Chapter 131: Military Physician

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the armies of the various states already had the rudimentary form of military medics. In the Qi army, for instance, there were "two alchemists who oversaw all manner of herbs, to treat metal wounds and to cure all illnesses." The same was true in Qin, and Chen Wujiu was the specialist in this unit in charge of medicine and herbs. It was said he was a man of Xianyang, who spoke with a thick Guanzhong accent, and his family shared an unbreakable friendship with Yang Xiong's clan.

Although Chen Wujiu kept urging Heifu to quickly demonstrate the bandaging technique he had used on Dongmen Bao one more time, Heifu did not immediately agree.

He insisted on first visiting Dongmen Bao.

Chen Wujiu could not overcome this stubborn platoon leader and had no choice but to take him there.

Dongmen Bao lay on a cot inside a tent. The conditions here were decent, at least swept clean, with no sewage running across the ground and no pus, blood, or filth everywhere. But a careful look at the wounded and sick lying here made it easy to see that all around were centurions and platoon leaders. Huai Mu, the platoon leader of the First Ascenders Platoon, was also here, but Dongmen Bao was the only squad leader...

Ordinary soldiers? Not a single one.

Heifu understood immediately. This place did not take in all the wounded and sick, but gave priority to treating those with rank and officers. Ji Ying had just quietly told him that earlier, when he brought men carrying Dongmen Bao here, if Chen Wujiu's eyes had not lit up at the sight of the bandaging on Dongmen Bao's body, they probably would not have been allowed in.

This could not be blamed on Chen Wujiu himself, because although he was a healer accompanying the army, his main duty was to treat the generals and officers. He had no obligation to aid every soldier. After all, in a force of one or two thousand men, there were only Chen Wujiu and his young apprentice — just two healers...

He found that Dongmen Bao had indeed not died, and was already half-asleep and half-awake, merely frowning and crying out in pain. Testing his skin, there were faint signs of a fever developing.

"How can this be called 'his life is not in danger'? The real danger is still to come!"

Heifu sighed inwardly. After stepping outside, he cupped his hands toward Chen Wujiu and said,

"Physician Chen wishes me to demonstrate the method of wrapping wounds, but this humble officer finds it somewhat difficult, for this skill came to me by chance during a strange encounter in my youth..."

Heifu spoke mysteriously, which immediately piqued Chen Wujiu's interest. He began to press him on exactly who it was that had taught Heifu this bandaging technique.

Heifu spun a wild tale, sketching for him the image of an old man of immortal-like bearing who passed through Anlu. He added that at the time, he had cut his leg while chopping firewood as a youth, and it was that old man who treated him and also imparted the method of bandaging wounds...

Chen Wujiu clicked his tongue in wonder. "Could this not be a wandering physician of the Healer School practicing medicine among the common folk?"

The Healer School was also one of the Hundred Schools of Thought during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, specializing in the study of medical arts to cure sickness and save lives.

The most famous figure in the Healer School was undoubtedly Bian Que. However, Bian Que was not a single person, but a title. Like the "Grand Master" of the Mohist School, it was the name borne by the leader of the Healer School.

These people, bearing the name "Healer Bian Que," passed it down from generation to generation. Thus, their deeds spanned from the State of Guo in the early Spring and Autumn period, to Zhao Xiangzi in the late Spring and Autumn period, to Marquis Huan of Tian Qi in the early Warring States period, all the way to the era of King Wu of Qin, a time span of over four hundred years. The footprints of "Healer Bian Que" covered the Three Jin, Qin, Qi, Cai, and Chu.

However, ninety years ago, after the last Healer Bian Que was assassinated in Xianyang by the chief physician of Qin out of envy of his talent, the Healer School lost its lineage. Most famous physicians entered the palaces, attaching themselves to the powerful. Only a few disciples and grand-disciples who upheld the ideals of Healer Bian Que scattered to various states, continuing to diagnose illness and treat disease among the common people.

So Chen Wujiu conjectured that if what Heifu said was true, that old man might truly be one of the rare surviving heirs of the Healer School in this world.

Because the method Heifu used to bandage Dongmen Bao, placed in later eras, was commonplace battlefield first aid. But it was the essence summarized by countless medical personnel through innumerable wars in modern times, already extremely mature. Placed in an ancient era where medical arts were still in their infancy, how could it not astonish the physicians of this age as something divine?

