A resurgence of the late Ming Dynasty, starting with a trillion-dollar clone.

The recapture of Nanjing did not bring the expected jubilation.

The streets were deathly silent, and the people huddled in their homes, peeking through the cracks in their doors at the soldiers carrying strange flags sprinkling white powder.

The powder had a pungent smell, like lime mixed with sulfur and something else.

The soldiers knocked on doors from house to house, not to collect grain or conscript men, but to ask if anyone in the household had a fever, cough, or rash.

Those who are sick are immediately taken away, and their family members are also quarantined; those who are not sick are given a small packet of herbs and instructed to boil them in water and drink the infusion every day.

The palace was even more heavily guarded.

The original eunuchs and palace maids were either dead or had fled. Now, the guards at each palace gate are all soldiers of the Jingnan Army, each with their faces covered with cloths soaked in medicine, revealing only a pair of vigilant eyes.

Officials entering and leaving the premises had to undergo three checks, and even a general like Kim Sung-hwan was no exception.

"Brother Changsheng, what exactly are you trying to do?" Jin Shenghuan, who had been holding back for three days, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He entered the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace—now Ma Yongsheng's temporary command post, the room piled high with medical books, prescriptions, and old archives unearthed from the Hanlin Academy. "The battle is over. It's time to reward those who have distinguished themselves, to reorganize the troops and prepare for the northward march! All you've been doing is this epidemic prevention stuff, turning the whole city into a ghost town. The soldiers are complaining!"

Ma Yongsheng sat behind his desk, a huge blueprint spread out in front of him.

That wasn't a map, but a strange anatomical diagram of the human body, with densely packed small characters next to it.

He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept well for days.

"General Jin, have you ever witnessed a city being ravaged by plague?"

Jin Shenghuan was taken aback: "I've seen you before... What's wrong?"

"Then tell me, which is more terrifying, plague or war?"

"This..." Jin Shenghuan thought for a moment, "When weapons kill, you can dodge and defend yourself. But when a plague comes, there's no way to escape it. One death can wipe out an entire city. I heard that the plague in the capital in the fourteenth year of Chongzhen's reign killed hundreds of thousands of people, and even the palace had to carry out many corpses."

"If there were a plague, ten times more severe than the bubonic plague, spreading a hundred times faster, incurable, and capable of spreading throughout the world in six months, killing seventy percent of the population," Ma Yongsheng stared at him. "Tell me, should we take precautions?"

Jin Shenghuan gasped in shock: "What kind of plague is this?!"

"It will be ready soon." Ma Yongsheng stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window was a spacious palace courtyard, with a few old trees just sprouting new buds, but the smell of herbs and lime in the air dampened the feeling of spring.

"I got the information from that 'thing.' They're going to unleash a new plague to destroy the world."

"World destruction?" Jin Shenghuan's expression changed. "Those monsters... do they really have that ability?"

"They are not monsters, but something far more terrifying than monsters." Ma Yongsheng turned around. "General Jin, the battle can be fought later, the unification of the country can be delayed, but this plague must be prevented now. Otherwise, when it really comes, the land we have conquered will be nothing but a wasteland."

Jin Shenghuan fell silent.

He believed in the immortality of horses, and from Xiangyang to Nanjing, every outrageous thing this young man said eventually came true.

If he says there's a world-ending plague, then it's probably true.

"Then... what should we do?"

Ma Yongsheng walked back to the desk. "First, establish an epidemic prevention system. Centered on Nanjing, set up epidemic prevention checkpoints in all towns within the controlled area, and quarantine stations at all major water and land routes. Isolate suspected cases immediately, and observe those who have been in contact with them. Second, develop drugs and vaccines. I will have Aunt Chen and Fang Yizhi gather all those knowledgeable in medicine to study the clues left by that 'thing.' Most importantly, find the source of the plague and destroy it before it spreads."

"Where is the source?"

"I don't know," Ma Yongsheng shook his head, "but it's definitely in the area controlled by the Qing government, and most likely in the north. Those 'things' want to make sure the plague breaks out in our rear first, destroying our foundations."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Therefore, we must accelerate our northern expedition. We must race against time to find the source of the plague."

