Chapter 31 - Bai Chongye does not care

The next day, the health counselors of Anhui have requested a meeting with Bai Chongye. Deaths with unknown origin have been reported in the city and counselors worked out that it might be a new disease spreading around.

Bai Chongye enters the room, while his counselors bow to him:

-Your Majesty is wise!

He goes toward his throne, sitting in it:

-You may rise. What's going on?

One of his counselors moves and bows to him:

-Your Majesty, our hospitals are reporting an increase in the death figures. We have lost almost 100 people every single day in the last 15 days for an unknown cause. We worked out that it might be an unknown, new disease spreading in our population. 

-Who cares?

-We think this may turn to be a serious issue in a few weeks. The disease may spread further and cause turmoil. Our city is too large and we may not be able to contain it.

-Turmoil? We kill anyone trying to disturb us! 

-We kindly ask Your Majesty some time to work out a way to know and study the disease, even if Your Majesty thinks it is not that big deal. 

-You don't need to. I received a letter from Ding Qi, king of Huangshan. This new disease you are talking about might be the same that is affecting his kingdom. By now, he must have way more information than us, so I'll order the prince to go there, get the information we need, or arrest him if he refuses to cooperate. Take your leave, what a pointless meeting! - Bai Chongye is angry. 

The counselors leave the room quickly. Bai Chongye curses:

-This is such a non-issue. 100 people among a million? Are they that naive? 

Bai Chongye meets with Yu Yang, who was polishing his sword:

-Hey, Yu Yang.

-Your Majesty is blessed! - He stops polishing the sword and bows to him.

-I order you to visit Ding Qi, that bastard king in Huangshan. It is being said that a new disease is spreading there, and they have noticed it some days before us, so maybe he has information that may be useful to us. You must force him to tell everything he knows about it, if he refuses, you may arrest him. Do not kill him, this only I can do, and will do if I think necessary to.

-Your wish is an order.

-Take your leave now. You have four days, if you can't return on time, send me a letter.

Yu Yang packs a few things he may need, and mount on a horse. The distance to Huangshan is close to 600 li, and he will have to change horses at least four times, so he will be able to cover close to 200 li per day. Anhui has fast and strong horses, so he can travel all this distance in a shorter time by changing horses along the way.  

   

Meanwhile, back in Zhejiang, Zhong Kunyi, Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan were packing the components needed for Ding Qi to perform the tests. Feng Long was also nearby:

-Zhang Yi, we will need to carry out our testing as well. 

-Yes, Your Majesty. I'll organize it for us tomorrow. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I feel a bit worried about not creating a treatment in time.

 

Feng Long puts his hand over Zhang Yi's left shoulder:

-I understand that you are under stress... I don't want to see you feeling that bad so take a break when necessary. 

Zhang Yi smiles:

-Thank you so much for your consideration, Your Majesty, I feel blessed... 

Feng Long smiles and moves towards the carriage being loaded. Zhong Kunyi is checking the quantities, Feng Long moves his hand and touches Zhong Kunyi in the shoulder. He smiles:

-This will greatly help our friend, his highness Ding Qi. And also help us to ensure that our empire is free from the disease. 

-I hope so. I'm worried that this disease may cause great harm to our economy. 

-This is understandable, but I'm confident Zhang Yi will be able to develop an effective treatment soon, as we managed to do back in the Lishui epidemic. 

Zhong Kunyi closes the lids of the containers, made of wood. Four soldiers are dispatched to carry on with the shipping:

-Please, I order you to deliver this to Ding Qi, King of Huangshan. He is waiting for it, so you only have to show your official seals to the soldiers. 

The soldiers bow to Feng Long, who hugs each one as a farewell. They then start their journey to Huangshan, which is estimated to take up to three days due to the extra load the horses will have to handle. 

...

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