Without alcohol, Liu Tan couldn't even imagine how many people would die from the infection. He took a deep breath and said, "Then go raise some money and ask Wusun if they have any alcohol. If they do, let them bring it over, or even buy it from them!"

Huo Guang immediately sent someone to inquire, but he still whispered, "Your Highness...it's best not to get your hopes up too much. Grain is precious here, and they won't use it to make wine."

"There must be some nobles!" Liu Tan stared at Huo Guang and said, "No matter how much it costs, buy it!"

Huo Guang was slightly stunned: "Your Highness?"

Liu Tan calmed himself down and said, "These soldiers, especially those with minor injuries and those without limb damage, are veterans as long as they survive. They have experience that will be useful in the future..."

Liu Tan knew that such a reckless treatment was at odds with current values. After all, how much compensation would he need even if the person died? But there was no telling how much it would cost to treat the patient.

He must find a reason that can convince others, otherwise his behavior will be enough to arouse the suspicion of many people.

Huo Guang didn't think too much about it. He just felt that Liu Tan's habit of valuing friendship had come back again.

However, he did not try to comfort Liu Tan. He could see that Liu Tan was in a bad mood, and it would be fine if spending some money could make him feel better.

Huo Guang immediately sent people to search for various kinds of wine, and specifically asked for grain wine.

But this is just a small village after all. Even the area occupied by Liu Tan and his group's tent is larger than the village itself. In a village like this, the richest person is probably the village chief, and the chief's family... only has some low-quality wine.

Huo Guang frowned and asked, "Your Highness, is wine...ok?"

Liu Tan: You have touched upon my blind spot in knowledge.

He thought about it carefully. Although the wine nowadays is made purely from grapes, it is also fermented from grape juice. It should also contain alcohol, but the alcohol content is low. It is unknown how much alcohol can be extracted, and it is also unknown whether the original distillation can be used to extract it.

But at this point, he had no choice but to give it a try. He gritted his teeth and said, "I want both."

After saying this, he turned around and called Jiang Chong, saying, "Immediately organize those who are not injured to build a rammed earth house and need a stove."

Extracting alcohol requires equipment. The equipment Liu Tan had previously had people build can basically achieve semi-automation, and the demand for manpower is not that high.

However, the conditions were difficult now, so he could only use the most crude method of boiling the food in a large pot, and then have someone watch over it and collect the liquid condensed on the lid.

Such efficiency is undoubtedly low, and it almost exposes all the distillation methods.

Liu Tan knew it was very dangerous, so he naturally sent heavy troops to guard it, but he didn't know whether he could hold on.

But compared to the distillation process, aren’t so many human lives more important than this?

Moreover, how many people outside the Great Wall have the courage to distill alcohol from wine? If they use grain wine, they need to pay a huge price to obtain it. Whether it is human or physical, they cannot obtain alcohol at the lowest cost like the Han Dynasty.

Probably because Liu Tan had spread the word that this was used to make medicinal wine that could save lives, so those soldiers who were still intact basically worked day and night to build this rammed earth house in order to save their comrades.

That night, after Liu Tan gave the order, he went to the wounded camp. Huo Guang and Jiang Chong originally tried their best to stop him, but in the end... they failed.

It was also the first time they discovered that their fifth prince was actually gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. Liu Tan was willing to listen to them before probably because they made sense.

And now he thinks he is right, so no one can stop him.

Liu Tan felt that he had to go and take a look, at least to give these people hope.

Of course, he was not just going for a formality. He just went there to personally announce his previously mentioned plan for the placement of the wounded soldiers, and reiterated again and again that he would support the disabled for life.

He reiterated that he seemed to have seen this somewhere before he came here, saying that if the pensions are not adequate, the suicide rate of disabled soldiers after retirement will be very high when they return to their hometowns.

Of course, he would still commit suicide even if the pension was in place, because he could no longer make any contribution to the family, and there would be one more mouth to feed. He might even need to take medicine because of the serious trauma he suffered, all of which would increase the burden on the family.

After all, this was an era when industry was very backward, and the people had basically no other means of livelihood except some simple handicrafts and farming.

