Chapter 2686: Endure
The logistics officer in charge of escorting the medicinal herbs turned around and spitted after passing the checkpoint. He then brandished his whip and shouted, "Hurry up and get going! The fighting has already started on the front lines. If we miss the deadline, no one will be safe."
The laborers pushing the carts spit in their hearts, saying it was as if they were the ones who were delayed. Aren't you the ones who were delayed because you couldn't get out of the checkpoint?
The person in charge of escorting the supplies was also very angry. While shouting at everyone to hurry up, he complained to his colleagues, "They should be escorted together with the food and fodder. Sending the medicinal materials separately is a waste of energy. There are so many thieves on the road, and the traffic is so tight above that we can't get any benefits below. They even won't let us out of the checkpoints. There's always a problem here or there, and all the problems fall on us."
"Okay, stop complaining. We've received official documents from above. I heard we've already notified all the post stations and local officials along the way. No one should dare to stop us from now on."
"That sounds nice, but we've been doing this for years. Those cunning oil thieves only care about money, not their lives," he complained. "But the military is really strict. I heard that the last batch of herbs sent to the front lines were not only controlled by quantity, but they could tell by just a smell or a glance whether some herbs were prepared by the Imperial Medical Bureau."
They can't even change some of them if they want to.
Of course, they don't want to change it, but some gas thieves on the road are particularly difficult to deal with, and they have to pay something for the convenience of the journey.
He felt very tired. Transporting one load of things from the Imperial Medical Bureau took more energy than transporting five loads of grain.
Meanwhile, Wen Tiandong was also reporting the situation to Zhou Man, "...Teacher, what should we do with the two boxes of replaced herbs?"
Man Bao said, "Make a note of this first. I'll pick a few students who are good at preparing medicinal herbs to handle it tomorrow."
Manbao thought for a moment and said, "I remember that Chen Banxia and Su Ye did well in their preparation class."
Wen Tiandong smiled embarrassedly. He was in a different class from them, so he didn't know their grades.
However, Chen Banxia's grades were good, and he ranked among the top in several exams. They were from the same group of students, so he knew it.
However, the most amazing one is Zhou Liru. After Zheng Gu and his group of people with a solid foundation graduated, her overall score has always been among the top three, and she has even surpassed him several times.
Manbao said, "Let Chen Banxia and Su Ye take a few people to deal with it and do their best to prepare the herbs."
Wen Tiandong hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's a box of astragalus root among them, and the bottom layer has gotten damp and moldy."
Manbao's face tightened, and he pursed his lips in displeasure, but finally suppressed his temper and said, "Pick it up and throw it away. No, bring it to me."
Seeing that she didn't lose her temper, Wen Tiandong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "How do you prepare this box of astragalus?"
"Let's use honey moxibustion. Most battlefield injuries are related to blood loss. Honey moxibustion on Astragalus root can replenish the middle and strengthen the Qi," Man Bao pondered. "Write a letter back to the Imperial Medical Bureau and tell them that 70% of the Astragalus root in the next batch of medicinal herbs must be honey moxibustion."
"Yes." Wen Tiandong took note and bowed before leaving. As soon as he left the tent, he saw Bai Shan standing outside with his hands behind his back. He was startled and quickly bowed his head, saying respectfully, "Master... Husband."
Bai Shan's eyes flashed with a smile, and he nodded to him. He took a step aside and said with a smile: "Go and get busy."
Wen Tiandong breathed a sigh of relief and left quickly.
Bai Shan then lifted the curtain and went in.
Manbao was unhappy, but he couldn't help but smile when he saw him. He stood up and went to greet him, "I didn't see you with His Majesty."
Bai Shan smiled and said, "I went to take care of some official business with someone. I'll come over as soon as I'm done."
He reached out and touched her brow, trying to smooth it out, "What's making you so angry?"
Manbao grabbed his hand, turned around and sat in a chair, saying, "Don't mention it. We went to count the first batch of herbs delivered yesterday, and two boxes were swapped. The quantity is the same, but one box of roasted angelica and honey-moistened astragalus was replaced with raw herbs."
Bai Shan frowned. The value of processed medicinal materials and raw medicinal materials are different, and their medicinal properties are also very different. Some raw medicinal materials are even poisonous.
Man Bao said, "Raw herbs and processed herbs have different uses and effects. Fortunately, Wen Tiandong and the others checked carefully. Humph, those people put a layer of processed herbs on top, and the bottom was full of raw herbs. The list also said processed herbs. If the person who dispensed the medicine wasn't careful, they might have mistaken the raw herbs for processed ones..."
Man Bao gritted his teeth. Raw Astragalus can benefit the body's defenses and strengthen the exterior, promote diuresis and reduce swelling, expel toxins and promote tissue regeneration, while the one that has been moxibustioned with honey can replenish the middle and benefit the Qi, treat internal injuries and hemorrhage. The effects and uses are completely different.
Bai Shan frowned and asked, "Have you reported it?"
Manbao sneered, "There are at least four more batches of medicinal herbs to come. Wen Tiandong asked the people escorting them, and they said that if we don't give them some benefits along the way, the herbs won't be delivered at all. I don't care whether what they said is true or not. I'll make a note of this and settle the score later."
Bai Shan nodded, "Fighting is indeed the most important thing right now. If any of these four batches of medicinal materials are not delivered in time, you will be short of medicine."
Manbao nodded, "But I'm not a pushover either. I've already complained to His Majesty."
Zhou Man was no pushover, and neither was the emperor. Although she spoke vaguely and did not complain openly, a battle had just ended and there were not many injured, so there was no urgent need for a second batch of medicine.
There must be something wrong with the first batch of medicine, so she is looking for trouble with the second batch.
So the emperor couldn't help but turn around and ask Duke Zhao, "Is there a problem with the food and fodder?"
Duke Zhao said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I am keeping an eye on everything. The local authorities dare not go too far, and now is not the time to pursue them."
All food and fodder must be requisitioned from local areas.
Duke Zhao said, "If Your Majesty is unhappy, we can discuss this later. But right now, it is best to be cautious."
The emperor nodded and said with a stern face, "As long as they don't go too far, I will turn a blind eye."
At this time, nothing is more important than the Eastern Expedition.
Duke Zhao knew it was because of Zhou Man's complaint today. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhou is still young and has had a smooth life. He has not experienced the dangers of the outside world, so he cannot tolerate any grievances."
The emperor asked, "What injustice did she suffer? Did the local authorities withhold her medicinal materials?"
"They didn't," Duke Zhao's smile faded. "Perhaps they knew that Lord Zhou was a favorite of His Majesty, so they didn't dare to go too far. They only exchanged two boxes of her medicine. But I heard she was very angry. When she first found out, she kicked the box in anger and directly locked up the escort. After questioning for a long time, they finally released him."
Naturally, the Duke of Zhao could not hide the military affairs from him. It depends on whether he wants others to know that he knows it.
It was obvious that he was playing dumb in this matter and obviously didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
See you at 10pm
(End of this chapter)
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