The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2318 - 2293: Bribery

By the fifth day, there were no unusual symptoms from the six people, and Manbao felt mostly relieved, but she still wouldn’t let them leave the house; they had to stay inside and rest.

Yet, the six weren’t lonely, as they got in touch with their comrades in the neighboring yard, shouting to each other over the wall, making things quite lively.

Manbao did not stop them from chatting over the wall, as viruses don’t transmit through sound.

She kept them in for ten days, and none of them developed pustules. Only then did she declare the experiment successful, recording their pulse carefully before allowing them to go out.

Bai Shan handed them the cloth he had prepared early on and said, "This is what we promised you some time ago."

The six people’s eyes brightened, unable to tear their gaze away from the fabric.

After receiving the cloth, they asked, "My lord, are we returning to the military camp now?"

Manbao nodded, "Your bodies are fine now; you’ll be immune to smallpox in the future."

She paused for a moment before saying, "Also, take care of your health when you return; I’ll give you some medicinal wine."

The medicinal wine was somewhat useful for their old wounds, although not very effective. But the six were still delighted, having used it before and found it quite effective.

To them, any useful medicine is good, regardless of its effectiveness.

Once they were sent off, Manbao allocated eighteen people to various courtyards, ready to begin cowpox vaccinations.

Out of eighteen people, only three ended up using medicine, while the remaining fifteen, like the previous six, simply endured a mild fever and got through it on their own.

Manbao compiled this data and told Bai Shan, "It shows that cowpox is significantly less virulent than human pox. When we inoculated with human pox in the capital, nearly every patient required medication, with sixty percent experiencing high fevers. Among those sixty percent, half were at risk, and eventually..."

Manbao paused for a moment, then continued, "Unfortunately, we don’t have enough basic data yet. Whether we can vaccinate on a large scale requires more data, and we also have to consider any aftereffects."

Bai Shan asked, "Will there be aftereffects?"

Manbao shook her head, "Theoretically, no, but in reality, who knows? So we’ll have to wait; time will tell us."

Bai Shan lowered his eyes thoughtfully and asked, "Should we take these trial participants back with us?"

Manbao replied, "Didn’t we record their household registrations? Even if we don’t take them, we can still find out later."

Bai Shan smiled and said, "Then let’s take them back. When we reach the capital, let’s let them return to their hometowns. That should give you at least half a year’s time for careful observation."

Manbao looked at him in surprise.

Bai Shan winked at her and said, "These people are patients of your Imperial Hospital. Shouldn’t the Imperial Hospital provide travel expenses?"

Manbao pondered, "Anxi is at war, and the Ministry of Revenue has a lot of expenses. It might be difficult to expense with the Ministry of Revenue, but half of the Imperial Hospital’s expenditure comes from the emperor’s internal treasury..."

Twenty-plus people, traveling back with them. The expenses shouldn’t be too large; the emperor should be able to cover them... right?

Manbao, wanting to continue the experiment, hesitated for a moment and asked, "Should we continue with the trials?"

Another two batches would be difficult to manage.

Bai Shan thought for a bit and said, "Since the success rate of cowpox is so high, why don’t I select another eighteen people?"

Taking a few more people back couldn’t hurt. Many soldiers in the Anxi army were drawn from the Northern Army in Xiazhou Fengzhou, older soldiers who hadn’t returned home for twenty years.

Now, in their thirties and forties, their heads were already white, looking like an older generation compared to Daji, who was the same age.

Manbao nodded, "Okay, this batch won’t be released for eight days. Let’s select another eighteen people to heal their bodies first."

Bai Shan selected people from the military camp and informed the Protectorate that they would take these trial soldiers when they leave.

The Protectorate officials were stunned, "Take them?"

Bai Shan nodded with a smile, "They’re the first batch to receive cowpox injections. The emperor and the Imperial Hospital need to see them in person. Otherwise, if we submit our reports, the officials might think we are making it up, so we have to take them."

He mentioned in passing, "How’s their settlement fees prepared? The old soldiers returning home should have travel expenses too. Why not prepare it for them altogether, then we can leave whenever we want."

The Protectorate officials calculated the money and began to worry. Although the amount wasn’t large since there were only twenty-four people currently, and even with another eighteen selected, it would be only forty-two people in total. But in the Protectorate, every penny has its destination, and where would they find the money for them in such a short time?

Bai Shan didn’t concern himself with their worries; it was their issue to deal with, so he went to the camp to select people.

The camp for old, weak, sick, and injured soldiers was bustling, with many crowding near Bai Shan to recommend themselves.

The first batch of six returned, having really obtained cloth, and the vaccination seemed less dangerous than they had imagined, so many were eager.

Not many were left; most soldiers wounded in battle either died or could still fight, leaving only those with missing limbs or weakened bodies doing logistics work at this camp.

Thus, Bai Shan had limited options.

When he mentioned selecting eighteen people, the deputy in charge of the camp put his arm around Bai Shan’s shoulder, like good buddies, and said, "Young Master Bai, look at how the remaining people don’t add up; exactly twenty-two. You’ve chosen eighteen, why not take the other four with you too? Leaving just four in the camp is too dull."

Bai Shan said, "...This is vaccination; if their health is unsuitable, they could die."

"Well, everyone has their time. They could die in the camp, or in battle; dying from smallpox is still death. Don’t worry, they’re not afraid."

"Yes, yes, Young Master Bai, we’re not afraid of death."

"Young Master Bai, take us all. Don’t worry, we don’t eat as much as they do; we don’t need cloth either."

"Right, right, as long as the Protectorate prepares settlement and travel funds."

Obviously, they’d heard about Bai Shan asking the Protectorate for settlement and travel fees.

Bai Shan: ... Was the Protectorate a sieve?

Bai Shan frowned.

The deputy pulled him aside, shook his sleeves, and shoved a money pouch into Bai Shan’s hand, making him widen his eyes.

It was Bai Shan’s first time facing a bribe, and he was stunned.

The deputy forced the money pouch into Bai Shan’s hand and whispered, "Young Master Bai, please do us a favor and take the people. Feel free to test whatever on them; if they survive, great; if not, don’t worry. Just burn them, send the ashes home, and make sure they receive the settlement fees and travel money..."

Bai Shan’s smile faded, as the deputy lowered his voice, "Later, would you, Young Master Bai, take the money home with their ashes? Don’t worry, we’ve all agreed not to let you work for free; how about taking half of the settlement fees?"

Bai Shan: ... Do I look like someone who needs money?