Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The Starfire Fortress's "Technology Tree" development plan sparked in-depth discussion and heated reactions at the core leadership's expanded meeting the following day. When Chen Xing presented the hemp paper outline detailing the development paths of each branch, everyone present—Wu Xuejiu, Chen Wei, Murong Mingyue, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Li Shu, Wang Jian, as well as several key members of the crafts team and the academy's preparatory负责人 who had been specially summoned to participate in the technical discussion—felt an unprecedented clarity and excitement. This was no longer a temporary measure to address symptoms rather than root causes, but a blueprint for a long-term, systematic improvement of the entire force's foundation.

Among them, "medical care and hygiene," listed as one of the priority branches, particularly attracted the attention of physician Wang Jian. This nearly forty-year-old, gaunt-faced physician, who had once been an apprentice in a border town pharmacy and was displaced by the war, was usually taciturn, focusing on treating the wounded and sick with limited herbs and his accumulated experience. When he heard Chen Xing clearly propose to "systematically improve medical conditions and establish a tiered treatment and epidemic prevention system from the battlefield to the fortress," and mention that "the 'Essentials of Emergency Treatment and Epidemic Prevention' compiled by predecessors can be used as a reference," his eyes, which were always filled with weariness and worry, instantly shone with an astonishing light.

After the meeting, Chen Xing kept Wang Jian and Wu Xuejiu behind. In his study, he took out a summary of medical essentials that he had already compiled based on the knowledge he had acquired through the system and combined with his memory. These summaries, using language and illustrations as accessible as possible, covered the identification and basic treatments for common battlefield wounds, high fever, diarrhea, and external wound infections. They highlighted the concepts of boiling for disinfection, wounded soldier classification, and isolation and disease prevention, as well as dozens of locally available herbs and their simple preparation and symptomatic use.

"Master Wang, take a look at these." Chen Xing pushed a thick stack of hemp paper in front of him.

Wang Jian took it with both hands, his fingertips trembling slightly. He initially struggled to read it because some of the descriptions were different from what he had learned, but the principles and details within made him more and more astonished and excited as he read on.

"This...this method of boiling water and then cooling it before using it to clean wounds and instruments can prevent the growth of 'ulcer toxins'? Is there really such a simple method?"

"The injured need to be treated according to the severity of their injuries. Those with minor injuries can take care of themselves or with mutual assistance, while those with severe injuries should be treated intensively and in a concentrated manner to avoid delays... Excellent! In the past, things were chaotic and disorderly, which easily led to delays!"

"Willow bark boiled in water can reduce fever, and mashed purslane applied externally can treat the initial stage of dysentery... These wild herbs actually have such effects? It differs slightly from what I know, but upon closer examination..."

He devoured the book, muttering to himself, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes suddenly realizing something. A full half hour passed before he finally looked up, his eyes bloodshot, yet gleaming with an almost fanatical light: "Lord! This book… no, this summary, is priceless! If everything described is true, countless lives could be saved! Especially the theories on epidemic prevention, isolation, and disinfection; if we had known them earlier, perhaps last year's plague could have been…"

Chen Xing waved his hand: "Master Wang, some of what's described in the summary has been verified, while others still need practical confirmation. I called you here precisely to entrust this matter to you. I intend to appoint you as the head to establish the 'Spark Fortress Medical Center,' dedicated to the medical care, epidemic prevention, and pharmaceutical affairs of all the soldiers and civilians in the fortress. Are you willing?"

Wang Jian was so excited he almost knelt down: "Your subordinate... Your subordinate is of limited talent and learning, and I fear I am unfit for such a great responsibility! However... However, if I can do my utmost for the Lord of the Fortress and for the thousands of lives within its walls, I will gladly die for it!"

"You don't have to die ten thousand times, just put your heart into it." Chen Xing helped him up. "Mr. Wu will assist you in handling personnel and resource allocation, as well as rule-making. You have three primary tasks."

