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

Chapter 70 Imperial Hospital Conscripts Men
Yang Jishi followed this group of fierce Imperial Guards to the entrance of the Imperial Hospital.

Upon seeing the gilded plaque above, he lost his confidence.

Turning his head, he respectfully pleaded with Zhang Yunxiu, saying, "Master, I still have some experiments to do in the workshop. Yesterday, a batch of garlic from Cangshan, Shandong, was delivered. Preliminary experiments show that it is more effective than ordinary garlic. May I go back first?"

Zhang Yunzheng led a group of craftsmen and swaggered into the Imperial Hospital, seemingly intending to "confiscate" its property. Upon hearing this, he frowned.

"I find that this garlic is indeed extraordinary. Jizhou (Yang Jishi's courtesy name), you should study it more carefully. The survival of the people in the capital and even the whole country depends on you. As for your return..."

He narrowed his eyes and said, "The reason we came out this time is to capture a group of imperial physicians and bring them back. Not only are the workshops and laboratories short of people, but the medical clinics are also in dire need of people. You are familiar with the Imperial Medical Academy, so if you don't lead the way, who will?"

"My disciple. My disciple."

Yang Jishi's face was full of conflict. He felt that bringing Zhang Yunxiu to the Imperial Hospital to arrest people made him look like a "traitor to the Imperial Hospital".

Although he has now "abandoned darkness and turned to the light," he still has some connection with the Imperial Medical Academy. Isn't that a bit underhanded?
Yang Jishi had no time to hesitate, as Zhang Jianxiu had already led his men into the various duty rooms of the Imperial Hospital.

He shouted, "You old scoundrel from the Imperial Medical Academy!"

Clearly, he had been cooped up in the workshop for days and was taking his frustration out on these usually arrogant imperial physicians.

They searched several duty rooms but couldn't find a single imperial physician. Only after arresting a minor official did they learn that the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy and above were having a meeting in the main hall of the Imperial Medical Academy.

The main hall of the Imperial Medical Academy.

The academy's envoy, Gong Tingxian, sat at the head of the table, his brows furrowed as he spoke.

"The reason we have summoned you all here today is to discuss a prescription for treating the 'Big Head Plague.' As we discussed last time, this 'Two Saints' Relief Pill' can dispel the plague toxins and unblock the meridians."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to the main hall was suddenly kicked open, and a group of menacing-looking people rushed in.

Upon seeing the group of leaders, Gong Tingxian was furious. He stood up and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu, saying...

"Zhang Shiyuan! How dare you! This is the Imperial Medical Academy, a place where His Majesty and the princes and princesses are treated. How dare you trespass here?"

Zhang Yunxiu sneered, "So you're 'treating the imperial family,' do you even respect His Majesty? His Majesty ordered you to go to Renmin Medical Hall to assist in the treatment, why have you been delaying?"
"You still have the nerve to talk to me about treating the imperial family? Let me tell you, even if I took it for you today, His Majesty would be overjoyed!"

Gong Tingxian trembled with rage: "Zhang Shiyuan! You have bewitched the Emperor, and you will surely meet a bad end!"

Zhang Yunxiu didn't waste any words with him. He took out a roster from his pocket and began to read it aloud as if he were the King of Hell calling roll.

"Gong Juzhong, Wang Yingyuan, Luo Xian."

This roster was compiled by Yang Jishi and Zhang Yunxiu, and all the names on it are outstanding individuals from the Imperial Medical Academy.

Some were recommended by Yang Jishi, while others were listed by Zhang Yunxiu based on his reputation in later historical records.

The Imperial Medical Academy was a lowly government office, and Zhang Yunxiu was acting on the emperor's orders. The imperial physicians, who were already powerless, were picked up one by one like chickens being caught.

The moment these names were mentioned, the imperial physicians in the hall would tremble.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't recognize the faces of these imperial physicians, but fortunately Yang Jishi was there, and he recognized them one by one without any problem.

"Release me!"

The imperial physicians who were chosen looked as if they were going to their execution, tears streaming down their faces.

These imperial physicians dared not curse Zhang Yunxiu, so they could only mutter "old thief" when passing by Yang Jishi.

Yang Jishi looked distressed, but he had no choice. On the one hand, the fact that he had become Zhang Yunxiu's disciple was already common knowledge. On the other hand, he was indeed doing it for the sake of the common people. With the help of these people, the research and development of allicin and the treatment at Renmin Hospital would surely be much more effective.

In short, Yang Jishi has now completely transformed into the Zhang family's shape.

From then on, he could only rely on Zhang Yunxiu, and there was no way out for him.

Gong Tingxian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, stood in the hall, watching one imperial physician after another being led away, his heart aching as if being torn apart. He dared not confront Zhang Yunxiu; this young man was infamous, capable of beating a censor in the court assembly, and he was just a mere child. If he were beaten by him, where would he go to seek justice?
Therefore, Gong Tingxian turned his gaze to Yang Jishi, who was "aiding and abetting evil," and said with a look of grief and indignation.

"Yang Jizhou! We've worked together for many years, but I never imagined you were such an opportunist!"

Yang Jishi opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but in the end he just sighed.

In an instant, his gaze gradually hardened, and he bowed respectfully to Gong Tingxian, saying...

"Professor Gong, I apologize for any offense I may have caused, but I have acted in the name of saving the world and all its people, and I have a clear conscience!"

"A clear conscience indeed."

Gong Tingxian was clearly holding back his anger and wanted to unleash his fury.

"Old man, do you think I, Zhang Yunxiu, can't do anything to you?"

Zhang Yunxiu found him too noisy and immediately threatened him.

"you"

Gong Tingxian was speechless. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, he pointed at Yang Jishi and said something.

"You'd better take care of yourself!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed out of the hall.

Yang Jishi raised his head, but did not look at the other person's departing figure.

He might have felt ashamed and indignant in the past, but now, just thinking about the effects of allicin makes him feel...

It's the other side that's ridiculous.

On this day, the court assembly had just ended when the Wanli Emperor stormed into the Kunning Palace.

When he arrived at Empress Wang's place, he was still extremely angry and began to curse loudly.

"They deserve to die! Every single civil official in the court deserves to die!"

Empress Wang was startled. She gently patted the emperor's back as she asked him what was wrong.

"What has happened today that has made His Majesty so angry?"

"Your Majesty, you are unaware of this."

Emperor Wanli sighed, finally finding someone to confide in.

It turns out that during today's court assembly, Emperor Wanli tentatively brought up Zhang Yunxiu's method for containing the plague, along with his court officials.

Unexpectedly, not only did no one support him, but some censors also came out to advise him, openly and secretly urging the emperor not to trust the words of some "absurd" and "naive" people.

His words implied that the city was already in chaos, and that His Majesty should not add to the chaos.

This anger was bottled up inside the Wanli Emperor, but he couldn't vent it, which made him furious after the court session.

"Martial law is in effect at the nine gates of the capital. The Beijing garrison is screening for the sick and distributing face masks to all residents of the city."

After hearing the description, Empress Wang opened her mouth in surprise.

What kind of absurd ideas are these? It's obvious without even thinking that these were suggestions Zhang Yunxiu made to the emperor.

The Wanli Emperor stared intently at her and said, "Does the Empress also think I'm being ridiculous?"

(End of this chapter)