The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 100 I am building a school

When Chen Zhidong saw Ma Xun, the emperor's brother-in-law, his eyes were already filled with tears.

He was originally an imperial physician who was good at surgery, and somehow he caught the eye of the emperor's uncle, who asked him to come and do the work.

Training medical officers is nothing more than training medical officers. It is one of the duties of the Imperial Hospital. But now let's look at the way the prince's uncle trains medical officers. It is special.

Debridement, disinfection, and suturing are basic requirements. The medical officers in the past knew a little bit of these, but they were not as meticulous as Ma Xun required.

Acupuncture, decoctions, hot compresses, etc., all of these had been available before. What Ma Xun asked was for the people in the Imperial Hospital to pool their wisdom, including inviting famous doctors to compile medical books.

Ma Xun also came up with some first aid measures, such as artificial respiration and chest compression, which made many people feel "eye-opening".

This is not just simple medical officer training, it also includes a lot of basic medical knowledge.

I don’t know what Chen Zhidong and others were thinking, but Ma Xun felt that if nursing developed well, then biology, physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology and other disciplines could also make progress and develop.

Looking at the dozen or so houses in front of him, Ma Xun was very happy, "I haven't seen it for half a year. It looks like it's in good shape now."

Chen Zhidong wanted to complain. He heard that the emperor's uncle was not serious about the Imperial Academy and basically ignored it.

However, the Medical Officer School at the foot of Jiming Mountain was built at the insistence of the Emperor's uncle, but it has not been seen for a long time. He only came to visit it from time to time and formulated the teaching content when it was first built.

Chen Zhidong said quickly, "When the emperor's uncle accompanied the emperor to the north, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works allocated a lot of craftsmen and materials. Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Prince also sent people to take a look."

Indeed, no one dared to be lazy. Even though Ma Xun did not come often, this was his "political achievement". Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao would often ask people to come and take a look.

Even if they don't understand some professional matters, they can understand whether someone is lazy or whether materials are allocated in a timely manner.

Ma Xun smiled and said, "Your Highness the Queen and Your Highness the Crown Prince are really thoughtful and kind-hearted. The Queen always taught me that doctors should be kind-hearted and save lives. I think this can be the school motto."

Chen Zhidong immediately flattered her, saying, "Your Majesty the Queen is kind and benevolent, and all the subjects in the world know this."

"I am compiling medical books under the order of Her Majesty the Queen, and it was His Majesty the Crown Prince who built this school out of pity for the wounded soldiers." Ma Xun said, "Go and submit a memorial to the Secretariat in the name of a medical officer."

Chen Zhidong said somewhat awkwardly, "My Lord, I am only an eighth-rank imperial physician, and it is difficult for me to submit the memorial to the Secretariat."

The director of the Imperial Hospital was only a fifth-rank official, not to mention the imperial physician. The ambassadors of the Imperial Hospital who managed the medicine storehouse were all low-ranking officials and could only be considered "clerks".

Ma Xun said somewhat unhappily, "I have to find a way to promote you. The Imperial Academy's chief academic officer is a fourth-rank official, and the five classics doctors are all eighth-rank officials. There are a lot of ninth-rank officials. Why doesn't my school have a rank?"

Hearing Ma Xun's words, Chen Zhidong suddenly became happy. Who doesn't want to get promoted and make money? Even the imperial physician wants to be promoted.

It is human nature to learn literary and martial arts, and to serve the emperor.

But after a little excitement, Chen Zhidong also felt that it was a little unrealistic, as the imperial physicians did not hold high positions.

These medical officers themselves do not have any job ranks. Naturally, the students here or the doctors who teach here do not have any ranks either. Everyone has accepted this long ago.

Chen Zhidong and others felt that the possibility of promotion was slim, but Ma Xun felt that he had to do something.

His school would not simply train medical officers, etc., but would also include many natural science subjects. This was a "university" that was different from the Imperial College's educational philosophy.

Why is it that the chief academic officer of the Imperial College is a fourth-rank official, while I can only be a ninth-rank imperial physician working part-time at my university? This is totally unconscionable!
"I think it's better for you to be transferred to the Grand Military Governor's Office. I am satisfied with your current work." Ma Xun said, "In the Imperial Hospital, you can only be a fifth or sixth rank hospital official or judge at most."

Chen Zhidong said with a smile, "I am a humble official and will obey the orders of the court and my superiors."

There is nothing conflicting about being transferred from a regular doctor to the Grand Marshal's Office. There are already medical officers in the army, but they have no rank.

However, there are also assessment requirements for medical officers and medical assistants in the army, and rewards and punishments are determined based on their ability to save lives.

The most important thing is that the boundaries between civil officials and military generals in the early Ming Dynasty were not so clear. It was somewhat difficult for civil officials to jump into the ranks of military officials, but it was common for military generals to manage civil officials.

With the support of the emperor's uncle, Chen Zhidong, a ninth-rank imperial physician, arrived at the Grand Marshal's Office, and he might be promoted at any time.

