Chapter 314 A War without Gunpowder

Not only the imperial palace was facing the epidemic, but Beijing was also not immune.

The once bustling Beijing seemed to have become a dead place overnight. All shops were forced to close, and the blue brick streets were empty.

Under the intervention of the court, an unprecedented defense policy was launched.

The capital was divided into 28 wards, and each ward was usually closed after the night curfew, but now the closure measures were also adopted during the day.

"What happened?"

"Smallpox has appeared in our Beijing city, and smallpox has spread to the palace!"

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

...

The people in each ward were still unaware at first, but when they learned that there was a smallpox epidemic in Beijing, they immediately became insecure.

In this era, smallpox is an incurable disease.

Not to mention, once you get smallpox, you are likely to die, and even if you don't die, there is a high probability that you will get a pockmarked face, which many people can't bear at all.

If there is still a little hope for other infectious diseases, then encountering smallpox is simply a matter of fate.

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

"My uncle is the Minister of the Ministry of Justice in Nanjing, who can stop me?"

"I am a centurion of the Jinyiwei, let me go quickly!"

...

Everyone is afraid of death. Many dignitaries and rich people want to escape from the capital, but they reveal their identities.

"The court has ordered: no matter who you are, no matter what your identity is, you must stay in your own block and not go out." Faced with the clamor of this group of people, the guards responded very toughly.

After the quarantine of each block, the night watchmen and yamen runners publicized the court's decree: "All restaurants, teahouses and wine shops are not allowed to operate, so personnel cooperate with the inspection! Once someone has a fever, especially with vomiting symptoms, they must report to the block owners immediately!"

"One case in Jincheng Block!"

"Two cases in Shiming Block!"

"Three cases in Beijuxian Block!"

...

As the government carefully screened each block, it was soon discovered that there were more and more smallpox patients in Beijing, especially Rizhong Block in the north of the city, which became the hardest hit area of ​​the epidemic.

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

Some high-ranking mansions were not affected too much. Their houses usually had enough daily necessities, and they only needed to close the door.

"Dead?"

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, hundreds of patients in Rizhongfang finally died. A seriously ill woman died with acne all over her face.

"It's over, someone is really dead!"

"Nonsense, smallpox is an incurable disease!"

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

...

Due to the death cases in the capital, and the number of deaths is increasing, nearly one million people began to worry about their own safety, but wanted to avoid this disaster.

The court began to implement Zhu Youtang's mask policy. The Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Works have joined forces to rush to make masks, and these masks have been distributed for free.

It has been like this since ancient times, some are happy and some are sad.

On the outskirts of Beijing, a luxurious manor is holding a secret meeting.

Ma Wensheng was still sitting on the first seat. As the news from the capital came, he couldn't help but slightly raise his mouth when he learned that the death toll had exceeded double digits today.

Although the capital had become a hell on earth, he was undoubtedly the beneficiary of this incident. Not only did he successfully delay the upcoming luxury tax, but he also vented his anger and gave the ignorant emperor a taste of his own medicine.

Of course, the best result now is that the emperor would die of smallpox, and then the Ming Dynasty would usher in a carnival-like prosperity.

"Pao Shou's move was indeed extraordinary!"

"The effect is indeed good, but this smallpox really scared my heart!"

"What are you afraid of? You and your family have been arranged in the suburbs early, and you should be afraid of those people in the city!"

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

...

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

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

As for the emperor, they naturally hope that God can take back his life, so as to solve their biggest worry.

"Let's continue to wait, I believe that God will not let us down!"

"The court implements zoning management of the 28 wards, will this really prevent the spread of smallpox?"

"Hehe... Now the court is trapping them for a few days, but if they are trapped for ten days or half a month, who can bear it?"

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

...

Regarding the epidemic prevention measures introduced by the court, they are naturally clear, so it is inevitable that some people will have certain concerns, but most of them seem very optimistic.

Shanzhang Wu was pessimistic, so he turned to Ma Wensheng and asked, "Brother Ma, the 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. Even if it can't kill the emperor's son, it will create a big chaos in Beijing.

Only when the city of Beijing becomes chaotic enough can the introduction of the luxury tax be postponed, and they can buy more time to reduce their own economic losses.

Everyone present knew that the best outcome would be for the emperor to contract smallpox and die suddenly, otherwise the chaos in Beijing would be more beneficial to them, so they immediately turned to look at Ma Wensheng.

Ma Wensheng took a slow sip of tea and faced everyone's nervous eyes and said: "Don't worry, you guys! This matter has already been planned by the leader of the robe. Even if that person is lucky enough to be safe, this epidemic will definitely Lasts for more than half a year!”

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

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

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

Xiyuan is located in the West Palace on the west side of Taiye Pool.

"I pay homage to Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" The chief minister of the cabinet, Wan An, and other important ministers came wearing special masks. Seeing that Zhu Youtang was safe and sound on the dragon throne, they knelt down and worshiped very excitedly.

Zhu Youtang had a pimple on his face. Looking at the important minister kneeling in front of him, he felt mixed emotions in his heart.

But I don't know whether it's luck or misfortune. Although I spent a very anxious holiday, my body still doesn't show any abnormalities.

It's just that I am a close contact after all. As long as I think of this, my body can't help but feel slightly hot, and I even have a pimple on my face.

Although there is nothing strange about my body now, I did have contact with Niu Mengmeng, so there is a certain probability of becoming a carrier of smallpox.

My own affairs have not yet been clarified, and as a result, the epidemic in Beijing is far less controllable than imagined. Although many anti-epidemic measures have been introduced based on previous lives, new patients continue to appear, and the number of deaths is increasing.

However, the powerful people in the capital were not killed ruthlessly by him, but they relied on their own power to frequently have fierce conflicts with the epidemic prevention personnel.

