As soon as smallpox broke out, the newly established Xuanwu County immediately entered a state of emergency.
It is said that Beijing and smallpox also have an indissoluble bond.
In history, Prince Duduo of Yu and Emperor Shunzhi both died of smallpox infection, and the later Emperor Tongzhi also died of smallpox.
Of the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty, two died of smallpox, and both were in their 20s. The power of smallpox is evident.
Ye Ye was taken out of the palace soon after his death and hid from smallpox in the Fuyou Temple outside the Xihua Gate of the Forbidden City. He did not move back to the palace until he contracted smallpox when he was two years old and survived the disaster.
The Eight Banners also suffered heavy losses.
For example, in history, when Hauge was forced to go on an expedition to Sichuan, he had to say: "I have never had acne, so I am asked to go with him on this expedition. Isn't this a special encounter that will kill me?"
To explain it scientifically, it means that outside the Northeastern Pass, which is outside the cold climate of the Qing Dynasty, and inside the Pass, which is warm and suitable, its highly cold-resistant body cannot quickly adapt to the warm climate of the South.
Coupled with the poor sanitary conditions at that time, the smallpox virus became even more rampant.
"Report, there is news from the Chahar Department that smallpox has begun to spread in the grassland, and many people are infected——"
At this time, news came from Jinyiwei, which made the entire court breathe a sigh of relief.
No need to take the blame anymore...
The expressions of the three cabinet members softened a lot.
"It turns out that this natural disaster comes from the Mongols!"
Yan Chongxin said categorically: "It seems that this group of Tatars are retribution for following the Jian slaves into the invaders' pass."
"Retribution, retribution!"
Zhang Shenyan also sighed repeatedly at this time.
"People are asked to close the exchange immediately and no entry or exit is allowed to prevent the introduction of smallpox."
Zhu Yixi was also very decisive and immediately ordered.
What a disaster for the Mongols!
No wonder you believe in Buddhism.
The plague also came south from the grasslands, plus smallpox, and white plagues came from time to time during the Little Ice Age, which was really miserable.
Perhaps this contributed to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the grasslands. Shamans were completely unable to cope with such frequent natural disasters.
After cutting off the source, Zhu Yixi did not dare to neglect, and quickly came to the Tai Hospital, where he personally arranged a pox diagnosis department, specifically responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of smallpox.
"Your Majesty, there was smallpox in the south."
At this time, several southern doctors who had followed him since the time of Prince Yu's palace immediately raised their hands and said: "You can break open the human pox and infect other people, so that ordinary people will get pox and never get it again."
That is, in the dry seedling method, grind the acne scabs of smallpox patients into very fine powder, place one end of a curved neck silver tube, aim it at the nostrils and blow it in, so as to achieve the purpose of vaccination to prevent smallpox.
"Pox?"
Zhu Yixi was stunned, wasn't it cowpox?
"What about the casualties caused by variolation?"
"About 10% to 20%..."
"Too much."
The emperor immediately abandoned this plan.
The death rate from smallpox virus infection is also half. Although yours is a little lower, it is still too high.
"In this case, you can use cowpox——"
The emperor gave a direct order with a stroke of his pen.
"Your Majesty, it's an infection from an animal. If it spreads to a human body, I'm afraid it's inappropriate!"
"There is no difference between cowpox and human pox. Besides, cowpox is inferior to humans. If the pox spreads to humans, the disease will be less severe, but pox will still occur. What's the difference?"
Zhu Yixi did not comment and directly ordered: "All the people in Taiyuan Hospital should go to Xuanwu County immediately to spread the cowpox. There must be no omissions."
"Well, let's start in the palace first!"
Travelers are not immortal, so for the sake of safety, it is better to arrange the palace first!
The imperial doctors could only do as they were told.
The palace maids and eunuchs were trembling and had to be vaccinated against pox. They had a fever for several days before they stabilized.
At this time, there were very few dead people. In order to avoid contracting smallpox, everyone became more motivated to get vaccinated first.
Several princes, under pressure from the emperor, were inoculated with cowpox.
The concubines were extremely reluctant to leave, but the emperor's attitude was very firm.
Miaoxian, who showed off her indifference to others, was still calm and frightening at this moment, sitting and watching her children being vaccinated, with only a slight concern in her beautiful eyes.
Fortunately, since we are all from the South, acne went smoothly.
With the princes taking the lead, the whole city of Beijing immediately started a vaccination trend.
By the end of March, smallpox had disappeared from Beijing, with only more than 300 casualties, which was negligible for a city with a population of hundreds of thousands.
Considering the infectivity of plague, smallpox and other viruses, the emperor specially changed the pox diagnosis department into the epidemic treatment department, which was responsible for the treatment of plague, smallpox and other diseases.
After all, the world is not limited to Beijing. Information from other places is blocked and they need the diagnosis and treatment of Taiyuan Hospital.
"Akito actually controlled smallpox?"
In Beijing, several missionaries who prayed to God day and night for blessings were shocked.
"No, this is a revelation from God!"
The older missionary said decisively: "Such a natural disaster must be the result of enlightenment from God."
"What you said is absolutely true." Several missionaries immediately nodded in agreement.
This kind of plague, such as the Black Death, has always been called a divine punishment in Europe, and it has even evolved into a plague against the Jews. It is suspected that the Jews brought it.
“Take this message to the church!”
The old missionary's deep voice sounded: "This is the gospel that God brought to mankind, and it was time to spread it to Rome."
Obviously, this cowpox method, which can fight smallpox, is an important means for Catholics to stabilize their beliefs and suppress heretical ideas.
"I finally got over it."
Yu Chenglong stayed in the courtyard, eating the recently popular mutton hot pot, and was filled with emotion.
"Who says it's not the case? Smallpox is too scary." Lu Zhuo started to mutter as he took a mouthful of mutton.
"Hey, this mutton comes from the Chahar tribe." Jin Wen said with a smile.
"That's right." Lu Zhuo snorted, "How else could such authentic mutton come from in the capital?"
"Then where do you think smallpox came from?"
"What nonsense?" Lu Zhuo immediately put down Kuai Zi: "Beijing is full of mutton-eating people, that's impossible."
"Brother Lu, he lied to you."
Yu Chenglong smiled and picked up a piece of mutton: "This mutton hot pot has left the capital. I don't know when I can eat it again."
"It's still the capital after all." Jin Wen sighed: "A few years ago, a plague spread in Jin Province, and the dead spread across counties and counties, and the official roads and ditches were full of corpses..."
"There is no cure for the plague like cowpox."
Lu Zhuo shook his head and Yu Chenglong remained silent.
"No matter how difficult it is to build a nation, just endure it, you will always get through it."
In the face of such natural disasters, human beings are so insignificant.
"Thank you, Your Majesty -" Yu Chenglong stood up, cupped his hands toward the north, and couldn't help but admire him.
"Long live your Majesty——"
Suddenly, cheers like this started one after another in the courtyard, and people's hearts surged.
In early April, news came from Chahar Ministry that the spread of the cowpox method stopped smallpox in the grassland for the first time.
The source was stabilized and Beijing opened up again.
However, this campaign against smallpox greatly expanded the emperor's prestige among the people, and people praised him.
The Ming Dynasty's communique did not miss any details. It vigorously advocated the emperor, disclosed the cowpox method, and popularized measures such as isolation and garbage cleaning, which caused huge repercussions throughout the world.
