Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 433

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 433
I deflected the question once more, determined to make the most of this precious respite, however brief.
“First… that phenomenon just now uses the principle of energy dissipation. To explain it as simply as possible, each layer of fabric the arrow pierces causes some of its destructive force to diminish.”
Layering cloth to create armor was the primitive principle behind the bulletproof vest.
Even Mongolia itself used jackets made from multiple layers of silk to stop arrows, so this method was surprisingly common throughout human history wherever warfare existed.
If I delved deeper, I’d need to discuss the tension and elasticity the threads themselves possessed, but there wasn’t time for that level of detail.
I’d stick to the essentials.
“Here’s where we utilize the iron dragon scales. It maximizes Baekrin Medical Institute’s potential and allows for extended use.”
The two men’s eyes brightened.
I continued.
“It’ll be especially useful for defending against ranged attacks. Avoiding arrow barrages is ideal, but if you do encounter them, this will at least save your lives.”
“Do you think the Suksin Tribe’s arrows are that terrifying, Hyeong?”
Mongolia’s volleys remained documented in the historical record even now.
I couldn’t gauge the Suksin Tribe’s exact capabilities, but this was a world governed by yin-yang and the five elements.
Since the Central Plains had cultivated martial arts, they must have developed comparable techniques as well.
“…Yes. Even while caring for patients, I’ve picked up things here and there. Don’t forget to wear extra layers.”
“Got it, Hyeong~”
After receiving Sama Hyeon’s response, I fixed my gaze on Cheonwoo’s eyes.
“You must come back alive. Promise me.”
“I promise, Hyeong.”
Cheonwoo smiled gently.
Some might find it frightening when such a large young man smiled, but I found Cheonwoo’s smile endearing.
“Don’t ever say you have no family. I gave you your name, didn’t I?”
“…You are my family, Hyeong.”
“Yes.”
The youngest, Sama Hyeon, scratched at my heart with a laughing face saying, “Wow, the Third Prince finally got his wish~” but Cheonwoo paid it no mind.
That was enough for me.
* * *
General Yuk Heon.
He held a strategy meeting with his Adjutant Chae Jun and Military Strategist Gwak Su-in.
Of course, other generals participated in the conference as well.
“What? Six scout units completely annihilated?”
The strategist sighed and continued.
“Six of the eight small garrison posts built near the city have been destroyed, and General Do Gong’s thirty thousand soldiers, who recklessly attacked underestimating the Suksin Tribe, have been completely wiped out.”
Crunch, crunch, crunch—
The sound of Yuk Heon grinding his teeth echoed through the silence.
Military Strategist Gwak Su-in continued, looking down at the map.
“Fighting here puts us at a disadvantage. Given their cavalry characteristics, we cannot avoid total defeat if we engage them in direct combat with our cavalry.”
Soon, Chief Strategist Gwak Su-in and the other strategists each added their own remarks.
“The Suksin Tribe’s forces are entirely cavalry, with numbers estimated at approximately two hundred thousand, General.”
“What about the supply troops?”
“…Strangely enough, even supply forces can be converted into combat troops in this situation. Their numbers reach one hundred thousand. However, they drag along three or more horses per unit, and if circumstances demand it, they use those horses as provisions.”
“Peculiar. Most peculiar indeed.”
Yuk Heon pressed the back of his head repeatedly.
General Gwak Su-in continued.
“Moreover, they are mounted archers. They have no intention of engaging us head-on. Instead, they circle around as if herding livestock, firing arrows from a distance.”
“And when they’re cornered, they use fire attacks to annihilate us?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“But we have the Bichano for such situations, do we not?”
The Bichano.
One of the Empire’s weapons—a mechanical crossbow capable of rapid-fire arrows. It was roughly the size of half a carriage and mounted on a wheeled platform.
It could unleash a massive volley of arrows at once, and in that moment, its firepower rivaled an entire battalion.
“However, the Bichano is slow. If they continue to retreat while fighting….”
“Of course we will suffer casualties. But even so, they are men who have left families behind. If we advance directly instead….”
At his words, the officers fell into contemplation.
Fundamentally, most nomadic peoples could each shoot a bow and fight as warriors, but that did not mean the entire nation mobilized for war.
The soldiers’ families lived in settlements deeper within the steppes.
In a sense, they could be considered the true base of the nomadic peoples.
“…If they will not abandon their families either, then they must fight us.”
At those words, the General and his subordinate officers exchanged alarmed glances before responding in unison.
“A direct engagement is dangerous, General!”
“I know. But we cannot afford to waste time here. Six hundred thousand imperial troops are assembling. With our two hundred thousand, we must buy time and prevent them from crossing into Shandong Province. We must become both bait and a wall.”
“If we do so, our forces will suffer heavy casualties, and we may face complete annihilation, General.”
At that, all fell silent.
If they were to strike at their main camp, resistance would certainly come.
Should the scattered Suksin Tribe gather, our forces would be surrounded.
Surrender would not be accepted, and at the moment of defeat, none would survive.
“Yes. But the Emperor will have time to gather his forces.”
“….”
Soon after, Yuk Heon asked.
“Is there another stratagem to draw out the enemy? Any tactic to slow their advance, even slightly?”
“It is difficult to employ such tactics now. Given their speed of advance, we have little time remaining. Above all, Prince Ju-wang is reaching his limits. He is practically holding back the cavalry alone.”
“Then we have no choice but to fight with military strategy.”
