Senior brother?
Or junior uncle?
Although Zhang Zhongjing insisted on calling Lu Yu "Master," and Lu Yu reluctantly agreed.
But agreeing was one thing, he was still too thin-skinned. Being Zhang Zhongjing's master made him sleep restlessly at night, so… outwardly, especially to the Imperial Medical Office, Lu Yu claimed Zhang Zhongjing as his junior brother.
Whatever you, Zhang Zhongjing, want to call me… I’ll call you junior brother, and we'll each have our own way of addressing each other!
Thus, the confused appellations of the Imperial Medical Office disciples towards Zhang Zhongjing arose.
As for Zhang Zhongjing treating severe cases of cold damage.
Lu Yu initially thought it would take at least five or ten days of studying "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases" before taking action, but in reality… after reading it twice in one day, Zhang Zhongjing had completely grasped it theoretically.
Furthermore, this was the culmination of his forty years of attempts and research. For every treatment method, he could find his own reflection from his past continuous attempts.
Therefore… there was no need to deliberate; he could proceed with treatment directly.
While treating patients, Zhang Zhongjing explained to these medical officials the reasons behind many treatment methods in "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases," as well as many details that required attention…
He was as familiar with "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases" as if it were his own child. This face-to-face transmission of skills also greatly accelerated the progress of the physicians. With Zhang Zhongjing's guidance, much knowledge was suddenly enlightened.
While the physicians exclaimed "miraculous," they were also astonished by Master Lu Yu’s uncanny arrangement.
The Master couldn't act, but arranged for his junior brother to instruct them!
Indeed… they only saw the first layer, while their Master had already thought five layers ahead.
Outside the main tent…
Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and others stopped. Cao Hong was about to barge in when Cao Cao stopped him.
Cao Cao gestured for him to remain silent…
The few of them then cupped their ears to listen to the voices inside the tent.
At this moment, Zhang Zhongjing was prescribing medicine while explaining to the medical officials.
“Why couldn’t this patient be cured with the previous prescription? Because you only noticed the numbness of his limbs and trunk, and used the ‘Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang’ from this ‘Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases’ written by Master to treat it, but failed to notice his concurrent symptom of ‘muscle pain on overcast days’!”
“Because of the numbness, this complication is difficult to detect. However… it can be inferred from the trembling of his muscles. Therefore, in addition to ‘Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang,’ ‘Maxing Yigan Tang’ must also be added. Taking this combination thrice will surely lead to recovery!”
Upon hearing this, the medical officials suddenly understood…
“As expected of Uncle-Master, your insight is as sharp as a torch… You can see symptoms that we cannot, truly beneficial!”
“I’ve said it many times, call me Senior Brother… Master is above, how can I, Zhang Zhongjing, dare to call myself his junior brother?” Zhang Zhongjing waved his hand. “Alright, go and decoct the medicine… take both decoctions together, once a day, and you will be cured in three days!”
“As you command!” The medical officials slowly withdrew after listening.
Just then, with a “plop,” several severely ill patients, supporting their tired bodies, knelt before Zhang Zhongjing.
“Thank… thank Physician Zhang for saving our lives!”
“Thank… thank Physician Zhang!”
Tears poured down; they cried, unable to stop weeping.
This was the second time they had cried in a month. The first time was when "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases" was published. They, who thought they were about to die, were treated, temporarily saving their lives.
… Suffering from such a terminal illness, and so severely ill, they would never be cured in their lifetime and would have to live on medicine!
But… Zhang Zhongjing’s appearance today, Zhang Zhongjing’s few needles, and a few herbs, immediately brought them back to "life" again!
This sound, naturally… Cao Cao outside the tent heard it clearly.
“Brother, aren’t we going in? If we don’t comfort the soldiers soon, it will be time to set off for the expedition.”
Cao Ren reminded him…
Cao Cao waved his hand, and he chuckled softly, “No need to comfort them. If the cold damage can be completely overcome, what could be more morale-boosting for the army?”
Indeed…
Now, as the soldiers marched west, they were not worried about contracting cold damage, only fearing that the cold damage would be too severe… even the Imperial Medical Office could not cure it. Now, with Zhang Zhongjing’s emergence, the soldiers’ greatest worries were resolved, so how could they not be high-spirited?
“Hahahaha…”
Cao Cao laughed out loud again, seemingly realizing his laughter was too loud, he deliberately covered his mouth.
He didn’t want to disturb Zhang Zhongjing’s treatment.
