025 Rising Rapidly to the Clouds

Shunzhi was on the verge of erupting when Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang kicked him discreetly.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Soni took the lead, continuing his cajoling: "Director Wu, if you can solve the smallpox plague, the hundreds of thousands of Eight Banners soldiers of our Great Qing will remember you and be grateful to you. Your Wu family will be able to reap the rewards of this benevolence for ten generations to come!"

"Indeed, you shall share in the longevity of the State."

"Director Wu, please treat them with peace of mind. If they die under your care, we will not blame you."

"Be bold and write your prescriptions. If you dare to prescribe it, we dare to drink it. If we die from it, we’ll crawl into our coffins ourselves."

The nobles of the Eight Banners spoke with increasing crudeness and bluntness. Yet, Wu Yong, standing at the center of this vortex, hardened his heart. As long as he survived today, he was determined to cling to his reputation as a "quack doctor," letting the winds blow from every direction.

Heh, the label simply wouldn't blow away. A quack doctor could save his own life; a renowned physician was prone to an untimely death. If Jiang Qingyun were present, he would surely give a "glowing review," claiming that this man, Wu Yong, could even become an academician if he traveled three hundred years into the future.

...

Hong Chengchou, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Empress Dowager, I have a tentative suggestion."

"Speak!"

"May I ask Director Wu, is it more important to treat or to prevent?"

Wu Yong deliberated for a moment before replying, "Prevention, of course."

"Good! I suggest we start with prevention. By preventing the disease before it strikes, we can ensure that all healthy people in the city remain free of or less susceptible to smallpox, while simultaneously transferring all current patients out of the city."

The crowd buzzed with discussion; Hong Chengchou’s words made sense. All eyes turned back to Wu Yong.

Wu Yong continued: "After repeated deliberation by all my colleagues at the Imperial Academy of Medicine, we have drafted a contingency plan, but..."

"But what?"

"But there is no guarantee of success."

"What does that mean?"

"Variolation. The success rate is only fifty percent. In other words, half the people who were originally free of smallpox will contract it after the procedure."

"You quack, you son of a..." A Banners prince stood up and cursed, followed by a barrage of foul language.

Wu Yong felt utterly at ease amidst the insults, shouting internally: *Quack, yes, I am a quack! What can you do about it?*

In the past, when his father treated the Prince Regent, he had truly shown his full capability, but that was only because they had just entered the Central Plains and he feared their penchant for killing would lead them to execute his entire family. He had needed to show off his skills to awe the Banners.

But now the situation was different. If he displayed his medical prowess too freely, it would only raise their expectations.

The first rule of the Wu family ancestors: "Let the imperial family deeply realize that human life is fragile; failure to cure is normal, and a successful cure is a rarity."

The second rule of the Wu family ancestors: "Hide the skill of a master within, and act the part of a quack without."

...

Shunzhi finally exploded.

"Wu Yong, do you think I dare not execute you?"

Wu Yong collapsed to his knees, and the dozen or so medical officers and assistants behind him followed suit, all dropping to the floor in a flurry. They wailed in unison: "Your Majesty, we are guilty! We have tried our best, but our skills are lacking!"

Xiaozhuang glanced at her enraged son. "Get up. The Imperial House does not execute its physicians."

Wu Yong understood the situation perfectly. He wiped away two tears, let out a mournful howl, and pretended to rise in a state of terrified gratitude.

Fan Wencheng then spoke: "Tell us about your preventive prescriptions."

"Yes. The first is the 'clothing method,' where we have healthy people wear the clothes of an infected child for two days; fever typically begins after ten days, with a success rate of about forty percent. The second is the 'dry seedling method,' where we grind smallpox scabs into powder and blow it into the nostrils of a healthy person with a goose quill. Once they develop a slight fever and redness, they will recover on their own, signifying that the inoculation has succeeded. The success rate is about fifty percent."

The Hall of Supreme Harmony erupted into chaos again. The Banners nobles were outraged.

"Nonsense! They were fine before, and with this, half of them will die!"

"You dog of a physician, you're not even as good as a shaman."

"You're not even worth the five coppers it costs to hire a traveling street doctor."

Wu Yong remained unmoved, thinking: *Look at them. People are truly shameless—bowing before, and then acting arrogant after. Heh.*

*My ancestors were wise to have seen through these nobles long ago. If you're so capable, why not disband the Imperial Academy of Medicine and treat yourselves when you get sick, and write your own prescriptions?*

...

