Chapter 1: The Most Special Person in Bian Cheng

  Fierce cold wind came from the north, carrying snowflakes and sweeping across the ground, then rolling up into the sky a large number of withered yellow wild grasses. The desolate scene was also a kind of scenery. If those romantic poets in the imperial capital saw such a scene, they would probably compose a few poems that ordinary people would never understand.

  The lanterns in the imperial capital were their objects of admiration, and the Yangtze River, the empire's longest river, was also their object of admiration. The delicate and charming courtesans in the Half Moon Building in the imperial capital were naturally their objects of admiration as well. However, it cannot be denied that the girls from the Half Moon Building were generally beyond the reach of ordinary people.

  But battlefields and slaughter have always been good subjects for poets to lament about.

  It's just after the New Year, and the weather is still so cold that it's unbearable, especially in this godforsaken place on the far northwest border of the empire. To be honest, if you have some prostate issues, the urine stream can freeze all the way to that useless thing.

  Outside the small forest, dozens of corpses were scattered in a disorderly manner. Due to the extremely cold weather, the newly deceased had already stiffened like stones. Under the fading sunlight, the blood on the corpses turned into ice and refracted a strange color, similar to the wine produced by the Western Regions, which when viewed through delicate crystal glasses was almost the same hue.

  Boots trampled on the frozen blood, making a crunching sound.

  A border army wearing imperial black armor and dark blue uniform walked up to the corpses, wiped away the two icicles hanging from his nose, and said with a hint of pride: "Beheading forty-three levels, retrieving plundered wealth, this merit is not small, nor is it big. At least I, this deputy lieutenant, can be promoted half a level, if I really become a lieutenant, I'll invite you to drink flower wine at the Red Sleeve Pavilion."

  "He's bragging again!"

  A border soldier shook his head and said, "Even if the squad leader takes out five years' worth of military pay, it's not enough for these twenty-three brothers to have a drink at Hongxiu Restaurant."

  "Is there a solution? Do I still have to spend my own money?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, General Li dared to pause for a moment, turned his head and looked around, then suddenly remembered something and asked: "Where did Fang Jie go? Since the battle started just now, I haven't seen him!"

  "Is this worth being surprised about?"

  Fu Bao, a veteran sergeant of the border army who had survived eleven battles against imperial and foreign enemies, let out a sigh and said: "Surviving eleven battles is nothing to brag about in front of Fang Xian. I bet that even if he experienced 110 wars, he would still come out unscathed."

  "What's the use of being a soldier if you're not going to die?" Shi Changqiu said with a smile. "He has a lot of wealth to protect, so it's natural that he's more afraid of death. You're different, you're just a lone wolf... having gone through ten wars and still being only a company commander, this is really nothing to be proud of."

  Fu Bao said very seriously: "I have never denied that I am afraid of death, and I take pride in being able to stay alive... but how can we explain that good-for-nothing little brat? He has never thought that he is afraid of death, but when did he ever dare to move forward during the battle against the bandits? I bet you, within a minute, that good-for-nothing will come out from somewhere with a smile on his face and say: 'To celebrate our border army's great victory again, let's go drink at Yunji Dog Meat Baozi shop!'"

  Nearly twenty border soldiers who were sorting out equipment and counting the dead bodies nodded almost simultaneously.

  I couldn't agree more.

  "Be content!"

  Qiu Xiaoshu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Since Fang Jie appeared in Fan Gu City, our food has indeed improved a lot. You can't deny it, among the 800 border troops and 2,000 civilians of Fan Gu City, there isn't one who doesn't like that guy."

  "A person who is extremely afraid of death and loves life, yet everyone likes him, why?"

  Baby pouted and asked.

  "Because..."

  The team leader, Li Gan, bent down and pulled off a gold chain from the horse bandit's neck. He took a deep breath, held it in front of his eyes, and examined it: "That Fang Jie is really good at making money... The life in Fan Gu Cheng is getting better year by year because of him, I bet... Even the Imperial Guard doesn't have equipment as good as ours! Nor do they eat as well as us!"

  At this moment, a young man with a clear face and an age of about 14 or 15 years old, wearing a slightly ill-fitting leather armor, walked over rubbing his hands and said with a smile: "To celebrate our border army's great victory again, I invite everyone to go to the Cloudy Dog Meat Bun Shop for a drink!"

  ……

  ……

  Fan Gu Cheng

  In the study of Li Xiangzong, a military general in Fanggu City.

  The brazier burned brightly, with small wisps of ash rising up with the flames from time to time. The temperature in the room was vastly different from outside, warm and cozy enough to make one reluctant to leave.

  Li Xiangzong was the highest commander of the eight hundred elite soldiers on the border of Fanggu Castle, although he was only a fifth-grade general, but undoubtedly, in this small city of Fanggu with a length and width of no more than three and a half miles, even within a vast area of over 200 miles, he had absolute power and status.

  He was born in the Li family of Longyou, although he was only a collateral branch, but also barely counted as a nobleman. From birth, he had a virtual position of You Shi Xun, from the seventh product, and even if the children of a humble family struggled all their lives, they might not be able to pursue the status that came with it. What is most admirable about Li Xiaozong is not his background, but his talent.

  Since he was transferred to Fan Gubian as the commander of the border army three years ago, the area within a radius of 200 miles has become much more peaceful than before. In his first year, the border army went into action 33 times and killed over 900 bandits. Last year, they went into action six times and killed over 200 bandits. This year... to be exact, since the border army defeated the Ma bandits in June last year, it has been eight months before there was another action.