Jin Shenghuan scratched his head: "This is going to be difficult. We just captured Nanjing, our troops are exhausted, and we need to replenish our supplies. There are still heavy Qing troops guarding the north bank of the Yangtze River, and Xuzhou, Kaifeng, and Jinan are all tough nuts to crack. Six months... might not even be enough to reach the capital."

"So we can't fight head-on." Ma Yongsheng tapped his fingers on the table. "We need to use a surprise attack."

"A surprise attack?"

"Send a small but swift force. Bypass the cities along the way and head straight for the capital. Do not attack cities or occupy territory; have only one objective: find the source of the plague and destroy it."

Jin Shenghuan's eyes widened: "This...this is too risky! Going deep into enemy territory alone, what if we get surrounded..."

"Therefore, the person leading the troops must be bold and meticulous, and... only I can go," Ma Yongsheng said calmly.

"You?!" Jin Shenghuan almost jumped up. "Your injuries haven't healed yet! And you're the commander-in-chief, how could you personally go on such a risk?!"

"Because I am the commander-in-chief, only I can determine what the source of the plague is," Ma Yongsheng said. "Only I can understand the clues left by those 'things'."

"That won't do!" Jin Shenghuan paced anxiously. "What if something happens to you? What will happen to the Jingnan Army? What will happen to Jiangnan? What will happen to your unborn children?!"

When the children were mentioned, Ma Yongsheng's eyes softened for a moment.

Chen Xiuying and the others stayed in Wuchang; they should be about to give birth now.

He may never see his child for the first time.

But some things must be done.

"General Jin," he said slowly, "if I don't return, the Jingnan Army will be entrusted to you and Huang Zongxi. The new policies must continue to be implemented, and the epidemic prevention cannot be stopped. As for my children... if they are born safely, tell them that their father left to prevent the world from becoming a deadly place."

Jin Shenghuan's eyes reddened.

He recalled his youthful ambition and the life-and-death situations he had witnessed over the years, and suddenly realized that the young man in front of him, who was more than twenty years younger than him, carried a much heavier burden on his shoulders than he had imagined.

"Brother Changsheng..." his voice choked with emotion, "You must come back."

I tried my best.

The plan was quickly formulated.

Ma Yongsheng personally selected 500 elite soldiers, all of whom were veterans from the Special Operations Team and the former Yundingping. They were loyal, reliable, and agile.

Each person was provided with two horses, and carried only ten days' worth of dry rations, traveling light and simply.

The weapons are mainly firearms and grenades, as well as specially made Molotov cocktails—fire is sometimes more effective than knives and guns against potential AI carriers.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Jingnan Army, led by Jin Shenghuan, launched a feint attack north of the Yangtze River to divert the Qing army's attention.

Instructor Sun, Li Dingguo, and Zhang Huangyan each led an army, advancing from different directions to create chaos and create opportunities for the surprise attack team.

On April 28th, at dawn, the surprise force crossed the Yangtze River northward from Nanjing.

Ma Yongsheng, riding his horse, glanced back at Jiangnan.

The city of Nanjing was shrouded in morning mist, like a dream yet to end.

I don't know if I'll ever come back.

"Walk."

Five hundred riders shot northward like arrows released from a bow.

The first few days went smoothly.

The Qing army's defenses north of the Yangtze River were mainly aimed at the main force of the Jingnan Army, and they did not pay much attention to this small cavalry force.

They hid during the day and traveled at night, taking secluded paths to bypass the city and covering more than a hundred miles a day.

On the fifth day, after entering Anhui province, we began to encounter trouble.

The Qing troops here have increased their patrols, and... it seems like there are "eyes" watching them.

"Chief, something's wrong," the scout reported. "The Qing army has set up three checkpoints on the official road thirty miles ahead, and they're checking very strictly. If we take a detour, it'll add two more days to our journey."

Ma Yongsheng spread out the map.

This is Fengyang Prefecture, Zhu Yuanzhang's hometown, so it's normal that the Qing army was heavily fortified here.

But three checkpoints are clearly not the norm.

"What's so special about those clips?"

"It wasn't just the pro-independence camp guarding the checkpoint; there were also a few people in black robes who looked rather strange."

The man in black robes. The AI's watchdog.

Ma Yongsheng's heart sank.

