Chapter 35: The Three Immortal Deeds of Medicine

Liu Feng was not deceiving Hua Tuo; he had indeed obtained a commission for a Medical Attendant from Big-Eared Brother.

An "Attendant" (Congshi) was a subordinate official to the Inspector (Cishi) during the Han Dynasty. Most of these officials served directly under the Inspector, holding a position of relative prestige, marked by a copper seal and yellow ribbon, and a salary of one hundred shi. It was a proper bureaucratic role, and being close to the Provincial Governor or Inspector made promotion easier. The four top-tier Attendants—the Attendant of the Traveling Carriage, the Senior Clerk Attendant, the Attendant of Governance, and the Merit Attendant—were highly coveted. While the Medical Attendant did not rank among these, it was still an official position, complete with the copper seal and yellow ribbon.

Hua Tuo was tempted. It was not that he was blinded by the prospect of holding office. In fact, years ago, he had been recruited by Huang Wan, the Governor of Yu Province, which likely would have been the start of an Attendant-level career. But this time was different. Not only did it fulfill his desire to serve, but it also placed him in charge of the medical arts, which was, to him, perfect.

Hua Tuo had indeed once expressed regret over choosing the life of a physician as a scholar, which had prevented him from entering official service. Yet, considering his character and life, this was more of an emotional venting, much like someone saying, "If I had studied hard instead of playing games, I could have gone to a good university and found a good job." In reality, most people who say this do not truly regret it; the joy the games brought them was real, and many remain attached to them even in adulthood. Judging by Hua Tuo’s life, medicine was to him what gaming is to a gamer. Even if he were forced to give up medicine for a government post, he might not have truly let it go.

"Master Yuanhua, I intend to establish a hospital in Xuzhou."

"A hospital?" Hua Tuo mused, lost in thought.

"Exactly, a hospital," Liu Feng explained. "It will be a place for medical practitioners to pass on their knowledge and a garden to cultivate true healers for the Great Han."

"Pass on medical knowledge?" Hua Tuo was stunned, as Liu Feng’s words were grand and ambitious.

"Indeed!" Liu Feng declared firmly. "The world often dismisses medicine as a trivial craft, but that is a grave error! Shennong tasted the hundred herbs and established merit for heaven and earth, earning his status as a Sage. Today’s healers are the successors to Shennong’s great cause, moving forward to build upon the past; how can this be a trivial craft?"

"In my plan, the Medical Attendant shall also serve as the Director of the Hospital, responsible for compiling textbooks and establishing the path of medicine."

"In the Spring and Autumn period, the Lu official Shusun Bao debated with the Jin official Fan Xuanzi on what it means to be 'immortal' after death. Fan Xuanzi believed that because his ancestors had been nobles since the Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, his family line was illustrious and the incense never extinguished—this, he thought, was 'immortality.' Shusun Bao disagreed, arguing that this was merely 'hereditary wealth,' not immortality. True immortality, he said, lies in the establishment of virtue, followed by the establishment of merit, and finally the establishment of words. If these endure, that is immortality."

"Master Yuanhua, for those words alone, Shusun Bao could be named a Sage!"

Hua Tuo was dumbfounded, his ears ringing and his eyes dizzy. Liu Feng then opened the soup pot and poured the chicken broth straight into Hua Tuo's mouth.

"Master, this appointment is your path to the 'Three Immortalities'! Establish medical virtue, build medical merit, and write medical books!"

Hua Tuo was utterly overwhelmed. He had never realized that medicine could be a noble path, so lofty that it inherited the legacy of Shennong. Yet, hearing Liu Feng explain it, it felt perfectly reasonable. Who could deny that Shennong was the ancestor of medicine? Who could deny his status as a Sage? If a healer inherited Shennong’s work, how could it be a trivial craft?

Hua Tuo felt the blood in his veins boiling. A sense of noble mission mixed with professional fulfillment brewed into a wine that made him willing to remain intoxicated forever.

At that moment, Liu Feng made a solemn request: "Master Yuanhua, are you willing to help me revitalize the medical path and restore it to a noble art?"

Hua Tuo felt a surge of heat rise from his chest, straight to the heavens, prompting the fifty-year-old man to shout: "This is my wish! How could I not serve you with my life, young master?"

"Excellent!" Liu Feng smiled sincerely. These were his true thoughts; he was not merely tricking Hua Tuo. Liu Feng believed in openness and mutual consent; he simply offered a price the other party could not refuse.

For the next hour, Liu Feng described his envisioned medical system, including how to build the hospital, recruit students, and divide medical subjects to teach according to aptitude. The classification of subjects was simple—Internal and External medicine. Hua Tuo found this easy to accept, as he was the only master of surgery in that era and the pioneer of that path.

It was a pity that Hua Tuo’s path did not survive; it was a loss for the entire Chinese nation. For that, the "Widow Cao" was certainly to blame.

Hua Tuo listened quietly at first, but later, his questions came one after another, leaving Liu Feng struggling to keep up. Liu Feng felt that the Hua Tuo before him was a completely different person. The previous Hua Tuo had a graceful, scholarly air, but his inner self was like a stagnant pool. Now, it was as if he had broken through a mountain wall, rushing forward with boundless, pent-up energy. Hua Tuo had come alive.

...

That day, Liu Bei had just woken up when an attendant reported that his son was waiting for an audience.

"Oh?" Liu Bei paused, then said with slight displeasure, "Since Feng’er has arrived, why not report it earlier?"

The attendant replied apologetically, "We intended to report it, but the young master stopped us, saying that you were busy with official duties and needed your rest, and that he would wait."

Hearing this, Liu Bei’s anger subsided by half, though he still felt for his son. "It is freezing outside, and the outer room is far less warm than the inner one. If he catches a cold, you..." Liu Bei was a kind man and would not kill indiscriminately like Cao Cao. He waved his hand. "Forget it. Go and invite him in at once."

The attendants rushed out, relieved. Soon, Liu Feng walked in, carrying a bundle of silk scrolls. Seeing him, Liu Bei’s eyes lit up. He beckoned, "Feng’er, come quickly. Sit by the stove and warm yourself."

Liu Feng stepped forward, placed the scrolls aside, and bowed deeply. "Father, I humbly request an audience to discuss matters."