In March of the fourth year of Xuanhe, an uprising broke out in Jingdong. A large number of refugees arrived in Beijing. Unexpectedly, there were people infected with the epidemic. The emperor ordered the four cities to close down and isolate the inside and outside. However, the epidemic surged and there were many infections in the city...
Some people recorded it in writing, and then looked up to the sky and sighed.
On this empty Bianjing Street, footsteps could be heard, and gradually... more and more footsteps were heard, which was especially clear on the silent street.
Some curious people opened their doors and windows to check, and saw patches of Taixue students in white clothes pouring out of the Taixue College, taking to the streets and heading out of the city.
The same scene also happened in the West City. People from the Juxian Hall walked out from all directions, gathered together and ran towards the city gate.
Are they desperate?
This is the unanimous consensus of all those who have seen it. The plague is so serious. They don't hide at home and dare to go out and run around. They are really a group of young people who are not afraid of death.
The guards at the city gate received the order from the Fumu and knew that these young people came out of the city to find medicine, so they opened the city gate without embarrassment and watched them running out one by one with hope.
They are so confident that there may be a way to solve this malaria disease that has been incurable since ancient times...
From today onwards, in the Kaifeng territory, whether in mountain villages, wild fields, or deep mountains and old forests, you can see such a scene: someone is lying on a tree, peeling off the bark, and then marking each piece of bark, carrying it behind his back, and then going to look for it. The next tree to bear fruit.
At this time, the Yellow River had not yet changed its course, and the landform of Kaifeng was still very different from that of later generations. For example, the Kaifeng Iron Tower that seemed to be sitting on flat ground in later generations was located on Yishan Mountain at this time. There were also some unexploited barren mountains and wild ridges, many of which were in later generations. Extinct animals and plants can be found here.
In this way, all the trees in Kaifeng's territory suffered unreasonable disasters, and their clothes were stripped off inexplicably.
In the refugee area outside Xicheng, Wang Zhi has not returned home for several days. This is a malaria-stricken area because malaria spreads from here.
All people suffering from malaria are concentrated in a specific shed. In just one day since the discovery, there are already hundreds of patients here, and the number is still increasing rapidly. Each of them has a Number them, and then a dedicated person will boil the bark decoction corresponding to the number, and then feed it to them to check their reaction after eating.
Of course, it’s not just bark soup, but also artemisia annua soup. This is naturally the method that Wang Erlang, who has the memory of later generations, came up with.
Artemisia annua is not rare. It is everywhere in front of and behind houses and in crop fields. However, this artemisinin soup is not artemisinin after all. It can only relieve the patient’s symptoms and relieve pain, but it cannot cure the disease. As for artemisinin, it is really It’s embarrassing for Wang Erlang. It’s already good that he can remember this name.
In terms of the effect of alleviating symptoms alone, Wang Zhi has been regarded as a miracle doctor by many refugees, and he has also been willingly used as a guinea pig by students to test medicine.
He didn't know any medical skills. When someone asked him, he only said that he studied things to gain knowledge, which attracted everyone to worship him again.
It’s just this bark soup…
The first day...no response, dozens more patients.
The next day...no response, hundreds more patients.
On the third day... there was no response, the shed was no longer enough to live in, and some strong young people fell down while they were busy.
The chosen man, Wang Erlang, walked between the sheds to check the situation. He had not rested for several days, and his eyes were bloodshot and he would not stop.
He doesn't believe in evil. He doesn't believe that there is not a single cinchona tree in Kaifeng. If there really isn't one in Kaifeng, then go look for it on the roads west of Beijing. If you still can't find it, go to Shu. If you can't find it in Shu, I went to Dali to look for it, but I couldn’t find it if I didn’t believe it.
He came out of the tent and bumped into a very, very unexpected person.
"Xiao Ru? Why are you here?"
Wang Zhi recognized this crying little lady as the personal maid beside his unmarried wife.
"Uncle...go and see my little lady, she...she..." Xiao Ru was already sobbing, tears streaming down her face.
An ominous premonition gradually arose in Wang Zhi's heart, and he asked uneasily, "She...what happened to her..."
"My dear lady, she...is sick..."
Upon hearing this answer, Wang Zhi's eyes darkened and he almost fell down.
Holding himself up, Wang Zhi calmed down, comforted Xiao Ru, filled two more bowls of Artemisia annua soup, filled them in ceramic jars, and called Agui to drive the carriage back to the city.
The city gate has been opened today, because if the city gate is not opened, every household in the city will not even have food to eat. However, it is only open for three hours in the morning, and there is still a need to check whether anyone is infected.
No one who is sick is allowed to enter the city.
After being searched, the carriage entered the city and finally stopped in front of the Cao Mansion.
Wang Gui caboose, Wang Zhi followed Xiao Ru into the mansion, and entered the boudoir that she had only entered a few times when she was a child, but Miss Cao always knocked her out.
Wang Zhi walked gently to the bed, not daring to disturb the person lying in bed. Seeing the figure that haunted him was no longer cheerful or noisy. She just fell asleep quietly, her face looking better than the last time he saw her. I have become much thinner and paler.
If she hadn't been sick, she would have driven her out by now.
Inexplicably, Wang Zhi actually smiled.
But by chance, Mrs. Cao, who opened her eyes slightly, got a real look.
"Xiao Ru...why is he here?"
Mrs. Cao's weak voice was filled with warmth and anger, as well as a hint of unexplainable emotion.
