Chapter 60: Borrowing the Power of Kings to Cultivate Virtue for a Hundred Generations

“Elder brother, you’re still too young. This sort of thing has happened countless times throughout history—this is called presenting auspicious omens, do you understand?” Zhang Yi patted Zhang Yuchu’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. “You’ve read too many Confucian texts and forgotten that you’re a Daoist. We’re Daoists, understand? Presenting auspicious signs is our specialty… Whether it’s genuine or not doesn’t matter; the key is whether it wins the emperor’s favor! Do you really think the emperor doesn’t know we sometimes play tricks on ghosts? Everyone just turns a blind eye…”

Zhang Yuchu’s fragile worldview was shattered by Zhang Yi’s words, while Zhang Yi’s foul mouth kept going with unwavering confidence. To Zhang Yuchu, this was a crime of deceiving the sovereign—his young heart simply could not get past this hurdle.

“If it benefits the emperor, it’s an omen; if it harms him, then it’s deception. Forget it, you’re still a kid and wouldn’t understand. Just remember, what we’re doing is a great undertaking…”

Zhang Yi grew serious, fixing his gaze on Zhang Yuchu. “Believe me, what we’re doing carries immense significance for the people of China. If we succeed, millions of lives will be saved on this land. Seeking the emperor was my idea—and it was a last resort!”

His earnestness calmed Zhang Yuchu at last, though he still disagreed with Zhang Yi’s claim of necessity: “With a wondrous remedy like this, even without the emperor, you could still achieve everlasting merit. Why try to impress me with grand words?”

At this, Zhang Yi simply laughed. “Brother, have you read my book?”

“Yes,” replied Zhang Yuchu.

“Then tell me, where did the inoculation method originate?”

“Daoist Ge Hong!”

“So, have you ever read ‘Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies’?”

Zhang Yuchu nodded. Ge Hong was a revered Daoist master, the founder of the Lingbao School, and though their family hailed from Dragon-Tiger Mountain, which often rivaled Lingbao, they still collected the classics of their peers. Zhang Yuchu was a book-loving child, far more studious than Zhang Yi. Not only had he read ‘Baopuzi’, but also ‘Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies’.

“Then let me ask you, brother—how does our father compare to that Immortal Ge?”

Zhang Yuchu glanced at Zhang Zhengchang, not daring to answer, but Zhang Zhengchang laughed and said, “I am not his equal!”

“Since even our Dragon-Tiger Mountain cannot match Ge Hong, and Ge Hong failed to spread this method, what makes you think we can succeed where he did not?”

Without waiting for Zhang Yuchu to digest this, Zhang Yi asked again, “How does Prime Minister Wang Dan of the Song Dynasty compare to our Dragon-Tiger Mountain?”

Zhang Yuchu looked awkward, finally lowering his head and conceding, “We are not his equal.”

“Wang Dan received the inoculation method on Mount Emei and saved his descendants, but tell me, who today remembers this method? Unlike you, I haven’t read as many books—have you ever heard of the Song dynasty inoculation method being passed down to today?”

“Never,” Zhang Yuchu replied, beginning to grasp Zhang Yi’s meaning, his expression growing somber.

“In terms of influence, we are beneath Immortal Ge; in terms of power, beneath Wang Dan. Do you truly believe that, without the emperor’s support, Dragon-Tiger Mountain alone can spread this method throughout the land? It’s not that I belittle our sect, but facts are facts. To truly disseminate this method, only the emperor’s attention and initiative will suffice!

As for the present emperor, I can’t read his mind, but after the chaos of the late Yuan, the land is already devastated; after great disasters come great plagues. In times of unrest, population movements spread epidemics, breaking the herd immunity that peace once provided. The plague may not erupt everywhere, but it is sure to sprout across Ming territory. If His Majesty wishes to restore the nation and increase the populace, he will surely be more concerned about epidemics than other emperors. That is why I believe he will value and promote the inoculation method.

To be honest, if it were another era—say, the Yuan—even if our father wielded more power than now, I wouldn’t believe a Mongol emperor could care about this matter…”

These words were the result of Zhang Yi’s careful deliberation. He never believed that once the ancients discovered a treatment or technique, it would spread quickly. In an age where population movement was stagnant and knowledge was controlled by Confucian scholars, promoting any innovation was a mysterious art in itself.

The inoculation method—Ge Hong developed only its rudiments, and no one pursued it. The hermit of Mount Emei imparted it to Wang Dan, but Wang Dan did not spread it further. Even the transition from primitive to mature vaccine techniques took centuries. During the later Ming, mature inoculation was developed, but did it ever truly spread? Only in the Qing Dynasty was the method really promoted on a large scale, and that was thanks to the emperor’s support. As for the cowpox vaccine returning to China, that took several more centuries. Without the emperor’s power, hoping to spread the inoculation method is pure fantasy!

Zhang Yi did not know if Zhu Yuanzhang would value this method, but he might be the only emperor in decades who could truly spread it. With any other ruler, the inoculation method might remain a secret within the palace walls…

“It was petty of me,” Zhang Yuchu admitted, persuaded by Zhang Yi and apologizing crisply. “To borrow the emperor’s authority to achieve merit for generations—no wonder father has been praising you lately. I am not your equal.”

Proud by nature, and still a little resentful of his younger brother after their father’s recent scoldings, Zhang Yuchu now found himself somewhat admiring Zhang Yi after hearing his words. Zhang Yi gave him a playful punch: “Brother, you flatter me…”

Curious, Zhang Yuchu asked, “Little brother, is it true what father said—that you can see immortals in your dreams?”

Zhang Yi glanced at their father. Since the lie had been told, he could only go along with it. He nodded, accepting it.

Zhang Yuchu’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Tell me, what kind of future did you see? I want to hear it…”

Zhang Yi suppressed a laugh. “For example, I saw you turning bad in the future, so I asked father to discipline you in advance!”

Excitement vanished from Zhang Yuchu’s face, replaced by clenched teeth and a surge of new and old grudges. Wasn’t this even more unjust than the trumped-up charges that felled Lord Yue Fei?

“Zhang Yi, I’ll fight you to the death…”

The two brothers began bickering and tussling again. Their father, who once would have stopped them with stern authority, now simply watched on, finding comfort in the scene. Both of his sons were outstanding, and their fraternal bond was strong—what more could a father wish for?

“Master!” Zhang Zhengchang had wanted to discuss more details with Zhang Yi, but Deng Zhongxiu’s voice interrupted the three.

“What is it? Didn’t I say I had matters to discuss with your two junior brothers?”

“Master, I didn’t mean to disturb you. On my way back, I met the family of Master Huang, and they invited our whole family to their residence as guests!”

Master Huang?

Zhang Zhengchang didn’t immediately recall his “close friend”, but his face soon paled. The emperor—he’d sent someone to invite them? He’d only just arrived in the capital, barely warmed a seat, and already the emperor’s summons had come.

Remembering that figure, Zhang Zhengchang couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.