Chapter Two: Enlistment (Part One)
Thus, we are almost at the military camp! May our ancestors bless us, we are finally close.
You go to sleep; I won't be able to fall asleep for a while.
Yi Ye sighed and smiled, saying: "Fortunately, you still remember, truly a blessing from our ancestors. If this were to be used to test me, that would be disastrous"
Yi Ye also wanted to see clearly, but unfortunately, trees obstructed the view both near and far, rendering everything invisible. Zi Qing adjusted the curtain at the gap and softly said: "It is the sound of hooves; it seems they are training the troops."
The sound was like a chorus of thunder, a multitude of drums striking in unison, shaking the heavens and the earth. If they could poke their heads out of the carriage, they would realize that they were not the only ones startled; flocks of birds, frightened, were swiftly taking flight. The noise grew ever closer and louder, overwhelming everything, causing the people in the ox cart to become increasingly anxious. They strained to pull back the curtain, hoping to glimpse something through the gaps.
Do you have any other methods?" Ziqing asked him, gazing intently.
Although it was already late in the day, the conscription office was still bustling with people, and individuals continued to arrive one after another. Yi Ye was initially concerned that Zi Qing appeared young and tender, fearing that she might attract suspicion. However, after taking a look around, he discovered that there were quite a number of boys around sixteen or seventeen years old coming to enlist, and the clerks in charge paid them no mind, simply focusing on registering and recording.
Yi Ye watched her slowly walk back to the end of the line, stood still for a moment, sighed deeply, and then walked over to stand behind her
For over ten days, the number of ox carts traveling with them gradually increased to more than ten, and the drivers had changed several times. However, the people inside the carts remained unaware of their destination until this day, when, around noon, Ziqing in the cart heard a distant sound that was deeply buried in his memory.
Due to being completely surrounded by curtains on all sides, they were unsure of which direction the ox cart was heading as soon as they got on. The military officer driving outside paid them no mind, and they could only lean against the side of the cart and doze off. Fortunately, although the ox cart was not as fast as a horse-drawn carriage, it was much steadier, and the jolting was not too severe.
Ziqing stepped forward to queue for registration, but was abruptly pulled aside by Yi Ye.
Ziqing nodded slightly, carefully scraping the remaining rice grains from the bowl with a wooden spoon, finishing them one by one
Estimating that there would be no good words to come, Yi Ye frowned, shifted his body, and did not wish to continue listening. Looking again at Zi Qing, curled up, her breathing steady and even, she had already fallen into a deep sleep
Yi Ye stammered: "That old fellow wants you to memorize so much! He only brought three kinds of herbs: Rehmannia glutinosa, raw Rehmannia, and Saposhnikovia divaricata for me to identify, and then state their effects... Have you memorized all of them?"
The tent was noisy, dirty, and foul-smelling, yet it was remarkable that she could still manage to sleep. Yi Ye smiled and shook his head, leaning back to rest. Not far from him, a group of people was gathered, engaged in animated discussions; they were all no older than twenty or thirty years. He listened closely and realized that they were talking about the generals leading the troops in the current era.
Seeing him tall and imposing, yet speaking in a very gentle manner, unlike the stern and sinister expression of the previous officer, everyone immediately felt a sense of closeness. A few bold individuals, though hesitant to speak recklessly, nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, it is my oversight," the team leader quickly replied
Yi Ye was at a loss for words
Due to the snowfall, the ground was extremely muddy. The two individuals, both on foot, traveled nearly an entire day along the mountain path before reaching the county magistrate, and then followed the notice to find the conscription site outside the city.
Zhao Ponu nodded and smiled, then slowly walked to the front of the new recruits' line and said to everyone with a smile: "Are you all hungry?"
Well, the gentleman had previously commanded me to memorize it
What do you think it is this time
It was not the character "Li"; she quietly breathed a sigh of relief
A sudden commotion arose among the new recruits, and one after another, a few individuals stepped forward. Yi Ye and Zi Qing exchanged glances for a moment; both had studied medicine under Yi Xi, but neither had ever practiced independently, which left them somewhat hesitant. However, after a brief moment of hesitation, recalling the words "urgent need" mentioned by the military officer, they thought of the many injured soldiers in the army and both stepped forward.
