From the Dragon and Tiger Cavalry to Hunting Sins and Becoming Saints

Chapter 56 Planting the Flag

"It's enough that you can take care of yourself. In short, it's all about mutual benefit. I'll have to work hard for you from now on."

Fu Que said calmly.

By this point, he had fully immersed himself in the role. Both the merits of the Dragon Tiger Cavalry and the new business association he was about to establish would become his passport to higher levels.

He hoped that this internal purge within the Great Zhao court system would allow him to see a new world.

……

Two days later, the sky was covered with dark clouds and a light drizzle began to fall.

In Nanmu Town, Gaoyang County, a courtyard with red bricks and green tiles.

Mo Dao, Zhi Shan, and four or five fierce-looking men each grabbed a large, rough porcelain bowl and clashed them together, spilling wine everywhere.

"Let me introduce you. This is the second-in-command of the Reed Beach gang, and this is the leader of the Flying Eagle Gang." Mo Dao downed his bowl of wine in one gulp and introduced everyone with a smile: "Old Xu, you know him, this is Wu Hongwei..."

After everyone introduced themselves and exchanged pleasantries and toasts a few times, they finally took their seats.

Today isn't a gathering of righteous men; Mo Dao called people here to discuss serious matters. Therefore, he didn't waste any time with pleasantries, tossing the empty wine jar aside and directly addressing a man with a hooked nose:

"I've already told you all about it. The fact that you're here shows that you're all interested. I've had enough of the Qi family, and I'm prepared to accept the Dragon Tiger Guard's conditions and have a go at them."

The man with the hooked nose put down his wine bowl and said bluntly, "The Dragon Tiger Cavalry treated us brothers like dogs before. My brother-in-law's body was hung on the county gate tower for two days. To be honest, I don't really believe they're going to take us in now."

"Yes, it's not fair to expect us to kill and risk our lives for them without any real reason."

Old Xu, who was standing next to him, chimed in.

"Of course it's not just empty talk. I'm not that stupid. I've already received the first batch of goods, and besides, this is their handwritten note."

Mo Dao stroked his beard, and a paper fan standing beside him immediately presented two pieces of silk with gold patterns.

"The first document is an informant appointment letter. As long as you sign it and put your bloody fingerprint on it, it will prove that we are all informants of the Dragon Tiger Cavalry. From then on, our sins will be hidden and we will no longer be hunted."

The second document is the Chamber of Commerce membership agreement. Similarly, once you sign it and affix your bloody fingerprint, you'll have a share in the distribution of goods in Gaoyang County. I'm not talking about a private, blood-stained share, but rather an officially recognized share.

Upon hearing this, the men's eyes lit up. To be honest, they had actually saved up quite a bit of money over the years, living on the edge, but they had always kept it hidden away and dared not spend it.

The reason is simple: each of them has their own burdens to carry, and they usually hide in obscurity. The imperial guards and the executioners are too lazy to bother with them, as it's a thankless task.

But if they dared to enter the settlements, they would face constant danger, and they did consider bribing officials to erase their past.

But Da Zhao was just too damn powerful. Military, police, and secret agents were everywhere. Anyone even remotely connected to the investigation agencies could have their heads exchanged for money, making every step a potential trap.

Unless they are willing to spend a lot of money to buy an identity in the local county, which would solve their worries, but if they can, can their subordinates?

If you just leave, won't the foundation you've built up over the years vanish like water? And if your old enemies come knocking, you'll lose your men and your trusted confidants, and you won't even know how you died.

"The Qi family and their gang are deeply entrenched in Gaoyang County. Recently, they have also won over many people with the huge profits from smuggling blood offerings. Even if we all join together, I'm afraid it would be difficult for us to compete with them."

Old Xu carefully read the writing on the silk and then said.

It would be a lie to say that they weren't tempted. A business that could take them ashore in one step was right in front of them, but they also had to consider the actual situation. The Qi family and their gang could occupy the most prosperous area of ​​Nei County and protect the smuggling of blood food. Their strength was among the strongest of all the gangs.

"What if we bring in a few more people?"

"It's no use. In Gaoyang County, there aren't many people who dare to challenge the Qi family. Even we can only stay in our own place."

If we rashly try to recruit other forces, it's uncertain whether they will be truly united. If the news leaks out, won't the Qi family know what we're planning? Even if they actually agree to work with us...

That's most likely a wait-and-see attitude. After all, the promise of the Dragon Tiger Guards is for the future, but the Qi family's bloody rule is just around the corner. If they give us the resources, they'll turn around and sell us out. When the Dragon Tiger Guards blame us, we won't be able to explain ourselves even if we have eight hundred mouths.

"Having outmaneuvered the Dragon and Tiger Cavalry, it's no longer a matter of hiding in some remote mountain valley or playing the ostrich; what's coming next won't be patrolling cavalry and bounty hunters, but the Tiger Cavalry Master himself, genuinely searching for our trail."

Mo Dao shook his head.

The man with the hooked nose nodded: "Old Mo is right."

"So what do you mean?"

Whether we can wash our hands of this blood-stained world, shed these filthy clothes, and enjoy the pleasures of life depends on how well we plant this flag.

Mo Dao slowly stood up, his eyes filled with fervor: "If we can still stand after breaking the banner that the Qi family has raised, then we don't even need to do anything. People might even flock to our side and disrupt the existing balance."

But if we can't hold our ground, even those who were attracted by future benefits will turn against us immediately and try to kill us.

After hearing this, everyone fell silent. High returns inevitably come with high risks.

"Besides, the market is only so big. Even the most powerful and influential officials have to consider the court's attitude. If so many monsters and demons are crammed into the merchant guild, will it become a merchant guild or a den of bandits?"

"If we don't recruit any more people, will it just be a few of us doing it?"

"He asked, hook-nosed."

"Yes, there's no need to win people over now, because no matter how eloquent the words are, nothing beats the directness of breaking down the Qi family's banner."

Mo Dao nodded: "Kill them first, then win them over."

Old Xu touched his temple: "Mo Dao is absolutely right. Currently in Gaoyang County, there are still some people who are not convinced by the Qi family. It's just that their power is the strongest and they stick together, so we can only endure it."

"Let's do it then."

The tattooed giant, who had been silent all along, finally spoke his first words since the beginning: "We'll listen to Master Dao. With the Tiger Cavalry by our side, let's have a go at the Qi family."

"Is everything alright?"

Mo Dao asked about the hooked nose.

"He's just a brother-in-law; the benefits offered by the Dragon Tiger Guards are so great that even his own mother would be killed."

He replied calmly.

"Then it's decided. We'll go after Qijia together, but if we launch a full-scale attack, we'll definitely get a lot of flak."

As Mo Dao's external brain, Paper Fan already had a plan in mind. He said ruthlessly, "If you're going to kill, kill their two most important legs!"

The tattooed man was taken aback for a moment, then grinned maliciously and said, "No problem, you guys who wave fans are the ones with brains."