Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Han Cao was startled instinctively.

Recently, he has developed a very negative impression of this emperor and has been speculating about him with the utmost malice.

Chen Shao solemnly said:

"This is a plague!"

"I knew it!" Han Cao's expression changed abruptly.

"Your Majesty is too serious. This illness could not possibly be the plague."

"No."

Chen Shao waved his hand, "I have some knowledge of pharmacology. Sixty-three people fell ill at the same time, and their symptoms were all similar. This is a typical epidemic."

He turned to look at Shen Qingci.

"Mr. Shen, how can we prevent the spread of the plague?"

Shen Qingci suddenly realized.

I gave this little apprentice a thumbs up in my heart.

Amazing!

It's almost as ruthless as my teaching methods.

She immediately said seriously:

"If it truly is a plague, once it spreads, the Great Yan will be in grave danger!"

"To curb the spread of the plague, Your Majesty, please issue an edict that all infected ministers must be quarantined in place, and no one may go out, see their family members, or visit other people's homes."

"This matter is of great importance. The Embroidered Uniform Guard can seal off the residence, and the Imperial Medical Bureau can send medical officers to inspect each household."

"During the quarantine period, all official duties are suspended until the epidemic ends. Anyone who refuses to quarantine will be treated as a traitor!"

Chen Shao nodded: "Yes, epidemic prevention is like fire prevention; delay will only lead to unforeseen consequences."

"If we allow the plague to spread, you, including myself, will all be sinners for all time!"

"Your Majesty! This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Han Cao suppressed his anger and tried his best to keep his voice calm.

"In my opinion, this matter requires further consideration."

"Whether it is a plague or not is still unknown. If we rashly seal off the residences of dozens of ministers, the affairs of the court will come to a standstill. Now that the Northern Mang army is pressing in, it is a time of great turmoil. The court cannot be shut down for even a day."

"To defend a city, not only do military generals need to be fearless in the face of death, but also civil officials need to work together to ensure logistics and unite the people..."

"It's alright."

Shen Qingci took over the conversation.

"These are all trivial matters."

"My Luming Academy has three thousand disciples, each of whom is capable of governing the country and ensuring its peace. If they are sick and unable to do so, we can immediately take their place."

"It's not too late to hand over the reins to the ministers once their conditions have improved."

...Will it still be possible to hand it over?

Han Cao, aware of the plan to establish his authority today, has already declared bankruptcy.

His mind raced, and another plan came to mind.

He bowed to Chen Shao.

"Your Majesty, this old minister does have a compromise."

"The prime minister can speak frankly."

"This old minister will personally go to confirm whether the lords have truly contracted the plague."

"If it is indeed a plague, then we should isolate them according to Headmaster Shen's method, and this old minister will have no objection."

"If it's just a common illness, even if they're bedridden, this old minister will still drag them out to work. What does Your Majesty think?"

The most urgent task is to defend the city.

Chen Shao dared not make any major moves, which paralyzed the entire court.

Most importantly, he dared not push Han Cao too far.

A cornered dog will jump over a wall; when Han Cao is desperate, who knows what he might do?

"Then I'll have to trouble Prime Minister Han."

...

After the court session ended, Shen Qingci finally spoke a sensible sentence.

"Well done, Your Majesty. You've mastered the art of using someone else to do your dirty work while simultaneously striking from behind a mountain."

"The student has surpassed the teacher and already shows some of the qualities of a mentor."

"Then why don't you just bow down and pay your respects?" Chen Shao thought to himself, when suddenly a "ding" sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained your second trusted advisor and have been granted one chance to draw a prize. Do you wish to draw?]

"smoke!"

Familiar images of the Milky Way unfolded in my mind.

Amidst a sky full of stars...

The image moves and then freezes.

Inside the magnificent palace, a dashing and debonair king was wielding his brush.

Each slender, golden character leaps off the page.

Emperor Huizong of Song!

Chen Shao recognized the all-around emperor at first glance.

Given the previous system abstraction.

Therefore, he doesn't think the entry on Emperor Huizong of Song is bad...

[Artist] [Cuju Master] [Top-Tier Tyrant] [Useless at Everything]...

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have drawn the Emperor Card and obtained the entry: Six Ding Six Jia!]

[The Six Ding and Six Jia: They summoned unusual celestial phenomena, transforming into illusory golden divine weapons, their power terrifying.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have activated the side quest: The Defense of the Capital Region!]

...

By the afternoon, the ministers who had asked for leave in the morning were arriving in waves to apologize and have their leave revoked.

The explanations are largely the same:

"This old minister has recovered from his illness."

"This old minister's heart is with the nation."

"This old minister will be able to attend court tomorrow."

"By the way, Your Majesty, this old minister recovered after drinking a bowl of talisman water."

Chen Shao didn't bother with such things and gently encouraged them to work hard, saying that the Great Yan needed them.

The scene was one of perfect harmony between the emperor and his ministers, a truly harmonious and complementary relationship.

After all the officials had left, Han Cao entered the imperial study.

"This old minister greets Your Majesty."

Chen Shao wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but Han Cao spoke in a deep voice instead.

"Your Majesty, this is actually a plague."

"Hmm?" Chen Shao raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely true, and the Imperial Medical Bureau can also attest to that."

Damn it, even the imperial physicians are his people? Chen Shao silently noted this down, preparing to settle scores later.

"If it was the plague, how could he have recovered so quickly?"

"I have come to discuss this matter with Your Majesty."

"The reason this plague was able to be contained so quickly is because a remarkable person appeared in the city."

"This person is the abbot of Qingyang Temple, whose Taoist name is Xuanzhenzi."

The people all called him Master Guo.

"The sudden outbreak of the epidemic in the city today was caused by this Taoist priest, Master Guo, who went door to door distributing talismanic water."

"Within half an hour, the fever subsided and the illness disappeared; he was lively and energetic again. This old minister witnessed it with his own eyes, and it is by no means an exaggeration."

"There are such experts?" Chen Shao asked in surprise.

Han Cao smiled enigmatically.

"Your Majesty, Master Guo is no ordinary Taoist priest."

"This old minister has some knowledge of the Daoist sect's history and knows that this person cultivates the Shangqing Thunder Method, whose magical power is unfathomable."

"Summoning wind and rain is no problem for him, and turning beans into soldiers is also a piece of cake."

Oh, Chen Shao suddenly realized that Han Cao's enthusiastic recommendation of this person was so exaggerated.

I'm afraid I'll have to introduce him to someone for myself!

I just drew the Six Ding and Six Jia characters, and then I ran into this Taoist priest pretending to be a shaman...

Does he want me to spar with him on some sorcery?

I must go and meet this person.

Chen Shao looked astonished. "Is the Prime Minister's word truly true? If such an extraordinary person exists, please introduce him to me immediately. He is a man of great talent, a peerless national hero!"

Han Cao stroked his beard and smiled:

"Whether it's true or false, we can't just listen to one side of the story; His Majesty has to see it for himself to know."

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, why don't you come for a walk with this old minister?"

[Ding! To win this battle, we need all kinds of talented people. Congratulations, host, you have activated the mission "Battle to Defend the Capital (Part 1): Recruiting Talented Individuals!"]