Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 935 Medical Books in the Yongle Encyclopedia: Using Their Strength Against Them (Part 2)
This box of Yongle Encyclopedia contains not only ancient Chinese medicine books recorded in it, but also other miscellaneous items and dialects. It was mainly selected based on the accurate catalog provided by Lao Ji. Among the ancient Chinese medicine books is a fragment of the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan Guangji Fang.

This was compiled by the Imperial Medical Bureau during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty.

It records the secret prescriptions of the Tang Dynasty court for treating epidemic diseases, including the Seven-Ingredient Coptis Decoction and other lost prescriptions for the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases. The diagnosis of pulmonary atrophy is highly similar to the Yin Chen Shu Fu Tang used in modern dialects.

There is also an unpublished manuscript of the Song Dynasty's "Taiping Shenghui Fang".

It is a revised edition compiled by Wang Huaiyin in the third year of the Chunhua era of the Northern Song Dynasty.

The core content is the "Infantile Convulsions Chapter" which is missing from the current "Taiping Shenghui Fang" and clearly records the emergency treatment plan for convulsions using "antelope horn combined with Uncaria rhynchophylla".

In addition, there is the Yuan Dynasty book "Huihui Prescriptions: Acupuncture Section".

It was written by a Persian physician and the Imperial Medical Academy during the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era.

Some of the acupuncture methods listed seem to have considerable research value.

Then there's another book in dialect that I'm particularly interested in, the early Ming Dynasty book "The Heart Mirror of Sores and Ulcers," which should be a unique copy in China.

The author was Liu Chun, a renowned surgeon, who lived in the 28th year of the Hongwu reign (1389).

It contains records of surgeries performed by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

The last book is the "Xu's Pulse Classic" from the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The author was Xu Jian during the Tianjian era of the Southern Liang Dynasty. It records the pulse diagnosis methods and dialectical theories of that time.

Some of the dialects in it are actually problematic.

Because the "Huihui Prescriptions" collection couldn't possibly only include acupuncture; there must be other prescriptions as well. Since they're all called prescriptions, how come only acupuncture is included?

There is also a Yuan Dynasty book called "Yinshan Zhengyao" which only has a table of contents, but it has obviously been removed.

Was it removed a long time ago? Or was it removed when they came?

Anyway, this book contains some useful information, but there are also some points that are questionable.

Fang Yan looked around.

At this moment, the people around had no time to pay attention to the dialect; they were all engaged in an academic debate.

The more they argued, the more reasonable their position became, while the Japanese side's arguments grew increasingly pro-Western.

As the primary target, Otsuka Keisetsu's defenses were directly breached.

These remarks directly attacked the sore spot of Otsuka Keisetsu's "advocacy of Zhang Zhongjing but misinterpretation of the classics," and combined with the revelation of historical distortion, case comparisons and cultural plunder, ultimately causing him to break down because "his lifelong academic foundation was denied."

He studied Zhang Zhongjing's theories his entire life, but in front of this group of Chinese medicine practitioners, he was described as someone who "imitated others' walks blindly."

Sometimes, Keisetsu Otsuka really dislikes how Chinese people can insult others without using foul language.

They even resented themselves for understanding so many idioms.

The Chinese are clearly being sarcastic, but those who don't understand their culture have no idea what they're talking about.

"Ahem..." Fang Yan coughed softly, reminding them that the sugar-coated bullet had already been eaten.

It's about time we stopped.

However, the people around seemed not to hear, or perhaps they were already engrossed in their own world.

Right now, they're unleashing a fierce barrage of attacks on the Japanese.

Both were highly educated professors who spoke without using any vulgar language, but every word they uttered was designed to hit where it hurt, and they even smiled as they spoke.

If a newcomer saw this scene, they would definitely think that this meeting was unusually harmonious.

Fang Yan was speechless. He exchanged a glance with Lao Ji and then coughed.

"Cough cough..."

Old Ji also coughed, and the two sides, who were in the middle of a heated exchange, finally came to their senses.

They saw that Fang Yan and Lao Ji had already closed their suitcases.

Only then did I realize that the mission was already over.

Time flies! I feel like I haven't had enough...

