Chapter 264

Chapter 264

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 8: Discussing Wine in Chang’an, Autumn Changes Chapter 264: Work Selection

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Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 264: Work Selection

As early as the Guangxi era, when Qiao Yan wanted to formally invite Hua Tuo to Leping, she had considered inviting Zhang Zhongjing.

Perhaps this situation should be traced back even earlier, to when she decided to plant yams in Leping and accumulate her first fortune.

Zhang Zhongjing’s “Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases” had become fragmented by the Song Dynasty, with the miscellaneous diseases section compiled into the “Synopsis of the Golden Chamber,” which included records of yam pills.

Associating yams with him is not difficult.

Compared to Hua Tuo’s breakthroughs in surgery, Zhang Zhongjing excelled in the systematic construction of traditional Chinese medicine from theory to practice. The great plague of the late Han Dynasty, which he documented as cold damage, formed the main direction of his medical prescriptions, which was also of practical significance to Qiao Yan.

Although it was not yet the time when Zhang Zhongjing began writing the “Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases” in the tenth year of Jian’an, the various disasters and diseases during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, which swept through Nanyang County, were still numerous. Zhang Zhongjing had been learning medicine from local doctors since he was ten and had now been practicing for thirty years—enough to make him a qualified physician.

For the impending locust plague and great epidemic, Qiao Yan was willing to sacrifice some profits to have legumes planted between crops in various regions and to firmly control the alcohol industry in her hands. How could she miss out on a medical sage like Zhang Zhongjing?

If Qiao Yan had not supported Liu Yu’s succession in Chang’an and had not expanded from Bingzhou to border Jing Province, it would have been difficult for her to invite Zhang Zhongjing.

The scholarly status of the Nanyang Zhang family and Zhang Zhongjing’s father’s official career made it a foregone conclusion for Jing Province to select him during the recommendation for filial piety and integrity. Thus, he had already been an official in Jing Province for over a decade.

Qiao Yan, based in Bingzhou and Liangzhou, had no authority to transfer him, at most inviting the reclusive Hua Tuo.

But now, the conditions and necessity to invite him were met!

Hearing Wei Ji’s affirmative response, Qiao Yan signaled to have the young man from the Nanyang Zhang family brought before her.

Qiao Yan observed his somewhat reserved demeanor and laughed, “This is no longer a wine discussion meeting, and we are in the outskirts of Chang’an, not the city itself. Your lingering here can be explained as wanting to enjoy the sunset scenery of Chang’an’s countryside and sobering up. Could I possibly arrest you for some spying charge?”

The young man’s embarrassed expression eased slightly, “It was not intentional, just…”

Qiao Yan said, “Speak your mind. I noticed your unusual behavior upon hearing that high-proof alcohol could prevent disasters and diseases, indicating you have something to say. Hesitating and avoiding the issue only delays important matters; it’s better to speak plainly.”

Encouraged by her interruption, the young man replied, “My lord, I was startled upon hearing that high-proof alcohol could prevent epidemics because during the Guanghe and Zhongping eras, the Nanyang Zhang family’s members dropped from over three hundred to just over two hundred, with thirty percent of our relatives perishing. My uncle, who has studied medicine since childhood and is highly skilled, has shifted his research focus to cold damage in recent years. Hearing that this substance is effective against epidemics but requires limited sales, I thought…”

“To first purchase several portions for my uncle to take back to Nanyang.”

Fearing Qiao Yan might misunderstand his intentions, he quickly explained, “My uncle is indeed skilled in medicine. If you doubt, you can send someone to Nanyang to verify.”

Qiao Yan replied, “That won’t be necessary. I have already confirmed with Wei Ji that if it weren’t for Zhang Zhongjing of the Nanyang Zhang family, I wouldn’t have summoned you for questioning. However, the purchase request is denied.”

The young man’s face showed disappointment, thinking Qiao Yan’s swift implementation of the alcohol restriction order perhaps should not be broken, especially since he was from Jing Province, not the capital region.

