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Since ancient times, among the diseases afflicting the people, none has been more serious than Shanghan (Cold Damage Syndrome). Life and death are decided in a breath, success or failure determined in a single day; changes are myriad, allowing for no disorder. Among Shanghan, diseases such as Warmth (Wenre), Summerheat (Shu), and Dampness (Shi) have diverse etiologies and are particularly prone to confusion. Hence, former sages each wrote specialized books to elucidate one another's views, paying close attention to this matter. However, those who understood one aspect were often ignorant of another, leading to heated debates where each proclaimed their own insights, leaving eager students with nowhere to turn. Or, some placed excessive faith in the words of a single school, inevitably causing harm through bias. Mr. Wang Mengying possessed profound and comprehensive knowledge, citing classics to refute heterodoxies, and absorbing the merits of all schools. He believed that since the theories of his predecessors had already hit the mark, there was no need to reiterate his own opinions. Thus, discarding flaws and recording virtues, he compiled the work *Wenre Jingwei* (Warmth Latitude and Longitude). This essentially followed the principle of "transmitting but not creating," while the appended comments, derived from consulting other books and personal experience, also constituted a form of transmission. There was no private speculation involved. I, ignorant of medicine, having exchanged visits, privately heard introductory remarks. I rejoiced that the learning of Changsha (Zhang Zhongjing) had been highlighted by various scholars before, and now refined by the Wang family after, ensuring that this millennium-old masterpiece would not be confused by conflicting statements. The differentiation of sensations from the Five Qi of the four seasons would not lead to misdiagnosis due to difficulty in discernment. How significant is its benefit to human life! Entrusted to write a preface, I presumptuously recorded these thoughts.
Early Summer, Renzi Year, Xianfeng 2nd Year. Zhao Mengling of Renhe.

I read Mengying's *Huoluan Lun* (Treatise on Cholera) in the 28th year of the Daoguang era. Three years later, when Mengying traveled to Jiangyou, I held the seal at Yihuang, and we began our friendship. Consequently, I was able to read his medical cases such as *Huichun Lu* (Record of Reviving Spring) and *Renshu Zhi* (Records of Benevolent Arts), compiling and typesetting them for publication to benefit the world. Mengying knew I was addicted to bamboo slips and books, developing a passion for rare prescriptions and secret manuals, which he often mailed to me to broaden my horizons. Whenever I had doubts, I would write to question him. Mengying would analyze them meticulously, citing ancient precedents to verify contemporary practices, like ice melting or knots untying. Opening his letters and reading solemnly, I never failed to clap the table in satisfaction. For several years, letters passed back and forth, with wild geese bearing messages laboriously. Diseases occur frequently; without medicinal stones, how could afflictions heal? However, as medical texts circulated, paths diverged, debates raged, and each claimed unique insights, leaving later learners bewildered and unsure whom to follow. Scholars lamented this. I constantly wished to extensively collect works from a hundred schools, synthesize diverse views, absorb essences, discard dregs, and compile a book to consult with thoughtful students. But lacking talent and insight, I dared not trust myself, waiting until resources were sufficient to invite Mengying to collaborate on this grand endeavor. Floating and sinking for several years, my ambition remained unfulfilled. Soon, military conflicts arose. Rebels in Western Guangdong rose up, capturing Changsha, slaughtering Wuchang, taking Anqing, and occupying Jinling. Jiangxi, bordered by Anhui and Hubei, used the Yangtze River as a gateway. High officials discussed household registration and militia organization to secure borders. At that time, I transferred from Yihuang to Linchuan. Although located inland, the local populace was restless, and rumors abounded. Ostentation risked causing trouble, while hesitation risked nurturing traitors. Busy morning and evening with paperwork, this matter was neglected. Shortly after, my father passed away at home. I rushed back for mourning. War covered the roads, travel was blocked. I took the route through Changsha, boated across Dongting Lake, crossed the Han and Jiang