Chapter 37 – The Rising Star of Hanzhong (3)

Chapter 37 – The Rising Star of Hanzhong (3)

Hanzhong was struggling to cope with the massive influx of refugees. It was only natural that the people would gather here, as it was the only fortress in Shaanxi holding strong against the invasion.

To address this pressing issue, all the corps commanders had gathered in the conference room. Seated around the long table, Adjutant Yang Yeon-jeong was in the middle of a report.

"The number of refugees has already exceeded ten thousand this month alone. Do you intend to continue accepting them, General?"

Seated at the head of the table, Jang-yang nodded.

"Of course. If we turn them away, where else can these poor souls go? Accept every single one of them. Under no circumstances should our relief efforts stop."

"But the issues of food and employment are growing critical. If this continues, there is no telling how long our military grain reserves will last."

"If we leave them to wander, it will undoubtedly lead to social unrest. However, if we can find a way to work together with them, they can become a great asset to us."

"Do you have a plan, General?"

"I petitioned the imperial court for permission to establish military agricultural settlements, and I received their approval a few days ago. They granted us permission to use all the fallow lands around Hanzhong, in exchange for twenty percent of the harvest."

"The court agreed to that so easily?"

"Since the capital was relocated not long ago, resources there must be scarce. Our petition was likely a welcome proposal to them."

Watching from his seat, Commander Jin Lip asked with interest, "Renting land to the refugees and organizing large-scale reclamation projects will solve both the unemployment issue and the food shortage. However, many military farming initiatives have failed in the past. What share of the harvest do you plan to allocate, General?"

"Sixty percent will go to the people. Twenty percent to the imperial court. The remaining twenty percent will be stored as military grain for our corps."

"Is sixty percent not too generous? In the history of military agricultural settlements, there is no record of the people keeping more than fifty percent. The average is usually thirty percent."

"The reason those initiatives failed is because the farmers could barely survive even when they worked themselves to the bone. Who would want to work under such conditions? If you give them proper incentive, their productivity will skyrocket, yielding results beyond our imagination. With sufficient land and labor, I believe even our twenty percent share will leave our granaries overflowing."

Jin Lip had not considered that perspective. Impressed, he bowed his head slightly.

"My thinking was narrow, General. Since this also stabilizes the livelihood of the people, it is well worth trying."

"If I recall correctly, you served as a county magistrate in your youth and managed agricultural tax collection. There is no one better suited for this task. I leave the implementation of the military settlements in your hands, Commander Jin Lip."

Jin Lip blinked in surprise.

He had only mentioned his past once, in passing, years ago. He had never expected General Jang-yang to remember such a minor detail. A warm surge of emotion filled his chest.

"I will do my absolute best, General."

Jang-yang turned his gaze back to Yang Yeon-jeong.

"How many vessels do we currently have in our Hanzhong fleet?"

"We have forty-two transport ships anchored at Han River Port. The rest were seized by the Emperor when he fled south of the Yangtze River."

Yang Yeon-jeong deliberately chose the word "fled" instead of "relocated the capital." It was impossible to respect an emperor who had retreated south surrounded by warships, carrying crates of personal treasure.

"There is no reason to let those forty-two ships rot. I want to lease them to the refugees and establish a fishing industry. It will secure immediate food supplies, and any surplus can be sold in the market to raise military funds."

The transport vessels were the corps' only means of retreat if Hanzhong fell. Loaning them to the fishermen was equivalent to burning their own bridges. Yet, no one objected to the decision.

"Will the imperial court grant permission?"

"If we offer to dedicate the premium catches to the palace, they will not refuse. To an imperial court that continues to indulge in luxury, it is an irresistible offer. The corrupt officials themselves will lobby for its approval. We will submit the petition shortly."

The golden carp and white carp caught in the Han River were incredibly rare and considered premium delicacies.

"How will the catches be divided?"

"The people will keep sixty percent. Once the approval comes through, post the recruitment notices immediately. I would like Commander Baek Mun-hwi to oversee this project. Your hometown of Suhyun was a fishing village, was it not? You possess the most knowledge and experience in this area."

Baek Mun-hwi was taken aback. He had never expected Jang-yang to know the details of his hometown. His chest tightened with emotion.

"…You knew about that, General? I will prepare the logistics without fail."

Jang-yang turned to Wi Jin-cheol, who had been listening quietly.

"Our total force currently stands at only eight thousand. As the enemy's numbers continue to swell, we must bolster our strength. Commander Wi Jin-cheol, you will oversee the recruitment and training of new conscripts. You are the best at this."

Wi Jin-cheol grinned broadly at the praise.

"Leave it to me, General! I will forge them into the strongest soldiers under heaven!"

"I expect nothing less. While Jin-cheol focuses on recruitment, Commander Kwak Cheol and Commander Han Baek will handle the training of our active forces. As for the Wolf Fang Squad, they can manage their own training, so you need not worry about them."

Kwak Cheol and Han Baek answered in unison, "Yes, General!"

A shared sense of resolve burned in the eyes of the commanders. Satisfied, Jang-yang continued.

"We have one final item on the agenda. I am considering establishing a dedicated medical unit within our corps."

Yang Yeon-jeong asked in confusion, "Do we not already have field medics?"

"I am talking about a specialized medical unit that will deploy directly to the front lines. I have seen too many brave soldiers bleed to death on the battlefield simply because their wounds were not treated in time. If we had a field hospital set up just behind the lines, those lives would not have been lost so pointlessly."

