My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Inside the study of the prefect's mansion, Ji Xuanyuan, wearing a light fur coat, was reviewing the autumn harvest planning scheme meticulously drafted by Guo Jia, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and others, taking advantage of the slightly soft afternoon sunlight.

The plan was detailed, covering everything from the estimated yield, harvesting schedule, and storage allocation for each township, to how to organize manpower and prepare for possible autumn floods or theft.

Another key point was how to safely transport some of the newly harvested grain to Xiang Yu's army stationed in Dai County and Shanggu, in order to support the border defense and show that Zhuo County's support would continue.

Beside him lay an open military report, just delivered by a courier, a personal letter from Xiang Yu.

In short: "We have safely arrived at the strategic passes of Dai County and Shanggu, established camps and fortifications, and are patrolling the border. The Wuhuan have not made any major disturbances for the time being, except for occasional small groups of cavalry that have all been driven away. This place is bitterly cold, but the soldiers are fighting bravely, and the people's hearts are gradually winning over us. Brother, do not worry about the border affairs. I hope you will take care of your health and rest peacefully. We eagerly await good news of your recovery."

Between the lines, there is the younger brother's concern and the older brother's sense of responsibility that puts his mind at ease.

As Ji Xuanyuan looked at the letter, a relieved smile appeared on his pale face, but the faint pain in his chest and abdomen and the familiar itching in his throat forced him to put down the letter and cough softly, covering his mouth.

Just then, Dian Wei practically rushed in, his large, round eyes gleaming with barely suppressed excitement. His voice, deliberately lowered, sounded hoarse: "My lord! News has come from the Institute of Physics! That penicillin... has been successfully tested on humans! Wang Meng is alright! Mr. Zhang and Mr. Hua request your presence to discuss this!"

Ji Xuanyuan Zhixin's hand trembled slightly. He raised his head, his eyes initially blank, then overwhelmed by immense astonishment and unbelievable ecstasy.

"It's a success? It really...it really worked on a human body?" he murmured, followed by an even more violent cough, which this time seemed to have taken away some of the pent-up frustration.

"Absolutely true! Mr. Guo has already gone there ahead of us!" Dian Wei nodded vigorously.

Ji Xuanyuan took a few deep breaths to calm himself, his eyes regaining their sharpness and determination: "Prepare the carriage, let's go to the Institute of Physics."

When Ji Xuanyuan arrived at the Department of Medicine, Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo were already waiting in a specially prepared, cleaner, and brighter treatment room.

Both men had solemn expressions with a hint of fatigue, but their eyes were unusually bright.

"Prefect Ji".

Zhang Zhongjing got straight to the point: "The initial human trial of penicillin went smoothly, and Wang Meng was unharmed. However, this substance is still a new product. Although its effects are evident in external wound infections, it remains unknown whether it can penetrate to the site of the disease and clear away the deep-seated phlegm, blood stasis, and heat toxins in the prefect's chronic internal illness. Moreover..."

Hua Tuo interjected, his tone direct and professional: "After repeated discussions with Zhang Gong, and reviewing the prefect's pulse and symptoms over the past few days, we believe that the prefect does indeed have a stubborn lesion deep within his lungs, with local carbuncles already formed and phlegm and blood stasis congealed. This is the key to the difficulty in eradicating the root cause of the disease and its recurring relapses. Simply taking decoctions orally will not be enough to reach the affected area, and even if penicillin has antibacterial effects, it may be like scratching an itch through a boot."

He looked intently at Ji Xuanyuan: "Therefore, Tuo proposes to perform the surgery."

"Surgery?!" Guo Jia, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and the others standing to the side exclaimed in unison upon hearing this, their faces instantly draining of color.

In this era, "dissecting the body" is almost synonymous with "suicide" and "witchcraft".

"Absolutely not!" Tian Feng was the first to object, his voice tense.

"My lord, your body is of inestimable value; how can you risk such a terrible danger? Our bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents; why should we risk having our bellies cut open?"

Ju Shou also said urgently, "Mr. Hua, I have never heard of surgery! Even with anesthetic and analgesic, there is still the risk of bleeding, infection, organ damage... If we are not careful, it will be... it will be..."

He dared not continue.

Guo Jia's eyes were also full of worry as he looked at Ji Xuanyuan: "Senior brother, this matter is no small thing and requires careful consideration! Perhaps we can find another way to resolve it gradually..."

Despite the fierce opposition from the crowd, Hua Tuo remained calm and stated, "The Prefect's ailment is deeply buried and cannot be treated with ordinary medicine. Although surgery carries risks, it is currently the only method that can directly target the root of the disease and eliminate the stubborn ailment. I am confident in my abilities. All instruments used have been sterilized to minimize the risk of infection. The anesthetic powder will ensure a painless procedure. I have also specialized in hemostasis and suturing techniques. However, risks do exist, and the Prefect must make the decision himself."

All eyes were on Ji Xuanyuan.

Ji Xuanyuan remained silent, his fingers unconsciously stroking the warm, smooth jade pendant hidden in his sleeve.

He understood the risks of surgery in this era better than anyone else, and he also knew better than anyone else Hua Tuo's historical status and the possible limits of his skills.

This was undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble, with one's own life at stake.

After a long while, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the anxious crowd, finally settling on Hua Tuo's calm and confident eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice weak but carrying an undeniable determination: "I trust Master Yuanhua."

