You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Ke Zhen'e walked up to him, tapped the ground with his iron staff, making a dull thud, as if striking Liu Bingren's heart.

"Liu Bingren, I don't have time to waste with you. Where are you hiding the embezzled silver?"

"Besides your brother-in-law's gambling dens and pawnshops, are there any other secret hideouts?"

"Who else colluded with you and shared the spoils?"

"explain!"

"I...I don't know what you're talking about! I am an official appointed by the imperial court, you..."

Click!

"what!"

A piercing scream rang out.

Ke Zhen'e's iron staff slammed heavily into Liu Bingren's left calf, the sound of bones shattering clearly audible.

"explain!"

"There's a secret vault...under the gambling den...the key...the key's in my study...a hidden compartment in the display cabinet..."

"Accomplices! Who else?" The iron rod moved to his intact right leg.

"No! I'll tell you! Wang, the head of the Ministry of Revenue… Zheng, the county magistrate of Qiantang… and… ah!"

Liu Bingren named several officials, all of whom were lower- or middle-ranking officials with whom he had business dealings, and even mentioned a clerk in the prefectural government office.

"Do...do you have any account books?"

"There's... there's a copy... also in the secret compartment of the study... along with the key..."

"very good."

Ke Zhen'e nodded, then suddenly raised his right hand, which had been resting on the iron staff, and slapped Liu Bingren on the top of his head!

Snapped!

A muffled thud, like smashing a ripe watermelon.

Liu Bingren's eyes suddenly bulged out, blood slowly seeped from his seven orifices, and without uttering a sound, he collapsed to the ground, dead.

Ke Zhen'e said to the masked man beside him, "Proceed with the plan, clear out the area."

The order was quickly issued.

Apart from the women and children who had already been taken into custody, all the other men in the mansion, including guards, servants, accountants, and even Liu Bingren's adult sons and nephews, were searched house by house by masked men and mercilessly killed.

Screams and pleas for mercy rose sporadically, then quickly faded away.

Meanwhile, another team, as Liu Bingren had instructed, retrieved the key and a thick ledger from a hidden compartment in the study.

News also came from Han Baoju's side that the inner courtyard had been cleared and the small east gate leading to the empty house next door had been found.

"Move it!" Ke Zhen'e ordered.

The masked people immediately transformed into the most efficient porters.

They went straight to the gambling den that Liu Bingren had told them about and used the key to open the underground vault.

Inside, it was glittering with gold and silver, and piled high with copper coins.

The group took out the thick burlap sacks and sturdy wooden boxes that they had prepared beforehand, and put only gold ingots, silver ingots, silver cakes and strings of copper coins into them.

He didn't even glance at those exquisite jade artifacts, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, or fine silks and satins.

The movements were swift and orderly. Two people worked together, passing the sacks to each other, then carrying the sacks and boxes out through the small door on the east side, and loading them onto ordinary horse-drawn carriages that had been prepared in the darkness outside the door and had their markings removed.

In less than half an hour, the secret vault was emptied.

A rough estimate suggests that the gold and silver alone amounted to no less than 50,000 taels, and the copper coins were countless.

……

Several days later, at the new army camp, in the warehouse.

The torches illuminated the room, and the air was filled with the smell of dust and metal.

The gold, silver, and copper coins confiscated from Liu Bingren, Zhou Fu, Shen Wanjin, and others are now piled up here, forming several small mountains.

A dozen or so of Yang and Guo's most trusted bodyguards were counting, weighing, and recording the items in a tense but orderly manner. The abacus beads clicked and clattered, mingling with the clinking of silver and gold ingots.

Yang Tiexin, Guo Xiaotian, and the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan stood around. Although they had been busy planning and taking nighttime actions for days, no one looked tired at this moment; instead, their eyes were filled with burning passion.

When the last batch of copper coins was counted, the clerk in charge of compiling the accounts, his hands trembling slightly, walked up to Yang Tiexin, his voice trembling with excitement: "Reporting to...Reporting to General, the counting is complete."

"The total amount of gold ingots, gold cakes, and gold leaves is 31,200 taels; the total amount of silver ingots, silver cakes, and silver bars is 248,300 taels."

