Chang’an’s First Beauty

Chapter 82

Yuanqing seventeenth year, June 23rd.

The early morning sun covers Chang’an Sixth Street, and with the sound of morning drums, the east and west cities also become lively, and there is an endless stream of literati, inexperiencers, and descendants of aristocratic families. In June, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, and there are many people who go outing, enjoy flowers and compose poems. No, the carriages are going to the outskirts of the city one by one.

Lu Yan’s carriage passed through the West Market, drove into Guangdefang, and stopped in front of Jingzhao Mansion.

Sun Xu carried a few documents from various states and counties, and walked to Lu Yan’s side, saying, “Master Lu, this is the record of the drug store in the state and county you want. Again, there is no sign of the plague.”

Lu Yan took it and frowned slightly.

He remembered that the same was true of dreams. Chang’an was peaceful before June 30, and there was no sign of natural disasters at all. But after that, the plague came completely beyond the imagination of the government and the people. The household registration plummeted, and tens of thousands of people died under this plague. The bustling east and west markets in the past were empty, at the foot of the imperial city. How many residences are hung with white yarn…

“Master Lu, I don’t know if I should say something inappropriate.” Sun Xu whispered.

“Master Sun said so straightforwardly.”

“Master Lu attaches so much importance to the plague, but because of the national destiny measured by the two Taoist priests at the beginning of the month?” Sun Xu paused and continued: “But the person from the Imperial Medical Office yesterday said that our Jingzhao Mansion was too nervous. Up.”

Lu Yan raised his head and said directly, “A few days ago, I retrieved the dossier from the Imperial Medical Office and looked at our records of plagues in the Dajin Dynasty. There were about fifteen epidemics, and all of them are counted as once every six years. Master Sun remember when the plague broke out last time?”

Sun Xu frowned, “It seems that it was six years ago, but Master Lu, this kind of thing is a natural disaster… and it’s not absolute.”

“Although it is not absolute, it should not be underestimated.” Lu Yan raised his hand and took a sip of tea, and continued: “The plague broke out in Yuanzhou City in the eleventh year of Qingyuan. One household, one infection, and one city fell. Six years ago, there were not as many post stations as there are now. After the court heard the news, although it immediately opened the warehouse and sent many soldiers and doctors, they were on the way back and forth. It’s been a full month. What’s the end? The local governor cried to report that the Yangtze River was full of bones and no one buried them. The cities of Hangzhou and Yue were closed for half a year, and less than 20% of the people who survived in the end, and this, it’s just During the outbreak of the plague,”

Sun Xu’s face gradually became serious.

“After the pandemic, the population plummeted, and the people lost their ability to farm. They had to rely on the imperial court to survive. At that time, the border was uneasy, and it happened to catch up with the Turkic invaders. Our army is not weak. Why is the right minister and the officials? Shang Shu wanted to lead a hundred officials to persuade the saints to cease the war, and at the same time send a mission to unite with the Uyghurs. In the final analysis, it was just because it hurt the vitality and couldn’t fight it.”

“Master Sun, the population of Yuanzhou City is only 20% of Chang’an. Once an accident occurs in Chang’an, it will be more serious than before, and Jingzhao Mansion cannot shirk the blame.”

Sun Xu raised his hand and stroked his face, exhaled deeply, and said, “Master Lu, don’t scare me. You said I’m a little hot already.” After that, he touched his forehead.

Lu Yan got up and said in a very low voice: “The people in the Imperial Medical Office are not credible.”

As soon as the voice fell, Sun Xu’s gaze changed suddenly, “Master Lu meant…” These words could not help but cause people to think deeply.

“Master Sun sent someone to check the places that the Imperial Medical Office had checked again.”

Sun Xu nodded and said, “I see.”

——

After lunch, Lu Yan closed his papers and went to the Eastern Palace.

When he walked to the door, he bowed to the servant in front of the door and said: “Jingzhao Mansion Shao Yin Lu Yan, please see His Royal Highness if you have something to do.”

“My lord, wait a minute, and the minion will let you know.”

“Get up.” A kind-faced father-in-law smiled and greeted him, pinching his throat and said: “His Royal Highness said that Master Lu does not need to go through those tedious etiquettes when visiting, and the old slave will show you the way.”

“Thank you, father-in-law.”

“Why did Master Lu come to the East Palace at this time?” The prince smiled, his complexion obviously much better than in previous months.

“His Royal Highness, I am here today because I have important tasks.”

The prince nodded thoughtfully, “But because of the recent plague in Beijing, I came to see Mr. Bai?”

Lu Yan nodded and said yes.

“Just right, I have something to tell you too.” After all, the prince took out a map of the Great Jin Dynasty, dipped the pen in ink, circled Luoyang, and handed it to Lu Yan.

After seeing it, Lu Yan raised his head and looked at the prince, instantly adding a kind of guess.

Since the plague in the dream broke out near Chang’an, he subconsciously believed that the infected people would definitely appear near Chang’an, but recently, he checked it at various levels and there was nothing wrong with it. If it broke out suddenly, it would be impossible.

