Chapter 306: Chapter 261 Hospital
「The next morning, carriages from the Imperial Palace were parked outside Golden City Square.」
Li Ang, as one of the main persons in charge of the Suzhou Clinic, received inquiries and explained the proceedings in the grand court hall. After Situ Zhi’s arrest and the emergence of Artesunate, the efficiency of suppressing the Suzhou Water Poison epidemic had greatly improved, finally achieving a relatively acceptable conclusion. All the Doctors who had gone to support Suzhou, including Li Ang, Qiu Jing, Qiu Feng, and others, received commendations and rewards. Li Ang’s title was even elevated by one rank to the Founding County Marquis.
After the early court session ended, an Imperial Eunuch stopped Li Ang and took him to Penglai Hall to see Emperor Yu. Emperor Yu stood by the railings. Standing beside him was not Empress Xue or the Crown Prince, but Li Shan—Prince Guang. Having labored in Suzhou, Prince Guang now appeared healthier at his father’s side, with a far sunnier demeanor and without the subtle, almost imperceptible despondency that used to linger in his eyes.
As the father and son were conversing, Emperor Yu nodded slightly upon seeing Li Ang approach and said calmly, "You have worked hard this time."
Li Ang bowed respectfully. "It is my duty, Your Majesty."
Emperor Yu waved his hand, signaling them to follow. He strolled past the exterior corridor of Penglai Hall, looking toward the rippling green water of Taiye Pond. He casually asked, "I hear the new drug, Artesunate, in addition to treating Blood-sucking Worm, can also cure malaria?"
"There have been several cases."
Li Ang felt a stirring in his heart. He replied truthfully.
When he introduced Artesunate in Suzhou, he had not publicly declared all its functions. However, there had indeed been patients with both Blood-sucking Worm and malaria whose symptoms disappeared after taking the medication. He had not explicitly included this part of the cases in his report to the court. Either Imperial Physician Qiu Jing had reported it, or spies from the garrison in Suzhou had passed the information directly back to Chang’an.
"The use of Qinghao to treat diseases has been known since ancient times, and I was inspired by ancient texts," Li Ang explained. "However, medical science is complex and influenced by many conditions. Merely a few cases cannot completely prove the effectiveness of Artesunate against malaria."
Li Ang continued, "Therefore, I did not include it in my report to the court to avoid misleading them and causing false joy. I prefer to experiment in the Chang’an Clinic first. If it truly proves effective, then I will report to the court."
"Hmm."
Emperor Yu nodded. He paused in his step, and his palm swept over the railing still wet with rain. He sighed, "Every three years, malaria persists, and the ghost of illness does not vanish. Day by day, it devours the marrow, increasing the chill as one embraces frost and snow. If Artesunate can truly cure malaria, I must thank you on behalf of the four hundred million common people of Yu Country."
Malaria was one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, killing more people than any other. Regardless of wealth or status, those who suffered from malaria were trapped in a painful cycle of alternating chills and fevers, gradually losing their dignity and marching towards death.
The previous strategy of mosquito eradication was merely preventive, aiming to reduce the probability of contracting malaria by killing mosquitoes. But once someone fell ill, there was nothing that could be done—until now.
"The title of Founding County Marquis that I have conferred upon you this time," Emperor Yu said calmly, "is still somewhat too low..."
"I am already very content. I dare not ask for too much," Li Ang responded respectfully.
Given his current age, in terms of noble titles, there was no higher one to confer. For any further promotion, he would have to wait until he was of age, combining his role as an Academic Palace Disciple with an official position to earn a higher title. This was the benefit of graduating from the Academic Palace. Whether it was official appointments or titles, those from the Academic Palace advanced much faster than others. His peers studying at the Imperial College, even if they were descendants of distinguished families, could not possibly attain the same rank as Li Ang at this age—unless their fathers died.
"Nevertheless, a reward must be given. For such a significant achievement as curing malaria, if the court shows no recognition, people will inevitably talk of unfairness in the distribution of rewards and punishments..."