"A copper coin of good quality is worth about 7,500 taels of silver."

"A total of...a total of over 279,500 taels!"

"Two hundred and seventy-nine thousand five hundred taels!"

Guo Xiaotian clenched his fist tightly: "My God, even if we worked ourselves to the bone, we wouldn't get this many points!"

Yang Tiexin let out a long breath, his eyes gleaming: "Now, our 'assets' are finally substantial!"

"Brother, we should act immediately, contact reliable sources, and use this money to prioritize the purchase of the finest iron, cowhide, and sinew and horn! We need the best armor, powerful bows, crossbows, and swords!"

"Secretly purchase another batch of strong horses. Our scouts and future cavalry can't always rely on two legs and those few skinny horses!"

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Guo Xiaotian rubbed his hands together excitedly, saying, "With this money, we can recruit another batch of promising young talents and train them rigorously!"

"With adequate food and rewards, morale will surely soar!"

Ke Zhen'e stroked his beard and nodded, saying in a deep voice, "Generals, money is not only an external thing, but also a weapon."

"If used properly, it can be worth a thousand troops."

"My siblings and I have been traveling the martial world for many years. Although we dare not say that we are proficient in the military strategy of defeating ten thousand men, we have some experience in individual martial arts, small team combat, and the vicissitudes of the martial world."

"If you two don't mind, my brother and I are willing to select some simple and easy-to-learn kung fu techniques suitable for battle, such as the power application method of Iron Shirt and the power generation secrets of Nanshan Palm, and pass them on to the elite soldiers in the army."

"I dare not say that everyone will become a master, but in the face of battle, they may have more ability to save their lives and kill the enemy."

Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian were overjoyed upon hearing this.

The unique skills of martial arts masters are always kept secret, so the Seven Heroes' actions are like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

Yang Tiexin immediately bowed deeply: "Seven Heroes, you are truly righteous! On behalf of my men, I thank you for your great kindness!"

"This is something I've been longing for but couldn't have!"

"Haha, great! Today is truly a double celebration!" Guo Xiaotian laughed, then turned to his personal guards and said, "Go quickly!"

"Bring out the finest wine from the camp's cellar, and prepare the game we hunted yesterday. Today, I, General Yang, and the seven heroes, will drink until we're completely drunk!"

......

As night deepened, the central command tent remained brightly lit and steaming.

Large chunks of roe deer and wild boar sizzled and dripped with oil over the fire, filling the air with their aroma. The rough porcelain bowls were filled with slightly cloudy but potent liquor.

Yang Tiexin, Guo Xiaotian, and the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan sat together, their faces relaxed and hopeful, having shed the tension and murderous aura of the past few days.

Guo Xiaotian picked up his wine bowl and announced loudly, "This first bowl is a toast to the Seven Heroes!"

"Without the Seven Heroes' strong support, how could we have achieved such results?"

"Dry!"

"Cheers!" The crowd roared in agreement, tilting their heads back to drink it all down. The fiery liquor filled their throats, instantly igniting their heroic spirit.

Zhu Cong wiped his mouth and smiled, "General Guo, you're too kind."

"Punishing evil and upholding justice is our duty."

"Now that we share the same ideals with the two generals, and are able to contribute our modest efforts to the cause of resisting the Jin, my brother and I feel deeply honored."

"Well said!" Yang Tie chimed in, "With this money, the new army can be completely transformed!"

"With strong armor, sharp weapons, ample provisions, and the Seven Heroes teaching us combat skills..."

"Given time, I will definitely train an elite force capable of directly confronting the Jin cavalry!"

"When the time is right, we will be like a sharp dagger, piercing deep behind enemy lines, cooperating with the imperial army to recover our lost territories!"

Han Baoju, gnawing on some meat, mumbled, "Yes!"

"When the time comes, I'll ride a tall horse, lead my men into battle, and slaughter them all!"

Nancy Ren was a man of few words; he simply nodded emphatically and raised his wine bowl in acknowledgment.

Zhang Asheng chuckled憨厚ly, "Kill a few more Jin dogs to avenge the people in my hometown who have been ravaged!"

