Yun Jiao was still worried these Forbidden Army soldiers would get heatstroke, so as soon as they stopped at an official post, she had cooling herbal tea brewed for them.

The commoners from the flood diversion area had now all been relocated to the vicinity of Yangzhou City, more than five hundred li away from Xiang City.

They traveled more than five hundred li, and only after five days did they arrive in Yangzhou.

Outside Yangzhou City, they saw the city gates tightly shut. All along the base of the city walls, everywhere were shacks the commoners had put up—these were all villagers from nearby who had been moved here because of the flood diversion.

The soldiers on the wall, seeing officers and troops approach, lowered a hanging basket from above.

Yun Jiao passed the emperor’s personal decree to the Imperial Guard Captain, and the captain put the decree into the basket.

Yun Jiao walked around, asking the commoners, "I’m a doctor. Is anyone among you having malarial chills and fevers?"

The commoners all shook their heads.

Someone told Yun Jiao, "The sick ones are all gathered over by the North City Gate. Our side here is still all right."

"On the road leading that way, we chopped down trees to block it. They can’t get over here."

Yun Jiao nodded, saying nothing.

After a while, the city gate opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and the Forbidden Army formed two lines to escort Yun Jiao inside.

Some of the commoners near the city wall also surged toward the city along with them at this time.

The soldiers guarding the city picked up their spears and drove the commoners back with all their might.

The commoners cried and shouted, "My lord, let us in. If we stay here, we’ll catch the plague too."

The soldiers ignored the cries of these commoners, drove them away, then drew up the drawbridge and shut the city gate. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The Forbidden Army first escorted Yun Jiao to the Yangzhou Prefecture government office.

The Magistrate had only just received word and hurriedly came out to greet her.

Yun Jiao exchanged formal courtesies with Prefect Wu, then got straight to the point: "First find a few patients and bring them here for me to examine. I need to determine exactly what illness they’re suffering from."

Prefect Wu said hesitantly, "I’m afraid that won’t do."

"Doctor Gu, you don’t know—this disease is contagious. More and more people are falling ill. I dare not open the city gates. If the people inside the city also catch the plague, the situation will be even harder to contain."

At this moment, Yun Jiao also could not say with a hundred percent certainty that these commoners had malaria. She thought for a moment, then first asked, "Are all the sick commoners outside the city right now?"

Prefect Wu said, "The patients are all concentrated near the North Gate and West City Gate. There’s been no word yet of anyone inside the city falling sick."

Yun Jiao thought for a moment. "Then I’ll go out of the city to diagnose and treat the patients."

Prefect Wu knew Doctor Gu’s status; the officers guarding the city had seen the decree and already reported to him.

Prefect Wu hesitated for a moment. "This... Doctor Gu, once you go out of the city, it will be difficult for you to come back in. After all, if you were to bring the plague back into the city—"

Yun Jiao said, "If this epidemic really is as you described in your memorial, then this illness is actually not contagious at all."

"No, I’m not being precise—it does not spread through contact from person to person."

"Because what spreads this illness are mosquitoes and other biting insects."

"The mosquitoes suck the blood of the sick, then go bite healthy people, and the healthy people will then become infected with malaria."

Yun Jiao looked at Prefect Wu with a half-smile. "Unless Mr. Wu can put a mosquito net over the whole of Yangzhou."

Prefect Wu grew somewhat anxious. "Then what should we do? Mosquitoes have wings and can fly. There might already be such mosquitoes inside the city."

Yun Jiao pondered. "In any case, let me see the patients first. We’ll speak after I confirm it."

Prefect Wu did not dare take the risk himself, so he sent a trusted aide to take Yun Jiao out of the North Gate.

Yun Jiao left Cai Ping behind and took only two soldiers and Prefect Wu’s trusted aide out of the city with her.

She handed out homemade masks to the few of them, then instructed everyone to tie their sleeves and pant legs tightly, and only then did she leave through the North City Gate.