Chapter 47: Li Shimin's Prudence

Du Chengfeng had anticipated that Li Shimin would inevitably ask this question; after all, curiosity is human nature. He had already prepared his explanation.

“It is merely to commemorate a great and selfless old man,” Du Chengfeng replied, his gaze drifting toward the distant sky, his tone calm and indifferent.

After speaking, Du Chengfeng placed two complete prescriptions and a booklet detailing the preparation process into Li Shimin’s hands, exhorting, “Your Majesty, I now entrust you with these formulas and their methods. I hope you will employ them wisely to benefit the people of the realm. All necessary dosages, usages, and precautions are written in the booklet.”

Once he had handed over the prescriptions, Du Chengfeng left the Hall of Supreme Harmony alone, leaving only the sight of his retreating figure to the assembled ministers and officials.

Holding these invaluable prescriptions, Li Shimin felt the weight of a thousand burdens. Du Chengfeng had entrusted the formulas to him in full view of all present, hoping he would safeguard them and quickly spread their benefits to all under heaven.

When Du Chengfeng had explained the effects of the two medicines, Li Shimin immediately sensed the greed in the eyes of those aristocratic officials.

Just as Du Chengfeng had predicted, in the eyes of the noble houses, there was neither the court nor the common people—only profit, held above all else. It was precisely because Du Chengfeng foresaw this that he set four strict conditions—a mark of profound foresight.

“Alas, Brother Chengfeng’s mind and spirit grow ever deeper,” Chu Suiliang sighed with feeling as Du Chengfeng’s figure disappeared into the distance.

“Oh? Brother Chu seems to know this remarkable young man rather well,” Fang Xuanling said with a smile, stroking his beard as he fixed his gaze on Chu Suiliang.

“Doesn’t Prime Minister Fang know?” Chu Suiliang looked at Fang Xuanling with a hint of disbelief.

Fang Xuanling regarded Chu Suiliang with confusion, responding irritably, “Know what? Should I know?”

“Prime Minister, His Majesty called him Du Chengfeng—doesn’t that ring a bell? Haven’t you ever visited Wangjiang Pavilion?” Chu Suiliang was rather exasperated. Du Chengfeng’s name had echoed throughout Chang’an—was the Prime Minister deaf to all that goes on outside his window?

Noticing Fang Xuanling’s embarrassment, Yu Shinan hurried over to remind him, “Brother Fang, this Du Chengfeng is the very same whose calligraphy has recently taken the capital by storm, acclaimed as the greatest in all Great Tang. He is also the foremost talent at the Chang’an Poetry Gathering, and has instructed me, Brother Ouyang, and Lord Chu in our studies. Yet I never imagined his magnanimity and virtue would surpass even his calligraphy! I can only sigh at my own inferiority, truly I am not his equal.”

With Yu Shinan’s prompt, Fang Xuanling finally remembered, and the shock in his heart only deepened.

“This youth is certain to become a dragon among men in days to come,” Fang Xuanling mused thoughtfully.

At this moment, Li Shimin had resumed his seat upon the imperial throne. The regular court session followed, but with his mind preoccupied by the two prescriptions, Li Shimin paid little attention to the trivial affairs discussed.

He hurriedly declared the session ended and made straight for the Imperial Medical Bureau. The director of the bureau was a trusted confidant, so Li Shimin immediately summoned Ji Chang, the director, to a secret chamber.

“Your servant Ji Chang greets Your Majesty,” Ji Chang said, bowing his head in the chamber.

“No need for formalities. I have summoned you for a matter of utmost secrecy,” Li Shimin said gravely.

“Please speak, Your Majesty,” Ji Chang replied.

Li Shimin drew out the two prescriptions and the booklet from his robe, handing them to Ji Chang with solemn care. “Examine these formulas. If I entrust their production to your bureau, how long will it take to prepare them?”

Ji Chang accepted the formulas with the utmost caution, reading through each line with painstaking attention, scrutinizing and pondering as he went.

As he studied, Ji Chang’s expression shifted through a myriad of emotions—at times his brow was furrowed in concentration, at others his face lit with delight, lapsing into contemplation and then sudden enlightenment.

Only after a long while did Ji Chang set down the prescriptions, asking cautiously, “Your Majesty, may I ask where these formulas came from?”

“Why? Is there a problem with them?” Li Shimin raised his brows. That couldn’t be; he had witnessed their effects with the entire court.

“No. There is no problem. These formulas are of priceless value,” Ji Chang said in delight. “If I may speak frankly, they must have been refined through countless trials. The proportions of every ingredient are honed to perfection. Judging by their efficacy, they fill a gap in our current medical knowledge. For Your Majesty to possess such prescriptions is a great fortune indeed!”

“Is that so?” Li Shimin said with a broad smile, finally setting aside his worry.

“Your Majesty, I stake my honor on it. Furthermore, the production process is not complicated; the benefactor who presented these medicines has described every step in great detail,” Ji Chang replied.

“Excellent.” Li Shimin exhaled, then his expression hardened. “Ji Chang, you have been my trusted aide for many years, so I entrust you with the manufacture of these two medicines. The benefactor emphasized that these formulas are of the utmost importance and must be kept a tightly guarded secret. They are not to be produced by outsiders—only by the royal household. Do you have any suggestions?”

After some thought, Ji Chang replied, “Your Majesty, if that is the case, I advise we immediately expand the Imperial Medical Bureau’s workshops. These two medicines will prove invaluable not only to the army but also for saving the common people.”

“To ensure secrecy, I suggest dividing the production into several separate workshops. Each will process only certain herbs, and the final compounding will be handled by Your Majesty’s most trusted men. In this way, no single workshop knows the full composition or proportions, minimizing the risk of internal leaks.”

“Also, it would be best for the royal household to cultivate all necessary medicinal herbs. This will not only reduce costs but also prevent unscrupulous individuals from manipulating the price of raw materials. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

After weighing Ji Chang’s proposal, Li Shimin realized it was indeed the most appropriate solution.

“Very well. Do as you propose. As for the cultivation of medicinal herbs, arrange for it either in the royal estates or discreetly find a suitable location. I will issue an edict to facilitate your work. Anyone who dares obstruct you is to be punished without mercy.”

To spread the benefits of these two medicines as quickly as possible, Li Shimin was determined to act decisively.

“Your Majesty, most of the necessary herbs are easily obtained, but the main ingredient in both formulas requires extremely demanding growing conditions—it cannot be cultivated in the Guanzhong region at all. The benefactor specifically noted that only Yunnan and the southern coastal provinces are suitable for its cultivation,” Ji Chang reported, troubled.

“That’s easily handled. I will issue an order for officials in Yunnan and the southern provinces to establish dedicated growing areas, guarded at all times, and when harvest comes, have the border troops escort the ingredient to the capital. For now, purchase what can be found on the open market in the name of the court to meet immediate needs,” Li Shimin decided without hesitation.