Chapter 119: Zhang Yu's Deliberations

Inside the city inn.

"I wonder if Master Yuanhua would be willing to accompany me to Hebei?"

"Hua Tuo is deeply respectful of you, my lord. However, traveling the world to provide relief to the common people has been my ambition since childhood. I am afraid I cannot follow you."

Zhang Yu met Hua Tuo’s gaze and immediately understood the misunderstanding. Hua Tuo likely assumed that Zhang Yu valued his medical skills only for selfish reasons, wanting to keep him close as a personal physician.

Realizing this, Zhang Yu smiled and said respectfully, "I am well aware of your great sense of duty, Master Yuanhua. You should also know that I hold those in the medical profession in the highest regard."

These words moved Hua Tuo. He praised, "To possess such a noble status yet remain humble and calm is truly rare. But even more precious is your benevolent heart, which has won my sincere admiration."

"The reason I made that request was not to bind you to my side, but because I wish to help you establish a medical school."

"A medical school?"

"I know of your noble aspirations, but human strength has its limits. We live in an era of war; even if you were to travel across mountains and rivers for decades, how many people could you truly save? My idea for this school is to use you and your peerless medical skills as the cornerstone. I will help you recruit students who wish to learn the healing arts. They will study under you, and once their training is complete, they will go out to save others. Would that not allow you to save far more lives?"

Hua Tuo’s eyes lit up. He had never heard of such a concept, but upon reflection, he found it brilliant. Unlike those who hoarded their secrets and wished for their peers to vanish, he saw the potential.

"The world calls medicine a menial profession, but in my view, that is utter nonsense. Without healers, how could the people live in peace? When these apprentices go out, they will carry your name as your disciples. Every person they save will add to your merit, and the people of the Han will have a better chance at survival. I implore you not to refuse!"

Refuse? Hua Tuo’s voice trembled with excitement. He bowed deeply and replied, "What you propose, my lord, is the foundation for our profession for generations to come. It is a noble endeavor that will benefit me, my fellow healers, and all the people of the Han. Honored by your trust, I am willing to follow you, to open this school for the sake of the world, and I shall hold nothing back!"

With that, Zhang Yu and Hua Tuo gripped each other's hands firmly.

Hua Tuo knew that in this world, only Zhang Yu possessed both the appreciation for his craft and the capability to make such a grand vision a reality. Zhang Yu, meanwhile, knew he had secured Hua Tuo. If he could later lure Zhang Ji, who had no desire for officialdom, into the fold, wouldn’t he have the greatest medical institution in all of China?

In this age, mobility was the greatest guarantee of efficiency.

Inside a temple, Zhi Ping and Zhang Yu sat opposite each other, with Jing Shu standing behind Zhang Yu.

"I never imagined that I would see the Imperial Brother again."

"And I, on the other hand, had already foreseen everything."

"...What do you mean, young master?"

"Of your Yuezhi tribe, how many remain at this moment?"

"In Chang'an and our various contacts across the regions, there are four thousand three hundred in total."

"I have come to fulfill my promise."

"If I may be blunt, young master, you are currently struggling to save yourself. The most powerful man in Chang'an, Grand Preceptor Dong, likely does not even know you are still alive."

"Haha, you need not worry about that. The methods of this young master are beyond the comprehension of ordinary men such as you."

"Then what is your intention?" Zhi Ping asked, his tone skeptical.

"When chaos erupts in Chang'an, take your people and seek me out in Hebei."

"Ha, you jest. Hebei is so far from Chang'an; why would we endure such hardship to go there? Since you can no longer fulfill your promise, let our agreement be wiped clean."

"Father, we cannot! Though I have only followed the young master for a short time, I am deeply captivated by his talent. What he says must have its reasons. You should at least listen!"

Jing Shu spoke with such sincerity that Zhang Yu felt a stir in his heart. As for Zhi Ping’s words, he could only suppress a smirk. An agreement? He hadn't gained a single cent from the Yuezhi, so what Zhi Ping called "wiping the slate clean" sounded to Zhang Yu like a total betrayal of faith.

"Do you know of Yuan Shao?"

Zhi Ping frowned. "Naturally. A scion of the Yuan family, whose ancestors served as the Three Excellencies for four generations. He recently defeated Gongsun Zan’s forces at Jieqiao and now has a great chance to unify Hebei."

"He and I are like brothers," Zhang Yu smiled. "If your Yuezhi tribe seeks a great tree to shelter under, is there any better destination in this world, or a more suitable candidate than the Yuan family?"

Zhi Ping fell silent, eventually saying, "If it is as you say, and great chaos is coming to Chang'an, I will consider moving to Hebei. At that time, I will have to rely on you to provide us a place to stay."

"Agreed."

"Shu, see our guest out."

"Father..." Jing Shu bit her lip, hesitating before saying with determination, "I wish to accompany the young master."

What?

Before Zhang Yu could react, Zhi Ping shouted, "Absolutely not! Though the young master may be confident in overcoming danger, I cannot let you take such a risk!"

"No, Father! Forgive me for disobeying you for the first time. But the young master has just recovered from a grave illness; he needs someone to care for him. If I am not by his side, there will be no one to attend to his daily needs. I beg you to permit me..."

"It is impossible!" Zhi Ping puffed his cheeks in anger, while Zhi Qi rushed over to mediate.

"What is going on? Why does this feel so melodramatic?" Zhang Yu thought, bewildered. "Are we in a play?"

"Forgive me for being headstrong this once." After saying this softly, Jing Shu knelt before Zhi Ping and bowed deeply. When she raised her head, her fair forehead was already bruised.

"If you leave, do not return!"

"I... I will wait for you and the others in Hebei."

Inexplicably, Zhang Yu found himself whisked away by Jing Shu.

Like a swallow darting through the air, they vanished into the light alleys. Zhang Yu had to hurry. While Lady Dong Bai’s orders were still effective and news of his escape had not yet spread, he needed to tie up the remaining loose ends in Chang'an.

He had no time for the five friends of the bamboo grove, but there was one more place he had to visit.

Hua Tuo had already left the city with Wang Yue and the others. Lady Dong Bai, perhaps possessing the heart of a heroine, was unwilling to remain in the city, living the life of luxury as the Lady of Weiyang—the very life of "idleness and comfort" that Zhang Yu had once wanted.

She had chosen to follow Wang Yue. Zhang Yu did not object; though he held no special affection for her, she had saved his life at a critical moment, and he could not bear to see her perish in the coming purge.

Using the same methods he used to persuade Hua Tuo, Zhang Yu successfully recruited Wang Yue, the monster-level martial artist. People seek only fame and profit, and Wang Yue was a man who valued his reputation above all.

Zhang Yu promised him the ability to build a martial arts school, train disciples, and become a grandmaster. With a sales pitch that sounded like something out of a fantasy epic, he left the famed Imperial Tutor restless and eager, itching to unify the martial arts world and challenge the legendary Tong Yuan of Hebei.

Everything went surprisingly smoothly, for by now, Zhang Yu’s words carried significant weight.

Fame: He had left Chang'an laden with it—Imperial Brother, Marquis of Wuji, master of the seven-character verse, a literary prodigy of immense talent...

Wealth: To one backed by the Zhang and Zhen families, money was merely a number.

As for why he was recruiting these talents, Zhang Yu had already laid out a grand chessboard in his mind. Ever since he had awakened after escaping Lu Bu’s halberd, he had been planning.

Even he himself had not noticed how much he had changed—or rather, how much of his former innocence had faded away.

Finally, he reached his last stop.

It was also, coincidentally, the first place he had visited upon arriving in Chang'an.

The Minister of the Masses' residence.