I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 790: Medicine King Li develops a new miracle drug
"Master Medicine King, Marquis Qichun, Lord Dongbi, how come you have time to come here?" Shu Youliang's face flushed, and he excitedly said several titles in one breath, bending over, leaning his head, and bowing repeatedly.

The man turned around when he heard the voice, and it was Li Shizhen.

Wearing a straight-collared silk gown and a square scarf, he smiled and bowed, saying, "Master Shu, I didn't expect to meet you here.

I am going to the School of Chemistry of Yanshan University of Technology to visit them about something.

How come you have the time to hang out here?"

Shu Youliang pointed at Marcelo and others behind him and said, "These Portuguese envoys admire the culture of our Ming Dynasty. Take them around to visit and let them experience the Chinese civilization and the flourishing humanities of our Ming Dynasty."

Li Shizhen laughed out loud, "Master Shu has taken on a concurrent post at the Honglu Temple."

Shu Youliang chuckled and said softly, "Earn some extra money to supplement the family income. Besides, I like to see their naive looks."

Li Shizhen smiled even more happily, chatted for a few words, and said regretfully: "Master Shu, I have something important to do and can't chat with you anymore. We can chat again when we have time."

"Mr. Dongbi, you are busy.

You are the living Bodhisattva of our Ming Dynasty. If I delay your medicine making, I will delay saving the people of the world. What a sin it would be. You are busy, and I will not delay your work."

"Okay, Master Shu, see you later."

"Goodbye."

Li Shizhen walked away. Marcelo and others who had gathered around him looked at his back and asked curiously.

"Who is this?"

"Left Dean of the Imperial Hospital, Vice Dean of the School of Medicine of Wanli University, Imperial Physician, Earl of Qichun, Li Shizhen, also known as the King of Medicine."

"Mr. Qichun? Master Shu, from what you said, he is a highly respected doctor and pharmacist. How come he was given a title?"

"He developed several miraculous medicines, saving thousands of people from disasters, benefiting the country and the people. His achievements were outstanding, so he was given a title and his title will be passed down from generation to generation."

"A miracle drug that saves lives. Master Shu, what miracle drug did he develop?"

"Anyway, it's a life-saving miracle drug. As for what kind of miracle drug it is, I don't know, and I don't understand. I only know that it has saved hundreds of thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians. Everyone calls him the King of Medicine, a living god."

Marcelo and Leon looked at each other.

Uncle Shu is playing tricks on us again.

However, since it is a miracle drug that can save lives, and a miracle drug that can save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, it must be kept very secret. Maybe even Mr. Shu really doesn't know about it.

He just has connections and knows people everywhere, but he is not a high-ranking person who knows many secrets.

"Master Shu, can we go and take a look?"

Marcelo asked carefully.

Haha, what wonderful things are you thinking about!

Shu Youliang chuckled, "There are still several places in the West Lake University campus that are classified as confidential units. The most important ones are the various research institutes, and the second are some departments of Yanshan University of Technology. Even I can only look at them at the door."

Damn confidentiality rules!
Marcelo and Leon cursed angrily in their hearts.

"Master Shu, can we Portuguese send people to study here?"

Marcelo asked persistently.

"Don't ask me about this. You can talk to the officials of the Honglu Temple in a few days and ask them. I guess they can't make the decision. I guess they have to report it to the cabinet, and maybe even report it up to the Council of State for discussion in front of the emperor before they can make a decision."

Shu Youliang waved his hand and said, "Let's not worry about those things and just take a look at what's in front of us first. Everyone, let's go."

Sophonia immediately followed the crowd and kept asking questions.

Marcelo sighed and followed Leon.

Li Shizhen, along with two followers, hurried to the School of Chemistry of Yanshan University of Technology and asked a professor directly when he saw him.

"Where is Master Cheng?"

Taoist Cheng, whose real name is Cheng Caihua, whose courtesy name is Nanli and whose nickname is Fei Lian Taoist, was a Taoist priest in Chongxuan Temple. He started learning alchemy from his master at the age of ten. After studying for more than 20 years, his alchemy skills surpassed his master.

Later, the Ming Dynasty was short of chemistry talents, so alchemists from various Taoist temples were recruited to the Institute of Chemistry. Cheng Caihua stood out, mastered chemical knowledge the fastest, and was adept at doing various chemical experiments.

It was his improved process that enabled the industrial production of high-purity sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

So he soon became the director of the Institute of Chemistry of the Imperial Observatory and a professor of the School of Chemistry of Yanshan University of Technology.

In addition, Cheng Caihua develops more various dyes and catalytic reagents, among which catalytic reagents play a very important role in pharmaceutical research and development.

"Mr. Qichun, Mr. Cheng is at the Institute of Chemistry today."

"it is good."

Li Shizhen didn't waste any words, turned around and walked straight to the East Pier of West Lake, where he boarded a boat and headed straight to the North Pier.

