bookpub Chapter 11 The Emperor Takes Turns
Chapter 11 The Emperor Takes Turns
The next day.
Zhao An continued to use the excuse of recuperating from his injuries to stay in the courtyard practicing his swordsmanship and consolidating his internal energy.
In fact, the injury on his head was basically healed. The medicine the female doctor gave him was indeed worth the price. He would be able to remove the bandage and recover in just two more days.
"Brother Zhao, I recently heard from some merchant caravans entering the city that the war in Anxi is getting serious, the imperial court is not paying the military pay, and the local garrisons in many places have rebelled."
In the courtyard, Li Gou'er was eating dried fruit and peanuts when he casually mentioned it.
"The Moon People from the west have attacked again. It feels like there's chaos and war everywhere," Zhao Chunzi said upon hearing this.
"Hey, it doesn't matter. That war is far away from our Xiding Prefecture, it's completely unrelated. It'll just make the local people suffer, we'll squeeze some money out of them, and that'll cover the military pay. Isn't that how it always is?" Li Gou'er said nonchalantly.
"What truly alarms the court and the Great Wu Emperor are those regional warlords; they are the real source of trouble!" Li Gou'er said, enunciating each word with an air of authority, leaving Zhao Chunzi stunned.
"Let's talk about it again." Zhao An finished practicing his swordplay and sat down in a chair, wiping his upper body as he spoke.
"Brother Zhao, that's all I know. I heard it from those out-of-town merchant caravans and restaurants," Li Gou'er said with a chuckle, scratching his head.
He only knew a little bit about the basics, so how could a street ruffian like him possibly know the general trends of the world?
Zhao An reviewed his memories and gained a rudimentary understanding of the Great Wu Dynasty he was currently in.
The Great Wu Kingdom has been established for six hundred years, conquering the country through military force. Its territory comprises nineteen states, but now it is on the verge of collapse and is in a precarious state.
The country was in chaos, with regional warlords vying for power, powerful clans rising up, and starving rebel armies raging.
In addition, there is the worry of invasion by foreign enemies.
To the north are barbarian tribes, to the west are the Yue people, and to the south are the Gu witch cults roaming around; it can be said that there is no peace anywhere.
In comparison, Xiding Prefecture, where Zhao An is located, is in a better position. At least the king's flag on the city wall is not changed every month and is still under the control of the government.
"Once that dog emperor is overthrown, I'm afraid the emperor will take turns ruling, and next year it might be my turn." Behind closed doors, Li Gou'er couldn't help but make these unfiltered jokes.
Suddenly, he looked at Zhao An and said with a wild idea, "Brother Zhao, you're so amazing, why don't you lead us to join the army, become generals, and one day we can gather troops and go to the capital to seize the dragon throne!"
"Boring." Zhao An casually picked up a peanut, gently rubbed it, and the peanut shell cracked open.
"Three thousand beauties in the harem," Li Gou'er chuckled.
Zhao An raised his eyebrows: "That's the only good thing about it."
As the group was chatting idly, a young man with a tiger-head badge hanging from his waist suddenly knocked on the door and entered.
"Master Zhao, the Python Gang went to Erjing Lane again today and trampled on your territory!"
Upon hearing this, Li Gou'er and Zhao Chunzi jumped up.
For gangsters like them, the most taboo and sensitive thing is having their territory taken away.
This is why Xu San's death last time was not unjust.
Seizing territory or overstepping boundaries is asking for trouble and could easily escalate into a life-or-death struggle.
"Brother Zhao, I'll go grab the weapons!" Zhao Chunzi said hurriedly.
Li Gou'er came to his senses and then thought of something else.
"Brother Zhao, do you think Xu Donglai might have deliberately led you there?"
"Possibly." Zhao An thought for a moment, then stood up, picked up his knife, and went out the door.
He wasn't too concerned about the so-called territory in Erjing Alley. He went there partly because it was an opportunity to replenish his soul slaves, and partly because he wanted to test his current skill level.
......
In Erjing Alley, shouts and angry rebukes could be heard incessantly.
A group of members of the Python Gang, carrying short sticks, were kicking down doors from house to house, demanding money.
"Grandpa, we've already paid this month's tribute to the Tiger Head Gang. We really, really have no money left," an old man pleaded, kneeling on the ground with a bitter face.
"The Python Gang is collecting money now. If you don't pay up, we'll sell your daughter to a brothel!" A thug from the Python Gang knocked the old man to the ground with a stick and then reached for the woman in the room.
In a small, dilapidated house, a handsome young man watched through the window as the Python Gang committed their evil deeds, his face grim.
"Don't look around, lest you attract those people over," the woman inside the house whispered.
Seeing his mother trembling with fear, Shen Pan clenched his fists and comforted her, "Mother, don't be afraid."
Suddenly, the wooden door was kicked open, and two members of the Python Gang rushed in.
"You thought you could get away with it by hiding inside..." One of the Python Gang members was about to threaten him when another member grabbed him.
His gaze fell on the plain blue training clothes worn by the young man.
"May I ask if you are a disciple of Master Zheng's Academy, young brother?" the gang member asked, his attitude unconsciously becoming more polite.
"Hmm." Shen Pan nodded expressionlessly.
"It's a misunderstanding, I'm sorry for offending you, young brother. My name is Li Qing, I'll apologize to you another day by having a drink with you." As he spoke, the gang member pulled his companion away.
"Brother Qing, why do we...?" a fellow gang member asked, puzzled.
"It's not worth it. Since he's practicing martial arts at Zhengshi Martial Arts Academy, we should try not to provoke him, lest we bring trouble upon ourselves for a few copper coins," Li Qing said.
They are good at bullying ordinary poor people, but their opponents are also skilled. If pushed too far, they might be killed in retaliation.
Li Qing was a seasoned veteran in the gang, and he was well-versed in the art of bullying the weak.
Just as they were walking out of the dilapidated house, a whooshing sound suddenly came from the side.
Before he could react, he was kicked away and fell headfirst into the water tank.
"What are you doing!" Another member of the Python Gang was furious, but the next moment he was also slapped so hard that he was sent flying into the air and fell to the ground unconscious.
As if sensing a gaze upon him from the dilapidated house nearby, Zhao An turned his head and met the eyes of the young man inside.
The young man was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with dark yellow skin, but he had a handsome figure and delicate features.
His hands were clenched into fists and hung down, his eyes revealing a sharp edge.
Li Gou'er, who was following beside him, also noticed the martial arts training clothes that Shen Pan was wearing, and was quite surprised.
"This Shen family kid is really lucky to have gotten into Zheng Shiwu Academy."
In Lianjiang City, there are many martial arts masters who run martial arts academies to teach boxing and kicking. As the number of disciples in the academies increases, they gradually gain considerable influence and influence.
Among them, Zheng Shiwu Academy is considered one of the more famous ones in the outer city.
Neither large nor small gangs would easily provoke the disciples of Zheng Shiwu Academy.
Zhao An withdrew his gaze, paying little attention to the young man under the dilapidated house.
The other party was neither a red name nor a white name, but just an inconspicuous colorless and transparent one, which did not arouse his interest in learning more about them.
His gaze fell on the roaming members of the Python Gang, and he discovered that they were all just low-level members.
They also spotted Zhao An's arrival and immediately roared.
"Zhao An is here!"