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Among the retainers of Grand Secretary Dong Xunlao, there was a surnamed Ma who fell ill in early July. The illness persisted for over twenty days, becoming increasingly severe and aggressive. At that time, the Grand Secretary was deeply engrossed in a game of Go with me when Jiang Hongqiao and Shen Lexian rushed to report: "Chef Ma is on his deathbed." Upon hearing this, the Grand Secretary pushed aside the chessboard and sighed, "My fate! My fate!" I asked for the reason, and he said, "There are no fewer than twenty cooks capable of preparing meals, but only this one suits my taste. I relied on him to enjoy his twilight years, but now he is too ill to rise. What shall I do?" I pressed him to ask what the illness was. The Grand Secretary turned to Jiang and Shen and said, "Describe his condition in detail." Jiang and Shen recounted his symptoms: severe alternating chills and fever; so cold that he did not fear entering the kitchen stove, so hot that he did not fear descending into a well; dysentery with both red (blood) and white pus, occurring more than eighty times day and night; abdominal pain, nausea, profuse sweating, and extreme mental fatigue. Regarding his pulse, they said, "The pulse is inauspicious. In dysentery, a洪大 (hóng dà, flooding/large) pulse indicates death, while a细微 (xì wēi, fine/minute) pulse indicates survival. A flooding pulse here is contrary/rebellious." I replied, "While a flooding pulse is indeed contraindicated in dysentery, a fine pulse is also unsuitable for alternating chills and fever. There must be a deeper cause." The two gentlemen said, "Fortunately, please go and diagnose him." Master Xun refused, saying how could a minor servant warrant the labor of an elder? I said, "Medicine entrusts life and death; why distinguish between major and minor? Moreover, since it is someone serving you, we cannot sit idly by without rescue." Master Xun happily took my hand and we went together. Arriving at the bridge behind the residence, upon entering, dozens of co-residents stood holding incense with hands clasped in anticipation. I palpated his pulse and observed his symptoms, which indeed matched Jiang and Shen's description. His complexion was slightly red, and sweat poured down. I investigated the origin of the disease. He stated that due to many passing guests, the kitchen was dry and hot, and he had eaten too many melons, watermelons, lotus roots, and other fruits. That night, he drank excessively and engaged in sexual activity, then slept under the eaves. The next day, he developed chills, fever, and abdominal pain, leading to dysentery. Although I understood the pathology, I had not yet fully integrated a treatment strategy. I pondered deeply, walking unconsciously back to the bridge where Master Xun was still waiting. Seeing my solemn expression, he realized the gravity of the illness and stopped asking, simply taking my hand again as before. Jiang and Shen asked if he could be cured. I said, "By the grace of your master, I have a fleeting insight, but this is like fighting a battle with one's back to the river (a desperate situation)." The prescription consisted of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Huashi (Talcum), each 5 qian; Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Paojiang (Prepared Ginger Rhizome), each 3 qian; Dafuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata), each 2 qian. These were decocted together as a large dose. As Jiang and Shen were about to question me, Master Xun ordered his attendants to decoct it nearby, wishing to spare them the inquiry. After decoction, it was administered. He drank it and immediately fell asleep. The old gentleman asked, "What state after administration would be considered good?" I said, "If he can sleep once, then Yin and Yang will begin to harmonize. Once harmonized, sweat will cease, and chills, fever, vomiting, and nausea will stop." Jiang and Shen reported, "He has fallen asleep." At Si hour (9-11 AM) the next day, the two gentlemen came clapping their hands, saying that during the night, dysentery halved, sweating and vomiting completely ceased, and the pulse had converged. The second prescription used Renshen, Shigao, Baizhu, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Huashi, each 3 qian; Paojiang, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Zhi Mu, each 2 qian; Zhigancao, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), each 1 qian. After ingestion, malaria/chills ceased, dysentery halved again, diet gradually increased, and spirit gradually recovered. The third prescription modified to use Baishao stir-fried with wine, 5 qian; Renshen, Baizhu, Huashi, each 2 qian; Gancao (Licorice Root), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Paojiang, Rougui, each 1 qian. After three doses, dysentery completely stopped, diet improved, and he gradually became stable. Jiang and Shen asked, "You used both cold and hot herbs. What syndrome is this? And what is the name of this formula?" I smiled and said, "This is what Master Hua calls Hun Dun Tang (Chaos Decoction)." Master Xun asked further, and I replied, "The Classic says: Summer injury from heat leads to malaria and dysentery in autumn. Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) and Yiyuan San (Benefit Origin Powder) are both agents to resolve summerheat. Cold melons and fruits injured the Middle Qi; alcohol and sexual excess damaged the Lower Yuan. Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Regulate the Middle Decoction) is precisely for warming the middle and tonifying the lower. The Neijing also states: Excess refers to pathogenic qi being excessive. Thus, Baihu Tang and Yiyuan San respond to this. Deficiency refers to healthy qi being deficient. Thus, Lizhong Tang responds to this. If you doubt the simultaneous use of cold and hot herbs, consider Zhang Zhongjing's Fuzi Gancao Xiexin Tang (Aconite Licorice Drain the Epigastrium Decoction), which uses Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) alongside Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome) and Fuzi. How is this explained? It is false syndromes treated with false (hot/cold) methods, and true syndromes treated with true methods." Master Xun joyously exclaimed, "Master is exactly right, thus enabling you to revive the near-dead. The story of the Guo State prince revived in Linzi, recorded in my poetry album, was not empty words."