I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 10 Part 1

Zhan Chengyin had been keeping vigil by the vase.

Suddenly, the water flow ceased. He rose and approached the vase, noticing a white paper floating down.

The handwriting was sharp and clear, easily recognizable. Though some characters were incomplete, Zhan Chengyin could decipher their meaning through context.

The divine message read: 「A batch of medicine has been sent!」

Medicine!!!

With medicine, the young soldier with the injured horse hoof could survive.

In the city, many citizens hadn’t necessarily perished from hunger alone. Malnutrition and dehydration had weakened their bodies, making even a simple cold or fever potentially fatal.

With medicine, at least half of the five thousand soldiers lost in the last battle could have been saved!

Zhan Chengyin clutched the paper tightly, his eyes welling up. He had already felt he was asking too much with the food and water deliveries.

He never expected the gods would willingly send medicine.

Medicine was what the Zhan family army needed most!

With a hoarse voice, choked with emotion, Zhan Chengyin ordered, “Tian Qin, gather all the military doctors.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Qin and several other officers sprang to their feet, excitedly surrounding him.

“General, have the gods sent us medicine?”

“Is it true? If we have medicine, hundreds of wounded soldiers won’t have to await death!”

“Your wound can finally heal too, General!”

Tian Qin was overjoyed! Medicine was even more precious than food.

He hurried out of the General’s Mansion, heading toward the military doctors’ encampment!

Whoosh!

Numerous square boxes tumbled from the vase.

Chen Wu picked up one box and carefully examined the label.

“Tetanus… what kind of medicine is this?”

“Penicillin? Is it some sort of toxin?”

“General, look! There are scissors, tweezers, and clamps. These fine curved scissors—their material is cold and hard, sharper than both bronze and black iron. If forged into a sword, it would be the world’s sharpest blade!”

“General, the gauze! This gauze is soft, white, and delicate—truly befitting divine use. It’s far superior to ours.”

Suddenly, a large pile of books materialized from the vase.

First came stacks of charts comparing traditional and simplified Chinese characters.

Zhan Chengyin unfolded one sheet and quickly grasped its meaning.

The gods’ writing system differed from that of the Great Qi Kingdom!

Their characters were simplified, but with these charts, he could decipher them by comparing radicals and components.

Next, three essential books for survival emerged: “The Barefoot Doctor’s Manual”, “The Militia Military Training Handbook”, and “The Military-Civilian Dual-use Talent Handbook”.

He picked up “The Militia Military Training Handbook” and opened it. It contained illustrations.

It explained warfare tactics and nighttime navigation…

To him, it was an invaluable treasure.

Holding the book in both hands, Zhan Chengyin addressed his ten deputy generals, “Everyone must study this. It’s a divine gift, crucial for our army!”

Deputy General Song Duo picked up a book and opened it, immediately astounded.

“General, this divine book even teaches warfare tactics?”

“General, there are military strategy books too. Might I have a set?”

Wu Sanlang, clutching “The Art of War”, was reluctant to let go. When encountering unfamiliar characters, he referred to the structure charts to decipher them.

Zhan Chengyin said, “Take them. Each of you may have a set.”

Overjoyed, the soldiers knelt in gratitude.

At that moment, Tian Qin returned with the army doctors.

Ten military doctors remained in the army, each with apprentices—some had one, others two or three.

A group of emaciated men entered the General’s Mansion, all frighteningly thin.

Several older doctors could barely walk from hunger.

Hearing the general’s summons, their apprentices had supported them, carrying empty medicine boxes on their backs.

Without medicine, they had been helpless, fearing failure to save lives would lead to the general’s contempt or dismissal.

Led into the General’s Mansion, they saw the ground covered with medicinal supplies.

There were traditional Chinese herbs for stopping bleeding—Biota orientalis leaves, Cirsium japonicum, Artemisia argyi, Imperata cylindrica roots, and Panax notoginseng… Tears of joy streamed down the faces of the older doctors.

Ah…

These medicines had been scarce in the army for half a year!

Despite their medical expertise, they had been powerless, forced to watch soldiers die before their eyes.

For a healer, there is no greater torment.

Now, they had medicine!

Finally, there was medicine!

Song Yunhui, the army doctor treating Zhan Chengyin, was trained in the Imperial Medical Academy and held the highest status among the military doctors.

He picked up bandages, gauze, sterilized cotton balls, syringes, needles, iodine disinfectant…

*

T/N: changed commander to deputy general.