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

Chapter 76 Statistics Table of Plague in the Capital

This form was quite strange; Zhang Juzheng had never seen it before, yet he understood its meaning at a glance.

Each day corresponds to a number, which are aligned horizontally and vertically above the table. After punctuation, the data from January are selected and connected together.

In this way, the number of people entering and leaving the clinic every day for the past month is clear at a glance!
Clearly, this data presentation is far clearer and more concise than the previous complex text in the memorials.

What new and interesting gadgets have you come up with this time?

Zhang Juzheng said this, but his hand couldn't help but turn backward.

The more he flipped through the pages, the more serious his gaze became, and he couldn't look away for a moment.

Because the subsequent tables are more detailed.

Examples include the incidence rate of polio in patients treated, the cure rate within seven days of admission, and the mortality rate within seven days of admission.

Each table contains detailed data and a corresponding trend line.

This clearly laid out the details of Renmin Medical Clinic's patient care to Zhang Juzheng.

What caught his attention even more was the application of the word "率" (ratio).

Others might not understand what it means, but he had promoted reforms such as the land survey method over the years and had some knowledge of mathematics. With a little thought, he knew that it came from the ratio problem in "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art".

Zhang Yunxiu ingeniously applied this to patient statistics, displaying all the patient data for the entire month of the clinic on red dots and broken lines!
Furthermore, in this statistical table, Renmin Medical Hall also roughly estimated the possible number of cases in the capital based on the morbidity rate of the patients who came for treatment.

This is far clearer and more explicit than the reports submitted by the counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture that "the number of patients is countless."

It was even more detailed than the previous table. Just by looking at the ever-rising line, Zhang Juzheng could clearly feel how rapid the plague in the capital had been over the past month!

For a moment, Zhang Juzheng was speechless, and his expression changed. He disregarded his young son standing beside him and, as if he had discovered a treasure, kept turning the pages, examining each one with utmost care.

Later on, the tables with red dots and broken lines disappeared, replaced by clear and concise large squares.

The grid arrangement follows a set pattern, reflecting data such as the number of new patients, the number of deaths, and the number of recoveries after adjustments to treatment plans.

Because these data were so clear and complete, even clearer than the Ministry of Revenue's accounts, even Zhang Juzheng began to have doubts.

Was it fabricated by Zhang Yunxiu?

Finally, Zhang Juzheng looked up and asked, "Is this data accurate?"

Having anticipated this question, Zhang Yunxiu helplessly pointed to the document and said, "Father, please turn to the next page."

With some skepticism, Zhang Juzheng flipped through the document again, and what he saw next left him dumbfounded.

He saw on the end of the detailed list that there were many dense lines of information about people who went to Renmin Medical Clinic for treatment!
From name, age, gender, home address, and education level, finally indicate the date of discharge after recovery!

There are even handwritten signatures from these ordinary people; some who couldn't write even left their red handprints.

It's even clearer and more concise than the imperial edicts!

If Zhang Juzheng still had doubts, he could simply compare them with the Yellow Register of Wanping County and the entries of Xianyi Ward to determine their authenticity.

However, there is no longer any need for that.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng's anger completely vanished, replaced by surprise and doubt. His fingers trembled slightly as he pointed at the form and spoke.

"Why so detailed!"

Zhang Yunxiu pursed his lips and said, "One person, one office. The clinic has its own rules and regulations. It's better to keep everyone's comings and goings clear so there won't be any chaos and there will be fewer troubles later. What do you think, Father?"

"As your father, I think..."

Zhang Juzheng was extremely conflicted, his mind a jumble of thoughts, like a general store. Then his expression gradually became serious, and he spoke in a very solemn voice.

"There are still some problems."

Zhang Yunxiu raised an eyebrow, immediately becoming wary. This old man still had tricks up his sleeve!

"The problem is..." Zhang Juzheng suddenly changed his tone. "If there's a problem, then there's a problem. Why didn't you bring it up sooner!" Zhang Yunxiu: "."

My heart sank, and I sensed something was wrong.

The old man has gone astray; the devil is always one step ahead of the saint, and he's even started using the same tricks he used to "tease" people's hearts.

