Yangzhou was under martial law, with twenty thousand guards deployed to impose military control.
All major and minor intersections were manned, and all docks were sealed, allowing no one to leave.
This sudden measure did not inconvenience the common folk much, as their need to go out was infrequent.
However, it greatly displeased merchant caravans and traveling scholars.
Some gathered at the city gates, shouting insults at the guards.
"Open the gates! Let us out!"
"We haven't committed any crime, why are you locking us in the city?"
"Exactly, you are disregarding the law!"
"It's just a few dead commoners, is that reason enough to seal the entire city?"
"This vast Yangzhou city, with its hundreds of thousands of people, how can you seal it just like that?"
"..."
Fang Er and his entourage, returning from inspecting the city's conditions, soon received this news.
Zhang Gongjin felt his authority challenged and grabbed a close guard, ordering him,
"Drive them all back!"
"Post a notice: whoever dares to cause trouble at this time will be executed without mercy!"
"Yes!"
The guard turned and left. Soon, the guards at all four gates became more assertive. Those who did not disperse after the warning were met with batons.
Fang Er said nothing about this. No matter the time, there were always some unruly elements!
Unruly elements that needed to be beaten!
The blows from the batons were quite satisfying...
A group of several dozen people, clad in protective suits, walked through the streets, occasionally entering shops to inquire about prices and asking pedestrians about the well-being of their families.
When they arrived at the city's largest clinic, the Liu Family Pharmacy, it was already a scene of overcrowding.
Countless people were gathered there. The clinic's staff stood at the entrance, shouting and verbally abusing, even physically assaulting, the commoners.
Yet, no one was willing to leave. In the face of the plague, without medicine, their families' survival was at stake!
"His Highness the Prince of Kun, and the Duke of Zou, have arrived!"
A guard's shout instantly silenced the noisy crowd.
Everyone looked at the fully armed individuals before them, their faces displaying a mixture of fear, anger, surprise, and panic.
They didn't understand why these esteemed lords, who usually resided in grand halls, were here. But if they were here to seize their medicine, then they would fight with their lives!
"Dressed like a zongzi, you can't even see their faces. How can we be sure who they are?"
"Yes, yes, they wrap themselves up like this in broad daylight. They must have ulterior motives?"
"..."
The guards accompanying Zhang Gongjin quickly took out their waist tokens and held them up for everyone to see.
"Silence! Look closely, this is a token from the Protectorate!"
"Whoever causes a disturbance will be treated as a rioter!"
After the situation calmed down, as per Fang Er's earlier instructions, the guards admonished the gathered civilians.
"In the face of a plague, you dare to gather in crowds. Are you not afraid of contracting the disease yourselves?"
"Leave immediately!"
"What you need to do now is stay home obediently!"
"This plague is being taken very seriously by the court. All those infected will receive free treatment!"
"If anyone dares to run around outside and contract the plague, you will be on your own!"
"Now, immediately, all of you, get back home!"
The people looked at each other, somewhat at a loss.
Some of them were there to buy strengthening tonics to avoid illness.
Upon hearing the order, these individuals hesitated for a moment and then left on their own accord.
After all, they were still well, and there was no need to defy the authorities.
However, the other group had sick family members at home and were waiting to buy medicine to treat them.
These people absolutely refused to leave!
"Your Highness, Duke, please save us!"
"My lord, my child has been sick for three days and is waiting for the medicine to save his life. Please be merciful, just give us the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and we'll leave after buying the medicine!"
"Yes, my lord, surely the court cannot leave us without a way to live?"
"..."
"Everyone, quiet down!"
Fang Er stepped out from the crowd and stood on the steps at the entrance of the pharmacy, scanning the civilians who remained.
"First, let me correct something. Because I beat up the Prince of Hejian, the Emperor has demoted my noble rank."
"So, from now on, please address me as the Duke of An."
"Furthermore, I assure you here that there is no shortage of medicinal herbs."
"I have already dispatched a large number of physicians from Shenyang, so there is also no shortage of physicians."
"However, to survive this plague, medicinal herbs and physicians alone are far from enough!"
"You must be obedient and stay home quietly!"
"Otherwise, if everyone is running around on the streets, spreading it from one to ten, from ten to a hundred, when will this plague end?"
"Go home immediately. Later, guards will visit your homes to inquire. They will certainly not let your sick family members die waiting."
"Disperse now!"
His words were earnest. Although the civilians were still somewhat uneasy, they had no choice but to obey and retreat.
Fang Er, Zhang Gongjin, and Sun Simiao entered the pharmacy.
Upon entering, they discovered that the pharmacy was not ordinarily large!
Yangzhou was a city where land was exceptionally valuable, yet the Liu Family Pharmacy, with its front shop and back courtyard, occupied over thirty mu, nearly half the size of Fang Er's own residence.
It was simply astonishing!
The front hall was where consultations took place, and it also contained the medicine storage, living quarters for the staff and doctors.
Despite its large size, it did not strictly violate regulations.
The shopkeeper of the Liu Family Pharmacy had already rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing everyone's attire, he was momentarily stunned.
They were all dressed identically, making it impossible to distinguish one from another or know whom to greet.
Zhou Yanxi, noticing his confusion, stepped forward and quietly introduced them.
Only then did he recognize who was who and quickly bowed, saying,
"This humble servant, Liu Liangren, welcomes both Dukes!"
Fang Er pointed to Sun Simiao beside him and said, "This is the esteemed Physician Sun, a master of medicine."
Liu Liangren was initially surprised and then overjoyed.
"This junior disciple, Liu Liangren, pays his respects to the master physician!"
Sun Simiao got straight to the point, "Are there any infected individuals within your pharmacy? Take this humble Taoist to see them!"
"Yes, yes, they are in the back. Please follow me, everyone!"
Liu Liangren nodded like a pecking chick and led the way, bypassing a screen and heading towards the back courtyard.
In the back courtyard, dozens of medicine furnaces were arranged in a line. The staff tended to the fires, occasionally adding more herbs.
This sight confused Fang Er, who couldn't help but ask Sun Simiao,
"Elder Sun, can decocting medicine be done like this?"
Sun Simiao instinctively reached up to stroke his beard, but his entire body was tightly wrapped. His grab only yielded emptiness.
"Cough cough..."
"Young friend's medical skills are extraordinary, so it's understandable that he's not very familiar with these minor techniques."
"In the art of decocting medicine, one must meticulously study the medicinal properties, pharmacology, the five elements, yin and yang, and so forth."
"By adding the appropriate herbs at the opportune moment, the efficacy of the medicine can be maximized."
Saying this, he stepped forward to a medicine furnace, reached out to fan the steam from the sand pot.
And then...
He was met with emptiness again...
Thus, he couldn't help but remark, "This attire is good, but it's too tightly sealed!"
As his words fell, before Fang Er could react, he lifted a corner of his biohazard mask.