Chapter 2303: First Meal
The people from the Protectorate quickly found a piece of land for Zhou Man, just outside the city.
Knowing that Zhou Man was going to get smallpox, naturally no one dared to leave things in the city. If something happened, it would be fatal.
So the people from the Protectorate chose a place quite far away, and the houses were all built on the spot. If she hadn't insisted on having water, they could have found a place farther away.
However, although there is a small river there, it is not close to the river.
This was Manbao's request, so as to avoid polluting the water by being too close to it.
Two courtyards were built according to Zhou Man’s request, one for the patients and the other for the people who took care of the patients.
The cows were also prepared for her, not many, just three, and they were tied in the yard.
After all this was done, General Guo and his men also set out for the battle, and the selected prisoners were delivered to them on the day they left.
There were six people in total, and all of them were injured.
Manbao saw that one of them had a broken arm. Fortunately, it was an old injury, otherwise she would have to treat it first.
Manbao took a pen and paper to record their names and household registrations, and asked casually, "What crime have you committed?"
The six people were confused and said, "We didn't do anything wrong."
Manbao raised his head and looked at them, his eyes fixed on them, and asked, "Aren't you prisoners exiled to Xizhou?"
The six people's expressions changed, and they immediately said, "Sir, please don't insult us. We are conscripted soldiers, not prisoners."
Manbao frowned slightly and couldn't help but look back at Baishan.
Bai Shan also pursed his lips, turned around and said, "I'll go ask."
You can find out the identity of the person sent here by asking the Protectorate.
They were not prisoners at all, they were all Anxi soldiers serving in the military.
Bai Shan was also a little angry. Holding their roster, he asked, "Didn't you say you wanted prisoners?"
The official from the Protectorate was slightly embarrassed and explained, "They all agreed to it on their own. If you don't believe me, Mr. Bai, just ask them."
Bai Shan pursed his lips and asked, "What about the prisoners?"
"No," the official from the Protectorate, probably feeling his tone was too harsh, paused and said, "Mr. Bai, those with all their limbs must go to the battlefield."
Bai Shan understood immediately that they were unwilling to give them the intact prisoners as they wanted to be used on the battlefield.
He frowned and asked, "Then no one was hurt?"
"No one is injured enough to leave the battlefield," the official said, "because they are all dead."
The medicine in the army is given to the soldiers first, and the rest is given to the prisoners. Basically, those with bigger wounds will not survive, and those who can survive can continue to go to the battlefield.
Seeing Bai Shan's unhappy expression, the other party smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Bai, these people are all willing. Our Major General has promised them that regardless of life or death, they will receive a sum of money to settle down and a reward, as well as the silk cloth given by Master Bai, which they can take away."
Bai Shan: "Dead..."
"The military will deliver the items to their families."
Seeing Bai Shan's look of disbelief, the other party froze for a moment and then said, "This matter was ordered by our Major General. No one under him dares to fool around."
General Guo naturally would not deny his son this face.
Bai Shan's expression looked a little better.
The official then smiled and said, "Master Bai and Master Zhou are kindhearted and reluctant to use these soldiers, but this is a good thing for them. As you can see, they are disabled, and Anxi is too far away from the Central Plains. Not to mention that it would be difficult for them to cross the desert and return to the Central Plains, even if they could return, they would only have a few tattered clothes and a broken sword. How would they make a living? They would be a burden to their families."
Bai Shan's expression was cold. "The disabled veterans who return home will receive resettlement allowances."
"Oh, that's the imperial court's rule, but that requires the army to have money," he said. "Do you think our Anxi Army has money?"
He immediately added: "You can't look at us generals, you have to look at the people below."
Bai Shancai opened his mouth and closed it again.
"The young general has decided that all those who apply will receive a settlement allowance to return home. That's enough. He has also offered a reward of one hundred taels of silver, which will be divided equally between the living and the dead. Add to that the silk cloth you gave us, and it will be quite a bit. If you spend frugally after returning home, you can always live out your days with the help of your brothers. If your injuries are less serious, you might even be able to find a wife."
The official said, "They all wanted to be medicine men for Lord Zhou, but unfortunately Lord Zhou only wanted six at first, so he only selected the six in the best health to send. Now the army is still waiting for more than 20 people, and they all want to wait for the second batch."
Bai Shan was so angry that his heart ached, but he didn't know who he was angry at. Although he didn't know much about the army, he knew that not only the Anxi Army, but many armies could not properly resettle old and disabled soldiers because it cost too much silver, money, and food.
Ultimately, we are too poor.
Bai Shan turned and left, and after returning to tell Man Bao the truth, he said, "Let's use them. General Guo must have asked for permission, otherwise the people sent here would be even worse."
Manbao could only nod, "Then let's treat their bodies first."
Bai Shan nodded.
Manbao went back to find some medicinal herbs to replenish qi and blood, and asked someone to buy chickens to raise in the yard. From time to time, he would stew mutton for them or kill a chicken. Two of the three meals a day contained meat.
The soldiers ate in a daze, and after two days of being in a trance, they suddenly burst into tears. Manbao, who was vaccinating a cow in the yard, trembled in his hand and almost poked the cotton ball containing the scab into the cow's eyes.
She first pressed the cotton ball firmly into the cow's sinus, making sure it touched the wound she had gently cut, and then pushed it in.
The cow shifted uneasily.
After Manbao made sure that the cotton ball would not fall out for the time being, he pushed it aside and let Zhou Liru stare at the cow from a distance. Then he went to wash his hands and change his clothes before going to see them.
The six people were sitting at the table, holding their heads and crying. Bai Shan and others who were eating with them were sitting there blankly with their bowls in their hands. When they saw her come in, Bai Shan immediately said, "We didn't do anything."
Bai Erlang nodded immediately, "Yes, we didn't bully them."
Yin Huo was also confused. Today was his first day here and he just wanted to see the fun. Who knew that they would cry just by having lunch together?
Yin Huo put down his bowl and chopsticks and hesitated, "Is it because we stole their food?"
Bai Shan took out a handkerchief and handed it to the six people, "No, although we will eat together, we killed two chickens today."
The six people wiped their tears and sobbed, "We just feel that this is the last meal before execution. We like to eat it, but we don't want to eat it at the same time. But when we think about it, we can eat the last meal after execution for so many days, and we feel satisfied."
Manbao: "...Who said it was the last meal before execution? This is for you to recuperate, so as not to be beheaded."
She shouted, "This is the continuation of the meal!"
Too difficult
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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