"Divine Physician Zhang, if there is nothing else, we should depart now."
Pang Tong urged.
Zhang Zhongjing carefully examined the pale yellow liquid inside the transparent glass bottle under the morning light. Only after hearing Pang Tong's reminder did he reluctantly lift his gaze and nod.
"This is the proper time to test the might of this substance."
After speaking, Zhang Zhongjing turned and called into the room twice. Soon, several disciples came out and stood behind him, each holding a small clay jar with great care.
A sharp, pungent garlic smell spread from the jars and from inside the room.
"All of the garlic essence produced this time is here," Zhang Zhongjing said.
"The garlic essence is relatively easy to make, but extremely difficult to store. It must be used within half a day."
Because his disciples were present, Zhang Zhongjing spoke vaguely, but Pang Tong and Kongming both understood his meaning.
The advantages and disadvantages of garlic essence had already been clearly discussed in earlier conversations about later generations.
Compared to antibiotics, this substance was easy to produce, which was its strength.
But its short effective time and difficulty in storage made it unsuitable for long term stockpiling, which was its weakness.
Pang Tong did not waste words and gestured forward.
"The carriage is already waiting. Divine Physician Zhang, please follow me."
Thus, the group hurried onto the carriage and headed south of Chang'an through the fine falling snow.
Inside the carriage, Pang Tong glanced at the glass bottle tightly held in Zhang Zhongjing's arms and could not help feeling itchy with curiosity.
Whether it was the beautiful transparent glass bottle, or the medicine inside that had only been made possible with methods inspired by later generations and Tang era techniques, both made him want to take it and examine it closely.
Zhang Zhongjing, however, had no such wandering thoughts. Instead, he proactively asked Pang Tong:
"How is the situation with the pig plague south of the city now?"
At the mention of serious matters, Pang Tong's expression became solemn.
"As of this morning, there are still over eight hundred infected pigs alive, and more than a thousand that shared pens with them."
Zhang Zhongjing nodded and sighed softly.
"At present, we can only rely on this substance to resolve the dysentery epidemic. Otherwise…"
He did not finish his sentence. With the New Year approaching, if this could not be resolved, the entire city would enter the holiday under a heavy shadow.
Three months earlier, after the light screen ended, when they saw the terrifying future description of 'all waters turning salty and bitter,' Liu Bei and the strategists immediately took action.
In the past three months, enormous effort had been invested into correcting sanitation issues in Chang'an.
Strict orders were issued to forbid random dumping of waste, forbid burying waste in pits, and forbid pouring waste into abandoned wells.
But since waste could no longer be disposed of casually, a proper solution was required. The temporary solution was to dig shared public latrines on each street.
The waste was collected and transported to massive pits newly dug south of the city. Kongming used this area to research new composting methods, preparing fertilizer for next year's fields.
In addition, inspired by the recently criticized concept of integrating latrines with livestock, Lord Xuande specially purchased nearly two thousand pigs from Hanzhong and Guanzhong, planning to raise them south of the city to help deal with waste.
However, after seeing the latest light screen, feeding pigs with filthy water and waste was no longer acceptable.
Before they had time to relocate the pigs properly, a plague erupted among the herd, catching everyone completely off guard.
Later generations had mentioned that large scale clustered breeding carried epidemic risks, but no one expected the disease to strike so quickly.
The common people in the south of the city did not understand veterinary diseases and simply referred to this highly contagious livestock illness as pig plague.
Under these circumstances, Zhang Zhongjing became the busiest man of all.
He personally went to inspect the sick pigs and confirmed that this outbreak was a dysentery type epidemic, similar to severe diarrhea in humans.
He then ordered the pigs to be separated into different pens and had the pig handlers quarantined on site, forbidding them from returning to the city to prevent spreading the disease.
After that came the hardest part, finding a way to stop the epidemic.
There were only two choices. Kill the pigs, or treat them.
Dysentery was not unfamiliar to Zhang Zhongjing. In humans, mild cases could be cured with a single dose of Bai Tou Weng Decoction. Severe cases depended on fate.
In earlier experiments inspired by later generations, Zhang Zhongjing had also tried using human medicines on livestock. The conclusion was that they worked, but not completely.
Thus, the solution Zhang Zhongjing reported to Liu Bei was simple.