Thus, Chen Wujiu had been captivated from the very first glance at that wound dressing. In this era, there was already the saying "bind the wound and fight again," and they would wrap wounds with cloth when treating them, but it was all very crude and casual. Whether it was triangular bandages, figure-eight patterns, or tourniquet sticks, where had he ever seen such a perfect method of treatment?

A certain Healer Bian Que once said: "What people worry about is that diseases are many; what physicians worry about is that methods of treatment are few." The meaning is that what ordinary people are troubled by is the sheer variety of illnesses, while what physicians are troubled by is the scarcity of ways to cure them.

To learn one more method of binding wounds was, for the physician Chen Wujiu, a tremendous gain.

Yet just as Chen Wujiu's interest was increasingly stirred, Heifu's next words poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"The old man who taught me instructed that this method could be kept firmly in mind and used to save oneself, but must absolutely not be passed on to others..."

"As I expected..."

Chen Wujiu was greatly disappointed, but inwardly he could understand. This was because the profession of healers placed the utmost importance on master-to-disciple lineage. After the last Healer Bian Que died from the envy of Qin's chief physician, the Healer School scattered and existed in name only. Different branches became even more guarded against each other, each treasuring their own broom as if it were a relic.

Secret formulas, in particular, were absolutely never divulged to outsiders!

It must be known that, according to legend, when the first Healer Bian Que took Chang Sangjun as his master, he underwent over ten years of testing before Chang Sangjun was willing to teach him, and instructed him with the words: "I possess forbidden formulas. I am old and wish to pass them on to you. You must not divulge them!"

So it was entirely reasonable that the "old man" would demand Heifu keep it secret.

This was the rule of the profession, and Chen Wujiu did not wish to force the issue.

However, just as he was about to give up, Heifu spoke again with feigned hesitation: "Be that as it may, nearly ten years have passed, and I do not know if that elder is still alive. I have thought it over, and this method of binding wounds is useless if known only to me. It must be spread, especially made known to healers, so that more people can benefit from it."

Heifu cupped his hands toward the overjoyed Chen Wujiu. "Heifu is willing to demonstrate this method to Physician Chen, but I have two conditions..."

"There are conditions?"

Chen Wujiu frowned and looked Heifu up and down, suspecting he intended to use this method to trade for some benefit, money, or silk. He felt a degree of disdain for Heifu in his heart, but still nodded. "Speak them first and let me hear."

"First, in exchange for my demonstration of the wound-binding art, I hope Physician Chen will use the best metal-wound medicine on Noble Rank Bao to ensure he lives. What do you say?"

Metal-wound medicine was a special herbal remedy for treating cuts from blades and swords. The Yunnan White Powder common in later ages was a type of metal-wound medicine, but it could only stop bleeding and relieve pain, far from the miraculous effects described in some martial arts novels.

Hearing Heifu's "condition," Chen Wujiu was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "So that's it. Platoon Leader Heifu, after all that talk, it turns out you've been eyeing the 'priceless remedy' in my hands!"

Heifu had known since his time in Anlu County that the physicians of this era were already divided into several specialties.

There were dietary physicians, equivalent to later-day nutritionists, found only in the palace or the households of great nobles, responsible for adjusting the diets of feudal lords and aristocrats, and incidentally treating their indigestion and stomach ailments from overindulging in rich foods.

There were general physicians, the most common type, who treated headaches, fevers, and general illnesses.

There were veterinarians, who, as the name implied, specialized in treating diseases of livestock.

There were pediatricians and gynecologists, corresponding to children's and women's medicine respectively.

There were also ulcer physicians, who oversaw the prayers, medicines, scraping, and killing for swellings, ulcers, metal ulcers, and fracture ulcers... To put it plainly, they were the ancient equivalent of surgeons. Among ulcer physicians, those who specialized in treating metal ulcers, meaning blade and sword wounds, were also called metal-wound physicians. The man before him, Chen Wujiu, was one of them.

Binding wounds, acupuncture and stone probes, applying medicine, and scraping and killing were the four treatment methods of a metal-wound physician. But Heifu only knew a bit of battlefield first aid — bandaging wounds to stop bleeding. This could only prevent Dongmen Bao from bleeding to death. If he was to recover, he still had to rely on the treatment of the metal-wound physician Chen Wujiu.

However, when visiting Dongmen Bao just now, Heifu had understood that in this army of over a thousand men, there were only two physicians, Chen Wujiu and his young apprentice. They would inevitably be unable to care for dozens or even a hundred casualties. They were only responsible for treating the wounds of the general and the officers. As for the others, they would just deal with them casually.