Xiaoru was wiping tears at the side, and she didn't dare to say anything back that you were the one who said you wanted to see this guy in your confusion, so she ran all the way out of the city to invite this guy back.
"Don't be angry, little lady. I know you are sick and came here to visit. You two can chat and I will cook you some porridge."
Xiaoru made an excuse and left, closing the door behind him.
"Xiao Ru...Xiao Ru..."
Mrs. Cao struggled to get up and call Xiaoru back, but she couldn't even hold herself up.
Upon seeing this, Wang Zhi quickly helped her up, put two pillows under her back, and then let her lie down.
"I don't want you to worry about it." Mrs. Cao said stubbornly, turning her head away. She didn't know whether she didn't want to see him, or she didn't want him to see her like this.
Wang Zhi sat down nonchalantly, not knowing what to say. The room was a little quiet for a while.
"Um...you...you are at home well, how could you get sick..."
As soon as these words came out, Wang Zhi wanted to slap himself on both ears. He really had nothing to say. At this time, he didn't comfort others and asked them how they got sick. Wasn't he asking for trouble?
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Mrs. Cao moved her head further back.
Madam Cao is really angry. If I hadn't followed you, you bitch, would I have contracted the disease? It’s true that there is no pot that cannot be opened.
"No, that's not what I meant."
Wang Zhi hurriedly explained, but he didn't know how to explain it, but Wang Erlang, who was always good at playing, was so anxious that he scratched his head and scratched his head.
"I am seriously ill, please stay away from me."
Miss Cao spoke again, but she didn't ask him to get out as she imagined, she just told him to stay away.
This made Wang Erlang a little flattered. Could it be that a person who is about to die has good words?
Bah bah...Wang Erlang didn't even know what his brain was used for. He thought about random things all day long.
"Well... don't worry, I have found a way to treat malaria, and I will definitely cure you."
After hearing this, Miss Cao finally turned back to look at him, with disbelief in her eyes.
Before Wang Erlang could think about it, he heard her speak again, "Am I infected with malaria?"
"ah……"
Wang Erlang was completely stunned, and then he realized that maybe the Cao family was afraid that she would worry, so they didn't tell her about her malaria infection at all, and wanted her to finish the last journey in peace.
What a garrulous person I am!
"Snapped!"
Wang Zhi gave himself a real shave. Looking at Mrs. Cao whose eyes were gradually dimming, Wang Zhi thought of the Artemisia annua soup he had brought.
Immediately, he turned around, picked up the clay pot on the table, poured a bowl, brought it to Mrs. Cao and explained: "This is the artemisia annua soup I painstakingly researched for malaria. It has very good curative effects. Come and have a bowl."
After hearing this, Mrs. Cao hid back and looked at him with some disbelief, "Why didn't I know that you also have medical skills?"
"I know a lot of things."
Wang Erlang picked up the stinky fart that he had just finished, and said arrogantly: "Now hundreds of patients outside the city are drinking my Qinghao soup to save their lives. Just ask Xiao Ru, can this matter be done? Is it fake?"
A few days ago, Mrs. Cao would not have believed that this guy could cure diseases even if she was beaten to death. However, after following these few days, she found that she still knew too little about this guy. What he knew was indeed very good. Quite a lot.
All of them came forward to take a whiff with hesitation, but the smell of grass almost made her feel sick to her stomach.
"Good medicine tastes bitter, don't worry, I can still harm my own wife."
Wang Zhi saw that she didn't dislike him much, so he boldly wanted to feed her medicine, but Mrs. Cao rolled her eyes and said, "Young disciple, who is your wife? If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will let Xiao Ru do it." Kick you out."
"Okay, okay, I won't talk anymore, can you do it yourself?"
Wang Zhi saw her about to get up and wanted to help her but was afraid that the beauty would be angry. He didn't know where to put his hands and feet, and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
Although Mrs. Cao spoke harshly, she still held up the bowl and drank it with a frown.
Wang Zhi took back the bowl and put it aside. For a while, the two of them fell into silence again, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little subtle.
This time it was Miss Cao who spoke first, "Actually... I also have something to say to you."
Wang Zhi was overjoyed at first when he heard this, and then woke up, as if he knew what she was going to say next.
"I would have known even if you didn't tell me." Wang Zhi lowered his head and pretended to be calm.
"You know?" Mrs. Cao was a little confused.
Wang Zhi continued to speak calmly, "You didn't kick me out immediately and you were still willing to talk to me. I'm not a fool."
Mrs. Cao said softly, "Hmm", to express her agreement with his words, her pale face turned slightly red.
"I will go back to my house later to ask for the 'fixed post' from my mother-in-law and exchange it with you. I won't embarrass you."
Miss Cao looked at him blankly when she heard this, but his head was lowered very deep, and there was no expression on his face.
Yes, now he is infected with malaria and his life is not long. His choice is also humane. It should be like this... It should be like this...
Mrs. Cao turned her head to look at the curtain, the blush on her face disappeared and she became even paler.
"Okay, you can rest early. I have some things to do outside the city. If you don't go through the city gate, it will be closed."
Wang Zhi stood up, picked up the clay pot, poured another bowl of artemisia soup, and said, "Let Xiao Ru heat it up and drink another bowl later. Tomorrow morning, Xiao Ru can go find me outside the west city, and I'll prepare it for her." "
After saying that, he turned around, opened the door, and stepped out...
