Back to the end of the Ming Dynasty to engage in infrastructure construction

Chapter 128 Give Xu Guangqi a lesson

There is a statistic that the epidemic claimed the lives of 20 people in the capital, and the population of the capital at that time was estimated to be between 80 and 100 million.

In other words, for every four to five people, one person died.

So that after the plague, people in the capital dare not go out at dusk.

Every time dusk falls, ghosts haunt the streets.

This "can be called a super plague", not only did soldiers, hawkers, and hired workers die in large numbers, but even beggars were no longer found in the capital.

Even worse were the soldiers guarding the capital.

Let’s not talk about those who get sick and die.

Many of those who survived were carried over after illness.

Because of the shortage, the physical fitness of the soldiers and civilians was already very poor, and after getting sick, their bodies became even weaker.

It was the 16th year of Chongzhen.

A few months later, Li Zicheng's army came to the capital.

In history, when Li Zicheng's army entered Beijing, he did not encounter decent resistance, which is not normal in the first place.

The dignified capital has been operated by the Ming Dynasty for more than 200 years, with a deep foundation.

Even when the dynasty is in decline, the capital is not so easy to take down.

One of the most important reasons is that the capital city has just been swept by the plague, leaving ten rooms and nine empty rooms.

The death and injury of the soldiers of the Beijing camp did not count, and most of the survivors were recovering from serious illnesses and were too weak to fight.

In the end, Li Zicheng took advantage of it.

However, Li Zicheng did not live up to it. After entering the city, he began to torture officials and kill gentry indiscriminately, so that he lost the hearts of the people.

At a time when everyone thought that he was destined by destiny and that the new dynasty must be Dashun, he was suddenly entered by Manchu cavalry and picked peaches...

The wheels of history are rolling.

In necessity, there are many accidents.

It is these accidental factors, as well as the humiliation brought to the Han children after more than 200 years, that make people sigh and feel aggrieved.

And now, it is only the fifth year of Chongzhen.

It is 16 years away from Chongzhen, and there are still 11 years to go.

At this time, the Ming Dynasty was already in its twilight state, but there were still many famous generals who could fight. The imperial army was chasing and killing traitors all over the country, killing all the anti-kings crying for their fathers and mothers.

Even with Xu Guangqi's knowledge, he didn't think the capital would be in any danger.

Zhao Cheng did not explain why a great plague could become an important factor in the fall of the capital.

Because it is not clear at all now.

"Mr. Zhao has a way to save the world?"

Xu Guangqi cupped his hands towards Zhao Cheng with a sincere expression.

"Disaster."

Zhao Cheng shook his head and sighed.

"The plague has begun to break out now, and it will inevitably invade half of Ming Dynasty with a rapid fire. Master Xu should be the most clear about the financial situation and organizational capabilities of the imperial court.

The treasury is empty, and the imperial power does not go to the countryside, so it is simply unable to organize the people to fight the disaster. "

Xu Guangqi looked at Zhao Cheng with even more admiration and appreciation.

Sure enough, he is an expert in the world.

As a central minister, he naturally knows the situation of the court well.

It is amazing that Zhao Cheng can understand so clearly.

"Mr. Zhao lives in Xuanfu Town, a small official of a hundred households, but he can know everything about the world. He is really like Zhuge Kongming back then! He lives in a thatched hut, farming in Nanyang, but there is a gully in his chest, and he can calm down. Make a big plan to divide the world."

Xu Guang inspired admiration from the bottom of his heart.

He originally wanted to persuade Zhao Cheng that he had better speak carefully.

It is well known that the national treasury is empty, and it is nothing to talk about in private.

But the words "imperial power does not go to the countryside" are somewhat disobedient.

But thinking about it again, it seems normal for an expert like Zhao Cheng to say some arrogant words, and it also fits his status.

Xu Guangqi kept silent.

On Zhao Cheng's side, to be praised so much by Xu Guangqi, a well-known figure in later generations, he was still a little proud, and couldn't help being a little elated.

Xu Guangqi even changed his address from Zhao Baihu to Mr. Zhao.

"Master Xu has won the prize."

Zhao Cheng said modestly.

"The plague, the poorer the place where the outbreak broke out, the more terrible the consequences.

I have seen refugees digging out rat holes, snatching food from rats, and even eating rat meat...

Even knowing that there is a plague, how easy is it to ban them?

If they don't dig out rat holes or eat rat meat, they will starve to death on the spot. This is an inevitable thing.

However, it is not certain whether you will get the plague immediately after digging through rat holes and eating rat meat. "

Zhao Cheng's words made Xu Guangqi feel very heavy.

"So, it is almost impossible to control the plague from the root cause?"

"For the court, there is no solution. Because there are two ways to go, the court can't go.

One is to let the refugees settle down, have food to eat and clothes to wear, let them practice hygiene, and isolate them in time when they get sick.two is……"

Having said that, he paused slightly, his eyes were a little cloudy.

"Like the Tartars, kill those who have no food! Kill the sick and weak! Anyone who shows signs of illness will be killed and burned!"

The rat plague at the end of the Ming Dynasty dealt a great blow to Ming Dynasty, especially the Gyeonggi area, which seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer.

