Chapter 33 - Build a temporary city

While on his way back home, Yu Ying was gotten by surprise by a strong thunderstorm. Unknown to him, the pigeon he released died, the tree it landed in was struck by lightning. Yu Ying tries to outrun the thunderstorm, as he's in the middle of a large meadow, a place he knows is very dangerous to stay during a storm, but his horse has burnt out due to the high pace he kept before. He manages to seek refuge in a grove and waits there until the storm passes. 

Meanwhile, in Huangshan, Ding Qi talks with the engineering bureau to build a temporary structure to house the sick. He asked Zhang Xiaofan to estimate how many people this structure would have to assist, and based on the infection rate observed during the first test round, he calculated ten thousand people in the worst-case scenario, and three thousand after checking some data from the hospital showing that about 70% would recover naturally. He pointed out that five thousand would be enough.

Ding Qi ordered the engineers to build this temporary city in a location close to Huangshan:

-Have Your Majesty gotten approval from the counselors?

-No, they will not be heard. This is an emergency, and they are not prepared for that.

Ding Qi signs the work order:

-I want this ready as fast as possible. There's a huge problem thrown at us, and not acting early may have terrifying consequences down the line. 

-Right, Your Majesty, we will mobilize the workforce and start to build. 

The storm gets to Huangshan, at the same time, the sky clears in the region Yu Ying was crossing, so he can resume his journey back to Hefei. He crosses the Changjiang River in a barge, gets a new horse, and the remaining 200 li are on easy terrain. He completes the journey in about eight hours. 

Back in Huangshan, while the temporary structures are not ready, the 200 infected were hosted in the hospital. Zhang Xiaofan was also studying a way to reduce the effects or cure the disease, he tried various herbs and mineral combinations he found suitable to treat the symptoms, getting some progress in relieving the pain felt by the sick, but given the short time span, he thinks it is too early to say if his medicine is making any effect.

As he works overnight in the research of new medicine, Ding Qi admires his dedication:

-Zhang Xiaofan... This is what someone who loves his people do, this is how a health minister should behave... I have so much to thank Zhang Yi and Yu Lexuan for opening my eyes...

Ding Qi returns to his bedroom and lies down on his bed. He looks at the ceiling, thinking:

-What will happen to Hefei when Yu Ying returns and tells Bai Chongye he already knows the cure for this disease? Well, if Bai Chongye cares about it at all. Hefei is huge, my Huangshan is just a small neighborhood there, and we are facing problems already... This will be a giant genocide. 

...

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