Chapter 274: Taking Advantage of the Sickness

The smallpox vaccination work in Jinzhou Prefecture was widely promoted, so many medical students who had only been enrolled for one year were urgently recruited and sent to various villages to vaccinate the people.

Two students, one boy and one girl, were assigned to Sanping County.

The older one is called Tang Qun. He just turned sixteen years old. His ancestors were farmers, and the whole family was counting on him to improve their family's fortune.

The younger one was a girl named Cao Lamei. She was the only one in their village who was admitted to medical school.

Both of them were highly expected by their families. This time they were assigned to Sanping County to vaccinate the people. They originally just thought that the journey was a bit remote, but at least they walked farther and gained more knowledge. But they didn't expect that this time, they would have to enter the enemy camp alone!

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Tang Qun sorted the herbs while complaining, "Our luck is so bad! What on earth was General An thinking, bringing so many people here? These aren't ordinary people from Jinzhou Prefecture. Why should we vaccinate them? And how can we guarantee our personal safety?!"

Cao Lamei was more open-minded. "The arrow is on the string and must be shot. The higher-ups have given orders. Do you and I dare not obey?"

"County Magistrate Lu isn't our superior! Our superior...well, that can only be Dean Qiu!"

"Okay, let's stop talking about this! Didn't County Magistrate Lu say that he would send someone to escort us? We have people protecting us all the time! Besides, our senior brothers and sisters will be here to help soon, so we won't be fighting alone."

Cao Lamei's eyes sparkled. Although she was small, had a baby face, and spoke softly, she always gave people a calm and composed impression. "Besides, Brother Tang, you have to look at both sides of everything. Although this is dangerous, we are entering the enemy camp alone. When we return, we will definitely receive a commendation. This way, we can bring honor to the medical school!"

Tang Qun could only sigh: "At this point, I can only think of something good to comfort myself!"

It was not just the doctors from the two medical schools, but also the doctors from Sanping County. Although they were still terrified when they mentioned smallpox, they had been vaccinated after all, and they were also very curious about whether the vaccine was effective.

Thinking about how Qiu Ju-niang had become world-famous for her research on cowpox and smallpox and her method of testing drugs on herself, and had become the most sought-after figure in the entire southwest region, more than a dozen doctors volunteered with medicinal herbs and wanted to go outside the city with the two students from the medical school to treat the infected people.

Lu Shiwen half-cajoled and half-deceived, promising to erect a famous plaque and claiming the city lord would soon capture Gongzhou. Those willing to contribute money and labor would receive extra points in the future assessment of Gongzhou officials. Consequently, the people of Sanping County were incredibly enthusiastic about helping the city. They didn't even consider the other side an enemy or fear of infection; those with money contributed money, those with labor contributed labor, and those with food contributed food. The scene was bustling and harmonious.

As for how the city lord would explain things in the future, Lu Shiwen was not willing to think about it yet.

If I can't pass this hurdle, I'll lose my life here, so how can I care about anything else!

It has to be said that Lu Shiwen has strong organizational skills.

Granny Yinhua and the others were still waiting outside. Everyone had thought that such a big thing would take at least a day or two to complete, but after just half an hour, they saw the city gate open a crack from the inside.

Then dozens of fully armed soldiers walked out from inside.

They wore face scarves, but they weren't really face scarves, as if they could be tied behind their heads and held together. They were dressed in white cotton smocks that covered them from head to toe, leaving only their eyes exposed.

Seeing them like this, I suddenly felt relieved for some reason.

Looking at the way these people in Jinzhou Prefecture do things, it really seems to be the case.

Then, all the pairs of expectant eyes looked at them.

The leader was a young general under Lu Fei. Although he was wrapped tightly from head to toe, he spoke with full energy. In addition, he was holding a loudspeaker in his hand, so people a kilometer ahead could hear him clearly.

