Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3877 The Tyrannical Tiger
To say whether ordinary people at the bottom of society are happy or not?

Surely some wise person will say that compared to some other time, the common people are already like this...

Yes, during the golden ages of China's feudal dynasties, such as the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing in the Han Dynasty, the Zhenguan era in the Tang Dynasty, and the Renxuan era in the Ming Dynasty, the lives of ordinary people often showed a contradictory improvement. Compared to chaotic times, prosperous times did provide a relatively stable environment, but the later concept of 'happiness' is difficult to directly apply to the lives of ordinary people in ancient times.

During prosperous times, the living and production conditions at the grassroots level did indeed improve relatively. They encountered fewer wars or large-scale banditry, agricultural production was able to proceed normally, and people could live in a relatively stable environment.

However, food and clothing remain the core issue.

As long as there are still people who cannot guarantee their basic needs, then there is no such thing as happiness.

In feudal dynasties, most ordinary people barely managed to make ends meet.

A bumper harvest may result in a slight surplus, but a flood, drought, or locust plague could still lead to famine.

Even with light taxes and corvée labor, ordinary people still had to bear the burden of land tax, poll tax, and corvée labor, which could be even more severe than in years of famine...

Because, at certain times, in order to deliberately showcase a "prosperous age," large-scale construction projects are often undertaken, such as building palaces, mausoleums, and canals, with the scale of these projects often being even more staggering and severe.

Therefore, even in prosperous times, the common people at the bottom of feudal dynasties still could not grasp the concept of "happiness" as we know it today. When it comes to material abundance, personal freedom, protection of rights, and spiritual fulfillment, the answer is naturally obvious...

Therefore, even the Qingzhou soldiers under Cao Cao's command, who had received some care, were still full of resentment and could not possibly feel any 'happiness'. Especially now that Cao Cao's army was in decline, things that might not have been mentioned before gradually began to bubble and churn like bubbles at the bottom of the water.

Old Wang paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces before him—some filled with doubt, some with expectation, some with numbness. His voice rose, brimming with anger. "The battle's over! General Cao has ridden away! Leaving us poor wretches here to die! Who are we fighting for? Who are we defending this crumbling city for? We're soldiers, eating our rations, risking our lives—what are we fighting for? Isn't it just to survive, to give our parents, wives, and children a way to live? The General of the Cavalry has ordered that those who lay down their weapons and surrender will be forgiven! Those willing to lay down their arms and go home to farm will be given travel expenses! Those willing to stay in the army for food, after screening, those without major offenses will also be accepted! They'll get training, they'll get paid! Isn't this much better than being treated like livestock in Cao Cao's army, where merit brings superiors, and mistakes cost you your head?!"

Old Wang's words were very simple, even somewhat crude, without any fancy words, but every sentence struck the hearts of these lowly soldiers struggling on the edge of life and death.

If you try to explain to them the general trend of the world or the replacement of old and new systems, they will find it difficult to understand and will not care.

However, when it comes to the superior's harshness and ingratitude, the ruthless abandonment on the battlefield, and whether they can get enough to eat twice a day and whether they can receive their pay...

These most practical questions naturally resonate with and are easily understood.

Captain Wang's firsthand account, given his experience, was far more persuasive than any flowery notice posted on the wall. Especially when they heard concrete promises like "travel expenses," a glimmer of hope ignited in the gloomy eyes of many prisoners.

People began to talk in hushed tones among the prisoners, their tense bodies and guarded postures gradually relaxing.

The will to survive began to overwhelm fear and doubt.

The fortress of loyalty that once stood in my heart began to crack, break, and collapse.

A former platoon leader of Cao Cao's army, with a fresh knife scar on his face, clearly a battle wound, thankfully not very serious, hesitated for a moment. He first raised his hand in a gesture of apprehension, then, seeing that the surrounding cavalry soldiers were merely watching him without any sign of shouting or attacking, he mustered his courage and asked in a hoarse voice, "Your... Your Excellency, are you... telling the truth? The cavalry really won't kill us? They'll really give us travel expenses? They'll keep their word?"