  So, Li Xiaozong had a headache. The military achievements reported were less, how could he get more rewards? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but pause for a moment, and then had to reflect on when he became so greedy...

  He just celebrated his 26th birthday last month, not only from a noble family, but also said to be an excellent student from the Imperial Military Academy, and was appointed as the General of the Border Army after graduation. This can also prove that the rumor about him being a... oh no, a charming figure in the Imperial Military Academy is true.

  It is said that in the imperial military, power was not the greatest, but fame and status were absolutely the highest. Zhou Yuanzhang, the head of the Imperial Martial Arts Academy, had publicly praised Li Xiaozong, saying that if he didn't die from his bad temper by the age of 30, he would likely become the youngest governor in the empire.

  This sentence shows Director Zhou's appreciation for Li Xiaozong, but Director Zhou's next sentence may be the key point.

  Of course, if nothing unexpected happens... you won't even live to be twenty-five! A fool who has studied at the Martial Arts Academy for three years and still only knows how to attack but not defend, the Ministry of War actually plans to transfer you to a border town... I'm already thinking of mourning for you!

  Director Zhou miscalculated, because Li Xiaozong has been living a life of luxury in the border town for three years.

  Every time Li Xiaozong thought of Director Zhou's remarks, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

  To be frank, it was indeed because of an unexpected event that he became less impulsive than before, for this world had become too beautiful for him to die.

  This unexpected person was a young man named Fang Jie.

  "Fang Jue Xiao ah...... you really are a freak!"

  Looking at the young man squatting beside the fire pit with his buttocks exposed to roast the fire, Li Xiaozong couldn't help but praise him.

  ……

  ……

  Fang Jie, courtesy name Jue Xiao.

  Three years ago, Li Xiangzong took office as the commander of the border army in Fan Gucheng. He also appeared in this small but famous city. In just one year, he became a celebrity in Fan Gucheng. To put it in the words of Li Gan, the leader of the border army, that is to say, this guy is too damn good at making money!

  Who dares to stick their butt out and warm up by the fire in Li Xiangzong's study? There are many such people among the 800 border troops of Fan Gucheng, because Li Xiangzong is not a strict general who makes people tremble with fear. His study is also not as difficult to enter as the boudoir of Xi Yuxin, where only she can dance the flowing water sleeve dance in Red Sleeves Gathering. After all, the latter is said to be a young unmarried woman, while he... never mind.

  But only Fang Jie could dare to stick his butt out in Li Xiaozong's study and roast it.

  Buttocks emitting steam, white and floating up.

  "Did you pee?"

  Li Xiaozong looked at Fang Jie and asked seriously.

  "If it doesn't smell like pee, then it's definitely not pee!"

  With a clear and bright face, Fang Jie answered seriously: "When Li Gan and the others were killing the horse thieves, you didn't know how strong the wind was. In order not to freeze to death, I had to dig a snow cave to hide in it. This is the best way to conserve energy and maintain body temperature, but it's undeniable that sitting for a long time will still get wet..."

  He felt his buttocks finally warming up, and Fang Jie took out a stack of square paper from his arms and handed it to Li Xiaozong: "Last month's harvest was not too brilliant, but it was less than 1% more than the month before."

  "That's thousands of taels of silver!"

  Li Xiaozong exclaimed: "Fang Jie, are you sent by heaven to bring blessings to Fan Gucheng?"

  He tidied up his clothes and replied very seriously but also with a hint of embarrassment: "I am sent by heaven to bring blessings to all humanity..."

  "Heaven must have been reluctant to let you come down. If you had stayed up there, how much more silver would you have helped him earn?"

  Li Xiaozong looked at the silver ticket in his hand and sighed.

  "If General has nothing else, I'll head back to Jin Yuan Fang first. Tomorrow is the day of the market opening, and more or less everyone needs to prepare."

  Fang Jie turned his head and took a look, making sure there was no more smoke coming out of his butt before preparing to leave.

  "If you don't go back to sleep, I'll throw this stack of silver tickets into the fire pit and burn them."

  Li Xiaozong gave him a white eye and said.

  "For the silver ticket... I have to sleep for now."

  He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

  "Go ahead, I know you must have agreed to join Li and the others for dog meat hot pot. Remember not to drink too much wine, or if law enforcement catches up with you, I won't be able to bend the law for personal reasons."

  "Don't worry, General."

  Fang Jie walked towards the door while saying, "Having meals and drinks with law enforcement officers is not a one or two-time thing. Last time, there was a law enforcement officer who pretended to be serious about arresting me, but after drinking two jars of old wine, he started calling me brother. You know, those who take advantage of others will always be short of words, and those who capture people will always have soft hands."

  "It seems necessary to replace the law enforcement team..."

  Li Xiangzong sighed and said, then shook his head again: "Unless I replace myself, otherwise you will always be the most special one in Fan Gucheng. Go back to sleep, looking at you makes me annoyed!"

  "Ah!"

  Fang Jie saluted and then turned around to walk out of the study. He had only taken three or four steps when he suddenly heard Li Xiaozong's voice floating over from behind: "Fang Jiao, did you fart?"

  Fang Jie was shocked and lost his composure, thinking to himself: "How did this silent and stealthy General discover this?"

  "He turned back and asked in surprise: 'General, your skills have improved again?'"

  Li Xiaozong shook his head and said seriously: "I... saw it."

  Fang was stunned, and immediately looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh: "The city of Fanggu is great everywhere, it's just too damn cold! A fart can be seen...can be seen..."