Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 397 I want to be a good person, but what a messed up era this is.

The carriage slowly came to a stop by the Qujiang Pool, and the autumn air had quietly permeated the southeastern corner of Chang'an.

Wen He straightened his robes and got out of the car first, followed closely by Yan Lide.

Looking up, the blue brick walls of the mansion in front of you are bathed in the clear sunlight, and the vermilion gate looks even more solemn in the autumn. Above the gate is a black plaque with gold lettering that reads "Jishi Academy".

To the left of the gate, a tall blue stone tablet, more than a meter high, is bathed in the slanting autumn sun.

The monument is spotless, and the words "Human life is of utmost importance, more precious than a thousand pieces of gold; to save a life is a virtue greater than this" carved in vermilion paint are all the more eye-catching.

This means that human life is very important, more precious than a thousand pieces of gold, and there is no higher virtue than prescribing medicine to cure a patient's illness.

Yan Lide strode forward, his boots making a soft, crisp sound as they stepped over the falling sycamore leaves.

He read the inscription aloud, his eyes growing brighter with each reading, and finally he couldn't help but clap his hands and shout "Bravo!"

"Wonderful! This sentence perfectly captures the benevolence of a doctor, valuing human life and demonstrating the virtue of saving the world. It is truly the finishing touch!"

When he turned to look at Wen He, his eyes gleamed.

"Jiaying, I wonder which master wrote such profound and beautiful lines? I've heard that Master Sun cares deeply for the common people and often provides free medical treatment. Could it be that he wrote such insightful sentences?"

Wen He felt a little embarrassed.

This statement does indeed come from Sun Simiao's "Preface to the Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold".

There was just a slight mishap regarding the timing.

The preface to the "Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold" was completed in the third year of the Yonghui era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, not in the present day.

Not long ago, Sun Simiao asked him if he could leave a message for the Jishi Academy.

Then he remembered this sentence.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao felt a sudden resonance with his future self and found it wonderful.

Wen He explained at the time that he did not say that, but Sun Simiao thought he was just being modest.

Although Wen He knew he was always a humble person, he still felt a little embarrassed in front of the person in question.

"Jiaying, look at this signature!"

Yan Lide's voice suddenly rose, filled with shock. He pointed to the lower right corner of the stone tablet, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

"How could it be Gao Yangzi Wenhe? Could it be that you wrote these words?!"

Just as Wen He was about to explain, Yan Lide strode forward, grabbed his wrist, his palm cool with the autumn sun, and said with a mixture of surprise and exclamation.

"Jiaying, you're being far too modest!"

"Such wonderful words, worthy of being passed down through the ages, you refuse to admit that you wrote them, and instead try to attribute them to Master Sun? It must be that Master Sun does not want to take credit for your work, and insists on having your name engraved on the stone tablet, right?"

The more he talked, the more reasonable he felt, and he nodded to himself.

"Only someone as unambitious as you would willingly give away such a beautiful line. Anyone else would probably have spread it around long ago."

Wen He was speechless and couldn't help but laugh at what he said, not knowing how to explain herself for a moment.

You can't exactly say that you borrowed a line from Sun Simiao beforehand, can you?

When Sun Simiao heard these words that day, he was stroking the wild chrysanthemums he had just picked on the table. He was stunned on the spot, and then repeatedly exclaimed, "Wonderful!"

This statement coincides with his lifelong medical philosophy, and he even stated that "this is the foundation of a doctor's conduct and should be the motto of the school."

Wen He hurriedly explained that the saying was not his original creation, but an ancient saying he had heard by chance. However, Sun Simiao took it as mere modesty and said with a smile.

“Your Excellency, there is no need for such modesty. Such profound truths could not be uttered so easily without a heart for the common people. Since you do not wish to take credit, then leave the signature blank for now. I will discuss this with you in detail after the school is completed.”

Unexpectedly, Sun Simiao immediately had the words engraved on the stone tablet, and insisted on including Wen He's name, saying, "Although these words came from your mouth, they are in line with the true heart of medicine. Engraving your name is both an acknowledgment of you and an example for the students of the school. Those who practice medicine should have this heart, and those who live by this principle should also have this thought."

