I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 97 Goodbye General, Rescue Plan

Tokugawa Iemo summoned Yagyu again. It had been three days since the last meeting between the two.

As soon as Yagyu saw Tokugawa Iemo, he noticed that his condition was not very good, so he asked: "Sir General, you don't seem to be very energetic."

Tokugawa Iemo touched his face unconsciously and said a little embarrassedly: "Is it still obvious? I had toothache in the past two days and didn't get much rest."

Yagyu said with a serious look on his face: "I'd like to hear from you, Lord General, that you like sweets?"

"Well, what's wrong?" Tokugawa Iemo was a little confused.

"Sweets can cause tooth decay, and tooth decay can cause toothache," Yagyu said.

Ogasawara Nagayuki immediately scolded: "That's nonsense. Yagyu-sama also has medical skills? It's really unheard of."

Yagyu looked at Ogasawara Nagayuki and said, "Ogasawara-sama, does he know why ministers paint their teeth black?"

Ogasawara Nagayuki felt guilty, but said very forcefully: "That is court etiquette. You, a ronin, must not know it!"

Yagyu snorted coldly and said: "This is indeed court etiquette, but the paint used to blacken the teeth has the function of protecting the teeth."

“Doctors in Western countries have already studied dental diseases, and they can already remove damaged teeth and replace them with new ones.

If the general's toothache is not cured, it will keep recurring, which will only affect his health. At this time, the general's health is very important and cannot be ignored. "

A minister below immediately objected: "How can we let Westerners come to treat the general? It's not safe."

Yagyu had already expected this and said calmly: "I heard that a doctor named Matsumoto Yoshijun studied Western medicine with the Dutch and is now a doctor in the shogunate. If he is here to treat it, are there any problems? ?”

Tokugawa Iemo nodded and said: "Matsumoto Yoshijun? I know him, so let him try it."

Matsumoto Ryōjun's father was the feudal doctor of the Sakura Domain, and later he became the adopted son of the shogunate physician Matsumoto Ryōsuke.

Because his biological father Tairan Sato was familiar with Dutch medical skills, he was ordered by the shogunate to learn from Dutch military doctors in the fourth year of Ansei.

Last year, Matsumoto Yoshijun became the general's physician. However, due to the suppression by the chief physician of the Chinese medicine sect, he was unable to treat Tokugawa Iemo in time.

Yagyu knew Matsumoto Yoshijun because Isamu Kondo brought some members of the Shinsengumi to Edo and met Matsumoto Yoshijun, and Kondo Isamu also learned from Matsumoto Yoshijun that Souji Okita had tuberculosis.

But now Kondo Isamu has not come to Edo, and Okita Souji has not contracted tuberculosis.

But Yagyu still recognized Matsumoto Yoshijun's medical skills, and he needed Matsumoto Yoshijun's help.

In the Institute of Western Medicine, Matsumoto Yoshijun was reading a dental book. This book suddenly appeared on his desk two days ago. He knew something about dentistry, but it was not as detailed as the book. So I’ve been watching it for the past two days.

Matsumoto Yoshijun was a little surprised that Western doctors had used inhalation anesthesia to operate on patients and remove necrotic teeth. This was really unbelievable.

This made Matsumoto Yoshijun very fascinated, and he wished he could go abroad to see it for himself now.

"Is Dr. Matsumoto here?"

A shout interrupted Matsumoto Yoshijun's contemplation. He immediately stood up and walked to the door and said, "I am Matsumoto Yoshijun."

The warrior stepped forward and said, "Come with me quickly to see the general."

Matsumoto Yoshijun immediately changed his clothes and followed the samurai into Ouchi to meet Tokugawa Iemo.In the large room, Matsumoto Yoshijun saluted somewhat nervously: "Official doctor Matsumoto Yoshijun pays homage to the general."

