Double-Cut During the War of Resistance: My Wife Came from 1937

"Oh, right, Xia!"

Commander Liu asked, "What are amoxicillin and cephalosporin?"

"Those are all antibiotics similar to penicillin!"

Xia Weiwei replied, "However, these two drugs can treat more diseases than penicillin."

"Just like cephalosporins, if penicillin doesn't work, cephalosporins can be used on the soldiers. Even people with mild penicillin allergies can use cephalosporins."

"Amoxicillin is taken orally and is effective in treating typhoid fever and colds, and you don't have to worry about it being as painful as getting a penicillin injection."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Division Commander Xu's eyes lit up.

He chuckled and said, "So, these drugs have a great supplementary effect on penicillin. Those soldiers who can't use penicillin finally have drugs other than sulfonamides."

"Sir, I'm afraid that won't work!"

Xia Weiwei shook her head and said, "These two antibiotics were actually developed based on penicillin."

"To use an imperfect analogy, penicillin is like flour, while amoxicillin and cephalosporins are like steamed buns and flatbreads. They may not look like the same thing, but they are essentially the same."

"People with severe penicillin allergies should not use these two medications, but they can be used if it is just a mild rash."

"I see!"

The three leaders nodded in understanding.

Xia Weiwei continued, "Also, you absolutely must not drink alcohol while taking cephalosporins. Drinking alcohol can be fatal, so you must not drink alcohol for seven days before and seven days after taking cephalosporins!"

"Xia, don't worry about that!"

Commander Liu said with a wry smile, "Our Soviet area and the base behind enemy lines are so poor, and resources are scarce. We also prohibit the use of grain to brew wine and strictly forbid our soldiers from drinking alcohol."

"Only on major holidays or after a victorious battle can one have a little bit of alcohol."

"They only ask us cadres to have a drink when they are entertaining friendly troops, enlightened local gentry, or visiting personnel from friendly sides."

Xia Weiwei nodded.

She knew the discipline of the Red Army and the Eighth Route Army. During daily duty, marching, training and combat, drinking alcohol without permission was strictly prohibited. Drinking alcohol without permission would violate discipline and would inevitably result in criticism and education, a major demerit and confinement. If drinking caused trouble, it could even lead to demotion.

The idea that characters in some TV dramas drink every day without a care in the world is pure fabrication.

Then, Xia Weiwei looked at Commander Liu and reminded him, "Commander, Comrade Hongwei asked me to tell you and Deputy Commander Peng that you will contract malaria in the future, so you must be careful. If you notice anything wrong with your body, seek medical attention immediately. Don't take it lightly!"

"I will be careful."

Commander Liu nodded.

Deep down, he didn't care too much.

In Commander Liu's view, malaria was just a bad feeling, but it wasn't likely to kill anyone.

As long as no one dies, there shouldn't be a big problem.

Xia Weiwei said, "I'll retrieve these medicines from here first. As for the compressed biscuits, shall we put them back in the cave we went to before?"

"right!"

Commander Liu nodded: "Let's leave it there."

"Sir, those compressed biscuits are all nearing their expiration date; the earliest ones will expire in a little over a month. Don't be reluctant to let the soldiers eat them!"

Xia Weiwei couldn't help but remind her, "Now that the space is getting bigger and bigger, we can transport more and more supplies here. It would be such a waste to throw them away if they expire."

This time when she comes, the space should be increased from 75 cubic meters to 100 cubic meters.

"These are all good things, how could you throw them away?"

Commander Liu shook his head.

Back then, when they climbed snow-capped mountains and crossed grasslands, they ate tree bark and grass roots.

These compressed biscuits are packaged so securely that it's not a big deal if they're a little past their expiration date.

Of course, just as Xia Weiwei said, more and more will be shipped over in the future, so there's no need to be so frugal.

The soldiers could also get some nutrition by eating these biscuits.

Once Deputy Division Commander Nie has transported their portion away, he will have these compressed biscuits distributed to the two regiments below.

One of their division's main regiments returned to northern Shaanxi, leaving the remaining two regiments, each with two extra days.

As for the other group arriving here, we'll just give them more next time.

Xia Weiwei looked at everyone and found that there were no people from the 120th Division.

So he asked curiously, "Sir, has Commander He and his division arrived yet?"

"Their division members have important business in Taiyuan, so I need to get here first and I'm setting off now!"

Deputy Division Commander Nie said, "I will bring it back to them when we return."

Xia Weiwei asked疑惑地问道, "What could be more important to them than receiving supplies?"

"Logically speaking, this is a military secret!"

Commander Liu's expression turned serious as he said, "However, this matter also concerns you, Comrade Xia, so I'll tell you!"

"Old He and the others have gone to find Old Man Yan to make a deal!"

Deputy Division Commander Nie spoke up: "Didn't you bring over 1000 packets of sulfonamides the last two times?"

"Aside from what we brought back to the Soviet area and the small amount we usually use, we decided to take out 100 packs to exchange for guns and ammunition."

Upon hearing this, Xia Weiwei exclaimed with delight, "They've already started exchanging guns and ammunition?"

With guns and ammunition, they could arm more soldiers.

"100 packs, isn't that a bit few?"

Xia Weiwei said, "If I can exchange it for a large amount of guns and ammunition, I will bring more sulfanilamide next time."

She recalled that one 0.5-gram tablet of sulfadiazine was equivalent to three tablets of quinine, which could be exchanged for 50 kilograms of rice and 30 kilograms of salt.

A 5-gram bottle of sulfanilamide powder can be exchanged for 1 tael of gold (or 300 catties of wheat/a yellow ox).

"100 packs is not a small number."

Deputy Division Commander Nie said, "One packet of sulfanilamide is 100 grams, so 100 packets would be 10000 grams."

"According to the KMT's military medical standards, for adults with respiratory tract infections or mild skin infections, the first dose is only 2 grams, and an additional 0.5 grams can be taken every 6 hours."

"For severe injuries, purulent infections, and bacteremia, the initial dose is 3 grams, followed by 1 gram every 4-6 hours, and the treatment will not exceed seven days."

"In other words, a critically ill patient only needs about 30 grams to be cured, and 100 packets are enough for 300 critically ill patients."

The reason they referred to them as critically ill patients rather than soldiers was primarily because they knew these sulfonamides were not intended for ordinary soldiers.

Since the world war has not yet started, no one in Britain, the United States and other countries cares about China at all.

Currently, China is under blockade by Japan, and there is almost no domestic production capacity. Only Chongqing has a small amount of production capacity, and China is basically completely dependent on imports from Europe and the United States.

More sulfonamides will only enter the market once the Burma Road and the Hump airlift are opened.

However, compared to the entire national army, this is still a drop in the ocean, and even officers may not have the opportunity to use it.

The leaders have already discussed it.

They knew that these sulfonamides would eventually fall into the hands of warlords, high-ranking officials, and wealthy people in Shanxi Province.

That's why they used these extremely scarce sulfonamides to exchange for guns and ammunition.

Anyway, Yan Xishan had his own arsenal, so he wasn't particularly short of guns and ammunition.

He believed that even if Yan Laokou didn't replace him, the other side's subordinate generals would be secretly replaced.

After all, during wartime, these generals, who command from the rear, could also get injured.

By then, these antibiotics could save their lives.

Better safe than sorry; we must be prepared.