Chapter 60: Wu Youke Treats the Plague

"Mm, this Treatise on Pestilence is a work that will save the world. Fang Zhenghua, instruct the Imperial Academy of Medicine to have this book printed and distributed immediately, first sending it to the physicians at the charitable medicine bureaus across the realm to read and study. The costs are to be drawn from the inner treasury first!"

Fang Zhenghua said, "Your servant obeys the decree."

The Chongzhen Emperor gave an 'mm' of acknowledgment, gesturing for the eunuchs and palace maids to withdraw. Only when he was alone with Wu Youke in the side hall did he ask in a serious tone:

"Tell me, what is this illness, and why are the imperial physicians helpless against it?"

Li Zicheng was about to approach the capital, and Wu Youke understood the difficulty of the situation. His official career had never gone smoothly, and he had long since grown disheartened with the court, having already more or less retired from public life.

Who would have thought that today, by a twist of fate, he would be summoned by the Emperor, kindling new hope within him. So he spoke with a tentative attitude:

"To answer Your Majesty, I believe this illness is by no means typhoid fever. It seems more like a person has inhaled a noxious qi. Those mediocre physicians in the Imperial Academy of Medicine, using old prescriptions, naturally find it difficult to cure."

These words bordered on great disrespect. Wu Youke realized his mistake the moment he finished speaking and was about to bow his head and beg forgiveness, but to his surprise, the Chongzhen Emperor had not noticed at all, merely asking him:

"If I were to employ you to treat this yin-cold affliction exclusively, how would you go about it?"

Wu Youke swallowed and said:

"First, notices should be posted publicly, informing all soldiers and civilians in the city and even throughout the whole of Zhili: a great plague has struck the capital, and everyone must take care, opening windows daily for ventilation to prevent contagion."

"Second, those infected with the plague should be quarantined as quickly as possible and treated together, to prevent the rapid spread of the epidemic. Corpses should be burned in the outskirts of the city to avoid another great outbreak!"

As he spoke, Wu Youke kept stealing glances at the Emperor's expression with downcast eyes. He knew full well that his methods did not conform to ancestral medical practice, and that if the Emperor took offense, he might fly into a rage.

To his surprise, the Chongzhen Emperor did not mind at all, nodding directly and asking further:

"If I were to employ you to treat the plague, how long would it take for the medicine to take effect and the disease to be cured?"

"To answer Your Majesty, for initial results to appear, three to five days would suffice. But as for a complete cure through medicine, anywhere from one month to over a month is entirely possible."

Saying this, Wu Youke feared the Chongzhen Emperor might misunderstand, and added: "The great plague in the capital did not arise in a day or two. In the past, I have only cured individual patients and have never been solely responsible for such a vast area. A complete cure through medicine is naturally not so simple."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded with a grave expression, then suddenly asked:

"Master Wu possesses extraordinary talent. Would it not be a pity to leave it unused? I wish to have you serve in the Imperial Academy of Medicine. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Wu Youke shook his head like a rattle-drum, repeatedly saying it could not be done.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy of Medicine is not a place I can go. I..."

Many years ago, he had abandoned his post there. Aside from one imperial physician surnamed Weng who was worthy of respect, most of the others were mediocre physicians who only knew how to treat illness according to ancient prescriptions.

Wu Youke had even suspected back then that these people who occupied their posts without doing their duty could never have entered the Ming Imperial Academy of Medicine through proper channels. How exactly had they managed to get in?

"Alright, you need not say more." The Chongzhen Emperor smiled slightly, naturally understanding what he was about to say. Since Wu Youke did not wish to be an official, he could not be forced. Then he would give him something else instead.

With this in mind, the Chongzhen Emperor called out loudly toward the door:

"Wang Cheng'en, draft an edict!"

As a crowd of eunuchs and palace maids who had been waiting outside the door for some time hurried in, the Chongzhen Emperor said solemnly:

"By decree: Wu Youke's medical skill is superb and greatly pleases me. He is appointed Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, tasked exclusively with treating the plague. His wife is granted the title of First-Class Lady of the Mandate with a golden register. Should he achieve success, further rewards shall follow. It is hereby ordered: the Western Depot, the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office, and Zhang Shize, Commander of the Capital Camps, shall render full assistance, with all matters secondary to the treatment of the plague."