Although the Flying Cavalry had made several declarations before, and even some prisoners of war had been seen being released by Cao Cao's army, information was often blocked in the feudal system, especially information involving the enemy.

Believe it or not, that's how it is.

Therefore, even now, some Cao army soldiers still have doubts about the "benefits" of the Flying Cavalry.

"I'm not a leader! But what I said is absolutely true! I swear on my life!" Old Wang patted his thin, bony chest, making a thumping sound. "The cavalry is strictly disciplined, and their word is law! No one dares to disobey the General's orders! You can see for yourselves how they treat prisoners!"

He pointed to the cavalry soldiers who were patrolling the streets in an orderly manner and were not arbitrarily beating or scolding the prisoners.

Although the cavalrymen had serious faces and wary eyes, they acted with restraint and did not resort to violence. When they saw Wang Laokou and the others talking, they did not come forward to scold or beat them.

This contrasts sharply with the irritability and cruelty of Cao Cao's officers before the army's defeat.

Among the Cao army prisoners, the discussions grew louder, and the atmosphere clearly relaxed.

Sima Yi, who was arranging the reception of prisoners and the statistics on a nearby street, also vaguely heard Wang Laokou's shouts and the gradually rising murmur of discussion. He stopped talking with the clerk, listened for a moment, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Sima Yi did not order any intervention, but simply whispered to his personal guards, "Keep an eye on that area, and make sure nothing goes wrong."

He then continued with his work, checking the situation on the street and resolving problems on the spot.

Wang Laokou turned around and saw Sima Yi and his entourage in the distance. He immediately recalled the scene from the previous night when this young cavalry adjutant had questioned him repeatedly and meticulously.

Regarding the deployment of the garrison in the city, the temperament of the generals, the locations of food and fodder storage, etc...

Sima Yi asked very detailed questions, his eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts. Wang Laokou simply answered truthfully based on what he knew, without thinking too much about it.

Seeing the change in the attitude of these Cao army prisoners, Wang Laokou's heart stirred...

His primary purpose in speaking out this time was, of course, to secure a better position for himself.

Seeing that these Cao army prisoners seemed to have been persuaded and their attitude had softened, Wang Laokou felt that this was a rare opportunity. He had a flash of inspiration and threw Sima Yi's questions back to these Cao army prisoners.

Who knows, we might dig up something else and make another contribution?
"Brothers! We're all poor folks, soldiers just trying to earn a living! Don't risk your lives for some empty title like General Cao's, or that loyalty that's long gone!" Old Wang raised his voice, trying to get everyone's attention. "I know some brothers might not believe me, afraid this is a lie, a ploy to settle scores later… but it's simple! The General of the Cavalry keeps its word, and if you have any useful information, you can exchange it for benefits right now! Money, food, right here! You can even get more travel expenses, better treatment! If the information is important enough, you might even get a promotion!"

As soon as Old Wang said this, the surrounding area fell silent.

Even some prisoners who had been numbly huddled in the distance looked up in astonishment, their eyes filled with surprise and longing.

Not only can you survive, but you can also get benefits?
A minor official post?
Why is there such a strong desire for official positions in the Central Plains region of Shandong?
It's because they know all too well, and have seen far too many of the benefits that 'official positions' can bring!
This kind of understanding, almost ingrained in their bones and imprinted in their genes, makes them instantly excited upon hearing the keywords, as if injected with a stimulant...

"Wha...what is it? What news?"

Someone couldn't help but ask, their voice filled with urgency.

"What else could it be?" Old Wang said. "News about Cao Cao's army! Anything related to the war, anything useful! Like, are there still soldiers hiding in the city? What's the real location of the granaries and armories? Did General Cao leave any special instructions? Or... is there any place that looks suspicious, like there's an ambush or a trap? Anything you know is fine! Don't panic! Raise your hands! One by one! Whoever I call on, speak one by one!"

Wang Laokou couldn't articulate a very specific framework or standard, only vaguely emphasizing that it was "useful."

It wasn't that he intentionally spoke vaguely, but rather that his own knowledge and experience were limited, making it impossible for him to accurately define the value of intelligence like Sima Yi.

