Chapter 758: Chapter 678, Zhongyi Archway_1 Chapter 758: Chapter 678, Zhongyi Archway_1 Because they had hired Ge Xun, Daohua was quite happy on the way back to Taohua Village.
Gu Jian was sowhat speechless, but he still approved of his disciple’s judgnt. He had communicated with Ge Xun these past few days, and the man indeed had so accomplishnts in dicine.
He was very clear on the importance of a good doctor. Since Yeyang had gone to the Northern Frontier, he had been quite worried. With this person sent over, having him look after things, both he and his disciple could be a bit more at ease.
In early March, the group returned to Taohua Village, and upon arrival, Daohua took Ge Xun for a tour of her own pharmacy.
The pharmacy was newly built. As the number of pharmaceutical devices increased, Gu Jian’s old pharmacy beca sowhat cramped, so Daohua constructed a larger pharmacy in the manor.
Looking at all the glass instrunts in the pharmacy he had never even seen before, Ge Xun’s eyes could barely take it all in, “Miss Yan, the dicines you used on before, were they all made with these things?”
Daohua smiled and nodded, “Yeah, don’t be fooled by the variety of instrunts; they’re really not that complicated to use. You’ll know how after watching more. The truly difficult part is experinting to develop the dicinal formulas.”
Because the Sun Family’s fleet was set to go north at the end of March, Daohua wanted Ge Xun to head to the Northern Frontier sooner rather than later. She spoke to him about it so he could prepare. Afterwards, she imrsed herself in the pharmacy, wanting to prepare more dicine to send to Xiao Yeyang and her two brothers.
…
anwhile, in Beijing, within the Imperial Palace.
Since the eighth prince had fled to the Northern Frontier, seizing three border cities in the process—even though Xia Teng’s forces had since reclaid one—there were still two cities in the eighth prince’s hands. With the cities to defend and the alliance with the Tartars, the conflict at the Northern Frontier had reached a stalemate.
During this ti, there were no large-scale battles at the Northern Frontier, but the skirmishes were incessant.
The generals at the border were indecisive, caught between withdrawing or remaining with their tens of thousands of troops.
The Emperor, irate as he looked over the battle report from the border, flung the docunt furiously onto the ground.
The officials called forth to discuss the situation all bowed their heads, not daring to make a sound.
It was clear what the eighth prince aid to do—drag out the ti. The daily consumption of food for hundreds of thousands of troops was an enormous figure. With prolonged ti, the Imperial Court would definitely not be able to sustain it.
The atmosphere in the great hall was oppressive, and in the end, it was the Grand Secretary Yang Chenghua who braced himself to stand forth, “Your Majesty, taxes of grain were collected from the provinces last year, so the soldiers are currently not lacking in food. However, many soldiers have been injured in the continuous battles and the Northern Frontier is in desperate need of dicinal supplies.”
The Emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead. Grain was relatively easy to collect, but dicinal materials were expensive and scarce. Not many cultivated them, and even if he issued an order to gather them, he feared that it wouldn’t yield much.
Furthermore, dicine was much more expensive than grain.
Although the discovery of two gold mines in Ningn Prefecture had filled the treasury sowhat in the last two years, the cost of war had been enormous, leaving not much leftover in the treasury now, and it was impossible to spend it all on dicinal materials.
“Do you have any good ideas?”
Knowing the state of the treasury, Yang Chenghua understood the Emperor’s aning. Looking at his silent colleagues, he sighed internally, knowing he would have to play the villain again, “Your Majesty, in tis of national crisis, it is every man’s duty to help. Your servant believes we can encourage the dicine rchants to donate.”
If this news got out, he feared he would be despised by all the major dicine rchants.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor pondered with downcast eyes. The suggestion was a good one, but the major dicine rchants all had the backing of aristocratic families who were slippery and might not contribute much dicinal material in the end.
Even if it’s a little, it’s still better than nothing.
The Emperor had intended to assign the task to Jiang Zhengqing, the Princely Heir of Duke Cheng’en’s household, since the Jiang Family was at the forefront of aristocratic families. With the Jiang Family stepping up, the other families were likely to show so respect and contribute.
However, when court convened the next day, Jiang Zhengqing, having received the news in advance, had asked for sick leave.
Seeing the empty spot where Jiang Zhengqing should have been, the Emperor’s dissatisfaction with the Jiang Family reached its peak.
Over the years, the Jiang Family had enjoyed the supre honor that ca with being related by marriage to the Emperor, yet they had never fulfilled their corresponding duties. On the contrary, they had frequently opposed him, thwarting him at every turn.
Very well, very well indeed!
In the end, the Emperor had no choice but to assign the task to Wu Jingyi of the Military Commission.