He held up one finger: "First, establish a 'Medical Training Class.' Select meticulous, bold, and calm young men and women, preferably literate, from among the fortified villagers, the naturalized camp members, and even well-behaved prisoners from the 're-education camp' who have some knowledge of herbal medicine. The number is tentatively set at thirty. You will personally teach them, using this summary as a basis, combined with your own experience, to impart the most basic and practical methods of identifying injuries and illnesses, first aid, herbal medicine application, and disinfection and isolation. We don't expect them to become famous doctors, but rather that they can serve as qualified medical personnel on the battlefield or during epidemics, reducing unnecessary casualties and panic."

Wang Jian nodded repeatedly: "Your subordinate understands! Just like training new recruits in the army, the first thing to teach them is the essentials of survival and killing the enemy!"

"Secondly," Chen Xing held up his second finger, "we need to improve the 'epidemic prevention clinics.' The previous plan to establish clinics within the fort and major outposts needs to be accelerated. Especially within the main fort, a reasonably sized headquarters of the medical department needs to be built, complete with consultation rooms, a pharmacy, isolation wards for the seriously injured, and living quarters for medical staff, as well as stockpiles of commonly used medicines and disinfection equipment. The clinics in each outpost can be smaller, but they must be equipped with trained medical staff and basic medicines. All clinics must strictly adhere to cleaning, disinfection, and isolation procedures. Zhao Tiezhu will coordinate the site selection and construction, while you and Zhou Dashan's crafts team will negotiate the procurement and processing of medicinal materials and the preparation of equipment."

"Third, formulate the 'Spark Fort Medical and Nursing Code'." Chen Xing's expression was serious. "It should clearly stipulate the diagnosis and treatment procedures, medication guidelines, disinfection and isolation systems, medical and nursing responsibilities, merit evaluation, and even the compensation and preferential treatment for the wounded and sick, forming a system. In particular, it should be made clear that regardless of whether they are Han or Hu, regardless of their status, the wounded and sick will receive treatment according to the urgency of their injuries, and medical staff must treat everyone equally. This code will be drafted jointly by you and Mr. Wu, and promulgated after review."

Wang Jian felt an immense weight on his shoulders, yet his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of mission and drive. "Your subordinate... will certainly do everything in my power!"

Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard and said, "Master Wang, this matter concerns human lives, the morale of the army, and the very foundation of our fortress's long-term survival. I will certainly cooperate fully. However, the selection and treatment of the trainees for this 'Medical and Nursing Training Class' need to be carefully considered."

Chen Xing said, "The selection of trainees will focus on character and basic learning ability, giving priority to those whose families have members serving in the military or contributing to the fortress's affairs. A certain number of places may also be allocated to the Murong tribe. The treatment will be excellent, and during the training period, 'learning merits' will be awarded according to the 'Merit Order.' After successful completion of the training, trainees will enjoy corresponding benefits and promotion channels based on their assigned destinations. Li Shu will assist in drafting the details of this matter."

The plan was quickly put into action. Wang Jian practically moved his bedding to a secluded courtyard that had been temporarily allocated to him, where a wooden sign reading "Preparatory Office of the Medical Department and Medical Training Class" was hung. He studied the summary given to him by Chen Xing day and night, combining it with his more than 20 years of experience, and began to compile lecture notes that were more in line with the teaching sequence, as well as draw some simple herbal illustrations and diagrams of bandaging techniques.

The selection process for trainees began quickly. The announcement drew an unexpectedly enthusiastic response. Many had family members who had died from injuries or illnesses due to lack of timely medical care, and deeply understood the importance of medicine; some young people also saw this as a skill that could provide a livelihood, and since it was valued by the fortress lord, they believed it offered a promising future. After initial screening and simple interviews, the first batch of thirty trainees was selected, half male and half female, twenty Han Chinese and ten non-Han Chinese, aged between sixteen and twenty-five.

The medical and nursing training class officially started on a sunny autumn morning. In the simple classroom, thirty young and earnest faces looked at Wang Jian on the stage, whose voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Gentlemen," Wang Jian cleared his throat, "from this day forward, you will learn how to snatch people from the clutches of death! What you learn and do concerns the lives of your comrades, the well-being of your parents, wives, and children, and even more so, whether our Starfire Fortress can stand firm in this chaotic world! Therefore, the first rule is: human life is paramount, strive for excellence, and there can be no slackness or carelessness!"

