Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 494

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 494
“What? Smallpox broke out in Hangzhou, yet it’s been completely eradicated?”
The Emperor stared at the report that had been brought to him, utterly bewildered.
“Is such a thing even possible?”
The Emperor’s court audience.
The murmuring of officials both high and low filled the chamber with an unusual din.
Yet not a single one among them offered a proper answer, and the Emperor’s irritation began to mount.
‘These are the very men who would rush to speak on matters of Confucian learning and ritual propriety.’
Yet on practical matters such as this, they merely hummed and muttered like those savoring honey in silence.
‘Both Confucianism and Legalism were ultimately created for the governance of the realm. Why then can they not utter a single word on such administrative matters?’
His irritation continued to mount.
It was then that Han Yi-jeong, the Minister of Revenue who had been sitting quietly, opened her mouth.
“Though it is presumptuous to report, Your Majesty, the doctor has not discovered a cure for smallpox, but she does know a method of prevention. She employed this method to contain the outbreak.”
“A method of prevention? I am familiar with variolation. I also know well its dangers.”
“Indeed, as you know, variolation involves placing pus from a smallpox patient directly into the nostrils or having one wear the undergarments of the afflicted to deliberately contract smallpox beforehand. Yet this method carries the risk of death among weak children and the elderly, and there have been cases where those who contracted smallpox through this preventive measure spread it to others, resulting in untimely deaths.”
“Everyone knows this much.”
Had smallpox prevention been easy, so many would not have perished.
Han Yi-jeong reflected.
‘Sigh, it is always daunting.’
How does Grandfather manage to serve as Eunuch General beside this man?
She herself felt her spirit draining merely from exchanging a few words, overwhelmed by his presence.
Despite the Emperor’s lukewarm response, Han Yi-jeong continued speaking calmly without showing any sign of intimidation.
“The doctor employed cowpox. It is a disease that affects cattle, distinct from smallpox, though humans may contract it as well.”
“Ho, cowpox?”
“Yes. Even if one contracts cowpox, the worst that occurs is a fever for several days followed by a rash, and death among humans is exceedingly rare. Moreover, even if cowpox spreads to others, it results only in fever. However, those who have contracted cowpox are said never to contract smallpox again.”
“Is this truth?”
At these words, the officials began murmuring among themselves once more.
Soon, one official spoke hastily.
“It is not yet certain, Your Majesty. Rather, without any period of trial and error, the doctor directly transmitted cowpox to the people under the guise of medicine, which is a grave transgression that warrants strict punishment.”
“We humbly beseech your understanding!”
Several officials quickly echoed this sentiment like a refrain.
Han Yi-jeong spoke.
“Even if one contracts cowpox, there is no death. However, if one contracts smallpox, one dies. In truth, the method is proving effective, and the plague in Hangzhou is rapidly subsiding! Here, the reports!”
A court attendant, following Han Yi-jeong’s instruction, laid down thick bundles of paper.
They contained clearly marked figures showing the number of those who had contracted smallpox and those who had received the preventive inoculation.
One of them was an adaptation of the rose diagram that Florence Nightingale had once created, simple and clear enough to understand at a glance.
After reading for some time, a smile appeared at the corner of the Emperor’s lips.
“Is there among my officials anyone else capable of containing smallpox to this degree?”
“…But… Your Majesty!”
“Silence. I asked if it was possible!”
No one could say it was possible in response to those words.
It was only natural.
How could anyone accomplish such a thing?
“With so many officials at my side, yet none could contain the smallpox—in the end, a single doctor from outside the palace has done what they could not.”
“We are deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
Everyone answered in unison.
The Emperor spoke.
“Your hypocrisy grows tiresome. Grant the Baekrin Medical Guild the public lands near their establishment in Jiangsu Province, and also grant them a portion of the public lands near the provincial seat in Zhejiang Province. Furthermore, should you succeed in driving the plague from all of Hangzhou, I shall grant certain tax exemptions.”
At those words, everyone’s eyes widened.
Truly, an extraordinary reward!
However, it was not the time to raise objections when the Emperor’s mood was favorable, and it was clear he would grow angry.
In this era when imperial authority had been so powerfully reinforced, directly contradicting the Emperor’s decision would lead to unpredictable consequences.
Pung Ha-geum spoke.
“However, that is only if the effects are confirmed. I shall dispatch imperial inspectors to verify the facts thoroughly. If there is no deception, I shall grant an even greater reward.”
“We are overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace!”
“You officials should learn even half of what this doctor has done. What exactly are you doing while drawing your salaries?”
At those words, Han Yi-jeong felt a sense of satisfaction as if it were her own accomplishment.
* * *
[Smallpox contained? Is such a thing even possible?]
Several of the Hyeolseonggyo’s Sip Cheon-gun gathered for the first time in a long while.
According to the natural order of Heaven, Hangzhou should have suffered greatly from smallpox.
As in any apocalyptic prophecy of this world, before the end comes famine, plague, and war—these three walk hand in hand across the land, harvesting human lives like grain at harvest time.
When this occurs, many die, the people’s hearts waver, and the entire continent is consumed by calamity—that is when the world experiences its destruction.
In some prophecies, blood rains from the heavens at such times; in others, floods surge forth.
In yet others, earthquakes swallow everything—depending on the author’s regional beliefs, all manner of apocalyptic scenarios are prepared.
In any case, smallpox is a fairly common plague, occurring anywhere across the continent.