Qing'er ... ... " Yi Ye held her hand tightly, " Think again ... ... "
Yi Ye gently tapped her head, then took off his own outer robe to cover her, partially obscuring her head and face. Zi Qing glanced at him and then closed her eyes, saying no more. She simply curled up a bit and obediently fell asleep.
After finishing the meal, Yi Ye quietly asked Zi Qing what had happened in the tent
The soldier who went to report quickly returned with a tall and robust military officer resembling a lieutenant.
The next morning, the grim-faced officer Wei Caoyuan Shi brought along more than ten military officials to wake everyone up, count the number of people, and ordered them to line up, each receiving two hard buns as provisions for the entire day on the road
Qing'er, from now on do not call me Second Brother Yi, just call me Brother.
Zi Qing remained silent for so long that Yi Ye thought she hadn't heard his words at all, until he finally heard her somewhat uncomfortable voice
Another person lowered their voice even further, and Yi Ye had to lean in to hear clearly: "It is said that Champion Hou is exceptionally handsome, and the Emperor treats him quite differently... but is it really true?"
Are you really decided? Once you register, you won't be able to back out. Otherwise, let's think it over... As the moment approached, Yi Ye still felt hesitant deep down.
The last to enter the tent was Zi Qing, who also stayed inside the longest. Outside, Yi Ye was anxiously waiting, fearing that she might have revealed some flaw to the chief medical officer. After a stick of incense had passed, he finally saw Zi Qing lift the tent flap and calmly walk back to his side to line up. Only then did he feel a bit relieved, yet his mind was still filled with doubts
Champion Hou is the maternal nephew of General Wei, they are essentially family. Isn't it the same whether he serves as a general or General Wei does... Some people do not agree with this perspective
Without allowing Yi Ye to suspect for too long, Wei Cao quietly instructed a military officer beside him. The officer immediately leaped to a higher position and announced to the crowd: "The army urgently needs medical officers, those among you who are medical workers under the age of thirty-two, please step forward"
Hmm..." Yi Ye pressed her shoulder firmly from behind, his voice somewhat hoarse, "From today onwards, we brothers will live and die together. If anything happens to you, I will not survive either. On the road to the Yellow Springs, I will always accompany you.
Only about seven or eight people stood up, and Wei Cao looked at them with a degree of distrust, especially noticing the youth among them, which further revealed his obvious skepticism. Fortunately, he did not interrogate them, but rather waved his hand impatiently, instructing the military officer to take them onto a cart pulled by oxen.
Zi Qing let out a soft "hm" and gazed intently in the direction of the sound of hooves. In the distance, all that could be seen was a thick cloud of dust rising high into the air, with the occasional sound of clashing weapons audible. Closer by, a group of soldiers dressed in crimson garments and leather armor were practicing with their halberds, while further away, others were training with long spears. The soldiers all wore expressionless faces, even walking with their eyes fixed straight ahead, which made them appear even more formidable and battle-ready.
"Drilling the troops?" Yi Ye was taken aback and exclaimed, "What a commotion this is, how many horses could there possibly be?"
While the troops were forming up, a rider on a swift horse suddenly arrived. The military officer dismounted and approached the sergeant, presenting him with a bamboo slip. The sergeant opened it and read for a while, then raised his eyes to scan the group of new recruits who were gnawing on their bread. At his glance, several of the more timid ones immediately found the bread stuck in their throats, not daring to swallow it down.
The team leader smiled and clasped his hands, saying: "Thank you, Eagle Strike Sima"
"Everyone says so, but who knows if it's true? However..." The person deliberately paused, "Who does he think he is? If the Emperor wants someone, who wouldn't obediently lie down?" Following this was a series of lewd and indecent chuckles, which were difficult to articulate, and others joined in the laughter.
Listening to the sound, there should be over 10,000 horses
The military officers drove them off the ox cart like ducks, ordering them to line up and stand properly
Yi Ye then felt a sense of joy, having truly endured a great deal of discomfort during these days on the ox cart. The others on the cart, upon hearing this, all breathed a sigh of relief, stretching their arms and legs while reflecting on the difficulties of the journey. Only Zi Qing remained quietly leaning against the side of the cart, motionless, with her eyes closed, listening to the relentless sound of hooves that mercilessly trampled through her heart, awakening memories that had long been sealed away.
