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

Page 136

Watching the four of them walk away,

Zhao Yuan was reminded of the original Water Margin storyline, where Li Kui took his mother up the mountain, only to have her tragic end, being devoured by a giant tiger.

Now that Shi Xiu is here, this hard-working but meticulous man will surely prevent such a human tragedy from happening again.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

......

After parting ways with Li Kui and Shi Xiu in Xiapi,

The remaining people did not linger any longer and headed north.

They soon passed through Xuzhou and Shanzhou, and entered the territory of Jizhou.

Previously, when passing through other places, there were very few people to be seen on both sides of the river.

However, after entering Jeju Island, not only did the number of boats heading south to seek refuge increase in the river, but people on both sides of the river were also pushing carts and carrying large and small bags, heading south.

When Zhao Yuan and his group left last time, they went to check on the situation at the hotel on the south bank of the marsh.

This descent from the mountain took more than twenty days.

Zhao Yuan was worried about Lin Chong's condition and did not want to delay any longer.

0 ......... .......

The three passenger ships then transferred directly from Sishui to Huangou, and subsequently entered Liangshan Marsh, heading towards Jinshatan.

......

On Golden Beach, thanks to effective quarantine and epidemic prevention measures,

The epidemic has not spread since Zhao Yuan left.

However, among the seven people who contracted the virus, four of them began to experience a worsening of their condition, including Lin Chong.

Although Madam Lin was anxious, she could only devote herself even more diligently to taking care of Lin Chong day and night.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhishen and the others who remained at Jinshatan saw that Lin Chong and his men's disease was getting worse and worse, while Zhao Yuan had not returned for a long time, so they naturally became increasingly anxious.

On this day,

The group received a message from Han Bolong, who was still wandering and scouting down the mountain.

"In Yizhou there is a divine physician named Kong Hou, a descendant of Confucius. It is said that he has superb medical skills and may have a way to cure epidemics!"

Upon seeing this news, everyone couldn't help but feel excited.

"Brother Commander, this matter cannot be delayed,"

Shi Qian said, "That Doctor An is far away in Jiankang Prefecture, and we don't know when Brother Zhao will be able to return. What if Instructor Lin... doesn't make it? How will we face Brother Zhao in the future!"

“Brother Shi Qian is right. Which brother is willing to make the trip to invite Doctor Kong up the mountain?” Lu Zhishen asked in a deep voice.

These past twenty days or so, the worries he's had, both up and down the mountain, have taken a toll on the Flower Monk, leaving him looking noticeably haggard...

Chapter 186 Liangshan Unsealed

"I'm willing to go!"

Ruan Xiaoer, Ruan Xiaowu, and Shi Qian spoke at the same time.

"The bandit's navy still needs a leader to keep watch, so let's have Brother Wu and Brother Shi Qian go together..."

Before Lu Zhishen could finish speaking, a guard came in to report.

"Leaders, the chieftain is back! He's almost at Golden Beach!"

"Brother is back!"

The four people inside the room stood up in surprise and hurriedly went out to welcome Zhao Yuan and the others back.

......

The three passenger ships carrying Zhao Yuan and his entourage had just docked at the pier.

Lu Zhishen, the Ruan brothers, and Shi Qian immediately surrounded them, followed by many Liangshan soldiers, who also came to greet their leader with great joy.

After everyone had greeted each other,

Although Lu Zhishen and his three companions were excited to have many more brothers on the mountain, they knew this was not the time to talk about such things.

"097"

They quickly reported the situation on Liangshan Mountain while Zhao Yuan was away.

Zhao Yuan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that the number of people infected with the plague was still only seven.

The An Daoquan couple, standing to the side, exchanged a surprised glance.

"Isolation against epidemics has existed since the pre-Qin era, but even so, plagues often spread uncontrollably and are difficult to prevent."

An Daoquan remarked with emotion, "My brother has been away from the mountain stronghold for almost a month, yet the number of infections has not increased. This shows that my brother's measures to prevent and control the epidemic are extremely effective. If all the prefectures in Shandong can follow this approach, this epidemic will surely end soon."

"Don't worry, Doctor, I'll find paper and pen in a moment and write all of this down. Then I'll send people to distribute it throughout Shandong!" Zhao Yuan assured him.

"Brother's actions have done a great service to the people of Shandong."

Mrs. An sighed,

"Brother, miracle doctor, there's one more thing..."

Lu Zhishen quickly explained that Lin Chong's condition had worsened.

"It's all because I'm incompetent and failed to take good care of them,"

The Flower Monk said with remorse, "I have failed my brother's trust!"

"Brother, don't blame yourself. With Doctor An and his wife here, and Instructor Lin and his six other brothers, we will surely be safe and sound!"

Zhao Yuan offered a word of comfort, then quickly led An Daoquan and his wife to the patient's isolation room.

At the door, An Daoquan and his wife, quite intrigued, changed into protective suits made of several layers of silk fabric, specially crafted by Liangshan, and put on thick silk masks before going inside to check on Lin Chong and the others.

Everyone else, including Zhao Yuan, stood at least ten feet away from the isolation room to avoid infection.

With Lin Chong's condition still uncertain, no one had the mind to chat idly; they all stood together, waiting quietly.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn,

After An Daoquan and his wife came out, changed out of their protective suits and masks, and washed their hands and faces, they reported to Zhao Yuan from a distance of three to five zhang (approximately 10-15 meters).

