In the fifth year of Yonghui (654 AD), May 12, two quarters.

On the banks of the Puyang River in Yiwu County, Wuzhou, in the big tent of the Chinese army under martial law, a heated discussion is taking place. Shangshu's right servant shot Chu Suiliang, and the Qincha team he led arrived yesterday. The first in the west, Yangzhou Thorn Shi Fang Renyu, with four branches of the Chong Mansion, came on the tenth day of the first month to take over the plague defense line.

Next to Fang Renyu, the four red-robed military attachés are all captains of the Shangfu Zhichong, and their official ranks are on the fourth grade. On the other hand, on Wukang's side, the team is quite shabby, only Wu Governor Shi Changsun Quan, and Yue Governor Shi Zhuyu. The eldest grandson Quan and Fang Renyu didn't like each other, and they both wrote disgust on their faces.

Their filthiness stems from Princess Gaoyang's rebellion. Fang Xuanling's family was almost wiped out. The eldest grandson Wuji supervised the handling of this case, Fang Renyu is Fang Xuanling's distant brother, and naturally has no good impression of the eldest grandson's family. Wu Kang even felt that if it weren't for the wrong occasion, the old house would not be cleaned up by the eldest grandson.

Next to Zhu Yu, there are two imperial physician orders, from the seventh grade; Doctor of Medicine, Zhengbapin; Dr. Needle, from the eight pins; Two Tai Yi Cheng, from the eighth grade. They are all leaders of the Taiyi Department, and fifty outstanding students of medicine and acupuncture were brought by Chu Suiliang to fight the plague.

Wu Kang was interested in the Taiyi Administration, and the history books gave it a high evaluation, calling it the earliest and largest medical school in the history of the world. There are more than 300 teachers and students in the school, divided into medical, acupuncture, massage and curse prohibition departments, and the assessment and competition of imperial doctors.

At this moment, these elites are discussing prescriptions for the plague, and everyone listening to them is in a fog. From the time of discussion to the present, there is no reason for the discussion, and everyone is patient. Wu Kang thought that that day, Meidao Gu Yu Yuzhen came and said that there was an exclusive home remedy for the plague.

and said that he could offer it, but there was one condition, to become the wife of the assassin. Greedy woman, it's just whimsical, divorce my wife is not something I want to divorce, I can divorce if I want to. Xiaoqing is the lady of Jinhua County, the lady of the third grade, even if she commits seven divorces, she must be approved by the imperial court.

Wu Kang was happy, and for the so-called home remedies, he naturally scoffed at them, and sent them directly to the guest with two sounds. Now they are even more scornful, the country's top medical team is helpless against the plague, what is a home remedies?

The endless discussion made him drowsy, and when he saw that the old god Chu Suiliang was there, he couldn't help but secretly despise it. I thought you were old and had a good way to fight the plague, but it turned out to be a blockade and martial law, so that the epidemic area would fend for itself, and wait for the plague to disappear naturally. Including these imperial doctors, they didn't plan to enter the epidemic area at all, and it is estimated that they will complete their mission after discussing the prescription.

Since the defense line was raised, there were victims every day, intending to quietly enter Wuzhou. Most of them were persuaded to return, a small number were killed, and people died every day. They did everything they could to escape the epidemic area, even swimming in the Puyang River and being shot or drowned.

Standing on the bank of the Puyang River, you can see dead bodies every day, so you have no choice but to set up a corpse salvage team to salvage the corpses and cremate them on the spot. The severity of the plague and the fear of the plague were far beyond his imagination.

The mood is getting heavier and heavier, and there is a sense of foreboding that a great storm is coming. In the middle of nothing, the spies hurriedly came to report, and a large number of victims poured into the defense line. The scene was silent instantly, everyone's faces were heavy, Chu Suiliang got up and left, and Wu Kang followed. When he came to the trench, he looked far away, and frowned.

