Seeking a cultivation method, meeting the Crimson Scale Army Commander

Physician Hu's name was Hu Chunniu. He was the resident doctor at Fengtian County's Hu Clan Medical Hall. When the city was defended, he had been conscripted by the Crimson Scale Army to serve as a physician in the wounded soldiers' camp.

Hearing Zhang Yuan speak, Hu Chunniu turned around. At the sight of the steaming bowl of meat soup in Zhang Yuan's hands, he could not help swallowing.

"There are indeed some medicinal herbs in the clinic that cannot be used, but the wound medicine has run out. With wounded soldiers filling this whole courtyard, this old man is powerless to treat them..."

Hu Chunniu's words carried a note of helplessness.

As a healer, being unable to do anything while seeing a room full of wounded patients truly felt terrible.

Zhang Yuan knew Hu Chunniu. After Zhang Yuan had awakened, Hu Chunniu had been curious about the way he had bound Young Master Tao's wound.

According to Hu Chunniu, if not for Zhang Yuan's method of sealing the wound, as well as the way he had kept Young Master Tao's heart and lungs going, Young Master Tao would not have lasted until Deputy Commander Zhao arrived.

Zhang Yuan could not tell Hu Chunniu that these methods of bandaging and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were the most basic first-aid measures in Huaxia's military.

He could only tell Hu Chunniu that they had been taught to him by a wandering physician he had met in the past.

"Physician Hu, the old physician who taught me medicine said that quite a few medicinal herbs can be eaten."

"Could we take some herbs, add water to the meat soup and boil them together, so everyone can have a bowl?"

Medicinal herbs boiled with meat soup and water?

Zhang Yuan's words made the other wounded soldiers nearby brighten at once, and they could not help lifting their heads.

Hu Chunniu was also stunned for a moment, then looked again at the pottery bowl Zhang Yuan held.

"That should be possible..."

Originally, Zhang Yuan had merely suggested boiling meat soup with water and medicinal herbs that could fill the stomach, so every wounded soldier in the camp could drink a bowl.

But to his surprise, the edible herbs Hu Chunniu dug out—Chinese yam, polygonatum, poria, and the like—amounted to thirty or fifty jin.

Two jin of herbs boiled with the meat soup made a huge pot. With some salt added, it not only tasted excellent but also filled the belly.

Quite a few wounded soldiers who had been weak to begin with ate two bowls in a row. Their complexions improved noticeably, and they fell into deep sleep.

Chen Wuxiong brought over half a jar of meat soup, then took a full jar back with him.

That single jar of medicinal soup set the whole South City in motion.

The remaining half jar of medicinal soup from Duan Hong and the others was delivered before the Commander, and the Commander then ordered a search for medicinal herbs throughout South City.

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

From those places alone, there were seven or eight hundred jin of herbs that could be eaten according to the medicinal soup recipe Hu Chunniu wrote.

Then the soldiers went to the homes of South City's commoners and gathered another two hundred jin of medicinal herbs.

A full thousand jin of stomach-filling medicinal herbs lay before the Commander's tent, leaving several leading captains and battalion commanders somewhat dazed.

"We ran out of food last night. With all your fussing about, kid, we've got at least three more days of rations." When Chen Wuxiong came again, carrying a pottery jar, his face was full of emotion.

With over six hundred soldiers defending the city, once the food ran out, they probably would not be able to hold it for even two days.

"Hey, this medicinal food isn't bad at all. It tastes no worse than chewing corn buns." Young Master Tao slurped down two mouthfuls and spoke softly.

"Hehe, this old man's prescription replenishes blood and boosts qi while also keeping the flavor in mind. When the day comes..." Hu Chunniu chuckled, then swallowed the rest of his words.

The inheritance of medicine, like martial arts, was something guarded as dearly as a treasure. Hu Chunniu treasured this medicinal soup prescription and could not pass it on lightly.

"By the way, Zhang Yuan, the Commander asked what reward you want. When I go to see him, I can convey it for you."

