Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3837 Xiao Huang
A cold wind swept across the wilderness of Chenliu County, carrying withered grass and dust, howling loudly.

Wei Yan and Gan Feng led their cavalry, which stretched like a long black dragon across the desolate plains.

The smooth progress over the past few days has given these cavalrymen a strong sense of confidence, even in enemy territory.

Indeed, the cooperative assistance of the towns along the way and the timely replenishment of provisions made their journey from north to south almost like a leisurely outing, with nothing seemingly able to stop their horses.

As they marched, many cavalrymen roared loudly in the wind and sand, displaying their imposing presence.

Some people even joked that they wanted to see what the emperor's palace looked like...

Everything went smoothly, so smoothly that they almost forgot they were fighting deep inside enemy territory.

"We're almost at Xiaohuang County."

Little Yellow is not small.

At its peak, this place had 50,000 to 60,000 households and a population of nearly 200,000.

It's called that because there's a small yellow stream near the county town.

Now, due to the war, the total population and economic well-being of Xiaohuang County have declined significantly, but it is still considered a decent county.

It is at least a million times better than other cities in the Han Dynasty, especially those in the Heluo region.

Wei Yan reined in his horse and squinted at the distant city that looked somewhat weathered under the setting sun.

Gan Feng also stopped his horse, hastily wiped the dust from his face, and grinned, "This journey has been smooth sailing; we haven't encountered any decent resistance. It seems that old scoundrel Cao has truly exhausted all his forces."

Wei Yan nodded and silently observed the city defenses of Xiaohuang County.

The old city walls probably haven't been properly repaired in a long time.

Some of the newly patched seams looked like patches on old clothes.

The city wall wasn't very high, but the gate towers, corner towers, and sentry posts were still there. Soldiers could be seen moving about on it, seemingly running around in a panic, shouting something, because of Wei Yan and his group's arrival…

"Step forward and challenge them!"

Wei Yan waved his hand.

Immediately, a small squad of cavalrymen took the order and set off towards Xiaohuang County.

Coming all the way from Jizhou, it has become a pattern, a habit.

The cavalry performed very smoothly.

The reaction in Xiaohuang County also seemed very smooth and pleasant...

Before long, a group of people emerged from the city gate of Xiaohuang County. Leading them was a middle-aged man dressed in a blue official robe and wearing a scholar's cap. Behind him were several minor officials and yamen runners, followed by several large carts loaded with grain and fodder.

"This humble official, Zhou Gu, the magistrate of Xiaohuang County, respectfully welcomes the General." The middle-aged man approached Wei Yan's horse, bowed, and greeted him respectfully but not servilely. "These are some provisions, fodder, cattle, and wine; a small token of my respect, I hope the General will accept them."

Another one surnamed Zhou?

I'm afraid it'll be just like the previous week, right?

A cavalryman stepped forward and inspected the grain in the carts. He opened the sacks and rummaged through them, finding that while it wasn't new grain, it wasn't too stale either; it was within the normal range. He also pulled some out of the fodder and found no signs of mold or dampness, so he signaled to Wei Yan that there was no problem.

Wei Yan sat upright on his horse, coldly observing the county magistrate who called himself Zhou Gu.

This man was around forty years old, with a thin face, clear eyes, and three long tufts of beard neatly combed. Although his attitude was respectful, his back was ramrod straight, and there was a hint of indifference in his smile, unlike the previous county magistrates who were so obsequious.

But it doesn't matter.

Wei Yan was tired of seeing the obsequious manner of the previous county magistrates, so seeing Zhou Gu's attitude was somewhat novel and amusing. "Magistrate Zhou, you are too kind. Our army is passing through this area and will leave after a short rest. We will not disturb the people of your county."

Zhou Gu bowed slightly. "General, your benevolence and righteousness are truly admirable. If you require anything else, please let me know. I have duties to perform, and I hope you will understand. Farewell, farewell."

Wei Yan nodded.

Zhou Gu bowed again, then led his men back to the city, leaving behind the grain carts and the oxen pulling them.

This was almost standard practice, and the cavalry soldiers naturally pulled the carts away.

"It's still early, let's walk a bit further before setting up camp!"

Wei Yan looked up at the sky and then shouted.

Since Xiaohuang County has provided "offerings", Wei Yan will not go back on his word.

