The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 347 The Taste of Rubbing Salt into a Wound

Ning Huan, leading troops in battle alone for the first time, dared not be negligent in the slightest. He maintained the defensive formation for a full three miles before withdrawing and quickly changing formation to retreat to the pre-arranged location.

When they retreated to the temporary camp, they found the bandits sitting dejectedly by the roadside, while Bi Kui and other leaders formed a circle in the center of the camp.

Ning Huan ordered the army to remain on guard, and he quickly rushed to the center of the camp. Upon getting closer, he discovered that the person surrounded by the crowd was Peng Qi.

Ning Huan was startled by the horrific scar running from Peng Qi's brow to his jaw. He took several deep breaths before looking at Peng Qi, whose face was stained with blood and who had fallen into a coma, and asked, "What happened? How did Commander Zong get such a serious injury?"

He was only focused on covering the army's retreat and had no time to inquire about the situation ahead. He simply assumed that Pan Zhang had attacked, and only realized something was wrong when he saw Peng Qi's miserable state.

What exactly happened? How come everyone else is fine, but Peng Qi, the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces, was hacked to pieces like this?

Upon hearing the voice, all the leaders turned around. They were overjoyed to see Ning Huan, and Bi Kui excitedly stood up and said, "Strategist, it's great that you're back. Now we finally have someone to rely on."

In the battle just now, the team leader was almost killed, the second-in-command was already killed, and the rest are all brainless idiots. They're fine with killing people, but asking them to come up with ideas to solve the crisis is a bit much.

Therefore, the bandit army is now leaderless and in dire need of someone to take charge. Who else but Ning Huan, the strategist, could possibly be in charge?

Ning Huan countered, "Tell me what happened first. Where is the second-in-command? Why hasn't he returned?"

Upon hearing this, Bi Kui flew into a rage, unleashing a torrent of curses before recounting Peng Qi's injury to Ning Huan. Ning Huan listened with ecstatic joy, wishing he could sing to the heavens.

This Second-in-Command Xiao has been a great help to him. If nothing unexpected happens, Ning Huan will soon become the new Second-in-Command, which is extremely beneficial for the reorganization of the bandit army.

Although he was happy, he couldn't show it. After hearing this, Ning Huan immediately scolded, "Then what are you all standing there for? Hurry up and treat the boss's injuries! First, use cloth to stop the bleeding, then wash it with salt water to prevent it from becoming infected, then apply medicine and bandage it. What are you all doing sitting here? Are you waiting to collect the boss's body? Where is Zhang Nan?"

The bandit army also had military doctors, but they were only mediocre, and their medical skills were not as good as the first aid knowledge they learned from Guan Xing.

Moreover, Ning Huan felt that military doctors came into contact with many people, and since these were the wounded soldiers who were most psychologically vulnerable, it would be easy to win them over. At the very least, they could easily gain the favor of the wounded soldiers. Therefore, he had Zhang Nan, who was knowledgeable in medicine, use his professional knowledge to defeat and replace the original military doctor.

Zhang Nan also comes from a family of doctors. Three generations of his ancestors practiced medicine, but their medical skills declined with each generation. By Zhang Nan's generation, they were practically useless. Just how bad were Zhang Nan's medical skills?

To put it simply, it's gotten to the point where if they don't change careers, they'll either starve to death or be beaten to death by the patients' families.

But even the worst medical skills have a foundation. Because of this foundation, Guan Xing sent Cheng Li to study for half a month. Cheng Li also learned a lot of battlefield first aid knowledge from Guan Xing. As a result, Cheng Li was transformed and became a famous doctor who could treat most diseases. Calling him a famous doctor is a bit of an exaggeration, but he could still treat headaches, colds and fevers without any problem.

Zhang Nan was a scout camp medic whom Ning Huan had specially obtained from Guan Xing. Ning Huan had high hopes for him, but this kid was nowhere to be found at the critical moment when Peng Qi was seriously injured. It was simply...

Bi Kui explained, "Zhang Nan went to refine salt. He said our salt has too many impurities to clean wounds, so it needs to be refined first. Although I don't know what refining is, I think what he said makes a lot of sense."

Ning Huan: "..."

He knew how salt refining worked because Guan Xing had taught them step by step.

When Zhang Cheng was captured for the second time, the Han army suffered many wounded after a series of fierce battles, resulting in a severe shortage of medicine. Guan Xing then suggested washing the wounds with salt water to prevent them from becoming infected and suppurating. In Guan Xing's words, salt water could kill bacteria and disinfect, preventing infection and inflammation.