Unless, the beginning was not in Chang’an, but someone brought this plague to Chang’an.

“His Royal Highness has heard what news?” Lu Yan said.

“I went to Dali Temple Prison two days ago, met Shen Wenqi, and talked to him about the disease.” The prince paused, and said: “He pointed to me in Luoyang.”

Lu Yan raised his eyebrows subconsciously when he heard the three words of Shen Wenqi.

The prince continued: “Since three years ago, the saint has always wanted to expand Luoyang and build a palace there. At that time, you should have already returned to Kyoto. Do you remember this?”

“I remember that Yunyang Hou was arrogant and opposed to this matter.”

The prince listened to his name to Shen Wenqi and couldn’t help but smile from his heart: “Then do you remember the reason?”

Lu Yan nodded, “If you want to build a palace, you will cut down a lot of trees, and you will be extremely poor in civil engineering. Yunyang Hou used Luoyang to be located in the Yellow River area, and deforestation would make the Yellow River more serious. He opposed it. This matter.”

“Yes, the saint was extremely unhappy because of his words.” Thinking about it, the emperor wanted to build a palace for himself, so he didn’t support it. He actually said that this action would be a disaster. Who would be willing to listen?

However, Emperor Cheng Yuan was also a Mingjun, and he knew that Shen Wenqi was born with that temperament, so he did not anger him.

After a long silence, Lu Yan whispered: “But last year the Chengxi Canal collapsed, the Yunyang Hou Mansion was ransacked, and the Ministry of Industry Shangshu replaced it with the Sun family…”

Lu Yan didn’t say the rest, but both the prince and him knew very well.

That Sun Shangshu really has no abilities. If he had to talk about his skills, flattery would be counted as one. Since he took office last year, the expansion of Luoyang City has begun…

First, a large number of trees were cut down, and then the rare stones, trees and grasses, rare birds and animals north of Wuling were collected to fill the gardens. The project is huge and extravagant, and it is breathtaking.

The prince again said: “Shen Wenqi reminded me that more than half of the plagues in the past have occurred in the Yellow River Basin. If there is a flood, it will be out of control. The ground water in Chang’an has been improved once by his hands, and it has been able to divert. Branches, but Luoyang does not. If the plague occurs in Luoyang, walking through the well water can instantly infect a city.”

“Have you ever sent someone to Luoyang?”

“It’s not just Luoyang, but I also sent people in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area, but it’s just a quick rush. It will take four days for the news to come back from the station.”

Lu Yan’s eyes suddenly flashed the picture in his dream again, and hundreds of mansions were hung with layers of white gauze. Above the court, there were less than half of the officials…

Fists clenched.

Only he knew that if it were the same as in the previous life, in another seven days, Chang’an City would not be able to hold it, and there would be no time at all.

If there is a disease coming in from a place, Chang’an must be sealed off immediately.

——

In the Anhua Hall, Queen Xu lay on the couch, raised her hand, and whispered softly: “Is that far away, ask her to come over and dye me a nail. Yesterday, the saint glanced at it and said that it is not as good as the last time, so let me change come back.”

The six princes strode into the hall, waved to the maid and the servant, and said, “This king and the mother and the queen have something to say, so go outside and guard.”

The maid and the servant hurriedly bowed and retired.

Empress Xu saw the gloom in his eyebrows, and said, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Does the queen know where Lu Yan went?”

“What are you selling for your mother-in-law? Just say it.” Queen Xu pinched a grape and put it in her mouth.

“He went to the East Palace.” The Sixth Prince gritted his teeth: “The son heard that the father-in-law next to the prince came out to welcome him in person. When did his relationship with the East Palace become so good? Did the aunt also choose one to live in? ?”

“Jing’an will not intervene in these things.” Empress Xu wiped her hands and said: “Lu Yan serves in Jingzhao Mansion. He is a person of your Majesty. Contact with everywhere is inevitable. He is generous and generous. When the Donggong walks in, it’s just official business. These are not important, Ye’er, people from Luoyang, how many days can they enter the city?”

“Up to three days.”

“How many people came?”

“I wanted to send more, but some of the cough symptoms were obvious, so they were screened out, and the people who died on the way were removed, that is, a hundred people.”

“Enough.” Empress Xu smiled and took out a list. “Find a toothwoman and sell these people who came in.”

The six princes whispered: “Jingzhao Mansion has deployed troops to station at the gate of the city, and the investigation is quite strict. Whose hand will the mother prepare for this matter?”

Empress Xu hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, “Sun’s family.”

The sixth prince looked down at the list and asked in doubt, “Mother, why are there people under my sect here?”

“Otherwise? What would your Majesty think if all those who are sick are officials who are at odds with you?”

The author has something to say: see you and Zhen Zhen tomorrow, I need to quickly push the plot.

Reference papers in this chapter:

“Tang and Five Dynasties Plague and Social Studies”

“The Relationship Between Ancient Plagues and Environmental Changes in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River”