kingnovel Chapter 758: Seriously injured, looking for Hua Tuo
Chapter 758: Seriously injured, looking for Hua Tuo
For the next two or three days, the caravan continued its slow march along the winding road. The rumbling of the wheels and the clouds of dust raised spoke of the length and difficulty of the journey. Zhen Mi dared not leave Ma Chao's side for a moment, constantly monitoring his well-being.
However, the situation only worsened. Ma Chao's fever stubbornly refused to subside, his scorching heat threatening to consume him. Every time Zhen Mi reached out to touch his forehead, the searing heat gripped her heart, and fear and worry washed over her like a tide.
As she changed the dressing, Zhen Mi's hands couldn't help but tremble. As the gauze was slowly peeled back, a pungent, putrid odor assaulted her, nearly making her nauseous. Ma Chao's wound had become increasingly festering. The flesh, once protruding outward, had now turned a horrible black, the surrounding skin red and swollen, and pus oozing continuously. Seeing this horrific sight, Zhen Mi's eyes instantly welled up, tears streaming uncontrollably. She suppressed her grief and gently wiped the area around the wound with a clean cloth, her movements so gentle that it felt as if even the slightest pressure would inflict further pain on Ma Chao.
"How could this happen..." Zhen Mi muttered to herself, her voice filled with helplessness and despair. She looked at the unconscious Ma Chao and vowed to herself that she would never give up, even if there was only a glimmer of hope, and she would do everything she could to save him. Gazing at the injuries that showed no sign of improvement, she felt a wave of confusion, unsure how much longer she could hold out in this battle against death.
Zhen Mi, utterly anxious, hurried to the old shopkeeper's carriage and lifted the curtain, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness. "Old shopkeeper, please think of a solution! His injuries are getting worse!" The old shopkeeper put down his account book and, with a solemn expression, followed her to Ma Chao's carriage. Looking at Ma Chao's lifeless face and festering wounds, the old shopkeeper's brows knitted together and sighed, "Now we can only go to the county ahead and find a clinic."
The caravan immediately changed course, galloping towards the county seat. Dust billowed along the road, and everyone's mood was even heavier than the dust. Upon arriving at the clinic, just as the doctor was about to approach Ma Chao, the white horse suddenly pricked up its ears, let out a low neigh, and pawed the ground with its front hooves, as if determined not to let anyone get close.
Zhen Mi's eyes welled up as she quickly walked over to the white horse, reaching out to gently stroke its neck. Tears welled up in her eyes. "White horse, they're here to save his life and treat him. Please, please, move aside." Her voice was tearful and full of pleading. The white horse seemed to understand her words, pawing its hooves nervously, then glancing at the unconscious Ma Chao before finally moving aside obediently.
The doctor was finally able to approach, feel the man's pulse, and examine the wound. His expression grew increasingly grim. He slowly rose, bowed helplessly, and said, "Your injuries are severe. The wounds have already festered, and the poison has entered your body, causing a high fever that persists. I can only prescribe some herbal remedies to clear away heat and toxins, and to activate blood circulation and dissolve blood stasis. I hope this is the best I can do. However, whether these remedies can cure the disease is beyond human control. I hope you will accept my condolences and make early plans."
Zhen Mi's legs went limp and she almost collapsed to the ground. She held on, took the prescription, tears welling up in her eyes: "No, there must be a way. He will definitely get better..."
The doctor said with embarrassment, "Gentlemen, with my old medical skills, there is really no way to save the patient." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face, and continued, "Unless the legendary doctor Hua Tuo is still alive, there might be a glimmer of hope. However, Hua Tuo travels all over the place, making it difficult to find his whereabouts."
When Zhen Mi heard the word "Hua Tuo," a flash of light suddenly flashed through her mind, and a sense of familiarity washed over her. Her eyes widened, and her breathing quickened. As if she had suddenly grasped a lifeline, she instinctively clutched the doctor's clothes and asked anxiously, "Sir, are you talking about the legendary Hua Tuo? Is he sure he can save him?"
The doctor, looking ashamed, bowed and said, "To be honest, this warrior's injuries are too serious. With my medical skills, I am powerless to save him. But the legendary doctor Hua Tuo is known as the 'reincarnation of Bian Que'. His medical skills far surpass mine. Perhaps he really can save this warrior. I can't guarantee it, but I can only say that there may be a glimmer of hope."
When Zhen Mi heard this, hope instantly ignited in her eyes. Without thinking much, she turned around and urgently urged the old shopkeeper: "Old shopkeeper, there is no time to lose. Let's pack our bags, take the herbs, and head to Hanzhong!"
The old shopkeeper was completely bewildered by this sudden decision. He scratched his head, his face filled with confusion, and asked, "Miss, why are you going to Hanzhong? It's a long journey, and the caravan's itinerary will be disrupted. We still have so much cargo to transport. Besides, what are you going there for?"
Zhen Mi was extremely anxious. She walked quickly to the old shopkeeper, took his arm, and said earnestly, "Old shopkeeper, think about it carefully! That year, our caravan was outside Hanzhong City, and the clerks and guards were injured. The old man who came to treat them had miraculous medical skills. He stabilized the injuries with just a few prescriptions. Later, I vaguely heard that the old man was very likely the legendary doctor Hua Tuo! Now his life is at stake. This is our only hope. As long as we can find Hua Tuo, he will definitely save him!"
The old shopkeeper looked troubled, his brows knitted into knots. He said, "Miss, our caravan's itinerary has been set long ago, and the goods must be delivered on time. Otherwise, breaching the contract will be a big problem. Moreover, the journey to Hanzhong is long and treacherous, and if we encounter bandits or bad weather, the losses will be severe. Moreover, based on our speculation, if the old man is not Hua Tuo, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?"
