Chapter 360: Arrangements
Throughout the entire meeting, King Constantino and his ministers conversed in German, leaving the members of the Far Eastern aid delegation utterly in the dark. Their anxiety grew—they understood that their fate was now entirely in foreign hands.
Minister of Health, Berlaid, began:
"The doctors will be handled on two levels. First, we must centralize them. In our experience, traditional Chinese medicine is a full-fledged system. To integrate a system, we must first build a framework. A few doctors are not enough to establish this structure. It requires a team of authoritative, highly capable individuals to collaborate.
In East Africa, we already have several doctors of Far Eastern origin. But many are what are known in their homeland as 'tu langzhong'—rural folk doctors. Most come from families with long-standing traditions of medicine, passing down secret remedies through generations. Although they have no official licenses, many can indeed treat difficult illnesses and have seen countless patients.
However, the oral nature of their knowledge creates inevitable inconsistencies. Some doctors use completely different treatments for the same ailment—sometimes effective, sometimes not. This instability is unacceptable.
Therefore, the Kingdom must create unified standards for Chinese medicine. We need doctors with genuine skill to lead this process, supported by real clinical cases to refine and improve the system."
Minister Berlaid, who had worked extensively with Far Eastern doctors, was fascinated by the holistic philosophy of Chinese medicine—its concepts of harmony between man and nature, and treatment based on individual diagnosis. To him, Chinese medicine's strength was its emphasis on balance, unlike Western medicine, which focused more on targeted intervention. He believed Chinese medicine used the body's own power to heal, while Western medicine often relied too much on drugs and surgery.
Constantino nodded:
"You're right. But European medicine also has its merits."
What those merits were, he couldn't really articulate.
Berlaid helped him out:
"In Europe, we're especially good at surgery—particularly battlefield trauma. However, even in this field, Chinese medicine has surprises. I once witnessed a Far Eastern doctor treat a fracture using a method I'd never seen before. With deft, precise movements, he reset the bone quickly and cleanly—no surgery, no scars. It was extraordinary. Unfortunately, that man is the only one we've found with this skill. He's currently stationed at the First Hospital in First Town. We hope others in this group have similar talents."
That particular orthopedic doctor had become a star in East Africa. The government assigned him a dozen apprentices, hoping to preserve and spread the technique. In contrast, European methods—plaster casts and splints—often failed to align bones properly. Even when they seemed healed, the results could be misaligned or uneven in length.
So East Africa had pioneered a hybrid method: using Chinese bone-setting techniques and Western plaster immobilization. This fusion of East and West had become a model for East African healthcare.
Berlaid continued:
"For common illnesses like malaria, we've also seen how traditional herbal remedies can accelerate recovery—these results are backed by extensive clinical data. Integrating Eastern and Western medicine is not only practical, but essential for advancing our healthcare system. Additionally, our industrial development allows us to standardize equipment and instruments—something East Africa is well-positioned to lead."
This wasn't an exaggeration. The Hechingen Household Goods Company, famous for its Gillette razors, had become the go-to source for surgical scalpels. Their disposable blades were revolutionizing surgery in East Africa. Yet in Europe, most doctors still preferred reusable knives—just sharpen and reuse. After all, surgical blades weren't razors… and disposable ones were more expensive.
Then Constantino remembered: there was another medical tradition in East Africa—not just Western and Chinese medicine, but Arab medicine.
That made sense. The ancient Arab empires had once spanned three continents. They had absorbed medical knowledge from China, India, Persia, Rome, and Egypt. Their famous medical text, The Canon of Medicine, had even laid the foundation for Western medicine.
Today, many Arab doctors from the Sultanate of Zanzibar practiced in East Africa—especially in Dar es Salaam, where dozens of Arab clinics served both locals and visiting traders.
An idea struck Constantino:
"Berlaid, why don't we organize a medical symposium? Bring together court physicians (Western), Far Eastern doctors, and Arab practitioners. Let's promote cross-cultural exchange."
Berlaid nodded.
"Excellent idea, Your Majesty—but not just yet. First, we need to help the Far Eastern doctors learn German. Otherwise, communication will be impossible."
That was true. Arab and German doctors could manage basic communication—many shared Greco-Arabic roots. But Chinese medicine was an entirely separate language and system. Without a common tongue, any collaboration would be meaningless.
Constantino agreed.
"You're right. Let's wait until they've adjusted. Continue with your plans."
Berlaid resumed:
"As I said, there are two levels. The first is centralization, and the second is decentralization. To spread medicine, we must train new practitioners. There are two approaches: apprenticeship and formal schooling.
Given our current situation, I recommend expanding the apprentice system. Doctors can be dispatched across East Africa to establish local clinics. They'll treat patients while mentoring bilingual East African youths.
As for medical schools, they'll take longer to build but will provide structured education. Their graduates may lack clinical experience but will be produced in larger numbers."
Constantino agreed:
"Europe still relies on apprenticeships, but formal academies are clearly the future. East Africa should pursue both routes simultaneously."
And just like that, the fate of the Far Eastern doctors was sealed.
Half would help establish standards and found a new medical academy. The rest would be dispatched across East Africa, opening local clinics and training new apprentices.
They had come to offer short-term aid—but East Africa had other plans. These doctors would not be leaving anytime soon.
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