Chapter 61: Learning the ways of merchants and traders from Qingyan Tower…

During the Ming Dynasty, there were too many quack doctors. Even cats and dogs who held ancient medical books dared to prescribe medicine and treat patients, whether the patient lived or died, it’s all matter of luck.

If you’re cured, you must thank the doctor and their entire family.

If you died, you still have to thank the doctor and their entire family.

There is no way around it. This is fate, the fate of the people of the Ming Dynasty, and the fate of the Ming soldiers!

Ru Chang didn’t want his soldiers to thank the two kings and their entire families, it’s because these two king are too unreliable. These two kings, who had been idling around, suddenly became knowledgeable in medicine?

Could it be that their frequent visit to Qingyan Tower was for the purpose of discussing medical skills?

“Let them give it a try!”

A calm voice resonated in Ru Chang’s ears.

Ru Chang turned his head and saw Xu Huizu standing next to the injured soldier, holding a bottle of alcohol in his hand and sniffing its scent.

“Duke of Wei, isn’t this inappropriate?” Ru Chang expressed his concerns.

Xu Huizu turned to Zhu Zhi, the King of Liao, and asked seriously, “Are you sure this substance is not poisonous?”

Zhu Zhi replied confidently, “Absolutely non-toxic.”

“But do you have any evidence?” Xu Huizu asked.

Zhu Zhi felt frustrated and asked, “Duke of Wei, this is just alcohol. How can it be poisonous? It’s just a secret method to make the alcohol purer.”

Xu Huizu pondered for a moment.

“I have evidence!”

Zhu Geng picked up a bottle of alcohol, opened it, and took a sip, letting out a satisfied exhale of alcohol fumes. He chuckled and said, “How about now? Can you trust us?”

Watching Zhu Geng, who seemed to still want more, Xu Huizu and Ruyan exchanged a glance and remained silent.

Zhu Zhi secretly extended his hand and praised Zhu Geng, then personally took the alcohol and said to the injured soldier, “As a member of the Great Ming’s Iron Army, you must endure the pain.”

The soldier thanked the king for his concern and assured him that it would be fine.

The alcohol was poured into the wound, and the soldier’s eyes widened momentarily. His hand trembled violently, and he let out a cry of pain, startling Ru Chang and Xu Huizu. Fortunately, it was only for a moment, and the soldier quickly regained composure, looking at Zhu Zhi with a mix of gratitude and lingering fear.

“Haha, don’t worry, it’s okay. Come, bring the gauze!”

Zhu Zhi personally took out the gauze and wrapped it around the wound, then said, “During this time, you must not let the wound come into contact with water, understood? In a few days, I will come to change the gauze and examine the wound.”

Xu Huizu held the gauze carefully and examined it, then turned to Ru Chang and said, “I’ve never seen anything like this before, neither gauze nor cloth. What is this, King of Liao?”

Ru Chang also held the gauze, looking towards the two kings.

Zhu Zhi smiled and said, “This is a new item called medical gauze, combined with alcohol. As long as it is used to cover the wound, it can reduce the risk of infection and promote faster healing. Moreover, when the gauze is removed, it does not adhere to the wound like coarse cloth. It is simple and practical.”

Xu Huizu took a deep breath and looked at Ru Chang.

Ru Chang also looked at Xu Huizu, his eyes filled with anticipation and longing.

If what Zhu Zhi said was true, then this alcohol and medical gauze could effectively address the issue of soldier’s injuries.

In future battles, if the soldiers were wounded, they would no longer be at risk of infection and the resulting complications. If they could solve the high mortality rate among wounded soldiers, then Ming Dynasty would have a larger number of veterans soldiers!

The value of veteran soldiers was immeasurable!

Even if Xu Huizu were given ten new recruits, he wouldn’t trade them for a single veteran soldier!

