Not only is the palace facing the epidemic, but the city of Beijing is not immune.

The city of Beijing, which was once extremely lively, seemed to have become a place of dead silence overnight, with all the shops forced to close and the green brick streets empty.

With the intervention of the imperial court, an unprecedented defensive policy was launched.

The capital is divided into 28 squares, each of which is usually closed after a curfew at night, but now it is also closed during the day.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Smallpox has appeared in our Beijing city, and smallpox has already entered the palace!"

"Smallpox? If it spreads in the capital, how many people will have to die? ”

……

At first, the people in each square were unaware, but when they learned that there was a smallpox epidemic in Beijing, everyone immediately became endangered.

In this era, smallpox was an incurable disease.

Not to mention, once you contract smallpox, you are likely to die, and even if you don't die, there is a high possibility of getting pockmarked face, which makes many people unable to bear it at all.

If there is any hope for other infectious diseases, smallpox is simply left to fate.

"I don't want to die, let me out!"

"My uncle is the secretary of the Nanjing Criminal Department, who can stop me?"

"I am a hundred households in brocade clothes, let Lao Tzu go quickly!"

……

Everyone is afraid of death, and many powerful and wealthy people want to flee the capital, but they have revealed their identities.

"There is an order from the imperial court: no matter who it is or what identity it is, all of them must stay in their own workshop and are not allowed to go out." In the face of the clamor of the gang, the guards responded very strongly.

After the quarantine was implemented in each square, one by one, the watchmen and the officials publicized the imperial decree: "All restaurants, teahouses and liquor shops are not allowed to operate, so the personnel cooperate with the inspection!" Once there is a body heat, especially accompanied by vomiting symptoms, you need to report to the owners immediately! ”

"An example of Jinchengfang!"

"Two cases of Shi Mingfang!"

"Three cases of Beiju Xianfang!"

……

As the government carefully screened the villages, it was soon found that there were more and more smallpox patients in Beijing, especially Rizhongfang, which is located in the north of the city, became the hardest hit area of the epidemic.

The Spring Festival of the third year of Hongzhi seems to have passed, and the entire capital suddenly became deserted.

Some of the high-gate mansions have not been affected too much, and their houses usually have enough supplies for daily necessities, and they only need to close the door.

"Dead?"

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, hundreds of patients in Nizhongfang finally died, and a seriously ill woman died from the symptoms of acne on her face.

"It's over, it's really dead!"

"Nonsense, smallpox is an incurable disease!"

"Woo...... I'm still young, I don't want to die! ”

……

With the number of deaths in the capital and the number on the rise, nearly a million people are worried about their own safety in an attempt to avoid the disaster.

The imperial court began to implement Zhu Youji's mask policy, and the Ministry of Household and Ministry of Industry have joined forces to make masks, and these masks have been distributed free of charge.

This has been the case since ancient times, some people are happy and some are sad.

On the outskirts of Beijing, a conclave is being held at a lavish manor.

Ma Wensheng was still sitting on the first seat, and with the news of the capital, especially when he learned that the death toll exceeded double digits today, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.

Although the capital has become a hell on earth, he is undoubtedly the beneficiary of this incident. not only succeeded in delaying the upcoming extravagant tax, but also gave a bad breath to the son of heaven who did not know the height of the sky.

Of course, the best outcome now is that the emperor is infected with smallpox and dies, then the Ming Dynasty will usher in a carnival-like prosperity.

"The head of the robe shot, it's really extraordinary!"

"The effect is really good, but this day flower really scared my heart thumping!"

"What are you afraid of? You and your family are in the suburbs early, and it's the people in the city who should be scared! ”

"Not only in the city, since the palace has begun, it can't end easily, I just hope that God can open his eyes!"

……

Wu Shanchang and others gathered together again for a meeting, because they learned of the smallpox epidemic in Beijing in advance, so they were in a safe environment, and commented on the dire situation of Beijing as if watching a fire from the other side.

Now they have taken their families out of Beijing in advance, and now they hope that Beijing will become a hell on earth, and the more people who die, the better.

As for the emperor, they naturally hoped that God would take back his life and solve their great troubles.

"Let's continue to wait, I believe that God will live up to our efforts!"

"The imperial court has implemented zoning management of the 28th square, will this really stop the spread of smallpox?"