Zhu Youtang asked the important ministers present to stand behind him, and said straight to the point: "I live in the Yangxin Hall now, but the ban on various temples in the capital cannot be relaxed. Except for the Dashi Yongfang and the Xiaoyongfang, which have conditions for entry and exit, the rest of the The workshop must be strictly monitored and must wait until there are no new cases for seven days!”

"I obey the order!" Li Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and other officials saluted respectfully when they heard this directive.

Zhu Youtang turned to look at Li Si, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and warned him very seriously: "The Ministry of Revenue must do a good job in allocating resources, must deliver food to the people in need, and prevent epidemics and hunger and cold!"

"Your Majesty, there have been an increase in the number of people in various communities asking for rice in exchange for rice recently. What should we do?" Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, nodded in agreement, and then asked a difficult question.

In response to last year's disaster in Henan, the imperial court issued a large number of rice stamps, which had the privilege of being paid on sight. Although many rice stamps have flowed back to the household department, there are still many rice stamps outside.

During this ban, even silver was hard to use, but the situation of rice stamps was very special, so many people took out the rice stamps they owned to ask the court for food.

Normally, one stone of food stamps can only be exchanged for four coins of silver, but now the value of food stamps has risen sharply, and has even been increased by ten times.

In fact, it is quite normal. Even if each village has money, it cannot buy food. However, with rice stamps, it is possible to get enough rice from the epidemic prevention personnel in each village.

Huh?

Officials such as Jia Jun, Minister of Industry, also felt that this matter was difficult, and immediately looked up at Zhu Youtang who was sitting on the dragon throne.

Zhu Youtang knew that currency credibility was the top priority, and immediately warned seriously: "The credibility of rice tickets cannot be damaged! The Tongzhou granary is our confidence. The Ministry of Revenue immediately transferred 100,000 shi of grain from Tongzhou. We must do a good job Prepare for a protracted war!”

"I obey the order!" Li Si, the Minister of Household Affairs, felt the emperor's strong attitude to maintain the credibility of the rice tickets, and had already guessed that the emperor wanted to create a new currency system, so he solemnly said.

Although the Ming Dynasty is indeed facing financial problems, fortunately, Xianzong left enough rice and grain, and the tax and grain increased significantly after clearing the land, so it is really not a problem for now.

It just puzzled him. Why did the emperor decide that this would be a protracted war?

Zhu Youtang's eyes once again glanced at the important ministers present, and he spoke in a profound and authentic way: "Smallpox has swept through the city of Beijing, and everyone is as afraid of pox as a tiger! I decreed a ban on every street, which is not a good policy, but it is a last resort. You all are mine. My dear ministers, this is a natural disaster, so I can only rely on you all!"

"I am willing to serve His Majesty till my death!" Faced with this very familiar situation, Wan An and other important ministers declared their stance loudly together.

Zhu Youtang knew that the focus of this epidemic was on prevention, so he gave Liu Jin a wink and said: "Smallpox is an incurable disease. Now the epidemic is more important than prevention. However, there are many people in the capital who are not cooperative, so the twenty-eight squares in the capital are The Sixth Department and Shuntian Prefecture are directly responsible for the control. Each yamen is responsible for four workshops, and the list is above. People must not move around or leave the capital! "

"I obey the order!" Jia Jun, Minister of Industry, and other officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately expressed their stance respectfully.

Each yamen is responsible for four workshops. Although the workload is not small, after all, their entire yamen is responsible, so they do not even need to go to the site in person.

As for those powerful people who were dissatisfied with the control, now that they had the support of the emperor, they were naturally not allowed to be arrogant.

Today's top meeting, in addition to discussing epidemic prevention, is also to finalize the daily work after the beginning of the new year, but it is necessary to ensure that no direct contact is allowed during the delivery of the memorial.

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

After the meeting, all personnel asked to leave through Xi'an Gate, and the Yangxin Hall temporarily became Zhu Youtang's refuge.

Song Cheng, Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, met with the ministers. He Qiaoxin, the Minister of Punishment, looked at Song Cheng in confusion.

Song Cheng seemed to be obeying the rules and stood aside to give way, and then followed the young eunuch into the West Palace to face the Holy Spirit.

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

Although Zhu Youtang suspected that someone was manipulating the smallpox epidemic, he did not draw a conclusion easily: "Song Qing, how is your investigation of the smallpox outbreak in the palace?"

"I have completed my preliminary investigation and am here to reply! Although Chu Chun did leave the palace, judging from his itinerary, I suspect that Chu Chun did not bring smallpox into the palace. In particular, the individual infected persons in the palace were not part of the chain of transmission in Chu Chun. !" Song Cheng's expression did not change and he reported seriously.

Zhu Youtang frowned slightly, but Liu Jin was the first to question: "Master Song, are you mistaken? The palace has a roster. Chuchun was the first person diagnosed in the palace. How could it not be her?"

"This is just a suspicion, not a conclusion! However, judging from the situation in Chuchun, the time between her leaving the womb and the onset of illness was too short, and her contacts outside the womb did not have smallpox patients, so I think Chuchun is likely to be a case of smallpox. She contracted the disease in the palace. Unless Chuchun concealed her whereabouts this time and went to an environment that was very susceptible to infection outside the palace, and also concealed her activities in the palace, I would think that the source of the infection was in the palace!" Song Cheng's eyes didn't even blink, and he concluded with great certainty.

Zhu Youtang originally thought that Chuchun was the one who brought smallpox into the palace, but after listening to Song Cheng's analysis, he felt that there might be something hidden in the situation, and he couldn't help but believe that Song Cheng was the one who wanted to solve the mystery for him. Then he asked the question he was most concerned about: "In Song Aiqing's opinion, is this smallpox a natural disaster? Or a man-made disaster?"