Tang Dynasty: Saving Lives and Helping Others, Li Lizhi Falls for Him

That evening, at the Ganlu Palace.

Li Shimin sat behind his desk, with two prescriptions presented by Li Chengqian spread out in front of him—one for hemostatic powder and the other for wound medicine.

The recipe was written in a neat and tidy manner, with all the ingredients, quantities, and preparation methods clearly stated.

"That's all?" Li Shimin looked up at Li Chengqian.

"Your Majesty," Li Chengqian reported truthfully, "Doctor Shen said that the prescription is not unusual; the Imperial Medical Bureau and old pharmacies in Chang'an have similar ones. The reason his medicine is so effective is because he used a special method in its preparation, which only he can use."

Li Shimin didn't speak, but picked up two items from the side: a small packet of hemostatic powder and a small bottle of wound medicine, which Li Chengqian had bought from Shen Chang'an.

"Has the Imperial Medical Bureau examined them?" Li Shimin asked, looking at the hemostatic powder and wound medicine.

"It has been tested," Li Chengqian said. "This afternoon, I had someone send a copy to the Imperial Hospital, and Chief Physician Zhang personally verified it. He said that this hemostatic powder forms a film upon contact with blood, and its hemostatic speed is more than three times faster than the best prescription in the Imperial Hospital. The wound-healing effect is also far superior to ordinary medicines."

Li Shimin frowned slightly.

Three times faster.

He knew better than anyone what this meant.

During the Tang Dynasty's years of war, many soldiers did not die on the battlefield, but from excessive blood loss and infected wounds.

If only there were a medicine that could stop bleeding on the spot and speed up healing...

"Did Imperial Physician Zhang follow the prescription and prepare it?" Li Shimin asked again.

"Your Majesty, we have also refined it." Li Chengqian smiled bitterly. "I gave the prescription to the Imperial Medical Academy and asked them to refine it accordingly. But the medicine they produced was far inferior to that of Doctor Shen."

"Zhang Yuanzheng said that there was no problem with the prescription or the medicinal materials; the difference must lie in the refining method."

Li Shimin remained silent.

He recalled what Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang had said yesterday: Shen Chang'an's strength far surpasses that of ordinary people, and we cannot force him to succeed.

But this medicine...

"Summon the Grand Astrologer and the Volcano Commander," Li Shimin suddenly said.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch stepped forward, "it is getting late, and the two gentlemen must have already retired for the night."

"Go and deliver the message." Li Shimin's tone left no room for argument.

Before long, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang hurriedly arrived at Ganlu Hall.

"My two beloved ministers, I have a question to ask you."

Li Shimin got straight to the point, recounting the hemostatic powder and wound medicine concocted by Shen Chang'an. "I wish to personally speak with Shen Chang'an about these medicines. If I could persuade him to share his special techniques, even if he only teaches them to one or two people in the Imperial Hospital, it would be an immense act of merit. What do you two ministers think?"

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

"Your Majesty," Li Chunfeng said, bowing, "I still maintain that Shen Chang'an is a man who cannot be forced. His willingness to provide the prescription is already more than enough. If Your Majesty pushes too hard, it may backfire."

"I know," Li Shimin nodded. "So I plan to talk to him personally, taking both of you with me. I won't force him, but at least... I want him to know how important this medicine is to the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty."

Yuan Tiangang pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, judging from Doctor Shen's character, he is not the kind of person who would stand by and watch someone die. He simply does not want to be bound by constraints. If Your Majesty treats him with sincerity, perhaps you can move him."

"Then it's settled." Li Shimin stood up. "Tomorrow, I will personally go to see him."

……

The next morning.

Shen Chang'an worked in the pharmacy all night.

The fire in the bronze furnace went out and came back on, went out and came back on. After three hours of refining, it produced six more bottles of wound medicine and eight more packets of hemostatic powder than yesterday.

Eighteen small porcelain bottles and twenty-three oil paper packages were neatly arranged on the table.

"Efficiency has increased by 10%." Shen Chang'an nodded in satisfaction.

The fact that he produced more in the same amount of time indicates that his alchemy skills are becoming more and more proficient.

At this rate, in a few more days, he will be able to try to refine real pills using the medicinal herbs from the spiritual plant space.

