Chapter 27: The Wounded Return to Camp

With Hu Bo gone, Zhu Cilang found it even more effortless to stroll around the military hospital.

In this era of endless warfare and widespread displacement, the village where the field hospital was stationed had been completely deserted long before Zhu Cilang's arrival. Consequently, the hospital had an abundance of space at its disposal, with nearly half the village enclosed to serve as its encampment.

At present, the field hospital had not yet established intricate departmental divisions. Fundamentally, it handled various surgical procedures, including treating wartime casualties, stitching wounds, disinfecting purulent infections, and performing amputations.

Yet Zhu Cilang knew that, propelled by his own initiatives, Hu Bo had already begun subdividing departments and drafting medical regulations. All of this was designed to build a military hospital that would transcend the era.

In truth, Zhu Cilang was not entirely well-versed in military command and lacked the profound talent of a general. However, he was keenly aware of his own strengths: the transcendent vision of a time-traveler, which was precisely the essential quality required of a supreme commander.

It was precisely these bit-by-bit accumulations of an era-surpassing logistics system that would ultimately help Zhu Cilang forge a powerful, era-transcending army.

Suddenly, catching a movement from the corner of his eye, Zhu Cilang saw Chang Zhilang and Si Qi walking toward him with smiles on their faces. Beside them, Xu Yanqi wore a look of considerable excitement.

After a round of formal greetings devoid of empty courtesies, Zhu Cilang glanced at the beaming Xu Yanqi and joked, "Commander Xu is in quite high spirits today. It seems Liu Zhen is busy trying to find you yet another concubine."

At Zhu Cilang's words, the others burst into laughter.

Xu Yanqi had led two thousand fresh recruits in a desperate rescue mission, enabling Liu Zhen to successfully hold out against the siege of Red Damsel. This naturally left Liu Zhen, a cavalry company commander known for valuing loyalty, deeply grateful. Naturally, it had also given rise to an amusing anecdote. Believing he could never adequately repay the debt, and learning that Xu Yanqi's first wife had passed away without a replacement, Liu Zhen had actually taken it upon himself to find Xu Yanqi a new wife. When Xu Yanqi rebuffed him on the grounds of his deep affection for his late wife, Liu Zhen immediately pivoted to finding him a concubine instead.

Hearing this, Xu Yanqi adopted a solemn expression. "The military does not dabble in women. This subordinate dares not test military law with his own person."

Zhu Cilang nodded heavily and smiled. "Right, right. Consider that a good excuse you've found this time."

Xu Yanqi instantly broke into a chuckle.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang收了-reined in his smile, put his hands behind his back, and walked toward a relatively spacious courtyard ahead. "Let's go," he said. "Accompany me to welcome our brave men back to the ranks. As for this batch of military merit commendations, promotions, transfers, and post-war compensations, the Administration Department has already drafted the initial proposals for me. I have already approved and confirmed the majority of them, and they are ready for implementation. My trip to the field hospital today, aside from checking on its improvement, is largely for these military affairs."

"Because... most of our meritorious heroes have been wounded and admitted here! For these men, when they are wounded, we treat them; when they are disabled, we provide for their honorable retirement; and if they perish, we ensure their families are properly compensated and cared for! This is something our army must always remember in the days to come!"

With that, Zhu Cilang turned around, looked at Chang Zhilang, and said, "As for finances and provisions, there is no need to worry. These expenditures must never fall short!"

A trace of difficulty flickered across Chang Zhilang's face, but he still replied solemnly, "Understood, My Lord!"

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang did not say much more, only murmuring softly, "Rest assured, when it comes to money and provisions, this official has plenty of ways."

With that, Zhu Cilang turned his gaze to Si Qi. "In the Administration Department, how are this batch of military merit medals and certificates of honor coming along?"

Si Qi replied with a serious expression, "My Lord, this time seventy-nine Class-C military merit medals, thirteen Class-B military merit medals, and one Class-A military merit medal have all been crafted. The corresponding certificates of honor are also fully prepared."

