Chapter 26: The Female Medical Soldier

Hearing this, Zhu Cilang also wore a distressed expression and sighed, "How could I ever bear to let soldiers die in vain? It's just that while funds and silver can be allocated in large amounts for the time being, capable hands—especially reliable ones—are not so easy to find."

Both Dongming and Puyang counties were places Zhu Cilang could reach for now, but he had already used coercion and enticement to bring over virtually all the competent physicians from both regions. Combined with those from Linqing, they had barely managed to open a single army-accompanying hospital. If he tried to reach any further, not only would it be beyond his grasp, but the logistics of traveling back and forth would also be unsustainable.

Hearing Zhu Cilang put it this way, Hu Bo could do nothing else but let out a heavy sigh.

There were certainly enough men in Zhu Cilang’s army to fight battles, but tasks like healing the sick and tending to wounds required the utmost care and patience. How could a bunch of soldiers whose only skill was hacking and killing ever handle such delicate work? Having spent many years in the field, Hu Bo naturally understood how rare and precious a capable apprentice was.

"Alas, at least the Military Supervisor is a rare and good official among military commanders who actually puts such genuine care into looking after wounded soldiers!" Hu Bo sighed, speaking straight from the bottom of his heart.

Zhu Cilang smiled and did not pick up on the praise. Recognizing the importance of medical care was a most fundamental concept from later generations. Seeing how the Ming army of the present era completely neglected it, how could Zhu Cilang possibly stand by?

One could hardly blame the armies of the cold-weapon era for having such a low tolerance for casualty rates. Anyone who knew that getting wounded or crippled meant certain death and abandonment would hardly fight with dedication.

Only when soldiers knew they didn't have to worry about lacking a future or a fallback even if they were injured or disabled could they bravely fight despite the grim risks of casualties.

Now, as a strong new army was just in its infancy, it was precisely the time to win over the hearts of the men, and Zhu Cilang naturally paid extra attention to this aspect. Moreover, he still needed to expand his army and truly give his three thousand recruits real combat effectiveness. At this juncture, what he needed most were experienced veterans. And these wounded soldiers, once they safely returned to the camp, would all transform into seasoned veterans with greatly enhanced resolve and experience. How could Zhu Cilang possibly let such an opportunity slip away?

Besides, Zhu Cilang was hardly short on money. A single battle and the subsequent plunder of the roving rebel captives yielded more than enough wealth for him to establish several more field hospitals with ease.

Of course, there was no need for Zhu Cilang to explain all this to Hu Bo.

Instead, Zhu Cilang stared at Hu Bo with a sly grin and said, "Not only that, but I'm also a good official who mercilessly squeezes every last ounce of effort out of the doctors."

Hearing Zhu Cilang's humorous remark, Hu Bo immediately chuckled awkwardly. The physicians worked tirelessly, saving lives day and night. While most of them understood the necessity in their hearts, to say they had no complaints whatsoever would be a lie.

"Am I, Qin Xia, someone without eyes who fails to see how hard the physicians work?" Zhu Cilang said with a smile. "Every time I come here, isn't it precisely to ensure the physicians can treat the soldiers properly?"

Hearing this, Hu Bo felt even more awkward. Zhu Cilang's visits to the field hospital were certainly meant to boost morale and win over hearts. Yet every time he came, it was always to identify problems, resolve them, and improve things.

At this thought, Hu Bo’s eyes lit up. "Does this mean Lord Qin has a way to solve the shortage of hands?"

"As for a way..." Zhu Cilang smiled, "There naturally is one. It's just... well, it's a bit difficult, and the Head Physician himself will have to resolve and overcome it."

"That's no problem at all!" Thinking it was just a matter of training newcomers, Hu Bo patted his chest with absolute confidence. "As long as they have a brain and limbs and are willing to work hard here, I can teach them! What's a little extra hardship?"

