kingdom of nations

Chapter 36 Mithridates' Prescription (Part )
Cesar hesitated, a rare occurrence.

He used to be a doctor. In another world, people always thought that there was an unbridgeable gap between Chinese and Western medicine. This was not the case. Their courses, practices and theories had certain commonalities. So Cesar knew very well that some herbs used by people of this era might have a significant impact on the organs in the body. Some of the impacts might even last a lifetime and could not be reversed.

Of course, he still hadn't figured out the origin and scope of "blessings." Perhaps those monks supported by the Pope or Patriarch could indeed cure liver and kidney damage, but this time was different from the dangers he'd encountered before—he wasn't sure. What if these potions contained large amounts of... for example—Aristolochia... Colchicum...

The aristolochic acid in the former can directly harm the liver and kidneys, while colchicum may cause gastrointestinal bleeding and neuropathy.

Ironically, because poisonous plants can immediately react on the human body, they are considered effective and are used extensively and long-term...

"I'll go first," Baldwin said, nudging Cesar with his elbow to silence him. "Cesar will serve me."

"That's a good reason," Heraclius said, then he looked at Cesar. "What about you?"

His gaze was unusually gentle, and his words were calm, but cold sweat ran down Cesar's back. He was unsure whether he wanted to take another risk. He looked at Heraclius and then at Baldwin. They were the only three people in the room.

"Sir," he whispered, so low that Heraclius would have been barely audible had he not been standing before them. Of course, if anyone outside had been eavesdropping, they wouldn't have been able to hear unless they had been "blessed" or "given" the gift. "May I see the prescription?"

Heraclius' expression suddenly became dangerous. If a real nine-year-old child were sitting here, he would definitely be trembling with fear and speechless. The priest leaned forward and said, "Prescription? Can you understand this?"

The prescription is a small matter. The problem is that Cesar has not been "selected" or "given", so what qualifications and opportunities does he have to access medical knowledge?

It is strange to say, but when we open the scriptures and some rough records, we will find that the profession of "doctor" appeared very early. In the time of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, missionary work and medical practice were still separate. These two martyred saints were born in 300 AD, which means that there were still doctors at that time.

But since when, as more and more priests and monks received "ordination", the church gradually monopolized the "doctor" profession. They even announced that those who had not received "ordination" were either monks and priests, or had been bewitched by the devil, or were wizards, or possessed by the bastards of hell. They would be judged, and their fate would be decided based on the circumstances - that is, if they could afford the fine, they would confess and say mass (for a fee); if they could not afford it, they would be excommunicated (usually for men) or burned to death (mostly for women).

When Cesar came to Baldwin, he was not very clear about the numerous taboos of this era, so he once mentioned inadvertently that they should find a better doctor for Baldwin's illness. As a result, Baldwin's face changed drastically when he heard it, and he warned him solemnly that such things must never be mentioned again. Cesar had lost his memory and was a man without a past and no one to rely on. If some people with ulterior motives heard it and reported it to the monks, it would be a big trouble.

Ever since Cesar came to Baldwin, Baldwin has always been very caring towards him. This is the first time that Cesar has spoken so harshly, so Cesar understands the weight of this question very well, but he must ask, not only for himself, but also for Baldwin.

"If I wanted to, I could put you in jail just for this question," Heraclius said gloomily. "No, I won't tell you, boy. What do you think the prescription is? If I were willing to share it with others, there would be plenty of bishops and kings willing to buy it for a pound of gold per word, unless..." He looked at the two children who immediately straightened their backs and finally couldn't help laughing: "Unless they are my students..."

"I am willing to be your student!" Cesar said immediately, but he was a little hesitant. "But if the blessing I receive is 'favor', or if I am not chosen..."

Heraclius pondered for a moment, "It's not like there haven't been monks who have been students of knights. It would be a problem if they weren't chosen, but I don't think the church should be full of idiots. If the time comes," he said readily, "just donate this prescription. For the sake of this prescription, the church's examiners will show mercy." This is assuming that Cesar wants to be a doctor. If he doesn't want to, it's even simpler, as not every monk can receive the "grant."

There are people who are chosen but still weak. Isn't Witt one of them? Heraclius has decided to kill him on the night of our Lord's birthday to prevent Baldwin from failing in the "selection ceremony" and someone from making a fuss about him.

