Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Cold Shoulder

“Actually, it’s nothing to worry about!” Chen Ying patted Chen Huairen on the shoulder with a smile. “After all, it’s two shoulders carrying one head!”

“Your words ring true, my lord!” Chen Huairen sighed. “Chang’an truly is no place for ordinary people. There are so many nobles and their lackeys; one misstep, and you offend someone.”

“Since you don’t want to stay in Chang’an either, let’s finish this assignment well and try to get posted elsewhere!” Chen Ying suddenly said, “I want to discuss something with you.”

“What’s there to discuss? My lord, just give me the orders, and I promise to carry them out!” Chen Huairen replied.

Chen Ying pondered for a moment. “I know that most herbal medicine shops in the city treat patients who come for consultation. Right now, they either prepare the herbs for decoction or grind them into powders that the patients’ families take home. For some common ailments, especially those needing powders, the shops pre-grind and match the powders, wrapping them in paper. Patients just take the packets and leave. Among military injuries, external applications are mostly used. Could we perhaps prepare these medicinal powders in advance, so when needed, a packet is ready to use?”

“Well,” Chen Huairen mused, “if we were stationed inside Chang’an’s clinics, treatment is tailored to each individual. For similar illnesses, some require more medicine, others less, depending on the patient’s constitution. However, for external injuries, the treatment is generally uniform, so this idea could work.”

Although Chen Ying was not versed in medicine, he understood that Chen Huairen’s approach was based on tailoring remedies to the patient’s constitution and immune response. It was much like how modern cold medicine works—some people recover after a single dose, while others might take several boxes with no effect, all due to differing physiques and immunities.

“Let’s turn these remedies into standardized preparations! Start thinking about it now. The medicines can be divided into four types: external hemostatic applications, internal hemostatic medicines, anti-inflammatory remedies, and cold-relieving medicines. Use all the suitable ingredients from your pharmacy. I’ll have the quartermaster settle accounts with you. For herbs you don’t have, make a list, and the quartermaster will procure them as soon as possible.”

“That’s easy. I can already write prescriptions!” Chen Huairen said, nudging Li Chuqī, who was quick to come over and start grinding the herbs.

Chen Ying raised a hand to stop Chen Huairen. “Don’t rush to write prescriptions yet. Let me finish. The Right Guard Commander currently has a medical officer of the eighth rank, but he’s old and can barely walk. This journey of over two thousand miles—I doubt he’ll survive the trip. So, I intend to have you become the accompanying military medical officer.”

Without hesitation, Chen Huairen said, “Alright, I’ll bring along Yuan Qiao and Chuqī.”

“That’s not enough.”

“Not enough?”

“I plan to establish a battlefield medical rescue unit within the Right Guard, initially comprising two brigades and one regiment!” Chen Ying said to Chen Huairen. “You recruit the personnel yourself. Don’t worry if they lack medical skills—basic bandaging and field rescue are easy to learn. We can teach as we go.”

Li Chuqī’s eyes lit up when she heard about a regiment. Excitedly, she said, “My lord, since my master is a battalion commander, can I be a brigade commander?”

Chen Ying flicked her forehead, laughing, “I never thought Chuqī would be a little officer enthusiast!”

Chuqī blushed, stammering, “I-I…”

...

Marching and fighting, especially on such a long expedition of over two thousand miles, required extensive preparations. Although Chen Ying commanded sixteen regiments across four divisions, totaling over 4,800 soldiers, this did not include auxiliary troops. Counting auxiliaries, the force neared ten thousand.

Gao Yunwen, the deputy commander of the Eastern Palace Right Guard, was baffled. The imperial decree had been issued three days ago. In two days, the entire army was to set out, yet General Chen Ying of the Right Guard had not even shown his face.

Gao Yunwen descended from the Northern Qi royal lineage, belonging to a Han-ified branch of the Xianbei people, with no relation to the Han Gao clan. After generations through Northern Zhou, Sui, and Tang, Gao Yunwen’s family was fully assimilated into Han culture. He hailed from Bohai and was kin to Gao Ying, one of the previous dynasty’s four noble families.

During the Sui dynasty, Gao Yunwen served as a commander of the imperial guards, a prestigious role involving close service to the emperor and an elite archer. However, after Yang Guang demoted Gao Ying to commoner status, Gao Yunwen’s rank was stripped in the seventh year of the Daye era. He was reinstated six years later as a front-line commander of the Xiaoguo army.

Later, he and Pang Yu surrendered to the Li Tang dynasty and was appointed deputy commander of the Eastern Palace Right Guard, effectively a promotion.

It is often said that birds of a feather flock together. Gao Yunwen and Pang Yu, both exemplary soldiers, shared mutual respect. Though displeased with Chen Ying’s indolent attitude, Gao Yunwen dared not show it, for Chen Ying was the Right Guard general appointed directly by Li Yuan.

On November 23rd, the third day after receiving the imperial decree, Chen Ying finally arrived at the Right Guard headquarters. At that moment, only Gao Yunquan was present in the main hall.

It is customary for a new officer to be greeted upon arrival, yet there stood only an awkward Gao Yunquan in the center of the hall.

The Right Guard headquarters was akin to a modern military district command. The guard command oversaw four divisions and had numerous staff officers, including the chief of staff, adjutants, quartermasters, logistics officers, cavalry commanders, armor officers, and discipline supervisors.

Two deputy commanders served under the Right Guard: Left Deputy Commander Gao Yunquan and Right Deputy Commander He Yuejing. The chief of staff, Duan Lun, was notably influential—he was not only a trusted aide of Li Jiancheng but also his brother-in-law, married to Princess Gaomi.

Chen Ying looked at the embarrassed Gao Yunquan and smiled disdainfully. “Looks like someone isn’t happy about my arrival.”

“Deputy Commander Gao, what say you?” Chen Ying asked.

Gao Yunquan forced a smile. “The other officers didn’t know you, General, were coming. I’ll gather them.”

“No need!” Chen Ying was no novice. The proud and fierce warriors of the Right Guard were undoubtedly eager to watch him stumble. Chen Ying turned to Liang Zan with a fierce glare and ordered, “Sound the assembly drum! Anyone not present by the third call will be dealt with according to military law!”