Chapter 263: The Power of the Entire State

Regarding Liu Zheng's choice.

Everyone, almost without exception, had no objections. They merely expressed regret in varying degrees.

Especially Jiang Xuan.

He wanted to speak several times but stopped himself.

This is cold, hard silver! Is the Young Master just giving it up like this? Benefiting the world? When you were in your most dire straits, who ever benefited you? That group of people, they couldn't wait to kick you while you were down, and they would even want to stomp on your dead corpse a few times for good measure!

Returning evil with virtue.

A heart as open as a valley.

Using such words to praise Liu Zheng is not an exaggeration at all.

But Liu Zheng still did not hesitate.

The malaria in Dunhuang had reached a very critical moment. His values did not allow him to turn a blind eye to those who could die at any moment, nor to have a heart as hard as iron. Just to pursue his own interests and power?

He could not do it.

The first Han.

Was sent to Dunhuang City.

The moment Chang Shuwen received the letter, he was skeptical.

"Artemisia annua?"

He and his group of officials looked at each other in dismay.

They knew this thing!

Isn't it just Stinking Mugwort?

This is actually a magic treasure that can deal with malaria?

"My Lord, is this Prefect Liu being too childish?"

"It is mentioned in medical books that Artemisia is used to treat malaria, but the effect..."

A group of people looked at each other.

As a Prefect, Chang Shuwen was able to see the essence of the matter, and he looked around coldly: "Treat a dead horse as if it were a living one! If this matter is true, Prefect Liu deserves to be called a Contemporary Sage! Find a few patients and try it out!"

"Yes, My Lord!"

Soon, here in Dunhuang, several patients were found and treated together. Although there was not much Artemisia annua, it could still be supplied to a few people.

Chang Shuwen's mood was very complicated.

Zhu Zhen had offered an Admonishment, and the Patent Law passed by the old Emperor also had provisions for prescription patents. If it were true that this Artemisia annua could cure malaria, Prefect Liu should have applied for a patent first before bringing it out, so that he would not miss out on creating huge profits—after all, everyone knew that this thing, Artemisia annua, was everywhere and very cheap.

But he brought it out now?

Is he truly a Contemporary Sage, or is he just fooling around?

Time will prove everything.

Chang Shuwen was also an iron-blooded Prefect; according to the suggestions in Liu Zheng's Han, he had the corpses of those who died every day cremated.

It must be said that this, to a certain extent, cut off the spread of the pathogens.

For two days, Chang Shuwen did not sleep.

He was waiting, he was waiting for the result, he was waiting for the result of whether that Artemisia annua was useful or not! The reason his mood was complicated was not just about how this plague would turn out...

But rather.

For so long, Liangzhou Prefecture still had not taken any action, only symbolically sending a few physicians and delivering some supplies.

Yet what about this Prefect Liu?

He was outside the city, actively rescuing people the whole time.

By comparison, the difference was clear.

He suddenly thought of an extended question.

Who would be better to be in charge of this Liangzhou? If it were the previous Liu Dahao, he certainly would not have been qualified to participate in it... but this time the Yinzhou army borrowed a path through Dunhuang, which naturally involved the issue of Dunhuang's camp.

Continue to follow Chen Ping?

Or flirt with Liu Dahao?

This question.

Seemed to require no choice at all.

He only needed to wait for the result.

For two days, he relied on drinking tea to sustain his spirit.

"My Lord, My Lord! Good news, My Lord!"

Just at this moment, several physicians ran in, shouting as they ran.

Chang Shuwen stood up abruptly, forgetting to even put on his shoes, and asked hurriedly: "How is it, how is it?"

The physicians were overjoyed: "My Lord, the Artemisia annua, the effect is miraculous!"

Chang Shuwen was overjoyed: "Truly?"

The physicians nodded with a smile: "My Lord, we conducted strict screening and comparison, and confirmed that this Artemisia annua is indeed the best medicine for malaria!"

Chang Shuwen's heart was instantly in turmoil, and he waved his hand: "Everyone who is unharmed, go out of the city to search for Artemisia annua, and then..."

He gritted his teeth and said: "Welcome Prefect Liu into the city!"

"Yes!"

The second Han.

Was sent to the imperial court.

At court.

Xie Tianyao looked around the circle, watching the group of civil and military officials whispering to one another.

They discussed for a long while, but could not reach a conclusion.

