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The auspiciousness or misfortune of patients is entrusted to physicians. Although the physician's responsibility is heavy, the power to treat does not lie with the physician, but with those who employ the physician (i.e., the patient and their family). Why is this? When a person suffers from a severe illness, quacks are at a loss and have no strategy, so they begin to seek help from famous doctors. After the famous doctor completes the consultation, they inform the patient where the disease originated and how it should be treated: why certain categories of medicines exacerbate the condition, and why certain categories remove specific diseases while failing to eliminate others. Even if the disease seems slightly improved, why does it recur after one or two days, or become worse than before after that period? The doctor must assist the patient in understanding each point, determining how to correct previous errors, how to apply warming, clearing, purging, and tonifying methods, and how to prescribe formulas according to principles. They predict what syndromes will appear after taking the medicine, what subsequent syndromes indicate recovery, and precisely when the patient will heal. If the patient believes these words without doubt, and if the household does not keep books such as *Bencao Beiyao* (Essentials of Materia Medica), *Yifang Jijie* (Collected Explanations of Medical Formulas), *Wanbing Huichun* (Revival for Ten Thousand Diseases), *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica), *Dongui Bogam* (Eastern Medical Treasure Mirror), *Fengshi Jinang Milu* (Secret Records of Feng’s Brocade Pouch), *Chishui Xuanzhu* (Dark Pearl of Chishui), *Xuexi Yi'an* (Medical Cases of Xue), *Jingyue Quanshu* (Complete Works of Jingyue), *Shishi Milu* (Secret Records of the Stone Chamber), *Bianzheng Qiwen* (Strange Questions on Syndrome Differentiation), *Linzheng Zhinan Yian* (Clinical Guide to Medical Cases), and others; and if there are no relatives and friends who pretend to know what they do not know, nor "gentlemen" known for prescribing ineffective "fruit medicines" (placebo-like remedies) who create ambiguity and confuse the patient with purple and red (metaphor for confusing right and wrong), then the famous doctor can fully exert their expertise. Acute febrile diseases (*Shanghan* and *Zubing*) can be cured within two or three days, at the latest within eighteen days. Difficult chronic conditions such as wind-stroke, consumption, ascites, and diaphragmatic obstruction can be cured within one month, at the latest within three months. Otherwise, if the patient is half-believing and half-doubting, ordinary doctors may barely cope, waiting for the pathogenic qi to decline and the disease to heal spontaneously. However, anyone claiming to be a famous doctor must absolutely not shoulder this heavy burden, lest they incur resentment and ruin their reputation. I have suffered greatly due to my warm-heartedness; all my colleagues should take this as a warning from past failures.

Current practitioners rely on their eloquence. They ally with those who agree with them, engaging in mutual flattery, and do not reject those inferior to them. They pose as profound experts, having exhausted the study of *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), read *Lingshu* and *Suzhen*, and modeled themselves after Zhang Zhongjing. Their theories are unheard of by others, and their curative effects are seen by few. Thus, they humbly say, "I cannot be so miraculous, nor can I win by being so biased." These people fabricate the concept of "bias" (pian). No matter how high their medical skill is (one zhang), the demonic forces are ten times higher (ten zhang). They claim that ancient texts cannot be applied today, labeling extensive reading as "biased." They label life-saving treatments as "biased," and ingenious, risky interventions as "biased." This leads patients to form preconceived notions, gathering numerous so-called "unbiased" doctors, trying them all to no avail. Only out of desperation do they invite me as a last resort (burning the boats).

Ultimately, they still suspect my treatment is "biased." Using *Mahuang* (Ephedrae Herba) and *Guizhi* (Cinnamomi Ramulus) is criticized as excessive sweating and purging; using *Ganjiang* (Zingiberis Rhizoma), *Fuzi* (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), *Huangqin* (Scutellariae Radix), and *Huanglian* (Coptidis Rhizoma) is criticized as too harsh in cold and heat properties; using *Xiaojianzhong Tang* (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction), *Lizhong Tang* (Regulate the Middle Decoction), *Xianxiong Tang* (Pit-Obstructing Decoction), and *Shizao Tang* (Ten Date Decoction) is criticized for leaving no room in tonification and purgation. *Dihuang* (Rehmanniae Radix) for nourishing yin and *Renshen* (Ginseng Radix) for tonifying yuan qi are used less than appropriate; dates, commonly eaten daily, and *Gancao* (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), extremely cheap herbs, are used more than appropriate. Such seemingly reasonable but actually fallacious statements are even worse than arbitrary and irrational ones. Those who perceive subtle signs could simply leave in disgust, yet they say, "The disease is still treatable," and cannot bear to abandon the patient indifferently. Although this stems from an endless desire to save lives, doubtful actions yield no success; instead of saving people, they cause harm.

Medicines circulate through meridians and organs, reaching inside and outside, because of *Qi*. *Qi* does not move itself; it is directed by Heart *Qi* and strengthened by Gallbladder *Qi*. Since the patient suspects my treatment is "biased," seeing my prescriptions which are beyond their imagination causes their Heart *Qi* to become chaotic. The *Neijing* states: "The Heart is the monarch official, from whom spirit and consciousness emerge." It also says: "If the ruler is unclear, the twelve officials are in danger." Not only does Heart *Qi* become chaotic, but Gallbladder *Qi* also becomes timid. The *Neijing* states: "The Gallbladder is the upright official, from whom decision-making emerges." It also says: "All twelve meridians depend on the Gallbladder." Medicines are merely roots, barks, and inert minerals/metals; they originally rely on the body's true *Qi* to circulate. Now, with chaotic Heart *Qi* moving recklessly and timid Gallbladder *Qi* failing to move, if *Huangqin* and *Huanglian* enter the mouth, their cold nature follows the patient's thoughts, causing immediate chills and shivering, manifesting cold symptoms. If *Ganjiang* and *Fuzi* enter the mouth, their hot nature follows the patient's thoughts, causing immediate irritability and facial flushing, manifesting heat symptoms. These examples illustrate the general principle; there is no need to elaborate further with painful detail. The underlying reason is fate. I merely follow nature. Why bother further? If my colleagues can take me as a warning, the Dao will be more illuminated, and more people will be saved.