flstandardbreds Chapter 1009 The Ruler Who Maintains the Status Quo
Chapter 1009 The Ruler Who Maintains the Status Quo
Xu Jiezi changed the subject and pondered, "However, the sect's records do mention that for such serious illnesses, 'supportive therapy' should be the main approach."
"That is, to try to maintain the patient's life, provide sufficient water and nutrition, and at the same time use drugs to control their high fever and severe pain, and alleviate their suffering."
“Especially for young and weak patients, we need to pay special attention to prevention…” He paused, trying to recall what he had considered useless moments back then, “Yes, that is, preventing bacterial infections that follow the illness.”
"The ancient texts mention that if antibiotics are available, they may be able to treat such secondary infections and increase the chances of survival."
Hua Chang'an raised his head, his eyes widening instantly, even bigger than the eyes of the curious calves peering out from the cowshed next to him.
"Sir! You know about bacteria, and you even know about antibiotics?!"
Xu Jiezi was also taken aback by his reaction.
These words had long been forgotten in his memory; he had only blurted them out as he went along with his train of thought.
Surprisingly, Hua Chang'an could understand it!
He instinctively asked, "How did you learn about 'bacteria' and 'antibiotics'?"
Hua Chang'an did not answer directly, but the look in his eyes when he looked at Xu Jiezi had completely changed.
He took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and said slowly, "Sir, your connection with my Emperor is far deeper than I imagined..."
He forced down his turbulent emotions and pressed on urgently, "Sir, are antibiotics really effective against complications in the later stages of smallpox?"
This time it was Xu Jiezi's turn to be surprised. He looked at Hua Chang'an suspiciously: "Do you really have 'antibiotics' in your possession?"
The sect's records describe this substance as something miraculous, but also clearly state that its preparation is extremely difficult, almost legendary.
However, Xu Jiezi had never seen the actual object, and even thought that it was just her teacher's imagination.
Hua Chang'an nodded and said with certainty, "The quantity is extremely small and the preparation is difficult, but it does exist."
Xu Jiezi gasped, his opinion of the young emperor he had never met rising even higher.
He tried hard to recall and said, "According to the scattered records in the sect's books, it is useful."
"Especially for patients whose high fever has subsided but whose pustules have ruptured and are difficult to heal, and who have developed other infections, antibiotics can suppress secondary symptoms and buy them time to recover."
"However, the records in the classics are vague, and I dare not give a complete guarantee."
Upon hearing this, Hua Chang'an breathed a long sigh of relief and bowed solemnly to Xu Jiezi: "This is already a tremendous hope. On behalf of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Qiongzhou, I thank you in advance for your guidance, sir!"
Straightening up, Hua Chang'an looked at Xu Jiezi with a complicated expression and asked again, "Sir, are you determined to go to the capital?"
Xu Jiezi nodded without hesitation; he was eager to return home.
Hua Chang'an said, "Sir, you may rest on the island for a day. Tomorrow, I will arrange a boat to escort you off the island."
“No need,” Xu Jiezi immediately refused. “I am troubled and only wish to reach the capital as soon as possible. May I leave today?”
Seeing his eagerness, Hua Chang'an nodded understandingly: "Very well, I will have General Ma Zhong arrange a fast boat to take you away from the island."
He immediately summoned Ma Zhong and whispered a few words of advice to him.
Ma Zhong accepted the order and said to Xu Jiezi, "Sir, please follow me."
Xu Jiezi bowed to Hua Chang'an again, saying, "I hope you are well, Hua Shenyi. I entrust the matter of Qiongzhou to you."
"Have a safe journey, sir!" Hua Chang'an returned the greeting.
Watching Ma Zhong lead Xu Jiezi away in a hurry, their figures disappearing between the tents, Hua Chang'an's gentle expression instantly vanished, replaced by a serious one.
He immediately turned around, strode back to his clinic, and dismissed his attendants.
