The atmosphere in the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing was particularly tense today.
The two dozen commandos who had arrived in Chongqing were all lurking around to prevent strangers from approaching.
Outside the chief's office, Xiao Yuan and several of the chief's personal guards blocked the door tightly and no one could get close.
In the office, Li Hao was reporting on his progress over the past few days.
The chief was immediately frightened when he heard that penicillin had been successfully developed and tested, and that it was at least ten times more effective than sulfonamide anti-inflammatory tablets.
He stared closely at Li Hao and confirmed: "Comrade Li Hao, this kind of thing is no joke. Are you sure that penicillin really has such a good effect, and we already have specific production and purification methods."
"I'm sure!" Li Hao affirmed.
"Xiao Yuan standing outside the door, as well as Dr. Zhang and Comrade Lin Xinran in the office, all witnessed our experiment with their own eyes."
"In addition, I also invited Lieutenant Colonel Jack, who brought an American doctor with him to witness the entire experimental process."
The leader suddenly stood up from his position and interrupted: "Wait a minute, Comrade Li Hao, don't speak yet."
"Let me digest this news first."
"This is a huge thing, and its impact is huge."
"You have developed an anti-inflammatory drug that is more effective than sulfonamides and can be produced on a large scale. In this way, more than half of our drug shortage problem has been solved at once."
"As far as I know, since the Anti-Japanese War began, thousands of soldiers and civilians were forced to have their limbs amputated every day because they did not have effective anti-inflammatory drugs, and were left permanently disabled or died of illness."
"If the penicillin you mentioned can be produced and used in large quantities, then these soldiers and civilians can recover from it."
"Especially the wounded who came off the battlefield, once they recover and return to the army, they will become veterans."
"The more veterans a unit has, the stronger its combat effectiveness will be. In the subsequent battle with the Japanese, the casualties of the unit will be smaller, and the more Japanese will be eliminated."
"When soldiers are fighting the Japanese, they no longer have to worry about being injured and having no medicine available..."
"Comrade Li Hao, you are a hero of the revolution... no, you are a hero of the entire country."
"Go on, how do you plan to produce penicillin?"
Li Hao responded to the chief's increasingly hot gaze: "Chief, in order to avoid some trouble, I plan to set up a pharmaceutical factory in Chongqing in the name of Lieutenant Colonel Jack."
"Lieutenant Colonel Jack is the nominal director of the pharmaceutical factory and is responsible for handling all external affairs."
"Comrade Lin Xinran directly serves as the deputy director of the pharmaceutical factory and is specifically responsible for production."
"In addition, the office will deploy some specialized talents to join the pharmaceutical factory to cooperate with Comrade Lin Xinran in managing the factory, and then mass-produce penicillin."
"After the product comes out, it will be supplied to all Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army units at cost price."
"Sold to the Central Army, Shanxi-Sui Army and other anti-Japanese armies at a unit price of cost price plus 20%, exclusively for use by anti-Japanese generals and soldiers and civilians injured on the battlefield."
"Once it is discovered that troops are reselling this kind of medicine, no matter who it is, the unit price of the next time they get the medicine will be increased by 10%."
"A pharmaceutical factory is so big that it needs funds to support raw materials, machine maintenance, and personnel wages."
"If there is no certain profit, it will definitely not be able to last for long, so the money must be earned."
"But please rest assured, chief, even if we increase the cost price by 20% and sell it, the price will only be one-tenth of that of sulfa drugs on the market. This is equivalent to ten times the original funds for each army to purchase sulfa drugs.
Quantity of penicillin.”
"In addition, the efficacy of penicillin is more than ten times that of ordinary sulfonamide drugs."
"Equivalent to the same procurement funds, the purchase of penicillin can save fifty times more wounded soldiers than the purchase of sulfonamide drugs."
The chief affirmed: "As long as there is no corruption and no drug reselling, the government's annual drug procurement funds can definitely ensure that every injured person can use penicillin."
"Comrade Li Hao, I completely agree with the plan you mentioned."
"However, this matter is too big and I can't make the decision on my own."
"Also, you personally came up with penicillin, and you also came back with the equipment and funds. Whether our Eighth Route Army office wants to be involved or not, I have no say in it."
"Although our Eighth Route Army believes in communism, what is yours is yours. Public is public and private is private. We must distinguish between public and private."
"We are very grateful that you can sell penicillin to the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army at cost price."
"Even if you are our party member or our cadre, it is the same. Public and private affairs must not be confused."
"I will report this matter to Yan'an as soon as possible and make a specific conclusion as soon as possible."
"Is there anything else? Tell us together and report it together when the time comes."
Li Hao continued to report: "Penicillin will definitely attract the attention of all parties after it is used on a large scale in China."
"My idea is, just like the rocket launcher, to directly sell the production formula of penicillin and exchange it for the funds and materials we are in short supply."
"Our strength is too weak. Facing the prying eyes of all forces, we will definitely not be able to protect the safety of the formula. Maybe our own safety and that of the pharmaceutical factory workers will be threatened."
The chief replied with a look of appreciation: "It's a good idea."
"Comrade Li Hao, I was worried just now that you were too young and would not let go of the cornucopia of penicillin, intending to monopolize production. Now it seems that I was overly worried."
"You are more mature than I thought."
"After Penicillin became famous, it became not only a cornucopia, but also a hot potato. It is definitely not suitable to be held in one's hands for a long time."
"It is indeed the best choice to wait for the price at the right time and sell it."
"Regarding this matter, I still have the same opinion as before: you came up with the formula, and it belongs to you. You can do with it whatever you want."
"We already took advantage of the last time we sold rocket launchers. This time, everything must be done clearly between public and private matters."
"We can't let your efforts to make our wedding dress go to waste."
"And that Lieutenant Colonel Jack, I don't care how you get him to agree to cooperate with you."
"However, if you have any problems that you can't solve by yourself and you need help from the office, just ask. As long as I can solve it, I will definitely help you."
Li Hao quickly replied: "Thank you, chief, for your support!"
That evening, Yan'an's reply arrived.
The chief did not waste any nonsense and went straight to the point: "Comrade Li Hao, regarding penicillin, Yan'an has decided after research: In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts, we will not participate in it, and the whole matter will be handled by you personally."
"In terms of purchasing medicines, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army purchase medicines at the same price as the Central Army."
"The profits from the pharmaceutical company and the trading of formulas are all your personal property."
"In addition, the Eighth Route Army will not participate in the establishment of the pharmaceutical factory's office. You will be responsible for everything."
