Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 105 Direct Advice! This Advantage Lies With Me!
"In the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu issued the land survey decree in order to suppress local powerful families, and even sent troops to suppress powerful landlords. But what was the final outcome?"
Even an emperor cannot rule with absolute power; in the face of the changing world, he must possess the skills of negotiation and compromise to secure his rule.

"To take a more recent example, the Great Rites Controversy in the third year of the Jiajing reign. Even with Emperor Shizong's strong hand, he still had to compromise when faced with the advice of ministers such as the Nine Ministers and the Hanlin Academy. How does the current emperor compare?"

"This operation is perfectly timed, geographically advantageous, and supported by the people. We have many advantages on our side. If we don't act now, when will we?"

Inside the Xu family compound, in the pavilion, Imperial Censor Yang Keli stood with great passion and fervor.

Opposite him were the key figures of the opposition: Xu Xuemo, Minister of Rites, and Yang Sizhi, Censor.

Yang Sizhi took a sip of bitter tea, his eyes filled with anticipation, and asked Xu Xuemo.

"Your Excellency, has Grand Secretary Zhang made any moves?"

This Grand Secretary Zhang is none other than Zhang Siwei.

Xu Xuemo's brows seemed somewhat furrowed, and he didn't appear as optimistic as Yang Keli. He thought for a moment before replying.

"Now that Zhang Juzheng is no longer in charge of the cabinet, it is just a battle between Shen Shixing and Mr. Ziwei (Zhang Siwei's courtesy name).

I thought Shen Shixing was a weakling, but I didn't expect him to be so persistent, determined to prove himself against Mr. Ziwei.

Yang Sizhi said somewhat indignantly, "Shen Shixing is backed by Zhang Jiangling. The power of the cabinet to draft proposals is of great importance. Zhang Jiangling is bedridden at home, yet they still want to hold on to him. This is truly going against the tide!"

Yang Keli was even more radical: "His Majesty is neglecting his duties, and the Grand Secretary is seriously ill. Even if the memorials and documents are sent to the Zhang family residence, how can Zhang Jiangling handle state affairs while he is ill? The affairs of the world are not to be trifled with! We must take back the power to draft memorials!"

“How easy is it?” Xu Xuemo said, staring intently at the teacup in his hand. “The power to draft proposals is in Zhang Juzheng’s hands, and the power to approve them is in Feng’s hands. We must be careful in our actions.”

Yang Keli said with a sneer, "If Zhang Juzheng had been law-abiding, we would have had no chance. But the problem is that he has a good son."

He continued, squinting.

"Even if this method of preventing and controlling the plague can save many people, what good will it do? In the end, won't countless people still die or be injured?"

Xu Xuemo raised an eyebrow.

Yang Keli was right. The upright officials were never blind. They could naturally see the effectiveness of the Benevolent People's Medical Center and the policies for preventing and controlling the plague.

But so what?

Yang Sizhi stroked his beard and said smugly, "If forty or fifty thousand people die and it is kept secret, it won't cause much of a stir. But if one or two thousand people die, and the news spreads throughout the land, the people will be filled with resentment and anger, and the world will be overthrown!"

Xu Xuemo, however, was not optimistic, saying, "Zhang Shiyuan still has the Wanli Xinbao, and his influence is incomparable to what it used to be."

Yang Keli smiled and shook his head: "Your Excellency is too cautious. No matter how widely the Wanli New Gazette is spread, can it have the same impact as the scholars of the world who share a common hatred for the enemy?"
I have heard that there has been a response in various places in Southern Zhili, and there has been a rural uprising in Songjiang Prefecture. The students and scholars in Suzhou Prefecture, upon hearing about the events in the capital and the new policies, are extremely angry with the Zhang family father and son!
Even the two princes of Suzhou have given their full support; what do we have to fear?

"But are you Mr. Wang Yuanmei and Mr. Wang Yuanyu?" Xu Xuemo feigned surprise.

"Exactly!" Yang Keli said excitedly. "With the general trend of the world, why should Your Excellency worry? It is common knowledge that Zhang Juzheng is seriously ill. I think even if he survives, he will find it difficult to serve in the court."

We have made many arrangements within the inner court, and we also have the assistance of Grand Secretary Zhang in the imperial court, as well as many other means.

The people are deeply resentful; even His Majesty must compromise!

“That makes sense,” Xu Xuemo said, feigning sudden realization.

Yang Keli became more and more excited as he spoke.

"This is a golden opportunity! In the next few days, we will go to court to offer our advice! First, to abolish the plague; second, to abolish the new policies; third, to appoint a new Grand Secretary; and fourth, to have His Majesty issue an edict of self-reproach!"

