Chapter Thirty-Two: The Banquet

  Yuan Shang and the bandits led by Hong Yi Ze each with their own thoughts, followed one after another into the county government office.

  After entering the hall, Yuan Shang waved his hand and let his men arrange the tables and chairs, set up wine and food.

  The Red Robe Bandit was already seated in the guest position, and upon hearing this, Chong Yuan hastily cupped his hands and said: "Sir, there's no need to go to such trouble. This young woman didn't come for this meal of wine and meat. Please withdraw your order, County Magistrate."

  Yuan Shang heard this and smiled slightly, turning his head to the red-clad bandit: "The great leader seems not to be giving me much face, are you being polite to me?"

  "No, County Master, please don't misunderstand, it's just that I, a humble girl, misspoke... It's just that my brothers are still outside in the cold..." A daughter from a good family can be strong and capable, but ultimately has thin skin and cannot say some things too directly.

  Yuan Shang burst out laughing and said, "So the big head is worried that his brothers are dissatisfied? No need to worry, no need to worry. Come on, people, hurry up and arrange for wine and dishes, take good care of the heroes who came from Jiuli Mountain, don't treat your own brothers poorly!"

  The soldiers around him looked at Yuan Shang with a deep meaning in their eyes, nodded and said: "Yes." Then they led the order and left.

  After a while, the wine table was set up and Yuan Shang sat in the main seat. He raised his cup towards Hongyan and said with respect: "Although the Big Head is a greenwood, he is willing to come forward to borrow grain for the people, which is rarely seen in the world. The county magistrate admires him deeply. Today, the county magistrate uses this humble wine to toast the Big Head on behalf of those who suffered from the disaster. Who says women are inferior to men? Come, let's drink!

  The woman in red's face remained impassive, showing no joy or anger. Upon hearing the words, she lightly raised her wine cup and toasted Yuan Shang from afar, then tilted her head back and drained the cup in one gulp.

  Putting down his wine cup, the red-clad bandit's eyes coldly swept around the county yamen before he said, "County Magistrate sir, such a large county yamen, why are there so few county officials?"

  Yuan Shang burst out laughing and said, "This county is small and the population is sparse, so there aren't many officials to begin with. Tonight, the big head came to borrow grain, and most of the county officials were ordered by the county magistrate to assist in moving the granary to take out the grain. As a result, the county government office is empty and quiet, which is really laughable for the big head!"

  The red-clothed female thief nodded slowly, her face slightly relaxed, and then fell silent.

  The following wine party was very dull, the red-clothed female thief seemed to be not good at talking, always asking one sentence and answering one sentence, the thieves standing by were all with a big donkey face, like they had lost their mother, not making a sound, only Yuan Shang laughed brightly, frequently pushing cups and changing plates, frequently toasting each other, from time to time telling a few jokes that were just right, without losing elegance.

  After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the banquet was half over. Yuan still pretended to be drunk and slowly steered the conversation towards a topic he was interested in.

  He knew that the red-clothed female thief was calm on the surface, but in reality she was getting more and more impatient. He had to stall for time, waiting for Gao Luan to tidy everything up.

  Yuan Shang chuckled and said, "Great Leader, to be honest, I have a question in my mind that I'd like to ask you. Would you be willing to enlighten me?"

  The woman in red raised her head indifferently and said softly: "Please enlighten me, County Magistrate."

  "The leader of the bandits has an unusual demeanor, speaking and acting with elegance, with a hint of nobility in every gesture. The way he commands his followers is also highly disciplined, suggesting that he may be from a prominent military family. But how did he end up as an outlaw? Robbing counties and opposing the imperial court, you should know that this territory is under the jurisdiction of Cao Cao, who is currently too busy to deal with you, but will eventually send troops to quell the rebellion. By then, your life and those of your followers will be in danger, and it will be difficult for you to survive..."

  The words had not been spoken yet, when the red-clothed female thief's eyebrows suddenly rose, her right hand grasping the bronze wine cup with bulging veins, while her left hand slowly pressed down on the sword at her waist. Her body slightly leaned forward, like a lone wolf ready to pounce on its prey, sending chills down people's spines.

  Just this one change, Yuan Shang's heart can still be sure of eight or nine points.

  These women have a grudge against Cao Cao!

