Mutation (Mutatio)

In the third year of Tianqi,

the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong cleared wasteland and built a fortress to defend the border town of Ningyuan,

which was quite effective.

However, there were many voices of opposition in the court.

Coincidentally, a rumor about a strange disease in Ninghai Fortress started circulating.

Officials submitted one letter after another

saying that the construction of a fortress in Liaodong violated God's will.

In a short time,

the relationship between the imperial court and Liaodong

became unpredictable.

The 29th day of the winter

was the first day I came here,

outside the Shanhai Pass in Liaodong.

I've to rush to the front garrison to deliver documents.

Are you heading the same way?

Delicious.

I have wine.

Have a sip.

So you're going to Ningyuan City.

Military Advisor Long ordered us to go to Shanhai Pass

to purchase medicinal herbs.

We have to hurry.

Sir.

Don't tell me you're transporting the medicinal herbs

for the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress

in the east of Ningyuan City?

Exactly.

I pray every day in hopes that

they won't make us deliver medicine to Ninghai Fortress.

If we really get infected, I will...

You talk too much.

I heard that Commander Sun

building a fortress in Ningyuan

provoked God's will

and the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress is a bad omen.

Bad omen?

That is, the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress

is caused by demons.

Do you believe it?

Of course not.

But

what is the truth?

It's true that there's a rumor about demons.

They also said

everyone who has this strange disease

is treated as prey by demons.

They will be eaten by demons.

They're treating us like we're three year olds,

aren't they?

Ridiculous.

Believe it.

I heard that some patients have disappeared.

Their whereabouts are unknown.

Patients have disappeared?

Buddy.

I have a hometown friend from Zhending

surnamed Yang.

Well,

he works as a servant for Military Inspector Yan.

I wonder how he's doing.

Someone from Zhending surnamed Yang?

Yang Lin?

He caught a cold a few days ago.

He's suffering.

That's right.

Yang Lin...

died last month.

Buddies, calm down.

Let's just talk it out nicely.

What's there to talk about?

Look at this.

A warrant?

This guy's an Imperial Guard.

No wonder he's been trying to get us to talk.

It turns out you're Eunuch Wei's lackey.

I'm an Imperial Guard,

the captain of the Investigation Bureau, Chu Sijing.

I was ordered to come out to investigate the strange disease in Ninghai Fortress.

I ran into you so I just had a chat.

I have no other intention.

I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything

and didn't meet you.

What do you think?

How do we trust you?

You're sent by the eunuch

to harm Commander Sun, right?

You even got us to talk so much.

You can't leave.

Kill him!

Everyone,

let's not push each other into this.

Kill!

You didn't hurt your vital organs.

You just need to rest for a few days.

Why are you doing this to me?

We will die.

We will die.

Everyone will die.

It's too late.

Everything will happen.

It's another illusion.

It's been two years.

Mr. Chu.

The commander hasn't returned from the inspection with General Yuan.

The city is currently managed by me

and the military inspector Eunuch Yang sent from the capital.

The end of the year is coming.

It's freezing outside the Pass.

What strange disease can there be?

I'm just doing my job according to orders.

I hope you'll assist me.

Mr. Chu.

The Imperial Guards never head out for errands alone.

Why did you

come here alone?

The plague may be a rumor,

but it concerns the construction of the fortress.

It would be too much of an interference,

so I came alone.

I suppose you two also know

the opinions in the court.

What opinions?

There are opinions in the court against

Commander Sun's construction of the fortress.

Mr. Chu.

Eunuch Wei sent Eunuch Yang here to inspect the army.

If the rumor is true,

how could they have hidden it from Eunuch Yang?

Mr. Chu.

What are your thoughts

on this rumor?

I only know to do my job.

I report my findings as they are.

I'm neutral about it.

That's good.

So,

how should I proceed with my investigation?

Mr. Chu.

The rumor started at Ninghai Fortress.

I'll send the officer Bo Yan

to you tomorrow morning

to help you with the case.

Mr. Chu, I hope you can find out the truth,

if there are evil spirits

in Ninghai Fortress.

Mr. Chu.

Mr. Bo Yan.

I'm the military officer Bo Yan from Ningyuan.

I've been waiting for you.

It's my pleasure to serve you.

Thank you.

Sir has ordered that

since this is a patient who died of typhoid fever,

we need to burn it competely.

Died of typhoid fever?

Didn't you see the scar on the body?

Which typhoid fever patient

dies like this?

Just follow orders.

If you ask too much,

you might lose your head.

Xu.

Isn't this my buddy Bo Yan?

It's been a while since we met.

Why are you here instead of building the city wall in Ningyuan?

Are you a deserter?

You and your nonsense.

Who is a deserter?

You are the deserter.

Let me introduce you.

An Imperial Guard from the capital, Mr. Chu.

Please pardon my manners, Mr. Chu.

I'm the captain of Northern Investigation Bureau, Chu Sijing.

I'm here on an order.

I'm Xu Zongqi, the chiliarch here.

This is

the deputy chiliarch, Lei Sui.

Greetings, sirs.

The rumors of a plague here

are running rampant in the capital.

Mr. Xu.

I wonder what the truth is.

It's late.

Please take a rest.

You'll find out after you survey the place tomorrow.

Sir, this way please.

This place is not as nice as the capital.

The barracks are just like this.

Please make do with it.

Sir.

Where do you want to sleep?

Sirs.

Time to eat.

In recent days, there has been a shortage of food.

I'm sorry.

Please enjoy.

Wait.

Sir.

What kind of meat

is this?