Chapter 2691: The Frontline

Manbao accompanies the army, Zhou Dalang and Junior Ms.Qian and others are extremely worried, personally going to the main street to join the citizens in seeing them off from the city.

Manbao is dressed in official robes and rides a horse within the ranks, and behind her in the carriage, are the students from the Imperial Medical Office.

She glances at the crowd of people sending them off on either side, and upon seeing Zhou Dalang and Junior Ms.Qian among them, she can’t help but smile and wave to them.

Even though she was only sent off from the carriage door this morning, Junior Ms.Qian still feels her eyes heat up, waving her hand and saying: “Manbao, Manbao…”

Zhou Dalang half hugs her and says: “Don’t worry, Bai Shan is also following, nothing will happen.”

However, Bai Shan might not be in the same location as Zhou Man. After leaving the capital, the Emperor orders the ceremonial guards to be put away, and the entire army rushes urgently towards Laizhou.

Rush they truly do, even the Emperor is on horseback most of the time, he brings ten thousand forbidden troops with him, but the provisions carried along are not plentiful, essentially only enough for seven days’ worth, and head directly towards Laizhou at a gallop.

In the end, the ones most unadapted turn out to be the students from the Imperial Medical Office.

As for the others, not to mention the forbidden troops, they are military men; the court officials, apart from the younger ones, those older have all been through hardship.

The Six Arts are basic, so they have no problems, yet the younger generation faces some adaptation issues.

Fortunately, Bai Shan and his peers have experience from traveling West and the Western Expedition, they are adapted, but the young officials who have never left the capital, along with the students from the Imperial Medical Office suffer undesirably. After several consecutive days, they are listless, riding the carriage is unbearable, horseback riding makes their thighs sore after two days, and not everyone is skilled at riding horses.

Especially the female students, their complexions are pale as ghosts after a few consecutive days.

Manbao comforts them while explaining: “This is just the beginning. Once you’re on the battlefield, it will be even more demanding, so while there’s still time, you must adapt early and undergo training.”

Therefore, whenever there’s a break, she requires each student to carry their medical kit, get off and on the carriage, and advance with the group.

At times when they encounter slower movement, she even asks them to carry their medical kits and run alongside the forbidden troops.

The students feel: … like crying.

Especially the female students, they find themselves in a truly pitiful state.

Yet, there is no time for adjustment, upon reaching Qizhou, they divide and go separate directions. The Emperor appoints Minister Feng, from the Ministry of Justice, as Chief Steward of Pyongyang Route, to mount an attack on Pyongyang from Laizhou by sea, whereas State Duke Zhao is appointed as Chief Steward of Liaodong Route, marching by the land route to attack Liaodong City.

Imperial Doctor Zheng takes a portion of the Imperial Medical Office students to follow Minister Feng, crossing the sea with the army, exclusively selecting male students.

Manbao intentionally plans for the female students to follow her, and at that time, she will leave several with Imperial Doctor Lu, taking the remainder to Liaodong Route.

The imperial presence first arrives by sea at Pingzhou, whereupon Zhou Man separates from Bai Shan, she will proceed to the frontline with State Duke Zhao.

Bai Shan can only stand amidst the crowd, watching her depart as they too will head to Yingzhou, although at a slower pace now as State Duke Zhao travels lightly with swift horses to Yingzhou.

The troops drawn by the Emperor beforehand have yet to arrive at the frontline, after all, unlike forbidden troops equipped primarily with horses, the drawn troops mostly consist of infantrymen; despite marching in haste, their pace remains slow.

State Duke Zhao arrives at Yingzhou half a day ahead of them, all part of a calculated plan.

Governor Niu personally goes out to welcome him, the provisions prepared by the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue nearby on Liaodong Route have already arrived, yet the medicinal supplies and medical tools prepared by the Imperial Medical Office are still half a day behind.

