In the largest medical hall of Chenliu Commandery.
When Cao Cao, Xun Yu, and Xun You arrived, many patients suffering from severe febrile diseases were already lying there, filling the grand hall with sorrow.
Without hesitation, Cao Cao, led by Xun Yu, proceeded directly to the back hall. There was a side room, and within it lay Xi Zhicai, afflicted with a terminal febrile illness…
Upon hearing that Xi Zhicai had contracted this incurable disease, Xiahou Dun, who had always been close to him, was already waiting in the chamber.
The onset of the severe febrile disease was slow, but the patient suffered immense pain every moment. Xiahou Dun wished to accompany Xi Zhicai through this most agonizing period of his life!
As Cao Cao approached the door, Xi Zhicai was conversing with Xiahou Dun.
"Birds choose their trees, but can trees choose their birds? When serving the same lord, mutual assistance yields mutual benefit…cough, cough, General Xiahou, you don't understand me, Xi!"
"My entire life, I, Xi, have been able to assist a wise lord and remain loyal until the end. Even if it were only for one year, it would fulfill my lifelong aspiration. Like a silkworm until death, like a candle burning to ash, in this life, I have done my utmost. My only regret… my only regret…"
A voice, weathered and mournful…
These words reached Cao Cao's ears…
His footsteps paused. He felt as if his heart had been struck by ten thousand blows. During the campaign against Xuzhou, he knew Xi Zhicai's health was poor, yet he was always the first to rise in the military camp each day.
When the armored guards patrolled at night, they would often find the lights in the strategist's tent extinguished only in the latter half of the night.
There were even many times when Cao Cao, hearing that Xi Zhicai had not yet slept, personally went to his tent to extinguish the candle for him.
Every moment, he seemed to be thinking…
Thinking of breaking through city walls, thinking of the battlefield, of any oversight in every plan. Often, for a single battle, he would rehearse it in his mind more than a hundred times. For every enemy reaction, he had prepared at least three different contingency plans.
And this led to his incredible sharpness and responsiveness on the battlefield.
Many times, when facing the enemy, with Xi Zhicai present, Cao Cao felt assured!
How would their side fight, where would they focus? What were the difficulties?
How would the enemy fight? Where were the changes…
All were stored within the mind of Strategist Xi Zhicai.
Before a battle even began, Xi Zhicai had often calculated the final outcome…
And this was what Cao Cao admired most.
It was for this reason that during the campaign against Xuzhou, Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai were almost inseparable. Their conversations had long ago expanded beyond the gains and losses of mere cities and territories…
They chatted about everything under the sun, discussing the current situation, specific individuals, and even the wives of others in Xuzhou city!
A close friend…
It could be said that within Cao's camp…
Apart from his paternal relatives, Xi Zhicai was the first person who made Cao Cao feel as though he had gained a true friend.
And now… his close friend was suffering from an incurable disease and would soon leave this world.
As he thought of this, Xi Zhicai's voice continued to emanate from within the room.
"General Xiahou, actually… I, Xi, I also have regrets…"
"I regret that I cannot use this ailing body to complete my lord's great undertaking, I regret that I will no longer be able to offer counsel and advice to my lord, and I regret… I regret having to bid farewell to Mengde! But… but…"
As Xi Zhicai spoke, he began to cough uncontrollably. Even through a door, Cao Cao could feel the frailty of his body.
"Zhicai…" Cao Cao could no longer restrain himself and stepped inside, grasping Xi Zhicai's hands tightly. With that grip, Cao Cao felt the coldness of his body, a sudden, chilling coldness.
"Zhicai… you have suffered!"
Empathizing deeply, Cao Cao felt as much pain as Xi Zhicai was enduring…
Perhaps this… was the unique bond between Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai.
…
"Lord Cao, Lord Cao…" Xi Zhicai struggled to sit up, but… he no longer had the strength. Even so, he subconsciously said, "Lord Cao… I… I merely have a common cold, I will be fine after a few days of rest, quite fine… Westward towards Luo… Luoyang? How is it progressing?"
Compared to his voice moments before, Xi Zhicai's voice was now as thin as a thread, clearly indicating his condition was rapidly deteriorating.
Yet, even in this state, Xi Zhicai had consistently instructed everyone not to tell Cao Cao!
Even now, his greatest concern was the progress of the westward advance towards Luoyang.
