Chapter 83 - Life and Death
The flames blazed brighter and brighter, shrouded in thick black smoke. Tang Yue couldn't help but think, “I fear this mountain is being consumed by the fire.”
It's truly devastating for the environment!
Everyone had awoken, and Tang Yue arranged for someone to prepare a meal while they waited for updates. Having a hot meal ready for the returning frontline workers would be comforting.
After dinner, Tang Yue went to check on the wounded. One of them was running a high fever, drenched in perspiration, displaying a typical postoperative inflammatory response.
“Quick! Fetch some cold water and a towel!” Tang Yue removed the injured man's clothing and gently wiped his overheated body with the towel.
Shan, standing nearby, hurriedly intervened. “Young Master, please allow this servant to take care of it.”
“Hold on! Oversee the preparation of the anti-inflammatory medicine I made earlier. Then, send someone to search for any nearby medicinal spirits. The stronger, the better.”
Tang Yue continued to dab the patient with cold water several times, but the fever showed no signs of abating. The wounded man even began to deliriously call out, clutching Tang Yue's hand and crying, “Mother!” Tears welled up in the eyes of the patients nearby.
“Xiao Qi, your mother is still waiting for you at home. You must hang on!” A wounded soldier with a limp hobbled over and sat beside the bed. “Xiao Qi, don't forget about your mother. You're her only son left! If you're gone, how will she survive?”
“He's responding. Keep talking to him; it'll boost his morale.”
“Young Master, will that really help?” The wounded soldier looked at Tang Yue with hopeful anticipation.
“It's effective! The patient's emotional state and determination play a crucial role,” Tang Yue affirmed.
When the medication arrived, Tang Yue noticed that the patient couldn't swallow it, rendering oral administration impossible.
“Young master, allow me to give it a shot,” the injured soldier volunteered, taking the medicine bowl and taking a sip himself. He then applied the bowl to the patient's lips, attempting to feed it, though the results were less than ideal.
His face turned red as he awkwardly admitted, “I've seen someone administer medicine like this before. I certainly didn't mean to take advantage of Little Seven.”
Laughter erupted from the onlookers, with someone jesting, “No need to explain. We all know about your relationship with Xiao Qi. You might as well chat with him a bit; he might wake up.”
Tang Yue had not previously realized the depth of their bond. Judging from their prior interactions, they didn't seem like a couple. They were probably comrades who provided mutual support during their time in the army.
Such relationships were not uncommon in the military. Tang Yue saw that the injured soldier was unembarrassed and responded with a smile, “The patient can't swallow it right now. Your method of administration won't work.”
The atmosphere lightened considerably. Tang Yue continued to furrow his brow, pondering a solution. If only they had a nasogastric tube; they could administer the medicine directly.
But without access to plastic tubing, what use would a nasogastric tube be? Tang Yue tugged at his hair in frustration.
“Young master, you've done your best. Life and death are sometimes beyond our control,” the wounded soldier consoled Tang Yue, his eyes tinged with red. The others around nodded in agreement.
In truth, they considered this the best possible outcome. In the past, getting stabbed by a sword or suffering broken limbs meant certain death. They could only lie on the battlefield, awaiting the inevitable loss of blood.
Tang Yue shook his head with a wry smile. If they couldn't mend such minor injuries, what hope did they have?
“Young master, the wine has arrived,” Shan announced, entering with two jars of wine. Despite his age, his wrinkled face beamed like a chrysanthemum, and he carried an air of briskness.
“Quickly, change into fresh clothes. We don't want you catching a chill,” Tang Yue advised, pouring a bowl of wine and taking a whiff. It wasn't the strongest, but it was better than clean water.
After twice wiping the patient's body with wine, Tang Yue anxiously awaited the results. At this moment, he yearned for access to penicillin.
The anti-inflammatory remedies he concocted comprised entirely of herbal ingredients, with the main components being Huang Lian, Huang Bai, Planting Blue Root, Big Yellow, and Huang Qin. While these herbal components were safe, their efficacy was gradual, potentially inadequate for patients with severe conditions.
“The scent of alcohol brings back memories of feasting on roasted lamb at the border. The aroma of mutton is simply irresistible…” Audible sounds of salivation emanated from the surroundings. Hearing them, Tang Yue grinned and remarked, “Once we've dealt with the bandits, I'll treat everyone to a feast of roast lamb!”
“In that case, I'll thank you in advance, young master! I absolutely adore lamb. The intestines, liver… the flavors…”
“That's quite enticing. Aren't you concerned about making others envious? Haha…”
Tang Yue paused momentarily, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Of course, lamb intestines!” How could he have overlooked something so crucial?
He hurriedly rushed to fetch his medical kit, extracting a tightly wrapped cloth pouch from within. With eagerness, he commanded, “Go and find some wheat or rice straws immediately!”
