Chenliu Commandery, the Medical Office.
Late into the night, Cao Cao still had not left.
Actually…
After the two medical officers administered Xi Zhicai’s “Four Reverse Ginseng Decoction,” Xi Zhicai’s complexion had gradually regained its color!
The two medical officers even assured Cao Cao that tomorrow… the strategist would awaken.
But… Cao Cao was still uneasy.
The glimmer of hope that had finally appeared in his heart, he feared losing it again. He wanted to wait, to wait for the moment Xi Zhicai opened his eyes.
Even as the moon climbed high, there were still many people in the medical office. Xun Yu, Xun You, Xiahou Dun were all present…
Xun Yu and Xun You exchanged glances from time to time. For the two of them…
Besides their concern for their dear friend Xi Zhicai’s condition, they were also very interested in whether this so-called “Master Lu’s” prescription was effective.
If… if only…
If this prescription truly worked, then… would it mean that the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of patients suffering from typhoid fever in Yan Province had a chance to live?
Would it mean that tens of thousands of soldiers would have something to rely on, no longer fearing the cold, and their morale would soar?
And… the westward advance to Luoyang!
It was strange to say, but all these major events were closely related to this small prescription. Even stranger was that everyone was looking forward to this seemingly unreliable matter.
And… the most, most, most… important thing… this prescription was taught by Master Lu Yu. Did Lu Yu understand medicine?
A string of question marks kept popping up above Xun Yu and Xun You’s foreheads…
Looking forward to it, all they could do now was look forward to it.
“Wenruo…” Cao Cao looked at Xi Zhicai lying on the bed, but his words were directed at Xun Yu. “This morning, Zhicai specifically mentioned… that there is someone in Yingchuan who is ten times better than him, named Fengxiao? Who is Fengxiao?”
Xun Yu recalled the agreement between Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai: ‘If Zhicai does not die, Guo Jia will not emerge.’
He immediately replied, “My lord, if… if Zhicai meets with misfortune, I will tell you who Fengxiao is!”
“Alas…” Cao Cao sighed, and after a moment of silence, he said, “Even if you don’t say it, I know. Fengxiao must be your and Zhicai’s close friend from Yingchuan, a learned scholar…”
Speaking of this, Cao Cao shook his head and looked at Xi Zhicai with even deeper eyes.
“Even at the brink of death, Zhicai’s instructions to me were still about the great cause, and what he left behind were talented individuals who could inherit his burden… Even in this state, Zhicai is still scheming for me, Cao Cao, strategizing until the last moment.”
In Cao Cao’s opinion, Xi Zhicai was indeed worthy of being his strategist!
“My lord, don’t overthink it, Zhicai will likely be fine!” Xun Yu comforted him… “Even if there’s an accident, he has already arranged for someone to succeed him… This person’s talent is truly remarkable, and he is no less than Zhicai!”
Xun Yu actually wanted to express…
The two of them also had some similar preferences; both enjoyed wine and were passionate about military strategy.
The only difference was… Xi Zhicai’s preference was limited to wine, while that man, heh heh, besides wine, he was also open to women, accepting all comers… He was even obsessed with gambling! Women, gambling, wine – all three were present!
The similar aspect was… their physiques were quite frail!
As he said this, Xi Zhicai, who had been motionless on the bed, suddenly trembled his fingers…
Before, he had felt cold all over. Typhoid fever for someone with his weak constitution would erode him very quickly. He felt as if he was constantly falling into an endless abyss.
But… suddenly…
It was as if a mass of liquid had poured into his body, and then it was warm, like a ball of fire gathering. Then… then this ball of fire began to melt the darkness, melt the cold…
It was like a dream, a very long dream, indescribable.
But suddenly…
A voice pulled him back from his dream to reality.
It was Xun Yu’s voice…
And what Xun Yu said seemed to be that it was all right if Xi Zhicai died, for he had made arrangements, and there was a talent in Yingchuan ten times better than him who would inherit his legacy.
— Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao!
Instantly, Xi Zhicai remembered this close friend.