Perhaps… from the moment he fell ill, Xi Zhicai had come to terms with his fate. Since it was destined, and he had to face this tribulation, he would learn to accept it.
But…
From Cao Cao's expression, Xi Zhicai could tell that Wenruo… had not heeded his plea and had informed Cao Cao of his true condition.
"Ha…"
Xi Zhicai forced a smile with great effort. "Lord Cao always smiles, why are you so worried today? Can Lord Cao still cry? Ah…"
At such a moment, Xi Zhicai was… even cracking jokes.
"Zhicai, do not overthink. Rest well!" Cao Cao tightened his grip on Xi Zhicai's hand, truly afraid he would never see him again.
"Haha… It's alright, Lord Cao, you don't need to worry about me." Xi Zhicai's voice continued. "To serve by your side, to advance with you, has already made my life worthwhile. A scholar dies for his confidant, what regrets are there? These are all matters ordained by heaven!"
As he said this, Xi Zhicai effortly lifted his head and looked deeply at Xun Yu.
"Wenruo…"
"Zhicai…" Upon hearing this, Xun Yu also stepped forward, tightly grasping Xi Zhicai's hand.
Xi Zhicai continued, "What I have entrusted to Wenruo, Wenruo must remember… I cannot offer counsel to our lord anymore, from now on, it will… it will be up to him. To strategize and win victories from a thousand miles away, Fengxiao… Fengxiao is ten times better than me!"
Xi Zhicai was acutely aware of his body. The coldness within was rapidly spreading to his vital organs. Soon… he would be too cold to speak, and his head would become feverish and dizzy. His time was running out.
His final instructions… were his last wishes.
"Good… good…" Xun Yu's voice was filled with trembling as he murmured the eight characters: "As you instructed, Zhi… Zhicai is not dead, Guo… Guo…"
He had intended to say, "If Zhicai isn't dead, Guo Jia won't emerge…" But before the words could fully leave his lips, he was already weeping uncontrollably.
"If Zhicai isn't dead, Guo Jia won't emerge" was an agreement made in childhood between Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia, and Xun Yu, also a talented scholar from Yingchuan, had witnessed it firsthand.
"Alright…" Xi Zhicai turned his head to look back at Cao Cao. "Heaven's will cannot be changed, Mengde… Mengde, do not be sad. I… I am merely following destiny."
"It is time to bid farewell to Mengde… Go, Mengde, you should go. You still have many important matters to attend to. Leave me here… cough, cough… leave me alone! Let me come quietly, and depart quietly!"
"With Wenruo here, with Fengxiao here, and also… also with Administrator Lu, I… I depart with peace of mind, with great… great reassurance!"
A farewell?
Cao Cao understood Xi Zhicai's intentions.
Suffering from the severe febrile disease… every moment was more painful, more unbearable, more agonizing than the last.
Zhicai… he wanted to leave behind the image of someone who "planned strategies and conquered the realm" in Cao Cao's heart, rather than revealing his most vulnerable side.
From beginning to end, he was a proud man.
Cao Cao remained silent. He cast one last gaze at Xi Zhicai, turned around, and walked out the door with exceptionally heavy steps…
All the others left with unspoken understanding!
Quietly, Xi Zhicai wished to end his life, which had flashed briefly and shone brilliantly, in quietude.
As he reached the door…
With a "bang," Cao Cao's fist violently struck the wall of the medical hall. With a dull thud, a loud muffled sound echoed throughout the back hall.
Some patients, also suffering from the severe febrile disease, turned their gazes towards Cao Cao.
But with just a glance, they lowered their heads again…
Their time was also running out.
"Damn it!" Cao Cao was uncharacteristically enraged…
At this moment, he wanted to defy heaven, to defy the very heavens!
But… but… this damned weather would not change because of his anger!
Helplessness… a feeling of indescribable helplessness swept through his entire being.
Pain, Cao Cao felt more pain than any patient with an incurable febrile disease.
He tightly closed his eyes…
But in that moment of closing his eyes, scenes of when he first met Xi Zhicai flashed vividly before him.
Cao Cao remembered that it was Yu'er who first told him… that a strategist among the talents of Yingchuan was coming.
Then… Xun Yu recommended Xi Zhicai to Cao Cao. That night, they discussed military strategy, and it was also that night that Cao Cao was utterly impressed by Xi Zhicai's military genius.
Cao Cao would never forget… the conclusion of that night, when Xi Zhicai knelt before him, his words remarkably resonant.
