OFTLHFRO C138

Chapter 138: Better than Fireworks

Back in Han City, Huo Yan gave Hu Zhongyi a glance.

As they had agreed, Hu Zhongyi divided a portion of the supplies for Wu Qing. The rest, he said, would be carefully tallied and distributed to the people of Bing City, who could come to the city gates tomorrow morning to claim them.

Wu Qing knew they were guarding against him, afraid he might steal the relief grain meant for the people of Bing City.

But this was a battle Han City had fought, and the spoils they had won. The fact that they were giving him any share at all was already generous, so he couldn’t be bothered to argue further. After all, the supplies were in their hands—whether he received them or not was entirely up to them.

Once Wu Qing was sent away, Hu Zhongyi said cheerfully: “Tonight we’ll feast on roasted whole lamb!”

Huo Yan said: “Later, call the people of the city to come collect meat.”

“Got it! I’ll go gather them.”

Hu Zhongyi left in high spirits to make arrangements.

Watching his back, Luo Mingchen couldn’t help but sigh. “If it were Wu Qing, I’d definitely think he was just trying to steal the credit.”

Huo Yan smiled faintly. “If our General Hu had that sort of scheming mind, Huo Yuntao would never have become the hero in the people’s eyes.”

Luo Mingchen thought about it. “True enough.”

Though Huo Yuntao was stronger than Hu Zhongyi, he definitely didn’t care for the common folk as much.

Why was it that most people knew of Huo Yuntao, while few mentioned Hu Zhongyi?

The root cause was simply that Hu Zhongyi never knew how to seize credit.

Take this very instance: although Huo Yan had indeed played a great role, Hu Zhongyi, as the great general and Huo Yan’s superior, actually allowed Huo Yan to draft the battle report. He even said once it was written, they could send it straight to the capital—he wouldn’t interfere.

No matter who had done the most in the battle, the emperor wasn’t here watching with surveillance. A battle report, something the emperor would definitely read, and Hu Zhongyi hadn’t fought for the right to write it. Truly… so naïve it was almost foolish.

In the end, it was Huo Yan who insisted that he write it, saying they weren’t equals in rank. Only then did Hu Zhongyi realize belatedly, and after writing it, he proudly brought it over for them to see.

And what a shock it was.

In his battle report, Hu Zhongyi had heaped endless praise on Huo Yan, even mentioning Xiao Lin and Luo Mingchen.

Finally, Huo Yan had to give him one-on-one tutoring, teaching him how to subtly praise himself while leaving Luo Mingchen hidden, so it wouldn’t be too obvious or hard to swallow.

Even then, Hu Zhongyi felt uncomfortable taking the credit, and only reluctantly accepted after Luo Mingchen reminded him that the bird who sticks its head out is the first to be shot.

Cows were slaughtered, sheep were butchered, and grain was divided.

Even with night falling, the whole city bustled like it was New Year’s.

Looking at Han City illuminated by bonfires, Luo Mingchen leaned deliberately against Huo Yan. “This is better than fireworks.”

Huo Yan disliked such covert gestures. He pulled Luo Mingchen into his arms openly. “Mm.”

“Pfft…”

Liu Changlian, unable to hold back his laughter, glanced innocently up at the moon when Luo Mingchen looked over. “Ah, the moon is really beautiful tonight.”

Clicking his tongue, Luo Mingchen pushed Huo Yan’s hand down, dragged over a tall wooden crate, climbed up on it, raised an arm, and said: “Come, lean on me.”

Huo Yan gave him a calm look, then leaned his head on his shoulder.

Only then did Luo Mingchen beam, hugging him and even stroking his face. “Good boy.”

Passing soldiers: “…”

As for Huo Yuhui, he was already used to it.

Huo Xiang and Huo Xinyue were too young. After dinner, their eyelids were already drooping, so only Huo Yuhui had come along tonight.

“The hell! What are you two doing?”