But then he heard Qiao Yan say, “Years ago, He Yong praised Xun Yu as having the talent to assist a king. Now, Xun Yu serves as a palace attendant, his talents evident, truly possessing the ability to assist a king. I heard He Yong also once commented on Zhang Zhongjing, saying he—’thinks deeply but lacks the aura of an official, likely to become a great physician.’ Is this true?”

He Yong’s comment suggested that although Zhang Zhongjing was exceptionally talented, he lacked the demeanor for officialdom and was better suited to become a renowned physician.

From a modern perspective, this comment is quite insightful. But in a society where officials were esteemed and physicians were undervalued, this was not a comment to be widely publicized.

Perhaps only someone like Zhang Zhongjing would see this as affirmation to continue specializing in medicine, diligently studying ancient teachings and broadly adopting various strengths.

His nephew, momentarily unsure of Qiao Yan’s stance on this matter, stammered, “That is indeed the case.”

Qiao Yan clapped her hands and laughed, “Although He Yong is in Ye City, I trust his judgment in evaluating scholars. Since he said Zhang Zhongjing would become a great physician, why not have him come to Chang’an to decide for himself whether to be an official or a physician.”

“I have invited physicians from Bingzhou to teach, compile books, and distill alcohol, all to reduce the suffering of the people during epidemics. In this matter, the effectiveness of officials may not surpass that of physicians. If people can fulfill their roles, that is excellent; there is no need to force it.”

“Due to recent wars and epidemics, the court intends to add medical official positions. If Zhang Zhongjing truly has such ability, why not come and try?”

The young man seemed surprised by Qiao Yan’s words, momentarily stunned.

But upon receiving the latest revised edition of the “Emergency Medical Book,” a sample of alcohol, and a handwritten invitation letter from Qiao Yan, and being escorted to a carriage back to Nanyang, he finally realized that what he heard was true.

The Grand Marshal’s invitation to his uncle Zhang Zhongjing was indeed sincere, showing no disregard for physicians.

Thinking of his uncle’s clinic visits while serving as an official, and Qiao Yan’s mention of the court’s intention to add medical official positions, perhaps his uncle could indeed find a suitable position here without wasting his earlier official experience?

He must quickly bring this good news back to Nanyang!

Qiao Yan watched him leave, confident that today’s wine discussion had achieved her goals, even yielding an unexpected gain.

Zhang Zhongjing… Not having him under her command made Qiao Yan feel uneasy even when making dumplings.

After all, the tradition of eating dumplings during the winter solstice originated from Zhang Zhongjing.

His “Cold Expelling Jiao’er Soup,” made by wrapping mutton and cold-expelling herbs in dough and boiling them, distributed to the people, was the precursor to dumplings.

This would provide a legitimate reason to promote it.

With soy sauce available, not having dumplings would be unthinkable, right?

Qiao Yan, thinking this, withdrew her gaze and turned to see Lu Zhi looking at her with a rather subtle expression, “Lord Lu?”

Lu Zhi pondered for a moment before asking, “Yan Shu, may I ask a question? When exactly did you develop soy sauce?”

“Why do you ask, Lord Lu?”

Lu Zhi replied, “A few years ago, in our correspondence, you mentioned Dongpo pork, briefly describing its preparation using sauce and rock sugar to create a caramel color. But I always felt the taste wasn’t as delicious as you described. Thinking the sauce flavor was inferior to fermented black bean sauce, I substituted it. Although still tasty, it felt lacking. Today, tasting chicken wings cooked with soy sauce, I realized what was missing.”

He suspiciously asked, “Did you develop this several years ago?”

According to Qiao Yan and the attendees, the breakthrough in soy sauce and traditional sauces was the full-material koji-making method, which reduced salt input and eliminated the need for meat to balance flavors.

In other words, this wasn’t something easily achieved without the right conditions and ideas.