Seeing that Sun Simiao had said so, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

Wen He looked at Yan Lide's expression, which seemed to say, "I've seen through everything," and shook her head helplessly.

Let's just say that.

He couldn't very well reveal that he was a time traveler.

I might as well just follow Yan Lide's lead and continue, to avoid making things more confusing the more I explain.

"You ah you!"

Yan Lide smiled and patted him on the shoulder, his tone full of appreciation.

"That's what I like about you: you have great talent but you're not ostentatious and you don't crave fame!"

Wen He gave a couple of forced laughs and quickly changed the subject.

“Brother Lide, let’s go into the school first. The reason I brought you here is to ask Master Sun to treat you. Also, those injured craftsmen in the Ministry of Works, especially the one with the broken leg, need Master Sun to take a look before I can feel at ease.”

After saying that, he strode into the school.

Yan Lide stood there stunned for a long time before he reacted and quickly followed.

"This...this is making a mountain out of a molehill, isn't it? My minor injury can be treated by the physicians of the Ministry of Works. Why bother Master Sun? Besides, those craftsmen are of humble origin. To have Master Sun treat them would be...this would be disrespecting Master Sun."

It should be noted that in Chang'an today, many high-ranking officials and nobles wanted to invite Sun Simiao to treat their patients, but were all refused.

Now Wen He is actually asking Sun Simiao to treat the craftsmen, which Yan Lide sees as a great disrespect to Sun Simiao.

Wen He kept walking, her tone calm yet firm.

“Brother Lide, in the eyes of a true doctor, patients are only distinguished by the severity of their illness, not by their social status or wealth. If a doctor thinks otherwise, then no matter how skilled he is, he is not worthy of the title of doctor.”

"Master Sun is a benevolent doctor. He will not care about the patient's identity, but only about their injuries."

"These words of the magistrate of Gaoyang should serve as a lesson for all physicians!"

Just then, an old yet loud voice came from the side, accompanied by the soft sound of a wooden cane tapping the ground.

Wen He and Yan Lide turned their heads and saw an old man wearing a thick gray Taoist robe walking slowly towards them. His hair and beard were as white as autumn frost, his face was thin but his spirit was vigorous, and his eyes were exceptionally bright. It was Sun Simiao.

He bowed to Wen He with his hands clasped in greeting.

“What the gentleman from Gaoyang said coincides with what I think. A doctor should have a benevolent heart and take saving lives and healing the wounded as his duty. How can he differentiate between patients based on their status?”

Yan Lide's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the white-haired old man who had suddenly appeared.

He pondered for a moment, then stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Is the visitor Master Sun?"

Sun Simiao stopped and carefully examined Yan Lide.

This person was dressed in luxurious clothes, unlike the usual pampered nobles.

He nodded slightly: "This humble Taoist is indeed Sun Simiao. May I ask who this gentleman is?"

In his view, the person who came to Jishi Academy with Wen He must be his good friend.

It should be noted that Wen He has not brought any outsiders to this place yet.

"My name is Yan Rang, courtesy name Lide."

Yan Lide bowed respectfully.

Although he held the position of Minister of Works, he did not put on any official airs when facing Sun Simiao, a kind and compassionate elder in medicine.

No matter how high one's official position is, one is still a human being.

Everyone gets sick.

When faced with a living deity, everyone would show him respect.

"Brother Lide is the Minister of Works of the Imperial Court, in charge of all construction and equipment manufacturing in the country."

Wen He added with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao's eyes flashed with surprise, and he then returned the greeting to Yan Lide with a cupped-hand salute.

"So it's Minister Yan! My apologies for not recognizing you. Minister Yan is only thirty years old, yet you are indeed a talented young man!"

Although he had lived in the mountains for a long time, he was still familiar with the official system of the Tang Dynasty.

The Minister of Works was in charge of national engineering construction, and only those with genuine talent and learning could hold this position. Yan Lide must have had extraordinary abilities to be able to hold this position at such a young age.

