Doctor Goes Back to Joseon - Chapter 57: A Letter from Hanyang [1]

Kang-hyuk reassured the Confucian scholar before leaving the room.

Dolseok hurriedly followed him out.

“Young Master, you’re heading to the next room, right?”

“Yes, I should.”

“This one is a serious case though….”

With a grim face, Dolseok opened the door.

The moment the door opened, a foul stench hit them.

It wasn’t just the metallic scent of blood but a faint smell of decay mixed in.

Inside, a man in a constable’s uniform lay on his side.

He was breathing heavily, but his consciousness seemed intact.

However, just as Dolseok had said, his condition didn’t look good.

“His arm is almost severed.”

“Yes. I’ve tied it off as best as I could….”

“Oh, is he a soldier you were with?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Hmm.”

Kang-hyuk tilted his head as he approached the soldier.

The arm was nearly 80% severed.

Whoever had swung the weapon wasn’t particularly skilled, the bone wasn’t cleanly cut but was instead shattered into fragments.

Too much time had passed since it was severed.

If surgery had been performed immediately, there might have been a chance, but now it was impossible.

“The blood circulation below the elbow is completely cut off, the tissue is all dead.”

The skin had already turned a dark reddish-black color.

The source of the stench was clear.

It wasn’t good.

“There’s no way to reattach this arm.”

Thanks to Dolseok’s quick action, the bleeding had been controlled, and the patient hadn’t lost too much blood.

It was probably the reason the soldier was still conscious.

Kang-hyuk glanced at Dolseok with an approving expression.

“You did well.”

“Really?”

Dolseok scratched the back of his head awkwardly, grinning sheepishly.

A faint smile also spread across the patient’s face.

For someone from Suwon, it was a good omen to hear Kang-hyuk praise their efforts.

“Thanks to the timely bandaging, you’ve survived. How’s the pain?”

“It’s better than when it first happened.”

“That’s to be expected.”

The nerve endings had been dead for quite some time.

“Hmm.”

Even for Kang-hyuk, it wasn’t easy to tell someone to their face that their arm needed to be amputated.

Especially not in a time like this, where society wasn’t modern.

In an era where manual labor was crucial, losing an arm—albeit the left one—was a major issue.

‘Now I see why we had a class called “Delivering Bad News” in school.’

Even during his training, he’d felt the subject was pointless. But now, having to apply it, the truth became clear.

It was utterly useless.

Bad news is bad news, no matter how you deliver it.

“Your life isn’t in danger, at least.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The soldier bowed his head, unaware of what would come next.

Kang-hyuk wasted no time delivering the rest.

“But the arm needs to be amputated.”

“What?”

“Thanks to Dolseok, your life was saved, but this arm can’t be salvaged.”

“But….”

The man glanced at his dangling arm, muttering to himself.

He must have felt as though the world was collapsing around him.

“The color has already changed, hasn’t it?”

“Yes….”

“The flesh is dead. If we leave it, the decay will spread to the rest of your body.”

“Oh….”

Technically, it wasn’t decay but bacterial infection. But there was no need to frighten him further with details.

He was already trembling.

“Dolseok, bring the medical bag.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

After instructing Dolseok on what supplies to prepare, Kang-hyuk turned back to the soldier.

The man appeared half-dazed, unable to register anything being said.

Still, there were things that needed to be addressed.

“The surgery will be quick, so don’t worry too much.”

“Uh….”

“Do you have a family?”

“Yes, I have a wife and children.”

A family to support, even without an arm.

“Where’s your home?”

“Not far from here.”

“What did you do for a living?”

“My wife does needlework, and I farm. Sometimes, I help organize books for the nobles.”

Needlework wasn’t remarkable, but the mention of organizing books piqued his interest.

“You organize books? Can you read?”

“I can recognize titles to some extent.”

“Alright…. For now, don’t worry about your livelihood. Just turn your head.”

“Yes….”

While exchanging these words, Dolseok finished preparing for the surgery.

Gloves and instruments were neatly laid out.

Teaching Dolseok had made things much more convenient.

“Now, look here.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Kang-hyuk pointed at the white, round tube visible at the severed edge.

“This is an artery.”

“You said arteries were red, but this one’s white.”

“That’s because there’s no blood flowing through it. You tied it off, remember?”

“Ah.”

“This needs to be tied up separately so it doesn’t burst open.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Kang-hyuk carefully tied off the artery with thread.

Since blood had stopped flowing a while ago, the procedure was relatively easy.

Veins were even easier.

“Now that the major vessels are tied off, let’s move on to the rest.”

“Ugh.”

At the mention of cutting, the soldier flinched.

“Stay still. Let me know if it hurts.”

“Yes….”

Kang-hyuk lamented the absence of general anesthesia and took out a local anesthetic.

It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

“This will sting a bit.”

With most of the arm already severed, the area to inject was minimal.

Kang-hyuk quickly administered the injection and grabbed a pair of scissors.

“This is what I’ll use to cut it.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Hold on tight.”

“Yes.”

With a slicing sound, the soldier’s arm was fully amputated.

Fortunately, he remained still, his head turned away.

He seemed somewhat reassured by Kang-hyuk’s earlier promise to ensure he could still make a living.

“The exposed surface needs to be stitched closed now.”

“Ah…. So it can’t just be left open.”

“Of course not. Have you ever seen me leave a wound gaping open?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Exactly. It’s the same idea.”

“Ah, I see.”

Dolseok nodded repeatedly, watching Kang-hyuk’s skilled hands.

His movements were fluid and confident, as though he had encountered such injuries countless times.