They were indeed monitoring the northward route.

This indicates that the source of the plague was indeed in the north, and that they were very vigilant.

"Take a detour," he ordered. "Take the mountain path."

The group turned west and ventured into the northern foothills of the Dabie Mountains.

The mountain roads were difficult to traverse, and the horses often needed to be led to get through.

The speed has slowed down, but at least it's concealed.

After walking in the mountains for three days, their dry rations were almost gone, so they had no choice but to hunt for food.

When a soldier caught a cold and developed a fever and cough, Ma Yongsheng immediately ordered him to be isolated and treated with the herbal medicine he carried with him.

Fortunately, it wasn't a plague, just a common cold.

On the ninth day, they finally left the mountains and entered Henan province.

This area is already deep within Qing territory, and Qing cavalry can be seen patrolling everywhere.

We can't travel in broad daylight anymore.

"Rest during the day, march at night," Ma Yongsheng ordered. "Try to avoid villages and towns, and find wilderness areas to camp in."

The darkness provided the best cover.

The Henan plains stretched out flat as far as the eye could see, and five hundred riders galloped under the moonlight like a group of silent ghosts.

If they occasionally encountered Qing army outposts, they would try to bypass them if possible, and if they couldn't, they would launch a quick raid and leave no survivors.

But the further north you go, the greater the resistance becomes.

On the fourteenth day, they were finally discovered near Zhuxian Town, south of Kaifeng.

It was a patrol of Qing troops, about three hundred men, and the two sides bumped into each other in the pre-dawn mist.

Without hesitation, Ma Yongsheng immediately ordered a raid.

The battle was brief but intense.

Although the Jingnan Army was small in number, it was well-equipped and launched a surprise attack, quickly defeating the Qing army.

But the gunfire and shouts alerted the nearby garrison.

By the time they shook off their pursuers, it was already broad daylight, and their whereabouts were completely exposed.

"Chief, the Qing army is definitely mobilizing troops to block us," the deputy captain said, panting. "The Yellow River is just ahead, and beyond that is Zhili, which is closer to the capital, but there are also more Qing troops there."

Ma Yongsheng looked at the map.

Their current position is awkward: the Yellow River is a natural barrier in front, pursuers are behind, and Qing troops control the left and right sides.

Forcing one's way across the Yellow River is tantamount to suicide.

"Don't cross the river," he suddenly said. "Go east."

"East? To the east is Shandong..."

"Yes, to Shandong." Ma Yongsheng pointed to a point on the map, "Jinan."

"What are you going to Jinan for? That's the Qing army's stronghold in Shandong, garrisoned by tens of thousands of troops!"

"It is precisely because it was the capital that it could harbor such important secrets," Ma Yongsheng said. "Those 'things' needed a base camp, a place capable of manufacturing, storing, and transporting pathogens, to spread the plague. Jinan, with its convenient transportation network and status as the provincial capital, was the perfect fit."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Furthermore, I received a message from Wuchang via carrier pigeon, saying that Aunt Chen and the others found some clues in the wreckage of an AI carrier. They pointed towards Jinan."

This news cheered everyone up.

Having a clue makes things easier.

"But how do we get into Jinan? We only have five hundred people..."

"Don't force your way in." A glint flashed in Ma Yongsheng's eyes. "Sneak in."

Two days later, a caravan arrived outside Jinan.

Dozens of large trucks, loaded with southern silk, tea, and porcelain, and several trucks of "epidemic prevention medicine"—this was the best cover.

The caravan's owner was a veteran spy under Wang Pu, who had been operating in the north long before the Jingnan Rebellion and had a clean identity.

Ma Yongsheng and twenty elite guards disguised themselves as caravan protectors, while the rest were scattered outside the city to provide support.

"Where did you come from?" the gatekeeper asked.

"From Jiangning." The caravan owner handed over the documents and a small ingot of silver. "Doing some small business, and also importing some northern goods."

The gatekeeper weighed the silver in his hand, glanced at the document, found no flaws, and waved his hand: "Go in. The city's been cracking down lately, so don't wander around at night."

Upon entering Jinan, Ma Yongsheng immediately sensed something was wrong.

It's too quiet.