Shan promptly complied, leading his men on a search without even changing their drenched attire. At this moment, concerns about clothing were a distant memory.
Tang Yue carefully employed sterile forceps to extract the dried lamb intestine. Earlier, to prevent potential organ damage, he had prepared an excess of lamb intestine for use as a nasal feeding tube.
After an hour of meticulous effort, Tang Yue successfully inserted the nasal feeding tube into the patient and administered the warm medication, bit by bit.
This method left the onlooker soldiers astounded; they had never imagined that medicine could be administered through the nose.
Yet, the most astonishing aspect was the nasal route leading directly to the stomach. The mere notion of something entering the stomach through the nose sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Having administered the medication, Tang Yue employed white wine to lower the patient's body temperature. It was all he could do. “Whether the patient pulls through hinges on luck. If he survives the fever by tomorrow morning, he'll have passed the critical phase.”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, and all awaited the outcome in silence.
Inside the room filled with patients, Tang Yue didn't want to disturb their rest. He assigned a guard to watch over the patient and allowed everyone to rest.
However, a peaceful night was not in the cards. Just as Tang Yue had finished washing his hands, a voice cried out in the distance: “Wang Zizhao has returned!”
Instantaneously, the entire encampment buzzed with activity. Even the wounded couldn't stay down any longer. They aided one another and emerged to greet him.
Tang Yue hurried out and coincidentally witnessed Wang Zizhao dismounting from his horse. Wang Zizhao's legs trembled slightly, prompting Tang Yue to furrow his brow, feeling a mixture of concern and apprehension.
Yet, he couldn't afford to dwell on it for long. The injuries this time were more severe. Some were even on the brink of death. Tang Yue inquired about their time of death, performing cardiorespiratory resuscitation and artificial respiration for patients who had recently ceased breathing.
The spectacle was utterly astonishing, leaving the ancient people utterly dumbfounded. Wang Zizhao approached with a furrowed brow, almost looking as if he could swat a fly with his scowl. He contemplated intervening but hesitated, choosing not to interrupt Tang Yue's actions.
“Don't just stand there. If you can move, fetch the medicine and apply it yourselves. Everyone, bring a bowl of cooling herbal soup.” Tang Yue shouted, taking a moment to rouse the petrified crowd.
After more than ten rounds of emergency treatment, the deceased's heart miraculously revived, though his breathing remained feeble. Tang Yue himself was drained and sank to the ground, panting for breath.
A crowd approached in astonishment. A more audacious soldier crouched down and felt the dead man's nose. Startled by the faint exhalation on his fingers, he leaped back in alarm. “This… this is a false corpse!”
The onlookers retreated, eyes fixed in horror on the “corpse” lying on the ground. Tang Yue was simultaneously amused and irritated. He waved his hand and admonished, “Don't crowd around so tightly. You're obstructing the patient's air.”
Unmindful of whether these ancient people comprehended the concept of air, Tang Yue rose from the ground and instructed two guards to transport the “body” to the operating theater.
Wang Zizhao couldn't resist trailing after him, settling into a chair to observe silently. Tang Yue was aware of his profound curiosity but opted to display an unflappable demeanor, subtly conveying an “I'm perfectly composed” appearance, which contrasted starkly with his true emotions.
Tang Yue instructed someone to undress the patient, conducting a thorough examination. Aside from a few minor cuts, signs of blunt force trauma were evident on the patient's head, likely a fatal injury.
He carefully shaved the patient's hair and cleaned the wound area with a blade. Tang Yue applied gentle pressure to the patient's head, contemplating various potential medical issues.
Given the severity of the head injury, a concussion was almost certain. His primary concern now was the possibility of brain swelling and hemorrhaging. He dared not attempt a craniotomy without adequate medical equipment and medications, as it would likely result in the patient's demise.
After properly tending to the wound, Tang Yue sighed, “For now, all we can do is observe. Survival is uncertain.”
Wang Zizhao nodded in understanding. He watched as the injured soldier was carried away, replaced by another. The guards stationed outside the room were seasoned professionals, unafraid of the cold, undressing the patients before bringing them in.
Tang Yue offered a helpless smile. What he was currently doing was essentially a rudimentary form of treatment. If this were the 21st century, he would undoubtedly be labeled a “quack.”
“This patient fell into a coma due to chest compression from a heavy object… How long has he been unconscious?”
The assisting guard by his side called out to those outside, swiftly obtaining the answer, “One hour.”
Tang Yue did not identify any external chest injuries; it appeared to be a closed injury that wasn't easily discernible from the outside.
Tang Yue conducted further inquiries and examinations, provisionally concluding that extensive blunt trauma had triggered edema in the heart and lung tissue, resulting in heart rhythm irregularities and heart failure. Fortunately, most of these injuries didn't necessitate open chest surgery, which would pose a significant challenge.
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