He quickly spread out paper and pen, thought for a moment, and wrote a secret letter.
After finishing writing, he carefully sealed it with sealing wax and left the tent.
Take out a carrier pigeon specifically used for emergency communications and tie a small secret message tube to its leg.
He stroked the homing pigeon's feathers and raised his arm.
Pulling-
The carrier pigeons flapped their wings and soared into the sky, leaving a trail in the gray sky as they flew towards the capital.
Hua Chang'an stood still, looking up at the carrier pigeons that were rapidly turning into black dots.
His brows were furrowed, his gaze deep, as if he were deep in thought.
. . . . . .
The Imperial Garden in the capital.
Li Che sat on a small stool, with a striped tiger crouching beside him.
Holding a specially made soft-bristled brush, she casually combed Xiao Song's fur.
He appeared relaxed, but his movements were mechanical, and his eyes were wandering, clearly indicating that his mind was no longer on the subject.
While the epidemic on Qiongzhou Island was certainly a cause for concern, the latest intelligence reports indicated that the smallpox vaccination method was effective, which brought him some relief.
What truly gave him a headache were the political affairs at court.
Projects such as building bridges and roads, and constructing water conservancy projects, actually went smoothly.
With elite troops overseeing the work, a sufficient supply of prisoners of war as laborers, and adequate wages paid to the conscripted civilians, things can always be carried out.
What Li Che found even more troublesome was the matter of settling taxes.
Local taxes and levies, as well as surplus funds collected during fires, did not entirely flow into the national treasury; a considerable portion of these funds served as an important source of income for local governments and counties to maintain their operations.
Now that the court wants to take a one-size-fits-all approach, it's like touching the pockets of countless officials. Naturally, they have a thousand and one reasons to outwardly comply but inwardly resist, using both soft and hard tactics to fight back.
Those officials from humble backgrounds who were promoted through the new imperial examination system mostly adopted radical attitudes.
They believed that all taxes not explicitly stipulated by the imperial court were oppressive policies and advocated their complete abolition in order to thoroughly reduce the burden on the people.
Both attitudes—one aimed at protecting their own and local interests, and the other stemming from an idealized loyalty to the emperor and love for the people—went to extremes.
The two sides argued incessantly in the imperial court, and the friction intensified.
Li Che knew the principle that "if the water is too clear, there will be no fish," but he also understood that the deep-seated problems must be eliminated, but for a time he found it difficult to find that balance.
If I were to act according to my old temperament, I would naturally give my full support to my own people, but what would the consequences be...?
Having just eliminated the powerful clans, we can't afford to trigger factional strife again, can we?
However, investigating taxes was only a minor ailment; what troubled Li Che more was the subsequent resettlement of the remaining forces of the aristocratic families.
After several purges, the top aristocratic families in the central government have been almost completely eliminated, but officials from aristocratic families still make up a significant proportion of the local officials.
Li Che's original plan was to eradicate evil completely and take advantage of the prevailing trend to uproot the influence of powerful families.
But now it seems that if the steps are taken too big and too fast, it may cause all officials from prestigious families to feel insecure and unite to strongly resist.
Even if the army can forcefully suppress the rebellion, the entire bureaucratic system of Daqing will be paralyzed, and the country's strength will inevitably suffer a great loss, making it a losing proposition.
Even Zhuge Zhe, Huo Duanxiao, and others have recently been advising him to proceed gradually and not to be too radical.
"Each generation has its own mission."
"Even though Your Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition, you cannot expect to accomplish everything in one battle and clear all obstacles for your descendants."
Li Che understood these principles perfectly well, but he also had his own calculations.
Now that his prestige is at its peak, he holds military power, and has just quelled the southern rebellion with swift and decisive action, it is the perfect time to implement reforms and reshape the country.
If even we ourselves cannot make progress, are we to leave these thorny problems to future generations of 'conservative rulers'?
Just kidding, guess why they're called 'Kings Who Maintain the Status Quo'?