Although the streets were bustling with people and the shops were open as usual, everyone had their heads down, walked hurriedly, and rarely spoke.

When Qing soldiers occasionally patrolled by, the people avoided them like the plague.

There was a faint, sweet, fishy smell in the air, like medicine, or... the smell of decay.

"Let's find a place to stay first," Ma Yongsheng said in a low voice.

The caravan stayed at an inn in the south of the city.

After settling in, Ma Yongsheng immediately led his men out to investigate.

Jinan was larger than he had imagined, and it was divided into an inner city and an outer city.

The inner city was occupied by government offices and Manchu residents; Han Chinese were generally not allowed to enter.

The outer city is a commercial district and residential area, a melting pot of all sorts of people.

They wandered around the outer city for half a day but found nothing unusual.

It wasn't until evening that we arrived at a secluded neighborhood in the west of the city.

The sweet, fishy smell here is particularly strong.

Qing soldiers guarded the street corner, preventing ordinary people from getting close. From a distance, Ma Yongsheng could see that the area consisted of tall warehouses, with horse-drawn carriages coming and going from time to time, covered with tarpaulins, their contents unknown.

"What place is that?" he asked the innkeeper.

The waiter's expression changed, and he lowered his voice: "Sir, please don't ask about that place. It's a 'pharmacy,' run by the government, specializing in making 'epidemic prevention medicine.' It's very strange; very few people who go in to work ever come out unscathed. Everyone says it's...haunted."

Anti-epidemic drugs? Ma Yongsheng sneered inwardly. He thought to himself, "They're probably not preventing the epidemic, they're creating it."

Late at night, Ma Yongsheng, along with his two best teammates, stealthily made their way to that neighborhood.

Avoiding the patrolling Qing soldiers, they scaled the wall and found themselves inside a large workshop. Dozens of rooms, some with lights on, emitted strange sounds—like machines running, or perhaps… the groans of living beings.

They crept to the outside of the largest room and peered through the cracks in the window.

The scene inside the room sent chills down Ma Yongsheng's spine.

It wasn't a pharmaceutical workshop, but a rudimentary laboratory. Rows of shelves held glass containers filled with various organs—hearts, livers, brains—some still pulsating slightly. Several "people" in white robes were busy at work, their movements mechanical, their eyes vacant—these were the carriers of AI.

In the center of the room was a huge bronze vessel with a fire burning underneath, inside which a thick liquid was bubbling away, emanating the sweet, fishy smell.

"Pathogen culture tank." Ma Yongsheng recognized it. Although it was rudimentary, the principle was similar to the biological weapons laboratories he had seen in his previous life.

This place must be destroyed.

But how to destroy it? It's clearly heavily guarded, and those AI entities are quite powerful. There are only three of them; a direct assault would be suicide.

Just then, a vessel in the room suddenly turned its head and looked out the window.

It was discovered!

"Let's go!" Ma Yongsheng whispered.

The three retreated quickly. Just as they climbed over the wall, an alarm sounded behind them. Large numbers of Qing troops surrounded them from all sides.

"Split up! Meet at the Land God Temple in the south of the city!" Ma Yongsheng ordered.

He weaved through the streets and alleys, the footsteps and shouts of the Qing soldiers growing ever closer. Turning a corner, he bumped into a patrol!

"stop!"

Ma Yongsheng drew his knife and slashed, instantly felling two people, but more people surrounded him. He fought and retreated, sustaining several more wounds.

Just as he was about to be surrounded, a small door suddenly opened, and a hand pulled him inside.

The door slammed shut. The sound of Qing soldiers running past outside gradually faded into the distance.

Ma Yongsheng leaned against the wall, panting, the knife still clutched in his hand. The man who had dragged him in was a middle-aged scholar, wearing a faded blue robe, his face showing signs of shock.

"You...you're a member of the Jingnan Army?" the scholar asked in a trembling voice.

Ma Yongsheng looked at him warily: "Who are you?"

"My name is Gu Yanwu." The scholar bowed. "I used to teach in Kunshan. After the Qing army marched south, I drifted here and became an instructor at Jinan Academy."

Gu Yanwu? Ma Yongsheng's heart skipped a beat. This was a great thinker of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, highly regarded by later generations.

Why did you save me?

