but this correct decision also triggered a riot.

Because there are also soldiers who are afraid of death.

……

Chen Dao and his group were unable to leave Ye County smoothly.

When Zhuge Xuan came to find them, chaos had indeed broken out in the city.

Unable to leave the city, a large crowd flocked to the governor's mansion.

The leader shouted, "Bring out Prefect Li! Why did you lure us here to our deaths?!"

These people must have just come from Montenegro; they thought the lockdown was Li Pan's idea.

"This is not the Lord's intention, but the intention of Zhuge Xuan, the Commandant of Agriculture!"

A young official from the prefect's office advised at the gate, "Prefect Li is suffering from a serious illness and is unable to attend to his duties. You should consult Commandant Zhuge instead!"

Soon after, Zhuge Xuan arrived with his garrison troops to disperse the crowd.

But someone shouted, "Commander Zhuge wants us to die here, but the disease doesn't discriminate. Are you soldiers also going to stay in the city and wait to die?"

As a result, some of the garrison troops also became disorganized. Zhuge Xuan was willing to confine himself within the city, but some soldiers were not, which was only natural and there was nothing that could be done.

A civil war immediately broke out in Ye County, with countless people rushing chaotically toward the city gate.

It was nighttime, and the city gate guards dared not be careless. Unable to distinguish friend from foe, they could only completely close the city gates and prevent anyone from entering or leaving.

When Chen Dao and Diao Chan arrived at the city gate, they were already unable to leave the city.

Chen Dao could only protect Diao Chan and retreat into Zhuge Xuan's army.

At this moment, the young official under the prefect led a group of men and launched a surprise attack on Zhuge Xuan from behind.

Zhuge Xuan was suppressing the mutinous soldiers when he was attacked by a subordinate official of the prefect, and was stabbed to death in the army.

Chen Dao had not expected this situation to occur. He witnessed Zhuge Xuan being killed, but it was too late to rush to his aid.

"Zhuge Xuan is dead! I, Ju, have taken over this county! There is a great plague in this city; those who don't want to die, come with me!"

The man who assassinated Zhuge Xuan was named Ju Hu, the son of Ju Shou.

He was an official under Li Pan, serving as a military officer in Wei Commandery.

Ju Shou himself did not become an official because he did not want to take the policy examination.

Ju Hu clearly did not want to be confined to the city. After killing Zhuge Xuan, he began to incite the garrison soldiers and mobs to break out of Ye County.

Chen Dao was indignant and tried to rush forward to kill Ju Hu, but Diao Chan stopped him in time: "Don't go... let's leave this place first."

Ju Hu had already gathered a large group of people around him, who all seemed to be locals. Chen Dao was not from Wei County, so rushing in at this time would definitely be a death sentence.

Chen Dao was young and easily impulsive, but Diao Chan remained calm.

As Ju Hu led this rabble out of the city, Chen Dao and his group also mingled in the crowd and left Ye County together.

After leaving Ye County, some people intended to leave, but Ju Hu immediately ordered his cavalry to kill them.

Ju Hu did not let the group scatter, but continued to incite them: "Zhuge Xuan is a confidant of Prime Minister Liu. Although we killed him to save our own lives, it is still an act of regicide and treason... Now we will surely be regarded as bandits by the court. We should stay together and protect ourselves! If anyone leaves now, it must be to report to the authorities and hunt us down..."

Subsequently, Ju Hu led this motley crew to Yangping Pavilion, east of Ye County.

Chen Dao and Diao Chan were also caught up in it.

At dawn, Ju Shou arrived at Yangping Pavilion.

Upon hearing that Zhuge Xuan had died at the hands of Ju Hu, Ju Shou immediately rebuked his son: "Even if Zhuge Xuan had sealed off the city, I could have let you out. Why resort to such illegal means?! Isn't this tantamount to cutting yourself off from the court?!"

"Isn't Father now completely cut off from the court?"

Ju Hu was unconvinced: "Father, are you perhaps considering sacrificing your own family for the greater good? If I were to accept the death penalty, I wonder if Liu Bei would still regard you as a pillar of the state..."

Ju Shou was both angry and furious, and slapped Ju Hu across the face: "How could you be so foolish!"

But the deed was done, and despite his anger, Ju Shou couldn't bring himself to kill his own son...

For the sake of his son's life, Ju Shou had no choice but to immediately seek Shen Pei's help and have Ju Hu carefully investigate the rabble he had brought with him.

We need to check not only for those infected, but also for any of Zhuge Xuan's relatives and close subordinates, to prevent them from being betrayed.

"Zhuge Xuan was corrupt and lawless, acted tyrannically, and usurped the power of the prefect, which incited a popular uprising, leading to his death at the hands of the people of the county..."