Zhou Man directly leads the students to take receipt, as Governor Niu is about to dispatch someone to count, he sees Zhou Man for the first time, momentarily dazed.

State Duke Zhao laughs and says: “All medicinal supplies are handed over to the Imperial Medical Office; we need not interfere, only verify the accounts.”

Governor Niu is surprised to see so many women accompanying State Duke Zhao, but can’t resist asking: “Chief Steward, the lives of soldiers rely on these medicinal supplies, just entrust them to…”

He prefers the army’s military physicians to take over.

State Duke Zhao merely waves: “All matters are to be handed to Lord Zhou, even the military physicians within the army are to follow Lord Zhou’s orders.”

He smiles at Governor Niu: “Do not underestimate Lord Zhou, once you are on the battlefield, you will see how formidable she is.”

Governor Niu remains skeptical, yet he’s indeed heard of Zhou Man’s reputation, word is she cured the Crown Prince, who then fathered the Little Emperor’s grandson, balancing the realm with a single child, forcing the beloved Prince Gong to relocate.

Moreover, she traveled to the Western Regions, seemingly securing a formula for smallpox, made significant contributions.

With these thoughts, Governor Niu exercises increased caution, thus no longer voicing any objections.

State Duke Zhao says: “Let us now discuss the battle; Goguryeo hasn’t suspected anything, right?”

“Likely not, although they continue to station soldiers at the border, recently tension has improved, avoiding any sudden outbursts of conflict.”

State Duke Zhao nods with satisfaction, “Seal off news of our arrival, wait until our soldiers arrive according to plan.”

“By the way, where are our soldiers now?”

“They’ll arrive soonest by tomorrow lunchtime.”

State Duke Zhao is pleased: “Excellent, surprise is the essence of war, as soon as they arrive, we’ll initiate action.”

Leading the Hu army are Ashina and other Hu commanders, totaling sixty thousand.

Once they arrive, Manbao doesn’t have the chance to reminisce with General Ashina, Minister Zhao orders an immediate attack.

Zhou Man can but lead the students to the frontline combat camps.

State Duke Zhao oversees the command, Governor Niu meanwhile leads troops into battle, first, due to his familiarity with Goguryeo forces, second, he seeks redemption for past errors.

The tactic of a tri-nation assault on Goguryeo is his conception and implementation, yet halfway through it was spoiled, compelling the Court’s grand army to assist, forcing the Emperor to lead troops personally, he bears faults, failing Silla and Baekje, disrupting the plan’s execution.

The Great Jin army takes them by surprise, combined with their aid Hu forces’ valor, promptly seizing a city.

State Duke Zhao is thrilled, advancing the frontline, with Zhou Man’s medical tents set not far from the combat site, battlefield soldiers, still breathing, are ferried to the medical tents, Manbao directs from the crowd: “Cannot save the leg? Saw it off, stop the bleeding immediately, why tremble? Clean the intestines and orderly reinsert them, yes, like that, inspect for more bleeding points, once confirmed none remain, begin suturing…”

“First, stop the bleeding, there’s considerable bleeding, cleaning wounds is secondary, apply direct pressure to halt the bleeding, you, come over and assist her, coordinate with acupuncture to stop the bleeding…”

Manbao walks through continually issuing orders and corrections, seeing so many wounded is a first for the students, despite witnessing blood at the Imperial Medical Office, their hands tremble, minds a bit dazed.

Zhou Liru likely moves fastest, whether suturing, stopping bleeding, applying medicine, or sawing limbs, she remains unaffected in expression.

A soldier carries a stretcher rushing forward, shouting: “General Lu is injured by arrows—”

The military physician glances then swiftly turns to find Zhou Man, the arrow embeds in the left chest, barbed, difficult to remove.

Manbao takes a glance and points to the adjacent medical tent: “Carry him in.”

She surveys the busy students, finding their faces pale but hand movements relatively stable, after all, they’ve studied for four to five years.

And only then she herself turns into the medical tent.