"Cao Gong, Zhicai he..."
Rarely, Xun Yu's voice stumbled.
This was entirely different from Xun Wenruo, who remained unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed before him.
Instantly, Cao Cao's brows furrowed. He had a profoundly ominous premonition.
Xun Yu continued speaking—
"Zhicai... he has contracted typhoid fever! He..."
"He told me not to tell you, Gongda, fearing it would delay Cao Gong's important affairs, but... but something like this..."
Xun Yu trailed off. No one cared what he was about to say next, but the words "typhoid fever" struck Cao Cao like lightning, making it impossible for him to breathe!
Zhicai? He... he has typhoid fever?
This...
In this era, typhoid fever was practically equivalent to death, a slow, torturous death marked by a plummeting body temperature and endless suffering!
His eyes widened, staring blankly at Xun Yu.
"Wenruo, what... what did you say?"
Cao Cao couldn't believe his ears, nor did he want to believe... that it was true.
Truth be told, although Xi Zhicai had not been in Cao Cao's camp for long, during the campaign against Xuzhou, he and Cao Cao had been inseparable...
Cao Cao would never forget Xi Zhicai's miraculous stratagems when conquering Dongguan and Donghai Commanderies, and Langya Commandery in Xuzhou.
Winning through surprise, attacking where the enemy was unprepared!
Furthermore, his sharp judgment on the battlefield, his ability to adapt to situations instantly, was something even Cao Cao admired from afar.
Cao Cao had once said that in terms of overall perspective and grand strategy, Xi Zhicai was not as good as himself, Cao Cao. However, when it came to precise battlefield deployments and tactical shifts during engagements, he, Cao Cao, was far inferior to Xi Zhicai!
No one was a more suitable or compatible partner than these two!
Indeed, while Lu Yu's strategy of attacking the enemy's heart contributed greatly to the capture of the four commanderies of Xuzhou, without Xi Zhicai's masterful conquest of three commanderies, which laid the fundamental groundwork, how could Lu Yu have achieved such great military achievements by attacking the enemy's heart?
Hoo...
Hoo...
Panting heavily, Cao Cao desperately wished that Xun Yu would say... that he was just joking, that Zhicai... was fine, or perhaps... he just had a slight cold.
A common cold, typhoid fever—a single word difference, yet a world apart!
"Cao Gong, the physicians have... have already examined him. They say... Zhicai will not live for another month!"
Typhoid fever, compared to other plagues...
It wasn't something that could instantly claim a life. It was like a shard of ice buried deep within the body, constantly growing, corroding the body, and making it increasingly cold!
A persistent high fever and debilitating weakness, coupled with internal coldness—these were all symptoms of typhoid fever.
"Cao Gong, let's go see Zhicai... I fear in a few more days, he won't be able to speak."
Xun Yu spoke word by word, each sentence seemingly uttered through tears...
His eyes, rarely showing emotion, were already brimming with tears.
As fellow talents from Yingchuan, and as friends who were difficult to find, Xun Yu could least bear the departure of his close friend!
"Lead the way... I... I will go see Zhicai immediately!"
Cao Cao slammed his hands onto the desk again. This time, the entire desk trembled, shaking...
Damn this weather, damn this typhoid fever!
If this typhoid fever had merely obstructed his path to Xiliang to welcome the Son of Heaven, Cao Cao would not have been driven to such despair!
But... if Xi Zhicai were to leave, that would be more unbearable to Cao Cao than welcoming the Son of Heaven or being obstructed in his westward march to Xiliang!
Perhaps Cao Cao could have slaughtered an innocent person without batting an eye, with a swift stroke of his blade!
But... he would never stand idly by and watch a meritorious individual die before his eyes...
Zhicai's pain was Cao Cao's pain; he could feel it empathically!
The world said Cao Cao was heartless, but they were wrong. Cao Cao's affection was merely not easily given to others.
However... Xi Zhicai was undoubtedly someone to whom Cao Cao could entrust his very heart.
Xun Yu and Xun You quickly led the way...
Taking Cao Cao towards the largest medical hall in Chenliu Commandery.
...
...
Chenliu Commandery, fifteen li to the south, at the Dragon Soaring Camp.
Terrible, truly terrible!