The crowd chatted amongst themselves, outlining their plans for the future. The tent was filled with a joyful and excited atmosphere, as if the great cause of restoring the Central Plains had become within reach thanks to tonight's "windfall."

Just then, a soldier's urgent, deliberately hushed voice came from outside the tent: "General!"

"The people from the capital have arrived and are now at the camp gate."

The lively atmosphere inside the tent suddenly fell silent.

Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

No one dared to delay; they immediately straightened their armor, suppressed their drunkenness, and hurried out of the tent.

.....

Torches lit up the area outside the camp gate, where a small squad of imperial guards escorted a small blue sedan chair.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and a pale-faced, beardless eunuch in a scarlet robe stepped down slowly, holding a roll of bright yellow silk in his hands. The eunuch wore a formulaic smile, but his eyes were quite sharp as he swept over Yang, Guo, and the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan who came out to greet him.

"General Yang, General Guo, receive the imperial decree." The eunuch's voice was high-pitched, yet still authoritative.

"Your subjects, Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian, respectfully welcome the imperial edict!" The two men removed their armor and knelt down.

Ke Zhen'e and the others hesitated for a moment, then bowed in greeting as well.

The eunuch unfurled the silk and read aloud: "The imperial edict reads: I have heard that the newly formed Jianghuai Army is commendable for its loyalty and bravery, and diligent in serving the king."

"A special allocation of 500,000 taels of silver was made from the imperial treasury to fund military equipment, provisions, and rewards."

"I hope you will live up to my expectations, train diligently, and quickly become a formidable force to defend the nation."

"So be it."

Five hundred thousand taels!

It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in everyone's ears!

Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian looked up abruptly, almost unable to believe their ears!

Just moments ago, His Majesty was overjoyed by the huge sum of 270,000 taels of silver, but in the blink of an eye, His Majesty directly allocated 500,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury!

This...this is simply a blessing from heaven!

"Your Majesty, we...we kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Yang Tiexin's voice trembled as he kowtowed heavily along with Guo Xiaotian.

Behind them, Ke Zhen'e and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with profound shock.

Why does the emperor value this new army so much?

Five hundred thousand taels of silver from the imperial treasury—that's a huge sum enough to equip tens of thousands of elite troops!

The eunuch handed the imperial edict to Yang Tiexin, his smile becoming more genuine: "Generals, His Majesty places great hopes on the Jianghuai New Army; this is an extraordinary imperial favor."

"The silver has been transported by the Ministry of Revenue in conjunction with the Imperial City Guard and will arrive soon. The relevant procedures will be handled by someone who will be in contact with the general."

"Thank you, Eunuch!"

"Your Majesty's grace is beyond repayment, even at the cost of our lives!" Guo Xiaotian exclaimed, his face flushed with emotion.

Suppressing his excitement, Yang Tiexin recalled the battle at the front and seized the opportunity to ask, "May I ask, Your Excellency, what is the current state of the war in the Jianghuai region...?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch's face showed a hint of pride and excitement, and his voice rose a little: "Even if General Yang doesn't ask, I will still tell you."

"Heaven blesses the Great Song Dynasty; a wise ruler has emerged!"

"Just a few days ago, His Majesty... His Majesty personally went to the front lines!"

"What?" Everyone was shocked again. While it was not uncommon for an emperor to personally lead an expedition, it was truly unexpected for him to personally visit the Jianghuai region under such circumstances.

The eunuch straightened his back, as if recounting a sacred event: "His Majesty arrived incognito. At that time, the situation was critical, and our army's front line was wavering."

"Who would have thought...who would have thought that His Majesty would charge straight into the Jin army camp alone!"

A deathly silence fell over the area in front of the tent, broken only by the crackling of the torches. Everyone held their breath.

"Your Majesty is like a god descended to earth, invincible, and amidst ten thousand troops, you directly seized Wanyan Zongbi's central army banner!"

"That Jin chieftain Wuzhu was a renowned general, and his personal guards were all battle-hardened soldiers, yet they fell like weeds under His Majesty's spear!"

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty was right in the heart of the Jin army camp, and he killed Wanyan Zongbi with a single spear thrust!"

"The Jin army commander-in-chief was killed in battle!"

"Hiss~~!"

