Chapter 863 Fame and fortune, who doesn't want them?
Another half hour passed, and after about 30-40% of the commoners who had been queuing outside the Chongwen Hall had entered, the seats in the inner hall were about 70-80% full.
Li San Niang and the physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau stood below the high platform in the center of the inner hall, waiting for Director Wang to take the stage and preside over the start of the conference.
At noon, Li San Niang also drank a cup of wine at the Yue Lai Restaurant, even though she had taken advantage of Princess Qingyang earlier. She had taken a nap in the restaurant's private room and rested a bit.
She was still feeling a bit sleepy, so she reached out and pinched her acupoint on her forearm a few times to try and stay awake.
The sound of gongs rang out, and the chatter that had been rising and falling in the inner hall gradually subsided until it was mostly quiet.
Then a waiter announced loudly, "Please, Chief Physician Wang of the Imperial Medical Bureau, ascend the stage."
As always, Wang Shuzheng strode confidently up to the high platform at the center of the inner hall. Despite his solemn expression, he was actually incredibly excited inside.
He first bowed to the crowd below the three sides, then stood still and announced loudly, "I hereby declare the First Physicians' Exchange Conference of Chang'an City officially open!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the waiters who had been arranged in advance took the lead in applauding. This was something that Li San Niang had suggested at an earlier meeting of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
In Li San Niang's words, "Clapping serves two purposes: first, it encourages us, and second, it gets the others to follow suit, giving them a sense of participation so that our next plans will be heard and understood."
Just as Li San Niang had predicted, the waiter in the inn led the applause, and everyone else, whether doctors or commoners, followed suit, clapping as if they had gained some insight.
Wouldn't that create the right atmosphere?
After a dozen or so breaths, the attendant who was banging the gong counted the time and struck the gong again. Those who understood the situation lowered their hands and quieted down, waiting for Wang Shuzheng, who was still standing on the platform, to speak.
Once one happens, two happens, and three happen. Following the crowd, the others also stopped, and the inner hall gradually quieted down again.
Then Wang Shuzheng said loudly again, "Thank you all for coming to this grand gathering of physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy!"
Next, Physician Ning, Physician Sun, and Physician Li from the Imperial Medical Bureau will explain the arrangements for the exchange meeting to you.
After Wang Shuzheng stepped down from the stage, Ning Yizheng took the stage again. Ning Yizheng stayed on the stage for most of the hour, mainly talking about the major projects of the physician exchange meeting in the next month.
The first five days will feature a showcase of the medical skills recently garnered by the Imperial Medical Academy, followed by another five days of demonstrations of exquisite medical skills by renowned doctors from various regions who have been invited to participate. For example, some of the students who studied under Sun Simiao have been invited to participate this time.
Witch doctors from the Western Regions and those from the Abbasid Caliphate also participated in this exchange through the Court of State Ceremonial.
The fifteen days in between were for a physician competition held by the Imperial Medical Bureau, which included: prescribing medicine for the same patient, acupuncture, bone setting, treatment of children and women with the same illness, and diagnosis and treatment of difficult and complicated diseases.
The last five days were dedicated to printing and distributing books by the Imperial Medical Bureau, promoting education among lower-level alliances, establishing obstetrics and gynecology branches, and discussing and resolving issues related to commercial medicines for the common people.
Before the audience could figure out what Ning Yizheng had said, Sun Yizheng, who was right after Ning Yizheng, strode onto the stage.
As the head of the Department of Surgery in the Imperial Medical Bureau, and having previously saved the lives of most of the wounded soldiers in the Western Regions War against the Eastern Turks, Physician Sun, after taking office as the military medical officer, only said one sentence: "The physician who wins the bone-setting competition can enter the Department of Surgery as a medical officer if he is interested. If he is good, he can be promoted within three years."
After saying this, Physician Sun bowed to the crowd below the stage and then stepped down.
He had the confidence to do so because he would need to use ulcer medicine in many more situations in the future.
Despite the victory of the Tang Dynasty in the war against the Eastern Turks, the war in the south is also nearing its end.
However, it is clear that the Tang Dynasty will expand outwards in the future, which will inevitably require sending troops. As long as troops are sent, war is inevitable. And as long as there is war, there will be casualties, which will inevitably require doctors in the field of scalp medicine.
Therefore, having real skills is the most important thing.
Physician Sun's words were essentially using the promise of high-ranking official positions and generous salaries to lure ambitious individuals.
You know, if you follow the proper path of a medical officer, how can you expect to be promoted in three years?
Keep dreaming. If a physician wants to be promoted, it will take at least seven or eight years. Even if it's faster, it will still take five or six years.
Even after all these years, Li San Niang, who was in charge of managing a whole bunch of affairs in the Imperial Medical Bureau, was still just a seventh-rank official.
However, now is precisely the time when surgeons are needed on the battlefield, and thus, a generous reward will surely attract brave men.
Naturally, people will choose the fast track, and those who are ambitious and capable might actually give it a try.
After Physician Sun stepped down from the platform, Li San Niang didn't linger. She exchanged a glance and nodded with Physician Sun before also climbing up the platform step by step.
She first bowed to everyone, and then began to speak.
Those close to the platform could see Li San Niang's rosy lips and knew that she was a woman.
Those who were far away probably couldn't see anything clearly, but as soon as Li San Niang spoke, even if the people far away couldn't hear her, they knew that she was a woman.
After all, female voices are higher in pitch and more delicate and softer than male voices. As long as one's ears are fine, most people can tell the difference.
"My name is Li Mingfang, and I am in charge of the obstetrics and gynecology department and other related affairs within the Imperial Medical Bureau."
At this exchange meeting, I will personally take the stage to demonstrate a cesarean section. Anyone interested is welcome to come and watch on that day.
Furthermore, the obstetrics and gynecology clinic is actively recruiting female doctors; any family with talent is welcome to come and give it a try.
The emperor greatly praised the maternity ward, saying that this action was to ensure the safety of millions of families in the Tang Dynasty and to lay the foundation for the future prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
Although it's not like the three-year promotion period in the Department of Surgery, if a capable young woman comes along, I guarantee she'll be promoted within five years!
After Li San Niang finished speaking, she bowed again and stepped down from the stage.
As soon as she finished speaking, the room erupted in astonishment. One astonishment was her statement that the woman with the skill would be promoted within five years, but the most astonishment was her mention of publicly demonstrating a cesarean section!
"How can this be done?"
Even if the woman's husband agreed, it still, it still shouldn't be like this!
Cesarean section?
Does this mean they have to cut open the belly and take the fetus out?
Is this woman still alive?
"Is he not going to survive?"
"That's just a joke! How can you take it seriously!"
"I absolutely do not believe that female physician would dare to do or could accomplish such a thing!"
Sitting in the crowd, Li's father and second brother listened to the incredulous comments from others and couldn't help but chuckle to themselves.
Li Erxiong and Li's father exchanged a glance and laughed together, both remembering the sows with piglets in the Li family's yard back then.
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