Di Ming

Chapter 338 Changing the reign title... Yongzheng!
Ning Yidao? Zhu Yin couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.

This little fortune teller is really good at bragging. A medical student who hasn't even graduated yet, she actually calls herself "Ning Yidao" (Ning the One-Cut).

However, in a way, she does have the qualifications.

According to Ning Caiwei, she did indeed have the surgery because she has a college classmate whose family owns a pet hospital.

Of course, she performs surgery not only on pets, but also on "humans".

She once commissioned many extremely expensive, highly realistic human surgical models, which not only included internal organs, bones, and organs, but also blood vessels, fascia, simulated heartbeats, and simulated bleeding.

She used hundreds of these surgical models, costing hundreds of millions of yuan. To be honest, her skills were indeed developed through financial investment.

Yet she still hasn't performed surgery on any patients. In other words, she has zero actual surgical cases.

But Ning Qingchen continued, "Back then, the Dragon Maiden of the North Sea was seriously ill, and a gallbladder had grown in her dragon horn. It was I who used my natal medicine knife to dissect and remove the lesion, which allowed her to achieve enlightenment. Immortal physicians all value surgery."

"But it was only after I was born into this mortal world that I realized that surgery in the mortal world is very rudimentary and simple, and is looked down upon by doctors and criticized as 'inhumane'. Soldiers wounded on the battlefield often die because of the rudimentary nature of surgery and cannot receive treatment."

"Although the Thirteen Departments of the Imperial Medical Academy of the Ming Dynasty included the Department of Surgery and the Department of Ulcer Treatment, they were ranked last and were practically useless. Even though they had surgical instruments such as scalpels, bone chisels, forceps, medicated threads, and needles, their skills were rudimentary and they did not understand the intricacies of the subject. They were merely at the beginner level and were regarded by the mainstream medical community as strange and unorthodox techniques and minor tricks."

Zhu Yin nodded slightly upon hearing Ning Qingchen's words.

Ning Xiaoyixian's assessment of the state and ecology of surgery in the Ming Dynasty was quite objective.

Borrowing from Joseph Needham's assessment, ancient Chinese surgical techniques were the result of independent development by traditional Chinese medicine and had nothing to do with Western medicine.

This is the natural evolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Because in the field of medicine, ancient doctors also discovered the role of surgery in treating diseases, which naturally led to the formation of TCM's own surgical system.

However, in the traditional Chinese medicine system, surgery has long been neglected and looked down upon; it is considered a low-level, unrefined technique.

More importantly, traditional Chinese medicine surgery lacks a systematic theory and the support of human anatomy.

This is one of the three major shortcomings of traditional Chinese medicine compared to modern medicine.

Ning Qingchen's ambition is to develop a surgical discipline of traditional Chinese medicine and optimize surgical techniques for future generations within the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine.

In her view, while modern medical surgery is advanced, it also has its flaws.

Ning Qingchen's tone became somewhat resolute as he said this:
"Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are the principles of medicine, while medicine, acupuncture, and surgery are the techniques of medicine. Surgery, of course, belongs to the techniques, not the principles."

"The Way is the foundation, the rule, and the unchanging principle throughout the ages. Techniques are different; there are many kinds of techniques, too numerous to count, but they all follow the same principle."

"But can you have the principles but not the methods?"

"The Way is used through techniques, and techniques are preserved through the Way. The two are interdependent and inseparable. Therefore, it is not enough to have only the Way of medicine, nor is it enough to have only medical techniques. Only when both the Way of medicine and medical techniques are present can it be called... medicine!"

"Although the Way is fundamental, having the Way without the methods is like having a mind but no hands and feet, or a piece of music with a score but no strings. How can the Way be extended?"

"Therefore, the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic - Plain Questions says: 'In ancient times, those who knew the Dao followed the principles of Yin and Yang and harmonized with the arts of numerology.'"

"Neither the principles nor the techniques should be neglected. However, since ancient times, Chinese medicine has emphasized the principles but not the techniques, which has made it difficult to improve medicine and ultimately prevented it from breaking out of its cocoon and reaching its peak."

"Have I made myself clear?"

"You are all my most valued students, which is why I will personally teach you surgical techniques. If anyone still thinks that surgery is a minor skill, I will not force them, but from now on you will no longer be my personal disciples."

Ning Qingchen then fell silent, and the room fell into complete silence, with only the crackling sound of burning charcoal in the stove.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yin stepped inside and laughed heartily:

"It is truly a blessing for students that the Little Doctor Ning teaches by candlelight."

His eyes swept across the room, and he saw twenty young men and women dressed in white, wearing turbans, sitting quietly on prayer cushions in the warm and brightly lit hall.

