Mr. Zhang Sanwa was a tall and lean young man. Although his clothes were shabby, they were clean and tidy.
"Mr Zhang, please go and bring the bowls your team uses for meals."
Han Lei instructed them to each take a small clay bowl, which they cleaned with alcohol. Then, they poured some alcohol into each bowl.
Last night, while eating, Han Lei noticed that apart from the porcelain plates used for serving food, everyone ate using clay bowls. Evidently, porcelain was quite rare in their time.
Han Lei took out twenty packs of cotton swabs to distribute to them. Then, she began demonstrating on the nearest injured soldier.
"Come over and watch closely."
Han Lei poured alcohol onto the soldier's wound, gently spreading it with a cotton swab. Then she poured and spread it again, repeating the process twice.
"Keep your eyes on it. Cotton swabs are to touch the wound only, not the alcohol in the bowl. Use a new swab for each wound to avoid cross-infection."
Han Lei patiently demonstrated and after treating two soldiers, the ten-person crew finally learned the basics of cleaning wounds.
Han Lei then asked Li Erniu to find a red wooden box and taught him how to open the antibiotic packaging, extracting the capsules to place them in the box.
"Now go and distribute the pills, two per person. Take them with clean water and ensure no one is left out. Distribute again after the evening meal, still two per person. If we run out of pills, come back here for more."
Li Erniu listened carefully and began distributing the pills one by one.
Han Lei called over an old military doctor and instructed him: "Doctor, please follow the soldiers cleaning the wounds and check if any wounds can't heal on their own. Record those wounds, and I'll suture them one by one."
"Suture?" The old military doctor raised an eyebrow with a hint of disdain. "Huh! Just because you've read a few medical books doesn't mean you're ready to save lives. This isn't child's play."
Mr. He was almost sixty and had been on the battlefield since the days of Prince Xiaoyao's father. He's been in the military for decades and today, it was his first time hearing about suturing wounds.
"Old doctor, I know you doubt my medical skills, but the situation is urgent. Just do as I say for now. Once things settle, I'll explain it to you slowly, okay?"
Not wanting to boast in front of the veteran, Han Lei patiently continued.
Mr. He wanted to retort but suddenly noticed the Marshal in a wheelchair nearby, nodding gently towards him. He sighed, gave Han Lei a respectful nod, and turned to leave.
"Alright, I'll go check it out," he conceded.
Since even the Marshal had recognized it, what more was there to say? Just follow the orders. If he couldn't trust that young woman, surely, he could trust the Marshal.
Zhao Zun watched the departing Mr. He with amusement.
Mr. He was undoubtedly disgruntled but seeing Han Lei manage everything efficiently and instructing his subordinates, he inexplicably came to trust Han Lei.
From removing arrows to suturing wounds, from repelling ambushes to driving supplies, Han Lei was unlike any woman he had ever met.
Having known her for only two days, he felt there was nothing Han Lei couldn't handle.
Perhaps in a few more days, even Mr. He would have to admit defeat! He was quite eager to see Mr. He's amazed expression.
As Zhao Zun was lost in thought, Han Lei, with several soldiers and medical tools, exited the tent.
Outside the tent, hundreds of soldiers awaited treatment, either beyond saving or already deceased.
In the bitter cold, even a healthy man might freeze to death lying on the yellow earth outdoors.
"Little brother, call people over to set up some more tents here."
"Little brother, find some fire basins, light them, and place one in each tent."
"Little brother, prepare more quilts and bring them here."
"Little brother, go to the kitchen and have them cook some porridge or rice soup and bring it over."
"…"
Squatting on the ground, Han Lei checked the breathing of the wounded while calmly instructing the soldiers assisting her.
With each instruction, the soldiers left her side to carry out the orders.
Just then, a group of fully armed soldiers approached, stopping not far from Han Lei.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
In unison, the soldiers drew their swords, shimmering intimidatingly in the cold air.
Hearing the commotion, Han Lei turned her head and stood up. Before she could speak, the leading general shouted.
"Forgive us, brothers! We'll act swiftly, sparing you any pain."
With that shout, all soldiers simultaneously flipped their swords around.
Sword handles up, blades down.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Han Lei exclaimed in shock, shouting loudly.
The lead soldier looked at Han Lei, with eyes filled with reluctance and sorrow, temporarily pausing his action.
"General Ma Cheng ordered us to send our brothers on their final journey, and you are...?"
This was the unwritten rule in the barracks: soldiers grievously injured on the battlefield were mercifully put to rest by themselves, granting them freedom in their final moments.
No soldier wanted to accept such a task, unable to bring themselves to it.
But forced by General Ma, they reluctantly accepted the duty.
To send those still living on their final journey? Han Lei had only witnessed such scenes on television.
Though a noble act, it was deeply cruel!
Han Lei was taken aback by the lead soldier's words, her mind blank for a moment before responding, "I... I'm the newly arrived military doctor, Han Lei."
The lead soldier eyed Han Lei up and down. Seeing her in strange attire and as a young woman, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Newly arrived military doctor? You do realize the brothers lying here cannot be saved!" The lead soldier shook his head with anguish.
"No! Many of them can still be saved." A resolute belief surged within Han Lei. Confronting the imminent mercy killing, she boldly spoke, "Please give me one day; perhaps I can save them."
Han Lei had just thoroughly examined them. After more than ten days of combat, aside from those already deceased and indeed mortally wounded, a substantial number were simply suffering from prolonged untreated infections inducing fever and unconsciousness.
If they involved bullet wounds requiring surgery, Han Lei might struggle alone, but these were injuries caused by cold weapons. She felt confident in saving some of them.
The lead soldier was startled, his hands gripping the sword shaking slightly. The row of soldiers turned to look at Han Lei. They yearned for hope, but military orders couldn't be disobeyed.
"Mr. He declared them beyond saving, you..." He wanted to question why she persisted.