Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao summoned Cao Ang and then said to Zhang Zhongjing, "Mr. Zhang Ji, please wait a moment."

Both men stopped and looked at Ma Chao. Ma Chao's gaze fell on Zhang Zhongjing, and he asked, "Sir, have you ever heard of Hua Tuo, Hua Yuanhua?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhongjing's eyes flashed with admiration. He stroked his beard and said, "Mr. Hua's medical skills are divine, especially in surgery. I have long heard of him. In terms of boldness and meticulousness, he may even surpass me."

Ma Chao laughed heartily: "Sir, you are too modest. You two are both excellent physicians who help the world, and you should be considered equals." He then changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, "Years ago, during the mutiny in Chang'an, I suffered nine wounds and nearly died. It was only thanks to Mr. Hua's treatment in Hanzhong that I survived. Before I left Chang'an this time, I wrote a letter and sent my soldiers to Hanzhong to invite him to take up a post in Chang'an."

After saying that, he turned to Cao Ang with a sincere look in his eyes: "Zixiu, Mr. Zhang Ji has done his best to treat your father's chronic headache. Perhaps Mr. Hua can have another solution. You might as well go to Chang'an yourself. First, invite Mr. Hua to come and consult with Mr. Zhang Ji. Second, let Yunlu go with you to meet your relatives and friends in Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang's eyes lit up with hope. He bowed deeply to Ma Chao and said, "Brother's words are like the sun breaking through the clouds! I worry about Father's illness day and night but I have no way to help him. If we can invite Mr. Hua, it will be one in ten thousand chance, and I am willing to give it a try."

Zhang Zhongjing nodded in agreement: "Mr. Hua's 'anesthetic powder' and surgical skills are unparalleled in the world. Perhaps he can truly find a glimmer of hope for Lord Cao. Lord Cao's personal visit shows even greater sincerity."

Ma Chao's gaze swept over Cao Ang and Zhang Zhongjing, and his tone suddenly became solemn: "Do you know why I insisted on inviting Mr. Hua to Chang'an and appointing him as the head of the Medical Bureau?"

Cao Ang and Zhang Zhongjing were both taken aback. After exchanging a glance, they both shook their heads.

Ma Chao walked to the window, gazing at the newly blossoming apricot flowers outside the courtyard, and slowly said, "Treating illness and governing a country are essentially the same principle. Both Master Zhongjing and Master Hua were medical masters, but have you ever thought about how many people you could save in your lifetime, even if you treated patients non-stop?"

He turned around and looked intently at the two men: "I established the Medical Bureau in Chang'an and put Mr. Hua in charge of it, hoping that this medical skill could spread like wildfire. You two gentlemen have extraordinary medical skills. Why not follow the example of Confucius and Mencius and teach yourselves to take on many disciples and teach them how to diagnose, prescribe medicine, and perform acupuncture? They don't need to learn all of your skills. If they can learn three or four parts of the true teachings, that will be enough to save lives in the countryside."

“These disciples will then take on more disciples, one to ten, ten to a hundred, and in less than ten years, there may be tens of thousands more physicians in the world.” Ma Chao’s voice was filled with an admirable enthusiasm. “At that time, people will no longer have to travel over mountains and valleys to seek medical treatment when they fall ill, and children will no longer have to cry out to heaven and earth in despair when they die. This is the true great merit of a physician, which is a hundred or a thousand times better than you saving hundreds or thousands of people in your lifetime.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhongjing suddenly stood up straight, his eyes gleaming with excitement, his hands trembling slightly: "King Liang... has such a broad mind!" He had practiced medicine all his life and had seen many patients die due to lack of medical care and medicine, but he had never imagined that medical skills could be passed down on such a large scale—this was not just setting up a medical office, but clearly building a life-saving dam for all living beings.

Cao Ang was also deeply moved. Although he didn't understand medical principles, he knew the suffering of the common people due to the lack of doctors. Many soldiers in his father's army died not from swords and spears, but from minor illnesses like colds. If, as Ma Chao said, there were truly many doctors in the world, it would be a great blessing for both the army and the people.

"Brother's idea is simply a groundbreaking act of kindness!" Cao Ang exclaimed sincerely. "I will go and pack my bags now. I will not only invite Mr. Hua here, but also keep in mind the method of the Medical Bureau. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely follow suit in Xuzhou."

Ma Chao smiled and nodded: "That would be best. Healers do not discriminate based on faction, they only care about saving the common people. If all the lords of the world could do the same, what need would there be for peace in this chaotic world?"

Zhang Zhongjing bowed deeply to Ma Chao, his tone more solemn than ever before: "Since Your Majesty of Liang has this intention, I, Zhang, am willing to impart all my knowledge to you and assist you in managing the Medical Bureau. I will spare no effort even to travel the world to find medicinal herbs and compile medical books!"

Ma Chao bowed in return, his tone sincere: "Sir, you are truly wise and understanding; it is I who should thank you." He then turned to Cao Ang, his gaze darkening with a touch of nostalgia, "Zixiu, do you know that this is not my original idea? Going back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a hundred schools of thought arose, and medicine was originally an independent school of thought, running parallel to Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism, and others, each with its own path to bringing peace and prosperity to the country and its people."

He raised his hand and brushed across the bamboo slips spread out on the table, his fingertips tracing the mottled characters that recorded ancient prescriptions: "But times have changed, and most people are driven by fame and fortune, all thinking of spending their lives studying classics and vying for a place in the court. Few are like Master Zhongjing, who humbled himself in his hometown and devoted his life to diagnosing patients, administering acupuncture, and saving lives—they did not seek high office, but only wished for the health of every family. This heart is truly worthy of our respect."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang looked at Zhang Zhongjing's white hair at his temples and the thin calluses on his fingers. He suddenly thought of the soldiers in the army who had died due to the shortage of military doctors, and his heart stirred: "Brother is absolutely right. If doctors could spread their knowledge as widely as the Hundred Schools of Thought, so that there would be doctors in the countryside, I'm afraid we could save a lot of the tragic scene of bones exposed in the wild."