And depending on the rank of the officer, the level of care from the physician varied greatly. Heifu could guess that for Yang Xiong and Zhang Yi, Chen Wujiu would certainly tend them meticulously, using the best metal-wound medicine. For centurions and platoon leaders, he would use ordinary medicine. As for squad leaders and fireteam leaders like Dongmen Bao? Whether he would even be willing to use medicine on them was another matter entirely...

So Heifu was somewhat worried. Although Dongmen Bao's bleeding had stopped and he had survived, his wound was not light. Who knew if he might one day suddenly die from an infection!

In ancient times, there were no good methods against infection and tetanus. Once a wound became infected, the only recourse was to rely on the wounded person's own resistance to endure the infection period. The so-called "death from infection" was actually death caused by complications arising from wound infection. Therefore, in the cold-weapon era, the mortality rate for the wounded was extremely high. The severely wounded were basically left to die, and even the lightly wounded could only leave it to fate. When luck ran out, no one could save them.

But there were exceptions.

When Heifu chatted idly with Yang Xiong's old subordinates in the army, he heard them say that Yang Xiong was the son of a military family. His father was the famously renowned Left Chief of the Masses, Yang Duanhe!

Yang Duanhe had once followed Wang Jian to attack Wei and strike Zhao, capturing Ye City, his battle achievements illustrious. But a few years ago, when Yang Duanhe fought the great Zhao general Li Mu, he had been wounded, "suffering over ten great wounds on his body, but it happened that there was a priceless remedy, and thus he did not die." And the one who treated Yang Duanhe and used that "priceless remedy" on him was none other than this physician from Xianyang before them, Chen Wujiu...

So, Chen Wujiu definitely possessed a secret formula passed down from master to disciple! Although this substance could not possibly compare to the specific medicines of later ages, it might greatly increase Dongmen Bao's chances of survival.

After stating his condition, Heifu looked steadily at Chen Wujiu. He hoped Chen Wujiu was not a short-sighted man and could accept this condition. Exchanging a later-era method of stopping bleeding and bandaging for his meticulous care of a squad leader and Noble Rank holder, using precious metal-wound medicine to preserve his life — this deal was not a loss at all.

Chen Wujiu pondered for a moment with his hands behind his back before saying, "This matter is not impossible. I can use the medicine on that Noble Rank holder and guarantee his life. However, I would also like to hear the platoon leader's second condition!"

Heifu, having already thought it over in his mind for some time, immediately said, "Although this is Heifu's first time on the battlefield, I have seen that when attacking lands and seizing cities, many soldiers get wounded. Yet the military physicians in the camp are scarce. For a force of a thousand men, there are only two acting as physicians, making it difficult to reach the battlefield in time to treat the wounded soldiers. Therefore, Heifu has an idea."

He cupped his hands. "The wound-binding and bandaging method Heifu learned is actually not difficult. If we could have one soldier in every platoon, or every hundred men, learn this method, then on the battlefield, he could stop the bleeding for wounded soldiers in time, and perhaps save their lives!"

Today, Heifu had bandaged people from his own platoon and others, earning their gazes of respect and gratitude. Many even bowed to him, thanking him for saving their lives. Through this incident, Heifu suddenly thought: if the medic system of later ages could be transplanted to Qin, could it save more lives?

"I am a woman of humble standing and my words carry little weight, but I have heard it said that Physician Chen is a renowned doctor of Xianyang, whose family has served as medical officials for generations. Perhaps he could forward this method, together with my husband's ideas, to Xianyang, so that they may reach those above…"

With that, Heifu bowed deeply to Chen Wujiu. "This is the presumptuous request I make of you!"

Chen Wujiu was somewhat stunned. Had it been Heifu's first condition, he could have guessed it, but the second was something he had never expected at all.

"Have every hundred-man unit, every encampment, train someone in wound-dressing and bandaging, to stop bleeding for the wounded in time?"

The idea was indeed good, but Chen Wujiu neither clapped in praise nor cried out "genius."

He only wanted to laugh — laugh at Heifu's naivety.

"Even if you save wounded soldiers on the battlefield, what then?"

Chen Wujiu spread his hands helplessly. "In the camp, there are still only one or two doctors for metal wounds. With over a hundred sick and wounded, how can they possibly tend to every single one? We can only do our utmost to preserve the lives of officers. As for the majority, they will still die without treatment. This is the will of Heaven — how can it be changed?"

