Chapter 128

【5】

Translation: "The banquet was extravagant to the utmost." Or "The banquet was extremely luxurious." We'll keep concise: "The banquet was extravagant."

Instruction about translating that line, then they give output.

【9】

Instruction for 【6】.

【11】

Instruction for 【10】.

【13】

Instruction for 【12】.

【16】

Translation: "They all stared dumbfounded, mouths full of oil, drinking until drunk, behaving disgracefully."

Chinese line.

【18】

Chinese line.

【20】

Chinese line.

【22】

Chinese line.

【24】

Chinese line.

【26】

Chinese line.

【28】

Chinese line.

Translation: "After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes."

【31】

Instruction for 【30】.

【34】

Translation: "The noisy hall fell silent instantly. Everyone's eyes focused on this young general."

Chinese line.

【36】

Chinese line.

Translation: "\"Thank you all for coming from afar to be guests in my town's east city! The wine, you've drunk well. The meat, you've eaten your fill. Next, it's time to discuss serious matters. \""

【40】

Translation: "He pointed outside the hall to the newly built enormous martial field."

Chinese line.

【42】

Chinese line.

Translation: "\"The rules of the duel are simple. \" Wang Meng extended a finger, \"No rules! \"

【45】

Chinese line? Wait check: after 【44】 instruction, 【45】 is Chinese line? Let's examine original:

【48】

Translation: "Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in an uproar."

What? You can use firearms?

Translation: "\"What? You can use firearms? \""

【52】

Translation: "\"What's the point of competing then? Whoever has more firearms wins! \"

This is unfair!

Translation: "\"This is unfair! \"

【55】

Songpu Zhen, hearing this, felt delighted. He had brought a full fifty men equipped with firearms, the 'Thunder God Corps'! This rule was practically tailor-made for him!

【58】

Translation: "\"Silence! \" Wang Meng's voice turned cold."

That icy aura instantly silenced all discussion.

Translation: "That icy aura instantly suppressed all discussion."

【62】

Translation: "\"Fair? \" Wang Meng sneered, \"In this world, there has never been absolute fairness. On the battlefield, there is only victory or defeat, no fairness! Today we are not choosing a warrior who follows rules, but a leader who brings victory to his family, subordinates, and allies! \"

You can fight one-on-one or form alliances, defeat your foes openly or stab them in the back—I don't care about the method, only the result!

Translation: "\"You may fight one-on-one or form alliances. You may defeat your opponent openly or stab him in the back. I don't care about the process, only the result! \"

【65】

"Ultimately, the family that can plant its flag on the central platform of the martial field will be the victor of this Heroes' Assembly!"

【67】

"The victor will immediately receive one hundred of the latest firearms, ten Tiger Crouching Cannons, and enough armor and weapons to equip three thousand people!"

【70】

Translation: "One hundred firearms! Ten Tiger Crouching Cannons! Equipment for three thousand people!"

Everyone thought it was unbelievable… this… this is defying heaven! The Wang family has really gone all out!

【72】

Whoever gets these could not only unify the Nine Provinces, but even march on Heian-kyō and become emperor!

【74】

All the powerful factions' eyes turned red.

Translation: "All the strongmen's eyes turned red."

【78】

Translation: "Even those who had just thought Wang Meng favored Songpu Zhen now cast aside their dissatisfaction to the clouds beyond."

In the face of such enormous temptation, fairness and morality become worthless.

Translation: "In the face of such tremendous temptation, fairness and morality become nonsense."

【81】

"Now I declare, the Nine Provinces Heroes' Assembly, the martial contest begins!"

【84】

Translation: "Wang Meng gave the order."

The entire martial field instantly turned into a bloody hell.

【86】

A few overconfident warriors called for a one‑on‑one duel, but before they could take two steps they were hit by stray arrows and turned into human pincushions.

Translation: "At first, a few overly confident warriors shouted for a single rider challenge, but before they could take two steps, they were struck by a cold arrow from somewhere and turned into hedgehogs."

【90】

Translation: "Next came the most chaotic melee."

Each family's warriors fiercely guarded their lord and banner, attacking anyone they saw; blades flashed and blood flew everywhere.

Translation: "Each family's warriors desperately guarded their lord and banner, cutting down anyone they saw. In an instant, swords flashed and flesh flew."

【93】

Songpu Zhen, following the advice of his trusted retainers, did not rush to charge. Instead, he had his fifty firearms soldiers set up a simple three-stage volley formation in a corner of the martial field.

【95】

"Lord, let's not rush. Let them fight first; we'll watch the tigers fight from the mountain. If anyone dares to charge, we'll use firearms, leaving them no return!"

【98】

Translation: "Songpu Zhen deeply agreed."

Soon, several blood‑shot families noticed them.

Translation: "Soon, several red-eyed families noticed them."

【101】

"Take down Songpu! He has firearms, the greatest threat!"

【104】

Translation: "\"All together! Charge over, they'll be useless! \"

Hundreds of warriors shouted and charged at Songpu Zhen's formation.

【106】

Wang Ergou's familiar booming voice replied.

【108】

First rank, fire!

Translation: "\"First row! Fire! \"

【112】

Translation: "\"Bang bang bang! \"

The hail of lead bullets, like the grim reaper's scythe, instantly cut down the dozens at the front.

Translation: "Dense lead pellets, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, instantly swept down the dozens at the front."

【116】

Translation: "\"Second row! Fire! \"

Another salvo rang out, and another group fell.

Translation: "Another volley rang out, and another group fell."

