“Can strategists not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 307: Medical Support
Yuan Yao had considered that after arriving in Chang’an, he might face ignorance or exclusion, but honestly, compared to the unpredictability of life and death in Yu Province, it was still within an acceptable range.
He never expected that at this moment someone would pop up feeling that he was receiving some unjust treatment.
He took a good look at Liu Yang’s expression, noticing it was plastered with sincerity, as if his words didn’t carry any sarcastic intent.
Wait a minute! Does this guy genuinely think he was coerced by Qiao Yan to come to Chang’an and that he should harbor resentment towards Qiao Yan for not saving his father in time?
How could someone be this foolish?
If it weren’t for Qiao Yan, Youzhou would have long since determined a winner between Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan.
With Gongsun Zan’s temperament, it was a given that he would have taken Liu Yu’s eldest son Liu He hostage, resulting in his death amid the chaos. Liu Yu nearly met his end at Hamin Road, so of course, Liu Yang wouldn’t escape unscathed either.
He should have been grateful for the life-saving grace of that Grand Marshal.
But right now, it was completely the opposite.
If it weren’t for this dissatisfaction with Qiao Yan, he wouldn’t have so quickly misinterpreted Yuan Yao’s recent gloomy demeanor since Yuan Shu’s death as resentment toward Qiao Yan.
The flash of astonishment on Yuan Yao’s face went unnoticed by Liu Yang, who only saw the youth stripped of authority looking back at him, replying, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but my father once said I was unskilled. Through this recent upheaval in Runan, I realize I not only failed to help my father but could only watch him die and had to rely on the Grand Marshal to retrieve his body. Rather than hold a position in Chang’an, I’d prefer to find a place to study. I’ve heard the Imperial Academy will be reinstated in Chang’an?”
Liu Yang paused, realizing he might have been too eager in his attempt to recruit Yuan Yao.
Just because Yuan Yao was mourning the death of his father doesn’t mean buttering him up during such a sensitive time is the best move; it could raise suspicion that he had ulterior motives.
Hearing Yuan Yao change the subject, he quickly replied, “There is such a plan, but right now… it’s not quite appropriate.”
Earlier, Wang Yun had this idea.
He realized that while Hongwen Hall served as a window for the court to express its intent to recruit scholars, it hadn’t managed to unite this group entirely around Liu Yu, the Son of Heaven.
Indeed, according to the founding purpose of Hongwen Hall, these individuals would receive direct appointments from Liu Yu, but given Qiao Yan’s recent consolidation of power in Chang’an and Liu Yu’s passive attitude, everyone knew who to pick as their backing—Qiao Yan or Liu Yu.
When students from Leping Academy aligned with figures like Zheng Xuan and Xun Shuang took positions in Chang’an, the polarization became even clearer.
Wang Yun recognized that for the Son of Heaven to truly wield power and not merely act as Qiao Yan’s puppet, a more structured, self-sufficient talent cultivation channel was essential.
Unfortunately, now was not the time.
Even getting Yuan Shao to produce a rival Imperial Academy to Leping Academy was out of the question, especially with most power in Chang’an resting in Qiao Yan’s or her subordinates’ hands.
This year’s disaster made bringing up such suggestions even less suitable.
Liu Yang, while foolish, could still grasp that he might have shown his eagerness to recruit Yuan Yao a bit too openly.
But now that he spoke in that way, it felt like he was encouraging Yuan Yao to go study at Leping Academy?
This couldn’t fly!
Since arriving in Chang’an, it was with Yuan Yao that he’d glimpsed the hope of finding true allies.
Besides, what was Yuan Yao’s identity? He was from the Yuan Clan in Runan and the son of Yuan Shu.
If Yu Province could be reclaimed by the court, pushing Yuan Yao into the position of Governor of Yu Province shouldn’t be too hard.
This was a potential external force that could help him establish a foothold in Chang’an!
