AWB Chapter 1004 I never said I wouldn't go!
Chapter 1004 I never said I wouldn't go!
Vaccination against smallpox is not something that can be accomplished overnight; the primary challenge is the supply of the vaccine.
Although the cow was used as a seed, dozens of healthy calves transferred from the mainland were successfully infected with cowpox, forming a preliminary smallpox vaccine production chain.
However, compared to the hundreds of thousands of people on Qiongzhou Island, the initial production of smallpox vaccine was still far from sufficient.
Furthermore, after vaccination with cowpox, most people will experience mild, smallpox-like symptoms.
Although it is far less dangerous than real smallpox, it can still cause short-term physical weakness and a significant reduction in combat effectiveness.
If the entire army were vaccinated at the same time, we would be in a very passive position if any problems arose.
"Therefore, vaccinations must be carried out in batches!"
Standing on the makeshift command platform, Ma Zhong addressed his generals and medical officers: "The first batch will be prioritized for supplying Qiongzhou Prefecture!"
“The prefectural city is the place most severely affected by the epidemic. Duke Wang Sanchun and thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians are trapped there. They are the people who most urgently need protection and are also the biggest source of infection.”
"Vaccinating them can not only save lives, but also cut off the largest source of the disease as quickly as possible!"
"Secondly, priority should be given to vaccinating the troops responsible for transporting supplies, caring for the sick, and cremating corpses; they must not fall."
"As for the safety of this vaccine, you need not worry." Ma Zhong rolled up his sleeves, revealing a slightly red and swollen wound on his arm. "Not only have I personally been vaccinated, but the Marshal and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have also been vaccinated."
With Ma Zhong taking the lead, a group of doctors and soldiers got vaccinated.
Subsequently, the entire camp began operating at high speed, like a sophisticated machine.
Fully armed soldiers escorted several sick cattle, forming a special team, and risked crossing the blockade to deliver them to Qiongzhou Prefecture.
Inside the city, Wang Sanchun, having received the news, was already prepared.
Under the watchful gaze of the Duke of Dingguo's fierce yet reassuring face, the people of the prefecture responded enthusiastically and went to the vaccination site to get vaccinated.
People rolled up their sleeves, exposing their arms, and watched as a knife sliced through their skin, dripping sap from the cow.
Although there was fear in his eyes, there was even more trust in Qingjun.
. . . . . .
Just as the smallpox vaccination program was being vigorously promoted on Qiongzhou Island.
Far to the northern border of the Leizhou Peninsula, on the official road shrouded in night, an uninvited guest quietly appeared.
He was an elderly man dressed in a loose white robe, with white hair and beard, and a gaunt face. In the moonlight, he had an air of otherworldly refinement.
He stopped beside the boundary marker, looked up at the southern night sky, his fingers twitching slightly as he murmured to himself:
"Mars guards the heart, and a red aura invades the south... I observed the celestial phenomena last night. This time, Mars rises in the southern part of the sky, its brilliance is great, and it has a blood-red hue. This must be an omen of a plague demon descending to earth, bringing devastation to the people."
He sighed softly and brushed his wide sleeves as if to brush away the invisible aura of calamity.
"Since the young emperor ascended the throne, he has eliminated powerful families and rectified officialdom, which can be considered as a diligent and hardworking approach to governance."
"It would be a real pity if this pandemic destroyed his foundation and ruined the nascent stability."
He shook his head, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes: "Very well, since this young emperor cares about the people and has not abandoned this corner of the southern border, I will make an exception and come out of seclusion to help him."
Before he finished speaking, the old man moved slightly and rose up like a ghost.
They seemed to be moving at a leisurely pace, but their speed was astonishing, heading straight for the epidemic area in the south.
His white clothes were too conspicuous in the night, and he was spotted by a patrol of Qing army scouts before he had gone far.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" the scout captain shouted, leading his men to spur their horses and surround the area.
The man pointed his spear at the old man and shouted, "This is a military cordon ahead. The epidemic is dangerous, and no one is allowed to enter! Stop immediately!"
This old man was a contemporary successor of the Guigu lineage, so naturally he wouldn't waste words explaining himself to these ordinary soldiers.
Facing the gleaming spear tip, he simply smiled calmly, his figure swaying slightly like a phantom.
The soldiers felt a blur before their eyes, their wrists suddenly went numb, and with a series of clanging sounds, all the swords and spears in their hands were knocked to the ground.
They didn't even see how the old man made his move.
The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his white robes fluttering slightly in the night wind. Looking at the terrified soldiers, he said calmly, "Do not panic. I am a friend, not an enemy."
"I have come here today because I sensed the rampant epidemic in the south. I have come to help the Qing Army resolve this calamity and to bestow upon you a great fortune."
A young soldier, suppressing his fear, gripped the hilt of his sword and stepped forward, his neck stiffening as he said:
"All opportunities must be granted according to His Majesty's decree. No one may pass without His Majesty's permission!"
Upon hearing this, the old man was not angry at all, but instead showed a hint of approving smile: "Remaining calm in the face of danger and performing your duties diligently are truly commendable."
He then flicked his sleeve, and a gentle force surged forth, pushing the soldier back a few steps, saying, "But he is too rigid and inflexible."
Just then, a series of orderly footsteps came from behind, and the torchlight quickly approached.
Another patrol team heard the commotion and came to provide support, but the leader was an officer.
He immediately noticed the weapons scattered on the ground and the conspicuous old man in white, and his heart skipped a beat.
When they finally saw the old man's unusual double pupils by the firelight, they were even more shocked.
But duty called, and he immediately suppressed his surprise, sternly ordering his men to raise their guns in preparation:
"Who exactly are you? How dare you attack a Qing army patrol here?!"
The old man frowned slightly at the scene, feeling that it was a bit troublesome. He patiently explained, "I am Xu Jiezi, and I am an old acquaintance of Your Majesty."
"Having heard that the epidemic is raging in Qiongzhou, I came here to offer my help and do my bit."
The captain clearly wouldn't let him pass based on his word alone, shaking his head and saying, "Words are no proof! Since you claim to have a past relationship with His Majesty, do you have any identification, documents, or tokens?"
Xu Jiezi chuckled and said proudly, "I, Xu Jiezi, travel the world as I please. Why would I need such mundane things to prove my identity?"
The team leader's face darkened. Seeing that the other party had no intention of cooperating, he immediately stopped hesitating.
But as soon as he raised his hand, more than a dozen soldiers behind him moved in unison, and a series of clicks rang out as the dark muzzles of their flintlock muskets were all aimed at Xu Jiezi.
"In that case, please come with us for questioning!"
"If you are truly a friend and not an enemy, I will wait to report this to my superior and will certainly not make things difficult for you!"
Xu Jiezi remained calm, glancing at the muskets that reeked of gunpowder, and calmly asked, "What if I say no?"
The captain's eyes sharpened. Without another word, he raised his musket, aimed it at the empty space beside Xu Jiezi, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
"boom!"
A lead bullet whistled past the hem of Xu Jiezi's robe and struck the soil behind him, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The smell of gunpowder exploding filled the air.
Xu Jiezi's expression remained calm and composed. He gave a soft 'humph,' as if he had only been startled by the gunshot.
He brushed away non-existent dust and said calmly, "I...didn't say I wouldn't go."