Due to the lack of battles in recent days and no new wounded soldiers, some of the old patients had recovered. Jiang Ci felt somewhat relieved, no longer needing to keep watch all night.
With some free time, she picked up “Suwen” again. After assisting Military Physician Ling in treating the wounded, and identifying and decocting herbs for the past few days, she gained a deeper understanding when revisiting “Suwen”. However, there were still many parts she didn’t comprehend, so she took the opportunity to ask Cui Liang for detailed explanations when delivering medicine to the main tent each day.
Xu Jun’s injuries were healing quickly, and Ning Jianyu was already bouncing around energetically. However, they could only stay confined in the main tent with Pei Yan and Wei Zhao all day, feeling quite stifled. Ning Jianyu was still able to remain patient, but Xu Jun, not daring to speak loudly in front of Pei Yan, would quietly curse the ancestors of Mount Boyun hundreds of times each day.
Every morning and evening when Jiang Ci delivered medicine, she saw Pei Yan playing chess with Wei Zhao. They each had their share of wins and losses. Ning Jianyu, feeling somewhat unconvinced, played several games with Wei Zhao before gracefully admitting defeat.
Jiang Ci asked very detailed questions, and Cui Liang explained patiently. Sometimes, they even had Xu Jun act as a “patient”, allowing Jiang Ci to practice the four diagnostic methods. Xu Jun, feeling indebted to Cui Liang for saving his life, could only lie obediently on the couch, letting the two examine him.
On this day, Jiang Ci was inquiring about the “Five Viscera Differentiation” chapter in “Suwen”. As Cui Liang was explaining enthusiastically, he opened Xu Jun’s upper garment. After talking for a while, he suddenly sensed an unusual atmosphere in the tent.
He turned around and saw Pei Yan and Wei Zhao’s gazes directed towards them, while Jiang Ci was pointing at Xu Jun’s ribs, trying to locate the five viscera.
Hearing Cui Liang pause, Jiang Ci looked up and asked, “Brother Cui, is it here?”
Cui Liang smiled and said, “How about this, Xiao Ci, I’ll draw a complete diagram of the human body’s organs and meridians. Once you memorize it, you’ll understand more quickly.”
Jiang Ci was overjoyed: “Thank you, Brother Cui!” She quickly fetched paper and brush.
Cui Liang smiled and said, “It’s too late now. Let’s not disturb the Prime Minister and General Wei’s rest. We’ll go to your tent, and I’ll explain it to you in detail.”
“Alright.” Jiang Ci packed up her things and turned to leave.
Pei Yan stood up from the chessboard, smiling, “It’s no bother. Draw it here. I’d like to see what’s so special about Ziming’s diagram of human organs and meridians.”
Cui Liang smiled, “Prime Minister’s internal cultivation is profound, surely you’re already familiar with the human body’s organs and meridians. There’s no need to look again. It’s getting late, and my explanation will take at least an hour. We shouldn’t disturb the Prime Minister and General Wei’s rest.”
Xu Jun, fearing he might have to act as a “living corpse” again, quickly said, “Yes, yes, it’s late, I need to rest too. You should go somewhere else—” Before he could finish, he saw Pei Yan’s sharp gaze sweep over him. Though he didn’t know why, he quickly closed his mouth.
Jiang Ci turned back and tugged on Cui Liang’s left sleeve, “Let’s go, Brother Cui. We shouldn’t be in the way here.”
Cui Liang smiled slightly at Pei Yan and left the main tent with Jiang Ci.
Wei Zhao tapped a chess piece on the board, not looking up, and said leisurely, “Young Lord, are you going to continue this game?”
“Of course, with San Lang as a company, the game becomes interesting.” Pei Yan smiled as he sat back down.
Wei Zhao’s lips curved slightly, “Having Young Lord as an opponent is truly one of life’s pleasures.”
Before they finished the game, Tong Min brought Long Wind Guard An He into the tent. An He knelt before Pei Yan. Pei Yan and Ning Jianyu exchanged glances, and Pei Yan said in a deep voice, “Speak.”
“Yes. Elder Brother An successfully led the Cloud Rider Battalion to Daimei Ridge and conveyed the Prime Minister’s orders. As per your instructions, General Tian moved the battle to Qingmao Valley. Our powerful crossbows successfully forced the Huan army back. Now General Tian has raised the Prime Minister’s command flag as instructed and is guarding Qingmao Valley, facing off against the Huan army.”
“How is the Huan army’s movement?”