But it was precisely this ambiguity that gave these Cao army prisoners more room for imagination and interpretation...

Some of Cao Cao's prisoners, with a mixture of doubt and skepticism, began to confide in him, recounting bits and pieces of information...

Which alley's well was filled in...?

Which wealthy family might be hiding something in their cellar...?

Which captain abandoned his personal belongings when he fled...? The cavalry sergeant standing next to Wang Laokou took out a few wooden slips and, under Wang Laokou's envious gaze, wrote down the details one by one.

Old Wang clearly didn't know many characters, and when he saw the cavalry sergeant's fluent writing, he couldn't help but smack his lips.

Most of the news is about events that aren't very valuable.

However, the cavalry sergeant did not scold or berate the soldiers for the low value of this information. Apart from repetitive messages, most of the Cao army prisoners who actively provided information were rewarded.

For information of low value, the cavalry sergeant would give a rough assessment and then signal to the auxiliary soldiers next to him to give the informant some food, such as a piece of dried meat, a steamed bun, or a few copper coins, as a reward.

For important matters, or matters that the cavalry sergeant was unsure about, he would give a small wooden slip to a Cao army prisoner as a record, to be kept on file, and the promise would be fulfilled after the report was submitted later.

Encouraged by this atmosphere, more and more Cao army prisoners gradually opened up. One even boldly reported a former military officer who had been part of Cao Hong's direct troops and was trying to conceal his identity among the ordinary surrendered soldiers!

The military academy student was immediately dragged out by the cavalry and placed under separate supervision...

After a brief verification, the whistleblower's request was granted on the spot: he could retire from the military and receive travel expenses to return home!

Although they couldn't leave immediately and had to wait until the war ended to return home, being able to escape the fate of having their heads tied to their waists was enough to make the other Cao army prisoners envious.

This scene naturally has an explosive demonstration effect!

The Cao army prisoners, who had previously been merely testing the waters and observing, were suddenly filled with enthusiasm!

Many people began to shout loudly and haphazardly, sharing information they knew or had heard. Some of it was useful, while some was pure fabrication or trivial matters. The scene became chaotic, and there were even instances of people blaming and arguing with each other in an attempt to claim credit.

Old Wang had never seen anything like this before, and he was immediately at a loss, sweat beading on his forehead, unsure how to control the situation.

Sima Yi, who had been watching the commotion from a distance, nodded to the person beside him and said something.

Soon, a troop of cavalrymen, accompanied by several clerks, ran over and loudly ordered everyone to be quiet, line up, and speak one by one, with the clerks recording their statements. They also declared that anyone who fabricated information would be punished.

Order was quickly restored, but the enthusiasm of the Cao army prisoners for providing information had been ignited.

Even the Cao army prisoners who had already received dried meat and steamed buns frowned, racking their brains to think of what information they could still "sell"...

Soon, in this somewhat orderly process of "reporting and exposing," one piece of information after another, some of which corroborated each other, was gathered by the clerk in charge of recording and quickly reported to Sima Yi.

One of the pieces of news surprised even Sima Yi, who was known for his calm and deep thinking...

"Gunpowder! I know! There's gunpowder! It's buried under the foundations of the main hall and second hall of the county government, next to the pillars! It's in wooden barrels wrapped in oilcloth! General Cao himself doesn't dare stay in the county government office anymore; he moved to the courtyard of a wealthy family next door long ago!"

"Whoosh..."

When the news was announced among the prisoners, a chorus of suppressed gasps erupted.

Fear, lingering fear, anger, relief...

A mixture of emotions.

Many of Cao Cao's prisoners of war suddenly realized that they were not only abandoned pawns, but might even become sacrificial offerings used by their commander to perish together with the enemy!

The anger of being exploited to the extreme and treated like dirt instantly overwhelmed their last remaining sense of identification with their former master.

It's like being squeezed dry by an unscrupulous American company, only to be kicked aside and then told you you're contributing talent to society, even having to take the blame. After discovering the cold truth, the last bit of sense of belonging to the company vanishes, replaced by intense indignation at being deceived and betrayed.