Yan Lide quickly waved his hand, a humble smile on his face, but his tone was somewhat flattering.

"I dare not! Daoist Master, you flatter me. I am ashamed that I am more than thirty years older than you. In terms of merit, I am far inferior to you. You save people with your medical skills. Saving one person is accumulating merit. Over time, you will probably be able to ascend to the ranks of immortals!"

While his words were somewhat ingratiating, they weren't entirely untrue.

Within Chang'an, the people had long regarded Sun Simiao as a living deity.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head, saying, "Minister Yan, you flatter me. I am merely doing what I can, and it is hardly a meritorious deed. On the other hand, the Ministry of Works oversees all the crafts in the country, which is a great matter that benefits the nation and its people. This merit is far greater than my healing and saving lives."

"No, no, no, Master Sun, you flatter me!"

Yan Lide quickly offered his compliments.

"The Taoist priest's merit in healing the sick and saving lives is even greater."

"Minister Yan is joking. This humble Taoist is merely..."

"Master Sun, there's no need for such modesty. Your medical skills..."

The two of them went on and on, praising each other without stopping.

Wen He stood to the side, her forehead creased with exasperation.

What happened to Master Sun's promise not to curry favor with the powerful?

How did it turn into a mutual flattery session the moment we met?
He couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Wait!"

This interrupted their pleasantries. Yan Lide's face showed a hint of embarrassment. He chuckled dryly twice and said nothing more.

Sun Simiao remained calm, as if the mutual flattery had nothing to do with him. He simply looked at Wen He, waiting for him to speak.

Wen He shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Let's not exchange pleasantries anymore. We have important business to attend to today. Minister Yan was accidentally injured by gunpowder earlier and suffered some superficial wounds, which have now been treated. However, we would still like to trouble Daoist Sun to help with his treatment."

"Several other craftsmen were also seriously injured, one of whom had a broken leg. Minister Yan came here today to ask you to visit those craftsmen in the Ministry of Works' Forbidden Garden."

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao's smile vanished instantly, and his expression became extremely solemn.

"This matter is urgent and cannot be delayed. Minister Yan, please come with me to the side clinic for treatment. There is a freshly prepared hemostatic ointment there, which will be just right."

Yan Lide nodded quickly: "Thank you for your trouble, Daoist Master."

The three of them went together to the side courtyard of the school. The side courtyard was simply furnished with a wooden table, two chairs, and a shelf in the corner with many herbs. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of herbs.

Sun Simiao asked Yan Lide to sit down, took off his shirt, and lifted the gauze.

Several light brown burns were visible on his left shoulder and back, with slightly red and swollen skin, but fortunately they had already been treated.

Sun Simiao washed the wound with warm water, then took out a porcelain bottle, poured out a light green ointment, and gently applied it to the wound with his fingertips, his movements gentle yet efficient.

"This ointment is made from herbs such as dandelion, honeysuckle, and mint. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding and relieving pain. Apply it twice a day and the wound will scab over within three days."

Sun Simiao applied the ointment while explaining softly.

"I will also prescribe you a decoction for internal use. Have someone prepare it for you when you get home. It will help dispel the heat and toxins from the medicine in your body."

As Yan Lide felt the coolness from his wound and the pain gradually subsided, he couldn't help but praise it.

"The Taoist priest's medical skills are indeed well-deserved! Just now, my wound was burning with pain, but after applying the ointment, it felt much better instantly. The doctors from the Ministry of Works only used wood ash before, which was extremely uncomfortable."

Sun Simiao smiled and put away the porcelain bottle.

"Minister Yan, you flatter me. They are just some common herbs. The key to a doctor's treatment is to treat the illness according to the symptoms, not to use expensive herbs. The doctors in the Ministry of Works may lack experience, but they are by no means just using wood ash to make do."

Yan Lide, however, thought Sun Simiao was being modest and praised him further.

Wen He felt goosebumps all over her body as she listened, and quickly chimed in from the side.

