The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 294 Treatment of Kidney Deficiency

In the middle of the first month of the second year of Chongzhen, Yang Hao persuaded Liu Zhaosun to invite his wife Yang Qing'er to the capital.

The reasons given by the father-in-law are quite sufficient:

According to the Ming Dynasty etiquette, when a new emperor ascends the throne, a first-rank lady must go to the capital to meet the emperor and empress.

Liu Zhaosun certainly knew that this was an idea that his father-in-law came up with to balance the power between his daughter and Jin Yuji.

Before he knew it, Liu Zhaosun had been separated from his wife for half a year.

Apart from Jin Yu Ji, the person he misses most now is Yang Qing'er.

Although he knew that Yang Hao was plotting something, he still sent someone back to Liaodong to bring Yang Qing'er to Beijing.

After Jin Yuji returned to the capital with her daughter, she was highly favored.

Pei Dahu, Wu Xiao, Lin Yu (no longer in the capital), and Shen Lian saved the lives of Jin mother and son.

On the way back to the capital from Dengzhou, these people had unconsciously formed a kind of alliance of interests.

In addition to the group of four, former Vice Minister of War Xu Guangqi, Penglai County Magistrate Ge Yewen, Korean general Jin Yinghe and others also supported Jin Yuji.

Yang Hao, an old fox in the officialdom, saw at a glance that Jin Yuji's power was expanding and had seriously threatened his daughter's position as the legal wife.

After returning to the capital, Yang Hao immediately tried to win over various factions. With the golden signboard of being the father-in-law of Ping Liaohou, many people had to give Yang Hao some face.

From the six officials in the capital to his old subordinates, they all began to join Yang Hao's army under his coercion and inducement.

By the time Yang Qing'er arrived in the capital, the various forces in Kaiyuan had undergone multiple groupings and mergers, eventually evolving into five factions:
First, the Jin Yuji faction, composed of Ge Yewen, Xu Guangqi, Pei Dahu, Lin Yu, Wu Xiao, and Jin Yinghe (North Korean forces), is referred to as the Jin Party;
Second, the Kaiyuan elders, including Qiao Yiqi, Yuan Chonghuan, Sun Chuanting, Deng Changxiong, and Mao Yuanyi, belonged to the steady faction and were the most powerful.
Third, the "Queen's Party," headed by Yang Hao and composed of Kang Yingqian, Wang Huazhen, Wang Zaijin, and many surrendered Ming generals, was a rising force among the five factions.
Fourth, the Hawk Faction, comprised of Qi Jin, Wang Erhu, Kang Yingqian, Wu Aheng, Du Du, and Buerhanggu, was the most radical of the five factions. Their idea of replacing the Ming dynasty and attacking Annan was theirs. After Kang Yingqian's exile, the Hawk Faction quieted down considerably.

Fifth, the missionary and civil affairs forces are composed of Sen Ti, Ma Shiying, Xie Yang, and Lei Jiang, the first-class instructors and civil affairs officers. They are the weakest of the five major factions, but as the mouthpiece of Ping Liaohou, their influence should not be underestimated.

The five factions are loyal to Ping Liaohou.

Of course, there are still differences among different factions in terms of foreign policies and distribution of interests.

As Ping Liaohou was promoted to regent and one step away from ascending the throne to become emperor, the conflict between Jin Yuji and Yang Qing'er began to emerge.

Yang Hao used the excuse of ordering his wife to pay homage to the emperor and proposed to bring his daughter from Kaiyuan to the capital.

This move intensified the conflicts between the Jin Party and the post-Kim Party, which were usually hidden.

This time, Yang Qing'er did not come alone.

Also coming with her was the peerless beauty Zhang Yan.

This was Kang Yingqian's idea. Old Kang is now in Shenyang, but he still wants to hold on to power.

Kang Yingqian plans to unite with Yang Qing'er through Zhang Yan, and then cooperate with Yang Hao to fight against Jin Yuji and wait for an opportunity to make a comeback.

From Yang Hao's perspective, he was naturally willing to support a commoner's daughter with no foundation and use Zhang Yan to deal with the Korean beauty who was at the peak of her popularity.

Shen Lian was independent of the various factions, secretly investigating and closely monitoring the power struggle, and reporting the situation to Ping Liaohou.

Liu Zhaosun behaved very Buddhistly.

As long as the situation doesn't get too serious, he won't interfere too much. After all, where there are people, there are interests, and where there are interests, there are party struggles.

It is better to block than to open up.

