Chapter 29 A Shocking Turn of Events, Her Miraculous Efforts to Save the Day
The mountain path was difficult to traverse, and Dai Li walked slowly.
From the front of the line, to the middle, and then slowly gliding all the way to the back. Dai Li knew she was walking very slowly, and that she might fall behind in a little while.
But she believed she had done enough, as for that tenacious fighting spirit of never giving up even when she had only one breath left...
Forget it, it's not suitable for her.
Dai Li stopped and looked around.
"Madam, have you approved of the location?" A deep male voice came from the front.
Dai Li turned her head at the sound and saw that the man who had been at the head of the group had come over at some point. The grass on the ground was lush, and the large branches and leaves could cover the uneven ground. If you were not careful, you could easily slip and twist your ankle.
But Qin Shaozong walked as if on flat ground. In the short time that Dai Li hesitated and envied, he had already walked up to her from a distance.
Seemingly because she hadn't responded, a sharp glint appeared in the corner of his eye. "You used to be able to make up lies so easily, but now your mouth has gone limp?"
For a moment, Dai Li completely understood why Li Zan had sent people to hunt him down all over the mountains; this man was just too arrogant and deserved to be taught a lesson.
But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Dai Li could only ask, "What location?"
"Madam, you're walking so slowly, isn't it because you're looking for a place to retreat to the mountains and forests, to live among the birds and beasts?" Qin Shaozong said, pointing to a ravine they had just crossed. "I think that's a good place. There's a snake den there. Red-banded snakes, non-venomous, but only as thick as a child's wrist. Even if you get bitten, you won't have to worry about your life. Besides, Madam will certainly not be bothered by mosquitoes at night if she stays there."
Dai Li: "..."
Even though she knew the man was trying to scare her, Dai Li was genuinely afraid of cold-blooded reptiles. Just thinking about how she might have actually stepped over a snake pit gave her goosebumps.
Dai Li quickly walked forward.
Qin Shaozong followed with a smirk.
However, it didn't last long. Qin Shaozong saw that she started to veer off course and finally walked to a big tree, where she picked up a straight branch that was about the thickness of a chicken egg.
Dai Li wanted to find a tree branch to use as a hiking stick so that she could walk more easily on the mountain path, but after measuring it, she found that the branch she picked up was a bit too long.
The length of trekking poles is related to the user's height. For someone her height, a pole 1.2 meters long is sufficient.
This branch reached about 1.45 meters in length.
Dai Li stepped on the bottom of the branch, trying to use the momentum to break the extra twenty or so centimeters.
Unfortunately, perhaps because the branch was too thick, or perhaps because she didn't want to break it much and it was too close to the ground to apply force, she couldn't break it even after stomping on it several times.
A curious gaze had been fixed on her from the side. "Is Madam planning to pick up a snake-repelling cane in advance?"
Dai Li corrected him, "It's a hiking pole. Using this will make hiking much easier."
Qin Shaozong didn't understand why the "hiking pole" had to be of a certain length, but seeing that she hadn't broken it, he suggested, "Use a knife."
Dai Li paused, then suddenly remembered that she had tools on her.
The night he hid in the cave, he gave her a dagger. He never asked for it back, so she kept it. Having the dagger by her side made her feel more at ease.
Dai Li took out a short knife, squatted down under Qin Shaozong's complicated gaze, held the knife in her right hand and pressed down on the branch with her left hand, and began to slowly saw.
"Crunch crunch..."
The dagger left several small scratches on the surface of the branch.
Qin Shaozong's lips twitched. "By the time you finish sawing this branch, the saplings next to it will be able to block out the sky. Bring it here."
Looking at the location of the knife mark, Dai Li thought to herself that she had only cut a small part of it inwards. If she then stepped on it from the opposite direction, she would definitely be able to break it off. It wasn't as exaggerated as he made it out to be.
She got up anyway and handed the branch over.
Qin Shaozong took the branch, but before Dai Li could hand him the dagger in her other hand, a white light flashed before his eyes, followed by a "thud" as something fell to the ground.
Dai Li looked down and saw a small twig, about twenty centimeters long, exactly the part she had just been about to cut, cut along her tiny scratch, perfectly aligned.
Dai Li: "..."
Qin Shaozong casually scraped away the excess twigs on both sides of the branch, sheathed the short sword, and said, "Take this and follow me."
Dai Li silently put the dagger away and continued on her way with her hiking stick.
