Chapter 89 — The Medicine Bearer Through the Chaos

Dawn After the Storm

The remaining two attacks that Great Khan Truy Phong expected did not come immediately as everyone feared. Instead, for four days after the moonless night battle, the Northern enemy army only maintained the siege, occasionally harassing with sporadic arrow fire, as if waiting for something — perhaps news of the disease and exhaustion inside the citadel that their reconnaissance teams were constantly gathering.

During that temporary silence, Tinh Yen and her team took advantage of every moment to strengthen epidemic prevention work. Thanks to drastic quarantine and water treatment measures, the number of new cases is starting to show signs of leveling off, although the number of previously infected people will still need close care for many days to come before it can be considered safe.

"The epidemic curve is going down." Linghu Baquan reported in the morning meeting, his voice was now completely different from the initial skepticism, carrying an undisguised admiration. "If it weren't for the measures Doctor Do proposed from the first days, I don't dare to imagine how terrible the number of casualties from the epidemic would be while the city was under siege."

However, that small consolation was quickly overshadowed by another infuriating discovery. While inventorying the main medicine stockpile of Thai Y Vien to plan distribution for the following days, Linh Ho Ba Tuyen discovered that a large part of the precious medicine - which was recorded in the books as having been allotted to the first aid stations many days ago - was still in a little-known sub-depot, under the direct management of an official of the Ministry of Ho Chi Minh City, whom Can Ba Thong had installed in the position of warehouse supervisor before the war broke out.

"Even after being deprived of the right to mobilize food, he still has ways to sabotage from the shadows." Kinh Ba Van said, with a rare angry voice, when the news was reported. "This is no longer corruption for personal gain, this is intentional behavior that weakens the capital's own defenses in the midst of danger — a crime that cannot be justified."

Nhuoc Tran, after receiving the report, immediately ordered people to arrest the warehouse manager and all related personnel, and at the same time sealed the sub-warehouse area for a thorough investigation. The evidence this time is so clear and direct that no one, including mandarins who were sympathetic or beholden to Can Ba Thong in the past, can still find a way to defend him.

In the afternoon of the same day, another piece of news brought a rare bit of light amid tense days - a reinforcement army from Nghinh Phong, led by Dinh Ba Kham himself, had found a way through the loose siege in the South, where the Northern enemy army had gathered less force, to enter the capital city carrying food, medicine and an elite army that had battle experience after many months of defending the Long Mon pass.

"I heard that Nghinh Phong was in danger, I couldn't sit still." Dinh Ba Kham said that when he was led to present himself to Ve Khai Trach right at the command post, his face was dirty with road dust but his eyes were still bright with determination. "Lu Bat agreed to let me lead part of the most elite troops here, believing that the capital needs us more than anywhere else right now."

The arrival of reinforcements not only brought valuable material resources, but also added great spirit to the entire defense force, which was tired after many days of holding out. Ve Khai Trach, after hearing the full report, decided to take advantage of this opportunity to organize a calculated counterattack, instead of continuing the passive defense as before.

The counterattack took place on a foggy morning, when limited visibility became an unexpected advantage for the Dong Lam army. Thanh Phong, although his arm was still wrapped in bandages, resolutely asked to participate in commanding a flank attack with Dinh Ba Kham's elite army, taking advantage of his understanding of the terrain and coordination experience gained from the days of fighting together in Nghinh Phong.

The battle raged for nearly an entire day, but thanks to the element of surprise and strengthened fighting spirit, Dong Lam's army gradually gained the upper hand, repelling a significant part of the besieging force, forcing Dai Khan Truy Phong to withdraw his troops to consolidate their position further away from the citadel wall. In the midst of the enemy's chaotic retreat, Thanh Phong recognized a familiar face among the enemy ranks - General Khac Do, who once guided Tinh Yen to Go Say village to find him.

In a brief moment amid the chaos of the battle, when a group of Dong Lam soldiers surrounded a small group of wounded enemy soldiers who were no longer able to fight, Thanh Phong ordered them to lay down their weapons and surrender instead of destroying them, remembering Tinh Yen's story about the respect that Khac Do once showed her in the middle of the enemy camp. From afar, he saw that scene, nodded slightly before turning his horse and retreating with the rest of his army, as a silent thank you without needing to speak.

Right on the night after the successful counterattack, amidst the chaotic flow of refugees trying to take advantage of the situation to blend out of the citadel to find a way to survive, Ton Ba Nghi's patrol team caught a man in clumsy disguise, trying to hide through a side gate with few guards. When being escorted for questioning, this person finally had to admit his true identity - it was Chu Dac Hoanh, the Governor Luong who had escaped from Nghinh Phong many months ago, but unexpectedly had been hiding right in the capital city all this time, waiting for a chaotic opportunity to find a way to escape again.

"Bring him under strict custody." Nhuoc Tran ordered when she received the news, her voice full of determination. "This time, there will be no second chance for him to escape. I want him to declare everything he knows, before Can Ba Thong's trial continues."

News of Chu Dac Hoanh's capture quickly spread to Tinh Yen's ears while she was at the first aid station, bandaging the hands of a wounded soldier who had just been brought in after the battle. She paused for a moment, clearly feeling her heart beating faster at that news - the person who directly withheld the medicine that caused so many people in Nghinh Phong to die unjustly, and perhaps, also the person who held the final key to confirm the connection between the July epidemic last year and Can Ba Thong's plot, was now finally caught.

She finished her unfinished work, then stood still for a moment looking out at the night sky that had begun to clear again after many days of darkness due to the smoke and fire of battle, clearly feeling that something was gradually ending - not completely ending, but certainly the most important turning point since the day she began her journey to uncover the truth so long ago.

That night, Thanh Phong went to the first aid station after handing over the battle work to the deputy generals, and found Tinh Yen sitting on a wooden chair on the porch, his eyes closed from exhaustion but his hand still clutching a roll of gauze as if ready to jump up anytime there was a new emergency case.

"You should go inside and rest properly." He spoke softly, sitting down next to her, not waking her up right away, but just quietly observing her haggard face from many sleepless nights.

Tinh Yen opened her eyes, recognized him, and smiled tiredly. "I was just going to take a nap." She said. "I heard that the counterattack was successful, and also the news that Chu Dac Hoanh was captured. Perhaps, this is the best day we have had since the siege began."

"I think so too." Thanh Phong replied, his eyes looking far into the horizon where starlight had begun to peek through the fading clouds. "But I know, Great Khan Truong Phong will not accept this defeat easily. My father said, he is an arrogant man, and arrogant people when cornered often become more dangerous than ever."

"We'll face whatever he's up to, just like we've faced everything up until now." Tinh Yen said, her voice had regained some stability even though her body was still exhausted. "But tonight, at least, let me enjoy this rare bit of peace, even if just for a moment."

He nodded slightly, his healthy arms gently hugged her shoulders, they both sat quietly under the gradually clearing night sky, no need for any additional words, only the warmth transmitted from that simple hug was enough to somewhat ease the pent-up tension over the past few days, before both were forced to return to the responsibilities that await tomorrow.