However, the smallpox that was to spread through Hangzhou this time was somewhat special.
[Was it not fate that both poor and rich, officials and commoners, would all fall ill?]
[Indeed. The poor would die first, but it would pause during the harvest season, then surge greatly during the lean season.]
[Passing through the lean season, deaths would continue in succession, reaching even the imperial palace. That was how it should have been. Of course, that alone would not bring destruction—merely greater suffering.]
After pondering, one of the Sip Cheon-gun asked.
[Could this be that pause we speak of…?]
[Not at all. At minimum, those streets should have become hell. Only then would imperial forces be mobilized for emergency measures.]
Three of the Sip Cheon-gun groaned and clutched their heads before speaking.
[Is it because of Banson’s seeds?]
[…We have obtained intelligence that Cheon Gi-sunhaeng ultimately intends to eliminate Banson’s seeds.]
[And our Hyeolseon desires him?]
The situation had become troublesome.
For Cheon Gi-sunhaeng, Banson’s seeds are a variable.
It is only natural that they move to eliminate this variable, but the problem is that Hyeolseonggyo knows Hyeolseon desperately desires Jin Cheon-hee.
[Even if one of us three goes, capturing that person will be difficult. Based on what was observed in the battle with Khan, that much is clear. And Cheon Sal-seong is also a hindrance. Won Cheon-gun died by that person’s hand. What do you think that means?]
[…First, Cheon Sal-seong’s growth does follow the natural progression of Cheon Gi-sunhaeng.]
[Yes. That’s true. It was simply accelerated.]
Hyeon, who had been silent until now, spoke cheerfully.
[Ahahaha~ Three of us have already died~ It’s been a long time since the Great War that our ranks emptied this quickly, hasn’t it~? Even for Hyeolseonggyo, it’s difficult to fill three Sip Cheon-gun positions all at once.]
[That’s true….]
[So what do you intend to do?]
The cheerful transmission continued.
[A portion of Cheon Gi-sunhaeng’s forces are on the move. So, we strike from behind. We slip in while the two are fighting.]
[Who will do this?]
Then the cheerful transmission continued.
[I’ll do it~! I’ll do it, of course.]
[Geumcheon-gun. You’ll do this?]
[Yes. My body’s adjustment is complete~! This body feels amazing, so in return, Geumgwang Seongmo, you help me too.]
[To assign such a task to this one…. Hmm, will you be alright? Samjeolchuho must be pursuing you.]
[That’s fine. If she shows up, then we’ll settle it at that time.]
[Even if she’s your older sister?]
[Haven’t we been taught that the bonds of kinship in this world are useless anyway? What, do you have a complaint?]
[No. It’s just that since you modified your body, your personality seems to have changed slightly.]
[Hahaha, I wonder. I still hate humans, I still wish for the world to crumble, and at the same time, destruction has always been my joy. If this heart remains the same, have I truly changed?]
Kugguguk—
Blood-red energy fills the space around Geumcheon-gun.
It was a fluctuation intense enough to make the other Sip Cheon-gun tense, and several of them swallowed hard, hoping her playfulness would fade.
[You stole some sacrifices from the last war.]
[I didn’t do it? I simply took what the dead Won Cheon-gun had hidden away.]
She clicked her tongue carelessly, tsk tsk.
[I should also resolve Won Cheon-gun’s resentment. Thank you. Won Cheon-gun, I’ve properly made offerings of the corpses you had hidden. I’ll definitely resolve your resentment.]
[Insane….]
Several Sip Cheon-gun cursed under their breath.
Geumgwang Seongmo sighed.
[Do you hate your older sister?]
[Hate? No. Who says that? Do you have to hate someone to kill them?]
Geumcheon-gun laughed softly.
[I’m curious whether Samjeolchuho will actually find me. And the thought of meeting Banson’s successor again brings me joy.]
[I see.]
[I was so weak before that I could be crushed with a thumb, but now I’ve grown much stronger than then, haven’t I?]
Won Cheon-gun’s sacrifices fell entirely into Geumcheon-gun’s hands.
Through the blood of thousands, Geumcheon-gun became even stronger.
[I heard you can temporarily reach the realm of Hyeongyeong.]
[That’s correct.]
[I wonder how long he can endure?]
Geumcheon-gun became curious about Jin Cheon-hee’s stamina.
How could his body remain intact after crossing through so many death-defying situations?
‘An arm, or a leg. There must be some weakness among his limbs?’
* * *
‘That’s right. Martial arts is about reincarnation.’
It was only last month that the three ice-bound souls were grinding their teeth, saying reincarnation was ruined.
Now that Winter General was pressing in earnest, this damned left arm ached even more.
‘Reincarnation means entering a body with boneless physiology. Possession is… what exactly… Extras really do live up to their role. Damn it.’
If this body had died in the previous chapter, it’s because this body deserved to die.
Even the magnificent bloodline of imperial royalty is worthless without special abilities.
At least if I’d been born into the Namgung Family, Moyong Family, or Hwangbo Sega, I wouldn’t have to live like this.
Boneless physiology also runs in families—boneless parents produce boneless children through genetic inheritance.
The opposite is equally true.
In that sense, Namgung Un, Namgung Yeon, Dang-a, and Gongseon Yeong—even if their innate physiology falls slightly short in enlightenment—
Can compensate simply because their limbs are long and their tendons and meridians are robust, and conversely, even if their spiritual essence overflows slightly compared to their flesh, they function like a liquid-cooled computer regardless.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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