In the prosperous era of the Great Tang, the country's power and prestige knew no bounds, resounding across distant lands. Amid this glory, the Tang not only forged the Silk Road over land to connect with Western regions but also turned its gaze to the vast ocean, actively opening up maritime trade routes and building close ties with overseas nations.
Lin Yue, a modern medical student who had time-traveled to the Tang Dynasty, had harbored a deep passion and talent for traditional Chinese medicine TCM since childhood. Through diligent study and extensive reading of medical texts, she had mastered solid TCM theoretical knowledge and superb medical skills at a young age. However, Lin Yue was not content to stop there. She longed to venture beyond the Tang, explore broader horizons, spread TCM culture, and learn overseas medical knowledge to enrich her own practice.
When the Tang prepared to assemble a massive fleet for maritime trade and cultural exchange, Lin Yue did not hesitate to sign up. She knew this was a rare opportunity not only to fulfill her dreams but also to contribute to the Tang's cultural exchange and medical development.
Amid cheers, the fleet slowly departed the harbor, sailing toward the unknown ocean. Along the way, Lin Yue was awed by the sea's magnificent scenery while deeply experiencing the hardships and dangers of navigation. Violent storms, hidden reefs, and treacherous shoals—each challenge tested the crew's courage and wisdom. Yet Lin Yue did not flinch. Together with the crew, she worked tirelessly to overcome one obstacle after another.
After a long voyage, the fleet finally reached its first destination—a small island nation in Southeast Asia. The island was beautiful and rich in resources, but due to its remote location, medical development lagged behind. Local residents suffered deeply from diseases but lacked effective treatments.
The moment Lin Yue set foot on this land, she threw herself into spreading TCM culture. Using her medical skills, she provided free diagnoses and treatments to the locals. Whether common ailments like headaches and colds, sprains and injuries, or complicated diseases, Lin Yue accurately diagnosed conditions using TCM theories and methods, offering effective treatment plans. Her superb skills and noble medical ethics won unanimous praise and respect from the locals.
While treating patients, Lin Yue befriended a local healer. Though the healer knew little about TCM, he held unique insights and methods in medicine. Lin Yue engaged in in-depth exchanges with him, discovering that while overseas medical knowledge differed vastly from TCM, it had much to learn from. For example, local healers excelled at using unique local herbs and plants with distinctive curative effects rarely seen in the Tang. Lin Yue humbly sought to learn their properties, uses, and preparation methods, documenting them carefully to bring back to the Tang for research.
Additionally, Lin Yue learned that overseas medicine had made progress in surgery. Using simple instruments, they performed complex procedures like amputations and sutures. Though these methods differed from TCM concepts, Lin Yue believed their techniques and experiences could inspire TCM's surgical development. In their exchanges, she also introduced TCM theories like yin-yang and the five elements, meridian qi-blood, acupuncture, and tuina Chinese massage. The local healer was astonished by TCM's depth and expressed a desire to visit the Tang to study this ancient and mysterious medical system.
As time passed, Lin Yue's reputation grew in the island nation. More and more residents sought her treatment, and she tirelessly diagnosed each patient while imparting TCM knowledge and concepts. She hoped that through her efforts, more people would understand and embrace TCM, allowing its culture to take root in this land.
While spreading TCM, Lin Yue never forgot her other mission: learning overseas medicine. During her free time, she ventured into local villages, visiting healers and herbalists to collect vast medical documents and herbal samples. She also toured local medical institutions to study their current developments and research achievements. These exchanges broadened her horizons, enriched her medical knowledge, and deepened her belief in medicine's borderless nature. She realized that both TCM and overseas medicine had strengths and weaknesses, and only through mutual learning could medical progress be achieved.
After a stay on the island, the fleet continued its journey. Along the maritime trade routes, they reached multiple overseas countries and regions. Everywhere they went, Lin Yue actively spread TCM and learned local medical knowledge. Her footprints spanned Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean coast, and beyond, making her a messenger of medical exchange between the Tang and foreign nations.
During one voyage, the fleet was suddenly hit by a storm. The clear sky darkened as if night had fallen, with thick clouds, thunder, lightning, and torrential rain—nature itself seemed to weep for the crew's peril. Waves surged one after another, plunging the fleet into a life-and-death crisis. On the turbulent sea, one ship faced unprecedented danger. Howling winds and crashing waves battered the hull, which swayed violently as if about to be swallowed by the raging ocean.
In this moment of crisis, Lin Yue stepped forward without hesitation. Forgetting her own safety, her only thought was to save the injured crew. With steady, determined steps, she rushed to the wounded. Relying on her years of TCM expertise, she methodically began treating them—first examining each injury carefully, then applying acupuncture, tuina, and other therapies. For severe wounds with uncontrollable bleeding, she quickly prepared herbal hemostatic poultices from her supplies.
Throughout the rescue, Lin Yue remained astonishingly calm and decisive. Her focused expression and skilled movements not only reassured the injured crew but also boosted the morale of others. Those once consumed by panic and despair were inspired by her composure, rallying to assist: some fetched medicine and tools, others stabilized patients, and some comforted the distressed. Together, they successfully controlled the injuries, ensuring all received timely treatment. After a long and arduous struggle, the ship gradually escaped danger and safely reached its destination. As they stepped onto solid ground, the entire crew cheered—they knew the voyage would not have succeeded without Lin Yue's courage and medical prowess. She became a hero in their hearts.
After the long sea journey, the fleet returned home laden with goods. Lin Yue brought back vast medical documents, herbal samples, and invaluable experience from overseas. Her return was met with warm welcomes from the court and citizens alike. The Emperor himself joined ministers lined up in two rows, celebrating with gongs, drums, songs, and dances.
Lin Yue meticulously compiled her overseas observations and insights into a medical book. It not only introduced overseas medical knowledge and herbal resources but also compared TCM with foreign medicine, offering her unique analyses and reflections. Upon publication, the book caused a sensation in the Tang's medical community, becoming a vital reference for many healers. Furthermore, she shared the surgical techniques and experiences she had learned overseas, working with other doctors to adapt and innovate these methods to align with TCM principles. The application of these new technologies significantly improved the Tang's surgical standards, bringing hope to countless patients.
Lin Yue's overseas journey not only spread TCM culture and promoted medical exchange but also injected new vitality into TCM's development. Her story inspired more people to devote themselves to medicine, contributing to human health and well-being. Meanwhile, the Tang's maritime trade routes flourished through this exchange, becoming a vital link connecting Eastern and Western civilizations.