"Alright, Brother Lide's injuries have been treated. Let's go to the Forbidden Garden now. The craftsmen are waiting for Master Sun."

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide felt embarrassed and stood up to invite Sun Simiao to accompany him.

After the three of them finished packing, they set off for the Ministry of Works' Forbidden Garden.

The carriage traveled along the official road in autumn. The leaves of the trees along the roadside had turned golden, and occasionally a few fallen leaves drifted onto the carriage shaft, adding to the autumn atmosphere.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the gunpowder workshop of the Imperial Workshop.

As soon as you enter the gate, you see several craftsmen dressed in short clothes cleaning up the mess on the ground.

Broken bronze fragments lay scattered on the ground, along with some charred firewood and cloth, clearly the aftermath of a failed artillery test.

When the craftsmen saw Wen He arrive, they immediately put down their work and excitedly surrounded him, bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Magistrate of Gaoyang!"

Yan Lide, who was standing to the side, was completely ignored by them.

Yan Lide gave an awkward smile and coughed lightly before finally getting the craftsman's attention.

Only then did they think of Yan Lide and pay their respects.

"I have met Minister Yan."

"Ahem, no thanks." Yan Lide thought helplessly.

After what happened this morning, I'm afraid his standing among these craftsmen will become increasingly inferior to Wen He's.

Yan Lide looked at the scene before him with a bitter expression. He gestured for Sun Simiao to come in. "Master, the injured craftsmen are resting in the side rooms inside. Please come with me."

Sun Simiao nodded and followed Yan Lide toward the side room.

Wen He remained where he was, surrounded by the craftsmen who bombarded him with questions about the cannons.

"Please enlighten me, sir. I don't know why, but the copper tube suddenly exploded. Did we make a mistake? Shouldn't the gunpowder have been put into the copper tube?"

An older craftsman spoke first, his tone full of self-reproach.

Wen He smiled and waved his hand: "Everyone, don't rush, take me to see the artillery samples you made."

The craftsmen quickly led Wen He to a wooden shelf next to them, on which was placed an unused bronze cannon barrel.

It was a bronze tube that was half a meter long.

There was also an iron ball the size of a fist next to it.

Wen He examined it carefully and couldn't help but shake her head.

The workmanship is too rough; several fine cracks can be seen on the inner wall, which is obviously due to poor casting process, resulting in insufficient strength of the cannon barrel.

Wen He reached out and touched the inner wall of the cannon barrel. He could feel the rough texture with his fingertips and shook his head.

"Look, there are three problems with this cannon barrel. First, the inside is too rough and contains a lot of air bubbles. There are cracks on the inner wall. The impurities were not cleaned up during the bronze casting process, leaving hidden dangers."

"Secondly, the length and diameter of the cannon barrel are not in the correct ratio, so the pressure generated by the gunpowder explosion cannot be evenly transmitted, making it easy to explode at weak points. Also, the gap between the shell and the cannon barrel is loose."

"Third, and most importantly, the proportion of gunpowder you used must be wrong. Otherwise, even if the process was substandard, it wouldn't have caused the barrel to explode."

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen all lowered their heads, their faces showing remorse.

They were not unaware of these problems, but they were too eager to experiment, which unexpectedly led to a barrel explosion.

Looking at their expressions, Wen He understood and asked again.

"I heard that someone suggested putting gunpowder in a bronze tube and using the force of the explosion to propel an iron ball. Who came up with this idea?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a thin young craftsman stepped out from the crowd. He had his head down and his voice trembled slightly.

"It was...it was my idea. I thought that gunpowder explosions could generate great force, and if it were trapped inside a tube, it could push the iron ball out. I never imagined...I never imagined it would be wrong. I was foolish and did not consider things carefully. I beg the magistrate to punish me!"

Wen He stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile.

"Your idea is not wrong, but rather makes a lot of sense. The principle of artillery firing is indeed based on the high-pressure gas generated by the explosion of gunpowder, which can indeed propel objects."

