Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 456 Old Zhu is resurrected! Zheng He presents his treasures!
The physician remained unmoved and continued, "Several years ago, we were ordered by His Majesty to secretly treat a critically ill person using this method."

"This person had been in a coma for nearly two years, and all medicines had failed to help. However, after being treated with this method, he miraculously woke up and was given a new lease on life!"

He suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "This is a blessing for our Great Ming Dynasty, a blessing for the country and its people, and a great fortune for all the people under heaven!"

"Your Majesty's benevolence extends far and wide, which is why Your Majesty has ordered us to announce this unparalleled medical skill to the world today, in front of all the nobles and ministers!"

After saying this, he knelt and kowtowed to Zhu Yunwen on the dragon throne once again.

In fact, the injection treatment just shown, although described in a miraculous way, is actually just a very simple subcutaneous injection.

The magical "medicinal solution" used is simply "physiological saline".

It cannot truly cure diseases and save lives, nor can it provide patients with sufficient nutrition to sustain their long lives.

To achieve such miraculous effects, one needs to master more advanced intravenous injection techniques.

Intravenous injection requires far greater skill than subcutaneous injection.

In the long course of history, it took humans hundreds of years to make the breakthrough from subcutaneous injection to intravenous injection.

The "IV drip" that is so common in later generations is actually a very magical medical technique.

Although the Ming Dynasty Medical College had received ingenious teachings from Zhu Yunwen and made rapid progress, avoiding countless pitfalls, it still had a long way to go before mastering intravenous injection.

Moreover, there is currently no suitable "medicine solution" for injection.

Physiological saline solution itself has no disease-fighting ability; it can only be used for fluid replacement and is far from the panacea that doctors claim it to be.

However, these shortcomings are not important at this moment.

Importantly, in front of three thousand officials, the physician injected medicine into the body of a patient who was unable to eat using a syringe.

This scene is enough to shock people!

As for the actual effects of this so-called "medicinal liquid" and whether it can truly bring people back to life, doctors can make whatever they want to say.

After all, neither His Highness nor his officials, nor the common people could verify its authenticity.

If Zhu Yunwen wanted to further mythologize this technique, he could have issued an edict strictly prohibiting his subjects from using this "divine liquid" without authorization, and regarded it as a royal treasure.

Just like those ancient emperors who pursued immortality, they monopolized the "elixirs" refined by Taoist priests and forbade others to use them.

After the demonstration, the doctors bowed again and carefully lifted the "patient" on the stretcher, filing out of the main hall one after another.

Their white robes swayed slightly in the candlelight, and the red heart patterns on their chests appeared and disappeared, as if silently telling a story.

The assembled officials were still captivated by the wondrous skill they had just witnessed, their eyes glazed over, their minds pounding, unable to pull themselves away for a long time.

The needle injection therapy, which may be extremely common and unremarkable in later generations, was like a comet streaking across the sky in the Ming Dynasty, dazzling and incredible.

People are limited by their knowledge and experience, and find it difficult to imagine things they have never seen.

Even in myths and legends, immortals who heal and save people use elixirs and magical medicines to feed patients.

Who uses needles to prick the skin and inject medicine?
The method of "injection" is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, as if it were divine revelation.

It was precisely because of its suddenness and lack of warning that the ministers were so shocked by what they saw, as if their souls had been violently struck by an invisible force, the shock reverberating for a long time.

At that moment, Zhu Yunwen's voice suddenly resounded throughout the hall.

"Today, I am publicly demonstrating this technique to you all not only to highlight the innovation in medicine, but also to proclaim a momentous event concerning the fate of the nation!"

He changed his tone and said in a loud voice, "Several years ago, the Emperor fell into a coma due to illness, his breath disappeared, and there was no sign of him waking up."

"The imperial physicians were helpless, and all said that the Emperor had already passed away."

"But I am not reconciled!"

"My grandfather was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, whose achievements were outstanding. I wish him to live a long and prosperous life, and I will never give up on him!"

"I secretly ordered physicians to preserve the remains of my imperial grandfather, who has not yet been buried, and to guard them day and night."

"Then, using this injection technique, the body will be nourished daily with a special medicinal solution to maintain vitality."

His tone gradually became more impassioned, his eyes gleaming, as if boundless passion was bursting forth from his chest.

"Heaven has shown mercy and has not failed my painstaking efforts!"

"Our late grandfather has miraculously awakened recently!"

boom!
Upon hearing this, it was as if thunder had exploded in the hall, and the assembled officials were stunned into silence, as if struck by lightning.

Emperor Taizu, who had supposedly died, miraculously came back to life.
The news was so shocking and beyond human imagination that the officials stood frozen in place, like statues of clay or wood, unable to recover from the shock for a long time.

Before anyone could react, Zhu Yunwen rose from the gilded dragon throne and turned to respectfully gaze at the exquisitely carved side door not far away.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on the vermilion gate.

The side door slowly opened, and a familiar yet vigorous figure emerged from the shadows.

