Chun Ning studied medicine under his elder sister for three years. He may not be highly skilled, but he definitely surpasses an average physician.

Because at the beginning, his elder sister taught him all the essentials; he was like an assassin trained in the shortest time possible, lacking the foundational skills, but each move was deadly, every strike the fiercest.

However, what Chun Ning didn’t anticipate was that the pandemic situation was far worse than he imagined.

"Doctor Lin, you reported seventy-three deaths yesterday and sixty-five admissions, but the actual numbers here do not match at all."

After making a round, Chun Ning found that people were continuously being brought in, and those brought in cried out in despair, protesting their innocence.

Then, people were constantly being taken to the back mountain for incineration.

Just now, Chun Ning found that a patient being carried to the back mountain for burning was still breathing.

This made him extremely angry: it was simply wanton disregard for human life!

"Lord Xiao, Doctor Fang and I are old and frail. By the time we arrived in the Two Lakes Region, we were already exhausted and yet had to deal with so many patients. We are truly no match for you and Mr. Zhao, who are young and strong, living comfortably in the Governor Mansion..."

Doctor Lin panted heavily.

"Had I known this journey would be so challenging, I would never have come here."

He considered himself out of luck, having offended the head of the hospital; no good things came his way, only bad ones.

In the entire Imperial Hospital, he and Doctor Fang were the most ostracized.

So, the two of them were sent to the Two Lakes Region this time.

"On this journey, we might even lose our lives here." Doctor Lin sighed, "I only ask, my lord, please take a letter to my family when you return."

His heart was filled with despair, and even his funeral arrangements were ready.

Xiao Chunning had nowhere to vent his wrath.

"Doctor Lin, you should carry your family letter back yourself. Take good care, take your medicine, and I will go see Doctor Fang."

Doctor Fang wasn’t any better off.

In just ten days, the two of them had worn themselves thin, struggling to travel with once healthy faces, only to be met with an epidemic upon arrival.

Chun Ning called for Captain Zhong, who was in charge of the epidemic area.

"My lord."

The man surprisingly didn’t wear a mask, standing tall and strong, a head taller than himself.

Xiao Chunning had to tire himself looking up at him.

"Why aren’t you wearing a mask?"

He insisted that everyone must wear one; his elder sister said that the virus enters through the mouth and nose, and the breath of a sick person was also toxic.

"Heh, my lord, I am but a worthless life. Those two pieces of mask fabric are better left for my wife to make a stomach wrap."

Hearing this simple and blunt reply, Xiao Chunning was speechless.

"Does this mean there are many with such thoughts, and even the white cloth masks issued by the court are used to make clothing?"

"It might be," Captain Zhong said, "My lord, this fabric is much better than coarse cloth. Making underclothes for women and children, it’s comfortable to wear, as my wife said."

Captain Zhong thought: The rich feast while the poor freeze and starve, indeed.

After the flood, the fleeing commoners had nothing left, and the court actually distributed two pieces of white cloth per person to make face masks, hanging between the ears to cover the mouth and nose... Isn’t that wasteful?

They are not noble ladies hiding from society; they are miserable lives.

Rather than covering the mouth and nose, wouldn’t it be better to cover this stinking body?

Xiao Chunning never expected that all precautions were in place, but the people wouldn’t follow them!

Meaning, regardless of policy from above, there were countermeasures below.

This epidemic relies solely on people’s self-awareness.

Originally, it was agreed that those entering the epidemic area would have food, shelter, free check-ups, and medicine.

The result was that the commoners realized something was amiss!

Every day, they only saw people go in, and none come out.

When asked, it was said they were still under treatment.

Until the day before yesterday, someone escaped, saying it was terrifying inside, the disease was incurable, and they were carried to the small woods on the back mountain for burning after death, leaving not even a whole body.

With this firsthand account, panic spread among the commoners instantly; none wanted to enter the epidemic area, and even when sick, the entire family would hide it, resulting in the whole family falling ill.

And as long as the sick were able, they persisted in going to work, bringing the virus into the team helping rebuild the disaster government buildings and infecting coworkers, as well as the supervising soldiers. When soldiers returned to the barracks, they infected their comrades...

One spreads to ten, ten to a hundred, a hundred to thousands, and the epidemic was far more severe than Xiao Chunning had estimated.

"What are you saying, how could this happen?"

Zhao Minglang was shocked upon receiving the letter from Xiao Chunning and hurried to the epidemic area gate to inquire about the reason.

"Mr. Zhao, here’s the situation..."

There’s medicine and white cloth masks, yet no prevention against human selfishness and greed.

"What should we do now?"

Zhao Minglang knew this couldn’t continue; the entire city would be doomed.

Thinking of this possibility sent chills down his spine.

"Mr. Zhao, we must close the city, shut the doors and homes," Xiao Chunning said, "Urgently, aside from physicians and soldiers, everyone else must stay home for at least seven days."

"How is that possible? Their legs belong to them, and where are so many people to watch over them?"

"Impossible must become possible, or the entire city will be doomed," Xiao Chunning said, "In addition, quickly distribute protective medicine to soldiers and physicians, ensuring they take it, only if they are strong will they maintain order." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"But what kind of method ensures everyone stays home?"

"That’s not difficult, it’s person-to-person surveillance."

"What do you mean by person-to-person surveillance?"

"Three to five households form a group, mutually monitoring each other, and if one is found going out, one day’s ration of that household will go to the informant."

"This..." Zhao Minglang said, "Could it incite even more selfish behavior, false reporting, and framing..."

"Thus, we must increase patrols. A mere shout and soldiers will appear swiftly."

"Given the urgency, it seems to be the only option."

Zhao Minglang knew Xiao Chunning wasn’t exaggerating but stating facts.

He didn’t understand medicine, but in medical matters, he absolutely relied on Chun Ning.

"Alright, I will do my utmost to treat patients, and the task of closing the city, doors, and homes will rest on Mr. Zhao."

This task carries immense risk.

If resolved successfully, it would be a great merit; if it spirals out of control, it might become a historical offense, costing more than a head.

"Chun Ning, united as brothers, our strength can cut through metal, let’s strive together."

"Sure, Second Brother Zhao, together."

Their fists clenched tightly through the air, determination evident in each other’s eyes even from afar.

We must win this war; man’s will triumph over nature!