“After we used the powerful crossbows, the Huan army suffered significant losses. They rested for two days. On the day I left, they launched another attack, but it wasn’t fierce, more like a probe.”
Pei Yan thought for a moment and asked, “Did Yi Han take the field?”
“No,” An He paused and continued, “After Qingmao Valley was nearly lost, the Duke of Hexi rushed to the army camp from Hexi Prefecture. He brought 16,000 recruits hastily conscripted from Hexi Prefecture and surrounding villages to replenish the troops. Hearing that supplies were insufficient, he also mobilized wealthy merchants from Hexi Prefecture to donate money and provisions. General Tian asks the Prime Minister not to worry, he will certainly hold Qingmao Valley and not let the Huan army take Hexi Prefecture.”
Wei Zhao looked up, his gaze meeting Pei Yan’s. They both smiled slightly, and Pei Yan waved his hand, dismissing An He.
Pei Yan then said to Tong Min, “Go to Miss Jiang’s tent and invite Ziming over. Tell him there’s an urgent matter to discuss, and he can continue teaching tomorrow night.”
“Yes.”
Pei Yan said no more and continued playing chess with Wei Zhao. Both had smiles on their faces, playing quite casually. Ning Jianyu watched from the side, feeling somewhat confused, and took a few more careful looks at Wei Zhao.
Cui Liang hurried in, and Ning Jianyu repeated the Western front military intelligence that An He had just reported. Pei Yan and Wei Zhao had also reached a draw in their chess game. Pei Yan pushed away the chess board and stood up, “Ziming, in your opinion, how much time do we have left?”
Cui Liang thought carefully for a long while, his expression somewhat grave, “We need to end the battle here quickly.”
He unfolded the terrain map and said, “The main problem now is that we can’t completely block the mountain road from Niubi Mountain to Daimei Ridge. Both sides have spies with excellent qinggong who can cross the steep mountains at any time to relay military intelligence between the two locations. Although we’ve used deceptive tactics, neither side is sure where the Prime Minister and the main force are, but given enough time, they’ll be able to see through the ruse. If the enemy discovers the truth, we might end up trapping ourselves.”
Ning Jianyu nodded, “Yes, Mount Boyun is battle-hardened, and Yu Wenjing Lun is no pushover. Moreover, once we engage in battle with Mount Boyun on this side, we need to end it quickly. If it drags on and the Marquis is exposed, Yu Wenjing Lun will learn of it and surely launch a strong attack against Tian Ce. Whether Tian Ce can withstand it is a big question. After all, Qingmao Valley is the last line of defense north of Hexi Prefecture.”
Cui Liang said, “Based on the attacking power I saw from the Boyun army that day, I estimate that if Mount Boyun launches a full-scale attack, it will take us at least three to four days to set up ambushes, cut off his main force, defeat them, and then clean up the battlefield. In these three to four days, any spy with excellent qinggong would have enough time to inform Yu Wenjing Lun of the situation here. Once he launches a fierce attack, General Tian will struggle, and we might not be able to arrive in time.”
Pei Yan pondered, “Ziming means we can’t delay any longer, lest the forces on that side suffer too many losses and Tian Ce can’t withstand the Huan army’s final attack.”
“Yes.” Cui Liang rolled up the terrain map, glancing at Wei Zhao as he straightened up, “Prime Minister, we need to lure Mount Boyun into launching an attack as soon as possible.”
Summer had arrived, and after two days of clear weather, the military camp felt somewhat sweltering in the heat.
The night was deep. Returning from the central military tent, Jiang Ci brought two buckets of water into her tent. She took off her military cap, let down her long hair, and quickly washed her hair and bathed. Feeling refreshed, she sat on the felt mat with her wet hair loose, carefully reading “Suwen”.
However, from outside the tent came the voice of the medicine boy, Xiao Tian: “Xiao Jiang.”
Jiang Ci hurriedly braided her wet hair, hastily put on her military cap, and responded, “I’m here, what’s the matter?”
“Xiao Qing and I need to go to Jing Prefecture to get medicine. Can you cover our night shift?”
Jiang Ci quickly replied, “Alright, I’ll be right there.”
In the medical tent, Military Physician Ling was administering acupuncture to several wounded soldiers. Seeing Jiang Ci enter, he said, “Xiao Tian has sorted out the medicines. After you decoct them, deliver them to each tent.”