Zhen Mi, however, was determined. Her eyes welled up as she pleaded, "Old Shopkeeper, I know you're worried about the caravan, but his life is hanging by a thread. How can we just stand by and watch him die? I'm willing to bear all the consequences. If any losses are incurred due to the delay, they will be my responsibility. But if I don't give it a try, I'll never be at peace."
The old shopkeeper looked at Zhen Mi's resolute expression, then thought about Ma Chao's miserable condition. Finally, he sighed helplessly. He couldn't persuade her, so he had to compromise: "Forget it, then let's do as the young lady wishes and change the route to Hanzhong."
The caravan then turned and headed for Hanzhong. Along the way, the clatter of horses' hooves, the rumble of wheels, and the dust they kicked up spoke of the length of the journey. Ma Chao's condition worsened. He remained unconscious, his fever recurring. His once robust frame gradually withered, his cheeks sunken, his skin losing its luster. Zhen Mi stayed by his side day and night, not daring to close her eyes, praying fervently for Hua Tuo to be found and save his life.
The caravan's wheels creaked as it slowly rolled forward, but the further they went, the more the old shopkeeper's brow furrowed. A tense scene greeted them. Checkpoints lined the road, and soldiers clad in heavy armor, wielding spears, glanced warily at passersby. A chilling atmosphere hung in the air. The old shopkeeper, perplexed by the scene, finally spoke, "This is truly bizarre! Now that Yangzhou and Jizhou have declared a truce, the people should be enjoying peace, yet why are they acting as if they're facing a formidable enemy? Moreover, this place isn't far from Chang'an, right under the Emperor's feet. This shouldn't be happening!" His voice, tinged with anxiety, rang out particularly clearly in the oppressive atmosphere.
After thinking for a moment, the old shopkeeper did not dare to delay and quickly called a clerk who was usually smart and intelligent, and whispered to him: "You go to the front and ask what happened. Be sure to be careful and come back quickly!" After receiving the order, the clerk immediately galloped forward.
After a long while, the clerk hurried back, not even tethering his horse. He ran breathlessly to the old shopkeeper, his face terrified, his voice trembling, and said, "This is terrible! Old shopkeeper, I've heard that the emperor recently held a banquet in the palace to celebrate Marquis Wei's great victory in Yangzhou. Marquis Wei, Ma Chao, had worked hard and made great contributions, and he should have been honored. But who could have imagined that a shocking scandal involving him and the empress would circulate. When the emperor learned of this, he was furious. Ma Chao, sensing the situation, was so possessed that he attempted to rebel and kill the emperor! Now that news has spread far and wide, all forces have been alarmed. No wonder we've seen such tight security along the way; it turns out they're all focused on apprehending the traitor Ma Chao!"
After hearing the clerk's words, the old shopkeeper felt his head buzz, his head spinning, and his entire body swaying. He knew that Ma Chao, as the young master of Xiliang, was the core and backbone of Xiliang. Now that Ma Chao had been killed, how could Xiliang, with its courage and power, swallow this humiliation and let it go? A large-scale battle was inevitable, and in that event, countless lives would be lost, and the people would be plunged into dire straits.
Thinking back to the days before, when I passed near Chang'an, the battlefield was filled with the deafening shouts of battle and the thick smoke of gunpowder. Now I think it was probably all because of Ma Chao's incident. And then there was the gravely wounded, unidentified general I found in the bushes that day. All signs indicate that he must have some connection to Xiliang.
The old shopkeeper was extremely anxious, with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He didn't dare to delay for a moment and hurried towards Zhen Mi's carriage. As he walked, he secretly complained in his heart, now that the caravan was involved in such a shocking event, what should he do?
The old shopkeeper rushed to Zhen Mi's carriage and lifted the curtain. His face was filled with anxiety, and his voice trembled unconsciously: "Miss, we really can't go any further! Think about it, that general must be from Xiliang. The situation between Xiliang and Chang'an is tense right now, and fighting could break out at any time. If we bring such a sensitive and seriously injured Xiliang general with us, wouldn't we be pushing the entire caravan into a fire pit? We are running a business that supports our families. Everyone depends on it for their livelihood!"
Zhen Mi raised her head, her eyes firm, without a trace of hesitation: "Old Shopkeeper, I understand your concerns, but he is a living life. Since we chose to save him in the first place, how can we give up halfway just because we are afraid of causing trouble?"
The old shopkeeper was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands together and pacing back and forth beside the cart. "Miss, you have good intentions, but this is no ordinary trouble. If we are discovered, the business we have painstakingly built up over the years will be ruined. The goods will be confiscated, and we will suffer as well. We may even lose our lives. We don't need to put ourselves in such a dangerous situation for someone with unknown origins!"
Zhen Mi stood up and looked at the old shopkeeper earnestly. "Old Shopkeeper, I know this is risky, but if I ignore him out of fear of getting into trouble, I'll never feel at peace. Besides, we might not be discovered. If we hurry to Han to find Hua Tuo, heal his injuries, and then properly place him, we might be able to resolve this crisis."
The old shopkeeper looked at Zhen Mi's resolute expression, sighed heavily, and said helplessly: "Miss, you are too naive. The world is not as simple as you think. It is full of dangers and calculations."
Zhen Mi shook her head slightly, her eyes revealing determination: "Old Shopkeeper, the more chaotic the world is, the more we must not lose our kindness. Even if there is only a glimmer of hope, I still want to save him. I hope you can understand."
The old shopkeeper was silent for a long time, and finally compromised reluctantly: "Forget it, let's do as you wish, young lady. I hope God bless us and we can have a smooth journey." So, the caravan continued to move towards Hanzhong in an uneasy atmosphere. The future was full of unknowns and risks, and everyone's heart was heavy.