Having finished speaking, the Chongzhen Emperor turned to Fang Zhenghua and said:

"Have the Five Wards Troops and Horses Office post notices. The content should be written according to what Master Wu said. Carry it out with all speed!"

"Your servant obeys the decree!"

Before Wu Youke came, he had heard rumors that this Emperor was bloodthirsty, cruel and ruthless, and cold and ungrateful. So he had come with a tentative attitude, and merely being able to treat the plague was already beyond his expectations.

Having seen him with his own eyes today, the rumors naturally collapsed. But even so, Wu Youke had never imagined things would develop to this extent — Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, First-Class Lady of the Mandate for his wife. It was like living in a dream...

Although Wu Youke himself did not care much about these things, a scholar will die for one who appreciates him. Having found the wise ruler in his heart, he was still deeply moved.

"I, a commoner, kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's heavenly grace. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand thousand years!"

But then again, if the Emperor was so adept at recognizing and employing talent, how was it that the officials below were all such a sorry lot?

Walking out of the side hall, Wu Youke looked up at the clouds drifting across the sky and let out a heavy sigh.

Seeing this, Fang Zhenghua, who stood beside him, did not understand and asked with a chuckle:

"Young Guardian Wu, having received favor upon your entire household and the Son of Heaven's gracious regard, why do you sigh so heavily after leaving the hall?"

"Heh heh, Director Fang, addressing me thus truly overwhelms me, Wu Youke." Wu Youke said as he walked: "It is precisely because His Majesty's favor has placed this heavy burden upon me that I sigh."

Fang Zhenghua did not understand and simply nodded quietly beside him, waiting for what came next.

Wu Youke sighed: "Last time I treated Tongguan; this time I must treat the capital, and even the entire Northern Zhili. My heart is panicked — truly panicked—"

"If I fail to cure it, the capital will fall, the state will perish. Never mind His Majesty beheading my entire family — I myself would never forgive myself!"

Fang Zhenghua hastily pulled Wu Youke aside and said nervously:

"Wu Youke, do you not want your life? Where do you think this is? This is the imperial palace! If these words reach the Emperor's ears, it will mean the extermination of your nine clans!"

"Director, you worry too much. As I see it, the present Son of Heaven is extremely wise!" Wu Youke said disdainfully, shaking off Fang Zhenghua and continuing on his way as he spoke:

"Since His Majesty wants you, Director, to assist me in treating the plague, we should first go take a look at the Capital Camps."

Before long, the group arrived at the capital's camp drill grounds within the city.

Since the expansion of the new army, the Capital Camps had taken over the garrison duties of all the gates of the Forbidden City, and had selected the elite of the regiment battalions to fill their ranks, training and drilling at the imperial drill grounds. Their weapons and equipment were also given priority supply by the Right Weapons Office and the Ordnance Office.

The regiment battalions were filled with criminals and refugees from various regions, commanded by Governor-General Dong Qi. They were currently stationed at a large drill ground ten li outside the city for training and maneuvers, and had been continuously expanding until the outbreak of the plague in the capital forced them to stop.

After arriving at the imperial drill grounds, Wu Youke showed no fear toward the Duke of Ying, Zhang Shize. His demeanor was composed, and both his questions and his gaze were focused entirely on the epidemic.

Zhang Shize, by contrast, had heard that this fellow was nothing but a wandering folk physician who had somehow suddenly gained the Emperor's favor, and could not help but feel contempt rise in his heart.

But although Zhang Shize was puzzled, he remained proper and formal, answering each of Wu Youke's questions one by one, wanting to see just what this fellow was up to.

"The epidemic in the Capital Camps is not too severe — only a few patients each day. The Divine Martial Army is much the same."

"But the regiment battalions outside the city have reportedly already lost nearly a hundred men, with at least a dozen or more new patients daily. Young Guardian Wu should go take a look there first."

"A few patients a day is what you call not severe?!" Wu Youke shook his head and said as he walked:

"If the Capital Camps and the Divine Martial Army are both like this, one can imagine how far the plague has spread. No — the imperial palace is the top priority. If the plague breaks out here, what would happen to His Majesty?"

"The Capital Camps must be treated first! Take me down to the camp!"

Watching Wu Youke, who was rushing off in a flurry to personally inspect the camp, Zhang Shize and Fang Zhenghua exchanged a glance, both seeing deep astonishment in the other's eyes.