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Chapter 57: Letter from Hanyang [1]

Ganghyuk went out of the room after comforting the scholar, with Dolseok following him.

“Sir, will you go to the next room?”

“Yes, I will.”

“We have a serious patient here.” Dolseok opened the door with a dark face, causing the emergence of a bad odor again. However this time, not only was there a bloody smell, but also that of a decomposing body.

In the room was a man wearing a policeman costume. Although he was breathless, he seemed to be conscious. As Dolseok mentioned, his status seemed to be terrible indeed.

“The arms are almost cut.”

“Yes, I tied but…”

“Ah, was he coming with you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Heum…”

Ganghyuk went to the policeman and saw that more than eighty percent of his wrist was cut off. It seemed that the enemy did not have good skills; his bone was not cut, but shattered.

It had been long time since his wrist was cut. It seemed Ganghyuk could not suture it anymore. That might have been possible if he came here right after the attack.

‘The hands below the wrist have already gone dead.’

The color of the hand had changed to black, and was the cause of the rotten smell. It was really not a good situation.

‘It is impossible…’

He was fortunate to meet Dolseok, as he did not lose much blood thanks to the latter’s quick first aid.

Ganghyuk looked at Dolseok with a satisfied expression on his face.

“You did a good job.”

“Did I?” Dolseok smiled while scratching his head. There was pale smile on the patient’s face as well.

Ganghyuk, who was already very famous in Suwon, told Dolseok that he did a good job. It was a good signal.

“You tied him in time, which saved his life. How do you feel? Very painful?”

“I feel better than when I was first injured.”

“Of course!”

It meant that the nerves were already been gone.

“Eum…”

It was hard to say that he would be cutting off his arm. It was not the modern society after all. In Joseon, working force was very important, and now this man would be losing an arm.

Although it was the left arm, it was a bad incident anyway.

‘That is why we learn the subject ‘To tell bad news’ in the university.’

He thought about it during his study days, and it became more certain when he had to actually use it.

It was useless; bad news was bad news at the end.

“First of all, you have survived.”

“Thank you.”

The patient bowed without knowing of the next statement of Ganghyuk. The latter did not pause, and told him right away.

“But, we need to cut an arm.”

“Yes?”

“Dolseok tied your arm so you could live, but this part cannot be revived.”

“But…” He groaned while looking at the dangling arm. He probably was feeling totally lost right now.

“The color has already been changed.”

“Yes…”

“The flesh is dead. If we leave it as it is, you will lose the upper part as well.”

“Ah…”

It might be more accurate to tell that viruses would eat the remaining part too. But, he did not want to use more frightening expressions; the patient was shuddering already anyway.

“Dolseok, open the bag.:

“Yes, sir.”

He told Dolseok the names of the things that he should search for, and then turned his head toward the policeman.

He was half conscious, and seemed like he could hear nothing. However, he had to tell him what he would do.

“The operation will end soon. Do not worry too much.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have family?”

“Yes…I have a wife and children.”

He had dependents, but he would lose an arm. This thought and the future implications had him feeling totally lost.

“Where do you live?”

“It is not far from here.”

“What did you do to earn a living?”

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“My wife does needlework, and I was a farmer. I helped a nobleman to classify and arrange the books too.”

Ganghyuk did not have any interest in needlework, but arranging books stimulated his interest.

“Did you sort the books? Can you read Chinese characters?”

“Yes, I can read enough to distinguish book titles.”

“Oh, I will give you a job. Turn the head away.”

“Okay, sir.”

Dolseok finished the preparation for the operation while they had the conversation. He took out gloves and arranged things so that Ganghyuk could use them conveniently: he was a good assistant.

“See here?” Ganghyuk pointed a white round tube on the section.

“Yes, sir.”

“This is an artery.”

“You told me it was red. But, this one is white.”

“That’s because the blood is not circulating here. You had tied it after all.”

“Aha!”

“This one should be tied separately so that blood will not come out through it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ganghyuk tied the artery with thread. The operation was easier because the blood had not been circulating for some time.

And then, the veins were even easier to handle.

“Now, we have tied all the blood vessels. Let’s cut off the rest of the part.”

“Eu…”

The policeman’s body shuddered at the remark to cut.

“Keep still. Tell me if you feel pains.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ganghyuk took out the local anesthetic while complaining about not having systemic anesthetics. But on second thought, it was still better than nothing.

“It will be painful.”

As most of the part was cut, the area for injection was small. Ganghyuk finished injection at no time and then picked up scissors.

“I will cut it with this.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hold him tight.”

“Okay.”

With a hideous sound, the arm was cut off directly. The policeman stayed still with his head turned away. Ganghyuk’s remark to give him work had somewhat comforted him.

“It is better to close the section by sewing with thread.”

“Ah, we will not leave it in this status?”

“Of course not. Have you seen a case where I left the open wound without suture?”

“No, sir.”

“The same principle will be applied to this case.”

