Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 292 All gone

Xu En waited for Wang Yan to speak, but Wang Yan urged his horse to run even faster.

Xu En was taken aback and quickly followed.

“Lord Wang,” Xu En said, “what did you just say? What use is it now?”

Wang Yan paused for a moment and then said, "Perhaps we should discuss this after we arrive in the capital."

Xu En felt a pang of distress. Seeing Wang Yan's solemn expression, he knew that this matter was serious and related to him.

But Wang Yan refused to continue. His heart felt like it was hanging in mid-air, neither up nor down, and he felt indescribably uncomfortable.

Xu En pursed his lips. He really shouldn't have pressed on, but... he couldn't stand it after only a moment.

“Lord Wang, just say it,” Xu En said. “What does it matter whether I go to the capital or not? If you feel it’s inappropriate, I’ll forget about it after I hear it… as if nothing happened.”

Wang Yan did not respond, his gaze slightly deep, as if he were lost in thought.

“Lord Wang…” Xu En wished he could reach out and grab Wang Yan’s reins. If Wang Yan hadn’t spoken up today, he would have been unable to sleep for several days.

Therefore, he had to ask.

Wang Yan reined in his horse and looked at Xu En: "Does Chief Xu really want to know?"

Seeing Wang Yan's expression turn serious, Xu En hesitated for a moment before nodding. He had almost finished reviewing the case and felt he hadn't made any major mistakes.

If there is anything wrong, it should be clarified as soon as possible.

“Then we’ll go to the military camp another day,” Wang Yan said. “Let’s go back to the yamen first to get some things.”

Xu En was stunned. Seeing Wang Yan turn his horse around, he immediately followed.

For the next period of time, Xu En was tormented by his speculations. Wang Yan went straight to the government office and obtained what he wanted.

Xu En looked down and saw a jar that was completely dark inside.

"Is this black oil?" Xu En had seen this when he was looking at the case files.

Wang Yan responded without further explanation, leading Xu En and the others out of the city and away from the official road, disappearing into a forest.

In front of the woods was an open area. Wang Yan finally stopped and turned to look at Xu En: "The case file mentioned that those members of the demonic sect used black oil to deal with the Daming army."

Xu En nodded, glancing at the black oil and recalling the look in Wang Yan's eyes when he examined the pottery jar: "What does Lord Wang mean?"

“They put black oil in jars, lit them, and then used tree branches to throw them into the crowd,” Wang Yan said. “This was witnessed by the Da Ming soldiers.”

"I was trapped in the mountains at the time, and I only saw the fire and the soldiers' screams. I didn't know the specifics. This time, I'll try it out with Chief Xu and see what this black oil is all about."

Upon hearing this, Xu En perked up.

If we could learn the methods used by the demon cultists, it would certainly benefit them.

"How do we try it?" Xu En asked. "I'll help."

Wang Yan nodded: "We need to use the ceramic bottle that Xu Duzhi had."

Xu En's face froze instantly, never expecting Wang Yan to fixate on his ceramic vase: "Why...why?"

"Xu Duzhi said that the pottery bottle can be used to store military rations or water. Wouldn't it be even better if it had other uses?" Wang Yan said, "In battle, it can catch the enemy off guard without their knowledge."

Xu En was quite reluctant to part with it; he hadn't even warmed the ceramic vase in his hands yet. If he had known earlier, he shouldn't have proudly displayed it in front of Wang Yan.

Despite feeling the pain, this was no small matter, and he had to take what he was owed. In the end, Xu En didn't take his own, but instead reached out to the guard beside him to ask for it.

The magistrate hurriedly took off his own pottery bottle and handed it over.

Wang Yan pointed and said, "Da Mingjun said that those members of the demon cult light the rope tied to the outside before throwing the jar. This jar has a rope, so it can be tied more securely."

They poured black oil into the earthenware bottle, sealed the opening, and then tied the entire pot together with rope. The commander and his men also found a suitable tree branch and tied a heavy bowstring to it.

Xu En's eyes lit up, eager to try, so Wang Yan simply entrusted him with the task of lighting the fire.

As the fire ignited, the entire pottery jar resembled a fireball. The soldier who was about to throw the jar panicked and immediately released the bowstring. The pottery jar flew out and landed at the foot of the mountain not far away.

However, the pottery bottle did not break.

Xu En was stunned for a moment, then quickly went over to check and found that the pottery bottle had fallen into the snowdrift, but even so, the fire had not been completely extinguished.

"This black oil is indeed extraordinary."

If you fail the first time, you have to try again.

Xu En stroked the ceramic bottle in his hand. After a while, he took a deep breath before pouring out the water and filling it with black oil.

"Madam Xie only gave me two ceramic bottles, and I brought them with me. If they don't work... I'll have to swallow my pride and ask for them again if I want to try again."

Wang Yan didn't speak, but Sang Dian next to him shook his head inwardly. He really wanted to say to Xu Duzhi: "Do you think that just because you've succeeded in the trial, you don't have to be shameless and ask for it back?"

If I don't let you go and ask for the pottery bottle, why did his son bother to come all this way?
It's only when both pottery vases are gone that I feel even more attached to them.

Of course, the young master is doing all this for the court, and he has absolutely no selfish motives. It's not that he can't stand seeing others have what he doesn't have.

As Sang Dian was thinking, his eyes lit up. Xu En lit the pottery bottle again. Having learned from the previous experience, this time a different captain stepped forward. The captain was much calmer. He waited until the rope had been burning for a while and he saw that the string was about to give way before letting go.

A fireball was bounced away.

There was a "bang" sound.

The fireball landed on the arranged stone pile. Whether it was the pottery bottle shattering or the black oil exploding from the heat, there was no telling what happened. After a loud commotion, flames scattered everywhere, and the burning fireball illuminated everyone's eyes.

Once the fire had subsided, Xu Encai looked at Wang Yan and said, "It's...it's done."

If we had this, we could keep it in a water pouch and throw it out with a clay bottle in a pinch, catching people off guard. What a wonderful thing… truly a wonderful thing.

Wang Yan looked at everyone present and said, "Once this thing is revealed, it will lose its effectiveness. I hope everyone will keep quiet."

Xu En then understood why Wang Yan had hesitated earlier.

Wang Yan only brought one guard; the rest were his men. Thinking of this, Xu En immediately broke out in a sweat. If someone leaked the information, he would be the first to be questioned.

Xu En's face darkened as he looked at his subordinates and guards who had come with him: "Anyone who dares to speak out will be made to regret it."

Everyone replied, "We dare not."

Xu En looked at the charred stone again. Even though he had tried everything, he still felt like several hands were scratching at his heart.

I wish I could do it again!

This way, when he returned to Bianjing, he could better explain his situation to the emperor.

Just now... everything happened too fast, he couldn't even see it clearly.

Xu En thought for a moment and blurted out, "Lord Wang, why don't we go find Madam Xie and see when we can fire another kiln of pottery bottles?"