Chapter 78
Because Nangong Ling gave up the competition temporarily, Ximen Jie won the championship of the lantern show at the Oriental Tea House, and also received the champion's two hundred taels and a glass lotus lantern.
In Ximenjie's expectation, winning the championship of the lantern exhibition would bring his fame to a higher level.
The fact is: his fame increased, accompanied by big news that everyone in Beijing knew, such as "Ximen Jie's reputation was blown up by someone he paid to do it" and "Nangong Ling is actually a woman".
Ximen Jie: "..."
Don't let him know which bastard is behind this, or he'll be in trouble!
He didn't believe that such detailed and secret information could be collected by a child. It must be that the person behind the scenes knew everything early on and deliberately told it through the child's mouth when everyone gathered at the lantern show.
I don’t know which enemy he had offended, but this move was really cruel!
Chu Huan didn't care about the aftereffects of the system eating melons, because after the Lantern Festival, she and the Fifth Prince would have to resume their previous class schedule.
Moreover, she took two more courses.
On the 16th, she was still having breakfast when Qingzhu came in and said, "Miss, General Xuanwei is here to visit you. He said he wants to give you a lesson."
Chu Hua: ???
He paused while drinking the porridge, his face and eyes full of surprise.
This was really unexpected.
I did hear the system mention earlier that the emperor wanted her to learn martial arts, but didn’t he give up because her courses were too full?
【Tong'er? 】
System: [Yesterday, you went to the Lantern Festival. To protect you, the Imperial Guard apprehended thirty-seven suspicious individuals along the way. After interrogation, they discovered that among them were beggars, thieves, and assassins. They think it would be better for you to learn martial arts.]
Practicing martial arts can strengthen your body and protect yourself, which is better than relying on others for protection all the time.
Everyone understands this principle, but Chu Huan is already fourteen years old this year and has long missed the most suitable age for practicing martial arts.
Even if someone really needs to be sent to teach her, it shouldn't be General Xuanwei.
Could it be that the system revealed that General Xuanwei had been a triple agent, and the Emperor was retaliating against him, so he came back to her a few months later to settle the score? That would be too long.
Qingzhu continued, "Miss, the Imperial Physician is here too. He wants to take your pulse to see if your body is suitable for martial arts training."
Chu Huan: “…”
What should I say? That's a pretty lame excuse.
Since she is a vested interest, she should just shut up and take the benefits.
Chu Huan asked Qingzhu to invite the Imperial Hospital Director and General Xuanwei into the hall to sit down, speed up their breakfast, and tidy up a bit before leaving.
The Imperial Hospital Director hadn't seen Chu Huan for a long time. As soon as they met, he smiled warmly, "Happy New Year, Master Chu."
"Happy New Year, Your Excellency." Chu Huan first returned the greeting, then said half-helplessly, "I don't hold any official position."
So calling her "adult" is somewhat inappropriate.
The Imperial Hospital smiled and said nothing, it was only a matter of time.
Furthermore, "Sir" is a respectful title and is not limited to being used between officials.
Considering that the latter would bring greater pressure to Chu Huan, a junior, the Imperial Hospital Envoy did not elaborate further and instead introduced Chu Huan: "This is General Xuanwei. From today on, he will be Master Chu's martial arts and military strategy instructor."
Chu Huan was slightly stunned. Two more courses all of a sudden?
The matter had already been decided, leaving no room for negotiation. She didn't ask any further questions and immediately bowed, "Student Chu Huan greets the teacher."
General Xuanwei had led many soldiers and accepted many students, but it was the first time for him to accept a female student, and the first time he did so was when a grown-up girl got married. His expression and tone were a little stiff.
"Let the hospital steward take your pulse first. If there's nothing wrong with your health, you can go to class later."
Chu Huan: "Yes."
The three of them sat down in the hall. The Imperial Physician examined him thoroughly and finally gave his conclusion: "Lord Chu has a cold constitution and is weak. I'll prescribe a prescription for him. Take it a few times. Then, train with the General in martial arts for a few years. He should be able to recover. It won't be a big problem."
Chu Huan withdrew her hand and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency."
The Imperial Medical Bureau had already figured out what prescription to use and was considering whether to adjust a few herbs to make the medicine milder.
After hearing Chu Huan's thanks, and seeing Qing Zhu take out her purse to pay for the consultation, she quickly waved her hand to refuse, and raised her fist: "I have come here on the emperor's orders, so you don't have to be polite."
Qingzhu looked at Chu Huan, and when he saw her nod, he put it back.
After the Imperial Medical Bureau envoy finished writing the prescription and left, General Xuanwei started teaching without saying a word.
"Starting tomorrow, get up an hour earlier every day and practice horse stance while studying military tactics."
Chu Huan's calm expression slowly cracked.
