Chapter 37: The Three Arrows Eliminate Future Troubles (Part 3)

Once again, the bandits were forced to retreat from the battlefield, unable to bear any more casualties under the rain of arrows. Although these bandits were brave, they could not withstand the more powerful bows and crossbows of the men from Guanxi.

"The bandits have engaged in battle more than eighty times, leaving behind twenty-seven corpses, eleven of which were the results of Wang Junjiang's efforts. As for captives, there are four."

After the battle, Han Gang quickly tallied the results, pointing out a few civilian laborers who seemed to have some courage, and had them cut off the heads of the bandits to claim credit later. After this battle, Han Gang was already seen by the civilian laborers as a scholar who inspired both respect and fear.

Although Han Gang had said that the number of bandits hiding behind them was not many, the number that finally rushed out was no less than those coming from the front, which was a lie to reassure the people. However, with his firmness and support, the civilian laborers managed to achieve such significant results with only seven injuries, one of which was severe.

No one noticed that Han Gang's back was already drenched in sweat. Facing his first battle and having to command as the mainstay of the army, his body, which had just recovered from a long illness, was almost on the verge of collapse.

Fortunately, there was Wang Shunchen. Han Gang was grateful for this. If not for Wang Shunchen's solo combat at the front and his extraordinary archery skills, with internal and external threats, he would likely have lost his life in this battle.

However, Han Gang's role was no less significant than Wang Shunchen's. Although he did not assign any specific tactics during the battle, his presence behind the civilian laborers greatly enhanced their combat effectiveness, far surpassing the well-prepared bandits.

This was all due to Han Gang's calmness, which boosted everyone's morale. Only now did Han Gang realize how crucial and important morale was in ancient warfare.

Wang Shunchen sat on a mule cart, treating the arrow wound on his shoulder, his face showing some reluctance. Although he alone fought against dozens of enemies and performed the most outstandingly, the final turning point of the battle was due to the efforts of the civilian laborers and Han Gang's command.

At that time, Wang Shunchen had been forced to retreat by the advancing bandits, but a timely rain of arrows scattered the bandits. After three to five rounds of volleys, the bandits, who came in two waves, left nearly half of their own behind and retreated into the depths of the forest.

Looking at Han Gang, who was also resting on a mule cart, Wang Shunchen's eyes showed more respect. Not only because he was saved by Han Gang's commendable command during the battle, but also because he was impressed by Han Gang's ruthlessness and decisiveness.

"These two scoundrels really had bad luck, meeting you, Scholar Han." Although he had more respect, Wang Shunchen still couldn't change his habit of cursing, and his tone wasn't very good. "They were shot dead, without even a place to cry for injustice."

"Disobeying orders and disrupting our morale, they had to be made an example of!"

"Who knows which monkeys were scared?" Wang Shunchen laughed. He appeared rough but wasn't stupid.

Han Gang chuckled a couple of times, didn't answer, and got up to walk to the river, throwing a small package in his arms into the Wei River. Xue Erba and Dong Chao were dead, and the things they brought from the military arsenal were no longer useful, and keeping them might harm him at any time.

Turning back from the river, he said, "The bandits this time were not easy to deal with. They retreated only after one-third of them were killed, and including those who were injured but still mobile, the casualties were over half!"

"They have been fighting in Guanxi for hundreds of years. The weaker ones were long ago exterminated. They were raiding, leaving no survivors, so they had to fight to the death. What's so strange about that?" Wang Shunchen said, while using a dagger to remove the arrowhead embedded in his shoulder, suddenly drawing a sharp breath. "Damn, this arrow was vicious!"

Han Gang quickly went to check Wang Shunchen's wound. After the long arrow was pulled out, blood gushed out, but fortunately, it didn't injure the tendons or bones, only a superficial but severe wound. Cleaning the wound with concentrated salt water and stopping the bleeding, then stitching and bandaging it should be fine. However, Han Gang only had theoretical knowledge and no practical experience, and they were in the wilderness with no way to boil and disinfect, making it difficult to perform surgery.

But looking at Wang Shunchen's wound, which was severely torn due to the large movement of removing the arrowhead, and still bleeding, Han Gang knew that Wang Shunchen might not have much energy left soon. In this situation, they could only hastily treat it. Fortunately, it was winter, so infection was less likely.

"Is there anyone who can sew?" Han Gang asked loudly. He couldn't even sew a button, let alone stitch a person. But among these civilian laborers, finding someone who could sew shouldn't be difficult.

At this time, the quality of cloth was generally poor, especially the silk and hemp cloth commonly used by the lower classes, which were not known for their durability. Otherwise, the military wouldn't issue four, six, or eight bolts of silk and hemp cloth to soldiers every year. Cotton cloth was durable, but cotton was just being widely planted in the Northern Song Dynasty, and the cotton cloth produced, called Jibei cloth, was as expensive as Shu brocade, and only those with thousands or tens of thousands of strings of cash could afford it.

Ordinary people could only wear easily damaged silk and hemp cloth. Clothes that often needed repair were common, and there was a saying: "Walking around during the day, mending pants at night." Men who were often away from home and had no women around usually knew how to sew.

As Han Gang expected, a short civilian laborer in his forties came forward and said, "I did an apprenticeship in a tailor's shop when I was a teenager, although I didn't complete it, I can still do some sewing."