  The red-clad female bandit gazed coldly at Yuan Shang, her voice indifferent as she spoke: "County Magistrate, aren't you thinking of replacing Cao Cao to offer amnesty?"

  The joyful atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned eerie and inexplicable with the icy words of the red-clothed female thief. A chill atmosphere gradually spread throughout the county government, and the thieves behind the red-clothed female thief also had evil faces, staring tightly at Yuan Shang, as if he was not a person, but a lamb that could be torn apart by them at any time.

  Yuan Shang saw the situation and smiled lightly, rubbing his chin. His smile was tinged with vigilance, and his gaze was fixed tightly on the red-clad female thief. He said kindly: "The leader's words are right, but also not right! This county does indeed want to surrender to the leader, but it's not for Cao Cao, rather..."

  Yuan Shang lightly patted the table and rolled his eyes: "Or, rather, for the great Han dynasty, for the Son of Heaven, or perhaps other courtiers loyal to the Son of Heaven..."

  "It's all the same anyway." The red-clothed female thief slowly stood up, coldly saying: "County Magistrate sir, I underestimated you. Today, within this county government hall, it's likely that a trap has been set, a feast at Hongmen?"

  Yuan Shang nodded: "The Big Head is indeed clever and resourceful, but what he said about the Hongmen Banquet was a bit exaggerated."

  The woman in red remained expressionless and said, "County Magistrate, it's not that I look down on you people of Nandun County. If my guess is correct, with the number of households and location of Nandun County, there are at most 500 to 600 soldiers guarding the city, and they're all weaklings. Not to boast, but even if I had a thousand brothers outside, just these 500 people, even if they were all hiding in the county government office, my own abilities and those of my brothers would be more than enough to take care of them."

  The picture is poor and shallow, the host and guest are not happy, everything is almost only in the morning and evening.

  "Not bad, the big head said that it's not a single penny different. If it were just relying on the soldiers of Nanton County, let alone setting up a grand banquet, even if they set up fifty grand banquets and went on a county-wide tour, it would still be impossible to keep the big head down."

  Yuan Shang swore repeatedly, not taking it as a shame, but rather as an honor.

  This suddenly confused the thieves, no way, is this county magistrate brain-damaged? Our leader is speaking, why are you nodding along? Are you saying that your combat power is low? What are you agreeing with, it seems like you're putting us in the same group.

  The red-clothed thief's eyes also flashed with incomprehension, staring intently at Yuan Shang as he weighed his options back and forth.

  But Yuan Shang didn't seem to mind at all, and with a loud clap of his hands, he said: "Bring the man up! Let the Red-Robed Great Leader take a look!"

  As soon as the words fell, two Yuan army soldiers appeared on either side of Deng Xiang, the county magistrate, and walked up to the main hall.

  Yuan Shang smiled and pointed at Deng Ai, saying: "Great Leader, do you know who this person is?"

  The red-clothed thief narrowed his eyes and asked in a puzzled tone: "Who?"

  But then Deng County Magistrate heard the words and hastily adjusted his clothes, without needing anyone to explain, he loudly said: "I am Deng Xiang, courtesy name Tongzhi, a man from Yiyang, Zigui is who I am!"

  The red-clad bandit stared at Deng Ai for a long time, then slowly turned his head to Yuan Shang and said: "What Deng Ai, never heard of him, just a rustic from Xinye, what's the point of bringing him out to show off?"

  Yuan Shang looked at Deng Chao with dissatisfaction, and slowly said: "You can't even speak properly, you're a complete waste! Tell the leader of the Red Clothes, what do you do?"

  Deng County Magistrate puffed out his chest and said: "I am not talented, currently holding the position of Magistrate in Nandun County. However, with the world in turmoil and bandits rampant in Yu Province, being a county magistrate is actually not very lucrative. So since the beginning of this year, I have already had the intention to resign and return home..."

  Without heeding Deng County Magistrate Luo's lengthy self-introduction, the red-clad bandit suddenly turned his head and stared tightly at Yuan Shang: "He is the Magistrate of Nandun County? Then who are you?"

  Yuan Shang smiled slightly: "Boss, the flood has swept away the Dragon King Temple, and family members don't recognize each other? We are fellow travelers, aren't we?"