On New Year's Eve and the morning of New Year's Day, people in the ancient city of Chang 'an stayed up all night to celebrate the New Year. Colorful lanterns were hung everywhere in Chang 'an, dragons and lions were dancing, firecrackers were set off to ward off evil spirits, and paper money was burned to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. It was a lively scene everywhere.
Ba was even more lively than Chang 'an, because more than half of the people here were single men without families. They could not stay up all night with their families during the New Year's Day. Naturally, they would go to the taverns with their friends to celebrate the New Year together.
In a small tavern, Yang Fan, Ren Wei, Abdullah, and Abbas sat at a table in the innermost part of the tavern. Originally, Ren Wei and Abbas did not dare to sit. But in such a small tavern, it would be too much of an eyesore if someone stood beside them to wait on them. So they could only sit.
Abdullah frowned and looked at the bustling scene in the tavern. He said loudly to Yang Fan, "You and I are so comfortable in the inn. Why do we have to come here?"
His voice could not be less loud. There were people setting off firecrackers on the street outside the tavern. They were the kind of firecrackers with saltpeter added. They were loud and bright, and when they were set off, thick smoke billowed. The tavern was full. There were people singing drinking games, talking and laughing loudly. If he did not shout, Yang Fan would not be able to hear him. Even if he spoke loudly, he had to be in someone else's ears.
Yang Fan, who still had a big beard on his chin, said loudly in his ear, "It's so lively here. This is a grand festival for the people of the Eastern Land. You and I don't have families here. What's the point of hiding in the lonely inn? It's better here, haha …"
The government had been sealed, and the officials had gone to celebrate the New Year. That night, Yang Fan disguised himself and went to Ba again. Abdullah shook his head. He did not think much of this Eastern carnival. He approached Yang Fan and asked loudly, "How's the preparation on your side?"
Yang Fan said, "The dry wood has been set up, and even the oil has been poured on it. Everything is ready. How is it on your side?"
The firecrackers outside the door caused a cloud of choking smoke to roll into the tavern. Abdullah coughed and waved his sleeves to fan the smoke away. He said to Yang Fan, "What else can I do? I've already tied the camel's hooves to the grill. Now, as long as there's a spark …"
"Motherf * cker, your Three Rivers Gang is too arrogant. If it wasn't for the New Year, I would have crushed your balls!"
"Bullsh * t! Do you think we, the brothers of the Three River Gang, are afraid of you? Come, as long as you dare to come, next year's New Year's Eve will be your death anniversary! "
Before Abdullah could finish his sentence, the guests at the two tables beside him, whose faces were flushed from drinking, started to quarrel. Abdullah had just turned his head when he saw cups, plates, bowls, and chopsticks flying. Two square tables were flipped into the air. Two groups of men pounced on them and started punching and kicking them.
The entire tavern was in an uproar. Soon, the other gangs that belonged to the Eastern and Western Alliances joined in the fight. This time, all the tables and chairs were thrown into the air. Ren Wei had already stood up and caught a table that had been kicked over and placed it in front of him. Although Abbas had a sharp tongue and did not seem to be good at martial arts, he also jumped up and loyally stood in front of his master to protect him.
The gang fight in the tavern soon spread to the streets. The disciples of various sects who were strolling in the streets for the New Year joined in the fight. Some of them had no idea what was going on, nor did they know where the main battlefield was. They only knew that their own people were fighting with their enemies, so they pounced on the enemies who were walking toward them. Chaos quickly spread throughout the entire Ba.
The owner of the tavern didn't move. He stood firmly behind the counter and shouted, "We, the Wei River Gang, are not part of the Southeast Asian Alliance or the Western Alliance. We mind our own business and mind our own business. You've borrowed my place to settle your grievances. You've ruined my business and destroyed my property. Please compensate me for the losses."
Yang Fan smiled at Abdullah and said, "Look, there are plenty of sparks. Do you still need to look for them?"
Abdullah's expression froze and he said in a low voice, "Are you ready to fight?"
Yang Fan's gaze slowly shifted outwards. The people fighting in the tavern had already joined the crowd on the streets. Countless people were waving their fists, punching and kicking each other. Some people were hugging each other and wrestling on the ground. Their clothes were torn and messy, and their faces were bruised and swollen, but they did not know why they were fighting.
Yang Fan said, "From now until the Lantern Festival, the government will be closed and sealed off. During this time, we can let Ba cause a ruckus. After the fifteenth of the first month, they won't have the chance to be in the limelight."
Abdullah took a deep breath and said, "When do we start?"
Yang Fan said, "Tomorrow. Today is New Year's Eve. It's a good day. It's better not to see blood."
As Yang Fan spoke, he stood up and walked out. Abdullah asked, "Where are you going?"
Without looking back, Yang Fan waved his hand and said, "I'm looking for someone to stay up on New Year's Eve!"
The street was still a chaotic battlefield of scuffles. Yang Fan was like a loach, burrowing into the crowd and disappearing in a few moments. Abdullah grabbed his beard and struggled for a long time. Finally, he let out a long sigh and muttered to himself, "I'm also looking for someone to stay up on New Year's Eve!"
