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Jia Yi, the Grand Administrator of Changsha in the Han Dynasty, said that ancient sages, if not holding high office in the court, would necessarily hide themselves in medicine and divination. Sima Guang also stated that when successful, one becomes a virtuous prime minister; when unsuccessful, one becomes an excellent physician. Therefore, Mr. Zhu Danxi packed his bags for Mount Hua, abandoned his studies for the civil service examinations, yet generously declared to himself: "If a scholar masters a skill to extend the benevolence of empathy to others, even if he does not serve as an official in his time, it is equivalent to serving." Such a person, preserving life in chaotic times, seeking no fame among feudal lords, treating high ranks and noble titles as discarded hair ornaments, harmonizing vital energy in the countryside, harboring virtue and cultivating secretly—this can be called "hiding" (Yin). Must one necessarily retreat to secluded rocks and forget about caring for all under heaven? Tao Hongjing hung up his cap at the Shenwu Gate but left behind the *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up the Sleeve); Jiang Mingyuan certainly refused official posts from the Song dynasty, yet frequently responded to the requests of enlightened rulers. These are all those who hide yet remain accessible, never losing their benevolence to aid all things.

In the past, after Emperor Taizu of Ming pacified the world, he first promulgated important edicts and established medical bureaus to benefit and relieve all living beings. This aligns with the principles of Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo, far surpassing the Han and Tang dynasties, truly representing boundless and universal benevolent grace. Looking back at previous dynasties, figures such as Xu Wenbai, Qian Boyi (Qian Zhongyang), and Yang Shiying all had saving people as their heart's intent, disregarding personal merit and profit. Liu Runfang of the Song dynasty, when treating illnesses of poor families, would often carry gold and silver placed under the bedsheet, leaving them for family members to take away after he departed; the patients' joy led to their recovery. Su Dongpo also often stored good medicines to help others. The intentions of these two gentlemen were indeed sincere and kind, yet even broad application of charity feels insufficient in time and effort. It is altogether better to maintain a good thought: whenever diagnosing illness, whether the patient is a king, prince, or minister, or a lowly servant or beggar, treat them equally without regard for respect or rudeness, gratitude or enmity, and provide careful treatment. For rare diseases where my understanding falls short, instruct others to invite knowledgeable practitioners to discuss together; do not cling to private opinions, do not conceal my shortcomings, do not obscure others' long-term benefits. Curing diseases, do not avoid wind and rain when urgent requests come. This is the inexhaustible "Virtue" (De).

There are some crude and mediocre doctors who have not studied classics and pulse diagnosis, disregard the severity of conditions, prescribe lightly, causing patients to near death, and then slander the orthodox path, committing evil without repentance. Upon seeing such people, one should tell everyone they are horses that spoil the herd, to prevent countless lives from being misled by such groups in the future. Although it is said that hiding faults and praising virtues is the way of a sage, if we expand the sage's heart, we must teach countless lives to avoid these crude doctors. How can we bear to remain silent? This is not lacking in Dao, but stems from a bitter sincerity, knowing only the lives of sentient beings, not the tolerance for one's own kind. Moreover, this allows such individuals to change their hearts and conduct, transforming from mediocrities into skilled physicians. Through warning them, hoping they attain longevity together, is this not a great fortune? As for skilled physicians, I praise them to everyone, speaking endlessly. Exposing the errors of mediocrities and highlighting the goodness of skilled physicians is entirely for the sake of sentient beings. Why worry about being understood or blamed? This is especially using Virtue well. Tracing back, the thirteen sons of Meritorious Official Deng Yu each mastered a skill, four of whom practiced medicine. Like Lord Deng, who maintained purity like unbleached silk, enjoyed the warmth of scholars, and received high nobility, why did he not leave wealth and food to his descendants, but instead made them toil in the ranks of technical arts to complete unfinished benevolence? Thus, Lord Deng further propagated his virtue through generations.