Volume 1: White Body Cold Gate Chapter 5: Black Wind Thief, Military Order

  Yang Mansion

  "Haha, Wen Xiong has great talent. This horse pendant is truly ingenious, and the county magistrate can't put it down. However, I don't know how you plan to promote it, so that we can both make a fortune."

  After three rounds of wine, Yang Hong and Wen Han, Zhou Lin became familiar with each other, and the address was also affectionate. Zhou Lin was restless, and in the banquet, he secretly made several eye movements to let Wen Han mention the borrowing of soldiers.

  Wen Han, however, did not notice and continued to talk with Yang Hong about the horse's halter.

  "I, a humble person, have some ideas about the promotion of horse suspension that I would like to discuss with County Master." Wen Han bowed and said respectfully.

  In ancient times, aristocratic families attached great importance to etiquette. When interacting with them, if one failed to observe the proper etiquette, they would be looked down upon.

  Yang Hongyi waved his hand and hastily said: "Don't be polite, quickly come with the county magistrate."

  The young man then made a suggestion. The young man wanted to hold a horse-racing competition, the competition would have prizes, and the winner could also receive the title of "Horse-Racing" from the county magistrate (just like Zhou Lian was called "Zhou Gambler", the winner of the horse-racing competition could be named with the surname followed by the two characters "Ma Diao").

  Bounties can attract ordinary civilians, and nicknames are things that merchants care about. They have money, so they seek fame and reputation.

  "County Master, why not give this grand event some fanfare? Let the merchants of our county flock to it like a swarm. These people have extensive connections and business opportunities all over the world, and soon they will spread the news about Ma Diao's game far and wide. And our gambling den can take advantage of the opportunity to open branches in surrounding counties, making everyone go crazy for it."

  Wen Han slowly unfolded his plan, and Yang Hong, who was listening on the side, was overjoyed and repeatedly praised it as excellent.

  "Wen Xian, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and execute your plan. If there's anything that requires the county magistrate's assistance, feel free to ask. As long as it's a reasonable request, I'll agree to it."

  Yang Hong's eyes shone with a scorching light, looking at Wen Han as if he were looking at a chicken that could lay golden eggs.

  Wen Han revealed a brilliant smile, seeing that the timing was right, and suddenly said: "I have something to ask of you. To make the gambling house big, we need a large number of skilled people, and these people's combat skills cannot be poor."

  Although we have the care of the county magistrate, the affairs of the gambling house are too complicated. Those gamblers' character must be clear to the county magistrate as well. Moreover, in the future, we will expand the gambling house to other counties and towns. If someone makes trouble, it's hard to put out a fire with water from afar.

  We should still make preparations for the future, so that when it's time to act, everything will be in order. "Water flows naturally into a ditch."

  Yang Hong furrowed his brow and said: "The soldiers of this county cannot participate in the affairs of the gambling house, it's a personal matter, the county magistrate is powerless."

  Wen Han saw Yang Hong's displeasure, and hastily cupped his hands in salute, saying: "I have long since thought of a plan to deal with this situation. I heard that outside the county seat, within 100 li, there is a group of bandits causing trouble on Heifeng Mountain. I am not talented, but I am willing to lead troops to attack and defeat them, and recruit the bandits to alleviate our current difficulties."

  Wen Han finally spoke out the main purpose of attending this banquet. In fact, Wen Han had always had the idea of promoting the casino as a means to enhance his power. As if by arrangement, Wen Han not only found a collaborator 'Yang Hong', but also managed to sell that super cow person 'Guan Yu' a favor with this borrowed troops affair, truly a two-for-one deal.

  Wen Han couldn't help but sigh in admiration, originally this was just an idea, he didn't think it would be put into practice so quickly.

  Then, Wen Han secretly took a glance at Zhou Lian and thought to himself: "It seems that Elder Brother Zhou is indeed my lucky star."

  Yang Hong thought for a moment, and after a brief silence in the room, Yang Hong suddenly slapped the wine table and said: "It seems that without investing something, it is impossible to get a rich return. Wen Xian-di you have great talent, the county magistrate believes in you."

  Moreover, the Heifeng Mountain bandits have also been noted by the imperial court, which has issued several orders to the county magistrate to eliminate them. Since you, Wén Xián, are willing to lead the troops, I will give you 500 soldiers and horses to go up the mountain and suppress the bandits!

  However, the county magistrate has one condition: if you are defeated, come and see me with your head held high! Are you daring enough to accept this military order?

  Yang Hong gambled, and the young man in front of him was not bragging. Five hundred soldiers were almost a third of the county's military strength. If they failed to suppress the bandits and were instead suppressed by them, Yang Hong would be heartbroken.

  "What's there to be afraid of? Bring paper!"

  Wen Han, fueled by the wine, let out a loud roar, and for a moment, he had the majestic momentum of a heroic general taking the stage to slay his enemies. Wen Han knew that at this moment, he could not retreat, and whether or not he could stabilize his footing in this chaotic world at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty depended on this first battle.

  If he wins, he can start building his power. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion breaks out, he will seize the opportunity to rise up. If he loses, his head will fall to the ground and return to dust!

  "Good! The Huang family's official residence, the Five Treasures of the Study await your arrival!" Yang Hong seemed to be infected by Wen Han's momentum and also loudly shouted.

  At the same time, Zhou Leng, who was paying close attention to Wen Han on the side, kept changing his expression and muttered the same words in his mouth.

  "Are kings, princes and generals born of a different breed? I am destined for greatness in this world, how can I condescend to be treated as an ordinary person?"

  After a while, the five treasures of the study arrived, and Huang Guan's family was grinding ink beside them.

  With a flourish of his brush, he wrote with bold and powerful strokes, his spirit carefree and majestic.

