The world of film and television begins with the God of Medicine.

Chapter 1635 Conspiracy
Yangzhou, formerly known as Guangling and Jiangdu, boasts well-developed water and land transportation, making it an important and developed city in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Among the poems about Yangzhou, two lines stand out as the most popular.

One is to have ten thousand strings of cash around one's waist and ride a crane down to Yangzhou. The other is to bid farewell to an old friend at the Yellow Crane Tower and head down to Yangzhou in the third month of spring, amidst the fireworks and blossoms.

What truly fulfills people's imagination of Yangzhou is not these two famous lines of poetry, but rather a later phrase consisting of only four characters.

Yangzhou's "slender horses" (a euphemism for prostitutes)!

Yangzhou was a prosperous city where salt merchants from the Huai River region gathered, possessing immeasurable wealth and countless chains of interest. With money and power mutually beneficial, people could do whatever they wanted.

They were no longer satisfied with the empty shells of beautiful women, and instead began to cultivate them themselves. They would find people to buy seven or eight-year-old children from poor families who had not yet grown up, and educate them from a young age, teaching them music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, etiquette, and so on. They also broadened their horizons and gave them knowledge of various upper-class things and luxury goods.

After being trained for a period of time, they are sold to powerful figures as concubines or playthings. The exact duration depends on the needs of these powerful figures; some are young, some are old, and the powerful figures can also exchange concubines…

A light drizzle hung in the air, dampening the bluestone slabs. The hooves of donkeys and horses trod on the stones, their shod hooves making a crisp, rhythmic clatter. Sedan chair bearers carried their sedan chairs steadily, yet the up-and-down movement of the carriage clearly revealed the obese owner inside. Even in the light rain, the bearers' sweat was palpable. A sedan chair with a fat man on it—it was no small feat.

Some people strolled leisurely down the street, holding oil-paper umbrellas and enjoying the spring rain. Others, dressed in coarse linen, walked briskly with their heads down. Some looked pale and sallow, walking close to the edge of the path.

This isn't India's country, where stepping on someone's shadow isn't illegal, but the common people are still just as humble...

The teahouse by the roadside has tables covered by waterproof tarpaulins outside.

With his youthful appearance, Zhao Erhu ate his dry rations mouthful by mouthful while drinking tea, staring at a shop located on the street corner diagonally opposite.

This is a brothel called Yixiangyuan. In Yangzhou, a place where brothels are ubiquitous and can be considered a pillar industry, this is really an inconspicuous little place.

Erhu knew that today was the day Liansheng, his childhood friend, would be bought and sent to her new master's house. They were childhood sweethearts, and even after Liansheng had been sold for so many years, he would often steal money to give her. Even though she was sold into servitude and her food, clothing, and daily necessities were provided, without any personal savings, life was still very difficult.

Especially in places where women congregate, these people will naturally develop scheming minds, making it even more unbearable.

Over the years, Erhu has endured countless beatings, insults, and hardships in order to make things easier for Liansheng.

Beside Erhu was an even younger boy, who could even be described as somewhat tiger-like in appearance. He had big, bright eyes. But he was just focused on eating the not-so-tasty dry rations, eating with great relish, his mouth practically empty.

His name was Jiang Wuyang, and he was an orphan. Zhao Erhu took him in, and so he followed Zhao Erhu wholeheartedly. He knew what Zhao Erhu was going to do, but he was fearless. He only knew that whatever his elder brother did was right, and he would support him wholeheartedly.

His gaze, along with Erhu's, was fixed intently on the other side.

At their feet, a tattered basket leaned against the table leg, covered with some miscellaneous items.

Jiang Wuyang knew that there were two forearm-length machetes in the basket...

At the table right behind them, Wang Yan, dressed in shorts and a shirt, was eating a roast chicken and drinking homemade sweet potato liquor. Like the people around him, he had most of his head shaved, with the rest tied in a long braid, dressed in proper Qing Dynasty attire.

Unlike others, he was tall with a sharply defined face, deep-set eyes that gleamed with a keen light, and full of energy and vitality, in excellent condition. He stood out quite a bit in the crowd.

People in those days weren't very tall; after all, how could they develop if they weren't getting enough nutrition? So, the vast majority of working-class people weren't very tall; 1.7 meters was considered good. Those who were tall, over 1.7 or 1.8 meters, were mostly from wealthy families.

Wang Yan ate the roast chicken with relish, his face smeared with oil, not to mention his hands. As he drank his wine, his gaze was no longer focused on the two teenagers in front of him, but rather he was taking in the surrounding environment with great interest.

He was no stranger to Yangzhou; he remembered spending some time there many years ago when his elder brother was called Yang Guang. But now, it was the Qing Dynasty.

