Chapter 30: Exchanging Military Merit for Medicine

The soldiers behind him roared in anger.

"On what grounds? We won the battle; it's one thing to receive no reward, but why must we be punished?"

"We fought this battle, and Xiao Rui didn't even show his face, so how did it become his military merit?"

"It's unfair, we want to see the Emperor!"

The Beijiang Camp was in chaos, the soldiers' fury soaring as they clamored to rush forward.

Eunuch An was covered in cold sweat and hurriedly called out.

"Prince of Northern Suppression, please accept the imperial decree. The Second Prince has ordered you to take inventory of the spoils of war and escort them back to Shengjing."

Xiao Moting raised his head and took a deep breath.

To resist an imperial decree is to show contempt for imperial grace; the light penalty is imprisonment, the heavy penalty is death.

He spoke in a deep voice, "Eunuch An, if I hand over the spoils of war, can I exchange them for some Black Jade Broken Bone Ointment? Old General Han is severely wounded and needs this medicine to save his life."

"Prince of Northern Suppression, it is not that I will not help you convey this to the Emperor," Eunuch An said with a troubled expression. "This Black Jade Broken Bone Ointment is incomparably precious and difficult to produce. The stock in the Imperial Hospital has already been bestowed upon De Guifei by the Emperor. General Han has submitted five urgent petitions, and the Emperor did not grant the medicine, so you are even more..."

He stopped there, his gaze meaningful.

Xiao Moting lowered his eyes and remained silent.

He knew the implication behind Eunuch An's words: as a demoted prince, he was not even in the Emperor's eyes; even if he petitioned for the medicine, it would be a waste of effort.

The soldiers were furious, clamoring one after another.

Xiao Moting waved his hand to quiet the soldiers.

He suppressed his emotions, stepped forward to accept the decree, and sent people to escort Eunuch An and his party to their tents to rest.

The soldiers behind him surrounded him tightly.

"Prince, it is one thing for the Second Prince to steal our merit, but the spoils of war were bought with the brothers' lives; they cannot be handed over to the Second Prince for nothing."

"Daye is coming aggressively, and the Beijiang lacks horses and even more so ironware. We were waiting for this batch of captured horses and iron to replenish our combat strength. If we hand it all over, what will the brothers use to defend the city gates when Daye attacks in the future?"

"They can take our military merit and spoils if they want, but they must trade them for Black Jade Broken Bone Ointment to treat Old General Han!"

Xiao Moting's heart was in turmoil, and he waved for the soldiers to leave.

He returned to his tent and ordered someone to call Qin Zhan.

Outside the tent, the chatter of soldiers could be heard.

These ordinary soldiers did not yet know the contents of the imperial decree and were standing behind the tent chatting.

"... A letter came from my hometown saying my mother is seriously ill, but there is no money for treatment, so she can only wait to die. The reward money issued by the Emperor this time must be substantial. Once I get the money, I will go home, hire a good doctor, and treat my mother."

"My wife died, and my children are starving to death. I came to be a soldier just to earn some pay to support my family. I haven't seen my children in five years. Once I get the reward money, I'll send it all home so the children won't have to eat tree bark paste anymore."

"What do you think, how much silver will the Emperor reward us with this time? I bet it's a lot. I risked my life killing Barbarians on the battlefield just to earn some military merit and make my parents proud."

Listening to the discussion of the ordinary soldiers outside the tent, Xiao Moting's brow furrowed even deeper.

At this moment, Qin Zhan walked in, his expression very anxious.

"Fourth Prince, do we really have to send all the captured warhorses and ironware to Shengjing? If the goods are sent away, what will happen to our Beijiang Camp?"

"This is the Emperor's decree."

"Daye's troops are strong and their horses are sturdy, and they even have the Iron Pagoda. We lack warhorses and weapons. If a real fight breaks out, won't we be forcing the soldiers to gamble with their lives? This is sending them to their deaths."

Xiao Dabao rushed in.

"Prince, the hundreds of wounded soldiers injured by Daye lack medicine for setting bones. When will the Imperial Court's reward money be issued? The brothers have broken bones and severed legs, and the pain is unbearable; they are waiting for the money to buy medicinal herbs."

He did not yet know about the imperial decree.

Qin Zhan snorted coldly, "You still want reward money? The spoils of war we worked so hard to win all have to be handed over for nothing."

After saying this, he recounted the matter.

"On what grounds?" Xiao Dabao was instantly enraged. "They withhold provisions, provide no equipment, and send no reinforcements! And in the end, they want to steal our military merit and seize our spoils! If this continues, will the soldiers still be willing to go into battle and kill the enemy for the Imperial Court?"

A messenger arrived outside the tent.

"Prince, the Right Worthy King of Daye has sent an envoy to request an audience."

"The Right Worthy King?" Xiao Moting's eyes turned cold. "Daye has killed so many of our brothers, and he still has the nerve to send someone to the Beijiang Camp?"

Qin Zhan barked, "Isn't the Right Worthy King busy fighting for power in the court with the Left Worthy King? How does he have time to send you to request an audience with the Prince at this time? What exactly is his motive?"

"Let them come in and speak."

Xiao Moting waved his hand, signaling the messenger to bring them in.

A moment later, two envoys disguised as Beijiang commoners arrived inside the tent.

Xiao Moting sat with a commanding presence, full of authority.

"Speak, what is your business with this Prince?"

The two envoys exchanged a glance, and one of them respectfully stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Prince of Northern Suppression, the Right Worthy King heard that your troops clashed with the Iron Pagoda led by the Left Worthy King, and that many soldiers were wounded and are lacking medicinal herbs for setting bones. He specifically ordered this subordinate to deliver a batch of precious medicinal herbs produced in the Daye Kingdom, which are highly effective for treating external injuries."

Xiao Moting's sword-like brows lifted, a flash of sharpness in his eyes.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch. This medicine is worth ten thousand gold; your King surely wouldn't give me medicine for nothing, would he?"

"The Right Worthy King does indeed have a request. The Daye Kingdom is rich in precious medicinal herbs, while Daliang is very scarce. The Right Worthy King hopes that the Prince of Northern Suppression will open the border gates to allow his merchant caravans to enter the country to trade and sell medicinal herbs."

Xiao Moting gave a sarcastic, cold laugh. "You have killed so many of our Daliang people, and you still want me to secretly let you into our borders? Do you know that secretly letting enemies into the country is a capital crime of treason?"

"Prince of Northern Suppression, you are overthinking it. The Right Worthy King opposes the war and has always wished to be on good terms with Daliang. You are the border defense general; as long as you lift your hand slightly, you can let them pass. The Daliang Imperial Court treats you unfairly and is in arrears with military funding. As long as you are willing to let them pass, the Right Worthy King is willing to hand over twenty percent of the merchant caravans' profits to you."

Xiao Moting smiled without smiling, his hand gripping the hilt of his Long Sword, playing with it with his fingertips.

"Your King knows I have no silver to support my troops, so he uses gold and silver to tempt me—is he trying to bribe me?"