“Okay, sir.” Dolseok watched Ganghyuk close the wound while nodding his head, the latter finishing it quickly and delicately. He did it proficiently, without any hesitation or mistakes, showing only perfect movements.

“Good. Everything is done now.”

“Is it finished?”

“No, it is the beginning for him. It will be more important from now on. I will take him for getting approval from the governor.

“Eum…”

It meant that Ganghyuk would take him to his house. Dolseok was interested in the economy of the house, so he did not like the idea.

Where could he use a man with a single arm?

“What do you mean with ‘eum’?”

“No, sir. I will follow your decision. But…” Dolseok whispered to him in a way that did not match with his big body.

“What?”

“You told him you would give him a job. Do you think you will use him at home?”

“Why not?”

“Where will you use him?”

“I don’t know. But, he knows Chinese characters. I am sure there is stuff we can get him to do.”

“I see. I will deliver the message.”

His master had said that he would take the patient to home. So, there was nothing that Dolseok could do except for nodding his head and complying.

“Are there any more of them?

“No, sir. The rest of them died on the way here.” Dolseok shuddered because of the memory of the last night. He must have been lying on the field if it had not been for Makbong.

The Japanese bandits were too fierce and strong.

“It is a miracle that our group survived.”

“Yes, Yeoni and Makbong did a good job this time.”

“Yes, I will take them wherever I go.”

“Will you go somewhere, again?”

Gwanggyomeyon and Anseong…And this time, it was the battlefield. It had been two months since he left home. Although Dolseok was a servant, he was not accustomed to roaming around.

It was natural that he did not like it.

“Ah, I did not mean that. I would like to take a rest as well of course.”

“Hugh… I am relieved.”

Ganghyuk laughed while watching Dolseok giving a sigh of relief. ‘I will take a rest, but you won’t.’

He would ask the governor to get the toads. Then, Dolseok would have to do stuff too. He would order the servants to get the toads as well, in which case, Dolseok was the most reliable one. So, he had no intention to give the latter any holidays.

‘I cannot experiment it on humans of course.’

It was a kind of poison, so he could not use it on human beings right away. He had to make an experiment on animals first. Then the easiest ones were dogs. Cows or horses were too expensive, and chickens were not good references.

Dolseok would have to dedicate himself to toad and dog hunting for a while.

Ganghyuk patted Dolseok’s back and returned to the patient. “When it is over here, follow me. You can earn more with book sorting and arrangement at my home.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you!” The policeman thanked Ganghyuk profusely, knowing well how big a grace this was.

When Ganghyuk came out of the room, it was already dark.

“Dolseok…”

“Yes, sir?”

“The cavalry will not lose, right?”

“I don’t think so. In the field, even the fiercest bandits could not be a match the cavalry soldiers.”

“Then, the fire must be ours.”

Ganghyuk pointed at the queue of torches that had filled the village.

“Well, it is too dark to distinguish people.”

“Call our guys.”

“Yes…What should I tell them?”

“If something happens, we will run away.”

“Okay, sir.”

Dolseok had the same thought about not being involved in the war anymore. Hence, he brought all of the fellows in no time, namely Yeoju, Yeoni, and Makbong.

“Get some food and weapons.”

“Yes, sir.”

“It seems the torches belong to our team, but I want to be sure.” Ganghyuk pointed at the torches while holding his bag. It would be difficult to fight against them because they seemed like a big troop.

“Yes.”

…

A while later, they heard the sound of horses’ hooves.

Dududu!

There were some military officers who became visible, and the one in the front was quite familiar to Ganghyuk: it was an officer of Shin Rip. He could still remember the latter cutting the neck of a Japanese bandit.

‘Ah, we won!’

As a matter of fact, Shin Rip had dispatched an advance party. The officer shouted with a pleasant face. “We attacked their base and killed them all. The general will come soon. Be ready to welcome him.”

All of the people except the injured went to the entry of the village. Shin Rip and Kim Yungil returned in triumph, and the war ended.

…

It was a victory anyway, even though they had a lot of dead people. Therefore, the governor was very happy. He hosted the funeral of Changgweon grandly as he had promised.

“As his house is too small, it is better to hold the funeral in the government office.”

At the proposal of the governor, Seungmun shook his head. “No! How about doing it in my house? I feel bad because my student was killed in a strange place.”

“Ah! Okay, I will follow your decision.”

“Yeah, I will manage it all.”

“I see. Then, I will support with the materials and people.”

“Good!”

The highest authority and the richest man in Suwon cooperated for Changgweon’s funeral. Therefore, his funeral was magnificent. Scholars in Eotanmyeon and all the villagers came to visit and show their respect.

Seungmun was satisfied with the funeral.

“Changgweon lived a good life.”

“Yes, sir. He saved my life as well.”

“I heard the story. You did a good job too. I am proud of you.”

“No, not at all.”

Seungmun laughed and then gave him something. “It is for you.”

“What is this?”

“One is a letter from Sunshin, and the other is a letter from Heo Jun. They asked you to come to Hanyang. When everything is sorted out here, pay them a visit in Hanyang.