As Lu Yu arrived, his most immediate impression was that all the Dragon Soaring Camp knights had flushed faces, and their ears were already frostbitten...
Even staying inside their tents, the camp's tents were drafty. Coupled with the exceptionally bitter winter,
It was no wonder typhoid fever was rampant!
Of course, this was within Lu Yu's expectations...
Truth be told, the conditions at Dragon Soaring Camp were considered quite good among Cao Cao's forces, thanks to Lu Yu, the generous benefactor. Yet, even with this, so many had contracted typhoid fever. One could only imagine the situation in other camps.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Lu Yu believed the number of soldiers who would die from severe typhoid fever this winter would not be less than ten thousand.
Of course...
In Lu Yu's memory, typhoid fever was divided into mild and severe cases. Mild cases had a chance of recovery, but... severe cases had an extremely slim possibility of being cured.
However, in this era... there were no effective treatments for typhoid fever, thus... mild cases often progressed to severe ones.
Currently... there were already some physicians in the tents of the typhoid fever patients. Lu Yu had instructed Dian Wei to send for them.
"How is it?"
Lu Yu asked the physicians...
The lead physician shook his head and stated truthfully, "It's not optimistic. In this weather, typhoid fever is extremely difficult to recover from... even if medication stabilizes it for a while, the persistent high fever will continue to recur..."
Hoo...
Sighing lightly, Lu Yu didn't pressure the physicians. Typhoid fever was indeed beyond their capabilities.
"Ugh..."
As they were speaking, a soldier suffering from typhoid fever suddenly vomited. It started with a mild heave, and then... he stiffly walked towards the latrine, exhibiting symptoms of both vomiting and diarrhea!
The physician, as if fearing misunderstanding, quickly reminded them.
"This symptom is considered an early stage of typhoid fever. He can still walk, but... within ten days, his body will become ice-cold, and he won't be able to get out of bed. In twenty days, he will be on his last breath, on the verge of death..."
Hmm...
Lu Yu paused slightly, and his mind instinctively recalled the discourse on persistent high fever and vomiting/diarrhea symptoms in the "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders" (Shanghan Zabing Lun). He blurted out:
"A patient with fever, headache, body aches, aversion to cold, vomiting, and diarrhea—this is the 'cholera' condition within typhoid fever!"
"Cholera primarily presents with vomiting and diarrhea as its main symptoms. After the vomiting and diarrhea cease, if fever recurs! There is aversion to cold with a weak pulse, and continuous diarrhea. Aversion to cold with a weak pulse still persists! And if the diarrhea stops, it means the body fluids are depleted. It should be treated with Si Ni Jia Ren Shen Tang!"
Lu Yu recited this rigidly.
He didn't understand medicine...
But because he had tried to pursue a girl who studied traditional Chinese medicine in university, he had specifically looked at some medical textbooks. And how could he not have read the famous "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders" in TCM?
He called it "finding common ground" to make approaching her easier.
Of course, the story didn't end well. That girl took his pulse once and completely rejected him, citing the reason that... Lu Yu was too weak and couldn't satisfy her!
Who could Lu Yu reason with about this! As for the "kidney-tonifying" prescription he gave Xiahou Dun earlier, that was a story involving another girl who studied TCM; that's for another day.
Of course... while he didn't win the girl's heart, it wasn't entirely without reward. At the very least, the book "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders" was imprinted in Lu Yu's mind.
Today... it was quite coincidental. The symptoms perfectly matched the description of cholera disease in the seventh volume, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Cholera."
Of course, Lu Yu spoke carelessly, as he didn't understand what "aversion to cold pulse" meant, nor "depletion of body fluids," nor even the combination of "Si Ni" and "Ren Shen Tang," nor what "Si Ni" was!
But... the physicians listening understood. And... they could comprehend these medical terms!
Hiss... What is this?
The lead physician's eyes narrowed...
—Aversion to cold with a weak pulse and continuous diarrhea, aversion to cold with a weak pulse still persists! Depletion of body fluids! Si Ni combined with Ren Shen Tang?
It seemed the physician suddenly understood something.
He let out a loud shout.
"Come, quickly prepare Si Ni, and brew the Ren Shen Tang!"
