Phi-Fic Chapter 987 Two Choices
Chapter 987 Two Choices
Plagues are different from open warfare on the battlefield.
It is an invisible and intangible enemy that kills without leaving a trace and can also crush the morale of an army.
Back then, when the Fengtian Army was fighting the Khitan outside the Great Wall, even a disease spreading among livestock caused the entire Fengtian Army to be on high alert, fearing that a single mistake could lead to a major disaster.
The current state of devastation in Qiongzhou Prefecture is far worse than it was back then, and the source of infection has changed from livestock to humans.
Judging from the condition of these patients, this is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous and virulent epidemic!
Wang Sanchun reacted quickly, immediately ordering all troops that had not yet entered the city to retreat and move as far away from the prefectural city as possible.
The soldiers who had already followed him into the city were sternly stopped by him and told not to panic.
They were ordered to remain stationed far from the main force and were strictly prohibited from contacting other units.
Because he was among the first to rush in and was one of those who needed to be isolated, he had to retreat to a safe distance and shout orders to the messenger.
The messenger dared not delay and rode the fastest horse straight to the command post.
The message was sent to the forward command post at top speed. Yang Zhongsi was stunned at first, and the next moment his pupils contracted sharply. A chill ran from the soles of his feet throughout his body, and even the hand holding the military report trembled uncontrollably.
He realized that he had made an unforgivable mistake, possibly the worst mistake of his life.
Wang Sanchun's troops fared relatively well; only a very small number of them briefly entered the city gates and did not have close contact with the disaster victims inside the city.
But what about the other units?
The troops he sent out to seize coastal villages, towns and transportation routes throughout Qiongzhou have likely already come into contact with the local people!
If the plague is not limited to Qiongzhou Prefecture City, but has spread to all parts of Qiongzhou, wouldn't the troops he sent out be in grave danger?
Damn it! I shouldn't have only scouted the coastal areas before launching the amphibious attack.
If more scouts had been sent out to thoroughly investigate the situation on Qiongzhou Island, perhaps this incident would not have occurred.
However, for a commander-in-chief, regret is the most useless thing.
Yang Zhongsi took a deep breath of the cold, salty air, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions.
The most urgent task is to immediately take remedial action!
Urgent military orders were relayed from the command post to all directions:
The naval fleet is withdrawing. All follow-up troops who have not yet left the transport ships are strictly prohibited from disembarking and from having any contact with any personnel on shore!
The troops who had already disembarked were immediately placed in a closed camp along the coastline, with no one allowed to leave but no one allowed to enter.
As for those teams that have already made contact with the locals, such as Wang Sanchun's troops...
Yang Zhongsi's hand, holding the pen, paused for a long time, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes, but in the end he hardened his heart:
All such units should choose suitable locations to station themselves, strictly self-isolate, and are absolutely not allowed to have any contact with other friendly units, while awaiting further instructions!
In ancient times, the only effective way to combat plagues was through physical isolation.
Fortunately, the Daqing army was the most efficient organization of its time, which was perhaps a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
If it were anyone else, panic would cause people to run around in circles, and the plague would spread rapidly with the help of fear.
After making these arrangements, Yang Zhongsi immediately wrote an urgent report and sent it to the imperial court by express courier.
Such a critical matter was beyond the judgment of a commander-in-chief.
. . . . . .
When Huai En delivered this urgent military report to the Emperor's desk, Li Che was reviewing other memorials.
He unfolded the military report, and his expression immediately became tense.
As Li Che read, his brows furrowed more and more, and his expression gradually darkened.
After reading the last line, Li Che fell completely silent.
He slowly placed the report on the table and waved away all the servants in the hall.
The doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation were closed, and Li Che sat alone inside, staring motionlessly out the window.
I sat there for a full half day.
He was faced with only two choices.
To save or not to save.
Choosing to save someone has obvious advantages.
Qiongzhou has suffered an unprecedented calamity. If the imperial court can brave the dangers and extend a helping hand, it would be greatly appreciated.
So, no matter how many people are ultimately saved, this sentiment will stabilize the hearts of the people in Qiongzhou.
From then on, Qiongzhou would become one of Daqing's most solid foundations.
However, the risks are equally enormous.
The plague is merciless. If not handled properly, the rescue teams may not be able to protect themselves and may even bring the plague back to the mainland.
The human, material, and financial resources required will be astronomical, and the results may be minimal.
What's even more critical is the time factor; the epidemic is spreading extremely rapidly, leaving the imperial court with virtually no time to prepare.
Choosing not to provide assistance seems to minimize the costs.
All he needed to do was strictly order Yang Zhongsi's troops to isolate all the soldiers who had been in contact with the epidemic area, and then withdraw the rest of the army back to the mainland.
With the natural barrier of the Taiwan Strait and strict enforcement of the maritime ban, the plague can surely be kept within Qiongzhou Island.
What about the people on the island?
It's very simple, just let it live or die on its own.
Once all the sources of infection on the island are dead, the plague will naturally end.
This was the only way to deal with epidemics in ancient times. After all, transportation was not as convenient as it is today. If a village was infected with the plague, as long as everyone died, it would not spread to other places.
In this way, Daqing remained safe and sound, the imperial court would not suffer losses, and the main force of the army was preserved.
Years later, history books may only record it briefly: "In the second year of Tianxing, a great plague struck Qiongzhou, and the dead lay piled up in heaps."
No one would accuse the imperial court of failing to come to the rescue, because this was the tacitly accepted practice in ancient times.
but......
Li Che slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the empty throne.
History will remember!
The historian's iron pen will truthfully record that "in the second year of Tianxing, a great plague struck Qiongzhou, and the dead lay piled up in heaps."
They would also truthfully record that "the royal army was separated by the sea, but ultimately did not provide assistance, and watched the plague rage on."
The people of Qiongzhou will remember.
Even when they are old and gray, they will still clearly remember the devastation that struck their hometown when they were children, and how their loved ones died in agony.
Meanwhile, the imperial army stood by on the other side of the strait, watching indifferently.
Even by that time, the Great Qing had swept across the land and was invincible, and Li Che had become a sage and wise ruler praised throughout the ages.
The people of Qiongzhou will still remember that the emperor once ordered that no one should be rescued if someone is in distress.
This is not a simple arithmetic problem; it cannot be solved by simply weighing the pros and cons.
This concerns the fundamental nature of a regime, the conscience of an emperor, and the morality of a national community.
The light outside the hall gradually dimmed, and dusk approached.
Li Che remained seated, his shadow stretching long across the smooth ground.
Finally, before dusk completely enveloped the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Li Che stood up, walked to his desk, and picked up his vermilion brush.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes were resolute.
He has made his decision.