Chapter 784 The Imperial Medical Bureau's Commendation Ceremony
Of course, the seventh-rank official only stood on the periphery to cheer on the higher-ranking officials; the real action was taken by the third- and fourth-rank officials.
The military officers knew their limits; even when things got heated, they still showed leniency towards the civil officials who stood up against them.
Although the civil officials were taught the Six Arts of the Gentlemen—rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—there were no bows and arrows available for anyone to use in this grand hall.
Therefore, in terms of physical strength alone, ordinary civil officials naturally cannot match military officials.
If the military officer hadn't been more restrained, Qiao Zhongcheng wouldn't just be wearing a crooked hat and disheveled clothes; he would have been lying on the ground, bound by the officer's belt, humiliated like a piglet waiting to be slaughtered and its blood and flesh eaten.
Looking at the chaotic scene of officials below, Wang Da Dang couldn't help but twitch his lips. He knew that the last time this hall was in such disarray was when Li Xian was imprisoned by Emperor Wu.
Empress Wu put down her teacup, a slight smile on her face as she looked at the officials who were still chattering and shoving each other, putting on a show for her. She let out a disdainful "Heh."
"saint?"
When Emperor Wu nodded and gestured to Yao Chong, who was standing at the front of the stage, Wang Da Dang quickly bowed and walked down the stage.
"Oh dear, Prime Minister Yao, you'd better do something about this! What if something bad happens?"
Just then, Wang Dang glanced over and saw that some ignorant military officer had given Qiao Zhongcheng a black eye, making him look quite miserable. This made Wang Dang quickly turn his head and look at Yao Chong with a helpless expression.
Finally, the farce ended with Yao Chong's stern rebuke.
Emperor Wu had Wang Da Dang hand over the memorial written by Wang Shuzheng to Yao Chong, and then, starting with Yao Chong, the chief officials of the Three Departments and Six Ministries took turns to look at it.
"The facts are clear: the Imperial Medical Bureau made great contributions in the war against the Turks."
According to the law, the actions of that individual physician were unrelated to the Imperial Medical Academy.
In the future, the Imperial Medical Bureau can use the corpses of war prisoners to study medical techniques. As Wang Shuzheng said, once the corpses are used up, they should be properly buried and a special person should be sent to offer incense and pay respects.
"That's settled then. Qiao Zhongqing did the right thing by investigating all the officials; it wasn't dereliction of duty. But you, by impeaching without thoroughly investigating the facts, will be fined three months' salary as a lesson."
With a "plop," Qiao Zhongcheng bowed deeply to Emperor Wu, overwhelmed with gratitude. He never expected that Emperor Wu would only punish him by deducting his salary and not demote him.
This is much better than what Qiao Zhongcheng originally expected.
"Oh, and also, everyone who just did it will be fined one month's salary."
"You lot are really something, treating my palace like a bustling market."
After Emperor Wu concluded the matter with his words, any intelligent court officials naturally wouldn't bother to offer any further comment.
The solemn atmosphere of the meeting hall quickly returned to normal, and the two ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War discussed with everyone the matter of their mission to find the source of the Hibiscus Cream case in the south.
Wang Shuzheng was standing in the fifth row. He lowered his head and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve when he had just fought with Qiao Zhongcheng.
"The sage has indeed saved our Imperial Medical Bureau."
That heartless old man Qiao, at his age, still tries to take advantage of people in their groin. Luckily, I dodged quickly.
"Oh, I can finally relax. Next month's awards ceremony needs to be handled very well!"
Lost in thought, Wang Shuzheng's mind wandered to the commendation ceremony that the Imperial Medical Bureau would be holding next month. He was only brought back to his senses when Sun, the Imperial Physician, grabbed his sleeve.
Seeing the wink from Physician Sun, Wang Shuzheng immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was kicked by Vice Minister Qiao just now, and it really hurt a lot, which is why I was distracted."
"Bullshit! I didn't even kick it!"
Wang Shuzheng didn't care what Qiao Zhongcheng said. Anyway, they had already broken off relations. In Wang Shuzheng's view, it was true that you were from the Censorate, but I was not an ordinary minor official. How could I, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, be afraid of you?
While Qiao Zhongcheng was speaking, Sun Yijian quickly relayed to Wang Shuzheng the part of the discussion that the officials had just been making concerning the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Because the case of the Hibiscus Ointment involved a wide range of people, in the past few months, with the help of Du Qinghui's Du family army in Jiangnan East Road, the Imperial Guards under Emperor Wu, and the Bad People, the three parties have finally managed to find the source of the case.
The matter that the officials just discussed was sending the navy to the south to wipe out the mastermind behind it all.
Besides provisions, the army's journey involved other auxiliary matters. The Imperial Medical Bureau's role was to treat wounded soldiers and ensure that the soldiers' combat effectiveness would not be reduced due to acclimatization issues or other diseases after arriving in the south.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Medical Bureau has already made proper arrangements for this matter. The accompanying physicians include not only ulcer doctors who are proficient in treating metal-related injuries, but also detoxifying doctors who are skilled in treating poisons."
Since we were traveling by water, the soldiers sent by General Wang were taught all the methods of first aid for drowning. Even if our doctors weren't around, the soldiers who knew these methods could save people themselves.
..."
Wang Shuzheng then went on to explain five or six more points, thoroughly outlining the medical support for the entire southward-bound navy.
Emperor Wu nodded in satisfaction as she listened, and she decided to let bygones be bygones regarding Wang Shuzheng's momentary lapse in attention.
The grand court assembly lasted until the sun was high in the sky before it ended. The lower-ranking officials left the main hall one by one in order, while the officials of the third rank and above stayed behind and followed Emperor Wu to a side hall to hold a smaller court assembly.
The grand court assembly only briefly discussed recent important matters, while the smaller court assemblies were for discussing details and crucial issues.
Wang Shuzheng was naturally not qualified to attend the small court assembly, so he and Sun Yijian returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau together.
Now that he was back on his home turf, Wang Shuzheng finally dared to speak loudly. A huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he relaxed considerably. As soon as he sat down, he started complaining to Ning Yizheng, who had come to greet him.
"...He's no good at all!"
You didn't see it, it kicked right at me.
Wang Shuzheng subtly pointed to his crotch towards Ning Yizheng. Ning Yizheng naturally played along, saying a few words in agreement with Wang Shuzheng before taking the opportunity to ask, "In seven days it will be a big day for our Imperial Medical Bureau. Shuzheng, have you asked the Emperor?"
Will the sage be able to come then?
If the Emperor himself were to come, our Imperial Medical Academy would be greatly honored. From then on, which of the Three Departments and Six Ministries would dare to defer to us?
When Physician Ning brought up this matter, it also attracted the attention of Physician Sun, who was standing to the side. Facing the four big eyes of Physician Sun and Physician Ning looking over, Physician Wang raised his hand to stroke his beautiful beard, sighed first, and then said leisurely, "I mentioned this matter to the Emperor yesterday, and the Emperor did not refuse outright, saying that he would definitely go if he had time."
If the sage could come, our commendation ceremony would naturally be even more spectacular!
However, the sage simply won't go. Based on what the sage said to us in the main hall today, most of the people on the invitations I sent out should be able to come!
"Our Imperial Medical Academy's commendation ceremony will definitely be a smooth and spectacular event!"
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