The entire Dafu Hall fell to the ground with Yang Wu's words, as if the originally silent air was suddenly frozen by the cold air from outside. Everyone was like a statue, froze there.
The cup in Li Zhi's hand fell to the carpet at his feet and slowly rolled elsewhere.
Smallpox, a notorious terminal disease in this era, has no effective cure. In addition, it causes goosebumps all over the body and numb scalp.
In this era, when smallpox appeared in a patient, it often heralded a natural or man-made disaster, or the patient had done something harmful to nature. Even if it spread on a large scale, public opinion would often blame the illness on the court or the emperor.
Smallpox, like a scourge, is definitely a disaster that cannot be ignored among the people, causing panic among the people and throwing the court into turmoil.
If it is not handled well, if it spreads to more people, and if people with different intentions lead it, civil riots are very likely to occur.
Often at this time, the court would fall into turmoil. As effective healing methods could not be implemented, the emperor would pray to God, or even issue an edict to stabilize the people. Otherwise, he might be forced to abdicate. .
Although it is difficult for the Zen throne or the turmoil in the court to happen in today's peaceful and prosperous period, it is inevitable that there will be local small riots or criticism of the royal family.
Li Hong's scalp also felt numb. Among all the people present, I am afraid that no one has a deeper understanding of smallpox than him.
In nine or ten lives, basically seven or eight lives, all of them have encountered large or small cases of people being terminally ill with smallpox.
Li Hong could even feel that Wu Mei's hand that had not had time to take it back after pinching his leg was trembling uncontrollably.
Lantian County is too close to Chang'an, so close that it feels like smallpox will rush into Chang'an tomorrow.
If someone in Chang'an City is infected, the next situation will be even more difficult to deal with.
"Invite them to come in and talk." Li Zhi's voice was trembling, and he couldn't help but glance at Wu Mei, who was trying to stay calm.
Everyone looked at Li Zhi who was about to discuss political affairs with the courtiers, and were about to get up and leave. But as soon as they started to move, before they had time to speak, they heard Wu Mei's voice: "It doesn't matter, you are all members of the royal family, now The common people are suffering from the terminal disease of smallpox. This is the responsibility of our royal family. It is best for you to listen first, in case anyone here can think of a good way or know someone from this world. "
Wu Mei's indifferent words made everyone present unable to say goodbye, let alone saying anything to protect themselves.
In this way, Wu Mei easily tied the royal family and the royal family together. Even if the worst result occurs, even if it is a civil riot or anger and resentment, at least no one from the royal family will jump out and do it from behind. Their whole family was stabbed.
Li Zhi nodded in approval. The undercurrents in the court and the overt and covert struggles between the royal family members, whether minor or serious, had never stopped.
Although his throne is now stable, it definitely does not mean that these people will not jump out and prepare to usurp the throne if there is a major incident that is not conducive to his rule.
The sound of hurried footsteps sounded outside, and Yang Wu appeared in the hall together with Pei Yan, Zhang Wenguan, Zong Chuke, and Jing Hui.
Originally, the case in the center had been removed a long time ago, and replaced by four people standing there and saluting everyone.
Li Zhi glanced at Wu Mei again, and took advantage of the waiting time to calm down, and asked in a deep voice: "What are the details of the matter now?"
This matter was the responsibility of Zong Chuke, the chief official of Jingzhao Prefecture, so it was up to him to explain it to His Majesty. After saluting, he said: "Your Majesty, there are about seventy people in Lantian County who are mildly or severely infected, dead or injured. There are already seventeen people, most of whom are old people and young children. Now I have mobilized a group of doctors from Chang'an City, but... "
"But it doesn't matter." Li Zhi's hands were trembling. In fact, he didn't need Zong Chuke to tell him that this was a terminal disease. I'm afraid not many doctors in Chang'an City were willing to go to Lantian County to treat smallpox.
"But now there is little effect. I have tried my best to control the spread of the epidemic in Lantian, but it still cannot stop the spread of rumors. The doctors in Chang'an City have now known about this matter, but not many people are willing to go, even if I spend the money Even with a lot of money, we still can't recruit too many people." Zong Chuke frowned. He was promoted from the post of magistrate of Lantian County.
"Where is the Lantian County Magistrate?" Li Zhi asked in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, his youngest son was also infected. As a precaution, I did not let him enter Chang'an." Zong Chuke replied.
"What countermeasures are there now?" Li Zhi's voice was trembling again. Faced with such a terminal disease that is so outrageous and resentful, what countermeasures can be taken
Although he was asking Zong Chuke, he knew very well that for such a terminal disease, what difference did it make whether there were countermeasures or not? Those who deserve to die will still die, and those who deserve to be infected will still be infected.
Li Hong sat next to Wu Mei, looking at his mother's pale face and gloomy expression, he reached out and squeezed Wu Mei's hand, giving her comfort.