There was no hesitation or error—just perfection.

“Good. It’s all done now.”

“Is this the end?”

“No, this is where it really starts for him. Let’s inform the Deputy Governor to take him home.”

“Hmm.”

It was a suggestion to take on another dependent. Dolseok, who cared more about household affairs than Kang-hyuk, immediately looked troubled. After all, what use could a man with a severed arm have?

“What’s that ‘hmm’ about?”

“Ah, nothing. I’ll follow your wishes, Young Master. It’s just….”

Dolseok mumbled in a small voice, uncharacteristic for his large frame.

“Just what?”

“Earlier, when you told him not to worry about making a living… that’s because you’re planning to use him at home, right?”

“Is that a problem?”

“What work can he possibly do?”

“I don’t know. He said he can read. I’ll leave it to Father to figure it out.”

“Young Master, honestly. Fine, I’ll relay the message.”

When the master had decided, there was little left for Dolseok to say. He could only nod.

“Is there anyone else left?”

“No. The others died on the way….”

Dolseok shuddered, recalling the horrors of the previous night. The Wae pirates had attacked so ferociously that if not for Makbong, Dolseok himself might also have been lying dead in the field.

“It’s a miracle our party all survived.”

“Yes, Yeon and Makbong did an incredible job this time.”

“Exactly. From now on, we’ll need to bring them along wherever we go.”

“Where are you planning to go next?”

From Gwanggyo to Anseong, and now even to the battlefield. It had already been over two months since they’d returned home. Even as a servant, Dolseok wasn’t accustomed to such prolonged wandering. It was only natural that he looked close to tears.

“Oh, no, nowhere for now. I need a break too.”

“That’s a relief.”

Kang-hyuk laughed at Dolseok’s obvious sigh of relief.

‘I might rest, but you won’t.’

Of course, there was no way Kang-hyuk could remain idle while asking the Deputy Governor to deal with the toad remedy. He’d have to deploy his servants, and the most reliable among them was Dolseok, so leaving him idle wasn’t an option.

‘You can’t use a toad’s venom directly on people.’

It was poison, after all, and couldn’t be recklessly used. Experiments had to be conducted, and the easiest test subjects were dogs. Cattle and horses were too valuable, and chickens wouldn’t provide meaningful results.

Dolseok would likely spend a good while hunting toads and dogs.

Kang-hyuk patted Dolseok on the back and returned to the patient.

“Once everything here is sorted, come with me. Even just organizing books will earn you more than before.”

“Oh… Yes! Thank you.”

The soldier repeatedly bowed to Kang-hyuk, the man who had amputated his arm.

By the time they stepped outside, darkness had already fallen.

“Dolseok.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Our cavalry didn’t lose, right?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. Earlier, on the field, those fearsome pirates didn’t stand a chance.”

“Then that fire over there must be ours, right?”

Kang-hyuk pointed to the line of torches surrounding the village.

“Uh… not sure. It’s hard to tell in the dark.”

“Call the others for now.”

“Yes. What should I say it’s about?”

“Just in case we need to run.”

“Understood, Young Master!”

Dolseok, equally uninterested in being caught up in another fight, quickly rounded up the group. Yeoju, who had been sniffling, Yeon, who had been consoling her, and Makbong, who was offering awkward words of comfort, were all gathered.

“Grab food, weapons, and anything else we might need.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“It looks like they’re our allies, but we can’t be sure.”

“Understood.”

Kang-hyuk, holding his medical bag, pointed toward the torches. There were too many of them, making it clear that resistance would be futile if it came to a fight.

Before long, the sound of a small group of galloping horses reached them.

—Dudududu

Startled, they turned to see armored soldiers. Leading the group was a man whose face Kang-hyuk recognized—a subordinate of General Shin Rip. He vividly recalled the man beheading a Wae pirate in one stroke.

‘Ah, we’ve won.’

It turned out that Shin Rip had sent an advance team ahead.

Sure enough, the officer shouted with a bright expression.

“We’ve struck the pirates’ base and crushed them! The General will be here soon, so prepare to welcome him!”

Aside from the wounded, everyone went to the village entrance. Soon, Shin Rip and Magistrate Kim Yoon-gil marched in triumphantly. Thus, the war had ended.

It had been a somewhat bumpy journey, but ultimately, it was a victory.

The Deputy Governor was in high spirits because of it.

True to his promise, he personally arranged an elaborate funeral for Chang-gwon.

“The house is too small for a proper ceremony. It might be better to use the county office,” suggested the Deputy Governor.

Seungmun shook his head.

“Wouldn’t it be better to hold it at my home? It’s unsettling to think of my student dying in a foreign place.”

“Ah, is that so? Then let’s do that.”

“That seems best.”

“Very well. I’ll provide the necessary materials and manpower.”

“That would be appreciated.”

Thanks to the combined efforts of Suwon’s most influential and wealthy figures, Chang-gwon’s funeral turned out to be exceptionally grand. Even the Confucian scholars and commoners of Eotan-myeon came to pay their respects, turning the funeral into a bustling event.

Seungmun, mourning his lost student, smiled faintly for the first time in a while.

“At least Chang-gwon didn’t live in vain.”

“Yes, Father. I owe my life to him as well.”

“I heard the story. You’ve been through a lot. Well done, truly well done.”

“No, I didn’t do much.”

Seungmun chuckled hollowly and pulled something from his pocket.

“Ah, this came for you.”

“What is it?”

“A letter from Sun-shin and another from Heo Jun. They’re asking you to visit Hanyang once things are settled here.”