Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 38: The Medical System, Unrivaled in History [Seeking Further Reading]

What Zhu Biao didn't know was that Liu Kuan had no idea about taking a concubine - at least not at the moment.

Therefore, Liu Kuan felt relieved after hearing Zhu Biao's assurance that there were no strange rules targeting the Ming Dynasty's son-in-laws.

Just at this moment, several palace maids came in with dishes, and Liu Kuan and Zhu Biao paused their previous topic.

However, after the palace maid left, Zhu Biao said, "Brother-in-law, I won't explain much about the misunderstanding of the Ming Dynasty's imperial consort in later generations, but I promise you that our family will never treat you harshly!"

Liu Kuan was about to end the topic, so he took the opportunity to nod and said, "With His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's words, I have nothing to worry about. Well, now that the food is on the table, shall we eat?"

After working for an afternoon, Liu Kuan was hungry.

Zhu Biao was also hungry, so he smiled and said, "Okay, let's eat first."

Perhaps the previous topic made both of them a little embarrassed. During the meal, Zhu Biao did not talk about anything with Liu Kuan, but just introduced the dishes.

When both of them had almost finished eating, an older palace maid brought two boys.

The older one was about seven or eight years old, and the younger one was only three or four years old.

They all look very delicate and beautiful.

Zhu Biao pulled both children to his side and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, the older one is Xiongying, and the younger one is Yunwen. This is your third uncle, why don't you show your respects?"

The latter sentence was said to the two children.

Zhu Xiongying was the first to react. He glanced at Liu Kuan curiously, then bowed like a little adult, "Xiongying greets Third Uncle!"

Zhu Yunwen was still very young and his reaction was a little slow. When he saw Zhu Xiongying bowing, he followed suit and said in a soft voice, "Yunwen greets Sanguhu."

Liu Kuan couldn't help but smile when he saw how cute the two children were.

At the same time, it is difficult to connect the somewhat silly Zhu Yunwen with the later Emperor Jianwen.

He said to Zhu Biao, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince summoned me in a hurry today, and I didn't bring any gifts. I can only make up for it next time."

Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "Don't mention the meeting gift - the appearance of my brother-in-law is the greatest favor to these two children."

Zhu Yunwen didn't understand what Zhu Biao said at all.

Zhu Xiongying also felt strange and wondered why his third uncle had given him such a favor.

Liu Kuan roughly understood what Zhu Biao meant.

After Zhu Biao learned from him about the future of his lineage, it was very likely that he would help Zhu Xiongying survive the illness next year.

If Zhu Xiongying had not died, Zhu Yunwen would not have become the crown prince, and naturally the Jingnan Campaign would not have happened, and he would not have burned himself to death in the palace.

Perhaps in history Zhu Yunwen did not commit suicide by burning himself, but escaped, but the days of hiding one's identity and wandering around were definitely not easy.

Not to mention, Liu Kuan's reminder might have helped Empress Ma and Zhu Biao himself overcome their original illness.

From this point of view, Liu Kuan is indeed a great benefactor to Zhu Biao's family.

After introducing Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yunwen to Liu Kuan, Zhu Biao asked the palace maid to take them away.

Then, he took Liu Kuan to his "study" in the front hall. The prince's study was naturally not comparable to the study in Liu Kuan's mansion. It was not a room, but a side hall, covering an area of ​​one or two hundred square meters.

There were several bookshelves in the study.

Liu Kuan took a quick look and found that most of the books were related to Confucianism, which showed that Zhu Biao was quite fond of Confucianism.

However, Zhu Biao did not have the impression of being a pedantic Confucian scholar. This was probably because Zhu Yuanzhang taught him by example.

Zhu Biao gestured for Liu Kuan to take a seat and had a maid serve him a pot of fine tea before saying, "I've invited my brother-in-law to the banquet today. Besides wanting you to meet Xiong Ying and Yun Wen, I also have something to ask you."

Liu Kuan immediately bowed and said, "You are not worthy of asking for advice. If Your Highness the Crown Prince has anything to ask, please just ask directly."

Zhu Biao laughed and said, "It's only been a few days, and you already sound like someone from the Ming Dynasty."

Liu Kuan smiled without explaining - when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Besides, people always have to adapt to the environment.

As for transforming the social environment of the Ming Dynasty, he does not have that ability yet.

In other words, it can only happen subtly at the moment.

Zhu Biao took a sip of tea and said, "My father has entrusted me with the task of establishing a medical school and holding a medical exchange conference. He also issued an edict three days ago to summon renowned doctors from around the world to the capital."

"This matter is a little urgent. I don't know where to start, so I would like to hear your advice, brother-in-law."

It was a lie when Zhu Biao said he didn't know where to start, but it was absolutely true that he wanted to hear Liu Kuan's advice.

After all, these two things were proposed by Liu Kuan, so he must have some ideas.

Liu Kuan thought for a moment and said, "In our later generations, medical schools are places that combine the three functions of medical research, medical teaching, and curing diseases and saving lives."

"Of course, the first two are the main focus, with the latter as a supplement. This is because treating illnesses and saving lives is mainly done in hospitals."

"Hospital?" Zhu Biao heard the new term and couldn't help but ask, "Is it similar to a medical clinic?"

