Chapter 480
Chapter 480
The ten beggars, who spent every day together from morning till night, shared a deep and abiding bond. When one incited the others, the rest immediately rushed forward to save the beggar being hanged. But Goudohwan blocked their path, and the nine beggars, as one, charged at him, intending to take him down with them.
However, their attempts were all in vain. Goudohwan kicked them away, one by one. They flew more than ten meters, slammed hard against a wall, and coughed up a bit of blood. As they slid down, their heads hit the floor, leaving them bloodied. The beggar hanging from the tree struggled desperately, thrashing and thrashing again. Then, the force of his struggles gradually weakened, his tongue lolled out even further, his eyes became bloodshot, and soon, he wet himself.
Ying Zheng, unable to watch any longer, approached them and said.
“General Goudohwan, this is his first offense. Please spare him this once.”
At that moment, the other nine beggars dropped to their knees and wailed loudly.
“That’s right, General. Please, spare our brother’s life.”
Goudohwan said coldly.
“Military law is merciless.”
Ying Zheng bowed and said.
“I was the one who brought them here. I never disciplined them before, which is why they spoke of disbanding. As the old saying goes, should not everyone receive an education without discrimination? It would be wrong to kill them without even trying to teach them!”
“Your Highness, once you enter the army, you must know its laws. Ignorance is no excuse for not learning. In any case, since I have been appointed Commander, the training of the soldiers is entirely my responsibility. Your Highness, even as our lord, you must not interfere excessively.”
Ying Zheng bowed even lower and said.
“Yes! General Goudohwan, all matters concerning the soldiers are under your authority. But I failed to teach them well, so I, too, am at fault!”
Shen Lang chimed in from the side.
“General Goudohwan, how about this? We cut His Highness’s hair in place of his head to trade for one of the white tiger’s lives?”
Without a second word, Ying Zheng drew a dagger and cut off all his long hair. Unlike Cao Cao, who symbolically cut a single lock, he sheared it all off, leaving only short stubble. But the beggar hanging from the tree was no longer moving; he seemed to be already dead. Goudohwan went to the tree, took the beggar down, and checked him. There was no heartbeat, no breath.
Shen Lang said.
“Perform artificial respiration and chest compressions.”
Shen Lang then explained the methods of artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to Goudohwan, who immediately began breathing into the beggar’s mouth and pressing on his chest. The beggar’s mouth was full of saliva, his tongue was hanging out, and his breath was foul. But Goudohwan, as if he had no sense of taste, continuously placed his mouth on the beggar’s, breathing air into him and compressing his heart. After a full ten minutes, the beggar’s breathing finally returned, and his heart began to beat. At that moment, the other nine beggars collapsed to the ground, weeping with joy.
‘He’s really alive. To bring a dead man back to life, it’s truly miraculous.’
Having saved the beggar, Goudohwan stood up, his face still cold, and said enunciating each word.
“This time, we cut His Highness’s hair in his stead, but since His Highness has cut all his hair, do you expect him to offer his head next time? This was your only chance, and your last. Next time, there will be no mercy. You will all be executed according to military law! Do you understand?”
The nine beggars answered meekly in that instant.
“Yes.”
“Now, all of you, stand at attention for one hour without moving. Even if you fall, you must get up immediately. If anyone moves, don’t blame my whip for being merciless! I am ruthless in both heart and hand. If anyone wishes to die, I will gladly bury them. If even one of you disobeys me, I will beat him until he obeys, or beat him to death!”
Hearing Goudohwan’s words, the other nine stood crookedly in their places, not daring to move. But how long could they last? Not even a few minutes passed before one of them shifted. Goudohwan walked over to him and brought the whip in his hand down fiercely. It truly looked as if he intended to beat the man to death. A beggar standing nearby was so frightened he trembled violently and raised his hand, about to ask if he could go relieve himself. Just then, Goudohwan turned, his gaze shooting toward him like lightning, and the beggar shuddered. He had already wet himself; there was no longer a need to go to the latrine. Goudohwan paid him no mind, staring at him intently.
‘Wetting yourself is a small matter, but you are not to move.’
***
As the day of the martial examination drew ever closer, the ten beggars’ bloodlines had to be activated. But since Goudohwan said there was no rush, Shen Lang did not press the matter. In the Fifth Prince’s estate, everyone had to respect Goudohwan’s absolute authority. Once he made a decision on military and martial arts matters, no one questioned or opposed it.
It was said that if you recognize talent, you should use it in the right place; if you doubt someone, do not use them, and if you use someone, do not doubt them. If Goudohwan needed money, he was given money; whatever he needed was provided. Neither Ying Zheng nor Shen Lang had money, but the Hidden Capital Society had nothing but. The moment Ying Zheng decided to contend for the throne, the Hidden Capital Society immediately established an agency in the capital dedicated solely to handling this matter. This agency had only one task: to fund them. Whatever amount Shen Lang asked for, they provided. As long as there was a note in Shen Lang’s handwriting, they would release the funds. This applied not only to money but to any kind of resource.
