Chapter 352: Breaking the Situation

Faced with Zhou Yu's question, Li Nuo could only refute the rumor again.

Zhou Yu got the answer, and when he left, his expression was somewhat regretful.

Li Nuo waited in the government office for a while. The left prime minister came in from outside and said, "Your memorial has been approved by the three provinces. The Ministry of Industry will print the new law as soon as possible and send it to the local prefectures. From now on, the new law has been implemented..."

In fact, even if Zuo Xiang didn't say it, Li Nuo already knew the result.

Just now, his Legalist and Confucianist skills inexplicably increased a little, which must be due to the passage of the new law.

He had experienced the same situation once when he was in Zhao State.

Legislation is always the quickest path for Legalists to practice.

If he could get all the countries on the mainland to abide by the laws he formulated, the sixth level of Legalism would be within reach, and Confucianism would probably have to rise to the fourth or even fifth level.

Ever since the introduction of Confucianism, the growth of cultivation has never stopped.

Whether it is enforcing the law impartially, promoting medical reform, or encouraging Mohism and improving military strategy, as long as it is for the people, as the cultivation of each school grows, the cultivation of Confucianism also grows.

Unfortunately, the legislation only increases one’s cultivation level, not lifespan.

Based on Li Nuo's current understanding of Yin-Yang magic, lifespan cannot be increased out of thin air, it can only be transferred from one person to another.

Could it be that the extra life span he gained came from the prisoners?

But the loss is really too great.

Li Nuo clasped his fists to the left prime minister and said, "Thank you, sir."

He knew very well that the new law was passed so quickly because of the left prime minister's face.

The left prime minister breathed a sigh of relief and said, "In the past, many people wanted to amend the law, but even if the three provinces passed it, the powerful would collectively oppose it, causing the new law to be abolished before it was implemented. This time, I'm afraid no one will hinder it..."

Although the powerful people of Daxia do not directly participate in court affairs, they can disrupt the decisions that have already been made by the court.

Over the years, in order to smoothly implement certain laws, he and the right prime minister had to compromise with the powerful and agree to some of their unreasonable conditions.

This kind of situation will probably never happen again.

Because there are almost no powerful people left in Daxia.

In the past six months, many powerful people have been beheaded or assassinated. Even the few who survived had already fled Chang'an and could no longer have any influence on the court.

After coming to his senses, the left prime minister asked again: "Regarding medical reform, is there anything you need help from the court?"

Li Nuo said: "Medical reform requires a lot of money and doctors."

The left prime minister sighed and said, "The national treasury has been tight in recent years, and this year all ministries are in urgent need of money. The Ministry of Revenue can allocate at most 50,000 taels. As for doctors, most of the doctors in the Imperial Hospital are idle, so you can dispatch them at will."

Li Nuo said: "I will go to the Imperial Hospital later to discuss this matter with them."

The left prime minister nodded and said, "If you have any questions, please let me know at any time."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the yamen. When he reached the door, he paused for a moment, turned around, and asked with a curious look on his face, "I have a question..."

Li Nuo said: "The Queen of Zhao and I are just friends."

Zuo Xiang looked somewhat disappointed, shook his head and left.

Imperial Medical Service.

More than a dozen medical officers were crowded around a table, and the scene was noisy and chaotic.

"Is this the medical book?"

"Where did you get it?"

"I bought it from a merchant from Zhao. That black-hearted merchant asked me for a full 100 taels!"

"Let me see, let me see!"

A chief physician bought a medical handbook from a merchant from the State of Zhao yesterday, and everyone in the Imperial Hospital was overjoyed.

This is a medical book written by Li Nuo, the number one scholar in six subjects of Daxia, in the State of Zhao. It puts forward many groundbreaking theories. Although everyone in the Imperial Hospital was confused after reading it, it is said that many doctors in the State of Zhao who signed their names in this medical book have greatly improved their skills.

It is impossible to say that they are not jealous.

This was almost a free bargain, but in the end it benefited outsiders.

Just as they were studying the medical book, a voice came from behind them: "What are you all doing here?"

Everyone turned around and saw a young figure standing at the door.

"Greetings, Lord Li!"

The imperial doctors stopped and bowed to Li Nuo.

After a while, Li Nuo sat on the main seat and asked, "Does everyone know that the Left Prime Minister wants to promote medical reform?"

The Imperial Physician bowed and said, "Master Li, the Secretariat has already informed us. We ask you to fully cooperate with Master Li on the medical reform."

Although Zhao's medical reform was still in its infancy, it had set a good example for Daxia.

