I would like to use this chapter to pay tribute to all the medical workers who have braved life and death, fearlessly retrograde, stuck to their posts, and waited for us ordinary people during this epidemic and before, now and in the future!

————

Orleans.

It is no wonder that the royal brothers of all generations will be sealed in Orleans, Orleans is located in the center of France, only 30 francs from the heart of France, Paris, the heart of France, only need a day and night to reach the Louvre, driving horses will be faster, it is not only flat, rich in products, the first river in France, the Loire River is directly through the city, and the Loire River, a tributary of the Loire, flows from the bottom of Orleans.

It was born during the reign of Gaul, destroyed in the first century by war, and later rebuilt by the Roman Emperor Salerian, from which it takes its name "Orleans", which was the capital of France in the 10th and 11th centuries, and the last time it has been engraved in the hearts of the enemy, it was occupied by the English army in 1429, and although it was recaptured by Joan of Arc nine days later, it was an indelible shame for the French. In 1626, it was given to Henry IV's second son, Louis XIII's younger brother Gaston, of course, as we all know, he was always ambitious and unscrupulous, but his intrigues and rebellions were eventually destroyed by the bishop and the king, and finally died in exile in Blois with a grudge, he had no legitimate children, and eventually the title and title were inherited by Louis XIV's brother Philippe.

If Louis had wanted to, Gaston could have been put on the stage of Molière almost untouched, a careerist who, instead of getting what he had coveted, had left everything he had to the enemy's son.

It's just a bit embarrassing for the people of Orleans, who, when Louis was young, could bully the ruler who had no power as much as they wanted, and for Gaston's ambitions, they first held an attitude that bordered on the sidelines, and then deliberately erected the puppet of Gaston, Duke of Orleans—something Louis learned about much later—and perhaps you remember the "Daughter of Orleans" that the Duchess of Montpensier had acquired in Orleans at that time Although the Council of Orleans, driven by popular fanaticism, recognized the power of the Duchess of Montpensier in the city, when the Duchess returned to Paris and everyone calmed down, this power became a dead letter.

But if the people of Orleans want to fall this trick on the royal brother Philippe, it is very wrong, the Duchess of Montpensier has only her handmaiden by his side, the new Duke of Orleans has his own army, the king's generosity is not limited to lace and precious stones, and Philippe has learned from his royal brother that if not all, at least most of the time, the sword comes first, and then mercy- The Council of Orleans quickly submitted to the horse's feet of the royal brother Philippe, but it would be wishful thinking to say how willing they were, so the king did not hesitate to concentrate the Huguenots in Orleans and send the Bohemian witches here.

Orleans was home to many Huguenots, and the famous St. Croix Cathedral of Orleans is a large Protestant church, with no basin of holy water at the entrance, no kneeling stool in front of the chairs, no confession and Stations of the Cross, no signs of the Apostles, no altar crosses, glass paintings and statues almost all related to Joan of Arc, and colorful flags stretched diagonally from the stone pillars, which represent all the towns of Orleans.

It was dusk, and there were not many people in the church, and an old scholar was sitting on a pew, closed his eyes and meditating, although his expression was calm, but very serious, as if he was having a conversation with God that no ordinary person could know, but unfortunately, this scene was broken after a few minutes, and a man sat down beside him without permission, so close as to be unsettling.

"Don't talk about it," the middle-aged scholar said immediately, "I'm just a doctor, and I won't get involved in any political affairs." ”

"Even if it's for our faith?"

"For your desires. The middle-aged scholar said, "Don't say it, aren't you afraid to break your tongue before God?" ask yourself, if it were for the sake of faith, for the sake of the people, you should not start any rebellion," he said condemningly: "The saints have told us that when the end comes, the trumpet will be war, and then the famine will follow, and the famine will be followed by the plague, and they will be enveloped by never-ending death, so let the people of this land be at peace, and let the rivers be full of blood and corpses." ”

"Shouldn't the one who let the river be filled with blood and corpses first?!"

"Hatred is wildfire," the middle-aged scholar admonished him, "and no soul can be redeemed from it." ”

"I'd rather sink into purgatory with a traitor!"