After getting off the boat at the North Pier and walking for ten minutes, we passed through three heavily guarded gates and entered the mysterious hospital area.

Here are the three major research institutes of mathematics, physics and chemistry of the Imperial Observatory, the three major research institutes of precision machinery, optics and textile printing and dyeing of the Taifu Temple, and the Institute of Pharmacy of the Imperial Medical Bureau. It gathers the capable historians, Taiheng and Lingtai Lang and Dianheng Lang of the Imperial Observatory and Taifu Temple.

Most of these senior researchers and researchers also serve as professors and associate professors in various universities and colleges.

Another mysterious courtyard area in the capital is in the Xishan area west of West Lake.

There are the Weapons Research Institute and Gunpowder Research Institute of Taipu Temple, the Mechanical Research Institute, Ship Research Institute, Power Research Institute, Mineral and Metallurgical Research Institute of Shaofujian, as well as the most mysterious Sixth Research Bureau.

Li Shizhen hurried into the Institute of Chemistry and found Cheng Caihua.

"Master Cheng, I didn't expect you to be here. If I had known, I would have come directly to the research institute. It would have been a waste of time to go to the Polytechnic University to look for you."

"Qichun Bo, what's the matter?"

"What do you think? The neutralizing solvent that was promised to us has been delayed for so long, it's time to give it to us."

"Neutralizing solvent?" Cheng Caihua was stunned for a moment, not understanding what was going on.

Li Shizhen was anxious, "In the last coordination and communication meeting of the Imperial Observatory, you said that the Institute of Chemistry had obtained several new chemical mixtures when developing new products.

At that time, I told you that the new drug of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute needed various new chemical mixtures for testing. You promised to send us a few, but you never came, so I had to come to your door."

Cheng Caihua slapped his forehead and said, "Ah, I forgot everything.

Qichun Bo, please follow me."

The two of them walked around and around and entered a spacious courtyard, which was filled with a strange and pungent smell.

"Uncle Qichun, a mask." Cheng Caihua handed over a mask.

There are several layers of cotton yarn inside and outside, and a layer of absorbent cotton is evenly distributed inside.

After putting it on, the pungent smell is much weaker and almost unnoticeable.

"This mask invented by your Imperial Hospital has really helped us a lot."

"Haha, our Institute of Epidemic Prevention has always been dealing with microorganisms, which are no safer than your chemicals. They are hard to see with the naked eye and extremely difficult to prevent. For safety reasons, we invented this mask, all to save lives.

What do you mean by helping you a lot? Didn't you also help us a lot?" "Hehe, Uncle Qichun is right. We should help each other and work together. This way, please. Uncle Qichun, the first chemical reagent we recently obtained is hydrochloric acid, which we obtained during the experiment of making soda ash.

The second is butanol, which is a mixture we derived from our re-study of ethanol alcohol.
Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, very powerful, comparable to sulfuric acid and nitric acid, so you must be careful.

The toxicity of butanol is not yet known. We have sent some to your medical research institute for toxicity testing, but there are no results yet. Anyway, be careful and avoid skin contact."

"Okay, I'll remember that. Master Cheng, you just said that you guys are about to produce soda ash?"

"We have already produced a small batch of soda ash with acceptable purity. However, the process is very complicated and the cost is too high. We are now continuing to simplify the process and reduce costs for industrial production."

"Good boy, soda ash is out. Together with the hydrochloric acid you just mentioned, the emperor mentioned it in the closed-door meeting on scientific research. Your basic chemistry of three acids and one base is now complete."

"Haha, yes, we have finally gathered them together. It was not easy. It took me ten years to get to this point."

"Are these three acids and one base that the emperor mentioned really that effective?"

"Whether it will work in other aspects is hard to say for now. The Gunpowder Research Institute at Taipu Temple is cheering, as they have hope of getting the smokeless gunpowder and primer they were looking for.

The smelting institute and the textile printing and dyeing institute come three times a day, and they keep an eye on my hydrochloric acid and soda ash. By the way, Uncle Qichun, have you made any progress on the new miracle drug you are developing?"

"You have helped us develop new drugs a few times, so you know everything. Just like brewing wine, the culture medium and yeast strain are the key.
This time we collected strains of bacteria from 178 places all over the world. Even Europe, India, Arabia, Kunzhou and Genxunzhou sent people to collect fermentation strains.

I estimate that I have collected almost all the common strains in the world, and the cultivated strains are also complete. Now the problem is the purification process. That’s why I came to you in a hurry today.”

Come to the side room in the yard, walk in and there is a staircase leading directly down to the basement.

Entering the basement more than ten meters deep into the ground, and passing two doors, there are rows of shelves with countless glass bottles and ceramic jars.

"Xiao Chen, get two bottles of hydrochloric acid and four bottles of butanol, the 500 ml kind."

"Yes."

Six glass bottles were placed on the table. Cheng Caihua pointed to a document and said, "Mr. Qichun, please sign here. There are three copies in total. You can take one copy back to the warehouse. We have to keep two copies here.

