Shuhan

Outside Pingyang City, the autumn wind was bleak, and a withered yellow leaf fell from the branch, slowly spinning and landing on the hard ground.

In the distance, a towering fortress stood on the plain, its scale was almost comparable to a small city.

The walls of the fort are made of bluestone and tower into the clouds. The walls are covered with traces of time, but they are still indestructible, revealing an inviolable majesty.

On the city wall, the guards were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, with sharp eyes, always alert to any movements around them.

The Qin family lives in this fortress. It is said that their ancestors fled here from the war-torn Guanzhong during the chaotic times at the end of the Qin Dynasty. After hundreds of years of reproduction and operation, they have now become a force that cannot be underestimated in Pingyang County.

The Qin family mainly engages in farming and also runs business. They are wealthy and have many talented people. Not only do they enjoy a high reputation in the local area, but they are also secretly accumulating strength in case of emergency.

At this time, outside the fort, dust was flying and a well-equipped army was approaching rapidly.

This is the slave army led by Guan Ping. The soldiers’ clothes and armor are different, but they are full of murderous intent and their momentum is as strong as a rainbow.

Guan Ping rode on a tall horse, with an upright figure, a firm face, and an unquestionable majesty between his brows.

He stared at the fort in front of him with a sharp gaze, thinking to himself: This time I came here to seek the support of the Qin family to fight against the enemies of Wei.

The army stopped in front of the fort and formed a square formation with a magnificent momentum.

Guan Ping waved his hand and the team immediately quieted down, with only the sound of horse hooves and the slight friction of armor being heard.

At this moment, the gate of the fort slowly opened, and a team of guards walked out. They were dressed in gray cloth, with short knives hanging from their waists, and their faces were covered with towels, leaving only their vigilant eyes exposed, as if they were afraid that the air from the outside would bring in something ominous.

The guards of the village pushed carts loaded with food and fodder, and led more than a hundred pigs and sheep, slowly approaching the slave army.

Guan Ping rode forward, frowning, and asked in a deep voice, "What are you doing? Why are you dressed like this?"

The leader of the village guards was a burly man with a resolute look in his eyes. He stopped and answered with a folded hand, "General, there has been an outbreak of an epidemic in Pingyang recently. It is spreading very quickly. To prevent the spread of the epidemic, the village has issued a strict order prohibiting strangers from entering. These are food and fodder supplies prepared for you and your army. Please set up camp outside the village and do not enter the city."

Guan Ping frowned even more tightly when he heard this. He had never heard of an epidemic in Pingyang, and he couldn't help but have an ominous premonition in his heart.

"When did it start?" he demanded.

"Ten days ago." The man answered in a low voice, as if he didn't want to talk more.

Guan Ping pondered for a moment, thinking about how to deal with this sudden change.

If the disease spreads in the army, the consequences will be disastrous.

So he looked up at the leader and said, "There are many weapons and armors in our army that need to be repaired. Please send a hundred craftsmen from the village to help."

The man was embarrassed when he heard this. After a moment's silence, he replied, "This matter is serious. We need to report it to the head of the family before we can make a decision."

Guan Ping nodded, but his expression was not looking good. He knew very well the urgency of time. Any delay could make the situation worse.

He waved his hand, signaling the guards to leave, but his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination: "Please reply as soon as possible, our army cannot stay here for long."

The guards took the order and left, while Guan Ping stayed alone, staring at the gate of the fortress slowly closing.

He felt mixed emotions, worried about the epidemic and concerned about the unknown situation.

Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers also cast concerned glances.

Although they didn't know the details, they could feel the pressure on the general's heart.

Some soldiers began to talk in low voices, and the atmosphere became tense for a moment.

Guan Ping took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

He turned to look at the soldiers and said loudly: "Don't panic, everyone. Although the epidemic is severe, we will definitely get through it. Now, let's take a rest here and wait for the response from the village."

The soldiers responded and started to get busy. They set up tents, made fires and cooked, and everything was in order.

Soon, the gate of the fort opened, and more than a hundred craftsmen walked out, repairing armor and weapons for the slave army across the moat, with an appearance that no strangers were allowed in.

Guan Ping sat on a high ground, gazing at the fort in the distance, praying silently in his heart that the epidemic could be brought under control as soon as possible, while also thinking about the next response strategy.

As night falls, the dock is brightly lit, yet it is exceptionally quiet.

Guan Ping lay in the tent, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. His mind kept replaying the conversation during the day and the towel covering the leader's face.

This epidemic was not only a test for his army, but also a severe challenge to Pingyang City and the entire Hedong.

It is a crisis, but also an opportunity!

The days in Pingyang are short and tense, as if every moment is hanging on the edge of a knife.

The army led by Guan Ping stayed here for less than three days before they received news that the Wei army was pursuing them closely.

