The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Doctors are very popular on the grasslands, especially Miaohe and Tao Yanbai, who are truly skilled. They don't charge consultation fees, only for medicine.

Medicinal herbs are also produced here.

The diseases of the grasslands can be cured by the medicine of the grasslands.

Miao He and Tao Yanbai broke down the prescriptions they had learned before, and used herbs from the grasslands to create new formulas.

Some medicines are less effective than the original prescription, while others are far more effective.

Moreover, when the shamans and herders in the tribe consulted them, they were very generous, not only imparting medical knowledge to the best of their ability, but also leaving behind several prescriptions applicable to common diseases.

Even the medicinal herbs are readily available on the grasslands.

In today's world, medicinal herbs are mostly wild and found everywhere. Just step out of your tent and you'll find a field of plantain. With a little effort, you can find medicinal herbs for several common ailments on the grasslands.

It is winter now, and the grass and trees are withered and yellow, but under the snow, you can still see the shapes and roots of some medicinal herbs.

Miaohe didn't mind the trouble. She led the boys on the grassland to clear away the snow, found the flowers, and pointed them out to them: "These are blue lilies. Blue lily flowers can clear lung heat and treat liver disease..."

The boys scratched their heads, their eyes wide as they tried to remember: "But I've forgotten what it looked like when it was green."

The girls said, "I remember, I still remember what it looked like when it bloomed."

Miaohe then taught them how to harvest medicinal herbs and how to process them.

Most herbs can be used after drying, but some require processing to bring out their medicinal effects.

Caravans do not stay in a tribe for long; they will spend a day discussing business and exchanging goods.

Merchants displayed the goods they brought and exchanged them for cattle, sheep, or horses. This barter system was rare in the Ming Dynasty. Miaohe always felt that the merchants were getting a good deal because the estimated value of the cattle, sheep, and horses was far higher than the goods they brought.

But the herders didn't think much of it; they were happy because the snow was heavy this year, and the caravans were willing to come and exchange goods.

The tribal chief complained to the merchant, “If you don’t come, we’ll have to go into the city. You know, the soldiers at the city gate are all big-bellied devils. They’ll take two of my ten sheep if we bring them into the city. We might also be harassed when we come out after buying things. The worst part is that we might run into bandits on the way.”

He complained, "Twenty-eight young men from my tribe have been taken away. I'm afraid the rest won't be able to protect the goods and bring them back."

The merchant glanced at Miaohe and saw her squatting on the ground, teaching the tribespeople to identify the herbs they had gathered, seemingly oblivious to their conversation. He then loosened his grip slightly and pulled the tribesman aside to speak: "It's so cold, how long will this war last?"

"I don't know. It depends on whether they can hold them off. If they can't, we might follow the army south and visit the prosperous capital of the Ming Dynasty."

"Shh, keep your voice down, those two are Han Chinese."

"What's there to be afraid of?" the chief said nonchalantly. "They're just two young doctors. I think they only speak basic Oirat, so they might not understand. Even if they do, it's not a problem. When we get back to the city, you can..."

He made a gesture.

The merchant shook his head immediately: "No, their great-uncle is my friend, Zhao Shizhu. He has a very stubborn temper. If I can't bring them back safely, he will cause me trouble."

"Zhao Shizhu?"

"Yes, that's the Han Chinese man who used to be my guard leader."

"Alright, since it's him, they shouldn't spread the news, and with the heavy snow, the news won't get out anyway."

The businessman thought the same way and relaxed considerably.

He laughed and said, "The people in the tribe like them very much, so it's not easy for them to do anything."

The chieftain said with some regret, "It's a pity they were just passing through. If only they could have stayed in our tribe longer. My mother's leg was sore, but after they treated it with hot stones, she was able to get out of bed. She had been bedridden for eight days..."

The merchant immediately became alert and said, "I can't leave them here."

"I know, I'm just sorry. Please bring them next time you come. We're always friendly to our friends."

The merchant agreed.

"Let's go have a drink." The two walked away with their arms around each other's shoulders. Behind the tent, Tao Yanbai, who had been squatting, slowly stood up and walked back to Miaohe's side.

Miaohe looked up at him and asked, "Didn't you remove the necrotic tissue from the patient?"

Tao Yanbai: "After you've finished cutting, ask their tribe if they have any medicine to stop the bleeding. We didn't bring much, so we have to use it sparingly."

The tribe's herders also pick some herbs they recognize, dry them, and store them.

They could use them themselves or trade them with merchants. The wizards had even more medicinal herbs, so the boys offered to lead the two to check out the herbs stored in their tribe.

Miaohe helped them prepare hemostatic medicine, and when she saw some good medicinal herbs, she couldn't help but buy them from them.

The wizards and herders were very grateful for their generous teaching and were happy to sell them medicinal herbs at a low price.

Some of the medicinal herbs are even scarce to them.

However, for rare medicinal herbs, Miaohe usually only takes one plant, while for the others, she discussed with Tao Yanbai and purchased quite a lot.

They had money with them, and the only thing they could barter with was medicine.

Everything else is kept in the space and cannot be openly traded.

But the tribe members chose money without even thinking.

These are copper coins from the Ming Dynasty.

It also circulated on the grasslands and was even more popular than the currency created by the royal court.

The fact that merchants and herders bartered goods showed that the royal currency had no credibility here.

But the copper coins of the Ming Dynasty were different. The herdsmen happily sold medicinal herbs to the two of them and also brought out animal hides that they hadn't had time to exchange for them to choose from.

"Da Ming Tong Bao coins can be used to buy goods in other cities and tribes, and even in the Chahar Khanate. They're accepted further west as well." A herdsman held up a copper coin, examined it for a while, and then exclaimed excitedly, "This is a Hongwu Tong Bao coin! My God, the most popular Hongwu Tong Bao coin!"

It's clear that it's very popular.

The herdsmen cheered and surrounded Miaohe and Taoyanbai from all directions, enthusiastically promoting their own good products to them.

Some herders even went to the temporary market, snatched back the good items they had brought out to exchange for other goods, and then traded them with Miaohe and Tao Yanbai.

Miaohe:……

merchant:……

He rushed over to check the situation.

Seeing the money and silver that Miao and the others took out, their eyes turned red with envy; those two were so rich.

It seems the rumors in the city are true; everyone says that Zhao Shizhu's family has become wealthy, with a large merchant caravan standing behind them.

The businessman was starting to regret his decision; perhaps he shouldn't have brought Miao and the other woman along, in case they stole his business...

Miaohe really wanted to take it, but there were only two of them, and they couldn't use the space as freely as they could in front of their own people.

After all, "a common man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure." The little money on him might not be enough to tempt people, but a space to hold objects might tempt even these herdsmen, let alone merchants.

Two fists can't beat four legs, and the two of them aren't stupid.

So Miaohe reluctantly refused, saying that she had limited money and only bought medicinal herbs and two pieces of animal hide.

After they finished buying it, both she and Tao Yanbai looked pained.

Everyone assumed they were distressed because they had run out of money, but the two of them were actually distressed because they were looking at the remaining valuable goods. Such cheap and well-processed animal hides and so many medicinal herbs—they could make so much money if they took them back to the capital.

Missed it, missed it... (End of Chapter)