The middle-aged scholar shook his head in disappointment: "Your king is not a tyrannical man, nor is he a stupid man, he has grown up and become strong, you can't afford his sword, stop it, as long as he is willing to admit the 'Edict of Nantes'." ”

"There are always things in this world that cannot coexist, and we, they, are like that, and we must only exist in one. ”

"Then let's go," said the middle-aged scholar, "I'm just a foreigner, and I can't help you in any way." ”

"You've disappointed me. ”

"That's what life is, kid. The middle-aged scholar said, the person next to him took a deep breath, pulled up his hood, got up from his chair, and disappeared faster than he had come.

————

Thomas Sidonham sighed, he was an Englishman, of course, a Protestant of course, but he really did not expect that he had been lucky enough not to be caught up in riots and intrigues when he was in London, but that he had encountered such a thing in Orleans, but as he had said, he hated any political or religious struggle, and would not have participated in it in any way.

And he's really just a doctor.

Born in 24 years and 46 years old this year, Dr. Sidonham was an Englishman, one of Charles II's royal physicians, and had his own estate and fame in London, but he was willing to accept the invitation of the King of France both because of the advice of Charles II and because he was attracted by the ideas expounded by Louis XIV. As we have described before, the seventeenth-century physician was more like a butcher than his real job, and their medical books were full of guanchang, bloodletting, soldering irons, and amputations, all kinds of surgeries, large and small, and Sidonham was contrary to this fashion, focusing more on the study and classification of the source of disease and the function of self-healing than surgery.

In his letters to friends, he did not approve of the physical anatomy and physiological experiments that many doctors admired, but rather the patient's description of the body, illness and past experience, and hoped to deduce the real culprit. Chorea (ergotomyces poisoning, an uncontrollable hand-dancing behavior caused by moldy wheat, which at the time would have been thought to be poisoned by the devil), rheumatism and hysteria.

The King of France said that he intended to set up a large hospital, sanatorium, academy, and a huge institution in Orleans, although even this idea was only a prototype now, but Sidonham arrived here day and night with the permission of Charles II, and the King of France was very sincere, and in view of the current tension, he even sent his most important musketeer guard to escort Dr. Sidonham all the way to Orleans.

The king's intended venue is in Blois, the valley of the Blois is the birthplace of the French royal family, the Château de Blois has been inhabited by seven kings and ten queens, and is regarded as the jewel in the crown, but since the royal family moved from Blois to Paris, Blois has become a place of exile, after the last exile, the Duke of Gaston, cursed to death in the castle, his wife and daughter also moved out of here, the castle has been vacant, and it has even been a little deserted in recent years - the castle is falling into decay faster than the residence- In just a few years, it was overgrown with grass and broken walls everywhere.

Louis remembered that it was because he couldn't decide where to place this hospital and college for a while, because this medical school and hospital might still do some research on infectious diseases in the future, and it couldn't be set in too densely populated places, nor could it be set in too remote places, after all, patients, equipment, and medicines all need convenient transportation, and there are also high requirements for water sources, and there are a lot of rooms, many rooms and wide fields— The last requirement was almost entirely met by the palace and the castle, and the Château de Blois entered Louis's choice.

No, it's not that this is the last choice, Sidonham came to Orleans, and it was to see if the Château de Blois could take on this important task, although as a doctor, he would like to see a king attach so much importance to the development of medicine, but Sidonham is also worried, after all, the significance of the Château de Blois is extraordinary, fortunately, the king of France also said that he only needs to give professional advice, and it was Louis XIV who made the final decision, which made Sidonham feel much more at ease.

Who knew that when he had just arrived in Orleans, someone would want to instigate him to become a nail in the coffin planted by the Huguenots next to Philippe, Duke of Orleans, and even to the King of France?

He's just a doctor!

Thomas Sidonham could not help but sigh again, and because he was constantly disturbed, he wrote a few days in advance to two other professionals trusted by the King, namely two other doctors, hoping to meet them at Blois as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, when the reply came, the messenger was reluctant to enter the inn where he lived, and brought a message asking him to pour liquor over the outer packaging of the letter before he could open it.

