Emperor Yu fell silent for a moment. As an emperor of the Li Family, he naturally wanted to maximize his family and imperial interests, but as the ruler of Yu Country, he also knew that Li Ang’s suggestion was the correct one.
Moreover, the perspective and opinion of the Academic Palace had to be considered.
Emperor Yu’s peripheral vision swept over the expressions of the Mountain Master and others. Mountain Master Lian Xuanxiao’s gaze was profound, revealing no emotion. Meanwhile, Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu and Doctor of Science Su Feng, though their eyelids were lowered respectfully, stood at the front of the table, tacitly agreeing with Li Ang’s opinion.
The Academic Palace had always been the institution that spanned the Former Sui and Yu Dynasties, having witnessed dynastic changes. It had seen with its own eyes the slaughter of the Former Sui Imperial Family and thus naturally would not possess the same absolute reverence and obedience to the Royal Family as those foolish commoners.
The interests and positions of the Academic Palace, the court, and the Royal Family were not always aligned.
It was a pity... Xi Yangyu was not here. He had also arrived in a hurry and hadn’t brought his close ministers who could echo his sentiments.
Emperor Yu heaved a silent sigh in his heart. In front of the Mountain Master, he couldn’t very well reject Li Ang’s request outright, so he had to say, "What if we give the medicine to merchants and sick houses for production, and the secret is stolen by foreign spies?"
"Your Majesty, should we forgo food for fear of choking?"
Li Ang stated frankly, "The plows, water wheels, and crop seeds invented by the Academic Palace in the past were also produced by merchants and craftsmen in the various State Mansions. Even if foreign spies were to steal them, they would not be able to comprehend and replicate them widely in the short term. Moreover, Allicin alone is not enough to completely cure Blood Sores and poisonous sores. It must be combined with the Incision and Drainage Technique."
Emperor Yu frowned and asked, "Incision and drainage?"
"This involves using a sterilized blade to cut open the infected abscess, allowing the accumulated fluid and pus to be drained from the body. Only by combining this with gauze and Allicin can the duration of the illness be shortened and the treatment objective achieved."
Li Ang said, "The Incision and Drainage Technique requires professional Doctors to perform it. It’s not something spies can learn just by watching. If that doesn’t work, we could also have the key components needed for extracting Allicin, such as condensers, vacuum introduction tubes, and vacuum pumps, be manufactured by the Construction Supervision of Chang’an City and regularly sent to each State Mansion. This way, each State Mansion would only know how to assemble and use the components, not how to manufacture them. This could also maintain secrecy to a certain extent."
With things having reached this point, Emperor Yu had no choice but to nod in agreement. When he thought about how the widespread adoption of Allicin would greatly reduce the mortality rate of the common people and soldiers, the little regret in his heart vanished like smoke.
"I agree to your request."
Emperor Yu said with a smile, "The Blood Abscess Medicine benefits the nation and its people; no amount of reward or encouragement for you would be excessive. Those were rewards from the state. You still haven’t said what you personally desire."
Li Ang, who had just been speaking so eloquently and even refuting Emperor Yu, paused.
What did he personally want... Xi Zhi Lang CC Fruit Jelly, perhaps? Or to become an astronaut?
"Fine Gold, Mystic Iron, Mountain Copper?" Li Ang said hesitantly. "I would like some precious metals to experiment with flight-capable devices."
Fine Gold was priced at ten times an equivalent amount of Gold and was often priceless due to its rarity. Even the largest auction houses in Chang’an City that occasionally had it in stock were required to register the buyer’s name and report the information to the Garrison.
"Just precious metals?" Emperor Yu asked in surprise.
"Yes," Li Ang confirmed with a nod, showing no interest in titles or official positions.
"Good. Tonight, the treasury will deliver the items. In addition, I will confer upon you the title of County Marquis."
Emperor Yu raised his hand, interrupting Li Ang. "You cannot refuse this title. Otherwise, the common people will accuse Us of unfairness in rewards and punishments."
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this profound grace."
Li Ang could only agree, though he did not pay much attention to it in his heart.
Although the title of Founding County Marquis was of the Standard Fourth Rank, it came with far fewer privileges than those afforded to Academic Palace Disciples. Moreover, since he wasn’t a member of the Imperial Family or related to them, he couldn’t enjoy the true economic benefits (an enfeoffment with actual revenue) that came with such a title. It sounded prestigious, but it didn’t have a significant practical impact on him.
As it turned out, Li Ang was mistaken.
Over ten days passed. When the news of his conferment as a Founding County Marquis spread, his residence in Golden City Square was once again swamped with visitors.
Countless people came to offer congratulations and gifts, their carriages clogging the streets so thoroughly that passage was impossible.
The well-informed Chang’an citizens, through the grapevine of innumerable aunts and uncles, had learned that Li Ang had developed a new medicine. And a medicine that could move the Emperor to confer a County Marquis title was, by any reckoning, a miraculous elixir capable of saving lives in dire situations.
It was widely known that the renowned Dr. Su Feng had only been granted the title of Founding County Baron at the age of thirty.
Outside Golden City Square, the air was filled with the clamor of gongs and drums and the hubbub of the crowd—people offering congratulations, seeking medicine, and even proposing marriage alliances.
Fortunately, several young masters from the Duke Yan Mansion once again stepped in to help Li Ang receive guests. Additionally, patrolling soldiers from the Garrison maintained order and dispersed the curious onlookers, causing the crowd outside Golden City Square to gradually thin.
"My sincere thanks, Eldest Son, Er Lang."
Li Ang sincerely thanked the young masters of the Yan Family with a bow.
Yan Dalang waved his hand, rubbing his sore shoulder. "It’s nothing. Risheng, with that Allicin you invented, fewer of our Yu Country comrades-in-arms will die on the battlefield. The entire army will be indebted to you. But truly, don’t you plan on hiring more servants and maids? For a Standard Fourth-Rank Founding County Marquis, your home is remarkably empty..."
"I’m just not used to having others around," Li Ang replied, using his usual excuse. After sending off the young masters of the Yan Family, he turned and exchanged a look with Chai Chai, and they both sighed.
As a County Marquis, he was, by convention, supposed to hire servants and maids, and have guards accompany him when he went out.
But the thought of suddenly having so many strangers in his house, being waited on for every meal and even for dressing...
That was just too strange.
In both this life and his memories from the Otherworld, Li Ang was unaccustomed to what people called "acting like a lord."
Servants and such... he would consider that later.
Li Ang shook his head and said to Chai Chai, "Go to sleep if you’re tired."
"Alright," Chai Chai nodded. "What about you, Young Master?"
"I still need to write some recommendations for the Imperial Medical Bureau regarding the management of sick houses. With a portion of the tax revenue from Allicin allocated to them, the State Mansion sick houses will finally be able to turn a profit and operate normally. With money, everything becomes much easier."
Li Ang smiled and waved his hand, sending Chai Chai off to wash up and go to bed. He then went to his study, spread out paper, and glanced under his desk at the large pile of Fine Gold ore.
Emperor Yu had kept his promise, sending Li Ang a large quantity of precious metals from the imperial treasury. The Academic Palace had also given him numerous rewards, including more metals, money, and academic credits.
If all these precious metals were converted into currency, they would amount to roughly five to six hundred thousand strings of coins. Considering that some items were priceless and had no established market, the actual value could be even higher.
With money, indeed everything becomes easier...
Li Ang resisted the urge to casually fiddle with the precious metals and focused on writing his recommendations for sick house management.
Now, he just needed to wait for the security personnel assigned by the Academic Palace to be withdrawn, and then he could formally resume feeding Mo Si.