Because the current situation was not suitable for Zhu Lizhen to recuperate in Shanghai, the original plan was to take the express train back to the capital as soon as possible the next day.
It was the experimental electrified railway used to show off its technological level.
But the crown prince's current physical condition has put everyone in a difficult position - he has a sudden high fever. Should he continue to stay in the hospital for treatment, or should he be sent to the capital?
"When you return to Beijing, you cannot stay out of town for a long time." Zhu Lizhen, who was still conscious, made a very firm decision.
So, accompanied by the medical team, he was carried on a stretcher onto the train named "Juechen" and rushed towards the capital Yingtianfu at an average speed of 150km/h.
At first, the doctors used the conventional prescriptions of Xiao Chai Hu Decoction and Bai Hu Decoction step by step. After it was determined that the wound was infected, they used sulfadiazine to treat the disease.
As a result, Zhu Lichi's symptoms seemed to be under control, and his body temperature dropped from 39°C to about 37.8°C.
But what horrified the doctors was that obvious edema appeared in the three wounds on his body in just one night. They were dilated and turned purple in different shades, which was very shocking.
"What kind of virulent germ is this? Why is it so scary?" A middle-aged nurse couldn't help but exclaimed.
"It's actually progressing so fast? This is no ordinary bacteria! Hurry! Take samples, culture and observe!"
"yes!"
After being sent to Tai Hospital, the imperial doctors and the accompanying doctors chatted with each other for a long time, and finally connected this situation with some previous cases.
This is probably a dangerous Vibrio infection that occurs mostly in coastal areas during hot seasons, but the details are unclear.
By dipping the wound body fluid for rapid culture, the doctors observed the culprit under a light microscope - a long-shaped Vibrio.
Although it was not officially identified until the 1970s in history, the existence of the Ming Dynasty affected many things. For example, marine Vibrio vulnificus was discovered decades in advance.
There have been many such cases among the officers and soldiers of the Nanyang Fleet. The highest-ranking officer who became disabled was a captain and submarine captain.
At that time, when the submarine was refloating during a routine cruise, the crew members were fishing to pass the time. The captain scratched his hand with a fin when he was struggling with a fish that was hoisted up. After becoming ill, the captain was taken back to the Qiongzhou Naval Base by seaplane, and eventually had to have his legs amputated to save his life.
This was fortunate, as many cases did not even last three days before dying of systemic septicemia.
Marine Vibrio vulnificus is a heat-loving, cold-tolerant, and salt-loving bacterium that generally invades the human body through skin injuries and wounds.
Even in this age of antibiotics, this is still a pretty deadly bacterium. Once infected, the mortality rate within 48 hours is as high as 50%. It also develops quickly, and the enzymes it produces can decompose and destroy human tissues, causing widespread congestion, edema, and necrosis.
At the same time, it can cause sepsis, and patients will experience systemic symptoms of poisoning, multiple organ failure, and eventually death.
What makes people even more desperate in this era is that marine Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative bacterium, and today's most advanced penicillin, which is still in the laboratory stage, is only suitable for dealing with positive bacteria, and only a very small amount of negative bacteria. It's penicillin that works.
Marine Vibrio vulnificus is naturally not included in this list. It can be said that it directly sentenced the patient to death.
"Don't hide it, tell me if it can be cured now?"
"Well... Your Highness, these germs are very vicious and can only escape death, but we will do our best..."
Zhu Lizhen rarely got angry, and said angrily: "I told you, don't talk nonsense, tell the truth! It is about the country, life and death, what is there to be taboo about?"
The court judge was silent for a long time, feeling it was too difficult to speak. Finally, he managed to squeeze out a few words, "There is little hope."
Zhu Lizhen, who still had a hint of anger on his face, had no particular reaction when he heard this. He lowered his half-raised hand, stared out the window for a few seconds, and asked: "How long... can you last?"
"It's hard to say, maybe it will take a few more days, but usually the person will end up in a coma due to high fever."
There was a long silence in the ward, and an unknown amount of time passed.
"How is your Majesty doing now?"
"I'm awake, my consciousness is still clear."
"Take me to see him. There is no time to waste."
So, after a while, he was helped out of his ward and came to the special care ward where the emperor was.
Using hemostatic drugs and craniocerebral antihypertensive drugs, as well as some masterful acupuncture, the emperor's illness was under considerable control after careful treatment, thanks to the fact that the bleeding location and amount were not serious.
