The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 125 Fang Xiaoru: It is my narrow-mindedness that has led me to this!

Seven days later, it was the tenth day of the eighth lunar month.

There are only five days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the capital city, the climate has turned cool, unlike the humid and sweltering heat of summer.

At midday, at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain.

Zhu Xiong Ying rode in a blue-curtained carriage directly to the main gate of the university.

He came today for three reasons: first, to inspect the progress of medical reforms; second, to convey Old Zhu's commendation; and third, to begin making arrangements for the supervision of the new type of cement.

On this side, they had just gotten off the carriage.

Then I saw my second uncle, Chang Sheng, as well as Fang Xiaoru, Wang Pu and others who were waiting for me.

After exchanging greetings, we chatted briefly.

Surrounded by a crowd, they walked into the school building where the offices were located.

Zhu Xiong Ying sat in the main seat, with Fang Xiao Ru and others seated on either side.

When the waiter served tea.

Zhu Xiong Ying got straight to the point, asking about the situation regarding the splitting of the medical school that had been discussed at the university a few days ago.

Fang Xiaoru stood up and reported, "His Highness instructed several days ago that the medical department be divided into two sub-departments: an advanced department and an accelerated department!"

"The advanced department continues to study the techniques of the *Suwen* and *Nanjing*, inheriting the fundamental principles of medicine. The accelerated department specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, wound dressing, and epidemic prevention; graduates can complete their training in a year or two and be dispatched to rural areas and military units—"

"We have been discussing teaching methods and revising teaching materials these past few days, but we still have a couple of questions. We would appreciate Your Highness's guidance!"

Fang Xiaoru was an upright and honest man, and he was even more rigorous and meticulous in his scholarship. He was upright, incorruptible, and grateful.

Looking at his actions over the past six months, they are truly commendable!

Now that I've heard that the eldest grandson of the emperor wants to establish a crash course in medicine, which is intended to simplify medical practice, I can't help but feel worried. I took this opportunity to ask him about it today!

These words immediately sparked discussion among the people in the hall.

Zhu Xiong Ying raised his eyes and glanced at him, a smile on his face, and said, "Mr. Fang, please speak frankly!"

Fang Xiaoru bowed and said, "Your Highness! I have been well-versed in the classics since childhood, and I know that medicine is a benevolent art, and saving lives and healing the wounded is its fundamental purpose!"

"Medicine is a vast and profound art, requiring eight to ten years to master. If we only teach them the basics and then have them treat patients, what if something goes wrong? Wouldn't that harm the people and ruin the very foundation of medicine?"

These words originally belonged to the thoughts of orthodox Confucian scholars.

After all, in many people's minds, medicine is a benevolent art that needs to be passed down orally and personally, and one cannot become a master without years of practice!

But accelerated medical education seems like child's play!

It seems that these scholar-officials have never experienced true hardship, let alone know the deep suffering of ordinary people!

Old Zhu understands this principle!

Therefore, when the good grandson brought up this matter, he immediately saw the advantages and disadvantages, and readily agreed without any objection!

Zhu Xiong Ying stood up.

Arriving at the center of the hall, he looked around and said, "Mr. Fang, you are mistaken!"

"In our view, the essence of medicine has never been about how many classic texts you memorize, but about how many lives you save!"

"Mr. Fang, and all of you should know! Our Great Ming Dynasty has its own national conditions! Its land is vast, and its population is large. How many skilled doctors with such rich experience are there? In a single village, with hundreds or thousands of people, how many doctors can be assigned? Is it possible to take care of everyone?"

"Even if we gather many people and teach them in detail right now, looking across the land, in every village and hamlet, if the people catch a cold, the children suffer from indigestion, or on the front lines, if soldiers are wounded while protecting their country, can they afford to wait ten or eight years?"

"With the millions of people of our Great Ming Dynasty, they can't afford to wait! Often, a minor illness or ailment, because they don't know how to treat it, develops into a serious illness and leads to their deaths!"