Qiao Yan chuckled awkwardly, “About five or six years ago.”

Year, let Chu Yan take some yams to the Central Plains to sell, and incidentally brought back some refugees, building a fortress in the Leping mountains, the results formed are actually quite a lot.

But letting Lu Zhi use fermented bean juice instead of soy sauce for so many years, that’s really… explainable!

She then said, “Not bringing it out early was also a temporary measure, after all, the salt needed for soy sauce is considerable, and the emergence of soy sauce would impact the sales of salt, which is precisely a state monopoly. If proposed rashly under the conditions at that time, to compete with the salt revenues of various states with the resources of one state, it would undoubtedly be asking for trouble.”

Lu Zhi seemed thoughtful, and then heard Qiao Yan say, “The situation now is quite different, the Xigong Salt Pond, Yuncheng Salt Lake, and Jilantai Salt Pond supply the salt needs of Liangzhou, Sili, and Bingzhou respectively, and all are guarded by our forces. If we regulate the price of salt used for producing soy sauce for noble families and the salt sold externally, it would be enough for salt and soy sauce to each occupy a certain market share, balancing the national treasury’s revenue. As for how to operate specifically, I will have someone set a standard.”

Speaking of this, Qiao Yan thought of something else.

Besides Zhang Zhongjing, the medical sage in Jing Province, there seems to be another person in Jing Province.

Besides Zhuge Liang, who managed financial and economic issues for Shu Han, there was also Liu Ba.

Although he only joined Liu Bei after he entered Yizhou, he was actually from Lingling in Jing Province.

He would enter Yizhou from Jing Province due to the historical changes caused by the struggle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei over Jing Province.

It seems that he should still be in Jing Province now.

If Zhang Zhongjing might come to Chang’an to respond to the imperial court’s emphasis on medical studies, then could Liu Ba be activated for regulating salt and soy sauce prices?

Even if he doesn’t have official experience yet, he should be brought under our wing to learn and gain experience in managing finances.

Liu Biao even sent his eldest son to Chang’an to serve as an official and as a hostage, so he certainly wouldn’t begrudge a Liu Ba.

Her thoughts were interrupted, and Lu Zhi, who was talking with her, noticed something and asked, “Is there still a difficult part?”

Lu Zhi saw clearly that Qiao Yan wanted to reclaim the wine industry from all sides, not for her own benefit, but to prepare for locust plagues, droughts, and epidemics. The regulation of the Wei River and the construction of water channels after the pacification of Guanzhong were also to combat natural disasters.

Having such a sense of crisis is not strange.

Things that human effort can reach, after they have formed such a force, seem really not unsolvable.

The more Lu Zhi understood her strength, the more he felt that Yuan Shao of Ji Province, Gongsun Zan of Youzhou, and other forces affecting their recovery of the world would eventually be solved one by one.

Only natural disasters are the most unpredictable.

“It’s not difficult,” Qiao Yan replied, “I just feel that we still lack some useful hands. As you have seen, in today’s bargaining, some people did not jump out to oppose, but their views are shallow and short-sighted, prioritizing interests without needing to say more.”

She smiled, “Forget it, let’s not talk about this, after all, these people are not of the same path, why should I feel unhappy because of them. I heard that after you brought your youngest son from Zhuo County to Chang’an, the child has been following Changwen around recently, learning some legal knowledge?”

When Lu Zhi went to Chang’an alone, considering he was in Dong Zhuo’s territory and might be in danger, he did not bring his family, only letting his youngest son live with his two older brothers in Zhuo County.

When he brought his youngest son to Chang’an, he originally thought to cultivate father-son feelings for two months, then send him to study at Leping Academy. But because he and Chen Ji and Chen Qun became neighbors in Chang’an, Lu Yu quickly teamed up with Chen Qun, following him around asking questions, almost calling him teacher directly.

Chen Qun was also happy to teach this smart child, and it also gave him and Xun Yu another topic to chat about, discussing how to guide students.

