Isolated town in northern border region

Just as the sun reached its zenith, Jiang Min received the message.

Du Ming was seriously ill and refused to see guests. All the officials in Qingzhou, big and small, pretended to be dead and turned a blind eye to the epidemic outside the city.

"Are you sick?"

Bisu clenched her fists.

"So many people have died in Qingzhou, and this prefect's illness certainly came at the right time!"

Xiao Lie sat on the high platform, looking at the densely packed refugees outside the camp, and remained silent.

Du Ming's attitude became clear after a little thought.

It's simply that these powerful families can't see the outcome for the time being, so they want to observe the situation and remain neutral.

Xiao Lie's lips twitched, and he forced himself to swallow back a curse word.

"Even if he doesn't come, we still have to do it."

"Xu De, how many medicinal herbs have you collected?"

Xu De had been up all night and his eyelids were almost closed, but when he heard Xiao Lie's question, he forced himself to stay awake.

"We have enough for now; not many critically ill patients manage to escape to our camp."

"But if this continues..."

Xu De didn't finish speaking, but Xiao Lie knew that continuing like this wouldn't be enough.

"Now that there are more and more people, this small campsite on the riverbank definitely can't accommodate so many people."

"I wish to lead my people eastward."

"Firstly, it can treat those critically ill patients, and secondly, it can find a village to use as a base."

Jiang Min frowned.

"Your Highness's idea is good, but these people probably won't agree to it."

"They went through so much hardship to escape death, and now you want to take them back? Do you think they'll agree?"

Xiao Lie crossed his arms, his two thumbs spinning incessantly.

There's no better way.

"If we let those critically ill patients who couldn't escape die, who knows what this plague will become."

"Right now it's just the tip of the iceberg; if we wait any longer, the entire eastern part of Qingzhou will probably turn into hell!"

"Bisu, you should talk to the people first and see how they react."

Bisu nodded and pushed a bowl of salt and sugar water in front of Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, I'll go right away. Please drink some water first; it will make your stomach feel better."

Xiao Lie was in good health. After having diarrhea several times in the morning, he received acupuncture from Xu De and was almost fully recovered.

After Bisu left, Xiao Lie continued making arrangements.

"From today onwards, Xu De will be in full charge of the camp."

Xiao Lie drew three lines on the ground.

"Those without symptoms are helping out outside by boiling water, carrying firewood, and setting up tents."

"For mild cases, drink salt and sugar water, eat dry food, and take care of yourself."

"Those with serious illnesses, take them into the camp and hand them over to Dr. Xu."

Xu De opened his mouth.

"Your Highness, I am merely a physician, how could I possibly..."

Xiao Lie reached out and interrupted Xu De.

"Princess Minyue will help you; your main responsibility is to rescue people."

Xiao Lie looked at Jiang Min, who nodded without hesitation, but then asked a question.

"You... want to go into the mountains by yourself?"

There's no better way.

Xiao Lie sighed.

"I have already had a map of eastern Qingzhou drawn up."

"There are several villages in the mountains to the east, and according to the people who escaped, there are still quite a few people in those villages."

"There are living, breathing human lives right there; I cannot ignore them."

Just then, Bisu rushed over in a panic, and at the same time, the entire camp began to commotion.

"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

"The people absolutely refuse to go back!"

"Many people are even clamoring to rush out!"

Jiang Min gave a soft snort.

"You troublemaker!"

"Utterly foolish!"

Xiao Lie shrugged with a wry smile.

"They just don't want to die, so how can they be considered troublemakers?"

After Xiao Lie finished drinking the last sip of the salt and sugar water, he stood up and patted Bi Su's little head.

"It's alright, I'll go and talk to them."

He strode toward the center of the camp, where chaos reigned.

The people were either sitting or standing; some were crying, some were cursing, and some were squeezing out of the crowd while holding their children.

Several soldiers from the elite battalion were maintaining order, their voices nearly hoarse from shouting.

Xiao Lie jumped onto a large rock and surveyed the surrounding area from his vantage point.

He didn't say anything, just stood there watching them, and the crowd eerily quieted down.

"I know you don't want to go back."

Xiao Lie spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone could hear him clearly.

"I will not force you."

"I have a few questions for you. Think them through before you answer."

His gaze fell on a woman holding a child.

"Which village are you from?"

The woman shrank her neck.

"Liu...Liushugou".

Is anyone still living in Willow Gully?

The woman's eyes reddened.

"Yes... my mother-in-law, and my brother-in-law."

"They were all too weak to walk, but I... I ran out carrying my child..."

Xiao Lie nodded and then asked another old man.

"And you?"

The old man lowered his head.

"I'm from Qingshi Village."

"My wife is still in the village. She caught it, and I... I don't dare to stay with her..."

"Are you just going to leave her to die alone?"

The old man didn't speak, but tears streamed down his face.

Xiao Lie did not ask any further questions.

He paused for a moment, letting the silence continue to spread through the crowd.

Then, his voice turned somber.

"Each of you has relatives, neighbors, childhood friends who are still stuck in those villages waiting to die."

"You escaped and survived, but what about them?"

"They couldn't even get a bowl of salt and sugar water, or a blanket to cover themselves with. They just lay there on their own kang (heated brick bed), waiting for the King of Hell to come and take them away!"

Some people in the crowd began to sob quietly.

"I have found a cure for this plague."

Xiao Lie raised his voice a little.

