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

Chapter 71 Can you make money from disaster relief?
"That's not the case," Empress Wang said, shaking her head. "Your Majesty's method has some merit, but it's too radical. The officials in the court always seek moderation and balance; how could they possibly agree with this method?"

"These people think I'm being misled by Zhang Shiyuan!" the Wanli Emperor said indignantly. "Am I the kind of person who would be misled? Do you think I don't know whether Zhang Shiyuan has deceived me or not?"

In fact, the emperor had already gone to witness it with his own eyes in order to verify Zhang Yunxiu's statement.

What angered him most was that these civil officials felt every day that they were like easily misled children who would become a foolish ruler.

Emperor Wanli said indignantly again, "All civil officials should be killed!"

"Your Majesty," Empress Wang said reassuringly, "not all civil officials are like this; Grand Secretary Zhang is different from them."

At this moment, the emperor also remembered Zhang Juzheng's good qualities and said with emotion.

"Compared to others, the Prime Minister is actually quite good, but he's just a bit too strict."

After going through many twists and turns, he found himself unable to leave Zhang Juzheng.

Without Zhang Juzheng, who would help him suppress these civil officials who "disrespect the emperor and their father"?

He ultimately lacked the boldness and decisiveness of his grandfather, Emperor Jiajing.

After morning.

Zhang Juzheng and Shen Shixing strolled out of the Forbidden City together.

Throughout the journey, Shen Shixing's expression was extremely worried, and he finally couldn't help but speak.

"What is your opinion on your son's recent actions, Your Excellency?"

Zhang Juzheng walked ahead, his back slightly hunched beneath his bright red court robe.

He sighed softly, his long beard trembling, his words tinged with helplessness.

"How can I possibly see it? This young man and His Majesty are now as close as brothers, how can I possibly see it?"

Shen Shixing asked with a strange expression, "Does the Emperor also believe that the young master can save the people of the capital with 'miracle medicine'?"

Zhang Juzheng replied calmly, "His heart is good."

"Gong Tingxian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, tearfully recounted his story to me."

There are also many complaints among the public.

"besides."

Shen Shixing's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, and finally, seeing that the Empress was about to explode, he stopped talking.

He then sighed, "But the civil officials seem to be getting restless. The En family holds great power; a single move could have far-reaching consequences. I fear that your reckless actions, young master, might have an impact."

Zhang Juzheng narrowed his eyes, his face ashen: "Even without Zhang Shiyuan, would they not have attacked me or sabotaged the new policies?"

Shen Shixing remained silent.

Zhang Juzheng turned his head and looked at the departing court officials from afar. They all looked very well dressed, their bright red court robes were exceptionally bright. Seeing the court officials' energetic appearance, it was impossible to tell that the capital was currently suffering from a plague.

He snorted coldly.

"Let's see what tricks these people can pull!"

Though he said this, the image of his young son, with his innocent and naive smiling face, appeared in his mind.

I immediately felt a chill run down my spine.

Xianyifang.

More than half a month into the plague, the rest of the city's wards and markets were deserted, but Xianyi Ward was unusually bustling.

They had money, and they had people.

Zhang Yunxiu was finally able to launch the ambitious "Great Ming Medical Reform" plan.

Throughout history, plagues have been a persistent problem for ancient dynasties, and even the fall of the Ming Dynasty can be attributed in some respects to the plague. Zhang Yunxiu understood the immense importance of establishing a modern medical system.

In reality, the Imperial Medical Academy of the Ming Dynasty was not a group of incompetent fools as stereotyped.

In a sense, apart from the hereditary medical professions, most imperial physicians, starting from the fifth year of the Hongzhi reign, had to undergo rigorous professional examinations in thirteen subjects.

The impression that Ming Dynasty imperial physicians were all quacks is mainly due to the backwardness of medical care and the ignorance of traditional beliefs in ancient times.

This can be seen from the medical books they read, namely the three classic texts of the Imperial Medical Academy in the Ming Dynasty: "Materia Medica", "Suwen", and "Pulse Classic".