This was yet another novel life experience for him...

After quickly finishing a chicken and drinking all the wine, Wang Yan picked up a long knife wrapped in cloth and took a few steps to sit down in front of the young-looking Zhao Erhu and Jiang Wuyang.

With a bang, the knife wrapped in cloth in his hand lay across the table. He fiddled with the glass he had just drunk from and picked up the teapot on the table to pour water.

Zhao Erhu's eyes were menacing, and Jiang Wuyang had already bent down and reached into the basket on his back...

“Brother, we’ve never seen you before, and we don’t know what brings you here,” Zhao Erhu said through gritted teeth.

"I've seen you two staring at that Yixiang Courtyard for a long time. I wonder if it's murder, robbery, or both?"

"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. There's a girl posing seductively by that window, but my brother and I are too broke to play along. Can't we at least look?"

"Take a look at the knife?" Wang Yan asked with a chuckle.

"Isn't what you've wrapped in that cloth also a knife?"

Jiang Wuyang put on a fierce expression: "If you don't leave now, I might really kill someone!"

Wang Yan shook his head: "You guys have your mischievous thoughts written all over your faces. This kid's legs are shaking."

Zhao Erhu looked down and saw that Jiang Wuyang's legs were indeed trembling. However, in the next instant, Jiang Wuyang realized what was happening and used the leg shaking to cover it up, while at the same time glaring fiercely at Wang Yan.

"What exactly do you want?" Zhao Erhu leaned forward and hissed.

“It’s not murder, it’s not robbery, it’s not both murder and robbery, it’s just that you’re after the woman inside.” Wang Yan leaned closer and whispered, “So you’ve taken a fancy to the woman inside, but she’s been bought and is being delivered to your residence today. That’s why you’ve come to ambush her and try to take her away.”

"Big brother, he's amazing!" Jiang Wuyang leaned closer to Zhao Erhu and whispered.

Enraged, Zhao Erhu slapped his underling, then glared at Wang Yan, standing up with his hands on the table, looking down at Wang Yan: "What exactly do you want?" He repeated his words, his tone even more forceful, fully expressing his suppressed anger.

If Zhao Erhu hadn't been afraid of delaying important matters and had already prepared for the worst, he probably would have already grabbed his weapon and started fighting.

"Haste makes waste." Seeing the two boys getting angry, Wang Yan said with a smile, "I've heard people say that if you want to live well, you have to be ruthless and vicious. In today's world, the common people are weak, helpless, and vulnerable. Anyone can kick them. So look at those who walk with their heads down; they're all starving and cold. I see that you two have a bit of viciousness and are willing to fight to the death, so you can live well."

“There are river bandits outside the city, bandits in the mountains, and evil people everywhere.”

“I’m only sixteen. Who do you think would listen to me? Mediocre people, proud of their age, and bully those who are younger.”

"Big brother, I think what he said makes sense." Jiang Wuyang covered his mouth and leaned closer to Zhao Erhu, then lowered his hand and looked at Wang Yan. "You've been to school?"

“A lot.” “What exactly do you want?” Zhao Erhu repeated again, his helplessness barely concealed, but this time his tone was much better than the previous two.

He greatly admired scholars. Because scholars nowadays really do quite well, since most people are illiterate. In his village, some of his peers had read more books and were very prestigious, which he envied.

More importantly, he should study hard and become an official. If he could pass the imperial examinations, his beloved Liansheng would surely be personally delivered to his home by the owner of Yixiang Courtyard, all while wearing a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum.

Wang Yan looked at Jiang Wuyang: "What did I just say?"

"If you're willing to risk your life, then you can live well."

Jiang Wuyang was very quick-witted, and Wang Yan was very satisfied. So he nodded in approval and gave Jiang Wuyang a thumbs up. Jiang Wuyang grinned, completely forgetting that he had been about to chop Wang Yan up just two minutes earlier.

"You're willing to risk your life for a woman, and he's willing to risk his life for you, his older brother. I think you two have a bright future ahead of you, with unlimited potential."

"Big brother, 'limitless' means that we two will have a lot of money and a lot of people under our command in the future," Jiang Wuyang thoughtfully translated for his good older brother.

You can tell from his name that he's somewhat educated. He read some books when he was young, but then something happened that led him to this place.

"I know!" Zhao Erhu gritted his teeth, slapped his underling, and then glared at Wang Yan. "Is it wrong for me to risk my life for a woman?"

"It's neither right nor wrong, and I didn't mean to say you were wrong."

Wang Yan waved his hand to stop Zhao Erhu's question and asked in return, "Do you know which family you were sold to?"

