Dark-Haired British Doctor Chapter 293

Episode 293 Red Ginseng [1]

What would happen if everyone knew that red ginseng was a specialty of Joseon?

Even though I am a powerful figure in London and I owe a debt of gratitude to many powerful people…

It was clear that a second Opium War would break out.

Yeong-gil-li will do Yeong-gil-li, that's what I'm saying.

No, no.

'Unfortunately, if it is Joseon's national power at the moment… … .'

Even during the Imjin War, it was used in the beginning, but didn't it end up being overturned no matter what?

Well, I don't know if there will be any strange people hiding out there if war breaks out now…

The power of the British Empire is truly no joke.

It means that if you just push with force, you won't have to go as far as opium, and the mountains all over the country can become ginseng cultivation fields.

'I'm sorry… … China.'

I had already told Pucka.

He was a smuggler who was somewhat of a patriot, and he was extremely wary of British and other foreign ships, so he fooled Captain Lees perfectly.

It may also be that Liston and I took the pastor, who had such great linguistic skills that he volunteered to be our interpreter, with us under the pretext of sightseeing.

How much would it cost if Pucka spoke English?

This, that, money, that's all.

That's why, even though he came all the way here, Reese didn't really understand what he was buying.

“It is a specialty of Cheong.”

“Oh… … This? Why didn’t we see it?”

“Because it’s such a good product, they keep it among themselves and eat it, that’s why. If you ask them, they’ll probably lie and say that it’s from Joseon.”

“Aha… … They really are such evil guys… … .”

So I sold the blue one.

I feel a little sorry, but what can I do?

It's already… shattered.

What would happen if you added some red ginseng to it?

Besides, since the quantity is different in the first place, it won't have the same destructive power as black tea.

“It’s not exactly a lie… … It was Joseon doctors who discovered the efficacy of red ginseng, which is made by steaming and drying ginseng. However, the place of origin is Cheong.”

“Aha… … I see. Anyway, so. What are the effects of this hyongsiam?”

“Yes, this red ginseng is good for stroke, diabetes, and cancer.”

Rather, it is now that I feel guilty.

Well… … it's not entirely a lie.

Saponins certainly have that effect.

but…….

It is by no means a substitute for medicine.

There's nothing wrong with just eating it.

Even wearing too much can thin the blood, greatly increasing the risk of bleeding during surgery or injury.

This is also the reason why you must mention red ginseng when asked if you are taking any medications before surgery.

Well, before the patient even thinks about it, the doctors ask questions anyway.

In fact, it is a well-known fact that patients who take red ginseng have a severe tendency to bleed.

“No… … Are you saying it’s almost comparable to arsenic or mercury?”

“It doesn’t look that strong… …? Is there mercury or arsenic in it?”

“I see a red flag floating around. Could it be mercury?”

“Mercury… … So is this a medicine that removes the toxicity of mercury?”

“Well, I also heard that the Qing emperors enjoyed taking a medicine made from mercury called Yeon-dan.”

“Oh… … Is that so? Your Excellency the Wise Duke.”

“That’s why I’ve been playing around with mercury lately, haha.”

Anyway, when I talked about the efficacy of red ginseng, everyone went crazy.

A cure-all… … .

Isn't it common sense, at least in 21st century South Korea, that this is an illusion?

But in 19th century Europe, especially in London, this was never the case.

Steam engines have been around for quite some time now, and we can draw world maps that are almost exactly like the real thing. We are also in an age where airplanes will soon be flying, but unfortunately, people's perceptions are still stuck in the Middle Ages.

No wonder Boyle, the father of chemistry, and Newton, the father of physics, were also fascinated by alchemy.

This isn't an empty promise, because both of them tried everything with mercury, and the mercury in their hair was found to be more than 10 times higher than that of the general population…

'But why that… … .'

As expected, the reputation of a man who cuts off his own body parts is great.

No matter what?

Even though the 19th century was still a time when barbarism and science were mixed, it was becoming common knowledge that alchemy was a fraud… … How could a so-called duke do this and that with mercury?

It was even more absurd because he was my precious customer and patient.

It's not even a puffer fish… … .

If you keep them alive, they'll paint arsenic wallpaper, if you keep them alive, they'll smoke cocaine, if you keep them alive, they'll eat mercury…

“Oh, that’s not it.”

"no?"

“Well, isn’t it a plant?”

“Now, this is dried whole ginseng. What is its color?”

“It’s so dark.”

“It’s originally almost flesh-colored.”

“White?”

Oh, yeah.

Flesh color was a racist term.

The person who casts it on himself and gets hit by it, that's me.

“No, it’s the color of our Orientals.”

“Ah… … yellow.”

“Yes, yes. Anyway, take a look at the shape.”

"form……?"

“This is the head, torso, arms, and legs.”

“Oh, there are peppers too! They’re really big.”

I thought that normally you wouldn't think of it as a bridge.

No, before that, is it normal for an old person to be alone and say "chili pepper" in front of other people with high social standing?

