You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 32 Hong Chengchou Shot His Own Treads on His Own Foot
Acting Director of the Imperial Observatory Yang Guangxian arrived, with a respectful attitude and bringing gifts.

"You're too kind, Supervisor Yang. You're a fifth-rank official, and I'm only a sixth-rank official. How can I accept this?"

"My benefactor, you flatter me. You are my mentor, and I will repay your kindness."

After this probing, Jiang Qingyun didn't hold back. As a censor, he naturally had a higher rank than any other official.

"Young master, there is something I would like to ask you, sir."

"please say."

"Some secrets of the Imperial Observatory have been kept by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, and he took them with him. Now I'm in a bit of a predicament."

Jiang Qingyun smiled. He had long known that Yang Guangxian's astronomical expertise was insufficient to support the daily work of the Imperial Observatory.

"Don't you have a capable person under you?"

"Wu Mingxuan?"

"Yes, that's him. Appoint him as your deputy. You take the lead, and he'll handle the actual work. Also, we can't completely discard Johann Adam Schall von Bell's calendar. You can take its essence, discard its dross, integrate it, and then give it a new name."

"Wonderful, wonderful."

Yang Guangxian immediately stood up and bowed deeply.

"Lord Jiang's words today were like a resounding bell, a wake-up call, and have solved a problem that has been troubling me for a long time."

"What problem?"

"How an outsider can lead an expert!"

……

Jiang Qingyun decided to make use of this guy, firstly as a pledge of loyalty, and secondly to add fuel to the fire in Beijing, signaling him to come closer.

After a whispered conversation~
Yang Guangxian nodded repeatedly, patting his chest in affirmation.

"Don't worry, the way the celestial phenomena change is decided by God, but the final interpretation of the celestial phenomena is mine."

"Lord Yang, I heard that you once submitted a memorial to impeach Wen Tiren, a Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, in your early years?"

"Yes."

"So you were once a member of the Donglin Party?"

"The past is too painful to recall, alas, please excuse my foolishness."

Yang Guangxian tried to cover up his embarrassment by drinking alcohol.

Jiang Qingyun seemed to be deep in thought; this guy might be of great use. The Donglin Party was incompetent at doing things, but they were first-rate at causing trouble. Our Qing Dynasty court also needed the Donglin Party's participation.

……

Near the end, Zhao Zesheng arrived.

"Sir, most of the children in the orphanage don't have names. How about using your surname?"

Slightly tipsy, Jiang Qingyun jolted awake. The plot was so familiar; it was the same before he transmigrated.

He immediately waved his hand:
"No! The Hundred Family Surnames are Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou, Wu, Zheng, Wang, Feng, Chen, Chu, Wei, Jiang, Shen, Han, Yang. After me, starting with Shen, for example, the children admitted this year will all be surnamed Shen, next year they will be surnamed Han, and the year after that they will be surnamed Yang."

"Yes. You have the surname, but what about the given name?"

“The name will be chosen from one character in ‘Spring River Flower Moon Night’. If there are too many people with the same name, we will add a number according to the month they entered the orphanage. For example, Spring Fourth or Flower Ninth.”

This is just a small episode.

The orphanage project was a small thing that Jiang Qingyun did within his capabilities for this era, while the smallpox vaccination program in Nancheng was a big deal.

……

Nanyuan is located on the extension of the central axis!

This is a beautiful time of year, with wetlands, forests, swamps, and hillsides everywhere.

Jiang Qingyun had a seedling nursery built here.

Hundreds of itinerant doctors, temporarily recruited from Tianqiao, were on duty here. They all covered their mouths and noses with cotton masks and wore uniform robes.

Jiang Qingyun asked the person in charge, "The seedling nursery is of great importance! If anyone causes trouble, no matter who it is, just tell me."

"Don't worry, sir. Our seedling nursery is right next to a smallpox patient hospital. Outsiders avoid us like the plague. Not to mention causing trouble, no one dares to pass by within a three-mile radius."

