"I plan to establish a medical college in Luoyang to teach people about medical knowledge." As Daniel Davis spoke, he waved his hands, and water from the nearby pond rose to form a series of buildings on the surface. These structures represented the concept of a medical college, far beyond the educational ideas of this era.
The concept of a school that surpassed the current era's understanding left everyone present deep in thought. When Daniel Davis mentioned that any child could learn there, Xu Ziling's eyes lit up with excitement.
Although it was called a medical college, it could easily be expanded into various types of academies.
The longer Xu Ziling spent with Daniel Davis, the more he admired him. In fact, if Daniel Davis were to ask, Xu Ziling would undoubtedly be willing to serve him, much like how he had admired Li Shimin in the original story. Compared to Li Shimin, Daniel Davis was undoubtedly far superior.
Having grown up as a street punk in the roughest neighborhoods of society and losing his parents at a young age, Xu Ziling never forgot the hardships he endured in the back alleys of Yangzhou, even after achieving incredible success and recognition.
"Young Master, this doesn't seem to have much to do with the women of the world. Is this just an excuse to keep Sister Qingxuan here?" Just as Lu Miaozi and Xu Ziling were envisioning the future Daniel Davis described, Wanwan's words brought everyone back to reality. Shi Qingxuan, in particular, seemed a bit embarrassed and lowered her head.
"I haven't finished speaking yet." Daniel Davis gave Wanwan a helpless look. He was certain that he didn't have the kind of thoughts Wanwan was implying.
"Do you know how many women die from difficult childbirths every year?"
Although Daniel Davis hadn't conducted a specific survey in this world, based on the data he had from the Qin Dynasty era, he was certain that the situation here was similar. After all, even after thousands of years, some things remained unchanged.
For example, medical knowledge was passed down only through master-disciple relationships or within families. If something went wrong, the knowledge could be lost. This was similar to how traditional Chinese medicine had declined in modern times due to such issues.
Other medical knowledge might have some continuity, but midwifery in this feudal world, even in a semi-high martial arts setting, was largely ignored. In an era dominated by Confucianism, few people paid attention to or studied this field.
In this era, childbirth was purely a matter of luck. Whether it was commoners, wealthy merchants, or even noble families, many women died from difficult childbirths. This was because, in such times, people didn't call for doctors during childbirth but instead relied on midwives.
Thus, in this era, childbirth was often described as "descending into hell" or "passing through the gates of death."
Of course, this was still a martial arts world. If a woman's strength was sufficient, she could avoid such problems. However, how many women had such strength?
"How could there be so many?" When Daniel Davis provided a rough estimate, everyone was shocked. This was the power of statistical data. Just like the wealth of the Buddhist sects, when not quantified, it was easy to ignore. But once the numbers were revealed, they were staggering.
"This is normal. After all, most people lack medical knowledge in this area. Even midwives rely solely on their experience. When faced with a difficult childbirth, they are often powerless. To solve this problem, we must first address the age at which women marry—they shouldn't be too young. We also need to educate people about relevant medical knowledge."
As for establishing hospitals and having childbirth take place in medical facilities, as in modern society, that goal was still too far off for this era. Things had to be done step by step.
The chaos of this era was also an excellent opportunity for Daniel Davis—a chance to reset the board. Establishing a new dynasty allowed for the creation of new rules, such as improving the status of women. In the Qin Dynasty, even Ying Zheng couldn't immediately elevate women's status or bring them into the imperial court.
However, Daniel Davis could take this opportunity to implement such changes directly.
"I'll think about it." After listening to Daniel Davis's explanation, Shi Qingxuan didn't immediately agree.
"No problem."
The reason for involving Shi Qingxuan in this work was her reputation. In this era, reputation was crucial. If a woman like Shi Qingxuan stepped forward, it would have a significant impact.
Of course, Shi Qingxuan's own medical expertise was also important. Although Lu Miaozi was skilled in medicine, he was occupied with mechanical arts and couldn't take on medical responsibilities.
In some ways, Shi Qingxuan's medical skills might even surpass Lu Miaozi's, as she had inherited knowledge from both her father, Shi Zhixuan, and Lu Miaozi. Initially, Daniel Davis had thought Shi Qingxuan's medical knowledge came from Lu Miaozi, but in reality, it was from Shi Zhixuan.
The next day, Daniel Davis, Wanwan, and the Twin Dragons left the Flying Horse Ranch ahead of Lu Miaozi and the others. Along the way, Daniel Davis and the Twin Dragons also parted ways.