At the request of Ping Liaohou, all the generals who participated in the Jingnan Campaign were rewarded, and even the Ming troops who surrendered after breaking through Shanhaiguan were promoted.

Deng Changxiong was promoted to deputy general of Kaiyuan, Wang Erhu was promoted to general of Tieling, Qi Jin and Wu Aheng were promoted to general of Guangning and Fuzhou respectively.

Anyway, these are all honorary titles, and the court rewards them wholesale without being stingy at all.

In addition to military generals, civil officials were also promoted. Qiao Yiqi and Sun Chuanting were appointed to honorary positions in the Six Ministries. Yang Hao was reinstated as the Governor-General of Ji and Liao and was awarded the Imperial Sword. Yang Jinglue finally lived up to his title.

Now that the government affairs were settled, Liu Zhaosun could finally spend some quality time with Jin Yuji and her daughter.

He named his daughter Liu Yufei.

From The Book of Songs: North Wind

The north wind makes it cool, and the rain and snow make it cool. Be kind to me and walk hand in hand. Is it false or evil? It’s urgent!

The north wind blows, and the rain and snow fall. Please be kind to me, and we will go home together hand in hand. Is it false or evil? It’s urgent!

The poem tells the story of the people who could not bear the oppression of the rulers and fled at the risk of their lives.

After Liu Yufei was born, her mother took her out of Wendeng and traveled around to avoid being hunted down by the government.

The escape was full of hardships and difficulties, which fits the mood of this poem.

"Sir, if you have such a good understanding of the Book of Songs, what would you name your son?"

Liu Zhaosun hugged Jin Yuji, and the couple whispered in each other's ears, showing tenderness.

"If I give birth to a son, I'll name him Liu Goudan, Liu Dachui..."

Jin Yuji chuckled.

"I was led around by Kang Yingqian and the others before. I even had to be drugged before entering the bridal chamber. From now on, I have to make my own decisions and not let others mess me up."

"Didn't Madam say that when you were little, you envied children with parents, and that if you had a daughter in the future, you would love her even more. I've always remembered that."

"I just said it casually, but you have taken it all to heart. How kind of you to remember it."

When Jin Yuji heard about Kang Yingqian, she suddenly remembered that this veteran had been sent to Liaodong.

"General Kang has followed you for many years. Isn't it too inhumane to send him into exile just for one mistake?"

Kang Yingqian has always been on bad terms with Jin Yuji, but he didn't expect that Jin Yuji would speak for him.

"Madam, you may not know this, but this isn't the first time he's done this. This time, he needs to be treated so he learns his lesson."

Jin Yuji thought for a moment and then asked, "Sir, where is Brother Lin?"

Guard Lin Yu was sentenced to death by Marquis Ping Liao for killing a guard from Prince Xin's palace.

Later, after many people pleaded for mercy, Liu Zhaosun decided to spare his life and imprison him for five years.

"Sir, the palace guards were arrogant and beat up refugees. The Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate saw it. Lin Yu came to their rescue and had no intention of hurting anyone. What was wrong with that?"

Liu Zhaosun's face was gloomy and he said nothing.

Jin Yuji knew her husband's temper and also knew that Kaiyuan's military discipline was strict.

However, recalling the day when Lin Yu fled back from Wendeng, he was at Yingzui Port in Weihaiwei, wielding a mace, fighting against the pursuers alone, and going in and out of the enemy's formation seven times.

He is just like Zhao Yun.

Jin Yuji couldn't help but plead for the guard.

Liu Zhaosun pretended to be embarrassed and said:

"I know he saved you and your daughter, and I also know how that guard died. However, military law is ruthless. I can't just pretend it never happened because he's my close follower. Otherwise, how can I convince others in the future?"

Liu Zhaosun sighed, his eyes a little red.

Jin Yuji looked around and saw that there was no one around. She lowered her voice and said:
"Sir, aren't you going to send Jin Yinghe to Korea to deal with the Japanese pirates? Why not send Brother Lin as well? No one over there will recognize him."

Liu Zhaosun laughed heartily.

Jin Yuji was stunned.

Liu Zhaosun held her face in his hands and said with a smile:
"My wife and I are in perfect sync. Don't worry, I've already sent him to North Korea. I asked him to cooperate with General Jin to investigate the murder of the Kaiyuan merchant. Also."

Liu Zhaosun continued, "This time they went to Korea with Xu Xiake to select a suitable port and prepare for the army's landing in Japan."

"Landing in Japan?"

Jin Yuji originally thought that the attack on Japan was just talk, but she didn't expect that the war would really break out.

