Chapter 716: Medical Governance

Liu Chengyou returned to Chongzheng Hall with a hint of a smile on his lips, his steps light, the severity on his face relaxed somewhat, putting the palace eunuchs on duty at ease.

"Your Majesty!" Hearing the Emperor return to the hall, Zhao Pu came to pay his respects.

"Rise!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand in a gesture of dismissal, his expression warm.

Sensing this, Zhao Pu smiled and asked, "Has Your Majesty encountered some happy occasion?"

Liu Chengyou answered directly: "The Empress Dowager's illness has fully recovered, and my Worthy Consort has been found to be with child — can these be called happy tidings?"

"Great joy! This is double happiness arriving together!" Zhao Pu beamed with delight and said to Liu Chengyou: "Your servant congratulates Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou was in such a good mood that he nearly blurted out "Same joy to you."

He had just returned from visiting Ciming Hall; the Empress Dowager, Lady Li, had recovered from her illness, her complexion good, even her appetite greatly increased, and he had personally attended to Lady Li while she ate. On his way back to the hall, he had also made a detour to Qiuhua Hall, where news had come from the Worthy Consort, Lady Zhe — she was suffering from morning sickness again.

From the fourth month to the fifth, for Liu Chengyou, it could be said that happy events came frequently — family matters and state affairs, all going smoothly. Jinghu was easily taken, the Empress Dowager's condition improved, in the fourth month Pure Consort Zhou, who had been in the palace for many years, was found to be pregnant, and now entering the fifth month, the Worthy Consort was with child as well.

Not counting the two newly pregnant, Liu Chengyou already had six sons and three daughters at his knees — one could say his progeny was abundant. Indeed, he felt he had almost become a sowing machine, one with an extremely high hit rate.

In fact, counting those who had died young and miscarriages, there were even more. In recent years, within the palace, Liu Chengyou had not only favored that one Empress and four Consorts — he had also sampled the female attendants beside the Empress, as well as the beauties presented by Jingnan, the Southern Tang, and Wuyue. As for the results, only the Lady Sun presented by Li Jing had successfully borne Liu Chengyou a Princess, thereby being promoted to Lady of Beauty.

"The people from the Imperial Medical Bureau have already headed south, haven't they?" Looking at Zhao Pu, Liu Chengyou asked about official matters.

Zhao Pu composed his expression and replied: "2 physicians, 12 medical officers, and another 20 medical apprentices, 34 in total, have already set out. Your servant saw them off together with the Bureau Director, conveying Your Majesty's intentions!"

Liu Chengyou nodded in satisfaction: "Physicians carry the mission of healing the world. Hunan is plagued by much illness — these people heading south are to relieve and treat our soldiers and civilians, diagnose ailments and discern conditions, and spread the court's virtuous influence! Issue orders to local authorities to properly accommodate these physicians and cooperate with their work."

Considering the poor medical conditions in Hunan and the prevalence of illness among the troops, Liu Chengyou had specifically ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to select a group of people to head south. Setting aside those high-sounding words, the purpose was to integrate Hunan's medical resources, research pathology, treat diseases — especially conducting in-depth exploration into the miasma and epidemics of Lingnan, in preparation for the army's future march south.

"How many people are in the Imperial Medical Bureau now?" Liu Chengyou asked Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu said: "To answer Your Majesty, between the two departments, various specialties, and the teachers and students above and below, there are nearly 500 people. The flourishing of medicine has already surpassed previous dynasties! Five days ago, a monthly examination was just held!"

"500 people — can they possibly suffice for the whole realm?" Liu Chengyou sighed: "The scale still needs to be expanded!"

The Han inherited Tang institutions. Although the current court's many systems had developed their own characteristics, the influence of the Great Tang permeated everywhere — many statutes and institutions were carried over, some modified back and forth, and some simply restored to Tang practice.

The medical system, for instance, was basically copied from the Tang system, only because Liu Chengyou valued it, it had been restored very quickly and on an unprecedented scale. Kaifeng could be said to concentrate the finest medical resources in the realm, but those who could enjoy them were only the imperial house, nobles, officials, and the military — now, basically every army had a military medical corps.

Over these years, Liu Chengyou had year by year increased investment in medical affairs, with famous physicians from the localities being conscripted into the capital every year. At the same time, the Imperial Medical Bureau, after examinations, would also release a batch of people to serve as medical officials in the localities. For this purpose, a dedicated promotion system for medical officials had been established, raising their rank and grade.

Liu Chengyou was determined to expand the scale of the Imperial Medical Bureau to benefit the people, but up to now, it still showed some strain. First, the investment was large; second, the training of physicians required time; third, those willing to enter this profession were after all a minority.

