Having obtained what he desired, Shao Bowen had no intention of lingering.
He dismissed the minor official from the Maritime Trade Office, leaving a contingent to guard the ships and maintain contact with the main fleet at sea. Then, he led his men eastward towards Ruxi Village.
Qinzhou, despite its advantageous location and considerable profits from the spice trade, had seen little improvement in the lives of its common people.
The region was mountainous, and the relationship between the mountain-dwelling tribes and the government was naturally strained.
Even with a considerable number of experts accompanying them, Shao Bowen wouldn't have dared to embark on this journey so recklessly.
After all, the local mountain inhabitants were notoriously fierce, compounded by their extremely harsh living conditions.
He had heard in other places how mountain dwellers, during their off-season, would band together as bandits to rob passing merchants.
While others might not recognize the value of the goods they carried, only Shao Bowen knew how precious they truly were.
The potent spirits alone used in their purification process, if sold on the market, would fetch no less than several dozen strings of coins per jar.
Their sharp, intoxicating aroma even tempted him at times to steal a sip.
However, despite the pleasant taste, the sensation of being punched in the stomach after drinking it made it difficult for him to endure.
Especially the agonizing headache the next morning after getting drunk left him with lingering dread.
After several rounds of expansion, the hundred-plus prisoners involved in the purification process, divided into two shifts working day and night, managed to refine only ten large chests of the finished product.
Whether this commodity would sell at a high price now rested on this endeavor.
"Is this Ruxi Village?"
Looking at the walled settlement situated not far from the riverbank, Shao Bowen couldn't help but frown.
Logically, given its role in the spice trade between the Great Song and Jiaozhi, it should at least resemble a small town.
Yet, the village before them had ramparts made of wood.
And from the looks of it, the area it occupied was at most three to four *li*.
It was incredibly small...
"It looks really too small, nothing like Mingzhou City," Zhe Shijiu remarked, also frowning.
"Never mind, let's go ask around first. Oh, and remember this: no one is allowed to be without the scented sachets the officials have provided. You must keep them on you even when sleeping. It would be truly troublesome if you contracted malaria."
Malaria, even in later times, was a deadly disease.
Let alone in this era of scarce medicine and limited medical resources. Although they possessed a specific cure for malaria, it was always best to avoid contracting it.
Otherwise, even with medicine, it would still be a significant drain on their resources.
"Yes!"
Of course, compared to the physicians of this era, Han Mo's understanding of malaria was undoubtedly on a much deeper level.
To prevent the widespread transmission of malaria among his people, he had specifically instituted strict hygiene regulations for them.
The first rule was to not drink raw water, followed by rigorous prevention of mosquito bites.
After all, mosquitoes were a significant vector for malaria.
To ensure their health and well-being, Han Mo had also spent a considerable sum to custom-make several scented sachets for each person to carry.
These sachets contained a large amount of mosquito-repelling medicine. Although the smell was somewhat pungent, Han Mo deemed it a small price to pay for their lives.
"Don't worry, sir, we understand!"
After giving specific instructions to his subordinates, Shao Bowen led his men into the village.
Holding the official documents from the Maritime Trade Office and paying a small sum, they finally completed all the official procedures smoothly.
"Guest, would you like a room?"
Not long after entering the village, a waiter immediately intercepted Shao Bowen and his group.
"Of course, we want a room. But why is this village so deserted? Did we come at the wrong time?"
Looking at the desolate street, Shao Bowen couldn't help but frown.
Even if malaria was rampant, the village shouldn't be this deserted, should it?
After all, the spice trade was unlike other businesses.
In truth, it was an incredibly lucrative venture!
People die for wealth, birds for food.
No matter what, these people shouldn't have stopped doing business, should they?
"Guest, you wouldn't know, but the Li Dynasty is currently experiencing a malaria outbreak. It's said that thousands have already died. The traveling tribesmen, to save their lives, can only go through Yongping Village, so most of the merchants here have also gone to Yongping Village."
Upon hearing the waiter's explanation, Shao Bowen couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
He had indeed forgotten about this. Malaria was unlike other illnesses; it was a killer.
If an epidemic was discovered anywhere, the first thing the authorities would do was completely seal off the roads to prevent infected individuals from escaping.
"If that's the case, do you know how far the nearest city is from here if one were to go to the Li Dynasty?"
After a moment of hesitation, Shao Bowen still asked.
"Guest, this is not a joke. If you contract malaria, people will die! The Jiaozhi region is in a state of panic right now. Their own merchants dare not come this way. For you to go there, wouldn't that be courting death?"
Hearing this, the kind waiter quickly advised.
"I was just asking casually, I didn't say I was going there."
Shao Bowen casually deflected, then reached into his sleeve, took out a small piece of silver, and directly tossed it to the waiter.
"I see. It's good that you're not going that way. However, if you follow the official road from here, cross the mountain ahead, and then travel another hundred li, you'll reach Su Mao City in Jiaozhi!"
After receiving the silver, the waiter's smile became much brighter.
He gestured for Shao Bowen and his group to enter the inn, chattering incessantly about the local customs and traditions of Jiaozhi.
When mentioning the people of Jiaozhi, one could clearly sense the contempt in his words.
However, Shao Bowen didn't pay much mind. After all, the war between the Great Song and Jiaozhi had not been long over, and it was only natural for the people of the Great Song to hold some disdain for those villains.
How could the hatred of over two hundred thousand lives lost in Qinzhou and Yongzhou be so easily forgotten?