Wu Mei turned back to look at Li Hong, held his hand with her backhand, and then gave him a bitter smile.
While they continued to report some details to Li Zhi, Li Hong quietly called the maid next to him, asked for the pen and paper in his hand, and listened to their questions while writing and drawing on the paper.
Wu Mei glanced at Li Hong's paintings from time to time, but because the pen in Li Hong's hand was not a brush, but the kind of simple and clear portraits he usually drew, he called it a pencil.
In addition, on a piece of snow-white rice paper, there were Li Hong's scrawled handwriting and chaotic arrangement, so Wu Mei took a second look and didn't know what Li Hong had written.
Several people came together to report, led by Zhongshu Sheng and Shangshu Pushe, plus the Jingzhao Mansion under direct jurisdiction, and the Ministry of Households, which had jurisdiction over the common people, which is enough to illustrate the seriousness of the epidemic.
Now, the four of them are presenting together, hoping to get His Majesty's permission to mobilize imperial doctors from the Imperial Medical Office affiliated to Taichang Temple to go to Lantian County.
Li Zhi was a little unsure and couldn't help but look at Wu Mei again to see if she had any good suggestions.
After all, everyone knew that even if all the doctors from the Imperial Medical Office were employed, they would definitely not be able to cure the incurable disease.
The emperor and empress looked at each other. The husband and wife still had a tacit understanding for many years, and they both saw deep helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Is there any government intervention in Lantian County now? How will the more than 70 patients be accommodated? Can the 17 people who died be accommodated now? How? What measures have you taken so far?" Li Hong's voice suddenly became calm and indifferent. rang in the hall.
Li Hong's voice not only broke the dull atmosphere of Dafu Hall, but also made Li Zhi and Wu Mei, who were originally nervous, secretly sigh in relief for no reason.
This was the first time that Wu Mei felt that Li Hong's voice didn't sound so unbeatable, but seemed to have a bit of nature.
"Back to Your Highness, the Lantian County Magistrate and the County Magistrate are now pacifying the people. The patients are now at home and there is no change. The deceased's family members have also set up mourning halls at home. Doctors from Jingzhao Mansion have now come to comfort and comfort the people. Provide some medicine for the people." Zong Chuke saw Li Hong speaking, glanced at Li Zhi, and replied hurriedly when he saw no objection.
From the time Li Hong spoke to Zong Chuke's reply, he was always holding the rice paper on the desk, which looked like ghostly drawings on the rice paper in Wu Mei's eyes.
"Immediately block all major exits in Lantian County. No one is allowed in or out. Remember, it's anyone! All patients immediately gather together to find a suitable place to set up tents in Lantian County, but it needs to be ventilated and take strict care. They and the deceased were also gathered together immediately, and the remaining people, as long as they were within the boundaries of Lantian, were divided into villages, villages, and counties to carry out their duties. Divide the districts, and all the people in Lantian, regardless of whether they have been in contact with the patient, must be managed separately according to age. The elderly, weak, women, children, and young people must be gathered together, and no one can be left out. Jinghui listens to the order and immediately informs the Ministry of Household Affairs to mobilize. All the household registration personnel who could be mobilized began to investigate the people who had been to Lantian County and had contact with patients in Lantian County within half a month. Together with the Ministry of Punishment, they all were found and brought back to Lantian County. Remember, there are also people who have been in contact with these people. They all need to be brought back, and no fish should slip through the net.”
After Li Hong finished speaking, he ignored the stunned expressions of everyone in the hall and looked at each other. Even Wu Mei and Li Zhi were surprised and speechless by the strong confidence and calmness exuded by Li Hong at this moment.
Li Hong kept his head down from beginning to end, continuing to look at his "ghost drawing talisman". The pencil in his hand was spinning on his fingertips, creating circles of ghost figures.
"Xia Zhi, immediately and urgently inform Ren LaoJunJian that as many high-concentration alcohols as possible in Taiyi City need to be sent to Lantian County in the shortest possible time. Also, if the notification fails, order the medical camp of Prince Sixth Command , immediately brought all the equipment, and immediately entered Lantian County with Zuo Wei to maintain law and order and appease the people. Remember, before I arrived at the scene, everyone must obey the orders of the Lantian County Magistrate, but remember, without me. With the warrant, no one can leave Lantian County, and anyone who violates it will be killed without mercy.”
At this time, Li Hong started to raise his head. Seeing everyone looking at him in surprise, he couldn't help but touch his cheek blankly and asked, "What's wrong? I didn't do anything bad."
After hearing Li Hong's words, Wu Mei's hand started to itch reflexively again. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to hit him.
But thinking about the arrangements just now, the division of labor is clear, reasonable, decisive, and organized. It is obvious that they did nothing wrong.
(End of chapter)