Chapter 69 — The Medicine Bearer Through the Chaos

The Siege Tightens

Three days later, as expected, the last supply route connecting Nghinh Phong citadel with the outside world was officially cut off. The last reconnaissance group that tried to cross the southern valley had to return in a miserable condition, with two people injured, reporting that the Northern enemy army had set up a fortified camp right in the middle of the single road, with no possibility of breaking the siege by land anymore.

The news spread quickly throughout the city, bringing with it a wave of smoldering panic among the people, even though the mandarins and generals tried to calm them down in every possible way. Tinh Yen clearly felt the change in the atmosphere every time she passed by the refugee camp — fearful looks, whispers, families starting to gather their few remaining possessions as if preparing for another escape, even though now, there was nowhere else to run to.

"Official food reserves are enough to last about a month if distributed properly." Ve Khai Trach announced during an emergency meeting with generals, his voice heavy. "But I'm not sure if that number is accurate or not, after what we recently discovered about Lord Chu."

Thanh Phong, standing in the line of generals, spoke up, his voice unusually firm. "Father, perhaps it is time for us to act more decisively with Lord Chu, instead of continuing to wait for perfect evidence. The current situation does not allow us the luxury of caution anymore."

Ve Khai Trach pondered for a long time before responding. "I understand your impatience, but if I arrest him right now without a clear crime, and if there is indeed a great power in the court behind him, that action could become an excuse to accuse us in return - of arbitrary, abuse of power in the midst of war, right when our family is still under investigation. I cannot take such risks when the fate of this entire citadel hangs in the balance."

The meeting ended without any definitive decisions being made, only an order to strengthen stricter supervision of all activities related to grain warehouses. Tinh Yen left the meeting with a heavy feeling of helplessness, understanding that sometimes, even when knowing the truth, people still have to wait because of legal and political constraints, while the lives of ordinary people continue to be threatened every day.

In the afternoon, when Tinh Yen was checking the remaining medicine reserves at the military medical station, a loud explosion rang out from the North gate, followed by the unprecedented sound of gongs and drums. She rushed out of the tent immediately, seeing black smoke billowing from the direction of the city gate, along with a stream of panicked people trying to rush deep inside.

"Bac Dich uses trebuchets to attack the North gate!" A soldier shouted loudly as he ran past. "The order to evacuate civilians has been issued, everyone move towards the central square immediately!"

Tinh Yen did not wait another moment, immediately summoned the medical team, and activated the evacuation plan that had been prepared a few days ago. She and Nhuoc Lan led a specialized group to take patients who could not walk on their own out of the current military medical tent, while Ngan Ba Thuyen was in charge of the remaining group to collect the most important medical supplies, leaving behind what could not be carried in time.

"Where's Baby Tep?" Tinh Yen asked urgently when she did not see the child in the quarantine area as usual.

"She's helping the other kids pack their things in the tent next door." A young physician replied, pointing in that direction.

Tinh Yen rushed over and saw Tep and a few other children trying to roll up mats. Her face was full of fear but she still tried to help the children younger than her. Seeing Tinh Yen, the girl immediately ran to her and hugged her leg tightly.

"Miss Yen, that explosion..." She said, her voice trembling.

"It's okay, I'm here." Tinh Yen replied, picking her up, trying to keep her voice reassuring even though her heart was equally confused. "We'll move to a safer place together. Just stay by my side, don't leave, okay?"

The whole camp was plunged into a strangely orderly chaos - everyone was scared, but thanks to the clear instructions that had been disseminated before, the flow of people still moved along the planned routes, without trampling on each other like the terrible scenes Tinh Yen had witnessed during other riots.

Ms. Cuu Tram appeared in the middle of the crowd, still holding the familiar wooden spoon as an inseparable symbol, commanding each group of families to move orderly, her bright voice resounding above the surrounding noise. "The elderly and children go first! Strong men stay to help carry things, don't jostle, there's enough time for everyone!"

Tinh Yen, holding little Tep in one hand and holding an old man who could not walk on his own with the other hand, weaved through the stream of people towards the central square, which had been designated as a temporary safe gathering point. On the way, she caught a glimpse of Thanh Phong from afar, commanding a group of soldiers to reinforce the defense line near the North gate. His face was tense but still exuding the determination of a commander in the midst of a crisis.

She didn't have time to stop, only had time to exchange a brief glance with him from afar before continuing the flow of people, silently praying for his safety amidst the thunderous impact of the trebuchets that continued to strike the city gate.

Arriving at the square, Tinh Yen quickly set up a new temporary treatment station, smaller but enough to handle emergency cases while waiting for the situation to stabilize. Looking around at the sea of people gathering, panicked eyes mixed with fragile hope, she suddenly realized that this was exactly the image she had been most afraid of since the day she set foot in Nghinh Phong - a citadel completely surrounded, with no way out, only the will and courage of the people trying to cling to life in the midst of the howling war storm outside.

Ngan Ba Thuyen arrived not long after, leading the medical supplies he had collected. His face was drenched in sweat but his eyes still maintained the composure of a person who had experienced many events. "I've built two more small tents in the other corner, enough room for cases that need to be monitored overnight." He reported, his voice still steady even though his breathing was still rapid. "Nhuoc Lan is organizing the distribution of drinking water to children and the elderly first, according to the priority order we discussed."

"Good job." Tinh Yen replied, sitting baby Tep down in a safe corner of the tent with a few other children, instructing a young nurse to keep an eye on him before returning to work. "I'll go around to check the general condition and see if anyone else needs immediate medical attention."

She weaved through the sea of people, encountering many familiar faces from the old refugee camp - families she had visited, children she had given fever-reducing medicine to. Some people recognized her, nodded slightly in gratitude even though they no longer had the strength to say a word, some people just held her sleeve for a brief moment as if to find a little comfort amid the panic that surrounded everyone.

A young mother, holding her small child who was crying because she was afraid of the explosion, came to Tinh Yen, pleading in her voice. "Miss, my child is so scared, he won't calm down, I don't know what to do..."

Tinh Yen knelt down to the child's level, gently placed her hand on the baby's forehead for a quick check, then smiled to reassure the mother. "My baby is okay, just scared. Try holding him close, singing softly to him, sometimes the warmth and familiar voice are more effective than any medicine at this time."

The mother nodded, tears rolling down but her eyes softened somewhat, hugged her child tightly and retreated into the crowd. Tinh Yen stood up, watched the mother and child disappear, thinking to herself, in the midst of a big storm like this, sometimes what people need most is not medicine or a miracle, but simply a hand that won't leave them in the midst of extreme fear.

That night, the sound of catapults continued to echo intermittently, mixed with the cries of battle from the citadel walls, while inside the citadel, thousands of people huddled together in the darkness, waiting for dawn with a fear that no one dared to put into words - whether tomorrow, Nghinh Phong citadel would still stand, or would it become another Coconut Lach, once again engulfed in the flames of chaos.