The impact on the Manchu Qing was minimal.

In the end, the Manchu iron cavalry was full of energy, led by Wu Sangui, and rushed to the capital.

Under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, it was not a paradise.

It's that their knives are fast enough, and they are brutal enough.

Under special circumstances, barbarism can also defeat civilization and advancement.

Xu Guangqi was silent.

Because he knew that what Zhao Cheng said was the truth, the court could not go through these two paths.

The former one is incapable.

"Everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and they all settle down. That is the way of great harmony that many capable ministers and people with lofty ideals pursue! How can there be such a paradise in this world?

It is even more impossible to kill the foodless.Don't say that His Majesty is not so cruel today, even if His Majesty wants to be cruel, the gentry ministers will not agree! "

Xu Guangqi could only smile wryly and sigh with emotion.

"Who said there is no such paradise in the world? In our stronghold, everyone has food to eat and clothes to wear." A small banner officer next to him said proudly.

"Oh?"

Xu Guangqi was stunned for a moment.

He's not in strong ground yet.

From what I can see along the way, Qiangdi is indeed very different from other places in Daming.

It can be said that everyone has food to eat, and everyone has clothes to wear...

He still didn't dare to think about that.

It's just that the little flag officer is flattering Zhao Cheng and flattering Zhao Cheng.

"Mr. Zhao can give porridge and rice to the refugees, and he can also give them new clothes. It is indeed an act of kindness. It can be passed down as a monument."

Xu Guangqi clicked his tongue in admiration.

At this time, if Zhao Cheng took the opportunity to make a request, he would definitely agree to do it himself and write a biography for Zhao Cheng.

Dangchaoge elder personally wrote the biography...

For people of this era, it is definitely a great temptation.

Because many people value their reputation more than their lives.

Elder Xu Ge personally wrote the biography, which will last forever!

Li Gaoyi looked at Zhao Cheng with envy.

Unfortunately, Zhao Cheng didn't mean to ask.

When Xu Guangqi saw this, he gave up, but he couldn't help but cast another high glance at Zhao Cheng.

When you are young, you don't admire fame and fortune.

It really is the demeanor of a real master.

"Mr. Zhao told the refugees to wash their hair with this medicinal soup. Is this medicinal soup to cure the plague?"

Xu Guangqi was very interested to see that some people wearing red armbands were distributing "medicine soup" to the refugees. It was mandatory for everyone to wash their hair with this medicine soup.

A little closer, there is a pungent smell.

But the color is extremely light.

"Yes. It's called dichlorvos, and it's highly poisonous. A small amount can be fatal. After diluting it with water, it can kill all kinds of parasites.

Not just washing your hair to kill fleas and lice.I also let people use it to spray people's residences and even streets to reduce mosquitoes in the environment.Mosquitoes are an important channel of plague transmission. "

Zhao Cheng explained while handing over a mask.

Inspired Xu Guang to wear the law.

Xu Guangqi is not a rotten Confucian, he is very interested in all kinds of "extraordinary obscenity and skill".

This new thing made him very interested.

"Well, the smell of this mask is much less after wearing it." Xu Guangqi nodded.

There are more refugees, and there is a smell of sweat and sourness in the air, which can't go away.

"Wearing a mask is not only to eliminate the smell, but more importantly, to prevent the spread of the plague.

Master Xu, do you know how the plague spread? "

Zhao Cheng is going to give Xu Guangqi a popular science.

On the one hand, it is to give the old man a blow and shock him.

On the other hand, Xu Guangqi held a high position, and his disciples and old officials were all over the world.

If Xu Guangqi can publish a book to promote the prevention of plague, the effect will definitely be very good.

There are many reasons why the great plague in the late Ming Dynasty was finally able to pass.

Taking the capital as an example, in the 16th year of Chongzhen, the plague broke out and reached its peak.

The specific death population should be between [-]% and [-]%.

The remaining or remaining people were already terrified and moved away from the capital in fright.

Therefore, ten rooms and nine empties are definitely not just exaggerations.

After the population is sparse and the living space is larger, the spread of the plague will naturally slow down.

Another reason is that a Fujian doctor invented the method of pricking blood with needles to treat the plague.

That is bloodletting treatment.

good results.

Although considering the current situation of Ming Dynasty, it is difficult to completely eradicate the plague.

But if the method of how to treat and prevent the plague is spread in the society on a large scale...

Always good.

Especially after it has been spread by such a prestigious population as Xu Guangqi, there will always be people who believe it, and then follow this method to do it.

It will definitely have a certain effect.

"Ask Mr. Zhao." Xu Guangqi kept his posture very low and spoke very politely.

"There are three main routes of transmission of the plague."

Zhao Cheng stretched out three fingers.

"The first is the transmission between rats and humans. Not only rats, but also rabbits and the like, they all have fleas on them, and rat flea bites are the main transmission route.

Second, it is transmitted through the skin, and a small number of infections can be caused by direct contact with the patient's sputum, pus, or the skin and flesh of sick animals through damaged skin or mucous membranes.

The third is droplet transmission.Plague in the sputum of patients with pneumonic plague can spread from person to person through droplets, resulting in a human-to-human pandemic. "

(End of this chapter)