—"A scholar dies for his confidant. Having received the lord's trust, I will do my utmost, I will do all in my power!"
And just now, at the door, the conversation Cao Cao overheard between Xi Zhicai and Xiahou Dun.
—"I regret that I cannot use this ailing body to complete my lord's great undertaking, I regret that I will no longer be able to offer counsel and advice to my lord, and I regret… I regret having to bid farewell to Mengde!"
Mengde? Cao Cao liked hearing Xi Zhicai address him that way… Yes, more than lord and subordinate, they were like close friends, like brothers!
As he thought of this, tears began to well up in Cao Cao's eyes.
"Where are the physicians? Physicians! Where! Where are they!"
A roaring shout…
"Lord Cao!" Several physicians hurried over…
"At any cost, regardless of how precious the medicinal ingredients, you must… you must make Zhicai…"
As he said this, Cao Cao paused. He had intended to say he would make Zhicai recover, but… even he didn't believe such nonsense. The severe febrile disease was an incurable illness; how could it be cured?
"As much as possible… as much as possible, alleviate Zhicai's pain? Do you… do you understand?"
With that statement…
The physicians nodded heavily, but remained silent. In truth… even to alleviate the pain, with his medical skills, he… he could not do it.
Speaking of which, when facing this incurable severe febrile disease… who in the world? Could achieve it?
"Big Brother…"
Just then, a robust voice came from Cao Cao's side.
It was Xiahou Dun's voice. Before Cao Cao could reply, Xiahou Dun's voice continued, "Perhaps… perhaps the military advisor's severe febrile disease can be treated… who… who knows!"
Ah… Ah…
At these words, let alone Cao Cao, even the physicians present were stunned into silence, their mouths agape.
General Xiahou doesn't understand medicine… how can he speak such nonsense?
"General Xiahou, Military Advisor Xi is suffering from a severe febrile disease… not a common cold!"
A physician replied, the meaning clear: Get lost… don't challenge my livelihood with your amateurish remarks. If you truly say you can cure it, then… you cure one, won't you? If you can cure this severe febrile disease, the physician felt he could stand on his head and wash his hair!
"What this general is saying is about the severe febrile disease, I'm not joking…"
Xiahou Dun retorted…
"Yuan Rang…"
The certainty in Xiahou Dun's tone and his inexplicable confidence did indeed bring a sliver of hope to Cao Cao. Cao Cao quickly asked, "Yuan Rang? Can you treat this severe febrile disease?"
Waving his hand… Xiahou Dun repeatedly waved his hands. "I definitely cannot…"
Then…
Cao Cao's brow furrowed slightly, with a hint of refutation. Xiahou Dun's words, however, continued, "My second brother, perhaps, can treat it…"
Second brother?
Cao Cao instinctively thought of his cousin Xiahou Yuan, or Xiahou Dun's own younger brother Xiahou Lian…
But then it felt wrong. If it were them, Xiahou Dun would use terms like Miaocai or Lian-di… So… who was this second brother?
Wait…
Cao Cao instinctively recalled something, something that made Cao Cao rack his brains.
That's right, it was five months ago… the event where his cousin Xiahou Dun and his eldest son Yu'er became sworn brothers!
At that time, Cao Cao was almost driven mad, yet helpless!
Could the second brother Yuan Rang mentioned be…
Before Cao Cao could express his surprise, Xiahou Dun's voice followed, and the words that followed made Cao Cao even more astonished.
"Big Brother, my second brother Lu Yu understands medicine. In my opinion, his medical skills are far superior to these physicians; even the renowned Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing of the time would have to bow their heads in admiration!"
Huo… Yu'er knows medicine?
Cao Cao's eyes widened abruptly, as large as bronze bells…
He felt as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable. How could Yu'er… possibly know medicine?
Even if he knew medicine, given his age, at most he would only have a superficial understanding. It wouldn't be… as fantastical as Yuan Rang described, right?
And… even Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing would bow their heads in submission!
After all… one of these two wandered the common folk, while the other treated patients in Changsha Commandery. People respectfully called them "Divine Physician" and "Medical Sage"!
In the Han dynasty, anyone whose title contained the character "divine" or "sage" was extraordinary!
And how old was Yu'er? Even if he had photographic memory and had read a few medical texts, how many people had he actually treated? How could he… surpass those two in medical skills?
"Yuan Rang, do not speak carelessly!" Cao Cao's tone became much more serious. If it weren't Xiahou Dun standing before him, he would probably have ordered someone to drag him away and administer the military rod.
