Chapter 726
Chapter 726
“If we were to assault the city, regardless of the cost, could we annihilate Shen Lang's army?”
Li Xuanqi replied to the King of Chu's question.
“We could. Their arrows are finite, are they not? This is enemy territory for them; they will have no way to resupply their arrows.”
Yes, that certainly made sense.
“However, Your Majesty, to kill all of Shen Lang's soldiers, our casualties would be even greater than they are now. His army is too strong. There is no need for us to do so. As Shen Lang said, it is most beneficial to us if Ning Zheng inherits the throne of Yue.”
The King of Chu poured himself a cup of tea and drank.
“What of the soldiers' morale?”
“Our army's spirit remains high, and their killing intent has only deepened. Furthermore, countless wandering swordsmen and young men in the capital have all answered the call to enlist, eager to join our ranks. Many commoners who sent provisions also wish to participate in this war of vengeance.”
“Grand Preceptor, in a situation like this, do you think I can stop the fighting? Do I dare?”
Indeed. At present, everyone in the capital of Chu was of one heart and one mind. The King of Chu could not let the passion of his soldiers and people grow cold.
“Continue the assault tomorrow. Since Shen Lang has brought up halting the battle for negotiations, he must have a solution that benefits both sides. We will focus on the siege. If he hasn't devised a good plan, then we will have no choice but to spill the last drop of our soldiers' blood. At a time like this, I absolutely cannot betray the hearts of the people of Chu, nor can I let the spirits of my soldiers wane.”
***
The next day.
The King of Chu once again ordered an assault on the city, and the fierce battle erupted anew. The casualties today were slightly fewer than yesterday, but still high, nearing twenty thousand. Yet, there was also good news. One after another, military units rushed to the capital, declaring their intent to join the war of vengeance. Truly, all of Chu was united in heart and mind, offering their fervent loyalty, something that simply could not be betrayed.
‘Damn it, what am I to do now?’
The King of Chu was, on one hand, overjoyed, and on the other, fraught with anxiety. But then, a calamity struck. A plague broke out in the capital and among the army of Chu. The situation grew more severe and terrifying by the hour, with more soldiers and commoners falling ill each day.
Moreover, it was June, the hottest time of the year. The battlefield had been too intense, the corpses too numerous, and the filth had piled up too high, creating the perfect conditions for an epidemic to flourish. The plague became so virulent that continuing the battle was no longer possible. Eventually, the King of Chu and Ning Zheng exchanged messages from a distance, agreeing to a temporary cessation of hostilities.
***
After the fighting stopped, the King of Chu declared an all-out war against the plague. He worked tirelessly, day and night, personally directing and explaining to the people how to combat the epidemic. He even entered the isolation wards where those infected with the plague were kept, visiting the afflicted soldiers and vowing to do everything in his power to save them, promising that not a single person would be abandoned. Countless commoners and soldiers were moved to tears by his actions, ready to lay down their lives for their king at a moment's notice.
‘Heaven has blessed us. After our late king left our side, we have been given such a wise and brilliant new monarch.’
Under the King of Chu’s dedicated leadership, the plague gradually began to come under control. But then, the king himself collapsed. He was struck with a sudden high fever, vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, his body breaking out in sores. The soldiers and people of Chu were heartbroken.
‘No, it cannot be. Oh, heavens, please protect our king. We just lost our former king. We absolutely cannot lose our new king as well.’
In every home in the capital, incense was burned. Countless people knelt, pressing their foreheads to the ground, begging the heavens to spare them and not take their king. However, the King of Chu’s illness only worsened. His breathing grew shallow, his life hanging by a thread, and it seemed disaster was imminent. Numerous physicians were consulted, but none could cure him. The situation was so urgent that there was no time to summon the most skilled medical scholars from the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion. The King of Chu could pass away at any moment. If the new King of Chu were to die, it would truly be a world-shaking event, a fatal catastrophe for the State of Chu.
In that moment of crisis, the civil and military officials of Chu remembered that Shen Lang was a miraculous physician. But wasn't he the enemy? The mortal foe who had burned down their royal palace. Yet, no matter how deep the grudge, could it compare to the life of their new king? Finally, the officials of Chu made their decision and requested Shen Lang’s help. Grand Preceptor Li Xuanqi personally entered the inner city to meet with Shen Lang and pleaded with him to save the King of Chu.
Without a second word, Shen Lang walked out from the inner city and treated the king. The treatment was incredibly perilous. The king fainted multiple times, his body covered in festering sores, and at times he could barely breathe. His fever soared to a level no ordinary person could withstand. After a full day and night of treatment, the King of Chu's temperature began to drop, and his vital signs gradually stabilized, indicating he would live. The ministers wept with joy.
‘The sky has not fallen.’
Another day passed, and the king's fever broke completely; his life was saved. Shen Lang was truly a miraculous physician. First, he had cured Zhang Chong's incurable intestinal abscess, and now he had cured the King of Chu's severe plague! After finishing the treatment, Shen Lang made no demands and immediately returned to the inner city. The King of Chu had narrowly escaped death, but he remained so weak he could do nothing. Moreover, the plague within the capital began to rage once more.
At that moment, Shen Lang stepped forward again. He sent the ministers of Chu a book detailing protocols for plague prevention and provided medicinal prescriptions. Not only that, but after gaining the consent of the King of Chu and his ministers, over a hundred of Shen Lang’s military doctors, completely covered from head to toe, emerged from the inner city and began treating the infected soldiers and people of Chu.
