Just after Muchuan was about to take the order, someone else jumped out to stop him. It was Zhang Zicheng, the imperial censor.
Zhang Zicheng, wearing a Xie Zhi official robe and a black square hat, asked Muchuan: "What good strategy does the Minister of Hubu have to quell this plague?"
Muchuan was not very familiar with Zhang Zicheng, but he knew that he had been impeached many times by the other party over the issue of official salaries.
This time Zhang Zicheng's tone was irritable, and it was clear at first glance that he was here to provoke and cause trouble, so Muchuan responded: "Don't take good strategies, but there are a few crude strategies."
How to deal with plague?
It's very simple, just follow modern methods.
In modern history, infectious diseases such as cholera, smallpox, and the Black Death have appeared many times, and sufficient life-saving strategies have been accumulated for this purpose.
The first step is to detect cases, identify the infected persons, and carry out relevant isolation and control measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
The next step is to carry out intensive medical treatment. It may be difficult to save with ancient treatment techniques, but after all, this is human life, and you must try your best no matter what. If you really can't save it, you can only kill it.
By following this method, the plague can be controlled with minimal losses and avoid greater property and human casualties in Gyeonggi Province.
Zhang Zicheng smiled coldly: "This method sounds feasible, but I have a better way!"
Now that we know that the vector of plague is rats, we should immediately order the eradication of all rats in the city. The source of spreading the disease will disappear and the plague will naturally dissipate.
When Zhang Zicheng proposed this strategy, he immediately caused all the civil and military officials in the court to applaud and marvel, saying that this method was far better than Muchuan's.
Hou Junji said: "Your Majesty, I think what the imperial censor said is very wonderful, and it is much more effective than the method proposed by the minister of household affairs."
Shangguan Jin: "That's right! If we adopt the method of the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it will cost the court countless silver taels to deal with the plague! It is better to follow the method of the imperial censor."
Lin Sanshan: "The Minister of Hubu is still young after all, and his ideas and actions are far inferior to those of the Imperial Censor."
Officials who had a bad relationship with Muchuan jumped out to criticize him one by one.
In fact, on the surface, Zhang Zicheng's method is indeed good. The question is, can they find the mouse?
Although there is an outbreak of plague in Gyeonggi Province, rats are rarely seen in the city, so even if you want to exterminate rats, you can't do it!
However, after Muchuan bluntly stated this, it actually aroused even more heated discussions among the courtiers.
If the disease is spread by rats, but there are no rats in Gyeonggi Province, then where did the disease originate?
For a time, the "Mu Chuan's conspiracy theory" became very popular, and everyone felt that Muchuan had bad intentions when he raised this matter.
Zhang Zicheng, the imperial censor, even said bluntly: "Why do you have such good intentions, Minister of the Ministry of Finance?
If there were no rats, there would be no plague. How could you not know such a simple and easy-to-understand truth?
I suspect that you are deliberately creating panic and want to destroy the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty!"
One person made an accusation, and others followed suit like followers.
Ouyang Yifan was right next to Muchuan. As the Minister of Household Affairs, he felt bad when he saw such a scene, so he said, "Sir, I'm afraid this plague incident will not go as smoothly as we thought."
"Is it weird?
Hou Junji, Shangguan Jin and the others are just unhappy with me, and if they can find a reason to attack me, they will definitely not show mercy."
"Then Sir, what should we do next?"
"It's not what we should do, but what your Majesty should do."
When Muchuan and Ouyang Yifan were talking in a low voice, they especially looked at Li Shimin in the distance.
Li Shimin was looking anxious and uneasy. I'm afraid he couldn't make up his mind in the face of such panic.
On one side is the important minister Muchuan, and almost everything he predicts will come true.
But now what Muchuan said is indeed a bit bizarre. Obviously there are not even rats, which are the most basic means of transmitting diseases. Where did the plague come from? No wonder the courtiers were so dissatisfied.
If Li Shimin ignored the wishes of his courtiers and agreed to Muchuan's plan to eradicate the plague, other courtiers might think that Li Shimin was unfairly protecting Muchuan.
However, my brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, stepped forward and proposed another plan: "Your Majesty, there are many doubts about this matter. Why don't you send someone to investigate carefully before making a decision?"
First of all, no one could tell whether the plague would occur. Although Li Shimin believed in Muchuan, he at least had to provide evidence that could convince the public.
Otherwise, even the most basic rats would not be found, and the plague would be out of the question.
At this time, Changsun Wuji's proposal just met Li Shimin's idea. He waved his long sleeves and said: "I will leave the investigation to Captain Changsun, and the matter has been settled."
Time passed by, and two hours passed just like that.
After the morning court, Muchuan, Ouyang Yifan, Mo Zhu and others returned to the official residence of the Ministry of Revenue.
There is a small side room in the backyard of the official residence. This is Muchuan's daily resting place. Green tea, pastries, and books are all prepared. It is simply a recreation room.
Muchuan was sitting on a chair, drinking green tea and eating sweet-scented osmanthus cake made by Temujin with a face full of joy.
In comparison, Ouyang Yifan and Mo Zhu were depressed and seemed to have something on their minds.
Seeing Muchuan eating so happily, Ouyang Yifan asked: "Sir, how come you are still in the mood to eat?
The plague issue has been put aside, don’t you care?”
Mozhu: "Yes, sir, if it is true as you said, the plague outbreak will plunge the entire Gyeonggi Province into dire straits, you should think of a way early."
It is said that the emperor is not anxious but the eunuchs are. Even Li Shimin said that he must investigate carefully. What are the two "eunuchs" anxious about?
Muchuan rolled his eyes and said: "First of all, the plague didn't happen so quickly, and even if it needs to be prevented, I can't make the decision. Doesn't this require the emperor's authorization?"
Muchuan waved his hands at the two of them, asking them to calm down for a while. If they had time to be anxious, it would be better to calm down, eat something and rest.
Obviously Ouyang Yifan quickly accepted the reality of the situation, nodded and said: "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense, there is no point in rushing. We should wait for the results of the Taiwei's investigation first."
Mo Zhu did not have such a good attitude as Ouyang Yifan, and he even began to doubt Muchuan.
Without rats, where would the plague come from?
It was this principle that made Mo Zhu also begin to doubt whether Muchuan had made a mistake.
"Sir, do we also need to participate in the investigation?
Although your words often come true, my lord, the plague is no small matter."
