Chapter 2, Fierce General Zhou Cang

  "Good fellow, this knife is really fast!" Looking at the big knife with bright red blood stains in his hand, Xu Feng couldn't help but blurt out a compliment.

  "It's murder, run!" Those surviving refugees, seeing the bloody scene, suddenly scattered and fled. It seemed that in their eyes, Xu Feng was like a devil.

  "Is it necessary to be so scared? I'm not a devil." Xu Feng muttered to himself.

  "Little brother, your kung fu is not bad, you have some skills. This time we owe it to you for taking action, otherwise the few of us would definitely not have escaped the clutches of the government soldiers." The several Yellow Turbans who had been pursued and killed by the government soldiers came over.

  "Are you the Yellow Turbans?" Xu Feng asked curiously.

  "It's us, we're the Yellow Turbans who specialize in standing up for the people, collecting taxes from corrupt officials and opposing the imperial court. How about it, brother? Are you interested in joining us?" Seeing Xu Feng's robust physique and exceptional martial skills, the other party began to recruit him.

  "Are you full?" Xu Feng asked jokingly, covering his empty stomach.

  "Nature."

  "Since you Yellow Turbans are standing up for the people, and I have no home to return to anyway, I'll join you. I hope we brothers can make a big impact and achieve something great." He spoke with grandeur, but in reality, Xu Feng was thinking about finding a place to eat as soon as possible. If he didn't eat, even if he were a fierce tiger, he would still end up starving to death.

  I have some understanding of the Three Kingdoms, and I still have a certain level of respect for the Yellow Turbans and Xu He. These people were all from humble origins, and they rebelled against the government because they had no other choice. Unfortunately, these poor commoners did not understand military discipline or laws, their thinking was narrow-minded, and the imperial court was recruiting soldiers everywhere, with heroes and strategists emerging in droves. One by one, capable people and good generals joined the imperial army to suppress the rebels, using the heads of commoners as achievements to gain promotions and wealth.

  Are the common people wrong? They can eat their fill, drink enough and have a warm meal. Who would want to risk their lives by rebelling? Even if there is a reason for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's religious propaganda, it is true that the officials forced the people to rebel, and religion was just a form of uniting the people together.

  These days, Xu Feng has personally witnessed the suffering of the common people. The imperial court is corrupt, officials are greedy and oppressive, the army is undisciplined, only serving as the imperial court's henchmen to suppress the people. Everywhere is desolate for thousands of miles, locusts are rampant, and with years of drought, no one cares about the life or death of the common people. Shouldn't they rebel?

  Why was the Yellow Turban Rebellion able to sweep across the country instantly, capture cities and towns, and gather a crowd of over a million? It goes without saying that the people's choice was one of helpless coercion.

  Having seen many cross through, one by one, gathering strategists and good generals, facing the innocent Yellow Turbans with swords and troops, pacifying bandits, exchanging achievements for high officials and thick salaries, becoming a state or province, pulling in forces, contending for hegemony over the world, while the Yellow Turbans precisely became their stepping stone to rise through the ranks and conquer the world.

  Xu Feng didn't want to do that, to take action against the common people. No matter what, Xu Feng couldn't bring himself to do it. Although he could be ruthless at times, at least as a person, he still had principles. Using evil to counter evil is possible, but using evil to counter good? Absolutely not!

  "In the presence of Master Xu, I don't know how many brothers should be addressed." Xu Feng cupped his fists and bowed.

  "My name is Hou San."

  "My name is Ma Wu."

  "My name is Xue Cheng. I'm Wu Zhang, the one who came out to grab grain this time." A man with thick eyebrows and big eyes said with a bright smile.

  "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Xue to take care of me from now on." Xu Feng said with a polite smile.

  "You have a favor to us three, let's go, we'll first go back and register for you, from now on, we are brothers together, no need to be so polite." Xue Cheng smiled and pulled Xu Feng towards the main road.

  Along the main road, a group of four people walked for about half an hour and arrived at a thicket in the wilderness. It was only then that Xu Feng discovered that there were quite a number of Yellow Turbans stationed here, all wearing yellow headscarves and dressed in disarray, with some wearing armor, others wearing cloth robes, and even some wearing tattered clothes. The weapons they held were also varied, including knives, guns, swords, spears, axes, hooks, and pikes, as well as iron clubs, wooden staffs, hoes, and ropes. Most of them were ordinary civilians, with nothing military about them except for the yellow headscarf on their foreheads.

  "Xu Feng, follow me, I'll introduce you to our leader," Xue Cheng said, leading the way and guiding Xu Feng to the large tent in the center of the camp.

  Xue Cheng has an audience with Da Tou Ling.

  "Come in." A loud, sonorous voice, like thunder, could be heard clearly from a distance. Just listening to the voice, Xu Feng felt that the other party was not a simple character.

  Xue Cheng went in and didn't stay long before coming out again. He walked to the outside of the tent and beckoned Xu Feng with a wave of his hand, "The Big Head is calling for you."

  Xu Feng calmed himself down, lifted the curtain and stepped inside.

  Inside a simple yurt, behind a felt curtain, sat a burly black-faced man with thick eyebrows, a dark complexion and a black beard. He wore a brass helmet on his head, a golden armor on his body, and a pair of colorful tiger-head boots on his feet. A lion-patterned belt was tied around his waist. This man had broad shoulders and a round waist, resembling a black iron tower. His eyes gleamed like a tiger's, shining brightly and piercingly, making people dare not look straight at him.

  Xu Feng stood with his hands hanging down, a serious expression on his face, and carefully replied "Xu Feng pays respects to the great leader."

  "Well, not bad." The burly man with a black face glanced at Xu Feng, his eyes showing a hint of appreciation, and nodded in satisfaction. "I heard that you lent a helping hand today and saved some of my brothers. Is this true?"

  "That's right." Xufeng replied calmly and quietly, without showing any surprise or delight.

  "I, Zhou Cang, have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Those who have merits will be rewarded, those who make mistakes will be punished. Xue Cheng recommended you as the leader of their squad, I have already agreed. From now on, follow me, I hope you can do a good job, I naturally won't treat you unfairly." Zhou Cang said with a bright and clear tone. His words were full of appreciation and liking for Xu Feng. Zhou Cang was a straightforward person, if he liked someone, he would show it openly, his emotions were written all over his face, he was the kind of person who spoke directly and acted decisively.

  "Zhou Cang?" Xu Feng was shocked, he didn't expect to meet a tiger general as soon as he arrived here. This Zhou Cang is not simple, brave and good at fighting, loyal and righteous. In the Battle of Jingzhou, he captured Pang De alive. In terms of bravery, he is definitely one of the best in the Three Kingdoms. In terms of loyalty, he followed Guan Yu all his life, never leaving him. After Guan Yu's death, he even tried to kill himself to fulfill his loyalty.

  "Could it be that young brother has a different opinion?" Zhou Cang asked strangely as he saw Xu Feng's daze.

  "No, I'm just a newcomer and haven't achieved anything yet, but I've received this reward. This might make the brothers in the army discontented. I hope the leader will take back his order." Xu Feng replied hastily after coming to his senses.

  Even if he had made contributions before, but at that time he was not considered a Yellow Turban rebel, such rewards would be given, what if the soldiers were dissatisfied? Xu Feng did not want to invite jealousy as soon as he came.