Emperor Yu paused, as if contemplating what reward would be appropriate. Li Ang was still young, so conferring a higher title was not possible. Nor was it suitable to appoint him to an office directly—he could hardly abandon his studies at the Academic Palace to take up an official post.
Money?
According to the estimates of spies from the garrison, Li Ang’s income from patent royalties already exceeded the profits of an entire commercial firm. The imperial court usually bestowed one hundred or two hundred taels of Gold, which was genuinely quite meager.
"Your Majesty, I believe we should expand the scale of the Imperial Medical Bureau’s Physician College."
Li Ang noticed the look on the monarch’s face and hurriedly spoke first. He feared the Emperor might impulsively consider arranging a marriage—once married and part of the family, there would be no need to care about seniority or age for rewards.
"Hmm?"
Emperor Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. "Is the Imperial Medical Bureau short of hands?"
The Imperial Medical Bureau was one of Yu Country’s official medical institutions. It not only treated Palace Attendants, the army, and Imperial City craftsmen but also trained medical students in Medical Books such as "Jia Yi," "Vessel Classics," and "Zhang Zhongjing."
Li Ang replied, "Judging from the recent Water Poison Gu disaster, I’m afraid the current number is insufficient. Whether it is allicin, penicillin, or artesunate, specialized personnel are needed for their use. If artesunate truly can cure malaria, then State Mansions will certainly need a large number of professionally trained medical students. The current scale of the Imperial Medical Bureau’s college is still too small."
Imperial Medical Bureau students, depending on their specialty (acupuncture, massage, Herbal Medicine, etc.), studied for two to seven years. During this time, they underwent exams like those at the Imperial College and the Academic Palace. Outstanding medical students could become Medical Officers, while those who performed poorly were encouraged to leave.
At first glance, it all sounded quite professional, but upon closer inspection, the numbers were still too few. All the medical students at the Chang’an Imperial Medical Bureau, including the pharmacy students who cultivated herbs, numbered just over nine hundred. The medical students at the State Mansions across the regions only numbered a couple hundred each.
In comparison to Chang’an’s population of two million and Yu Country’s four hundred million common people, the number of official Doctors was completely inadequate to meet the needs of the populace. That is why someone like Yu Miaoshui had the means to subsist as a Fortune Doctor.
More importantly, not all graduates from the Imperial Medical Bureau would ultimately pursue their profession for life. Li Ang had heard in a conversation with Qiu Feng that many students, upon graduation, became Medical Officers. They would either join military campaigns or accompany State Mansion officials, gradually transitioning to clerks or other official positions, eventually embarking on a governmental career in local offices.
The qualifications from the Imperial Medical Bureau became a stepping-stone to officialdom. However, this could not entirely be blamed on the medical students. As Qiu Feng had mentioned more than once, ordinary Doctors earned too little, making it hard to support a family in Chang’an. Even as a Medical Officer, the pay was far less than that of clerks in important court institutions.
"This time when I went to Jiangnan, I discovered that some of the sick houses along the way could make a profit by selling allicin. They no longer need complete financial support from the court as before—which was like a bottomless pit that could never be filled. In the future, as the Physician College of the Imperial Medical Bureau expands, the trained medical students can take positions in sick houses within each State Mansion, have jobs, and earn an income. They won’t have to abandon their lifelong knowledge just to make ends meet."
Li Ang spoke earnestly. Under his supervision and guidance, the scope and operation mode of the Suzhou Clinic had approached that of hospitals in his memories of the Otherworld. Now, what was most lacking was a large number of qualified Doctors.
"Hmm..."
Emperor Yu pondered for a while before soon nodding. "Very well, I grant it."
If artesunate really could conquer malaria, and the number of infected individuals significantly decreased, then the entire fiscal income of Yu Country would benefit. In comparison, Li Ang was merely proposing to expand the scale of the Imperial Medical Bureau’s Physician College; the amount of wealth consumed in doing so was not unacceptable.