That day, the sun was shining brightly. The wind blew gently, it gave a soothing chill to everyone. The sky was bright blue, very few clouds were hanging above today. What a beautiful day. The sky seemed to know that something so beautiful was going to happen today, so that she could be so beautiful and make herself perfect. However, something that was going to take place was not only beautiful, it was also very meaningful, because it was filled with goodness for the mankind.
Today, Zhu Su publicized his research results to the people.
This moment, Zhu Su stood on the podium in the city center, together with all members of Team of Wellbeing, Zhou Fan Wang Guo officials and guarded by San Hu Wei (Wu Qi had been reappointed as Chief Commander of San Hu Wei while Yan San returned to his original position). The entire Kaifeng people were present there, and even the people from outside Kaifeng also became audiences. Indeed, the invitation to the city center had been spread massively, it even spread throughout Ming. Such a rare sight that a Fan Wang was willing to approach his people directly like this. Even the information they got was that the Fan Wang would present something very valuable to them. Thereby, they all watched with great interest at Zhu Su who began his speech.
"Ming people! Now I, Zhou Wang, announce that the rebellion in Kaifeng has been extinguished, so you can enjoy a peaceful life again!" That was how Zhu Su opened his speech.
Everyone replied with enthusiasm and joy. "Long live the Great Ming, forever and ever!"
"And besides, I also want to announce that, I have succeeded in fulfilling my promise to you - to keep your needs secure, to avoid serious illness due to food poisoning, and so that you can live a healthy and happy life again!"
Surprised, their eyes widened when Zhu Su raised a book up high.
"This is a small and thin book, but very useful. Inside it, hundreds of edible plants are recorded in detail. I record every plant with its complete feature and description, as well as different names in a different region, in order to help you make distinct recognition when you go out of Kaifeng, so you can distinguish it from other plants and avoid consuming it wrongly. The reason why people can die of food poisoning, because of their ignorance of eating food. There are also pictures that have been painted so similar to the original, so if you are still confused about the explanation of this book, you can look at the pictures.
"Then, I also record the way how to process the plants to make them safe to be consumed. If in your area you only have poisonous food to eat, don't worry, you can eat it safely because I have added the processing method. I have tested these processing methods so that it is all safe to use. Besides, the use of plants as medicine is also recorded, if you fall sick or if your family or friends fall sick, then you can mix up the right medicine for them based on this book.
"The plants in this book are completely recorded, I even have recorded those that were not written in ancient books. I also make the revisions to the existing plants, since many of them have been wrongly recorded, or the conditions were no longer suitable for our times. Oh, by the way, if you can't recognize any characters, don't worry, the writing in this book is very easy, even the foreigners whose mother tongue is not Chinese will have no trouble in understanding it, moreover you! I am sure you will be able to understand it!
"I also hope, there will be no counterfeit drug traders who take advantage of people's misery by raising medicine prices so high it becomes unaffordable. I have received reports that several traders blackmail the sick by selling medicine at a very expensive price. Yes, all of us need money, and the physicians or drug sellers will have trouble if their objects or services are to be free of charge, but it is really disgraceful if we instead take profits as much as possible beyond reasonable limits. Now, I want to prevent that! In this book, you will know that, actually useful medicinal plants are very cheap, and they are also abundant around us!
"So! I hope that the whole Kaifeng... no, the whole Ming, will benefit greatly from this book. What I am sharing to you, is knowledge. As Laozi said, "Do not give the fish, but instead give the hooks." Now I am distributing the hooks for you. This knowledge is of unlimited use. You can also pass it on to your children and grandchildren. I believe this book will help more people to avoid death. Strong and vigorous people are the foundation of a strong nation. And finally, I hope, the Great Ming will be glorious and prosperous forever and ever."
The San Hu Wei soldiers were pulling some large carts full of books and handed them out to the public, who accepted them with great excitement.
"Jiuhuang Bencao..." An old man read the book's title slowly.
Zhu Su nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. Jiuhuang Bencao - Materia Medica for the Relief of Famine! Even though Ming is currently prosperous, we must admit that more of our people are living in distress. The bad effects of war at the end of the Yuan era are still affecting us. Especially in Kaifeng, the floods have occurred so many times. Natural disasters and wars always go hand in hand with terrible diseases. Disease always appears in the areas where the welfare of life is bad. Rubbing salt into the wound. But that does not mean we have reached a dead-end. Ways always exist everywhere! And, the bigger the misery is, the greater the power we will get! This all power, thus gives birth to this book! The mini but useful book, which will free all of you from all calamities, which will help you to live happy and prosperous life!"