There were still few disturbances towards government offices and the residence of Ming elites, but this time Zhu Su, Mu Ying, and all officials had agreed to ignore them. They pretended to be blind and deaf to those all disturbances, and tried to focus only on their plans.
Yet Yunnan people were still afraid of Xie Wang's threats. Those who came to ask for help were not as many as Zhu Su predicted. Still, there were a number of people coming to ask for help, maybe because their work was based on the principle of social service, to be specific, they received no payment when healing patients.
Nevertheless, the Team of Wellbeing was busier than usual. Because their work was not only centered on diagnosing the disease, but they also must find a new way to treat the disease and had to look for that way by themselves. Not from ancient books, instead, it must be from research they did themselves. But, even though many things had to be done, Zhu Su appeared so happy undertaking all of these. He was keen when he climbed Mount Laojun and researched medicinal plants there, and although he always returned home with his whole body got dirty, muddy, and messy, but in contrast, his face was beaming with cheerfulness. As if he did not understand fatigue or bored. Always at the next morning, he would continue to climb Mount Laojun enthusiastically.
"According to my observation, the patients we treat here are most susceptible to Heat Syndrome * ." While taking a patient's pulse, Li Heng said to Zhu Su.
"Is it because Yunnan's climate is warmer than ours?" Zhu Su asked.
"Certainly. In this region, Yunnan temperature is different from us * , their physiology, as well as the kinds of diseases which are vulnerable to attack them, are also dissimilar."
"That's why the formula you give is different from usual?"
Li Heng stared closely at the patient before him, his brows furrowed. "We have to prescribe the kind of medicine which are easy to find and also economical in order not to burden them. This is our focus now - and it becomes a differentiator with the principles from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, as well as with other books of medicine."
Then, Li Heng wrote down a formula consisting of several medicinal herbs and their doses, then gave to Hu Nayin who straightly concocted the medicine.
"Do you know, Your Highness? This is an original formula prescribed by myself. It calls Ting Li Qing Fei Tang," Li Heng said proudly.
"Wow!" Zhu Su uttered in admiration. "This is indeed what I've been waiting for! Treatment based on our own experiences and observations." He was then observing the composition of that new invented concoction. "But, why do you add Qinqiao (large leaf gentian root)? Isn't Qinqiao for Dampness Syndrome * ?"
"Aside from Heat, the residents in Yunnan are also susceptible to Dampness. The weather here is not only hot, but also humid, more humid than ours, especially those areas which are close to the forests."
"Oh, that's why there are lots of plants in Yunnan that I've never seen before. Most plants are fond of high humidity."
"Besides being affected badly by economic problems, the knowledge of Yunnan people is still below average. That's true, due to the oppression in the Yuan Dynasty, so many areas find it difficult to develop, but still, the situation in Yunnan is far worse than ours. They don't know that they are surrounded by plenty of valuable treasures, they think that the treasures are all rubbish and thus don't make use of them. That's the point what makes their illnesses can't be treated well. If we only heal them, one day the epidemic will recur again and they will need our help, it thus causes a vicious circle. We must provide them with education. Education is far more important than just healing the disease. Education makes them self-reliant - at least they can make prevention before getting sick."
"So many tasks we have to do." Zhu Su thought. "We might not be able to solve them all by merely five of us. We need to add up our team members."
"I will call my colleagues. They must be interested to give help carrying out this noble duty."
"But you should look for people who are truly dedicated, not those who are just yearning for wealth or power. I can't offer them wealth and power at this time..."
"But you are giving the greater thing, my Lord," Li Heng said earnestly. "You are giving them the opportunity to realize the meaning of their lives as human beings - to help others."
Li Heng promptly called his colleagues, and the result was, he got no response. Since Zhu Su asked them to do social service and he did not give them the lure of wealth or power, nobody wanted to give up their permanent careers as physicians in big cities only for social work in a small and isolated area.
"Aah... Perhaps I call the wrong people since all of them are royal physicians? They are already comfortable by taking care of noblemen, their life is filled with wealth and luxury, so they are afraid to take risk of going to this remote area filled with many dangerous diseases." Li Heng sighed.
"But you are a royal physician, Physician Li?"
Li Heng laughed. "To be honest, my Lord. Maybe, if you don't invite me to Yunnan and do social service here, I will be the same as them. We have enjoyed living in the city, food, clothing and all facilities are available there, and even, for royal physicians, our lives are guaranteed up to seven descendants! It's you who are great, my Lord. You are a prince, yet you are willing to come to a remote place and help the lower class people. You really remind me of Buddha Gautama who gave up his life as a prince to help human beings who have lost in the sorrows of the world!"
Zhu Su had his face blushed in embarrassment. "Don't flatter me! I can't be compared to Lord Buddha for sure! If I remain in Kaifeng and live my comfortable life as a prince, I won't think about this idea even in the slightest! This is the hardships of life which makes me step this way."
"... The misfortune you are enduring is what now opening your Great Destiny..."
Zhu Su was startled. Apparently, he must not blame fate offhand. Before, he was very furious at his father who had exiled him to Yunnan just because of unreasonable reason. Now if he thought more deeply, maybe it was because of his father then he could get a chance to do this noble duty.
Heaven never cuts off human pathways.
Whoever faces with so many obstacles that what he can see is only frustration and despair - Heaven will always give him a way out to pass the obstacles.
He should be sure that the ancient proverb would be applied in his case.
"Alright then." Zhu Su finally made up his decision. "We shouldn't rely on physicians from big cities any longer. Instead, we have to find physicians originated from the Yunnan natives."
"But, as we all know, the smartest physician we can recruit here is only Hu Nayin..."
"I will loosen the registration requirements: Anyone who is very interested in medicine, and has passion and dedication to devote himself to help people, even though they have no medical background, men, women, elders, youngsters, foreigners, anyone else... we will recruit them."
"But, Your Highness, the duty of the new team is to educate Yunnan people. We will become teachers. How can we teach people if our own team is ill-educated?!"
"First of all, it's them whom we educate. Our activity is still the same as usual, examining patients, collecting and concocting medicines, and taking notes, but on the other hand, we tell them to observe the way how we work and to give us some help. After they become competent, then new teachers are available to educate the public."
"But... it will take the long process..."
"Fine! It's my final decision!" Realizing this debate would be endless, Zhu Su quickly stopped Physician Li. "Alright! This recruitment will start tomorrow. Let's see, will there be still a few people who come here? Or maybe significant differences will occur?"
...
* Heat Syndrome = in Chinese Medicine, Heat Syndrome is excitatory conditions caused by an invasion of exogenous heat, or disharmony of Yin Yang inside the body.
* Dampness Syndrome = Briefly explaining, Dampness Syndrome describes a condition of viscosity and stagnation. Dampness is Yin pathogen that impairs Yang.
* Yunnan is a unique region. Not only warm and hot, there are also regions that is chill and cold.