Halfway there, Dai Li suddenly heard a burst of sounds of battle, with war drums beating and shouts of fighting echoing, like a deep-sea bomb creating a hundred-foot-high tidal wave.
Dai Li was startled and subconsciously looked around.
The surroundings were ordinary; no arrows flew from the forest, nor did any armored soldiers charge with swords. Only the mountain wind, carrying the sounds of battle, brushed against our faces.
Whether it was Dai Li's imagination or not, she seemed to smell a faint scent of blood in the wind.
The sounds of battle seemed to transform into invisible lions and tigers before her eyes, as the two sides fought each other with their fangs and sharp teeth, causing dust to fly and blood to splatter everywhere.
"Looks like the hunt has begun." Qin Shaozong smirked.
Mo Yanyun, Hu Bao, and the others were quite excited. They had been preparing for and looking forward to this hunt, which would be a decisive victory over Li Zan's main force, for a long time.
"Xuanxiao's cavalry has surrounded us from all sides, taking full advantage of the terrain. This battle should be over soon." Mo Yanyun was excited but also a little regretful that he couldn't participate.
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something. “My lord, I have heard that Li Zan has a fierce general named Wang Qinglie. This man is highly skilled in martial arts, possesses the strength to uproot mountains, and wields his three-pointed sword with unparalleled skill. In the past, when Li Zan’s power was not as great as it is now, he was besieged by the Jizhou troops several times, and it was this Wang Qinglie who saved Li Zan from dire straits.”
"The tide has turned, and morale is in chaos. How can mere brute force save us?" Hu Bao said in a low voice.
Mo Yanyun thought about it and agreed.
Even if Wang Qinglie managed to rescue Li Zan during this siege and save him from death, it would not change the fact that the army that came to Peach Blossom Ridge with Li Zan would be annihilated.
With the main force gone, all that remains are the old, weak, sick, and disabled; dealing with them is as easy as chopping vegetables.
Amidst the continuous fighting, Qin Shaozong and his men arrived at the rear of Peach Blossom Ridge, the encampment of the Xuanxiao Cavalry's cooks.
The dark "Qin" banner fluttered in the wind. The edges of the banner were not smooth, but cut into flame-like horns. When it floated in the wind, the edges seemed to grow a row of sharp tiger teeth, which was very intimidating.
The soldiers guarding the camp saw a group of people approaching from a distance. When they saw who it was, they were immediately shocked and then overjoyed.
"My lord, return!"
The bugle sounded loudly, sweeping through the entire camp like a whirlwind. More and more soldiers came to greet them, and the once quiet camp instantly became incredibly lively.
This was Dai Li's first time encountering an ancient military camp. As she had learned, these temporary military camps were much simpler than permanent ones.
There was no weapons depot or formal training ground. Soldiers carried their weapons and lived in separate camps, prioritizing ease of movement.
A variety of gazes turned towards them, filled with amazement, shock, curiosity, confusion, and bewilderment...
There are all sorts of things, like a pack of wolves suddenly discovering an incongruous lamb in their den.
Dai Li seemed to be deep in thought. Judging from their gazes, it seemed that the army was entirely composed of men and there were no prostitutes kept in the military.
This is a good sign, indicating that the leader has high expectations for his soldiers and only wants them to focus their energy on killing enemies on the battlefield, not on women.
The team leader is a role model and should set an example by his own actions.
Based on what she had learned about him over the past few days, she knew that the man would not do anything that would contradict himself in the army for the sake of a woman. Even if she followed him into the military camp, she would likely be the one to settle things later.
Her period would be over in a day at most. It was fortunate she came to the military camp; if she had remained on the ship, he certainly…
Thinking about it this way, Dai Li suddenly felt that the intense gazes around her were even more endearing.
Qin Shaozong suddenly turned his head and glanced at Dai Li. The latter seemed to sense something and quickly composed herself, immediately becoming elegant and dignified, as if the slyness he had just seen was just his imagination.
Qin Shaozong tensed his jaw muscles and kept licking his canine teeth, trying to wipe away the thoughtful itch on them.
However, soon, whether it was Dai Li, Qin Shaozong, or any soldier in the army, everyone's attention was drawn to another matter.
"Da da da—"
A swift horse galloped from the direction of the battlefield, its hooves clattering and kicking up dust. Upon closer inspection, one could see that this horse was somewhat different from others.