This message immediately alerted Sidonham, and he immediately complied with the other party's instructions, soaked the deerskin holster on the outside of the letter with strong liquor, and then opened the letter with gloves, the content of the letter was simple, that is, there was a sudden plague in the Breenne region south of Blois, and the two future colleagues all decided to stay there, observe and treat, and let him decide whether to go or not.

Of course! Sidonham did not hesitate to make a decision, he wrote a reply that resembled a short note for the messenger to take away, called his servants and disciples, and set out at once.

He met the men again at the inn, and looking at those grim eyes, Dr. Seatonham smiled, "You know I got a letter. ”

"Yes. The leader said.

"You stole it," said Sidonham, "but it is a pity that I have soaked it in spirits, and though I can still see the contents when I look at it, the handwriting will be blurred when you take it." ”

"That's why we're here. ”

"I think so. So do you know where it came from?"

"Blois?"

"Blois, too, is an endemic area. "Gentlemen," said Sidonham calmly, "that's why I soak it in spirits, which purify evil spirits," he looked at those eyes and suddenly panicked: "I don't know how many of you have touched it, but if there is, I advise you to lock yourselves in your room during these hours, not to see anyone, not to talk to anyone, not to open the windows at will, and not to excrete anywhere......"

Sidonham's disciple suddenly screamed as he saw the muzzle of the musket's black hole.

"What plague?!" the leader of the group drew his musket with lightning speed, and pointed it at Sidonham and shouted sharply.

"The biggest is probably smallpox. Seadonham said calmly, looking at the young faces: "I'll say it again...... Shut yourself up, especially if you have young children around...... Frail old man...... Slender woman ......"

"If you're just lying......" said the header.

"I wish it was a lie. "I'm going there, gentlemen, my colleagues are waiting for me there, and if you don't believe me, of course, come with me, but you know that once you're there, you don't want to come back here—at least not for a few months." ”

The men hesitated, and the leader, though resolute, heard words like "conspiracy," "lie," "pestilence," "the king's lackey," and so on, and although he spoke French, the French also had dialects, and the Parisian pronunciation was not the same as that of the Orleansians, and he was not sure, and while they were arguing, the old man was sitting in the carriage seat, and he dozed off.

Such a reaction certainly aroused the resentment of those people, who felt that they had been humiliated, but their leader stopped them: "You know there is smallpox, and where are you going? You are not even a Frenchman!"

"Ah, I know, it's dangerous, it's France, and I'm just a foreigner," Sidonham carefully wiped the corners of his mouth, he wasn't old enough to sleep anytime and anywhere, or rather, it was a long time since then, but he knew he had to recharge his batteries, because a long battle awaited him.

"But I'm a doctor. Seadonham said.

——————

Sidonham left the old town of Orleans, but to his surprise and dismay, the Huguenots, knowing that he was heading to the place where smallpox had occurred, had separated from a man who had followed him, and who was their leader, and who had managed to convince them, despite the persuasion of many to abandon the idea. At this moment, even Seaton Ham felt a little depressed: "Do you know what smallpox is?

The man nodded.

"Have you ever had this disease?"

"Nope. ”

"Do you know how dangerous it is, then?" said Sidonham, "well, sir, if you must follow, then turn back when you get to Blois, and you should be able to give up your suspicion of me when you get there." ”

The man waved his hat slightly: "Unfortunately, I don't think I can't." ”

"Hell yes, why!"

"Because I'm also a doctor. The man said lightly, "I can't tell you my name, but I can tell you that my surname is Chamborence." ”

"Chamborence?" Seadonham exclaimed, "Chamberlain?"

"My family did change their surname to this when they went to the UK. The man said: "I am only a side boy, and my father insisted on staying in Orleans when they left France." ”

"Oops, heck," said Seadonham with a sigh, "I didn't expect to meet a chamberlain here." ”

Speaking of the Chamberlain, they are famous in England, mainly because they have a special and genius skill in difficult childbirth, countless mothers and children have escaped from the clutches of the devil under their wonderful rejuvenation, but they cherish themselves and are never willing to share their secret technology with anyone, so that the British medical society has always been very dissatisfied and indifferent to them, but for people like Sidonham, he will never give up any knowledge related to medicine, and he has more than once ridden his horse through the narrow muddy streets just to catch a glimpse of the Chamberlain"Midwifery machine".

