A few days later, Madam Wang visited Baoyu at Niudu Camp.
The soldiers under Lu Ming's command were well-treated; their injuries and illnesses were treated.
Hua Tuo had also established an academy in Didao, sending two disciples there.
He was responsible for establishing the medical school, but Hua Tuo couldn't leave; he needed to teach students and compile his own medical text, the *Qingnang Shu*.
The *Qingnang Shu* was a treasure that granted its holder the skill of medicine, allowing them to treat themselves, accelerate wound healing, and even prolong life.
However, Hua Tuo needed to continuously compile and deepen his understanding; the more he wrote, the better the results.
Immersed in teaching and promoting his medical heritage, Hua Tuo neglected many other matters.
Hua Tuo was highly respected for his healing abilities, and his disciples were all of exceptional character and medical skill. Those who didn't consider character were merely students.
Jia Baoyu caught a cold, and Lady Wang had the servants prepare a bowl of chicken soup for her son to help him recover.
Some ginseng was also added to it to speed up his recovery.
As for where the ginseng came from, Lady Wang felt a pang of shame. She and her daughter, Yuan Chun, had obtained it while serving Lu Ming, giving him a good time.
Many of her service skills were taught to her by her daughter, Yuan Chun.
Compared to Lady Wang's chastity, Yuan Chun didn't think too much about it.
After being deflowered and then favored for several days, Yuan Chun sought out Tan Chun and cultivated a good relationship with her.
It was obvious to everyone that Lu Ming valued Tan Chun highly; otherwise, it would be impossible for her, as a concubine, to manage such a large mansion and oversee the operations of the Three Departments.
Even though the Three Departments were still in their infancy, the wives of nobles were practically wearing down her doorstep!
It's important to understand that the management of the three departments was exclusively female, with only the lowest-ranking laborers being men—those were considered unofficial staff.
The only department open to men was the Medical Department, which had its own hospital, hence the presence of its personnel.
Furthermore, a postpartum care center was established to assist the families of soldiers whose husbands were serving and who, due to financial difficulties, were unable to care for them.
The Education Department was responsible for education, and this was entirely staffed by women, as some of the students were boys—the widows of soldiers.
Learning to read and write was essential; whether or not to teach them how to enter politics was another matter.
Soldiers who couldn't read or write would remain common soldiers their entire lives. To produce renowned generals, education was crucial; quantity would eventually lead to quality.
Lady Wang had no fervent desire for official positions; she only wished for her son's safety.
And for Jia Baoyu to be safe, besides Jia Baoyu himself needing to be ambitious, he also needed connections.
The key to this was how Lady Wang ingratiated herself with Lu Ming in bed.
Today was the day of departure. Gan Ning had already brought his family to Chang'an and settled them there. As the vanguard, he needed to capture Tongguan and Hangu Pass to ensure Chang'an and Guanzhong were under Lu Ming's control.
Gan Ning was now a colonel, commanding 20,000 men. His former brothers had also come to help. Half of the soldiers were ordinary soldiers, and the other half were Lu Ming's transferred soldiers, also elite troops.
Lu Ming hadn't set off yet. He didn't need to go so early. He wanted Gan Ning to capture Hangu Pass first, as a safeguard against a potential conflict.
Then he would march into Bingzhou to quell the rebellion and border raids, and only then would he enter Luoyang.
The Calf Camp.
Jia Baoyu, having recovered from his serious illness, began training.
He was assigned to the recruit training corps. The soldiers here received meat once every three days, and were usually well-fed, but the training was arduous.
After three months of basic training, they would be assigned to other units.
They would either be assigned to logistics, engineering, or, as a last resort, to the front lines.
On a watchtower, Lu Ming was watching Jia Baoyu train with Madam Wang. Jia Baoyu was crying and wailing as his instructor kicked him in the backside. One lap of running had already exhausted him half to death.
The scarred-faced instructor wasn't so patient. Coming from a poor family, he disliked these sons of nobles the most, and since they were assigned to his unit, he was even more energetic. "Hurry up! Haven't you eaten? Are you even a man?! Dragging your feet like a woman! Hurry up! Run three more laps! If you don't finish, dinner is canceled!"
"Ouch, Instructor, spare me! I can't go on." Jia Baoyu felt like his whole body was falling apart; he really couldn't run anymore.
Wang Kongke, who had just finished running, was all too familiar with the situation. He was Wang Ziteng's son. While Wang Ziteng was still at home, he had been sent to the Calf Camp for training.
"That fool Jia Baoyu probably doesn't know how formidable this 'Demon Star' is!"
Scarface was privately known as the "Demon Star," a title that sent chills down the spines of the nobles of Chang'an.
But no matter how much they protested, it was useless. Their elders didn't care about them; it was either a rebirth or death in this camp.
The noble sons who had trained in the Calf Camp were far superior; their spirit and energy were completely different.
"I really can't do anything with you. Bring the dog over and put pressure on him." Scarface waved his hand, and soldiers naturally went to bring the dog. It was a hunting dog, but it was covered with a large hood; it could bark but couldn't bite.
"Jia Baoyu, if you don't run now, the dog will catch you and bite you. There's nothing I can do. Go!"
"Waaah! Help!" Jia Baoyu saw the large wolfhound running towards him and immediately sprang to his feet, drawing strength from who-knows-where to run.
"Haha, I told you, you'd have to suffer a bit!"
"That's right, that's right. Now that you're in, you're soldiers, still dreaming of fine clothes and sumptuous meals?"
"You all have so much free time, huh? Thirty push-ups, get ready!" Scarface suddenly turned and roared.
The noble sons who were watching the spectacle turned green with anger. Weren't they asking for a beating? Why were they showing off for no reason? On the watchtower, Madam Wang watched her son suffer with worry, tears streaming down her face.
"Jade must be carved to become a vessel, and a person must learn to know righteousness!" Lu Ming lewdly groped Madam Wang's large buttocks from behind. "Xue Pan will be coming tomorrow too."
"Ah! Husband, is Pan'er alright?" Aunt Xue exclaimed in surprise. She had been brought along and had seen her sister again. She wondered if today would be a day of "Ehuang and Nüying" (a reference to the legendary sisters Ehuang and Nüying) together—a threesome!