"Now, everyone, listen to my instructions! Those who are sick and feel seriously ill, please go to my left! Those who feel asymptomatic, please go to my right! Those who suspect they are infected, please stand in the middle! Line up!"

Soon, everyone started moving under the shouting.

Of course, standing in line is an art.

Some people are afraid that they cannot get the vaccine, so even though they are coughing, they still join the group of people who are not sick.

Some people are afraid that they may be really sick and have no medicine, so even if they have no symptoms, they still join the ranks of the sick.

Most people just wait and see, and can't tell whether they are sick or not.

The young general had no choice but to say, "We don't know if the cowpox vaccine is effective for people who have already had smallpox, so we will definitely prioritize those who don't have symptoms! But even if you do get sick, don't be afraid. We have over a dozen doctors in Sanping County who will be here to treat you right away! Everyone, please don't just stand in line randomly, or you'll waste the vaccine and delay your treatment!"

The young general received the order and knew that Granny Yinhua and the people around her were previously in high positions of power. Therefore, they had to find a way to dismantle their power. He specially selected a few strong-looking young men and said, "You guys will temporarily serve as acting captains. Help us get the team in order as soon as possible! Remember, starting with you, we'll divide into groups of 20 and select a team leader. You have one hour to sort out the numbers!"

The newly promoted person was naturally overjoyed. He almost immediately claimed to be from Jinzhou Prefecture, and then used chicken feathers as a token of authority, shouting at everyone to line up.

It must be said that this hierarchical management was indeed very efficient. Within an hour, everyone was arranged in three rows. Lu Shiwen then had the three rows of people separated, especially those who were already sick, who were placed further downwind.

This is how Tang Qun and Cao Lamei were forced into this job.

The two of them were mixed in the team of doctors, half of them seeing patients and the other half helping with vaccinations. However, there was also an upright doctor who kept asking, "Doctor Tang, can anyone who doesn't have to be in medical school learn how to administer the cowpox vaccine?"

The doctor didn't even look at Cao Lamei. Because Cao Lamei was a girl, he even showed a hint of dissatisfaction and deliberately ignored her.

Tang Qun said, "We can learn everything at Lan County Medical College. Our dean said that medical skills are different from other things. We can't keep them to ourselves. We can only learn from them if we communicate with others."

Cao Lamei never took the doctors' disdain to heart. She always smiled and spoke politely. "If you doctors want to learn something, you can directly sign up for the advanced training class at our medical school! This class is specially designed for doctors who are already practicing. There are teachers who will teach you how to vaccinate!"

These words immediately aroused the doctors' interest.

"I've been to the medical school! I visited it last year when I was taking my doctor's license exam. It was so magnificent! Dean Qiu even received us and told us about the smallpox vaccine. I just didn't expect it to be developed so quickly! If I had known, I would have stayed there and helped out, so I could have left my name in medical books in the future!"

Cao Lamei immediately said, "We have entered the enemy camp alone this time. This is quite a remarkable event. Perhaps it will even go down in the annals of medical history!"

These words made the doctors smile.

Yes, if it wasn’t for leaving a good impression on the city lord, if it wasn’t for gaining a good reputation, who would be willing to take such a big risk and rush into the smallpox crowd?

The doctors talked for a while in front of the city gate, and then dispersed with their medicine boxes on their backs.

The young general held up a megaphone, shouting as he walked, "Those who are healthy, select three thousand of yourselves. Each family must send one person! Get the smallpox vaccine first! But I also want to remind you that it's best if the first group consists of the young and strong. Children and the elderly have weaker constitutions and may not be able to withstand the vaccine. Once everyone else is vaccinated, the elderly and children will naturally be safe too! Vaccinate the young and strong first, so they can have a labor force left in their families. They'll be the ones who contribute the most, whether serving soup or building houses!"

"The rest of you, organize yourself. We'll distribute some knives later and take you to the woods behind to chop some wood. Women, organize your children to gather some dry firewood. From tomorrow on, we'll only be responsible for providing food. You'll have to cook, clean, and repair the house yourself."