At the head of the table sat a little girl dressed in white with a black hat. She held a hand warmer, looking serious and dignified, like a teacher.

When Zhu Yin saw Ning Qingchen, whom he hadn't seen for several months, he couldn't help but smile warmly, and the slight worry in his heart vanished.

Upon seeing Zhu Yin, the little girl's face instantly lit up with surprise and delight.

"Little Tiger? You're back!"

Ning Qingchen's voice was full of joy, but then she seemed to remember something, her little face turned serious, she coughed, and said to everyone in a soft, cute yet mature tone:
"That's all for today. You can all go back now. Remember, you are my personal disciples, handpicked from among five hundred students. I have high hopes for you, so don't let me down."

"Our medical knowledge is profound and extensive. If you learn even 30% of what I have learned, you will be able to make a living, practice medicine, and help others. Do it well, do it well!"

"Yes! We will follow your teachings!" The twenty students simultaneously packed up their lecture notes, stood up, bowed, and said, "We take our leave!"

After the students left, Ning Qingchen's face lit up with joy again. She couldn't help but hug Zhu Yin tightly, clinging to him, her little mouth agape as if a gourd had been opened from its plug.

"Little Tiger, why didn't you come back to celebrate the New Year with me? I'm seven years old now. I've been waiting day and night, anxiously waiting, and every day felt like a year... I've finally got you back. Are you alright? Oh, when did you get back?"

"I returned to Beijing this morning. Hmm, my Qingchen has gained quite a bit of weight..."

"Huh? You got back this morning, why are you only coming to see me now? It's been a whole day. I'm angry!"

"I'm leading a delegation back to the capital. I need to stay at the Huitongguan (a liaison office) to await imperial decrees and handover, and then I'll be going to the palace to meet the Emperor this afternoon. But you, everyone in the city knows I'm back in the capital, and you didn't even know?"

"This fairy is very busy. I spend almost the entire day in the research lab, studying medicines. I only emerge from seclusion at night to give lectures to my personal disciples."

"Haha, Fairy Ning even accepts personal disciples?"

"Is that not acceptable? These twenty people all possess medical talent; they were selected by this fairy from among the best. In the future, each of them could become a national physician of the Ming Dynasty, a leading figure in their respective fields."

"If your students become towering figures, then what have you become?"

"I am a divine healer, of course I am transcendent and detached from worldly affairs, becoming a legend, becoming a belief."

"Alright, Doctor Ning, you are a legend. But don't you think our family has too many legends? I'm really afraid of attracting jealousy."

"Hehe... Little Tiger, since medical school started, many people know I'm a reincarnated deity. Last month, this fairy saved a dying patient, and he promised to build me a temple dedicated to the Immortal Healer. I wonder if it's been built yet..."

Zhu Yin: "..."

Wow, you really want someone to build a temple for you?

Zhu Yin touched Ning Qingchen's hair bun and laughed, "Even if he doesn't fix it, someone else will."

Ning Qingchen raised her delicate, fair face. "Little Tiger, where's President Ning? Hasn't she come back?"

Zhu Yin said, "She won't be back for a few more days. Don't worry, she'll definitely be able to spend the Lantern Festival with us."

Ning Qingchen nodded, "Then quickly tell this fairy about the Japanese. I've been worried about them for months."

After hearing Zhu Yin recount the events in Japan, Ning Qingchen's face was filled with admiration, and her black gem-like eyes sparkled.

"I'm truly impressed by you. Little Tiger, you're incredibly audacious! You wiped out the entire Japanese government in the capital! No wonder you're a spy, so ruthless, so incredibly ruthless."

"What, does the fairy not like it?"

"I love it, of course I love it. This is a real triumph, isn't it? Back then, during the Jingkang Incident, the Ming emperor was captured by the Liao and taken to the grasslands—what a humiliation! It was all thanks to Yang Liulang and Yue Fei. Now, you've even brought back the Japanese emperor! Amazing, my brother..."

"No... I mean, could you spare some time to read some history books? Don't tell anyone you're my sister-in-law."

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong again?"

"You're not wrong, I'm the one who's wrong."

"Little Tiger, you've done such a great service this time, how will Emperor Baijin reward you?"

"Hehe, guess. You can only guess once."

"Could it be a title?" "You guessed right, a marquisate."

"Huh? You're really being granted a marquisate? You're a marquis now. Then I'm the marquis's... sister-in-law? Why would the money-grubbing emperor be willing to grant you a marquisate... Oh, he wants to grant it to Zheng Guowang?"

"As expected of a legend, the fairy is incredibly intelligent. Indeed, the emperor truly intended to bestow a title upon his brother-in-law; I merely benefited from the favor of Zheng Guojiu."

"Hehe! Little tiger, so you're just a helper! What kind of lord are you?"