Liu Yang hurriedly added, “If Brother Yuan has a mind for study, it wouldn’t hurt to take your time. There are plans for a bulk printing of books in Chang’an, so why not witness that first? Also, students from Leping Academy who enrolled earlier will participate in graduation assessments around July and August, likely arriving in Chang’an by September. You can observe their performance too.”
Yuan Yao, unaware of Liu Yang’s view, silently rolled his eyes.
What was this guy even saying?
Both the book printing and graduation assessments were closely related to Qiao Yan. Using these two to dissuade him from making a decision was like suggesting that—
They hoped those two things would fail directly?
This was not how someone of Liu Yang’s status should speak.
Take his father for example; he still held some respect for Yuan Huan’s status, which had earned Yuan Yao’s respectful attitude in return.
If someone could help him expand his territory and slap Yuan Shao in the face, he might even treat them like a lord.
But look at Liu Yang’s performance, as if he wished Qiao Yan to step down quickly, taking control of all matters in Chang’an for himself.
Yuan Yao already judged in his heart: If he wanted a peaceful life after leaving Runan for Chang’an, he couldn’t get entangled in such matters, especially not with a fool like Liu Yang who couldn’t see the bigger picture.
But then he thought again, there were likely others in Chang’an who shared discontent with Qiao Yan, not just Liu Yang.
Only Liu Yang’s position was so particular, not needing to worry about court etiquette, perhaps totally oblivious to these hidden rules; that’s why he behaved this way now.
In the undercurrents of Chang’an, who knows if there might be others lying low?
As Yuan Shu’s son, it was particularly challenging for him to simply live a life of wealth and leisure. Since he had to engage with some people, it was better to befriend this less clever Liu Yang. Then—
When Qiao Yan returned to Chang’an, just like he had informed her about Yuan Xi’s visit, he could relay Liu Yang’s situation to her.
Then he would truly be safe.
The more Yuan Yao thought about it, the more feasible this plan seemed. He immediately responded to Liu Yang, “I appreciate Your Highness’s goodwill, and I will consider it before making a decision. However… courtesy must not be neglected, so please refrain from calling me Brother Yuan, as it might provoke rumors. My courtesy name is Zixu, so please just address me as that.”
Liu Yang often forgot he was in Chang’an, so when he heard Yuan Yao correct him on such a brotherly term, he felt a moment of awkwardness, replying, “Good point, I’ll be mindful of that.”
Fortunately, he felt relieved that Yuan Yao seemed not to hold any disdain for his misstep in address and even continued to inquire about the feng shui of Chang’an, seemingly wanting him to recommend a suitable burial site for Yuan Shu.
This was clearly a sign of acceptance of his goodwill.
Liu Yang responded, “The feng shui of Luoyang lies at the northern Mangshan. Many imperial tombs are located there, leading the people and officials of Chang’an to instinctively think tombs should be placed north of Chang’an. But that won’t do now.”
Hearing Liu Yang say “won’t do” so emphatically piqued Yuan Yao’s curiosity, asking, “What’s the reason?”
Liu Yang replied, “Because north of Luoyang is Chiyang. In Chiyang, there’s one thing that’s special—Chiyang Medical Academy.”
“Did you know? The curriculum at that academy includes a subject on human anatomy that depicts everything from each bone and muscle to all organs with exquisite detail.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Yuan Yao asked. “If they can know the human body that well, wouldn’t it make treating ailments more effective?”
“Zixu, you’re too naive! You don’t think usual methods can achieve such detailed, precise depictions. I once accompanied my father to inspect there, and they even included explanations for specific scenarios, like what kind of attacks could lead to death for certain parts.”
Liu Yang’s firm tone made it seem he had witnessed these situations firsthand, causing Yuan Yao to fall silent momentarily.
Especially with what he said next, Yuan Yao thought if this were reported to Qiao Yan, it might… might even earn him some merit.