The troops marched along Xiaohuangshui for a while longer, then found a wide-open area and stopped.

That night, bonfires were lit in the cavalry camp, and the sounds of people and horses filled the air, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The fatigue from the march gradually dissipated with the help of hot food and soup.

The soldiers sat around the campfire, chatting and laughing loudly, enjoying a rare moment of rest.

"This, well, this Zhou fellow does know what's good for him," Gan Feng tore off a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, speaking slightly indistinctly, "Isn't he related to that Zhou magistrate of Wu County before? Both are cowards, exactly the same..."

Wei Yan held a bowl of sour soup, his brow slightly furrowed. "For some reason, I always felt that this Magistrate Zhou was different from the previous ones."

"What's the difference?" Gan Feng said dismissively. "Aren't they all spineless cowards, opportunists?"

Wei Yan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "This man has clear eyes and behaves with composure; he doesn't seem like a sycophant. And did you notice that although he refers to himself as 'this humble official,' he never uttered the words 'General of the Cavalry'..."

Gan Feng was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Wen Chang, what kind of question is this? These Shandong gentry are the most cunning; they say one thing to your face and another behind your back. Since he's sent us supplies, it means he's afraid of us. Why bother with what he says?"

Wei Yan remained silent for a moment, then looked up and pondered for a while. Ultimately, unable to shake off his doubts, he stood up and said, "I'll go check again..."

Wei Yan didn't say what he wanted to check, and Gan Feng didn't take it seriously. He waved his hand and continued to gnaw on the flatbread and tear at the salted meat.

Wei Yan arrived alone at the makeshift stables in the camp. The soldiers responsible for tending the warhorses bowed to him upon his arrival.

"Have you checked all the fodder that was delivered today?" Wei Yan asked.

Several bags of grain have already been opened and used for cooking. The soldiers have eaten it and there have been no adverse effects.

"General, we've checked everything and found nothing wrong," the soldier replied.

Wei Yan nodded, walked over to the newly acquired fodder, and casually grabbed a handful.

These haystacks look no different from ordinary haystacks; they are dry, shaped, and emit a faint grassy aroma, with a hint of garlic.

Wei Yan examined it carefully, and even smelled it, but found nothing unusual.

Garlic existed as early as the Han Dynasty.

Of course, this is also one of Zhang Qian's achievements.

After Fei Qian revitalized the economy in Guanzhong, scallions, ginger, and garlic, the three most popular vegetables, frequently appeared in the daily diet. So Wei Yan didn't pay much attention at first. But just as Wei Yan was about to leave, he noticed something unusual at the bottom of the fodder out of the corner of his eye...

Wei Yan squatted down, lifted the bundled hay bales, turned them over, and found that some hay at the bottom of the bales was slightly darker in color, with some reddish-yellow powder.

"What is this?" Wei Yan touched some of the red and yellow powder with his hand and smelled it.

It has a distinct garlic smell.

The cavalryman glanced at it and said, "Isn't it just covered in yellow mud?"

"Yellow mud?" Wei Yan shook his head. "Yellow mud doesn't smell like this. Smell it." A soldier stepped forward, rubbed his finger on it, and brought it to his nose. "Hey, it really is... how come it smells like... this looks like realgar... it's probably used to repel insects..."

Realgar wine existed as early as the Han Dynasty, and its effects were not known only to Lady White Snake.

"It's probably not just about repelling insects..." Wei Yan's expression changed slightly, and he ordered, "Fetch some water."

The soldiers quickly brought a bucket of clean water.

Wei Yan dipped the fodder in his hand into the water, took it out after a moment, and carefully observed the color of the water.

The water became a bit murky, but it didn't seem to change much.

"Bring over an old horse," Wei Yan ordered.

An older warhorse with more teeth was led to Wei Yan.

Wei Yan offered the water used to soak the hay to the horse's mouth. The horse lowered its head to sniff it, but refused to drink. Instead, it stomped its hooves restlessly, swung its neck back, and snorted to show its resistance and avoidance.

Wei Yan's face immediately darkened.

"Take out all the fodder from Xiaohuang County today!" Wei Yan ordered. "And re-inspect the rice as well!"

The soldiers re-inspected all the fodder and found that nearly one-third of the fodder delivered from Xiaohuang County today contained this reddish-yellow 'dust'.

