Chapter 74

C74 – “An Interlacing As Foster”

Tang Yue provided an expert massage, demonstrating deep knowledge of human acupuncture points. After an hour under his care, Wang Zizhao felt significantly lighter in his legs.

A familiar servant handed Tang Yue a damp cloth for his hands. Recognizing him, Tang Yue remembered this was the same individual who had assisted him before.

The fact that he wasn’t dismissed indicated that there was something unique about this young man.

The large group progressed at a leisurely pace. After lunch, they took a fifteen-minute break before continuing their journey. As dusk approached, Hu Jinpeng directed everyone to establish camp.

Having sat in the carriage all day, Tang Yue felt stiffness in his back. He alighted and stretched his muscles, intending to assess the journey’s progress.

Tang Yue was uncertain if his physique suited horseback riding. If he wasn’t proficient, running alongside the group might prove to be the best physical training.

Inquiring about his location, Tang Yue, with a team of guards, began searching for him. Spotting the towering young man in the midst of the crowd wasn’t challenging.

Before his departure, State Duke Heng mentioned that he had delegated a hundred guards to accompany Tang Yue. Nevertheless, these guards were to obey Tang Yue and prioritize safeguarding Ping Shun.

Ping Shun settled on the grass, spreading his legs and applying a medicinal powder, given by Tang Yue, to his inner thighs.

“Did horse riding cause this?” Tang Yue was taken aback, not anticipating that the young man would attempt to ride. He grew concerned for the horse’s well-being, pondering if it was exhausted after carrying such weight all day.

While Tang Yue’s concerns lingered, a soldier hurriedly approached, exclaiming, “Urgent news, Noble Heir! Two horses from State Duke Heng’s Mansion have collapsed.”

Ping Shun gazed at the soldier, perplexed, seemingly unclear about why the horse’s condition would concern him.

Having never been involved in domestic affairs, Ping Shun felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond to the situation.

Tang Yue tapped him on the head, saying, “Let’s go check it out. We shouldn’t have others fretting over State Duke Heng’s horse.”

In these times, horses held immense value. They were prized possessions that couldn’t be forsaken lightly.

Reluctantly, he got up, moving with an odd gait beside Tang Yue. Together, they approached the soldier to inspect the horse.

Tang Yue inquired about the horse’s health. The soldier responded with ease, “It was doing well earlier, but then it suddenly collapsed. Its skin and limbs have become stiff, and there’s drooling…”

Observing the soldier’s detailed response, Tang Yue asked, “Have you been assigned to watch over the horse?” hinting that the soldier seemed experienced.

Fearing blame, the soldier hastily replied, “I only handle feeding them.” He stressed, “The ones that collapsed hadn’t eaten my feed yet.”

He implied that the horses didn’t fall due to his provided nourishment.

Tang Yue proceeded to the area where the horses were tethered. He observed several horses clustered together, enclosed by a fence of intertwined branches. Fresh grass carpeted the ground, with the majority of horses grazing.

The two ailing horses had been taken out separately. A pair of seasoned veterans were engrossed in a conversation.

They hadn’t anticipated the need for a veterinarian during their journey, believing that such issues wouldn’t arise quickly. Yet, they were faced with this unexpected situation on their maiden day of travel.

Approaching the duo, Tang Yue queried, “What insights do you elders have on this?”

Caught off guard, the two seasoned soldiers hastily paid their respects, saying, “Such incidents aren’t uncommon in the military. I recall the coachman mentioning a condition related to ‘wind’…”

“Tetus? Sailor lifting?”

“This… I can’t remember.”

Tang Yue circled the pair of horses, noting their well-groomed and lustrous fur alongside their robust frames. Clearly, they had been meticulously looked after.

He beckoned Ping Shun. “Inspect them closely for any injuries.”

Pingshun hesitated. “Why should I check?” As he questioned, he summoned the adjacent soldier.

Tang Yue sighed in exasperation. He merely wanted the young man to be more observant and proactive, unaware of his competent leadership skills.

Before the soldier could act, the two experienced soldiers interjected, “We’ve already inspected. The horses are uninjured.”

Tang Yue wasn’t an expert on animals but was familiar with some common ailments.

“If it’s due to the wind, a horse would show fear of it. They’d be secured in a secluded chamber.” He crouched down to keenly observe the two horses, noticing their rapid breaths, clenched jaws, sweaty bodies, and drooling mouths.

Why did they look like tetanus?

“Are there really no wounds? It’s fine if it’s healed.” Tang Yue asked.

The two senior soldiers exchanged glances. “We’ve only just interacted with these horses. You might want to inquire with the staff from the State Duke Heng’s Mansion.”

Tang Yue cast a brief look at Ping Shun, appreciating his newfound adaptability. He then dispatched someone to question the team’s guards.

The information returned confirmed no prior injuries. Puzzled, Tang Yue mused, “Aren’t these symptoms indicative of tetanus?”