Ordinary cavalrymen ride alone, but this horse carried two riders.
A loud, booming roar came from afar, so urgent that even the last syllable was slightly slurred, "Mr. Ding, Mr. Ding Lianxi! Come quickly to save me!!"
The Xuanxiao cavalry were all equipped with strong and healthy horses, whose speed was beyond that of ordinary foals. In just a moment, the troops who were still far away had rushed into the military camp.
A strong wind swept by, bringing with it a strong smell of blood.
"Mr. Ding!"
Everyone in the army was calling for Mr. Ding. Dai Li guessed that this Mr. Ding was likely a military doctor, and one of the most skilled in military medicine at that.
Seeing Qin Shaozong's face darken and his quick steps toward the direction of the person who had come from, Dai Li thought for a moment and followed him.
Hearing the shouts outside, Ding Lianxi hurriedly came out of the tent. He was about forty years old, with a broad forehead, a fair face, and a slight beard. He looked like a very gentle person.
However, at this moment, the chief military doctor of the Xuanxiao Cavalry looked astonished and gasped, "How could Commander Qiao be injured like this? He's almost bled to death."
This was no exaggeration. The man known as "Commander Qiao" was severely injured. His armor was ripped open by a weapon, the blade tearing through the surface and injuring the inside. Everything in sight was stained a glaring red with blood.
Even now, blood continued to gush from his body. In stark contrast to the large, glaring patches of red, his face grew paler and paler.
Anyone could see that his life was slipping away.
The man who brought Qiao Wangfei back said angrily, "The encirclement and suppression strategy was going very smoothly. We annihilated countless enemy soldiers and were about to take the head of the salt smuggler when suddenly Wang Qinglie appeared. That man was nearly ten feet tall, as strong as a mountain, and incredibly powerful. He wielded a three-pointed sword with consummate skill and killed many soldiers to cover Li Zan's retreat. When Captain Qiao, Captain Feng, and Colonel Yan saw this, the three of them joined forces to fight him. They fought a bitter battle for a long time, and finally, at the cost of Captain Qiao being seriously injured and Captain Feng and Colonel Yan being slightly injured, they managed to cut off his head."
Those around were both shocked and furious upon hearing this.
Every member of the Xuanxiao Cavalry was an elite among elites. It could be said that the best soldiers in the You and Bing regions and within Qin Shaozong's sphere of influence were all in the Xuanxiao Cavalry.
They could eat good meat every two days at most, with plenty of meat and food. They also received training intensity far exceeding that of ordinary soldiers. Over time, every Xuanxiao cavalryman developed a strong physique.
This is just the beginning; this cavalry team, built at great expense, loses a portion of its members every season.
If you fail the assessment, you'll be sent away. Then you'll lose your incredibly high allowance, the delicious food you can eat to your heart's content, and the glory that others envy.
Under these various stimuli, every soldier was trained to be agile. If ordinary soldiers were like this, one can imagine how much more agile the platoon leader was.
The three thousand Xuanxiao cavalry were divided into four garrisons, one in each of the four directions (east, west, south, and north), with only one garrison commander in each garrison. This garrison commander led more than seven hundred men; he might not be the most skilled fighter, but his martial arts prowess was definitely among the best.
Thus, with the combined efforts of the three, Qiao Wangfei was still seriously injured to this extent, which shocked them.
While the man was speaking, Ding Lianxi had already given Qiao Wangfei a rough examination. The more he examined him, the uglier his expression became. Finally, he shook his head helplessly at Qin Shaozong, "My lord, the wound is too large, and the bleeding cannot be stopped. Please forgive me for being powerless to help."
After these words were spoken, everyone around fell silent.
Some people clenched their teeth, their eyes reddening, while others clenched their fists, glaring menacingly at the battlefield.
Qin Shaozong closed his eyes briefly, "Bring Qiao Wangfei..."
"Do you have oxen in your army? Why don't you try slaughtering a healthy ox and putting him inside its belly? He might not die." A gentle voice came, like a spring breeze blowing across the boundless yellow sand wilderness.
Qin Shaozong suddenly turned his head.
Everyone turned to look, all focusing on the woman standing two steps outside Qiao Wangfei's encirclement.
She wore a drab gray dress, but her skin was as white as snow and her hair as smooth as satin. Her eyes were like water, and her whole being seemed to be bathed in a gentle pearly glow, making it impossible to look away.