He held up a piece of clean willow bark and a piece of hemp paper with illustrations of feverish patients: "Today, we'll start with the most common symptom, 'fever,' how to identify its cause, and how to use the appropriate medicine..."

The course content was extremely practical, even somewhat rudimentary. There were no esoteric medical theories, only identification and treatment based on observation and experience. How to quickly determine if a wound is "dirty," how to clean a wound with boiled cloth strips and water, how to fix broken bones with a special splint, how to identify the early symptoms of several deadly infectious diseases and isolate them immediately, how to use a limited number of herbal remedies to treat common ailments... Wang Jian explained in detail, and the students listened attentively, frequently taking notes on their own stone slabs or sand trays.

The practical training phase was even more crucial. Chen Xing allowed Wang Jian to select prisoners with non-fatal external injuries or minor illnesses from the "re-education camp" as practice subjects for the trainees. When the first young female trainee, under Wang Jian's guidance, trembled but successfully cleaned and bandaged a prisoner's deep cut, tears of accomplishment glistened in her eyes. And the prisoner, who had initially been numb, showed a more complex expression in his eyes after receiving proper treatment.

Meanwhile, a relatively quiet and well-ventilated area near the north wall within the main fortress was selected as the site for the medical headquarters. Zhao Tiezhu personally led a team to begin clearing the foundation and preparing building materials. Zhou Dashan, following Wang Jian's requests, led carpenters and blacksmiths to trial-produce large ceramic pots and iron pots for boiling and sterilizing, portable first-aid kits, stretchers, and some specialized surgical instruments. The collection and processing of medicinal herbs were also organized. Women and children, led by knowledgeable elders, systematically collected designated herbs from the surrounding mountains and fields, and processed them in the newly built, simple drying shed.

Li Shu and Wu Xuejiu then began drafting a draft of the "Medical and Nursing Code," which clarified the procedures from battlefield first aid to routine medical care, stipulated the duties, rights, and behavioral norms of medical personnel, and linked medical and nursing merits with treatment outcomes to encourage improvement. The draft also specifically emphasized that, where resources permit, those wounded in battle and those injured on duty should be given priority in treatment and receive more favorable rehabilitation benefits.

The entire medical system of Xinghuo Fortress, like a new seedling quietly sprouting in arid land, began to absorb nutrients and grow tenaciously. Although it is still very immature and far from perfect, the effort to systematically treat human life and health and invest resources to improve it itself exudes an aura of civilization and hope.

Wang Jian's transformation was particularly noticeable. He was no longer the silent, weary physician buried in piles of herbs, but had become "Instructor Wang," brimming with passion and a sense of responsibility. His posture had straightened considerably, his voice was loud and clear, and his eyes were sharp when he explained things. He even began to proactively seek out Chen Xing and Wu Xuejiu to discuss how to establish a more effective epidemic early warning mechanism, how to stockpile medicinal materials to cope with large-scale casualties, and... whether it was possible to explore some of the more complex treatments mentioned in the abstract.

Chen Xing witnessed all of this with a sense of satisfaction. Improvements in medical care might not show immediate, tangible results like building walls or stockpiling grain, but they enhance the "vitality" and "resilience" of Xinghuo Fortress as an organism. It lets soldiers know they have a chance to survive after being wounded, lets the fortress's inhabitants know they have someone to rely on when they are sick, and subtly conveys a value system that cherishes life and respects professionalism.

When the autumn wind blew down the last yellow leaf and the first frost descended on the earth, the trainees of the medical training class were already able to handle most common external injuries and minor illnesses. The foundation of the main fort medical office had also been solidified, and the first batch of simple medical devices and reserve medicines began to be stored.

The shadow of war still looms over the northern horizon, but within Starfire Fortress, a small yet indispensable line of defense is quietly being built. This line may not directly withstand swords and spears, but it protects the will to fight and the hope for continuation.