This dust, similar in color to loess, was scattered among the fodder. If Wei Yan hadn't been so observant, no one might have noticed it.

The grain was not mixed with dust, perhaps because Zhou Gu knew that the soldiers would be more careful and thorough when inspecting the grain.

A cold glint flashed in Wei Yan's eyes. 'That Zhou Gu! He appears obsequious on the surface, but secretly commits such despicable acts!'

Wei Yan ordered his soldiers to immediately separate and process the fodder and grain, and then returned to his tent to inform Gan Feng of the matter.

Gan Feng flew into a rage upon hearing this. He slammed his fist on the simple wooden table in front of him, causing the ceramic bowls on it to jump and spill liquid all over the floor. "That damned bastard! What a hypocrite! So respectful on the surface, yet engaging in such despicable acts behind my back! I'll lead my troops to raze Xiaohuang County to the ground and slaughter his dog's head!"

Gan Feng turned around and was about to rush out of the tent to gather troops to attack Xiaohuang County.

"Wait!" Wei Yan shouted in a deep voice, "Xiaohuang County has surely taken precautions against this treacherous tactic! Our army can certainly capture the city if we launch a counterattack now, but casualties are inevitable!"

Gan Feng gasped for breath, his chest heaving like an enraged beast, but he eventually regained his composure, turned around, and growled resentfully, "Is this all we're going to do?!"

"Forget it?" Wei Yan bared his teeth, his expression fierce and menacing. "Since this little thief resorts to such underhanded tricks, we'll show him what true wrath is!"

Wei Yan turned to Gan Feng and said, "Pass down the order: the entire army should rest and prepare meals as usual, and act as if nothing has happened. Also, send someone to inform Magistrate Zhou that... our military situation is urgent, and we will break camp and head south tomorrow..."

Gan Feng was taken aback at first, then understood Wei Yan's intention. His anger gradually gave way to a ruthless glint in his eyes. He spat heavily, "Fine! Let him be smug for a while longer! Once he lowers his guard, I'll personally chop off his dog's head!"

Following Wei Yan's orders, the cavalry informed the magistrate of Xiaohuang County that they were leaving. In fact, right in front of the scouts secretly sent out by Xiaohuang County, with banners waving and horses making a ruckus, they headed south along the official road, seemingly heading straight for the seat of Chenliu County.

The magistrate of Xiaohuang County breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the scout's report.

The county magistrate clapped his hands and laughed, "This so-called General of the Cavalry is nothing special! Your Excellency's plan is truly brilliant. This little thief will probably not even know the reason after the poison takes effect! Hahaha! If the Cavalry loses its warhorses, its fighting strength will drop by at least 30%!"

Zhou Gu nodded slowly, a slight smile appearing on his face.

In ancient China, there were records of using realgar and its byproducts to make arsenic, which was also a relatively easy mineral poison to obtain in ancient China.

Processed realgar is not mixed into grains because grains are unlikely to have a garlic smell, and any off-odor would easily arouse suspicion, while fodder is relatively easier to pass off as realgar.

Even if it is detected during a random inspection, they can claim it was done to repel insects and rodents, and that they accidentally got contaminated.

Of course, this way the toxicity is not so strong, and it will not cause immediate death. However, this mineral toxin is difficult to metabolize and excrete from the body naturally. Poisoned warhorses cannot speak and can only show gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, weakness, and eventually death. In this process, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is an infection or poisoning.

"Someone!" Zhou Gu summoned a scout. "Go to where the cavalry camped yesterday and carefully examine the area for signs of horses running away, and whether there is any freshly dug soil or buried objects..."

The county magistrate was somewhat puzzled. "Your Excellency, what is this...?"

Zhou Gu said, "It's best to be careful... I'm worried about the Flying Cavalry..."

The county magistrate felt that Zhou Gu was making a fuss over nothing, but since Zhou Gu had said so, the magistrate did not object, since it wasn't him who was doing the extra errands.

The scouts from Xiaohuang County made another trip and returned to report that they found nothing unusual. There were no horses running away or any signs of burial, just some campfire remains and traces of people and horses.

"This is...unconsumed, no symptoms yet?" Zhou Gu speculated. But the lack of any signs of burial meant that the cavalry hadn't found the poisonous herbs and had taken them with them?

Generally speaking, when China destroys toxic substances, it doesn't simply burn them; most of the time, it chooses to bury them deeply.