Slightly overwhelmed by the intense gazes upon him, Tang Yue admitted, “I’m no vet,” he cleared his throat, “Perhaps we should address Saddlewind’s condition first?”

Ping Shun whispered, “Is this a case of flogging a dead horse?”

Flushing with embarrassment, Tang Yue retorted, “Let me examine them once more.” He scrutinized every detail of the horses.

Their prolonged halt attracted Zhao Sanlang, who approached wielding a long spear. Before reaching them, he exclaimed, “Ah, Tang Xiaolang, so you mend both humans and beasts now?”

His tone wasn’t derisive, but some bystanders couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” A clueless Zhao Sanlang, realizing his comment might have been misconstrued, brandished his spear threateningly.

Tang Yue paid him no mind, instead focusing on examining a horse’s hoof, particularly the spaces in between.

An onlooker commented, “Never seen someone inspect a horse that way. He’s clearly a novice.”

Another added, “Young Master Yue might be a miraculous healer, but when it comes to animals, his inexperience is palpable. It’s like there’s a world of difference between the two fields.”

“I don’t know if he can be cured.”

“Based on the state of these horses, I doubt they’ll recover. I’ve seen such ailments before, and they tend to worsen over time.”

“It’s such a shame for these valuable colts.”

A hush fell over the crowd. Tang Yue remained with his head down, only to hear a voice behind him inquire, “What have you discovered?”

He swiftly turned, spotting Wang Zizhao observing him intently, his hands poised in thought.

“We’re still looking into it,” said Tang Yue, his gaze shifting to the horse’s feet. He murmured, “It appears that this period hasn’t seen the invention of horseshoes.”

In a time devoid of horseshoes, horses depended on natural hoof care. It’s likely these horses had their hooves tended to just before embarking on their journey.

A thought struck him, prompting a closer examination of the horses’ limbs, with particular attention to their hooves.

“Just as I suspected!” Tang Yue exhaled, motioning Wang Zizhao over. He gently spread a horse’s hind hoof, indicating a specific spot between the harder outer layer and the softer interior, remarking, “This injury seems to have occurred during hoof maintenance.”

“And the significance of this?” Wang Zizhao, familiar with hoof upkeep, noted how extended gallops could wear and even damage the protective layer on horse hooves. Many horses in South Jin suffered hoof-related injuries.

“Is His Highness acquainted with hoof bleeding and clotting disorders?”

Wang Zizhao’s eyebrows knitted, “Hoof blood clots? What ailment is this? Is it severely detrimental to the horses?”

Tang Yue clarified, “Due to negligent hoof care, injuries can occur. If such injuries are left untreated, they can lead to inflammation. This condition can manifest after a week or so, or even within 24 hours. Given that these horses were likely on the move all day, their deterioration was hastened.”

“What exactly do you mean by inflammation?”

Predicting this query, Tang Yue massaged his temples, formulating a concise explanation. “In simpler terms, it’s akin to an untreated wound becoming red, swollen, and pus-filled, much like when humans get hurt. This is the primary reason it takes so long to heal.”

Wang Zizhao pondered for a moment, then asked, “Can these horses be treated and recover?”

Tang Yue’s brow furrowed. For tetanus treatment, an antitoxic serum was essential, but he lacked the means to extract it. Hence, curing the two horses was out of the question.

He felt disheartened. Despite his vast medical knowledge, it seemed nearly impossible to apply it in ancient times. His experience seemed useless when faced with the lack of necessary resources like blood transfusions of the correct type, antibiotics, antitoxins, and even basic fluid transfusions.

Without solutions to these challenges, his medical expertise would remain theoretical.

Wang Zizhao, noting Tang Yue’s dismay, instructed his aides to document the horses’ symptoms meticulously. Once back, they would submit these records to the Imperial Censor. He also cautioned them to take extra care of the horses’ hooves to prevent injuries.

Tang Yue hesitated, considering suggesting horseshoes as a protective measure. Such an invention would preserve many military horses. Yet, should he impart knowledge ahead of its historical time?

Tang Yue felt lost. When he made the brush, it was out of a simple need for convenience, such as making personal tasks less arduous.

His inclination towards introducing Western medicine was because he excelled in it. He pondered, should he only pursue what was directly beneficial to him?

He was uncertain about his purpose in this time period.

Was he divinely chosen to alter history? Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

Or was his purpose merely to witness the lives of those in ancient times? If so, he might as well have been born a slave.

A soothing voice broke his chain of thought, “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Fate governs life and death, be it animal or human. Just give your utmost.” Tang Yue snapped back to reality and, meeting Wang Zizhao’s comforting eyes, felt a sense of peace.

A realization dawned upon him; he had been unnecessarily burdening himself with the implications of his actions on this era. He pondered why he felt the need to tread cautiously regarding historical impacts.

He alone couldn’t reshape the world or transform the societal structures of South Jin. His sphere of influence was indeed narrow.

He wasn’t omnipotent, so why fret over every decision?

With a grin, he declared, “I have a special gift for you coming soon!”