prosperous age

Amidst a burst of laughter, Wei Guangde was finally sure that the powerful people in the Ming Dynasty at that time actually used opium as an aphrodisiac.

When Wei Guangde returned to the mansion, Zhang Ji reported to him as soon as he entered the house that Imperial Doctor Zhang was already waiting in the flower hall.

Wei Guangde slapped his forehead and then he remembered that when he went out this morning, he had asked Zhang Ji to notify Doctor Zhang to come over after the court session, as he had something to ask him.

I was so busy in the cabinet today that I forgot about this matter.

It’s not a big deal anyway. I can just meet him today. I have to meet with the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital again tomorrow.

"Send someone to tell him that I've changed into civilian clothes and will be there to see him."

Wei Guangde just said this and quickened his pace to the backyard.

Entering the backyard, Xu Jianglan, who had received the news, came over to greet him. After helping Wei Guangde change out of his official uniform and put on casual clothes, she said, "Imperial Doctor Zhang is in the mansion. He just checked everyone in the family. There's nothing serious. He just prescribed me a prescription to replenish my qi and blood."

"Madam, are you feeling unwell?"

Wei Guangde asked immediately.

They have been married for more than ten years, but I haven't heard any news about Xu Jianglan's health recently.

“No, you invited everyone to your house, so you just came to take a look.

Shoukang has gained weight recently. Didn’t you say that being fat is bad? I asked the imperial physician to check his pulse and he said it was normal and that he just needed to exercise more.”

Xu Jianglan sorted Wei Guangde's clothes and said, "Go see him later, tell him what happened, and let him take a look at it."

"it is good."

Wei Guangde agreed.

"By the way, if the black incense is really poisonous, tell me after you find out, so I can talk to others about it later."

When Wei Guangde left the backyard, Xu Jianglan did not forget to give him a reminder.

Wei Guangde just waved his hand and soon arrived at the flower hall to meet Doctor Zhang.

"Get up, please come over here because I have something to ask you."

When Doctor Zhang saw Wei Guangde, he bowed and Wei Guangde hurriedly stopped him.

"Doctor Zhang, I came here this time mainly to ask about the black incense. I heard that many officials use this medicinal herb, and some of the mansions in the capital also use it as a spice."

In front of Doctor Zhang, Wei Guangde quickly talked about the current situation of opium in the Ming Dynasty, mainly whether there is a problem of abuse.

For example, when he was at Tan Lun's house, he said that with the permission of the imperial physician, black incense was added to the incense burner, and opium was also added to the medicine that Tan Lun drank.

Xu Jianglan also said that some mansions in the capital often went to the Imperial Hospital to get black incense and put it in the incense burner as a spice.

"My Lord, it's because of Wu Xiang."

Doctor Zhang didn't know what was going on at first, and he didn't want anyone in the Wei Mansion to get sick, otherwise he would have been called over directly.

So after getting the news today, I was a little nervous the whole day.

Although officials and nobles were still very respectful when they saw these imperial doctors, the difference in status and position was there, so they did not dare to be arrogant.

Especially in these mansions, there are always some dirty things, which are also what the imperial doctors are most reluctant to touch.

Now I know that Lord Wei just wants to ask Wu Xiang, so let's find a professional one.

So, Doctor Zhang explained in detail what they knew about black incense. He said that Zhang Qian, who went to the frontier during the Western Han Dynasty, brought back opium. In fact, this was a direct translation based on the pronunciation of this thing by Westerners. The ancient Greeks called opium "Abian". The seeds were introduced during the Tang Dynasty, and because of its color, it had the elegant name of "Aphrodite".

Wei Guangde was not interested in the history of opium entering China. He interrupted Doctor Zhang's story and asked directly: "I have seen this substance in a book from the Yuan Dynasty a few years ago. It said that excessive use of this substance would cause poisoning."

Wei Guangde did not say that opium was addictive, because there was no concept of addiction at that time, so he said it was poisoning according to the ancients' understanding.

“Yes, this substance should not be abused, especially when used alone.

If used alone without being neutralized with medicinal soup, excessive consumption may lead to death, and drinking small amounts for a long time may also cause poisoning.

Once poisoned, you will need to continue using opioids. If you don't, you will feel uncomfortable all over and unbearable, and the dosage will increase.

But medicine is poisonous to some extent. In fact, many medicines will cause various discomfort symptoms if used for a long time like this. It depends on how the doctor prepares the medicine. "

Doctor Zhang's words made Wei Guangde understand that doctors in the Ming and Qing dynasties actually knew the harmful effects of opium.

It's just that I've been dealing with drugs for a long time, so I have a lot of experience. Drugs with similar side effects are commonplace, and I don't take them seriously.

"Dr. Zhang has heard about the tobacco leaf, right?"

Wei Guangde suddenly asked.

"Light up and smoke that foreign substance?"

Doctor Zhang must have heard about this from his colleagues, so he asked back.

