CHAPTER 8 The Visits

General Zhao's team arrived in Yangzhou at dusk. It was almost dark when they came. As the team leader, he was responsible to ensure the safety of the others.

"Doctor Suo, it's too late now. Let's find an Inn to stay in tonight."

The Imperial Doctor, Suo, nodded. Yangzhou was famous for its high-quality silk production. Therefore, most citizens there were wearing beautiful clothes. Even the maids also wear good clothing.

"The maids and princesses in Yangzhou are almost the same. The difference is only their hairstyles and clothes design. The delicate quality of silk accentuates their natural beauty." 

"You are right, Doctor Suo." General Zhao replied.

After a long search, they finally found a small Inn. Just enough for them to stay. Without wasting any time, Doctor Suo went to the Inn and ask if there is still an empty room for them.

"General Zhao, they have a lot of empty rooms. You can tell the others to come!"

He shouted to General Zhao.

* * * * *

"Deputy General! Deputy General!"

One of the soldiers called Anli's name. Anli stopped his horse.

"Halt! Who was calling me just now?'

 Bai Wu revealed himself.

"Me! Me!"

"Yes, Bai Wu. What is it?"

Bai Wu is Anli's assistant and also one of the Imperial Soldiers but, he is a low-rank soldier.

"My Lord, it's dusk now. Why not you find a place to stay tonight? Furthermore, it's not safe for us to walk in a dark. Who knows there are maybe bandits will attack us."

Anli sighed.

"Bai Wu... are you afraid of the dark? Oh, I know. You're afraid of ghosts, right?"

Bai Wu gulped.

"Okay, okay. We'll find an Inn to stay in tonight. Everybody, please find any Inn that still has an empty room for us and report it to me if any of you found one. Got it?"

"Yes, Deputy General!"

Bai Wu came to Anli with a smile on his face.

"Lord Anli. How do you know I'm afraid of walking in a dark?"

Anli knocked Bai Wu's shoulder.

"Ou-ouch!" Bai Wu complained of pain.

"How do I not know? After all, you're my assistant and also my bro."

A few minutes later someone came to report to Anli about their finding.

"Deputy General, we've found an Inn. But,..."

Anli raised his eyebrows.

"But...?" - Anli

"I think there will be two people that need to share a bed."

Bai Wu quickly raised his hand.

"Deputy General! I can share a bed with you."

Anli narrowed his eyes.

"Dream on it. I don't want to share a bed with you."

They entered the Inn and choose their room. Bai Wu followed Anli from the back. Anli glanced at him sometimes. Once entered their room, Anli turned around and stared at Bai Wu.

"Wh-what?" - Bai Wu with a puzzled face

Anli used his mouth to point to the stool in front of the bed, telling Bai Wu where should he slept.

"Ah...?" Bai Wu tilted his head.

But in the end, they shared the bed.

"Don't make too much noise!" - Anli

"Lord Anli. It's too narrow here." - Bai Wu

"Bai Wu! You! You take up too much space!" - Anli

"I'm not!" - Bai Wu

"Bai Wu! Wh-what are you doing?! Stay away 1 meter from me!" - Anli

"Sorry, I need the blanket too. It's too cold."

* * * * *

The next morning, General Zhao and Doctor Suo continued their journey. As soon as they reached the exact location, they were welcomed by the villagers.

"Greetings, My Lord! May I know if My Lords are from Suzhou?"

Doctor Suo nodded.

"Yes! I'm Suo, the Imperial Doctor. The Emperor sent us here to help the victims of the plague."

The villagers were so happy.

* * * * *

Anli sprinkled cold water on Bai Wu's face and causing him to wake up in shock.

"You are awake. Now, get ready!" Said Anli.

Bai Wu gets up slowly and went to the bathroom. A moment later, he stopped and turned around.

"Lord Anli, I forgot to bring my towel."

"You idiot! Wake up from your sleep and use the one they provided there!"

* * * * *

"Everything is done. You are all supposed to be fine after taking this medicine. It may take 3 days to be completely cure from the disease." Told Doctor Suo to the villagers.

"Thank you, Doctor Suo!" - villagers

"By the way, may I know what caused this plague? Doctor Suo?" - General Zhao

Doctor Suo was silent for a while. He then looked outside.

"I think maybe from the overuse of chemical fertilizer to fertilize the mulberry tree. After all, mulberry leaves are the only leaves that silkworms will eat. When it comes to rain, the fertilizer will flow into the river or any water source area."

"I see... So it's actually not a plague..."

Doctor Suo nodded and continue.

"Indeed. And...maybe they also use insecticides to prevent the other insects to destroy the mulberry leaves."

General Zhao wrinkled his face and scratched his chin.

"Isn't it will kill the silkworm too?"

"The silkworm only eats the mulberry leaves. You don't have to put insecticides on the leaves. The insecticides can be put on the mulberry woody stem stead."

Doctor Suo turned around and looks at the patients there.

"I think, you need to control the use of fertilizer and insecticides for the mulberry tree. Excessive usage will pollute the water source and chemical contaminants."

One of the patients replied.

"We will listen to you. We are very sorry."

* * * * *

"Please queue, your food doesn't have legs. They won't go anywhere." - Anli

Bai Wu whispered to Anli.

"Lord Anli, why do you think they are having a food crisis here?"

Anli looks at Bai Wu.

"Why don't you try to ask them?"

Bai Wu gives him an unsatisfied face.

"Thank you for helping us."

One of the people spoke.

"No worries. Anyway, I would like to know why Nanjing is having a food crisis." Askes Anli.

"It's because we can't grow crops. The crops that we grow are not healthy. It has been a month since there was no rain and it causes the land to dry."

Anli and Bai Wu look at each other. So that is the reason why.

"Nobody can solve the problem. We can't make the clouds to drop us rain." Said Bai Wu

The old man laughed.

"Indeed." Said the old man

Anli looked up the sky. 

"It has been a month there is no rain. I think, the next few weeks you'll get rain." Said Anli.

"We hope so too..." They replied.