Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

After the outbreak of the epidemic was confirmed, Cheng Wanli, the prefect of Xucheng, sent troops to surround the disaster victims from Hebei and strictly forbade them from leaving.

If anyone tried to escape, the soldiers were immediately ordered to shoot them.

Afterwards, although he also organized doctors from Xucheng to go to the disaster-stricken camps to provide medical treatment,

However, most doctors were simply incapable of treating the epidemic, and instead brought the plague back into Xucheng City.

It is no longer possible for the Xucheng government to solve the epidemic among the disaster victims.

When Zhao Yuan went to Jiankang Prefecture to invite An Daoquan and his wife, he said that it was not only for Liangshan, but also for the disaster victims of Xucheng. Now, he naturally could not sit idly by.

After learning the details of Xucheng, Zhao Yuan ordered people to begin building tens of thousands of simple shacks near the marsh. They didn't need to be fancy; just enough to provide basic shelter from the wind and rain would suffice.

Du Qian recruited more than two thousand people from the households on the mountain.

Half the trees were cut down, and the other half were used to build sheds.

In less than ten days, they completed the construction of tens of thousands of makeshift sheds.

At the same time, enough grain and medicine were allocated from Liangshan and transported to the shore of the marsh.

Everything is ready, except for the arrival of the disaster victims from Hebei.

......

Xucheng Prefectural Governor's Office

Prefect Cheng Wanli of Yunzhou stood looking haggard in the small courtyard where his daughter lived.

His wife paced anxiously to the side.

Cheng Wanli said impatiently, "Can you please stop looking at me? You're making my eyes dizzy!"

"Master, will Wan'er be alright?" Madam Cheng's face was full of worry.

Cheng Wanli closed his eyes and sighed, "Alas, let's leave it to fate."

"Master! We only have one daughter!"

Madam Cheng could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

"Heh, it's all karma..."

Cheng Wanli stamped his foot in anguish, then joined his wife in weeping uncontrollably: "If I hadn't mistreated those disaster victims, Heaven wouldn't have sent down this plague. But why is Heaven's retribution targeting my daughter instead of me?!"

The reason why the governor and his wife of this prefecture are crying like this is because their only daughter, Cheng Wan'er, has also contracted the plague and is now isolated in this small courtyard.

Given the tight security of the prefect's residence, Prefect Cheng's daughter shouldn't have contracted the plague.

But what can you do when Cheng Wan'er is kind-hearted?

Three months ago, when Zhao Yuan traveled north, he encountered famine refugees fleeing from Hebei.

In order to expand the population of Liangshan, he immediately sent Ruan Xiaoqi back to Liangshan and asked the leaders on the mountain to find a way to bring the disaster victims to Liangshan.

Upon receiving orders, the leaders on the mountain used food as bait to lure these refugees, who were supposed to flee to Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Eastern Capital, into Shandong. They then headed south towards Liangshan Marsh.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Wanli, the prefect of Yunzhou, worried that Liangshan would use this opportunity to grow stronger, so he intercepted them midway and opened granaries in Xucheng to distribute grain to relieve the people.

As a result, 50,000 to 60,000 disaster victims entered Shandong, but only a small group at the very beginning joined the Liangshan bandits.

The remaining large contingent was all stranded in Xucheng.

If Xucheng had sufficient funds and provisions to ensure the disaster victims were well-fed and clothed, the subsequent events would not have occurred.

However, the original seat of Yunzhou was submerged by a flood more than ten years ago.

To build this new administrative center, Xucheng, Yunzhou almost exhausted all the money and grain it had accumulated over the years.

With funds and supplies depleted, and facing forty to fifty thousand disaster victims,

Prefect Cheng Wanli could only provide the disaster victims with thin porridge each day while issuing public notices.

It was hoped that the gentry of Yunzhou would donate money and grain, but in the end, very few responded and donated money and grain.

Left with no other option, Cheng Wanli reported to the imperial court, hoping that Bianliang would issue an order for all prefectures and counties to allocate some money and grain to Yunzhou in its time of need.

However, the imperial court's reply was to severely reprimand Cheng Wanli, blaming him for meddling in other people's business and causing trouble for Yunzhou. In the end, Cheng Wanli was ordered to resolve the matter himself.

Cheng Wanli had no choice but to beg for help from all sides. He finally managed to get some food, but he couldn't even provide enough thin porridge for the disaster victims to drink.

He was also afraid that the disaster victims would be lured away by Liangshan, so he ordered the military commander Dong Ping to lead troops to patrol every day, and to severely punish any disaster victims who fled.

These Hebei famine victims, who had traveled thousands of miles south to escape the famine, were already physically weak. After this ordeal, many of them, young and old, starved to death.

When people are hungry, they will eat anything and everything.

Many of the disaster victims went mad with hunger and ate the elderly and children who had starved to death, and then the plague broke out!

It can be said that although Prefect Cheng did not intend to cause the plague in Xucheng, he should still bear half the responsibility, and the rest is due to the inaction of the Song court.

If Bianliang had provided Xucheng with some money and provisions, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.

In the early stages of an epidemic, when it is not yet obvious...

Cheng Wanli's daughter, Cheng Wan'er, out of kindness and a desire to share her father's burdens, often brought food and money to distribute to disaster victims outside the city.

Before long, she unknowingly contracted the plague.

Although Cheng Wan'er fell ill early, she was the prefect's own daughter.

Cheng Wanli immediately summoned all the doctors in the city to treat her.

All kinds of medicinal herbs, regardless of their price, were used freely.

