I have already established my power and prestige, so how did Li Shimin come back to life?

"Okay! Jin Yichuan, right? I'll remember this. Is the epidemic serious?"

Li Shimin frowned, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

"Reporting to the General, the epidemic was discovered in Guzhou! After investigation, the source of infection is now in Zezhou. It has now broken out violently in multiple states. Your Majesty is furious!"

Jin Yichuan answered quickly and clearly.

"Order us, the Jinyiwei, to find out the truth!"

"General, please try to avoid the epidemic area when you return to Chang'an. I have already given the map of the epidemic area to the army's quartermaster!"

Li Shimin nodded and said solemnly: "I understand. You all should go and do your work. Your Majesty's business is more important!"

Li Shimin said, "Thank you, General!"

After Jin Yichuan finished speaking, he and Qin Biwu quickly left the tent.

Over the past month and a half, 90% of the doctors in Chang'an and Xianyang have been urgently recruited by the court. They bid farewell to their comfortable homes and easy lives and shouldered the mission.

At the imperial court's command, they rushed to various places like arrows from a bow and threw themselves into this brutal battle against dysentery.

These doctors, whether they were experienced and famous doctors or young and inexperienced doctors, had no complaints about the generous remuneration from the court.

With the court's utmost efforts, medicines were continuously transported to various places like a trickle.

Carriages loaded with medicinal materials drove from warehouses across the country to the epidemic area, providing strong support for this arduous battle.

With the continuous support of medicine, the dysentery epidemic that had raged like a flood and a beast finally began to show signs of being contained, and the situation gradually stabilized.

However, the disaster brought by this epidemic is as shocking as the ruins after a storm.

The death toll has not yet been counted, and the broken families are silently telling of the huge number.

Even though the epidemic seems stable now, the amount of medicine needed every day is still staggering. It is an astronomical demand.

Truckloads of medicinal materials were sent to the epidemic area, but they seemed to have fallen on deaf ears and were soon consumed, while new demands followed.

This huge drug expenditure was like an invisible mountain, suffocating the court.

The money in the national treasury, which was originally the guarantee of national development and stability, is now disappearing as quickly as water.

Most of the savings have been ruthlessly devoured by the epidemic, leaving only a few reserves.

If Li Chengqian did not have the solid backing of the Qianyu Chamber of Commerce and was not able to call on the Chamber of Commerce's resources to fill some of the gaps at critical moments, the court would probably have been in dire straits.

In such a difficult situation, if there is no other way, in order to maintain the normal operation of the state machinery and to prevent the entire country from falling into the brink of collapse, perhaps we can only take the most cruel and inhumane measures - to deal with all the infected people.

This is a choice no one wants to face.

But when faced with the choice between life and death, it is a helpless "way out" for all emperors.

Inside the Liangyi Hall, the atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if water could drip out.

Minister of Revenue Li Wei stood trembling in front of the imperial desk. His face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat the size of beans kept rolling down his forehead, wetting his court robes.

His hands were trembling slightly as he held tightly a list, an important document that concerned the fate of the country and the life and death of the people.

This list recorded in detail the recent expenses of the court, especially the cost of medicines needed to treat dysentery. Every number was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart.

Li Chengqian sat upright on the armchair, his majestic face showing a look of fatigue.

He took the list handed to him by Li Wei, opened it slowly, and scanned the list.