As a native Korean, her impression of the Japanese pirates still remains from the Imjin Rebellion, when those ronin and samurai were all killing gods who could defeat ten enemies at once and were invincible.

Jin Yuji looked at her husband anxiously.

"After Emperor Wanli aided Korea, Emperor Shenzong mobilized all the troops in the country to prepare for a landing in Japan, but for some unknown reason, he gave up in the end. With Kaiyuan's current strength, can it really defeat Japan?"

Liu Zhaosun patted her shoulder gently, treating her as a good brother and said:
"Madam, Japan's strength is no less than that of the Later Jin, and Tokugawa was the cuckold from the previous year. I'm certainly not that arrogant. However, while I can't completely destroy them, I can still cut off a finger. As the saying goes, it's impolite not to reciprocate. Miyamoto and the Hosokawa clan dared to kill my people and cause trouble in Korea. I will let the Japanese pirates know how to write the word death!"

~~~~~~~
Liu Zhaosun planned to complete the military and political affairs before Yang Qing'er arrived in the capital. After the emperor arrived in Beijing, the Kaiyuan Army continued to expand, recruiting unemployed boatmen from all over the North Canal.

Traffic on the North Grand Canal gradually recovered, and Yuan Chonghuan led the Kaiyuan Army to garrison Jining, responsible for maintaining the situation in Shandong.

Qi Jin and a group of instructors were busy every day, intensifying the training of new recruits.

Due to sufficient military pay, from May to July, the Kaiyuan Army expanded two more Guards Armies, namely the Seventh and Eighth Guards Armies, with a total of 8,000 soldiers.

Liu Zhaosun is busy every day.

Assisted the emperor in reviewing memorials, inspected the camp, inspected Shen Lian's training of the Suoyi Guard (similar to the Jinyi Guard), consulted Japanese intelligence, and formulated a landing combat plan with Deng Changxiong and Wang Erhu...
Fortunately, Emperor Shenzong's battle plan for conquering Japan was still there, and Marquis Ping Liao asked Eunuch Du to borrow it from the archives for review.

Things are complicated.

I work until the early morning every day, and when I lie down to rest, it is already dawn.

He felt very relieved when he heard the low snoring of Jin Yuji and Liu Yufei.

The next day, he got up again at 5:00 a.m. to review memorials.

Only two hours (four hours) left each day

After enduring this for half a month, the old illness finally relapsed.

On April 30th, while reviewing memorials early in the morning, she felt dizzy and fainted. When she woke up, Jin Yuji was in tears, sobbing over a piece of paper:
"Dizziness, dark vision, fatigue, and lack of energy are caused by the five labors and seven injuries. Liver deficiency causes dizziness and vertigo, and kidney deficiency causes back pain and weakness. Ping Liaohou is in his prime. He should not indulge in the occasional pleasure of galloping and the entertainment of sitting at a table, but forget the art of protecting his body..." (see note 1)

Liu Zhaosun suppressed his anger and asked her with a smile: "What nonsense! When did I suffer from kidney failure? Who said that? This is simply slandering the court officials!"

"Imperial Physician of the Imperial Hospital."

"Nonsense! I'm just too sleepy."

When Jin Yu Ji heard what Liu Zhaosun said, and saw that her husband had just woken up and his complexion had recovered well, she asked him where it hurt, but Liu Zhaosun kept shaking his head.

Jin Yuji burst into laughter and said, "My lord, Mr. Wu only listened to Old Song's words and was able to find the cause of my husband's illness. He is indeed a miracle doctor."

Liu Zhaosun was speechless.

Since the expedition to western Liao in February, he has been in a daze and hasn't touched a woman for half a year.

Can this cause kidney deficiency?
He had heard from Wei Zhongxian that the Imperial Medical Service in Beijing was a mixed bag with all kinds of people.

Otherwise, such absurd things as the Red Pill Case would not have happened.

He guessed that Old Song must be intimidated by the reputation of the Imperial Hospital.

"You want to cheat money from the Grand Tutor's Mansion? No way."

Thinking of this, Ping Liaohou turned around and picked up the walnut clamp from the table.

He was going to let this quack know what severe kidney deficiency was.

Jin Yuji pursed her lips and smiled.

"Marquis Ping Liao is such an imposing figure. Mr. Wu just said a few words, why punish him? I've been away for a while, and you've been sleepless. Is it because you've been partying every night that you've become weak?"

Liu Zhaosun quickly explained:

"No. What official authority? This person is so outspoken, saying things he shouldn't say. Now, it won't be long before the whole capital knows that I have kidney deficiency."