A disabled soldier will feel a huge gap in his heart when he suddenly becomes disabled from being a normal person. He may even be unable to get over it. In addition, he realizes that he is now a burden to his family and a waste. Suicide becomes his only way out.

Liu Tan didn't want to see such an outcome. Perhaps he still couldn't really put himself into the identity of a royal family and couldn't regard the dead as cold numbers.

After Liu Tan reiterated, he found that the soldiers' spirits were indeed much better.

After Huo Guang and Jiang Chong had walked with him through all the wounded camps, Huo Guang finally said, "Your Highness, I know you are kind, but even so, you shouldn't have promised to support them for free."

Jiang Chong, standing by, rarely agreed with Huo Guang's thoughts. He nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Highness, a little kindness will be followed by a great deal of resentment. Now they are grateful to Your Highness, but they may start to blame You after a while. This is not a long-term solution."

Liu Tan stopped walking. Just when Huo Guang and Jiang Chong thought he was going to get upset, he said in a tired and hoarse voice, "It's my fault. But let's talk about this when we get back. I'll find a way to get them a job that can support them, and then give them a monthly subsidy. How about this?"

Huo Guang had originally prepared a long speech to persuade Liu Tan, but unexpectedly, Liu Tan readily admitted his negligence and came up with a solution in an instant.

Such characteristics surprised both Huo Guang and Jiang Chong. They suddenly realized that Liu Tan might be still immature in politics and easily emotional, but when it comes to personnel management, he is definitely far better than the officials in the court.

Huo Guang secretly took note of it and decided to report it to Liu Che when he returned. It would be a loss to keep such a prince in the palace, so it would be better to quickly give him a fiefdom to let him govern.

At that moment, Huo Guang had even thought about how to submit the letter.

His brother Huo Qubing had done something similar in the past, so he could adapt it.

However, Huo Qubing wanted to help the prince eliminate unstable factors at that time, while Huo Guang asked Liu Tan to leave so that he could contribute to the construction of the Han Dynasty.

The only thing I’m not sure about is whether Liu Tan will be happy.

After Liu Tan had arranged everything, Huo Guang advised, "Your Highness, go and have some rest."

That night, first they had to escape, then the little Kunmi was shot by an arrow, and now they had to deal with the wounded. Huo Guang knew without a doubt that Liu Tan was in a very tense mood.

Even if it was Crown Prince Liu Ju who encountered this incident, Huo Guang would be worried that Liu Ju would not be able to handle it. Liu Ju had been the crown prince for so many years and was knowledgeable and experienced.

Liu Tan... He was really worried about what would happen if he brought back a frightened little prince to His Majesty.

Liu Tan showed a bit of resilience that he didn't usually show. He waved his hand at Huo Guang and said, "I'll go check on Lu Xuan again. Otherwise, I'm worried."

Huo Guang was helpless, but he had no way to stop it, not to mention that he had more things to do at this moment.

Liu Tan took two steps forward, then suddenly turned and asked, "Are there any living prisoners?"

Huo Guang was slightly surprised: "Yes, Your Highness wants to..."

"Ask about their origins."

Jiang Chong said, "They're already being interrogated, but they're just being stubborn and refusing to speak."

Liu Tan glanced at him nonchalantly and said, "Find a way to pry open their mouths." Then, worried that his subordinates might be concerned about their lives because of his orders, he said, "I don't care if they live or die. As long as I can get the answer, it's fine. You guys figure it out."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Huo Guang and asked, "Do I have the right to mobilize troops in this situation?"

Huo Guang stood there in a daze, not knowing if it was his illusion, but at that moment he felt as if he had seen Liu Che.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Liu Tan asked again: "No?"

Huo Guang quickly said, "You can mobilize border guards, but not too many."

If someone else was sent, he would naturally have to consider himself unlucky and wait for Liu Che to reward and comfort him after returning. But if it was a prince, generally no one would refuse.

Liu Tan nodded and said, "Send someone to Yumen Pass to transfer 500 men."

Huo Guang asked anxiously, "Your Highness...what are you going to do?"

Liu Tan stood there and said coldly, "These small nations are so audacious that they even dare to rob the Han envoys. It's time to teach them a lesson."

The author has something to say: Liu Wanxiu talks: If the tiger doesn’t show its power, you think I’m Hello Kitty!