afterglow

Chapter 291 Powerless;
Because the current situation is not suitable for Zhu Liqie to recover from his injuries in Shanghai, the original plan was to take the express train back to the capital as soon as possible the next day.

That is, the experimental electrified railway used to show off the level of technology.

But the crown prince's current physical condition made everyone face a difficult situation—should he continue to stay in the hospital for treatment due to sudden high fever, or should he be sent to the capital?
"When you return to Beijing, you can't stay in other places for a long time." Zhu Liqie, who is still in a clear mind, made a very firm decision.

Accompanied by the medical team, he was carried on a stretcher onto the train named "Jiechen", and galloped towards Yingtianfu, the capital, at an average speed of 150㎞/h.

At first, the doctors used the conventional prescriptions of Xiaochaihu Decoction and Baihu Decoction step by step, and applied Shufadingji, that is, sulfadiazine, after it was determined that it was a wound infection.

As a result, Zhu Liqie's symptoms seemed to be under control, and his body temperature dropped from 39°C to about 37.8°C.

But to the horror of the doctors, the three wounds on his body showed obvious edema in just one night, showing an expansive, blue-purple color in different shades, which was very frightening.

"What kind of highly poisonous germ is this? Why is it so terrifying?" A middle-aged nurse couldn't help exclaiming.

"It's progressing so fast? This is definitely not an ordinary bacterium! Quick! Take a sample, culture and observe!"

"Yes!"

After being sent to Tai Hospital, the imperial doctors and accompanying doctors talked for a long time, and finally connected this situation with some previous cases.

This should be a dangerous vibrio infection, which occurs frequently in coastal areas in hot seasons, but the details are unknown.

By dipping the body fluid of the wound for rapid culture, the doctors observed the culprit under the optical microscope-a long strip-shaped Vibrio.

Although it was not officially identified until the 70s in history, the existence of Daming has affected many things, such as the discovery of Vibrio vulnificus decades in advance.

The officers and soldiers of the Nanyang Fleet had many such cases, and the highest-ranking officer who was disabled was a captain and submarine captain.

At that time, when the submarine was surfacing and recharging on a routine cruise, the crew was idle fishing to pass the time, and the captain scratched his hand with a fin when he was struggling with a sea fish that was hoisted up.After the onset of the disease, the captain was taken back to Qiongzhou Naval Base by seaplane, and eventually had to amputate his limbs to save his life.

Fortunately, many cases died of systemic septicemia before even three days.

Vibrio vulnificus is a heat-loving, cold-loving, halophilic bacterium that generally invades and infects the human body through skin wounds.

Even in the age of antibiotics, this is a pretty deadly bacterium.Once infected, the mortality rate within 48 hours is as high as 50%.Moreover, the onset speed is fast, and the enzymes produced by it can decompose and destroy human tissues, causing extensive congestion, edema, and necrosis.

At the same time, it can cause sepsis, and patients will have symptoms of systemic poisoning, multiple organ failure, and eventually death.

And what makes people in this era even more desperate is that 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 number of negative bacteria Penicillin works.

Marine Vibrio vulnificus is naturally not included in this list, and it can be said that it directly sentenced the patient to death.

"Don't hide it, tell me if it can be cured now?"

"Hmm...Your Highness, these germs are very vicious, and they are close to death, but I will do my best..."

Zhu Liqie got angry very rarely, and said angrily: "I said, don't talk nonsense, tell the truth! It's about the country, life and death, what is there to be taboo about?"

The court judge was silent for a while, feeling that it was difficult to speak, and finally managed to squeeze out a few words, "There is little hope."

Zhu Liqie, who still had a ray of anger on his face, didn't react too much when he heard the words. He lowered his half-raised hand again, stared out the window for a few seconds, and asked, "How long...how long can I last?"

"It's hard to say, maybe there are still a few days, but usually in the end you will continue to be in a coma due to high fever."

There was a long silence in the ward, and I don't know how long it has passed.

"How is Your Majesty doing now?"

