To the north of the Tang Dynasty lay a vast, boundless grassland, long the homeland of tribes that wandered in search of water and pasture. Though minor conflicts occasionally arose, overall peace prevailed—until recently, when the grassland's tranquility was shattered. An ambitious chieftain named Batul, using cunning strategy and influence, united several powerful tribes into an unprecedented Grassland Alliance.
Soon, the grassland echoed with the thunder of hooves and billows of dust. The Alliance formed a formidable cavalry: riders on robust steeds, wielding sharp sabers that glinted in the sun, galloped across the plains with high morale. Smaller tribes fled their path, and the entire grassland trembled at their might. News of the Alliance's rise swept like a storm through the Tang imperial court, where ministers gathered in grave, tense silence. The Tang's lengthy border had once been manageable against scattered tribes, but now faced a unified, powerful foe—a crisis that threatened both civilian safety and the dynasty's stability.
In court, Li Yi presented the situation with urgency and clarity, outlining his carefully devised response. He acted swiftly, first reorganizing border defenses. Scattered garrisons were consolidated, elite troops deployed to key strategic points. In mountain passes difficult to attack, he stationed seasoned archers and spear soldiers, with watchtowers erected on slopes where sentries scanned the grassland day and night. On open grassland frontiers, he formed mobile cavalry units—skilled riders on sturdy horses, ready to intercept sudden raids like arrows from a bow.
Li Yi personally supervised the construction of towering, fortified walls along the border, a colossal dragon-like barrier. Beacon towers stood at intervals, their fires ready to signal enemy situation via rising smoke. Beneath the walls, a deep, swift-moving moat encircled the border, crossed by a drawbridge that stayed raised except for verified traffic.
Beyond military measures, Li Yi prioritized intelligence. He dispatched cunning scouts disguised as herders or merchants to infiltrate Grassland Alliance territory, risking their lives to gather intel on troop numbers, equipment, and battle plans. Like stealthy leopards, they evaded detection, delivering information that allowed Li Yi to anticipate the Alliance's every move.
Yet as tensions rose, a critical issue emerged: harsh border conditions and frequent contact with grassland communities exposed soldiers to endemic diseases. Symptoms varied: some suffered persistent fever and weakness, others painful skin ulcers oozing pus, while others endured violent vomiting and diarrhea, wasting away. These illnesses not only tormented soldiers but crippled troop morale and readiness.
Lin Yue, upon learning of the crisis, was determined to help. "Soldiers bleed on the front lines to protect our country and people—it's my duty as a healer to save them," she declared. She began by compiling detailed medical records of infected soldiers, then traveled to border camps despite the danger. Witnessing their suffering, she examined each soldier meticulously, noting every symptom.
Back at her clinic, Lin Yue pored over ancient medical texts, but found little on grassland diseases rare in Central Plains. Undeterred, she sought wisdom from border herders, who shared traditional remedies: a herb paste for ulcers, animal fat for early-stage symptoms. Lin Yue documented these, testing each remedy rigorously. After countless trials, she developed a miraculous potion by blending grassland herbs in precise ratios, proven effective against most ailments through self-testing.
She rallied students and assistants to mass-produce the potion, overseeing every step—harvesting, processing, and blending—with strict care. Once delivered to camps, soldiers recovered rapidly under her guidance, their smiles and renewed vitality boosting morale. Lin Yue also implemented hygiene protocols: regular bathing, ent cleaning, and waste disposal. Medical students conducted routine checkups to preempt health issues.
Thanks to Li Yi and Lin Yue's efforts, Tang border defenses stabilized. Healthy, motivated troops deterred the Grassland Alliance, which hesitated to attack such prepared defenses, leading to a tense standoff. Lin Yue continued refining treatments and prevention strategies, while Li Yi strengthened alliances with neighboring regions, sharing intelligence and training troops in cavalry, combat, and tactics.
In this turbulent era, Lin Yue and Li Yi—one healing soldiers with skill, the other safeguarding the nation with wisdom—became beacons of hope. Their legacy as guardians of Tang's border and champions of its people would endure in legend, a testament to courage, compassion, and unyielding resolve.