The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

In the last moment before losing consciousness, Mad Dog Sun Kui's eyes were still open, gazing at the clear, cold moon that had finally broken free of the clouds on the horizon.

He remembered that tomorrow was the fifteenth.

Those two packets of osmanthus cakes never made it to my blind mother.

Three miles away, the small boat remained quietly moored.

After listening to Du Ziteng's report, Wang Zhonghua remained silent for a long time, his angular lips pressed even tighter.

He lowered his head, the jade pendant between his fingers gleaming warmly in the moonlight. He gently stroked the jade surface, a spot where Qin Tiehua's fingertips often caressed, now polished smooth as a mirror.

"As for his mother," he began, his voice low, "Ziteng, send someone to deliver some money to her. Don't mention who gave it to her. Just say... her son has gone on a long trip and won't be back for a long time."

Du Ziteng paused for a moment, and after a long while, he reluctantly replied:

"yes".

Wang Zhonghua picked up the teacup; the tea had gone cold.

He felt neither sorrow nor joy, and drank it all in one gulp.

The fire in the depths of the river bend gradually died down, and the shouts and screams ceased, leaving only the night wind rustling through the reeds, just as it had when they arrived.

The battle began quickly and ended even faster. Of the thirty-six mad dogs, almost all were killed or wounded, leaving only six prisoners. The "Dark Arrows" only suffered minor injuries to three members, a truly crushing victory.

When Qin Tiedan brought the unconscious Sun Kui to the front of the covered boat to report, the east was already showing the first light of dawn.

Wang Zhonghua had just finished his last cup of tea when he saw that Qin Tiedan still exuded a murderous aura. He nodded slightly, his eyes full of concern: "Brother, are you alright?"

"Haha, I'm not hurt. Sun Kui is tough, but unfortunately he's not thinking straight." Qin Tiedan tossed Sun Kui onto the bow of the boat. "As you instructed, I spared his life."

"Very good." Wang Zhonghua squatted down and carefully examined Sun Kui's face, which was contorted with pain. "A mad dog is hard to tame, but once tamed, it's more ferocious than a good dog when guarding the house. The key is to let it know who is worthy to be its master. Don't believe me? Let's try."

He stood up and said to Lü Maoyi, "Send all the prisoners, including Sun Kui, to the village west of the city. Treat their wounds, and let the Liu family grandfather and grandson practice their skills. Even if they die, it will be considered a good deed. Give them food. There are two paths: those who want to leave, clean yourselves up and get out of Chenzhou; those who want to stay, keep your past bad habits to yourselves and follow the rules of Wang Zhonghua from now on."

Lu Maoyi still had doubts: "Young Master Wang, these are all ungrateful wolf cubs..."

"Yes, wolf cubs are so hungry they'll even bite their own owners. But if you can feed them and teach them who they'll follow to get meat, they'll be the sharpest claws." Wang Zhonghua looked at the gradually clearing outline of Chenzhou City in the morning light. "Humans are driven by self-interest, and even desperados are no exception."

"That Sun Kui..."

"Bring him to see me after he wakes up," Wang Zhonghua said firmly. "I'll talk to him personally. Let him choose whether he'll wholeheartedly become a good knife or stubbornly turn into a dead dog."

Soon, news of "Mad Dog" Sun Kui's demise spread like wildfire throughout Chenzhou.

The infamous den of iniquity in Dengchengzhai Blacksmith Lane was completely eradicated, causing all the gangs, large and small, to scatter in terror. Even the Shangshui County government secretly breathed a sigh of relief, posting a public notice to reassure the people, as if they were the main force in eradicating evil.

The name "Hidden Arrow" became legendary overnight. Rumors circulated that Young Master Wang commanded a "ghost army" capable of taking heads from a hundred miles away, and specializing in suppressing all dissent.

Wang Zhonghua stood at the highest point of the Longsheng Ferry, looking down at the increasingly busy dock below due to the reconstruction of order, watching countless coolies and boatmen enthusiastically join the "Brotherhood," his face showing neither joy nor sorrow.

Wang's Spicy Soup became a sensation in Chenzhou, with branches in Wanqiu, Xiangcheng, Shangshui, Xihua, and Nandun counties, and gradually expanding to surrounding prefectures and counties. Relying on low profit margins and high sales volume, and honest business practices, the spicy soup shop gradually became a gathering place for the masses and a hub of information.

The "Brotherhood" developed rapidly. Wang Zhonghua weeded out the bad elements and expelled those scoundrels who oppressed the people from the organization. The brothers in the organization helped each other and became powerful assistants to Wang Zhonghua and Lü Sanjun in expanding their business.

Qin Tiedan stood beside Wang Zhonghua, as steady as a mountain. This man, who once only knew how to swing a hammer, was now the decisive commander of "Dark Arrow," and his respect and loyalty to Wang Zhonghua grew day by day.

"Young Master Wang, if we do this, what will the authorities think..." Qin Tiedan still had some concerns.

"We're cleaning up the mess for the government," Wang Zhonghua said calmly. "Hmph, after we've cleared away the trash, we'll eventually have to face that big shot who creates trash while pretending to be clean...

