The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

Chapter 68 Red Poison

On the outskirts of Beining City, in a dilapidated temple, several men who looked like refugees were quickly changing their clothes.

"Everyone hurry up and burn all the clothes. Don't leave any trace."

The leader, a man with triangular eyes and a flat nose, urged them on with a stern voice.

The other three remained silent, but moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, they had all changed into merchant attire.

"This operation left no loose ends, right?"

The leading man questioned him in a cold voice.

The three men immediately shook their heads. One of them replied, "Boss, we infiltrated the area half a month ago disguised as refugees. We waited for more than ten days before daring to make our move. No one will suspect us."

"Well, that's best."

The leading man nodded slightly, but still added with concern, "You all continue to lie low in Beining City. If the Third Prince issues any new orders, I will come to find you."

"Remember, don't rush to spend the money we give you, and make sure you don't attract too much attention."

"Understood, we know what's important."

The man nodded repeatedly, and then the four of them quietly left.

At the same time, Qin Xuan arrived at several wells in the Northern Wilderness.

These wells were built by Qin Xuan at the beginning of the establishment of the Northern Wilderness District.

"Your Highness, do you suspect there's something wrong with the well water?"

Seeing Qin Xuan's expression, Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but guess.

Qin Xuan nodded slightly: "It's not clear yet. Go and order someone to bring over a few death row inmates. I need to test it out."

Then, Qin Xuan immediately called over the doctor who was treating him and asked what kind of illness it was.

As a result, the doctors had different opinions. Some said it was a cold or heat-related illness, while others said it was typhoid fever. Fortunately, the possibility of an epidemic was ruled out.

"Your Highness, I have a guess, but I don't know if I should say it."

A lean old man said in a low voice.

Unlike other doctors, this man was dressed in rags and didn't even have a pair of proper shoes.

In comparison, while other doctors may not be dressed in fine silks and brocades, they are at least presentable.

"Sir, please speak."

Qin Xuan naturally wouldn't judge a book by its cover, and he treated him with the same respect that a doctor should have.

The old man was somewhat flattered and said nervously, "I come from Danxia City. I almost lost my life before. It was thanks to Your Highness that you sent someone to save me. That's why I am willing to risk offending my fellow countrymen and say a few words that I shouldn't say."

It's clear that the old man is somewhat self-conscious and struggling internally.

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "When I was examining these people, I found that they all lacked vital energy and had accumulated pathogenic factors. They had symptoms of damp heat on their skin, but no internal heat. In addition, the sick people had persistent diarrhea and vomiting. I'm afraid someone deliberately poisoned them, which is why so many refugees fell ill at the same time."

"Red Poison?"

This was the first time Qin Xuan had heard this name.

The old man nodded: "This poison originally came from southern Yunnan and was later introduced to the Central Plains, but it has not appeared for many years."

"Although I am from Danxia City, my ancestors came from southern Yunnan. In addition, my family has been practicing medicine for generations, so I can say a few things about it."

"If it really is Red Poison, how can it be resolved?"

Qin Xuan frowned and asked.

"If it were in southern Yunnan, it wouldn't be difficult. You could use the bark of the cinchona tree, which is unique to southern Yunnan, grind it into powder, and swallow it to take effect."

"But the land of Yunnan is thousands of miles away from the northern border. Even if we could get it, it would probably be too late. Besides, there are tens of thousands of people poisoned this time, so we probably have the will but not the power."

A trace of sorrow appeared in the old man's eyes, and he sighed helplessly.

"Isn't there any other way?" Qin Xuan frowned.

"Your Highness, as I just said, those poisoned by this substance have lost their vital energy and are instead filled with pathogenic factors. Even if they are given typhoid fever medicine, it will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause." The old man had clearly already considered countermeasures, which is why he felt increasingly powerless.

However, his words gave Qin Xuan a slight reminder. Although he did not understand traditional Chinese medicine, he knew that the so-called "deficiency of righteous qi and accumulation of evil qi" actually meant that a person's resistance had disappeared or weakened, so the person's disease became more difficult to cure.

Suddenly, a drug came to his mind that might have a miraculous effect.

He then said, “Old man, don’t go back yet. If what you say is true, and I can solve the problem of the lack of righteousness, are you confident that you can cure these refugees?”

"Your Highness, can you obtain cinchona bark?"

The old man said excitedly.

"Let's leave it at that."

Qin Xuan didn't have time to explain further and pressed, "Are you confident?"

"This is natural."

The old man patted his chest and said, "My family has been practicing medicine for generations, so I'm confident in my abilities."

"it is good."

Qin Xuan nodded, summoned a Shence Army soldier to take good care of the old man, and then summoned Monkey.

Since the last smallpox outbreak, the monkey had been appointed as a centurion by Qin Xuan and had been training the Shence Army's scouts.

"Your Highness, you were looking for me." Although he had become a centurion, the monkey still looked ordinary, the kind of person who would be lost in a crowd and never be found again.

Not wanting to waste time, Qin Xuan briefly explained the current situation and said, "You have been following the refugees and have participated in their rescue work, so you will be in charge of arranging the work from now on."

"I understand."

The monkey nodded solemnly: "Isolate first, then clean, then treat. I will have the workshop prepare masks and soap, and at the same time, I will order people to clean up the filth to ensure the hygiene and safety of the entire Northern Wilderness."

Upon hearing these words, Qin Xuan nodded repeatedly, revealing an approving smile.

Although the monkey was a dwarf, he was more careful and compassionate towards these refugees than anyone else.

"Go ahead and do it with confidence. I believe in your abilities."

Qin Xuan gave a brief instruction, then turned to Zhuge Xuan and asked, "How is the death row inmate's reaction?"

"Not yet..."

Zhuge Xuan had only spoken halfway when a Shence Army soldier suddenly rushed over: "Reporting to Your Highness and Strategist, one of the death row inmates has started to experience abdominal pain."

"It really was poisoned."

Qin Xuan suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with killing intent.

In order to develop the economy, Beining City has not conducted any detailed checks on people coming and going, but has only left some sentries to observe secretly.

But now that I think about it, the thieves must have taken advantage of this loophole to sneak into Beining City.

"Pass down the order to immediately surround the entire Northern Wilderness area. At the same time, impose martial law in Beining City, allowing entry but not exit."

Qin Xuan coldly ordered, "Strategist, immediately send people to check all people entering and leaving the Northern Wilderness area, and at the same time, take stock of the list of refugees. I want to see who dared to poison the well."

"Yes, I will do it right away."

Zhuge Xuan solemnly accepted the order, his heart also surging with killing intent.

"In addition, have someone fill in the existing well and find another place to dig a new well. Guards should be dispatched to patrol at any time afterward."

Qin Xuan added a sentence.

Although this well water poisoning has not yet caused any major deaths, it has served as a wake-up call for Qin Xuan.

As Beining City grows larger and larger, those who covet it will naturally become more and more unscrupulous.

"It seems it's time to properly clean up the snakes, insects, and rodents in this city."

Qin Xuan let out a sinister laugh, his heart filled with murderous intent.