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Chapter 468

Time has unknowingly entered September of 185 BC. As the weather gradually cooled down, the plague that had been raging for most of the summer finally showed a tendency to converge.

However, for this plague, the State of Chu has paid an extremely heavy price. Not to mention, the cost of recruiting doctors from various counties and large-scale acquisition of herbs would be a huge expense. If it weren't for the Red-top merchants who were easier to control and let the drug dealers take the price, the State of Chu would probably have been a huge price.

In addition to the huge consumption of money and food, the losses in personnel are even worse.

It has to be said that Xiangzhuang's emergency measures were quite effective. Due to the barriers of Mianshui, Baishui and river waters and the tight sealing of the navy, the plague was eventually controlled between the two counties of Nanyang and Nanjun, but even if it only affected the two counties, it was enough to cause heavy personnel losses to the State of Chu.

The plague has not completely disappeared, and casualties cannot be counted for the time being. However, Xiangzhuang estimated that at least 200,000 people would die from the plague. This is only the people. In addition to the people, more than 60,000 Chu soldiers died from the plague. Xiangzhuang must admit that in ancient times when medicine was backward, influenza was indeed an absolute super killer!

During the Chu-Han Mianshui War, the number of soldiers killed by the Chu army from beginning to end was only more than 50,000, but just a plague caused the Chu army to lose more than 60,000 soldiers. This made Xiang Zhuang feel bleeding whenever he thought about it, because the 60,000 people who died of the plague were all young and strong men. The population base of Chu State was not strong enough to make Xiang Zhuang completely ignore the 60,000 men!

Moreover, the biggest trouble with the plague is not the plague itself, but the aftermath work after the plague. For example, the qualitative problems of the Chu army soldiers who died of the plague, the pension matters, the post-disaster reconstruction problems of the Nanjun and Nanyang counties, and the large-scale disinfection of the water sources of the two counties, etc., are complicated and all of them are extremely labor-intensive.

The only thing that is thankful is that Yin Xiang was unrestless and had arrived at the Nanyang Camp. All matters that had nothing to do with military affairs have been handed over to Xiang He. Xiang Zhuang no longer had to take care of the overall situation.

At this moment, Xiang Zhuang was patrolling a water source surrounded by important civil and military officials, which was more than a dozen deep wells.

Although the plague has been restrained, this does not mean that it can be taken lightly. In fact, there are still more than 100,000 Chu soldiers who have been isolated and treated. It will take a long time to completely heal or wait for these soldiers to heal themselves. Then, during this period, it is crucial to keep the water source clean.

If the water source is polluted, all previous efforts will be wasted.

Xiang Zhuang was walking and ordered Zidu, who was responsible for the water source to be alerted, said: "General Zidu, he has a hundred and a hundred and a hundred years of practice. Although the epidemic has eased, you must not take it lightly?"

Zidu hurriedly said, "Don't worry, I will pay attention."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qu Bucai, the commander of the Ebony Cliff, suddenly hurried to Xiangzhuang, and took out a small secret letter from his belt and handed it to Xiangzhuang, saying, "King, this is a Feige sent from Xianyang!" Of course, it is impossible for Xianyang to send the Feige sent directly to Nanyang Daying, but it was forwarded by Zhiling and Jiangling.

Xiang Zhuang opened the secret letter and read it in a hurry, his face suddenly darkened.

The secret letter only mentioned one thing. The ebony dead man lurking in Xianyang accidentally saw the Han prince Liu Heng. Yaxiang Baimo ran out overnight and headed towards Luoyang.

Then Xiang Zhuang handed the secret letter to Xiang He, Xiang Tuo, Bi Shu, Baili Xian and other important civil and military officials one by one.

After the ministers finished circulating, Xiang Zhuang took the lead in asking Bailixian: "Ziliang, what do you think about this?"

Baili Xian shook the feather fan in his hand and said in a deep thought: "Liu Bang led his troops outside and kept the prince's reign as usual. Now the Han Dynasty's prince Liu Heng and Bai Mo ran out overnight to Luoyang. This shows that something big enough to shake the foundation of the country has happened in Luoyang."

"A major event that can shake the foundation of the country?" Wu She frowned slightly and asked subconsciously, "What major event will it be?"

"It's just two possibilities." Baili Xian raised his left hand and stretched out his fingers at the middle of the middle, and said, "First, the enemy's army is coming to the city of Luoyang, but our great Chu has not launched a large-scale attack on Luoyang, Qi, Han, and Zhao are being attacked by the Huns, and it is also impossible to threaten Luoyang, so this possibility can be ruled out."

Wu She said again: "But I don't know what the second possibility is?"

Xiang Zhuang's eyes were fixed and he said in a deep voice: "Can Liu Bang have already walked out of Yaoshan? This old man's life is really hard."

"Yes, the second possibility is that Liu Bang will summon you!" Baili Xian smiled slightly and said, "But, Liu Heng and Bai Mo can run away overnight, it can be seen that Liu Bang's situation is very bad. If I had no idea, I would be about to collapse, so I urgently ordered the prince and the prime minister to go to Luoyang to entrust the funeral."

"Are you asking me to be alone?" A cold light suddenly appeared in Xiang Zhuang's eyes.

A cold light flashed in Bailixian's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "King, this may be a good opportunity to defeat others without fighting!"

"Are you saying... you're adding to the point of falling into the wrong place?" Xiang Zhuang picked up a piece of quicklime and threw it into a well.

