Chapter 61: Journey to Chang'an (Part 1)

"The so-called way of the great physician is to establish medical halls, accept disciples widely, impart medical skills, collect fine prescriptions from all over the world to compile medical books, and befriend people of exceptional medical expertise to learn from one another and make up for the shortcomings of one's own medical arts. Furthermore, one must emulate Shennong by personally tasting all kinds of herbs to discover more medicinal plants capable of curing diseases. As the number of people studying medicine grows, more medical halls can be opened. Only thus can one truly walk the path of the great physician!" In truth, Luo Ang was merely adapting the framework of modern medicine and applying it here.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ji felt a sudden flash of enlightenment, as if the gates to a brand-new world had been flung open for him. In the past, his thoughts had been confined to healing as many patients as possible, and he had never considered propagating medical science on a broad scale. Now, listening to Luo Ang's words, he realized how profoundly correct they were; only by spreading medical science far and wide could one ultimately save a greater multitude of patients.

With a respectful bow to Luo Ang, Zhang Ji said, "My Lord Marquis possesses supreme wisdom far beyond my reach. What you have just described as the way of the great physician is something I am hearing for the very first time in my life. Truly, a single conversation with you is worth studying books for ten years!"

Luo Ang sighed and continued, "Alas, while everyone knows that medical science is important, few truly value it. To fulfill the path of the great physician is not a task of a single day or two; it may take five years, or perhaps ten, or even twenty. To successfully propagate medicine, we must proceed gradually and steadily. I sincerely hope that Master Zhang will consent to remain in Luoyang, establish a medical hall to impart knowledge, and share my burdens."

"Since the Lord Marquis does not disdain my humble abilities, I shall surely give my utmost to establish the hall and impart the teachings!" Zhang Ji felt that Luo Ang's words struck the very core of the truth. Though everyone acknowledged the importance of medicine, society at large failed to value it. If he were to return to Julu, he would certainly lack the backing of powerful patrons. Luoyang, however, was entirely different, for here he would have the full and unwavering support of Luo Ang.

Seeing that Zhang Ji was willing to stay, Luo Ang breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that after all his rhetoric, he had finally persuaded this stubborn genius.

Without hesitation, Luo Ang immediately appointed Zhang Ji to take charge of opening the medical hall and spreading the teachings, instructing him to draw whatever funds were necessary from Chen Yu. He also dispatched men in all directions to search for renowned physicians and bring them to Luoyang to promote and publicize the city's burgeoning medical doctrine, confident that Luoyang would soon become the center of the medical arts under heaven.

Having settled these matters, Luo Ang headed toward his own residence to meet with Chen Yu, having already crossed paths with him on the way to Xi Zhicai's estate.

"Zhongde, did something happen while I was away?"

Chen Yu cupped his fists in salute and replied, "No major crises, but there have been quite a few minor incidents. First, the Grand Tutor dispatched a man here to serve as the Administrator of Hedong Commandery."

Hearing this, Luo Ang furrowed his brow and asked, "What? Who is it?"

Chen Yu answered, "It is Grand Tutor Dong's younger brother, Dong Min."

Luo Ang rubbed his forehead with a vexed expression and remarked, "This must be another one of Li Ru's lousy ideas."

Chen Yu noted, "Li Ru was undoubtedly the pivotal figure in bringing this about. However, although the Grand Tutor appears boorish, he understands the art of checks and balances. Sending a man like this to govern Hedong Commandery likely aligns with his own strategic designs."

"Indeed. What about the Administrator of Shangdang?" Luo Ang nodded and inquired further.

Chen Yu ventured, "If my guess is correct, the Grand Tutor will likely permit one of my Lord's senior generals to assume the post of Administrator of Shangdang."

Luo Ang paced back and forth within the study before coming to a halt. "Has Dong Min arrived yet?"

Chen Yu shook his head. "Not yet. For a man like him, this is likely a burdensome assignment, so he probably will not rush to take office."

Hearing this, an idea sparked within Luo Ang's mind. "Zhongde mentioned that there were quite a few minor incidents. Aside from this trivial nuisance, what other distressing matters have arisen?"

Chen Yu reported, "Shortly ago, a caravan of merchants from Nanyang was murdered at an inn in Yanshi County to the east. All thirty-seven members, masters and servants alike, were slain. Strangely enough, however, none of their valuables were missing."

Astonished by this report, Luo Ang asked, "Is there something amiss with that? If robbery was not the motive, could it be a personal vendetta?"

Chen Yu replied, "That is certainly a possibility. However, upon investigation by my subordinates, it appears those merchants were utterly ordinary traders, whereas the perpetrators were clearly no ordinary men. To slaughter thirty-seven individuals without the neighboring guests hearing the slightest commotion requires extraordinary capability. It defies belief that ordinary merchants could provoke such a powerful faction to harbor a mortal grudge of this magnitude.

"Furthermore, logically speaking, any enemy they had would originate from Nanyang. If it were truly a vendetta, why choose to execute it within our territory? Along the entire journey, there were countless secluded places where they could have acted in the wilderness without leaving a trace."

Finding reason in Chen Yu's analysis, Luo Ang nodded and prompted, "Zhongde, you must have already formed a judgment. Speak your mind directly!"

