Chapter 2706: Reinforcements

Manbao laughed and said, “Of course, you are now a citizen of the Great Jin as well. The emperor loves his people like his own children. If he knew we were buying things without paying, he would have us beheaded.”

The shopkeeper’s gaze swept over the others and, seeing that they didn’t seem to strongly object, he tentatively reached out and tremblingly accepted the pearls.

Manbao turned and walked away, “Let’s go back. By the way,” Manbao turned around and asked him, “Are there any other pharmacies in this city?”

The shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly, “I… I don’t know.”

The soldier frowned and was about to get angry, but Manbao didn’t mind. After stopping the soldier, she left.

Since he didn’t want to betray his peers, why force him? After all, the town isn’t very big. A little more exploring would reveal it.

Manbao led the group to continue wandering in the city, and soon they found another pharmacy not too far away on the opposite side.

She thought so, as pharmacies also like to cluster together. Look at Jishi Hall, opposite Hundred Herbs Hall, with Baohe Medical Center next door. On that street alone, there are five pharmacies and medical centers.

This time, Su Mu didn’t go up to knock on the door. He directly sent a soldier over. After the soldier aggressively called for the door to be opened, they went inside to buy medicine.

It wasn’t until the sunset was about to descend that their group returned laden with supplies.

Heli, tired from handling affairs, came out to stretch and saw Zhou Man returning outside the camp with an air of arrogance, each person holding a packet of medicine. He couldn’t help but turn his head to ask his personal guard, “Did they really go to buy medicine?”

The guard laughed, “Yes, the patrolling soldiers came back and reported that they knocked on two pharmacies in the city.”

“How many pharmacies are there in the city?”

Guard: “There are two.”

Heli thought for a moment and said to him, “Later, pick some spoils of war to send to her.”

He shook his head and said, “I didn’t expect them to actually go and buy medicinal herbs. The next time we attack a city, remember to set aside some spoils of war for the medical tent.”

“Yes!”

Heli asked, “Haven’t the herbs been delivered yet?”

“No.”

Heli frowned, “Could something have happened on the road?”

The guard also suspected, “Were they cut off from the rear?”

Heli thought for a moment then shook his head, “We haven’t missed any places. The Goguryeo people can’t bypass us.”

Despite saying this, he still sent out a team, “Search along the way to see if they can be met. A great battle is imminent, the emperor still needs to attack Anshi City. After Anshi City, we can advance unopposed, the medicinal herbs are extremely important.”

Moreover, it’s beginning to get cold, and it won’t be long before it snows. If logistics can’t keep up, we may have to retreat.

The matters that even Qi Bi Heli can consider, the emperor and State Duke Zhao have of course considered too, so they’ve also dispatched a team to go back and search. In addition to medicinal herbs, they must ensure the smooth delivery of provisions.

A scout came running in from outside, saying, “Your Majesty, enemy forces have appeared sixty li away.”

The emperor asked, “How many people?”

“No less than a hundred thousand.”

The emperor was skeptical, “Can Goguryeo still deploy so many troops here? Isn’t it said that Feng Liang has drawn away two hundred thousand troops over there?”

Feng Liang captured Pisha City and is now running around within the Goguryeo Kingdom, attacking this small city today and that one tomorrow, making their people overwhelmed.

Governor Niu had a bad premonition, just as the scout said, “There seem to be Mohe soldiers among the troops.”

State Duke Zhao and other generals like Ashina looked at Governor Niu.

A bead of cold sweat dripped from Governor Niu’s forehead as he could only bow his head and rally the emperor against Mohe, “…truly wolf ambitions.”

The emperor waved his hand dismissively and said, “Since Goguryeo could enlist them, obviously the price they paid was higher than ours. Enough, our Great Jin and they are destined to be unallied, no need to force it.”

The generals: …What destiny! Could you at least try harder? With just that little money, it’s no wonder they wouldn’t send troops to assist you.

Even with reinforcements, the emperor was unafraid and said, “Let’s go check the terrain. There’s no need to fear them, as long as we scatter this wave of reinforcements, Anshi City will be within reach.”

Once Anshi City is captured, they can join forces with Feng Liang, and the whole of Goguryeo would be at their feet.

While reinforcements appeared on this side, reinforcements also appeared on the other side of Baiyan City.

At this time, Manbao was unaware of any of this. She was busy using the newly purchased medicine to prepare prescriptions for patients. Although the quantity of medicine was small, the variety was there, and she could finally prepare cornelian cherry powder and Jade Truth Powder.

Manbao gave them a new prescription and finally breathed a small sigh of relief, telling her two students, “Observe the effects of these two prescriptions.”

“Yes,” Su Mu said, “Teacher, I noticed the wounds seemed better today, which might indicate yesterday’s medicine worked well. But you didn’t write the prescription yesterday.”

The prescription was personally gathered by Zhou Man from the pharmacy, and no one else knew of it except for her.

Manbao shook her head, “That prescription wasn’t good. Let’s use cornelian cherry powder and Jade Truth Powder first, adjusting the prescription based on symptoms. If it doesn’t work, we can try other prescriptions.”

Su Mu had no doubts and nodded in agreement.

Manbao didn’t plan to document yesterday’s prescription. It might as well not have existed. However, when exactly are the herbs supposed to arrive?

While Manbao was grinding medicine, two horses sped past the medical tent towards the main tent.

Manbao looked up and said with a curious expression, “Isn’t the main tent supposed to enter the city today?”

“Yes, they were supposed to move in by noon. Teacher, should we go as well?”

Manbao said, “Some of the injured can’t be easily moved, but since the tents and everything are set up, we can stay another couple of days till they can move.”

As they discussed, Qi Bi Heli had already left the main tent, pointing out eight hundred cavalry to ride out.

Manbao watched, surprised, and shortly after, someone came to inform her, “Lord Zhou, the general has deployed troops, the medical camp should prepare.”

Manbao asked, “How many people?”

“Eight hundred cavalry.”

Manbao: “And the enemy?”

“More than ten thousand.”

Manbao: “…Shouldn’t they bring more?”

The personal guard said, “We only have two thousand cavalry, twelve hundred must stay to guard the main camp. A raid utilizes only cavalry.”

Bringing infantry would be a burden.

What more could Manbao say? If it’s cavalry, the medical camp can’t keep up. Basically, whoever manages to come back alive will be treated.

Manbao thought for a moment and then turned back into the medical tent, taking out two bottles of medicine for the personal guard, “Give these to the general. If injured, swallow the pills and apply the powder externally.”

The guard took them and promptly ran off with a grin, saying, “Thank you, Lord Zhou.”

The personal guard caught up with Qi Bi Heli and went with him on the raid.

Manbao sat down and continued grinding her medicine powder. Qi Bi Heli, with his men, ran head-on into the Goguryeo soldiers coming to reinforce Baiyan City. They thought they had deployed quickly, but unexpectedly the Great Jin had already captured Baiyan City, leaving them shocked.

There wasn’t even time to plan whether they should recapture the city or turn back, and a cavalry squad suddenly charged at them.

Cavalry against infantry in an ambush, chances of winning were minimal. Qi Bi Heli led his men in a charge, going in and out, and the next time they entered, they completely infuriated the Goguryeo people, who, risking their lives, encircled him tightly.