"Yes, putting down the stones!" Bailixian pointed to the deep well with the feather fan in his hand and said, "Now the Han Kingdom is like a person who fell into the well. As long as he throws a few more stones into the well, he can bury him alive without bloodshed!" After saying this, Bailixian said again, "I think it would be a miraculous effect to send people to spread rumors in Guanzhong at this time."

"This plan is very wonderful!" Bi Shu couldn't help but praise, "My senior brother was summoned by the King of Han to Luoyang to entrust his or her orphan, which shows that Liu Bang was about to entrust with important tasks. However, although he was extraordinary, he had a shallow qualifications. If the King of Han was about to collapse, the group of old and important officials under his tent might not be convinced. If there is any slight disturbance, Guanzhong will inevitably be in chaos."

"Good!" Xiang Zhuang beat the clan hard and ordered Qu Bucai to say, "Old Qu, you will arrange this matter!"

"Here!" Qu Bucai responded with a loud bang and turned around and hurried away. About half a quarter of an hour later, a carrier pigeon flew from the Chu army camp into the night sky and headed straight for Jiangling. This was a secret letter sent by Qu Bucai to the Yimu Cliff Branch of Xianyang. However, the carrier pigeon from the Chu army camp could not fly directly to Xianyang, so he could only use Jiangling to transfer.

#############

Besides, Liu Heng, Bai Mo, and Chen Ping helped Liu Bang's hearse to return to Guanzhong, but he did not die in secret.

Two days later, the Imperial Guard had just passed the new pass under construction (Tongguan in later generations), and a shocking news suddenly came into the Imperial Guard.

"What did you say?" Chen Ping stared at his uncle Sun Ying in disbelief and said in a deep voice, "The news of the king's death has spread throughout Guanzhong?"

Liu Heng, who was in the chief, also had wide eyes and his face was full of disbelief. The white ink, who was in the lower right corner of Liu Heng, frowned deeply and fell into deep thought.

Uncle Sun Ying did not dare to hide it and reported truthfully: "Crown Prince, every sentence is true and there is no deception!"

"How is this possible?" Chen Ping spread his hands and said incredibly, "Apart from the king, the prime minister, this Grand Master and General Shusun, only those dozen imperial guards know about the death of the previous king. Moreover, the matter has only happened for three days, how could it have spread throughout Guanzhong? Isn't this logical?"

"Oh, I was wrong!" Bai Mo suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I have ignored the omnipresent ebony cliff!"

"Ebony Cliff?" Chen Ping knew the elegance when he heard the string song, and said, "What is the Prime Minister saying that the news of the king's death was spread by the people of Ebony Cliff?" It was understandable that the rumors spread by the people of Ebony Cliff were explained.

But after thinking about it, Chen Ping's face changed again. Although the rumors spreading in the Ebony Cliff were just facts. In this way, they were extremely passive. Not to mention anything else, what would Lu Wan, who was heading back to Xianyang after receiving the letter? I'm afraid that this guy would turn around and go back to Jiuyuan? And Lu Tai, what would he react?

"This matter is quite a matter." Chen Ping calmed down and said to Bai Mo, "Prime Minister, we may not be able to act according to the original plan. At least the arrangements for Lu Wan and the General must be advanced."

Bai Mo nodded and made a quick decision: "In this way, let Xianyang leave it to the Grand Tutor, and the original minister will set out to Jinyang day and night!" After saying this, Bai Mo turned his head and ordered Shusun Ying, "General Shusun, you lead fifty cavalry to Shangjun day and night, and be sure to block Yulinkou and not let rumors spread out of the inner Great Wall!"

"Here!" Uncle Sun Ying replied with a loud noise and took the lead in taking the order.

Watching the figure of Uncle Sun Ying leave, Chen Ping said worriedly: "Prime Minister, are you sure about this?"

"Who dares to say that this matter is very sure?" Bai Mo smiled bitterly, then cheered up again, "But now, we can only place our hopes on Champion Hou. We have no choice, right?"

Chen Ping smiled bitterly. At this point, there seems to be no other plan except to trust Zhou Guanfu.

Bai Mo turned around and bowed deeply to Liu Heng, saying, "King, I'm going to set off now."

"Xiangfu must act carefully." Liu Heng couldn't help but give a few words of advice, Bai Mo bowed again and turned around.

Until this moment, Liu Heng didn't know Bai Mo and Chen Ping's plan. Bai Mo had already set out to Jinyang now. However, looking at Chen Ping's appearance, he seemed to have not told Liu Heng the meaning of the plan. Although Liu Heng was depressed, he actually held back and did not ask questions, and only acted as if he was allowed to be fully managed by the Prime Minister and the Grand Master.

Chen Ping pondered in the head of the road for a moment, suddenly summoned an imperial guard and ordered: "Take a hundred cavalry of imperial guards first, be sure to find a person with a physical appearance similar to the previous king in the pavilions of the county and township along the way. If things fail, you will only ask!"

"Here!" The Imperial Guard agreed and took the order.

Chen Ping then turned around and bowed to Liu Heng briefly, saying, "King, the old minister intends to rebuild the Black Ice Platform."

"Black Ice Platform?" Liu Heng paused in his heart. Isn't this the Qin spy agency? But after just being stunned, Liu Heng agreed readily, "If the Grand Master thinks it is necessary, go and do it as soon as possible." (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!
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