However, he is still lying on the hospital bed recuperating, and the rubber hose connected to the ventilator is still inserted into one side of his nose.
"Your Majesty, the prince has arrived." A servant reminded in a low voice.
Zhu Lizhen, who looked very weak, walked in slowly step by step, and then sat on a chair nearby.
"If you feel unwell, just press the button on the wall next to you and we will come in immediately."
It was obvious that the father and son wanted to discuss the state affairs, so several imperial doctors and attendants left the room.
Although the treatment effect was good, the sudden stroke still left obvious sequelae - Zhu Shiyan now has uncoordinated limbs on his right side and has difficulty speaking.
This can only be improved through lengthy rehabilitation.
The father and son looked at each other for a long time, but neither spoke. The ward remained uncomfortably quiet, except for the "clicking" and "whisping" sounds of the instruments.
Apparently Zhu Shiyan had learned about his son's current condition - the infection was extremely dangerous and he was almost dead.
After a while, he sighed with great sadness: "I thought... something good would happen if I survived the catastrophe."
"I'm afraid this is really God's will." Zhu Lizheng said with a self-deprecating smile: "God has given me face despite all the ups and downs."
First, he was infinitely close to death, but he managed to escape, but then he was sentenced to "death", which made people who had not yet calmed down feel like they had fallen into an ice cave.
Looking at his son's face, Zhu Shiyan suddenly thought of what happened more than five hundred years ago - after Prince Yiwen died of illness, Emperor Taizu Gao was extremely sad.
Now he felt that he could fully understand Zhu Yuanzhang's feelings. In addition to sadness and regret, there was also a deep sense of powerlessness.
After trying to calm down, Zhu Lizheng said seriously: "Okay, father, there is no point in lamenting now. It's time to weigh the future."
"Military affairs are extraordinary. The important tasks of military aircraft are extremely laborious and laborious. I will no longer be able to afford them." Zhu Shiyan said calmly: "Holding on to power will do more harm than good to the country."
First of all, military power is no small matter. Whether it is the United States or France, as the head of state, the highest command power lies with the head of state himself. It can be delegated, but it can never be given away.
Secondly, all kinds of affairs during the war are too heavy, and there may be emergencies to deal with at any time. If you are not energetic and healthy, you will not be able to last long.
Even though Zhu Shiyan has been very "tactful" and seemingly moderate in many political affairs for decades, he has always held military power tightly.
If we really don't even have military power, the rest of the power will soon follow, and it will really be a rule of thumb.
Even Emperor Wanli, who was criticized for his laziness and indolence in government affairs, has always been very attentive to the handling of important military affairs, but other political affairs... are indeed very procrastinating.
Zhu Shiyan knew that his physical condition would not be able to withstand the heavy burden after the war broke out. Although he was also greedy for power, compared with the safety of the country, his personal desires had to be put aside a little.
Otherwise, it will be severely recorded in the history books, and it will also violate the emperor's basic responsibility-to ensure the continuation of the dynasty.
Besides, you might die suddenly from overexertion.
When I was young, I was turbulent and frightened, and then I worked conscientiously for more than twenty years. When I was old, I walked past the gate of hell, and I was right for my ancestors and the world.
Therefore, one should abdicate both emotionally and rationally. This is good for the country and good for oneself.
"What happens after that? If you abdicate the throne, who will ascend to the throne?" Zhu Lizhen was confused and worried. "That kid Li Xuan has no experience at all, and I don't have the time to teach him from scratch."
Being an emperor is also a profession that requires learning and training. The young prince Zhu Lixuan has never been used as a backup for the heir apparent, so naturally he has not received an imperial education.
Even without the basic knowledge of politics, he studied serious geography at Gezhi University.
Although the upper limit of an emperor depends on his personal talent, systematic imperial education can determine the lower limit, unless he is born with extraordinary power.
Typical examples are Emperor Chongzhen and Emperor Jiajing.
Zhu Youjian, the king of Xin, had no educational foundation at all. His series of actions after he succeeded to the throne were well known to everyone, and he was fooled around by the Dukes.
In comparison, the performance of Zhu Houcong, the crown prince of Prince Xing, was completely different. Although he was only fourteen years old, he was indeed extremely talented.
"Him? It's true... it's inappropriate, but... there is really no suitable candidate at the moment."
"Let Ning You be the regent." Zhu Lizhen breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks to her sudden idea (to enter politics) you didn't stop her, otherwise it would be even more difficult now."