Ju Shou sought out Shen Pei, naturally in order to change the nature of the matter, making it appear that Zhuge Xuan's extortion incited a popular uprising, leading to his death within the city.

Shen Pei, like Ju Shou, was not an official, but he belonged to a powerful family in Wei Commandery. He controlled counties such as Neihuang and Yin'an and was very skilled at controlling information.

Shen Pei understood Ju Shou's meaning and asked him in return, "Since Zhuge Xuan instigated the peasant uprising... then who is the traitor who started the uprising?"

"Naturally, it was the Black Mountain bandits... Zhuge Xuan was corrupt and lawless, and he secretly withheld grain in an attempt to control the Black Mountain bandits. The Black Mountain bandits were indignant and rose up in rebellion."

To prevent his son from taking the blame, Ju Shou fabricated a charge against Zhuge Xuan: "Brother Shen, why don't you lead the various tribes of Heishan to seize the grain stored in Ye County and loot it all..."

"If we want to lure Zhang Yan to take the grain..."

Shen Pei suddenly smiled and said, "Why don't you take Wei Commandery and establish yourself?"

Ju Shou snorted and retorted, "Zheng Nan's family is powerful and influential, second to none in Ji Province. Why don't you establish yourself independently? Letting Zhang Yan plunder Ye County was only to exonerate my son. I have no intention of rebelling! Brother Zheng Nan, are you willing to help me?"

Shen Pei and Ju Shou both have fiery tempers and often quarrel over a few words, but they also share the same stance.

"Yin Kai of Wu'an has long harbored the intention to kill Zhang Yan, and Tao Sheng of Neihuang also hates Guan Yu for killing Sui Gu... Since we want to lure Zhang Yan, why not use grain as bait to let Tao Sheng and Yin Kai take Zhang Yan's life, thus causing the Black Mountain to change hands..."

This time, Shen Pei didn't argue, but instead gave a further suggestion.

The Shen family was indeed powerful and had extensive connections, maintaining relationships with most of the powerful clans in Wei Commandery.

Yin Kai was not a Black Mountain bandit, but a powerful family in Wu'an County. Wu'an was under the jurisdiction of Black Mountain and was nominally Zhang Yan's man, but he was secretly dissatisfied with Zhang Yan. The reason was simple: Zhang Yan had not given him an official position.

Tao Sheng, whose bandit nickname was Huanglong, was a bandit from Neihuang like Sui Gu. He was also one of the first local tyrants to raise an army under the banner of the Yellow Turbans. After being placed under the jurisdiction of Heishan, he became the county magistrate of Neihuang, but he was often dissatisfied with his low rank.

The claim that he hated Guan Yu for killing Sui Gu was just talk; he just wanted to show some brotherly loyalty.

"Zheng Nan... do you really intend to become independent?"

Ju Shou was stunned.

He knew that Shen Pei's statement about "changing the ownership of Heishan" did not mean that Tao Sheng would take over.

“I have no intention of rebelling… Tao Sheng often calls himself a general, so naturally we should appoint Tao Sheng as our general. Only when he raises an army to rebel can we recruit righteous troops, eliminate Tao Sheng and Yin Kai, protect our hometown, and quell the rebellion for the Han Dynasty.”

Shen Pei shook his head: "If you want to plan for your son's sake, isn't this the best way?"

This method appears to be making Tao Sheng and Yin Kai take the blame, but in reality, it's about seizing control of Heishan.

Shen Pei did not intend to establish himself independently, but he did intend to replace Zhang Yan.

Ju Shou pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Then please have Zheng Nan contact the various tribes. This matter is due to Zhuge Xuan's corruption, which led to the Black Mountain rebellion. We are here to quell the local rebellion for the sake of the imperial court..."

……

A few days later, Zhang Yan heard about the riots in Ye County and the killing of Zhuge Xuan, and immediately led his troops to Ye County.

At this time, there were hardly any people left in Ye County. After the riots in the county, most people were afraid of the plague and fled in all directions. Even those who originally planned to stay in the county were worried about more trouble and all ran away.

—This plague is bound to spread everywhere.

When the Black Mountain Army arrived in the county, they found that there was still some grain stored in the granary, but no soldiers in the city, so they broke down the gate and took the grain.

While Zhang Yan's troops were busy looting grain, Tao Sheng suddenly led his troops out and attacked Zhang Yan directly.

The surprise attack injured Zhang Yan's right shoulder, but Zhang Yan was ultimately skilled and managed to survive by dodging and weaving, and led his troops to fight their way out of the city.

After being injured, Zhang Yan planned to retreat back into the mountains, but was ambushed and nearly killed by Yin Kai at a mountain pass.

This time, it was Zhang Ba, who hadn't appeared until now, who saved Zhang Yan's life. (End of Chapter)