It was none other than Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang!
Although he was old and his hair was gray, he walked steadily, his back was straight, and his brows still carried the sharp aura of a founding emperor.

Inside the main hall, the assembled officials held their breath, remaining completely silent.

The veteran officials in the front row, those who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang in his campaigns and helped establish the Ming Dynasty, stared wide-eyed, their pupils filled with disbelief.

They stared intently at the figure, as if trying to discern its authenticity through its expression and movements.

"Thanks to my grandson, we have returned to the mortal world!" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was deep and majestic, with a familiar accent, and suddenly resounded throughout the hall.

That tone, that expression, that imperial demeanor in every gesture—it was clearly the real Emperor Taizu himself, without the slightest falsehood!
The veteran officials were deeply moved, their throats choked with emotion, as if time had turned back, taking them back to the days when they followed the founding emperor and dominated the political arena.

Wow!
Wow!
The high-ranking officials in the front row were the first to kneel down, the sound of their robes trailing on the ground echoing everywhere.

Tears welled up in their eyes and streamed down their deeply lined faces as they sobbed uncontrollably.

Later officials, due to their lower rank, mostly never saw the true face of the founding emperor. Even if they did see it, it was only a glimpse from afar during court assemblies, and they could hardly know the details.

However, seeing so many important officials in such a state of disarray, he hurriedly knelt down with them. Although his movements were somewhat hasty, they were filled with reverence.

The fact that the founding emperor had been brought back to life was an unprecedented miracle that left everyone in the hall utterly shocked and trembling.

Zhu Yunwen stood tall on the high platform, his eyes gleaming, and proclaimed in a loud voice: "The awakening of the Imperial Ancestor is a momentous occasion for all under Heaven!"

"I now respectfully honor my imperial grandfather as the 'Supreme Emperor' to commemorate his virtuous deeds that benefited the world!"

Upon hearing this, the courtiers shouted in unison, "Greetings to the Supreme Emperor! May the Supreme Emperor enjoy boundless blessings and longevity!"

The shouts were like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens and the earth, layer upon layer, like a mountain roar and a tsunami, soaring straight to the sky.

The candlelight inside the hall flickered gently, illuminating the excited or devout faces of the assembled officials, creating a magnificent and solemn scene.

Thus, Zhu Yuanzhang was successfully "resurrected" and reappeared in the world with the supreme status of an emperor.

The news that Zhu Yunwen was extremely filial and created a new medical technique to save his grandfather quickly spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, becoming a popular story among the people.

Its influence is far greater than that of the traditional "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars," deeply touching people's hearts and moving all who hear it.

Zhu Yunwen's prestige thus rose to new heights. At the same time, the "miraculous arts" of the Medical School of the Imperial University of Peking became famous.

It spread throughout the country overnight, and people everywhere marveled at it as a magical technique.

To commemorate the medical school's unparalleled achievement in saving the emperor, Zhu Yunwen issued an imperial edict to build a new hospital, named "Yingtian Hospital," thus marking the beginning of modern medicine in the Ming Dynasty.

This hospital is enormous, with hundreds of beds, a large number of highly skilled doctors, and comprehensive facilities, making it one of the best in the world.

For example, this place has the world's first microscope!

For example, medical schools were the first to propose the concepts of cells and bacteria.

After its establishment, Yingtian Hospital quickly rose to become a holy land of medicine in the Ming Dynasty. It not only treated countless patients and relieved the suffering of the people, but also became a cradle for training doctors, continuously supplying medical talents to the Ming Dynasty.

Based on this, the concept of modern hospitals spread like wildfire throughout the Ming Dynasty, with hospitals being established in various provinces, ushering in a new era of medicine.

Many novel medical concepts are quietly seeping into the lives of ordinary people, like a gentle spring breeze.

For example, wiping instruments with alcohol or boiling utensils in boiling water to sterilize them are seemingly simple methods that have shown amazing effectiveness in practice.

Taking childbirth as an example, if a midwife boils the scissors used to cut the umbilical cord in boiling water, she can kill any tetanus bacteria that may be present.

This simple act can drastically reduce the neonatal mortality rate and save countless fragile lives.

As a result, maternal mortality rates have dropped to only one or two tenths of what they used to be.

The risks associated with childbirth have been greatly reduced.

In addition, methods such as rinsing the wound with clean water or cleaning the affected area with strong liquor have emerged and become widely used.

The popularization of this medical knowledge has ignited people's hope for survival.

From then on, the mortality rate of the people of the Ming Dynasty dropped significantly, especially the survival rate of infants.

Furthermore, with the Ming Dynasty's granaries now full and its people free from hunger, the population has surged dramatically, and the nation's strength has grown daily.

These are all things that happened later, but they all stemmed from the innovative measures taken at the moment.

At this moment, Zhu Yunwen had just announced to his ministers the earth-shattering news of the "resurrection" of the supreme emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The aftershocks inside the palace had not yet subsided, while outside, the faint sounds of ceremonial music could be heard, indicating that Zheng He and his returning naval officers were about to pay homage.