Of course, he was happy. Even before setting off, Yu’er had accomplished a great feat again. Zhang Zhongjing’s appearance not only boosted morale but also allowed the soldiers to advance courageously without any worries. This was exceptionally important!
“Brother…” Cao Ren wanted to speak again.
Cao Cao interrupted him first, “Zixiao, issue the order immediately. Spread the word that the Imperial Medical Office can cure soldiers with severe cold damage. Spread it throughout the army, across the eight prefectures of Yan Province, and the four prefectures of Xu Province!”
“Yes!” Cao Ren immediately took the order.
He understood what this meant for the Cao camp at this time.
“Hahahaha…” Cao Cao patted Cao Ren’s shoulder. “Let’s go, prepare for the expedition. This battle aims for Luoyang! Hahahaha…”
His hearty yet not loud laughter echoed through the place.
For the first time, Cao Cao was so happy, yet his laughter was so subdued!
On this day, Cao Cao personally led the army westward to Luoyang.
…
…
Chenliu Commandery, Xiahou Yuan’s residence.
Ding Hui and Ding Xiang, the two sisters, were both present…
Ding Hui held a bamboo slip, her eyes glued to it. The slip bore Lu Yu’s handwriting—
– “Infertility after marriage, characterized by scanty and pale menstrual flow, dark complexion, abdominal pain and weak legs, cold pain in the lower abdomen, cold hands and feet, pale tongue with moist white coating, and low libido!”
Especially the words “low libido”…
Ding Hui stared at them for a long time. It seemed… ever since the night of her wedding, when Cao Cao inexplicably slept with her maid Liu Shi, she had lost interest in Cao Cao, let alone desire.
Could… the infertility over these years be related to this?
Pregnancy, wasn’t it… just about doing that? How could it be related to one’s mood?
Ding Hui shook her head repeatedly. She was reflecting on how to arouse some interest in her husband. But somehow… just thinking about past events, alas… it felt so unpleasant!
She was such a person, outwardly strong, but inwardly extremely sensitive.
Beside her, Ding Xiang was helping her sister Ding Hui prepare medicinal ingredients. The ingredients were being sold in batches by servants for greater discretion.
Now, mugwort, cyperus rotundus, angelica, and other herbs were all gathered, and they only needed to be decocted in the correct dosage.
After preparing these, Ding Xiang let out a long sigh of relief.
“Sister, why the rush to prepare the medicinal ingredients? Young Master Lu said the menstrual… no, Young Master Lu said the ‘Tian Kui’ can only be taken after fifteen days! Sister seems to… still have over ten days left!”
Ding Xiang’s big eyes blinked repeatedly. In her memory, this was the first time her sister had been so anxious.
“Prepare in advance, just in case!” Ding Hui said faintly…
Ding Xiang pouted. Although she was already a mother of four, in front of her sister, she still seemed like a little girl who hadn’t grown up.
“Has Sister forgotten? Brother-in-law is about to set off for the expedition. Even if Sister adjusts her body, there will be nowhere to test it! We won’t know if this medicine is effective anytime soon!” Ding Xiang smiled slightly, teasing her sister.
Indeed, Ding Xiang’s words made Ding Hui blush.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Who… who wants to test it.” Ding Hui waved her hand, biting her red lips. “Doesn’t the prescription say it? Tian Kui is scanty and pale, complexion is dark, tongue is pale with moist white coating… if the medicine is effective, these symptoms should all be alleviated? Don’t you understand this?”
“I understand, I understand, I understand…” Ding Xiang chuckled. “In short, Sister is just eager, aren’t you…”
“You little sister…” Ding Hui didn’t know how to reply, her entire face flushed red.
Before she could finish speaking…
“Madam!” A maid rushed into the room. She was Cao Ang’s personal maid. Ding Hui was subconsciously startled by her haste.
“Ang’er, has something happened to Ang’er?”
“It’s Young Master Ang. He… he is inquiring about how to join the Dragon Riders! It seems… he wants to go fight in Runan!” The maid’s tone was very urgent…
Join the Dragon Riders?
Fight in Runan?
Ding Hui’s expression immediately turned grim. Although Ang’er had practiced martial arts since childhood, and her husband Cao Cao had high hopes for him, inviting famous teachers for both literary and martial arts guidance. Although he was only fifteen years old, he was considered accomplished in both.
But… the battlefield?
He had never been there before. That was a place where he could lose his life if he wasn’t careful!
