Chapter 75 - 75 The fuse
75 The fuse
The housekeeper said weakly, “I’m afraid it’s too late. The relatives of the servants who took the medicine yesterday have confirmed that it is really good medicine.”
Magistrate Shi’s gaze darkened as he said fiercely, “Then arrest them all to set an example!”
The housekeeper said in a trembling voice, “But there are so many people!”
Magistrate Shi roared, “They are rioters now, rioters who want to rebel. The rioters should be executed on the spot! Now, subdue them while things can be controlled!”
The housekeeper gritted his teeth and said, “Sir, why don’t we run now?”
Magistrate Shi looked at his trembling face and sneered. “Run! Where can we go? If I give up my status as a magistrate and leave this residence, I’ll die! Even if I don’t die, no matter the Ling or Chu kingdom wins, none of them will let me, a despicable person, off!”
Magistrate Shi’s heart-wrenching determination seemed to reflect the days of this housekeeper in the future.
“If you’re not ruthless to others, you’re being ruthless to yourself. Go and get someone to do it quickly!” Magistrate Shi gritted his teeth and made a final decision.
What could the butler do? He and Magistrate Shi were in the same boat. He could only harden his heart and make arrangements.
The seconds ticked by.
The door of the magistrate’s residence was not opened. Instead, a large group of soldiers with bows and arrows quickly rushed out and stopped all the commoners.
Before the commoners could react, the leader of the soldiers shot out a sharp arrow. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The sharp arrow fell like a rain of flowers. In an instant, a large number of commoners fell.
When Gu Zhongxun saw this, he hurriedly shouted at the soldiers who were shooting, “Stop! Stop!”
No one listened to him. All the officers and soldiers could think about was shooting these disobedient citizens clean. Then they would obtain the plague medicine.
A few of the men among the commoners dodged in time and whistled.
The magistrate had a prescription and medicinal herbs, but he refused to save the commoners. The news swept through every corner of Jiangyuan City like a whirlwind.
Soon, more civilians rushed over from behind the soldiers.
The soldiers suddenly turned around and realized that there were so many citizens. They panicked for a moment before immediately changing directions and aiming their bows at them.
Gu Zhongxun rushed out and grabbed the arm of one of the soldiers. “You can’t shoot! They’re all innocent citizens!”
As he spoke, someone in the crowd took the lead and shouted, “Charge! Kill the dog official and avenge everyone!”
“Charge! Defeat the dog official and get the medicine. Then, everyone will recover!”
“Kill the dog official!”
“Kill the dog official!”
The officer whose arm was grabbed by Gu Zhongxun was a little hesitant at first. When he saw the commoners charging over ferociously, he immediately raised his bow and shot another commoner without hesitation.
Gu Zhongxun’s eyes turned red when he saw that the civilians who were shot were only half-grown children.
He looked at the soldiers and the hundred families who were already fighting and shouted sadly, “There will be medicine. What are you doing—!!!”
All the citizens of Jiangyuan City seemed to have gone crazy as they rushed towards the magistrate’s residence. They were even muttering, “Hurry up, hurry up. If you’re any slower, there won’t be any medicine left…”
Gu Zhongxun shouted at them again, “There will be medicine. Don’t be anxious! Even if there isn’t any now, the government won’t ignore you! Everyone, wait a little longer. If you gather together like this, it will accelerate the infection. Those who aren’t sick will get sick!”
If Magistrate Shi was really willing to give them the medicine, no one would have to snatch it!
Magistrate Shi would also not shoot the commoners in anger!
This meant that he refused to give them the medicine at all!
Instead of waiting for death, they might as well strike first!
The dog official who was thinking of harming the people deserved to die!
Not a single citizen stopped because of his words. They were all trying their best to squeeze forward.
Swish! An arrow shot towards Gu Zhongxun.
Gu Zhongxun looked up, his pupils contracting violently. Just as the arrow was about to penetrate his heart, the tip of the arrow and a sword blade collided with a clang.
Qingfeng stood in front of Gu Zhongxun and said to Lin Yue, “Throw him on the horse.”
Lin Yue nodded. “Okay.”
Before Gu Zhongxun could react, the world spun and Gu Zhongxun was hung on Lin Yue’s horse.
Qingfeng, Li Niang, and the others cleared the way. Lin Yue rushed out of the crowd with Gu Zhongxun.
After leaving the magistrate’s residence, Gu Zhongxun then remembered to struggle and shout, “Who are you? Where are you taking me?”
“Put me down!”
Qingfeng gave Lin Yue a look, and Gu Zhongxun’s mouth was gagged.
Lin Yue met his angry gaze and comforted him. “You can’t salvage anything by staying here. Come with us obediently!” Who would have thought that the prescription that was meant to save the people had become the fuse to destroy a city?
Gu Zhongxun was suddenly stunned and stopped struggling.
Lin Yue was right. There was nothing he could do even if he stayed.
Even if there was a prescription, even if they knew that they could control the plague, no one would care about the life and death of this group of people.
There was already not enough food, so how could Magistrate Shi be willing take out so many herbs? He had been lying to him from the beginning!
The most lamentable thing was that he was helpless towards the situation. He did not even have the ability to give ordinary people medicine now.
Gu Zhongxun looked at the zombie-like Jiangyuan City and suddenly laughed.
Lin Yue looked down. He was smiling in a way that was uglier than crying. It was really creepy.
The soldiers were not in the mood to defend the city. The city gate was deliberately opened by someone, and more refugees rushed in.
Qingfeng and the others went against the flow of the crowd. The soldiers on the city gate followed them closely. One of them asked, “Should we send someone to kill them?”
The man next to him glanced at the chaotic city and shook his head. “There’s no need. It’s already a foregone conclusion that Duke Ping will kill the infected soldiers. Nothing they say can change the truth.” Then he suddenly said, “The person who can make the plague prescription is indeed a talent. Send someone to follow them and capture them to serve the Eldest Prince. We will definitely make a great contribution.”
Qingfeng and the others rode their horses in the direction of Bai Wutong and the others. Li Niang suddenly reminded, “Commander, someone is following us.”
Qingfeng said calmly, “I know. Let’s deal with them in front.”
The ten people who were following Qingfeng also quietly got off their horses after seeing them alight. With a whoosh, a choking chili powder attacked them. Their eyes were covered and they screamed as they fell to the ground and rolled around.
Qingfeng quickly pressed her sword against someone’s throat and asked in a low voice, “Were you sent here?”
The man pointed at by Qingfeng narrowed his eyes and said gloomily, “We’re men from Duke Chu. If you know what’s good for you…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Qingfeng slit the man’s neck.
When the others heard the man grunt and fall to the ground, they were so frightened that their scalps went numb. They took a few steps back and shouted, “We’re really Duke Chu’s people. As long as your master serves the Eldest Prince with us, we guarantee that you’ll have everything.”
“Eldest Prince?”
“Our eldest prince is the only legitimate son of Duke Chu. He’s extremely smart and intelligent. His future will definitely be bright if you pledge your loyalty to him!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold light flashed. Qingfeng, who had already found out who was behind them, mercilessly killed them all.