Han Fang sat in front of the desk, caressing a golden saber with a diamond-shaped handle. It was a decorative saber with little practical use. He was thinking about when to pawn it for some money so that he could solve the urgent needs of the stockade. Putting down the golden saber, he saw a miniature ivory Diamond Sutra paperweight on the desk. Han Fang touched the densely engraved words on the paperweight with his fingers and sighed heavily. "A single coin is enough to starve a hero to death."
Han Fang lived on the upper floor of the Loyalty Hall. When he pushed open the window, he could see the apricot yellow flag that was erected on the bluestone square. Unlike many of the bandits in the stronghold who only wanted to live a good life, he had been keeping himself clean all these years. He did not abduct women up the mountain to be used as tools to satisfy his lust. In the past, when he went down the mountain to kill the rich and help the poor, or to block the roads and cut off the paths, he would distribute those delicate and pretty women to his subordinates. Song Kui and Fang Dayi, who sat in the top few positions, were not greedy for money. Their only hobby was to compete with each other for the affection of women and fight with each other. Every time, he and Zhang Xiucheng had to mediate between them to make peace. Just like this time, when Song Kui was beheaded on the execution field, the wives and concubines he left behind in the stronghold would become the playthings of the rest of the brothers tonight. This was also the reason why Han Fang was unwilling to take any wives or concubines. As a bandit, few people could enjoy their old age in peace. It was already a blessing from God to be able to live to the age of half a century. The stronghold was at its peak. Excluding those who had families to feed, there were more than two hundred brothers who could ride horses and kill people. They came and went like the wind. There were no military towns stationed soldiers in the hundreds of li around Mount Liuyi. The local government was not strong enough to suppress the bandits. When facing their own stronghold, they would be thanking the gods if they did not go to the government office and behead the officials row by row.
However, now that the stronghold had lost its power, there were only a dozen or so capable subordinates. Many of those who used to be brothers in the past had died, and most of those who were still alive had gone to the other strongholds on the mountain. Those who were left behind were burdened by injuries and injuries. They were raised in the stronghold and had bad tempers. They either complained about the lack of fresh women or complained about the lack of wine and meat. Han Fang also knew that she was burdened by her reputation, so there were many things that she could not say, and she could not even show the slightest expression. Now, the only one who could speak the truth was Zhang Xiucheng, whose family background was similar to hers. It was not scary that the monkeys would scatter when the tree fell, but it was frightening when everyone pushed the tree away. Some of the nearby strongholds who used to rely on him for food spared no effort in luring gold, silver, and pretty girls to gather a large number of men and horses, and from time to time, they would bring their brothers to the foot of the mountain to kill to their heart's content. A few of the villages who used to have secret connections with Mount Liuyi were all wiped out without any consideration for old relationships. Those leaders were unscrupulous in doing things and were never particular about the means. Some of them even flirted with the government, military school, and constables, throwing large amounts of silver into their pockets and even helping the government to do the dirty work that should have been done by the government. Not long ago, an official who had a good relationship with the Silver Bottle Stronghold spent five hundred taels of silver to privately hire villains from the stronghold to slaughter the entire family of a small official who was not from the village. Even a few young children were not spared. It was said that they were hung on a long spear just like that. Some other strongholds licked their faces and became willing dogs for the stewards of the Shen Family's Cottage, acknowledging their uncles as their godfathers. There was even a forty-year-old stronghold leader who took a young woman from the Cottage as his godmother, just because she was the favored concubine of a ferocious demonic cultivator in the Cottage. These shameless things, especially the collusion between the government and the bandits, were always despised by Han Fang. It was no wonder that such a large Loyalty Stronghold was declining. It was funny that the stronghold was able to disperse and not fall down thanks to Lady Green Bamboo at the foot of the mountain. If it were not for her half-year affair with one of the top demons in the Cottage, the other big strongholds would have come over with real swords and spears to take over the stronghold.
After two knocks on the door, Zhang Xiucheng pushed the door open and entered without waiting for a reply. He and Han Fang got along well and was also the military advisor in charge of the internal affairs of the stronghold. There was no need for him to be pretentious over the details. When Han Fang saw this trusted subordinate whom she had known for many years, her mood improved. She called out Zhang Xiucheng's name and smiled, "Fu Ling, can't sleep?"
Zhang Xiucheng's face was gloomy, "Fang Dayi and Hong Qian are fighting again. They even threatened to sign a life and death contract, saying that they cannot live under the same sky. They asked me to write the contract. In a fit of anger, I ignored both of them to save myself the trouble."
Han Fang smiled, "Is it because of the concubine that Song Kui bought from the brothel for two hundred taels of silver?"
Zhang Xiucheng snorted coldly, "They keep saying that they are willing to risk their lives for their brothers. In the end, they are still going against their brothers because of a woman."
Han Fang said guiltily, "I also know that the woman has been having an affair with Hong Qian for a long time. She should have entered his house. However, Fang Dayi was envious and insisted on interfering. It was indeed unreasonable of him to spoil this good thing. Hong Qian went to private school for a few years in his early years and learned a lot about medicine and astrology from you. He also has a lot of ambition. This kid is only twenty-four or twenty-five years old and he wants to fight for a title and bring glory to his ancestors. If it wasn't for your nurturing, with his ability, he would have turned for the better and joined a family. If he changed to a village that has a good relationship with the government and secretly changed his household registration, he might have a chance to make a name for himself. Everyone in the village knows that Fang Dayi is on good terms with me and he also considers himself as a child of the Han family. So it is my fault for making things difficult for you. "
Zhang Xiucheng's expression softened slightly. He waved his hand, "First Master, you are exaggerating. Fu Ling just feels that it is a pity for this family business. "
Han Fang sighed softly, "The sky wants to rain, and the mother wants to get married. There is nothing that can be done about it."
Han Fang stood up and walked to the window with the chief strategist. The breeze caressed her face. She looked at the night scenery of the mountains under the bright moonlight. Her state of mind became calmer. Suddenly, she smiled, "A village woman is like a village woman. No matter how pretty that vixen looks, she is still a village woman."
Zhang Xiucheng smiled knowingly, "Hong Qian and Fang Dayi are just village men. They have never tasted the delicacies of the mountains and seas. Naturally, they will fight until their heads bleed. Look, aren't they already invited to the square to compete? "
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