For some inexplicable reason, she felt a pang of concern.
“He… why is he going to the battlefield?” Ding Hui stood up abruptly.
The maid’s words continued…
Speaking of which, this maid was considered a close confidante of Cao Ang. A year ago, she had been sent to the Cai residence. However, Cai Zhaoji felt that her looks were only slightly above average, far from the standard for Lu Yu’s concubine maid, so she refused.
After refusing, she was naturally transferred to Cao Ang…
“Ang, Young Master Ang… he said that when Lu Gongcao was fifteen, he had already made many great contributions for his father. He is also fifteen now but can only practice martial arts and study military strategy in the manor… achieving nothing. For this reason, he wants to join the Dragon Riders and temper himself on the battlefield!”
This…
Upon hearing this, Ding Hui’s expression softened slightly. She knew that as Cao Cao’s son, he would eventually go to the battlefield, but…
When that day truly arrived, it was inevitable that her mood would become tense.
Moreover, Lu Yu’s accomplishments at fifteen were true, but… what was his talent? How intelligent and astute was he? Let alone half, even three-tenths of his talent, Ang’er might not be able to match.
How could he… how could he compare to Lu Yu?
She intended to refuse outright…
Unexpectedly, Ding Xiang spoke.
“Sister, let Ang’er go! It’s not his fault… the name of the Dragon Riders is too resounding!”
“When we recaptured Puyang back then, I heard that seven hundred of them broke into Puyang city and were ambushed, yet they delayed the enemy for two hours. I heard they fought so fiercely that the Bing Province soldiers inside the city were miserable. Which man in Yan Province, which armored soldier in the Cao camp, doesn’t yearn to join the Dragon Riders?”
Ding Xiang paused at this point.
“My two children, Heng’er and Ba’er, are also clamoring to join the army, to join the Dragon Riders. I was just contemplating this matter. Since Ang’er is joining the Dragon Riders with Heng’er and Ba’er, they can look out for each other, right? Moreover… the commander of the Dragon Riders is Young Master Lu, and Sister is not unfamiliar with him, is she?”
This…
Not unfamiliar?
Were they not just… the relationship of a ‘miracle-working physician’ and a ‘patient with infertility’?
Ding Hui’s brows relaxed slightly. Ding Xiang’s words continued, “I have inquired clearly. The Dragon Riders are currently filling the vacancies of the fifty-five knights who died in the last battle of Puyang. If the children are going to join the army sooner or later, I’d rather they join the Dragon Riders. Besides… Sister, you can’t protect Ang’er forever, can you? Sooner or later… he will have to go out and temper himself.”
Heng’er and Ba’er, mentioned by Ding Xiang, were her and Xiahou Yuan’s two sons, the eldest being Xiahou Heng and the second being Xiahou Ba, both practicing martial arts from a young age and possessing considerable bravery!
Heng’er was fine, but Ba’er was a bit arrogant. This was what Ding Xiang was most worried about.
Letting them temper themselves in the Dragon Riders was not without its merits.
Sigh…
Ding Hui let out a long breath. “Little sister, you are right… but I heard that in this westward expedition, the Dragon Riders are named the Fifth Battalion, and their mission is to attack Runan Commandery!”
“But I heard that Runan Commandery has over fifty thousand rebel soldiers, while the Dragon Riders only have a few hundred people? How… how can they fight? Isn’t going to join the army now sending them to their deaths?”
Hearing this, Ding Xiang’s eyes darted, and after a moment of thought, her tone returned to resolute.
“So, Sister was worried about this?”
“Then… back then, seven hundred Dragon Riders broke into Puyang city, surrounded by heavy troops, and the Dragon Riders only lost fifty-five riders? Such a record shook the entire Central Plains. Are Lu Bu’s subordinates not commanding thousands, tens of thousands of soldiers?”
“No matter how dangerous Runan city is, can it be more dangerous than Puyang city back then? Sister, don’t worry too much. Give the children a chance to temper themselves! Besides, Young Master Lu, the commander of the Dragon Riders, makes people inexplicably willing to trust him!”
Don’t say it… Ding Xiang’s words successfully persuaded Sister Ding Hui.
It seemed that if they were to join the army sooner or later, then… the Dragon Riders were indeed the most suitable destination. So… the problem arises.
“Ang’er? Will… will the Dragon Riders accept him?”