"Big Brother, I am not speaking carelessly!" Xiahou Dun scratched his head. "My second brother truly understands medicine!"
"On what grounds do you say that?" Cao Cao asked back…
Xiahou Dun then brought his mouth close to Cao Cao's ear. "Big Brother, as you know, for years… I've always felt a sense of being drained. My second brother told me this is called 'kidney deficiency.' He… casually prescribed a formula for me, and I… and my little brother were both amazed. Immediately after… we both stood up!"
As he spoke, Xiahou Dun patted his kidney. "Now I am very vigorous. My concubine previously consulted a physician because of me…"
Xiahou Dun intended to say it was because of his "vigorous miracles"… but at this point, Cao Cao directly shouted to stop him!
This… is too absurd.
Even if Lu Yu can treat kidney deficiency, but… severe febrile disease is not kidney deficiency!
Cao Cao didn't understand medicine, but he knew… these were two completely different parts!
How could they be confused?
Cao Cao was about to retort, but Xiahou Dun's tone became even more solemn. "Why doesn't Big Brother pay a visit to the Cai residence? Whether he can cure it, you'll know after asking. I know my second brother best. Since he can treat my kidneys, then… he can likely treat the military advisor's severe febrile disease!"
Based on Xiahou Dun's understanding…
Clearly, the difficulty of treating kidney deficiency was far greater than treating severe febrile disease…
It was no wonder Xiahou Dun made such a deduction. Although there were many patients with severe febrile disease, they were not as numerous as those with kidney deficiency. Taking the Kingdom of Dragons as an example, in all hospitals, departments of andrology and Tongji Hospital were often particularly popular, and very expensive!
The reason I know this is because the author has a friend… cough, cough… you know what I mean!
As the saying goes, nine out of ten men have kidney deficiency. Following Xiahou Dun's uniquely peculiar train of thought, if Lu Yu can cure kidney deficiency, then… it should be no problem to cure severe febrile disease!
This…
Seeing Xiahou Dun so confident, Cao Cao's words of "stop" that were about to escape his lips were immediately halted.
Treating a dead horse as if it were a living one… so be it, let Yu'er give it a try. Besides, what could be worse?
Of course…
Even with this thought, Cao Cao still didn't hold much hope for "Yu'er being able to cure severe febrile disease."
It could only be "doing one's best and leaving the rest to fate!"
"Yuan Rang, let's go together to Administrator Lu's place and ask." Cao Cao immediately commanded.
"Good, good!" Xiahou Dun quickly led the way.
Tread, tread, tread.
The sound of footsteps grew distant, and soon, the two disappeared from everyone's sight.
After Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun left, the physician stood there, stunned.
He had been too close to Cao Cao just now, so he had heard Xiahou Dun's words clearly…
This…
He couldn't quite comprehend it.
This… being able to treat kidney deficiency? Is there a connection to being able to treat severe febrile disease?
Shaking his head, like a rattle drum, he shook his head.
Although General Xiahou spoke with certainty, he still felt it was preposterous, utterly preposterous!
"Amateur… General Xiahou doesn't understand medicine. This is an amateur guiding the professionals!"
"Besides… Administrator Lu? How old is he? Even if he has studied medicine, it's only superficial knowledge… How can he cure severe febrile disease? Isn't this a desperate attempt?"
"Alas… why is Lord Cao also… also fooling around with General Xiahou? This… this severe febrile disease has always been an incurable disease since ancient times, how can it be so easily cured?"
At this moment… a bold thought once again appeared in his mind.
If Administrator Lu can cure severe febrile disease, then he… will stand on his head and wash his hair in this deep winter!
"Foolish… utter foolishness!"
The physician muttered incessantly.
At this moment… within the medical hall, Xun Yu and Xun You exchanged glances.
"Gongda, do you think Administrator Lu can cure Zhicai?"
"Hard to say…" Xun You maintained his usual taciturnity. "However… anything involving Administrator Lu always brings about the extraordinary! Uncle, what do you think?"
Heh… a miracle?
Xun Yu's eyes narrowed. Gongda is right. The miracles that have occurred around this young man are not just once or twice!
This time… will it be the same as before?
Hoo…
He exhaled softly. Not to mention, with Xun You's reminder, Xun Yu was filled with anticipation for Lu Yu to treat Zhicai… Or rather, this was their last straw!
…
…