The machine and its owner arrived in a carriage to the maternity quarters, and no one could open it except Chamberlain and his son, and the wooden box containing the machine required two men to lift it, and the chest was decorated with gilded reliefs, covered with leather, and was a matter of great luxury, but what was inside, no one knew — Chamberlain was only willing to operate on the room when everyone except the mother was leaving, and during the operation, the woman's eyes would be blindfolded, and the lower half of her body would be covered with a blanket, while the Chamberlain family would operate under the blanket, and the people outside the room and the mother could only hear the sound of various metal collisions constantly.

Of course, the behavior of the Chamberlain family caused the dissatisfaction of many doctors, but they were helpless, because of this proud ability, the Chamberlain family not only gained a firm foothold in London, but also became a surgeon and midwife for James I, Queen Charles I, Charles II was delivered by Peter of the Chamberlain family, and they also wanted to establish a midwife's guild in London, but because of the boycott of the medical school, the miscarriage was aborted.

At the mention of Chamberlain, Seadonham's expression was much more relaxed, and perhaps for the scholar, a doctor was undoubtedly much better communicator than a thug, and he was annoyed, "I wonder if they have any extra protective suits?"

The Chamborence nodded slightly, "It doesn't matter," he said, "my servant goes and gets it, and he will catch up with us." ”

Sure enough, a few hours later, a panting servant and a sweaty horse came to them, and Chamborence opened the box directly in front of Sidonham, and checked the protective clothing inside, from gloves to hats, from hats to masks, from masks to robes, from robes to tight leather coats and leather pants, "What about the cane?" Sidonham couldn't help but ask.

"I have a musket. Chamborance said coldly.

"You still have to have a cane, otherwise how can you examine the patient. Sidonham said, "But it doesn't matter, there are so many canes." ”

Chamborance gave him one last look and turned to the servant: "Have those who touched the letter self-confined?"

The servant hesitated.

Chamborance's expression suddenly became stern: "No!?"

"Part of it, sir, part of it!" said the servant, "and a few of them say it...... It's just a senseless intimidation, they ......"

"It's just cowardice. "They are just afraid that if this gentleman goes to tell him, they will be caught immediately, so go back at once, tell them to choose a secluded and secluded place at once, and if they have already gone to meet other people, or have had intimate acts with other people, try to keep them locked up!"

The servant squirmed in embarrassment.

"Tell them that if they don't want Orleans to become a second Florence, do it!" Chamborance commanded in a low voice, "I will follow this Englishman until the plague zone, and let them do as I say, and if they don't want to," he waved his arm, as if to dispel the shadow of the plague hanging over him: "From now on, don't see me again!"

"Sir!" said the servant, aggrieved, "we don't know ...... yet."

"I'm skeptical, too," said Chamborant, "but I can tell you, and I can tell them, that there are some things in this world that can't be just in case." ”

He lifted the box, threw it into the carriage at Sidonham, and got on his horse: "That's all I have to say. May God bless us. Bless everyone in Orleans. ”

They were on their way again, and Seadonham endured it for a few minutes, poked his head out, and saw that the servant, after hesitating for a moment, turned and galloped away: "Do you think they will do as you say?"

"Yes. Chamborance said.

This succinct answer made Sidonham a little inadequate, and he paused for a few seconds, and then asked without fear of death: "Did you just say that you bless all the people of Orleans, including the Catholics?"

"Shut up, foreigner!"

——————

Sidonham and Chamborence arrived at Blois early the next morning.

The outbreak occurred in the Brennes region on the south side of Blois, fortunately, like Versailles, which was once the hunting ground of the King of France, with large forests and swamps, and few villages and towns.

Although they were also surprised that Seadonham could bring a Chamborance, they were able to make Louis trust, that is, these two people were not only loyal, but also a little simple professional, and they immediately accepted Chamborence.

The two men here, one is Marbiqui of Italy, forty-two years old, and the other is worrying, because he is almost eighty years old, and he is the chief physician of King Louis XIV, Charles de Lom.