By afternoon the following day, we reached Wei Fang and his army.
To call the sight overwhelming would have been an understatement.
It was mesmerizing, yes, but in a way that signaled unease rather than awe. Thousands of soldiers stood in formation, their presence dark and imposing against the pale, dust-stained land. Every man was dressed in black, from armor to cloak, shields strapped firmly to their arms and swords hanging heavy at their sides. They were silent, disciplined, unmoving, like shadows cast upon the earth.
Crimson banners towered above them, planted at every corner of the camp. Each one bore the same design: a dragon, fierce and coiled, its form sharp and commanding. The red stood out violently against the pale yellows and browns of Shanxi.
Iron cavalry lined the outskirts, horses snorting clouds of steam into the cold air. Heavy cannons rested nearby, dark metal mouths aimed toward an unseen future. Everything about the place spoke of preparation, of inevitability.
Then my gaze caught on something else.
One banner, larger than the rest, carried a name written boldly across it.
Cao.
Cao Renshu.
I stared at it longer than I should have.
Why was his family name displayed so openly? Why was it not the emperor's crest, or the banner of the state?
"We've arrived," Renshu announced. "Everyone report to Wei Fang. He'll show you your quarters."
His eyes shifted toward me, we were on the same horse.
"As for Aryan," he continued evenly, "we have further planning to do. Rong Xu, have the poisoned water buckets taken to the central command tent."
The group dispersed quickly, leaving the two of us alone amid the chaos of arrival.
I didn't hesitate.
"Why is your family name written on the banner?" I asked.
"Because it's my army," he replied, as though stating the obvious.
I frowned. "Your army? You command it entirely on your own?"
He let out a quiet sigh, the sound more tired than irritated. "Yes. They follow my orders without question."
As we rode deeper into the encampment, the weight of his words settled over me. To command such a force, to be obeyed so completely, required authority beyond mere rank. Only then did I truly understand what he had meant before, when he said he stood second only to the emperor himself.
This wasn't just military power.
It was absolute.
---
"Aryan."
Wei Fang's voice was sharp, pulling me from my thoughts as we gathered inside the command tent.
"How much poison will you be using?" he demanded. "Have you measured everything properly, and—"
"Yes, sir," I answered calmly. "All measurements are complete. The total amount prepared across the buckets is sufficient to severely weaken the Mongols over the course of three weeks."
Wei Fang crossed his arms. "We still have nearly four weeks before their expected arrival. Won't this timing cause issues?"
"No, sir. It will improve our chances. Three weeks of contaminated water will leave them fatigued and ill. The additional week allows the poison's effects to compound. By the time they arrive, their soldiers will be in significantly worse condition."
He studied me carefully, suspicion evident in his gaze. After a moment, he nodded.
"And how much will you release each day? Around half a bucket? Renshu asked.
"Yes, around that amount." I replied after a moment. "More or less, depending on wind speed, water flow, and sediment."
"We've already prepared over twenty buckets," Renshu added. "And you instructed the men to dissolve the poison in boiling water. Given the freezing temperatures, will that not affect its potency?"
"No," I said. "Once dissolved, the poison remains lethal regardless of temperature."
Silence followed.
I could almost hear them searching for further flaws.
"If there are no other concerns," I continued, "I request to be informed at dawn and late afternoon each day before the poison is released. I need to calculate water flow, silt concentration, and downstream spread. I will also require updated estimates of the Mongols' current position, if available."
Both men stared at me.
"Yes," Wei Fang said slowly. "That information is available. But tell me, why dawn and late afternoon specifically?"
"Because those are the times they are most likely to drink," I explained. "Water is consumed after waking and after long travel, typically with the evening meal. It takes time for the poison to reach them. Releasing it shortly before these periods ensures maximum intake."
I paused, then added, "They will also rest shortly after drinking at dinner. The poison induces fever and dehydration. Right after waking up, they will feel feverish and thirsty, making them drink even more. This will start a loop."
When I finished, the tent was quiet.
Wei Fang looked unsettled.
Renshu looked… surprised.
"You've planned this thoroughly," Wei Fang said at last. "However, there is one flaw."
My spine straightened instinctively.
What had I missed?
"The Mongols always boil their water," he continued. "They believe it cleanses the river. Knowing the water flows from our lands, they'll be even more cautious."
"Boiling won't help them," I replied slowly. "It doesn't neutralize chemical toxins. In fact, it will concentrate the poison as water evaporates. The lethality will remain."
They said nothing.
"It's nearly evening," I added. "May I begin now?"
Renshu exhaled slowly. "Yes. Proceed."
As I turned to leave, I caught sight of them whispering to one another.
I wondered what they were saying.
---
"Well, Aryan," Rong Xu muttered as I carried a bucket filled with pitch-black resin, "that is possibly the most disgusting shade of black I've ever seen."
"This resin adheres to the riverbed," I replied. "It creates a continuous flow of contaminated water. It's highly potent."
"Is that why you're wearing gloves?"
"Yes. Skin contact must be avoided. Even with a ladle."
I knelt by the river's edge and carefully poured the viscous substance into the center of the current. The resin disappeared quickly, swallowed by the moving water.
I walked downstream, observing how the current carried it away. Strong enough. Fast enough.
Rong Xu mentioned the Mongols were roughly one hundred li away.
That was acceptable.
Still, for the first release, caution demanded generosity.
"You really thought all of this through," Rong Xu said quietly. "The timing, the fever, the cycle. I heard everything you explained earlier. I'm surprised you don't feel remorse… poisoning an entire river."
I didn't look up.
"A dead river is preferable to a dead country," I said. "This is war. It's either us or them. They chose to invade. If we hesitate, thousands of innocent civilians will die. Don't you think it's best if I do this?"
He nodded slowly. "I suppose you're right. But weren't you only supposed to use half a bucket?"
I tipped the remainder in without hesitation.
"Best to ensure it's lethal, right?" I replied.