There are hundreds of people under black pressure, men, women and children, all of them are ragged, all of them are yellow and thin. The situation was not optimistic, Wu Kang gave an order, and three rows of archers were in place. Yu Hongzhi shouted: "There is a forbidden area ahead, turn around and go back, otherwise you will be killed." ”

A hundred paces away from the cordon, the team of victims stopped, wandering helplessly. For a quarter of an hour or so, he tentatively stretched out his feet and approached like a turtle. Wu Kang drew his bow, predicted the distance, and threw the long arrow. The perfect parabola, at the head of the old man, half a foot in front of him, shot deep into the ground, and he collapsed to the ground in fright.

The victims were silent, and the crying sounded faintly, the two young men supported each other, and the old man stood up tremblingly. Cautiously, they tentatively passed the arrows and continued to approach the line. Wu Kang, who gritted his teeth, finally couldn't hold it anymore and issued an ultimatum order: sound the arrow to warn!

The sentinel showed the horn gauge and posed at a general angle, and Yu Hongzhi held the red flag high. Three hundred archers drew their longbows, and according to the angle of the horn gauge, they waved in front of the banner, and the rain of arrows was thrown into the sky. The parabola is still perfect, piercing into the soil, twenty steps outside the cordon, planting a large forest of arrows.

The picture is very shocking, and the big guys are all sideways, and the commander is dumbfounded. Good accurate archery, good elite sentinels, and strong Wuzhou soldiers. Wu Kang took the gourd horn, jumped outside the trench, and shouted at the top of his voice: "This is an ultimatum, hurry up and go home, those who cross the line will be killed." ”

The victims stopped, and for about three minutes, a woman hid her face and wept. Xiao Langjun in his hand, when he saw A-Niang crying, he also cried, driving the crying. Hundreds of people wept bitterly, stimulating everyone's senses. The officers and soldiers behind the trench were heart-rending when they heard the crying, and they didn't feel good in their hearts.

Ten minutes later, the old man shook off the young man, moved his rickety body, and slowly stepped into the arrow forest. The archers took their bows again, and Wu Kang hurriedly raised his hand to stop them from releasing their arrows. The old man faltered, his thin body kept shaking, and he stopped outside the cordon.

Fell to his knees, kowtowed like pounding garlic, and cried with tears: "Please let us pass, little old man, please... There are more than 3,000 people in five villages, and there are more than 300 people left, and they are all dead. The governors of the southeast and north said that Wu Thorn Shi is a good official, let us come here. Please give us a way out, let us go, woo-wah..."

When Wu Kang heard this, he was furious, damn the scum of Yuezhou, he didn't take such a trick. Chu Suiliang and Fang Renyu all gasped. From the report of the plague in Yuezhou, it has been less than a month now, and there is not one out of ten victims, is it so terrifying?

At the same time, his heart was like a rock, and he resolutely could not let go, Chu Suiliang gave orders, and the archery teams of the four provinces were concentrated. Standing behind the Wuzhou arrow team, at least 1,200 people, feathers and arrows put on a bow and put on a formation. The sentinels were in place, waiting for an order, and ten thousand arrows were fired in an instant.

When the old man saw this, he couldn't help but cry, and blood flowed from his forehead, mixed with dirt, which was shocking. Yu Hongzhi shouted "Don't get closer", Wu Kang turned a deaf ear, and after coming to the cordon, he looked at the old man: "If it weren't for the ruthlessness of the official, you would pass the plague to the people of Wuzhou." We are looking for a cure, and we will have results soon, so please go home and wait for good news. ”

The victims cried again, and the old man couldn't help but shake his head: "The chiefs all say this, we don't believe it, and we don't dare to believe it." We're all sick, so please let us go. Little Lao'er kowtows to you, thank you for your great kindness, let the villagers go..."

Wu Kang's eyes were slightly red, and he knelt in front of him in a purple robe, suppressing his throat and choking: "I will also kowtow to you, take them home, you can't get by." Rather than give up your life in vain, it is better to wait for good news, and I beg you, go home! ”

There are no words for each other, only a thousand tears. The old man was speechless, and the purple-robed assassin knelt down, what else could he say? The victims fell to their knees one after another, and the sad atmosphere spread, Yu Hongzhi kept shouting, telling the big guy to come back quickly. The more you stay, the more you are at risk.

