After the discussion, no final decision was made.
The sky gradually dimmed. Du Gu Luanyue looked in the direction of the South City Gate at dusk. There was a faint rouge-like color, which was the dim afterglow left by the evening glow dying the sky.
It was just like her current mood. As the current magistrate of this city, the life and death of the common people actually depended on her single thought.
In the past, her father had taught her that a benevolent ruler who showed great love was a wise one.
At this moment, she actually had a risky idea in her mind, but it was too dangerous for her to speak it out easily.
Aunt Mei Jiang stood with her under the eaves. Still feeling rather stifled, she said:
"I still don't understand, Your Highness. Why did you give such an important thing to the Prince of Yuzhang? Have you cared so much about the Prince of Yuzhang that you're willing to give away such a precious treasure?"
Du Gu Luanyue pulled back her thoughts and turned around. Her expression was rather solemn.
"Aunt, perhaps you think that once Huo Wei is dead, our mission will be over and there will no longer be such a terrifying figure as the God of War in Northern Yan to attack Southern Chu, right?"
Aunt Mei Jiang nodded.
Du Gu Luanyue sneered.
"You think the disaster in Danyang City was a natural one, but in fact, it was a man - made one from the very beginning.
I've observed and thought about the matter of the South City Gate for a long time, and I've finally understood.
Someone deliberately wanted the plague to spread into Southern Chu. Once Southern Chu was trapped by the plague, there would be no need for Huo Wei to occupy Southern Chu's territory."
Aunt Mei Jiang suddenly looked up, surprised. "Your Highness, what do you mean? Someone did it deliberately?"
Du Gu Luanyue's cold and majestic face was full of wounds, showing the anger of a ruler. "Yes.
A man like Huo Wei can't be easily controlled by an ordinary king. Murong Min couldn't have let him lead troops to attack Southern Chu after he destroyed Western Liao.
If that were the case, the military power in Huo Wei's hands would be enough to confront the emperor.
Throughout the dynasties, which king would allow a general as fierce as a beast to hold the military power of half the country?
If both the generals in the west and the south became Huo Wei's subordinates, wouldn't Murong Min's throne be half - empty?
After Murong Min attacked Western Liao, the national strength of Northern Yan was somewhat damaged. So he came up with a despicable method.
He raised the plague in Danyang City like a kind of venom. When the people's resentment reached a certain level, he would use the incident of the common people breaking through the South City Gate to spread the plague to Southern Chu.
By then, there would be chaos in Southern Chu. Given my father's character, he would surely spare no effort to save the common people.
When the plague was coming to an end, Northern Yan would send troops southward. Any mature general could bring Southern Chu to the brink of destruction. At this time, there would be no need for Huo Wei at all."
Aunt Mei Jiang's expression changed from confusion to shock, and then to anger.
"What a Northern Yan Emperor! Your Highness has become his imperial queen, yet he still schemes against Southern Chu like this.
Not to mention Your Highness's relationship with him. Danyang City is an important economic town for the north - south trade. How could he just abandon it?
So many common people, including innocent children and elderly people, and so many happy families will all die because of his desires. How cruel - hearted he is!"
Du Gu Luanyue half - lowered her jade - like eyes and said softly, "If it weren't for Huo Wei's deterrence in Danyang City and his desperate resistance, the plague would have broken out in Southern Chu.
No matter how fast the decoction is brewed, it can't match the spread speed of the plague. Moreover, the medicinal materials are limited. Even if Southern Chu reacts quickly, it can't avoid the disaster.
Since this is a man - made disaster rather than a natural one, there will be people causing trouble, which will make the situation even worse.
Aunt, if Huo Wei really dies like this, I'm sure that Danyang City will fall into chaos from within to without, and no general can stabilize the overall situation.
No matter how big the chaos in Northern Yan is, it's just sacrificing Danyang City. But we Southern Chu will suffer even greater losses.
In this game of natural and man - made disasters, Huo Wei is no longer our enemy, but our ally."
