Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 45: Middle Age and Youth (Please continue reading)

"This scab is the fully mature cowpox vaccine. It can be collected, dried into powder, and then used for inoculation."

In the cowshed, about a dozen people were surrounding an old cow, including Zhang Xian, who was giving a presentation.

The doctors' meals were not served with the village nurses; instead, several villagers were assigned to prepare them, so they didn't eat until eight or nine o'clock.

"Master Zhang, can't we just use smallpox lesions directly from the human body?"

One of the younger doctors spoke up and asked.

Zhang Xian glanced at him and nodded, saying, "Psoriasis originates from the human body itself, and its toxicity is more adapted to the human body. Therefore, if pox is used as a medium to spread the smallpox epidemic, it would be like letting a person who has naturally contracted the smallpox epidemic directly infect another normal person."

"I see. That's why Master Zhang thought of using animal bodies to weaken the poison and prevent it from causing greater harm to the human body," the young man said, suddenly understanding.

He was among the newest group of doctors; before him, two groups of doctors from Taoyuan had already learned the smallpox inoculation method.

"Indeed, but going back to your original question, smallpox is not necessarily unusable."

"Huh?" The group of doctors looked at Zhang Xian in confusion, wondering why he was contradicting himself.

They were puzzled, but some doctors also showed signs of thinking. Among them, Dr. Tang, who had treated Huang Xu with Zhang Xian last night, spoke up.

"What Master Zhang means is that as long as we can find a way to reduce the toxicity of smallpox, it can have the same effect as cowpox."

"Master Tang is wise." Zhang Xian cupped his hands in greeting and continued, "However, I have not yet verified this method. The toxicity of human smallpox is no less than that of natural smallpox. If we want to reduce the toxicity, we will probably need to properly preserve human smallpox for many years before it can be used. In that case, it would be better to use cowpox directly."

"That's useless," someone in the crowd muttered quietly.

Several older doctors glared and left, while Zhang Xian waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright, it's alright, that's the truth."

"However, fellow physicians, we must think carefully before practicing any medical technique. Whether smallpox is effective or not is not important. What is important is that some people may not be able to be treated with the same methods for the same disease. Thinking more and considering more is a quality that we physicians must have. Remember, under our palms are those fresh lives."

"Remember Master Zhang's words!"

All the doctors bowed in unison.

"You're too kind, everyone. Well, that's all there is to the secrets of the smallpox vaccination method. If you want to actually try it yourself, you'll have to do it yourself."

"However, it is clear that, as mentioned before, the precautions for using the smallpox vaccination must be carefully remembered. Human life is not to be taken lightly!"

"Yes." The group of doctors bowed.

Zhang Xian walked through the crowd and left, but the doctors did not leave. Instead, they went in twos and threes to continue observing the old cows in the cowshed.

"I see you've arrived so early, is there something you need?" Zhang Xian approached Huang Zhong, who was already waiting nearby. He washed his hands and turned his head to ask.

Huang Zhong nodded and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Patriarch. I do have some questions."

"What is it?" Zhang Xian shook off the water and wiped his hands with the burlap cloth draped over the water vat.

"Zhong wants to ask, is the patriarch raising troops?" Huang Zhong asked directly.

Zhang Xian stared at his slightly weathered eyes for a long time, then smiled and said, "That's right."

He didn't hide anything, rolled up his slightly damp sleeves, and walked straight towards the training ground.

"Follow."

Huang Zhong was still immersed in Zhang Xian's undisguised astonishment when he heard this, and he couldn't help but follow.

"Does the head of the household have any requests regarding his retainers?" He followed behind Zhang Xian's left hand.

"After all these years of traveling all over the country, can't you see it?"

"With refugees everywhere and all industries in ruins, how many more years do you think the world can remain peaceful?"

Huang Zhong pondered, just as his patriarch had said. In the past few years, he had taken his son to visit doctors everywhere and witnessed countless tragic scenes unfold.

"What does the patriarch request?"

"Look over there." Zhang Xian paused, stopped, and pointed to a few people working not far away.

“I saw them when I was penniless and adrift, not knowing where to go. At that time, I wondered what I would do if I were able to take care of myself and have the ability to do so one day.”

He glanced at Huang Zhong and said, "The answer is obvious, isn't it?"

"I want more people to live, even just one more, that would be my wish."

Huang Zhong continued on his way, but lingered for a moment. His eyesight was excellent, and he could see the smiles and hope on the faces of the people working over there.

He quickly followed: "Could loyalty be interpreted as the head of the family being concerned for the well-being of all people?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xian's lips curled slightly. He continued walking forward, only to reply, "What will you do if I answer 'yes'?"

Upon hearing Zhang Xian's reply, Huang Zhong's originally serious face showed a slight smile: "Then I shall pay my respects to my lord."

"Haha." Zhang Xian laughed twice and shook his head: "I can't promise you anything."

Huang Zhong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "If I can realize my ambitions and save my life, I will have no regrets!"