Before long, the procession arrived in front of the palace.

According to the regulations of the Ministry of Rites, Zheng He led dozens of accompanying officials and key technical personnel into the main hall to pay homage, while the remaining officers and soldiers were given a separate banquet to reward them for their achievements on the long voyage.

Zheng He was tall and strong, and his weathered face could not hide his determination. His steady steps revealed the composure of someone who had weathered many storms.

The attendants behind him all had solemn expressions. Although their armor had been eroded by the sea wind, it was still neat and uniform, showing the magnificent military appearance of the Ming Dynasty navy.

Upon their return, Zheng He and his soldiers were all deeply impressed by the tremendous changes that had taken place in the Ming Dynasty in recent years.

Their voyage took them to both wild and prosperous lands, where they witnessed both uncivilized tribes living in primitive conditions and thriving, civilized foreign city-states.

In particular, the buildings in Western countries, constructed with massive stones, are magnificent and splendid, displaying their wealth, power, and status to the world with undisguised luxury.

In contrast, the traditional wooden houses in the Ming Dynasty were understated and reserved, emphasizing practicality over extravagance, and had a distinct style.

However, when Zheng He and his entourage set foot on their homeland, they realized that the Ming Dynasty was no longer what it used to be.

In Guangzhou and Quanzhou, rows of new-style residences constructed of cement and steel have sprung up, appearing more exquisite and grand than the stone buildings of Europe.

As a newly emerging metropolis, Shanghai is filled with towering five- or six-story buildings with glazed tile roofs that shine like mirrors in the sunlight. The streets are wide and clean, which is truly breathtaking.

Upon returning to the capital, Yingtianfu, Zheng He would have been almost unable to find his way into the city without the guidance of officials sent by the imperial court.

The city walls of Nanjing still stand majestically, but the city itself has expanded considerably.

Many of the original village areas have been transformed into urban areas.

Both inside and outside the city walls, there were towering buildings, bustling shops, and a constant flow of traffic.

Compared to before, it is like a complete transformation, brand new.

In less than three years, Nanjing has undergone a complete transformation and is now brand new.

The humble dwellings of the past, with their mud walls, rotten bricks, and thatched roofs, have now been largely replaced by sturdy new houses made of cement and steel, which are tall, clean, and impressive.

The once bumpy dirt road has been transformed into a wide and flat cement road, with vehicles and horses flowing by without raising any dust.

The entire city seemed to have been reborn from the mortal world, like a golden phoenix spreading its wings and flying in the heavens, and was no ordinary city.

The urban area has expanded significantly, and what were once remote villages have now been integrated into the bustling city.

The streets were teeming with pedestrians, shoulder to shoulder, and the shops were bustling with activity. The magnificent scene was dazzling.

Compared to the cities on Earth that Zheng He and his voyages saw, the prosperity of Nanjing was unparalleled.

Whether it was the mud-brick cities of the wilderness or the stone-built capitals of the Western countries that they considered themselves civilized, none could compare to it.

While Western cities may flaunt their wealth with massive stone buildings, their grandeur and magnificence pale in comparison to the exquisite craftsmanship and grandeur of Nanjing, a world apart.

Zheng He and his accompanying officials stood in front of the palace, looking up at the newly built Fengtian Hall.

The palace was majestic, with soaring eaves and glazed tiles shimmering in the rising sun, creating an awe-inspiring sight that stirred their hearts.

Although the blue planet is vast, only the Great Ming Dynasty truly deserves to be the center of the world!
This voyage will surely lay the foundation for the Ming Dynasty to expand its territory and trade in the future.

From this point on, a brand new sea route was opened, and the might of our Great Ming Dynasty was displayed throughout the world.

As my thoughts raced, the eunuch's shrill voice shattered the silence.

Zheng He straightened his clothes and led his officials into the main hall.

Upon entering, they were once again shaken.

The hall was spacious, and even with thousands of people gathered there, it did not feel cramped at all.

With towering golden pillars, carved beams and painted rafters, it exudes an extraordinary aura.

Zheng He, who had once admired the towering churches of the West, now realized that those buildings were nothing special and far inferior to the solemnity and grandeur of the Ming Dynasty palaces.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Supreme Emperor!"

Zheng He led his entourage to bow and kneel in worship.

Before they entered the palace to pay their respects, the eunuchs had already quietly informed the founding emperor of the earth-shattering news of his "resurrection."

Although Zheng He and his entourage were shocked, they quickly calmed themselves down and accepted the situation, since the emperor's actions were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

"Your Majesty's imperial decree led a fleet on a long voyage to visit all the countries in the world. The journey took several years, and I faced many dangers, but fortunately, I did not fail in my mission and returned safely."

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty's great blessings. May Your Majesty's blessings be long-lasting and your empire forever secure!"

……

(End of this chapter)