"Already awake, 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 intensive care ward where the emperor was.

With the use of hemostatic drugs and cerebral antihypertensive drugs, as well as some master-level acupuncture, the emperor's illness has been considerably controlled, thanks to the fact that the bleeding site and the amount of bleeding are not serious.

However, he is still recuperating on the sickbed, and the rubber hose connected to the ventilator is still inserted in one nose.

"Your Majesty, the prince has arrived." A servant reminded in a low voice.

Zhu Liqie, who looked very weak, walked in slowly step by step, and then sat on a chair beside him.

"If you feel unwell, press the button on the wall next to it, and we'll come in right away."

It was obvious that the father and son wanted to agree on 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's right limbs are uncoordinated, and it is quite difficult for him to speak.

This can only be improved by a long rehabilitation training.

The father and son looked at each other for a long time, but they didn't speak. There was an uneasy silence in the ward, only the "click" and "wheeze" sounds of the instrument.

Apparently Zhu Shiyan had already learned about his son's situation at the moment—the infection was extremely dangerous, and he was almost dead.

After a while, he sighed with great pain: "I thought...surviving a catastrophe...would...be a good thing."

"I'm afraid this is really God's will." Zhu Liqie said with a self-deprecating wry smile: "God really gave me face after a lot of ups and downs."

At first, he was infinitely close to death, but escaped by chance, but then he was sentenced to "death sentence", which made people who had not yet calmed down feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

Looking at his son's face, Zhu Shiyan suddenly thought of what happened more than 500 years ago - after Prince Yiwen died of illness, Emperor Taizu Gao was deeply saddened.

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 Liqie said seriously: "Okay, father, it's pointless to sigh now, it's time to weigh the future."

"The affairs of the army are extraordinary, and the important tasks of military aircraft are extremely labor-intensive, and I will not be able to afford them in the future." Zhu Shiyan said frankly: "Tightening up the power in the country will have disadvantages rather than benefits."

First of all, military power is no small matter. Whether it is the United States or France, as the head of a country, the highest command power rests with the head of state himself.Can be appointed, but never let go.

Secondly, all kinds of affairs during the war are too heavy, and there may be emergencies to be dealt with at any time. If you are not energetic or healthy, you can't last long at all.

Even though Zhu Shiyan has been very "smooth" and seemingly moderate in many political affairs for decades, he has always held the general power tightly.

If the military power is really gone, the rest of the power will soon follow, then it will really be ruled by the arch.

Even Emperor Wanli, who was criticized for being lazy and slack in government, has always been very concerned about the handling of important military affairs, but other political affairs... are really procrastinating.

Zhu Shiyan knew that his physical condition would not be able to bear the heavy burden after the war broke out. Although he was also greedy for power, compared with the safety of the country and the country, his personal desires still had to be set aside a little bit.

Otherwise, it will be severely recorded in the history books, and it will also violate the emperor's basic duty-to ensure the continuation of the dynasty.

Besides, it might cause sudden death due to exhaustion.

When I was young, I was turbulent and frightened, and then I worked hard for more than [-] years. When I was old, I walked before the gate of hell, and I was right for my ancestors and the world.

Therefore, you should abdicate both emotionally and rationally. This is good for the country and good for yourself.

"What about after that? You abdicate and give up power, who will become the great treasure?" Zhu Liqie was puzzled and worried, "That kid Lixuan has no experience at all, and he has no time to teach him from scratch."

The emperor is also a profession that requires learning and training. The little prince Zhu Lixuan has never been used as a backup for the prince, so naturally he has not received an emperor's education.

Even without the basic knowledge of politics, he studied serious geography at Gezhi University.

Although the upper limit of an emperor depends on personal talent, the systematic emperor education can determine the lower limit, unless one is born with extraordinary power.

Typical examples are Emperor Chongzhen and Emperor Jiajing.

The king of faith, Zhu Youjian, has no educational foundation at all, and a series of actions after he succeeded to the throne are well known, and he has been played around by the princes.