Stalemate is not the way, Wu Kang wanted to continue to persuade, and listened to Yu Hongzhi's shout, and the victims came over. When he looked up, his face was pale, and the dark shadows in the distance were dense, and more than a thousand people were flooding. Chu Suiliang realized the severity and immediately issued a guard order.

Fang Renyu gave the order, the crossbowmen in the front row jumped into the trench, the crossbowmen in the second row squatted on the earth wall, and the crossbowmen in the third row stood. The sentry commander measured the angle, the bow team pulled the posture, and the government soldiers lined up with guns and knives. The crossbow is loaded, the arrow is the bow, and the whole army is ready for battle. At the same time, a large number of victims came, more than 2,000.

The victims begged bitterly, and Wu Kang made all kinds of promises. For example, how much food is given, how much medicinal herbs are given, and the tired mouth is dry, but it still doesn't help. The victims gradually stopped crying and gradually stood up, sadness turned into despair, despair turned into resentment, and resentment turned into hostility.

Yu Hongzhi, who has experienced a hundred battles, exchanged glances with Qian Shun. shouted more than a dozen security guards, ran to the cordon, ignored the boss's angry scolding, and carried away. As if as a signal, the two young men ran over and took the negotiator away.

The new leader of the victims of the disaster was a bearded man, and he roared in his voice: "The governors of the southeast and north, saying that Wu Assassin Shi is a good official, will let us enter Wuzhou." The villagers also saw it, he didn't want us to live, we couldn't sit still. If you stay, you will die, and if you rush out, you can live, and you will rush it..."

The scene was completely out of control, and the resentment of the victims burst out in an instant; The pent-up anger in his chest was completely ignited; The fear of the plague turned into violence. In the face of the impact of the victims, Chu Suiliang gave an order, and the crossbowmen fired a volley, and one hundred and ten people died tragically in an instant.

Screaming and wailing, the people were outcast, and they launched a death charge. Yuezhou was not responsible and deceived the victims to come west, resulting in the continuous gathering of victims, at least more than 4,000 people. However, the soldiers of the four prefectures of Yangzhou and Wuzhou have all experienced the baptism of war, and it is not something they can overcome. The cordon became the line of death, and the corpses were accumulating more and more, including the elderly, the weak, women and children. 90 look

A rain of arrows that covered the sky and the sun, and the flying crossbows lined up, and the victims fell in large numbers, or were shot by the arrows and crossbows, or trampled by their companions. The purgatory-like scene constantly stimulated Wu Kang, and his vision gradually blurred. I don't know how long it took, his emotions finally collapsed, and Yao rushed to Chu Suiliang with a loud voice, and directly dragged him off the horse.

raised the big fist of the sand bag and roared at Chu Suiliang: "Stop firing arrows, they are the people of the Tang Dynasty, not the rebel mob." The army is to defend the country, not to slaughter the people, Chu Suiliang, stop it... Fang Thorn History, you have something to say! ”

Fang Renyu tilted his head and sighed, and the four captains saw the opportunity and forcibly separated the two. Chu Suiliang's face was hideous, and he scolded with a slashing face: "I know it's the people, do you think I want to do this?" The plague was too violent, and if it flowed out of Zhuji, the consequences would be unimaginable. ”

"You still have the face to say? It's all you who made the evil", Wu Kang completely went berserk, pointing his nose and scolding: "If it weren't for you, a farmer, there would be no rat plague, let alone an outbreak of plague." You must be responsible for the plague, you must be responsible for today's events! ”

Chu Suiliang also went berserk, and his facial features were extremely hideous: "You little rabbit cub, since you knew about the rat plague earlier, why didn't you say it that day?" Nayon has half the responsibility, you also have half, fifty steps and a hundred steps... If you let me go, I'm going to kill you today. ”

Fang Renyu hurriedly stopped it, grabbed Chu Suiliang to death, and the important ministers of the court fought, which was too embarrassing. Wu Kang screamed, jumped to his feet and scolded angrily: "Tian Shenu Chu Suiliang, there is a kind of coming over alone, I will let you have two hands." Tian Shenu who hit the street, there is a kind of you come over, but Nai Weng can't kill you? ”

Chu Suiliang struggled violently, but he was also full of foul language, jumping to his feet and scolding. This is a fight between the gods, except for the four-fold Chong Duwei, no one dares to persuade him. Fang Renyu's head is big, you are important ministers of the court, not shrews scolding the street. The scene was extremely chaotic, and the four lieutenants, together with Qian Shun, carried Wu Kang outside the trench and persuaded him bitterly...