"Marquis of Jiangning".

"That sounds pretty good. Is it 'Marquis of Ten Thousand Households'? 'Marquis of Ten Thousand Households' is just 'dung beetle'!"

"What the hell is this Marquis of Ten Thousand Households? Marquises in the Ming Dynasty are not feudal lords. They do not have fiefs or people. They only have economic benefits and political privileges, and their titles are hereditary."

"Uh, I see. You're quite something, aren't you? You're a noblewoman, right? So my sister is a Marquis?"

"I don't care." Zhu Yin placed Ning Qingchen on the futon and sat down with her by the brazier. "Qingchen, you need to be mentally prepared. I'm afraid I won't be an official in the capital for long."

"Huh?" Ning Qingchen opened her mouth wide. "What about the medical school?"

Zhu Yin's expression was somewhat solemn. "We'll see how things go. If I am indeed demoted and sent to a remote area, the medical students will go with you and temporarily relocate out of Beijing. As for those who don't want to go with you, we can't worry about them."

Ning Qingchen's small face turned solemn. "If they want to stay in Beijing and refuse to leave because they crave comfort, then they are not worthy of being my students."

"For new TCM practitioners, it's not good to stay in the classroom and study. You must travel around and experience the authentic medicinal materials, unique diseases, and differences between medicinal materials in different regions. You should visit at least one of the three regions in China with the most concentrated authentic medicinal materials: Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Hubei."

Zhu Yin said, "I might go to North Korea next month to take command of the troops and clean up the mess. If I go, I will agree to your request."

Ning Qingchen's request was to go to the battlefield together, use Japanese prisoners of war to test new drugs, conduct live dissection exercises, and obtain valuable clinical data and information on toxic side effects.

Of course, she won't go alone. She'll take a group of students with her. These students will serve as both military medics, saving lives in the army, and researchers in field laboratories.

This is an extremely rare opportunity for medical students.

Upon hearing Zhu Yin's words, Ning Qingchen smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling. "Then you must try to lead troops and capture as many Japanese soldiers as possible, otherwise we won't have enough test subjects. I have several new drugs with unknown side effects, and I urgently need a large number of live people to test them on."

Zhu Yin asked, "Collecting data also requires some measuring tools. For example, we only have one thermometer, which is far from enough."

Ning Qingchen said, "Little Tiger, this is exactly what I need from you. Tell Daishan to speed up the development of a mercury thermometer. The medical school already has a course on body temperature, and I'm directly using the Celsius temperature system."

Zhu Yin shook his head: "It's not that easy. The most difficult part is the precision of the hollow glass tube and the sealing technology to isolate the air. I have proposed many methods, but the craftsmen in Daishan still need to explore them. I estimate it will take at least two more years to develop a high-precision mercury thermometer."

"Isn't the little fairy supposed to be a celestial being descended to earth? Why does a mercury thermometer need someone as lowly as me?"

"Little fairy?" Ning Qingchen said reproachfully, "Are you insulting me? Why don't you call me little fairy? You're not a mortal either, you're a star lord who descended to earth, but I don't know what kind of star lord, maybe a jinx, hee hee."

"Furthermore, it's not just the thermometer. I'll also entrust the stethoscope, surgical instruments, and syringes to Lord Star Lord."

Ning Qingchen's expression suddenly turned somewhat strange as she spoke, her soft, innocent eyes fixed on Zhu Yin as she said with an air of seriousness:

"Little Tiger, tell me, are you really a star lord descended to earth? And am I really a reincarnation of a healer immortal, and did I really study Taoism in the North Sea in my previous life?"

Zhu Yin's expression also became a little strange. He couldn't help but reach out and touch the little girl's forehead, asking with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Why would you think that?"

"Ugh, how annoying." Ning Qingchen shook off Zhu Yin's hand. "Do you think I'm sick? Am I really sick? What if I'm not?"

“Think about it, everyone else believes in you, and there are shrines and temples dedicated to you in many places around the world. I’m starting to have temples too. Everyone believes, but we ourselves don’t? Is that a good thing?”

Zhu Yin opened his mouth, but no words came out; he could only gaze into the little girl's eyes. The little girl's eyes were filled with a clear, innocent light…

Ning Qingchen continued, "Little Tiger, I'm serious, I think I might actually be one."

Zhu Yin sighed, "Qingchen, you're getting too into character. I think besides being a divine doctor, there's another noble profession that suits you."

"What's your profession?" Ning Qingchen asked curiously, "An actor?"

“Liar,” Zhu Yin said, referring to this noble profession. “You’re too ruthless. You even deceive yourself, hypnotizing yourself.”

Ning Qingchen rolled her eyes and scoffed, "You're the liar! You dog of a spy, you've fooled the whole of Japan!"

