"It’s already October 29th; in another month it will be the New Year. This is the last chance for rchants to enter the capital, and stopping them now would cut off many people’s path ho."
Soone expressed opposition, "Your Majesty, the capital has a population of over a million. If smallpox were to enter the city, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Sitting to the side, three mbers of the Imperial Hospital listened and nodded repeatedly. That would be too terrifying. If it happens, the people at the Imperial Hospital would definitely have to be at the forefront. Wouldn’t that be risking their lives?
"It’s not just the capital; Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Longzhou, Youzhou, and Yongzhou, south of Xiazhou, must also be on high alert..."
"Why not just cut off the route from Xiazhou directly?"
"Hasn’t Yang Heshu already sealed off Xiazhou?"
"Unfortunately, his ti in Xiazhou has been short, and before that, people probably have left the city. It would be better to issue a decree for each province to locate people and isolate them nearby."
At this point, everyone looked towards the emperor, hoping he would make a decision.
The emperor pondered briefly and then said, "Let’s do that. Summon physicians from all over to treat smallpox patients locally."
After saying this, he looked at Imperial Doctor Liu and others, "How to prevent and treat smallpox should be asked of the Imperial Hospital."
Imperial Doctor Liu responded imdiately and then said, "Your Majesty, all the provinces need to prepare dicinal materials for treating smallpox. I fear the dicinal supplies from Xiazhou won’t be sufficient."
The emperor spoke in a deep voice, "Ministry of Revenue..."
Minister Liu responded readily; surprisingly, he didn’t complain about the budget but said he would do his best to arrange for the dicinal supplies and send them to Xiazhou as soon as possible.
The next step was discussing the selection of people to send to Xiazhou.
The ergency docunt from Yang Heshu was not only to prepare the capital but also to request dicine and people from the court.
These people would naturally be the imperial physicians.
So, everyone turned their gaze towards the Imperial Hospital.
Before coming here, Imperial Doctor Liu and the others had already held a brief discussion. Manbao volunteered to go, but Imperial Doctor Liu certainly couldn’t let her go alone, so he said, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, Imperial Doctor Lu, and Imperial Doctor Zheng will go."
Their gaze towards the Imperial Hospital was not kind. While sending Imperial Doctor Lu and Imperial Doctor Zheng was understandable, Zhou Man was so young, and this was a deadly mission—very dangerous.
The Imperial Hospital was really heartless.
Imperial Doctor Liu ignored their looks. He had no plans to send Zhou Man initially. It was that simple: she was too young. If anything... it would be too tragic, and she hadn’t had smallpox.
Imperial Doctor Lu had had smallpox before, and he possessed a secret prescription for treating it, so going there wouldn’t be dangerous, only an opportunity for rit.
But she had earnestly recomnded herself beforehand at the Imperial Hospital, even whispering to him, "My fourth brother is likely in Xiazhou City now. Please make it happen, Imperial Doctor Liu."
Out of concern for family, Imperial Doctor Liu understood and couldn’t resist her plea, so he agreed.
This was internal affairs within the Imperial Hospital. Although there was discontent, the influential figures didn’t intend to interfere, and thus the matter was settled.
The emperor then said, "The Ministry of Revenue will quickly gather the dicinal materials, and once the Imperial Hospital is ready, they should set out. Ensure all routes are on alert."
After standing up to agree, everyone retreated.
Minister Liu t with the Imperial Hospital people at another location to discuss departure tis.
Minister Liu said, "Give the dicine list; I’ll strive to prepare the dicinal supplies within two days, allowing the imperial physicians to bid farewell to their families during these two days before setting out."
Imperial Doctor Liu acknowledged on their behalf and, along with Doctor Xiao and Zhou Man, returned to prepare the dicine list.
Manbao persuaded him, "Besides the dicinal materials for fever reduction and smallpox removal, prepare so for preventing and treating colds."
Thus, she provided three prescriptions in total; the quantity of dicine was dependent on whether Imperial Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao were being sufficiently ruthless.
The two physicians considered that Xiazhou currently was snow-covered, and with an epidemic, it would be difficult. dicinal supplies within the city were precious, and there might be concurrent outbreaks of colds, which, if severe, could turn into epidemics—a good reason to prepare so dicinal materials.
So they added all the dicinal materials from her prescriptions and even added a few more that might be used.
Before nightfall, the Ministry of Revenue received a lengthy dicine list.
Minister Liu saw the list of dicinal materials and the quantities needed; he couldn’t help but twitch his facial muscles. He asked, "Have Imperial Doctor Zheng, Imperial Doctor Lu, and Zhou Man left the palace yet?"
"Not yet. When I was coming from the Imperial Hospital, the physicians and dical assistants of the Imperial Hospital were still in a eting."
Minister Liu nodded, accepted the list, and then summoned the Left Assistant Minister, instructing him, "Go now and summon several shopkeepers from the pharmacies, bring along the officers who commonly purchase for the Imperial Hospital, and check how many pharmaceutical rchants are still in the capital. Purchase the dicine on the list in triple quantity."
The Left Assistant Minister was shocked, "Why acquire so much?"
He thought purchasing double the amount would be ample.
Minister Liu spoke with aning, "The situation in Xiazhou is likely dire. Though Yang Heshu didn’t explicitly state it in the morandum, he should have already reported the epidemic to the Xiazhou governor, only the news hasn’t reached the capital. This ti, he directly colluded with Xiazhou’s defensive troops to capture the governor’s office. He is the son of nobility, and to be compelled to such asures, the situation in Xiazhou must be grim."
"So, better to purchase more. In the future, Xiazhou will still need them, not to ntion," Minister Liu lowered his voice, "even the capital may need them. Smallpox originated in the north of the city, where the officials, the wealthy, and the scholar-gentry reside. No one knows how many people left before the city was sealed..."
And whether anyone has arrived in the capital now.
Minister Liu said, "When you return, remind your family not to go out needlessly."
The Left Assistant Minister shivered with understanding.
He took the list and hurried to summon others to leave the royal city.
anwhile, Manbao and the others were still in a eting at the Imperial Hospital.
How to prevent and treat smallpox needed standardization, and how to organize personnel and distribute tasks required simple discussion as well.
After everything was settled, Imperial Doctor Liu and Doctor Xiao left Imperial Doctor Lu for a chat. Manbao and the others packed their things and left the palace.
Imperial Doctor Zheng hurriedly caught up with Manbao and said softly, "It should be regarding the prescription in Imperial Doctor Lu’s possession. Doctor Zhou, do you have any ideas for treating smallpox?"
Manbao shook her head, so she was anxious to return ho; she hadn’t had any ti today. She needed to find Teacher Mo; he might have a solution.
Imperial Doctor Zheng beca worried; although he had studied smallpox prevention and treatnt, the Zheng family had so related prescriptions. However, their efficacy was ordinary.
He hadn’t had smallpox...
Thinking of this, he looked at Zhou Man, "Doctor Zhou hasn’t had smallpox either, right?"
Manbao nodded gloomily; she knew smallpox was dangerous, but she never experienced it. Keke once ntioned she was lucky to not have it; otherwise, she’d need to buy a vaccine...
Right, a vaccine!
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