I never expected that I could avoid the cold wind that made me wake up at three in the morning, but I couldn't avoid the horse stance at five in the morning.
It’s so difficult for her!
Chu Huan decided to struggle: "Teacher, can you..."
General Xuanwei: "No."
Chu Huan: "...You didn't even hear me finish."
General Xuanwei said coldly, without blinking an eye: "No laziness, no lateness, no skipping training. Fine, go ahead."
Chu Huan: “…”
system:【……】
You have blocked all the retreat routes, what else can you say?
During the time it was bound to Chu Huan, the system knew too well how serious the host's difficulty in getting out of bed was.
During the time last year when she disguised herself as a man to attend court on behalf of Chu Qin, she went to bed early every night and slept for eight hours. The next day, Qingzhu and Hongmei had to take turns waking her up.
Now I have stargazing classes in the evening, so I can’t go to bed early like I did back then. If I have to get up early, I can only compress my pitiful sleep time.
The system sighed deeply: [Oh—it’s so hard for me.]
Chu Huan:?
Everyone:?
Chu Huan: [What's difficult for you? I'm the one who's difficult.]
System: [Yes, but isn't it inconvenient for you to say it? I'll say it for you.]
Chu Huan: “…” Thank you so much.
In any case, the classes have been arranged, and he should have been in court at this time.
General Xuanwei didn't go to court, but instead came to teach her, what else could she not be satisfied with? Although she felt...
Chu Hua: [Tong'er, choose the time of the court session to give me a lesson, General Xuanwei, right...]
General Xuanwei cried out in his heart: I don’t have it, so don’t ask me!
However, the system didn't hear his inner screams and honestly said, "Yes, General Xuanwei doesn't want to attend court."
He couldn't take away the lessons from the old Grand Tutor and the old Imperial Preceptor, nor could he ask you to learn martial arts so late at night. So, he had no choice but to choose the time before the old Grand Tutor's class, and then naturally, he wouldn't go to court.
[This way, he can sleep in an extra half hour every day, get up, squat in the toilet, practice boxing, practice swordplay, eat a couple of big pancakes, and then come to teach you leisurely.]
[The above is his schedule for this morning.]
Everyone: “…”
General Xuanwei had a blank expression on his face. The system even caught the small detail of him getting up early and going to the toilet. It was really disrespectful to the general!
Chu Huan smiled and said, "I've learned it."
[Why doesn't General Xuanwei want to attend court? ]
System: [Because he thinks attending court is just a war of words with the civil officials. He is not good at talking and cannot win over those civil officials who are more courageous.]
Chu Huan didn't believe it: [How could it be? He's a great man who's been a triple agent.]
System: [Sister Huan, do you know why some people have so many wild and imaginative ideas when they are young, but become so rigid and boring when they grow up?]
Because they've grown up and know that many things are impossible to do given the limitations of reality, even if they do think of a possibility, they'll consciously discard it and choose the more realistic option.
[In the case of General Xuanwei, it was naturally because he had been the prince's study companion when they were young, but now that he was the emperor, being with the emperor was like being with a tiger. Many things could no longer be done according to his temper. If the emperor turned against him, the consequences would be very serious.]
General Xuanwei: "...If you have no objection, let's get started."
He didn't want to be exposed by the system again and be laughed at by the emperor and his colleagues, so he immediately put on a stern face and taught Chu Huan how to do horse stance.
It was the beginning of the first lunar month and it was snowing outside. General Xuanwei did not let Chu Huan go to the snowy yard to do horse stance in the cold wind and snow. That would not be learning martial arts, but would cost her her life.
Let's just make do with the spacious living room for now.
"This general doesn't like students slacking off during class. You'd better concentrate on your studies, otherwise this general won't show mercy to you because you're a girl."
Chu Hua: "I'll remember this."
The system switched to private chat mode: [This system has reason to suspect that he simply doesn't want others to know about his private affairs.]
Chu Hua: [It's okay. You should really focus on your studies.]
She had never done horse stance, nor had she deliberately trained her lower body. Her physical condition and strength were average, but she had a particularly strict teacher. If she bent her legs or raised her waist, she would be hit with a horse whip. After a while, she was almost knocked down by the horse stance.
The most terrifying thing was that due to the late start, tight time and many tasks, she had to do two things at once, doing horse stance to exercise her lower body while listening to General Xuanwei lecture on military tactics.
The system originally felt bored and wanted to go back to watch the show, but it turned out that General Xuanwei's course not only talked about boring and difficult military strategies, but also integrated the battles he had presided over and participated in.
Chu Huan and the system were like two children listening to stories told by their elders, and were gradually drawn into that world of constant war.
There are no beautiful and exquisite lanterns, no peaceful and tranquil Lantern Festival, but only a city guarded day and night, and a border protected with flesh and blood.
