novelraw Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Chapter 215: Disaster Relief in Progress
The teams all working hard to provide disaster relief for the victims.
While Wei Yu was working hard to gather supplies for his large force, over at Third Prince's side, as regular army troops, they didn’t worry about food and supplies at all because the Imperial Court was taking care of that.
To avoid wasting time on the road, Third Prince followed the same route as Wei Yu.
After all, all the obstacles along the way had been cleared by Wei Yu, and if any issues arose, Wei Yu would write to him; the process was very clear.
With such a convenient route, honestly, if Third Prince didn’t follow it, it would be unfair to Wei Yu who had worked so hard to secure supplies!
Unlike Wei Yu, who had already reached the border of Daichuan Commandery and would step into the next disaster zone, Qian City Commandery, Third Prince had just entered Daichuan Commandery.
His duties were not as relaxing or carefree as Wei Yu’s.
Wei Yu operated under the pretense of pre-clearing bandits—he only needed to clear obstacles along the way—but Third Prince was different.
He had to first settle in a disaster-stricken city, coordinate procedures with local officials, investigate the local disaster conditions personally, conduct field inspections… and after finishing that, arrange for local disaster victims’ shelter, clothing, food, and accommodations. Aside from transport, everything needed to be arranged by Third Prince. This was a huge workload, and none of the people following Third Prince found it easy upon entering Huzhou.
Especially the group of medical practitioners, mostly led by Tan Lin!
Why say mostly led by Tan Lin and not the Imperial Medical Institute’s Left Court Judge?
Talking about this requires a mention of field duty—and such work is really not suitable for elderly people.
Common people who have just experienced a natural disaster almost always have injuries or illnesses; those without are very few.
The Imperial Court sent Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Institute to treat the disaster victims!
A group of about a dozen medical students and doctors, from the moment they entered Huzhou and met the victims, had spent practically every day and night treating patients, prescribing medicines, and preparing decoctions.
They were so permeated with the smell of medicine that the scent probably carried for miles, as if their bodies had been marinated in it!
Tan Lin secretly counted while preparing medicines.
It had been 23 days since they entered Huzhou, and from the time they started treating victims, he hadn’t slept for eight nights.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to sleep, but he simply couldn’t!
Which doctor could rest easily while facing the hopeful eyes of the sick?
Wouldn’t they be afraid that some patient might suddenly die overnight due to untimely treatment?
Could their conscience be at ease?
Huh?
Could it?!
Tan Lin had now become a good doctor deeply influenced by the new ideas of His Highness the Wise King.
As an active Imperial Physician of the Imperial Medical Institute, he took his responsibility very seriously.
For the people of the world and for the advancement of medicine, he would never abandon the innocent suffering victims!
Tan Lin was highly motivated, but this caused trouble for the aged Left Court Judge.
The judge was already physically and mentally exhausted due to travel fatigue; meanwhile, the energetic Tan Lin kept quietly pushing himself harder and harder.
His Highness the Tranquil King stood by watching; if even a young Imperial Physician like Tan Lin was like this, how was the Left Court Judge supposed to cope?
Slacking off?
Even if he didn’t slack off and worked at his usual pace, with Tan Lin constantly comparing himself beside him, it would look like he was slacking!
The Left Court Judge wanted to privately tell young Tan Lin not to be so driven—after all, he was old and not in good spirits, and that the pace of treating patients could be slowed down a bit… but young Tan Lin refused to listen!
No matter how the Left Court Judge tried to hint otherwise, young Tan Lin seemed to be unable to understand. He kept saying phrases about serving the Great Wei people, medical benevolence, and spreading medical knowledge…
There was no way around it.
His zeal was intimidating, and the Left Court Judge really felt mentally drained.
Tan Lin’s enthusiasm was so intense that those around him shivered with fear and had no choice but to follow suit.
The Left Court Judge, under such pressure, was the first to burn out within a couple of days.
An old man could not compete with young folks in terms of stamina.
So leaving the leadership of patient care to young Tan Lin was the better choice.
Without the Left Court Judge supervising, Tan Lin and the medical students increasingly “let themselves go” as they treated disaster victims along the way.
Not because Tan Lin began to ignore rules or cause trouble, but because his recognition of his medical skills was progressively awakening.
He was a medical genius with exceptional talent.
In the past, no matter how much medical theory Tan Lin had learned, without frequent practice treating people, it was merely book knowledge. But now, as he treated many victims, the process of constantly learning and strengthening his understanding of medical knowledge was also the true path to telling himself what being a physician really meant.
During the treatment of victims, because there were insufficient medical personnel, some victims died due to untimely treatment. Feeling heartbroken, Tan Lin took the unprecedented step of approaching Third Prince.
He met with Third Prince to request that His Highness issue an order to summon all the physicians currently in Huzhou to jointly treat the disaster victims.
It was a good idea, and Third Prince had considered it before, but such matters weren't easy to implement.
First, it couldn’t be forced; only notices could be posted so the public knew, and whether the physicians came or not was their own decision.
Secondly, physicians were in shortage everywhere; if the doctors from other parts of Huzhou were all forcibly summoned here, how would the local patients in other areas receive treatment?
Though difficult, the number of victims was indeed large; relying on just Tan Lin and a dozen others to cope with all of them was going to exhaust even the strongest bodies.
After considering, Third Prince still decided to post notices throughout Huzhou. Whether physicians came or not was their business, but distributing notices made a difference.
After all, what if someone compassionate who couldn’t bear to see civilians suffer decided to come?
There had to be hope.
Before the notices could even be posted (Third Prince was only able to send messengers to inform local officials), something unexpected happened.
—News from outside had it that the Imperial Court would erect Merit Steles for those donating money and grain to this disaster relief effort, and it was the provincial governor who personally announced it?!
This news was gathered by Attendant Mo in the crowd.
Where it started was unknown, but from what was heard, the news had already spread throughout Daichuan Commandery and was even beginning to spread to other places.
Third Prince, the provincial governor himself, was silent for a moment upon hearing the news.
He had just arrived at Daichuan Commandery a few days ago, and here people were already starting to spread rumors about him.
If this wasn’t something orchestrated by Wei Yu, Third Prince simply could not believe it.