Zhang Zhongjing stroked his beard, his eyes warming: "The fact that the King of Liang and the young master have this heart is a blessing for all physicians in the world. Although I am old, I am willing to follow them with my frail body, so that the study of medicine can spread like spring rain, benefiting all corners of the world."

Ma Chao nodded and smiled, “With these words from you, sir, how can the art of medicine not flourish? Zixiu, remember this: if you ever hold power in the future, do not forget what I said today—that what can bring peace to the world is not only the pen and sword in the court, but also the herbs and silver needles in this medicine box.”

Cao Ang nodded emphatically, engraving these words deep in his heart. The wind outside the window swept through the courtyard, stirring up a few fallen petals, as if gently applauding this agreement regarding the inheritance of medical skills.

Once Cao Cao felt slightly better, he summoned Cao Ang to his study and asked him about Ma Chao's actions during his stay over the past two days. In Cao Cao's study, Cao Ang recounted in detail Ma Chao's insights on the inheritance of medical knowledge and his thoughts on governing the world.

His admiration was palpable: “Father, Ma Mengqi is not only exceptionally brave, but his vision and perspective far surpass those of ordinary people. He said, ‘Those who can bring peace to the world are not necessarily only skilled in writing and swords, but also in medicine and herbs.’ When I heard this, I found it to be much more substantial than the empty discussions in the court.”

Cao Cao stroked his beard, listening quietly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table. After Cao Ang finished speaking, he remained silent for a long time, then suddenly sighed, "Ma Chao... so young, yet he has such insight."

Recalling his youthful ambition to sweep away all obstacles and restore peace to the world, and looking at the current scheming and treacherous politics in the court, he couldn't help but stroke the "Art of War" on his desk and murmur, "I'm getting old..."

“Back then, I raised an army to punish bandits and bring peace to the people, but as I went along, I ended up getting caught up in this world of fame and fortune.” Cao Cao looked at the bleak autumn scenery outside the window, a trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes. “Compared to Ma Mengqi’s insight, I am the one who is held back by worldly affairs, far inferior to him.”

Seeing his father's dejected expression, Cao Ang said softly, "Father, there's no need for this. Although the King of Liang has insight, your courage to stand firm in this chaotic world is also beyond the reach of ordinary people."

Cao Cao waved his hand, a complicated smile playing on his lips: "Courage? Sometimes courage becomes a shackle. That kid dares to think and act, and he can also stay true to himself. He is much more valuable than me, a 'cunning old fox'. Alright, I'm tired. You can go back now."

Seeing his father's weary expression, Cao Ang knew he needed some peace and quiet. He bowed and replied, "Yes, Father, please rest well. I will take my leave now." With that, he quietly left the study, his footsteps disappearing at the end of the corridor, and the study returned to silence.

A rustling of clothes came from behind the screen, and Guo Jia slowly stepped out. His pale face was accentuated by his gray-blue robe, yet it could not conceal his insightful eyes. He bowed and greeted the emperor with his usual gentle voice: "My lord."

Cao Cao looked up at him, his gaze as complex as churned ink. "Fengxiao," he began, a sigh he himself didn't even realize, "did you hear what Zixiu said just now?"

Guo Jia nodded: "I heard you."

“That Ma Chao,” Cao Cao tapped lightly on the chessboard, “I originally thought that he could dominate the world solely because of his Xiliang cavalry. But today, after seeing him… no, just hearing Zixiu recount his actions—sweeping across the world, yet still caring for the common people, encouraging doctors to spread their medical skills, enabling poor students to read books, even when treating an illness, he thought of ‘how can the people of the world suffer less’—in these small details, he was also thinking of the common people…”

He paused, a hint of melancholy in his voice: "Such a broad mind, such a magnanimous spirit, is indeed not something to be taken lightly. I, Cao Mengde, have spent half my life fighting, and I pride myself on having the world in my heart. But now it seems that I have been surpassed by this rising star."

Guo Jia listened quietly without responding. He knew Cao Cao too well; this lord was always proud and arrogant. For him to say that he was "inferior to others" showed just how much turmoil Ma Chao had stirred in his heart.

“Zixiu now takes him as his role model in everything he does,” Cao Cao rubbed his throbbing temples, the throbbing headache starting to spread again, like countless fine needles pricking his brain.

He gave a bitter smile: "As his father, I see all this, and I can't quite describe the feeling in my heart. I both hope that he can learn to be so upright, and I'm afraid that he will learn the cowardice of 'willing to be subordinate to others'."

“Your Excellency is overthinking this,” Guo Jia finally spoke, his voice reassuring. “The young master is kind, but not foolish. He respects Ma Chao for his ‘heart for the benefit of the people,’ not for blindly following him.”

Cao Cao was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to press his throbbing temples, his face flushed with pain. "Fengxiao, you say..." His voice was heavy, carrying an almost weary sigh, "How many more years must we endure this chaotic world?"

Guo Jia's eyes flickered slightly.

"What I seek has never been the supreme ruler," Cao Cao said in a low voice, as if he were talking to himself. "It is simply that the world is at peace and the people can sleep soundly. But what about now? Yuan Shao is eyeing us covetously in the north, Liu Biao is holding back his troops in the south, and Ma Chao is rising up in the west... and his methods are surprisingly more popular than my old ones."

He suddenly looked at Guo Jia, his eyes filled with an almost resolute clarity, as if the excruciating pain in his head had been suppressed in that instant. "I'm thinking, perhaps... I should just give in to him?"