Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"This matter is of great importance. It is better for you to go back and discuss it with the Emperor in person." Zhang Shikang said casually, but Wang Chengen's beard trembled.

Hu Dawei and others pretended not to hear anything, only Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly.

After this, everyone drank for a while, and Zhang Shikang called the shopkeeper to pay the bill with the gold rewarded by Emperor Chongzhen.

In the Ming Dynasty, the exchange rate of gold to silver was about one to eight, but in fact gold was basically not circulated in the Ming Dynasty, and it was even illegal for ordinary people to use gold for settlement.

But among the privileged class there is no such restriction at all.

But even so, few people would use the gold bestowed by the emperor to pay for the wine directly. Generally speaking, anything bestowed by the emperor, even if it was just rags, would be taken back for worship.

Wang Chengen finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Uncle, let our family pay for this banquet." As he said this, Wang Chengen took out a silver ingot that was cut in half from his body.

"What are you talking about? You have come all the way here, where can you spend your money?" Zhang Shikang said and threw a piece of gold worth five taels to the shopkeeper.

Anyone who can open a restaurant in the city must have some vision. The owner knew that the guests at this table were all people of high status, so he smiled and glanced at Wang Chengen.

He could probably tell that Wang Chengen was a eunuch from the capital.

"That's a gift from the Emperor, it's best not to..."

"So what? If it's given to me, it's mine. If I don't spend it, do I have to worship it?"

"Oh! Nephew, you don't know that only the outermost layer of the gold awarded by His Majesty is real. Inside, it is copper and tin."

Seeing Zhang Shikang's ignorant look, Sun Weifan reminded him in a low voice.

"Damn! Your Majesty, are you going to fake even this?" Zhang Shikang's face was filled with shock.

"You'd better be careful with your words, boy. His Majesty rewards people with thousands of taels of gold every year!" Sun Weifan said and continued to drink his wine, no longer paying attention to Zhang Shikang.

Zhang Shikang was stunned for a moment. That's right. The gold production was extremely scarce. This time, the Beijing Army alone gave out nearly one thousand taels of gold as rewards.

Brother Chongzhen was poor to begin with, where could he get so much gold?

"Oh, my Lords, even if it is gilded, I don't mind."

The shopkeeper was easy to talk to, and seemed very happy holding the fake gold. The fake gold was a gift from the emperor, and if used properly, it might be more valuable than real gold.

"Then let's do this. Give me the change." Zhang Shikang could see what the shopkeeper was up to, but he didn't care. It was impossible for him to take advantage of him.

After settling Wang Chengen, Zhang Shikang and Lu Xiangsheng inspected the military camp in the afternoon, mainly to visit the wounded in the battle of Jiazhuang.

Although three or four days had passed, wailing sounds could still be heard from the wounded camp.

Most of these wounded soldiers suffered external injuries caused by swords and knives. Even though the temperature has dropped now, due to poor sanitary conditions and the lack of specific antibacterial drugs, many seriously injured soldiers still have infected wounds.

"Wei Dagang has fallen into a coma. I'm afraid he can't hold on any longer. Let's carry him over there." The medical officer walked over and touched Wei Dagang's forehead, saying helplessly.

Zhang Shikang frowned when he saw this, walked over to take a look and said:

"This man is still breathing. Doctor Chen is not going to treat him?"

The medical officer recognized Zhang Shikang and quickly knelt down to salute him. Then he reported the truth:

“Your Excellency may not know that for all external injuries, it all depends on the patient’s physical strength. If he can hold out until the wound heals, he can survive.

If he falls into a coma and has a high fever, then... even drinking medicine will not be very effective."

What this means is that at this point, all we can do is leave it to fate. Conditions are limited, so the medicine should naturally be reserved for those who can be saved. There is nothing that can be done about it.

Most of those lying with Wei Dagang were seriously injured patients who were in a coma. They would be here for a day or two at most. Once they were found dead, they would be taken out and buried.

Looking at his subordinates who were waiting to die, Zhang Shikang's brows were never relaxed. He knew Wei Dagang, who was a sentry chief of the Beijing Camp Infantry Battalion and was the most active during training.

"Don't be sad, sir. War is like this. This is the fate of generals." Lu Xiangsheng saw that Zhang Shikang was sad and comforted him.

He had experienced this kind of situation countless times and could not say that he was used to it. He had also witnessed his capable subordinates die because of this and could only accept his fate.

Zhang Shikang didn't say anything. He paced around the wounded camp for about half a minute, and his eyelids suddenly twitched.

"Lord Lu, there should be some garlic in the camp. Go get some and send someone to the wine shop in the city to borrow some tools for steaming wine."

Zhang Shikang suddenly remembered that he had learned about the extraction of allicin in a biology class a long time ago.

The teacher at that time seemed to have said that allicin has good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Although it is not as effective as penicillin, it is very easy to extract.

At that time, a set of glassware was used in the classroom to demonstrate the entire distillation process. It was not complicated, but the only thing missing was glass, only low-quality colored glaze.

Zhang Shikang had wanted to make glass for a long time, but he had no time or energy. Just now, he suddenly thought of Daming wine.

He had drunk strong liquor from many wineries in Beijing, and the alcohol content was probably around 30 percent. It was almost impossible to reach this alcohol content simply by fermenting the wine.

Most likely they have mastered certain distillation techniques. Since they can distill liquor, they can naturally distill allicin as well.

Lu Xiangsheng didn't know what was going on, but seeing Zhang Shikang so serious, he immediately ordered people to prepare.

A lot of garlic was soon found, and Zhang Shikang ordered his men to pick all the garlic. About quarter of an hour later, several soldiers drove a horse-drawn carriage to the yard where he lived.

"Zhao! So big!" Zhang Shikang was stunned.

The huge distillery pulled back by the carriage was more than one meter tall. He knocked on it with his hand and found that the distillation vessel was made of molten copper.

“These items are treasures of each winery. If it weren’t for the handwriting of this humble official, they would definitely not lend them to ordinary people.

I just don't know what you are going to do with it?" Lu Xiangsheng asked curiously.

"It is used to save lives, of course."

Zhang Shikang took a quick look at the object. The structure was actually very simple. He quickly understood the principle and said to the soldiers around him:

"You guys clean this distiller and be careful not to damage it."

"Uncle, do you know medicine? How can garlic save lives?" Lu Xiangsheng frowned.

He had long known from Sun Weifan that Zhang Shikang was an uneducated and playboy in the capital.

And Zhang Shikang's words and deeds these days can indeed prove this point. He is a very genuine dandy, and this is what a genuine dandy should look like.

But he had witnessed the fighting effectiveness of the Beijing Camp with his own eyes. Sun Weifan also admired Zhang Shikang for his military drills. Although Lu Xiangsheng was surprised, he believed that some people were just gifted.

But even if Lu Xiangsheng was beaten to death, he would never believe that in addition to his military talent, Zhang Shikang had also studied medicine.

After all, if he is studying both military affairs and medicine, where would he find the time to be a playboy?

"I know a little bit and I'm just tinkering with it." Zhang Shikang said casually.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng thought that Zhang Shikang was upset after seeing so many wounded soldiers and was looking for something to divert his attention, so he didn't say much.

"Lord Lu, if you have nothing to do, come over and help?" Zhang Shikang said, holding a four or five-inch garlic mortar.

At that time, all the garlic mortars were made of stone and were very heavy. When Lu Xiangsheng saw Zhang Shikang moving things himself, he hurried over to help.

“Oh, never mind, you’re injured, let me carry it.

Here, there is a garlic mortar over there, go and pound the garlic, and pound it finely.”

……