…
Today was New Year's Eve, and the fifth day was the 66th birthday of Old Master Qin of the Five Elements Guild, Qin Zeyuan. The Qin family celebrated this year's New Year's Eve especially grand. San Langjun, who had stayed in Yangzhou for a long time, also brought his wife and children back to Ba to celebrate the New Year's Eve and celebrate the Old Master's birthday.
The whole family sat around the stove on Sun Chenghuan's knees. Old Master Qin, who had worked hard for half his life, felt very satisfied. As long as this happened every year, he would have nothing else to ask for in this life. His children and grandchildren were very filial. They were very careful in front of him and said things to make him happy. Old Master Qin was very comforted.
During this time, the family steward secretly reported that the gangs of the Eastern and Western Leagues were fighting on the streets again. The whole town was in chaos and many disciples of the Five Elements Guild were injured. Qin Dalang suppressed this news and said, "Today is New Year's Eve. We have to make the Old Master happy. Even if the sky falls down, we have to deal with it tomorrow."
Qin Zeyuan was already in his sixties and did not have much energy. Although he said he was staying up on New Year's Eve, how could he not take a nap? When it was almost midnight, Old Master Qin felt a little tired. He was about to ask his wife to help him rest when the vice steward hurriedly walked in.
The sky did not fall down. He was only holding a visiting card in his hand. However, when Qin Dalang took it and looked at it, his expression suddenly changed. He immediately rushed over and whispered a few words in his father's ear. There were no words at the place where the visiting card was signed. There was only a picture, a very strange picture. It looked like a boat, but also like a fish on the top of the waves.
Qin Zeyuan's expression turned solemn and he said in a deep voice, "Bring him in through the corner door. Father will wait for him in the study!"
The person was brought into the study. This person was tall and well-built. He was wearing a black "bell" that covered him from head to toe. There was a bonnet on the collar of the robe that covered his head. When his head was lowered, it was impossible to see his face clearly.
When this person entered the study, he lifted his hand and took off the bonnet. Qin Zeyuan, who was hurriedly walking over, was instantly dumbfounded. He recognized this person because this person had once come to his door to sell him some petite and charming maidens. This person was the Arab merchant who had booked an inn in the town.
If he had not already checked the visiting card and confirmed that there was no mistake with the secret seal, Qin Zeyuan would not dare to believe his eyes. He composed himself and exclaimed, "You … you are here on Young Master's orders? Young Master is truly resourceful. He actually … actually … "
Abdullah smiled faintly and continued, "Even a Hu like me can be used by him, is that so?"
Qin Zeyuan was slightly embarrassed and hurriedly said, "I didn't know that Mister Abdullah was one of us. If I have offended you, please forgive me. Does Young Master have any orders for Mister Abdullah to come tonight? "
Five Elements Association, Qin Zeyuan, a member of the Hidden Sect. Currently, the profits from the water transport business were not attractive to the aristocratic families. Based on their connections and abundant capital, they had plenty of profitable businesses to do. However, Shen Mu cared.
Shen Mu started from a humble background. In order to fight against the Obvious Sect, which was much larger than him, he would not give up on any power that could be won over or used, even if it was just a little. Thus, no one knew that the Hidden Sect had secretly planted an ambush at the water transport port.
Back then, Shen Mu supported the Five Elemental Association because he wanted to develop a new source of income. He also wanted to use the Five Elemental Association to recruit various heroes for his own use. When the Hidden Sect gradually grew stronger, Shen Mu no longer cared about the Five Elemental Association's benefits. From then on, he rarely gave any orders to the Five Elemental Association.
It was until the last food war in Chang 'an that the Obvious Sect and the Hidden Sect started. To the Hidden Sect, the Five Elements Association, which was tasteless and a pity to abandon, played an unexpected role.
Back then, in order to defeat Young Master Jiang, Shen Mu not only used all his stored rations, but he also borrowed a large amount of rations from the Li Clan, Guo Clan, and other aristocratic families in Shandong who supported him. He even used some corrupt officials to extort and extort from them.
However, even if the rations were obtained, they wouldn't be of any use unless they were transported to Chang 'an. Back then, the Five Elements Association played an important role. This time, what was Shen Mu going to use the Five Elements Association for?
After Abdullah sat down, he slowly said, "Recently, many things happened in Ba, and I am here for this matter."
Qin Zeyuan was surprised and asked, "Young Master already knows what happened here?"
Abdullah smiled slyly and said, "He already knew what happened here before it happened."
Qin Zeyuan pondered for a moment, and his old eyes instantly burst out with two rays of brilliance. "Could it be … the rise of the Smooth Sect is Young Master's doing?"
Abdullah said, "Although it's not accurate, it's not far!"
Qin Zeyuan was astonished. "How can this be? What is Young Master trying to do?"
Abdullah smiled wholeheartedly and said, "This is the reason why I am looking for you tonight!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