Use diluted Bai Tou Weng Decoction to ease the pigs' symptoms, then focus all efforts on producing garlic essence.
If it succeeded, this epidemic would become the perfect testing ground.
If it failed, they would slaughter all infected pigs.
With Liu Bei's approval and with full support from Kongming and Pang Tong, they distilled garlic juice to the greatest extent possible. The garlic essence was then carefully carried by Zhang Zhongjing and his disciples.
Hearing Zhang Zhongjing's sigh, both Kongming and Pang Tong sighed as well. For a time, the only sound in the carriage was the creaking of wheels.
After some time, the carriage stopped. The driver said:
"Divine Physician, Military Advisors, we have arrived at the Pig Husbandry Office."
The group got down in turn. Pang Tong raised his sleeve to block the thin snow and looked at the three characters personally written by Lord Xuande for the Pig Husbandry Office, smiling wryly.
"Lord Xuande purchased pigs with great ambition, but fate is unkind."
He turned and said:
"Whether Lord Xuande's pig raising plan succeeds depends on Divine Physician Zhang today."
Zhang Zhongjing's face was tense. He nodded slightly and led his disciples forward without a word. Kongming and Pang Tong quickly followed.
Kongming had visited this place when it was first established. Back then, the sight of thousands of pigs running about had been lively.
Now, that scene was gone.
Black pigs lay on the ground covered with straw. Only the occasional flick of a tail showed that most were still alive.
Under these special circumstances, Zhang Zhongjing's authority far exceeded that of Kongming and Pang Tong.
The pig supervisors, desperate and grasping at any hope, no longer cared whether Zhang Zhongjing was famous for treating humans or animals. They obeyed every instruction without question.
Under Zhang Zhongjing's direction, bowls of heavily diluted Bai Tou Weng Decoction were prepared.
Then, he and his disciples carefully dripped the pungent garlic essence into the bowls.
Each bowl received a different amount. Each dosage and each pig were carefully recorded.
The disciples, though doubtful, forced themselves to follow medical discipline. Enduring the stench, they observed and recorded changes in the pigs' conditions at set intervals.
"Based on half a day of effectiveness, this substance is active for three hours. Considering medicinal properties, it must be fully used within two hours."
Zhang Zhongjing stood to the side, his eyes steady, speaking quietly.
"From production to arrival here took about one quarter of an hour. Then we can observe effects on an hourly basis."
Kongming and Pang Tong nodded. The logic was sound.
Seeing the seriousness of the three, no one dared speak carelessly. All could only perform their duties and pray that the medicine would work.
The newly established Pig Husbandry Office was filled only with the weak grunts of sick pigs.
Although Zhang Zhongjing set the limit at one hour, only half an hour passed before a disciple cried out in alarm:
"This pig… it has stopped breathing."
Kongming and Pang Tong were startled. They stepped through the frozen, manure hardened mud to inspect.
The black pig lay motionless.
The medical disciple said cautiously:
"This animal received about two liang of essence. Before death, it appeared to struggle, but was already too weak from the epidemic."
Pang Tong's face darkened. Kongming explained in a low voice:
"It may be due to excessive dosage. The fact that it reacted at all suggests the substance truly has effect."
Zhang Zhongjing nodded in approval.
"Military Advisor Zhuge speaks correctly. Even if it died, this is better than no reaction at all."
Pang Tong nodded, finally easing.
Fortunately, events then followed Zhang Zhongjing's expectations.
At the one hour mark, two pigs were able to shakily stand and begin eating straw.
Though still visibly sick, anyone could see that their symptoms had greatly eased.
Zhang Zhongjing immediately became busy again, adjusting formulas based on the dosages given to those two pigs with the best response.
At the same time, he turned to Kongming and Pang Tong.
"Please trouble the two Military Advisors to return to Chang'an and instruct the distillation workshop to produce garlic essence without stopping and send all of it here."
For the first time, a smile appeared on Kongming's face.
"How effective is it?" he asked loudly.
Zhang Zhongjing, who had remained tense throughout, finally broke into a broad smile.
"It can be called a divine medicine. By tonight, the epidemic can be eliminated. Next year, when the army marches south and encounters damp heat epidemics, there will be no worry."
Kongming laughed and cupped his hands.
"Liang will carry out the Divine Physician's order."
