Yu Cheng shook his head: "Those powerful families sit lofty and high, when have they ever cared about ordinary people? They're just squeezing the last bit of value out of the laborers now."
Qu Shilang pondered for a moment, then ordered: "Go, tell the infected people to head to Gefeng."
"Tell them that Gefeng is taking in a large number of refugees, and they have medicine to treat the plague. If they go there, they can survive."
If the powerful families could squeeze the last bit of value out of these laborers, then Qu Zhao could too. If he could make the plague reach Gefeng, then these people would finally serve their true purpose.
But at that moment, he never imagined that Gefeng really did have medicine.
A few miles away from Qu Zhao's camp, Qu Zhao's soldiers and the family's soldiers were facing off from a distance, with the common people caught in the middle.
Many of the infected could no longer hold on and had already collapsed. Their heads were dizzy, their limbs weak—they could not persist any longer.
The man stared at his family lying limp at his feet, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.
Maybe they were simply meant to die like this.
Now that Qu Zhao knew they had the plague, he would do nothing but kill them.
As for whether their bodies would be left intact or how they would be handled—what did it matter anymore?
He crouched helplessly, physically and mentally exhausted.
The family's soldiers glared viciously at the people. If they were within range, they would have shot these disobedient commoners already.
But for now, they dared not get too close—out of fear of catching the plague and out of fear of Qu Zhao's army.
Just then, a Qu Zhao soldier strode forward, stopping several dozen feet from the people and shouted to them:
"Our Grand General takes pity on the people's suffering. He is now pointing you to a path of salvation. Gefeng is taking in refugees, and they have medicine for the plague. If you go to Gefeng, you can live."
The people were dazed for a long moment before they understood his meaning, staring at him in disbelief.
The man also looked up, stunned: "What you said... is it true?"
The Qu Zhao soldier answered firmly: "Of course it is true. Head to Gefeng now, and you will survive."
He then turned to the family's soldiers in the distance and sneered: "You sent these people here to die—truly despicable. These are your own Han people."
He laughed again mockingly, sowing discord: "If they treat the laborers who serve them like this, you soldiers are nothing but their beasts of burden as well. Just imagine how you will end up... tsk tsk tsk..."
The family soldiers were furious, shouting: "Stop pretending to be kind! If you are so merciful, get back to your grasslands and stop bringing disaster to us Han people."
Another soldier joined in: "Exactly! You barbarians have slaughtered many of us Han people. You are the most vicious savages—everyone wants you dead."
The Qu Zhao soldier snorted: "Our warriors came to your Han lands to give you a better life. Yet you fail to appreciate it and instead dare to resist."
"For stubborn fools like you, we have no choice but to use the simplest method to make you submit."
The family soldiers were livid: "Shameless! You despicable wretches belong only in the wilderness of the grasslands."
The Qu Zhao soldier laughed loudly: "Shameless? At least we don't treat our own people the way you do."
He pointed at the commoners: "These people are under Qu Zhao's protection now. If you want to start a fight, so be it."
This situation was soon reported to Sheng Chi.
He never expected that a simple, suicidal plague transmission would lead to this standoff—something he did not want to see.
They could not afford a war right now, nor did they want one.
Huo Chun laughed scornfully: "I think there's no need to quarrel with Qu Zhao over this. This may not be a bad thing."
Kong Yi glanced at him: "No. If Gefeng really gets infected, it could easily spread to the other two counties. Then who will keep Qu Zhao's army in check?"
Qu Zhao's plan was obvious—they wanted to infect Gefeng, and even all the Han people these sick refugees came into contact with along the way.
And most Han people would only seek help from Han-controlled powers. The speed and scale of contagion could be terrifying. Truly vicious, with no limits.
But then again, the Qu Zhao people treated Han people like livestock. Having limits would be strange.
Now that the three powers were in a delicate balance, even though Jinyang's army had the smallest territory and population, he had to admit—they were the weakest.
So he did not want to break this balance and place himself in danger again.
Huo Chun sneered: "Hasn't Gefeng always taken in refugees by zones? Even if these people arrive, they may not spread the disease."
He laughed again coldly: "And nearly a thousand of these people are not even infected. Maybe she'll even thank us for sending her some labor."
Kong Yi did not want to argue with him further, and turned to Sheng Chi: "Family Head, now is not the time to break the balance. Just shoot these infected people directly."
Huo Chun snorted: "Break the balance? Haven't you heard? Qu Zhao has promised to protect these people. If you shoot them now, it means war."
Kong Yi sneered: "Do you really think Qu Zhao would start a war over a few thousand commoners? They don't want to fight any more than we do."
"Enough." Sheng Chi rubbed his forehead. "Now is not the time to clash with Qu Zhao. Gefeng should know how to handle this. Order our soldiers to pull back."
Kong Yi was stunned. This meant Sheng Chi was letting Qu Zhao have his way.
He opened his mouth, but still couldn't help suggesting: "Family Head, this is not wise."
"If you don't want to fight Qu Zhao, then send men to follow these people and kill them once they are out of Qu Zhao's reach."
Huo Chun mocked: "Why are you so worried about Gefeng? Our strength may not even match theirs now. If these people can weaken them, wouldn't that be a good thing?"
Seeing Sheng Chi's gloomy face, Kong Yi quickly explained:
"Family Head, I am not speaking for Gefeng. But if these people actually reach them, they will easily figure out our intentions. What will Princess Jinyang think of us?"
He could not hide his disappointment, but there was more helplessness.
He didn’t know if Sheng Chi realized that the current three-way balance had been deliberately engineered by Princess Jinyang.
They had dealt with Qu Bai before and knew how dangerous he was. But Princess Jinyang had crushed his forty-thousand-strong army with ease.
A princess that formidable—even if they could not build a close relationship, the least they could do was maintain normal diplomatic ties.
But what Sheng Chi was doing now would deeply offend her—a loss far greater than any gain.
Besides, if Gefeng was truly weakened by the plague, the balance would be shattered—and who would then hold back Qu Zhao's army?
Seeing that Sheng Chi remained sullen and silent, Kong Yi tensed and said no more.
Sheng Chi was indeed wary of Jinyang's strength. That was exactly why he hesitated. Among the three powers, he refused to be the weakest.
To be the weakest was to be the first to be devoured.
