Chapter 677 The Means and Importance of Popular Science
Regarding the matter of Shi Le'an leading the capture of a foreign alien from Europe, Li San Niang has not yet received this news from Mr. Bu Ke. She is currently giving a popular science lecture at the Women's Aid Association.
This place was originally intended as a classroom for women from the Women's Aid Association to learn to read and write, and for women who wanted to become modern midwives to take classes. However, besides the Li family members, two of Li San Niang's formal disciples, Ling Lan and Song Fu Ling, who had formally received tea and become her apprentices, were also present, along with several women from the midwifery school.
Holding a peach tree branch, Li Sanniang explained to the crowd below the stage, pointing to a picture of opium that she had drawn earlier, "...I know that the Jingzhao Prefecture has already asked the ward chiefs of each ward to identify this thing, and I suppose the ward chiefs have told you about it when they got back."
I have summoned you here again only because we have a connection with each other that is greater than with others; you are either my relatives or people close to me.
I couldn't bear to see such a vicious thing happen to people I know, so I called you here to tell me about it.
After all, I was one of the earlier discoverers of this thing, so I have some knowledge about it and can tell you more.
Li San Niang told everyone all the possible channels of communication that the mastermind might use. She especially warned Jin Zhenbao, whose family was relatively well-off: "Zhenbao, this kind of thing is most likely to appear in the homes of traveling merchants, because traveling merchants have the most opportunities to come into contact with such novelties. If they are not careful and do not keep their minds in check, they will easily go astray."
As Jin Zhenbao wrote down what Li San Niang said on the paper, he nodded solemnly to Li San Niang.
She thought to herself, "When I get home later, I'll talk to my mother and brothers about this. We have to be careful and take precautions."
While Li San Niang was telling her close friends about the behavior of those who had been exposed to opium, within just a few days, the entire city of Chang'an, and even the whole of the Tang Dynasty, was mobilized.
The supreme ruler of this land, and a powerful emperor at that, if she wants to accomplish something, and the officials in the court do not object but instead support her wholeheartedly, then how could there be anything she cannot do?
Although Shi Le'an captured Edward in Pingkangfang and had previously searched for people in the West Market, neither the West Market nor Pingkangfang experienced any major unrest or changes as a result.
People went about their business as usual, and the opium scandal provided them with plenty of topics for casual conversation.
The storytellers in the teahouses of various neighborhoods had all made up a set of lyrics and several stories. Those who were interested in this matter would tip a few or even dozens of copper coins to have the storyteller tell the story for a long time.
The storyteller slammed his gavel on the table, and the loud "snap" silenced the tea drinkers sitting below him.
A person who can be a storyteller must have some skill in ventriloquism; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to make a living this way.
"...With a swift somersault, General Shi mounted his horse, and with a pull of the reins, the horse seemed to instinctively chase after the pursuer."
Some passersby who heard that shout outside the teahouse stopped and stood still at the door.
"After arriving at Pingkangfang, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, General Shi led his soldiers to find the Hu people who had instigated all this from behind the scenes."
"At this point," the storyteller, who was good at creating atmosphere, stopped talking and picked up the teacup on the table.
Those in the audience who were listening with great interest, some of whom were impatient and had some coins in their pockets, understood what was going on when they saw this, and they called over the waiter who was waiting to the side.
When the waiter arrived, the man raised his hand and poured more than a dozen copper coins onto the tray the waiter was carrying. The waiter raised the tray high and shouted to the whole place, "Manager Wang of the Silk Shop on West Fourth Street is giving a tip of eighteen coins!"
Upon hearing this, the storyteller at the head of the table put down his teacup and quickly bowed to Manager Wang to express his gratitude.
After the first person started, several more people sitting in the room successively gave tips, whether it was five or eight copper coins. Those with more money gave more, and those with less money just gave a token amount. In any case, it was very lively.
At this moment, the pedestrians who were originally standing outside the teahouse were also welcomed in by the waiter. They ordered a pot of tea and sat down at a square table a little further back.
The gavel struck again, and the storyteller's voice rang out once more, "With a gentle lift of his hand, General Shi summoned dozens of archers behind him to draw their bows and aim at the building."
...But then they saw the two corpses of women, their throats slit, being thrown directly from the second floor in front of General Shi and his men!
Upon seeing this, General Shi said…
Of course, the fact that this storyteller was able to learn about these things so quickly and even make up a story suggests that someone was behind him.
According to what Li Sanniang had heard Xing Yu say before, "Occupying the high ground in public opinion is absolutely necessary."
Since ancient times, wars have always required a just cause. Therefore, if we want the common people, whose literacy rate is so low at this time, to understand these matters, spreading them through rumors and hearsay is naturally the most convenient method.
Xing Yu's words eventually reached Emperor Wu's desk, and Emperor Wu discussed them with the court officials during the court assembly.
Finally, there's the matter of opium. Within just three to five days, people in all 108 wards of Chang'an, the three outer cities, and even the dozen or so villages near Chang'an outside the three outer cities knew about it.
The only thing that makes it feel less vivid and three-dimensional is that most people don't have the opportunity to see what people addicted to opium look like, unlike the officials in the imperial court and the doctors who distribute it to all of Chang'an in batches.
Li San Niang then began telling the audience how inhuman people were when they were addicted to drugs. In fact, Li San Niang was not exaggerating at all, but looking at the young girls and Xiao Si Lang in the audience, she knew that they didn't really believe her.
On the contrary, it was Li's father, mother, sister-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law who had more experience in life who understood what Li San Niang was saying.
With a sigh, Li Sanniang could only say, "I'm not exaggerating. In the future, a drug rehabilitation center will be set up next to the camp in the suburbs of the capital. If the officials allow it, you might have the opportunity to see what drug addicts really look like."
He's truly more terrifying than that gambler.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com