Arrows whistled through the air. The man who had been staggering moments before fell to the ground, blood pouring from his body and pooling beneath him like a small lake.
The weeping crowd fell silent, stunned. After a brief pause, they surged like madmen towards the city gates. Xiao Luo raised his hand, and archers were instantly in position. With another sweep of his hand, arrows rained down, striking the refugees below the city walls.
Screams erupted from below the walls. The guards on the ramparts could not bear to watch, but the general had given his orders, and as soldiers, they could only obey.
Xiao Luo stood on the city wall, "As citizens of Yusheng, you have come to the wrong place. Without Yusheng’s official documents, we cannot accept your demands. If you insist on entering the territory of Lanyue, we will treat you as invaders and eliminate you."
"My lord, we are just ordinary civilians. We are unable to survive, which is why we have come to Lanyue for help. Why must you persecute us and demand our lives?"
"According to this general’s knowledge, after Yusheng incorporated Beirong, they were very lenient towards the original citizens of Beirong and announced a series of policies to help you live better lives. Yet, you claim you cannot survive and run to our Lanyue for aid. This is not an act of respect towards Lanyue, but rather harbors malicious intentions, attempting to sow discord between Lanyue and Yusheng. For people like you, this general will naturally strike them down with pleasure."
"You only know half the story. Yusheng did indeed issue a series of policies, but they were intended to suppress us, to make us obey like dogs..."
"What, and in Lanyue, you don't have to obey like dogs?" Xiao Luo asked calmly. Once they entered Lanyue, they would still have to abide by Lanyue's rules. Xiao Man's methods of dealing with rebels were even more extreme than Nangong Yu's.
"Yusheng destroyed our country. We cannot surrender to the enemy!"
"If Yusheng didn't destroy you, we would have. Your fate is that of a conquered people!"
"You..." The commoners below, looking at the general high above on the city wall, were filled with rage, yet they were powerless. They were people living at the very bottom, anyone could trample them like ants. Their lives were as insignificant as blades of grass, yet it was precisely grass that could grow most vigorously.
"Therefore, return to where you belong. You are not welcome here," Xiao Luo said unhurriedly. "When Lanyue annexes Yusheng one day, Lanyue will open its gates to you. For now, go back the way you came."
"My lord, we merely seek a place to rest our heads. Why must you drive us to our deaths?"
"For invaders, Lanyue has always adhered to the policy of killing them swiftly!"
"We are merely the old, weak, women, and children, unarmed and unable to fend for ourselves. We are nothing like invaders. You cannot treat us so cruelly."
Xiao Luo's expression was icy, "Anyone who crosses the line will be killed without mercy!"
"General, isn't that a bit too cruel?"
"Cruel?" Xiao Luo said coldly. "When these people become the reason for the fall of Wusheng Pass, when the people of Wusheng Pass and your brothers who lived alongside you die unjustly, will you still find it cruel?"
"General, are you perhaps worrying too much?" someone asked in a low voice. They truly couldn't see how these weak and infirm, unarmed individuals could possibly capture an entire city like Wusheng Pass.
The refugees outside were unable to enter Wusheng Pass. Once they entered the range of the archers, they would be shot down from the city walls.
"My lord, what should we do? Wusheng Pass is not letting anyone in."
"Don't worry, there will be a way," the mysterious man said slowly. "He thinks that as long as people don't enter, everything will be fine? Little does he know, that which can bring about their doom is not just people, but other things."
"My lord, we can't even get close to the city walls."
"They are busy guarding against people, unaware that my trump card has already been released. These people are merely a smokescreen," the mysterious man said sinisterly. "Just as Yan Qiu could not protect them back then, they still cannot protect Wusheng Pass now!"
"General, if the people outside truly contracted an illness, they wouldn't have lasted this long. Could it be that we've misunderstood?"
Xiao Luo also hesitated. Since the other side had made a move, it wouldn't be that simple. They would surely have a backup plan. Furthermore, with the lesson learned from the past, how could they possibly let people in again? Knowing this, why would they resort to the same tactic?
"Lately, I don't know why, but there are many rats in the city." As Xiao Luo walked through the streets, two citizens brushing past him were discussing the recent increase in rats. A terrible thought flashed through Xiao Luo's mind.
"Lu Yao."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Issue an order: have people in the city carry out disinfection. All animals are to be culled and burned, especially rats. Not a single one must be left!"
"Yes, General."
"Also, order the physicians in the city... no, immediately send a message to He Qingyi, asking her to rush to Wusheng Pass, and have the city physicians boil medicine to prevent and treat epidemic diseases." Xiao Luo's heart pounded like a drum. He had been too careless, focusing all his attention on the refugees outside the city, and neglecting the inside!
"General, this..."
"What 'this'? Hurry up and go!"
"Yes, General."
He Ye had searched every village within a ten-mile radius and found no problems. However, he did discover traces of suspicious individuals. He Ye was an intelligent person and understood that something was amiss. He immediately returned to report to Xiao Luo, only to find the entire city engaged in culling insects, rats, snakes, and ants, with a strong medicinal smell permeating Wusheng Pass.
"What's happened?"
"The General said there are too many insects, rats, snakes, and ants in the city, and they are to be culled."
He Ye frowned and pointed at the culled livestock, "Insects, rats, snakes, and ants are culled, but are these also considered insects, rats, snakes, and ants?"
"The General has ordered that all animals in the city are to be culled and burned."
He Ye finally sensed something was wrong. He immediately went to find Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo convened a meeting of the generals from various departments to discuss countermeasures and invited all the physicians in the city. The entire conference hall was crowded. Xiao Luo was meticulously giving instructions, assigning each person their duties and emphasizing strict control over any unusual situations within the city, especially patients!
After everyone had left, He Ye approached him, "General, what has happened?"
"I was careless. The refugees outside were just a diversion. The real killer blow was sent into the city long ago," Xiao Luo said with a grave expression. "The fatal calamity is already in the city. I don't know if my current remedial measures will be in time."
"General, what exactly is this calamity? Is it very serious?"
"Plague."
These two words alone made He Ye's face change. Plague represented not just disease, but the annihilation of the city!