When they ran out of bows and arrows, they used stones to smash the enemy's heads from the city wall, until the enemy's heads were broken and bleeding and died.
When the hot oil ran out, they used cold water, which would freeze quickly in the middle of winter. They also used manure water, which would easily cause infection in the enemy's wounds and make it difficult for them to survive if they were not killed on the spot.
When the blade of their sword became blunt, they would use broken knives and broken arrows, or whatever they could get their hands on, even if it meant biting the enemy with their mouths as long as they could kill them.
War is never something that can be fought by simply saying "what military tactics will be used in this battle". Every victory requires all soldiers to fight with all their might. And victory does not mean everything, because behind every war there are countless sacrifices.
Excessive blood loss, medicine shortage, infection and high fever... It's not the strong who survive to the end, but the one who survives to the end who becomes the strong.
"Your penicillin and alcohol played a big role." At this point, General Xuanwei's expression softened. "Many people who would have died in battle back then have survived."
This was actually General Xuanwei secretly smuggling some private goods.
No one would tell students about the cruelty of the battlefield and the bloodiness of war when they first teach military tactics, but he already knew how much benefit the front-line had gained from using telescopes, so he was naturally envious of what Chu Huan might come up with.
The telescope is just a deposit.
Chu Huan must have something better! He has wanted this for a long time!
"That's good." Chu Huan, sweating profusely and with trembling legs, smiled softly. "I hope the court can find quinine soon."
In this era, there was no most effective way to treat malaria. The army suffered greatly from malaria and would lose its combat effectiveness once it was encountered.
General Xuanwei thought for a moment and decided that instead of letting too many people know about it through the system, it would be better for him to tell Chu Huan alone.
"I got some quinine cream from a foreigner a few years ago and am already looking for someone to test it. If it turns out to be really effective, I will buy a large amount from the foreigner."
That’s great news.
Chu Hua's eyes lit up, and she added, "Quinine is actually a drug extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree."
"If the imperial court purchased cinchona cream on a large scale from foreigners, it would become a seller's market, and they would likely demand exorbitant prices. It would be better to ask them for cinchona trees and say that a local official wanted to present it as a tribute to the emperor as a novelty."
"The coast is so far from the capital, we can ask for some trees, big or small, and even saplings, to see if they can be planted. Tribute to the Emperor certainly can't be something sick. It would be best if we could use this as an excuse to learn some planting techniques from the foreigners."
"If cinchona trees could be planted on a large scale in Dasheng, we wouldn't have to worry about malaria anymore!"
General Xuanwei:!!!
Jia Yi Cai Gang:!!!
They were attracted by what Chu Huan said, but suffocated by the blueprint she painted.
That's malaria!
Malaria has killed several emperors in history and has left dozens of generations of imperial physicians helpless for thousands of years!
She actually said that Dasheng no longer needs to worry about malaria!
She was so sure that quinine could completely control malaria!
At this moment, General Xuanwei was extremely glad that he had given up going to court to teach Chu Huan, and he had just decided to reveal this information that should have been kept secret to her.
If he hadn't told us, how would we have known that quinine came from the cinchona tree? How would we have known that the cinchona tree could be grown in Dasheng?
General Xuanwei suppressed the urge to enter the palace immediately and gave a look to Jia Yi at the door.
Jia Yi understood and quickly left, rushing to the palace as fast as possible.
At this time, the emperor and officials were still holding court meetings.
The news that Jia Yi passed on first reached Lin You. Lin You knew the importance of the matter and quietly passed it on to the emperor.
The emperor almost jumped up from the throne. It was malaria!
With penicillin and cowpox in his experience, he did not underestimate the quinine cream that Chu Huan mentioned, and sent people to look for it immediately. But it was a foreign medicine, an unfamiliar medicine, and he subconsciously questioned in his mind: Is this thing really that good?
Quinine was found on the coast. To be safe, they also searched for malaria patients nearby to test the drug. They found more people and different people to try it on. The specific results of the drug test have not yet been reported back to Beijing.
No, it will be too late to buy cinchona trees after the news gets back.
The relevant personnel and money must be arranged as soon as possible, and the cinchona tree must be bought back without the knowledge of the Western Rong and Northern Di.
Malaria knows no nationality, and it affects the people of Dasheng, and the Western Rong and Northern Di also suffer.
An army without any disease is sure to win. With the special medicine quinine, Dasheng will be invincible!
The emperor suppressed his anxiety and waited until the end of today's court meeting. He summoned the old Grand Tutor, the old Grand Preceptor and others to the Imperial Study for discussion.
Jia Yi repeated the conversation between Chu Huan and General Xuanwei in front of everyone. In an instant, the air in the imperial study became a little thinner - it was all sucked in by them.