This is what allowed Cheng Wan'er to live until now.

However, by now, Cheng Wan'er's illness has become increasingly severe.

The doctors in Xucheng had tried every possible method, but still could not cure her.

I could only subtly remind the governor that it was time to prepare for his daughter...

Chapter 188 Marching into Xucheng

Cheng Wanli naturally understood what this preparation meant.

Overwhelmed with grief, the couple embraced and wept bitterly.

Suddenly a maid came in to report that the military commander Dong Ping had important business to discuss with the prefect.

Previously, when Cheng Wan'er first fell ill,

Despite the wind and rain, Dong Ping came to visit every day, which made Cheng Wanli and his wife look at him with new respect.

Later, it was confirmed that Cheng Wan'er had contracted the plague, and her condition worsened.

Dong Ping immediately hid from the plague god and simply disappeared.

After this incident, Cheng Wanli and his wife finally understood Dong Ping's cold-hearted nature.

Now, upon hearing the maid's report that Dong Ping had come to visit...

While Cheng Wanli was feeling distressed, he didn't want to deal with this petty person, but then he heard that there was something important to discuss.

Ever since Cheng Wan'er contracted the plague, Dong Ping has never visited the prefect's residence again.

His sudden arrival must mean something major has happened that he cannot decide for himself!

Thinking of this, Cheng Wanli suppressed his grief, wiped away his tears, and walked to the outer courtyard.

As soon as they entered the mansion, they saw Dong Ping pacing anxiously back and forth inside.

Upon seeing Cheng Wanli enter, Dong Ping, without even bothering to bow, hurriedly said, "Prefect, the Liangshan troops are attacking!"

"Liangshan?"

Cheng Wanli's cheek twitched.

In his opinion, if it weren't for Liangshan using grain to lure Hebei famine victims into Yunzhou,

How could he have opened the granaries to provide relief? In the end, he naturally wouldn't have caused such a plague that swept through Shandong!

Thinking of the innocent people who had died and his daughter who had contracted the plague, Cheng Wanli was naturally filled with rage.

"Those damned bandits! They're not coming after me, but I'm going to go after them!"

Cheng Wanli said angrily, then glared at Dong Ping and shouted,

"Now that we know the enemy's situation, why don't we quickly prepare our troops for battle!"

“My lord, it is not advisable to go out of the city to fight at this time,” Dong Ping replied with a bitter face.

"Why?"

Cheng Wanli already harbored resentment towards Dong Ping, and upon hearing that he couldn't leave the city to fight, he immediately mocked him.

"You command a full three thousand soldiers, while the Liangshan soldiers have at most half your number. Didn't you, Dong Ping, used to call yourself a hero and aspire to be enfeoffed as a marquis? Now, facing such a small number of bandits, you're as cowardly as a mouse, not even daring to go into battle?"

"grown ups!"

Dong Ping, barely suppressing his anger, clenched his fists and said, "This humble general does indeed have three thousand men under his command, but a small portion of them have already contracted the plague, and the majority of the rest are demoralized. They are adequate for defending the city, but if we were to venture out to fight, I fear..."

"waste!"

Cheng Wanli cursed angrily.

"My lord, this plague was not brought about by this humble general!" Dong Ping couldn't help but retort.

"you!"

Cheng Wanli stared at Dong Ping with wide eyes.

The latter, feeling guilty, could only clasp his hands in apology and whisper his mistake.

"It was my humble servant who spoke presumptuously; please forgive me, sir!"

"...Fine! So be it. We'll just defend the city and not go out to fight!"

Cheng Wanli sighed. He knew that although Dong Ping was a bad person, he did have some real skills.

This person must be extremely arrogant, considering himself a hero and a high-ranking official.

Now that the bandits are attacking, he is able to restrain himself and dare not fight.

The situation in the army is probably more than just the low morale he described.

"Sir, if the soldiers return to defend the city, what about the refugees outside..."

"At this point, we can't afford to pay attention to them!"

Cheng Wanli said helplessly, "Let's prioritize defending Xucheng. If anything happens to Xucheng, you know the consequences yourself!"

"Rest assured, my lord, I will do my best!"

Dong Ping knew that the two of them were now in the same boat; if they couldn't hold Xucheng and the bandits breached the capital of Yunzhou,

Although Cheng Wanli will also be guilty, he is a civil official, and at most he will be demoted to a lower level, but his life will certainly be safe.

But Dong Ping is a military general, and at that time, he will definitely lose his head no matter what.

......

Outside Xucheng City,

Dong Ping has ordered all soldiers to return to the city to defend it.

Even though it was no longer under anyone's supervision,

In the refugee camps on the outskirts of the city, however, there was still little activity.

It's not that these disaster victims didn't want to escape, but rather that these people...

They were either already infected with the disease, or they were so hungry that they had no strength left and couldn't even run.

The entire disaster camp was filled with a deathly atmosphere.

When the Liangshan troops arrived, this was the scene that left them with no sign of life.

"Brother, all the troops in Xucheng have withdrawn to defend the city."

Shi Qian, who had arrived earlier, reported: "There are only these 40,000 or so refugees outside the city now."

"Main cavalry and infantry, remain where you are, and be on guard against an attack from Xucheng's troops! Have the laborers put on protective suits, enter the camp, and begin moving the disaster victims!"

Zhao Yuan mobilized almost all of Liangshan's soldiers for this expedition because he was worried about being blocked by the troops in Xucheng.

All seven must be infantry, and all five must be cavalry; they should all descend the mountain.