Xun Yu’s words were not wrong. It was precisely because of Guo Jia that he, Xi Zhicai, could die with his eyes closed and depart peacefully.
But… something seemed not quite right!
The coldness in his body had completely dissipated, transforming into a gentle warm current… that constantly coursed through him.
This feeling was very strange… it was as if countless tadpoles were bumping around inside his belly, but their movements were not violent at all; on the contrary… they were quite pleasant.
Then, he felt life gradually returning to his body.
He was still a little weak, but… this weakness had absolutely nothing to do with the word “death.”
His eyebrows began to tremble slightly, and then his eyes abruptly opened a sliver.
Beyond this sliver, his pupils were indeed shining brightly.
Better?
Could it be… he was better from typhoid fever? Recovered?
His body felt completely fine, and Xi Zhicai was both surprised and overjoyed!
“No way…” Xi Zhicai thought to himself.
He knew his own body best. This change in his body, wasn’t this recovery?
Hoo…
He let out a sigh of relief…
“Fengxiao, oh Fengxiao, you’ll probably have to wait a few more years to come out of seclusion, heh heh… I… I, Xi Zhicai, am not going to die! I can offer advice and strategies to my lord again! Hahaha…”
Because he was too happy and got too excited, too stimulated…
Cough cough…
Cough cough…
Xi Zhicai coughed violently. This time… Cao Cao, who had been closing his eyes in contemplation, suddenly realized something.
“Coughing? Zhicai has… woken up…”
With a voice, Cao Cao instinctively turned to find a medical officer. When a patient woke up, the first thing to do… was to call a medical officer to examine them!
Xun Yu, Xun You, and Xiahou Dun instinctively straightened up… and hurried to surround him.
… And many other patients and doctors who were still guarding the entrance… They had been a bit sleepy, but… Cao Cao’s cry of “woken up” undoubtedly put them on high alert…
Because of the guards’ protection, everyone was blocked at the entrance, craning their necks to look inside.
Xi Zhicai’s eyes slowly widened. He felt a bit of difficulty breathing and couldn’t help but cough a couple more times. His body was very weak, still feeling as if it had been drained…
But… he could clearly feel that this weakness was just weakness. Even after fighting against the disease and conquering it, it was still like the slow process of unraveling silk.
“Zhicai…” Cao Cao held Xi Zhicai’s hand, and tears inexplicably welled up in the corners of his eyes. “How do you feel? If… if there’s any discomfort? Tell the medical officers… they… they have a way!”
Xi Zhicai frowned, “My lord Cao… I… my hand hurts, you… be gentle!”
Only then did Cao Cao come to his senses…
He quickly let go. He was too excited and had gripped Xi Zhicai’s hands too tightly.
“My lord Cao, I… I’m a bit hungry, can I… can I eat something?”
As Xi Zhicai said this, Cao Cao looked at the medical officer, who quickly nodded. “Master Lu said it wouldn’t affect his diet. He can eat whatever he wants… Actually, the strategist’s typhoid fever has completely subsided, but… to consolidate, it’s best to drink the Ginseng Four Reverse Decoction for three more days. This morning, Master Lu also instructed the patient like this.”
“Good…”
Cao Cao was overwhelmed with emotion.
Xi Zhicai, however, suddenly thought of something. “Master… Master Lu? Which Master Lu?”
“Is it… is it this divine physician Master Lu… who cured my… this typhoid fever?”
Xi Zhicai’s voice carried out…
But at this moment, his voice was quickly drowned out by the surrounding clamor.
“We’re saved, we’re saved…”
“Officer Lu, Officer Lu can cure this typhoid fever, go to the Cai Mansion… go to the Cai Mansion now!”
“A savior divine physician has appeared, heaven is merciful, heaven is merciful!”
Not only… this group of typhoid patients.
Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and Xun You’s eyes twinkled with light…
Xiahou Dun kept laughing heartily. “Hahaha, big brother, look… what did I say? My second brother is invincible in the world! No… my second brother’s medical skills are invincible in the world!”
