"You’re right," Wang Jian said immediately. "How can such a talented man be squandered in the Logistics Army? I will personally petition the Great King. Citing his military achievements, I will request his transfer to the main force to serve as a commander."
The military structure of the Logistics Army might be the same as the main force, but their status and identity are completely different. The Logistics Army deals with miscellaneous affairs like transporting bodies. Though enrolled in the army, they are, in fact, corvée laborers with military registration. Without that registration, they are simply laborers. Thus, a commander of ten thousand in the Logistics Army is inferior to even a Junhou in the regular army. They may command more men, but they lack real authority.
Based on Zhao Feng’s military exploits this time, he’s earned several promotions in rank and an increase in his peerage. But if he remains confined to the Logistics Army, any promotion would be insignificant. However, if his military registration is transferred to the regular main force, that would be a true promotion.
"I am indeed curious to meet such an extraordinary man," Wang Ben said with a smile.
Just then, a voice called out, "Report! Doctor Chen has sent an urgent message!"
Wang Jian’s Personal Guard Commander hurried into the camp, holding a bamboo slip dispatch in his hands.
"Doctor Chen is Doctor Xia’s chief disciple and the lead military doctor of our Lantian Camp. An urgent report from him must be of great importance," Wang Ben remarked.
"Indeed," Wang Jian nodded.
He then quickly stepped forward, took the urgent dispatch from Master Chen, and read it. As he did, his expression grew strange.
"Father, what’s wrong?" Wang Ben asked with growing anxiety as he observed Wang Jian’s expression. "Is there trouble in the Wounded Soldier Camp? I heard Yan’er nearly died at the hands of Bao Yuan and was fortunately saved by that Zhao Feng. I wonder if this is about my sister."
"Your sister nearly died at Bao Yuan’s hands?" As expected, upon hearing news about Wang Yan, Wang Jian’s expression changed instantly.
"This urgent report isn’t about Yan’er?" Wang Ben’s heart lurched, his previous composure shattered by concern. The news about Wang Yan had been secretly relayed by the trusted aides he had assigned to protect her. After all, he had given a standing order that any matter concerning Wang Yan must be reported to him.
"I’m asking you a question," Wang Jian said, his brows furrowed and his tone growing severe. "Your sister was nearly killed by Bao Yuan?"
"Father," Wang Ben replied, constrained by Wang Jian’s authority. "The trusted aides I sent to protect Yan’er reported it in secret. The battle was extremely perilous. Yan’er pursued Bao Yuan relentlessly, but during the clash, she grew reckless in her eagerness for merit and was ambushed by Bao Yuan’s trusted aides. Fortunately, Zhao Feng happened to arrive, killed Bao Yuan, and rescued Yan’er."
"That girl truly doesn’t understand the dangers of the battlefield, to dare and act so recklessly for merit," Wang Jian said, his face cold with a mixture of anger and worry.
"Father, what does the urgent report say?" Wang Ben quickly changed the subject, adding, "Doctor Chen has always focused on treating the wounded and rarely submits reports." From his father’s expression, he could already tell that his sister was not in trouble.
"This Zhao Feng..." Wang Jian suddenly remarked with emotion, "is truly an extraordinary man."
Wang Ben could only look on, thoroughly confused.
"Doctor Chen is requesting a man from me," Wang Jian explained with a smile. "And the man he wants is Zhao Feng."
"What does he want Zhao Feng for?" Wang Ben asked, even more puzzled.
"Zhao Feng is well-versed in medicine. He created a technique called the Suturing Skill, as well as a method for quench sterilization," Wang Jian said slowly. "These techniques have dramatically increased the survival rate of soldiers in the Wounded Soldier Camp. Originally, it was considered a blessing if even one in ten severely wounded soldiers survived. But with Zhao Feng’s new methods, out of more than two hundred critically injured soldiers, only a dozen died from their wounds. All the others had their lives saved."
His voice was filled with unmistakable shock. As the Shangjiangjun of Qin, he was intimately familiar with his own camps and the rate of casualties among the wounded. He understood perfectly what the medical breakthrough reported by Master Chen could mean for the army—and for the entire state of Qin.
"Such a miraculous medical technique actually exists?" Wang Ben exclaimed, visibly astounded. "Only a dozen deaths out of more than two hundred severely wounded soldiers? That’s a miracle for the Wounded Soldier Camp!"
"If it weren’t so, Master Chen would never have used an urgent dispatch to request a man from me," Wang Jian said, his eyes filled with curiosity. "This Zhao Feng is truly remarkable. Not only is his valor astonishing, but he is also skilled in the medical arts that can seemingly bring men back from the brink of death."
Wang Ben immediately came to his senses. "Father, such a talented individual must be properly utilized by our Qin! Medical skills can be passed down and taught. Since Doctor Chen praises him so highly and has already saved so many men, he must have learned Zhao Feng’s techniques. In that case, having one more or one less Zhao Feng in the Wounded Soldier Camp is of no consequence. But our Qin Army absolutely cannot afford to be without a warrior of Zhao Feng’s valor. You once said that it’s easy to raise an army of ten thousand, but extremely difficult to find a single valiant general. Zhao Feng’s ferocity was indispensable in preventing Bao Yuan’s ambush and saving our supply lines. His contributions cannot be overlooked. How can such a brave warrior be allowed to become a mere military doctor?"
In his view, Zhao Feng’s value was not in being a military doctor, but in being a valiant general in the main army of the Lantian Camp.
Wang Jian looked at Wang Ben and smiled. "Do you take me for a fool? If I let a man of such valor become a military doctor, Meng Wu and the others would ridicule me to no end when they found out."
"In that case, Father," Wang Ben said with a hopeful smile, "if Zhao Feng is transferred to the main army, I’d like him to serve under my command."
Hearing this, a smile touched Wang Jian’s lips. "You certainly have your own plans, don’t you, boy? However, your unit is currently a support force, not the main offensive. Even if Zhao Feng were to be transferred to the main army, he would have to be placed under Li Teng’s command."
"And after the conquest of Han?" Wang Ben pressed, unwilling to give up. He had never seen such a fierce soldier and was determined to bring the man under his command.
"We’ll see then," Wang Jian replied with a faint smile. His expression then turned serious and grim. "Nearly ten thousand Han soldiers were lying in ambush in Yang City. If not for the valor of the Logistics Army holding them off, our central supply line would have been severed, and the consequences would have been unthinkable."
"That ambush at Yang City was avoidable. Li Teng was too eager for glory and acted rashly. He must be held accountable. Relay my order: Severely reprimand Li Teng and record this demerit for now. If there are no further mistakes by the time Han is vanquished, this transgression can be waived. However, should he err again, he will be severely punished for everything at once."
Hearing this, Wang Ben immediately accepted the order. "Your subordinate obeys the command!"
"Go," Wang Jian nodded. "And send a report on this situation to Xianyang at once. Let the Great King know how the war progresses!"