The Hidden Capital Society didn't believe Ying Zheng could ascend the throne, but they believed in Shen Lang, so they invested wherever he told them to. From start to finish, as Shen Lang created one miracle after another, the Hidden Capital Society, as his strategic ally, witnessed his miracles more clearly than even Zhang Chong. Moreover, if Ying Zheng succeeded in his bid for the throne, the master of the State of Yue's trade rights would change in an instant. The Hidden Capital Society could then immediately reverse its fortunes and crush the Hidden Yuan Society.
Internally, the Hidden Capital Society had even begun preparing to settle debts. They needed to know just how much debt the State of Yue owed the Hidden Yuan Society. If Ying Zheng were to be enthroned and suppress the Hidden Yuan Society, the Hidden Capital Society had to be ready to take over those debts at any time. What did it mean to take over the debts? First, the Hidden Capital Society would pay off the money on behalf of the State of Yue's treasury, and then the State of Yue would owe that debt to the Hidden Capital Society instead.
After a rough calculation of the money involved, the faces of the Hidden Capital Society's members changed.
‘Ning Yuanxian, just how much of the family fortune have you squandered? How can you sleep at night after borrowing so much money?’
Subsequently, the Hidden Capital Society established another organization. This body also had a single function: it was an institution dedicated entirely to saving, preparing to take over the State of Yue's debts to the Hidden Yuan Society at a moment's notice. The debt was truly immense, and the Hidden Capital Society was in a period of rapid expansion and strategic recovery, requiring an astronomical amount of gold coins. To accumulate the funds for the debt simultaneously would take even the Hidden Capital Society several years of steady saving.
Fortunately, Ying Zheng’s bid for the throne had just begun, so it did not cost much money yet. For example, this time Shen Lang had requested twenty thoroughbreds, which cost only twenty thousand gold coins. Within a few days, the Hidden Capital Society had procured twenty-five rare, fine steeds for the Prince's estate.
After five days of training, the ten beggars were completely transformed, obeying orders with absolute submission. Though their bodies were twisted and crippled, causing them to stand askew, they could all remain motionless for two hours. Furthermore, whatever Goudohwan commanded, they did. If he said, "Get down!" they would drop, even if a pile of dung was in front of them and their faces would land right in it. If he ordered them to stand still, they wouldn't move even if a snake slithered into their shirts. Moreover, when it was time to sleep, they never uttered a single word. Because if you spoke during sleeping hours, your mouth would be sewn shut. Truly, with a needle and thread, sewn shut for three full days. During those three days, they were fed liquid food through a tube, so they wouldn't starve to death.
Goudohwan trained the soldiers so brutally that even Shen Lang felt a chill watching him. The ten beggars looked at Goudohwan as if they were looking at the King of Hell or a demon. Even in their dreams, an appearance by Goudohwan was a nightmare.
Shen Lang secretly sought out Goudohwan to talk.
“Brother Zhuo, when training soldiers, isn’t it said that one must employ both grace and authority? Your subordinates should feel a sense of awe, but right now, they fear you like a demon and hate you to the bone.”
Shen Lang was merely asking out of curiosity, not questioning his methods. Goudohwan replied.
“My lord, so-called grace and respect can only be truly forged by going through life and death together on the battlefield. Giving away the clothes on your back or sharing the food you eat can easily win people over, but that alone is not enough to form a deep bond or move their hearts. For now, their fear is sufficient.”
“You speak wisely. Everything shall be as you wish. So, what is our progress now?”
“They have discipline now. I believe we can leave the capital for a secluded place to begin secret training and activate their bloodlines.”
***
The next day.
Shen Lang, Goudohwan, and Wulie, leading a hundred female warriors and the ten beggars, left the Estate of Marquis Changping and departed from the capital. Goudohwan wore a silver mask to conceal his face. The citizens of the capital once again witnessed an incomparably bizarre scene. There were twenty-five rare and well-bred steeds, a truly coveted sight, yet ten beggars were riding ten of these fine horses in a manner that was hard to watch. They weren't so much riding as they were tied to the horses with ropes. The beggars didn't know how to ride in the first place, and with their twisted, crippled bodies, they couldn't sit properly on a horse, so they had to be tied down.
The many horses galloped, and the beggars were about to cry out and wail, but the thought of Goudohwan made them clamp their mouths shut. Even if they wet themselves, they would not scream. Otherwise, they would suffer the more miserable fate of having their mouths sewn shut. Just then, Goudohwan gave them an order.
“You may scream!”
At that, the ten beggars let out a series of sharp screams, creating a scene of utter pandemonium.
“Giddy-up, giddy-up!”
“Aah! Help me, help! I’m about to fall!”
On Xuanwu Avenue, countless citizens stopped to watch.
‘How absurd, how ridiculous. The martial examination is less than a month away, yet you, Shen Lang, are only now training them in horsemanship. Isn’t it too late? And what kind of horsemanship is this? Tying people to a horse’s back like bundles? It’s truly been an eye-opening experience. There have been an unusual number of clowns this year, but none can surpass you, Shen Lang. And what a pity. Such fine horses, ridden by such trash.’
In any case, the sight of Shen Lang leading his people out of the city was unbearable to behold. It was a truly miserable and unsightly scene.