Qin Sang replied calmly:
"Official, it was all thanks to Steward Huang. We had some extra grain at home from doing business with him, and because we got word from Steward Huang that the Rebel Soldiers were coming, we hid deep in the mountains early on.
But after nearly a month, even the largest family reserves would be eaten up. We just hope to trade some medicinal herbs for food to take back, or else the whole family will truly starve to death.
May I also ask, Official, has the family of Steward Huang in the Town returned?"
After listening to Qin Sang's description, the government soldier on horseback dismounted, stepped closer to scrutinize the two of them, and did not answer her inquiry. Instead, he raised his hand and summoned two soldiers from behind:
"Check."
The baskets in front of Qin Sang and Heizi were snatched away. Heizi somewhat disapproved of their forceful seizure but was pulled back by Qin Sang:
"It's only right for the officers to check. However, Official, these are all medicinal herbs for treating colds and fevers, truly nothing else."
A soldier rummaged through the basket and then reported:
"Captain, they are medicinal herbs."
Only then did the captain in charge look at Qin Sang:
"Can you treat illnesses?"
Qin Sang nodded:
"I've studied some medicine on my own. I can handle common external injuries, bruises, colds, and fevers a little. Is someone sick?"
The captain smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and said to Qin Sang:
"Hmm, many soldiers in the camp have fallen ill. Go and take a look at them."
Qin Sang wanted to refuse, but seeing the overbearing manner of these Government Soldiers, she feared that if she dared say 'no,' they would directly draw their blades. Qin Sang nodded:
"The Officials are sick? Alright, I'll go take a look. The Officials drove away those Rebel Soldiers for us; you are our great benefactors. I will do my utmost to treat them.
But, Official, has Steward Huang not yet returned to Songbai Town?"
The other party clearly did not like Qin Sang's persistent questioning, but since she had first spoken a lot of pleasantries, he impatiently said:
"No, no. Hurry up and go treat the sick. I warn you, don't run around, or you'll regret it."
Qin Sang and Heizi both obediently nodded and followed a soldier towards the Town.
On the familiar streets, aside from the occasional patrols of small squads of soldiers, no other people could be seen.
The military camp was set up at Steward Huang's Residence, with soldiers guarding the entrance. Entering the backyard, Qin Sang discovered that the grave mounds previously built there had been dug open.
In the large pit, not a single corpse remained.
That was over two hundred people.
Where did they go?
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
But this question absolutely must not be asked, because it was the Bandits of 'Qingfeng Mountain' who killed these Rebel Soldiers, and it had nothing to do with the villagers of their Xiakou Village.
The sick soldiers were arranged in the servant quarters of Steward Huang's Residence, the sour and foul smell pungent.
Qin Sang saw dozens of soldiers lying on large communal beds. Some were feverish and delirious, others vomiting and groaning, all looking severely ill.
The soldier leading the way walked to the communal bed and looked at the soldier at the very end who had already fallen unconscious:
"Not dead yet?"
A soldier nearby answered:
"Not yet. He's been unconscious for two days, probably won't last much longer."
The man gave a slight nod and shouted at Qin Sang:
"This is the doctor here to treat everyone. If you want to live, don't give them a hard time, understand?"
Only a sparse couple of people managed to speak with difficulty:
"Doctor, save me."
"Doctor, I'm dying of misery, treat me first."
Qin Sang frowned, stepped forward and inquired:
"They are all seriously ill. How long has it been like this? Hasn't a Military Doctor seen them?"
The soldier leading the way answered:
"Just a few days. The Military Doctors all went to the front lines with the main force. The Town is only garrisoned by a squad of a hundred men; where would they assign a Military Doctor? Hurry up and treat them, don't ask so many useless questions.
Also, don't bother treating those who are too seriously ill; it wastes medicine."
Qin Sang understood the implied meaning of these words; it likely referred to the soldier he had earlier asked about being dead or not.
This man didn't want him to live.
With a serious expression, Qin Sang pretended not to understand the pointed remark and replied:
"Although he is seriously ill, treating and saving people is our duty. How can we stand by and watch someone die? No matter how difficult, we must still try.
Those on the beds are all comrades-in-arms of the Officials. Could the Official bear to watch them die? If you want me to stand by and do nothing, then the Official might as well give them a quick end now."
The soldier leading the way choked:
"You, this woman..."
Qin Sang didn't let him finish: "But I know the Official is not a heartless and ruthless person. The Official is just worried about not having enough medicine. But rest assured, Official, I still have plenty of medicine at home; there is absolutely enough."
The soldier leading the way, holding back a surge of anger, looked at Qin Sang's plain and unremarkable, unattractive face, turned his gaze away, and sneered:
"Fine, you treat them. Whether you can cure them depends on your medical skill."
He simply didn't believe it. A country woman, self-taught, how advanced could her medical skills be?
As for that man, one foot was already in the underworld, having checked in at the King of Hell's door. Could she snatch him back?
Qin Sang hummed in acknowledgment and only then stepped forward to examine the condition. She had the patients stick out their tongues, lifted their eyelids to check, and found it similar to the batch of patients she treated in the mountains, except these patients' conditions were more severe. Qin Sang stood up and said:
"This is a case of cold pathogens invading the body. Medicine must be administered immediately. Heizi, quickly prepare the things for brewing the medicine."
"Yes, Mother."
Qin Sang did not plan to act defiantly and provoke the other party. Attitude was one thing; action was another.
First, she fed antipyretics to several patients with high fevers, and also gave anti-inflammatory medicine to those with wounds. Then she treated the wounds, cleaning and disinfecting them. Seeing Qin Sang perform in a proper manner, looking the part, the soldier finally believed she knew medicine:
"Alright then. The two of you stay here and treat them. Don't run around."
Qin Sang hurriedly asked:
"Then, Official, I can treat the soldiers without a consultation fee, but these medicinal herbs were dug up through our hard work. Could we get some payment for the medicine? Or some grain would also do."
Qin Sang's request was met with a scornful laugh from the soldier:
"I'll have to ask the Chief Officer about that."
Pretending not to detect the perfunctory tone in the other's words, Qin Sang expressed profuse gratitude:
"Alright, then thank you, Official. I'll go brew their medicine now."
Qin Sang did not brew the medicine perfunctorily; she truly intended to save people.
"Heizi, go fetch water." When Qin Sang gave the order, she looked deeply at Heizi. The meaning in her eyes didn't need to be spoken; Heizi already understood that she wanted him to gather information and to be careful.
"Yes, Mother."
Heizi strode outside, and Qin Sang continued treating the remaining soldiers.
Taking advantage of the soldier having gone far away, Qin Sang walked over to the soldier who wasn't dead. She had deliberately not treated him first, wanting to wait until that man left so she could examine him more carefully.
This was a middle-aged man with many wounds on his body, showing signs of festering.
Qin Sang felt his temperature; it was very high, his face flushed.
Prying open the man's mouth, Qin Sang fed him a pill.
While cutting away the rotten flesh, the man seemed unaware, not even groaning in pain. Qin Sang knew this was because his life hung by a thread, and his body's ability to perceive sensation had disappeared.
Fresh blood flowed out again. Qin Sang sutured to stop the bleeding. The soldiers who saw this nearby all involuntarily shuddered.
The captain must hate him to death, deliberately finding someone to torture him.
Qin Sang ignored their strange looks and continued with the suturing. Just for this one person, Qin Sang worked for half an hour.
Applying medicine, bandaging.
Whether he lives or not depends on his fate."