Chapter 44: A Smart Person

Ma Xun did not feel there was any direct conflict or hostility between himself and Feng Sheng; it was merely a clash of temperaments.

In Feng Sheng's eyes, Ma Xun, the imperial brother-in-law, had simply stolen his military achievements. Combined with the fact that Feng had been a soldier since his youth and had numerous martial exploits to his name, he naturally looked down upon connections and favor-seekers.

Ma Xun, however, could not care less. He had no intention of being a universal favorite striving to please everyone, nor did he ever plan to entwine himself inextricably with the Huaixi nobility.

A pushover?

Ma Xun had no intention of playing the good guy; he was twenty, not sixty!

Even Li Zhen, who was over sixty, was not on intimate terms with everyone and deliberately kept a certain distance from certain individuals.

Naturally, this was a model for Ma Xun to emulate. Maintaining a degree of separation was by no means a bad thing.

Ma Xun was quite busy as he continued to make the rounds in the camp for the wounded.

Although his own abilities were limited, he still strove to tend to some of the injured soldiers and sought practical, effective methods to treat them.

Aside from that, he constantly organized his notes and records. Coming to the battlefield and the casualty camp inevitably brought new insights.

These constituted Ma Xun's work for the time being. Knowing that he was not well-versed in military strategy, he focused on doing what was within his power.

Xu Da and the others were still busy refining and strengthening the defensive lines, temporarily halting their active offensive against Wang Baobao in Ningxia, though the necessary layout of defenses proceeded apace.

Seeing Ma Xun return once more with blood-stain splattered across his clothes, Xu Da asked, "Little brother, how are the wounded doing?"

"The military physicians and medics are still far too few," Ma Xun replied, sharing his perspective. "Many of them do not even know how to properly care for the wounded, which only needlessly increases deaths and injuries."

Xu Da said with a helpless sigh, "After every battle, the place I dread going to the most is the camp for the wounded. So many soldiers lie there pleading for help and crying out in agony, yet I am powerless to aid them. Just thinking about it tears my heart apart."

Such a reaction was normal for Xu Da. Many top-tier generals were ruthless and decisive on the battlefield, yet lacked the courage to face the pleading gazes of wounded soldiers.

Ma Xun remarked, "A single trip to the casualty camp is enough to break the resolve of even the hardest-hearted man."

Xu Da and the others resonated deeply with Ma Xun's words, having witnessed far too many soldiers suffer mutilation and death.

Xu Da asked, "With little brother's exceptional medical skills, do you have any remedies for this?"

After pondering for a moment, Ma Xun said, "There are some things I cannot fix right now, but upon our return, I will try to submit a memorial with suggestions to His Majesty. The medical officers need training, and we also need dedicated personnel for nursing."

Xu Da asked with some surprise, "Having more physicians and medics is fine, but nursing and such tasks are not difficult. We can just casually assign anyone to do them."

Xu Da's view was commonplace. Physicians and medical officers were essentially military doctors—folk healers who cured illnesses and tended to wounds. They were the ones responsible for preserving lives.

Tasks like nursing were not considered particularly difficult; lightly wounded soldiers could help take care of others, or camp laborers could lend a hand. This was how it had always been done on the battlefields throughout history.

Such was the limitation of the era. Everyone acknowledged the importance of nursing, yet all believed it was not worth deploying extra manpower specifically for it.

As for professional nursing, it was out of the question. Not only was human life of little value in troubled times, but the same held true even during periods of great prosperity.

In civilian life, when someone fell ill, family members took care of them; wealthy households had maidservants and wet nurses, and the profession of midwifery had a long history. But in the military, who would waste resources keeping a few nurses around?

The concept of a "nurse" was a profession nobody deemed necessary.

Ma Xun countered, "The Great General's view is mistaken. If we truly had personnel skilled in nursing, the deaths and casualties among our soldiers could be significantly reduced. Take wound suppuration, for instance; I believe that can be kept under control."

Xu Da immediately turned serious. "Does the imperial brother-in-law truly have a way to control wound suppuration?"

Wound suppuration was something that made military men turn pale at the mere mention. Even if bleeding was stopped and arrows were pulled out, whether a man could survive was a gamble, and suppuration alone could take a life.

The so-called bursting of wounds and similar complications were often caused precisely by infection and pus.

"I do not yet possess a definitive cure, but once I return, I will figure out a way to try and control it," Ma Xun said. "When we return to the capital, I shall focus on this matter."

Xu Da looked somewhat surprised. "While I know my little brother is a master physician of peerless skill, if you become utterly obsessed with medicine, His Majesty will certainly not permit it."