Because he said, “To be honest, if you’re not worried about Yuan Yuzhou’s body ending up in Chiyang Medical Academy, it might still be possible to bury him there.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. I’ll think about it.”
Yuan Yao was not considering where to bury Yuan Shu.
He was rather thinking whether he should just skip waiting for Qiao Yan to return from Luoyang before filing a little report.
He should head straight to Cheng Yu to report!
But even if Qiao Yan found out that Liu Yang, that fool, had slandered her Chiyang Medical Academy and perpetuated these stereotypes about medical students, she’d probably be too lazy to bother with him.
Why bother correcting a spark that ignited a misunderstanding?
When the grains were delivered to the new office in Luoyang, they also brought along a batch of personnel sent from the Chiyang Medical Academy.
Accompanying them was a letter written by Hua Tuo.
Qiao Yan opened the letter and set aside the envelope adorned with the “Duhuo” pattern, pulling out the letter itself.
The decision to choose “Duhuo” as the emblem for the Chiyang Medical Academy was made through a vote among the students.
Since the students had only recently been introduced to new medical equipment, using herbs to represent medicine was more in line with their understanding.
Whether it’s the name “Duhuo,” its alias “Changshengcao,” or its trait of “swaying in the wind and moving without being blown,” it all reflected the qualities of a healer.
Interestingly, the simplified graphic of the Duhuo plant, under the artist’s brush, exuded a fierce vibe, looking less like a medical academy and more like a military organization.
This made Qiao Yan smile knowingly when she saw the emblem.
Her smile deepened as she read the contents of the letter.
Hua Tuo had delayed reporting to the Chiyang Medical Academy due to the matter of cowpox mentioned by Qiao Yan, causing Wu Pu to temporarily replace him alongside Zhang Zhongjing in charge of local affairs.
In mid-year of the second year of Jian’an, during the time of the Huashan collapse, his cowpox research had a clear direction yielding stable results, providing enough cases to persuade the rulers of Chang’an.
In fact, the method of inoculation wasn’t the main issue; the successful cases found through it were what truly mattered.
Qiao Yan jokingly remarked back then that the Huashan collapse might not be an omen after all; perhaps it signified that Hua Tuo, sharing the same surname, was about to bring forth some revolutionary ideas.
But Hua Tuo didn’t let Qiao Yan’s comments inflate his ego.
After submitting all his findings on cowpox to Chang’an, he requested a batch of bodyguards and set off for the Four Commanderies of Hexi.
According to him, since cowpox was a disease imported from abroad, there was no guarantee that once Qiao Yan ramped up the Silk Road’s openness, other diseases wouldn’t slip through the borders.
Even though they had garlic extract handy, it wasn’t a cure-all for every ailment.
Only by knowing both themselves and their enemies could they better tackle these calamities.
Qiao Yan agreed wholeheartedly with Hua Tuo’s perspective.
The tuberculosis recorded by Hua Tuo as “transmission corpse disease” and the plague that likely contributed to the chaos at the end of the Han dynasty were somewhat interconnected with foreign influences.
Even if Hua Tuo couldn’t treat outbreaks due to limited medicine and equipment, establishing a complete and appropriate prevention and control system would minimize casualties among her subordinates, which held immense practical significance for her.
To this end, she even instructed Xu Rong that during Hua Tuo’s stay in the Four Commanderies of Hexi, as long as his requests weren’t excessive, he could fulfill them directly without needing to report back to Lu Yuan or even to her.
If Hua Tuo intended to travel beyond the borders of Liangzhou towards foreign lands along the Silk Road, he could submit his detailed travel plans to Lu Yuan for decision-making.
Hua Tuo clearly didn’t disappoint Qiao Yan’s support for his actions.
In May of the Jian’an year, he officially completed documentation on foreign diseases and compiled foreign medical texts, submitting a comprehensive outline of the records on foreign diseases to Qiao Yan.