In contrast, the performance of Zhu Houcong, the son of King Xing, was completely different. Although he was only 14 years old at the time, he was indeed very talented.

"Him? It's true...it's not right, but...there is really no suitable candidate right now."

"Let Ning You be regent." Zhu Liqie breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks to her sudden whim (going into politics) you didn't stop her, otherwise it would be even more difficult now."

His proposal seemed to undo Zhu Shiyan's thinking. The latter closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, and said calmly: "How can an adult emperor be regent? This is a hidden danger."

"Li Hyun is also quite smart, and after a few years of studying in office, he can become independent."

Zhu Shiyan took a deep look at his son, and sighed, "You...are really burnt out."

Son, you have been playing games with those greedy and eager to expand for so many years, do you think that the combination of the puppet emperor and the regent princess can stabilize the government?
It is true that Zhu Liqie was still running a fever. T cells, B cells, and K cells alone could not stop the vicious marine Vibrio vulnificus from proliferating wildly in his body, and the sulfadiazine injected into his body only inhibited part of the Vibrio vulnificus. That's it, the remaining drug-resistant Vibrio vulnificus is still multiplying rapidly.

His time is running out.

"What else can I do? The clan's children are useless." Fever makes people exhausted, and Zhu Liqie racked his brains and couldn't think of any other royal family members who are suitable to inherit the great rule.

The clan can do business, but how can the small amount of funds given by the imperial court support the lives of the clan's children who are accustomed to spending money like dirt?Most of them went into business to make money.

Zhu Shiyan didn't say anything, just stared at his son calmly.

The eyes of the two met, and they just stared at each other for a second, two seconds, three seconds...

The tacit understanding between father and son was still there for many years, and Zhu Liqie, who was still confused at first, suddenly understood the deep meaning of the emperor.

God!Unheard of ah.

Oh no, recall the history books, there are still some in history, but since Tang Zhongzong and Princess Anle, no one has ever proposed this move.

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 the 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 toddler...

"There is a folk saying that is true. 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 Liqie sighed.

"..." Zhu Shiyan was silent, speechless.

Later, Zhu Liqie was helped to leave, because the princess and her children came to visit, and the last time would still fall with his wife after all.

At the same time, in Zhongcheng District, Princess Ningyou's Mansion.

There is still a very pale yellow in the western sky, and the rest of the sky has been completely shrouded in darkness.

The brightly lit Yingtian Mansion in the capital could not see the brilliance of the stars, except for a few stars that were bright enough, the faint light of the rest was covered by the scattered light from the ground.

Zhou Changfeng, Fang Shujun, Luo Fu, and Su Yiyi lined up on the left and right sides of the front, and Zhu Lingjing, who was expressionless, sat on the chair in the middle.

Although her face was extremely calm, under the illumination of the indoor lights, the tears in the corners of her eyes were slightly flickering.

From Zhou Changfeng's point of view, people like Zhu Lingjing are usually not likely to have significant emotional fluctuations. After all, politicians are cold-blooded animals.

But it was clear that she still couldn't contain her grief.

"What a trick," she sighed.

In fact, everyone has been standing here for more than ten minutes. I don't know why Zhu Lingjing summoned me here, but no one asked questions. Everyone knew how sad she was.

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 was too outrageous. He survived the crash but died of infection?
Although it is considered to be in line with the practice of the Ming Dynasty - the emperor of the Ming Dynasty is easily soluble in water, but 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 Vibrio vulnificus, and he didn't know that penicillin was ineffective against it. This was destined to be only one-sided expectation and regret.

"Cough—" 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 ruling and opposition parties. I am afraid that you will have to work a lot harder recently."

Zhou Changfeng's focus was a little strange, he felt that Zhu Lingjing's tone and wording were much more polite than before.

In any case, the emperor turned the crisis into safety, the backbone is still there, and everything is still within the controllable range.

I hope that the crisis brought about by this indiscriminate disaster can be properly resolved. China can no longer miss such an opportunity.

(End of this chapter)