Chapter 29: The Reward for Zhao Feng!

After a moment of silence.

Ying Zheng finished reading the bamboo slips.

"Minister Xia."

"Is the information in this report absolutely true?" Ying Zheng closed the bamboo slips and asked with extreme gravity.

"This report was personally drafted and submitted by my disciple, Master Chen."

"It is absolutely authentic."

"The suturing method and the heat-sterilization method indeed possess miraculous effects."

"Master Chen used three hundred severely wounded soldiers as a sample; out of three hundred, two hundred and seventy-five survived. Only twenty-five died from untreatable injuries."

"Furthermore, none of those who survived contracted the 'Seven-Day Wind'."

"In the past, this would have been utterly impossible," Xia Wuqie said with a serious expression, though his aged face could not hide his excitement.

As a physician, being able to master higher medical arts was a cause for joy, and being able to save more lives was even more so.

The Seven-Day Wind.

An eternal problem, nearly impossible to avoid.

Yet now, a method of prevention existed.

Suturing—a miraculous way to stop bleeding, allowing soldiers suffering from massive hemorrhages to achieve significant hemostasis when combined with styptic medicines.

Hearing Xia Wuqie's words, the ministers in the imperial court instantly understood why Xia Wuqie, who rarely attended court, had suddenly appeared today.

For the Great Qin army, this was indeed a monumental matter.

Whenever a great battle occurred and casualties mounted, these wounded soldiers were the elite of Great Qin. Losing even one was a tragedy, let alone the thousands of wounded that resulted from every major conflict.

In the era of cold weapons, most injuries involved internal organ damage and uncontrollable bleeding.

And, of course, there was the nearly unavoidable Seven-Day Wind.

In the past, if one or two out of ten severely wounded soldiers survived, it was considered a blessing from the heavens. Now, the numbers had been reversed.

The survival rate had increased so drastically.

"Since Minister Xia is certain, this medical skill must have its merits and its uses."

"Moreover, it has already been proven through practice. Truly, Heaven protects Great Qin!" Ying Zheng declared loudly.

"From these two medical innovations, one can see this boy's talent for the Way of Medicine."

"This old official earnestly requests that this boy be transferred to the Lantian Military Medical Camp, so that my incompetent disciple may instruct him. In the future, when he is summoned to Xianyang, I intend to teach him personally," Xia Wuqie said with excitement.

Hearing this, a trace of a helpless smile appeared on Ying Zheng's face.

In the past, Ying Zheng would have agreed to whatever Xia Wuqie requested.

But just moments ago, he had announced that Zhao Feng would be transferred to the main camp. If such a fierce general were to serve as a military doctor, the world would mock Great Qin.

"Minister Xia."

"If you wanted someone else, perhaps I could grant it, but not this person," Ying Zheng said with a smile.

"Why?"

Xia Wuqie's expression changed slightly, and he asked in confusion, "My incompetent disciple said that this boy is merely a member of the Logistics Corps..."

As soon as these words fell, the ministers in the court looked at Xia Wuqie, and then at Ying Zheng.

Instantly, many ministers realized something.

"A member of the Logistics Corps, and yet the King refused Great Physician Xia? Could it be that the person who created these new medical arts is that Zhao Feng?" The quick-witted ministers in the court could not help but wonder.

Otherwise, Ying Zheng would never have refused Xia Wuqie.

"This 'Logistics Corps' member you speak of is quite extraordinary."

"Baoyuan led his troops to hide in Yangcheng and launched a sudden ambush on our army. Had it not been for this boy's bravery in leading the Logistics Corps to meet the challenge, our Great Qin's grain supply lines would have been severed by Baoyuan."

"He killed three hundred enemies single-handedly and personally slew Baoyuan."

"Such a fierce general is not as simple as a mere member of the Logistics Corps."

"Generalissimo Wang Jian has already submitted a memorial to me, requesting that this boy be transferred to the main combat camp. I have already granted it," Ying Zheng said with a smile.

Xia Wuqie was astonished. "This Zhao Feng is actually that capable?"