"However, you are wrong. You can't try anything new by being reckless. Even if you guess the principle, you need to analyze and investigate it based on the principle, instead of just making a decision on a whim."

He paused, pointed to the bronze fragments on the ground, and continued to explain.

"Take this cannon for example. When the gunpowder explodes inside the barrel, it generates pressure of up to several thousand kilograms. This pressure will act evenly on the inner wall of the barrel."

"If the barrel thickness is uneven or there are cracks, and there is an excessive amount of gunpowder, the pressure will be concentrated at the weak point, causing the barrel to explode."

"Therefore, before you manufacture the cannon barrel, you must first calculate the amount of gunpowder, the diameter and length of the barrel, to ensure that the barrel can withstand the pressure generated by the explosion. When casting bronze, you must remove impurities and ensure that the inner wall of the barrel is smooth and of uniform thickness, so as to avoid the barrel exploding."

The craftsmen stood around, listening with blank expressions.

They had never heard these words before and found them obscure and difficult to understand.

An older craftsman couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency, the skills we've passed down through generations have all come from trial and error and the accumulation of experience. For example, when making plows and rakes, we just follow the master's instructions and adjust them as we encounter problems."

"If we have to study the principles first and then start manufacturing, as you said, wouldn't that take a lot of time? What if we study and study and still can't make it? Wouldn't that be a waste of time?"

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but smile.

“What you said makes sense, but it’s not entirely true. As the saying goes, sharpening your axe won’t delay your work. If you understand the principles of things, you will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort and even apply what you’ve learned to other situations. Take the hand grenades we made before, for example. Do you know why hand grenades explode?”

The craftsmen all shook their heads, one of them said.

“Sir, all we know is that grenades contain gunpowder. Once the fuse is lit, the fuse burns the gunpowder, and the grenade explodes.”

"That's right, that's the surface reason for the grenade explosion."

Wen He nodded.

"But the deeper principle is that the sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal in gunpowder react violently at high temperatures, producing a large amount of gas. The gas cannot escape from the sealed iron shell, and when the pressure reaches a certain level, it will break through the iron shell and cause an explosion."

"If you can figure out this principle, wouldn't you be able to solve the problem of hand grenades needing to be ignited?"

"For example, could we use impact, compression, or other means to bring the gunpowder to the reaction temperature and trigger an explosion instead of ignition? This would make hand grenades more convenient and safer to use."

The craftsmen looked at each other, a thoughtful expression gradually appearing in their eyes.

They never imagined that the explosions they took for granted could have such profound implications.

I never imagined that studying these principles could improve my tools.

For a moment, their gazes toward Wen He became somewhat intense.

'The scion of Gaoyang County is truly a divine being!'

Wen He observed their reactions and continued speaking.

"The craftsmen in the Ministry of Works are all top-notch in their skills and have very creative ideas, that's for sure. However, you've all been held back by traditional ways of thinking. Most of you just know how to work hard and follow your master's instructions without ever going into the depths of why you should do it this way or whether you can do it better."

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Wen He chuckled.

He knew that they couldn't be entirely blamed for all of this.

It's still a matter of the imperial court's policies.

The artisans in the Ministry of Works were all classified as lowly, but unlike the privately classified lowly status of slaves, they were classified as officially classified lowly, that is, officially classified lowly.

These artisans were subordinate to the government and had a strong personal dependency relationship, similar to that of livestock.

Therefore, craftsmen had to use their spare time to work and make a living, so they didn't have the energy to study the principles behind those things.

Only when people are free from worries about making a living and have enough time and energy to think and research can technological progress be driven.

This is why Wen He wanted Yan Lide to improve the treatment of craftsmen.

But he also knew that changing the mindset of these craftsmen in a short period of time was by no means easy.

He pondered for a moment and then said, "How about this, starting today, I will spend one hour each day in the Forbidden Garden giving you lessons."

"In terms of craftsmanship, I am certainly no match for you. However, in terms of the underlying principles of these things, I can say that all of you combined are not as good as me."

“I will teach you to understand ‘why do it,’ rather than just knowing ‘do it.’”