However, there were too many wounded and time was of the essence, so they didn't have time to transport enough sea salt and could only use mineral salt. The mineral salt had too many impurities and was even black in color. Guan Xing then taught them how to refine mineral salt.

The refining process is simple: heat and filter, dissolve and crystallize, and add some wood ash in the middle for purification. You can learn it after watching it once.

Ning Huan didn't urge her any further. Instead, he took the cloth to help Peng Qi stop the bleeding and waited patiently. Half an hour later, Zhang Nan ran over with saline solution and said with delight, "Strategist, you're back?"

Ning Huan sighed and checked Peng Qi's breathing. Finding she was still breathing, he quickly stepped back and said, "Let's begin."

Zhang Nan squatted down to examine the wound and said, "Washing it with saline solution will hurt a lot, maybe..."

Bi Kui said impatiently, "Nonsense, it hurts when you rub salt into a wound, hurry up and stop arguing, or the boss will die."

Without further delay, Zhang Nan scooped out a ladle of salt water and splashed it onto Peng Qi's wound. Peng Qi, who was unconscious, sat up in pain and screamed.

Hearing the screams, Ning Huan not only did not offer any comfort, but instead laughed heartlessly, "The screams were quite powerful, it seems no vital organs were injured, it's not a big problem."

Peng Qi was also ruthless. After a brief scream to adjust to the pain, she stared at Ning Huan and said, "Strategist, you're back. Does that mean we've shaken off our pursuers?"

Ning Huan nodded and said, "Don't worry, Commander Zong. Pan Zhang didn't dare to pursue and has already retreated. We are safe for now. Right now, the most important thing is your injury. The salt water cleaning is to prevent the wound from becoming infected. Please bear with it."

Upon hearing that the wound had become infected, Peng Qi couldn't help but shudder. Having traversed Poyang Lake for many years and experienced too much death, he had naturally seen countless wounded soldiers die from infected wounds. Many of these wounded soldiers were not seriously injured, but because they did not receive timely treatment, their wounds became infected and they died.

For ordinary people in this era, a festering wound is tantamount to a death sentence. Peng Qi's wound is on her face, so what would happen if it festered?

Peng Qi lay back down on the ground, closed her eyes, and said, "Come on, it's just rubbing salt into the wound, I'll throw it away."

Zhang Nan scooped up another ladleful and was about to pour it when Peng Qi suddenly remembered something and quickly stopped her, saying, "Wait, I have something to say."

Then he looked at everyone and said, "Today, it was the strategist who saved us. If it weren't for the strategist's advance planning and cover for our retreat, we would probably be dead at Pan Zhang's hands by now. Now that traitor Xiao Dan is dead, the position of second leader cannot be vacant. So I have decided to appoint the strategist as the second leader of our stronghold. All of Xiao Dan's troops will be under his command. Who agrees and who disagrees?"

Bi Kui was the first to raise his hand and say, "I agree."

The other leaders all raised their hands in agreement, and the motion was passed unanimously by collective vote.

Ning Huan hurriedly waved his hand and said, "General Zong, you mustn't do that. I've only been in the stronghold for a few days. How can I be qualified to be the second-in-command? I'd rather continue to be my strategist and give everyone advice."

Peng Qi was in so much pain and irritability that she didn't have time to listen to his rambling. She said directly, "It's decided then. Zhang Nan, let's begin."

This time, Zhang Nan didn't splash it. Instead, she took a gauze that had been boiled in salt water, dipped it in salt water, and carefully washed it before applying medicine and bandaging it.

The feeling of washing a wound with salt water is unbearable; the pain is like being pricked with needles, making one wish they could die on the spot. Peng Qi was in so much pain that her whole body was soaked in sweat, but she gritted her teeth and didn't utter a sound.

After cleaning the wound, Zhang Nan took out the wound medicine prepared by Cheng Li and applied it to the wound. Then he took gauze and wrapped Peng Qi's head so that only her mouth and eyes were left exposed. Only then did he say, "Commander Zong, that's enough."

Peng Qi sat up naturally and laughed heartily, "Rubbing salt into the wound is nothing, it's not as terrible as the legends say."

Zhang Nan said, "Oh right, Commander Zong, I forgot to tell you that the wound needs to be cleaned every day, and the dressing needs to be changed every day. Remember to remind me to change the dressing for you tomorrow."

Peng Qi's smile froze instantly, and she asked guiltily, "How long will it take to change?"

Zhang Nan smiled and said, "It will be quick, in about seven days."

Peng Qi: "..."

Do I have to endure the pain of rubbing salt into my wound for another seven days?

Damn Xiao Dan, why didn't you just kill me back then?