“Come, take them away,” said Zhu Zhi, The attendants brought out two folded wooden poles and separated them, revealing strips of thick cloth and ropes in between. They placed the injured soldiers on the makeshift stretcher, making them lie down. With one attendant in front and one behind, they lifted the stretcher and walked away, leaving casually.

Ru Chang rubbed his eyes and asked Xu Huizu, “Those soldiers seemed to have injuries on their hands, why couldn’t they use their legs?”

Xu Huizu ignored Ru Chang and carefully examined the two wooden poles from Zhu Zhi’s attendants. He asked Zhu Zhi, “What is this?”

Zhu Zhi wiped his hands and replied, “This is called a stretcher. It can be used to carry wounded soldiers. You know, in all the thousands of years of warfare, why do they always carry soldiers on their shoulders or back? Do you know that some wounded soldiers who could have been saved ended up dying because of the jostling? Tragic… So, after a deep and intimate discussion with King of Min, we have come up with this solution…”

Zhu Geng nearly jumped up, deep and intimate discussion, my dear brother, what did you just say?

Didn’t you see that Xu Huizu and Ru Chang had taken two steps back?

You don’t want your dignity but I still need it!

Xu Huizu, in deep thought, looked at Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng and smiled. He didn’t say anything further and walked with Ru Chang toward a nearby pavilion. Turning back, he glanced at Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng, who seemed to be waiting like predators, ready to tend to their soldiers once someone got injured.

“What are these two kings up to?” Ru Chang couldn’t shake off the feeling that these two kings had ulterior motives.

Xu Huizu pondered for a moment and said, “Ru Chang, you may not know this, but these two kings have been coming in and out of the capital garrison for some time now. Just a few days ago, they even went to the large training ground outside the city. I’ve heard that the Jinwu Guard and Imperial Guard in the city have also been visited by them.”

“Oh, why?” Ru Chang asked curiously.

Xu Huizu chuckled and replied, “We don’t know yet, but I’ve been to the training ground. The wounds of those injured soldiers were treated by them and didn’t show any signs of infection or even inflammation.”

Ru Chang stroked his beard, squinting his eyes as he looked at Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng running off into the distance. He spoke in a deep voice, “These two kings seem different from what the rumors say.”

Xu Huizu nodded slightly, indicating his agreement.

As vassal kings, their status was highly esteemed. Coming to the capital garrison personally, running around, and caring for the soldiers, their motives were indeed difficult to discern.

“Ru Chang, if alcohol and medical gauze prove to be effective in healing the wounded, then these items should be included in military supplies, equipped in the capital guards, and even spread throughout the entire army, especially in the border regions!” Xu Huizu said earnestly.

Ru Chang understood their value and said, “Let’s arrange for medical officers to investigate. If they prove to be effective, these items should become essential in the military.”

Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng sat under a large tree, smiling at each other.

Zhu Geng unfastened his water flask from his waist and handed it to Zhu Zhi, saying, “So many days have passed, shouldn’t they have realized something by now? Why hasn’t anyone come to us to buy? is our approach wrong? Should we be more proactive?”

Zhu Zhi accepted the flask without hesitation and took a few sips of water. With a smile on his lips, he replied, “Proactive? Have you ever seen salt sellers who go door-to-door? What we have here is a treasure, just like salt. If we go to them, they might think we are begging them. It’s better to let them come to us.”

Zhu Geng admired him and remarked, “Fifteenth Brother, when did you become so knowledgeable in the ways of merchants?”

Zhu Zhi took another sip of water, his gaze deep and thoughtful. “The ladies with the red signboards in Qingyan tower, don’t they all do the same? The more we actively pursue, the less we’ll obtain…”.

Zhu Geng blinked his eyes, realizing that his elder brother had indeed learned a lot from those ladies.

No, as his brother, how could he lag behind?

He had to have ambition and strive forward!

Determined, Zhu Geng made up his mind to stay at Qingyan tower tonight and learn the ways of merchants!

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