Chapter 205 First Hospital
King's office, Bideford.
Riz leaned forward on his throne, his brow furrowed. He questioned with concern. "So, you're saying that someone spotted a fleet of ships entering the gulf in the middle of the night."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The informant from Durbotes nodded, his voice laced with urgency. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. "After we received the report, I immediately rush here to check if such ships docked at the capital. If not, we believe them to be the enemy's fleet trying to make a covert entry."
Creak—
As the informer finished speaking, the heavy wooden door creaked open.
Charlotte stepped into the office. Her eyes darted between Riz and the informant, her expression mirroring their shared concern.
Riz turned his attention to Charlotte, inquiring for an answer from her. "Did you find any record about the fleet in the port?"
Charlotte's face fell slightly as she shook her head. "No, milord. There's none of the ships seen to dock in our port."
Riz stares at the map, "Hm...If their destination is not our ports, the only port left is Napuna, Nedediters and Betbury. Let's say they're an enemy, any of these ports can be considered a perfect landing site." His hand cross Napuna, eliminating it from the list of options.
"May I know why not Napuna, Your Majesty?" The informant asked.
"Supplies," Riz explained, "Assumed the enemy is Blande, their main force is currently at Tetherwest. Napuna on the other hand is far to the south. How do you think they can sustain thousands of soldiers? Pillaging? It won't last long. Plus, they're at risk of exposing their location which means we can simply block them and left them stranded on foreign land.
The informant asked, "What about land?"
Riz shaking his head, "Transporting supplies overland would be impractical and time-consuming. And there's Greroy stands in the middle, making it an unfavourable option for them."
The informant nodded, "I guess sea is not their option either."
"Yes, the route itself is too risky to casually enter. Isn't that the reason they sneak in? That will leave us with Nedediters and Betbury. Which one do you think it is?" Riz asked the informant for his opinion.
"Nedediters." The informant pointed at the map. "It's closer to Tetherswest and Harlington, so it's easy for them to link up their forces without worrying about the supplies."
Riz leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the wooden armrest. His gaze shifted towards Charlotte, seeking an update on the ongoing siege at Tetherswest.
"What's the latest news about the ongoing siege at Tetherswest?" Riz inquired with a tinge of hope in his voice.
She relayed the information, "The city still stood tall. Despite the relentless attacks from Blande, they have not yet managed to breach the city's defences thus far."
Riz's shoulders relaxed slightly. A plan began to take shape in his mind.
"Since they want to come in, don't let them come out." He declared with a firm and decisive voice. He turned to the informant, "Contact the second fleet stationed at Torksey Island immediately. Tell them to guard the entrance and block any suspicious ships attempting to pass through."
The informant nodded, "Right away, Your Majesty."
"As for the enemy in the gulf, leaving it to the first fleet here to make an inspection and deal with them. Charlotte, you go and notify them."
"As you wish, Milord." She responded.
The two of them hurried out of the office to fulfil the king's command.
Riz, on the other hand, continues reading the stupendously long letter from his commanding officer who is currently at Wemeywesto. The detailed information was well-written and organised, providing a comprehensive overview of the recent developments.
Everything went well except for the bad news extracted from the captured spy. A furrow formed on his brow, indicating the gravity of the situation reported.
Sigh—
A heavy sigh escaped his mouth as he finished reading the lengthy letter.
"What a troublesome group of people." He muttered under his breath.
Riz carefully folded the letter and placed it in his drawer as he plan to deal with them later.
He looks at the longcase clock in his office. He murmured to himself, "It's almost ten in the morning, I should get going now."
He made his way out of his office, adorned in his regal attire as today was a momentous day for his kingdom. He was scheduled to inaugurate the first hospital, a symbol of progress and care for his people.
In the past two years, the medical field in his kingdom had experienced an unprecedented wave of progress and advancements, thanks to the fruitful cooperation among the brilliant intellectuals he had gathered.
The progress made was accelerated ahead of his expected deadline.
A multitude of medical technologies were created in the process.
One of the most important inventions in this world is the compound microscope. This ground-breaking tool allowed medical professionals and researchers to dive deeper into the microscopic world.
The once-unseen creatures and mysteries of various diseases were revealed, having the researchers crucial insights to effectively diagnose and treat illnesses.
Not only that, the creation of the stethoscope, similar to Laennec's design allows for enhanced auscultation of the human body.
Thanks to the increase in understanding of blood pressure, 'Mad Scholar' Stacy Stallion become the first to measure blood pressure by putting small tubes into her own arteries and gauging the height to which the blood column rose. She truly lives up to her name.
Putting her craziness aside, intellectuals at Bideford Research Center successfully created anaesthesia through extensive research and experimentation. Patients would now feel less discomfort, and surgeons would be able to execute complex procedures that were previously thought to be impossible.
To administer medications and fluids with precise dosing and targeted delivery, a hypodermic syringe came into existence. Made with a combination of materials like wood, glass and metal, it was the first of its kind in this world.
....
The black carriage carrying Riz and the group of soldiers escorting him arrived at the hospital, situated near the highly populated.
Placing the hospital in such an area allows for maximum accessibility and ensures the services are easily within reach of a large number of people.
The location for other numerous clinics and hospitals had been decided across the kingdom and would be built as soon as possible.
As Riz stepped out of the carriage, he was greeted by a gathering of hospital staff, dressed in their customary uniforms, community members and a group of scholars responsible for all the discoveries and inventions in the medical-related fields.
The hospital housed specialized departments, including emergency care, surgical units, maternity wards, pediatric clinics, and outpatient services. Each area was equipped with advanced medical equipment and supported by highly skilled professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare.
A woman stepped forward, "We have been eagerly waiting for your arrival, Your Majesty."
Riz turned his attention to the woman, casting a warm smile at her. "Madam Stacy, allow me to express my gratitude for your invaluable efforts in making this hospital come into existence."
"Thank you for your kind words," She's humbly responded, "But, there's no way I can do it alone without the assistance of my students and other scholars."
Riz nodded in agreement. Without further ado, he stepped onto the makeshift stage, facing the crowds who are looking at him with anticipation and excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today marks a significant milestone in the history of our kingdom. For the last two years, the kingdom has been continuously making progress in research and discovering new knowledge to find a cure for diseases that have been plaguing us for generations. This hospital is proof of the kingdom's dedication to ensuring accessible cures or treatment for all of my people."
From the stage, he notices tears streaming down the faces of some individuals. These tears, he thought, were not only tears of joy and relief but also coloured by the memories of their poor loved ones who had previously been unable to obtain the required medication or therapy.
Riz spontaneously make a change in his speech on the spot. He pledged to make sure the hospital would be a beacon of hope and healing and a place where no one would be turned away because of financial difficulties.
He concludes his speech by expressing his gratitude to all scholars involved in contributing to the advancement of medicine and medical technologies.
'Damn! I'm sure sound like a politician.' He muttered to himself.
Nevertheless, Riz walked up to the ribbon and readied to inaugurate the hospital. As he ceremonially cut the ribbon, the crowds stood up and applauded, filling the air with their enthusiasm and appreciation.
With the ribbon now cut, Riz spends some of his time greeting people, building his image as a friendly and kind-hearted king. The crowds then dispersed to explore the newly opened hospital, leaving the king to entertain the reporter by answering a few questions.