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

Chapter 72 The Downfall of Zhang is Imminent!
It turned out that on that thick, pale yellow mulberry paper, a row of striking and simple vernacular characters were written with a cinnabar brush.

"For those who are nobles or high-ranking officials, upon payment of silver, they can enjoy VIP guardianship services, be provided with dedicated medical attendants, receive priority treatment from senior doctors at the clinic, and use the finest medicinal herbs."

Zhang Yunxiu put on a stern face and said, "We do want to help the people, but we didn't say we wouldn't accept money from you noble people."

These parasites in the court, all spouting benevolence and morality, are actually far wealthier than I, Zhang Yunxiu! Their money is better left in their cellars and under their concubines' beds than entrusted to me to benefit the world!

Yang Jishi shuddered. He always felt that Zhang Yunxiu harbored a unique resentment towards the powerful and wealthy.

His father was clearly the most powerful and influential person in the Ming Dynasty.

He added with some concern, "What if these nobles are just pretending and want to enjoy the same medical care as the poor?"

Zhang Yunxiu slapped Yang Jishi on the head and said with a look of disappointment, "Have you forgotten everything I've been teaching you lately? We should make the masks of inferior quality so that when poor people receive treatment, their faces will be covered in black ash, and they will be subject to the discipline and supervision of the clinic."

Is this merely to save money and conduct research?

"Disciple." Yang Jishi felt wronged. What sins had he committed to deserve such discipline from a young man?

But this slap did have some effect. For a moment, Yang Jishi seemed to understand something and opened his mouth to speak.

"Master is intentionally getting the wealthy and powerful to contribute money so that they can use their wealth to support the poor!"

Yang Jishi knew all too well that even if Emperor Wanli spent 50,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury, given the emperor's personality, once he got over that impulse, would he continue to spend silver?
That's 50,000 taels of silver! Even if Emperor Wanli had one million taels of his own treasury, it wouldn't last for several months of production!

If this continues, even if allicin is very good and can cure many people,

Without money, how can the workshops operate, how can the raw materials for garlic extract be supplied, and how can the clinics provide affordable treatment to the people?
Wool comes from sheep, and the wool that provides warmth to weak lambs must come from lambs with abundant wool.

For a moment, Yang Jishi's gaze towards Zhang Yunxiu changed.

This guy is incredibly shrewd! He understands human nature so well at such a young age.

But then another question arose in Yang Jishi's mind, which he expressed with some concern.

"Master, what if the nobles and dignitaries start a fuss and use their power to intimidate others?"

"Using power to intimidate others?"

Zhang Yunxiu curled his lip and said arrogantly.

"Who is more powerful than me? My father is Zhang Juzheng, and my childhood friend is His Majesty! Even if princes and nobles come, they have to obediently pay their fees and wait in line!"

Yang Jishi opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute Zhang Yunxiu.

The key point is that what the other party said is completely correct. In this capital city today, even among dukes and marquises, who would dare not give Zhang Ju face?

Not to mention that Zhang Yunxiu was deeply trusted by the emperor, and even this Renmin Medical Hall had the emperor's help. Who would dare to say no here?
However, there was something Yang Jishi didn't say: Was Zhang Yunxiu's move a little too profit-driven?

The intellectuals of the Ming Dynasty, such as Confucian scholars and physicians, were either hypocritical virtuous men or pure idealists who were almost ashamed to talk about so-called "profit".

Just like Yang Jishi's idea, in his inherent understanding, shouldn't providing relief to the people simply be about providing relief?
With a benevolent heart, to save the people from suffering is such a wonderful thing, in accordance with the earnest teachings of the sages in the classics.

They couldn't just talk about "profit" so easily; they even resorted to the tactics of merchants.

Ironically, Zhang Yunxiu's method, though seemingly "shameless," is the best solution at the moment!

"I will heed my teacher's teachings!" Yang Jishi replied with a sigh.

By mid-April, the weather showed no signs of warming up, and the plague prevalent in Beizhili was showing signs of worsening.

Not only in the capital, but also in many counties under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, the plague broke out, and the reports that came through were often alarming.

"The streets and alleys of Baodi County were littered with corpses."

"The people of Baoding County were terrified of contracting the disease and avoided it at all costs."

"Pinggu County is overflowing with patients, and doctors are struggling to treat their own patients."