"Yes, come here, bring up the tobacco leaves."

Wei Guangde gave an order outside, and soon a servant brought in a box of tobacco.

"This is tobacco. I heard that smoking it can refresh your mind."

Doctor Zhang had already picked up a piece and put it under his nose to sniff it, and even pinched a little bit and put it in his mouth to chew it carefully.

"Wow, these doctors will eat anything."

Wei Guangde exclaimed in his heart.

In fact, the only doctors who are used to doing this are traditional Chinese medicine doctors. Western medicine doctors will not "test drugs" in this way. They are more accustomed to taking the ingredients to the laboratory for testing.

"That"

Doctor Zhang spat out the tobacco residue in his mouth, savored it carefully for a while, and then shook his head, obviously not feeling anything.

"I heard from the Prime Minister that, of course, I have smoked it, and I couldn't stop coughing after smoking it. It is said that this substance may irritate the heart and lungs.

Actually, I invited you here today because I wanted to ask you whether tobacco, and black incense, are harmful to the human body.

However, when the cabinet, the Prime Minister and other ministers talked about this today, everyone agreed that the Imperial Hospital should conduct a thorough study to determine whether this substance is harmful.

If there is, the court will order a ban; if not, the possible harm of this substance must be reiterated and it must be used in accordance with the advice of the imperial physician and the doctor. "

Wei Guangde then told him the purpose of inviting him here, but in fact his words already contained many hints.

Doctor Zhang was also a man of sharp thoughts, so he naturally understood what Wei Guangde meant.

In other words, no matter what the final research results on tobacco and opium were, when reporting to the court, more attention should be paid to the disadvantages of these two things. Even if they could not be banned in the end, their use must be strictly monitored.

Doctor Zhang is not a flatterer, but a doctor with real skills.

Although he understood Wei Guangde's words, he would never do everything according to Wei Guangde's words just to curry favor with him.

After thinking for a while, Doctor Zhang looked up and said, "Mr. Wei, you don't know that opium is very effective and can treat many diseases. It would be inappropriate to ban it directly.

However, this substance is indeed poisonous, so it is a safe method to strictly control its use by the Imperial Hospital and medical clinics at their discretion.'

Wei Guangde didn't know that Thomas Siddenham, a 17th-century British doctor and founder of clinical medicine, once sang praises after studying opium:

"I cannot help singing aloud the praises of the great God, the Maker of all things, who has brought to the distress of mankind the opium of comfort, an opium of which no medicine has equalled, either in the number of diseases it controls, or in the efficiency with which it eliminates them." "Without opium, medicine would be but a cripple."

This medical master was therefore nicknamed the "Opium Philosopher".

In fact, there has always been a legend in later China that there was a so-called "panacea" in ancient times, a magical medicine that can cure all diseases. It is very likely that this thing is it.

In fact, it paralyzes nerves and relieves pain, which is similar to the effects of later special medicines such as ibuprofen.

It is not certain that it can really cure diseases, but it does make users feel good.

After all, China has a long history of exposure to opium, and traditional Chinese medicine has conducted in-depth research on the medicinal effects of this substance.

In the West, even after the technological boom, it took another two hundred years for the harmful effects of opium to be gradually discovered, whereas the toxicity of opium was discovered during the Yuan Dynasty in China.

When the Imperial Medical Bureau gave medicine to the high-ranking officials in the capital, they would more or less add this substance, so that the high-ranking officials would feel better after taking a dose of medicine.

This is very important for doctors to become famous.

But again, as long as opium is not used alone but is neutralized with traditional Chinese medicine, its toxicity can be controlled.

Wei Guangde tapped the coffee table with his fingers at this time. This result was actually not ideal.

However, this thing comes from overseas, and if the Ming Dynasty wants to ban it, there is really no other good way except to do it itself.

"In this matter, the Imperial Hospital can apply to the Ministry of Justice to use death row prisoners to test the poison and make sure to understand the harm of opium."

Since it was impossible to ban it, the court would exaggerate the harm of opium as much as possible, and then carry out external propaganda, letting the people know the harm of drugs starting from the Ming Dynasty.

Wei Guangde finally made up his mind to start propaganda against drugs four or five hundred years in advance.

By that time, everyone in China will be fully aware of the dangers of drugs, and I think no one will risk their lives to touch that stuff.

After seeing off Imperial Physician Zhang, Wei Guangde finally understood that the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade system did have some benefits.

Although opium is already available in China, it is expensive because it is an imported product and will not harm ordinary Chinese people.

“This product must be monopolized, and can only be purchased by the imperial court and transferred to the Imperial Hospital.

If a clinic needs this substance to treat a disease, it needs to apply for it and record the amount used in detail, and then report it to the Imperial Hospital for use.”

Wei Guangde returned to his study at this time and wrote down what he thought on paper as his memo.

When he returned to the backyard, Xu Jianglan asked about it again.

