CHAPTER 193: CHAPTER 191 MOVING

A single pill is better than a bowl of medicine; this was what Song Xian mentioned in the letter.

Qin Maoxing was very surprised when he read the letter and even more shocked when he saw the pill in person.

If they were loading medicinal herbs, twenty-three mule carts wouldn’t carry much, but it’s different with these pills.

The doctor beside Qin Maoxing stepped forward and said, "In the previous dynasty, some medicines were made this way, but very rarely. I’ve never seen such a large quantity before."

This doctor was left for Qin Maoxing by Su Huaiqing. Since the onset of the epidemic in Yingzhou, the doctors from the Su Family’s Pharmacy had been helping with the treatment. One of them even accidentally contracted the epidemic.

Currently, Yingzhou’s medicinal supplies are insufficient, the number of sick citizens is increasing, and there aren’t enough personnel in the city. All large pots have been used by Qin Maoxing for continual decoction of medicine but it still isn’t enough for the patients.

These pills, which can be taken directly, are simply a critical relief for Yingzhou City.

However, this is the first time using pills, and Song Xian also has his own conditions.

The Song Family has a team outside of Yingzhou City, and if Qin Maoxing decides to use the pills, he must allow that team into the city. After entering, the Song Family’s troops would assist him in managing the patients who have taken the finished medicine.

Qin Maoxing understood Song Xian’s intent, fearing that someone might take advantage of the situation to manipulate things secretly.

At that point, these finished medicines wouldn’t be aiding Yingzhou but would be used to frame Song Xian for "harming" Yingzhou.

Qin Maoxing instructed the deputy general beside him to escort the mule carts and the soldiers to a pre-prepared courtyard, while he took a box of pills to the government office.

The Yingzhou County Magistrate and others were sitting in the second hall of the government office. Qin Maoxing first handed the pills to several doctors for examination.

The doctors hesitated for a moment and asked Qin Maoxing, "May we taste them?"

Qin Maoxing nodded, and the doctors cautiously put a pill into their mouths and carefully tasted it, detecting some faint flavors of rhubarb and siler root among other herbs.

The doctor said, "Rhubarb and siler root are effective against the epidemic, but making them into this form... one pill replacing a bowl of medicine, I wonder if it would be effective."

Another doctor said, "Although the pill is not large, if the dosage is adequate, it should be effective. Each person only needs two or three pills a day, along with the directly boiled medicinal soup, at least the patients could all receive medication."

The Yingzhou County Magistrate and the County Magistrate stared at the doctors.

The County Magistrate couldn’t help but ask, "Do you really think this will work? It’s not as if Song Xian brought them here to... to..."

Qin Maoxing coldly interjected, completing the County Magistrate’s sentence, "Do you think Song Xian would bring finished medicine to harm the epidemic-stricken citizens? Not to mention the court wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen, it would also ruin Song Xian’s reputation in the North."

The Yingzhou County Magistrate, feeling thwarted by Qin Maoxing, spoke weaker: "I’ve never heard of finished medicines being used in Zhenzhou Prefecture before, maybe Song Xian wants to use Yingzhou to test the medicine."

Qin Maoxing frowned, "That’s because the epidemic in Zhenzhou is not severe, if doctors could change prescriptions in time, why use finished medicines? Yingzhou’s situation is different, probably not even half of the patients are getting medication, even if Zhenzhou sends herbs, Yingzhou doesn’t have enough pots to brew the medicine."

Through this epidemic, Qin Maoxing noticed the differences between Zhenzhou and Yingzhou; in Zhenzhou, even villagers would help patrol and take any identified patients to the epidemic station immediately.

However, it’s different in Yingzhou; as the epidemic worsens, some officials have fled with their families, and the sick citizens prefer to hide at home rather than report to the government office, because they know that getting to the epidemic station means certain death.

Without doctors and without medication, it’s just waiting for death.

Qin Maoxing made up his mind, "Let the soldiers sent by Song Xian enter the city and use finished medicines on the patients according to the method of Zhenzhou."

In the second hall, the County Magistrate and several deputy generals all turned their eyes towards Qin Maoxing.

The County Magistrate said, "If something goes wrong..."