Wu Kang gradually lost his breath, scolded Chu Suiliang in the air, and suddenly found that the shooting had stopped. Then the cry rang out, resounding between heaven and earth, and the victims no longer charged, knowing that they could not rush over, they wailed in despair.

The scene fell silent again, Wu Kang turned around with difficulty, and saw the picture unforgettable. Thousands of people wept bitterly, the aura of sadness spread rapidly, and the officers and soldiers were red-eyed. At the front of the victims, in front of the line of death, there were countless corpses. A lonely boy knelt in a pool of blood, pulled the woman's sleeve and shook it, repeating the syllable.

I can't hear what he shouts, but I know what he shouts. Wu Kang clenched his teeth, his cheek muscles bulged, and his hands trembled. The boy couldn't wake up A-Niang, got up and ran to this side, and the officers and soldiers raised their crossbows again. Chu Suiliang rubbed his eyes, but did not give an order, and Fang Renyu also turned his head.

ran to Wu Kang's side, pulled his sleeve, and desperately dragged him to the edge of the line. The immature child's voice was vague: "A-Niang said that you are a big official and can let us live." A-Niang fell asleep, Dou'er didn't want A-Niang to sleep, and the official woke up A-Niang..."

The victims fell to their knees again, pleading bitterly, and Wukang Machinery stopped. Not daring to look at their faces, he quickly leaned over and put his right arm behind him. Qian Shun strode over, picked up the child, and drove his right arm up.

Weak little hands, clutching the sleeves tightly, and not letting go. Wu Kang turned his face sideways, staring at the little white hand in a daze, and his brain was blank. I don't know how long it took, the little hand was broken by Qian Shun, and the right arm naturally slipped off. Quietly looked at Yu Hongzhi, looked at each other, suddenly raised his right hand, and made a "gather" gesture.

Yu Hongzhi was stunned, his face quickly turned hideous, and he jumped on the earthen wall and shouted: "Duke Wu has an order, the Wuzhou militia gathers, and the Wuzhou soldiers gather... We, the Wuzhou soldiers, have never been afraid of death, and have never coaxed goods. The idle people and others get out of the way, the Yangzhou soldiers get out of the way, and the Wuzhou soldiers gather——"

Orders were passed on layer by layer, and the militia responded quickly; Fang Renyu gave the order, and the Yangzhou army lined up; Chu Suiliang was murderous, and ordered the staff around him to call the two imperial doctors to convey the assembly order. The footsteps were chaotic and shocking, and the victims stopped crying and looked at this side in confusion.

In about half an hour, the militia was assembled, and the Yangzhou army was divided on both sides. The low earthen walls are covered with dense copper coins, shining in the sun. Wu Kang straddled the horse, came to the outside of the trench, glanced at the children of Wuzhou, and ordered loudly: "The only son in the family, come out of the ranks!" ”

Groups of militiamen walked out of the queue and stood on both sides of the main team, clearly distinguishing from them. In about ten minutes, no militia came out, and Wu Kang continued to give orders: "If you have wives and children at home, come out of the ranks!" ”

The soldiers continued to leave the main team, and the militia was divided into three, and the main team was left with more than 2,000 people. Glancing at the familiar and unfamiliar faces, he was silent for a moment, and began to speak: "We, the Wuzhou soldiers, are not afraid of rebels, are not afraid of man-eating rats, and are not afraid of the plague. Now, I want to enter Zhuji to fight the plague, and I need your help. ”

Needles falling inside and outside the defense line could be heard, so people were shocked. Chu Suiliang squinted, Fang Renyu sighed lightly, and the officials all looked sideways. Wu Kang continued to mobilize: "I don't force it, if you want to follow me, take the earthen wall military salary, you can take as much as you can." Then jump over the trenches and stand beside me. ”

In less than half a minute, Di Renjie and Zhang Cambodia appeared in front of the team. He also did not pick up copper coins from earthen walls, jumped directly over the trenches, and stood on both sides as if he was protecting the Dharma on the left and right. In less than half a minute, the security guards of Shengshi Security, the bad guards of the legal office, led by Lin Pinglang and Jiang Daniu, filled their pockets with copper coins, and ran to the side of Dou Cheng.

