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

What kind of monster is the Marshal?

This was what Sun Weifan was thinking at the moment. He had followed Zhang Shikang the longest and understood Zhang Shikang's abilities best.

From military training and firearms research to tax restructuring and land reform, as well as coastal defense and maritime trade, almost all were arranged by the Marshal himself.

This had already astonished Sun Weifan, and now, in front of an old doctor, the Marshal actually talked about medical skills.

And judging from the old doctor's appearance, what he said seemed to be quite logical and made sense.

Sun Chuanting glared at Sun Weifan, who immediately acted as if this was a routine move for the Marshal.

Although both of them had the surname Sun and were of similar age, Sun Weifan considered himself to be the first to follow Zhang Shikang, which gave him a sense of superiority.

“There are too many to list all at once.

In short, the old gentleman is still strong and cannot retire just like that. He will come to the capital after dealing with the plague.

The Imperial Hospital has reserved a position for you. If you can't get used to staying there, it doesn't matter. You can write books or continue to treat patients. But in your spare time, you should also teach more students.

Of course, the money will be paid by the court." Zhang Shikang said with a smile.

Nowadays, too many concepts are distorted, praising scholars too much and belittling other industries too much.

Zhang Shikang knew that it would be impossible to change the ideas of everyone in the world in a short period of time, but as long as things were done, they would have a subtle impact sooner or later.

For example, it can enhance the sense of honor of soldiers and the status of craftsmen. Although doctors are respected, their status is very low compared to their importance and contributions.

Upon hearing this, Wu Youke put down the brush in his hand and respectfully bowed to Zhang Shikang again.

He admired Zhang Shikang from the bottom of his heart. He had traveled all over the country in the past two years and of course knew the tremendous changes taking place in various places. He also knew that this was what the young man in front of him was doing.

Compared with the contribution of this young man to the world, my little medical skills are really not worth mentioning.

The mere act of equally dividing the land would be enough to make his name go down in history and be remembered for generations to come.

"I accept all arrangements made by the Marshal, and I will do my best." Wu Youke said this almost word by word.

This is a heartfelt commitment to someone you admire.

Even though he had originally planned to return to his hometown to enjoy his old age and concentrate on writing after dealing with the affairs of Xi'an Prefecture, he was willing to give up this plan for Zhang Shikang.

Just because he admired the young man in front of him.

Of course, there was another reason. If he went to the capital later and had any questions about medical skills, he could take this opportunity to visit Zhang Shikang.

Perhaps, his dedication to medical skills was the main reason why he agreed to go to the capital.

Who knows? Humans are complex animals.

After Zhang Shikang encouraged Wu Youke, Sun Chuanting hosted a big meal in the evening.

As he was too full, Zhang Shikang planned to take a walk on the street to help digest the food. However, ever since the last assassination attempt, Ma Lingqi had clearly had a stress reaction.

But if anyone passed by Zhang Shikang or looked at him for a second longer, Ma Lingqi would point the silver spear in her hand at that person. To her, everyone looked like an assassin.

After strolling for a while, Zhang Shikang had no choice but to go back home.

The next day we continued our journey, heading east from Xi'an Prefecture and entering Henan Province.

On the 14th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Shikang led his army to Zhengzhou.

Sun Weifan estimated that based on the current progress, it would take about ten days to reach the capital.

Upon hearing that it was safe to return home for the New Year, Zhang Shikang let the army rest for a day in Zhengzhou, Kaifeng Prefecture.

He started strolling again, but this time he didn't stroll around Zhengzhou city. Instead, he went to a small town called Zhuxian Town outside the city.

In order not to disturb the people, Zhang Shikang asked his personal guards to change into servants' clothes, and he himself was dressed as a merchant. Ma Lingqi turned into Zhang Shikang's maid.

A maid who always had a silver spear under her arm.

This town is not big, with only three or four hundred households.

It was already the twelfth lunar month, and the farming in the north had been left fallow. It was also the end of the year, and many people were at home. Zhang Shikang casually walked into a farmhouse.

The wall of this farmhouse was made of adobe and was only about one and a half meters high. Zhang Shikang saw an aunt feeding chickens outside the yard.

"Auntie, are you feeding the chickens?" Zhang Shikang asked for conversation after entering the yard.

When the aunt saw a well-dressed young man coming and a large group of servants following him, she was frightened and quickly returned to the house without saying a word.

Soon an old man came out carrying a carrying pole, followed by a young man about the same age as Zhang Shikang.

But this young man was a little weak and had to let his father protect him.

Hong Xiucheng, the commander in chief, was about to reprimand the old man when he saw he was so rude, but was stopped by Zhang Shikang.

"Uncle, I'm a merchant passing by. I'm not a bad person. I just stopped here to take a walk. I have no other intentions."

Zhang Shikang explained patiently, and the old man finally let down his guard. He leaned his carrying pole against the door frame, pointed to a wooden chair in the yard and asked Zhang Shikang to sit down.

The frightened auntie came out with two bowls of hot water soon, put them on the stone table in the yard, and quickly slipped into the house.

"I wonder what brings you here, distinguished guest?" the old man asked, still with a hint of caution.

In the past few years, bandits often came to Henan to cause trouble, and many people died every year.

Some died at the hands of bandits, and more died at the hands of government soldiers.

Although Zhang Shikang said that he was a traveling merchant, the old man did not quite believe it because he was old enough. After all, it was a bit strange for a traveling merchant to have no goods and only be followed by a large group of servants.

"When I passed by here, I saw some fields planted with sweet potatoes. Do you know anything about this?"

In May and June of this year, after the sweet potatoes and potatoes were harvested in Song Yingxing's 5,000-acre experimental field, they were immediately promoted in Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shuntian Prefecture.

So Zhang Shikang was observing all the way, but since he was in a hurry to go home for the New Year, he didn't have much time to go to the countryside to investigate in person.

Now that I'm in Zhengzhou, I've finally managed to squeeze out half a day.

It’s not that he believes in Song Yingxing’s ability, but he has no right to speak without investigation. Only by going to the countryside to conduct field investigations in person can he truly understand people’s views on new crops.

Unexpectedly, when the old man heard the word sweet potato, he became even more alert.

"Are you thinking about my sweet potatoes? No!

I won’t sell it no matter how much money you offer!”

He thought Zhang Shikang was a merchant who came to the countryside to collect new crops. Merchants were, after all, of the lowest class, so he spoke to the old man very rudely.

This made Zhang Shikang frown, wondering why the uncle was so alert.

But Ma Lingqi couldn't stand Zhang Shikang being bullied by this dirty old man again and again, so she immediately said to the old man:

"Do you know who is in front of you?

The land you have been allocated was fought for by Brother Wuji!"

Zhang Shikang glared at Ma Lingqi helplessly, and Ma Lingqi immediately stuck out her tongue gently. She just didn't want Zhang Shikang to suffer any grievances.

Unexpectedly, when the old man heard this, his eyes widened, he stood up suddenly, ran back to his shabby house, and took out a portrait.

In front of Zhang Shikang, he first looked at the portrait, then at Zhang Shikang. After comparing them back and forth for a while, the old man murmured:

"Yes, yes, it should be right. This look, this nose..."

Then the old man carefully placed the rice paper on the stone table and tried to ask:

"Are you the current Duke of Zhenguo and Grand Marshal of the Army, Zhang Shikang?"

……