If anyone else had dared to make such boastful claims, the craftsmen present would certainly have been indignant and might have even refuted them on the spot.

They are all veteran craftsmen who have worked in the Ministry of Works for more than ten or even several decades. How could they be inferior to a young child?

But if the person who said those words was Wen He, the situation would be completely different.

In the hearts of the craftsmen, Wen He was a divine figure who could make gunpowder explode and make people fly.

"Is the magistrate of Gaoyang County going to teach us?"

The craftsmen were incredulous.

"This, this is not appropriate. You are a noble person, sir, while we are of lowly status."

An old craftsman said with trepidation.

"Yes, if you were to teach us, I'm afraid people outside would gossip about you."

Those sons of high-ranking families, those powerful and wealthy people, which of them would have any dealings with people of low social status like them?

Even if Minister Yan had just said a few words to them in the past, that would have been an immense favor.

The county magistrate of Gaoyang actually wants to teach them?

I can't even imagine this.

"What is lowly or noble? We are all human beings, just with different roles. Besides, in my eyes, you people who silently dedicate yourselves to the Tang Dynasty are far better than those lazy parasites who know nothing about farming."

Wen He gave a soft snort.

But his words didn't move the people in front of him; instead, they nearly scared them to death.

They stood there in fear, not daring to say a word.

Wen He dared to say those words, but they dared not listen.

Looking at their expressions, Wen He sighed helplessly.

Some things have become fixed.

As expected, without the emergence of a powerful individual, no one can change these things.

He is not that powerful being.

Wen He shook his head inwardly. He knew that comforting was useless, so he could only put on a stern face and threaten.

"I ordered you to learn, and you dare to refuse? Do you really think I won't dare to do anything to you?"

"Anyone who dares to utter another word, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen's expressions softened somewhat, and they quickly bowed to Wen He.

"I am a humble person, I am willing to learn."

"Then starting tomorrow, anyone who dares to slack off and not come will be invited to the Hundred Riders' Club as a guest," Wen He said coldly, his hands behind his back.

The craftsmen immediately lowered their heads even further.

"The villain dare not."

"Ugh."

Wen He held her forehead.

I want to be a good person, but what a messed up era this is!

Soon after, Sun Simiao and Yan Lide came out.

Seeing that Wen He's expression was a bit off, Yan Lide was immediately displeased and then glanced at the craftsmen.

Upon seeing this, the craftsmen lowered their heads again, and many even trembled and wanted to kneel down.

"Have you angered the magistrate of Gaoyang County?" Yan Lide questioned sternly.

"Brother Lide, you've misunderstood. I was just scolding them, and they were just scared," Wen He immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.

Upon hearing this, Yan Lide smiled and said to the craftsmen, "It is your good fortune to be reprimanded by the magistrate of Gaoyang County. It was the magistrate of Gaoyang County who suggested to me that your monthly salary be increased to one guan per month. This is a great favor."

"If you are not satisfied, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"The villain dare not."

The craftsmen were so frightened that they immediately knelt down.

Seeing their terrified expressions, Wen He felt a tightness in her chest.

Damn it!

Sooner or later, I will change this so-called lowly status!
"Jiaying, thanks to you and Master Sun today, how about I invite you to Pingkang Lane?" Yan Lide turned around with a smile.

"A new woman from Central Asia arrived today..."

"Brother Lide, I suddenly feel a little unwell, so I'll be leaving now." Wen He interrupted Yan Lide, giving him a slight bow with a calm expression.

"I still have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."

Sun Simiao gave Wen He a meaningful look, and then bid farewell to Yan Lide.

Yan Lide was somewhat puzzled.

He naturally noticed that Wen He was acting strangely, but he didn't know what he had done wrong.

I think should not be.

Actually, Wen He didn't blame Yan Lide.

To be fair, Yan Lide treated these craftsmen quite well; he had even helped them petition for their rights before.

He's just... in a bad mood.

"The success of a county depends on human effort."

On the way back, Sun Simiao suddenly said something.