"That is a brilliant idea, General. If they know they can receive immediate treatment on the field, the soldiers will fight without fear of injury. Morale will soar. And during times of peace, the unit can provide medical care to the civilian population."

"The problem is that the medical expertise within our corps is limited. I would like to enlist the help of civilian doctors, but we cannot force them. What should we do?"

So-mu, who had remained silent throughout the meeting, spoke up for the first time.

"I will take charge of this task. I know the perfect person for the job."

The greatest physician in the martial world happened to be residing right here in Hanzhong. Finding him would not be difficult.

Jang-yang's gaze softened as he looked at So-mu.

"I feel as if I am always in your debt. I plan to appoint this person as the head of our medical unit, so please recruit him by any means."

So-mu was surprised by the blind trust Jang-yang placed in him.

"Are you not going to ask who he is, General?"

"If I did not trust your judgment, how could I command this army? Since I trust you, I trust that your choice will be correct."

So-mu bowed his head in silent gratitude.

"Well, it seems everyone will be busy for the foreseeable future. Let us work together to build a world where everyone can live with a smile."

Jang-yang's parting words made So-mu's heart swell.

A world where everyone could live with a smile.

Even if it was just a coincidence, those words matched his own dream.

* * *

Divine Physician Mo Cheong, Who Brings Life. It was a title earned because anyone he treated was guaranteed to survive. The only ones Mo Cheong did not treat were those who were already dead or completely beyond saving.

Since he had recently appeared at the military camp to treat Commander Wi Jin-cheol, it meant he was practicing medicine nearby. Finding him was simple enough. He could have asked the Beggars' Sect for help, but that was a last resort.

So-mu spent four hours searching the clinics of Hanzhong. On his twenty-third stop, he finally found a lead. To his amusement, it was the smallest, most dilapidated clinic of them all. Bearing a simple wooden plaque that read 'Saenghwadang,' it was a tiny, run-down cottage.

'Phew. If I had known, I would have started with the smallest clinics first.'

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, he saw the back of an elderly man grinding medicinal herbs.

"Make some noise when you enter, you rascal!" The old man barked.

It was the exact reaction So-mu had expected. The man was as famous for his eccentric personality as he was for his medical skills.

"We meet again, Elder," So-mu said softly.

Mo Cheong turned around, his eyes widening in shock.

"The… the Sword Saint? What brings you here…?"

"Please speak comfortably, Elder. I have left the martial world, so there is no need to worry about Jianghu seniority."

Mo Cheong felt a strange sensation.

The Sword Saint was a figure of supreme standing in the martial world, a hero who had led the orthodox alliance to victory in the Great War. Yet, such a legendary figure was addressing him respectfully as 'Elder.' It was something unimaginable in the Jianghu.

Though he felt secretly pleased, Mo Cheong remained cautious.

"Are… are you sure?"

So-mu smiled. "Of course, Elder."

"Well, it is a humble place, but please take a seat."

It was a tiny table with a rickety stool. Once So-mu sat down without hesitation, Mo Cheong served him a cup of tea, the tension gradually leaving his face.

"This is Saengyang Tea. It replenishes the body's yang energy and expels toxins."

Taking a sip, So-mu had to fight the urge to spit it out. Since it was brewed from various bitter herbs, it tasted terrible, almost numbing his tongue. However, he kept his expression neutral.

"This is a precious tea. The taste is quite unique."

"You have remarkable patience. So, why did you seek out this old man? I doubt you came just for a cup of tea."

So-mu's expression grew serious. "Elder, why did you leave the martial world?"

"The purpose of medicine is to save lives. But in the Jianghu, the people I saved only went on to kill others. In the end, was I saving lives or abetting murder? I grew disillusioned."

"That is understandable."

"The final straw was when a man I saved was recruited by the Demonic Cult and went on to slaughter a thousand people. That single man killed far more people than I had ever saved in my entire life."

"If he was recruited by the Demonic Cult… you must be referring to the Black Sand Divine Demon."

"Indeed. Coincidentally, he was the scum you killed during the Great War."

"Then why did you save the dying general in the Hanzhong camp recently? He is also a man of war who kills others."

Mo Cheong replied firmly, "General Jang-yang is an exception. Any officer under his command is worth saving."

"That seems like a double standard. What is your reason?"

"Many people in Hanzhong know of this. For a long time, the General has frequented the city streets in plain clothes. Once, while I was out purchasing herbs, I happened to spot him."

It was a story So-mu had never heard before.

"What happened?"

"I saw the General weeping openly before a devastated merchant. When I questioned the other merchants, they told me the merchant was the father of a soldier who had died in battle. A general who weeps for his fallen men does not wield a sword of slaughter. In my eyes, his is a sword of protection."

If a soldier had died, it must have been during the night raid by the Hui vanguard.

Hearing this, So-mu finally understood why the people of Hanzhong supported General Jang-yang with such blind devotion.

"Then it seems our goals align, Elder. I have a favor to ask of you."

Mo Cheong took a sip of his tea and replied quietly, "I accept."

"Pardon?" So-mu blinked. To think he would agree without even hearing the favor.

"Is it not for General Jang-yang? And the legendary Sword Saint himself is asking. This is the greatest honor of my life. Perhaps, before I die, it is my chance to make amends for my past regrets."