Doctor Wu Has Gone Mad (Fictional story)

Doctor Wu Has Gone Mad

Dedicated to Dr. Li Wen Liang and Madame Li Yi Xue of China

In the 27th year of Emperor Dao Guang's reign—a reign ironically named "Great Way of Light"—a peculiar disease began to fester in Ping'an Village, a name meant to symbolize "peace and tranquility." Yet peace was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, people were struck by high fevers, uncontrollable coughing, and labored breathing that wheezed like a bellows. Several succumbed to their illness, their deaths igniting rumors. Some whispered of “spirits haunting the land,” while others speculated that the northern wind carried “the poisonous gas of the Japanese.” The once-bustling village fell eerily silent as doors were shut tight, while shadows of rats darted about in the alleys. Fear, like a dark cloud, descended upon the village, plunging its people into panic.

Within this chaos stood Doctor Wu, a physician who had studied in Japan. Observing carefully and analyzing meticulously, he concluded that the disease was none other than the plague—a virulent epidemic in its early stages, yet highly contagious. If left untreated, the consequences would be catastrophic. Wasting no time, Doctor Wu sprang into action, posting warnings throughout the village and going door to door to explain measures for disease prevention.

Doctor Wu also made multiple trips to the local township office, urging the officials to take immediate action against the epidemic. Yet the village head, upon hearing his warnings, flew into a rage:

“Our village, blessed by imperial grace, enjoys prosperity and harmony. The people are healthy, and the times are good. Now, as the year draws to an end, here comes Wu, spreading rumors and disturbing the village's festivities. Surely, he must be colluding with the Japanese, harboring sinister motives to disrupt our peace!”

Without hesitation, the village head ordered Doctor Wu detained at the township office. He was forced to sign a “statement of repentance” and confess his “crimes,” while the officials posted a public notice:

“Doctor Wu has colluded with Japanese invaders, spread malicious rumors, and endangered the peace of our township. His delusions are evident, and he is to be punished immediately! Any villager caught repeating his lies shall share his fate!”

Soon after, the village head had Doctor Wu dragged to a nearby lunatic asylum for confinement.

“Doctor Wu has gone mad!” the village head declared to the villagers.

The people were skeptical, but they dared not question the proclamation too openly.

Not long after being admitted to the asylum, Doctor Wu noticed something peculiar: most of the so-called “patients” weren’t mad at all. Among them were those who had accused corrupt officials, those who had spoken openly about their misdeeds, and those who had questioned government policies. All of them had been forcibly confined here. For each new “patient” admitted, the asylum received a hefty payment of twenty silver dollars as a “treatment fee” from the authorities.

The asylum had its own unique “treatment regimen”: every patient was required to study and recite "The Sacred Governance of the Emperors" three times a day, each session lasting thirty minutes. The institution claimed that this method could quickly calm the mind and restore clarity of patients. Any patient who failed to complete their sessions was forced to undergo extended study hours, coupled with physical punishment.

Furthermore, all patients were required to drink a “special remedy medicine” developed by the asylum itself, called Lotus Brain-Clearing Decoction. The medicine was praised as a miraculous cure for mental afflictions. Patients were also subjected to “special intelligence and physical training.” Many who entered the asylum relatively sane ended up genuinely losing their minds after only a short stay.

Two weeks after his admission, Doctor Wu began to display symptoms of madness. He wandered the asylum, muttering to himself, repeatedly chanting: “The sky trembles, the earth is bleak, the plague rises, and all life perishes...” He carried a worn broom wherever he went, sweeping aimlessly while shouting, “Rats! Sweep them clean! Eradicate the plague! Praise the Emperor!”

Doctor Wu became a model patient when it came to studying The Sacred Governance, He often carried the book to the courtyard, turning to the page dedicated to the current emperor’s decrees, placing it under the blazing sun, and kneeling devoutly. As he bowed repeatedly, he murmured, “The Emperor’s grace is boundless, and the heavenly remedy descends to vanquish the plague—our Emperor alone holds the cure!”

Meanwhile, the plague in Ping’an Village grew rampant, spreading rapidly and claiming numerous lives. The local officials, overwhelmed by the crisis, were forced to report the situation to the imperial court. On the eve of the new year, the court hastily ordered the lockdown of the village.

One day, as Doctor Wu was deeply engrossed in studying The Sacred Governance in the asylum courtyard, a voice called out from behind him: “Doctor Wu!”

He turned around, startled. The figure before him looked familiar, but he couldn’t immediately recall who it was.

“You are...?” Doctor Wu asked hesitantly.

“It’s me, the village head!” the man exclaimed, dropping to his knees in desperation.

“Doctor Wu, please save me! I’ve caught the plague—fever, relentless coughing, unbearable pain—I fear for my life!”

The asylum director, standing nearby, leaned in and whispered, “This man has gone mad.”

“Nonsense!” the village head roared. “Doctor Wu is a man of unparalleled knowledge, a healer like the legendary Hua Tuo reborn!”

Hearing this, the director led both the village head and Doctor Wu into a room, clearing out the other patients.

“Please, Doctor Wu, treat the village head,” he said before leaving hastily.

Doctor Wu found a broom and hung it from the top of the door frame using a piece of string, effectively blocking the entrance. Then, he took out a sheet of red paper with the words “His Majesty’s Boundless Wisdom” written on it and carefully placed it on the floor beneath the hanging broom. He lit a stick of incense beside the red paper, filling the room with fragrant smoke.

Next, Doctor Wu retrieved his most treasured possession: “The Sacred Governance of the Emperors”. Flipping expertly to the page containing the current emperor’s decrees, he laid the book open on the room’s only small table he just cleaned. He gestured for the village head to place his left wrist on the open page.

With this, Doctor Wu produced his stethoscope, gently placing its diaphragm against the village head’s wrist. After donning the earpieces, he closed his eyes and listened intently. Moments later, he spoke solemnly:

“Reporting to the village head: His Majesty’s sacred decree reveals that your condition is not dire. It is merely a case of wind chill invading the body. A few doses of Lotus Fever-Clearing Decoction will restore your health within days.”

Overjoyed by this pronouncement, the village head eagerly followed the Instructions. He took the Lotus Fever-Clearing Decoction daily with utmost reverence, adhering strictly to the prescribed rituals.

But just a few days later, the village head succumbed to his illness.

Three years passed, and the plague gradually subsided. Doctor Wu was eventually released from the asylum. One day, he wandered to the village square, where a newly erected monument stood proudly. Inscribed on the monument were the words:

“His Majesty’s Boundless Wisdom and the Village Head’s Heroic Sacrifice Eradicated the Plague. This Monument is Erected to Commemorate Their Virtue for Generations to Come.”

Doctor Wu froze, his gaze fixed on the inscription. Suddenly, he grabbed a bucket of black ink and splashed it furiously across the monument, smearing the words into oblivion. Then, dipping a large brush into a bucket of red ink, he forcefully painted six large characters across the surface: “No Plague, Only Man-made Scourge!”

The red ink was dripping slowly like blood on the surface of the monument!

By the time he turned around, a crowd had gathered behind him. Men and women whispered among themselves, pointing at him and murmuring: “Poor Doctor Wu, he truly has gone mad.”

Doctor Wu glanced back at the monument, let out a few cold chuckles, and walked away into the distance.

This story was inspired by the true story of Li Wen Liang (武汉的李文亮医生）dring China COVID-19 beginning period and the story of activist Li Yi Xue （李宜雪）who was sent to a madhouse.