CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 311: HUA TUO_1

「Deep into the night!」

「Within the imperial study!」

Qin Wudao, dressed casually, sat cross-legged, his aura calm. System, summon Hua Tuo! he quietly thought.

WHOOSH...

A gentle breeze blew in through the window, causing the candles inside the room to flicker constantly.

"Such a rich medicinal fragrance!"

Qin Wudao took a deep breath; the rich scent of medicinal herbs filled his nostrils. The exhaustion from a day’s work instantly dissipated, leaving his whole body feeling relaxed.

A ripple appeared in the Void, and an old man with white hair slowly emerged. He leaned on a cane and was dressed in humble, patched clothing, looking like an ordinary old man. However, a mysterious aura emanated from him, making one feel extremely comfortable.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Hua Tuo carefully observed Qin Wudao and bowed with respect. Despite his aged voice, it carried a sense of vitality.

"Rise!" Qin Wudao lifted his hand, releasing a gentle force that helped Hua Tuo up. He then asked with a smile, "You were staring at me just now, Minister. Did you discover anything?"

"Your Majesty’s vitality is as robust as a dragon’s, and there is nothing truly amiss. However, the corners of your eyes reveal fatigue, likely due to the burdens of state affairs!" Hua Tuo replied.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes diagnosis through observation, listening and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. He could roughly judge Qin Wudao’s condition with just one glance.

He’s right. I’ve been focused on attacking the Ancient Court of the Sea lately and haven’t rested properly in a long time! Qin Wudao secretly marveled. The fatigue in his eyes was very subtle; probably not even a powerful realm ruler could detect it, yet Hua Tuo had seen through it instantly.

Meanwhile, he began to examine Hua Tuo’s information.

Name: Hua Tuo

Cultivation Level: First Transformation Saint King Realm

Cultivation Technique: "Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor"

Profile: A renowned medical scholar from the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He devoted himself to medical research rather than politics and invented the Powder for Anesthesia and the Five Animal Frolics. Making significant contributions to Huaxia’s medical field, he was revered as a ’Divine Doctor.’ In his later years, he incurred Cao Cao’s suspicion, was jailed, and tortured to death.

"By the way, have you ever heard of the Curse of Tao?" After reading the information, Qin Wudao couldn’t help but ask.

"Yes, I have. People afflicted by the Curse of Tao are known as the forsaken. Their lifespans are short, and they cannot be healed by ordinary extraordinary means!" Hua Tuo pondered.

"Do you have a solution?" Qin Wudao asked, his eyes fixed eagerly on Hua Tuo.

"In my life, I have saved countless people. I can snatch lives back from the King of Hell and even revive the dead..." When it came to his medical skills, Hua Tuo was filled with pride and confidence.

Even Qin Wudao listened with shining eyes, his blood boiling. Could it be that Hua Tuo alone can heal the Curse of Tao?

However, Hua Tuo’s spirit soon wilted like a frosted eggplant. He said dispiritedly, "But when faced with the Curse of Tao, I cannot completely heal it. Despite half a lifetime of deep contemplation, I have only found a mere hint of a solution. If there were a few peers with comparable medical skills, perhaps we could decipher it!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wudao’s mood, which had soared, plummeted as if on a roller coaster. It seemed he still had to follow the system’s guidance. Only by gathering the insights of the Divine Doctor, the Saint Doctor, and the Doctor King could the Curse of Tao be solved.

"I have disappointed Your Majesty!" Seeing Qin Wudao’s silence, Hua Tuo showed a trace of shame.

"Minister, do not blame yourself. It is I who was too impatient!" Qin Wudao shook his head, his disappointed mood quickly returning to normal. He then loudly ordered, "Issue a decree! Bestow upon Hua Tuo the rank of second-grade minister. Establish the Imperial Physician Institute, and appoint him as its dean!"

The majestic voice echoed above the imperial palace, reaching the ears of many officials.