rivers, went west against the current south of Wuchang to Fancheng, abandoned boats for carriages, viewed ruins of Xuchang, and climbed the old mounds of Daliang. Sighing with ancient nostalgia, upon crossing the river, my hometown came into view, not far away. Just as I was about to cross the Hutuo River, I suddenly encountered rebels, abruptly turned east, and lodged between Fengning. Circling six thousand li, galloping for five months, yet still unable to return. In the autumn of Jiayin year, smoke from beacon fires subsided slightly. I finally paid respects at ancestral graves and buried my father. After ten years as a wanderer, returning to my dilapidated house, half my neighbors and old friends had perished. Recalling the past, I sighed deeply! After residing for a few months, again detained by official duties, I bought a boat heading south, thereby visiting Mengying at Wulin. We shook hands, rejoiced, and recounted our separation. Mengying's skills had become even more refined, his scholarship deeper, his cultivation profound and pure, evident in his demeanor. Due to my urgent schedule, we could not talk deeply, parting in melancholy. Soon, Mengying returned the visit. His porter carried a large trunk onto the boat, containing books gifted by Mengying. Traveling by boat, suffering from loneliness, obtaining these rare volumes felt like welcoming good friends. I read them sequentially. One volume was titled *Qianzhai Congshu* (Collected Works of Qianzhai). Hurriedly reading, I found it was a collection of medical books Mengying had gathered over several years. Some praised former virtues, some expressed personal insights, some collected miraculous formulas like *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth Their Weight in Gold), some classified categories like *Bencao Tujing* (Illustrated Materia Medica). Sitting upright by the cabin window, occasionally reciting in circles, wonderful emotions and thoughts emerged layer upon layer, full pages glowing with spirit, competing in beauty with the scenery of Yanling Mountain. Alas! Skill reaching such heights. A gentleman who can achieve immortal great deeds and entrust his life to the people must have strong spirit, focused mind, broad learning, deep accumulation, and heaven must grant him leisurely years to fulfill his will. Mengying harbored extraordinary talent, lived in seclusion without officialdom, yet devoted himself to medicine, thus achieving such results. Was this accidental? Arriving at Yushan, encountering rebels prevented further progress, so I returned to Wulin and stayed with Mengying. Daily interactions, getting along very well, we read together his *Wenre Jingwei*. "Jingwei" (Latitude and Longitude) takes Xuanyuan-Qibo and Zhang Zhongjing as the warp (vertical axis), and Ye-Tian-shi, Xue-Lian-cheng, and other families as the weft (horizontal axis). The format strictly follows the old style of *Huoluan Lun*, but the theory is purer, the discussion more detailed. The words are those of predecessors, but the meaning exceeds what they could achieve. I had harbored this idea for years, unable to start, while Mengying had already written this book with vigorous brushwork. Vast and flowing, hundreds of thousands of words, not a single superfluous character mixed in. What extraordinary talent and precise insight! In the future, extending this example to various miscellaneous syndromes, clearing thorns and weeds, opening new realms, gathering the greatness of this path, truly a joy for millennia! I cannot hope to catch up with Mengying's learning, yet he mistakenly regards me as a confidant. This must be what is meant by spiritual connection beyond physical form! Therefore, I detailed the entire process at the beginning of the book to record the elegance of our friendship.
Three days before Dragon Boat Festival, Yimao Year, Xianfeng 5th Year. Preface by Yang Zhaoli of Dingzhou.

Regarding Warmth (Wenre) syndrome, incompetent physicians practicing recklessly have caused many premature deaths. Mengying pitied this and wrote this book, enabling learners to have guidelines to follow. Among his numerous writings, this should be ranked first; it is truly a precious treasure. My friend Wu Cheng Wang Yazhen read it and approved, thus composing a eulogy: Marvelous art saving lives, excellent maxim governing destiny. Unbiased and unchanging, suitable for ancient and modern times. Fur of a thousand foxes, lute of a hundred patches. If Xuanyuan and Qibo were alive, they would take this heart as a mirror.
First day of the second month, Guihai Year, Tongzhi 2nd Year. Written at Shanghai during travel.