Xiao Lin, rushing over to report, nearly had his eyes pop out at the sight.

Huo Yan—a tall man, if not a brawny muscle giant, still a sturdy adult with a solid frame—nestling like a delicate bird against Luo Mingchen’s chest… it was downright eye-searing!

Luo Mingchen smiled. “Brother Xiao, can’t you tell?”

Xiao Lin’s head buzzed. He forced a laugh. “Uh… you two sure play wild.”

Then he caught Huo Yan’s death glare, and quickly changed the subject, speaking seriously: “Several refugees have fallen ill. They say they’ve been on medicine for days without getting better.”

Just then, a man wearing gaudy clothes and holding a roasted lamb leg strolled past, saying lazily: “Epidemics don’t heal so easily.”

Hearing the word “epidemic,” Luo Mingchen withdrew his hand, and Huo Yan straightened up.

“Epidemic? Doesn’t that mean quarantine?”

Luo Mingchen remembered reading about this before—in ancient times, once someone caught an epidemic, they would all be killed and everything burned.

Xiao Lin frowned. “How do you know that?”

Hua Yaoyue chuckled, pointing to himself. “Me. The famous poison doctor. How do you think I know?”

“Then you should be able to cure it, right?”

Luo Mingchen recalled what Huo Yan had once told him. “Didn’t you say you could save someone even with half a breath left?”

And these people still had several breaths in them.

“That claim of saving someone with half a breath? Utter nonsense.”

Hua Yaoyue bit into the lamb leg again and complained: “This isn’t as good as your cooking.”

Huo Yan snatched the lamb leg right out of his hand. “Keep stalling and you won’t get any.”

Empty-handed, Hua Yaoyue looked miserable. “Seriously, can’t you people respect me a little? Strictly speaking, I’m your senior brother. Is this how you treat a senior?”

Luo Mingchen smiled. “Senior brother, if you can solve this, I’ll roast you a whole lamb. If you can’t, then please stop spouting nonsense and delaying treatment.”

After all, this was an epidemic!

It was contagious!

And they often mingled with the people—who knew if they’d already carried it home?

Children had weaker immunity. For adults it might just be a fever, but for the three kids, who knew how it might turn out.

“At this early stage of the epidemic, since no one has died from it yet, treatment is definitely possible. I’ve already prepared the medicine. But we’ll need to spray it all over the city, and those who are sick must be gathered together for observation. The healthy must also drink the medicine. If, within three days, they don’t develop recurring fever or chills, then they’re safe.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen clapped him on the shoulder with a grin and returned the lamb leg from Huo Yan’s hand. “Senior brother, see? That wasn’t so hard. Don’t worry—once this is over, we’ll throw a barbecue party. You’ll eat your fill.”

Hua Yaoyue: “…”

What a lightning-fast change in attitude.

Xiao Lin let out a breath of relief. “Then we’ll get to work.”

Huo Yan said: “Notify General Hu.”

This was something General Hu absolutely had to be informed of.

Even just for procuring enough medicinal herbs, they needed to discuss it together.

Luo Mingchen had been about to go with them when Hua Yaoyue said: “Wait, I need a word with you.”

“Hm?”

When Luo Mingchen realized Hua Yaoyue was speaking to him, he glanced at Huo Yan, then stayed behind.

Once Huo Yan and the others had left, Hua Yaoyue smiled. “There isn’t enough of the preventative medicine. But, I have some seeds. How about you help me plant them?”

“Me?”

Luo Mingchen was silent for a moment. “It’s too cold. They won’t grow.”

“You’ve got that ancestral powder, don’t you? I don’t know what it’s made of, but I’m sure you can make them grow. It’ll only take four or five days. Am I right?”

Seeing Hua Yaoyue’s confident look, Luo Mingchen’s expression grew complicated.

He wanted to say: in his space, a single day would be enough. For faster-growing herbs, even half a day.