"Huh...... Now the court trapped them for a few days, but if they were trapped for ten days and half a month, who could stand it? ”

"If that time comes, we only need to fan the flames behind our backs, and the city of Beijing will definitely be in chaos, and the problem will be even more serious at that time!"

……

Naturally, they are well aware of the epidemic prevention measures introduced by the imperial court, so it is inevitable that some people will have some worries, but most of them seem very optimistic.

Wu Shanchang felt pessimistic, so he turned his head to look at Ma Wensheng and asked: "Brother Ma, the imperial court reacted so quickly this time, will it really be able to control the spread of the smallpox epidemic?" ”

The current smallpox epidemic can be said to be their biggest killer weapon, even if it can't kill the emperor's child, it will create a big chaos in Beijing.

Only when the city becomes chaotic enough can the extravagant tax be postponed, and they can buy more time to reduce their own financial losses.

Everyone present knew that the best outcome was that the emperor died of smallpox, otherwise the more chaotic Beijing City would become, the more beneficial it would be for them, and they immediately turned their heads to look at Ma Wensheng.

Ma Wensheng took a slow sip of tea, and said to everyone's nervous eyes: "You can rest assured!" This matter has long been in the planning of the head of the robe, even if that one is lucky to be safe, but this epidemic will definitely last for more than half a year! ”

When Wu Shanchang and the others heard this, they couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

If it can last for half a year, not to mention that Emperor Hongzhi must be regarded as a tyrant who brings disaster, and they have enough time to do a lot of things.

Smallpox, if it is really "his arsenic, my honey", please let the storm come more violently!

The West Garden, located on the west side of the Taiye Pond, is located in the West Palace.

"Ministers to see Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" Wan An, the first assistant of the cabinet, and other important ministers came wearing special masks, and when they saw that Zhu Youzhu on the dragon chair was safe and sound, they knelt down very excitedly.

Zhu Youzhi had a pimple on his face, and looking at the important minister who knelt down in front of him, his heart was also mixed.

But I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate, although I spent a very anxious holiday, but now my body still hasn't been abnormal.

It's just that I'm a close contact after all, as long as I think of this, my body can't help but heat up slightly, and even have an extra pimple on my face.

Although there is nothing unusual about his body now, he has indeed had contact with Niu Mengmeng, so there is a certain probability that he will become a carrier of smallpox.

My own affairs have not yet been clarified, and as a result, the epidemic in Beijing is far from being easy to control as imagined. Although many anti-epidemic measures have been introduced in previous lives, new cases continue to emerge and deaths are increasing.

However, the powerful people in the capital were not killed hard enough by themselves, but they relied on their own power and repeatedly had fierce conflicts with the epidemic prevention personnel.

Zhu Youzhu let the important ministers present calm down, and said straight to the point: "I live in the Heart Cultivation Hall very peacefully, but the ban on the various squares in the capital must not be relaxed. Except for the large Yongfang and the small Yongfang, the rest of the squares must be strictly guarded, and they must wait until there are no new cases on the seventh day of verification! ”

"Your Ministers obey!" When Li Yu and other officials heard this indicator, they said respectfully.

Zhu Youzhu turned his head to look at Li Si, the secretary of the household department, and told him very seriously: "The household department must do a good job in allocating resources, must send food to the people in difficulty, and prevent hunger and cold in epidemic prevention!" ”

"Your Majesty, the number of people who have asked for rice tickets has increased recently, what should we do?" Li Si, the head of the household, nodded yes, and then threw out a difficult question.

In response to last year's disaster in Henan, the imperial court issued a large number of rice tickets, and this kind of rice tickets have the privilege of paying at sight. Although a lot of rice tickets have flowed back to the household, there are still a lot of rice tickets outside.

During this ban period, even silver was not good, but the situation of rice tickets was very special, so many people took out the rice tickets they had to ask the court for food.

Normally, one stone of grain stamps can only be exchanged for four coins of silver, but now the value of food stamps is rising, and it has even been speculated ten times higher.

In fact, it is also very normal, if there is silver in each square, you can't buy food, but with a rice ticket, you can get enough rice and grain from the epidemic prevention personnel in each square.

Hey?

Officials such as Jia Jun, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, also felt that this matter was tricky, and even looked up at Zhu Youzhu on the dragon chair.

