Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 60 Your Majesty, save me!

After Emperor Wanli stepped into the workshop, he eventually put on the same goggles and mask as Zhang Yunxiu.

Once the red glass goggles were put on, they actually created a unique look when paired with the emperor's slightly ill-fitting outfit.

Looking at the fat emperor's outfit, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but think of an old friend from the e-sports circle in his previous life.

At this moment, Emperor Wanli's expression was somewhat strange. He turned his head to look at Eunuch Zhang, who was lying on a stretcher in the corner.

Eunuchs were household servants, but they still had some feelings for each other, so Emperor Wanli couldn't help but ask with concern.

"Is Zhang Banban alright?"

Emperor Wanli was more worried about the safety of Eunuch Zhang than about the Zhang family's rebellion.

The Zhang family rebelling? The Wanli Emperor would never have believed it.

Despite Zhang Juzheng's rising popularity, the Ming Dynasty was vastly different from the Han Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty's bureaucratic system was deeply entrenched and mutually restraining. The so-called Grand Secretary was very different from the prime ministers of previous dynasties.

As soon as Zhang Juzheng had even the slightest thought of rebellion, he would be betrayed by his subordinates, protégés, and former officials, and the so-called Zhang faction would collapse.

Therefore, Zhang Yunxiu was unfazed by such remarks and instead patted his chest, saying, "Don't worry, Master Zhu. This garlic extract is a bit strong, but it won't kill anyone. Eunuch Zhang will be fine after a while."

The garlic workshop was filled with the pungent smell of garlic. Zhang Yunxiu had made sure to keep the door tightly closed, so it would be strange if Zhang Cheng hadn't been bothered by the fumes if he had opened it rashly.

The two strolled into the workshop, and just as they were about to enter the assembly line area to check, someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu changed into a clean set of clothes and tidied himself up before rushing over to greet the Emperor. Seeing that the Emperor had already entered the workshop, he quickly bowed and said...

"Greetings, Master Zhu!"

The Wanli Emperor was somewhat surprised. This person seemed to know him, but he couldn't remember who the other person was. He turned to Zhang Yunxiu and asked.

"Is this person a craftsman in the workshop?"

Zhang Yunxiu's expression was strange.

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu, with a mournful face, quickly explained.

"Master Zhu, don't you recognize me? I am Zhang Jianxiu, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Zhang Jianxiu?" The Wanli Emperor was utterly astonished, his gaze fixed on the mangled face, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How did you end up like this?"

Standing to the side, Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly explained, "Master Zhu, you don't know this, but my fourth brother has been indulging in too much sex and has some kidney deficiency."

The ancient medical text *Qianjin Fang* states that those with kidney deficiency experience poor blood circulation, leading to facial swelling. My fourth brother, lacking self-control, has gradually developed this appearance.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli's heart skipped a beat, his brows furrowed, and he quickly asked, "Can kidney deficiency cause such symptoms?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was stunned for a moment, and was about to explain, "I didn't."

"Absolutely true!" Zhang Yunxiu said with certainty. He lied without batting an eye, yet he could cite classical texts so convincingly that no one could help but believe him.

He spouted nonsense, unaware that he had left a deep impression on the Wanli Emperor, who would later often be preoccupied with the matter of "kidney deficiency."

Leading the Wanli Emperor into the workshop assembly line, Zhang Yunxiu immediately began to explain his arrangements within the workshop.

"Master Zhu, please look over there. That is the Tiger Warrior Garlic-Pounding Battalion, consisting of over fifty men, all of whom are incredibly brave and strong. They are responsible for crushing piles of garlic from the ceramic jars, then spreading the garlic paste evenly on earthenware plates and placing them in a cool, ventilated place to dry."

The Wanli Emperor looked at him strangely: "The Tiger-like Garlic-Pounding Camp?"

“That’s right!” Zhang Yunxiu said in a serious tone. “Master Zhu, look over there. That’s the Dust Purification Battalion, which has more than twenty members. They are responsible for adding crushed garlic to an appropriate amount of distilled liquor, stirring it thoroughly, letting it stand, and then filtering it through fine linen or silk to separate the residue from the extract.”
And then look at the last one, that's really impressive. It's called the Divine Brewing Battalion, composed of over thirty people, selected from those with meticulous minds. They pour the extract into a copper distillation apparatus and heat it in a water bath.
The key point is the temperature. If the distillation is too hot, the allicin will lose its effectiveness; if it's not distilled enough, the alcohol inside won't evaporate.

Distillation technology existed in the Ming Dynasty, so obtaining these devices was not difficult. With the cooperation of the original craftsmen in the factory, the process was carried out in an orderly manner.

What a formidable force! The Tiger-like Garlic-Pounding Camp, the Dust-Dispelling Camp, and the Divine-Craftsmanship-Infused Camp!

The Wanli Emperor listened in a daze, feeling as if some strange knowledge had been forcibly crammed into his mind.

His lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but then he felt that Zhang Yunxiu's arrangements were in line with the principles of practical application and were even more efficient.
Emperor Wanli couldn't help but exclaim, "Shiyuan is truly ingenious!"

But after walking around, he was impressed by Zhang Yunxiu's meticulous arrangements, but a question also arose in his mind.

"Shiyuan, your process is complete, but it doesn't seem like you're making medicine. It seems more like you're making soybean paste."

You claim this is a miraculous medicine, but how can its effects be observed?

It was originally a workshop for making soybean paste.
Zhang Yunxiu inwardly scoffed, but outwardly he still smiled and said it.

"Master Zhu, this is what I will tell you later. Now I will take you to the laboratory."

"laboratory?"

Wanli frowned as he heard another seemingly plausible but incomprehensible word.

Following Zhang Yunxiu around the workshop's work area, the group arrived at the most secluded corner of the workshop.

This is an inconspicuous little courtyard in the workshop, which was converted from three side rooms.

Upon entering the side room, Emperor Wanli was astonished by the sight before him. On the bluestone floor, more than thirty open porcelain plates were scattered about, each tightly sealed with a lid, their contents unknown.

On the wooden shelf on the east wall, various kinds of garlic seeds were stacked in layers, and each grid woven from bamboo strips was marked with a number in tiny characters.

There was also a row of very precious transparent glass bottles by the window, containing amber-colored liquid.

"This is."

Just as the emperor was about to ask a question, he heard a noise coming from inside the side room.

An elderly man dressed in a clean white, close-fitting long robe came out, holding something that looked like a document in his hand, and said to the outside in an annoyed tone.

"Hey, hey, hey, where did this rough fellow come from? Don't break my petri dish! My life depends on it! That Zhang Shiyuan is truly ruthless, if not..."

When Emperor Wanli took a look, he was somewhat surprised. Who else could it be but the imperial physician Yang Jishi?
At this moment, Yang Jishi also saw the Wanli Emperor. Even though the Wanli Emperor was dressed in plain clothes, how could he not recognize him?

Suddenly, the document in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

Yang Jishi's face contorted in pain, and he burst into tears, sobbing as he lay on the ground.

"Your Majesty! This old minister is suffering! Please save this old minister!"

(End of this chapter)