“Brother, of these seven people, we are confident that we can cure three of them who have mild illnesses. As for the four who have more severe illnesses, we are only three or four out of ten confident. It mainly depends on their own bodies and whether they can withstand it.”

"This... you only have a 30-40% chance?"

Everyone's expression changed.

Lu Zhishen hung his head, saying weakly, "Doesn't this mean there's a 50% chance that Instructor Lin will...?"

"Please don't think like that, everyone,"

Zhao Yuan smiled easily and said, "The divine doctor and his wife have already said that they are 30% or 40% confident. The rest depends on the patient's physical condition. Don't forget, Instructor Lin is a martial artist and has always been in good health. He will definitely be able to pull through!"

Although everyone knew that Zhao Yuan was trying to comfort them, at this time, it was better to think positively than negatively.

Everyone deliberately forgot about the possibility that he might not survive, and prayed in their hearts that Lin Chong could recover soon.

Lu Zhishen then asked, "By the way, brother, we've been separated for over a month now, and no one else has contracted the disease. Can we open the pass now?"

A month ago, when Lin Chong returned to Liangshan with his cavalry from Yinmachuan, an epidemic broke out in Xucheng.

Lin Chong and his companions took pity on a group of refugees along the way and gave them food, which led to them contracting the plague.

Fortunately, the intelligence from Sugihara arrived in time.

The cavalry had barely arrived at Golden Beach and hadn't even begun their ascent when they were stopped.

Subsequently, Zhao Yuan ordered the Jinshatan Beach and the mountain passes to be closed, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

Now, the two sides have been in isolation for more than a month.

"The passes can be opened, but entry and exit will still be strictly checked,"

Zhao Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Anyone returning from outside must stay at Jinshatan for about ten days before going up the mountain, once it is confirmed that they are healthy."

"Brother, your sudden departure from the mountain has already caused your wife to complain to me several times."

Lu Zhishen scratched his head and said, "Why don't you go up the mountain and take a look first?"

"No, if I set this precedent, who will be willing to quarantine properly in the future..."

Zhao Yuan instructed, "Brother, you should first find someone to arrange accommodations for the new brothers on Jinsha Beach. Once you've confirmed that everything is alright, I'll take them up the mountain."

Although we've reached the foot of Liangshan, it's a bit of a shame we can't climb the mountain immediately.

With Zhao Yuan setting an example, Long Hu, Xiong Jiao, Wang Dingliu, and others naturally had no complaints.

Although Zhang Shun had already pledged his allegiance to Liangshan, he was still considered a guest there until his mother gave her her consent, so he naturally had to follow the host's lead.

......

Over the next ten days or so,

Everyone settled down at Golden Beach. Although quarantine life was monotonous, there was good news.

That is, Lin Chong's condition is constantly improving. He has woken up from his coma, and his body is recovering day by day.

Apart from him, the other six soldiers who contracted the disease, three of whom had mild symptoms, have all recovered.

Of the remaining three critically ill patients, only one, like Lin Chong, gradually improved.

The remaining two individuals' conditions worsened, and they ultimately succumbed to their illnesses despite all efforts to save them.

After the two men died, their bodies were immediately taken out for cremation, and their ashes were buried on the mountain.

"Brother, the two soldiers who died this time were both selected by Instructor Lin from among the disaster victims when he was in Hebei,"

An Daoquan said in a deep voice, "Last year, Hebei suffered a major flood, and this year, famine has started again. The bodies of the disaster victims are all very weak. The two soldiers who died were the thinnest and weakest among the seven."

Zhao Yuan immediately understood his meaning.

In this pandemic, once you get infected, you mainly have to rely on your own body to fight it off. Those who are physically strong have a higher chance of recovery, while those who are physically weak naturally have a lower chance of recovery.

Currently, the most severely affected area in Shandong is the Hebei disaster victims outside Xucheng city.

To prevent these disaster victims from being lured to Liangshan, the prefect of Xucheng opened the granaries to distribute grain as relief.

However, the grain in the Xucheng granary was already scarce, barely enough to keep these disaster victims from starving to death by drinking some thin porridge each day.

For such a long time, they survived on nothing but thin porridge every day.

The physical condition of the disaster victims in Xucheng was, naturally, quite poor.

If they contract the virus, I'm afraid nine out of ten will die from the illness...

Chapter 187 Prefect Cheng Wanli of Yunzhou

In the past ten days or so, Zhao Yuan has written down all the epidemic prevention measures in Liangshan, from isolation to masks.

Seeing this, Liu Huiniang turned these measures into a catchy rhyme.

"To prevent the spread of the virus, isolation is necessary; when meeting in person, wear a mask..."

Liangshan's spies throughout Shandong

While distributing leaflets with information on epidemic prevention measures,

While using candy to entice children from all over to sing rhymes about epidemic prevention,

According to reports, the results were very good.

Many impoverished commoners, unable to flee south to escape the plague, sought refuge there out of fear of the disease.

With the idea that it's better to believe it than not, they all did as instructed.

In just a few days, the spread of the disease slowed down considerably.

The government saw that these epidemic prevention measures were indeed effective. Although the disease originated from Liangshan, a den of bandits, at this point, preventing and controlling the epidemic was the most important thing.

The state government could only pretend not to know the origin of these epidemic prevention measures and began to strictly order all localities to follow them.

With both government and civilian efforts working together, the COVID-18 situation in Shandong has clearly been brought under control.

Now, the only remaining issue to address is the Hebei disaster victims outside Xucheng, the source of this outbreak.

Zhao Yuan has already sent Shi Qian to investigate.