Hong Chengchou spoke again: "I have a plan. Why not test Director Wu's proposal in the Southern City first?"

The hall fell silent, the suggestion landing like a bombshell. Wu Yong looked straight at Hong Chengchou, feeling unexpectedly nervous.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, let us resolve the situation in the Southern City first before considering the Inner City. At the very least, after the inoculation, it will block the channel by which the commoners in the Southern City transmit smallpox to the Banners in the Inner City when they come in to work."

"Brilliant, truly brilliant," someone exclaimed immediately.

Xiaozhuang also wore an expression of surprise and relief. "Director Wu, is this feasible?"

"Theoretically, yes. But the Imperial Academy of Medicine lacks the manpower and the organizational capacity. This involves hundreds of thousands of people; it is no less complex than a military campaign. Perhaps we could find someone else to shoulder the burden, while the Academy provides theoretical guidance."

Hong Chengchou rejoiced inwardly—this was exactly what he had been waiting for.

"I nominate Jiang Qingyun, Commander of the Southern City Constabulary! He is young, promising, daring, and a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner. His loyalty is commendable, and his capabilities are more than sufficient."

Wu Yong immediately chimed in, "I am willing to cooperate."

...

Xiaozhuang looked at Shunzhi. "Fulin, what do you think?"

"I defer to the Empress Dowager's wishes."

"Summon Jiang Qingyun of the Southern City Constabulary to the palace at once."

Two Blue-Feathered guards spurred their horses out of the Forbidden City, galloping at full speed under the scorching sun along the empty streets. From the Meridian Gate to the Zhengyang Gate, then along the main street outside the gate and Zhushikou Street, they finally charged into the Southern City Constabulary office.

"Jiang Qingyun, receive the imperial decree! Enter the palace immediately!"

Jiang Qingyun, who had been listening to a maid singing erotic songs in the backyard, was startled. He didn't even have his official robes on straight as he rushed out.

"Gentlemen, what is the matter in the palace?"

"No nonsense! Get on your horse, hurry!"

...

Watching the two men’s frantic expressions, Jiang Qingyun quickly mounted his horse and set off, straightening his clothes as he rode. The horse's hooves thundered, and the sun beat down upon him. The palace gates opened one by one. Once he entered the Meridian Gate, he reined in his mount and followed the two guards at a trot.

Before the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Jiang Qingyun looked up at the double-eave hip-and-gable roof and took a deep breath. He knew his fate had taken a sharp turn at this very moment. The one-way street of officialdom allowed for no retreat and no U-turns; either he would strike down his enemies, or he would crash along the way.

"Proclaim! Commander of the Southern City Constabulary, Jiang Qingyun, to enter the hall!" a high-pitched voice of a young eunuch announced.

Inside, the hall was slightly cooler, with dozens of rectangular ice blocks silently melting.

...

After the three-kneel and nine-kowtow ceremony, the main event finally began. Hong Chengchou opened the discussion: "Jiang Qingyun, the imperial court intends to implement a mass inoculation plan in the Southern City. Are you willing to take on this heavy responsibility?"

In an instant, it was as if lightning had split the night sky. Jiang Qingyun felt a secret joy. *Oh, Master Hong, you have secretly given me quite a surprise.*

"I am willing. But my official rank is low, my prestige is limited, and I am ignorant of medicine. Firstly, I require a high-ranking official to oversee the operation while I handle the logistics. Secondly, I need the Imperial Academy of Medicine to provide assistance. Thirdly, I need soldiers and funding."

The hall was deathly quiet. Everyone was astonished by Jiang Qingyun’s bold commitment. *Is this kid brave or just stupid? You dare to take on any task?*

Shunzhi spoke: "Your loyalty is commendable, but do you understand the difficulty of this task?"

"I do, Your Majesty. But for the sake of the Great Qing and for the common people, I have no choice but to push forward."

"Good!"

Shunzhi’s face flushed with excitement; a fourteen-year-old boy was always this passionate.

"Look up and let me see you."

Jiang Qingyun adjusted his mindset to "Loyal Official Mode" and looked up. *You look at me, and I look at you.* The Empress Dowager was quite striking, and the Emperor looked slightly naive.

Xiaozhuang said, "Jiang Qingyun, you have three days. Report whatever you need. Soni, Commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner, will oversee the Southern City, but you must handle the specifics yourself."

"If you handle this well, your future will be boundless!"