"Huang Zhong and Huang Hansheng of Nanyang pay their respects to our lord!" Zhang Xian stamped his foot, turned around and bowed in return: "Zhang Xian and Zhang Zixu of Changshan are deeply grateful for Hansheng's assistance!"
-
The young men had already gotten used to the half-hour of standing meditation.

The horse stance rises and falls with the motion of someone riding a warhorse.

My whole body was steaming with heat, and my legs felt like they were filled with lead, but after persisting, I felt comfortable all over.

Zhang Xian led Huang Zhong slowly in, neither of them saying a word.

Zhao Yun was also practicing stances. When he saw the two approaching, he only glanced at them before looking up at the sky. About fifteen minutes later, he straightened up.

"Finish!"

"promise!"

The young men chanted in unison, slowly straightening their legs. The soreness was both uncomfortable and somewhat captivating.

"Take a 15-minute break, then you are free to do as you please!"

"promise!"

After issuing the order to disband, Zhao Yun approached Zhang Xian: "Brother Xian, and this one too."

"Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng," Huang Zhong introduced himself.

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Zhao Yun is not yet of legal age."

"A young talent," Huang Zhong sincerely praised.

Unlike his shyness a few months ago, Zhao Yun was now completely at ease in the face of praise. He simply nodded to Huang Zhong and then asked Zhang Xian, "Brother Xian, are you here now to personally lead the race later?"

Zhao Yun had grown accustomed to Zhang Xian's occasional personal reprimands.

But this time, his brother Xian shook his head slightly: "No, you should still be the one leading the training these days. This time..."

He smiled and looked at Huang Zhong: "Will you use a short weapon or a long weapon?"

Huang Zhong replied calmly, "Either is fine."

He then looked at Zhao Yun: "Will you use a short weapon or a long weapon?"

Zhao Yun suddenly realized that Xian Ge'er wanted to test this person's character, so he calmly replied, "Anything is acceptable."

Zhang Xian chuckled inwardly: 'Brother Yun is foolish! This is Huang Zhong in his prime!'

Suppressing his laughter but unable to show it, he could only say to his brother, "Then let's all use long weapons."

"promise!"

Zhao Yun took two long spears made of ash wood, with the tips wrapped in thick cloth and dipped in lime.

When Huang Zhong took the spear, his wrist sank. His rough fingertips rubbed the grain of the shaft and he knew it was made of old material with excellent toughness.

The two men stood three zhang apart, the tips of their spears pointing diagonally at the ground. A morning breeze swept across the training ground, raising a fine dust cloud.

Zhao Yun's heels were slightly off the ground, his spine taut like a bowstring, while Huang Zhong stood like a mountain, the butt of his spear pressed against his waist—a standard military formation tactic.

"please!"

The lime gun tip suddenly turned into a white rainbow.

Zhao Yun advanced as if wading through mud, his spear tip thrusting upwards toward Huang Zhong's throat, but just before it made contact, he abruptly changed direction, switching from a thrust to a sweep.

Huang Zhong neither dodged nor yielded. The shaft of his spear struck horizontally with a dull "crack," and using the recoil, he spun around and swung his spear, the butt of which slammed down like a hammer towards Zhao Yun's ribs.

The boy twisted his waist to dodge, and the tip of his spear pointed at the other's wrist, but Huang Zhong blocked it with the middle of the spear shaft. The two ash wood spears overlapped to form a cross, creaking loudly.

The guards on the sidelines, including Zhang Xian, all held their breath.

Suddenly, Huang Zhong lowered his shoulders and elbows, causing his spear shaft to slide down three inches from Zhao Yun's weapon before he suddenly pushed forward with force.

Zhao Yun felt a numbness in his tiger's mouth and retreated three steps to dissipate the force, his heels carving a shallow trench in the ground.

The old soldier, seizing the advantage, pressed on relentlessly, his spear lashing out like a dragon straight for the center. But then the young man suddenly abandoned his spear, leaned back, braced himself with his left hand, and launched his right leg, the sole of his boot striking Huang Zhong's spear shaft seven inches from the ground.

This is the "Python Turns Over" technique personally taught by Tong Yuan, specifically designed to counter long weapon thrusts.

The ash wood spear shaft trembled violently. Huang Zhong took a half step back to dissipate the force, only to see Zhao Yun sprang to his feet, grab the fallen spear, and unleash the "Hundred Birds Through the Forest" technique, striking the brow, throat, and heart with three sharp, cold points.

The old soldier's pupils contracted slightly, and he swung his spear in a circular motion, deflecting the lime marks with three muffled "thuds." He then swept his spear horizontally with a backhand motion, the shaft tearing through the air with a loud bang.

When the two spears collided again, the cloth-wrapped spearheads simultaneously burst into a white mist of lime.

When the dust settled, Huang Zhong's spear tip was pressed against Zhao Yun's chest, while the young man's cloth-wrapped spearhead was only half an inch away from the old soldier's throat.

The training ground was so quiet that the only sound could be the sweat dripping onto the ground.

(End of this chapter)