That day, Lu Ming had just emerged from the Jiaosifang, a place inhabited by the wives and daughters of local bullies and powerful families.
They wove cloth, spun hemp thread, made shoes, and so on, exchanging their labor for food.
How much they could do depended entirely on themselves.
Guan Ren's wife and daughter had become minor leaders, at least ensuring their daily rations and managing the women—limited to women.
Zhang Yulan knew this place and came to take a look.
She knew this was her husband's brothel, and she wouldn't interfere in such matters. Unless it threatened her position, she wouldn't even bother.
This was simply a place for her husband to release his lust; nothing serious.
Having enjoyed himself with two tender young girls, Lu Ming felt increasingly at ease.
Things he couldn't do or dared not do before, he could do without restraint here. With enough power, there was nothing he couldn't do.
Besides, getting a young girl pregnant would be quite a thrilling and exciting thing!
Seeing a figure appear on the map, Lu Ming thought he was mistaken. Looking closer, he felt a strange mix of surprise and delight.
This person was none other than a woman—a man.
He didn't like men, but he felt he had encountered an unexpected talent, a divine physician—Hua Tuo!
Having specifically come to the isolated mountain village, Lu Ming saw a white-haired yet still vigorous old man from afar. Lu Ming was very surprised, because this person was none other than Hua Tuo!
The two great physicians of the Three Kingdoms period: Hua Tuo, who left behind the *Qing Nang Shu* (The Book of the Green Bag); and Zhang Zhongjing, who left behind the *Shang Han Za Bing Lun* (Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases). Both could be called medical sages, and their influence on subsequent physicians was profound.
Hua Tuo heard of a plague in Anding County and, since he happened to be nearby, rushed over.
He was practically homeless, having traveled to the prosperous Ji Province and the frigid Liaodong, venturing into the Central Plains and the fertile lands of Jiangnan.
While recording his experiences as he traveled, he also treated the wounded and healed the dying.
In this era, there were no cold medicines, meaning that if you caught a cold, you had to tough it out.
If you couldn't tough it out, you died; if you survived, you were fine.
The medicines prescribed by doctors were merely supplements to aid bodily functions; they couldn't kill the virus, leaving you to rely on your own immune system.
Ultimately, it was a matter of underdeveloped medical technology, which Lu Ming had nothing to fear.
However, the people under his rule were inadequate. He needed to establish a primary school to teach people to read and write, and then train minor officials and physicians from there.
Without literacy, it was difficult to become a physician.
As Hua Tuo traveled, he felt increasingly astonished, yet also increasingly delighted.
Plagues are always terrifying, and he was powerless to stop them. Some things one person cannot control alone; only by mobilizing many to carry out the work can the plague be gradually quelled.
The people here, though pale and sickly, were in good spirits, filled with joyful hope.
Moreover, after examining them, he found that although they still carried the plague, it wasn't fatal; they would recover with continued rest—truly miraculous.
Thousands of miles of white bones—the sound was gruesome, but even more terrifying was the fact that corpses could transmit the plague, infecting people with disease.
Therefore, not collecting the corpses would only lead to the spread of the plague.
Lu Ming's approach was simple: he sent people to pile up the corpses and burn them on the spot to prevent the spread of the plague through decomposition. This was just one method.
Furthermore, the ashes could be used as fertilizer, killing two birds with one stone. Since he didn't eat them, he didn't care; as long as he didn't know, he wouldn't feel disgusted.
Making the most efficient use of waste was the key.
"Are you Hua Tuo, sir?" Lu Ming, accompanied by his personal guards, approached the old man and bowed respectfully.
Hua Tuo turned and saw a robust, tall, and imposing young man with striking features, broad shoulders, and a dashing appearance. "I am Hua Tuo. And you are?"
"I am Lu Ming, the governor of Liangzhou. Would you mind moving elsewhere, sir? I have many questions I wish to ask you." Lu Ming felt he needed to subdue Hua Tuo; this was a divine physician, and one person's strength was ultimately limited.
His half-baked skills were no match for a true divine physician.
"I dare not disobey, sir! Please!" Hua Tuo, though surprised, was not overly awestruck. Even before the emperor, he felt no fear.
The two moved to a house, where Lu Ming took out teaware and began to brew tea. This was the administration office, a place responsible for maintaining order.
"No need for formalities, sir. May I ask how one treats a patient?" Lu Ming had prepared his answer; he intended to keep Hua Tuo around.
"Medicine relies on observation, listening, questioning, and palpation. Only by understanding the illness can one prescribe the right medicine," Hua Tuo replied earnestly. Although he didn't understand why the question was asked this way, he maintained a rigorous attitude and chose to answer formally.
"May I ask how many people you can treat in a day, sir?" Lu Ming inquired again, this time proactively pouring him a cup of tea.
Hua Tuo glanced at the teacup but didn't take it. Instead, his expression turned serious. "About three to five people."
"Then, sir, if ten thousand people in a city fell ill, how would you treat them?" Lu Ming posed a weighty question. If one person could treat three to five people, how would one treat ten thousand?
"This requires a sufficient number of physicians working together. It also requires the cooperation of the government and a sufficient supply of medicinal materials to have any chance of curing the disease." Hua Tuo spoke the truth; without the cooperation of the local government, doctors alone could not achieve anything.
Seeing this, Lu Ming understood. "Sir, do you think there were any oversights in my plague prevention efforts in Anding County? Please advise."
Hua Tuo pondered for a moment, seemingly considering his words, then looked up at Lu Ming's clear eyes. He felt this was a good official; even his youth did not prevent him from speaking out for the people. "Sir, your medical staff is severely lacking, and some serious illnesses require unique treatment methods."
Hua Tuo's scattered remarks truly broadened Lu Ming's horizons.
"Sir, you are truly a man of great talent! I would like to request that you stay. I wish to establish a medical school. The government will cover the academic expenses, and graduates will be guaranteed employment and income. The world is in chaos, the people are impoverished, and plagues are rampant. As the governor of Liangzhou, I am entrusted by the emperor to guard Liangzhou. I cannot stand idly by while my people have no grain to eat, no clothes to wear, and no medical treatment. I beg you, sir, to lend me your assistance and teach me medicine so that the people may have access to medical care." Lu Ming finished speaking, stood up, and gestured confidently towards Hua Tuo.