Therefore, confessing everything to the cavalry and exposing their former master's vicious schemes was not only for their own lives and the reward, but also a retaliatory "pledge of allegiance" for them!
Before Sima Yi could give the order to conduct a centralized interrogation, several more people stood up one after another from the pile of prisoners, vying to shout, not caring at all about whether they could get any compensation or reward, and even just wanting to disrupt Cao Cao and Cao Hong's arrangements...

"Sir! I know! I was sent to move those wooden barrels! They were incredibly heavy, and they wouldn't let me near the torches!"

"I was previously assigned to dig holes in the flowerbed behind the second hall!"

"They're also under the artificial hill rocks in the west courtyard! They made us dig them up in the middle of the night before!"

Sima Yi's expression became unusually stern.

He immediately summoned two trusted confidants and whispered a few urgent instructions.

The two men accepted the order. One of them rushed off to inform Huang Cheng, who was busy in various parts of the city, while the other went directly out of the city to find Huang Zhong, who was reorganizing his troops outside the city to guard against Cao Hong's possible counterattack!
If only one person had said this, Sima Yi might have been skeptical, thinking it was a fabrication by Cao army prisoners to claim credit, or that the information was incorrect. However, the fact that multiple Cao army prisoners from different units and of different statuses provided interconnected descriptions with details that could partially corroborate each other greatly increased the credibility of the information.

Sima Yi did not rashly send men to storm into the county government office to dig up the so-called gunpowder just because the news was shocking.

Dismantling a trap without fully understanding the specific circumstances could potentially lead to the very person tasked with doing so getting trapped...

Sima Yi first ordered the clearing of all personnel from the streets surrounding the county government office, and dispatched an elite squad to set up a cordon a hundred paces away from the county government office, strictly prohibiting anyone from approaching without cause.

At the same time, he ordered his troops to temporarily avoid the area around the government office when clearing the city and settling the prisoners. All Cao army prisoners and laborers were guided to other areas.

Huang Zhong and Huang Cheng quickly received an urgent report from Sima Yi and realized the gravity of the situation. After swiftly finishing their pressing military duties, the two rode almost simultaneously to the temporary command post Sima Yi had set up outside the city…

Far from the city walls, this place offers a wide view, allowing one to avoid the damage and potential chaos caused by an accidental explosion of gunpowder within the city.

"Zhongda, is the news accurate? Is it true that such a malevolent creature is buried under the county government office?" Huang Zhong frowned, stroked his beard, and asked in a deep voice.

"Based on the corroborating testimonies of several surrendered soldiers, it's highly likely. It's not surprising that Cao Zilian resorted to this treacherous scheme during his retreat," Sima Yi nodded affirmatively.

"What should we do?" Huang Cheng seemed even more anxious and frustrated. He had originally thought that "taking Gongxian and beheading the enemy general" was a sure thing, but now this deadly thing was buried in the center of the city, casting a shadow over his achievements and posing a huge risk. This made him very unhappy. "We can't just keep surrounding it, can we? Why don't we set fire to the county government office first? Then we can set off all that gunpowder too!"

While burning it could ignite the gunpowder, controlling the combustion might minimize the danger.
Of course, this could also trigger an uncontrollable explosion, affecting the surrounding area.

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong frowned even more deeply, shook his head, and said, "If the gunpowder is sealed and buried, ordinary flames may not be able to ignite it... If it is not handled properly... it's not advisable."

Sima Yi stood aside, but his gaze fell on the Gong River flowing quietly not far away.

The river is not wide and the current is not particularly rapid, but the water volume seems to be quite abundant.

Sima Yi gazed at the scene for a moment, then suddenly smiled. He turned to the two generals, whose brows were furrowed, and said, "Generals, there is no need to worry. Although this matter is perilous, it is not necessarily insurmountable. I just observed the flow of the Gong River and have already devised a plan… Perhaps we can resolve this threat quietly without losing a single soldier or risking a fire attack."

Huang Cheng and Huang Zhong followed Sima Yi's gaze, and after a moment, they suddenly understood.

(End of this chapter)