But Zhang Juzheng could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Yunxiu's arm, and said with great enthusiasm.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! If this method can be widely adopted, it will be a divine tool that benefits the country and its people! Shiyuan, you are truly my son!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu was speechless.

Now it's "Shiyuan" again, not "rebellious son"?

Clearly, this statistical report caused a huge uproar in Zhang Juzheng's mind!

Seeing these detailed statistical reports, he couldn't help but think about how much efficiency would be improved if the land survey and the implementation of the Single Whip Law were carried out and all of them used this kind of statistical method.
These clear and concise data, with well-defined trends, are far superior to those redundant and verbose reports that often rely on platitudes!

For a pragmatist like Zhang Juzheng, it was like suddenly seeing a naked young woman standing in front of him after being lonely for half his life—how could he not be excited!
Thinking of this, Zhang Juzheng's hands trembled slightly.

Zhang Yunxiu laughed and said, "Father, do you still think I'm being ridiculous? How can the methods of those people in the Imperial Hospital solve the plague? They're still flipping through ancient books that are hundreds of years old! His Majesty and I aren't fooling around; we're truly working for the common people!"

Zhang Juzheng had no doubt about this tabular data statistical method, but he still frowned and said.

"This statistical method is good. If it can truly save the entire city's population, then allowing His Majesty to leave the palace would be justifiable. But why did you cause trouble at the Imperial Hospital and arrest dozens of imperial physicians?"

Clearly, the incident of breaking into the Imperial Hospital has caused a great uproar throughout the court and among the public.

Although the Imperial Medical Academy was a remote and inaccessible government office, the imperial physicians there were still officials. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was a fifth-rank official, and the imperial physicians were eighth-rank officials. Below them, clerks, physicians, doctors, and others all had different ranks.

If everyone were like Zhang Yunxiu, grabbing whatever they wanted like a chick, what would become of the court's dignity?

Zhang Yunxiu replied curiously, "Father, don't you understand? If this clinic is to run, it inevitably needs someone to operate it. Is there anyone in the capital who is easier to get started with than an imperial physician?"

Zhang Juzheng was speechless. He rubbed his forehead and asked again, "You had the students of the Imperial Academy and the clerks of the Imperial Medical Academy process this data for you?"

“This is an experiment! This is an experiment!” Zhang Yunxiu emphasized. “I’m supervising their academic project; I’m their supervisor, and this is for their own good!”

Zhang Juzheng: "You even made the imperial physician Yang Jishi become your apprentice?"

Yang Jishi is three years older than Zhang Juzheng, yet he addresses Zhang Yunxiu as his "mentor" repeatedly, which is utterly disgraceful.

“This is a matter of mentorship!” Zhang Yunxiu said confidently. “I am nurturing him so that he can carry forward modern medicine in the future. Besides, it is his own choice. If you don’t believe me, Father, go and ask him!”

What a mess!

Zhang Juzheng's head started to ache again, feeling that he could hardly keep up with his youngest son's "ingenious ideas".

Getting back to the main point, he understood that the most important thing now was to deal with the spread of the plague in the capital.

With this table of data as evidence, Zhang Yunxiu's "miracle drug" and "modern medicine" must have played a real role!
Zhang Juzheng's tone gradually turned somber.

"Is there any chance that your 'miracle drug' and 'modern medical' methods could be promoted throughout the city?"

The facts are clear: people are dying of illness in the capital, rumors are spreading, everyone is on edge, and villains are stirring.

If Zhang Juzheng, as the Grand Secretary, could not properly resolve the plague, not only would his new policies be difficult to implement, but his prestige, accumulated over many years, would also be challenged.

The imperial court has already spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to deal with the plague, but this money has not made a ripple.

The youngest son's "mischief" became Zhang Juzheng's lifeline!
Zhang Juzheng never expected that amidst all the complex problems, it would be his youngest son, Zhang Yunxiu, who would bring him a glimmer of hope!

"Yes and no!" Zhang Yunxiu replied, narrowing his eyes. "Then let's see if Father dares to break with the old and establish the new!"

　Note 1: The ratio problem mentioned by Zhang Juzheng comes from the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" (九章麻术): "The method says: Multiply all the numbers by the ratio you are looking for to get the real value. Use all the ratios as the standard. The real value is the same as the standard."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)