Casting a glance at Luo Ang, Chen Yu continued, "What is even more suspicious is that the murdered merchants bore a striking resemblance to my Lord, both in build and facial features."

Luo Ang froze for a moment, touched his chin, and frowned. "Are you saying that the target was never the merchants at all, but me, and the assassins simply made a mistake? Yet, how could the killers mistake those merchants for me? Surely they wouldn't strike recklessly just because they encountered someone who looked somewhat like me?"

Shaking his head, Chen Yu said, "That is precisely the part which remains unknown to your subordinate."

Sighing, Luo Ang murmured, "What a pity for those thirty-seven innocent lives!"

With that, he walked over to his desk, seated himself, and looked at Chen Yu. "Zhongde, I have suddenly realized a major flaw in our apparatus: our intelligence network is far too weak."

Cupping his fists, Chen Yu acknowledged, "My Lord is wise; that is indeed the case."

Luo Ang instructed, "Zhongde, issue my command to expand the operational scope of the Black Guards into Bingzhou, Yongzhou, and Sizhou. At the same time, write a letter to Gongtai to apprise him of this situation."

Chen Yu bowed and accepted the order.

Turning his thoughts back to the situation in Hedong Commandery, Luo Ang said, "Every department in Hedong must make thorough preparations. I certainly do not want Hedong Commandery slipping into someone else's hands the moment Dong Min arrives!"

Chen Yu replied resolutely, "My Lord may rest easy; your subordinate has already made arrangements."

Thereupon, Luo Ang outlined his specific thoughts and plans to Chen Yu.

A gleam of realization lit up Chen Yu's eyes. "Brilliant, My Lord! This stratagem just might yield miraculous results. I shall go and make the preparations at once."

With a deep bow to Luo Ang, Chen Yu turned and strode swiftly out of the room.

Watching Chen Yu's retreating figure, Luo Ang sat down and penned a letter to Cai Yan and Diaochan in Ji County, reassuring them not to worry and explaining that he would return only after Dong卓 met his end and the affairs of Sizhou and Yongzhou were fully settled.

Having attended to these matters, Luo Ang stood up and went to spend time with Dong Yuan, realizing he had neglected her company for quite some time.

The following morning, Luo Ang summoned his civil and military officials to a meeting in the great hall of the General's Mansion. In truth, it was merely an opportunity to greet everyone and receive their regular reports.

A civil official stepped forward, cupped his fists toward Luo Ang, and reported, "Reporting to the Lord Marquis, the merchant taxes for the previous quarter have been fully collected and tallied. I request that the Lord Marquis inspect the ledgers."

With both hands, he respectfully raised a rolled bamboo slip.

Chen Yu immediately stepped forward, took the bamboo slip from the official, and presented it to Luo Ang.

Unrolling the slip, Luo Ang reviewed its contents with a satisfied nod. "Very good. Tax revenues have increased by nearly twenty percent—even better than I anticipated!"

Closing the slip, he addressed the official, "You have worked hard, Magistrate Chen."

The official, named Chen Yufeng, had originally been a minor clerk in the Luoyang prefectural office. After taking charge of Luoyang's affairs, Luo Ang discovered his exceptional talent for commercial taxation and promoted him to manage tax collection and commercial affairs throughout the Luoyang region.

Chen Yufeng had not辜负罗昂's trust; within a mere few months, he had successfully implemented Luo Ang's policies, completely revitalizing Luoyang's commercial environment and restoring prosperity to its trade.

At that moment, another civil official stepped out of the ranks and said, "Lord Marquis, I have a matter to report."

This official, named Fang Zhaowen, was over sixty years old. He had formerly served as a senior minister in the imperial court, but following Dong Zhuo's entry into the capital, he had sworn allegiance to him. When Dong Zhuo relocated the court to Chang'an, Fang Zhaowen had been appointed as the Minister of Finance, making him the highest-ranking civil official left behind in Luoyang.

Luo Ang glanced at Fang Zhaowen and nodded. "Speak."

Casting a hostile glare at Chen Yufeng, Fang Zhaowen raised his voice indignantly, "Although Magistrate Chen has merits, they cannot conceal his crimes. This man has acted arbitrarily and imposed exorbitant levies, arousing the boiling resentment of the populace!"

Drawing a rolled bamboo slip from his sleeve and holding it up with both hands, he declared, "This is a joint petition signed by thirty-two aristocratic clans accusing Chen Yufeng of his crimes. I beg the Lord Marquis to inspect it!"

Seeing this, Luo Ang furrowed his brow.

Chen Yu stepped forward, took the bamboo slip from Fang Zhaowen's hands, and presented it to Luo Ang.

Luo Ang unrolled the slip and scanned its contents. His eyebrows knitted together in anger as he rebuked, "Utter nonsense!"

With a flick of his wrist, he flung the bamboo slip down right in front of Fang Zhaowen.

Startled by this reaction, Fang Zhaowen hurriedly cupped his fists and pleaded, "Lord Marquis, this matter has already caused a most pernicious influence among the common people. I beseech the General to deal with it strictly according to the law!"

Chen Yufeng looked toward Luo Ang with a flicker of unease.

Standing up, Luo Ang strode over until he stood directly before Fang Zhaowen, staring him in the eye. "Lift your head and look at me."