Ma Xun began to fret inwardly. He knew Xu Da's assessment was correct, and the reality of his situation was indeed much like that.

As an imperial brother-in-law, his path had been meticulously mapped out for him in many respects. Whether it was Zhu Yuanzhang or Empress Ma continually promoting him, it was not merely out of affection for a younger brother, but also a consideration of the political landscape at court.

It was fine that Ma Xun possessed great medical skill, but if he simply wanted to be a country doctor, the Emperor and Empress would certainly never agree.

Looking at Xu Da, Ma Xun sought advice with an open mind. "Elder Brother Xu, is there any way I can arrange to do the things I actually enjoy?"

Xu Da smiled and said, "If little brother loves medicine, you are entirely free to study it with the imperial physicians. That will not hinder you from accomplishing great things."

Xu Da's words reflected his own stance and philosophy. Ma Xun's passion for medicine could be treated as a hobby, and no one would stop him.

However, it could never become his "primary occupation." The imperial brother-in-law had to maintain a certain status and weight at court.

Even if he did not actively handle specific duties, he still had to hold his ground within the imperial court.

For a moment, Ma Xun did not know how to respond, though deep down he recognized the truth in Xu Da's perspective.

Xu Da smiled consolingly, "His Majesty and Her Highness the Empress naturally consider matters thoroughly for you, little brother. You, too, should think of the Crown Prince and the future of the Empress's lineage."

Ma Xun suddenly suspected that Xu Da might have received instructions from the Emperor and Empress, which was why he was advising him to focus on "proper business."

Proper business naturally meant assisting Crown Prince Zhu Biao in the future and assuming the responsibility of continuing the Ma family line. Clearly, merely being a physician fell short of the mark, even if one became a legendary figure like Sun Simiao.

Entering politics was the orthodox path in the feudal dynasties of the present era, especially for external relatives like Ma Xun, who still had much to accomplish now that the empire had just been pacified.

One only had to look at the current Ming dynasty to understand: although Li Zhen and his son Li Wuzhong were considered part of the Huaixi nobility, their identity as imperial relatives by marriage was far more prominent.

Aside from them, no other imperial relatives could be found until Ma Xun burst onto the scene.

Furthermore, the Li father and son belonged to the Emperor's side of the imperial family, whereas Ma Xun belonged to the Empress's side—he was essentially left behind as part of the Crown Prince's entourage.

The Li father and son would most likely remain loyal to the "Zhu" lineage, whereas Ma Xun, as an imperial relative, was expected to devote his heart and soul to "Biao."

With a rather heavy headache, Ma Xun said, "Elder Brother Xu, I am not a clever man. If someone were to sell me out, I'd probably end up counting the money for them."

Xu Da smiled comfortingly. "Little brother need not overthink. His Majesty and Her Highness possess grand strategies, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wise and brilliant. As long as you dutifully execute the tasks assigned to you, no one will trick or harm you."

Competing with the seasoned players drifting through the treacherous currents of officialdom was a skill Ma Xun knew he did not possess. Figures like Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong were not mere politicians; they were true statesmen.

Ma Xun never dared to underestimate the ancients, particularly these officials of old. Those capable of leaving their names in historical texts were the cream of the crop among men.

Mu Ying strode in eagerly. "Grand General, Uncle! Our main force has returned triumphant from the camp!"

Xu Da smiled and gave the order, "Then arrange for the soldiers to rest. Wine and meat will be sent over shortly. Little brother, you should also issue orders to urge the supply train forward."

Ma Xun complied with grace; while he did not understand certain military matters, he at least knew how to take direction.

However, he immediately asked, "Elder Brother Xu, haven't the supplies already been sent up?"

"Little brother, write a letter back to the capital to press His Majesty," Xu Da explained with a smile. "When the time comes, His Majesty will naturally press Chancellor Li. The more winter provisions we have in the army, the better."

Seeming to fear that Ma Xun might overthink, Xu Da added, "I have already submitted a report to His Majesty earlier, but little brother should submit one as well."

Hearing this, Ma Xun understood. "You and I shall both send written memorials to His Majesty, and when the time comes, I must ask Elder Brother Xu to help look them over."

Xu Da nodded with a smile. With the imperial brother-in-law here, he felt the pressure on his shoulders lighten considerably.

Even if the Emperor and Empress had not issued any commands, he would still have kept the imperial brother-in-law by his side.

Though his own military achievements were already more than sufficient, Xu Da felt he could still continue to contribute to the Great Ming. After all, they had not yet defeated Wang Baobao, nor had they captured the Yuan Emperor!