This kind of thing cannot be done by Li Nuo alone.

More support from doctors is needed.

It was precisely because of the strong support of Zhao State's doctors, who contributed both money and manpower, that the medical reform in Zhao State was able to proceed so smoothly.

Li Nuo picked up the "Medical Handbook" from the table. He had completed this book when he was in Zhao State. Before he left, the Ministry of Works was printing it in large quantities and required all doctors in Zhao State to have a copy.

Li Nuo looked at everyone and said, "Although this manual has been published, there are still many places that are not perfect. I plan to revise it. You are all experienced doctors. I wonder if you are willing to help me..."

Everyone was delighted when they heard this.

They have not lived in vain for these decades, so how could they not hear that this was a benefit given to them by Lord Li?

"Yes, yes, of course!"

"It is my honor!"

"Thank you, Master Li!"

Li Nuo smiled and said, "You're welcome. Medical reform will benefit the people and strengthen the medical profession. I hope that we can work together to implement this matter as soon as possible. The Ministry of Revenue will allocate 50,000 taels to promote medical reform, and I will personally donate another 10,000 taels..."

Hearing this, the imperial doctors felt embarrassed to remain silent and began to speak up.

"I will donate five thousand taels."

"I will donate three thousand taels."

"I will donate one thousand taels..."

Although these silver pieces were equivalent to their salaries for several years or even more than ten years, imperial physicians were different from other officials in that their salaries were only a small part of their income. Every time they went to see the powerful and wealthy, although they were only following orders, the powerful and wealthy would also reward them heavily.

Medical reform is a bottomless pit, and the national treasury does not have any extra money to give them, so Li Nuo can only raise sponsorship on his own.

Of course, it's not all in vain. The more successful the medical reform is, the faster his medical and Confucian skills will improve.

However, when he was in the State of Zhao, Doctor Sun could get tens of thousands of taels of funds just by talking. I don't know whether the royal doctors of Daxia were relatively poor, or whether Doctor Sun had some unique secret technique to ask for money.

Of course, giving five or three thousand taels was considered very supportive, and Li Nuo felt embarrassed to ask for more.

Afterwards, Li Nuo continued to discuss the details with them.

It was not difficult to establish a medical school in Chang'an. The imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau did not have much to do on weekdays, so they could go there to give lectures and see patients for free.

Based on the experience accumulated in Zhao State, in order to avoid medical runs, the medical fees for the people could be set at several levels.

The first level doctor costs ten cents, the second level twenty cents, the third level fifty cents, and the fourth level one hundred cents.

This can prevent more than 90% of people who are not sick from seeking out illness to stir up trouble.

For the lower-class people in Chang'an, one hundred wen was roughly the amount of money they could earn in one or two days, and almost everyone could afford it.

Because of the precedent of Zhao State, Li Nuo thought that the medical reform in Daxia should also be smooth.

But on the next day, the chief physician came to the Secretariat with a complicated expression.

After a moment, Li Nuo frowned and looked at him, and asked, "Price increase?"

The Imperial Physician nodded and said, "Overnight, all the drug dealers in Chang'an raised the prices of their medicinal materials by several times..."

If we want to reduce the cost of medical treatment for the people, we must first reduce the consultation fees and second reduce the prices of medicinal materials.

The consultation fees were easy to reduce. Imperial physicians received state salaries and their treatments were free. Apprentices trained in medical schools had to spend a few years in the court's public clinics, which were managed by the Imperial Medical Service. This enabled the consultation fees to be controlled to a level acceptable to the people.

But medicinal materials cost money.

It is impossible for the imperial court to provide all medicinal materials for free, and the national treasury simply cannot afford it.

During the Zhao State period, the entire medical community of Zhao State voluntarily gave up part of their profits and sold medicinal materials to the court at almost cost price.

But in Daxia, things developed completely differently.

The imperial court wanted to carry out medical reform, but they raised the prices of medicinal materials several times, which was a blatant violation of the imperial court.

Most people don’t have the courage to do this.

Li Nuo asked: "Who are those drug dealers?"

The Imperial Physician sighed and said, "All the drug dealers in Daxia are under the control of the six great families. Although the imperial court also has the Shang Pharmacy, the medicinal materials grown by the Shang Pharmacy are barely enough for the Imperial Hospital. If we want to open another clinic, we must purchase from the drug dealers..."

Li Nuo's eyes moved and he murmured, "The six great families..."

The medicinal materials of Zhao State were actually also monopolized, but it was the doctors of Zhao State who monopolized the medicinal materials of Zhao State.

