My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

Chapter 28 The Invisible Assassin, and My "Artemisia Divine Juice"

Early summer in Xianyang brings with it the sweltering heat characteristic of the Guanzhong Plain. Cicadas chirp desperately in the willows outside the palace walls, as if competing to see who can shout the loudest.

Inside the Qilin Hall, although bronze mirrors filled with ice were placed all around, the stifling heat still made people feel restless.

Ying Zheng was dressed in a light silk robe, without his heavy crown. He held a palm-leaf fan in one hand, idly waving it, and a cup of cooled mung bean soup in the other.

"The key to health is to avoid excessive cooling in summer and excessive heat in winter. But it's just too hot today."

Ying Zheng took a sip of mung bean soup, his brow furrowing slightly. Since the thunderous incident, he had not only developed a deep respect for "science," but also taken meticulous care of his health. He ate garlic every day, drank hot water every day, and even this mung bean soup was prepared by the Imperial Medical Bureau with a precise ratio of licorice and rock sugar.

"His Majesty."

Li Si entered the main hall, sweating profusely, holding an urgent military report sealed with sealing wax. His steps were heavy, even somewhat unsteady, and his face showed undisguised panic.

"Someone died in the south...someone died in the south again."

Ying Zheng stopped holding the palm-leaf fan.

"Again? Didn't they just report a thousand deaths yesterday?" Ying Zheng's voice turned cold. "What is Tu Sui good for? I gave him an army of 500,000 and the best weapons. Even if he were hacking at wood, he should have been able to carve a path by now. Why are people dying every day?"

Li Si knelt on the ground, his voice bitter: "Your Majesty, I didn't die in battle this time. I... died of illness."

"General Tu Sui reported that the land of Baiyue is hot and humid like a steamer. Our soldiers, wearing heavy armor, are like entering a fire pit when they enter the forest. Even more terrifying is a kind of 'miasma'. Those who are infected with this disease first experience alternating chills and fever, shivering, then develop a high fever that won't go down, become delirious, and finally... in the end, they just burn to death."

"In just three days, half of the three thousand men in the vanguard battalion have fallen. The army doctors are helpless and can only watch them die. Morale... is crumbling."

"Snapped!"

Ying Zheng slammed the bowl of mung bean soup in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"miasma?"

Ying Zheng stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, his eyes burning with rage that seemed to set the entire hall ablaze.

He wasn't afraid of strong enemies. He dared to use a fierce general like Xiang Yu, who was invincible; he dared to release a cunning wolf cub like Modu. Because they were human, and humans can be schemed against and killed.

But this invisible and intangible "miasma" made him feel a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Five hundred thousand troops..." Ying Zheng muttered to himself, "That's the elite of Qin. Are we going to let them die at the hands of mosquitoes and rats before they even see the enemy?"

"Little G".

Ying Zheng suddenly stopped and stared intently at the void before him.

"I don't believe in ghosts, gods, or miasma. Tell me, what exactly is this? Can it be cured?"

[Symptom description: Periodic chills, high fever, sweating, anemia, and splenomegaly.]

[Diagnosis: Malaria.]

The causative agent is not miasma or ghosts, but a parasite invisible to the naked eye—the malaria parasite.

Transmission route: Anopheles mosquito bite.

On the light screen, a mosquito appeared, magnified hundreds of times. Its sharp proboscis resembled a blood-sucking spear, ferocious and terrifying.

Ying Zheng looked at the mosquito and felt a sense of absurdity.

"You mean... the one who killed thousands of my soldiers was this tiny mosquito?"

Yes, Your Majesty. In human history, this tiny insect has killed more people than all wars combined. It is undoubtedly the 'number one killer of mankind.'

Moreover, in the southern jungles, besides malaria, there are also dengue fever, scrub typhus, schistosomiasis, etc.

Your Ironclad Pagoda is invincible in the north, but there, the iron armor can't keep out mosquitoes; instead, it can cause soldiers to suffer from heatstroke.

