coobybook Chapter 1041 The Civil War Ends
Chapter 1041 The Civil War Ends
Upon hearing this, Hua Chang'an pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "Your Majesty, according to our monitoring in Qiongzhou and surrounding prefectures, the plague has been completely contained within a corner of Qiongzhou and there are no signs of it spreading outwards."
"No similar outbreaks have been reported in other southern provinces recently."
He looked up at the emperor and continued, "I believe that Your Majesty need not worry about the spread of the epidemic, and vaccination can be postponed."
"Although the smallpox vaccination method is very effective, it is ultimately a method of fighting poison with poison. After vaccination, most people will experience reactions such as fever, fatigue, and abscesses at the vaccination site, with the severity varying from person to person."
"Now that there is no imminent danger of an epidemic, there is no need to make His Majesty suffer this discomfort unnecessarily. It would be better to have the Imperial Hospital model and optimize this formula to produce a more reliable 'vaccine,' while closely monitoring the epidemic situation in all directions."
"If there are signs of the epidemic spreading northward in the future, it will be perfectly timely to get vaccinated again."
Li Che was quite satisfied after hearing this.
Huai En, standing to the side, suddenly felt a twitch in his eyelids and whispered a reminder: "The Divine Doctor is now called the National Hospital."
Li Che glared at him, and seeing Hua Chang'an's puzzled expression, he explained.
Upon hearing Li Che's statement that the imperial physician had concealed the patient's condition, Hua Chang'an was filled with fear and immediately apologized.
After all, I am the head of the Imperial Hospital... well, now I am the head of the National Hospital, so I should bear the main responsibility.
Li Che waved his hand and said, "It has nothing to do with you. It's all because those two failed to change their mindset about achievement."
"As for the plague, you have considered it thoroughly, so let's proceed with this proposal. The National Hospital should standardize the smallpox vaccination method as soon as possible and begin researching ways to improve it."
The smallpox virus is extremely important, and this information must be carefully preserved for future generations.
To be honest, Li Che even had some dark thoughts in his mind.
In the unlikely event that Daqing in the future cannot escape the calamities of its past and is invaded by foreign powers again, this thing could even serve as an alternative weapon...
Of course, doing so would be extremely inhumane and should only be done as a last resort.
If Daqing were to suffer a calamity similar to that of later generations in the future, I hope that my descendants would not be so soft-hearted as to act rashly.
Li Che set the tone, then changed the subject, his face full of apology: "There is one more thing... Hua Qing, I promised you that once the matter in Qiongzhou is settled, I will welcome your daughter into the palace."
"But now that Master Qian has suddenly passed away, I am truly grieved. I am also busy with state affairs and do not need to observe three years of mourning like ordinary people. However, I intend to refrain from music and meals for a year in memory of Master Qian as a sign of my grief."
"It is not advisable for any grand wedding or celebration to take place in the palace within this year... I'm afraid your daughter will have to wait a little longer."
Upon hearing this, Hua Chang'an immediately rose from his seat and bowed, speaking earnestly: "Your Majesty is too kind. Your Majesty's sincerity towards Wenzheng Gong is as clear as day, and I am deeply grateful."
"This is a matter of great moral principle, how can we put personal interests aside for the sake of public duty? My daughter is still young, and it is already a blessing that she has won His Majesty's favor. If we wait another year or two, it will be a good opportunity for her to learn more about etiquette and principles at home."
"I also wish to keep my daughter here a little longer to ease my aging heart. Your Majesty, please do not worry about this matter!"
Li Che knew his intentions and nodded: "That's good. I know your daughter is intelligent and kind-hearted. She will surely bring harmony to the palace after she enters it."
After reassuring his future father-in-law, Li Che turned his gaze to Ma Zhong, who had been sitting quietly at the lower end of the table.
"Ma Xiao!" Li Che called out Ma Zhong's childhood name, his tone full of affection, "I heard that you've been up to no good again this time? Not only did you lead people deep into the epidemic area to find diseased cattle, but you also fought a battle against a remnant of the rebel army that outnumbered you several times over?"
"Do you still remember what I told you before you left... hmm?"
Upon hearing the emperor call his name, Ma Zhong immediately straightened his back and said, "Your Majesty, this humble general dares not forget Your Majesty's instructions!"
"However, the situation in the epidemic area was critical at the time, and it would be difficult to do our best by sending ordinary soldiers to search. Since I am responsible for patrolling and isolating the cattle, I should go there myself so that I can find the sick cattle as quickly as possible."
"Bearing the Emperor's mandate, and with the safety of the entire state's soldiers and civilians at stake, I have no choice but to risk my life!"
Li Che looked at Ma Zhong, feeling both annoyed and relieved.
He deliberately put on a stern face and pointed at Ma Zhong with his finger: "You little Ma! Now you're all talk, you've got ten lines for every one I say!"
Ma Zhong knew that although the emperor was scolding him, there was no real anger in his eyes.
He deliberately shrank his neck, feigning fear: "Your Majesty is wise, this humble general dares not, these are just my true feelings!"
"You scoundrel!" Li Che laughed and cursed at his clumsy performance, then grabbed a memorial from the table and pretended to throw it at him. "I think you're asking for a beating!"
"If you dare to act so recklessly again, I'll send you to the Imperial Stables to clean horses for the rest of your life. Let's see how you fulfill your duties then!"
After the joke, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
Li Che put down the memorial and his expression returned to seriousness: "Alright, considering that you did indeed perform meritorious service this time and did not return with any missing limbs, I will not punish you severely this time."
"Tell me, what's the state of the powerful families in Qiongzhou? Have the ringleaders been captured?"
When the topic turned to specific military affairs, Ma Zhong's expression hardened, and he solemnly replied, "Your Majesty! Qiongzhou Prefecture has been captured by General Wang, and the private soldiers who stubbornly resisted have all been wiped out."
"Most of the aristocratic family leaders who instigated the rebellion committed suicide when the city fell, jumping off the city walls to their deaths. Only one cowardly person was captured alive."
"The core members of the family, the account books, the correspondence, etc. have all been seized, and Marshal Yang is personally overseeing the inventory and interrogation."
"The situation in Qiongzhou is now stable, the rebellion has been quelled, and we only need Commander Yang to reorganize his troops and ensure that supplies are in place before we can return to the capital!"
"Jump over the wall and commit suicide? That would be too easy for them." Li Che snorted coldly, then sighed, "So be it, the ringleader has been executed, the remaining villains have been captured, the civil war is finally over."
"Issue my decree, ordering Yang Zhongsi to properly arrange the troops stationed there and handle the aftermath. Let the army return in triumph on a chosen day."
The end of the civil war marked the beginning of a new phase for Daqing.
For Li Che, the next challenge is the difficult one, where the unseen enemies inside are far more difficult to deal with than the visible enemies outside.
"You've all worked hard, go back and rest for a few days."
"I have remembered your contributions in Qiongzhou. When the army returns to the capital, we will reward you both for your achievements."
"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness!" Hua Chang'an and Ma Zhong bowed and took their leave.
After the two left, the hall returned to silence.
Li Che sat alone for a moment, then picked up his brush and slowly wrote three characters on a blank sheet of Xuan paper:
Lingyan Pavilion.
The brushstrokes were vigorous and powerful, the ink still wet, gleaming in the candlelight.