"So, what were the results of the test?" Professor Wang Yuchuan asked Lao Ji and Fang Yan as planned.

Old Ji picked up the conversation and said to Professor Wang Yuchuan:
"The paper composition of some of the content is questionable; I think it may have been added later."

"Therefore, I also believe there are doubts about the content."

Wang Yuchuan turned to Otsuka Keisetsu and asked:

"Mr. Otsuka, is this the sincerity you were talking about?"

"How is that possible?" Otsuka Keisetsu was dumbfounded.

He said:
“I took this from the Imperial Household Agency’s Archives and Mausoleums Department, and I checked it myself.”

Wang Yuchuan said:
"Only you yourselves know the answer."

Otsuka Keisetsu's face darkened, and he said:

"I don't think you ever intended to exchange with us in the first place; you're just using this as an excuse to cause trouble."

Wang Yuchuan sneered at Otsuka Keisetsu:

"Trying to find fault? Fine, fine, you can't win an academic debate, and when you find problems with the materials you provided, you still try to argue your way out of it. Now you're just trying to shift the blame onto us!"

“Mr. Otsuka, you really are good at turning the tables.”

Otsuka Keisetsu was so angry by those words that his liver hurt.

He said:
"Putting aside the fact that the academic debate just now was still unresolved, you're now accusing me of making excuses by saying I found a problem. We have countless ancient Chinese medicine books in our hands, do we need to make excuses in this kind of place?"

Wang Yuchuan shook his head:

"Since you don't admit it, then there's nothing more to say. What we want are original ancient Chinese books, not fake antiques dressed in kimonos!"

Keisetsu Otsuka was furious.

At this moment, Fang Yan also said:
"The secret recipe can be given, but it must be exchanged for the entire Yongle Encyclopedia and the books in the Imperial Household Department's collection! Not a single page missing or a single word changed, no deal!"

After saying that, he pushed the suitcase back.

“You…” Otsuka Keisetsu was dumbfounded.

You want the complete Yongle Encyclopedia? The thing is, even Japan doesn't have a complete set!

Also, the Imperial Household Agency's collection of books?
Why don't you just collect books nationwide?

How could you say something like that!

Before he could speak, Professor Yue Meizhong, who had just faced off against Otsuka Keisetsu, coldly added:
"If you truly admire Zhang Zhongjing, you should ensure that the classic texts are returned to their source! Otherwise, traditional Chinese medicine will forever remain a novice who has failed to learn from others!"

A novice apprentice who failed to learn the trade?!
Otsuka Keisetsu felt a wave of dizziness and almost choked.

Seeing that he was about to collapse, the Japanese people quickly went to help Otsuka Keisetsu up.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became tense.

Just then, Secretary Xia stepped forward and said:

"Although I didn't understand the academic discussion you all just had, I want to say that Dr. Fang has been very sincere. After all, those things didn't belong to you in the first place. We just need you to return them, and then we'll give you a new secret formula. This is a perfect example of repaying evil with kindness."

“I believe that anyone who hears this will think that we are the ones who suffer losses and you are the ones who benefit.”

Fang Yan said to Otsuka Keisetsu:

"What I just said is already a huge concession. I hope Mr. Otsuka will consider it carefully."

Otsuka Keisetsu was very angry but his head was spinning. He didn't want to talk right now, feeling that if he continued talking, he would be driven crazy by these people.

"Okay! I'll think about it when I get back." Otsuka was indeed a remarkable person; he managed to remain calm even in a situation like this.

However, the prominent veins on his forehead could not conceal his true thoughts.

He probably wants to tear Fang Yan and his gang apart right now.

After having the briefcase taken away, Otsuka Keisetsu, supported by his subordinates, stood up and bowed to Fang Yan and his group.

"Then let's say goodbye first!"

After saying that, he led his men outside.

The waiter opened the door and let them all leave.

As they left, several people glared fiercely at Fang Yan and his group.

It was as if they wanted to devour them whole.

However, Fang Yan and his team had already completed their mission and were not afraid at all. They even smiled at them, which made the blood pressure of these people rise rapidly.

But we can only watch; we can't do anything about it.

They were all puffed up like pufferfish.