Seeing Liu Chengyou lost in thought again, Zhao Pu did not disturb him, and only when he came back to himself did he speak: "Your Majesty has a heart to save the world — this is the blessing of all the realm's people. But everything must be done according to one's means. The Imperial Medical Bureau's current flourishing is already rare. The realm is not yet pacified, and the court's various expenditures are great..."

"You needn't say more!" Liu Chengyou muttered: "I understand your meaning!"

Zhao Pu's meaning was obvious — everything required financial support. Although the Great Han court's finances improved year after year, the scope was spread wide and money did not go far, and Liu Chengyou was a capable ruler with many ideas — whenever a notion arose, it required investment of funds, materials, and manpower. And investment in medicine had always been enormous; from medical governance to medical learning, every aspect involved cost money.

After considering for a while, Liu Chengyou wore an expression of sublime righteousness and sighed: "Physicians treat illness; sovereigns govern the state — this is the same principle. When the realm is at peace, I will not only ensure the people have homes to live in and fields to till, but also that they have physicians when ill!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu could not help but be deeply moved and replied solemnly: "Your Majesty's benevolence encompasses heaven and earth!"

Waving his hand, Liu Chengyou's lips curled into a helpless smile. Though he said such things, he himself had little confidence — how difficult it was to achieve such a goal. What he could truly do was only try his best to improve the Great Han's medical conditions.

"Tell me, how would it be to add a medical subject to the imperial examinations in the future?" Looking at Zhao Pu, Liu Chengyou asked.

His brow slightly furrowed, and noticing the Emperor's eager expression, after some quick calculation, Zhao Pu still said: "It could be tried, but I fear it will draw criticism from all sides!"

"What is there to criticize?" Liu Chengyou said immediately: "Among all these court officials, who has never fallen ill and needed to seek a physician and take medicine?"

"Here's what you'll do — later, send a document to the Hall of State Affairs, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Medical Bureau, to deliberate on this matter!" Liu Chengyou directly instructed.

"Yes!"

Even if the medical subject were added, it was unlikely to cause a rush of applicants, but one thing was still guaranteed — that would be the elevation of physicians' status.

After finishing this matter, noticing the memorial in Zhao Pu's hand, Liu Chengyou asked: "What matter do you wish to report?"

At the question, Zhao Pu presented the memorial and recounted the two urgent matters from Huaidong.

"Zheng Renhui's illness has become this severe?" Liu Chengyou's brow slightly furrowed.

Although Zheng Renhui bore a strong "Guo clan" imprint, Liu Chengyou never denied his talent — whether as the former Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs or the current Judicial Commissioner of Huaidong, he could be called a worthy minister and good official. At the beginning of the year during the great Huaidong case, there had been word that Zheng Renhui was unwell, and now several months had passed, and it had worsened.

"Since Huaidong has reported to the court, it shows that Lord Zheng's condition is indeed serious — perhaps even more serious than imagined!" Zhao Pu said.

"To have a minister serve while frail and ill — this is indeed my failure to show consideration for those below!" Liu Chengyou said: "I should have let him return home to recuperate earlier!"

"Your Majesty need not blame yourself too much!" Zhao Pu consoled.

"The old ministers are gradually withering away!" Liu Chengyou sighed, this lament cutting deeper than before.

Since the beginning of this year, the court's old civil and military ministers had almost as if by agreement fallen ill or grown gravely sick — Zhe Congruan, Zhao Hui, Liu Ci, He Ning, and now this Zheng Renhui, with no exceptions — and even the Governor of Kaifeng, Jing Fan, seemed to be unwell as well.

Thinking of these things, Liu Chengyou's mood no longer seemed so wonderful.

But no matter how heavy his mood, the problems before him still had to be resolved. Zhao Pu asked: "How does Your Majesty wish to reply to Chancellor Li's proposal?"

"By decree, Zheng Renhui shall retire in his current post, and be granted the title of Commandery Duke of Taigu!" Liu Chengyou said: "As for the post of Judicial Commissioner of Huaidong, following Li Tao's request, let Xu Taifu be transferred there! Speaking of which, Xu Taifu has served the royal house loyally for quite some years now!"

"Yes!"

While acknowledging the order, Zhao Pu could not help feeling something was amiss — granting Zheng Renhui a dukedom seemed somewhat inappropriate; the title was too heavy. But on second thought, Zhao Pu understood somewhat — Zheng Renhui's son was already dead, a case of extinguished lineage. Thus, when he died, the court could directly reclaim the title.

"As for the Guishan Canal matter, I trust Wang Pu. Since he proactively petitioned for it, he must have considered it thoroughly — approve it by edict!"