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In the spring of the Jiashen year, my relative Zhong Xuanzhu had long suffered from asthma (Xiao Chuan), with a bluish-white complexion, emaciation, and aversion to cold. The condition worsened in winter and improved in summer, exacerbating upon exertion. Initially, taking warm-tonic formulas yielded recovery. However, after discontinuing medication for over a year, the relapse was triggered by emotional stagnation, resulting in incessant asthma and expectoration of pale yellow, frothy blood-tinged sputum. Upon examining his six pulses, which were floating, slippery, slow, and weak, I diagnosed it as Yang deficiency (Yang Xu) and prescribed Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction). Confused by others' opinions, he insisted on a diagnosis of Yin deficiency coughing blood (Yin Xu Tuo Xue) and strictly took heat-clearing and moistening agents. His previous symptoms did not diminish. Fortunately, being widowed, his primordial Qi (Yuan Qi) remained relatively solid, though he disliked rich and sweet foods at meals, causing hidden damage to Stomach Qi (Wei Qi).

On the night of the first day of the eighth month in the Jiashen year, my colleague Zheng Quhua (courtesy name Jilang), young but frail, worked hard in his study and indulged in sexual activity, suffering from the same prior ailment. After months of treatment, the condition aggravated. I examined him and observed a delicate red complexion, audible wheezing in the throat, and six pulses that were slippery, rapid, yet powerless. Inquiring about previous prescriptions, I found they used Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) with doubled Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome). I stated this indicated a shaking root and withered leaves, representing a dual deficiency of Heart and Kidney (Xin Shen Liang Kui). If initially treated with purely sweet and tranquilizing herbs to nourish Water and strengthen Spleen, it might have been salvageable. Instead, using herbs for excess-heat hematemesis due to Stomach meridian real heat to treat deficiency-consumption hematemesis inevitably damages the Stomach and life. I proposed using Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) at one tael per dose as the sovereign herb, assisted by several blood-nourishing and Kidney-moistening herbs. If taken for more than ten doses with gradual reduction in pulse and symptoms, there would be hope. He considered my words absurd and hired another physician the next day, who continued using bitter-cold astringent agents. The bleeding stopped abruptly, but he died on August 25th.

Later, Zheng Quhua visited Yunjian to see his nephew-in-law, Prefect Chen Qianfu, where he met the famous physician Li Shicai. Discussing the late father's prior condition, Li Shicai remarked that among all sought treatments, only our colleague Xiao (the author) suggested one tael of Ren Shen per dose. Li Shicai deemed this insufficient. He explained: This case involves dual deficiency of Yin and Yang, with impending failure of Heart and Kidney. Each dose requires two to three taels of Ren Shen to guide Qi back to its source and draw blood back into the vessels. Although Xiao knew to use Ginseng, using only one tael would delay efficacy. Upon returning, Zheng Quhua informed me of this and showed me Li Shicai’s printed work, *Yi Zong Bi Du* (Essential Readings for Medical Masters). I realized that within this vast world, there are like-minded scholars who understand my thoughts before I express them. Li Shicai, whose given name is Zhongzi, came from a family of officials; his ancestor, Li Kejun, was a Ming Jing graduate who despised officialdom and practiced medicine in seclusion. He was erudite and insightful. Having read his five-volume work, I found the language concise and clear, methods precise and detailed, truly representing the orthodox eye of the times. With a compassionate heart, I wished to travel far to visit him and discuss doubts, but war blocked the roads, leaving my ambition unfulfilled until another day. That earlier book should follow Mr. Xue Lizai and surpass Liu and Zhu. I intend to gather craftsmen to reprint it widely, extracting excerpts here to inform fellow sufferers.