Ding Hui gritted her teeth, lacking confidence…
“I’ll go talk to Young Master Lu…” Ding Xiang smiled slightly. As soon as she said that, she shook her head. “Wrong, wrong, why should we talk to Young Master Lu? We should go directly to his Sister…”
“As long as Miss Zhaoji agrees, more than half of this matter will be settled. Young Master Lu has always listened to his Sister!”
Throughout Chenliu Commandery, everyone knew that Lu Yu listened most to his Sister Zhaoji…
Ding Xiang’s reasoning was sound…
“This…” Ding Hui nodded slightly.
Before, she only knew that her husband Cao Cao was very close to Young Master Lu, even regarding him as his right-hand man. Now… not only her husband, but even she Ding Hui, even her son Cao Ang… were so close to Lu Yu.
Even her daughter Cao Mu almost married Lu Yu!
Alas… speaking of which, she herself had even recounted her most private matters to Lu Yu in detail. Thinking about it now, it was quite embarrassing!
Her eyes narrowed slightly, Ding Hui looked at the herbs in front of her, her mood… becoming increasingly complex.
Their Cao family and this Lu Yu were perhaps bound by blood!
…
…
The moon was already hanging high!
This should have been a quiet night, but… there was one person, a person who often appeared at night, whose heart was somewhat turbulent, even… unable to calm down.
This person was Cheng Yu!
Now, standing beside the Yamen of Runan Commandery, he was waiting to have a chat with Xu Chu, the commander of these two thousand righteous soldiers.
And this was the first task Lu Yu assigned to Cheng Yu, and also the so-called easiest task.
Cheng Yu patted his chest…
Inside his chest garment was a letter, densely packed with rows of small seal script characters. This was what Lu Yu had instructed him to open only after reaching Runan.
When Cheng Yu arrived in Runan that afternoon, after reading it, he was greatly astonished!
Because…
Lu Yu hadn’t given him one task, but clearly a basket of tasks…
The very first one was to persuade Xu Chu, the leader of the Runan Commandery righteous soldiers, to surrender. At the end of the seal script, a small note was added – puff out your chest, raise your head, persuading Xu Chu to surrender will be a very easy task. Commander Cheng should learn to enjoy the moment!
Heh heh…
Enjoy! Enjoy the moment!
Cheng Yu just “heh heh”-ed.
One had to know…
He, Cheng Yu, was alone, but Xu Chu was a strong man who could pull an ox a hundred meters. Perhaps one punch could take his life!
The tasks assigned by Young Master Lu were truly about success or death!
“Heh heh…”
While waiting, Cheng Yu smiled bitterly and muttered to himself, “I, Cheng Yu, fear neither ghosts nor gods, so why would I fear meeting a mere martial artist? Hahaha…”
With a slight smile, thankfully Cheng Yu was incredibly bold.
Now… hundreds of burly, bare-chested strong men surrounded him. Each of them had a saber at their waist, and some of their sabers were still stained crimson…
And Cheng Yu’s face was not flushed, nor was he out of breath. Although he felt somewhat excited internally, his outward demeanor remained calm and composed!
Even…
“Stomp… stomp…”
Cheng Yu took a heavy step forward.
“An hour? Is this how your leader treats guests?”
“Oh, so this is the Yamen of the righteous soldiers? Heh heh, how rude, I almost thought this was a Yellow Turban rebel’s den! Hahaha…”
Upon saying this…
Countless burly, bare-chested strong men glared fiercely at Cheng Yu. Cheng Yu glared back… showing no trace of fear!
He had been staring down at skulls every day. Facing living people, Cheng Yu was truly not afraid at all. His courage had long been honed harder than steel!
And not far away, on the roof of the Yamen…
A strong man, over eight feet tall and with a ten-circumference waist, nodded.
“This person sent by Cao Cao truly has some courage. I see Cao’s camp, and even Cao Cao, in him. Interesting. Come, let’s go talk to him! Perhaps Cao Cao’s place is a good one!”
The strong man’s lips curved upwards, and as he laughed, he leaped down…
Using the roof tiles for leverage twice, his body was agile. Despite his bulk, he was a flexible fatty.
Not only that, but he was also bare-chested on the roof. In such cold weather, he felt no chill, or rather, he was already accustomed to it!
Thick-skinned, and able to withstand the cold!
In the silent night sky, a powerful voice boomed out.
“Hahaha, sent by Cao Cao, right? You look frail, but surprisingly you have some courage. You fit my taste! Let’s go! Let’s go inside and chat!”
…
…