“….”
In the heavy silence, Yuk Heon spoke again.
“Any who wish to remain in the rear can leave the tent now. I will not punish them under military law.”
“….”
No matter how delicately it was phrased, it was suicide.
It meant burning themselves to hold the line until six hundred thousand troops assembled.
Yuk Heon closed his eyes.
It was a signal for anyone who wanted to flee to leave now.
When he opened his eyes, there were only scattered empty spots—most remained by his side.
Adjutant Chae Jun spoke.
“Let’s go try to get some mare’s milk wine from the Suksin Tribe.”
“…That’s good. Very good.”
The General spoke.
“Mare’s milk wine tastes terrible. Or is it that we drink such things because there’s nothing else to eat?”
“Tsk tsk, it seems the General doesn’t understand the taste of fine spirits.”
“That’s too much!”
Yuk Heon laughed heartily as he looked at the two men.
“Go on, go on. Today I’ve learned that I haven’t lived in vain. I’ll give you good wine. Wine steeped in the blood of the Suksin Tribe. Wouldn’t that be enough as wine for the road to the afterlife?”
Everyone in the barracks answered.
“The finest.”
“Let us drink together.”
Pour, pour.
The cup is like the moon, and time flows like water.
In the wilderness of human affairs, life and death wax and wane.
* * *
‘Strangely, there are no urgent patients.’
The number of patients had suddenly dropped these past few days.
Until now, I could grasp the general state of the war through news from the soldiers, like a blind man touching an elephant, but now even that meager information isn’t forthcoming.
‘This is probably just a pause before moving the troops again.’
It’s difficult to approach war with cold logic.
Perhaps that’s why my mind keeps running through hopeful circuits.
‘…I know. I know. I just want to think of everything in the best light possible.’
War itself makes cold judgment nearly impossible.
Saving lives is probably the limit of what I can do.
If I told my Master this, he’d probably say that alone is remarkable, but still… I’m not satisfied.
The Martial Arts Mobile Unit with Cheonwoo and Hyeon departed.
Mobile units have no separate supply corps by their very nature.
They simply go out, conduct operations for several days, and return.
Naturally, a Doctor doesn’t accompany them.
The wounded are either brought back or given emergency treatment.
If they can’t be brought back, the wounded naturally die.
‘They all go knowing that. That’s just how the Gangho normally operates.’
Still, I’m anxious.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I can let go.
I maintained the barracks in pristine condition and inventoried the newly supplied materials.
I had to be ready to receive patients at any moment.
I also reinforced the tent.
In the midst of such frantic days, I heard news that the army was marching out.
“One hundred fifty thousand soldiers?”
“Yes, the remaining forces will stay behind to defend the fortress, or so I heard.”
A soldier explained this to me.
“….”
My eyes twitched slightly.
* * *
While I and Baekrin Medical Institute were treating patients in the rear of Danmok Fortress at that very moment.
War had already begun.
A great battle where three hundred thousand nomadic troops clashed with one hundred fifty thousand soldiers.
That the Hwa Empire’s army was at a disadvantage was as clear as observing fire, and truly as obvious as day.
However.
General Yuk Heon had to break through their formation.
If they couldn’t slow the Suksin Tribe’s advance, they would eventually cross the border, and behind that border lived millions of imperial citizens.
“They’ve attacked a civilian settlement.”
A small village on the map was erased.
It was a modest trading post where merchants would briefly stop to rest.
Fewer than ten households lived there.
At the village entrance, a human body hung upside down, impaled on a spear.
There were corpses trampled flat by horse hooves, and bodies stripped raw, bound with rope.
They appeared to have been dragged behind horses.
“Some of the corpses are missing their organs.”
“Wild beasts must have torn them apart.”
“…But I also see ritual implements, as if a ceremony was performed.”
There was one thing I could infer.
However, it was premature to assert it, and even if I did, reality wouldn’t change.
That’s how war is.
Within it, civilians are always targets of plunder, exploited first like cattle or donkeys.
If there were provisions, they might conscript civilians for labor, but this small village had no skilled craftsmen.
At best, perhaps the innkeeper who could serve as an interpreter.
But they likely already kidnapped someone to replace him—would they need more?
“Oh no, Geum! Geum! Why are you here!”
A soldier went mad.
He’d found his comrade’s corpse.
This was common in such situations.
Yuk Heon discovered a peculiar corpse—a civilian wearing Hwa Empire armor.
Why would someone who wasn’t a soldier be wearing imperial armor?
And one arrow piercing through the body.
“This arrowhead looks just like a duck’s bill. Did it actually split through an iron plate?”
“It appears they tested how much it could penetrate—whether it could pierce armor.”
“So you tested it on people first?”
“Yes, sir. Since these arrows are designed for soldiers who haven’t mastered self-defense techniques like those in Gangho, their practical effectiveness should be sufficient.”
The Adjutant said nothing more and closed his mouth.
“….”
They were growing stronger.
“New arrows have appeared. New arrows… I’m not certain if they’ve reinforced the bows as well.”
“No abandoned bows have been found, sir.”
The intelligence was insufficient.
How many villages would burn? How many fortresses would be trampled?
Even if the Empire drove them back and claimed victory later.
What joy could there be in celebrating victory atop ruins already turned to ash and filled with corpses?
Knowing this, one of the Seven Great Generals—a rank that existed in only seven men across the entire Empire.
Yuk Heon had personally led soldiers into the field.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————