"By the way, our County Magistrate Lu has already gone to the nearby county town to seek assistance! I believe that in a few days, all the nearby teachers will be here! When the time comes, the children will be in classes of 50, so everyone should speed up their studies! Since you have come to join our City Lord, you will be his subjects from now on. As his people, you will have cotton-padded clothes to wear, food to eat, books to read, and medicine to treat smallpox. You must always remember his great kindness!"

"From now on, you are no longer members of the White Lotus Sect! You are citizens of Jinzhou Prefecture! Since you have become citizens of Jinzhou Prefecture, you must abide by our rules. Don't spread your scriptures and doctrines here! We don't believe in your stuff! Whoever dares to spread it will have his food withheld and your children will not be allowed to go to school!"

"Don't think you'll be fine if you don't study! I'm telling you, the people of Gongzhou have all surrendered, and the city lord will soon take Gongzhou! By then, you'll be locals! Study hard, and if you're smart and willing to work hard, you can catch up in a month or two! You might even be able to catch up with the next official assessment! By then, you won't be peasants anymore! Passing the official assessment means you'll be a real official! Your family's status will change forever!"

Lu Shiwen had three main principles for recruiting Christians from Gongzhou.

The first is to break their feudal superstitions, prohibit them from spreading doctrines, and reduce their cohesion.

The second thing is to make sure everyone has work to do. No one can be idle, as idle people can cause trouble! Only by working them to death every day will they stop thinking about other problems.

The third is to give them some hope. For example, regarding universal education, he specifically instructed the propagandists to explain it repeatedly to ensure that everyone knew about it. This way, the next generation would have hope. Who would still follow the White Lotus?

I have to say that Lu Shiwen's combination of punches is still very useful.

Especially when it comes to children's education.

The propagandist was stopped almost every two steps and asked the same questions.

——Does studying cost money?

——How long do I need to study before I can take the exam to become a civil servant?

——When will the teachers come?

——Can we build a thatched hut for the kids to study in first?

It was not until the next day that the doctors, craftsmen and teachers who administered the cowpox vaccine were in place and began construction work one after another.

Although he had managed to temporarily calm the group, Lu Shiwen was still worried. He called Lu Fei over and said, "General Lu, I'm still worried. Although everything is peaceful here, the plague is no small matter. The Great Zhou Dynasty hasn't seen a plague in over a decade. If this plague breaks out, I'm afraid the people in the west will suffer a devastating disaster."

Lu Fei also had a serious expression on his face. "If you have any ideas, why not tell me about them?"

"Here's what I think. I heard General An mention earlier that many White Lotus followers fled westward on the day they executed Wang Lun. The plague must have spread. Furthermore, Gongzhou wasn't necessarily the first place the plague was discovered. If I'm not mistaken, many people in the Zhoushan King's territory have already fallen ill. Regardless of whether the city lord is now likely to march west, the plague is very likely to cause changes in the situation throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty. We should prepare early."

Lu Shiwen looked at Lu Fei and said firmly, "At least... we need to understand the situation in the west and then inform the city lord of the situation so that he can make plans in advance."

Lu Fei figured out something, but he also had to admire Lu Shiwen's foresight.

Look at what this official does. He always wants to be ahead of the city lord. If he were the city lord, how could he not like someone like Lu Shiwen?

"You mean... we should send someone to King Zhoushan's territory to inquire about the situation."

"That's right. Our people have been vaccinated against smallpox, so maybe it won't be a big deal. We don't have to worry even if we enter or leave the Zhoushan King's territory. Besides, if the plague really breaks out in the west, at least hundreds of thousands of people will die..." Lu Shiwen's face was ruthless, "To put it bluntly, we should kill him while he's sick! If the western cities relax, we will..."

Lu Shiwen made a gesture of wiping his neck.

