My eunuch godfather

Chapter 69 Jinchuang Medicine

The Donglin Party initially consisted of a group of officials and intellectuals who were not in power, led by Gu Xiancheng and Gao Panlong.

In the 32nd year of the Wanli reign, he rebuilt the Donglin Academy of the Northern Song Dynasty, where he lectured and taught, thus forming the Donglin School.

This school of thought advocates practical learning, emphasizing "applying knowledge to practical use" and "connecting with the daily lives of ordinary people," while opposing the empty talk of the later branches of the School of Mind.

Furthermore, it collaborates with several surrounding academies to form a lecture network, rapidly expanding its influence.

By around the 39th year of the Wanli reign, a group of officials had emerged in the court, led by Ding Yuanjian, Yu Yuli, and Wu Zhengzhi.

They were labeled as members of the Donglin Party because they either agreed with the doctrines of the Donglin School or were associated with the Donglin Academy's lecture network.

The "Li Sancai Cabinet Case" that occurred during this period is regarded as the first time that the Donglin Party has stepped into the center of the political stage.

In reality, there were no well-organized political parties in our time that would become like those of later generations.

For example, the Qi Party, Chu Party, and Zhejiang Party in the court were essentially bound by ties such as being from the same hometown, studying at the same university, being teachers and students, or being related by marriage.

These are the factions that form around one or more powerful cabinet ministers or ministers.

Many officials are not actually members of a particular party; they are simply labeled as such because they are relatively close to a certain political faction.

Although the Donglin Party had some academic viewpoints that were more "advanced" than other political parties of the time, it was actually quite loosely organized.

Moreover, the Donglin Party lacked powerful cabinet ministers or ministers to serve as the core of the party.

Although Gu Xiancheng still had some influence, he had been out of office for many years.

Now that Gu Xiancheng is dead, the Donglin Party, though still expanding rapidly, is a mixed bag, with both good and bad elements mixed in, and has become even more disorganized.

It wasn't until after the Wanli Emperor's death, when Crown Prince Zhu Changluo ascended the throne, that a group of officials bearing the Donglin Party label were promoted.

During the Taichang and early Tianqi periods, a so-called "full of upright officials" formed, and the Donglin Party became one of the largest factions in the late Ming Dynasty.

Before leaving the capital, Zhang Kun had just been contacted by Han Kuang, Zhu Changluo's tutor in the Eastern Palace, under the guise of the Guangwen Daily.

Now that Li Changgeng has suddenly brought up Zou Yuanbiao of the Donglin Party again, Zhang Kun must be extremely cautious.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Kun politely declined Li Changgeng's offer:

"Thank you for your kind offer, but opening the Jin Yun shop is, after all, official business."

I have heard that Mr. Zou does not hold any official position; it would be best not to involve him in this matter.

Li Changgeng nodded, showing no dissatisfaction, and pointed to the project proposal, saying to Zhang Kun:

"Of the proposals you've listed, I believe this one is the most feasible..."

Using the relief funds to open a shop, Zhang Kun transported grain from the south to Shandong in exchange for Li Changgeng clearing land and organizing disaster victims to grow danbagu (a type of wild rice).

Shandong has suffered from disasters in recent years, so it can't consume much raw rice, but it can take this opportunity to promote its cultivation.

Zhang Kun would have the Jin Yun ship sell the cultivated tampoo at a low price to the trading companies controlled by Lu Shou.

Then, the businesses controlled by Lu were allowed to resell raw materials to other businesses, thus transferring profits.

This way, Lu Shou can see the returns as soon as possible, and there will be no need for repeated urging and pressure.

"Please rest assured, Governor, I will transport at least 5,000 shi of grain from the south to Shandong before the spring planting season."

Zhang Kun respectfully said to Li Changgeng, "I request that the Grand Commandant order men to prepare the appropriate fields for planting danbazi!"

"Very well, I will draft a document and affix my seal to it for you."

Li Changgeng nodded and sighed to Zhang Kun, "Nowadays, there are many good fields lying fallow throughout Shandong..."

After meeting Li Changgeng, Zhang Kun returned to his tent and visited Xu Xin, who was lying in a sickbed.

"Master Kun,"

Xu Xin struggled to sit up, his face filled with shame, and said weakly to Zhang Kun, "It is this humble servant who has dragged you down..."