Tokugawa Iemo said gently: "Ryojun, I called you here today because of my toothache. Jubei thinks that my toothache is caused by tooth decay caused by eating too many sweets. What do you think?"

Matsumoto Yoshijun raised his head and glanced at Yagyu in front of him, who had his back turned to him, and then asked: "Excuse me, General, do you eat a lot of sweets?"

Yagyu immediately pointed to the pastry next to Tokugawa Iemo and said, "This is the pastry that the shogun always keeps. Doctor Matsumoto, please take a look."

Matsumoto Yoshijun raised his head and said, "General, do you often eat this kind of cake? For example, several pieces a day."

Tokugawa Iemo nodded and said: "It's quite a lot, about a dozen yuan."

Matsumoto Yoshijun replied: "I just happened to read the research on teeth by Western doctors recently. The general's toothache may be due to the residue of sweets remaining between the teeth and not being effectively cleaned, which led to tooth decay.

Of course, I only made a rough inference, and I still need to look at the general's teeth to know the specific situation. However, I don't have any handy tools, so I need to buy them from the United States. "

Tokugawa Iemo nodded and said: "If there is anything you need to buy, please write a list and hand it in."

"Ha, I'll write it right away." Matsumoto Yoshijun stood up and planned to leave.

Yagyu immediately said: "Wait a minute, I remember that the general had beriberi. Dr. Matsumoto should have done research on beriberi."

Matsumoto Yoshijun was stunned for a moment. He sat down and said, "Hey, this disease is naturally the top priority."

Several generations of Tokugawa generals died of beriberi.

When Ogasawara Nagayuki saw Yagyu mentioning beriberi, he mocked: "Why, does Yagyu-sama think this young man knows how to treat beriberi?"

"Maybe." Yanagi looked at Tokugawa Iemomo and said, "Kamijun-sama and later Hidetada Gong have never suffered from beriberi. The general can learn from Kamijun-sama's life and rest, and feel why Kamijun-sama can When the shogunate was established in the troubled times of the Warring States Period, maybe the shogun would have a different experience."

Yagyu couldn't say it directly, so he could only vaguely mention it. Next, he could give some advice to Matsumoto Yoshijun and make changes in Tokugawa Iemo's diet, which would also extend Tokugawa Iemo's lifespan.

Although Kazuhashi Keiki is smart, he is a bit cunning and relies too much on conspiracy, so he is not a suitable partner.

After the meeting was disbanded, Yagyu left Ooku first. After a while, Matsumoto Yoshijun chased him out. He shouted loudly: "Yagyu-sama, please wait a moment!"

Yagyu turned around and smiled: "It's Dr. Matsumoto. What's the matter?"

Matsumoto Yoshijun saluted and said: "I would like to thank you, Yagyu-sama, for recommending me to govern you as a shogun. Although I have learned Western medical skills, I have never been able to put them to use. Fortunately, I am grateful to you, Yagyu-sama."

Yagyu smiled and said: "I am also thinking about the general's health. Since those Chinese medicine doctors have not been able to cure the general, they can only seek Western medicine. But I remember that Dr. Matsumoto's traditional Chinese medicine is not bad?"

Matsumoto Yoshijun nodded and said, "Yes, my family has been a doctor for generations, and my biological father came into contact with Orchidology, so after I studied Chinese medicine, I went to study Orchidism."

Yagyu casually mentioned: "I seem to have heard someone say that there are studies on beriberi in some Chinese medicine classics, but I don't know much about medicine and can't remember what classics it is. Dr. Matsumoto is proficient in Chinese medicine, so maybe I can look it up."

Matsumoto Yoshijun was very surprised. He said with joy on his face: "Really? I'll go find it right now."

Yagyu looked at Matsumoto Yoshijun who left in a hurry, raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and said secretly: Tokugawa Iemo, I saved your life.

I only hope that Tokugawa Iemo can survive the second expedition to Choshu, so that he can use this failure to promote reforms in the shogunate.

(End of this chapter)