The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

Wang Zhonghua looked out the window at the vast expanse of sky and earth, and said, word by word, "What I want to do is to provide a solid support for all those who love their families. To give future heroes like Tiedan a homeland without worries. To give loyal ministers like General Di a secure path to safety. To give the people in this chaotic world a safe haven where they can survive."

"Hey, Zhonghua, your ambition... isn't that exactly what you call 'lofty aspirations'?"

"That's why I'm starting out by making spicy soup," Wang Zhonghua laughed. "Try it and see what I, a soup seller, can eventually turn this Sanyi Village into!"

As the two were talking, Ma Nao and Zhang Simao rushed over.

These two men were assigned to protect Liu Jueming and his grandson when they were supporting Huluwan. They were prepared to sacrifice themselves, but they didn't expect that the Liu family was so skilled that they killed the bandits as easily as swatting flies. After helping the local militia repel the bandits, the two men stayed in Huluwan to serve Liu Jueming.

Seeing that the two looked rushed, Wang Zhonghua quickly asked, "What urgent matter do you two have?"

Ma Nao spoke first: "Young Master Wang, Doctor Liu requests your presence at Sansheng Cottage. He says the condition of the wounded has changed and he would like to discuss it with you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhonghua's expression turned solemn. He nodded to Qin Tiehua and then quickly followed the two to the Sansheng Lodge, located in a secluded part of the village.

Even before entering, a rich aroma of herbs wafted over.

Inside the hut, Liu Jueming was bent over at the bedside of a seriously wounded village militiaman, while Liu Xinyi skillfully changed the bandages of another wounded soldier on the other side. Seeing Wang Zhonghua enter, Liu Jueming straightened up, stroking his beard, his eyes filled with astonishment and curiosity:

"Young Wang, that 'alcohol' you brought is truly miraculous! After cleaning the wounds, less than one in ten of those who developed fever and suppuration survived, and the number of wounded soldiers who survived far exceeds what I've ever seen in my life! What... what is the reason behind this?"

Wang Zhonghua looked around the orderly scene inside the shelter. Although there were many wounded, there was no widespread devastation, which reassured him somewhat. He walked to the bedside of a villager who had a fever due to an infected wound, reached out and touched the man's forehead, which was still burning hot but no longer as alarming as before, and explained:

"Old Liu, there are tiny creatures in the world that are invisible to the naked eye, called 'germs.' They mostly live in filthy places. When they invade a wound, they can cause redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and even ulceration and death. High-proof alcohol can kill these germs, thus preventing the wound from worsening."

He spoke in a way that was both profound and simple, using language that was understandable in this era as much as possible.

Liu Jueming frowned as he listened, then slowly relaxed, muttering, "Microorganisms... germs... could this be the 'plague qi' recorded in ancient texts? If so, surgical techniques may undergo a revolutionary change!"

The old doctor's eyes shone with a burning light, a desire for the uncharted realm of medicine.

"Young man, you must explain your method of making 'alcohol' to me in detail!"

"Grandpa, you're daydreaming again." Liu Xinyi walked over carrying a tray of medicine and interrupted softly. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead, but they couldn't hide the clarity and focus in her eyes. "Young Master Wang, following the 'isolation' method you mentioned before, we placed the feverish wounded in separate areas, and all the cloths and utensils used were boiled in boiling water. It has indeed effectively curbed the spread of the disease."

Her tone was calm, yet it conveyed a sense of confidence gained from practice and the courage to try new things.

Wang Zhonghua nodded approvingly: "Miss Xinyi is meticulous, this method is exactly right." He looked around at the wounded, his voice gentle yet powerful, "Brothers, rest assured and recover from your injuries. Sanyi Village will not forget your contributions. If you have any difficulties at home, just ask."

As they were talking, Lü Sanjun, supported by a servant, rubbed his temples and walked in with a slightly unsteady gait, saying with a pained expression:

"Dr. Liu, Miss Liu, my headache has flared up again, and lately I've been feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I've taken several doses of calming soup, but it hasn't helped."

Liu Jueming stepped forward to take his pulse, his brows furrowing slightly. He then examined his tongue coating, pondered for a long while, and shook his head, saying:

"Master Lü's pulse is wiry and hard, and his tongue is reddish, which are signs of liver yang rising. I will prescribe some formulas to calm the liver and subdue yang, which may alleviate the symptoms. However, this condition is prone to recurrence, so you need to rest quietly, avoid irritability and anger, and especially avoid rich and greasy foods."

His implication was that Lü Sanjun's illness was inextricably linked to his obesity, irregular diet, and excessive worry.