After saying that, she leaned in and reached out her little hand to pinch Zhu Yin's ear.

"Here we go again!" Zhu Yin covered his ears. "You dare twist the ears of the Marquis's brother-in-law and the Vice Minister of War! You have no respect for elders!"

Ning Qingchen laughed and chuckled, playfully teasing Zhu Yin relentlessly, acting like a spoiled brat, full of willful, mischievous, and clever habits, which gave Zhu Yin a huge headache.

Caiwei, please come back soon.

I really don't know how to discipline this sister-in-law.

Zhu Yin's expression suddenly turned serious, and he changed the subject, saying, "I think what you said to the students before makes a lot of sense."

"Huh?" Ning Qingchen's attention was immediately drawn. "Tell me about it."

Zhu Yin said: "The ancients said that having only skills without principles is like riding a horse without reins. They said that principles are the reason why Yao and Shun prospered, while skills are the reason why Jie and Zhou perished. These grand principles have led the Chinese people to value principles over skills, which is the root cause of the stagnation of science and technology and the fact that China has been surpassed by the West."

“What you said today was excellent, absolutely insightful. It made them realize that Taoism and Taoist arts should be given equal importance, the so-called principle of combining the essentials with the essentials.”

Confucius cherished the Way of the King but lacked the art of expediency, hence his travels through various states without finding a suitable patron. Without art, what use is the Way if one only possesses it?

Ning Qingchen immediately became serious and said, "The saying that the ancients valued the Way over the skills was just something I said to my students. Actually, I don't think so myself."

"Oh?" Zhu Yin was quite surprised. "Do you think that the ancients valued both principles and techniques?"

"No!" the little girl said with certainty. "I think it's quite the opposite. The ancients kept emphasizing the Way, but they only stressed what they lacked. In fact, the ancients always... valued techniques more than the Way!"

"What is the Dao? It is the fundamental principle, the truth of heaven and earth, and the foundation for guiding and developing technology. Did the ancients truly value it? If they did, why did they always know what it was but not why it was so?"

"If they truly valued it, why did ancient Chinese technology continue to advance while fundamental scientific principles remained elusive? This shows that the ancients' words and actions contradicted each other; they valued technique over principle!"

“Those ancient people always talked about the Great Way, but in reality, they were just saying what they lacked. Their understanding of the Way was more like a metaphysical macro-philosophical theory.”

At this point, the little girl sat up straight, adopted a debate stance, and made a gesture indicating that it was her turn to speak.

Zhu Yin had no intention of arguing. He nodded and sighed, saying:

"It's true what they say, 'You can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.' I didn't even think of such a simple principle. Isn't that right? The ancients valued technique over principle. They really emphasized what they lacked. I fell into a habitual misconception, thinking that because there were many famous sayings in ancient books emphasizing principle over technique, I meant that the ancients valued principle over technique."

Seeing that Zhu Yin wasn't going to argue with him, Ning Qingchen couldn't help but yawn in boredom.

"This fairy is sleepy and needs to take a nap." She was very happy. "Tonight, I finally have someone to sleep with, and I won't have nightmares anymore."

Zhu Yin said, "Then go wash up and go to bed. We'll go back to the manor together tomorrow. You rest first, I still need to process intelligence."

"I'm back today, there must be intelligence coming my way."

Ning Qingchen stretched and said, "I'll wait with you. I also want to know what kind of intelligence they'll send."

After the little girl finished speaking, she took off to make milk powder for Zhu Yin.

Zhu Yin then added charcoal to the brazier.

The two waited until 11:45 PM before the intelligence finally arrived. Sure enough, Zhu Yin had several intelligence reports piled up and sent them overnight as soon as he returned to the capital that day.

Under the light, the two opened the first intelligence report, and after deciphering it, they were shocked to find:
"In late November of last year, Zhu Shuaixin, the false emperor of the Western Ming Dynasty, led his army to a great victory over the combined forces of the four Uruz tribes of Yarkand, numbering over 60,000, captured Yarkand city, and took the Yarkand Khan and his princes prisoner."

"The Yarkand Khanate is gone!"

"On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the self-proclaimed emperor Zhu Shuaixin posthumously honored the Hongwu Emperor as the 'Boundless and Vast Khan of the Azure Heaven,' renamed Yarkand City as Xijing, rebuilt the Ming Imperial Ancestral Temple, and issued an edict to change the reign title to Yongzheng the following year!"

P.S.: The reign title "Yongzheng" means "orthodoxy" and "restoration of order." This is just a joke, please don't take it too seriously. Please vote with monthly tickets! Leave comments and share fanfiction; this will increase its popularity! Thank you, goodnight!
(End of this chapter)