Just as they were about to leave, Guan Qingwei asked one more question:
"Didn't we say we were going to eat together? Are they still going?"

It sounded like there was no problem, but it infuriated the Japanese. At a time like this, they were talking about eating. This kid was doing it on purpose, deliberately trying to provoke them.

After they had all left, Fang Yan said with a smile:

"We can eat by ourselves; we don't need to eat with them."

Old Ji, standing to the side, chuckled and said:

"That's right, their not eating doesn't affect my appetite."

Only then did Wang Yuchuan breathe a sigh of relief and ask Fang Yan:

"You wrote everything down?"

"Mm." Fang Yan nodded and said:
"I'll write it down as soon as I get back."

At this moment, Professor Wang Yuchuan asked Lao Ji:

"Was the question you just asked true or false?"

Old Ji nodded and said:
"Really, there really is a problem. I could tell at a glance that some of the content had indeed been deleted or modified, but I don't know when it was done. Technically speaking, it's a bit rough."

“I’ve also discovered some,” Fang Yan said to them.

Then Wang Yuchuan looked around at the others. He hadn't eaten dinner and had been arguing with the Japanese for so long, and now he was hungry too.

And winning makes me feel inexplicably good.

He said:
"Okay, it's time to eat. Let's talk at the table."

After speaking, he looked at Secretary Xia, who had arranged all of this.

Secretary Xia immediately understood and nodded, saying:

"The banquet has been prepared, and since they're not going to eat it, let's not waste it."

"The chefs at the state banquet today really put in a lot of effort, making the same dishes as those at the state guesthouse."

Upon hearing this, the others were fine, but Guan Qingwei, who hadn't seen much of the world, got a little excited.

The past few hours have been more exciting than the previous ten years or so.

However, he immediately became worried again and asked Fang Yan:

"By the way, senior, we messed up this negotiation. Won't the higher-ups blame us?" "You know, this is a diplomatic mission!"

Hearing this, Fang Yan couldn't help but laugh.

Then he said to Secretary Xia:
"Comrade Xia, will you blame us?"

Secretary Xia said with a smile:

"Haha, this was never a negotiation from the beginning, but an academic exchange between the two sides. Since it's an exchange, of course you say yours and I say mine. If we can talk about the same thing, it means we have common topics. If we can't talk about the same thing, it means we haven't reached a consensus."

"Besides, even in negotiations, there's no requirement that we have to agree to whatever they say and get things done, right?"

“We are not losers. Even if they are unhappy, it has nothing to do with us.”

Guan Qingwei suddenly realized.

At this moment, Fang Yan also said:

“You need to learn to distinguish between ‘academic debate’ and ‘diplomatic relations.’ This incident is not enough to escalate into a diplomatic dispute. Moreover, the Yongle Encyclopedia carried by Otsuka Keisetsu’s team showed signs of alteration. We occupy the moral high ground, and the Japanese side has no grounds to accuse us.”

Moreover, he didn't say that this was the Ministry of Health's tacit approval of the team's tough stance.

Furthermore, Secretary Xia's participation in the entire negotiation process proves that the superiors approved of this strategy.

It could even be said that Secretary Xia's presence from the very beginning was to ensure that the meeting would be "ruined".

That secret recipe won't be given away so easily, especially if we find out that the other party cares about it a lot.

The negotiation was an academic exchange and there were no mandatory deliverables.

Moreover, they are also upholding sovereignty and exposing Japan's cultural plunder, which is in the national interest.

Furthermore, the fact that the higher-ups did not allow any members of the Socialist Party to be present can be seen as a sign of their assistance in separating politics from academia, thus preventing the situation from escalating from the outset.

Next, Fang Yan and his group arrived at the place where the banquet was being prepared. As soon as they entered the room, the dishes began to be served.

"Please sit down, please sit down, don't be shy," Secretary Xia said to everyone.

Old Ji also said with a smile:

"Without those Japanese people today, we can eat more comfortably as fellow Chinese."

Fang Yan and Guan Qingwei waited until the group of senior figures were seated before they sat down as well.

By this time, the dishes had mostly started to arrive one after another.

