Chapter 670 The State Apparatus
With their interests aligned, Li Sanniang and her companions engaged in a heated discussion until nearly evening about how to deal with the foreign invaders' attempt to use opium to invade the Tang Dynasty.
"It's getting late, so let's stop here for now."
Afterwards, I will write a report on what we discussed today, and I will need your help to sign it so that I can submit it to the Sage.
Of course, if you come up with any good ideas later, please contact me, and I will definitely mention your name.
The people present naturally agreed with what Li Sanniang said. After all, given that Li Sanniang had an official channel to present the matter to Emperor Wu, they did not believe that Li Sanniang would try to steal the credit.
In addition, Li San Niang's identity as a physician gave her a certain aura.
Furthermore, judging from her daily conduct, she is not the type of person who would take advantage of others or scheme behind their backs.
Therefore, the day before Li San Niang was to go on duty, she finally finished writing the report and asked Xing Yu and Chang Siyuan to sign it together. This copy was naturally submitted to Mr. Bu Ke, so that it could be presented to Emperor Wu through Mr. Bu Ke.
As for the other matter concerning opium, Li San Niang, as agreed with Mr. Ke Bu, along with Dr. Liang, Li's father, and Li's second brother, jointly went to Dr. Gao and submitted it to the Chang'an Medical Alliance through Dr. Gao.
In any time and space, when the state apparatus pushes something forward from the top down, that thing will inevitably be implemented in a lightning-fast manner.
Li Sanniang was not an official, so she had no way of knowing that the imperial court was in an uproar over the opium issue.
However, in Chang'an, the political, economic, and cultural center of the Tang Dynasty, on the third day of her post-New Year's shift, Li San Niang sensed something was different.
Why?
Therefore, when I went to the clinic early in the morning, for the first time ever, Manager Gao was already there.
It should be noted that, apart from Nanxing and Qili, who usually arrive early to open the door, Tang Mingyue, who lives in Yongpingfang, is the only person who arrives relatively early almost every day.
Just as Li Sanniang was wondering what had happened, Manager Gao looked directly at her.
Li San Niang was quite sensitive to how others perceived her. She glanced at Manager Gao, and the moment their eyes met, she knew it must be related to opium.
Sure enough, the head steward solemnly addressed the four physicians and two apprentices in the hall: "An important matter has just been issued by the Imperial Medical Bureau."
It is a very important matter concerning everyone in the Tang Dynasty, but because it is closely related to our medical profession, it is very necessary for us to participate.
"Dr. Li, it was you who submitted the letter. You should have spoken to the doctors in our clinic beforehand, so we would have a better understanding of the situation and be more prepared when we went to the Imperial Medical Academy."
Li San Niang nodded, responded, and stood up. She took from Qiu Xiang the booklet that she had previously asked Chang Siyuan to print, which contained information about opium. It was similar to the booklet that had been given to Xing Yu and the others, except that this version focused on the symptoms of opium addiction and how to treat people at different stages.
When Li San Niang, along with Doctor Liang, Li's father, and Li's second brother, visited the Gao family to see Doctor Gao, they didn't try to hide it from anyone. After all, once the matter was brought up, they naturally had to take responsibility.
Therefore, Manager Gao actually knew about this matter long ago.
However, even Manager Gao did not expect that the Imperial Medical Bureau would issue an order in just a few days, which was indeed very fast.
"...After that, I investigated with my master, father, and elder brother, and then wrote to Physician Gao and reported to the Medical Alliance."
This thing is vicious; it's definitely not a good thing.
The Imperial Medical Bureau ordered us to go, which must have been to emphasize this matter. Also, I suspect it was to let the physicians see what an addicted patient looks like, so they could prepare a model for how to treat such patients in the future.
After a brief explanation, led by Manager Gao, they hung up the sign, Nanxing closed the door of the medical hall, and everyone boarded the carriage that Manager Gao had already arranged. The horses clattered as they headed towards the Imperial Medical Bureau on Zhuque Street.
Apart from Chang'an, imperial edicts issued from the Secretariat were distributed step by step through the post stations to the direct officials of various prefectures and counties.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards, the Imperial Guards, the undercover agents of the Bad People, and spies from other departments joined forces to launch a crackdown.
In order to fundamentally thwart the foreign invaders' conspiracy, Emperor Wu directly ordered General Wang, who was stationed at the main camp outside the capital, to set up tents outside Chang'an City, next to the main camp, specifically to guard and detain people associated with opium.
Whether you were misled, acted as a trafficker unintentionally, or actively colluded with the enemy for money, arrest and detain all of you.
Led by Manager Gao, Li Sanniang and the other physicians from the three medical halls arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau. They had only been standing there for a short while, and before any official had even gone up to speak on the newly built platform in the courtyard, they heard exclamations coming from outside the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Li San Niang, dressed in a scarlet ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), stood out conspicuously among a group of middle-aged and elderly men.
It wasn't appropriate for Qiu Xiang to stay by Li San Niang's side at this moment. She stood under the covered walkway next to the courtyard, with the doctors' servants and apprentices.
Hearing the sounds outside the wall, the cries and insults mixed in, Li San Niang turned to look at Qiu Xiang. When Qiu Xiang nodded, Li San Niang knew that the officials must have come to arrest people.
Li San Niang looked around and saw that there were about a hundred people standing in the courtyard. That meant that nearly a third of the doctors from the 108 wards of Chang'an City had come here.
Doctors, especially those who have joined the Chang'an Medical Alliance, are all quite old, but they all have this composure when things happen.
The commotion was caused by the apprentices and medicine practitioners brought in by the doctors who were standing in the courtyard, gathered around the covered walkway. Qili and Nanxing, who were standing with Qiuxiang, were more composed than the other thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys. At least they didn't look around or whisper to each other; they just stood there obediently.
The sound of the gong rang out, and Wang Shuzheng, the current head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, stepped onto the high platform with the Eight Directions Step.
Li Sanniang looked at Wang Shuzheng on the stage from below the stage and couldn't help but think to herself, "This doctor who has left the grassroots level, even if he still treats nobles in the palace, really does carry some official airs about him."
Wang Shuzheng had just finished his battle on the high platform when he gently raised his hand, and the people in the courtyard and under the corridor gradually stopped talking and quieted down.
Wang Shuzheng then coughed twice and began to speak to the people below him.
"...That is why I have summoned you all here."
Wang Shuzheng nodded to the man standing to the side, and the man clapped his hands. Then, a servant carried a large flowerpot from behind to the high platform.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com