"Then what should we do?" Ying Zheng asked anxiously. "Now that we know they are mosquitoes, should I order the soldiers to swat them all?"

"Your Majesty, you can't possibly film all of this."

What you need is medicine. A miracle drug that can kill malaria parasites in the body.

In my database, there is a plant called "Artemisia annua".

The Eastern Jin Dynasty physician Ge Hong recorded in his book *Elbow-Side Emergency Prescriptions*: "Take a handful of artemisia annua, soak it in two liters of water, squeeze out the juice, and drink it all."

[Note: Do not boil! Boiling will break down the active ingredients. It must be cold-pressed, or extracted with ether... cough cough, with high-proof alcohol.]

Ying Zheng's eyes lit up.

Artemisia annua? That stuff is everywhere in the Qin Dynasty! It's just roadside weeds!

"It's that simple?"

It's that simple. The simplest truths are often the most profound. But this isn't just medicine; it's chemistry.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, and the anxiety in his eyes instantly turned into decisiveness.

"Send word to Xia Wuqie!"

Xia Wuqie, a physician in the Qin Dynasty, saved Ying Zheng's life by throwing his medicine bag at Jing Ke during Jing Ke's assassination attempt. Because of this merit, he has always been highly favored and has now been appointed by Ying Zheng as the dean of the "Qin Medical Academy".

A moment later, Xia Wuqie rushed over with his medicine box.

"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Did you eat garlic and get heartburn?" Xia Wuqie asked with concern.

"I am not ill. It is the soldiers in the south who are ill."

Ying Zheng pointed outside the palace.

"Xia Wuqie, I have a task for you. Go and pull up all the 'Artemisia' around Xianyang City. Whether it's by the roadside, in the fields, or behind the outhouses, don't leave a single one behind!"

Xia Wuqie was stunned: "Your Majesty, Artemisia annua? That's a lowly weed. Although it's occasionally used to repel mosquitoes, this..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Ying Zheng interrupted him. "I'm telling you, that's a life-saving herb."

"After you pull it out, send it to the Imperial Household Department. Find Zhao Gao."

"Tell Zhao Gao to soak me in his newly brewed 'Knockout Donkey' liquor! After soaking, squeeze out the liquid!"

"I want to create a kind of 'artemisia juice'."

……

The Shaofu (Imperial Household Department) is a chemical laboratory, formerly the alchemy workshop.

Zhao Gao was looking at a new table with a headache. Ying Zheng had made him memorize the periodic table of elements, which had made him dizzy and nauseous. Now, he felt like throwing up just looking at "H2O".

"Prefect Zhao! Prefect Zhao!"

A group of imperial physicians rushed in carrying baskets filled with lush green wild grass.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Gao pinched his nose. "Feeding the rabbits?"

"His Majesty has decreed!" Xia Wuqie flashed the imperial edict, "Use your wine to soak these herbs! Soak them cold! And squeeze out the green juice!"

Zhao Gao looked at the wild grass, then at his precious jars of strong liquor that he had prepared to sell to the Xiongnu, and his heart bled.

"This is 60-proof craft beer! One jar is worth a cow! And you're just using it to soak wild grass?"

But the imperial edict is the law of heaven.

Zhao Gao could only weep as he directed the craftsmen to crush the artemisia, stuff it into the wine jars, seal them, and let it soak.

Two days later.

The first batch of "Artemisia annua wine" has been produced.

Zhao Gao opened the jar, and a strong smell of alcohol mixed with the bitter scent of grass wafted out. The liquid had an eerie dark green color, looking like poison brewed by a witch.

"This...this is drinkable?" Zhao Gao questioned his sanity. "Your Majesty wouldn't be trying to poison those arrogant and unruly generals, would you?"

Just then, Hu Hai strolled in wearing a gas mask.

"Teacher Zhao, what new gadget have you come up with this time? I'd like to try it!"

