Chapter 8: Seeking Cultivation Techniques, Meeting the Commander of the Red Scale Army

Medical Officer Hu, whose name was Hu Chunniu, was the resident physician of the Hu Family Medical Hall in Fengtian County. When the city was under siege, he was conscripted by the Red Scale Army to serve as a medical officer in the infirmary.

Hearing Zhang Yuan speak, Hu Chunniu turned his head. Seeing the steaming bowl of meat broth in Zhang Yuan’s hands, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

"There are indeed some medicinal herbs in the infirmary that aren't being used, but the wound medicine has run out. With this courtyard full of wounded soldiers, I am powerless to treat them..."

There was a sense of helplessness in Hu Chunniu’s voice.

As a healer, it was truly agonizing to look at a room full of wounded men and be unable to do anything for them.

Zhang Yuan recognized Hu Chunniu; after Zhang Yuan had regained consciousness, Hu Chunniu had been curious about the method he used to bandage Young Master Tao’s wounds.

According to Hu Chunniu, if not for Zhang Yuan’s technique for sealing the wound and his method for maintaining Young Master Tao’s cardiopulmonary function, the young master would not have survived until the arrival of Vice Commander Zhao.

Zhang Yuan could not tell Hu Chunniu that these bandaging and CPR techniques were the most basic first-aid methods used in the Huaxia military.

He could only tell Hu Chunniu that it was a method taught to him by a traveling physician he had met in the past.

"Medical Officer Hu, the old physician who taught me medicine said that many medicinal herbs are actually edible."

"Could we take some of those herbs, mix them with the meat broth and some water, and boil them together so everyone can have a bowl?"

Herbs mixed with meat broth, boiled with water?

Zhang Yuan’s words made the eyes of the surrounding wounded soldiers light up, and they couldn't help but lift their heads.

Hu Chunniu was also stunned for a moment before looking at the ceramic bowl in Zhang Yuan’s hands.

"That... is not impossible..."

……

Originally, Zhang Yuan had only suggested boiling meat broth with edible medicinal herbs and water so that every wounded soldier in the infirmary could have a bowl.

But he hadn't expected that the herbs Hu Chunniu dug out—edible yam, Solomon’s seal, poria, and the like—would amount to thirty or fifty catties.

Two catties of herbs boiled with the meat broth made a large pot, and with a bit of salt added, it not only tasted excellent but was also filling.

Many of the soldiers who had been weak ate two bowls in a row, and their complexions actually improved quite a bit before they fell into a deep sleep.

Chen Wuxiong delivered half a pot of meat broth and returned with a full pot.

This single pot of medicinal soup set the entire South City in motion.

The half-pot of soup left over by Duan Hong and his men was sent to the Commander, who then ordered a search for medicinal herbs throughout the South City.

There were two medical halls in the South City, as well as one herb shop with a small warehouse.

From these places alone, they unearthed seven or eight hundred catties of herbs that, according to the decoction recipes written by Hu Chunniu, were edible.

Then, the soldiers went to the homes of the local South City residents and scrounged up another two hundred catties.

A total of a thousand catties of edible herbs were laid out before the Commander’s tent, leaving the various captains and battalion commanders somewhat dazed.

"We had already run out of rations last night. With this stunt of yours, we’ve gained at least three more days of military supplies," Chen Wuxiong said when he came again, carrying a ceramic pot, his face full of emotion.

With over six hundred garrison soldiers, once the food ran out, they likely wouldn't have lasted two days.

"Hey, this medicinal food is not bad at all; it doesn't taste any worse than gnawing on corn buns," Young Master Tao said softly after gulping down two mouthfuls.

"Heh heh, the recipe I created nourishes the blood and boosts energy, and it tastes good too. When the day comes..." Hu Chunniu chuckled a few times but swallowed the rest of his words.

The inheritance of medical arts, like martial arts, was a closely guarded secret. Hu Chunniu’s recipe for this medicinal soup was a treasure that could not be passed on to others.

"By the way, Zhang Yuan, the Commander asked what reward you wanted. I’ll pass it on for you when I see him."