Xun Yu and Xun You remained silent, but they exchanged a deep look.
While they were delighted by the recovery of their dear friend Xi Zhicai, they also realized… a more important matter.
Under the severe winter, the eight commanderies of Yan Province, the four commanderies of Xu Province… with hundreds of thousands of typhoid patients, perhaps this devastating disease could be… resolved!
And… my lord Cao’s westward ambition could also proceed as usual.
Double happiness, no, this is triple happiness arriving!
Lu Yu… he has once again shown everyone a miracle!
At this moment, Xi Zhicai was a little dazed. He looked at everyone… and listened to their excited voices, especially about… Officer Lu, Master Lu!
At this moment, he realized something.
Did Lu Yu cure his typhoid fever?
My heavens, even this fatal typhoid fever, could he… he have a way to break it?
“Hahahaha…”
“Hahahaha…”
Cao Cao’s hearty laughter echoed through the medical office. Good, Yu’er… good, in less than half a day… you brought Xi Zhicai back from the brink of death.
Yu’er, you’re amazing!
What was Xi Zhicai like this morning? What is Xi Zhicai like now?
No one knew better than Cao Cao…
The obvious change in this place made Cao Cao’s heart flutter repeatedly.
Of course, this seemed to defy common sense.
Typhoid fever, an incurable disease, even if it could be treated? But… how could it take effect so quickly? How profound was Yu’er’s medical treatise? And was this medical treatise truly passed down from a master’s wife?
Heh heh… this excuse could only fool those stubborn medical officers. Cao Cao certainly didn’t believe it. Cao Cao even guessed.
It was likely that Yu’er’s medical skills were just ordinary, and by chance, he had glimpsed a profound medical book on curing typhoid fever!
This… Cao Cao didn’t need to expose it!
Yu’er had his own thoughts. If he didn’t concoct a plausible story, who would believe he could cure the fatal typhoid fever?
Everything was for the greater good!
Of course…
Cao Cao wouldn’t know that the root cause of typhoid fever was due to an imbalance of internal temperature. It came on quickly, with severe symptoms, but as long as the right medicine was prescribed and the critical point was grasped, the cold could be immediately dispelled, and the body’s normal temperature could be restored, leading to a rapid recovery.
The core was nothing more than prescribing the right medicine!
And Lu Yu’s transmitted “Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders,” which detailed the treatment methods for the common 397 types of typhoid fever, was accurate and hit the nail on the head! It was the nemesis of typhoid fever!
It should be known that it took Zhang Zhongjing great effort to collect the treatment methods for 397 types of typhoid fever, otherwise… he would not have completed the book only when his temples turned white!
Of course… none of this was important. Lu Yu had brought this “Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders” into existence twenty years early, and this would greatly influence the prosperity of the Han Dynasty’s population!
…
…
Fifteen days later.
South of the Yellow River, in the Jingnan region, Changsha Commandery.
“Da da da…” The hoofbeats of a few fast horses grew louder. Several riders were galloping forward against the light of dawn, without stopping for a moment.
The riders’ faces all appeared somewhat weary, but they dared not stop.
One of them had a bamboo tube strapped to his back, containing many bamboo slips…
The constant bumping along the way caused the bamboo slips to collide, making “pala-pala” sounds.
Upon closer inspection…
These bamboo tubes were all sealed tightly with glutinous rice. This was to prevent them from being contaminated by rain or moisture. The south was much more humid than the north.
This was based on experience. Important documents, ancient books… even imperial edicts issued by the court, or appointment documents, had to be carefully sealed when sent south.
However…
Since the Son of Heaven was taken captive to Chang’an, imperial edicts and court documents had not been sent to Jingnan for a long time. Such sealed bamboo slips and such swift messengers were rarely seen in the land of Jingnan in recent years.
“Giddy up, giddy up…”
The leading rider was still galloping at full speed, and the riders behind him were struggling to keep up.
“General Cao, there’s no need to be so fast, is there? Young Master Lu didn’t set a time limit!”