Ordinary military camps wouldn't have Ren Shen Tang, but the Dragon Soaring Camp had everything? After all... money was thrown from the ground; Lu Yu never hesitated to spend money to buy medicine and treat illnesses!
Uh...
The physician's action truly stunned Lu Yu for a moment. He wondered in his heart, he hadn't finished reciting yet?
Perhaps... I should recite the entire chapter for you before you consider how to treat it?
Don't... misinterpret the essence of "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders" with just a few words...
Lu Yu wanted to stop him, but... the physician had already run out, his eyes shining, especially the lead physician, who was clearly very excited. He seemed to have suddenly grasped something!
A moment later...
The Si Ni Jia Ren Shen Tang was brewed.
The so-called Si Ni Tang is also known in TCM as "Hui Ni Tang." It primarily treats spleen deficiency with formulas like "Li Zhong Tang," "Xiao Jian Zhong Tang," "Da Jian Zhong Tang," and "Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang." Its main ingredients are dried ginger, licorice, aconite, and ephedra!
Several physicians handed the brewed Si Ni Ren Shen Tang to the patient from before, whispering a few words in his ear.
The patient looked meaningfully at Lu Yu...
Then he drank it down, and afterward, covered himself with thick bedding.
Around him, some physicians squatted, while others stood tall, constantly watching the patient's forehead... Some continually tried to touch his cold palms.
The entire process... in Lu Yu's eyes, resembled a group of doctors in a private hospital conducting a joint consultation for a very important patient.
"Young Master Lu..."
Dian Wei wanted to remind Lu Yu that he didn't need to wait here. After all, with so many patients in this tent, what if... they also had infectious diseases other than typhoid fever that could infect Young Master Lu?
But before Dian Wei could speak, Lu Yu waved his hand, signaling that it was fine.
Then, he stood there in the tent, waiting silently, without a word!
One hour...
Two hours...
The wait was long and arduous. Unusually, Lu Yu was very patient this time. He even observed many other war-related illnesses during this period and found the corresponding chapters in his mind from the "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders."
There were also some he was unsure about, as, in the end, he was not a doctor and could only make a rough observation, far from the four diagnostic methods (looking, listening, inquiring, and palpation).
Just as Lu Yu was starting to feel tired.
"It's done... After a heavy sweat, the high fever on his head has subsided, and his hands... his hands have regained their warmth!"
A physician shouted...
At this, the other physicians, who were feeling a bit drowsy, immediately became fully alert.
If... if what he said was true, then... this was a medical miracle!
My heavens...
Instantly, all the physicians crowded around the patient. Some touched his chest temperature, some felt his forehead, and others tightly held his hands...
It seemed the returning warmth in his cold palms... warmed the hearts of countless people simultaneously.
"How... how do you feel?"
After looking, listening, and palpating... the lead physician began the final inquiry.
"I feel... warm all over, not a burning warmth, but... a gentle warmth. It seems... my legs... are no longer so heavy, and my chest is no longer cold! Most importantly, I no longer have that feeling of vomiting and diarrhea."
The patient spoke...
The lead physician raised his hand. "Let him get up..."
At this, the physicians stepped back, clearing space for the patient to get down.
Thump... thump!
"I feel... I'm better, I'm not sick anymore!"
With excited words and firm steps, just from getting down, there seemed to be... no stiffness caused by typhoid fever!
At this, the lead physician was overjoyed.
"Walk a few steps, walk a few steps if you're not sick!"
Hearing this... the afflicted soldier was extremely excited. He immediately began to walk slowly, first slowly, then... quickly, and finally... he could even leap!
Recovering from the deadly typhoid fever was like walking back from the gates of hell for him!
He was as happy as a five-year-old child!
However...
After his joy, he realized something. It seemed... their commander, Lu Yu, had helped him recover...
That's right... earlier, when all the physicians were helpless, only Young Master Lu recited a prescription, and the physicians followed it... only then was his life saved!
Thinking of this, the patient jumped over several beds, moving with twice the speed, and instantly appeared before Lu Yu.
"Young Master Lu... no... benefactor... no... Benefactor!"
With a "thud," he knelt down, staring blankly.
"Thank you, Benefactor, for saving my life!"
And at this moment, all the surrounding typhoid fever patients, and even... the physicians, seemed to remember something.
Yes... the prescription that Young Master Lu casually mentioned had cured... cured this incurable, fatal typhoid fever!