Liu Kuan nodded. "It's indeed similar to a medical clinic, but on a much larger scale. For example, in later times, even a people's hospital in a small county town would have thousands of employees."

"It is generally divided into dozens of departments, with hundreds of physicians, hundreds of nurses, and at least a thousand beds." The data Liu Kuan said was based on his impression and was not completely accurate, but should be roughly the same.

After hearing this, Zhu Biao was shocked.

He could only guess the general meaning of words like department, nurse, and bed, but he definitely understood what the doctor meant.

Hundreds of doctors!

This is just an ordinary hospital in a county town?!

"Medicine in later generations has..." Zhu Biao was at a loss for words to describe it. Then, a word Liu Kuan had used on the city gate tower that day suddenly popped up in his mind, and he continued, "It has developed so far?!"

Liu Kuan nodded and said, "If we talk about development, one county hospital cannot represent everything - in fact, there are usually two or three hospitals of similar size in the county."

"In the provincial capital, there are often multiple hospitals of similar or even larger scale. In the capital, there are more than a dozen hospitals even larger than this one!"

"In addition, later generations also established township hospitals in towns below the county level. Even in the vast rural areas, many medical centers were set up, each with at least one doctor."

"In addition, these government hospitals provide free medical treatment and medicine to extremely poor patients."

"For ordinary people, some treatments and drugs will also be given preferential treatment according to national policies."

Having said this, Liu Kuan stopped.

Because he suddenly remembered that he often heard people in later generations talking about the imperfections of the medical system and the difficulties in seeing a doctor, he felt embarrassed to praise it anymore.

However, Zhu Biao was shocked again after hearing what Liu Kuan said.

After coming to his senses, Zhu Biao sighed and said, "After my father established the Ming Dynasty, he felt that it was difficult for the people to seek medical treatment. So he inherited the old system of the Song and Yuan Dynasties and established Huimin Pharmacies in the capital and various prefectures, states, and counties in the third year of Hongwu."

"The pharmacy not only has an ambassador and a deputy ambassador, but also a medical officer who diagnoses poor people at a relatively low fee. In the event of an epidemic, they will also distribute medicine for free."

"In the seventh year of the Hongwu reign, orphanages were established in all prefectures, states, and counties to take in the poor, sick, and helpless, including widows, widowers, orphans, as well as craftsmen, soldiers, and other elderly, weak, and disabled people."

"There are also medical officers in the orphanage, and they provide free medical treatment to the adopted children."

"While both the Huimin Pharmacy and the Orphanage have their imperfections, I have thoroughly read historical texts and have always believed that the Ming Dynasty's system for curing illnesses and saving lives is unparalleled."

"I didn't expect it to be nothing compared to the future generations!"

At the end of his speech, Zhu Biao shook his head, a self-deprecating look on his face.

Liu Kuan was worried that Zhu Biao would be discouraged by this, so he said, "The ability of later generations to establish such an excellent medical system is partly due to advanced technology and the abundance of materials compared to today. Why should Your Highness compare them?"

"As Your Highness just said, the Ming Dynasty's current medical system is already stronger than that of previous dynasties."

"Now that Your Highness knows about future events, he will surely be able to establish a better medical system for the Ming Dynasty, making it more convenient and easier for the people to seek medical treatment and take medicine."

Liu Kuan's persuasion made Zhu Biao feel much better.

He nodded and said, "My brother-in-law is right. I was a little self-deprecating just now."

After this exchange and sigh, Liu Kuan and Zhu Biao felt that their relationship had become much closer.

Then, based on some insights of later generations, Liu Kuan made some reference suggestions for the medical school and medical exchange conference supervised by Zhu Biao.

When men talk about their careers, they are always very excited and even forget the time.

After an unknown amount of time, a middle-aged eunuch came in and interrupted their conversation.

"Your Highness, it's almost midnight. Your Highness, please rest early."

"It's almost midnight?" Zhu Biao was surprised.

The Hai hour is between 9 and 11 pm, right? Does it mean it's almost o'clock?

Liu Kuan was also surprised.

After looking at Zhu Biao, Liu Kuan was worried that Zhu Biao would keep him, so they slept with each other and talked all night long.

He then took the initiative to say, "Your Highness, we've pretty much finished discussing the medical school and the Medical Exchange Conference today. Why don't we just call it a day?"

Zhu Biao said with a hint of apology, "It is my fault that I have delayed my brother-in-law's rest. Well, if I have any further doubts about these two matters, I will consult him later."

After saying that, he stood up and personally escorted Liu Kuan out of Chunhe Palace.

Wang Guangyue, Li Xiaoer, the eunuchs and guards of the Eastern Palace who were passing by could not help but sigh at the importance the prince attached to Liu Kuanzhi when they saw this.

The Ming Dynasty had a curfew system at that time.

However, Liu Kuan was kept by the prince until so late, and was escorted by soldiers from the Yiluansi, so he would not be troubled by the patrolling royal troops.

Back to the mansion.

Seeing that Xia He and others were waiting, Liu Kuan realized that Xia He and the others were worried about him because he did not send anyone back to the mansion to notify them.

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(End of this chapter)