"No, no, no! Young master!" Zhao Gao was terrified. "This is medicine! It's what His Majesty prepared for the soldiers in the south!"

Hu Hai leaned closer to smell it, then waved his hand dismissively: "Ugh, it smells like rotten grass. It doesn't even smell as good as my garlic."

……

Now that we have the medicine, the next step is to figure out how to get it to the front lines and how to change the dire situation of the battle.

In a side hall of the Qilin Hall, a small military meeting is underway.

There were only four people present: Ying Zheng, Li Si, and Han Xin and Liu Bang, who were about to head south.

Han Xin was staring at the Baiyue map on the wall, his brows furrowed, and the beads on his abacus were moving rapidly in his hand.

"Your Majesty," Han Xin spoke, his tone serious, "According to my calculations, the logistical losses of an army of 500,000 fighting in the jungle are five times that of fighting on the plains. Add to that the losses due to disease, and if we don't change our tactics, we won't be able to win this war even after ten years."

"Tell me, how should we change it?" Ying Zheng asked, sipping warm water.

"First, remove the armor." Han Xin pointed to his clothes. "The Iron Pagoda is suicidal in the south. Soldiers must change into light rattan or leather armor, or even just wear short tunics."

"Second, change formation." Han Xin drew several circles on the map. "We can no longer advance with large armies. We need to break up the 500,000 men into 50 small detachments of 10,000 men each. Utilize the rivers, build more ships, and conduct 'special operations'."

"Third, and most importantly," Han Xin said, looking at Liu Bang, "this battle cannot be won by fighting alone."

Liu Bang, who had been squatting in the corner picking his toes without saying a word, chuckled and stood up when he heard this.

"General Han is right. Fighting and killing only damage harmony."

Liu Bang walked up to Ying Zheng and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, although I do not understand military strategy, I do understand human nature."

"Why do those barbarians from Baiyue fight us so fiercely? Because we seize their land and burn their forests."

"But what if we don't rob, but instead...do business?"

Ying Zheng became interested: "Oh? How do you do it?"

Liu Bang took out a crystal-clear glass bead from his pocket, and then a piece of exquisite printed Qin cloth (Zhao Gaoxin's new product).

"Your Majesty, look. These glass beads sell for ten coins each in Xianyang. But in Baiyue, those barbarian chieftains are willing to trade an ivory tusk for such a sparkly object!"

"How much can a single ivory tusk sell for in Xianyang? At least ten thousand coins!"

Liu Bang's eyes gleamed with a golden light, the kind of light unique to cunning merchants.

"This isn't war; it's exorbitant profits!"

"I suggest that the main army lead the way, with the merchant caravans following behind. We should fight and negotiate simultaneously. Tell the tribal chiefs that as long as they submit to Great Qin, they will have plenty of these glass beads, silk, and fine wine!"

"We could even invite their sons to Xianyang to 'study abroad' (as hostages), so they can see our Epang Palace and our city that never sleeps."

"Once they get used to our good things, who would want to go back to the forest and live like savages?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng couldn't help but slap the table in admiration.

"What a sweet-coated bullet!"

"Liu Ji, I was right about you. This is a combination of 'cultural invasion' and 'economic colonization'."

"Granted!"

Ying Zheng stood up and glanced at Han Xin and Liu Bang.

"Han Xin, I hereby appoint you as 'General Who Pacifies the South.' You will be responsible for military affairs, treating illnesses, repairing roads, and digging canals. I will have Xia Wuqie, along with students from the Imperial Medical Academy and Zhao Gao's 'Artemisia annua juice,' accompany you."

"Liu Bang, I hereby appoint you as the 'Pacification Commissioner of Baiyue.' You will be responsible for negotiating business, conducting diplomacy, and winning people's hearts."

"I will give you three years."

"I don't want a dead man's head. What I want is... ivory, rhinoceros horn, jade, spices, and the grain that grows on that land."

"Yes, sir!" Han Xin and Liu Bang answered in unison.