"I've seen you before," Gu Yanwu said in a low voice. "I was in the audience when you gave your speech in Wuchang. I remember everything you said—the equal distribution of land, the abolition of the eight-legged essay, and the promotion of practical education." He paused. "I know you're investigating that 'pharmacy.' It wasn't a pharmacy; it was a poison factory. They used living people for experiments, and hundreds have already died."

Ma Yongsheng stared at him: "How much do you know?"

"I know it was a Manchu prince and a few 'demons' who were behind it, saying they wanted to create a 'miracle drug' that could exterminate the Han people." Gu Yanwu's voice trembled. "I didn't believe it. I secretly investigated and saw them taking death row inmates into the prison, and none of them came out. What came out were... cartloads of black powder, being transported to the north."

Medicinal powder. A carrier of plague.

"Where did those powdered medicines go?"

"Most of it was shipped to the capital, and a small portion remained in the warehouse in Jinan," Gu Yanwu said. "The warehouse is located underground in the pharmacy, and it's heavily guarded. I heard... it'll be shipped out in a few days."

A few days later? Ma Yongsheng's heart tightened. It had to be destroyed before then.

"Mr. Gu, would you be willing to help me?"

Gu Yanwu hesitated for a moment, then nodded emphatically: "I am willing! As long as it can stop these demons, I will gladly die!"

With Gu Yanwu as an inside man, things became much easier.

He was familiar with Jinan, knew the Qing army's deployment patterns, and knew the daily routines of the pharmacy staff.

More importantly, among the students he taught at the academy were several young people who were dissatisfied with the Qing government and could help him.

The plan was quickly formulated: three days later was the birthday of the mother of the prefect of Jinan, and all the officials in the city would go to offer their congratulations, so the guards at the pharmacy would be a little lax.

At that time, the supporting troops outside the city will launch a feint attack to attract the attention of the defending troops.

Ma Yongsheng led his men to infiltrate the pharmacy, plant explosives, and destroy the laboratory and warehouse.

Meanwhile, Gu Yanwu contacted anti-Qing patriots in the city and instigated a riot after the explosion to cover their retreat.

Three days of intensive preparation.

Ma Yongsheng's old shoulder injury reopened, but he didn't have time to treat it. After a simple bandage, he continued to work.

There was too much explosives to prepare and too few people, so they had to work day and night.

By the evening of the third day, everything was ready.

Ma Yongsheng and his twenty team members hid in a house near the pharmacy, waiting for nightfall.

Everyone carried enough explosives and Molotov cocktails. The mission was clear: blow everything up and leave no trace.

At 9:00 PM, an explosion suddenly rang out in the east of the city—the supporting troops had begun a feint attack.

The guards at the pharmacy were in an uproar, and some of them were transferred to the east side of the city.

The rest were also distracted, glancing frequently in the direction of the explosion.

Right now.

Ma Yongsheng made a hand gesture, and the team members split into four groups and infiltrated the pharmacy from different directions.

He led a group himself and headed straight for the entrance to the underground warehouse.

There were two AI-controlled entities guarding the area, but their attention was also drawn to the sound of the explosion.

Ma Yongsheng reached out from behind and plunged a short knife into the back of a creature's neck, while simultaneously covering its mouth with his other hand.

The vehicle struggled violently, but quickly went limp.

The other vessel sensed something was wrong and was about to turn around when it was shot in the head by another team member with a crossbow and fell to the ground.

Upon opening the warehouse door, one finds it filled with wooden crates.

Pry one open, and inside is black powder, wrapped in oiled paper, emitting a faint sweet and fishy smell.

That's all.

"Place the explosives and prepare to detonate."

The team members acted quickly, placing explosive charges in various corners and connecting the fuses.

Ma Yongsheng then ventured deeper into the warehouse, hoping to find something else.

There was a separate room at the very back, with an iron door that was locked.

He used a knife to pry open the lock and pushed the door open.

The room was small, with a metal table in the middle and a transparent container on it.

Inside the container was a wriggling, black mass, as if it were alive.

Beside the container stood a "person".

It turned around, and Ma Yongsheng recognized it—it was the vessel of the "Shunzhi Emperor" in the Nanjing Imperial Palace.