A collective gasp filled the air.

Guo Xiaotian's eyes widened in disbelief, while Yang Tiexin's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white.

The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan changed their expressions drastically. Although Ke Zhen'e was blind, his ears suddenly perked up and his facial muscles twitched.

Han Xiaoying covered her mouth, and the feather fan in Zhu Cong's hand stopped in mid-air.

"With the Jin army's commander-in-chief dead, the entire army is in chaos!"

"Our army's morale soared, and we pressed our advantage to launch a counterattack. The Jin army suffered a hundred-mile rout, and the situation in the Jianghuai region was thus reversed!"

After speaking, the eunuch himself became flushed with excitement: "Your Majesty is divinely mighty, unparalleled throughout history!"

"This is a sign of the revival of our Great Song Dynasty!"

The information was so shocking that everyone was speechless for a moment. Their hearts were pounding, their blood was rushing to their heads, and they had goosebumps all over their bodies.

After a long pause, Yang Tiexin finally found his voice and said hoarsely, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty's divine might is truly a blessing to all the people and a boon to the nation!"

"This humble general...this humble general..." He didn't know how to express the shock and respect in his heart.

The eunuch nodded in satisfaction: "The decree has been delivered. I must return to the palace to report back, so I won't stay any longer."

"Generals, take good care of yourselves and do not fail the Emperor's grace."

The crowd respectfully saw the eunuch off as he boarded the sedan chair and left, only realizing what had happened when the chair disappeared into the darkness.

......

Back in the main tent, which still smelled of wine and meat, the atmosphere was completely different.

After a moment of silence, Guo Xiaotian slammed his fist on the table, making the dishes jump. His eyes gleamed, and his voice was hoarse with excitement: "Five hundred thousand taels!"

"His Majesty personally allocated 500,000 taels!"

"They even...they killed Wuzhu in battle!"

"My God... Am I dreaming?"

Han Baoju grabbed the wine jar, took a big gulp directly from the mouth, and exhaled, his breath reeking of alcohol, "Damn it... is the emperor really that good at fighting?"

"To take the head of a general amidst a vast army?"

"This...even storytellers wouldn't dare make this up!"

Zhu Cong waved his fan, but didn't move it for a long time, muttering, "Inconceivable...truly inconceivable."

"If the envoy hadn't said it himself, who would believe it?"

"Your Majesty's actions... are simply beyond human capability."

Zhang Asheng scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Even the emperor... is that powerful?"

"Then...won't it be easier to kill the Golden Dogs in the future?"

Nancy Ren uttered a single word with emphasis: "I'm impressed!"

Han Xiaoying's eyes gleamed with admiration: "His Majesty is so brave and values ​​the cause of resisting the Jin so much, allocating such a huge sum of money..."

"It seems all our previous efforts were worthwhile!"

Ke Zhen'e remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of barely perceptible excitement:

"I have been wandering the world for decades and have heard countless legends of heroes and valiant men."

"But someone like the current emperor... with his supreme status, acts like an assassin and a chivalrous knight, slaying the enemy chieftain amidst thousands of troops and turning the tide of battle..."

"Unheard of before, unseen before!"

"Your Majesty not only possesses courage, but also unparalleled martial prowess and charisma!"

"Really..."

"A mighty ruler has descended from the heavens!"

Yang Tiexin raised his wine bowl, his hand still trembling slightly. He looked around at everyone, his gaze burning fiercely: "Gentlemen!"

"Your Majesty is divinely mighty, sweeping away the evil forces; Your Heavenly Grace is boundless, bestowing upon us provisions!"

"We occupy a strategic location in the Jianghuai region and have recruited loyal and brave men. Today, with the assistance of the Seven Heroes, we are united in purpose!"

"With favorable timing, location, and popular support, what is there to fear in achieving great things?!"

He took a deep breath, as if to shout out all the passion surging in his chest: "This bowl of wine is for Your Majesty!"

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health and military prosperity!"

"May our newly formed Jianghuai army live up to the Emperor's grace, quickly become a sharp sword, and follow Your Majesty to sweep away the barbarian dust and restore our lost lands!"

"Respectfully, Your Majesty!"

"Reclaim our lost land!"