"The Imperial Physician Institute? What’s that?" Inside the Deliberative Pavilion, an official working overtime asked, feeling very unfamiliar with this newly formed institution.

"It should be related to medical skills, much like the previous physicians, for treating people!" Zhuge Liang, also working overtime, explained with a smile.

"Won’t the Imperial Physician Institute conflict with the Elixir Pavilion then?" another minister asked, momentarily stunned. "The Elixir Pavilion also has the function of treating illnesses. Isn’t establishing an Imperial Physician Institute redundant?"

"Watch your words! His Majesty must have an important reason for establishing the Imperial Physician Institute. You should all stop speculating. Finish your tasks quickly and go home to rest!" Zhuge Liang yawned, stretched his neck, and continued to review the memorials.

Ever since the military campaigns abroad began, the number of memorials on his desk had almost doubled. Each one concerned critical matters and required prompt attention. He had practically been sleeping in the Deliberative Pavilion lately!

「The next day, a grand court meeting!」

All civil and military officials gathered to discuss the governance and development of the newly occupied areas. Officials of the third rank or above stood within the imperial hall. The ranks of civil officials were more numerous, while many military commanders were still engaged in battles outside and had not yet returned. As for officials below the third rank, they stood outside the hall, awaiting their orders; they had been summoned primarily for new appointments.

"The Emperor has arrived!" A red-robed eunuch stepped forward, shouting in a high-pitched voice.

Qin Wudao, dressed in his imperial robe, strode towards the imperial throne. He glanced down at the assembled officials, his majestic aura filling the imperial hall, exuding the demeanor of an ancient emperor.

After a brief exchange of formalities, the court meeting officially began.

"Your Majesty, this campaign has resulted in the occupation of fifteen Dao Domains," Zhuge Liang reported loudly as he walked to the center of the hall. "These include six ordinary Dao Domains, eight king-level Dao Domains, and one emperor-level Dao Domain. Consequently, our domain has doubled in size!"

This data had been compiled by him while working overtime the previous night and was known to only a select few.

HISS...

Upon hearing this, all civil and military officials couldn’t help but gasp. They had anticipated an increase in territory, but they hadn’t expected it to double. Good heavens! If one only considered territorial area, they had already surpassed the Kylin Holy Land to become the largest power in the East Border! the officials marveled internally.

"Address the existing problems directly!" Qin Wudao said calmly, after a moment of private astonishment.

"Your Majesty, post-war reconstruction requires a vast number of personnel. My initial calculations indicate a shortfall of over three million local officials. Furthermore, we need to establish local armies totaling over thirty million soldiers and recruit hundreds of millions of Government Officials..." Zhuge Liang took out a report and read for over an hour. The crux of the matter was a shortage of personnel—an extreme shortage.

After all, to establish the local administrative system of the Greater Qin Divine Court in the newly occupied Dao Domains, they certainly couldn’t use local personnel; officials had to be dispatched by the imperial court.

We’re short of so many people! Qin Wudao frowned slightly, also feeling a headache. Although some individuals had been cultivated through the academy and imperial examinations over the years, the numbers were still far from sufficient. He found that the Qin Dynasty’s reserves of talent could never keep pace with its expansion.

"So be it," Qin Wudao thought for a moment before commanding authoritatively. "Officials will be dispatched by the imperial court. The forty-three local legions will be stationed temporarily in the newly occupied Dao Domains, and the court will endeavor to form new armies swiftly. As for the ordinary Government Officials, they can be selected locally."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhuge Liang acknowledged the order. Without returning to his position, he produced another thick report and continued, "Your Majesty, this war has caused the economy in the newly occupied regions to regress considerably, resulting in tens of billions of displaced people. The court needs to pacify them. This will, on one hand, help win over the populace and, on the other, prevent rebellion..."

This time, not only Qin Wudao but many officials in the imperial hall also felt a headache. Especially the officials from the Ministry of Household; it wasn’t just a headache for them, but heartache. This is all money! they lamented inwardly.