He opened his palm, revealing three copper coins, representing Zhao Si, Qian Ba, and Sun Kui, who had already been eliminated. There was one empty space, waiting for the heaviest coin—the mastermind behind it all.

He tossed the coin lightly, caught it steadily, and a cold smile, like Louis Koo's, curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Tiedan, prepare a generous gift. Let's go pay a visit to General Di, who has been demoted to this place and is now trapped in shallow waters."

……

The north wind of early autumn arrives, blowing across my Zhanghua Terrace.

The floating clouds are tinged with twilight, as if they came from Mount Yanzi.

The withered mulberry tree sings in the forest, and the cricket chirps in the empty steps.

Like a tumbleweed adrift on the wind, a traveler's heart is filled with sorrow.

My hometown is nowhere to be seen; this is the first time I've turned back to gaze into it.

Zhanghua Terrace is located at the foot of Wolonggang, outside the city wall of Shangshui County, Chenzhou (originally named Yangcheng, called Yinshui during the Sui Dynasty, and renamed Shangshui during the Song Dynasty to avoid the taboo of the father of Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Hongyin). It was originally a military review platform after King Qingxiang of Chu moved the capital to Chen, and now it is Di Qing's Chenzhou camp.

Despite its name, the camp was desolate in reality. The Song Dynasty valued civil officials over military ones, and Chen Shimei, as both prefect and military commander, was constantly bullied by the civil officials, who frequently sent eunuchs to "comfort" him. The fences of Di Qing's encampment were mostly rotten, and the soldiers on the watchtowers leaned wearily against their spears. The drill ground was vast and overgrown with weeds, except for a central patch of ground firmly planted by footsteps, indicating that training was still underway. The leather canopy of the central command tent gleamed with an old sheen in the setting sun, a stark contrast to the golden splendor of the distant Chenzhou city walls.

Wang Zhonghua and Qin Tiedan handed over their name cards outside the camp gate, stating that "Wang Zhonghua and Qin Tiedan, villagers, have come to pay a visit to General Di and report on the matter of suppressing bandits."

While waiting for his summons, Qin Tiedan looked around the camp and muttered in a deep voice, "Brother, this... this is the camp of General Di, who once served as the Deputy Privy Councilor? How come it's even more dilapidated than our village?"

Wang Zhonghua's gaze swept over the veterans who, though seemingly lax, still harbored a sharp glint in their eyes. He said softly, "Even a tiger fallen into the plains retains its claws and teeth. Brother Tiedan, you can judge a person by their character, and a camp by its morale. Although this camp is dilapidated, look at the layout of the gate; it subtly follows the Nine Palaces. The sentry posts, though sparsely spaced, are interconnected, leaving no blind spots. This is the skill of a seasoned general, far beyond the ordinary."

A moment later, a soldier in a faded military uniform with a sharp face came out, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "The general invites you both to come with me."

Stepping into the central command tent, a scent mingled with the aroma of ink, leather, and a faint smell of medicine wafted out. The tent was simply furnished: a couch, a table, a bookshelf, and a lone, gleaming iron spear on the weapons rack, its tassel faded but its tip gleaming. Di Qing, unarmored and dressed only in a worn blue robe, was hunched over a large map of the Northwest. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his deep, unfathomable eyes landing on Wang Zhonghua, scrutinizing him with a barely perceptible hint of inquiry.

"This humble citizen, Wang Zhonghua (Qin Tiedan), pays his respects to General Di." Wang Zhonghua and Qin Tiedan bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities." Di Qing's voice was deep, carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position, yet it couldn't hide a hint of hoarseness and weariness. "Your names have been widely known in Chenzhou lately." He turned his gaze to Qin Tiedan. "This brave warrior is Qin Tiedan, who captured Sun Kui in battle? He truly has the courage of a tiger."

Qin Tiedan was somewhat flustered by the praise from this renowned general, and hurriedly said, "General, you flatter me. It's all thanks to my brothers... uh, Wang Zhonghua's plan was excellent."

Di Qing nodded slightly, his gaze returning to Wang Zhonghua, sharp as a hawk's: "Wang Zhonghua, you established yourself with spicy soup, amassed wealth with 'Drunken Eight Immortals,' and now you've eradicated local bandits... What is the purpose of all this?"

Wang Zhonghua, neither humble nor arrogant, bowed again and said, "General, what I have done is nothing more than to 'secure my livelihood.' The bandits in Chenzhou have ravaged the countryside and disturbed the peace under your rule. Now, I have been fortunate enough to eliminate the remnants of Qiu Laohu and Sun Kui, and I have come to report to you. This is not due to my own merit, but rather to your awe-inspiring power, which enabled you to bring these villains to their knees. I dare not claim credit for this small contribution, but only hope that Chenzhou can enjoy a moment of peace, smooth trade, and the happiness of its people."

As he spoke, he took out a booklet from his bosom, which he had obtained from Zhao Zuosi. It contained account books of the dealings between Qiu Laohu's forces and some government officials (he had omitted the key parts involving high-ranking officials), and presented it with both hands. "This is part of the evidence of the bandit leader's crimes. Please take a look, General."

Di Qing suddenly looked up and met Wang Zhonghua's smile, which seemed to see through everything yet also seemed unfathomable.