Zhejiang, Chun'an County.
"Look, the government has posted some new notices. Are they going to raise taxes again?"
After the official responsible for posting the notice left, the people gathered together and discussed in a few words.
"Wang Xiucai, you can read, read it to everyone!" Among the crowd, a white-haired old man was elected. Without him, he has the highest level of knowledge here.
"Ahem, get out of the way, get out of the way! Let me see what's written on it." After Wang Xiucai coughed twice, he pushed the person in front of him away and came to stand in front of the notice.
"From now on, residents of Chun'an and Jiande counties are not allowed to leave the local area! Anyone who violates the order will be punished with twenty canes and be imprisoned for one month. In addition, sick people are not allowed to live with healthy people, and must be isolated from each other and spread Put quicklime on it. If there is a corpse in the house, the family members are not allowed to bury the corpse and must bury it immediately! Anyone who disobeys the order will be punished with thirty rods and imprisoned for three months."
"In addition, the government also built a camp outside the city for patients to live in. Try not to drink raw water. The water should be boiled thoroughly before drinking. The porridge shed will still be open as usual, and medical supplies will be distributed. Decoction.”
After Wang Xiucai read the content on the notice, everyone gathered around him and asked: "Is dysentery really that serious? Why can't corpses be mortued at home? According to convention, shouldn't the body be kept at home for seven days after death? , let relatives, friends and children come to say goodbye? If it were buried hastily like this, wouldn't it be against etiquette and committing a great crime of unfilial piety?"
"Yes, this is unfilial!"
Wang Xiucai was very irritated by this series of questions and said impatiently: "What's the use of telling me? Do you have the guts to tell the magistrate? Let's see if he can cure your sins!"
"Forget it then, why don't you just ask a few questions? This Wang Xiucai is really..."
"This Wang Xiucai is too arrogant."
"That's right."
The crowd dispersed quickly. Wang Xiucai shook his head helplessly and then returned to his home.
…
"Have the notices been posted?" Hai Rui asked the officers who had just returned from Chun'an County.
"Excuse me... Sir, magistrate, we have posted government notices all over the streets and alleys." The officers gasped and responded.
"Well, well done, you can go down and rest first!" Hai Rui waved his hand and said.
"Thank you, Lord Magistrate!"
After the guards left, Hai Rui called the chief clerk over again and asked, "How is the camp outside the city? Have the current number of sick people been counted?"
Seeing Hai Rui's question, the chief clerk responded quickly: "Your Excellency, the county magistrate, some patients have been accommodated in the camp outside the city. At the same time, according to your previous instructions, doctors from Baicao Hall, Kangji Hall, etc. in the county have been sent there. For diagnosis and treatment, the wealthy households in the county also generously donated money to purchase corresponding medicinal materials, but..."
"Just what?" Hai Rui frowned and asked after hearing what the chief clerk said.
"It's just that the number of dead people remains high, but their families are unwilling to bury the bodies. Instead, they want to keep the bodies at home for seven days according to tradition before burying them. Therefore, more and more people are getting sick. Now it has I can't control it anymore." After hesitating for a moment, the chief clerk said.
"What? Oh, I'm so confused!" After hearing this, Hai Rui sighed helplessly and felt a little helpless about it.
With nearly a thousand years of inheritance of etiquette and the subtle influence of Confucianism, the two words of loyalty and filial piety have been firmly integrated into the blood of the people! At present, asking family members to bury the dead body directly without stopping for it violates traditional etiquette and violates the word "filial piety" in the word "loyalty and filial piety".
"No, we can't hesitate any longer. There are so many people suffering from dysentery right now. This is no longer an ordinary epidemic. Extraordinary measures must be taken!"
After Hai Rui thought for a moment, he slammed the table and made a decisive decision.
"Master Magistrate, why don't you report this matter to the Governor's Mansion first and let the senior officials decide?" Seeing Hai Rui's confusion, the chief secretary came up with an idea.
"Go and report this matter now! Also, give me the list of those who are unwilling to bury the bodies." Hai Rui ordered in a deep voice.
"Master Magistrate, what are you doing?" The chief clerk couldn't help but be surprised when he saw Hai Rui acting like this.
"There is nothing we can do. I'm going to persuade them one by one. I just hope that less people will get sick." Hai Rui said as he called for the government officials.
"Master County Magistrate, a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall, so why do you do this? You are now the pillar of our Chun'an County, you only need to sit in command of the county government, and leave the rest to us. "Seeing that Hai Rui wanted to go into danger in person, the chief clerk couldn't help but persuade him.
"Give me the list, and report the matter to the adults as soon as possible. There is no time to waste, go quickly!"
"yes."
…
Soon, Hai Rui took the government servants to the Zhao family, one of the houses on the list.
The Zhao family is a well-known large family in Chun'an County. Their ancestors once gave birth to a master, so they can barely be regarded as half an official family. They have tens of thousands of wealth, are philanthropic, and have a very close relationship with the government. Therefore, they are well-known in Chun'an County. Quite famous.
Before entering the house, I saw white lanterns hanging at the door of Zhao's house, and a burst of crying came from inside.
"Dad, why did you leave so early! My child hasn't served you properly yet."
"Grandpa, cough cough cough, grandpa, cough cough cough."
"Old man, why are you so... cough cough cough."
Seeing the county magistrate arriving with his government servants, the Zhao family's housekeeper did not dare to delay and quickly welcomed the people inside.
"The common people have seen the magistrate! Do you dare to ask if the magistrate is here to fetch someone?" Seeing Hai Rui coming in with the government servants, the relatives of the Zhao family who had just cried bitterly stopped crying and turned to salute Hai Rui.
"Everyone, get up. I'm not here to arrest anyone, but I want to ask you why you didn't bury the body in accordance with the government's regulations?" Hai Rui waved his hand, motioning for everyone to get up, and then asked in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, the county magistrate, according to etiquette, the body should be kept in the mourning hall for seven days before being buried, cough cough cough." The eldest son of the Zhao family stood up and answered Hai Rui's question.
"Look at what your family is like now. Mr. Zhao originally died of dysentery, and now the flood has just passed. Don't you understand that a major disaster will be followed by a major epidemic? Or do you also want to get sick together? "
"It doesn't matter to you, that's all. What's important is the child? Look at him. He's very sick now. He's probably infected!" Hai Rui said, pointing his index finger at the youngest son of the Zhao family, and said sadly.
"Dad, I feel a little uncomfortable." The child pointed at by Hai Rui said timidly, pulling on the corner of his father's clothes.
"Ah? Why is it so hot! Send him to the doctor quickly." Someone on the side touched the child's forehead and quickly exclaimed.
Soon, the child was rushed for treatment.
"It's already like this, do you still want to continue?" Hai Rui looked at the others and said coldly.
"Etiquette and laws must not be violated, and ancestral rules must not be violated! Lord Magistrate, please come back. Please forgive the common people and obey the order. If you want to take someone, please wait until father is buried." This time it was the eldest son of the Zhao family who stood up. , after bowing respectfully to Hai Rui, he said.
(End of chapter)