…
Because of Dongli and Caiju, Gu Jian was aware of the news from Beijing.
Dongli hesitated, then looked at Gu Jian, and still couldn’t help but say, “Old Master, the soldiers at the Northern Frontier are in urgent need of dicinal materials, that… that…”
Gu Jian glanced at him and said, “What is that?”
Dongli braced himself and said, “Miss Yan seems to have quite a lot of dicinal materials.” Having said that, he dared not say more.
The old man was very protective of his disciple, and anyone coveting Miss Yan’s possessions was looking for trouble!
Gu Jian snorted but did not say anything. However, after Daohua sent Ge Xun and his nephew off to the ships bound for the Northern Frontier, he still casually ntioned the matter as if it were of no consequence.
As for whether his disciple would donate or not, he had no intention of intervening.
When Daohua found out, she was stunned for a mont, then eagerly looked at Gu Jian: “Master, I’ve heard that donating to the Imperial Court is rewarded with personal recognition by the Emperor himself. Is this true?”
Gu Jian glanced at his disciple and asked oddly, “Is that what you really want, to be personally recognized by the Emperor?”
Daohua nodded: “Of course.” She paused before adding, “As you know, the Yan Family doesn’t have much influence. Being recognized by the Emperor could enhance the prestige of the Yan Family among the people and the officials.”
Gu Jian understood his disciple’s intention. To be honest, even though he had recomnded his disciple to Yeyang, he was worried. It was one thing for the two to have affection for each other, but the disparity in their family status was another matter. If they could narrow the gap between their families, that would be ideal.
Indeed, improving prestige was the fastest shortcut.
“If you do sothing beneficial for the country, you’ll naturally receive recognition,” he said.
Daohua then asked, “Master, how much do you think I should donate? It would be best if it were enough to earn the Yan Family a plaque from the Emperor!” She was afraid that a minor acknowledgnt wouldn’t be enough.
Hearing this, Dongli and Caiju looked over.
A plaque wasn’t just any reward; Miss Yan truly dared to dream big.
Gu Jian silently observed his disciple and after a long while asked, “How much can you donate?”
Daohua did so quick calculations and held up her hand to form the number ‘two’.
Before Gu Jian could respond, Dongli was the first to shake his head and speak, “Two thousand stones are too little; that won’t get a plaque bestowed by the Emperor.”
Daohua shot him a sidelong glance: “Who are you looking down on? Not two thousand stones, but two hundred thousand stones.” She eagerly looked at Gu Jian and added, “Master, is that enough? If it’s not, I can add so grain.”
Gu Jian looked stunned as he gazed at Daohua, took a deep breath, and with a hint of doubt asked, “Do you really have two hundred thousand stones of dicinal materials?”
Daohua nodded, “Of course, there are all sorts of commonly used dicines. Is that enough? If not…”
Gu Jian cut off Daohua’s words, “That’s enough.”
Daohua’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly said, “Then I’ll go inform Yan Shouhou to prepare the dicinal materials right away!”
As Daohua sprinted away, Gu Jian turned to Dongli and Caiju, who were still in a daze, “This ti, I will write to Xiaowu myself.”
Two hundred thousand stones of dicinal materials. Xiaowu must grant the Yan Family a plaque.
…
Using an expedited communication thod, Gu Jian’s letter arrived at the Emperor’s desk within a few days.
When the Emperor saw that the Yan Family had donated two hundred thousand stones of dicinal materials, he stood up with a ‘swoosh’, startling Eunuch An and Yang Chenghua and Wu Jingyi who had co to discuss state affairs.
The Emperor paced excitedly for a while before calming down.
His uncle was indeed his lucky star. Despite Wu Jingyi’s efforts over a long ti, he had only collected a few stones’ worth of dicinal materials, but his uncle had sent him two hundred thousand stones in one go.
As for the Yan Family that donated the materials…
Two hundred thousand stones, especially donated at a ti when the Imperial Court was in dire need—it was a contribution he would have generously rewarded even if his uncle had not ntioned it.
The Emperor sat back on his throne and said to Yang Chenghua and Wu Jingyi, “Magistrate Yan Zhigao of Ningn Prefecture has donated two hundred thousand stones of dicinal materials. Tell , how should I reward him?”
Upon hearing this, Yang Chenghua and Wu Jingyi were initially surprised and then showed faces full of joy.
The Emperor did not wait for the two to answer and took it upon himself to prepare ink and paper, and then wrote the words “Loyal and Righteous”: “The Yan Family donated dicinal materials during a ti of difficulty for the Imperial Court, a testant of their loyalty and good faith. Hence, I specially bestow upon them the Zhongyi Archway.”
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