Although the two men had completely different styles—one a sophisticated calculating machine, the other a smooth-talking street rogue—this was exactly the combination Ying Zheng wanted.

……

The departure date was set for the summer solstice.

Outside Xianyang City, the willows along Ba Bridge are green and lush.

There was no farewell wine, only jars of sealed, dark green "artemisia juice".

Looking at the cartloads of green water and smelling the pungent odor, Han Xin adjusted his glasses and said to Liu Bang:

"Brother Liu, according to my calculations, although this medicine can cure the disease, its taste... I'm afraid it will be difficult for anyone to swallow."

Liu Bang chuckled, took a jar from the carriage, broke the clay seal, and took a deep breath.

"General Han, you don't understand."

"The hardest thing to swallow in this world is not medicine, but poverty and death."

"Just tell those soldiers that drinking this stuff will save their lives, and they can go home with their pay to get married. They'll taste honey even if it's horse piss, let alone bitter wine."

After saying this, Liu Bang raised the wine jar and shouted to the departing procession:

"Brothers! His Majesty said! This is 'divine water'!"

"Drink it, and you'll be immune to all poisons! Drink it, and you'll be smarter than a monkey in the forest!"

"Let's do it!"

Liu Bang tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful.

The next second, his face turned green.

It really was green. The bitter, spicy, and strange taste hit his head, almost making him vomit on the spot. But he swallowed it down with amazing willpower and acting skills like an Oscar winner, even wiping his mouth and showing an expression of enjoyment.

"Good wine! Strong enough!"

When the soldiers below saw that even the usually picky Magistrate Liu said it was good, it must be a good product!

"Let's do it!"

"Dry!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers raised their medicine bowls and drank them down in one gulp.

Immediately afterwards, a series of retching and coughing sounds rang out along the Ba Bridge.

"This...this tastes wrong!"

"Why does it look like a spoiled straw mat?"

"Stop talking nonsense! All miracle drugs taste the same!"

……

Watching the army depart into the distance, Ying Zheng stood on the city wall, holding a small cup of improved artemisia juice with honey in his hand.

"Little G".

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Is this medicine really that miraculous?"

[For malaria, this is a devastating blow. You have just saved at least 100,000 lives.]

Moreover, you have set a precedent: the involvement of state power in epidemic prevention and control.

In the future, this will be one of the most fundamental functions of the government.

Ying Zheng nodded and drank the green liquid in the cup in one gulp.

bitter.

It was really tough.

But the bittersweet aftertaste gave him an unprecedented sense of peace.

"As long as we can live, what's a little suffering?"

"My Great Qin still has a long way to go. This little hardship is nothing."

"However..." Ying Zheng smacked his lips, "I'll have Zhao Gao improve it later. Add some sugar, or... make it into pills? This liquid is just too awful to drink."

[Received. Project established: "Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation Improvement Plan: From Decoction to Honey Pills".]

At this moment, a southerly wind blew in, carrying a bit of humidity and heat.

Ying Zheng's gaze was deep and unfathomable.

A solution has been found for the problems in the south, and the problems in the north have been temporarily quelled.

So, next up is that "internal hidden danger" that has been troubling me day and night.

"Li Si".

"Your subject is here."

"I recall those former nobles from the six states recently enjoying buying houses in the Epang Palace?"

"Your Majesty, that's quite gratifying. Housing prices have skyrocketed."

"Very good." A sly glint flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes. "Since they are so wealthy, I intend to teach them another lesson."

"What class?"

"Property tax and inheritance tax".

"I want them to know that buying this house is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. Want to pass it down to their descendants? They'll have to ask me for my permission first."

Li Si gasped.

Your Majesty is trying to cut the leeks to the root!

But looking at Ying Zheng's face, which remained majestic and unassailable even while eating garlic and drinking bitter medicine, he felt only admiration.

This is truly a great emperor for all time.

Whether he uses swords, money bags, or even a bowl of bitter green juice, he can always find the reins to control the world.