"It seems the world is truly in chaos."
Not long after separating from the Twin Dragons, Daniel Davis learned from Wanwan about the recent state of the world. Yang Guang's death had spread throughout the land. Yuwen Huaji had installed Yang Guang's nephew as emperor and was now marching toward Chang'an.
Meanwhile, Li Yuan had declared himself a general and, under the command of his eldest son, Li Jiancheng, was leading his army to attack Chang'an. At this time, Chang'an was not yet under Li Yuan's control.
Originally, Daniel Davis could have obtained an edict from Yang Guang appointing him as the governor of Chang'an. However, after some consideration, he decided against it. While Chang'an was a strategic location, its disadvantages would soon become apparent. Didn't the later Tang emperors often move from Chang'an to Luoyang for food?
Chang'an's food supply relied heavily on the Guanzhong Plain. Although the Guanzhong Plain was known as a fertile region, it was small and had limited capacity. Once the population exceeded its carrying capacity or a drought occurred, food shortages would arise.
In fact, signs of food shortages in Chang'an had already appeared in this era. Emperor Wen of Sui had once moved from Chang'an to Luoyang due to food shortages.
Of course, this wasn't the main reason Daniel Davis left Chang'an. The food shortages plaguing the city were a problem the people of this era couldn't resolve due to transportation constraints. However, for Daniel Davis, this was not a significant concern. Even if he chose not to intervene, the eventual advent of mechanical Phoenixes and airships in the future would help alleviate Chang'an's food crisis.
The main reason Daniel Davis didn't choose Chang'an was the concentration of aristocratic families there. The famous Guanlong nobles and the "Five Surnames and Seven Clans" were largely based in Chang'an. Even the Li Clan had significant influence there, as it was the capital.
The concentration of aristocratic power was not conducive to imperial authority. Yang Guang had wanted to move the capital to avoid being constrained by them.
However, while Chang'an was a strategic location for others in this era, it was a liability for Daniel Davis. Didn't Yuwen Huaji and Li Yuan both head there? Whoever occupied Chang'an would gain a significant advantage in the struggle for supremacy.
Unfortunately for Yuwen Huaji, his luck wasn't as good as the Li Clan's. Li Yuan's attack on Chang'an succeeded quickly—or rather, it was negotiated.
Chang'an's unique geographical location made it extremely difficult to attack if defended resolutely. To the east was Tong Pass, to the west was Dasan Pass, to the south was Wu Pass, and to the north was Xiao Pass. Chang'an was situated within these four passes.
With such geographical advantages, even Li Shimin couldn't have captured Chang'an in just a few days. After occupying Chang'an, Li Yuan immediately submitted to the Turks, sending them lavish gifts and beautiful women.
Although this move was disgraceful, it eased relations with the Turks, giving Li Yuan time to consolidate his control over Chang'an. It also lowered his standing among other rebel forces, preventing them from targeting him immediately. For example, Liu Wuzhou, who had also submitted to the Turks, couldn't easily attack Li Yuan.
The temporary loss of reputation meant little to the Li Clan. As long as they could unify the world in the end, such sacrifices were insignificant.
Even though Daniel Davis had exposed the Temple of Compassion's "Choosing the Emperor" plan, not everyone believed it. Some saw it as Yang Guang's final conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the Temple of Compassion began to fight back, with various high-ranking officials and influential figures attempting to clear their names. However, while some things could be explained, Yang Guang's final words—"Bald donkey, how dare you compete with this Taoist for the nun"—remained unaddressed.
This phrase had become the hottest topic among those in the martial world. After all, it was a rare and juicy piece of gossip.
Of course, the Demon Sect had also been spreading this story. Neither Ning Daoqi, Liaokong, nor Fan Qinghui could publicly address the issue.
With Chang'an taken by Li Yuan, Yuwen Huaji had to settle for Wei County, where he repeatedly clashed with Li Mi's Wagang Army, inflicting heavy losses on Li Mi.
In the original story, Li Mi had dealt a devastating blow to Yuwen Huaji, plundering vast amounts of wealth from him. However, due to Daniel Davis's interference, Li Mi's forces were significantly weakened. Moreover, Li Mi's distrust of Xu Shiji and Shen Luoyan meant they weren't involved in the battles, leading to his inevitable defeat.