In the darkness of the night, flames shot up into the sky, and the sound of the Wei army's iron hooves was like thunder, making people feel uneasy.

Guan Ping did not hesitate for a moment, as delay would only make the situation worse.

So he decisively ordered a surprise attack on the Wei army, taking advantage of the night and terrain to inflict a heavy blow on the enemy.

Amid the flashing of swords and sabers, Guan Ping's figure was as agile as a dragon, and every swing of the sword was accompanied by determination and courage. The wailing of the Wei army rose one after another. Finally, in the chaos, Guan Ping led his army to successfully escape and stay away from the danger in Pingyang.

However, the tricks of fate did not stop there.

Ten days later, a more serious problem quietly arrived - some people in the army began to feel unwell.

At first, there were only a few soldiers. They were pale and weak, as if all their energy had been drained away.

Guan Ping had an ominous premonition in his heart. On the battlefield, disease is often more terrifying than the enemy.

He immediately sent a military doctor to check, but the situation was far worse than he had imagined.

As time went on, the number of people who fell ill increased dramatically, and the symptoms became more severe, with sore throats, diarrhea, vomiting, and even red eyes. The skin was covered with pustules and sores, festering in a shocking way.

There was an atmosphere of oppression and despair in the army, and the soldiers' eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.

Guan Ping stood in front of the tent, staring into the distance, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing an unspeakable heaviness.

He had attended the Military Academy and had some understanding of the prevention and treatment of epidemics.

Isolation and drug treatment are the most basic measures.

But at this moment, they were in enemy territory, surrounded by the Wei army who were eyeing them covetously. The so-called isolation was tantamount to pushing their sick comrades to death.

He closed his eyes, and the faces of the brothers who had followed him through life and death appeared in his mind. Their smiles, sweat, tears, everything, were so clear and yet so distant.

"General, what should we do?" The deputy general's voice broke the silence, his tone filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Guan Ping turned around and looked at him with a determined gaze, but deep down his heart was turbulent.

"There are two choices." Guan Ping's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the bottom of his heart.

"One is to abandon those who are sick and continue our mission to harass Hedong County. But if we do this, the epidemic is likely to get out of control and eventually lead to the annihilation of the entire army."

He paused and glanced at everyone present. Their faces were filled with solemnity.

"The second option is to retreat, but if we do that, the Nuer troops in Shangdang and Taiyuan will be surrounded by the Wei army, and the consequences will be disastrous."

There was total silence in the tent, save for the crackling of burning torches.

Guan Ping took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart. He walked to a sick soldier and gently touched his forehead. The scorching temperature seemed to burn his hands and his heart. "We can't abandon any of our brothers." He whispered, as if this sentence was addressed to himself and everyone else.

"We have a third option. We can go to Wenxi and ask Jie County to send more military doctors."

In the following days, Guan Ping personally supervised the prevention and control of the epidemic. He ordered military doctors to boil herbal medicine and distribute it to each soldier. At the same time, he strengthened the sanitation management of the camp, isolated sick soldiers as much as possible, and reduced the spread of the epidemic.

He also visited sick soldiers in person to encourage them and bring them hope.

Under his leadership, the soldiers' morale gradually improved.

However, war is cruel and epidemics are ruthless.

Despite Guan Ping's best efforts, many soldiers still fell in this battle without gunpowder.

As the army headed towards Wenxi, Xie County continued to send military doctors, and the epidemic in the army was gradually brought under control.

Most of the credit for the Han army's military doctors being able to suppress the epidemic goes to Liu Chan.

Under Liu Chan's strong promotion, the military medical system received unprecedented attention and development in the Shu army.

Even among the Nuer Army, those auxiliary soldiers who were usually unknown were given new vitality because of this change.

In addition to the craftsmen who were busy repairing weapons, the most numerous were military doctors dressed in plain clothes and holding medicine boxes.

Many of them have received rigorous training from Hua Tuo's disciples and have unique insights and rich experience in how to prevent and control epidemics.

This sudden epidemic was able to be brought under control because the specially trained military doctors acted quickly. They shuttled between the tents, using their skilled techniques to diagnose and administer medicine to the patients, like rays of warm light, illuminating hope in the darkness.

"My father once said that a general must not only be the bravest among the three armies, but also care about his soldiers."

Guan Ping thought to himself, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

Taking advantage of this rest opportunity, he fully cooperated with the military doctors to ensure that the epidemic was kept under the smallest scope.

In the next half month, Guan Ping almost ate and lived with the military doctors, fighting together on the front line of the fight against the epidemic.

He personally supervised the sanitation of the camp, ensuring the cleanliness of the water source. At the same time, he arranged for the soldiers to take turns to undergo physical examinations. If any abnormality was found, they would be immediately isolated and treated.