"Don't say that!"

Zhang Kun immediately interrupted Xu Xin, helped him lie down properly, and said in a deep voice:

"I fought a very bad battle and have regretted many things, but I have absolutely no regrets about leading troops to rescue you!"

You've been with me the longest; if I don't even rescue you, who else will be loyal to me in the future?

"Master Kun, I'm not the only one following you!"

Xu Xin's eyes were filled with gratitude as he advised Zhang Kun:

"So many men, young and old, in our river engineering camp depend on you for their livelihood and future!"

What would they do if something happened to you?

I urge you never to take such risks again, or even if I survive, I will be so ashamed that I will commit suicide!

Zhang Kun nodded, said nothing, and got up to leave the tent.

To Zhang Kun's surprise, Zhang Jingzhen was waiting for him not far away.

"Commander Zhang,"

Zhang Jingzhen maintained her usual cold expression, but her tone was very gentle as she asked Zhang Kun:

"How is your injury? My daughter has some family-inherited secret recipes for wound medicine, and she has already bought the ingredients and prepared them."

Although Zhang Kun's views on contemporary medicine had improved somewhat, he still didn't quite believe in it, especially medicine, preferring to rely on his body to tough it out.

But since the other party meant well, I smiled and said:

"I have some knowledge of medicine; may I hear the prescription?"

Zhang Jingzhen sensed Zhang Kun's disbelief and frowned slightly, but still recited the prescription:

"The principal ingredient is Panax notoginseng (3 liang), the assistant ingredients are Lithospermum erythrorhizon (2 liang), Rheum palmatum (1.5 liang), and the adjuvant ingredient is Borneol (0.5 fen)..."

Zhang Kun recalled the first aid course he had taken before his transmigration, in which several medicinal herbs were mentioned by the experts invited by the teacher.

It is said that it has passed the tests of traditional medicine and clinical trials, and is indeed effective, so it can be applied to modern medicine.

Could it be that, like Chen Shigong's "Surgical Orthodox Manual," it is a genuine work summarized from practice and experience?

"My family's secret recipe was discovered through countless trials and tribulations!"

Seeing that Zhang Kun hesitated to agree, Zhang Jingzhen's tone was slightly dissatisfied, "Does Commander Zhang think my daughter would harm you!?"

"No, no, no, I had absolutely no such intention! I was merely exploring the medical principles behind it."

Zhang Kun hurriedly said to Zhang Jingzhen, a bitter smile on his face, "It's not that I'm worried you'll harm me, it's that I'm worried this era will harm me."

Even in "Surgeon's Justice," there are still a bunch of strange and unusual prescriptions.

Even though Zhang Kun knew very little about modern medicine, he could tell that these prescriptions were very unreliable.

"In that case, may I...may my daughter apply the medicine for you herself?"

Zhang Jingzhen hesitated for a moment, but still said softly to Zhang Kun:

"My daughter is a married woman, and you were injured while saving Zhiyuan, so there's no need to stand on ceremony."

"This... could you please give me the prepared wound medicine?"

Zhang Kun had no idea what this young widow Zhang Jingzhen was up to, so he chuckled and said, "I'll have someone else apply the medicine for me."

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Jingzhen gritted her teeth, steeled her resolve, and told Zhang Kun the truth:

"Just now, Zhiyuan told me that the Duke wants to marry me to you..."

After Zhang Jingzhen returned to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion from the Earl of Xiangcheng's mansion, she received a lot of care from Zhang Zhiyuan and became very close to this cousin.

This is why Zhang Jingzhen was willing to personally lead her household servants to Wang Sheren's shop to rescue Zhang Zhiyuan.

Zhang Zhiyuan was also very grateful for his cousin's help and revealed the true purpose of his trip south.

Zhang Jingzhen understands that she can still live relatively freely now thanks to the protection of her uncle, Duke Zhang Weixian of Yingguo.

In the case of an ordinary wealthy family, they would have been trapped in the Xiangcheng Earl's mansion for life, living a life of widowhood for that short-lived man.

Now that Zhang Weixian has made this arrangement, Zhang Jingzhen has no way to resist.

After listening to Zhang Jingzhen's words, Zhang Kun stood there with a dry laugh, unsure of what to say.

Good heavens, they just dealt with the Donglin Party, and now the British Duke's Mansion has taken a liking to them.