Not to mention Ma Xun's identity, even if the governors and deputy governors of the Grand Marshal's Office sent a list to the Ministry of War, the Minister of War would have no choice but to sign it, and the people in the Ministry of Personnel did not dare to hinder the promotion of officials of the Grand Marshal's Office.

The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War can only cooperate with the Grand Military Governor's Office now, and the Grand Military Governor's Office is very independent. The Secretariat and the six ministries combined are not enough to defeat the Grand Military Governor's Office.

It is human nature that people go to higher places and water flows to lower places. Chen Zhidong was very happy that such a popular dignitary as Ma Xun was willing to help him. All the hard work and prudence before were worth it, and now they have reaped the rewards.

Ma Xun carefully checked the school's training and asked, "According to the normal training, how long will these medical officers and medical assistants have to accompany the army?"

Chen Zhidong immediately replied, "My Lord, according to the conventional calculation, the training time for medical officers is longer, and medical assistants can join the army after a little training."

A medical officer is basically half a doctor, but for a medical assistant, it is basically enough to know some simple first aid and hemostasis.

However, Chen Zhidong continued, "According to the arrangements made by the uncle, I think these people will need to study for at least another half a year before they can master it thoroughly."

Ma Xun thought about it carefully and said, "Arrange some people, find thirty people who are good at learning. These thirty people will focus on the prevention and treatment of miasma, etc. These things must be done quickly."

Chen Zhidong also understood that most of the people in the school were recruited from the army, so they were very familiar with many situations. It was a foregone conclusion that the imperial court would use military force against Ming Xia in Sichuan.

Since the imperial court is planning to use military force against the Ming Dynasty in Sichuan, the Duan family in Yunnan and Guizhou and the King of Liang in the Yuan Dynasty are also likely to be the targets of the imperial court.

Since this is the case, targeted arrangements are needed, which is what Ma Xun and others need to do.

It's not just the road to Shu that is difficult. Although things like miasma may not be as frightening as they were during the Han and Tang dynasties, some early medical reserves are still necessary for places like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.

Since it is training medical officers, we must do something serious and make the emperor and empress feel that the money is worth spending.

Out of respect for Ma Xun, the people in the Grand Marshal's Office now fully support him, but if it continues to be a losing business, everyone will definitely be worried.

Seeing that the medical officers trained by Ma Xun's school can treat wounded soldiers, prevent malaria, heatstroke, etc., the people in the Grand Marshal's Office will definitely be happy and will provide greater support in the future.

At that time, even if Ma Xun wanted to do something that seemed unorthodox, no one in the civil service group would be able to see Ma Xun, and the arrogant and powerful generals of the Grand Marshal's Office would come forward first.

Ma Xun is still very happy. Although the school is only in its initial stage of construction and is only providing the most basic medical training, at least there are some results.

Take it slow, and continue to develop when the time is right. There are many disciplines that may be able to be launched at any time.

Satisfied, Ma Xun returned home and prepared to reorganize the natural science projects, and to carefully study the current productivity, etc.

Liu Shuning brought tea and said, "Husband, my brother-in-law sent over the list."

"Brother-in-law is really so impatient." Ma Xun took the list and said, "Once your Majesty arranges something, brother-in-law will do it immediately. These things are not urgent, but he just can't wait."

Liu Shuning was speechless for a moment in response to Ma Xun's complaints.

Ma Xun looked at the list carefully, which recorded the titles of the emperor's ten sons, as well as the birth mothers of these princes. Since they were crowned as kings, these princes would also have to arrange for accompanying officials when they went to the vassal state.

By then, there will be a high probability that a few people will be selected from the maternal families of these princes to serve as officials in the prince's palace, which will be no small matter.

"Half a month later?" Ma Xun suddenly checked the time and said in astonishment, "If that's the case, we have to hurry up. I don't have to go to the palace every day to keep an eye on it, right?"

Liu Shuning immediately advised, "My husband, this is a big deal. This is the first time the court has conferred a title of king, so we can't be careless."

Li Zhen is old, Zhu Biao is not suitable to come forward, and Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying are obviously unwilling to arrange some things personally.

Now, Ma Xun had to step forward and run around in the ceremony of crowning the king.

Ma Xun said bitterly, "I was planning to arrange things at school, and those things cannot be delayed. Now the matter of becoming king cannot be delayed either, they just can't bear to see me idle!"

This is basically like forcing someone to do something.

Even if you think more carefully, Ma Xun will inevitably have more interactions with civil officials during this period, and the Minister of Rites like Tao Kai will have more interactions with Ma Xun because of official business.

Although it was a headache, Ma Xun also understood that these were serious matters and there was no room for negotiation. These matters must be handled well.

No matter what Ma Xun wants to do, or what the emperor and empress want him to do, he must do it well.

Active or passive, it doesn’t matter much, these are what Ma Xun must do now.

I am busy all day long. I met a hardworking person and happened to have some small ideals, so I should be more diligent.

(End of this chapter)