Under his leadership, the entire military camp seemed to be united by an invisible force. Instead of being depressed by the epidemic, morale became even higher.

After unremitting efforts, the spread of the epidemic was finally effectively controlled.

Although the Shu army still paid the price of hundreds of lives in this battle without gunpowder, such losses were fortunate compared to the possible annihilation of the entire army.

However, just as the Shu army was immersed in a brief peace, an urgent news from afar broke the peace.

Yubi City, an important town located in Hedong, was also attacked by the epidemic.

Unlike the Han Dynasty, the Wei State was particularly backward in dealing with the epidemic. They still used some old and unscientific methods. As a result, they not only failed to curb the spread of the epidemic, but instead allowed it to rage throughout the city.

Guan Ping took the secret letter handed over by the messenger, his brows furrowed and his eyes deep.

This is not just a battle between epidemics, but also a direct reflection of the two countries' national strength, systems and even level of civilization.

The Han Dynasty's advanced military medical system was an important manifestation of its soft power, something the Wei State could not match.

"Fighter opportunity!" Guan Ping's mind suddenly became clear, and a bold plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He immediately summoned all his generals and told them his thoughts: "There is a great epidemic in Hedong, and the Wei army will be in chaos. This is a godsend opportunity. We should seize the opportunity and take Hedong in one fell swoop!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals nodded in agreement, their eyes flashing with longing and determination for the future.

Guan Ping continued, "But this battle is of great importance. We must be fully prepared to fight quickly and ensure the safety of our soldiers. The military doctors will be our greatest guarantee on this trip. We must have them accompany us to prevent any accidents."

Afterwards, Guan Ping began to prepare for the war in full swing. He personally selected elite soldiers and generals, and at the same time strengthened the training and equipment of the military medical team to ensure that they could play the greatest role on the battlefield.

Under his leadership, the soldiers were in high spirits, like a group of tigers about to break out of their cages, ready for the upcoming battle.

And the other side.

Yubi City is now shrouded in a haze.

On the city wall, Qian Zhao's figure looked particularly heavy. His face was gloomy and his brows were furrowed as if water could drip out of them.

His gaze pierced through the layers of fog and fell on the scene of widespread grief in the city, his heart filled with unspeakable grief and anxiety.

The plague was like an invisible devil, spreading silently in Yubi City. It devoured lives without distinction, regardless of age or status.

On the streets, fallen bodies can be seen everywhere. Some are curled up in a ball, while others stretch out their limbs, with pain and despair written all over their faces.

There was an indescribable stench in the air, it was the breath of death, it was suffocating.

Qian Zhao clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms, but he was completely unaware.

His heart was filled with anger and helplessness, angry at the ruthless epidemic and helpless at the predicament he faced.

If the epidemic cannot be controlled in time, Yubi City will collapse without a fight, and the land of Hedong will be in an irretrievable situation.

He turned around and his eyes fell on Pei Qian beside him.

Pei Qian's face was also full of worry at this moment, with a helpless light flashing in his eyes.

Qian Zhao said in a deep voice: "Mr. Pei, we must control the epidemic, otherwise, Yubi City will be in danger!"

Pei Qian smiled bitterly, his voice full of bitterness and helplessness: "I'm afraid this won't be easy. There are too many sick people, and the magic water has limited effect..."

There was a hint of trembling in his words, and it was obvious that he was well aware of the horror of the epidemic.

Upon hearing this, Qian Zhao snorted coldly, with a flash of anger in his eyes: "Herbs can cure diseases, and talisman water is a trick used by alchemists to deceive people!"

His voice was low and powerful, as if he wanted to pour out all the anger in his heart.

Pei Qian smiled bitterly when he heard this. He knew that herbs were the root of the cure, but the current situation left them helpless.

He smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying in a low voice: "The food supply to Yubi City has been cut off. Food and grass are still a problem, so how can we get herbs to treat diseases?"

Qian Zhao's face darkened when he heard this. He knew how difficult it was, but he was unwilling to give up.

He clenched his teeth, as if he wanted to crush all his resentment.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and then slowly said: "Mr. Pei, we can't just sit there and wait for death. We must find a way to control the epidemic no matter what."

To control the disease, we must first solve the problem of herbal medicine.

However, with the food supply cut off and enemy troops surrounding the city, it was undoubtedly extremely difficult to obtain herbs.

Qian Zhao hesitated for a moment, then raised his head and said with a firm look: "Mr. Pei, I have decided to go out of the city myself to look for herbs. No matter what, I will give it a try!"

Pei Qian was shocked when he heard this. He knew that going out of the city to look for herbs would undoubtedly be a life-or-death situation.

But not out of town
How can Yubi City be preserved?

The plague that Cao Rui spread has now boomeranged back on himself. (End of this chapter)