Martial Arts: Starting with Bajiquan, I will prove my divine power through the ultimate path!

"Brotherhood or gold?"

"Love your brothers!"

Zhang Sheng was slapped on the back with a knife by the chief priest, but he stood up straight and responded loudly!

"Brotherhood or gold?"

The chief priest, with a solemn expression, patted the next man on the shoulder, who quickly replied, "I love my brother!"

"I love my brothers..."

The chief priest walked to the incense altar and solemnly said, "First oath: After you join the Confucian alliance, your parents are my parents, and your brothers and sisters are my brothers and sisters!"

"Your wife is my sister-in-law, and your nephews and nieces are my nephews and nieces!"

"You must not betray your brothers, nor defile your brothers' wives and daughters!"

"Anyone who disobeys this rule, disregards this sentiment, or breaks this oath will be struck down by lightning and suffer a terrible death..."

After reciting the thirty-six oaths, the crowd pressed the incense sticks to the ground and crushed the incense heads.

Shi Wen sat in the armchair, watching all of this unfold.

Slay the phoenix, swear a blood oath...

After the ceremony.

Zhang Sheng stood up, as if he had been transported to another world.

Looking at the twenty-eight men around him, he felt a strange, indescribable emotion, as if a connection had suddenly appeared between them.

The twenty-eight "red sticks" (members of the imperial guards) looked at Zhang Sheng with utmost respect and shouted, "Master!"

"You've officially become a Red Stick in my Taiping Alley. You'll receive a fixed monthly allowance of 30 guan, plus an extra share of the profits from your assigned area. I'll also set aside time each month to teach you martial arts and body-strengthening techniques. The cost of the medicinal baths will be covered by the gang!"

"Our parents, wife, and children are supported by the gang. If they are in trouble, the gang will definitely step in!"

"Whoever becomes a martial artist can attain the same status as me, become the head of a martial arts school, and enjoy the same treatment as me!"

Zhang Sheng shouted loudly, "But anyone who betrays the gang will be struck down by five thunderbolts, and the entire gang will unite to punish them!!!"

"May they be annihilated by five thunderbolts, and may the entire gang join forces to destroy them!"

The twenty-eight "red sticks" also roared excitedly.

His face was flushed, veins were bulging, and he clenched his fists tightly. It was as if he had a surge of energy in his chest that he couldn't muster, and he wished he could channel it into a burst of energy to fight for the gang!

After a series of initiation ceremonies.

They all felt that this time joining the gang was quite different from previous times.

The new company that has joined, Wo Luen Shing, is very mysterious and has a strong sense of cohesion.

At the same time, the benefits are much better than before, and they can't wait to start working!

It's not just them.

Lian Zhangsheng.

A sense of belonging inexplicably arose within me!

"Zhang Sheng, from this moment on, you are the boss of Taiping Lane, and these people are your henchmen, your brothers!"

"Remember, the rules of Taiping Lane are changing starting today. I've told you what to do, you know what to do now, right?"

Shi Wen looked at him indifferently.

Zhang Sheng clasped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Boss, I know what to do."

"Strategist, you are in charge of following up and forming a patrol team. If anyone does not do as I say, tell me and I will handle it."

Shi Wen spoke calmly.

However, the cold, murderous intent in his words sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

The corpse of Tieyi Tongroushan is still hanging in the courtyard outside. Who wouldn't feel terrified when they see that mangled corpse?

The faceless man looked very easygoing and calm.

They show absolutely no mercy when it comes to killing!

"I will follow up on this matter."

The middle-aged man, Song Mingyi, with slightly graying temples and a scholarly appearance, nodded.

He was an old scholar in Taiping Lane.

He couldn't afford to bribe his way into an official position, and despite his poverty, he remained true to himself, possessed considerable wisdom, and helped his neighbors resolve many conflicts.

He was quite well-known in Taiping Lane.

Shek On paid him 25 strings of cash a month, plus extra bonuses, and hired him to manage some of Lian Sheng's affairs.

Young and Dangerous people don't use their brains, they are just like airplanes all their lives.