Eagle Strike Sima Zhao took the bamboo slip but did not look at it. With a warm smile, he said, "The general has not yet returned; let us wait for his return to present it to him. These people..." He glanced at them briefly, "Not all of them can be kept; we still need to select. You have traveled a long way and must be tired. I will have someone arrange the barracks for you; please rest first"
Eagle Strike Sima, here are forty-six medical engineers, all under the age of thirty-two as per the general's request. This is the roster.
He asked me to memorize the "Meridian Theory" from the "Lingshu," the "Theory of Vital Energy" from the "Suwen," and finally, I also memorized the "Complete Theory of Life and Destiny"
"That is quite different. Although both Huo Qubing and General Wei are illegitimate..." The speaker deliberately lowered his voice, "However, Huo Qubing has been coming in and out of the palace since he was young, and his relationship with the Emperor is very close, his temperament is not the same as that of General Wei."
Registration completed. All soldiers who have joined can go to receive their porridge. Zi Qing and Yi Ye rushed over without having eaten, and by this time, they were already very hungry. They each took a flatbread and some porridge to eat. In the freezing cold, the flatbread was naturally hard as a rock, and the corn porridge was both thin and cold, making one shiver from head to toe with just a sip. The two of them were extremely hungry, slowly chewing on the flatbread and occasionally sipping the cold porridge, yet they managed to finish it all.
Due to a long-standing vigilance towards officials, Yi Ye poked Zi Qing, who was chewing on a hard bun. Zi Qing struggled to swallow the crumbs, shook his head, and then carefully wrapped the remaining bun and placed it in his bosom
After finishing the meal, they headed towards the temporarily erected tent. Due to the large number of people, various unpleasant odors filled the air. Yi Ye, who had a natural inclination for cleanliness, frowned and cast a苦笑 at Zi Qing. The latter seemed oblivious, as her gaze found an available spot on the shared bedding in the corner, and she pulled Yi Ye over.
He casually mentioned meeting the chief forensic doctor, leading everyone to believe it was merely a routine matter. Upon arrival, they realized it was quite the opposite. The chief forensic doctor sat inside the tent, while the others lined up outside, entering one by one. Those who exited stood on the other side, prohibited from conversing with those waiting to enter.
Indeed, Zhao Ponu whispered, "Next time, let them wear military uniforms first, so it doesn't look like we're sending refugees over every time. The general will frown upon seeing that."
Zhao Xin's defection has caused great dissatisfaction for His Majesty towards General Wei, while he has instead shown favor towards Marquis of Champion, reportedly intending to appoint him as a general
Everyone, come down! Form a line!
"Having been tired all day, let's take a break." Ziqing made a bundle into a pillow, lay down comfortably inside with her clothes, and spoke to Yiye.
A night without incident
Sure enough, someone took them to have a meal. After gnawing on hard bread all the way, this serving of brown rice drenched in meat sauce truly whetted their appetites, not to mention that the sauce was mixed with minced lamb, making it a delightful feast for everyone.
Upon hearing this, Ziqing's body stiffened slightly. She turned her head slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but after a long pause, she said nothing and turned back, slowly moving forward with the group.
Zhao Ponu smiled again and said, "Everyone, please bear with us a little longer. First, let us meet the chief forensic doctor here, and then someone will take you to have a meal right away"
Gently breaking free from his hand, Ziqing did not look at him again, turning her head away and saying: "Do not think too much; life and death are predestined... For the sake of the gentleman and the lady, there is only so much we can do."
Brother
Zi Qing remained silent and directly pulled him to line up
Yi Ye gently patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear: "It is the character 'Huo', it should be Huo Qubing. Last year, the Emperor just conferred upon him the title of Champion Marquis. I heard that the Emperor intends to make him a general to lead troops against the Xiongnu, it seems to be true"
The sun is shining brightly here, casting its rays down without any obstruction, making everything around appear somewhat dazzling. Ziqing squints, tilting her head slightly upward, gazing at the large crimson flag that flutters fiercely in the wind—an intricately bold character "霍".