The Shennong Materia Medica was written during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Suwen was written during the Warring States period to the Qin and Han Dynasties, and the Maijing was compiled by Wang Shuhe of the Western Jin Dynasty.
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, spanning over a thousand years, it's no wonder that the imperial physicians of the Ming Dynasty still regarded these classic texts as gospel.

Twenty imperial physicians, along with more than fifty other medical staff and clerks, were "kidnapped" from the Imperial Medical Academy.

The most pressing issue is changing their traditional mindset.

Zhang Yunxiu organized these imperial physicians and medical practitioners into five medical study groups, which were then led by Yang Jishi for a three-day "modern medical crash course".

Changing mindsets is not something that can be achieved in a short time.

Fortunately, in the context of preventing and controlling the plague, medical knowledge was sufficient to meet basic needs.

Based on Wu Youke's "Treatise on Epidemic Diseases," Zhang Yunxiu adapted Wu's theory of "a different kind of strange qi in the world" and added a lot of more detailed and systematic modern knowledge, such as clarifying the existence of "germs," ​​as well as transmission through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and contact, the immune mechanism, and the mechanism of action of allicin, etc.

The matter was complex and complicated. Zhang Yunxiu had only made a preliminary start, and the rest was left to Yang Jishi, Yuan Zongdao and others to study.

With the special permission of the emperor, coupled with the suppression of Zhang Yunxiu's "bad reputation," and the promise of a bright future and high salary, there was no need to worry about these people disobeying.

Initially, many imperial physicians were resistant to these "training classes," feeling that they were an insult to scholarship.

Me, a dignified imperial physician, having to learn medicine from a greenhorn like you?

A few days later, however, they memorized all these simple medical principles and, under Zhang Yunxiu's "coercion and enticement," conducted laboratory experiments and even went to the clinic to verify the theories.

Within a week, many quick-witted imperial physicians suddenly had some insights.

I even feel that this "modern medicine" seems to actually have some merit?
Following Zhang Yunxiu's instructions, Renmin First Medical Clinic has put up a sign at its entrance in the past few days.

"Starting today, masks will be distributed free of charge to all patients. For patients from impoverished families, a consultation fee of only five cents will be charged. Those who wish to participate in the experiment will be provided with accommodation and meals during their treatment period."

This news caused a huge stir, and the people who had been waiting and watching were immediately thrown into a frenzy.

Currently, there are indeed some clinics in the capital that offer free medical treatment to the people, but even with the addition of the Huimin Pharmacy, it is still a drop in the ocean when facing the millions of people in the capital.

Against this backdrop, many medical clinics had no choice but to raise their prices. How dare Renmin Medical Clinic lower its prices?

It is said that the masks distributed by Renmin Medical Clinic are made of hemp on the outside and only have a layer of fine cotton on the inside. When worn, they will absorb some carbon powder, making the wearer's face black.

When the doctor at the clinic said that masks could prevent and control diseases, few people believed it.

The number of people who recovered from this clinic far exceeded that of any other clinic in the capital!
Most importantly, it's free!

As for the so-called "experiment," apart from some poor people who really can't afford the consultation fee or the food, no ordinary people are willing to become the consumables for the alchemy.

The news was sent out, but Zhang Yunxiu did not expect all the people in the capital to flock to him. He knew very well that even for a clinic of Renmin's size, it was still a pipe dream to save the entire city.

Zhang Yunxiu had only one goal: to protect his small territory of Xianyi Ward and set an example for the officials in the court.

Most importantly...
"Yes, then hang up this poster. The words on it must be large and clear, preferably written in large characters with cinnabar ink."

Zhang Yunxiu, hands on his hips, gave instructions to Yang Jishi, who was writing with a cinnabar brush.

“Master.” Yang Jishi looked at the document, a strange expression on his face. “Isn’t this a bit inappropriate? Aren’t we supposed to be helping the people? Why are we starting to charge money instead, and offering VIP services, priority access to treatment and the most expensive medicines?”

Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?

(End of this chapter)