Satisfied with the answer, Heraclius promptly produced the prescription. Cesar glanced down and saw, as expected, Aristolochia. Fortunately, there was no Colchicum. While the other ingredients were a bit bizarre, like snake meat, at least they wouldn't cause significant harm to the human body. He read through the names of the herbs one by one, even asking Heraclius for some details, as the prescription was written in ancient Greek rhyme, as is customary today. "Bitumen... St. John's wort, lavender, roses, saffron, mint... black pepper and cinnamon, cardamom... myrrh, frankincense, turpentine... castoreum, styrax... gum arabic... grind the balsam, gum, and medicine with wine until fine and smooth, then add a few ounces of honey."

“Is this Aristolochia necessary?”

"You really understand?" Heraclius was surprised. "You can change it to mandrake or milk of the poppy."

These two kinds of food are not good things either, and the last one is even hated by people in later generations. "If it is replaced with mandrake, do I need to increase the amount?"

"It depends on what you use. For seeds, use half the amount. Flowers and leaves are not necessary, but you need to increase the amount of rhizomes."

"Can we change it to floral leaves?" Cesar asked, "Will there not be enough time?"

Heraclius glanced at him and said, "By the time you figured this out, it was already past three o'clock in the morning." He proudly took out two other bottles of potion.

"Did you guess I would ask for a prescription?"

"No, this is prepared to avoid you from having a strong reaction." Heraclius picked up the box under the table and opened it. Rows of crystal-clear glass bottles dazzled them.

"Some people will break out in rashes when they touch Datura, others will vomit uncontrollably when they touch Aristolochia, and some cannot touch any poppy milk. Once they do, they will have difficulty breathing and their hearts will beat wildly. I also changed some of the other main ingredients in several bottles. You know, some people's taboos are always weird..."

"You have thought it through." Baldwin said sincerely. What made him even happier was that Heraclius was willing to accept Cesar as his student. This meant that even if Cesar was not selected, Baldwin was selected, and his status was enough to keep him by his side.

Heraclius smacked his lips, satisfied with the performance of both children today. He pulled out a drawer from the box, took out two thumb-sized cups, placed them on the table, opened the bottle wrapped with a cloth strip (the cloth strip was covered with tiny names of medicinal herbs), poured a few drops into each bottle, and then asked the children to drink it.

"Wait, we're together?"

"I believe I can take care of both," said Heraclius.

In other words, asking them to choose who would go first was simply a prank by the monks. Cesar felt helpless. He found that the adults seemed to like teasing them more and more.

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"You're back?"

Heraclius was startled, and then he recognized from the familiar voice and figure that the person waiting in his room was his master, Amalric I. "Why don't you light the lamp, Your Majesty?"

"Darkness is sometimes more conducive to reflection." Amalric I turned to Heraclius. "How are they?"

"A bit of a fever, some vomiting, some hallucinations - but they were all asleep before I left."

"Did you see the knights?"

"They will guard the tower all night long. No one will be allowed in or out unless you give the order." Not seeing anyone for a week was nominally a "fast", but there were too many eyes and ears in the castle, and the people behind them must have known that the first wave of tests of the "Choice Ceremony" had arrived. Baldwin was weak, dull, and had no ability to resist, so someone with ulterior motives would definitely take advantage of the situation and sneak in.

"How's Baldwin?"

"He is good, he is strong." He is full of confidence and kindness, and his way of thinking is more comprehensive than before. He has realized that his father does not want him and Cesar to be real friends. Although Amalric I said that he would treat Cesar as a duke's son, he still hopes that Cesar can be a slave. The more Baldwin values ​​Cesar and regards him as an equal, the stronger Amalric I's murderous intention will be.

"Where's Cesar?"

"He's taking care of Baldwin."

"He's not vomiting? He doesn't have a fever?"

"What's so strange about this?" Only Heraclius could lie calmly in front of a suspicious old lion: "Cesar is the prince's attendant, does he need me or Baldwin to take care of him?" In fact, it was Heraclius who took care of the two of them, and then the two of them took care of each other when they felt a little better.

"I hope he will always be so loyal." Amalric I pressed his forehead. "I will go back first."

"Wait a moment, Your Majesty," the monk said, "there is something you must confirm—about your marriage..."

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"A marriage to Amalric I? Would Manuel I really agree to it? If he had expelled Prince Baldwin from the beginning, Manuel I might not have hesitated, but he clearly wanted to keep this heir. Even if Manuel had several daughters, he would hope that each marriage would give him a powerful bargaining chip... This marriage is definitely not going to happen."