The current Head Imperial Physician, filled with righteous indignation, said emotionally: "Emperor, this is truly the greatest absurdity in the world! The greatest absurdity! Artemisia is beneficial for Malaria, but to say it can cure it, to prescribe the right medicine—it is complete nonsense! Emperor, please discern the truth!"

Many others among the crowd also helped him.

What a joke...

The Longyan Dynasty has a professional Imperial Hospital, filled with all sorts of miracle doctors and a wealth of talent; they have no Method for this Malaria, and yet you, Prefect Liu, say all that is needed is Artemisia annua?

Is this not a challenge launched against authority?

Is this not saying that you, a mere greenhorn, are better than those seventy or eighty-year-old imperial physicians?

This is a complete slap in the face!

A slap in the face in front of the whole world!

The Crown Prince also stood out: "Indeed, Father Emperor, that Artemisia annua is everywhere in the country, how could it have miraculous effects? This son believes that this Prefect Liu is merely eager to make a name for himself and is deceiving the world! And we must use the strength of the entire nation to send Artemisia annua? The manpower and financial resources would be unbearable! It is nonsense!"

"This son seconds the motion!"

Xie Ling also said.

Prince Qin, however, said: "Emperor, this subject believes that Prefect Liu has a reputation abroad and does not seem like someone who fishes for fame; he has not even applied for a patent yet. It can be seen that the matter is urgent; the plague is like a raging fire—it is better to believe it exists than to believe it does not!"

Crown Prince Xie Fang sneered: "Royal Uncle, it is precisely because Prefect Liu did not apply for a patent that this matter is unbelievable! The world does not know, but he is just the son of a merchant, born to chase profit. Since he did not apply, he must be spouting nonsense!"

For a moment.

The civil and military officials in the court split into two factions again, arguing in a mess.

Bang!

The old Emperor Xie Tianyao slammed the Dragon Throne fiercely, and only when the whole hall was silent did he look at Crown Prince Xie Fang: "Crown Prince, you casually named a medicinal herb; do you know how to treat Malaria?"

"I, I, I, Father Emperor..."

The Crown Prince broke out in a cold sweat.

"And you?"

Xie Tianyao looked at Xie Ling.

Xie Ling stammered.

"Useless!"

"A bunch of useless people!"

Xie Tianyao said angrily: "I let you go, and not one of you dares to; I let you think of a Method, and not one of you can come up with anything!"

"Prefect Liu is currently in Dunhuang!"

"He is facing a plague of a million!"

"If I do not believe him, should I believe you instead?"

"Crown Prince Xie Fang!"

"This son is here!"

"Immediately organize the troops, collect Artemisia annua along the way, and rush to aid Dunhuang!"

"Ah?"

Xie Fang was so scared his legs went soft, and he knelt on the ground.

"Xie Ling!"

"This son is here..."

"You set out from another route!"

"Father Emperor, Father Emperor, I..."

"Immediately send word by carrier pigeon: all cities of the Longyan Dynasty, regardless of distance, are to harvest Artemisia annua and rush to aid Dunhuang and Changzhou!"

"Yes!"

The group knew that once the old Emperor set the tone, the matter could not be undone.

Xie Tianyao looked coldly at the Head Imperial Physician.

"If Artemisia annua truly has miraculous effects in curing the plague, this patent shall still belong to Prefect Liu!"

The civil and military officials roared their compliance.

The whole country.

At a single command, everyone took action.

Go harvest Artemisia annua!

Go to Dunhuang!

Go extinguish the plague!

Go support Prefect Liu!

For the first time.

For the first time in so many years, the strength of the entire nation gathered in one place. Everyone knew the name of Prefect Liu, everyone knew that Prefect Liu gave up his patent for the sake of the people, and everyone knew that Prefect Liu is a Contemporary Sage...

Go.

Why not go?

Many people fell into silence.

You must know...

In these years, Xie Tianyao has lived deep in the palace; sometimes, even he did not have such great appeal. The Imperial Edict he issued would be discounted layer by layer, and by the time it reached the local level, it was all thunder and no rain.

Yet today...

Yet today...

A wave of fervor, of hot-blooded passion, was stirred up by Prefect Liu because of the plague.

One day's time.

Three hundred thousand catties of Artemisia annua were the first to be delivered to the two places of Dunhuang and Changzhou.

Two days' time.

Another five hundred thousand catties of Artemisia annua were sent to the two places.

The third day.

Another one million catties of Artemisia annua arrived.

In a mere three days.

No one had expected it.

The Longyan Dynasty actually possessed such executive power!

Was this the charisma of that Prefect Liu?