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A question was raised: "Among those who are currently studying medicine, there is no one who does not keep a copy of *Ye Shi Yi An* (Medical Cases of Master Ye) on their desk. How is this book?" I replied: "Master Ye was a famous physician in Wu (present-day Suzhou area). He initially studied pediatrics, and his medical skills advanced day by day, expanding his academic system. In the field of internal medicine, he can be regarded as a synthesizer of great achievements. His discussion on 'internal stirring of liver wind' posits that it is not wind from outside, but rather employs methods to harmonize yang and extinguish wind, which was an insight not previously expounded by predecessors. Regarding summerheat diseases, although he followed the teachings of Liu Hejian, his prescriptions were meticulous and skillful, arguably surpassing his master. In treating dysentery, he often used warming and tonifying methods; in treating malaria, he rarely used Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), which is a slight flaw in an otherwise perfect jade. His cases detailed syndrome differentiation but discussed pulse diagnosis less. Since palpation follows inquiry, how can it be severely criticized? Furthermore, for hypochondriac pain, he used herbs entering the collaterals, such as Qingcong Guan (Scallion Stem), Xinjiang (Safflower Stamen), Xuanfu Hua (Inulae Flos), and Taoren (Persicae Semen); for abdominal pain, he employed the 'Jia-Ji transforming earth' method, opening up endless secrets for later generations. However, to study this book, one must read the theories of Zhang Zhongjing, Li Dongyuan, Liu Hejian, Zhu Danxi, and others, so as to explore the origins of Master Ye's prescription logic. Only then will one not be like duckweed without roots, nor suffer the ridicule of drifting with the waves."

In ancient times, physicians personally engaged in drug collection and processing. For instance, Han Boxiu sold medicines, implying that selling medicine was synonymous with practicing medicine. *Qianjin Fang* records that herbs should be collected according to the seasons, hence the existence of Lei Gong's processing techniques and Zhang Zhongjing's chewing/crushing methods. No one failed to enter mountains to collect herbs to save people from illness. Although Yuefu poetry contains the line "Feilong fell into the pharmacy," it was not until the late Song Dynasty that the Heji Bureau (Bureau of Prepared Medicines) was established, leading to the proliferation of pharmacies. At that time, doctors still pounded medicines in mortars, storing various pills and powders, while sliced decoction pieces were purchased from shops. Herbs were produced in various regions, originating from nature. The praise for Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) states: its essence is like jade nectar, its taste like fine wine gourd liquid; Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) must have nail-heads and mouse-tails, Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) must exhibit golden wells and jade railings. In modern times, since pharmacies exist, aggregation inevitably forms industries. Hankou, for example, gathers herbs from Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi, known as a herb reservoir, attracting merchants from all over the world. Huge ships, numbering in the hundreds daily, operate in all directions, yet the production areas have not expanded. Production cannot meet sales demand, failing to satisfy the needs of the world. Local residents thus adopted methods of sowing seeds and dividing roots. For example, Fu Ling (Poria) is transformed from pine resin of a hundred years; now, pine branches buried in soil can be harvested in three years. Dang Shen (Codonopsis Radix) from Fengzhou, Huang Qin from Shanzhou, and Baizhu from Yuqian are all praised. How can they maintain pure and strong flavors comparable to those of antiquity? Authentic origin and geographical indication are most difficult to obtain. As for seeking naturally grown herbs, I do not know. Take Ren Shen alone: originating from Changbai Mountain, absorbing rich earth qi and spiritual energy, its efficacy ranks among the top herbs. However, there are also seedlings propagated by sowing and dividing, called Yangshen (seedling ginseng), which have weak flavor and thin qi. Although the court strictly prohibits fake goods and punishes fraud while promoting authenticity, their efficacy is inferior to before. Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) and Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba) are very cheap items, found almost everywhere in the plains and marshes of Wu region; the situation of other herbs can be imagined. Only minerals, stones, meat/blood products, and herbs harvested for fruits or leaves remain unchanged between ancient and modern times.