After a moment of calm.
Ying Zheng finished reading the bamboo slips.
"Minister Xia."
"Is everything in your memorial accurate and true?" Ying Zheng closed the bamboo slips and asked in a very solemn tone.
"This memorial was personally drafted and submitted by my disciple, Master Chen."
"It is absolutely true."
"The Suturing Skill and the Quenching Disinfection Method do indeed have remarkable effects."
"Master Chen took statistics from three hundred severely wounded soldiers; among the three hundred, two hundred and seventy-five survived, with only twenty-five dying from fatal wounds."
"Moreover, none of the survivors developed the Seven-Day Wind infection."
"This was simply impossible in the past." Xia Wuqie said gravely, though the excitement on his aged face was barely concealed.
For a physician, acquiring advanced medical techniques is a joy, but being able to save more lives is an even greater joy.
Seven-Day Wind.
A millennia-old problem, extremely difficult to avoid.
Yet now, there is a way to prevent it.
The Suturing Skill, a marvelous method to stop bleeding, allows wounded soldiers suffering from massive hemorrhage to stem the bleeding greatly, especially when used with hemostatic medicines—achieving miraculous results.
Upon hearing Xia Wuqie's words,
The court officials instantly understood why Xia Wuqie, who rarely attended court, had suddenly appeared today.
For the Qin Army, this was indeed a momentous affair.
Whenever there was a great battle resulting in heavy casualties,
these wounded soldiers were the elite of Qin; every loss was a tragedy, let alone when each battle left at least a thousand wounded, sometimes far more.
In the era of cold weapons, most injuries involved internal trauma and unstoppable bleeding.
And, of course, there was the hard-to-avoid Seven-Day Wind infection.
In the past, if one or two out of ten severely wounded soldiers survived, that was considered miraculous; but now, the numbers are reversed.
The survival rate has increased so dramatically.
"Since Minister Xia has verified it, this medical technique must be of great merit and utility."
"It has already been put into practice—indeed, it is Heaven's blessing upon Qin." Ying Zheng declared loudly.
"From these two innovative techniques alone, this young man's talent in medicine is evident."
"I humbly request to transfer this youth to the Lantian Military Medical Camp, so that my inept disciple can tutor him for a while, and then in the future call him to Xianyang, where I intend to instruct him myself." Xia Wuqie spoke with great excitement.
Upon hearing this,
a helpless smile appeared on Ying Zheng's face.
Had it been before,
no matter what Xia Wuqie requested, Ying Zheng would have agreed.
But just now, he had announced he would transfer Zhao Feng to the main camp; if such a fearless warrior became a military doctor, the world would ridicule Qin.
"Minister Xia."
"If you desire someone else, perhaps I could grant it, but this man is not possible." Ying Zheng smiled.
"Why?"
Xia Wuqie's expression darkened slightly, puzzled: "My inept disciple said this youth is just a Logistics Army man."
As soon as these words fell.
The court officials looked at Xia Wuqie, then at Ying Zheng.
In an instant,
many ministers realized something.
"Logistics Army, and the king also refused Doctor Xia—could it be that Zhao Feng is the pioneer of these medical techniques?" Some quick-witted minister thought to himself.
Otherwise,
Ying Zheng would not have refused Xia Wuqie.
"This Logistics Army man Minister Xia refers to is remarkable indeed."
"Bao Yuan led his army hiding at Yang City and launched a sudden attack on our forces; if not for this man's brave leadership of the Logistics Army in meeting the assault, Qin's supply route would have been severed by Bao Yuan."
"He alone killed three hundred enemies, personally slew Bao Yuan."
"Such a valiant figure is not merely a Logistics Army man."
"General Wang Jian has already submitted a memorial requesting this youth be transferred to the combat camp, and I have already approved it." Ying Zheng said with a smile.
Xia Wuqie's face was full of astonishment: "This Zhao Feng is that formidable?"
"He indeed took me by surprise."
"I only just learned of this youth's might on the battlefield—truly a fierce general."
"Never thought that with your arrival, Minister Xia, you would bring me more good news."
"He also excels in medicine, and his skills are of great use in our Wounded Soldier Camp." Ying Zheng also spoke in an amazed tone.
Xia Wuqie recovered: "Since this youth is a fierce general and General Wang Jian has spoken, then I have overstepped."
"However, I can stake my life on it: the medical methods created by Zhao Feng are unprecedented and truly effective, enough to save countless wounded Qin soldiers from death."
"On behalf of all wounded soldiers of Qin, I request the king reward Zhao Feng."
As he said this,
Xia Wuqie bowed deeply.
Ying Zheng waved his hand: "Minister Xia, rest assured, whosoever renders service unto Qin shall be rewarded!"
"Yu Qing."
"Draft a royal edict, transmit to Lantian Camp."
Yu Liao immediately stepped forth: "Your servant awaits the royal edict!"
"Logistics Army captain Zhao Feng has rendered meritorious service for the state, fought bravely to kill the enemy, eliminated the threat of attack, and moreover created medical treatment methods that saved our wounded soldiers of Qin—all great deeds, worthy of high reward."
"Now."
"Transfer Zhao Feng into the combat camp to command troops as an Elite Soldiers officer!"
"Promote Zhao Feng's official rank by four levels, making him Army Marquis, commanding five thousand troops!"
"Promote Zhao Feng's title by five ranks, granting him the rank of 'Grand Master Official'!"
"Military salary, annual stipend and corresponding lands, all shall be determined by military merit and awarded after the war." Ying Zheng commanded in a powerful voice.
For merit in slaying enemies and killing generals,
Zhao Feng originally should have received a four-level title promotion, but this time Ying Zheng granted him one additional level.
Compared to military office,
noble rank was far harder to obtain.
After all, a noble title symbolized not only office but also land and stipends.
"Your servant receives the royal edict." Yu Liao answered at once.
"Inform Wang Jian."
"Let him decide how to use and deploy this fierce general as he sees fit." Ying Zheng added.
"Understood."
"May I report to the Great King."
"Your servant has one more matter to present." Yu Liao said respectfully.
"Speak." Ying Zheng looked at Yu Liao.
"Bao Yuan's ambush was due to Li Teng's greed for merit and rash advance, while the Logistics Army is responsible mainly for supplies, not direct combat; yet when surprise attacked, they braved danger and fought, giving Qin the chance to annihilate Bao Yuan—rendering great service."
"Yet, the death compensation for the Logistics Army is far lower than that of the Elite Soldiers."
"These Logistics Army soldiers all died because of one general's fault, bravely sacrificing themselves on the battlefield."
"I implore the Great King to show noble favor, compensating these Logistics Army soldiers as Elite Soldiers, to manifest your boundless grace." Yu Liao bowed deeply and spoke loudly.
As soon as these words were spoken,
Ying Zheng's brows showed emotion.
"Great King."
"The noble rank system must not be thrown into disorder."
"Nearly ten thousand Logistics Army were killed in this battle; if all are compensated as Elite Soldiers, the treasury will have to pay out much more funds for no reason."
"Now that Qin's military campaigns already exhaust the treasury every day, the noble system must not be thrown into confusion over this."
The eldest minister among the civil officials, the Chancellor Wang Wan, stepped forward.
"I second this."
"The noble rank system and state treasury expenditures, if abused, are harmful to the country."
"May the Great King consider carefully."
After Wang Wan, other court officials spoke up in agreement one by one.
It was no surprise,
these were all civil officials.
...