Shen Lang was indeed a genius. The most crucial aspects of dealing with a plague were isolation and prevention, not treatment. The plague prevention manual he provided was flawless. In particular, the methods of isolation, disinfection with quicklime, and sterilization with boiling water instantly brought the epidemic under control, preventing its further spread. Furthermore, Shen Lang was a miraculous physician. Although there were still a considerable number of casualties among the infected soldiers and commoners, his prescriptions saved many lives.
As things progressed, a strange scene unfolded. The armies of Chu and Yue, which had previously been fighting to the death, now united with one heart to combat the plague together. Many conspiracy theorists claimed that Shen Lang had created the plague, but that was absurd. Shen Lang’s own troops, who had been perfectly healthy when they came to treat the people of Chu, later became infected themselves, suffering casualties. After twenty days of struggle, the armies of Chu and Yue finally managed to completely suppress the epidemic. But by then, there was truly no way to resume the battle.
On June 28th, the King of Chu officially began negotiations with Ning Zheng.
***
The gaunt King of Chu looked at Shen Lang with a complex expression. The plague had been relentless; at its peak, the number of infected had exceeded eighty thousand. In the end, about three thousand people had died. It was a frightening number, but compared to the deaths on the battlefield, it was relatively small. Halting the war had become the only logical course of action. Even the enmity between the two armies had gradually dissipated through their joint battle against the plague.
The King of Chu spoke.
“Shen Lang, you burned our royal palace, so you must pay reparations. And don’t offer some goods valued at two million gold coins. Who knows what the actual cost of those items is?”
Shen Lang replied.
“Your Majesty, the State of Yue cannot afford to pay that sum! If His Highness Ning Zheng is to win, he must win thoroughly.”
“I don’t care who pays the money, but the two million gold coins must be paid in gold. It can be paid in installments over five years.”
“I can certainly have the Heavenly Path Society pay the gold. However, they must be allowed to enter the markets of Chu. We cannot expect the Heavenly Path Society to pay that gold for nothing. If they are to pay two million gold coins within five years, they must be able to earn at least three million.”
The King of Chu stood on high, gazing at the ruins of his palace.
“The palace must be rebuilt as it was before. We will use timber and glazed tiles. We will not use those nonsensical things you speak of. Our Chu Royal Palace cannot deviate from established norms.”
Shen Lang sighed. It was such a pity. He had originally planned to help build the Chu Royal Palace as a grand advertisement to promote the development of a new construction industry.
“However, the Heavenly Path Society may enter the markets of our State of Chu. I wish to buy steel from you. Will you sell it?”
“I will! Your Majesty, glass, cigarettes, and jade bricks are all fine goods. Why would you not consider buying them? The royal family of Chu can enter into a joint venture with the Heavenly Path Society and make money from the nobles and wealthy of Chu. I guarantee that within a few years, you will become the richest king in the world.”
At Shen Lang’s words, the King of Chu sighed.
“The rich and powerful are corrupt and decadent; no one can stop them. If the Heavenly Path Society brings those goods to sell, I cannot prevent it. But do not think of making our Chu royal family bear that responsibility, and a joint venture is even more impossible. I will simply levy heavy taxes on the profits they make from their business.”
Shen Lang smiled faintly. There were some things the King of Chu didn't say aloud, but in truth, he had long intended to bring in the Heavenly Path Society to gradually suppress the Hidden Yuan Society. With a smile still on his face, Shen Lang said.
“I am confident that the Heavenly Path Society will be delighted to pay that gold.”
***
The next day.
The King of Chu amended the previous armistice agreement signed with the State of Yue and officially signed a new one with Ning Zheng.
II. The states of Chu and Yue will completely cease hostilities, and the border will be restored to its state from two years prior.
III. The Heavenly Path Society will pay two million gold coins within five years to aid in the reconstruction of the Chu Royal Palace.
IV. To facilitate the Heavenly Path Society's payment for the construction of the Chu Royal Palace, the State of Chu will permit the Heavenly Path Society to establish commercial institutions within its territory.>
After the armistice was signed, the people of Chu fell silent. They were neither joyful nor angry. This agreement could not truly be called a victory. Ning Zheng and Shen Lang, who had burned the palace, went unpunished. The Yue army was not annihilated but was allowed to withdraw unscathed. However, they could not blame their king for this. How could they? The king had already done his best. It wasn't that he didn't want to fight; it was that the situation made it impossible to continue. Such a wise, brilliant, brave, and fearless king should not be criticized.
Moreover, the plague had only been brought under control, not completely eradicated. If they were to fight again and suffer massive casualties, the plague would likely break out once more. Besides, although Shen Lang had committed the heinous act of burning the royal palace, he had also saved His Majesty the King, so his merits and demerits coexisted. Of course, the two acts did not cancel each other out, but it was a fact that Shen Lang’s contribution had been crucial in controlling the plague in the capital. If he had not stepped in to help, there was no telling how far the epidemic would have spread or how many would have died tragically. So, in a way, he had done the State of Chu a favor.
Furthermore, during this battle, the Yue army had been in an extremely perilous situation, yet from beginning to end, Shen Lang had never dragged out the Queen Dowager to use as a hostage. His army had pushed back the great army of Chu from the city walls on their own strength alone. That army was truly formidable. They had not relied on schemes but fought with their own power, repelling the Chu army for two consecutive days—a fact that had to be acknowledged. The strong always command a certain admiration.