【120】

Translation: "The charging momentum came to an abrupt halt."

The surviving warriors were terrified by this horrifying killing efficiency; they had never seen such a terrifying fighting style. Before they could even reach the enemy, many of their own had already fallen.

Translation: "The remaining warriors, terrified by this deadly efficiency, lost their courage. They had never seen such a terrifying way of fighting; before they could even approach the enemy, their own side had already suffered heavy losses."

We need to output exactly one line per item.

Translation: "They collapsed, crying and fleeing."

Pine Bay Town's gun formation became a death zone on the training ground that nobody dared to approach.

On the other side, the warriors of the Sa Mo Island Port Family displayed astonishing combat power.

They had no arquebuses, but they possessed excellent armor, a fearless spirit, and archery and horsemanship skills unrivaled in the Nine Provinces.

The Family Head of the Island Port Family personally led his troops, charging left and right across the chaotic battlefield, actually carving out a bloody path step by step toward the central platform, pressing ever closer.

Wang Meng watched from the City Tower with great interest.

"This Island Port Family is somewhat interesting." He said to his aide beside him, "That fearless spirit is good material. Too bad they're not very smart."

"What does the General mean?"

"The times have changed." Wang Meng said calmly, "Relying solely on bloody courage cannot win wars."

Just as the Island Port Family was about to charge beneath the platform.

Song Pu Zhen finally moved.

He seized the moment and shouted to the several other mid- and small powers who had been watching from the sidelines: "Everyone! The Island Port Family is powerful, my arquebus squad still has intervals in their firing, but the Island Port Family warriors are fearless."

"If he takes the victory, none of us will have a good time! Better we join forces, first take him down! Then we'll split the spoils of victory!"

Those powers, originally hesitant, were immediately stirred by his provocation.

"Good! Damn it!"

Thus, a strange scene appeared on the Martial Arts Field.

Song Pu Zhen's arquebus formation took the front, using concentrated fire to suppress the Island Port Family charge, while the warriors of the other few families flanked from both wings, swarming the Island Port Family people like a pack of hyenas.

The Island Port Family warriors, though brave, were ultimately flesh and blood.

Under the arquebus fire and the encirclement of enemies several times their number, they fell one by one.

Finally, the Family Head of the Island Port Family, struck by several arrows, had his head chopped off by a warrior under Song Pu Zhen with a single blade.

The Island Port Family's flag fell.

The entire field now had only Song Pu Zhen and the few allies who had joined forces with him.

Those powers were just about to step forward to discuss with Song Pu Zhen how to "split" the spoils of victory.

Song Pu Zhen, however, revealed a ferocious grin.

"Fire!"

Wang Ergou, without hesitation, issued the order.

"Bang bang bang!"

Gunfire rang out again.

Those who had just been "allies" never imagined that Song Pu Zhen would strike his own people. Caught completely off guard, they were knocked flat on their backs.

"Song Pu Zhen! You despicable, shameless villain!"

"May you die a horrible death!"

Amid the desperate curses, Song Pu Zhen led his men, stepping over the corpses of allies and foes alike, step by step up onto the central platform.

He personally planted his family's flag upon it.

On the Martial Arts Field, blood flowed like rivers and corpses lay scattered everywhere.

Song Pu Zhen stood on the platform, looking around in all directions, and let out a victor's wild laughter.

Wang Meng nodded satisfactorily from the City Tower.

Brutal enough, shameless enough, unscrupulous enough.

Only such a person is fit to be the Wang Family's dog.

That night, Wang Meng privately summoned Songpu Zhen at the City Lord's Manor.

In front of everyone, he fulfilled his promise, granting him that batch of weapons capable of altering the Nine Provinces' balance of power.

Songpu Zhen trembled all over with excitement, feeling he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

However, after everyone else had withdrawn, leaving only the two of them.

The smile on Wang Meng's face vanished.

He looked at Songpu Zhen and said calmly, "Congratulations, Lord Songpu, you will soon become the King of the Nine Provinces."

"This... this is all thanks to the General's great fortune!" Songpu Zhen hastily said humbly.

"No." Wang Meng shook his head. "This is not fortune, but responsibility. It is also a chain placed upon you."

Songpu Zhen's smile froze on his face.

"General Wang... what do you mean?"

"My meaning is simple." Wang Meng stood up, walked to his front, looked down at him, and said, "Your power is given by me. Your army is armed by me. Your life is also given by me."

"I can make you the King of the Nine Provinces. I can also have you, by tomorrow, share the same fate as those you killed today—beheaded."

He had always known these things, but now Wang Meng laid them bare, causing his face to flush red then pale.

"From today on, you are the Wang Family's chief representative in the Nine Provinces." Wang Meng continued, "Your mission is to use the weapons I gave you to conquer the entire Nine Provinces. All land and populace will nominally be yours, but the mining rights to all mines and seventy percent of tax revenue shall belong to the Wang Family."

"Furthermore, to let you better study our Celestial Dynasty's advanced culture, and to ensure our friendship lasts forever."

"I hope to invite your eldest son, Songpu Longxin, to study free of charge at our Wang Clan Academy in Zhen Dong City, receiving the same treatment as my own nephews and nieces."

Songpu Zhen's complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

He is no fool; he knows this is to send a hostage.

He wanted to resist, but what could he resist with?

Everything he has comes from the Wang Family; since they gave it, they can easily take it back.

In the end, all his reluctance and ambition turned into a single word.

He bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the ground.

"Hey!"