Hu Chunniu looked at Zhang Yuan, his eyes filled with a hint of envy. "Just say the word if you want money or an official position. Your ancestors must be smoking from their graves."

How to put it? Hu Chunniu wasn't wrong.

For ordinary families, living in poverty their whole lives, both wealth and official positions were things they dared not even dream of.

Countless people struggled with all their might, yet were unable to climb the social ladder.

Now, as long as Zhang Yuan spoke up, the Commander could grant him a reward; this was indeed an unimaginable stroke of fortune.

However, in the current situation in Fengtian County, what use were money or official titles?

They didn't even know if they would be alive tomorrow.

What did he want?

Although Zhang Yuan had only offered a suggestion, for the Red Scale Army defending the city and for the Commander, this was a great contribution.

Zhang Yuan hesitated and turned to look at Young Master Tao, who was standing to the side.

As the only scholar in the camp, Young Master Tao always had a sharp mind.

"Zhang Yuan, if you can, ask the Commander to reward you with a martial arts manual." Young Master Tao lowered his voice, looking at Zhang Yuan. "You have good talent for cultivation. If you have a good manual, you might be able to accomplish something in the future, even if—"

Even if the city fell, having a good martial arts manual would give him a better chance of breaking out, wouldn't it?

He couldn't say that out loud.

Everyone knew that Fengtian County could no longer be held; the fall of the city was only a matter of time.

Chen Wuxiong also nodded slightly.

"Then I will ask Medical Officer Hu to convey to the Commander that if possible, I would like to be rewarded with a martial arts manual," Zhang Yuan said, taking a deep breath.

——————————————

Fengtian County, South City, the former Li family mansion.

This was now the garrison headquarters and the location of the Commander’s military tent.

Over five hundred soldiers surrounded the mansion, connecting it to the surrounding city walls to form the final line of defense.

Zhang Yuan hadn't expected that for simply wanting a martial arts manual, the Commander would summon him for a private audience.

Zhang Yuan waited outside the courtyard for nearly half an hour before being called into the hall.

Standing outside, he clenched his fists from time to time to calm his excitement.

The Red Scale Army Commander was a fifth-rank general, equal in rank to a prefect; he was the highest-ranking official Zhang Yuan had ever seen.

Commander Yu Lin was over fifty years old, clad in crimson battle armor, with a short, stiff beard and an upright posture.

"Zhang Yuan?" Seeing that Zhang Yuan was only a teenager, Commander Yu Lin was slightly taken aback.

He had heard reports about Zhang Yuan’s deeds.

But he hadn't expected Zhang Yuan to be a youth who hadn't even reached adulthood.

A boy like this shouldn't be here.

Yu Lin looked at Zhang Yuan with a hint of guilt and said softly, "Are your wounds better?"

Zhang Yuan quickly cupped his hands, his face flushing red, and said loudly, "Reporting to the Commander, I can still lift a blade and kill the enemy."

His words carried the passion and hot-bloodedness unique to a youth.

Yu Lin nodded and waved his hand.

"How did you come up with that method?"

He wasn't the first to ask this question.

Those who had never touched the medical arts didn't know about using medicinal herbs to stave off hunger.

Those in the medical profession, like Hu Chunniu and the other physicians, were mostly reluctant to use the herbs, and being caught up in the situation, they hadn't thought of this solution.

Zhang Yuan brought up his old master, the traveling physician, and gave a brief account.

His old master, who had suffered much, naturally knew many ways to survive.

"Although the method was passed down by that old gentleman, it is rare that you remembered it and were willing to think of your comrades," Yu Lin nodded, his expression softening considerably as he looked at Zhang Yuan.

Just as he said, Zhang Yuan’s starting point for thinking of this method had been to share the meat broth with the wounded in the infirmary.

Zhang Yuan had risked his life to save his comrades while covering the retreat, and was willing to share his food with them in the infirmary.

He was pure of heart and valued loyalty and righteousness.

"The Commander killed his beloved warhorse, that is truly..." Zhang Yuan said in a low voice, not continuing further.

(End of chapter)