"More than ten years ago, my grandfather established the Huimin Pharmacy to help the common people, but there was a lack of doctors to assist them."

"The main task of students in accelerated medical programs is simply to distinguish drugs, apply their knowledge, and prescribe the right medicine for the right condition!"

"For example, what medicine should be used for a cold caused by wind and cold? How should indigestion in children be prevented and treated? — These are all real skills, and as long as they are followed, they can save the lives of 70-80% of people!"

Seeing Fang Xiaoru and his entourage, they seemed hesitant to speak.

Zhu Xiong Ying then changed the subject, stamping her feet and saying firmly, "As for the mistakes Mr. Fang is worried about, we chatted with Grandfather the other day and have already drafted the plan, which I would like to share with you all today!"

"The students in this accelerated training program first study theory for six months, then spend a year interning at the Huimin Pharmacy and military medical tents. Only after passing the assessment and receiving a certificate can they graduate and begin their work! There will be a review and assessment every two years thereafter!"

"On ordinary days, we can only treat common illnesses and basic external injuries. For difficult and complicated cases, we need to report to the government and have them transferred to renowned specialists stationed in local clinics for treatment!"

"In addition, these days, for the sake of the follow-up teaching of the accelerated course, we also wrote to the divine physician Dai of the Imperial Medical Academy, asking them to compile a detailed book of 'Emergency Simple Prescriptions' to be used in conjunction with some medical textbooks —"

Finally, he changed the subject and said, "Thinking back to a few months ago, we had a conversation with you, sir, about how to achieve peace and prosperity through the Way of the King!"

"The accelerated medical education here is designed to enable people to see a doctor and save their lives before discussing the inheritance of medical knowledge. Isn't this the right way?"

The following sentence was deafening, exactly what Fang Xiaoru and other Confucian scholars thought.

Even Wang Pu nodded in agreement.

After a short while, Fang Xiaoru bowed again and said, "Your Highness's words have greatly benefited us!"

"The essence of medicine is to save lives; saving lives comes first, then spreading the teachings. This truly embodies the benevolence of a physician and is the foundation of the kingly way—we, your subjects, are bound by ancient methods, our vision is too narrow! Now, we shall, as Your Highness commands, properly handle the division of specialties!"

To persuade scholars.

First, you need to get him to agree with your ideas.

Zhu Xiong Ying's actions, driven by a sense of righteousness, were beyond reproach!

After explaining the matter in detail...

Zhu Xiong Ying took the imperial edict from San Bao and read out Old Zhu's message.

The officials and scholars of the university were rewarded with fine silks and satins as a token of appreciation for their hard work.

After leaving the school building where he worked, Zhu Xiong Ying inspected the firearms workshop and the crossbow workshop, just like before.

He also had long conversations with master craftsmen such as Tao Chengdao and Tao Jingchu, and consulted on cooperation with the Ordnance Bureau to promote the mass production of new handguns and crossbows!

Finally, we arrived at the materials workshop.

The artisans and students here were originally studying waterwheels and other items related to people's livelihoods!

The person in charge was named Shan An, who was over sixty years old and from Guangdong!

Like Lao Tao, he came from a family with extensive learning and was skilled in building water conservancy and city defenses.

This person was involved in the construction of the imperial city of Yingtianfu back then!

After arriving at the resting quarters, Zhu Xiong Ying first consulted Shan An about the Sanhe Tu (a type of soil).

The practice of using three-in-one soil as early as the Han Dynasty, and by the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it was already being used on a large scale in military and burial purposes.

During the Ming Dynasty, the process of using mortar and clay reached its peak, and this technology was used in the foundation of the imperial city and the city of Yingtianfu.

The late Ming Dynasty work *Tiangong Kaiwu* contains even more detailed records.

Seeing that the eldest grandson of the emperor was interested in this, Shan An spoke frankly and without reservation.

"To be honest, Your Highness, the materials we use for repairing dikes and building city walls are mostly rammed earth, a mixture of lime, clay, and..."

The sand mix is ​​good, but its strength and waterproofing are still lacking.