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The Commander-in-Chief, approaching seventy years of age, campaigned south in the autumn of the Wumu year. Passing through Yangzhou, he captured over ten thousand people, from whom he selected four beautiful maidens near adulthood to serve by his side.

I remarked, "The Commander leads an army of over one hundred thousand troops deep into enemy territory; this is no trivial matter. Moreover, given his advanced age and weakened qi, he must exercise caution in all affairs. Furthermore, these newly captured individuals harbor internal stagnation of qi due to fear and anxiety. Coupled with irregular diet, they are prone to illness. Proximity to them facilitates the transmission of pathogenic factors, causing significant harm." The Commander smiled but did not reply. His deputy commander was also present at the time.

Some days later, the Commander summoned me and said, "Since I joined the campaign against the Huihu at thirteen years old, I have experienced much regarding such matters. Your words are deeply trustworthy." When the army returned in the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell for three consecutive days. The newly captured people could not withstand the cold and hunger, suffering from headaches, coughs, abdominal pain, and spontaneous diarrhea, leading to many deaths. By the first lunar month, upon reaching Bianliang, people along the route came with gifts to pay respects. The Commander indulged in heavy drinking on several occasions and subsequently fell ill. His pulse was deep, fine, and wiry, with a intermittent stop every three or four beats (Dai Mai). His symptoms included headache, cough, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, identical to those of the newly captured captives. The pulse was short and choppy, indicating that his vital qi had already declined and the disease was severe. He passed away three days later. Pathogenic factors harming people can bring about disasters of such magnitude. The *Neijing* states: "When encountering the deficiency of the year, the emptiness of the moon, and the loss of seasonal harmony, one becomes susceptible to pathogens, which then penetrate to the bone." It also says: "Avoid pathogens as one would avoid arrows and stones." Qian Zhongyang also stated: "Shoes soiled with feces should not be brought near an infant's swaddling clothes; infants are prone to Tian Diao convulsions." This is because their righteous qi is still weak and unable to overcome pathogens. From this, we see that the words of sages are indeed not false.

Li Tiju, an official of the Zhending Paper Money Bureau, was over forty years old, with a sturdy physique and abundant muscle mass. His colleague, Master Shi, told him, "Obese individuals are prone to wind syndromes. Given your current condition, you may eventually suffer from stroke. You should take Sou Feng Wan (Search Wind Pill), which eliminates stale matter to generate newness and resolves phlegm." Li followed his advice, prepared one dose, and took it daily. At night, he defecated five times. This continued for half a month. He began to feel shortness of breath and rapid breathing. After more than a month, he developed lethargy, drowsiness, passage of white pus in stool, urinary incontinence, coldness in the feet up to the knees, heavy and painful lower back, loss of taste in food, anorexia, chest and epigastric fullness and stuffiness, occasional restlessness and heat sensation, forgetfulness, and mental confusion. Three different physicians treated him without effect. He then recounted the history and requested my treatment.

I said, "Sun Simiao stated: 'Medicinal properties have biases that can disrupt the balance of organ qi. Medicines are intended to attack diseases; they should not be taken by healthy individuals.' In a normal person, when grain enters the stomach, the mai channels circulate; when water enters the meridians, blood is formed. If water is lost, Ying (Nutritive) qi scatters; if grain is consumed, Wei (Defensive) qi perishes. With Ying scattering and Wei perishing, Shen (Spirit) has no foundation. You were originally robust and healthy, with harmonious zang organs. Yet, you recklessly used mildly toxic agents, causing multiple bowel movements daily. Initially, taking it for one day served to eliminate stale matter and clear accumulations. Once the accumulation is cleared, why continue purging? Now, food cannot transform into flesh and skin, and water and grain cannot transport refined essences to irrigate the zang-fu organs and the hundred vessels throughout the body. Where will Shen find its foundation? Therefore, shortness of breath indicates damage to True Qi; lethargy and drowsiness indicate Spleen qi decline; urinary incontinence indicates the Bladder's failure to store; passage of pus and blood in stool indicates descent and collapse of Stomach qi; cold and reversal in the feet indicate slight Yang qi; occasional restlessness and epigastric empty fullness indicate the Stomach qi's inability to ascend and nourish; confusion and forgetfulness indicate disorder of Shen. The *Jingui Yaolue* states: 'Forcing purgation when not indicated causes intestinal perforation,洞泄 (profuse diarrhea), and death due to incontinence of urine and stool.' The genesis of your previous symptoms was not heavenly mandate, but self-inflicted. Although treatment provided slight relief, it shortened your lifespan."

Hearing this, Li was terrified, sweating profusely on his back. He rose and said to me, "This is the fault of reckless purgation. How can regret suffice? Nevertheless, please do your utmost to remedy my mistake." I believed the disease had progressed beyond halfway and life was difficult to save, so I firmly declined and withdrew. In autumn, the illness worsened. Physicians administered Du Ming San (Life-Extending Powder, likely a purgative contextually implying harsh purge here despite name, or simply a purgative formula) to purge him, and he died from restlessness, heat, wheezing, and fullness. The *Neijing* says: "Punishing the innocent is called great confusion." One like Mr. Li is precisely what the *Neijing* refers to as a person of "great confusion." Gentlemen who cultivate health and preserve life should beware!