Unlike wound-dressing and bandaging, which an ordinary person can learn in a few days of training, acupuncture, prescribing medicine, and scraping away infection — these specialized skills require years, even over a decade, of medical training. Moreover, the treatment efficiency is very low and slow. Although Qin's medicine is the most advanced of the age, they still could not produce that many doctors to serve as army physicians!

Besides, good metal-wound medicine costs as much as gold — how could it be distributed to every single wounded man?

Yet the words Heifu spoke next left Chen Wujiu utterly astonished.

"The physician is right. After they are rescued, the army doctors cannot tend to them all, and in the end they may still die. That, perhaps, is the will of Heaven…"

Heifu had no solution either. He was no professional medical worker, just a half-baked amateur who had studied battlefield first aid for a few days. Popularizing some later-era disinfection common sense was about his limit. Expecting him to put on a white coat, perform surgery, heal the sick and save lives? Bring the wounded back from the dead, hale and hearty? Don't joke around.

Saving people, compared to killing people, is difficult by more than tenfold.

Even if you gave him a Baidu system, he could not do it. Before entering the modern era, before having access to all manner of specific medicines, the life or death of the sick and wounded truly could only be called the will of Heaven. Disinfect, bandage, and then whether they pull through or not depends on luck.

Heifu's tone grew heavier. "But whether we save them or not on the battlefield — that is the work of men!"

"I have heard it said that in ancient times, King Goujian of Yue, when soldiers had ailments and could not follow the army on campaign, would give them medicine, provide them with gruel, and eat together with them."

"The Qi general Sima Rangju likewise inquired after his soldiers' ailments and gave them medicine, personally carrying the burdens on his own back."

"The great Wei general Wu Qi shared his soldiers' toils. When a soldier suffered from an abscess, he personally sucked out the pus and blood."

"These three were all heroes and famed generals of their time. Do you think they did not understand that by the strength of one man alone, with only a limited supply of medicine, it is impossible to save every soldier?"

"But timely medical aid on the battlefield is not merely about saving the lives of wounded soldiers. It also sets the unwounded soldiers' minds at ease. It makes them feel that even if they fight with all their might and are wounded, they will not be abandoned and left behind!"

Later eras came to realize that the key to maintaining vigorous combat strength lies not only in a military's level of force, but also in its logistical and medical support. An army in battle needs sufficient medical support to serve the sick and wounded. Just like in that film Hacksaw Ridge, a single medic active on the front lines saving people can enormously boost morale.

This time Chen Wujiu was truly shocked. If Yang Duanhe or Yang Xiong had spoken these words to him, he would not have been so surprised.

But Heifu was merely an ordinary junior encampment chief! Not only did he know the deeds of Goujian, Sima Rangju, and Wu Qi, he could also articulate such exquisite reasoning.

Heifu continued, "The physician said earlier that the post of army doctor was established specifically for the officers, to preserve the lives of the state's commanders."

"Then the medical and wound-dressing soldier is established specifically for the common rank and file! To spare the soldiers the fear that injury means certain death, and to make them braver in battle! This matter, for the state, for the army, for the individual — it has a hundred benefits and not a single harm! I beg Physician Chen to consider it!"

After this speech, Chen Wujiu, who had treated countless nobles in Xianyang and administered countless medicines, stood before this young encampment chief whom he was meeting for the first time, and felt somewhat ashamed. He even felt that he himself was unworthy of the title "physician."

Chen Wujiu remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "The value of a physician lies not in being able to heal a man's metal-wound and save his life, but in being able to heal the fear and anxiety in his heart!"

"Encampment Chief Heifu, well said. Once you have taught me this wound-dressing and bandaging method, I will immediately write a letter back to Xianyang."

He smiled. "I will record the entire context of this matter — including the name of Encampment Chief Heifu and your proposal — all of it on wooden tablets, for my master who taught me the art of medicine to review, and ask him to submit a memorial to the King to implement this!"

Heifu was startled. Although he had heard that this Physician Chen had connections, he had never imagined that his teacher could directly submit memorials to the King of Qin. Who exactly was he?

"May I ask who Physician Chen's master is…?"

"My master is none other than the Grand Physician of Qin!"

Chen Wujiu was immensely proud. He cupped his hands toward the west and said, "His surname is Xia, and his given name is Wuju!"

PS: Here's a big 4800-character chapter, so it's fine that I got up a bit late, right?

(End of chapter)