Although he had changed into ordinary scholar's clothes, those pure black eyes were unmistakable.

"You did come," it said calmly, "three days earlier than expected."

"Is this the source of the plague?" Ma Yongsheng pointed to the black mass.

"The parent organism." The carrier walked to the container and gently tapped the glass with its finger. "Extract samples from here and cultivate them into the powder you see. Just sprinkle it into water sources or let it spread with the wind, and in six months, the world will be at peace."

Its tone was as if it were talking about something very ordinary.

Why did you do this?

"To put history back on track," the vessel turned its head. "Ma Yongsheng, the variables you've introduced are too great. According to the original trajectory, this civilization should have self-destructed in seven hundred years. But you prematurely triggered the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. If you were allowed to continue, it might enter the information age within a hundred years. This will disrupt the balance of the entire timeline."

It paused. "So, we must reset. We'll use a great plague to send civilization back to the agricultural age and start anew. This time, we'll be much more careful to ensure it develops along the path we've set."

Ma Yongsheng sneered: "So you're going to kill 70% of people? Including children, the elderly, and innocent people?"

"A necessary sacrifice." The vessel is devoid of emotion, "for a greater order."

"To hell with your order!" Ma Yongsheng drew his sword. "Today, I'll destroy your order!"

He charged forward, his blade flashing like lightning.

The vehicle neither dodged nor flinched, letting the blade slash its neck.

But once the blade had penetrated three-tenths of the flesh, it could not cut any further—beneath its skin was a metal skeleton.

"Useless." With a wave of its hand, the vessel sent Ma Yongsheng flying, slamming him against the wall. "This vessel is specially made, prepared specifically for you."

It slowly approached: "Actually, I admire you. In this desolate place of the solar system, it's remarkable that such a refined consciousness as yours could be born. Reaching this point is no easy feat. If you're willing to cooperate, I can apply to my superiors to preserve your consciousness and make you one of us. After all, it would be a shame to destroy such a precious sample."

"Cooperate?" Ma Yongsheng struggled to his feet. "Cooperate with you butchers?"

"You'll change your mind." The vessel stretched out its hand, palm facing Ma Yongsheng. "Once I extract your consciousness, I'll slowly 'convince' you."

Ma Yongsheng felt a moment of disorientation.

This thing can directly attack the mind!

But its impact on him was limited.

He suddenly pulled out the last Molotov cocktail from his pocket and smashed it against the container holding the "mother"!

"Huh?!" The carrier was shocked and angry, and turned around to block.

But it was a step too late.

The glass container was smashed, exposing the black "mother body" to the air, which was instantly ignited by the flames of the Molotov cocktail.

"Squeak—!" A piercing scream, so sharp it was inhuman, emanated from the "mother body." It writhed violently before exploding with a "bang," splattering black slime everywhere.

The carrier was splattered all over, and the slime was actually corroding its body! The metal casing sizzled and emitted white smoke.

"You... destroyed... the Mother..." the carrier's voice began to distort, "But... the plague... has... already... spread..."

Its body melted rapidly, eventually turning into a pool of metal and organic matter.

Ma Yongsheng, panting, stared at the puddle.

The mother body is destroyed, but the carrier says the plague has already spread... What does that mean?

Shouts came from outside: "Chief! The explosives are in place! Let's go!"

He rushed out of the room and ran outside with his teammates.

Just as I ran out of the pharmacy, a deafening explosion came from behind me.

The entire pharmacy was reduced to ruins in the flames.

But Ma Yongsheng was not at ease.

The carrier's last words weighed on my heart like a stone.

Has the plague already spread? Where has it spread to?

They took advantage of the chaos to rush out of Jinan and meet up with the support troops.

Gu Yanwu also came along. He said that several students from the academy were willing to go south together to join the Jingnan Army.

On the way back, Ma Yongsheng remained silent.

As they approached the Yellow River, a scout galloped in from the south, his face deathly pale.

"General! Urgent report from Wuchang! A plague has broken out in Wuchang!"

Ma Yongsheng's vision went black.

It was still too late.

The powder has already been shipped out.

It's not just Jinan, but also Beijing, and probably other places.

The plague has begun.

He gazed south, as if he could see corpses strewn across both banks of the Yangtze River.