The old master's eyes were full of smiles, not just for the effect of the cinchona cream, "The teaching these days is quite fruitful. She knows how to use her cunning."
The old master was actually very satisfied, but he just couldn't bear to see his sworn enemy so proud, so he couldn't help but say to him, "She has been very good at business since she was a child. This is also part of business skills, and it has nothing to do with you."
The old master's smile froze, and he wanted to yell: If it's not my credit, then is it your credit?
The old guy was willing to die with him just to fight him. Was that really necessary?!
Forget it, there are more important things to do, so I won’t bother with him for now.
The old Grand Tutor said, "Your Majesty, Chu Huan has made great contributions to the country and the people. Should she be rewarded?"
He wanted to ask for an official position for Chu Huan.
The emperor and all the officials heard it.
The emperor showed a little bit of excitement on his face, and some people below immediately became restless.
"Your Majesty, it's still unknown whether quinine cream has miraculous effects, so we shouldn't be so hasty."
"Your Majesty, if you rewarded her with quinine, how can you keep the news from the Western Rong and Northern Di?"
"Your Majesty, please don't lose sight of the big picture!"
There are many opposing voices, and each one is very reasonable.
The old Taifu glanced at the old Taishi and cursed inwardly: Old fox! You want me to cooperate again!
"Your Majesty, Chu Huan is still young. Excessive rewards would be detrimental to her. Why not leave her alone until the effects of the quinine cream are verified, or until she is a little older?"
This statement immediately drew a response:
"Exactly."
"What the Grand Master said is absolutely right!"
"Wait a little longer."
Emperor: "That's it."
At this time, the system was busy listening to the story from General Xuanwei and did not eat the melon in time. It was not until a few days later that it remembered the follow-up of Quinine Cream and ran to take a look, and it was immediately furious.
How could they do this? They have no gratitude at all!
[How many good things have you given to Dasheng? They've been holding back on your contributions!]
"Isn't it just an official position? Nie Shui got promoted, and they stopped suppressing the female military officer. Why would they suppress you?"
"The old master is still your teacher. What teacher wouldn't be loyal to his students? You've accepted him as your teacher for nothing!"
Chu Huan wasn't as angry as the system. Seeing that the system's CPU was about to smoke, she quickly comforted it: "Don't be angry. Even if they give me an official position now, what can I do?"
[He hasn't learned the Four Books and Five Classics well, and he's only just beginning to learn martial arts and military tactics. He's neither good at literature nor martial arts. What's the difference between him and a playboy who lives in officialdom by relying on the protection of his ancestors?]
The system was unconvinced: [How can they be the same? My sister Huan is so amazing, she deserves the best.]
Chu Huan burst out laughing: [So, aren't the two teachers helping me? ]
system:【? ? ? 】
System: [Where? How did they help you? They didn't even speak up for you!]
Chu Huan explained to the system: [The two teachers are performing a duet.]
The issue of the female military officer had just opened a new door, and the female civil servant would definitely not speak up anytime soon. The old Grand Tutor was just using this opportunity to test the waters. The officials immediately panicked when they saw his and the Emperor's attitudes, but the old Grand Tutor gave them a way out and they backed off.
If this crack can't be opened today, will it be opened tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the year after next? Even the hardest things will eventually wear away. My achievements will only accumulate, and their confidence will dwindle.
"What the old Grand Tutor said is true. I'm only fourteen, and I still have a lot of time to go. There's no need to rush. Once I've completed my studies, do you think they'll have any excuse to stop me from becoming an official, facing the Emperor, the old Grand Tutor, the old Grand Tutor, and General Xuanwei, who all voted in my favor?"
The system let out a long sigh: [Huh—I always said the old Grand Tutor and the old Grand Master were sworn enemies, but I didn't expect them to be playing double game all along!]
Chu Huan smiled and said, "It's precisely because everyone knows they've been sworn enemies for years and never get along, that when they agree one day, few people object."
The system said softly: [That seems to be the case.]
Chu Hua: [You see, the old Grand Tutor has always been partial to me, but the old Grand Master is different. He taught me because he wanted to compete with the old Grand Tutor for students. He taught me well because he was fighting with the old Grand Tutor. He stopped me from taking the reward because he didn't want the old Grand Tutor to get what he wanted.]
[The same thing happened again and again. Everyone thought that the old master was not biased towards me, but was just trying to anger the old master and stand on the same side with them. But what is the truth?]
The system naturally continued: [The truth is, the old tutor was very attentive when teaching you. He was just playing the villain, temporarily suppressing you in order to temper your character and pave the way for future victory.]
[Sure enough, the hearts of civil officials are all dirty! ]
Chu Huan laughed. Did the system include her in this?
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