Du Fuwei, Li Zitong, and Shen Faxing fought over Yangzhou, with Li Zitong eventually capturing the city. Due to the Jianghuai Army's notorious reputation, the people of Yangzhou fiercely resisted Du Fuwei, leading to his defeat. The Bamboo Flower Gang allied with Li Zitong, forcing Du Fuwei out of the competition.
Shen Faxing was also eliminated. Although Li Zitong's reputation wasn't great, compared to Du Fuwei and Shen Faxing, he seemed relatively better. Of course, there might have been other factors at play, such as the involvement of the Song Clan.
Apart from these major players, numerous smaller rebel forces emerged. With Yang Guang's death, all sorts of self-proclaimed leaders appeared. Some even declared themselves emperors after capturing a single town, which was both ridiculous and short-lived.
The most peculiar situation was in Luoyang. After Yang Guang's death, many expected Wang Shichong to immediately declare himself emperor, much like Yuwen Huaji and Li Yuan, by installing a puppet emperor from the Sui royal family. After capturing Chang'an, Li Yuan had installed Yang You as emperor.
However, to everyone's surprise, Wang Shichong merely consolidated his forces and showed no intention of declaring himself emperor. When some of his subordinates urged him to do so, he executed them.
This surprising development led many to search for Daniel Davis, the mysterious figure from the Taoist Heavenly Sect. The Temple of Compassion, in particular, spared no effort in trying to find him.
Daniel Davis's collaboration with Yang Guang against them, combined with his potential control of Luoyang, posed a significant threat. If he continued to target them, not only would the "Choosing the Emperor" plan be ruined, but the Buddhist sects' current status might also be jeopardized.
"Li Shimin was assassinated? By the Shadow Assassin Yang Xuyan? How interesting."
As Daniel Davis and Wanwan made their way to Luoyang, Daniel Davis chose not to fly directly there using his sword. Instead, they traveled on foot, eventually arriving in Chang'an.
In Chang'an, the Demon Sect provided detailed intelligence on the Li Clan's internal affairs. Originally, Li Shimin was to lead the attack on Chang'an, as his military prowess far surpassed Li Jiancheng's. However, after Yang Guang's revelation that Li Shimin would one day kill his father and brothers for the throne, the Li Clan was thrown into chaos.
Although the incident hadn't occurred yet, and it was suspected to be part of Yang Guang's schemes, Li Yuan had only reduced Li Shimin's authority while strengthening Li Jiancheng's.
The Li Clan's military system operated under the Fubing System (militia system), where soldiers were mobilized through the use of military tokens. Even someone as influential as Li Shimin could only acquire these tokens from Li Yuan during wartime, effectively making rebellion nearly impossible.
Li Yuan was a man who valued family ties. Since Li Shimin hadn't made any mistakes, Li Yuan couldn't strip him of all his authority based on mere rumors.
Of course, this was one aspect. Another was that if the Li Clan wanted to unify the world, Li Shimin's talents were indispensable. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji lacked military aptitude.
However, on the eve of Li Shimin's planned expedition, the Shadow Assassin Yang Xuyan struck. Although Li Shimin was skilled in martial arts, he was no match for the stealthy Yang Xuyan. Unlike Xu Ziling, who had a keen sense of danger, Li Shimin couldn't detect the assassin in time.
At the critical moment, a hidden expert intervened, saving Li Shimin's life. However, Li Shimin was severely injured and unable to lead the expedition.
"Many Buddhist experts have died. It seems Shi Zhixuan has gone mad." In addition to the Li Clan's intelligence, the Demon Sect also reported on the Buddhist sects. Several grandmaster-level experts and temple abbots had been killed. Some well-known temples had even been wiped out, with the killer leaving behind the name "Evil King Shi Zhixuan."
This wasn't a frame-up. Shi Zhixuan had indeed carried out these killings. The news of Bi Xiuxin's death had spread far and wide, and Shi Zhixuan, who had deep feelings for Bi Xiuxin, couldn't remain silent. If not for his restraint, he might have stormed the Temple of Compassion to confront Fan Qinghui.
"It's said that the Four Great Holy Monks have been dispatched to hunt down Shi Zhixuan." Wanwan added.
With Shi Zhixuan's martial prowess, allowing him to continue his rampage would be disastrous for the Buddhist sects. After all, few in the world could match Shi Zhixuan's strength, and his Undying Seal Technique made him nearly invincible in group battles.
(End of Chapter)
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