Chapter 2103 Discussion
Manbao sat on the chair and took a sip of the medicinal tea, feeling very satisfied. "Doctor Xiao, you have so many good things here. The red beans are fried just right and smell so good."
Doctor Xiao placed his hands on his stomach and waited until she had taken two sips of tea before saying, "Tell me, what do you want from me?"
Manbao chuckled, "Look at what Doctor Xiao said. Can't I come to see you if I'm fine?"
Doctor Xiao raised his eyelids and looked at her without saying anything.
I only had three days of vacation, and I came to see him the next day. It's impossible for me to say that nothing is wrong.
Manbao put down his teacup, sat up straight and said, "I really have something to ask Doctor Xiao."
Doctor Xiao showed an expression of "as expected" and motioned her to speak.
Manbao said, "I want to ask about the vaccination method."
Imperial Physician Xiao had also read her previous memorial. Not only that, the emperor also summoned him and Imperial Physician Liu to ask whether this method was feasible.
Zhou Man wrote clearly in the memorial: If smallpox would gradually weaken in toxicity as she said, then it might be possible, but...
"Looking at this smallpox outbreak, there's no sign of it becoming less virulent."
"That's because smallpox spreads from living to living. What we need to do is use the healed scabs to spread it again, or even twice or three times..." She said, "If the first person resisted smallpox, the toxicity in the scabs would be weakened."
Doctor Xiao thought about it and shook his head. "This is just your speculation. There is no evidence. When it comes to matters of life and death, we can't take it for granted."
Manbao also knew this. He had read all that in books. Teacher Mo said it had been verified, but that was in that time and space, not in this world.
Moreover, Manbao also wanted to confirm it herself, so she said, "Then let's find someone to try it."
Doctor Xiao was shocked. He hadn't expected her to be so bold. "Your Majesty has already sent a letter to Anxi to inquire about this method. If there really is such a method in the Western Regions, our Imperial Hospital will send someone to find it. It's not even a matter of time before someone tries it..."
Manbao said, "The journey to Anxi is long and full of dangers. Who knows when the letter will arrive? Besides, they don't know any medical skills. What if they accidentally miss this method when they ask for it?"
She said, "Sir, how many people have died from smallpox this time? But I heard from some elders that the reason so few people died was because the country was strong and the court paid for most people's medical care. Otherwise..."
Otherwise, there would be countless people who cannot afford medicine or see doctors, and countless people would die.
She said, "This disease is so grueling. Even if you survive it, many people are left with pockmarks on their faces and bodies. Regardless of gender, pockmarks affect their future and marriage, and are practically crippled. I really want to find a way to prevent and treat it as soon as possible."
Doctor Xiao shook his head and said, "Young man, why are you so anxious? You still have a long life ahead of you. I'm already so old, and I'm not anxious at all."
Manbao just looked at him silently.
Doctor Xiao waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. I'll talk to His Majesty and see if I can find a few prisoners sentenced to death from the Ministry of Justice to try it out."
Manbao asked curiously, "Will they be spared the death penalty?"
"No," said Doctor Xiao, "but the beheading can be waived and replaced with hanging."
There are several types of death penalty. Beheading is the most cruel one. Separating the head and body is very cruel even for the prisoner. Legend has it that the prisoner cannot be reincarnated as a human being after death.
Manbao asked, "What if there are no prisoners sentenced to death, or if the prisoners sentenced to death do not agree?"
"Then we can only choose prisoners destined for hanging, but then he won't die," Doctor Xiao thought for a moment and said, "It's possible we won't be able to find prisoners destined for beheading. It's only the beginning of spring, and they just executed a wave last autumn."
Although the Jin Dynasty is so big, not many people are sentenced to death for crimes every year. Most of them will be escorted to the capital for review, and only in special cases will they be executed locally.
Doctor Xiao said, "I still have to go to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the news."
Suddenly I felt that things were so complicated.
Doctor Xiao looked up at her and shook his head, not wanting to keep her any longer. "Alright, I'll make a note of this. You can go back."
Manbao chuckled and said, "I haven't congratulated you on your promotion to Yuanzheng yet. As soon as I got back, I heard someone say that you've made great contributions this time, so His Majesty has given you the position of Yuanzheng again. Will you have a celebration at home?"
Doctor Xiao's lips curled up, but he quickly suppressed it. "It's just reinstatement. What's there to celebrate?"
He suddenly remembered something, and after looking her up and down, he said, "I almost forgot, you and Imperial Physicians Lu and Zheng also performed great merit this time, and the court should reward you."
He mused, "Maybe I can even get a promotion."
Manbao perked up and asked, "Upgrade?"
Doctor Xiao nodded, "It's possible."
Manbao became excited, then paused, "So it's possible that Doctor Lu and I are of the same rank, or is he higher than me?"
Doctor Xiao couldn't help but laugh when he saw her expression. "You two went to Xiazhou this time and shared hardships for four months. How come you haven't developed any feelings for each other yet?"
Manbao didn't say anything.
Imperial Physician Xiao shook his head slightly and said, "Imperial Physician Lu is the first official on this mission. Logically, he has made the greatest contribution, but judging by the reported cases, you have cured the most patients and have the lowest mortality rate. Therefore, your contribution is not small. The Ministry of Personnel should promote you to the same rank."
Only then did Manbao become happy.
Doctor Xiao hit her again, "But don't be too happy too soon. Your age and qualifications are there. The Ministry of Personnel may consider these two points and suppress them."
Manbao: "...Sir, could you please stop panting when you speak? What if my expectations are too high and I end up disappointed?"
Doctor Xiao laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, go back. We can't make the decision on this matter."
Doctor Xiao really couldn't make the decision on this matter, but the emperor would ask for his opinion, after all, he was the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Doctor Xiao suggested that both of them be promoted half a grade. After all, Zhou Man had indeed performed exceptionally well this time. He said, "Furthermore, Doctor Zhou is so young yet he dared to rush to the front. Such courage should be commended."
The emperor nodded.
So the official documents were issued together, proposing that Imperial Physician Xiao was promoted to the position of director of the hospital, Imperial Physician Lu was promoted to the fifth rank Imperial Physician, Zhou Man was promoted to the fifth rank Imperial Physician, and Imperial Physician Zheng was promoted to the sixth rank Imperial Physician.
In addition, there are rewards given to them by the Ministry of Revenue, which are all food and daily necessities.
For example, half a sheep, half a pig, a little rice and flour, and some cloth.
They were not very valuable, but they were quite an honor. After Manbao got the official documents, she went to the Ministry of Revenue with her father and Zhou Liulang to get the things.
After taking the things, the father, daughter and three of them drove the cart home happily. Old Zhou, sitting on the shaft of the cart, commented, "I saw it all. When the butcher divided the pork, Doctor Lu got more than we did."
Manbao said, "He's old, Dad, what are we going to do with this sheep's head?"
Old Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Steam it and offer it to the ancestors first, then give it to your sister-in-law."
Because he didn't know what to do.
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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