As reports poured into the capital, many high-ranking officials realized the gravity of the situation. Normally, the ministers would think that comforting the people and providing relief would allow the plague to slowly pass, and that it wouldn't affect them personally.

This time, however, it was completely different. The plague had spread even more severely, and even the high-ranking officials and nobles hiding in their courtyards in the capital were not immune to its effects.

The court's response was undoubtedly the same as before: posting notices to reassure the people, increasing the number of imperial physicians at the Huimin Pharmacy, summoning all doctors in the capital, and allocating funds from the Ministry of Revenue to prepare medicinal soups in various markets and neighborhoods.

Gong Tingxian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, developed the "Two Saints' Relief Pill," which was specially distributed to countless disaster-stricken people in the capital and even in Beizhili.

The Ministry of Revenue allocated nearly 100,000 taels of silver specifically for the purchase and allocation of herbs, manpower, and resources to contain this terrible plague.

Even so, they still couldn't control the continued spread of the plague.

The starting point was wrong, and the medicine used was completely ineffective.

The so-called "Two Saints' Relief Pill" is made from nothing more than a mixture of rhubarb and soapberry. It is simply a fantasy to think that this alone can cure "big head plague".

But the Imperial Hospital didn't care about these things. The medicines they developed through extensive research and searching through ancient books could hardly be ineffective.
If the plague cannot be controlled, there is only one reason: it is because of Zhang Yunxiu, who has taken dozens of good doctors from the Imperial Hospital.

The Imperial Medical Academy, which originally had over a hundred members, has lost so many people. The blame for its ineffective prevention and control of the plague will inevitably fall on Zhang Yunxiu and his son Zhang Juzheng.

Given this opportune moment, the "pure stream" faction, which had been itching to act, naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.

Xu Mansion.

Yang Keli and Yang Sizhi visited Xu Xuemo, the Minister of Rites of the current dynasty, once again.

In the study, Yang Keli slammed his fist on the table and said excitedly.

"Master Xu, this is the opportune moment!"

He slammed a document on the table.

"A fellow student from Lu'an Prefecture, Shanxi Province, sent me a letter describing the disaster situation in the eight counties of Lu'an Prefecture as follows: 'A great plague, convulsions, highly contagious; the sick dare not inquire, the dead dare not mourn!'"

This plague is spreading alarmingly and is unstoppable. According to reports, tens of thousands of refugees are already heading towards the capital and will soon arrive outside the city gates! Let's see how Zhang Jiangling handles it then!

"Tens of thousands of refugees!" Xu Xuemo was startled. He picked up the document and looked at it, his face immediately filled with worry.

"The epidemic in the capital is already difficult to control. What if tens of thousands more homeless refugees arrive, carrying the disease?"

Although he said this, Xu Xuemo knew perfectly well that the current chief minister was Zhang Jiangling, not himself.

If the refugees are not dealt with properly, it will cause public outrage and resentment, and the first person to bear the brunt of the blame will be this Grand Secretary who holds the reins of power.

Xu Xuemo still hesitated, still retaining a sliver of conscience, and said with emotion.

"Wouldn't it be unethical for us to use this as an excuse? That involves thousands upon thousands of lives!"

Yang Keli squinted and said, "Hasn't the Minister figured it out yet? Regardless of whether we use this as an excuse or not, this plague is unstoppable!"

With a population of one million in the capital and tens of thousands of refugees, how could the death toll of tens of thousands be contained by this plague?

But if we do nothing, won't these people have died in vain?

Only by seizing this opportunity to bring down Zhang Juzheng and his son Zhang Yunxiu can the court return to order and justice! Only then can the common people have a real way to survive.

Yang Keli was so eloquent that he almost made black appear white, which even moved Xu Xuemo.

Yang Sizhi added from the side, "Zhang Shiyuan is utterly absurd. He actually forced three students of the Imperial Academy to develop a miraculous medicine for him, wasting a lot of money. He even bewitched the Emperor and kidnapped nearly half of the imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy. Such a traitorous person is abhorred by both gods and men!"

When Zhang Yunxiu was mentioned, Xu Xuemo also showed a look of disdain.

“This person is a scourge to the country and its people. If he is not eliminated, Your Majesty will surely be misled by him.”

Seeing that Xu Xuemo's tone had softened, Yang Keli immediately asked tentatively, "Has Your Excellency made any preparations?"

(End of this chapter)