Fang Ersan and the others waited in the car for a long time until they heard the roar of the armored vehicles.
Turning their heads to look into the distance, six armored vehicles were steadily approaching.
The slippery road had no effect on the tracks, and mud and water splashed everywhere.
When they got close to the pickup truck, Huang Sheng got out of the armored vehicle, holding a jar in one hand and a simple mask in the other.
"Marquis, here are the things you requested.
There are twenty jars of alcohol; Uncle Zhang said it was distilled ten times.
We've made a thousand masks, and Hua Niang and the others are still working on them.
Sun Zhenren's microscope is also here, inside the vehicle.
The Tian Huo Army is behind us and will likely take some time to arrive."
Fang Er took the masks and put one on, feeling its quality.
"Damn system!
All my boxes of masks are gone!
Bring a few more."
Huang Sheng retrieved more masks from the armored vehicle. Fang Er pointed to Sun Simiao and Jiang Shi.
"Give them some."
Sun Simiao took a mask, examined it curiously for a while, and then put it on like Fang Er.
With each breath, his eyes brightened, and he couldn't help but ask Fang Er, "Marquis of Liaodong, is this what you mentioned, a means to prevent the spread of epidemics?"
Fang Er nodded.
"This is just one part of it, mainly for preventing diseases spread through droplets.
And then he pointed to the jar in Huang Sheng's hand.
"This jar contains strong liquor, distilled ten times, which can kill the tiny creatures that have come into contact with our hands and bodies.
Now, we can enter the town!"
The three led the way, with the Yan Yun cavalry behind them. The twenty-one people, wearing masks, entered the town.
As soon as they entered the town, they saw empty streets.
There wasn't a single pedestrian on the street, and every house had its doors tightly shut.
Jiang Shi said from the side, "This Huang Liang Town has four hundred households, two thousand residents, and covers an area of about a li.
Ever since the smallpox outbreak, everyone has been staying indoors, afraid of being infected.
Some also tried to escape, but were caught and brought back by the town's Lizheng.
Marquis of Liaodong, shall we go to the Lizheng's house first?"
Fang Er nodded.
Jiang Shi quickened his pace, leading the way. After walking a hundred more paces, he turned a corner and arrived at a house.
It was a rammed earth house with a thatched roof, and the courtyard wall was only about ten meters long.
Jiang Shi pointed to the dilapidated wooden door with holes in it and said, "Marquis, this is the place."
Fang Er waved his hand.
Zhang De stepped forward from behind and knocked loudly on the wooden door.
"Is anyone..."
Before he could finish, the wooden door fell inward.
Zhang De looked at Fang Er with embarrassment.
"Marquis, I didn't use much force!"
Fang Er glared at him. "Fix the door for them!"
The commotion outside eventually reached the courtyard.
An old man with slightly graying hair came out from inside, looking at Fang Ersan and the others at the entrance with some fear.
Remembering that he was the Lizheng, he mustered his courage and shouted, "What's going on? What do you want?"
If it weren't for his steadily retreating footsteps, Fang Er wouldn't have thought this old man was so formidable.
Jiang Shi stepped over the fallen wooden door and entered.
"Old Huang, it's me."
When the old man heard his voice, he asked with some uncertainty, "Are you, Magistrate Jiang?"
Jiang Shi nodded, pulled down his mask to let him see clearly, and then put it back on.
The old man then relaxed.
"Hahaha, I thought it was some ruffians. It's Magistrate Jiang! Come in, come in quickly."
Jiang Shi didn't move, looking at Fang Er and Sun Simiao at the entrance.
Seeing this, the two walked in. Jiang Shi introduced them.
"Marquis of Liaodong, Sun Zhenren, this is the Lizheng of Huang Liang Town, Huang Shuliang."
Fang Er was taken aback when he heard the name, then looked around the courtyard.
"Alright, no chickens are being raised."
Hearing Jiang Shi's address to them, Huang Shuliang quickly came forward to pay his respects.
"Greetings, Marquis, greetings, Sun Zhenren."
The reputations of these two were well-known far and wide.
One, at a young age, had conquered nations and been granted a marquis title.
The other was like an immortal being on earth, with medical skills rumored to have saved countless lives.
Fang Er waved his hand.
"No need for formalities. I heard that some people in Huang Liang Town have contracted smallpox. Is this true?"
Upon mentioning smallpox, Huang Shuliang's expression became agitated.
"It is true. Please, Sun Zhenren, display your divine skills and bring them back to life!"
After speaking, he actually knelt down towards Sun Simiao.
The quick-handed Old Sun grabbed him and helped him up.
"Please don't do that. Where are the patients? Please lead us to see them, Lizheng Huang."
Huang Sheng took out a mask from his pocket and handed it to him, "Put this on, and lead the way!"
Huang Shuliang looked at the mask, then at the faces of Fang Er and the others.
He imitated their actions and put it on, saying through the mask, "They are all in the Earth God Temple! It's on the east side of the town!"
"Marquis, Daoist Master Sun, please follow me."
With that, he led the group out of the courtyard.
They walked to the east side of the town, and a dilapidated Earth God Temple appeared before them.
The temple gate was wide open. As they approached the gate, they saw people lying all over the courtyard, haphazardly.
Moans of pain occasionally echoed in the courtyard.
These people's faces were covered in pustules, some many, some few. Some pustules were red, while others had already turned yellow and were oozing pus!
Fang Er felt goosebumps all over.
The scene was terrifying!
The Lizheng Huang stood beside Fang Er, not daring to enter.
"Marquis, Daoist Master Sun, everyone in the town who is sick has been sent here. There is no medicine, and they can only wait for death.
Please have mercy on them, Marquis! Save them!"
Old Sun walked in without any discomfort, without even a frown.
Seeing him, dressed as a Daoist priest, walk in, the patients seemed to see a glimmer of hope for survival.
"Old immortal, save me!"
"Help me! I don't want to die!"