Han Gang looked at his clothes, which were finely stitched, and asked, "Did you make these clothes yourself, or did your wife?"

"Myself. I haven't married yet."

In an era where a teapot could legally and reasonably occupy dozens of teacups, there were many bachelors among the lower classes. Han Gang wasn't surprised: "Good, Zhu Zhong, you will do the sewing."

Not only Zhu Zhong, but Han Gang could also call out the names of the other civilian laborers. Knowing more people meant having more resources. Even the insignificant civilian laborers might be useful at some point.

Han Gang whispered a few words to Zhu Zhong, and Wang Shunchen saw him lead Zhu Zhong, holding a bent sewing needle. "What are you doing?"

"Stitching your wound!" Han Gang explained.

"Stitching a bird!" Wang Shunchen exclaimed, a rare moment of panic for the brave military officer. "I've never heard of skin being stitched with needle and thread."

"In the Three Kingdoms period, the famous doctor Hua Tuo opened up a person's abdomen, removed a tumor, and stitched it back up. Stitching a small wound is nothing!" Han Gang found Wang Shunchen's panic somewhat amusing. "A military officer who isn't afraid of being cut by a sword, but afraid of a fine needle? That wouldn't be very glorious if it got out."

"… Then practice on someone else first, then treat me."

Han Gang thought about it and nodded, agreeing that it was appropriate. By a soldier who had been shot in the thigh, Zhu Zhong, who was on his first battlefield, carefully stitched the wound. Several people held the soldier down, and a handkerchief was stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue. After the arrowhead was removed and the wound cleaned with salt water, it was only a matter of stitching and bandaging. The procedure was complete.

Zhu Zhong, though on his first battlefield, seemed very skilled with the needle and thread. He quickly helped another injured person. Han Gang was curious and asked, only to find out that Zhu Zhong had practiced his stitching skills on the necks of decapitated prisoners. As a half-trained tailor, he found it hard to get work, so stitching the heads of prisoners back onto their necks was a way to earn extra money for his family.

"It's my turn, get started quickly." Wang Shunchen urged, having watched for a while and no longer finding it scary, and not wanting to show fear in front of everyone.

Han Gang instructed Zhu Zhong to use a new needle and told Wang Shunchen, "It might hurt a bit, but you mustn't move. If only we had Mafeisan, a drink of the medicine would keep you unconscious until the effects wore off."

"Does such a medicine exist?" Wang Shunchen didn't believe it.

It's in the Water Margin! Han Gang smiled and said, "Not now, but you'll have to bear it."

"Just stitch it, if I cry out in pain, I won't be a grandpa, but a grandma!"

Zhu Zhong had already threaded a linen thread from a clean piece of cloth and was waiting for Han Gang's command. Han Gang nodded, and Zhu Zhong didn't hesitate, starting immediately. As soon as the steel needle touched the skin, Wang Shunchen shuddered violently.

"Does it hurt?"

"Hurt?" Wang Shunchen gritted his teeth, sweating cold sweat, but still didn't give in. "It's a relief! Damn, what a relief!"

Not only Zhu Zhong, but on the other side, Han Gang also directed a few more agile civilian laborers to help treat the injured.

After treating the last injured person, Han Gang was drenched in sweat. He wasn't a doctor and knew nothing about medicine, but he could do a little in terms of stopping bleeding, cleaning wounds, and bandaging.

Wang Shunchen's left arm wound was already stitched, but not tightly, as per Han Gang's advice, to allow for pus drainage. Since it didn't hit a major blood vessel, the bleeding wasn't excessive.

As soon as the wound was treated, Wang Shunchen became lively again. He held an iron rod in his right hand and walked to the four captives. "Speak, which tribe are you from, and who gave you the information? If you speak clearly, I won't kill you." The people of Qinzhou had lived with the Han people for hundreds of years and could understand Chinese.

The captive being questioned seemed very stubborn, turning his head away and ignoring him.

Wang Shunchen, possibly learning from Han Gang, didn't say much, and swung the iron rod, hitting the captive's head with a dull thud, scattering brains and blood. He casually shook off the red and white mixture on the iron rod and pointed to the second person.

The second person, seeing the shiny iron rod and the blood and brain matter dripping onto his nose, was terrified, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Wang Shunchen's temper flared, and with a glare, he hit the second person's head with the iron rod, causing his eyes to pop out, hanging on his face. Wang Shunchen glanced at the third person, who, turning from yellow to white with fear, hurried to speak. But Han Gang, who had come over, kicked him in the chin.

"Scholar Han?" Wang Shunchen was both surprised and angry.

Han Gang shook his head, "No need to ask."

"Without exposing the secret dealings of Chen Ju, when will we do it?"

"No, they were incited by the Western bandits to raid and harass the rear of Gangu."

Wang Shunchen blinked, suddenly understanding, and praised, "Good scholar!" Realizing Han Gang's intention, he raised the iron rod and hit the last two captives on the temples.

Watching two more people meet their end, Han Gang coldly smiled, "Directly accusing Chen Ju won't work, who would believe me? Once these bandits are confirmed as spies bought by the Western Xia, their tribes will be exposed. Then, the secret dealings between Chen Ju and them will be revealed." He winked at Wang Shunchen, "And treating them as Western Xia spies will at least earn us more credit."

Wang Shunchen was a bit worried, "But the matter will get bigger."

Han Gang laughed softly, "I'm afraid it won't get big enough!"

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