In short, Chen Qun and Lu Yu hit it off.

Lu Yu was happy, not only getting an excellent teacher for free, but also spending more time with his father, but Lu Zhi was a bit depressed.

Lu Zhi and Chen Ji were only six or seven years apart in age, but his son had to call the other’s son teacher, what kind of thing is that.

But seeing that Lu Yu seemed to have found a direction for development in Chang’an, Lu Zhi was happy to see it.

Now hearing Qiao Yan say that she lacks people, and mentioning Lu Yu, he replied, “It’s good for him to follow Changwen and learn more. In a few years, when the younger generation in Leping Academy also graduate, we won’t be so short of people.”

Perhaps because he thought of his outstanding youngest son, who would also be one of them at that time, Lu Zhi didn’t feel the sadness of a new generation replacing the old.

Besides, if he were to have such feelings, he could have expressed them when Qiao Yan succeeded as Grand Marshal, surpassing the Three Excellencies, why wait until now.

Qiao Yan replied, “Yes, I hope it can be faster.”

If it weren’t for not being able to force growth, she would have wanted to pack some people into positions.

But now… she still had to rely on the Chang’an city submission activity to distract herself.

After she informed Liu Yu about the finalization of replacing the wine industry with soy sauce, it was time for the previously decided work evaluation.

The poems, essays, and paintings made for the Chang’an atmosphere were then sent to the Guigong Zichen Hall.

When arranged, at first glance, the place of the court meeting looked a bit like a painting and calligraphy shop.

When Qiao Yan entered the hall, she saw that the essays and paintings were each placed on two sides, allowing the court officials responsible for the evaluation to walk around and see each work clearly, densely covering the entire room.

Because these literati each regarded the characters they wrote as their other face, even the “paper surface” of the essays was quite beautiful. When these characters were written on mulberry paper with a slight sheen, it was even more pleasing to the eye.

However, being pleasing to the eye and holding an appreciative attitude towards it, even being moved by it, are completely different things.

Compared to those articles piled with rhetoric, except for Wang Can’s “Ode to the Goddess Sending Off the Expedition” which had already passed her hands, the one that most made her willing to stop at this time was still the picture of a soldier and a dog.

Because paper only made breakthroughs in recent years, there are not many professional painters, and pigments are much scarcer than in later generations, which makes the number of paintings in the whole event pitifully small, let alone works of the level of “Along the River During the Qingming Festival”.

Instead, this small corner of depiction actually wins with a small but broad, emotional touch.

Qiao Yan looked towards the anonymous signature at the bottom left, and asked the person in charge of registration next to her, “Who made this work?”

The people of Chang’an thought they would have to wait until the selection results came out, and the winning works were judged again by the public, to know the identity of such anonymous contestants, but for Qiao Yan, it was not so troublesome.

The owners of these works all registered when they received the paper, and also made records when they submitted their works.

She could look it up.

The attendant flipped through the records and replied, “This piece of paper… was taken from Lord Lu’s residence.”

Qiao Yan’s question was not too small, and everyone was also watching her preferences. Hearing this, everyone’s eyes focused on Lu Zhi.

Huangfu Song immediately laughed, “Lord Lu, anonymous participation, and painting such a scene, very childlike.”

But Lu Zhi was stunned when he heard this.

Wait! Although he did talk with Qiao Yan about this scene during the Chang’an Road display that day, this painting was not painted by him!

If he wanted to use new paper, he only needed to inform Qiao Yan, there was no need to make such a move.

Thinking that there were only him and Lu Yu in his residence, the result was self-evident.

This could only be the good deed of that kid Lu Yu!

No wonder…

No wonder there were often dog barks in his yard recently, and when asked, the kid only said it was a stray dog. He must have borrowed that dog home to paint.

Facing the teasing and joking eyes of the court officials, Lu Zhi couldn’t help but hold his forehead.

Lu Yu, what have you been learning from Chen Qun! Always tricking your own father!