At last a militiaman came out, a young soldier, with a spear by the wall, bending down to fill his pocket. Two pockets were stuffed, and he jumped into the trench with a spear, and stood behind the guard. Someone takes the lead, someone follows, and there are more and more people jumping the trenches, and the speed is getting faster and faster.

Wu Kang was very pleased, very excited in his heart, and very moved. Chu Suiliang's face sank like water, and he shook his head secretly and sighed, in fact, I have always admired you. All the disgust for you comes from that woman, that shameless woman, the woman who tramples on human ethics... Hate the house and the black.

Chu Suiliang suddenly glared, and some of the soldiers on both sides of the Chinese army who did not meet the conditions also jumped over the trenches. An only child in the family or a wife and a child, resolutely go to the epidemic area together, don't you worry about your family? What kind of ability does that person have to make Wuzhou soldiers live and die together?

Fang Renyu stroked his long hair lightly, looked at the four folds, and couldn't help but smile wryly when he saw their eyes dodging. In terms of personal prestige alone, and personal courage alone, the old man is not as good as many. What kind of history of assassination there is, what kind of guards there are, and the reason why the Wuzhou soldiers are fierce is obvious to all.

At the end of the three o'clock, the whole army was completed, and there were more than 1,000 militiamen; The younger brothers under his command are only Di Renjie and Zhang Cambodia, and the new medical doctor Zhao Tao; There are thirty imperial doctors among the medical personnel, all of whom were forced by Chu Suiliang, and you can see it by looking at their faces. There is also a domestic servant Wu Yuan, with a few of his apprentices.

Suddenly, his eyes froze, and he saw a familiar figure, but he couldn't see his face clearly. After a while, she pulled out a wry smile and secretly laughed at herself as an idiot, how could she be here? Shaking his head lightly, he glanced at everyone and said solemnly: "This time I entered the Zhuji epidemic area, it can be described as nine deaths, and I will give you half an hour, and those who don't want to go can leave." ”

Time passed by a second, and while waiting, I thought of the SARS disaster I experienced in my previous life. I remember when I first started high school, the disaster broke out, and the school was closed. Martial law is imposed in many places, and there is an uncle from his own family who quietly came back from other places.

He didn't dare to enter the house, so he hid in Wukang's house, and the two ate and lived together. should also be unlucky, the uncle is sick, it is the kind of pneumonia, which caused Wukang to be isolated; I was also very lucky, I ate and lived together for half a month, but I was not infected, and I was almost pulled to the laboratory. In this life, my body is stronger, I am not afraid of SARS, am I still afraid of the plague?

Such an arrogant idea prompted this gamble. Gambling and winning are famous all over the world, and the future is bright; Gambling losses are still famous all over the world, and there is no chance to enjoy them. All we can do now is to pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless you through this calamity...

When the half quarter of an hour was up, Wu Kang smiled: "You are all good, since you stay, you will get through the difficulties together." Now swear to me, to be like me, to speak to me. ”

The right hand clenched into a fist, raised it above his head, looked at the arms, and made a heavy oath: "The yellow sky is above, the thick earth is below, and a certain oath is here... Voluntarily entering the epidemic area, the plague will not stop day by day, and will not leave Zhuji day by day. If you violate this oath, ten thousand arrows will pierce your heart! ”

A neat oath that infects everyone. Chu Suiliang and Fang Renyu looked at each other, showing a wry smile and admiration. Chu Suiliang ordered the soldiers to sort out the baggage of food, medicinal herbs, tents and so on. Beat all the drums of war to see off the soldiers in the epidemic area.

Wu Kang turned his horse's head, and all the soldiers and victims quickly gave way to the passage. The horses walked slowly, and the victims all bowed down. Walking out of the disaster group, scanning thousands of victims, I said for a long time: I will take you home...