Dai Li met his deep brown eyes without fear. "He's already in this state; the worst that can happen is death. Why not try this folk remedy? It's a last resort."
"My lord, I have never heard of such a bizarre thing." Ding Lianxi frowned.
Putting a dying person inside a cow's belly will revive them? He's practiced medicine for decades and has never heard of such a thing. Isn't this absurd? What if the person dies and we lose a healthy cow in the process?
Qin Shaozong said, "Go and fetch an ox."
Soldiers immediately went to arrange it; the logistics army had plenty of food, and oxen and horses were indispensable for pulling carts. Soon, an ox was brought over.
Qin Shaozong drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist and personally cut open the cow's belly. "Splash!" Bright red cow blood immediately flowed out, and Hu Bao quickly cleaned the cow's internal organs, making room in the belly.
When it was almost time, Mo Yanyun and another person lifted Qiao Wangfei up and stuffed him into the cow's belly, leaving only his head sticking out to breathe.
Ding Lianxi squatted down next to the cow, his fingers probing Qiao Wangfei's pulse on the side of his neck.
Everyone watched nervously, no one spoke, as if afraid that if they opened their mouths, their voices would flatten Qiao Wangfei's pulse.
Time flowed by slowly, and no one left.
"Huh?" A high-pitched, questioning voice exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone's nerves were jolted by an invisible hand. Before their hearts could even leap into their throats, Ding Lianxi exclaimed in surprise, "Commander Qiao's pulse has stabilized!"
Normally, Qiao Wangfei would have died by now after losing so much blood, yet he still has a pulse. Well, the pulse is weak, but it can definitely be felt, and it's gradually becoming steady.
Such miraculous healing! It's unbelievable!
Ding Lianxi's astonishment was like a boulder thrown into a lake, immediately causing an uproar among those around him.
Is that really the case?
"Heaven has eyes! Thank goodness, Commander Qiao is saved!"
...
Dai Li noticed the man beside her looking at her, so she turned her head and said seriously to Qin Shaozong, "It's too early to say that we've overcome the danger. We need to see what happens next."
This cold water had to be poured on her, because she had only ever seen this kind of "abdominal patting therapy" in books.
Legend has it that when Genghis Khan was conquering the Khitan, one of his beloved generals was seriously injured and on the verge of death. The Great Khan immediately ordered his men to cut open the belly of a live ox and stuff his beloved general inside, thus saving him from the clutches of death.
This treatment was later recorded by Li Shizhen in the *Compendium of Materia Medica*: "For severe injuries, insert ox blood into the abdomen of an injured person; after prolonged consumption, the patient will recover." ①
It is said that there are two principles behind this: firstly, the freshly cut stomach is warm, and secondly, the abdominal cavity is a relatively sterile environment.
Excessive blood loss can cause a sudden drop in body temperature. At this time, a clean heater that is close to the body temperature is needed to stabilize the body temperature of the seriously injured person and prevent the body fat from being wasted on useless heat production.
Secondly, beef spine can be used as medicine; even when applied externally, it can quickly stop bleeding.
But after all, the above is just a cold written record, and Dai Li had no idea whether it could actually be done in practice.
It's really like the saying goes, "Treat a dead horse as if it were alive."
Saving him is like gaining a life. But if he can't be cured, it can only be considered that he has returned to his original fate.
Ding Lianxi looked at Dai Li, both excited and guilty, "And this is..."
He didn't know how to address Dai Li.
Dai Li introduced herself, "Dai Li. Dai as in distant mountains and Li as in dawn. You can just call me Dai Li."
Qin Shaozong's brow twitched.
As the superior's gaze swept over him, Ding Lianxi quickly lowered his eyes, avoiding looking directly at Dai Li. He bowed deeply to the woman before him, saying, "My ancestors have practiced medicine for generations, and I myself have been practicing medicine for thirty-five years. But only today have I realized that there are always people more skilled than me, and there is always something beyond my understanding. I apologize for any offense I may have caused earlier, and I hope Madam Dai will forgive me."
Dai Li was surprised by his grand gesture. She paused for a moment and then curtsied back to him. "I just happen to know some folk remedies. I don't deserve your words, sir."
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Author's Note: I'm begging for nutrient solution, even putting out a big bowl! [Orange heart][Yellow heart][Green heart]
Dengdeng really loves these little emoticons from Jinjiang Literature City, they're so cute! [shy]
①: Compendium of Materia Medica
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