In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

In the Tian family mansion, Tian Boyong was so angry when he learned that Yang Xuan had publicly reported the news to the prefectural government that he almost vomited blood.

"You scoundrel! He's trying to cut off our escape route!" Tian Boyong roared angrily. "Does he think that with the state government backing him up, I can't touch him? Send a message to One-Eyed Dragon of Black Wind Stronghold, tell him to speed things up and deliver a fatal blow before Yang Xuan's troops are fully trained!"

Meanwhile, in a secluded mountain stronghold dozens of miles away from Yaozhou City, a burly man with one eye blind was playing with a silver ingot in his hand, a cruel smile on his face.

"Five hundred strings of cash? Old Tian's really going all out," One-Eyed Dragon sneered. "Tell the brothers to sharpen their weapons and get ready to work. This magistrate of Yanjing County, I, One-Eyed Dragon, want his head!"

Outside Yaozhou City, the situation is constantly changing.

Meanwhile, within the city, Yang Xuan's plan was progressing steadily.

Three days later, a burly but emaciated young man arrived at the entrance of the county government office.

He looked at the recruitment notice posted in front of the door, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

But when he touched the thin prescriptions in his pocket and thought of his seriously ill mother at home, he finally gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and tore down the notice.

"I...I'm a craftsman," the man said to the constable at the door, his voice hoarse and low. "I know how to forge iron, and I know how to repair the winches in the salt wells. Is it true that your notice says double pay for good craftsmanship?"

The constable looked him up and down and saw that although his clothes were tattered, his hands were large and calloused, indicating that he was indeed a craftsman who did manual labor all year round.

"Come with me. Registrar Cui is waiting for you all." The bailiff led the man into the county government office.

The arrival of this man was just the beginning.

Lured by money and promised "safety" by the county government, more and more artisans who were dissatisfied with the Tian family and were living in poverty began to quietly gather at the county government.

......

Five days later, at dusk.

The back training ground of the Yanjing County Government was filled with a strong stench of sweat, alcohol, and the lingering smell of blood.

Pei Zhao stood on the command platform, his hands on his sword, coldly looking at the group of "people" he had just gathered from the black markets, deep mountains, and refugee camps around Yaozhou.

There were more than sixty people.

Among them is a veteran who lost an arm but can still lift a 30-pound iron mace with one hand;

A ruthless bandit with tattoos on his face, who was on the run after escaping from prison for murder;

A caravan member who spends his life on the salt route, constantly on the brink of death, and is hunted down by his employer for disagreements over the division of spoils;

There were also a few military households' sons who were so hungry their eyes were green, staring at other people's necks like hungry wolves.

At first glance, none of these people seemed like good people.

They stood and sat improperly; some huddled together in twos and threes, whispering curses; some spat bloody saliva on the ground without restraint; and a few even compared whose knife was sharper in front of Pei Zhao.

"Brother Pei, who...who are these people?" Chen Ye stood next to Pei Zhao, looking at the chaotic group of people below, and couldn't help but swallow hard. "This isn't recruiting soldiers, it's clearly gathering all the evil spirits from the surrounding area into the county government office."

"What my lord needs is a sword that can fight tough battles, not a clay figure that can only stand guard," Pei Zhao said coldly, ignoring Chen Ye's worries.

Just then, the door to the back room was pushed open.

Accompanied by Cui Shen and Afu, Yang Xuan slowly walked up to the command platform.

Although his injuries had not fully healed, his steps had become much more steady.

His simple blue robe looked out of place, even somewhat frail, among the menacing desperados.

When the magistrate appeared, the noise from below the stage quieted down a little, but some people were still whispering among themselves, their eyes revealing undisguised contempt and arrogance.

In their eyes, this new county magistrate, who was rumored to dare to go head-to-head with the Tian family, was nothing more than a pale-faced scholar who hadn't even grown his hair yet.

If it weren't for the knife in Pei Zhao's hand and the piles of silver, they wouldn't have bothered coming to this shabby county government office.

Yang Xuan walked to the front of the stage and scanned the faces of the more than sixty people one by one.

There was no anger, no majesty, only a detached indifference that saw through everything.

"Pei Zhao," Yang Xuan said calmly.

"exist!"

"I sent you to recruit soldiers, and what you brought back was a pack of wild dogs." Yang Xuan's voice wasn't loud, but it could be clearly heard in the quiet training ground.

These words immediately caused an uproar in the audience.

"You son of a bitch! Who are you calling a stray dog?" A burly man with a face full of scars and bare chest suddenly drew a butcher's knife from his waist and roared at Yang Xuan on the stage, "When I was cutting people down in the Black Wind Path, you pretty boy were still suckling your breast!"

"Exactly! If it weren't for the generous settlement allowance from Boss Pei, I wouldn't be serving you, you dog of an official!"

"Fine, we'll just go our separate ways! Brothers, let's take the money and leave, let's see what he can do to us!"

Shouts rose and fell, and several people even drew their weapons, looking ready to rush onto the stage and fight.

Pei Zhao, Lu Cheng, and Chen Ye instantly drew their swords and stood in front of Yang Xuan to protect him.

Yang Xuan did not step back. He pushed Pei Zhao aside, walked to the front of the stage, and looked down at the burly man who was shouting the loudest.

"What's your name?" Yang Xuan asked.

"I never change my name or surname, everyone in the underworld calls me 'Ghost Head Knife' Wang Wu!" The burly man raised his head, his face full of arrogance.

"Okay, Wang Wu." Yang Xuan nodded. "You think you're a good fighter?"

"Of course!" Wang Wu patted his chest. "This knife of mine has chopped off eighteen heads!"

"Really?" Yang Xuan suddenly laughed. "Then do you dare to have a go with my men?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu immediately perked up. He glanced at Pei Zhao, then at Lu Cheng and Chen Ye, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by arrogance.

"Let's have a contest! If I win, I'll be the head of the county government's guards!"

"Okay," Yang Xuan readily agreed. "Pei Zhao, go down and play with him for a while."

"My lord..." Pei Zhao hesitated, afraid that he might go too far and ruin Yang Xuan's recruitment plan.

"Don't hold back," Yang Xuan said, only three words.

Pei Zhao understood immediately, picked up his sword, and walked down from the command platform to stand in front of Wang Wu.

"Boy, take this!" Wang Wu roared, gripping the butcher's knife tightly with both hands, and pounced on Pei Zhao like a mad bull. This strike was powerful and heavy; if it landed, it would be enough to cleave a person in two.

However, Pei Zhao didn't even try to dodge.

Just as Wang Wu's blade was about to touch his shoulder, Pei Zhao moved.

too fast!

Those below the stage didn't even see how Pei Zhao drew his sword; they only heard a crisp "clang" and sparks flew everywhere.

Wang Wu felt a sharp pain in both hands, and the pig-slaughtering knife in his hands was violently knocked away, tumbling several times in the air before landing on the ground a few feet away.

Before he could react, Pei Zhao's sword was already at his neck, the cold blade slicing through the skin on his neck.

"Gulp." Wang Wu swallowed hard, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat. He had no doubt that if he moved even slightly, his head would be severed.

"You lost," Pei Zhao said coldly.