These five short words carry immense weight.

"My lord!" Tian Feng and the others tried to persuade him again.

Ji Xuanyuan raised his hand to stop them: "My mind is made up. This is my chance for survival, and it may also be the chance for countless injured and sick patients in the future. Yuanhao, Gongyu, Fengxiao, do not say anything more."

He paused, looked at Guo Jia, and lowered his voice, "Fengxiao, come closer."

Guo Jia quickly stepped forward.

Ji Xuanyuan whispered a few words in his ear, and Guo Jia's face instantly turned pale. His eyes struggled violently, and finally he gritted his teeth and nodded heavily.

Ji Xuanyuan instructed that if the surgery failed and he met with misfortune, he must not blame Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo, but should send them off with proper courtesy and continue to support medical research.

At the same time, news of the surgery must be strictly kept secret, especially from Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Li Cunxiao, Zhao Yun and others who are still in Zhuojun. To the outside world, it should only be said that he needs to be in deep seclusion and cannot receive guests, and all government affairs will be handled by these few people as usual.

Before the dust settles, not a single word must be leaked.

He knew it was cruel; if he really died, his brothers wouldn't even get to see him one last time.

However, in order to maintain the stability of Zhuojun and to avoid internal turmoil or any excessive actions against the two renowned doctors in a fit of anger, he had no other choice.

The subsequent preparations were tense yet well-organized.

The treatment room was repeatedly fumigated and wiped with alcohol.

All the instruments that may be used, including specially made bronze knives, tweezers, crochet hooks, mulberry bark thread, and improved syringes that are easier to control, as well as spare penicillin solution, have undergone strict sterilization procedures.

Zhang Zhongjing formulated a more potent anesthetic powder and prepared several emergency decoctions and acupuncture treatments.

Hua Tuo then secluded himself in meditation, adjusting his mind and body to their optimal state.

Three days later, everything was ready.

Inside the treatment room, the lighting was adjusted to be bright yet soft.

After taking the anesthetic powder, Ji Xuanyuan gradually fell into a deep sleep.

Zhang Zhongjing closely monitored his pulse and breathing.

After Hua Tuo cleaned his hands with alcohol, he put on boiled fine linen gloves, stood in front of the operating table, his gaze as sharp and calm as a hawk's, and entered a state of complete focus where he forgot himself and the world around him.

Outside, Guo Jia, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Lu Zhi, and others paced anxiously. Dian Wei stood guard at the door like an iron tower, his eyes bloodshot, gripping his double halberds tightly, as if ready to fight death at any moment.

The entire prefectural government office and even the Academy of Natural Sciences were shrouded in a depressing silence, with only the howling of the wind.

Time passed slowly, as gently as if cut by a knife.

Inside the treatment room, Hua Tuo's movements were precise and steady.

With Zhang Zhongjing's assistance and guidance, he avoided the important blood vessels and meridians, carefully separated the tissues, and searched for and treated the deep lesions.

Sweat soaked his temples and back, but his hands holding the weapon did not tremble at all.

At each step, he cleaned the area with specially made clean cotton gauze soaked in diluted penicillin solution...

After an unknown amount of time, when the sun was already setting in the west, the door to the treatment room was finally gently pushed open from the inside.

Zhang Zhongjing looked exhausted, but his eyes held a relieved glimmer as he nodded to the anxious crowd who came to greet him.

Almost simultaneously, a muffled "thump" came from inside the room.

The crowd rushed in and found Hua Tuo slumped beside the chair, his face pale. He had fainted from extreme concentration and exhaustion, and was still tightly clutching a cleaned knife in his hand.

"Quick! Help Mr. Hua up! Feed him some honey water!" Zhang Zhongjing said hurriedly.

The servants, who were prepared, quickly stepped forward and carefully carried Hua Tuo to a couch to place him.

On the operating table, Ji Xuanyuan remained asleep under the influence of the anesthetic. The wounds on his chest and abdomen had been carefully stitched and bandaged, and although his breathing was weak, it was steady and long.

Zhang Zhongjing took the pulse again, and finally a genuine look of joy appeared on his face: "Although the pulse is weak, the sluggishness and discomfort of the chronic illness have greatly decreased; the critical juncture... has been passed!"

The hearts of everyone who had been hanging in suspense finally eased a little, but they still dared not relax completely, keeping their eyes fixed on Ji Xuanyuan, who was still fast asleep.

Hua Tuo woke up before Ji Xuanyuan.

He practically sprang to his feet, his first words a hoarse question: "How is the prefect?"

Standing beside him, Zhang Zhongjing said gently, "Don't worry, Mr. Yuanhua, the surgery went smoothly, the lesion has been removed, the prefect's pulse is stabilizing, and after the effects of the anesthetic wear off, there should be no major problems. You... have worked too hard."

Upon hearing this, Hua Tuo's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and he felt a dizzying sense of weakness and lingering fear. He leaned back on the couch, panting heavily, but a relieved, almost exhausted smile appeared on his face: "Good...good...heaven has protected us..."

He knew that they had saved more than just one patient.

What they snatched back from the clutches of death was the flame of hope that had just been ignited in the lives of more than 400,000 people in Zhuojun, the guiding light and backbone upon which countless people on this land depended.

Outside the window, dusk was falling, the lights of Zhuojun were just coming on, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, as peaceful as ever.

A medical miracle that transcends time and space has quietly been completed in this border town.