The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 348 Antidote
"Back off, all of you, back off!"

Surileg's still somewhat immature face was filled with ferocity.

The garrison commander of Huozhou saw the short sword held to General Xiong's neck and dared not move.

He stopped the garrison soldiers who wanted to rush forward and asked with unusual calm:

"Surleg, our commander-in-chief has treated you and your entourage with courtesy these past two days, and the agreed-upon terms of the transaction have not been changed. Why are you acting this way?"

"Enough with the nonsense! We've given you all the ransom and the horses! Now release my father and the others! One thing at a time."

Suzhlerge didn't have time to beat around the bush with this garrison general; he had to act quickly.

His words made the Bei army in the encirclement suddenly realize the truth.

That's it!

The other party meant that he took the ransom in exchange for the hostages, but the grain and livestock that their king, as a defeated nation, should compensate them for were not part of the same account.

That means the camel caravans and sheep flocks that were used to deceive them never existed at all!
After the other party, Su Rileg, realized what was happening, he said directly:
"I'll give you only half a cup of tea's time to release my father and the rest of the family, not one less! After that, prepare a horse for each of us! If you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to go to the underworld with your commander-in-chief. Oh, right! And the antidote."

The three of them were given poison by the woman who was suspected of being a miracle doctor.

This poison is quite magical.

It neither hurts nor itches.

They inexplicably lost their sense of smell on their way back to Shache.

I can't smell anything, whether it's fragrant or foul.

At first, they were busy on their journey and didn't pay attention, but after returning to Shache, the poison spread to the tip of their tongues.

Sour, sweet, bitter, salty—it all tastes the same in your mouth—it has no flavor!

They also sought out the royal court's witch doctor to examine their bodies.

They performed bloodletting and shamanic rituals.

It took several days of effort.

I still can't feel anything in my nose or on the tip of my tongue.

Later, the witch doctor speculated that the poison they took might have been used to suppress a person's five senses.

Perhaps, not long from now.

They will become deaf and unable to feel hot or cold.
terrible!

Once a person loses all sense of the outside world, they are no different from a dead person, except perhaps for one more breath!
They certainly wouldn't let go of the antidote if they could get their hands on it.

Tian Jiu spread his hands, looking troubled:

“Ma can help you prepare, and the hostages can be returned to you, but Captain Gan is not in Huozhou right now. She is in Guazhouwei treating patients with toad plague.”

A major outbreak of disease.

Go for it if you dare!
Surrage had no choice but to have his cavalrymen summon the natives who had been guiding them.

Having their identities exposed in front of the Bei army garrison, the natives knew that if they didn't follow them today, they would face certain death.

Therefore, determined to protect their master, they answered whatever Sureleg asked.

"The toad plague has been spreading for more than half a month. I heard that tens of thousands of children have died in other garrisons in Guanzhong! It is said that it was first spread from Guazhou Garrison, and children who have not yet reached adulthood are most susceptible to infection."

Most of the immigrants are now concentrated in several garrisons near Guazhouwei. No one has entered Huozhou, and the local natives know very little about the toad plague.

They only found out what was going on when the general stationed in Huozhou ordered the city to be sealed off. The parents were terrified at the mention of a child dying.

Surilege listened with a blank face for a long time, and after much deliberation, he said to the Fire State General:
"I'll give you three days to send someone to Guazhouwei to retrieve the antidote! General Xiong, I'll take him to Weilumu first, and ask him to escort us."

In his mind, the Russians should have already captured Hami City.

If they wait any longer, the garrison in Huozhou will probably risk their lives to keep them here.

They had less than a thousand soldiers left.

If you don't go now, when will you wait?
Moreover, once they passed through Weilumu, it wouldn't be so easy for the enemy to hunt them down.

Tian Jiu strongly opposed his proposal:
"No! Our Commander-in-Chief is still unconscious. Who knows if he'll even survive if we get the antidote for you?!"

Suzhileg made a solemn vow:

“Our Kashgar Khanate doesn’t have such a skilled healer. The arrowhead only had a sleeping potion, and the wound isn’t deep. The General will wake up after three days and two nights. If I can’t guarantee his survival, how can I do business with you?”

With General Xiong as a crucial hostage, General Huozhou and Tian Jiu were effectively tied up and put in a very passive position.

The two sides remained deadlocked for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

In the end, our side had to compromise.

So Tian Jiu set off immediately.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, they arrived at Ganluchuan.

Ganluchuan, where the garrison has not yet been established, actually had to pass through seven checkpoints before he finally met General Gan.

How could a seasoned general like him not sense the tense atmosphere in the camp?
He asked as soon as he arrived, but no one answered him.

The guards at the checkpoint were all teenagers, each with a solemn expression and their mouths tightly shut like clam shells.

Tian Jiu's heart was in her throat.

Only when he saw Gan Minglan and her several centurions come out to greet him, all unharmed, did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He hurriedly asked, "What are you doing here?"

Gan Minglan led Tian Jiu to the greenhouse where the children were having their classes: "I reported the situation to General Xiong via flying eagle messenger, surely General Tian knows about it?"

"General Xiong and I have been in Huozhou these past few days and haven't seen Da Jin and his wife."

"No wonder! It probably dropped the urgent message into the general's mansion and flew away. This bird is not as intelligent as King Atu; it can only do some simple relaying."

To be honest, Lieutenant General Tian, ​​the night before last, 50,000 Rakshasa people came from the direction of the Western Snow Mountain. They happened to encounter our vanguard battalion conducting an assessment on the mountain, and the fighting lasted from dusk till dawn, resulting in the loss of nearly 100 men.”

Tian Jiu was stunned. Fifty thousand Rakshasa people?
After a long while, he slapped himself hard on the head:
"No wonder! The Hu people dared to come to Huozhou to kidnap people with only three thousand soldiers! It turns out they were cooperating with the Russians and were fearless because of their confidence."

If it weren't for General Gan's desire to centrally manage the land belonging to the families of his personal guards.

If it weren't for General Xiong's brilliant idea of ​​assigning Ganluchuan, which had a strong connection with General Gan, to their vanguard battalion.

So, Ganluchuan remained just a desolate pasture, just like before.

Could the unprepared Hami garrison withstand the night raid by the Russians?
After seeing the Russian firearms and armor in the greenhouse.

Tian Jiu had many questions: "What are these guns? How do they compare to muskets?"

Gan Minglan explained, "It should be a flintlock musket. During the chaotic battle that night, this type of musket had a longer range and higher accuracy than a musket."

Ten out of fifty thousand people were equipped with this type of firearm!
Thinking about this, a chill ran down his spine.
(End of this chapter)