Sheng Yunqi didn't know when he had walked over. He actually heard what Du Gu Luanyue had just said.
Du Gu Luanyue stood beside a pillar and looked at him sadly.
She knew the long - standing affection between her and Sheng Yunqi. Just now, she had been forced by Huo Wei to say those words in front of Sheng Yunqi. Sheng Yunqi must have been heart - broken.
"Yunqi, after we return to Southern Chu, you'd better find a good spouse. It's me who has let you down."
He stared deeply at Du Gu Luanyue, his eyebrows furrowing.
"What you said just now makes sense. I'm not an unreasonable person.
I can understand why you want to save Huo Wei. Although I'm indignant, I also know you have no other choice.
Huo Wei can really help you in Northern Yan."
In Sheng Yunqi's heart, as long as Du Gu Luanyue didn't give away the Golden Elixir just because she liked Huo Wei, he wouldn't have completely lost.
He knew that in Du Gu Luanyue's heart, nothing was more important than the safety of Southern Chu.
"Don't say such things as finding another spouse or letting me down. I'll wait for you, wait for you to come back from Northern Yan.
I came to you now to ask for the order to leave the city. If the South City Gate can't hold up, Southern Chu has to make preparations in advance."
Du Gu Luanyue felt a bit comforted when she saw Sheng Yunqi like this. As a native of Southern Chu and a noble of Southern Chu, Sheng Yunqi finally had the common people in mind at this moment.
She composed herself and quickly walked towards the study. "I was just about to talk about this. Call Military Advisor Shen here immediately. Let's discuss it together."
Everyone gathered in the temporarily - built study. Du Gu Luanyue said, "I've made up my mind. I'm going to actively open the South City Gate and stop the blockade."
Sheng Yunqi suddenly widened his eyes. "Luanyue, what are you talking about!"
Military Advisor Shen looked confused. "I'm all ears, Your Highness."
Du Gu Luanyue said, "Has everyone read *The Strategy of Controlling Floods in the Nine Provinces*? The best strategy for flood control is to dredge and divert the water, rather than blocking it all the time. Blocking will only lead to the collapse of the dam.
Let's regard the common people in Danyang City as water. Let's tell them that:
Those who have recovered from the illness should stay in the area designated by the court for three days. If there are no symptoms, they can leave through the South City Gate.
Those who are still ill should continue to receive active treatment. Once the symptoms disappear, they will have the opportunity to move to the symptom - free area.
Those who are not sure should actively seek confirmation from the court. If they have no symptoms, they can be directly released outside the city.
The court will only provide 800 quotas every day. First come, first served. Once the quotas are used up, there will be none left for that day."
Shen Guilan was the first to understand. His eyes lit up.
"Your Highness really has a brilliant plan. In this way, we can divert the people, encourage them to receive active treatment, and it will be easier for the court to manage them. They won't run around randomly, and their attention will be focused on those 800 quotas.
It's really a wonderful plan, a wonderful plan!"
After Du Gu Luanyue finished speaking, she looked at Sheng Yunqi.
"I'm still worried that there might be some people who slip through the net once the common people in Danyang City leave the city. So at this time, I need you, Yunqi, to mobilize the Southern Chu army.
Lead the common people in Danyang City to a deserted village on the border, keep them under centralized supervision for five or six days, and then release them if there are no problems.
In this way, as the time is prolonged, it will be easy to tell if there are any people who slip through the net.
Moreover, there are only 800 quotas every day, so the pressure on the border of Southern Chu won't be too great."
But at this time, Sheng Yunqi stood up. "But if something unexpected happens and the plague spreads in Southern Chu, no one can bear the consequences."
Du Gu Luanyue looked up from inside the room to the sky, with a desolate smile on her face. "If something unexpected happens and it brings disaster to Southern Chu, I, Du Gu Luanyue, will take the primary responsibility. I'll be willing to die to atone for my sin against Southern Chu."