"The Li family in the east of the city." Seeing the question in Wang Yan's eyes, and remembering the saying that one could live well if one risked one's life, Zhao Erhu explained with a flash of inspiration, "The Li family is a salt trader, but not a big salt merchant. He has more than a dozen guards under him, who are said to be his brothers who risked their lives with him in the salt trade."

"See? Wasn't this all planned out in advance?" Wang Yan nodded with a smile. "If you hadn't thought of this, you would have been foolish. After all, you've already taken her away. Li Da Hu isn't a big salt merchant, but he's still someone important with a certain reputation. You've taken his woman away, so he won't have a good ending."

"I don't want to cause trouble for Li the landlord. As long as the person is rescued, that's fine."

"Innocent."

Jiang Wuyang said, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

“Of course, we must nip it in the bud!” Wang Yan finished his tea. “The wedding is in the morning, the second wedding is in the afternoon, and the concubine will be brought to the mansion in the middle of the night. There’s still plenty of time. This isn’t the place to talk. It’s almost dinnertime, so let’s eat something first. After tonight, it will be a while before we can have a proper meal.”

"What do you mean?"

"It means we'll act together tonight, both to win back the woman you've got your eye on and to steal some money so we can all live a good life."

Wang Yan said something in a low voice, then took his knife, stood up, and went to the restaurant next door.

“Brother, I think he’s right.” Jiang Wuyang was very honest.

"Let's treat him to a good meal first and see what he has to say."

Zhao Erhu slung his tattered basket over his shoulder, slapped a few large coins on the table, and led Jiang Wuyang to the restaurant next door.

As soon as they entered, Wang Yan turned around and asked, "What would you two like to eat?"

Without Erhu saying anything more, Jiang Wuyang eagerly spoke up: "Meat! Eat meat!"

Soon, the large table of dishes that Wang Yan had ordered was served, along with some cheap wine. He had a large bowl for himself, and the other two had small half-bowls. The three introduced themselves and then began to eat.

"I want a bowl too!" Jiang Wuyang expressed his request.

"You're young, you get drunk easily. It's a small matter if you mess things up tonight, but it's not worth losing your life. Once tonight's business is done well, you'll have plenty to drink later."

So Jiang Wuyang started eating heartily.

Zhao Erhu tore off a chicken leg and ate it: "What are you planning to do?"

"It's simple. Once your woman arrives at Li's house, we'll go in and kidnap her. Then we'll capture Li alive and find his money. When the city gates open at dawn, we'll run away."

Jiang Wuyang, who was eating heartily, stopped what he was doing and stared blankly at Wang Yan. Zhao Erhu looked at him like he was an idiot.

“I already told you, the Li family has more than a dozen guards, all of whom were his brothers who used to sell salt with him. You’re sixteen, I’m fifteen, and he’s thirteen. We’re not strong enough yet, how can we beat them? Are you crazy? Wu Yang, hurry up and eat, and then we’ll continue waiting.”

“I understand your concerns. If it were me, I wouldn’t really believe it either, after all, it’s a matter of life and death…” Wang Yan took a sip of wine, seemingly deep in thought for a moment, “Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll intercept the person halfway with you two, then you wait nearby, I’ll go in and take care of things myself, and then I’ll come find you.”

Zhao Erhu shook his head repeatedly: "Since that's the case, let's each do our own thing. We brothers can save people ourselves. Let's go our separate ways and not let anyone hold anyone back."

"No." Wang Yan calmly shook his head.

"Why?" Jiang Wuyang pressed.

"A single tree cannot make a forest. If you want to do something and succeed, you need brothers to help and support you. I think you two are capable of doing things. Aren't you willing to let me make you rich and live a good life? Alright, it's settled then."

Zhao Erhu neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply ate his meat in silence.

Jiang Wuyang looked at the knife from left to right, then said, "Brother Yan, can I take a look at your knife? I've always wanted to have my own knife, but they're too expensive, I can't afford a good one. Besides, you can't bring them into the city, Brother Yan, how did you bring them in?"

"It's not that I can't bring it in, it's that you can't bring it in." Wang Yan shook his head and casually tossed the knife over. "My knife is very sharp, don't cut yourself."

Jiang Wuyang drew his knife with his oily hands.

The blade was jet black, seemingly capable of swallowing light, and adorned with dark gold patterns, showcasing the pinnacle of craftsmanship. It was none other than Hanfeng, which had not tasted blood for a long time…

Unfortunately, neither Zhao Erhu nor Jiang Wuyang possessed sufficient insight. They didn't realize that simply holding this knife in their hands was enough to exterminate nine generations of their families…

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