Hu Chunniu looked at Zhang Yuan, envy showing in his eyes. "Just say the word if you want money or an official post. Kid, smoke is rising from your ancestors' graves."

How should he put it? Hu Chunniu was not wrong.

For an ordinary commoner family, living in poverty and lowliness for a lifetime, whether wealth or official rank, were things they would never dare dream of.

Countless people struggled with all their might yet still could not climb to a higher class.

Now, so long as Zhang Yuan spoke, the Commander could reward him. This truly was an unimaginable stroke of fortune.

But in Fengtian County's current situation, what use were wealth or official rank?

No one even knew whether they would live to see tomorrow.

What should he ask for?

Although Zhang Yuan had only offered a single reminder, to the Crimson Scale Army defending the city and to the Commander, it was a great merit.

Zhang Yuan hesitated, then turned to look at Young Master Tao beside him.

The only scholar in the camp, Young Master Tao had always had a quick mind.

"Zhang Yuan, if possible, ask the Commander to reward you with a martial arts cultivation method." Young Master Tao lowered his voice and looked at Zhang Yuan. "You have good talent for cultivation. If you can obtain a good method, you may achieve something in the future. Even if—"

Even if the city fell, having a good cultivation method would give him a better chance of breaking out, would it not?

Those words could not be spoken.

Everyone knew Fengtian County could not be held. The city's fall was only a matter of time.

Chen Wuxiong also nodded lightly.

"Then I'll ask Physician Hu to convey this to the Commander. If possible, please reward me with a cultivation method." Zhang Yuan took a breath and spoke.

South City of Fengtian County, the former Li Family Mansion.

It was now the main camp of the city-defending army and the location of the Commander's tent.

More than five hundred soldiers surrounded the mansion, linking up with the nearby city walls to form the final line of defense.

Zhang Yuan had not expected that merely asking for a martial arts cultivation method would lead the Commander to summon him for a private audience.

Zhang Yuan waited outside the courtyard for nearly half an hour before he was summoned into the hall.

Standing outside the courtyard, he clenched his fists from time to time, calming the excitement in his heart.

The Crimson Scale Army Commander was a Subordinate Fifth Rank general, equal in rank to a prefectural governor—the highest-ranking official Zhang Yuan had ever seen.

Yu Lin, the Crimson Scale Army Commander, was past fifty. Clad in crimson battle armor, he had strong, short whiskers and a straight, upright bearing.

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

He had heard the reports concerning Zhang Yuan's deeds.

But he had not expected Zhang Yuan to be a youth who had not yet reached adulthood.

A youth like this should not have been here.

Looking at Zhang Yuan, Yu Lin felt somewhat guilty. He asked softly, "Are your injuries any better?"

Zhang Yuan hurriedly cupped his fists, his face flushing red as he answered loudly, "Reporting to the Commander, I can lift a blade and kill enemies."

His words carried the fervor and hot blood unique to youth.

Yu Lin nodded, then waved a hand.

"How did you come up with that method?"

He was not the first person to ask that question.

Those unfamiliar with medicine did not know that medicinal herbs could be used to stave off hunger.

Those versed in medicine, physicians like Hu Chunniu, mostly could not bear to use up medicinal herbs, and being caught within the situation, they had not thought of this method.

Zhang Yuan brought up his old wandering physician master and gave a brief account.

A master who had endured countless hardships naturally knew many ways to stay alive.

"Though that method was passed down by that old gentleman, it is still rare that you remembered it and thought of your comrades-in-arms." Yu Lin nodded, and his expression toward Zhang Yuan softened considerably.

Just as he said, Zhang Yuan had recalled this method because he wanted to share the meat soup with the wounded soldiers in the camp.

When Zhang Yuan had covered the rear, he had risked his life to save his comrades. In the wounded soldiers' camp, he had also been willing to share his food with them.

His heart was pure and kind, and he valued loyalty and righteousness.

"It was the Commander who slaughtered his beloved warhorse, that was..." Zhang Yuan spoke softly, then did not continue.