His suggestion seemed to unblock Zhu Shiyan's thinking. The latter closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, and said calmly: "How can an adult emperor still be regent? This is a move to save hidden dangers."
"Li Xuan is also very smart. He can become independent after studying for a few years."
Zhu Shiyan took a deep look at his son and sighed: "You... are really confused."
Son, you have been fighting against those guys who are greedy for profit and looking forward to expansion for so many years. Do you think that the combination of the puppet emperor and the regent princess can stabilize the government?
Zhu Licheng was indeed still suffering from a fever. T cells, B cells, and K cells alone were completely unable to stop the vicious marine Vibrio vulnificus from proliferating wildly in his body. The sulfadiazine injected into his body only inhibited part of the Vibrio vulnificus. That’s it, the rest of the drug-resistant Vibrio vulnificus are still proliferating rapidly.
His time is running out.
"Then what else can be done? There is no one suitable for the descendants of the clan." Fever made people tired and weak, and Zhu Lizhen racked his brains and could not think of any other royal clan members suitable to inherit the throne.
The clan can do business, but how can the small amount of funds provided by the court sustain the lives of the clan's children who are accustomed to spending money like water? Most of them went into business to make money.
Zhu Shiyan said nothing, just stared at his son calmly.
The two people's eyes met, and they looked at each other for one second, two seconds, three seconds...
The tacit understanding between father and son for many years is still there, and Zhu Lizheng, who was still confused at first, suddenly understood the emperor's meaning.
Oh my God! Unheard of.
Oh no, recalling the history books, it still existed in history, but no one has ever proposed this move since Tang Zhongzong and Princess Anle.
After a long time, he nodded slightly, "I... understand."
Next, the emperor and the crown prince talked for a long time.
From noon to evening, it never stopped.
They both know that every minute and every second now is their last time.
After sorting out the main political affairs, the two chatted about the past, from the queen's pregnancy to childbirth, from babbling to toddlerhood...
"There is a folk saying that is right. It is easy to die generously, but difficult to die calmly. Alas... Now that things have happened, it is indeed a lie to say that you are not afraid of death." Zhu Licheng sighed.
"..." Zhu Shiyan was silent, speechless.
Later, Zhu Lichi was helped to leave, because the princess came to visit with her children, and the last moments would eventually fall with his wife.
At the same time, in Zhongcheng District, Princess Ningyou’s Mansion.
There is still a very light yellow in the sky in the west, and the rest of the sky is completely shrouded in darkness.
There are no bright stars in the brightly lit Yingtian Mansion of the capital. Except for a few stars that are bright enough, the remaining faint light is completely covered by the light scattered by the ground.
Zhou Changfeng, Fang Shujun, Luo Fu, and Su Yiyi were arranged on the left and right sides in front, while the expressionless Zhu Lingjing sat on the chair in the middle.
Although her face was extremely calm, the tears in the corners of her eyes were shining slightly under the light of the room.
In Zhou Changfeng's opinion, people like Zhu Lingjing usually do not have significant emotional fluctuations. After all, politicians are cold-blooded animals.
But it was obvious that she still couldn't contain her sadness.
"What a twist of fate." She sighed.
In fact, everyone has been standing here for more than ten minutes. They don't know why they were summoned by Zhu Lingjing, but no one has asked questions. Everyone knows how sad she is inside.
Zhou Changfeng lowered his head slightly, squinting at the carpet in front of him, but his thoughts drifted far away.
What happened to the crown prince is really outrageous. He survived a plane crash but died of an infection?
Although it is in line with Ming Dynasty practice - the Ming Dynasty emperors are easily soluble in water, it is really a pity.
He was thinking that if penicillin had been mass-produced now, perhaps the crown prince would not have died young.
But he didn't know that the crown prince was infected with marine Vibrio vulnificus, and he didn't know that penicillin was ineffective against it. This was destined to be a one-sided hope and regret.
"Ahem -" Zhu Lingjing coughed lightly, raised her eyes and said: "Your Majesty is fine, but the prince's situation will inevitably lead to instability in the government and the public. I'm afraid you will have to work a lot harder these days."
Zhou Changfeng's focus was a bit strange. He felt that Zhu Lingjing's tone and words were much more polite than before.
No matter what, the emperor turned the corner, his backbone was still there, and everything was still within control.
I hope that the crisis caused by this unreasonable disaster can be properly resolved. China cannot miss such an opportunity again.
(End of chapter)