Zhu Youzhu knew that the credibility of the currency was the most important thing, and immediately earnestly admonished: "The credibility of the rice ticket must not be damaged!" The granary of Tongzhou is our confidence, and the household department immediately transferred 100,000 stone of grain from Tongzhou, and we must be ready to fight a protracted war! ”

"Obey the order!" Feeling the emperor's strong attitude towards maintaining the credibility of rice bills, Li Si also guessed that the emperor wanted to create a new monetary system, so he solemnly surrendered his hand.

Although the Ming Dynasty's finances are indeed facing problems, fortunately, Xianzong has left enough rice and grain, and the tax and grain have increased significantly after clearing the acres of fields, so he will not be trapped in grain at present.

It just made him wonder, why did the emperor think that this would be a protracted war?

Zhu Youji's eyes once again scanned the important ministers present, and said in a deep voice: "Smallpox swept through Beijing, and everyone was afraid of acne like a tiger!" I ordered the ban on all squares, which was not a good policy, but it was a last resort. You are the ministers of my ribs, and now in this natural disaster, I can only rely on your ministers! ”

"The ministers are willing to do their best for Your Majesty, and then die!" Wan An and other important ministers were very familiar with this, and even spoke loudly together.

Zhu Youzhu knew that the focus of this epidemic was prevention, so he handed Liu Jin a look and said: "Smallpox is an incurable disease, and now the epidemic is more important than prevention, but there are many people in the capital who do not cooperate, so the 28 squares of the capital are directly controlled by the Sixth Department and Shuntianfu." Each yamen is responsible for four squares, and the list is on it, so no personnel are allowed to run around or leave Beijing! ”

"Your Ministers obey!" Jia Jun, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and other officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately said respectfully.

Each yamen is responsible for four fangs, although this is not a small amount of work, but after all, they are responsible for the entire yamen, so they don't even need to go to the scene in person.

As for those powerful people who do not accept control, now that they have the support of the emperor, they are naturally not allowed to be arrogant.

In addition to discussing epidemic prevention, today's Supreme Council is to finalize the daily work after the beginning of the year, but it is necessary to ensure that there is no direct contact during the transmission of the music.

As for the February examination, the imperial court decided to postpone it directly, and the time is to be determined.

After the meeting, all the personnel asked to leave from Xi'an Gate, and the side of the Heart Cultivation Hall temporarily became Zhu Youji's place to avoid smallpox.

Yin Song Cheng of Shuntian Mansion took a look at the ministers, and He Qiaoxin, the secretary of the Criminal Department, glanced at Song Cheng in confusion.

Song Cheng stood aside in obedience and gave way, and then followed the little eunuch into the West Palace to face the saint.

Due to the sudden outbreak of smallpox epidemic in the capital, he has no holiday at all this year, and has been cooperating with the imperial court to prevent the epidemic. Now he is called into the palace and is responsible for investigating the source of the epidemic in the palace.

Although Zhu Youzhu suspected that someone was manipulating the smallpox epidemic, he did not easily draw conclusions: "Song Qing, there is smallpox in the palace, how are you investigating?" ”

"The minister's preliminary investigation has been completed, and I am here to reply to the order! Although it was true that early spring had been out of the palace gate, judging from its itinerary, the minister suspected that it was not early spring that brought smallpox into the palace, especially the individual infected people in the palace were not on the transmission chain in early spring! Song Cheng's face did not change, and he reported seriously.

Zhu Youji's brows frowned slightly, and Liu Jin preemptively questioned: "Lord Song, are you mistaken?" The palace has a roster, and Chu Chun was the first to be diagnosed in the palace, how could it not be her? ”

"This is just a suspicion, not a conclusion! However, judging from the situation in early spring, the time between her leaving the palace and the onset of the disease was too short, and her contacts outside the palace did not have smallpox patients, so the minister thought that early spring was likely to be infected in the palace. Unless Chu Chun concealed her whereabouts this time, she deliberately went to an environment outside the palace that was extremely prone to infection, and her activities in the palace were also concealed, otherwise the minister thought that the source of infection was in the palace! Song Cheng's eyes didn't blink, and he reasoned very firmly.

Zhu Youzhu originally thought that Chu Chun was the one who brought smallpox into the palace, but after listening to Song Cheng's analysis, he also felt that the situation might have another hidden meaning, and he couldn't help but be more convinced that Song Cheng was the one who wanted to solve the puzzle for himself, so he asked the question he was most concerned about: "According to Song Aiqing's opinion, this smallpox is a natural disaster?" Or is it a man-made disaster? ”

(End of chapter)