Aside from those with certain brain malformations, only someone with malformed brains would attempt to dispose of toxic substances by simply burning them...

If it wasn't buried, then that's a "good thing".

Only then did Zhou Gu feel a little relieved. He then reminded the county magistrate and the county constable not to let their guard down and to continue to take precautions.

The county magistrate and county commandant readily agreed. However, after leaving the county office, both of them felt that they had finally escaped a great disaster and had cleverly tricked the cavalry into suffering losses. They were in high spirits and could not help but celebrate.
With the county magistrate and county commandant in such a state, the soldiers guarding Xiaohuang County relaxed their guard even more...

As the last rays of dawn were swallowed by the night, the wilderness fell into a deathly silence.

In a secluded forest a dozen miles from Xiaohuang County, the main force of the Flying Cavalry, which should have been far away, quietly set up camp, extinguished their torches, and with their men and horses gagged, they were like giant beasts lurking in the dark.

Wei Yan and Gan Feng personally led five hundred of their most elite and fierce soldiers. Each soldier removed his heavy armor, wearing only light leather armor. Their warhorses had cloth-covered hooves and gags in their mouths. Like ghosts, they silently rushed towards Xiaohuang County again, using the faint starlight as a guide, along the secluded path they had scouted during the day.

As night deepened, only a few sparse torches flickered in the autumn wind atop Xiaohuang County. The soldiers guarding the city, having endured the tension of the day and learned that the Flying Cavalry had already departed, with even scouts from the same city witnessing their departure and asserting with certainty that the Flying Cavalry had headed south, naturally relaxed their guard.

Even the soldiers on duty mostly huddled behind the battlements, weapons in hand, taking a nap.

They never imagined that the army that seemed to have left would return, and so quickly and so ruthlessly!
There were no warnings, no war drums or horns.

Like a cheetah pouncing on its prey in the dark, Wei Yan, under the cover of night, crept across the moat. After observing for a moment in the shadows near the city wall, he waved his hand and gave the order.

Dozens of agile elite cavalrymen scaled the city wall like geckos. Their blades flashed silently in the darkness, and several blurry sentry figures collapsed to the ground.

Immediately afterwards, the city gate of the county town was slowly opened, making a piercing creaking sound.

"kill!"

Wei Yan let out a low roar, as if delivering a final judgment.

Five hundred elite troops surged into Xiaohuang County like a flood bursting its banks.

The silence of the night was shattered, with cries of alarm, screams, and the clashing of weapons suddenly erupting, only to be quickly drowned out by even louder shouts of battle. The hastily assembled defenders were utterly unable to mount any effective resistance and were easily swept away like fallen leaves before the ferocious elite cavalry.

The county magistrate, who had been drinking and sleeping soundly, was startled awake. He rushed out into the street with a few of his men and ran straight into Wei Yan. In his drunken stupor, he was no match for Wei Yan and was quickly killed.

Of course, even if the county constable hadn't been drinking, he was still no match for Wei Yan. However, the constable might have been more level-headed and chosen to run away immediately, thus avoiding being killed on the spot...

With a clear objective, Wei Yan killed the county magistrate and ignored the sporadic resistance on the streets, heading straight for the most conspicuous building in the city center.

County government.

Gan Feng then led a force to sweep across the left and right flanks, eliminating any potential ambushes or reinforcements.

The county government office was tightly shut, and there were several archers on the high walls, but this obstacle was no match for the well-prepared cavalry.

First, the archers guarding the high wall were killed by the cavalry. Then, soldiers found a thick beam and used it as a battering ram, which broke open the gate of the government office in a few blows!
The heavy wooden door of the Xiaohuang County Government Office shattered with a crash!
Flames burst in through the broken gate, illuminating the main hall of the county government office.

Wei Yan, carrying a long sword still dripping blood, strode in, his cold gaze fixed on the figure in official robes standing in the center of the hall, sword in hand, slightly surprised...

Magistrate Zhou Gu of Xiaohuang County did not flee, nor did he kneel down to beg for mercy. Instead, he stood facing off against Wei Yan and the other cavalrymen with his sword drawn.

Wei Yan grinned, flicked the blood off his sword, and said to Zhou Gu indifferently, "If you kneel and beg for mercy, I will spare your life. What do you say?"