"Work hard and do a good job. After the job is done, each person will be rewarded with 30 taels of silver."

"Thank you, sir."

The production process is simple in some ways.

First, suitable scabs were selected from the smallpox patient group next door, called "ripe scabs". Then they were processed one by one, placed in bottles, and left to stand in the soil for several days to reduce toxicity. Then the powder and water were mixed to make "qualified scabs" wrapped in cotton balls.

"Has anyone from the Imperial Medical Academy come?" "No!"

Everything was as expected. How could the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy possibly come? They only gave us a few thin prescriptions for treating dry diseases.

……

After the inspection, Jiang Qingyun rode his horse at full speed, entering the southern part of the city through Yongding Gate and arriving at the Tianqiao seedling site.

There were more than a dozen sheds, all very simple and rudimentary.

Every day, thousands of qualified seedlings from the nursery are transported here and planted in people's noses to produce antibodies.

"Sir~"

"How's it going?"

"The people were very cooperative, and those who had smallpox were sent to Nanyuan in a centralized manner."

"Pay attention to related rumors circulating in the market. If they appear, investigate and arrest them immediately."

"Don't worry, sir, there's really no problem. Everyone's very enthusiastic."

The sight of people craning their necks and eagerly waiting in line seemed to confirm this.

This is a very subtle psychology, essentially the same as those old ladies lining up for free eggs before time travel—whether they're taking advantage of the government or not.

Every generation has its own eggs.

……

October.

Zhou Shao brought news that, except for Datong, all other prefectures and counties in Shanxi had been captured.

"Brother Zhou, your people in the Ministry of Personnel are very well-informed."

"The Ministry of Personnel is the head of the Six Ministries, so I don't need to ask about many things. People will come and tell me on their own, just to leave a good impression."

After the two clinked glasses, Jiang Qingyun deliberately asked...

What is your view on the current state of the world?

This question has a double meaning; it can be interpreted as either inquiring about the struggle for supremacy between the Ming and Qing dynasties, or as expressing concern about the changes that occurred after Dorgon's death.

Zhou Shao blurted out, "The Ming court cannot win."

"Why?"

"Internal strife continues!"

“Yes, Zhu Youlang’s talent is only good enough to be a chieftain at best.” Jiang Qingyun held his cup, his expression calm. “It’s just a pity that the continuous wars have brought suffering to the people.”

According to the official gazette, about half a month ago, Prince Ajige of Yingjun led his troops to massacre more than 80,000 people in three counties and one prefecture!

The atmosphere instantly became dull.
The two of them coincidentally avoided this sensitive topic and instead started talking about anecdotes from the officialdom in the capital. One of these anecdotes particularly piqued Jiang Qingyun's interest.

……

"Has the imperial court appointed Minister Hong Chengchou to be in charge of vaccinating the Manchu bannermen within the inner city?"

"Yes, this was a unanimous decision by the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and several princes. They even sent someone to Shanxi to report to the Regent."

"What did the Regent say?"

"The Regent had lost his own brother, his first wife, and his sister-in-law, and he deeply abhorred smallpox, so he approved it right away. In fact, it was your success in the smallpox inoculation in the southern city that gave the palace confidence."

"Minister Hong himself is probably not very willing."

"Hahaha, our Minister Hong has resigned twice, but both times the palace has rejected his offer. He's really shot himself in the foot. He certainly didn't expect this when he recommended you, brother!"

At this point in the conversation, the two couldn't help but chuckle.

……

After seeing Zhou Shao off, Jiang Qingyun slept until evening, when he was gently awakened by Lü Zhu.

"Young Master, the Imperial Medical Academy Chief Physician, Lord Wu, wishes to see you."

"Where is the man?"

"Have tea in the front hall."

"Quickly, change your clothes."

Jiang Qingyun jumped up. The Imperial Medical Academy and the Military Command had absolutely no connection; what could possibly warrant such a personal visit from the academy's head?
He had a premonition that Wu Yong would bring him some truly significant news.

(End of this chapter)