After all, Wei Guangde took it too seriously and kept saying that the thing was poisonous. How could Xu Jianglan not be curious?

So Wei Guangde picked up some drug rehabilitation movies he had seen in later generations and exaggerated the miserable conditions of the poisoned people, which scared his wife terribly.

She kept patting her chest and saying that fortunately she didn't like the taste, so she had never used it.

He also said that he would discuss this matter with other ladies in the mansion later to prevent them from being poisoned as well.

On the second day, the cabinet summoned the director and judge of the Imperial Medical Bureau and arranged the work of testing the tobacco leaves and opium for poison.

In fact, early this morning, Imperial Physician Zhang had already explained the situation in detail to the Director of the Court, the Judge of the Court, and other imperial physicians.

In the view of some imperial doctors, Lord Wei was simply meddling in other people's business. They already knew that opium was poisonous, so there was no need for the cabinet to speak up and conduct detailed research on its toxicity.

When they give drugs, can they not consider their toxicity?

This is indeed not a problem from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

Many Chinese medicinal herbs are toxic and require doctors to carefully mix and neutralize their medicinal properties. This is why Chinese medicine is so profound.

Wei Guangde didn't understand. He only knew that opium was a drug that ordinary people couldn't touch. But he didn't know that there were actually strictly controlled drugs in hospitals.

However, Wei Guangde invented this kind of strictly controlled drugs in the Ming Dynasty, especially by widely publicizing the harmful effects of opium, which naturally saved China from the harm of drug invasion in later generations.

Finally, Wei Guangde still said: "When giving medicine to the nobles in the palace, try not to use this thing."

Wei Guangde didn't know that the name "Fushou Gao" was invented by his and Zhang Juzheng's student, the young emperor Zhu Yijun. If he knew, he would definitely ban this substance more strictly.

"This is a petition concerning Songjiang Prefecture. Since everyone is here, let's take a look at it first before returning to handle other government affairs."

After seeing off the medical officer from the Imperial Hospital, just when Wei Guangde was about to say goodbye and return to his duty room to handle official business, Zhang Juzheng stopped the three of them and took out a petition book to show them.

"Has the Ministry of Revenue been completed?"

Regarding opening the sea in Songjiang Prefecture, Wei Guangde only proposed the general framework, and the details were negotiated between the Ministry of Revenue and Songjiang Prefecture, with reference to the established practice of Yuegang.

The question book first came into Wei Guangde's hands, and he read it carefully.

It was not much different from what he had originally proposed, that is, to send out 150 ships with pliers, and then as for the tax system, to fully adopt the established practice of Yuegang.

After reading the question book, Wei Guangde handed it to Zhang Siwei and began to discuss it in a low voice with Zhang Juzheng.

"It's pretty much the same as originally envisioned. As long as the court decides, the Ministry of Works will start building the port after the new year."

Wei Guangde whispered.

"Can't we change it at the original port in Songjiang Prefecture?"

Zhang Juzheng said in a low voice.

"It's best to separate the inside and the outside to prevent someone from taking advantage of the situation."

Wei Guangde thought about it and said.

In ancient China, water transportation was well developed, so there were often many ports along the rivers.

Songjiang Prefecture is crisscrossed with waterways, so there are naturally many inland river docks.

Zhang Juzheng's intention was naturally to choose an inland port close to the sea for transformation.

In fact, if we consider it from the perspective of reducing costs, it is a good solution.

However, Wei Guangde would not think so. He would just build the framework of a world-class port and then develop it slowly.

He told Jiang Zhi privately that the Xingang Wharf must be built according to the largest wharf in the country.

Yuegang is just a small-scale operation. The Songjiangfu Port is the real pillar supporting the handicraft production of the Ming Dynasty. Through here, Ming Dynasty products are sold to the world.

Let the Spaniards help the Ming Dynasty to dig for gold and silver, and the Ming Dynasty can just sit back and reap the profits, while the Westerners will bear the bad reputation of being colonizers.

Anyway, this bad reputation originally belonged to them.

The question book was in the hands of Zhang Siwei and Shen Shixing, and they were actually more concerned about the distribution of ship pilots.

The cabinet had also had disputes about this earlier, especially when Wei Guangde wanted to allocate a certain number of ship guides to each provincial government.

It's fine for coastal areas, but why would inland provinces play the game of voyage?

However, Wei Guangde pushed back on the grounds that there were also various outputs in the inland areas. He had to let them know that the products they made could only make a small profit in China, but would make huge profits once they were sold.

In this way, productivity development in inland provinces will be boosted.

In fact, at that time, the gap between the rich and the poor in the various provinces of the Ming Dynasty was already very large. If the inland areas were not given the opportunity to take advantage of the sea trade and become wealthy, the Shanxi and Shaanxi Rebellion in the late Ming Dynasty would be inevitable.

At least, when there is drought in that place, the locals can still make handicrafts and sell them for money to exchange for food. (End of this chapter)