"He has indeed given me a great surprise."

"Originally, I only knew of this boy's fierce combat prowess, worthy of being called a brave general."

"I did not expect that upon arriving, Minister Xia would bring me another piece of good news."

"He is actually proficient in medicine, and it will be of great use to our army's wounded camps," Ying Zheng added, his tone also filled with surprise.

Xia Wuqie regained his composure. "Since the boy is a brave general, and Generalissimo Wang Jian has already spoken, then this old official was being presumptuous."

"However, I can guarantee with my life that the medical methods created by Zhao Feng are unprecedented and truly miraculous. They are sufficient to prevent countless wounded soldiers of Great Qin from dying needlessly."

"On behalf of all the wounded soldiers of Great Qin, I petition the King to bestow rewards upon Zhao Feng."

As he spoke, Xia Wuqie bowed deeply.

Ying Zheng waved his hand. "Rest assured, Minister Xia. Anyone who performs meritorious service for our Great Qin shall be rewarded!"

"Commander Wei."

"Draft the decree and send it to the Lantian Camp."

Wei Liao immediately stepped forward. "Your servant awaits the Royal Decree!"

"Zhao Feng, Sergeant of the Logistics Corps, has performed meritorious service for the state. He fought bravely to defeat the enemy, averted a surprise attack, and created medical methods to save the wounded of Great Qin. These are all great merits and deserve heavy rewards."

"Now."

"Zhao Feng is transferred to the main combat camp to command troops, serving as an officer of the Elite Soldiers!"

"Zhao Feng's military rank is promoted by four levels, to the position of Military Marquis, commanding five thousand troops!"

"Zhao Feng's nobility is promoted by five levels, being granted the title of [Official Physician]!"

"His military salary, annual nobility stipend, and entitled lands shall all be determined by military merit and redeemed after the war," Ying Zheng proclaimed with majestic authority.

Based on his merit in killing enemies and slaying a general, Zhao Feng should have originally been promoted by four levels of nobility, but Ying Zheng had granted him an extra level.

Compared to military rank, nobility was even harder to ascend.

After all, nobility represented honors beyond military duty, including annual stipends and land.

"Your servant accepts the decree," Wei Liao responded immediately.

"Tell Wang Jian."

"How to utilize and deploy this fierce general is for him to decide for himself," Ying Zheng added.

"Your servant understands."

"Your Majesty."

"Your servant has one more matter to report," Wei Liao said respectfully.

"Speak," Ying Zheng looked at Wei Liao.

"The surprise attack by Baoyuan was due to Li Teng's greed for glory and reckless advancement. Furthermore, the Logistics Corps is meant to handle logistics and supplies, not the main combat camp. Yet, they fought fearlessly when ambushed, providing Great Qin the opportunity to annihilate Baoyuan and earning great merit."

"However, the death benefits for the Logistics Corps are far lower than those for the main Elite Soldiers."

"These soldiers of the Logistics Corps died due to a general's failure, yet they died fighting fearlessly."

"I earnestly request the King's great benevolence to treat these Logistics Corps soldiers with the same benefits as the Elite Soldiers, to demonstrate Your Majesty's heavenly grace," Wei Liao said loudly, bowing deeply.

As these words fell, a look of emotion crossed Ying Zheng's brow.

"Your Majesty."

"The system of nobility cannot be disrupted."

"Nearly ten thousand members of the Logistics Corps died in this battle. If all are given benefits equal to the Elite Soldiers, it will cause an unnecessary drain on the national treasury."

"Currently, our Great Qin's mobilization is already increasing the daily expenditure of funds and grain. We must not allow the system of nobility to be thrown into chaos because of this."

An elderly official, the head of the civil officials, stepped forward. It was none other than the current Chancellor, Wang Wan.

"I concur."

"The system of nobility and the expenditures of the treasury—if misused, it will be detrimental to the state."

"I ask Your Majesty to reconsider."

Following Wang Wan, more and more civil officials stepped forward in agreement.

Unsurprisingly, these were all civil officials.