“Yes.” Jiang Ci placed the medicine pot on the medicinal stove and stood watch nearby. As Military Physician Ling turned, he saw her still holding “Suwen” and shook his head without saying anything more.
The fragrance of medicine filled the air as Jiang Ci placed the decocted medicines into bamboo baskets and delivered them to each medical tent. Seeing that the wounded soldiers’ conditions were improving, she felt quite pleased.
She carried the last basket of medicinal soup to the Gui medical tent. Just as she lifted the tent flap, something flew towards her face. She quickly dodged, hearing a crude curse: “Damn it, bringing medicine at this hour, do you want your grandfather to die of pain?!”
Jiang Ci was puzzled. This was her first time at the Gui medical tent; previously, Xiao Qing had been responsible for this area. The Long Wind Cavalry had strict discipline, and when she delivered medicine to other medical tents, even if she was a bit late, no one cursed so rudely. Seeing about twenty wounded soldiers inside the tent, with a burly man in a Commander’s uniform and his left arm bandaged glaring at her, she quickly said, “I’m sorry, Brother. Xiao Qing isn’t on night duty tonight, so I’m a bit late. Please forgive me.”
The Commander walked over, looked Jiang Ci up and down, then turned back and laughed, “Brothers, look at this, the Long Wind Cavalry has such goods!”
The wounded soldiers burst into laughter, surrounding Jiang Ci, all speaking vulgar words.
“That’s right, even prettier than those catamites in General Gao’s tent!”
“Look at this delicate skin, must be new to the army. Have you been ridden by the Long Wind Cavalry yet?”
“Who would have thought that the so-called disciplined Long Wind Cavalry also had a taste for this!”
“Exactly, they look down on us Hexi soldiers, what gives them the right!”
Someone reached out to touch Jiang Ci’s cheek: “Boy is your General Ning injured because he overexerted himself with you, making him unable to dodge that arrow from Mount Boyun?! Since he’s injured, let your daddy take care of you.”
Jiang Ci thought, “This is bad.” Over the past few days, in the medical tent, she had overheard Xiao Tian and others chatting, learning that there were still some of Gao Cheng’s Hexi soldiers here. Because the Hexi army and the Long Wind Cavalry had never gotten along, after Gao Cheng was summoned back to the capital by the Emperor, General Ning had moved the remnants of the Hexi army south of Xiaojing River to avoid causing trouble here. However some Hexi soldiers remained due to unhealed injuries, and it seemed that those in this Gui medical tent were the wounded from the Hexi army.
She tried to dodge urgently but was surrounded by the wounded soldiers. Among these wounded, there were several with considerable martial arts skills. Even if Jiang Ci used her qinggong, she couldn’t break through their encirclement.
Seeing her in such a predicament, the Hexi army’s wounded soldiers became even more arrogant, their mouths full of vulgar and extremely filthy language. Jiang Ci angrily rebuked, “You are violating military discipline. Aren’t you afraid of General Ning’s military punishment?”
The Commander laughed loudly, mocking, “General Ning?! Your General Ning is now like a clay Buddha crossing a river, barely able to protect himself. This Niubi Mountain is about to fall, and when that happens, he’ll be finished. Who will be left to punish us according to military law?”
“That’s right, Chen An definitely can’t hold Niubi Mountain. He’s just putting on airs, saying Pei Yan has arrived at the camp. It’s just a bluff because he’s scared, trying to make Mount Boyun hesitate to attack. If Pei Yan were here, why hasn’t he shown his face?!”
“Exactly! He’s just hanging on, why should we wait here to die!”
“Brother You, we can’t wait here to die. We need to go to the capital and continue to follow General Gao!”
“Right, we want to go to the capital. What right does Ning Jianyu have to stop us from leaving?!”
Commander You waved his hand, and everyone fell silent. He walked step by step towards Jiang Ci, who retreated step by step but was surrounded by the wounded soldiers. Seeing Commander You’s hand about to touch her cheek, she finally couldn’t hold back and shouted angrily, throwing out both fists.
Commander You chuckled, his body swaying left and right, easily avoiding Jiang Ci’s first round of punches. As Jiang Ci’s strength began to wane, his right fist suddenly hooked out. The whistling fist shadows brought a gust of wind, forcing Jiang Ci to retreat rapidly. However, there were still several wounded soldiers behind her, one of whom suddenly stuck out his foot. Jiang Ci stumbled and was struck on the forehead by Commander You, falling backward.
Commander You crouched down beside her with a cold smile, his right hand slowly reaching towards her chest.