He quickly washed up, ate a bowl of millet porridge, put all the medicine bottles and packets into his medicine box, slung it over his shoulder, and went out the door.

As dawn broke, there were not many pedestrians on the official road.

Shen Chang'an walked along the road leading to the free clinic booth, planning his day's schedule.

After walking less than half a mile, we saw several people standing by the roadside in the distance.

The leader was a young man, dressed in a moon-white round-necked robe with a jade belt around his waist, exuding an extraordinary air. Behind him followed a burly guard.

Shen Chang'an only glanced at him before recognizing that the person was Li Chengqian.

Shen Chang'an paused, slightly surprised. It was only a little past dawn, and Li Chengqian was already waiting here.

He strode forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Young Master Li, so early?"

Li Chengqian turned around and returned the greeting with a beaming smile: "Dr. Shen, I have been waiting here for you because I have something to ask of you."

"Please speak, sir."

"Does Doctor Shen still have the batch of hemostatic powder and wound medicine he concocted yesterday?" Li Chengqian looked at his medicine box with eager eyes. "I want to buy them all."

Shen Chang'an was slightly taken aback.

He guessed that Li Chengqian would come to ask for medicine, but he didn't expect him to come so early and so directly.

"Young master," Shen Chang'an asked, feigning curiosity, "what do you need so many medicines for?"

Li Chengqian seemed to have prepared his explanation in advance, and said solemnly, "To be honest, my father is serving in the army. A few days ago, my father wrote to me, saying that soldiers in the army often die from excessive blood loss due to knife and arrow wounds, and asked if I could find some good medicine in Chang'an and send it to them."

"Having witnessed the efficacy of Doctor Shen's medicine yesterday, I thought that if I could buy some and send it to my father, it might save the lives of a few more soldiers."

Shen Chang'an understood.

Serving in the military? Li Chengqian's father was Li Shimin, who was indeed the supreme commander of the army, so this statement is not entirely a lie.

"Young Master," Shen Chang'an thought for a moment, "the prescription I gave you yesterday, the Imperial Hospital should have already prepared it, right? How was the effect?"

Li Chengqian's smile froze for a moment, then he said with a wry smile, "As expected, Physician Shen is incredibly insightful. The medicine that the Imperial Hospital concocted according to the prescription is far inferior to the medicine that Physician Shen concocted. The head of the hospital said that there is no problem with the prescription or the medicinal materials; the difference must lie in the concoction method."

Shen Chang'an nodded but did not reply.

"That's why," Li Chengqian continued, "I wanted to buy the medicine that Doctor Shen personally concocted. Although the quantity is small, it's worth it to save as many lives as possible."

Shen Chang'an remained silent for a moment, then opened the medicine box and took out the medicine bottles and packets inside.

Eighteen bottles of wound medicine and twenty-three packets of hemostatic powder.

"Young master, these were made last night, this is all." He placed the medicine on a stone by the roadside. "If you want them, please take them."

Li Chengqian was overjoyed and immediately asked Guo Hu to step forward and count the items.

"Dr. Shen, how much?"

"Just give me whatever you think is appropriate, young master." Shen Chang'an waved his hand. "I don't refine medicine to make money, but since you've asked, I'll just charge you for the cost."

Li Chengqian took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into Shen Chang'an's hand: "Is this enough?"

Shen Chang'an weighed it in his hand; it was about two ounces, far exceeding the cost. He didn't refuse and accepted it.

"Young master, there is something I don't understand."

He put away the silver, looked at Li Chengqian, and asked in confusion, "Since the Imperial Hospital has the prescription, why don't they make more themselves? Even if the effect is less, it's better than nothing, isn't it?"

Li Chengqian sighed: "The Imperial Medical Academy is already refining it. But Chief Physician Zhang said that although the medicine is very effective, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive to refine, and the output is limited."

"Moreover... they always felt that if they could learn Doctor Shen's techniques, the medicine they concocted would be even more effective."

Shen Chang'an shook his head: "Young master, my techniques are indeed not something I can teach to others."

"I know." Li Chengqian did not press the matter. "It is already a great favor that Doctor Shen was able to provide the prescription. On behalf of the soldiers in the army, I thank Doctor Shen."

He solemnly bowed with his hands clasped.

Shen Chang'an quickly returned the greeting: "You're too kind, young master."