"I know what fruit wine is, but what is alcohol?"
"Can it cure diseases?"
Suina didn't understand the word.
"No, but it can kill viruses and bacteria."
Wu Liang carefully poured the alcohol into the prepared glass containers. These were hard-won, and he dared not waste a single drop.
Wu Liang closed the lid and explained.
"This substance is flammable and explosive, and it can kill bacteria that we cannot see."
"What are bacteria?"
Suina felt like her brain was growing; her scalp was itching.
"bacteria are tiny, invisible bugs."
"Simply put, these tiny bugs cause us to get sick; they are the bad things causing this plague."
Wu Liang held up the glass bottle in his hand, swirling the transparent liquid inside.
"Wiping wounds and cleaning tools with this alcohol can kill them."
"This can prevent wounds from festering and keep patients from dying due to their injuries."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Using alcohol for environmental disinfection can further prevent the plague from spreading through contact."
"We need more alcohol, the more the better."
Wu Liang instructed Suina.
"From now on, Suina, your most important task with the Military Workshop is to produce alcohol."
"I want you to divide into three shifts; the furnace fire cannot stop for twenty-four hours."
"You will be fully responsible for this matter."
"If you need any manpower or materials, go directly to Akomann or Eliza; they will meet all your requirements."
This was both a delegation of authority and a sign of trust.
Suina took a deep breath, puffed out her proud chest, and sweat flowed into the depths.
"Don't worry, I, Suina, will definitely produce more alcohol. It's not for you, but for everyone, so please don't misunderstand!"
"Understood, whatever makes you happy."
Wu Liang nodded indifferently.
"Alright, the first batch of alcohol, send it to the Medical Camp immediately!"
As Wu Liang gave the order, the people around him began to move.
They bottled the continuously distilled alcohol, sealed it, and transported it to the Wounded Soldiers Camp... in the Medical Camp.
The camp was divided into severe and mild symptom areas, and patients were kept at a distance from each other.
All the windows were wide open, and cold wind poured in. Although it was cold, the air was indeed much fresher.
"Chieftain Alesha! Chieftain Wu Liang asked me to bring this over!"
A guard, holding a pottery jar, ran in, panting.
Alesha's eyes instantly lit up.
She quickly stepped forward to meet him, took the pottery jar, and opened the lid.
"What is this?" Akomann, standing nearby, also smelled it and asked with a frown.
"The alcohol has been made!"
Alesha said excitedly.
She didn't explain further and immediately took action.
"Bring clean linen! The more the better!"
She shouted to the Moon Spring tribesmen behind her.
Soon, rolls of brand new linen were brought over.
Alesha carefully poured out some alcohol and soaked a piece of linen.
In front of everyone, she meticulously wiped her hands, from fingertips to wrists, not missing a single spot.
The cold liquid touched her skin and quickly evaporated, taking away a trace of heat and leaving an unprecedented feeling of cleanliness.
"From now on, everyone who touches patients must wipe their hands with this alcohol before and after contact!"
Alesha's voice was clear and strong.
Then, she picked up another soaked piece of linen and walked over to a warrior who was constantly groaning from an infected leg wound.
The warrior's wound was swollen and red, with yellowish-green pus oozing out, emitting a foul odor.
"What do you want to do?"
The Black Rock Female Warrior who was taking care of him watched Alesha vigilantly.
"Save her."
Alesha ignored her, squatted down, and gently wiped the area around the wound with the alcohol-soaked linen.
"Ah—!"
The intense stinging pain made the warrior scream suddenly, her whole body tensing up.
"Don't move!"
Alesha held her down.
"Bear with it, the pain is a good sign; it means the alcohol is killing the viruses near your wound!"
Everyone around was startled, and some timid ones even took two steps back.
Alesha didn't stop.
She wiped repeatedly with the alcohol-soaked cloth, gradually cleaning away the pus and dirt from the wound.
Each wipe made the warrior tremble with pain.
But strangely, after the screams, she felt a burning, cool sensation from the wound.
The deep-seated swelling and itching seemed to have lessened.
When the entire wound was cleaned, revealing fresh, red flesh.
Alesha changed to a clean piece of linen, disinfected it again with alcohol, then carefully covered the wound and finally bandaged it.
After doing all this, she stood up.
"Watch him, and tell me how he feels in an hour."
Alesha finished speaking and turned to the next patient.
She used the same method to clean the wounds of patients with external injuries.
She also mixed some alcohol with water and had the Moon Spring tribesmen use it to wipe the patients' bodies, physically cooling them down.
She also ordered people to sprinkle alcohol evenly in the corners of the barracks and in the air.
For a time, the entire Medical Camp was filled with that pungent, choking smell.
The appearance of alcohol temporarily stabilized the situation in the Medical Camp.
External wound infections were effectively controlled, and physical cooling temporarily brought some high-fever patients out of critical danger.
The sanitary conditions of the entire camp underwent drastic changes.
However, Alesha and Wu Liang both knew that this was far from enough.
Viral lung infections led to severe coughing, difficulty breathing, and persistent high fever.
This was the most fatal killer of this plague.
alcohol could kill viruses and bacteria outside the body, but it was powerless against internal infections.
Two days passed, and although the mortality rate in the Medical Camp was curbed, the condition of patients in the severe symptom area did not fundamentally improve.
Late that night, Wu Liang came to the Medical Camp.
The camp was brightly lit, and everyone was busy in an orderly manner.
Changing dressings, wiping bodies, feeding water—everything seemed well-organized.
Alesha had lost a lot of weight, indicating her exhaustion during this period.
Seeing Wu Liang, she quickly walked over.
"Wu Liang, alcohol can only control external infections."
"But those severely ill patients... their lung infections are too serious. Relying solely on their own resistance, I'm afraid..."
She didn't finish, but her meaning was clear.
"I know."
Wu Liang nodded, his expression solemn.
"We need to make a medicine."
"Come with me."
He led Alesha to a crude tent in the corner of the camp used for storing grain.
Because of the plague, the grain here had been damp for a long time and no one had touched it, and the air was filled with a damp, moldy smell.
The woman guarding it was about to salute when she saw Wu Liang, but he waved his hand, dismissing her.
He lifted a sack of grain, and a stronger moldy smell wafted out.
The grains on the upper layer of the sack, due to dampness, had already grown patches of bluish-green mold.
"These grains are spoiled; they must be thrown away quickly, otherwise, eating them will cause illness!"
Alesha frowned.
Wu Liang, however, shook his head and squatted down.
"No, the treasure is right here."
He pointed to the disgusting and dirty bluish-green mold.
Alesha was stunned.
The knowledge base Wu Liang had transmitted to her mind spun rapidly, and countless fragments of information began to piece together.
bacteria, fungi, microorganisms... a word suddenly jumped out from her mind.
"It's Antibiotics! Wu Liang, you're a genius!"