"After drinking the salt and sugar water, tell me, did you feel any better?"

"Those who have recovered from severe to mild cases, stand up and show them!"

Several young people who had just recovered helped each other to their feet. Although their faces were still a little pale, they were already able to stand on their own.

Their gazes swept across the crowd, and a buzzing murmur arose from within. Some people stared wide-eyed, some covered their mouths, and some strained to get a clearer view.

"You saw it?"

Xiao Lie pointed to the few people who had stood up.

"They're alive!"

"Don't let his current appearance fool you, he'll be able to get back to bed in a few days!"

Someone in the crowd couldn't help but laugh.

But the laughter didn't last long; Xiao Lie's next words silenced them again.

"But those who remain in the village, they won't survive."

"It's not because they deserve it, it's because no one came to their rescue."

He scanned the entire room.

"I don't blame you for not wanting to go back now."

"Because I know that no one wants to die."

"But have you thought this through? If you don't go to save them today, tomorrow, the day after, when the plague spreads further, when Qingzhou becomes a complete dead zone!"

"Where can you possibly run to?"

No one answered.

Everyone had their heads down; some were biting their lips, and some were covering their faces.

Xiao Lie did not continue speaking.

He jumped off the rock, waited for a long time, and then said softly.

"I said I would live on with you all!"

"But I want more people to live, I want your family and friends to live too!"

"To control the epidemic, the government will not send anyone to rescue us for the time being, but we can save ourselves!"

"I will personally lead men to the east this afternoon to rescue them. I need everyone's help!"

"Those who are willing to go back with me, step forward."

"If someone is unwilling, I will not force them."

The air seemed to freeze for a long time.

Then, the woman holding the child was the first to step forward. She wiped away her tears, her voice hoarse but resolute.

"Your Highness... I'll go back with you! I can't abandon my mother-in-law!"

The second, the third, the fifth, the tenth.

More and more people are stepping forward.

The old man also stood up, his legs shaking violently.

"I'm a piece of trash! My wife is waiting for me! I'm going back!"

Xiao Lie nodded, and then he did something that surprised everyone.

He turned to face the people who were willing to go back with him and bowed deeply.

"On behalf of those people who are waiting to die, I thank you all."

Everyone was stunned.

A prince, a prince with a distinguished military record... is bowing to them?

Bisu stood outside the crowd, her face contorted with a mixture of anger and amusement.

Xu De watched from afar, laughing like an idiot.

"The King of the Northern Frontier, impressive indeed! It's a pity he's only got the makings of a military strategist. If only he were a descendant of my family's medical lineage!"

That afternoon, Xiao Lie led dozens of soldiers from the Trapped Camp and a dozen or so civilians who had recovered from mild illnesses eastward along the mountain road.

Bisu wanted to go with them, but Xiao Lie stopped her.

"Silly girl, you stay right here in the camp!"

Bisu looked at him pitifully.

"Your Highness! You are not fully recovered yet."

"It's just diarrhea for two days, it won't kill you."

Before Bisu could say anything more, Xiao Lie had already turned and walked into the twilight.

The first village Xiao Lie led his men into was called Willow Valley.

The whole village was lifeless, and a foul stench filled the air.

There wasn't a soul in sight on the dirt road; it was eerily quiet.

Xiao Lie turned around and shouted.

"Who's from Willow Grove? Lead the way, we'll search house to house!"

The woman who had been holding the child earlier ran out.

"Your Highness! This humble servant will lead the way!"

Soon, dozens of people searched the entire village, and less than ten people were still breathing in the whole village.

Xiao Lie squatted down in front of an old man, examined his pupils and tongue, and then reached out to touch his forehead.

"Grandpa, where does the village's drinking water come from?"

The old man pointed to a stream behind the village.

"It's...it's the water in that ditch."

Xiao Lie looked in that direction and saw the stream flowing down from the mountain, bypassing the village, and then turning into another ravine.

This stream is independent, supplying only the village of Willow Valley.

Qingzhou is bordered by Cangshan Mountain to the north and plains to the south. It is a hilly area with a complex water system. Each village is scattered in the mountains and forests. How could an epidemic break out at the same time?

"That's really strange!"

Xiao Lie squatted by the stream, scooped up a handful of water, smelled it, and then licked it with the tip of his tongue. His expression suddenly changed!

"Damn... this water is wrong!"

There was a faint stench of decay in the water, and... a bloody smell.

Xiao Lie spat fiercely.

"Damn it! Someone tampered with the stream!"

Xiao Lie stood up and looked at the distant, rolling mountain shadows.

"If each village has its own water source, then in order to spread the plague throughout the eastern part of Qingzhou, someone would have to poison every river."

He paused.

"This is a man-made disaster!"

Old Hu, the veteran soldier of the Canglang Cavalry standing nearby, turned pale upon hearing this.

"Your Highness, this method... is very similar to the [Curse of the Army] technique from the grasslands."

Xiao Lie and his men's bricks.

"What is this 'Curse of the Army' spell? Explain in detail!"

The veteran swallowed hard and began to explain haltingly.

"When I was following the late emperor, the grassland people used diseased cattle and sheep and their excrement to pollute the water source when they were defeated and fled. The grassland shamans called this trick 'curse the army'."

Xiao Lie was completely stunned.

"grassland?"

"Qingzhou?"

These two places are separated by five prefectures in northern Xinjiang. How did they become related?