Lu Fei immediately understood.

If a plague really breaks out in the west, King Zhoushan's power will certainly be severely hit, so now is their best opportunity to capture the city!

War is the cruelest thing. They can accept so many people from Gongzhou, but they are unable to reach the people on the side of King Zhoushan.

Lu Fei could only sigh: It’s fate.

The two people seemed to be thinking the same thing. When their eyes met, there was an indescribable solemnity in their expressions.

This is war.

Built on blood and bones.

For a better future, they must now learn to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the pain of those who suffer.

There was even a dark voice in my heart saying that this plague came at the right time.

By then, they can easily capture cities and territories all the way to the hometown of King Zhoushan!

"How long will it take for General Liu's troops to arrive?"

Lu Fei replied, "It will take them at least ten days to depart from Xingyuan Prefecture and then mobilize troops from Jinzhou Prefecture. According to the battle report I received three days ago, if nothing unexpected happens, they should be able to reach Sanping County in seven days."

"Perfect, taking advantage of this opportunity, send a 1,000-strong light cavalry squad to the heartland of King Zhoushan to observe the spread of the plague and, by the way, explore the strength of the various cities in their territory."

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It is midwinter.

Inside the government office of Xingyuan Prefecture.

Intelligence from the six states piled up on Xu Zhenying's desk like snowflakes.

In the afternoon, Xu Zhenying and her secretary went to cut the ribbon for the first construction team of Jinzhou Prefecture. The big man from the escort team raised money from somewhere and pulled together a few brothers to form this construction team of nearly 100 people, who were mainly responsible for undertaking projects for their court.

Xu Zhenying has a special relationship with the people in the escort team, and she also wants to express her support for private enterprises, so she must attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

After the ceremony was over, Xu Zhenying almost rushed back to the government office without stopping.

Jiang Chaoping then quickly found the battle report of Sanping County and handed it to Xu Zhenying.

In the past few days, he noticed that Xu Zhenying was most concerned about the situation in the west, so he always paid close attention to the information from Sanping County.

Although there were currently four positions available in the secretariat, only he and another person named Qu Min, who had come from the military, were currently filling them. It was said that another person, Pang Xiaohua and Chang Yuanshan, were still on their way to their new posts due to work handovers and long distances.

Jiang Chaoping was the first to arrive at his post.

He used to think that medical students had a hard life, and Dean Qiu's life was even harder.

But since he came to Xu Zhenying, he realized that the city lord was the hardest working person in the world!

Xu Zhenying's work schedule was intense and fast-paced. People would come to see her almost from 8 a.m., interrupted by meetings, discussions, ribbon-cuttings, inspections, and incognito visits. If the ministers wanted to see the city lord, they could only come to the government office at night.

On Jiang Chaoping's first day of work, his calves felt numb and his head felt dizzy from standing.

But with so many things, so many faces, and so many battle reports, Xu Zhenying always managed to handle them in an orderly manner, which made Jiang Chaoping, the emperor's closest minister, feel more pressured.

Fortunately, Qu Min took office soon.

A woman who looks very gentle but actually has strong muscles. Although she is not good-looking, perhaps because she came from the army, she is far superior to him in both physical strength and mental quality.

This made Jiang Chaoping feel very frustrated.

It turns out that there is such a big difference between so-called technology and management!

He was a prodigy in the medical school, but when he arrived at the secretariat, he actually began to have deep doubts about his abilities.

Fortunately, Jiang Chaoping developed an indomitable character when doing experiments. Although he suffered repeated setbacks, he was willing to learn and put in the effort. In just over a month, he seemed to be able to handle it with ease.

But what he hopes most at the moment is that the other two people can take up their posts as soon as possible!

This secretary is really not a human being!

He was really curious about how the city lord managed to hold on. She was only fifteen years old, and still a girl, yet she had such a high workload and even had the energy to practice in the morning!