"Okay." Li Shizhen happily signed his name and asked his followers to put the six glass bottles in a special wooden box, with each bottle placed in a wooden grid, firmly.

"Mr. Qichun, please sit down and have a cup of tea."

"Master, thank you for your kindness. No one dares to drink the tea from your Chemistry Institute."

"Haha, Uncle Qichun, the tea you make at the pharmacy is not much better than ours."

"Thank you, old Taoist priest. I have to hurry back to experiment with the new mixture you gave me."

"Okay." Cheng Caihua smiled. He was also engaged in scientific research and knew that scientific research had reached the critical moment. The anxious mood was understandable.

"Mr. Qichun, I won't see you off."

"Whatever you want to deliver, it's all in a big yard, and it's only 20 to 30 minutes away."

After returning to the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Li Shizhen first changed into a white robe, put on a hat, put on cowhide-soled latex half-barrel shoes, then put on latex gloves and a mask, and led a group of people to the experimental center in the backyard.

The experimental center is very large, six stories high, and all the important laboratories are on the first floor.

Li Shizhen led his men to Room 106, passed through two doors and entered a corridor. Through the glass windows from bottom to top, he saw that the empty room was filled with rows of shelves filled with glassware.

The room has a glass roof, like a huge flat window. Below the glass roof are three layers of retractable curtains.

Now the curtains are drawn tightly, and the room is dim thanks to the light coming in from the half-open glass windows around it.

Li Shizhen washed his hands in lime water and soaked the soles of his shoes before walking into the room.

The temperature inside is just right, and the water pipes installed around it will spray water mist from time to time to increase the air humidity.

Li Shizhen, wearing reading glasses, leaned over the glassware, which contained corn syrup and was now covered with a thick layer of green pili.

"Leicheng, Yian, how are your preparations going?" Li Shizhen looked for a while and called the names of his two assistants and students.

Li Shuo, courtesy name Leicheng, was a graduate of the first class of the pharmaceutical department of the School of Medicine at Wanli University.

Liu Linfu, whose courtesy name was Yian, came from a pharmaceutical family and later went to the Medical College for further studies.

"Teacher, we mixed bacteria No. 61 and No. 35 and obtained a total of 565 grams of bacterial liquid. We first used acetic acid and lime water for preliminary purification, and then filtered it five times with silk and charcoal powder filter membranes."

According to the Institute of Chemistry, acetic acid is a weak acid and lime water is a weak alkaline. They can be used to extract acid-soluble and alkali-soluble impurities in the bacterial solution.

Previous experiments have shown that the essence of bacterial liquid that can have a bactericidal effect seems to be insoluble in weak acids and weak bases, so how to purify it has become a big problem.

“Well, Bacteria Type A61 and Bacteria Type A35 are the two strains that produce the most bacteria, and the results of previous experiments were also very obvious.

Today I got two mixtures from the Institute of Chemistry. I will try them all out to see if I can get through this difficult stage of purification."

"Yes."

"Those two bottles contain hydrochloric acid, a strong acid that is very dangerous. You must be especially careful. Those four bottles contain butanol, which has an unknown toxicity, so be careful as well."

“Students remember it.”

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, so it is unlikely that it can purify the bacterial solution, so just give it a try to verify that it really doesn't work.

People place more hope on butanol.

Pour out 100 ml of hydrochloric acid and 200 ml of butanol, and pour in 100 ml and 200 ml of the filtered preliminary purified bacterial solution respectively.

After fully blending, I waited for half a day and the hydrochloric acid remained hydrochloric acid, while a large amount of white powder appeared at the bottom of the butanol solution container.

This is an unprecedented situation.

Everyone looked at each other, exchanged joy, and were extremely excited.

The two researchers wore latex gloves and filtered the butanol solution through a silk-coated activated carbon filter membrane, producing more than 20 grams of crystalline white powder.

Carefully holding the white powder, everyone came to another laboratory where there were several high-precision microscopes.

A researcher took out a thin glass slide and used a glass latex pipette to suck a drop of solution from a glass container and drop it on the slide.

The solution is full of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus extracted from the wound and cultured in culture medium.

Repeat this process until ten thin slices are made and set aside.

Use a precision balance to weigh out 10 different amounts of powder, such as 0.5, 1 gram, 1.5 grams, and 2 grams, and add 10 ml of 0.9% saline.

Then take a drop of the mixed powder and salt water mixture and drop it into the ten glass slices.

After waiting for an hour, the two researchers placed the slices under a microscope and observed the effects.

Li Shizhen and others stood by, holding their breath and waiting for the result.

The room was so quiet that the sounds of everyone's breathing, which they were trying hard to control, could be heard clearly.

Time passed by minute by minute, but the two researchers were observing without any reaction.

Still no effect?

Everyone was feeling uneasy.

(End of this chapter)