He was indignant. "Calling him a quack is a compliment. I haven't had sex with women for over six months, so how could I have kidney deficiency? This quack is using words and phrases to humiliate me. He must be treated."

Jin Yuji put away her smile and quickly advised, "That won't work either. He means well. I heard from Old Song that Mr. Wu was a juren (a scholar) before, but later he hated the officialdom and quit to become a doctor. His medical skills are so excellent that even Old Song praised him highly."

"Abandoning the government to become a doctor?"

Liu Zhaosun frowned and said:

"What's his name?"

Jin Yuji recalled for a while, then clapped her hands and smiled.

"Wu Youke."

I didn’t expect that I would keep running into celebrities after traveling through time.

In his previous life, Liu Zhaosun had watched The Great Ming Robbery starring Teacher Yuan Zheng, and had a deep memory of the historical figure Wu Youke.

If it really is Wu Youke, I can understand it.

Historical records show that Wu Youke was "of a lofty character and did not follow the common ways of the world", which is why he could say things like "Ping Liao Hou had kidney deficiency" in front of everyone.

"That's all."

Liu Zhaosun waved his hand:

"There's no need to let him suffer kidney failure this time. Call him here and treat me!"

Jin Yuji laughed.

Seeing her swaying waist, Liu Zhaosun coughed lightly and signaled Jin Yuji to pay attention to her image.

He shouted outside, and Shen Lian immediately walked in with two guards.

Shen Lian looked calm, and it was unclear whether he had heard what was said just now.

Ping Liaohou could not hide his embarrassment and said to him:
"Shen Lian, please go to the palace and ask Eunuch Du to invite Imperial Physician Wu to come to the mansion and examine me."

Shen Lian turned and left.

Liu Zhaosun stopped him and warned him:

"I'm borrowing Yang Jinglie's sedan chair, but I won't let anyone see it. When I get to the palace, I'll say I just caught a cold..."

Suddenly I remembered the advertisement for a certain Rehmannia pill I had seen, and I imagined a line in my mind:
"Kaiyuan brand Shenbao tablets, if he's fine, I'll be fine too."

That day, Wu Youke rushed over from the imperial city.

After a thorough examination, Doctor Wu overturned his diagnosis from yesterday and publicly apologized to Marquis Ping Liao.

The dizziness of the Marquis of Ping Liao was not due to kidney deficiency, nor was it due to "indulgence in women and excessive sexual intercourse."

Wu Youke prescribed some medicine and reminded her before leaving:

"Taifu Liu rises early and sleeps late, working diligently all night long, not daring to rest, which has caused him to be restless. The medicine is just a conditioning treatment. From now on, he must rise early and sleep late, nourishing his energy and calming his mind, and not overwork."

After everyone left, only Liu Zhaosun and Jin Yuji, mother and son, were left in the room.

Today, Marquis Ping Liao is resting, so he will put aside all the usual government affairs and not interfere with them.

Before they knew it, it was already afternoon. Jin Yu Ji called Shaoyao and asked the maid to take Liu Yufei to the yard to play with rattles.

She looked up and saw her husband still frowning at a map, so she walked over, leaning close to Liu Zhaosun, her eyes full of affection:

"My dear husband, the wars in Liaodong and Liaoxi are over. What else do you want?"

Liu Zhaosun raised his brows and answered casually:

"I wonder where Lin Yu and the others are now? Have they reached Seoul? I'm wondering where would be the best place for the fleet to land in Japan..."

Liu Zhaosun stared intently at Incheon, Tsushima Island, and Ryukyu, calculating how many troops he needed to dispatch to punish Japan.

Suddenly, I smelled a strange fragrance in the house, which made my heart beat faster and my mind shaken.

When he looked up, Jin Yuji was left with only her pink inner waist, her eyes like water, and her slender waist that was particularly enchanting.

When Liu Zhaosun saw this graceful figure, he froze in place and swallowed his saliva.

Jin Yuji said softly:

"Master, are you really weak?"

Shaoyao was still teasing her daughter with a rattle in the garden. Liu Zhaosun hugged his wife in his arms and said with a smile:

"Madam, you will know whether it is true or not once you test it."

Notes:

1. The original text is Lu Hongchun's memorial advising Emperor Wanli to restrain his passion for women, titled "A Memorial to the Emperor on Being Careful in Daily Life, Clarifying the Imperial Decree, Emphasizing Sacrifices, and Glorifying Virtue," from the Wanli Memorials, Volume , "Holy Virtue Category."

(End of this chapter)