Qin Maoxing said with determination, "If something really goes wrong, I will report to the court and take responsibility. The official documents will state that all of you spoke out against it, but I stubbornly refused to listen and even used the household generals of the Military Governor. Anyway, there’s no need for you all to panic, I’m taking the head responsibility, if the sky falls, it will crush me first."

Qin Maoxing stood up, and the deputy generals in the second hall still whispered about the matter.

Qin Maoxing paused and said, "Song Xian dared to send finished medicines here, and you dare not use them; is it because you think you’re no match for Song Xian, or is your mind full of schemes and conspiracies, measuring others by yourself?"

"General Qin is kind to you; don’t wait for the Military Governor’s absence to betray him."

"Do you intend to join hands with Song Xian to harm the Military Governor?"

Hearing these words, Qin Maoxing smoothed his official attire with his hand, "I can leave everything alone, who of you will take over Yingzhou’s affairs?"

The room fell silent.

Qin Maoxing already anticipated this outcome, "Alright, since none of you are willing to take charge, from now on, I will handle the Yingzhou epidemic. If anyone secretly acts improperly, don’t blame me for disregarding courtesy."

After Qin Maoxing walked out of the government office, he first welcomed Song Xian’s troops into the city, then instructed the doctors to prepare for the distribution of medicines.

The epidemic station was bustling with the delivery and distribution of medicine, doctors and medical workers cooperated to feed pills to patients, and for those unable to swallow, the pills were dissolved for consumption.

Along with the mule carts carrying medicines from Zhenzhou, there were also doctors from Zhenzhou.

These doctors had taken care of patients at the Zhenzhou epidemic station and were naturally very familiar with the work at the station; they immediately busied themselves upon arrival.

The doctors at the Yingzhou epidemic station, seeing this scene, felt their noses sting with emotion. They thought everyone at the epidemic station was going to die and had lost hope, but unexpectedly, so many people and medicines arrived.

The doctors at the epidemic station, who had lost their energy, were instantly revitalized at the sight before them.

Qin Maoxing stood outside the epidemic station, watching everyone work from dawn until sunset before everything was finally in order at the station.

The government office sent food, and Qin Maoxing invited everyone to eat.

"General Qin, why don’t you sit down and rest for a bit?"

Qin Maoxing noticed the speaker was very young, only about fourteen or fifteen years old, not wearing any official clothes, so he sat down and asked quietly, "Who are you..."

The boy smiled, "My name is Sun Changxing, I’m from Sun Family Village in Zhenzhou, and I’m here to help escort the finished medicine, three people from our village came over."

Despite Sun Changxing’s shy smile, he was very nimble and strong, able to carry two boxes by himself.

"General Qin," said Sun Changxing, "have you taken the medicine? My sister said even if we haven’t caught the epidemic, we should take the medicine; it can cure the disease and prevent it."

"Sister?" Qin Maoxing did not know who Sun Changxing’s sister was.

Sun Changxing nodded, "These pills were indeed produced by the Official Medicine Bureau, but it was our sister who worked around the clock there to make them."

When we were helping at the epidemic station, we saw Mr. Xu and Sister testing the medicine, pill after pill. The doctors at the epidemic station couldn’t bear to watch and helped out by taste-testing too.

Don’t underestimate these small pills; they required countless people’s effort."

Qin Maoxing vaguely guessed who Sun Changxing’s sister was and instinctively said, "Isn’t that Miss Xie from Chen Family Village..."

Sun Changxing replied, "Yes, she’s Miss Xie from Chen Family Village. My father’s illness was cured by Sister, and not just our village, also nearby Xiahe Village and Beishan Village, all call Miss Xie Sister."

Qin Maoxing took the finished medicine passed by Sun Changxing and popped it into his mouth. The pill was bitter but had a hint of sweetness, slowly dissolving in his mouth.

Qin Maoxing recalled the first time he heard from Su Huaiqing about Miss Xie; he never expected that Miss Xie, engaged to Su Huaiqing, would be so capable.

It’s a pity the engagement didn’t count anymore, otherwise...

Qin Maoxing’s eyes lit up; perhaps there’s still a chance? Miss Xie is skilled in medicine, and the Su Family has a pharmacy; it sounds like a perfect match.