He picked up his chopsticks and gave a greeting. Everyone was at ease and started eating as if they were at home.

As they ate, everyone reviewed what had just happened.

Basically, the whole thing was under their control. The Japanese side could only put up a fight at the beginning, but afterwards they were led by the nose. Otsuka Keisetsu kept falling into the trap of self-justification.

Moreover, the people here aren't slandering; they're already corrupt. Just stating the facts is enough to overwhelm Otsuka Keisetsu, there's no need to embellish it.

They speak frankly and openly on one side, but on the other side they're sweating buckets trying to cope.

In the end, Fang Yan completed his task smoothly without much effort.

While eating, Fang Yan recounted what he had just seen, even making comparisons and conjectures based on other ancient books and historical materials.

Everyone except Wang Yuchuan and Lao Ji was stunned.

It's already quite absurd that someone could memorize a dialect in such a short time.

He was even able to understand the content and then had a lot of his own thoughts.

At this moment, Fang Yan picked up a piece of steamed shad with his chopsticks and said while eating:
"...The Seven-Ingredient Coptis Decoction in Kaiyuan Guangji Fang uses three qian of Coptis chinensis, two and a half qian of Cimicifuga foetida, five qian of Gypsum fibrosum, and Bupleurum chinense. At first glance, this prescription is for treating "lung heat and cough", but there is a hidden mystery in the combination of ingredients."

After he finished speaking, he dipped his finger in tea and drew a nine-square grid on the tablecloth:

"The Imperial Medical Bureau of the Tang Dynasty classified 'epidemic disease' as 'Lesser Yang Fire Governing the Sky' in the Five Elements and Six Qi theory. Therefore, the Cimicifuga rhizome in the prescription was not used to promote rash eruption, but to guide the medicine into the Triple Burner meridian, and to work with Bupleurum to relieve the stagnation of heat in the Lesser Yang."

"This is essentially the same as Mr. Pu Fuzhou's use of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan to treat encephalitis B in 1956, which cuts off the path of transmission of pathogenic factors."

Everyone listened with thoughtful expressions.

At this moment, Lao Ji scooped up a spoonful of crab meat lion's head meatballs and suddenly interjected:

"Did you remember the exact dosage ratio of 'antelope horn with Uncaria rhynchophylla' in that unpublished manuscript? I don't know if there were any corrections or if there was a problem with it to begin with. I didn't even see it clearly."

Dialect: Put down your chopsticks

"Oh, you mean that... The original prescription says three parts antelope horn, one mace of uncaria, and half a cup of bamboo sap to be taken with water."

"But the problem is that three fen in the Song Dynasty is equivalent to 0.9 grams now, and one qian of Uncaria rhynchophylla is 3 grams. This dosage is simply not enough to suppress infantile convulsions! I suspect that the word 'qian' was omitted during the copying process. It should actually be three qian of antelope horn and ten qian of Uncaria rhynchophylla, which is 9 grams to 30 grams!"

Fang Yan then continued to talk about the ancient books that he felt were quite meaningful.

Finally, the topic of traditional Chinese medicine surgery was also discussed.

Now the people from Peking Union Medical College Hospital who came along understood.

As the meal drew to a close, Fang Yan essentially recounted everything he had just read, sharing his understanding and analysis with everyone present.

The next step is the summary phase.

Professor Wang Yuchuan, who knows the Japanese best, was the first to speak.

He said:
"Although we have obtained part of the Yongle Encyclopedia this time, many ancient books are still in their hands. Given their cunning, it is highly unlikely that they will do the same thing again."

"But we will still try to win over what Fang Yan has from other directions."

“I know Otsuka Keisetsu. He was able to travel abroad at this age, which shows he was determined to obtain the secret formula. Now it has all come to nothing. He must be very unwilling to accept it.”

Fang Yan listened to Professor Yu Chuan's words and then said:
"When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. There is no way to avoid this kind of thing."

"We can only respond to each move as it comes."

Jiao Shude nodded and said:
"Yes, that's right. It's like the first time you start seeing patients. You don't know what the next patient's problem will be, or if you'll suddenly encounter a difficult case that you can't handle. If you haven't encountered one today, then you should work hard to improve yourself and increase your strength so that you can deal with it next time you encounter one."