Then... how profound was his medical skill?
"I did not expect Assistant Officer Lu to possess such miraculous medical skills. I am truly impressed, truly impressed..." The lead physician bowed immediately...
The other physicians quickly clasped their hands in greeting.
This was how ancient physicians were. Regardless of age or family background, they respected skill alone!
If your medical skill was high, they would bow to you!
Moreover, Lu Yu could cure the typhoid fever that rendered all the physicians helpless. Then... his medical skills were enough to make these physicians worship him!
"Assistant Officer Lu can cure this deadly typhoid fever. If Young Master Lu does not mind, please... accept me as your disciple!"
"Clack," the lead physician knelt down.
With his kneel, "clack," "clack," "clack"... instantly, all the physicians knelt down.
"Please... please accept us as disciples!"
A teacher who could cure typhoid fever was impossible to find even with a lantern in the dark!
Moreover, ancient physicians often harbored the noble dream of helping the world and resolving difficult and complicated illnesses. Currently... what was raging the most this winter was precisely this typhoid fever!
And a divine doctor who could cure typhoid fever was right before their eyes. How could they not be convinced and seek to learn from him?
At this point, there were too many people kneeling...
Lu Yu actually felt a little embarrassed.
As he looked up, he noticed that the remaining typhoid fever patients in the entire tent were looking at Lu Yu with extremely hopeful eyes.
Hoo... Lu Yu sighed softly...
He almost forgot the main business. He was a noble person, a pure person, a person detached from vulgar interests.
"We'll talk about taking disciples later. As a physician, the first priority is to treat the patients!"
"All of you, get up! Now... the more than sixty brothers of the Dragon Soaring Camp in this tent are patients!"
Upon hearing this...
"We respectfully obey Master's command!"
In unison...
All the physicians stood up straight...
Lu Yu did not hesitate and immediately walked to another patient. He didn't understand medicine, but he could show off... no, he could recite prescriptions!
Under the expectant gaze of everyone, Lu Yu's voice followed:
—"This patient has pain in the chest and abdomen upon palpation, with a fluctuating pulse. The pulse at the Guan position is deep and heavy. These are symptoms of 'Jie Xiong' within typhoid fever."
—"When evil qi is abundant and solid, and the evil heat invades inward, it becomes Jie Xiong. If the illness occurs internally, and the vital energy is insufficient, and one mistakenly uses purgative methods, it will turn into Pi Zheng!"
—"For Jie Xiong, the neck will also stiffen, similar to a soft convulsion. Treating the stiffness with purgation will soften it, and Da Xian Xiong Wan can be used!"
Lu Yu didn't know what "Da Xian Xiong Wan" was, nor what "stiffness" or "softness" meant.
However, it was enough that the physicians around him knew.
Indeed, as soon as his words left his mouth, a physician took out black pills from a wooden box, much like the "Jigong Stomach-Opening Pill"!
Following that, the physician instructed the patient a few words, and the patient swallowed the pill...
Seemingly... with absolute trust in Lu Yu's diagnosis.
Then... the next one!
Now... there was no need for verification. They only needed to follow Lu Yu's instructions!
Lu Yu examined more than ten patients in succession...
Fortunately, he had investigated their conditions in advance a few hours ago, and they had all been matched. This time, it was merely reciting passages from the "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders," which was not difficult for Lu Yu...
Even...
As the physicians prepared and brewed the medicine, Lu Yu would recite some of the general principles from the "Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders"...
—"Pulses are divided into Yin and Yang. Generally speaking, pulses that are large, floating, rapid, moving, or slippery are pulses of excess, belonging to Yang pulses!"
—"Pulses that are deep, choppy, weak, wiry, or faint are pulses of deficiency, belonging to Yin pulses!"
—"For patients with typhoid fever, those who can eat and have constipated bowels are called Yang binding. On the seventeenth day, their condition will worsen!"
—"Those whose pulse is deep and slow, who cannot eat, feel heavy, and whose bowels should be bound but are not, are called Yin binding. On the fourteenth day, their condition will worsen!"
...
At this moment, all the physicians listened carefully.
As the saying goes—Divine Doctor Lu Yu teaching online, deadly typhoid fever is easily defeated!
...
...