"Okay, that's all for now."

Shi Wen got up and left.

Everyone quickly got up to see them off.

Only after Shi Wen disappeared did everyone dare to relax their straight backs.

"Boss Zhang, do you know who that leader is?" Zhou Biao asked, still shaken. "I just saw him beat Tong Roushan, who weighs seven hundred pounds, to death! It was terrifying! Are there really such fierce people in Taiping Lane?"

The other red-clad men immediately pricked up their ears to eavesdrop.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Remember what I told you: when you get back, keep a close eye on your men and make sure nothing like what happened before happens again, or I won't be able to protect you!"

Zhang Sheng shouted a rebuke, and the gang of Red Guards laughed sheepishly.

Soon, the crowd dispersed.

Zhang Sheng then said to Song Mingyi with a wry smile, "Mr. Song, do you know how to proceed with those projects that the leader mentioned?"

"I only understood about 70% of it."

Song Mingyi stroked his beard and slowly opened the bamboo scroll in his hand. He pointed to the first item and said, "A stable business environment, sustainable development, and the creation of a reputable commercial street require maximizing everything in terms of environment, service, security, and atmosphere."

"Let's start by developing Fumin Street."

"The gang hires people to clean the streets, then finds people to patrol and maintain order. They also tidy up all the signs, clutter, and other disorderly items on the street, making sure everything looks neat and tidy..."

Zhang Sheng listened attentively, nodding as if he understood but not quite.

After Song Mingyi finished speaking, he pointed to the second point and said, "I completely understand the point about establishing a wholesale market."

"The idea behind 'Dragon Head' is to build a large market that buys meat, grains, and other goods from street vendors at prices lower than the wholesale market price. Wo Luen Shing will then handle the regional sales, offering even lower prices than what locals usually pay for groceries, thus establishing a reputation for affordable and low-priced goods and attracting more businesses to do business here!"

"Wulin Street has many abandoned houses and good traffic flow, making it convenient to build a large market there."

"Tsk tsk, buy two get one free, membership system, discounts for spending over a certain amount, gifts for group purchases, special offers for group buying, lucky draw system..."

"I've been studying for decades and have never heard of these things before. They all seem incredibly appealing. Even I, an old man, am itching to go and stroll through the market!"

"What on earth was the leader thinking, managing to exploit people's love of getting a bargain to create so many attractive activities!"

Song Mingyi stroked his beard, his face filled with amazement and awe.

Nowadays, vegetable prices are unstable, and people often have to go to many places to buy what they want.

This market has a wide variety of goods and is safe and secure.

Not only are the prices low, but there are also so many attractive activities. In the future, it will definitely become the most lucrative place in Taiping Lane and even other slums!

Zhang Sheng, who was standing to the side, scratched his head.

He said, seemingly understanding but not quite, "When the time comes, sir, you tell us what to do, and we'll do it."

"I only know how to kill people, but I don't know how to do these things."

Song Mingyi flipped to the back of the bamboo slip, a look of doubt on his face. "But I don't quite understand the third point: building brothels and creating a culture and reputation for 'listening to music in brothels'?"

"There's also the creation of a courtesan persona, hiring storytellers to tell tales during the day, and having the courtesan perform on stage and do reality shows at night, along with things like shared tables, membership systems, discount systems, and wine storage systems..."

"Forgive my incompetence, but I have never been to a brothel in my entire life."

Zhang Sheng's eyes lit up at this moment, "I know how to do this, I can handle it without any problem!"

"The leader's idea is brilliant! Taiping Lane only has brothels, not traditional brothels. To establish a brothel, you need to buy licenses and permits from the Black Whale Gang and the government. But if we build a music and entertainment venue, we can bypass the Black Whale Gang!"

"Those who have evil thoughts after listening to music in the brothels will be led to the brothels we run."

"Plus, with so many poor people in Taiping Lane, they're sure to make a lot of money!!"

"Leave this to me!"

"I know how to do it!"

Zhang Sheng, who had been scratching his head the whole time, was now beaming and full of energy...