"It's the same with this kind of thing. They've been eyeing our culture for a long time, from a very, very long time ago. As long as they don't perish, this kind of thing won't stop. Even without Otsuka Keisetsu, there might be other Japanese people thinking about the secret formulas of dialects."

"And I believe that Xiao Rizi is not the only one who covets his secret recipe. Do people in other countries want it too? Just like Americans, they want it too."

As he said this, Fang Yan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately said loudly:
"Hey! I just remembered something!"

Everyone looked at Fang Yan with bewildered expressions.

Jiao Shude was also somewhat confused after being interrupted, and asked:
"what's up?"

He said in dialect:

"I think I've found a way to make the Japanese stumble in the same place."

"Huh?" Everyone looked puzzled.

They couldn't quite keep up with the way of thinking in the dialect.

At this moment, Fang Yan said with some excitement:

"They might even completely agree to our demands and return the ancient Chinese medicine books that they stole from us."

Everyone was speechless: "..."

Jiao Shude said to the dialect inexplicably:
"how is this possible?"

He said in dialect:

“Master, it is indeed possible. We just need to broaden our perspective.”

He pointed to the top of his head in dialect.

Everyone looked up at the ceiling above them, where a crystal chandelier hung.

Professor Yue Meizhong also asked, puzzled:
"Wide up your field of vision? What do you mean?"

He said in dialect:

"What I mean is, don't just look at the Japanese, look at the Japanese medical community, you can also look at the United States."

The dean was also baffled:
"Hey, you've only said half of what you meant today, and you've confused me. Just tell me the answer!"

Fang Yan shook his head and said:

"It's very simple. What is the relationship between the United States and Japan now?"

Everyone looked at each other, and finally Guan Qingwei spoke:

"The retired emperor of Japan!"

Fang Yan slapped his thigh, nodded, and said:
"That's right, the Japanese emperors-in-chief, wherever they point, the Japanese have to fight."

"Then it's simple. If the Japanese emperor emeritus hears that Japan can obtain the secret formula by sacrificing its own flesh, wouldn't they force the Japanese to try it?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuchuan was the first to react. He slapped his forehead and said:

"I understand!"

"You mean to spread the word about what happened today and tell the outside world what our demands are in exchange?"

Then Wang Yuchuan asked the crowd around him:

"While this condition is unacceptable to the Japanese, it's a different story for the Americans. Exchanging a bunch of antiques for a secret formula that can lead the world in the field of medicine, isn't that a good deal?"

"Anyway, they don't have to pay a price. They just need to force Japan to complete the deal, and then at most give Japan a 'beautiful blueprint' to tell them that they can develop together, make money together, and climb to the pinnacle of medicine."

"Isn't this enough?"

After hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.

It turns out that dialects were the reason why people started talking about the relationship between Americans and Japanese.

Even if the Americans know that China is trying to trick Japan, it's none of their business. They're like children selling their ancestors' land without a care in the world!
Besides, those things originally belonged to China.

The Japanese can simply return it after reading it; by doing so, they'll receive a very important secret recipe.

Americans are very likely to do this.

Especially what Henry Heimlich said after he visited China and returned to the United States.

He said that dialects are the "Sputnik crisis" of Western medicine, which carries a lot of weight, even though it carries a hint of exaggeration and hype.

However, this undoubtedly confirms the value of the 'traditional Chinese medicine formula for idiopathic pulmonary interstitial fibrosis' in Fang Yan's possession.

Even for the sake of this empty reputation, the Americans are willing to force the Japanese to do this kind of risk-free business.

Anyway, he's not the one who's going to fall into the pit. If he succeeds, he'll benefit a lot; if he fails, he won't lose anything.

If you don't do it, you're not a true Ansar.

That use of dialect is truly amazing.

At this moment, Secretary Xia proposed an idea:

"But there is another problem: the power to control public opinion is basically in the hands of the Western world. It is difficult for us to influence the US decision-making level by releasing information. Moreover, Western media have a lot of biases on national issues concerning our system."

Fang Yan nodded and said:
"Don't worry, I have a way to handle this."

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)