Chapter 1323: A wisp of ghostly fire

"Rotation in small teams is also convenient for observation. Keep the suitable ones, replace the unsuitable ones." He Lingchuan was building the black-armored army according to the standards of the Great Wind Army; every cavalryman was a key assessment object. He Lingchuan would comprehensively evaluate everyone's cultivation, will, character, and on-the-spot reaction; those who didn't meet the requirements would be replaced.

Sure enough, as He Lingchuan said, because Shizhou Tou and Liuping were very close, Yang Meng led two hundred men and horses to Liuping at the end of the Chen hour.

The Zhao Guangzhi army that originally guarded this place had been beaten away by the black-armored army, and Liuping's military strength was vacant.

Yang Meng spent a little effort and successfully entered the city to take over.

For one thing, his reputation was much better than Zhao Guangzhi's; since this city had to be managed by someone, being managed by Yang Meng might be better than other strongmen.

For another, the people of Liuping also heard that Yang Meng was coming, so they were mentally prepared.

After Yang Meng entered the city, he soon saw the large pot at the vegetable market entrance, and then inquired about what had just happened, and was also secretly shocked.

When Zhao Guangzhi was taken away by the black-armored leader, he knew that this person would have no good end.

But paying him back in his own coin? The black-armored army's methods were indeed cruel.

However, the Liuping villagers not only didn't mind, but were all as happy as if it were the New Year.

Zhao Guangzhi's one hundred and eighty jin of flesh and bone had been snatched up by the commoners, and even the head was taken away by the old woman, saying she wanted to wrap it in lime and treasure it well.

In addition, everyone also found flood dragon relief carvings on the walls of Liuping.

The people of Liuping didn't know what was going on, but Yang Meng confirmed what he thought in his heart.

The two places the black-armored army passed through both had this thing appear.

How did they do it?

Yang Meng examined this relief, always feeling that the dragon eyes were staring at him, the gaze steady and majestic.

He subconsciously shivered.

After Yang Meng entered the city, he began to reorganize the local defense. Originally, after the Zhao army entered Liuping, they coerced the local men to join the army to expand the number of soldiers; now that Zhao Guangzhi was defeated and died, some people fled back that night and were integrated by Yang Meng again, preparing to collect the next ownerless land.

He Lingchuan observed secretly, seeing that they were busy in a fairly orderly manner, before returning to Jucheng with Dong Rui.

On the way, Dong Rui asked him: "We captured Liu and Zhao; it would have been easier to kill them with one blade, why did we have to hand them over to the villagers for execution?"

"Since we are doing things, we must achieve results. Why should we be unknown when doing good deeds?" The horse almost stepped on a squirrel darting out from the side of the road, *pfft*, He Lingchuan patted the horse's neck to show comfort, "Besides, I want to see their attitude toward evil people."

He had to implement the plan while observing the effects, so he could adjust the strategy at any time.

"Attitude?"

"What we are doing now is like lighting a fire with wet firewood. If the firewood has a lot of water vapor, we must increase the firepower; if the water vapor is even greater, we add more firepower." He Lingchuan said seriously, "But if they can't even grasp the opportunity for revenge, then this isn't firewood, it's a stone, and it can't be lit."

It was as if the Liuping people first saw Zhao Guangzhi tonight; even though the latter was tied up like a rice dumpling, they still didn't dare to look up at him.

Long-term terror and high pressure might stimulate fighting spirit, but it might also breed servility.

Some mud can never be supported on the wall; encountering this situation, He Lingchuan had to adjust his strategy.

Dong Rui asked again: "Then what do you see now?"

He Lingchuan smiled: "Good luck, I found the thing I wanted to see most from them."

"Is there still bloodiness?"

"And hatred for suffering."

As long as there is still a wisp of ghostly fire in the heart, even if it is dim and unclear now, who dares to say that it doesn't have a day to shine brightly?...

After being out for many days, the two returned to the city and went to a tavern first, ordering a large bowl of sour bamboo shoot vegetarian noodles to pad their stomachs, and then started drinking and listening to stories.

It must be said that the wine in these two small taverns in Jucheng was average, but the noodles were made quite well. The small tender bamboo shoots were sour just right, with a little chili, a little shredded radish, a little mushroom slice, and the sauce was poured over the hand-pulled noodles—

The noodles were slurped, adding two points of chewiness.

A large bowl down, and one could sweat even in the slightly cold early spring.

Then one could heat up some wine to eat, with soy-sauce-braised snails and mixed lotus root slices.

The tavern was full before evening, and everyone was eating and drinking while listening to the storyteller tell stories.

The three stories tonight, He Lingchuan hadn't heard any of them, but each one was more colorful than the last. The last one was about a woodcutter boy meeting a beautiful ghost in the wild mountains, which was full of details from beginning to end, making Dong Rui focused, and even ordering two more plates of soy-sauce-braised meat cubes.

He even muttered: "I didn't think this story was so good when old Fu told it before."

The story was Fu Liushan's, but this storyteller wasn't Fu Liushan, but hired by the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce, and had undergone several days of training before taking the job.

"Vivid and colorful, and added many twists." He Lingchuan laughed, "I've seen this script; this storyteller surnamed Xue didn't tell it exactly according to the script, but added his own oil and vinegar."

But the addition was good, vivid and fragrant, even playing two roles alone.

To make money with one's mouth, one must really be able to speak. Wine guests often interrupted the storyteller's story, either asking questions, looking for trouble, or looking for trouble by asking questions, and this Mr. Xue would answer immediately, reacting very quickly.

If the wine guests were satisfied, they would also give him a little throat-moistening fee.

The two couldn't help but soak in this small tavern for an hour, drinking several jars of wine, and the side dishes also went through two or three rounds.

He Lingchuan was busy with many affairs and rarely wasted time like this, which showed that this Mr. Xue was indeed telling it well.

Truly, there are three hundred and sixty trades, and every trade has its master.

Dong Rui was also very satisfied with listening, but then remembered and said: "He didn't tell any of our past stories."

"Walking the kidneys is not as good as walking the heart; only those who specialize in the lower three paths are the most attractive." He Lingchuan had to admit that Fu Liushan's words were very reasonable, "Just carry our private goods in this; only by telling them occasionally will it not cause resentment."

At this time, the storyteller was also drinking tea to rest his throat, and even ate two kumquats. At this time, the waiter came over with a tray, and a shout: "Reward from the guest by the window, half a guan of big money!"

Guests usually wouldn't go out with hundreds of copper coins, so what was on the tray was half a tael of silver.

Although this money had to be shared with the tavern, the storyteller was also greatly refreshed and thanked him repeatedly.

The guest by the window immediately said: "Tell us about that Beijia in the west! And the burning of the Heavenly Palace you mentioned last time; I only heard the second half."

"You really know how to order!" The storyteller put down his cup, sat back in front leisurely, "Beijia is a rare powerful country in the world; everything planted in that land has a bumper harvest, and what flows in the river is not water, but honey! Take a sip, and it's sweet."

Dong Rui interrupted: "Why isn't it wine? We could save some wine money if we went there."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1324 =====