That’s right, the one addressed as General Cao was none other than “Thousand Mile Steed” Cao Xiu.
He glanced back at the riders behind him, his speed undiminished.
“Since it’s Master Lu’s command, even if there’s no time limit, it’s still an urgent matter for our Long Xiao Camp. Let’s go faster. We’re almost at Changsha Commandery! The horses can rest once we enter the city.”
As he spoke, Cao Xiu raised his head and gazed at the towering city walls…
They had already traveled very fast all the way, by water and land… almost traveling day and night. Furthermore, Cao Xiu had lived in the south since childhood and was quite familiar with the region. Therefore, the nearly two thousand-mile journey was completed in just over ten days!
The riders, like a whirlwind, left clear hoofprints on the official road.
They soon entered Changsha Commandery…
Compared to the turmoil in the Central Plains, Changsha Commandery now appeared exceptionally peaceful, as if… it were detached from worldly affairs, a veritable paradise.
Even with brigands, mountain bandits, and water bandits… very few dared to covet Changsha Commandery…
The reason for this was that there were two renowned figures in this place.
One of them was Huang Zhong, who was renowned throughout Jingnan. Legend had it that this man’s divine arrow could hit a target a hundred paces away. Few petty criminals dared to cross his path here.
The other was the famous Medical Saint—Zhang Zhongjing.
As the Prefect of Changsha Commandery, he was certainly the most skilled physician among all the prefects in the Han Dynasty.
He acted contrary to the usual bureaucratic style of officials, always warmly receiving and meticulously treating those who came to seek medical help, never refusing them… Therefore, even mountain bandits and brigands respected Zhang Zhongjing’s reputation and were unwilling to attack Changsha!
Who in this life has never suffered from illness? The principle of leaving a way out for others, even bandits, could understand!
Speaking of Zhang Zhongjing…
In Jingnan, he was considered a unique prefect. Initially, after handling his official duties, he would treat people in the back hall or his own home.
Later, as the number of patients increased, making it impossible for him to cope, he simply moved his clinic to the public hall of the Changsha Yamen and openly held sessions to treat patients.
This was the first instance of a famous physician holding sessions in the "Dragon Kingdom," and the term "hall" in later generations’ practice of opening halls for consultations originated from the Medical Saint Zhang Zhongjing.
…
“Get, get, get…”
The warhorse let out a neigh, and Cao Xiu and the knights dismounted, arriving at the Prefectural Office of Changsha Commandery.
When they arrived, Cao Xiu and his companions were stunned. What was going on here?
Civilians were coming and going from the Yamen. Most of them were not holding official petitions, clearly not there to seek justice or accuse someone.
Many of them were bandaged, or… were applying ointment, and of course… there were also those suffering from typhoid fever who came here to try their luck…
The atmosphere of the entire government office, in Cao Xiu’s view, could be described in two words – “preposterous”!
If it weren’t for the government plaque hanging in front of the gate, Cao Xiu would have thought he had arrived at… a large medical office.
“Very strange…”
Cao Xiu muttered softly…
Originally, the task arranged by Young Master Lu was strange enough, but now… arriving at Changsha Commandery made it even stranger. It seemed… some people… weren’t good officials, but insisted on being doctors, which was absurd! Baimu Novel
However…
There were no soldiers guarding the Yamen, but the civilians were orderly, queuing up in front of the Yamen. One person would come out before another went in. No one cut the line, and everyone seemed quite patient.
Although Cao Xiu was curious, he didn’t dare to delay his important task…
Finally finding a man in black who looked like a steward in the Yamen, he hurried forward to inquire, “May I ask, is Prefect Zhang in the Yamen?”
This man immediately became alert.
“My Prefect is holding a session. Who are you? What do you want with my Prefect?”
Hoo… Cao Xiu let out a sigh of relief. It seemed he had found the steward.
“I am from Yan Province. I am here under orders from my provincial governor to deliver some bamboo slips to Prefect Zhang.”