The Patriarch of Alaska was pacing the room, muttering to himself almost uncontrollably.

"Why not?" the man asked. He was dressed in black, resembling a simple monk, but the golden cross dangling from his robes showed he was no mere pauper. "Manuel I has always wanted to attack Egypt. If he hopes to secure a powerful ally, marriage is the best way to do so—"

"But Prince Baldwin..."

"He can only live to be thirty, and that's precisely why Manuel agreed. We can all see what Amalric I is thinking. He has a new wife and is in his prime, so he could easily have another son. And until that child comes of age, it's Prince Baldwin who will secure the throne for him. The best part is, by the time his youngest son reaches adulthood, Baldwin will be dead."

The current Patriarch of Alasarus turned and looked at the papal envoy - he came silently, without leaving a trace. When he was brought in front of him by two monks, he not only did not kneel down and kiss his feet, but stood proudly and took out the pope's token and identity certificate. Patriarch Alasarus was really shocked.

The most familiar Christian churches are the Eastern and Western Churches, Constantinople and Rome, but it is undeniable that the holy city of Alazarus is far more special than these two cities. It is the most sacred place, the place where Jesus Christ and countless saints were martyred. Everywhere you look are holy relics. People bend down, pick up a stone, and take it back to their own city. This stone from Alazarus will be regarded as a holy relic and enshrined in a church or monastery.

Why was Jesus Christ sent to the cross by the Isaac priests and his compatriots? Wasn't it just for profit and the right to speak?

Urban II, who faithfully implemented the "supremacy of theocracy" reform policy of Cluny of his predecessor Gregory VII, when he walked towards the king and nobles, delivered an impassioned speech, used bloody threats and sweet temptations to incite people's hearts, and asked them to fight for God, he was thinking of God and saints in his heart, but he was certainly also thinking of gold and land.

The First and Second Crusades can be said to have been driven solely by the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, they gained certain benefits. First, the Crusades dealt a powerful blow to pagans and heretics, and the declining power of the Holy See was strengthened again. Second, the East-West trade that had been monopolized by the first two Crusades now became a commodity for merchants and guilds in various European countries. Finally, the Crusaders also brought back a large amount of wealth and resources from the East, and a large part of these properties and connections fell into the hands of the church.

But will the church be satisfied with this?
No, they would not, they would rather get everything, but the leaders of the Crusaders, King Alazarus, Count of Tripoli, and Grand Duke of Antioch, had no intention of spitting out the fat meat in their mouths - especially King Alazarus. When the first king Baldwin I needed to hold a coronation ceremony, even though the bishop at the time was hiding in a cave, he sent soldiers to pull him out and forced him to anoint himself (a necessary step in the coronation ceremony).

Faced with the church's questioning, he preferred to fight for a month straight, southeast to Egypt and east to Petra, rather than yield to the church and put an end to the Pope and the cardinals' delusion of turning Alazarus into a theocracy.

After that, let alone the kings, every time they ascended the throne, they would have to deal with the church. The kings were tough, and the church would resort to any means necessary—for example, bribing or inciting the priests who administered the last sacraments to the kings, forcing them to force the dying kings to agree to donate Alazar to the church. This had all happened...

Prince Baldwin contracted leprosy, and everyone knew who was responsible. Amalric I's almost unreasonable and bizarre reaction was more like a declaration of war against the church.

The patriarch was almost convinced, "But if I do that, I will completely offend Amalric I."

"Do you think you haven't offended him by refusing to treat his son, Baldwin?" the papal legate said. "Once Baldwin dies, we can punish him as a leper who desecrated holy land, incurring divine punishment. To atone for his sins, he will strive to demonstrate his piety and loyalty over the next few years. Then... that will be our chance."

He laughed shrilly. "Don't worry. Even if he marries a Byzantine princess right away, his child won't grow up in a day."

"Amalric I is not the kind of man who will give up easily."

"That's true, but we're thousands of miles away, and you," the papal envoy said, "don't have much choice. Are you going to kneel down at the feet of Amalric I and Prince Baldwin and beg for forgiveness? Even if your priests are willing to treat Baldwin, it's unclear whether they can cure him. Are you sure he doesn't know who's behind his illness?"

He raised another finger. "Besides, even if he recovers, he's still Baldwin I. That's why we took action in the first place."

(End of this chapter)