The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

The atmosphere in Jurong County is like a pot of thick porridge that is about to boil.

The situation appeared relatively calm.

There were still a few pedestrians on the streets, and shops were barely open, but everyone was walking more hurriedly than usual.

At the city gate, under the tea stall.

Several porters and merchants who were taking a break were talking in hushed tones.

"Old Zhao, the porter, said in a low voice."

"Have you heard? Dongliu Town is completely sealed off! Not even a fly can get out!"

Old Chen, the traveling merchant, frowned deeply.

"I've heard so much about it! This morning I came back from buying goods in Jiangning. I wanted to take a shortcut through Dongliu Town, but good heavens, I was stopped by the officials three miles from the town entrance. They even brandished their swords and said they were on orders from above that I could enter but not leave! When I saw that, my heart sank."

A young man standing nearby said.

"My brother-in-law is the village head of Dongliu Town. He sent word through someone that... that thing is here again!"

Old Zhao's hand trembled, spilling half a bowl of tea: "You...you mean...Pockmarked guy?"

Everyone's expression changed.

The young man nodded vigorously: "No mistake! My brother-in-law said that it was Wang the butcher's son who first got a burning fever and developed a rash. In just two days, he was covered in pustules and became delirious."

"When the town's doctor Li saw it, his face turned pale. He only said it was an 'epidemic' and told people to be isolated immediately."

"But how can we possibly make it in time?"

"In the blink of an eye, several neighbors fell ill!"

Old Chen, the traveling merchant, gasped, his voice trembling, "My God! That's a deadly disease that can kill an entire town! Decades ago, it happened in my hometown; nine out of ten houses were empty, and there wasn't even anyone to collect the bodies..."

Old Zhao spat, interrupting him: "Stop talking! It's terrifying! With the main road blocked off, what are we errand runners going to do? Not only will our business be ruined, but what if this disease spreads to the county town..."

Xiao Liu also looked worried: "Who says otherwise? I heard that Magistrate Wang is extremely anxious, and the yamen is holding meetings day and night. But it seems there's no other way besides closing the roads. This is a problem that no medicine can cure!"

For a moment, only sighs and barely suppressed fear filled the teahouse.

As everyone was discussing this with great concern, they suddenly heard the sound of hurried carriages and horses coming from the official road outside the city.

Looking up, I saw a train convoy speeding towards me from the direction of Nanjing, billowing dust.

The convoy consisted of about twenty vehicles, with cavalry leading the way and infantry escorting the supplies. Several large carriages were in the center, one of which prominently displayed a black flag with gold trim, fluttering in the wind and bearing the large character "Huai".

An uproar immediately broke out inside and outside the tea stall.

The porter, Old Zhao, suddenly stood up, his teacup clattering to the ground: "The flag of the Prince of Huai?! Is it His Highness the Prince of Huai who quelled the Japanese pirates?"

The traveling merchant, Old Chen, widened his eyes in disbelief: "Why would the Prince of Huai personally come to Jurong at a time like this? Does the imperial court intend to send a royal entourage to oversee the situation?"

The young man craned his neck to look, and said in a trembling voice, "Look, there are people dressed in imperial physicians' robes in that caravan! The carts behind are piled high with sacks and wooden crates; they're probably filled with medicine and provisions!"

The convoy did not stop at the city gate, but went straight through the gate and headed towards the county government office.

People along the way quickly made way for them, but couldn't help gathering by the roadside to whisper among themselves:

"It really is the Prince of Huai!"

"Isn't the Prince of Huai only seven years old? How dare someone so young come to an epidemic area?"

"The imperial court has sent a young prince; could it be... that they intend to abandon this county?"

"Nonsense! If they were truly going to abandon the city, why bring so many imperial physicians and supplies? I think Prince Huai has come to rescue us!"

The news spread like wildfire, and within half an hour, the entire Jurong County knew about it.

Prince Zhu Zhanjun of Huai personally led a convoy to the county government office, and was ordered to take full charge of the smallpox prevention and control work in Dongliu Town!

In front of the county government office, Magistrate Wang Jian had already led a group of officials to kneel and welcome them.

Zhu Zhanjun jumped down from the carriage. Although he was dressed in brocade, his small stature could not be concealed. However, his eyes and brows showed a calmness that was not commensurate with his age.

He gestured for Wang to rise, saying, "Magistrate Wang, please rise. The epidemic is urgent; formalities are unnecessary. How is the situation in Dongliu Town? Has the quarantine been implemented? How many patients are there? Are there enough medicines?"

Wang Jian hurriedly stood up and reported repeatedly: "Your Highness, Dongliu Town has been under lockdown for seven days. There are currently 137 sick people in the town, and the death toll has risen to 28."

"The town has enough grain to last for half a month, but medicinal herbs are in short supply, especially those for clearing heat and detoxifying."

"I have ordered men to build thatched huts outside the town to move the patients out and house them separately, but the people in the town are in a state of panic, fearing that things might change if this continues..."

After listening, Zhu Zhanjun pondered for a moment and then said, "Issue the order: the accompanying imperial physicians shall be divided into three teams. One team shall immediately bring medicines into the town to provide medical treatment, one team shall set up a medical tent outside the town to treat mild cases, and one team shall stay in the county town to study and formulate anti-epidemic medicines."

"Five hundred soldiers were assigned to guard the various entrances and exits of Dongliu Town. Anyone who left without permission, regardless of who they were, would be immediately detained."

"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, soup kitchens and medicine kitchens will be set up at the four gates of the county town, where all residents can receive a dose of plague-preventing soup and medicine."

He paused, then looked at Wang Jian.

"Post notices to inform the entire county: The imperial court has not abandoned Jurong. I, the king, have come here by imperial decree to fight smallpox together with the people."

"Anyone who spreads rumors or disturbs public order will be punished for obstructing epidemic prevention!"

Wang Jian and the other officials were deeply shocked upon hearing this.

They had assumed that the visitor was merely a symbolic member of the royal family, but to their surprise, the seven-year-old Prince of Huai was thoughtful and skillful in his command, displaying the demeanor of a great general.

That night, news of the Prince of Huai staying at the county government office, along with a series of well-written and clearly organized epidemic prevention notices, spread throughout Jurong.

The atmosphere in Jurong immediately became solemn.