Although Zhao's doctors also valued profit, they also had the sentiments of a doctor.

When the Zhao court carried out medical reforms, they chose to sacrifice some of their interests, support the court, and benefit the people.

The Imperial Physician continued, "It's not just the drug dealers. Almost all the clinics in Chang'an are owned by aristocratic families. If the court wants to build cheap clinics, it will inevitably affect their interests. It's not surprising that they would do this..."

He paused and continued, "The influence of the aristocratic families in Chang'an is still minimal. Outside of Chang'an, more than 90% of the medical clinics belong to them, and 10% of the drug dealers are under their control. It is difficult for outsiders to get involved. The doctors in Daxia either submit to the aristocratic families or rely on the court. Otherwise, there is no room for survival..."

Li Nuo finally realized that he was still too idealistic.

The national conditions of Zhao and Daxia were fundamentally different.

Even when implementing medical reform in Chang'an, we encounter such obstacles. Wouldn't it be impossible to move forward outside Chang'an?

Inside the government office, the left prime minister slammed his palm on the table and said angrily: "They are so bold. The tax reform is like this, and the medical reform is also the same. Can they really not bear to see the people live a better life?"

He said in a deep voice: "There must be someone behind this. Let's find out who is hindering medical reform!"

The Mingjingsi is obviously better at this kind of thing than the Zhongshusheng.

Half an hour later, Li Nuo got the desired result.

He opened the letter sent by Butler Wu, and there were only two words on it.

Wang family.

Since the "Rebellion of the Two Kings" last year, the Wang family's influence in the court has been almost wiped out.

But their influence on Daxia has already permeated into every aspect.

The left prime minister frowned and whispered, "It's the Wang family again..."

When talking about the Wang family, a hint of ferocity appeared on the face of this great scholar of the fifth realm.

The reason why the imperial court's decrees are difficult to leave Chang'an is because of the existence of these aristocratic families, and the Wang family is the leader of the contemporary aristocratic families.

They controlled a large amount of land but did not have to pay taxes.

The court wanted to implement land reforms and return land to the people, but they were the biggest obstacle.

The three provinces repeatedly implemented decrees in the hope of controlling the upper limit of land that the aristocratic families could own, but they were vetoed by the powerful and wealthy they instigated.

The imperial court wanted to cancel their tax exemption rights, and the tax officials sent died inexplicably on the way.

The imperial court wanted to expand official schools and reform the imperial examination system, but the official schools built in various states could not accept any students. The best students all went to their private schools.

These people were easily admitted to the four major academies, and after becoming officials in the court, they fought for their interests everywhere.

Local officials, who had only been sent there for a few months, would be bribed by them, become collusion with them, deceive their superiors and conceal the truth from their subordinates, and completely forget the promises they made in front of the Confucian temple.

The medical reform that was easily implemented in Zhao State could not even take the first step in Daxia.

The left prime minister slowly sat down on the chair, his spine straight but slightly bent.

In order to change all this, he worked hard for decades, and countless disciples died because of it, but he still could not see the slightest hope...

The Secretariat.

An official walked into the government office and said to the right prime minister: "Teacher, their medical reform has not yet been implemented, but it has encountered obstacles. The drug dealers controlled by several major families have raised the prices of medicinal materials several times overnight..."

The right prime minister showed no surprise on his face and said, "It's just a repetition. First it was Li Xuanjing, now it's his son's turn. Cui Jian's death of so many disciples is not enough, do you want to sacrifice a few more?"

He put down the letter in his hand, a hint of curiosity on his face, and said slowly: "At that time, Li Xuanjing led a group of new Jinshi to protest. Among the 17 new Jinshi, only he survived. Twenty years later, I wonder what his son will do?"

Secretariat.

Zuo Xiang has experienced similar situations countless times.

He looked at Li Nuo and asked, "You are the top scholar in six subjects. There are few people in this world who are smarter than you. Tell me, what is the way out for the court to reform and what is the way out for the people of Daxia?"

Li Nuo actually knows the answer to this question.

The Great Xia Dynasty lasted only three hundred years. Before that, it was the extremely chaotic Warring States Period. There is very little history to draw on.

But China has a history of 5,000 years, and the historical cycle has been repeated again and again, leaving behind too many valuable experiences.

The answer to any question can be found in that long history.

At the end of the dynasty, land was severely annexed and most of the country's resources were concentrated in the hands of a few people. It was difficult for the people just to survive. How could they break the deadlock and get rid of the oppression and exploitation of the aristocratic families and the gentry and landlords?

It's very simple.

Kill them all.

(End of this chapter)