"Yes! We'll settle both the old and new scores together!" Yang Sizhi's gritted teeth clearly showed his deep hatred for Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Yunxiu.

Xu Xuemo thought for a moment, looking very worried, but still immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said.

"I will certainly inform Grand Secretary Zhang of the plans here. I will need your help in the future."

"This is a common ailment, there is no need to send the patient to the clinic. Just tell the patient some precautions and then let the patient seek treatment at a regular clinic in the market."

"The old man's condition is critical; let's send him to the intensive care unit. Sigh... the family should make plans sooner rather than later."

"Enemas are a life-saving method. If we want to save the patient's life, human life is of paramount importance. How can we let shame obscure it?" For a whole month, Yang Jishi worked non-stop in the clinic, hardly stopping at all.

But he didn't complain at all.

Seeing the patients who entered the clinic and received the most advanced and professional treatment, witnessing the joy on their faces after recovery, and the heart-wrenching cries of those who had survived a calamity, was enough to dispel Yang Jishi's fatigue.

What made Yang Jishi even more gratified was that the imperial physicians who had not understood him before, and even worse, those who had previously resented and insulted him, were now his confidants.

However, after a month of working at Renmin Medical Clinic, their attitudes underwent a complete transformation.

They even went to apologize in great fear.

Apart from a few stubborn individuals who were expelled from Renmin Medical Hall by Zhang Yunxiu, most of the imperial physicians were able to recognize the significance that modern medicine brought to the Ming Dynasty and even to the development of Chinese medicine over the past thousands of years.

From then on, medicine was no longer a discipline on par with metaphysics, without any rules and relying entirely on experience.

"Being able to cure diseases," "being able to save lives," "being pragmatic," and "seeking truth" will become the principles that all physicians of the Ming Dynasty will abide by!

Of course, Yang Jishi also had to admit that even after receiving treatment at Renmin Medical Hall, many patients still could not escape the fate of death.

Allicin is ultimately not a "miracle drug," and Zhang Yunxiu is ultimately not a "divine being."

However, Yang Jishi also learned to be pragmatic, using concrete events and data to analyze problems rather than relying solely on his intuition.

Whether modern medicine is useful or not cannot be accurately determined based on the evaluation of one or two people or the account of a particular doctor.

The most accurate data analysis reports come from the clinic itself.

Yang Jishi had long since learned to read these reports, watching the ever-decreasing morbidity rates and the emergence of new therapies after clinical trials at the research center, which continuously increased the cure rate for patients.

He then fully understood that Zhang Yunxiu was right!
Modern medicine is the only medical theory that can truly save lives, and it is thousands of times better than any ancient book!
Yang Jishi had already made up his mind to dedicate his entire life, even his life, to protecting this hard-won school of thought!

Just as Yang Jishi's face showed a passionate expression, a burly old man walked into the clinic. He was dressed in military uniform and followed by a group of soldiers.

Upon seeing this person enter, Yang Jishi immediately stepped forward to greet him.

"Imperial Physician Yang Jishi greets Your Excellency, Duke!"

When Zhang Rong looked at Yang Ji, his eyes were full of admiration, and he nodded and said.

"Your medical practice and efforts to save lives are extraordinary, far superior to those quack doctors in the capital who are all talk and no action."

Upon hearing this, Yang Jishi was somewhat excited and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your appreciation, Duke."

Zhang Rong nodded slightly, glanced inside the clinic, and asked, "Is that kid Zhang Shiyuan here?"

Yang Jishi replied respectfully, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Chairman Zhang is still busy at the research center. If Your Excellency wishes to find him, I will send someone to inform you immediately."

"There's no need for such trouble. I'll go and see him myself. You have so many patients, and it's not convenient for me to bother you too much."

After saying that, Zhang Rong strode confidently toward the back of the clinic.

These days, Zhang Rong has been in charge of supervising the refugees outside the city, so he naturally has to communicate with Zhang Yunxiu from time to time.

Over time, he entered Renmin Medical Clinic as if it were his own backyard, without any hindrance.

But when Zhang Rong found Zhang Yunxiu, the latter was lecturing a group of imperial physicians.

"I have said it countless times: germs are everywhere. The most important thing for a doctor is to protect himself!"

"Are you all a bunch of incompetent fools? Any instruments used to treat patients need to be sterilized by boiling in hot water!"

"How could you make such a basic mistake? I think you should just quit being imperial physicians. Let Zhang Lanying from the clinic take your place. She's never even been to a private school, yet she's more sensible than you!"

(End of this chapter)