Hu Bo had calculated things carefully. With the current shortage of hands, the physicians themselves had to handle many tasks that required no special skill, which naturally drove down the efficiency of treatments. If some barely passable newcomers were brought in, what did it matter if he had to spend some effort teaching them?

Zhu Cilang nodded. "Indeed. I've noticed that right now, the treatment methods used by various physicians in the field hospital are not entirely the same. Taking this opportunity, you can pass on those tedious, essential, and easy-to-learn tasks to the newcomers. Won't that lighten the load for the physicians? Furthermore, you can also take this opportunity to compile medical regulations so everyone can work according to the guidelines, and by continuously supplementing and refining them, people won't have to painstakingly ask for guidance and waste time anymore."

"Lord Qin Xia is truly a kindred spirit to us!" Hu Bo exclaimed with deep emotion.

Zhu Cilang smiled, looking precisely like a fox who had successfully stolen a chicken. "In that case, I will send these newcomers right in to learn the ropes! Su Feng'er, bring your sixty-seven sisters inside. Since you have washed your hands of the past and are no longer bandits of the roving rebels, from today onward, you are nurses in the imperial army's field hospital!"

"Ah? A bunch of women?" Hu Bo was dumbfounded.

Sure enough, following Hu Bo's gaze, he saw sixty-eight women dressed in white robes and white caps walking toward them.

Leading them was a pretty woman with phoenix-like eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows.

This woman was clearly the Su Feng'er that Zhu Cilang had mentioned—one of the spoils of war Zhu Cilang had captured during the battle of Dongming. The other spoils were easy enough to digest: gold and silver were universal currencies, armor and weapons were rigid necessities, and male captives could be used as manual laborers or auxiliary soldiers. But what was to be done with the women? They certainly couldn't be made camp followers—at least, Zhu Cilang could never stomach that.

Therefore, Zhu Cilang had selected the cleverest among the captured women and brought them along.

Seeing the troubled look on Hu Bo's face, Su Feng'er instantly flared up. "What's wrong with women? Can't women join the army and serve the country? Can't women work and do chores? Women are meticulous and patient! We didn't come here to be toyed with by men. We came here to save lives and heal the wounded as medical personnel! You old man, I remember every word you just said. What, are you planning to go back on your word now?"

Watching Su Feng'er rattle off a rapid-fire string of complaints, Zhu Cilang chuckled repeatedly before finally speaking up. "Su Feng'er! Since you've entered the field hospital, besides doing chores, you must also act as apprentices and learn medical skills from the senior veteran Hu Bo! Since you'll soon be master and apprentice, you must not forget the respect due to your teacher!"

Hearing Zhu Cilang put it this way, Su Feng'er immediately reined in her temper and said with a smile, "Then this little girl pays her respects to Master."

With that, Su Feng'er threw a glance back at the sixty-seven women behind her.

Immediately, to Hu Bo's utter astonishment, all sixty-seven women simultaneously lowered their bodies and performed a formal curtsy.

"This little girl pays her respects to Master."
"This little girl pays her respects to Master."
"This little girl pays her respects to Master."
……

"Sigh, sigh, sigh... Rise, please rise!" Hu Bo, thoroughly cornered by Zhu Cilang's clever maneuver, had no choice but to accept reality. "Fine, fine, fine... Teaching men is teaching, teaching women is also teaching. However, the Military Supervisor must still allocate some sensible guards to maintain order. And... male apprentices are still needed!"

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang naturally understood what he meant.

Hu Bo was worried about potential improprieties between men and women within the military camp. Guards were, of course, a matter of course. As for male apprentices, they were precisely what Zhu Cilang needed as well; after all, not only did they need nurses, but they also needed physicians.

Without missing a beat, Zhu Cilang nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, I will definitely find diligent, studious, and clever youths for the Head Physician."

Seeing that Zhu Cilang had agreed, Hu Bo sighed with every step he took as he led the sixty-eight women away. (To be continued.)