Chapter 1309 - 1264: Preparation
Xun Fan’s eyes widened, and he stumbled back two steps in a panic but couldn’t dodge the knife coming down. He watched helplessly as the blade slashed toward his face...
Just as the knife was about to strike his forehead, a sword swiftly stabbed over with a whoosh and hit the knife with a ding, causing it to tilt. Xun Fan’s left foot tripped over his right, and he fell to the ground, avoiding the attack.
Xun Fan turned his head dumbly and saw Zhao Shen fighting barehanded among the enemies, advancing toward him while shouting, "Quickly save Xun Fan!"
He couldn’t die here. Although the Zhao Family had ambitions, Xun Fan was of critical importance. If he died in the line of duty, especially from a knife wound, who knows what rumors would spread afterward.
Zheng Zhi was momentarily hindered and almost driven mad. At this moment, he could only see Xun Fan in his eyes, so he kicked away the falling sword, rushed forward in two steps, and stabbed toward Xun Fan with his knife.
Xun Fan pushed off the ground with his feet and quickly retreated, but the knife still pierced his thigh.
Xun Fan screamed in agony.
Zhao Shen was still some distance from Xun Fan. Upon hearing the scream, he glanced over and couldn’t help but roar, "Yuan Li!"
Yuan Li, who had been holding back his strength, gritted his teeth and his actions became more fierce. After killing two people, he stopped lingering on the battlefield, took a big stride, turned around, and used his sword to block Zheng Zhi, who was about to slash Xun Fan’s neck. His heart hardened, and he pierced his opponent with his sword, then kicked the man away before reaching out to pull Xun Fan up.
Xun Fan clutched his thigh with one hand, covered in blood, and couldn’t stand up.
Zhao Shen also arrived, glanced at Xun Fan, and immediately took over. He tore a corner of his garment with his sword and tightly bound Xun Fan’s thigh but didn’t look reassured, "There’s too much blood loss; we need to find a doctor immediately. Yuan Li, bring your men in."
Yuan Li remained calm and instead asked, "Why is Vice Minister Zhao here?"
Zhao Shen stared at him sharply, "I happened to pass by. General Yuan, if now is not the time to use the men you left outside the mansion, then when?"
Xun Fan couldn’t discern any intention from Yuan Li to kill him, given that in these short few moments, he had saved him three times. But Zhao Shen, being a military general and having fought against Yuan Li, surely knew he was restraining his strength.
Yuan Li also understood his thinking, but he didn’t support it. He believed Zhao Hanzhang would absolutely not agree.
Yuan Li silently met his gaze for a moment, then after three breaths, he voluntarily averted his eyes and shouted to Shi Si, "Send the signal."
Shi Si responded, took out a tube from his chest, and after opening it, there was a hissing sound. A light accompanied by a loud whistle shot into the sky, then vanished...
The personal soldiers camped outside the Governor Mansion received the signal and immediately drew the knives hidden behind them. Some scaled the walls, while others charged in through various gates, shouting, "Angel on duty, all unrelated persons disperse—"
They charged into the main yard, surrounding both those outside looking to support Yu Hong and those still fighting inside the yard in an instant, while others stormed into the back courtyard, capturing Yu Hong’s family members.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the courtyard, Yu Hong, clutching his neck, was already on the verge of escaping to the wall under the guard of Zheng Quan and others but was caught by Yuan Li’s personal soldiers who descended from the sky.
The chaos ended, and Shi Si stepped forward to check Zheng Zhi’s breath, then said, "General, he’s still alive."
Yuan Li said, "I stabbed him in the right chest; unless his heart grew on the right side, how could he not survive? Fetch a doctor for him; we’ll need his confession to convict Yu Hong."
Zhao Shen was still busy with Xun Fan and said to Yuan Li, "Send someone riding fast to get a doctor; save Grand Tutor Xun first!"
Yuan Li agreed and sent Shi Si to find a doctor.
Seeing Xun Fan’s face getting whiter and whiter, Zhao Shen couldn’t help but pace anxiously and simply instructed his men to fetch various fabrics, needles, threads, scissors, and medicines from the back courtyard, then had Xun Fan carried onto the bed in the house before taking action himself.
Yuan Li narrowed his eyes, circled around him, and asked, "Does the Vice Minister also know medicine?"
How novel, if scholars of this era didn’t know some medical skills, they’d be embarrassed to call themselves scholars.
Besides, Zhao Shen claimed to be a man of cultivation. Having traveled extensively for years, he was adept at treating basic injuries and illnesses, even surpassing ordinary doctors.
However, considering Xun Fan’s age and the amount of blood lost, Zhao Shen believed it was more prudent to find a doctor. If there was no time, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to take action.
Zhao Shen quickly picked up scissors to cut Xun Fan’s pants, then tightly bound the side of the thigh with a cloth, swiftly cleaning the wound before picking up a needle to sew.
Although Yuan Li didn’t understand medicine, he had often seen military doctors treat wounds and even knew a bit himself. Noticing this, his brows twitched intensely, "Vice Minister Zhao, that’s not how a wound is sewn..."