Zhu Cilang nodded, his footsteps naturally carrying him onto the courtyard of the field hospital's side gate.

Just as Zhu Cilang came to a halt, a physician with a somewhat haggard expression approached from somewhere. As he walked, the physician was heard grumbling incessantly, "Being discharged from the hospital does not mean your injuries are fully recovered. Even though your wounds are relatively minor and did not strike vital areas, if you are careless and an infection sets in, the damage will spread beyond saving. When that happens, and you are sent back to me, it won't just be a matter of spraying fiery liquor and scorching iron racks. It will mean chopping off your hands and feet to save your life."

The physician was lean and frail, and his nagging speech was devoid of any warmth. Yet behind this physician, some thirty robust men did not dare to utter a word of rebuttal, nodding their heads like chicks pecking at rice.

"Yes, we've remembered every word."

"Don't worry, Physician Xie. All this time, my recovery has been entirely thanks to Physician Xie. Once I finish fighting this war, I'll bring Physician Xie some of the renowned Red Blossom Brew from our village."

"We definitely won't come back to trouble Physician Xie again... We are truly grateful to Physician Xie..."

The physician's surname was Xie, and whenever they wanted to thank him, they had to pause and think for a moment. Overwhelmed by their heartfelt gratitude, Physician Xie was deeply moved. He waved his hand, dismissing it as nothing, and then looked at the soldier who had promised him wine. "Qian Xiaoliu, don't go talking about bringing me wine. I'm not short of a sip. In the future, following Lord Qin into battle, surviving long enough to see me again is all that matters. You men fighting and killing are truly going through hardship. In a place like Dongming, untouched by the ravages of war, encountering a truly good army is no easy feat."

Zhu Cilang had pacified the Dongming region; whether in the eyes of the roving rebels or the imperial court, this place would be under Zhu Cilang's jurisdiction for the foreseeable future. Coupled with Zhu Cilang's notoriously strict military discipline—where everyone was held to the standard of freezing to death rather than pulling down a house, and starving rather than looting—naturally, the infamous reputation of "thieves passing like a comb, soldiers passing like a fine-tooth comb" never took root here.

If Zhu Cilang's troops were not eventually crushed, Dongming would likely become the garrison base for his forces. Naturally, Dongming would also retain a greater measure of peace in these troubled times.

"If they didn't know the rules and lacked gratitude, it would simply mean I am failing in my command." Zhu Cilang smiled as he walked over.

Noticing Zhu Cilang's arrival, Physician Xie immediately stepped forward to salute. "Greetings, Lord Qin."

"No need for formalities. You have worked hard, Physician Xie," Zhu Cilang said warmly.

Seeing this, the thirty-odd soldiers became even more emotionally stirred, each executing their military salutes with exceptional precision. "Greetings, Lord Qin!"

"Greetings, soldiers." Zhu Cilang raised a hand to his chest, returning the salute. "Today is the day everyone is discharged from the hospital, and I, Qin Xia, welcome you back to the ranks. Aside from that, I have brought a gift to welcome you back to the camp."

With that, Zhu Cilang glanced at Si Qi and Xu Yanqi beside him and nodded.

Seeing that Zhu Cilang made no move to chase him away, Physician Xie found himself, for reasons unknown, developing a profound curiosity toward this army whose discipline was astonishingly stellar. Not only was the military discipline exemplary, but the soldiers were also completely unlike the bandit-like troops commonly seen elsewhere. While most were undeniably rough around the edges, their sincere hearts remained largely unblemished. Moreover, they possessed an extraordinary sense of something akin to moral purity.

If... if Physician Xie ever came to understand that there was such a thing as military honor in this world, he would finally comprehend where the ordinary soldiers of this army placed their steadfast devotion.

And right now, Zhu Cilang was step by step reinforcing that spirit of honor within his soldiers.