'Oh, by any chance… … ?'

Are you crazy?

There were many possible factors, but the situation was too much.

He's old, diabetic, and considering he cut off his own body parts, he seems to lack common sense…

“Yes, yes. It’s in human form. So how good would it be for people?”

As I speak, I feel a sense of self-loathing at the same time.

Is this the mind of a show doctor?

Even though I know it's nonsense… … .

Is this the mind of a professional who has knelt down before a price too great to refuse?

No, it's not.

'It is a hundred, a thousand times better to eat red ginseng than arsenic or mercury.'

Besides, all of this is bought in Joseon, so isn't it the way to be patriotic?

It's a bit similar to what the drug lord said in the movie Drug King starring Song Kang-ho, so it gives me goosebumps… … .

I thought about it many times while coming here, but I still can't help but think that it's not wrong.

"aha……."

“That makes sense.”

I felt complicated as I looked at the 19th century famous doctor Liston, who nodded in strong agreement with what I said, and Blundell, who also looked similar, and my students.

“Surely… … if it’s a plant in the shape of a person, it would contain some kind of energy.”

“This is also good for diabetes… … So does that mean I don’t need to drink cow pancreatic liver water?”

“Oh, no. It’s just a supplement. It can be used as a preventive measure.”

“Ah… … Then I… … ?”

“That must be right. It’s going to be a big problem.”

“If you say so, then I can’t help it. But then to whom should I sell it, and for how much?”

“We can probably import this amount two or three times a year at most.”

“Huh… … That’s it?”

"yes."

In 21st century South Korea, ginseng is a crop that can be mass-produced, but in 19th century Joseon, it was impossible.

I'm so busy growing rice to make a living that I'm dying, so what the heck is ginseng?

Of course, I don't know the exact details, but…

When I saw the frog school in the past, it seemed like it was very hungry.

The students must have been noblemen, but they didn't seem to live well.

Above all, it was what our uncle Park Ga said.

He also said that bringing it like this now is quite a stretch.

“Who is that… Chief of Staff of the Blue House?”

“Park Ga-yo.”

“Pucka? Are you a commoner?”

“Yes, he is a commoner.”

He probably isn't a nobleman.

First of all, there is no ink smell at all on my face.

How could a nobleman in the Joseon Dynasty not smell like ink?

That won't be the case.

“I see… …Can you trust me?”

“First of all, because I am a Joseon person.”

Above all, he has nothing to lose in this deal.

In any case, unlike the Opium War, didn't our British Empire gain the rights to all Qing ports?

That means that all the routes originally used for smuggling and other illegal activities have been blocked.

If you get official permission from the UK, you might give it to a smuggler.

Even if it's a long shot, that's impossible.

“Yes, Koreans are trustworthy. Aren’t they the closest to white people among Asians?”

“Haha, that’s right. Don’t you think so just by looking at our poets?”

“Yes, sir. The poet of the British Empire is not close to white, but white. Do you know how much progress our British Empire has made thanks to the poet of the British Empire?”

People who say things like this are likely to give permission.

Isn't it the real imperialist power itself?

Just looking at the fact that not a single person thinks it is rude to say such things in front of a Korean, well…

“This time, I’ve also broken that damned theory of toxicity.”

If I try to add words at a time like this, I'll just get cursed at.

So I just stayed still.

In fact, it is strange that the Duke and the Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom are talking and then interrupting.

It's the same even if I'm scheduled to be awarded a title.

Those who are here now are the very foundation of my power… … .

There's no need to get too presumptuous here and be hated, right?

Anyway, the person who has now passed the ball of conversation to the congressman I helped save by opening his head before.

I've heard the name many times, but every time I see it, I remember it making my head hurt, so I forgot.

“Ah, ah! That! Yeah, thanks to that, the voices of the opposition parties were really silenced.”

“Really… … these old bastards. They’re suggesting that we move the industrial complex out of London! They’re just afraid of this soot!”

So, as I was asking what the name was, the conversation became more and more interesting.

'Moving industrial complexes out of London?'

Isn't this a great argument?

But you say that it was thanks to me that I broke through it?

I wondered what kind of ridiculous accusations these people were making again.

If only my status had been just a little lower, I would have turned it around… … .

It's a shame that there are people who can't do that.

“Didn’t our poet Piyeong break through the new miasma theory by showing that no matter how strange the smell is, it is not dangerous?”

“That’s right, that’s right! What kind of miasma could there be in the air?”

“Thanks to that, at least sensible intellectuals have come to know that it is not the smelly air that is dangerous, but the miasma in the water or on the floor that is dangerous.”

“Hahaha. Thanks to that, London’s industry has been able to run smoothly. No, no. Even in areas that were previously opposed for being smelly, factories have been able to be built!”

“Hahahaha! This is truly the glory of England, glory!”

ah…….

It's amazing that the elimination of the theory of poison has come back like a boomerang…

The Great Smog… …is it coming now?