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhongjing officially began composing the “Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases” during his two years at the Chiyang Medical Academy.
This systematic medical treatise began its creation over a decade earlier than historical records indicated and had far more ample data and assistance for observation and treatment than at his historical writing time.
Thus, although what Qiao Yan received at that moment was only a rough draft, she believed it would be perfected at an incredible speed.
“Initially, as per your suggestion, the task of the Chiyang Medical Academy was to correct and supplement emergency prescriptions, develop teaching materials for the various divisions, and train newly recruited personnel. The focus of future work will see some adjustments now.”
Standing before Qiao Yan, Qiao Zhen still exuded a quality that made her slightly understated, easily overlooked at first glance.
However, upon looking into her eyes, one could discover a quiet determination growing clearer about her path ahead.
Qiao Zhen continued, “Through two years of training, irrespective of specific divisions at the medical academy, we’ve categorized the paths taken—”
“The participants in Director Hua’s “Foreign Medical Treatise” and Director Zhang’s “Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases,” educators in the medical field, and practitioners involved in local medical affairs and military cooperation.”
“So you now fall into the first category.” Qiao Yan glanced at Qiao Zhen’s collar, noticing a gold trim, which indicated her status as head of one of the five departments. “Oh, I almost forgot—congratulations on your promotion.”
Wu Pu saw Qiao Zhen’s character and learning speed but did nothing to ease her assessments. The presence of the Chiyang Medical Academy drew many previously unknown doctors to the area, making Qiao Zhen’s ascension to the position of gynecology department head a true test of skill.
But it was this rigorous examination that, while she spoke little, earned her considerable support from her subordinates.
This time, the medical personnel came to Luoyang led by Qiao Zhen, which was also the result of her vigorous advocacy.
Mentioning her promotion made Qiao Zhen blush a bit.
When discussing the reason for this visit, she quickly composed herself, explaining, “I thought that the total population in Luoyang and surrounding areas has actually surpassed that of Chang’an now that they’ve gathered the people. These places haven’t heeded the court’s orders for five years. That’s a long enough time for a habit to take hold.”
“Thanks to the favorable policies from Your Lordship and the handling of the locust plague and drought, we can, broadly speaking, help them recognize themselves as subjects of the court again, but we still need another breakthrough. I figured that hiring women in the Henan region, who can then undergo disease screening and treatment, might be a path forward.”
Seeing Qiao Yan’s approving gaze, Qiao Zhen finally breathed a sigh of relief, adding, “But rest assured, my learning at the medical academy wasn’t just limited to this one field. I feel confident in leading these people effectively. I’m also certain that I won’t cause any disputes or conflicts while searching for this breakthrough.”
“I believe in you,” Qiao Yan smiled at her. “You will be a valuable assistant in my actions in Luoyang.”
With that, in Luoyang—
On the political front, there was Sima Fang and Zhuge Xuan temporarily called in as assistance.
In terms of livelihood, Qiao Yan was the core operator, along with the recently returned Xun Yu from Chang’an.
Militarily, there were Guo Jia and Zhao Yun stationed there.
Now, with medical and impending educational support in place.
While others lamented her inability to stop Cao Cao from seizing Runan, she was already determined to win back the hearts of the people in Luoyang.
Of course, her ambitions reached beyond Luoyang; she also aimed to secure Liaodong!
And just like in Luoyang where she wasn’t the only one fighting, there were also allies in Liaodong clearing the way for her!
On the twelfth of Hainang, as dawn approached, watching the numbers on that peculiar instrument dwindle, Lu Lingju felt the remnants of drowsiness vanish completely.
She propped up the ship’s telescope and peered ahead, only to see a faint horizon emerge amidst the dim light in the distance.
That wasn’t a continuous line; its fragmented state indicated it wasn’t solid land, but a group of islands.
Yet it was precisely this defining feature that filled Lu Lingju with excitement.
For that was their first destination on this voyage—
The Changshan Islands!