Upon hearing this, Lü Sanjun's face grew even more bitter. He had suffered from this headache for a long time, and every time it flared up, he felt dizzy and in excruciating pain.

Wang Zhonghua observed from the sidelines, having already made up his mind. He stepped forward and said:

"Master Lü, I may have some limited understanding of your illness."

Amidst the curious gazes of the crowd, he continued:

"This disease might be called 'hypertension.' It's caused by... well, the excessive force of blood circulation in the body over a long period, impacting the brain's blood vessels. In addition to medication, it's also necessary to change lifestyle habits. First, strictly control your diet, less salt, less oil, less fatty foods, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits; second, engage in moderate exercise and avoid sitting for long periods; third, abstain from alcohol... at least the 'Eight Immortals of Drunkenness' needs to be temporarily suspended; fourth, maintain a peaceful state of mind and avoid extreme sadness or joy."

He combined his knowledge from his past life to offer comprehensive advice.

Liu Jueming's eyes lit up with admiration as he clapped his hands and said:

"Wonderful! 'Excessive Qi and Blood Circulation'—this is a concept I've never heard before, yet it resonates with the pulse and symptoms! Controlling diet and regulating emotions are the fundamental solutions! Young Wang, you always manage to surprise this old man!"

He greatly admired Wang Zhonghua's way of thinking, which broke out of the traditional medical framework.

Liu Xinyi also seemed to be deep in thought, and said softly:

"If what you say is true, young master, then this illness relies more on daily care than solely on medicine... Is this perhaps a common approach for many chronic diseases?"

She drew inferences from one instance and immediately thought of broader medical applications.

Wang Zhonghua nodded, then smoothly steered the conversation to another scourge that plagued ancient armies and common people:

"Exactly. Just like malaria, its root cause is not miasma, but a malaria parasite transmitted through mosquito bites that invades the human body. If mosquitoes can be effectively prevented and eliminated, or if a specific drug targeting this parasite can be found, the incidence of this disease can be greatly reduced."

"Malaria parasites? Mosquito transmission?" Liu Xinyi frowned slightly. This statement was too shocking, but when she recalled the patterns of malaria onset, she felt that it made sense.

She and Wang Zhonghua began to discuss the symptoms, peak season, and regional characteristics of malaria in hushed tones. One relied on profound medical knowledge and experience, while the other relied on his advanced understanding and thinking. They talked more and more deeply, becoming quite engrossed in their conversation. Liu Xinyi's eyes gleamed with a thirst for knowledge, and she showed great interest in Wang Zhonghua's idea of ​​"searching for specific plant extracts for experimentation."

Just as the two were having the most heated discussion, almost turning Sanshenglu into a medical seminar, the curtain was lifted and a slender young man slipped in.

Shen Kuo.

He wore a faded blue cotton long gown, the sleeves rolled up high, revealing a section of his thin forearm. The crystal "glasses" on his face were askew, the lenses stained with something that was hard to tell what it was, mud or something else. He held the birch bark notebook he never parted with in his hands, his expression weary yet unable to hide his excitement.

"Young Master! Grandpa Liu! Sister Liu!"

He shouted as soon as he entered the door, his voice still a bit hoarse from puberty.

Seeing his appearance, Wang Zhonghua laughed and said, "Cunzhong, where did you crawl out of? You're covered in mud."

Shen Kuo looked down at his clothes and noticed that his cuffs and hem were covered in yellow mud, some of which had dried and formed into clumps. He patted them off sheepishly, and the mud clumps fell to the clean ground, causing Liu Xinyi to smile.

"Student...student just returned from Wuyang." Shen Kuo pushed up his glasses, making the smudges on the lenses even more smudged.

"Wuyang?" Wang Zhonghua's eyes lit up.

He recalled that a month ago, he had talked with Shen Kuo about "mineral exploration" and given him a general direction. Because of his work in local history, he knew that Wugang City, which was rich in minerals, was divided into Shangshui County (northern) and Xihua County (southern) during the Song Dynasty, especially the Jinzhiya Mountain area, which should have been under the jurisdiction of Shangshui County at that time.

He said that to make good steel, graphite alone is not enough; good iron ore is also needed. To make transparent glass, quartz sand, pure alkali, and limestone are required. Shen Kuo's eyes lit up when he heard this. He took a small notebook and wrote several pages of notes. The next day, he came to find him and said he wanted to go out to "investigate things and extend knowledge."

Wang Zhonghua assumed he was just a young boy who wanted to see the world, so he had three members of the "Dark Arrow" team accompany him, gave him some travel money, and told him to be careful.

Unexpectedly, this kid stayed away for more than a month.

"Tell me quickly, what did you find?"