Mmm…
When the words “Yan Province” and “Provincial Governor” came out, this man glanced at Cao Xiu and pondered, the Provincial Governor of Yan… Cao Cao, perhaps?
Cao Cao, who had been the talk of the town recently!
That’s right, in the current world, Yan Province and Cao Cao were the most famous. The reason was the locusts. Other places got poisoned when they ate them, but they were greatly nourished when they ate them. This spread from ten to a hundred, and Cao Cao was almost rumored to be – the father of locusts!
With a flick of his eyes, the man in black mumbled:
“So you’re from Governor Cao of Yan Province. Oh my… what’s going on lately? We have guests from far away every day. There are those sent by Governor Yuan Shao of Ji Province, those sent by Yuan Shu of Huainan, those sent by Gongsun Zan of You Province, and today… it’s your Governor Cao of Yan… Oh my, it looks like you all want to invite my Prefect Zhang to come out of seclusion!”
This…
Instantly, Cao Xiu’s eyes darted, and he became curious. He blurted out,
“Why is that so?”
“Aren’t you asking the obvious!” the man in black said disdainfully. “Don’t look at these governors who are powerful throughout the nine provinces, but they are also helpless against this typhoid fever. You know my Prefect is researching this disease… and want to invite him to solve the difficult problem of typhoid fever? Heh heh… I think you’re all like toads crawling on an incense burner – you’ll just get a nose full of ashes!”
“Don’t think about it… my lord will not come out of seclusion. He hasn’t completely conquered the problem of typhoid fever yet! Go back, go back… it’s useless to stay. My lord will not see you.”
Saying this, the man waved his hand at Cao Xiu, as if giving him a firm rejection.
This…
Cao Xiu understood. It turned out that during this period, with the severe cold weather, typhoid fever had broken out consecutively in various places. It seemed that the local lords were also helpless and could only turn their attention to Zhang Zhongjing of Changsha Commandery…
It’s just a pity that they all received closed doors!
This wasn’t the point. The point was… what should Cao Xiu do?
Immediately… Cao Xiu took out a bag of gold from his embrace and directly stuffed it into the man’s hand.
The Long Xiao Camp might be lacking in other things, but… gold, it never lacked!
Oh…
The man in black, who had been about to leave, narrowed his eyes. Gold, in itself, was cold, but in one’s pocket, it was warm.
“Cough, cough…”
With a light cough, he turned around. “I can only help you pass on the message. By the way, what did your lord tell you to deliver?”
“Don’t blame me for not reminding you, our Prefect has already refused the invitations of Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, and Yuan Shu… don’t get your hopes up too high!”
Saying this, the man in black tucked the gold into his embrace, the meaning clear – if the matter wasn’t handled, the money wouldn’t be refunded!
“Naturally…” Cao Xiu nodded immediately, then took a basket of bamboo slips from the knight behind him… “Please give these bamboo slips to Prefect Zhang. He will know when he sees them.”
Hmm… so confident!
The man in black took one last look at Cao Xiu, then took the bamboo basket and headed towards the main hall…
Speaking of which, the Changsha Commandery Yamen was easy to enter, but the main hall, a normal person couldn’t get in. After all, to have Prefect Zhang treat you, you had to queue up first.
Fairness was highly valued here, or perhaps it was the principle of first come, first served.
But… as he strode in, many civilians respectfully made way for him, showing that he had considerable status in the Yamen, perhaps even an official under Zhang Zhongjing.
Hoo…
Seeing him slowly entering the Yamen, Cao Xiu let out a long breath.
He had delivered the message to Prefect Zhang Zhongjing of Changsha as instructed by Young Master Lu…
Next, how would Zhang Zhongjing react?
Would there really be a reversal, as Young Master Lu had predicted…
Although he found this matter very absurd, it was still the command of the absurd Father Lu Gongzi. Cao Xiu secretly harbored much hope!
Having followed Young Master Lu for a long time, the most profound thing Cao Xiu had learned was that even in the surrounding darkness, one must always have light in their heart – the light of hope!
…
…