  The font written by Wenhan is the combination of Ou and Liu style, which is the vice secretary-general of the Chinese Hard Pen Calligraphy Association 'Li Fangming', with a dignified and elegant shape, strong and powerful strokes that are compelling.

  A surge of heroic spirit rises in his heart, singing a loud song.

  A man should be a killer, killing without leaving any emotions. An eternal and immortal achievement is all about killing.

  In the past, there was a heroic young man who valued his promises and took his word seriously. He would kill someone at the blink of an eye, yet he himself was as light as a goose feather.

  There were also tyrants and despots, who killed people like hemp.

  You have not seen, upright Confucians and brave warriors rise up in death, the divine land from then on boasts of benevolence and righteousness.

  "Good calligraphy, good song!" Yang Hong and Zhou Lian, who were admiring the Wenhan script next to them, cheered in unison.

  Wen Han grabbed a jug of wine from the banquet and tilted his head back to drink, draining it completely before smashing the jug on the ground. He continued singing.

  The barbarians from the north invade the Central Plains, scholars and common people flee in panic. One man is killed with each step, but the killer's hand does not stop moving.

  Blood flows for thousands of miles, corpses pile up like mountains. Brave warriors have finished their battles, exhausted, they sleep on the bodies of their enemies.

  In dreams I still kill people, a smile reflects the spring light. Don't ask your daughter, what is the evil of men?

  Since ancient times, benevolence and virtue have been used to harm people, and morality has never had a single truth.

  Don't you see, lions and tigers hunt and gain fame, but who pities the deer?

  Yang Hong seemed to be infected by the heroic spirit of killing people like slaughtering dogs in the song, picked up his wine cup, and shattered it after finishing the wine, then sang along with Wen Han.

  The world has always been about the strong preying on the weak, even if there is justice it's all in vain. You needn't ask, a man will have his own way of doing things.

  When a man is going on an expedition, he should be bold and resolute. In dealing with others, there are two things which will not do: (one) to stand in awe of them, and (two) to be afraid of them.

  A man's affair is on the battlefield, with a heart like a bear and eyes like a wolf. If born as a man, he should kill people, not teach men to wrap women's hearts.

  Men have never been afraid of death, and even in the face of enemies, they smile and pass on. In a hundred battlefields, I wish to be with the green wild grass everywhere.

  "Good song! Good song! Drunk without wine!" Zhou Leng clapped his hands, with some intoxication, his footsteps were disorderly, and he danced along with Wen Han's lyrics.

  Men should not be timid, I have a song for you to listen. Killing one is for guilt, slaughtering ten thousand is for heroism.

  Butchering 90 million, is the best of the best. The best of the best, different paths.

  Disregard the thousand-year reputation of benevolence and righteousness, but in this life, show off heroic spirit. Beautiful names are not loved, evil names are loved, killing millions with an unpunished heart.

  It is better for me to be hated by millions of people than to be insulted by a single person. Looking back at the Qin and Zhou dynasties over the past 300 years, where was there a hero who did not kill people?

  In later texts, Wenhan made some slight changes, but they did not affect the overall meaning of the lyrics.

  "What a wonderful sight, spanning three hundred years of the Qin dynasty, where is there no hero who doesn't kill people? The song has stirred up my murderous intentions, I'm so angry that I want to slaughter all those despicable villains buried in my heart!"

  Yang Hongyong's eyes were red and swollen, shouting loudly. In her heart, she seemed to be recalling some things.

  "Brother Wenxian! Brother Wenxian! Why don't we take up a knife and sword, and slaughter that treacherous dog Ma Zong? He's too arrogant towards me! Too arrogant indeed!"

  Zhou Leng pounded his chest and shouted, a song "Killer" stirred up the wildness in him, coupled with intoxication. The normally gentle Zhou Leng also became like a tiger or wolf.

  "Brother Zhou, don't worry. After we defeat the Black Wind Mountain and return to Linzhou in triumph on the day of our victory, it will be the time for that treacherous dog Ma Zong to meet his doom."

  Wen Han walked over to Zhou Lian and comforted him, who was overly excited.

  At this time, Yang County also came over. After a drink and a song, Yang Hong seemed to value Wen Han and Zhou Lin more, and promised loudly: "Zhou Xian Di, don't be excited. The county knows a thing or two about the ungrateful and treacherous things that Ma Zong has done, and is very angry for you! In this way, if you can really surrender to Heifeng thief, I will give you a legitimate reason to get rid of Ma Zong. What do you think?"

  Yang Hong was pulling Zhou Lian in, giving him an opportunity to openly and justifiably kill Ma Zong without getting into trouble with the authorities.

  "Thank you, little one." Zhou Rong heard this and was overjoyed, bowing deeply.

  "Good! Today, we have Wen Xian's brother's lyrics to add to the excitement. The county magistrate is very pleased. We should make it a night to remember. Let's consider this as a farewell banquet for Wen Xian and Zhou Xian brothers before they go on an expedition to suppress bandits!"

  Yang Hong seemed to have something more to say, picked up the cup on the table, and turned to Wen Han and Zhou Lin. Wen Han and Zhou Lin hastily also picked up their wine cups and clinked them with Yang Hong's before draining them.

  Three people drank until dawn, getting drunk to the point of dizziness. Yang Hong was supported by his servants as he stumbled back to his room to rest. Wen Han, still half-drunk, helped up Zhou Long, who had passed out from intoxication, and sent him back home.

  Before leaving, Wen Han threw the military order to Huang Guan's house. Huang Guan secretly took a look at the content on it and was shocked.

  Military order, only two sentences.

  Killing bandits is like slaughtering dogs, blood stains the Black Wind Mountain. When merit is lost, I'll offer my head, my soul will not return to Yexian!