He knew he could no longer help here, so he and Pang Tong immediately left to carry out the instructions and report the good news to their lord.
Kongming personally drove the carriage, sitting with Pang Tong on the front bench. They left the driver behind to assist Zhang Zhongjing, since treating thousands of pigs would be massive work.
Holding the reins and whip, Kongming spoke excitedly:
"If this succeeds, most epidemic and toxic diseases may be completely resolved."
"To end plagues and cut off cold damage illnesses. Divine Physician Zhang's ambition may truly be achieved."
He continued enthusiastically sharing his thoughts with Pang Tong.
For example, the concept of the microscopic and microorganisms from later generations.
Could there be living things so small they cannot be seen by the naked eye?
If such creatures feared antibiotics like garlic essence, then perhaps these epidemics were caused by invisible creatures.
After speaking for a long time without response, Kongming turned and saw Pang Tong looking unsettled.
"So, Shiyuan, what are you thinking about?" Kongming asked.
Pang Tong hesitated, then shook his head.
"I was thinking… if we had this before, perhaps Zhou Gongjin would not have…"
Kongming fell silent.
Though their ambitions differed, he also knew the pain of an early death.
"In all ages, many have died young from unseen diseases. Zhou Gongjin was not the first, and will not be the last."
Pang Tong thought of his own fate and shook his head to dispel the thought.
"At least now, Lord Xuande has this protection. That is fortunate."
Kongming nodded in agreement.
After entering the city, at an intersection, they saw Zhang He arguing heatedly with guards.
They drew closer to see what was happening.
Before they arrived, voices carried over.
"I already said it. That lamp fell from the heavens. It must be a heavenly lantern. How can it not be reported to the Left General?"
"General Zhang, this matter has already been recorded."
"This is an auspicious sign, do you understand? If another heavenly lamp appears and the Left General is not informed, who will bear responsibility?"
"General Zhang, rest assured. It has been carefully recorded."
Kongming's expression did not change. He flicked the reins and guided the horse back onto the main road.
Pang Tong laughed awkwardly.
"The snow seems to be getting heavier."
Kongming nodded, as if nothing had happened, and continued their earlier discussion.
"Since there is the microscopic concept, it makes me think of the telescope that can bring distant scenes close."
Pang Tong nodded.
"That telescope is truly marvelous. If we understand its principles and follow the trail, perhaps in the future we can use it to observe objects hundreds of li away and even peer into the heavens."
Many things this year left deep impressions on Pang Tong.
The victory in Guanzhong. The capture of Xiahou Yuan. The visions of later generations. The cement that hardened so easily.
But among them, the most memorable were meeting Lu Su, and playing with the telescope sent from Chengdu.
Such a simple tube could bring distant scenes clearly before the eyes. It truly embodied the saying that a gentleman excels by making use of tools.
Kongming nodded in agreement.
"Seeing Divine Physician Zhang use antibiotics to destroy epidemics reminds me again of the microscopic idea. If we reverse the principle of the telescope, could we make a lens to observe the minute?"
Pang Tong's imagination was stirred.
"Reversing it may not succeed, but later generations must have a mirror that reveals the minute and makes hidden things visible."
"When the lens workshop is moved to Chang'an, we must try."
The telescope was of great strategic importance, and its future influence was obvious.
Thus, it was decided that the lens workshop would be relocated to Chang'an.
Kongming nodded, then handed the reins and whip to Pang Tong.
"In that case, please handle reporting to our lord. Liang will go to the Imperial Academy."
Pang Tong agreed, watching Kongming's back without pointing it out.
Most likely, the thought of a device to reveal the minute had already taken root, and Kongming could not wait. Pang Tong knew that Kongming had already set up several crude workshops at the academy.
Tugging the reins to move forward, Pang Tong's thoughts drifted.
This device to reveal the minute sounded awkward.
Perhaps, following the telescope, it could be called a microscope.
He sincerely hoped Kongming's idea of reversing the principle would succeed.
Reporting to their lord would be easy.
The garlic essence curing epidemics would surely make Lord Xuande overjoyed.
There was also the news of coal in Duyou County, which would need to be discussed and planned. A transport route using cement roads and wooden rails would likely be designed.
If so, Duyou County would probably need a new name.
Perhaps it could be called Coal Office.