I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

At banquets in this world, some people seek to get drunk and forget everything, while others seek to exchange benefits.

The welcoming banquet held in the Juyi Hall of Zhangjiawu naturally belonged to the latter category.

As the saying goes, business discussions always involve a banquet, and banquets always involve wine.

Since Zhang Heng wanted to impress his new master, he naturally had to bring out his best stuff.

Although this fortified village is remote, as the saying goes, "those who live by the mountains live off the mountains, and those who live by the water live off the water." They often robbed passing merchants and surrounding villages, so they were not short of food and drink.

Before long, several henchmen came up carrying two large jars of wine sealed with mud. They broke the seals, and the aroma seemed to instantly fill the hall.

The wine is fine, but the snacks served with it are quite particular.

Zhang Heng was in a great mood today, and he waved to his trusted confidant while holding his wine bowl.

"Go and tell the kitchen staff to set up those two big pots."

"We have distinguished guests tonight, so slaughter that batch of sheep we just acquired the other day! Remember, it must be fresh sheep. If that's unavailable, young sheep will do, but absolutely do not use any old sheep to fill the gaps. If Magistrate Shen has trouble chewing them, I'll skin you alive!"

The trusted confidant understood immediately, chuckled, and opened his mouth to accept the order.

Shen Lie held the wine bowl in his hand, his brows indeed furrowing slightly.

New sheep? Young sheep?

The word sounds familiar; I think I've seen it in some miscellaneous book or historical record.

But at this moment, amidst the clamor of clinking glasses, he regarded it as just ordinary mutton.

After all, in his subconscious, the so-called tender lamb was nothing more than a lamb that was still suckling, with tender and delicious meat.

Yang Ting, who was sitting to Shen Lie's right and was enjoying his drink, turned pale upon hearing Zhang Heng's words.

Having served in the military for so many years, what filth hasn't he seen? What slang doesn't he understand?

From the Huang Chao Rebellion at the end of the Tang Dynasty, to Qin Zongquan's rise to power in Huaixi, and now to the chaotic Five Dynasties period, war has raged everywhere, food is scarce, and food shortages in the army have been the norm.

If there is no food, then living people become the army's rations.

When a person is starving, their eyes turn green, but their heart turns black.

The so-called "old sheep" refers to a thin, weak old sheep whose meat is tough and requires a lot of firewood to cook.

The "new sheep" and "tender sheep" refer to the young women and children who were abducted. Their skin and flesh were delicate, making them the most desirable "two-legged sheep" in the eyes of these defeated soldiers and bandits.

Although Yang Ting was a ruthless man who would kill and set fires without hesitation, he knew what kind of person Shen Lie was.

Although our lord is decisive in his actions and ruthless in killing, he is a person with inexplicable bottom lines at heart.

On the way here, Shen Lie would rather go hungry himself than not share his rations with the refugees. Even though he was forced to come to this fortified village to beg for food, it was all to save the lives of his men.

This is an official who treats people like human beings, not one of those beasts who treat people like two-legged sheep.

If Zhang Heng were to actually serve this, let alone recruit it, Shen Lie would probably draw his sword on the spot.

Thinking of this, Yang Ting could no longer restrain himself and took a step ahead, speaking before the man could leave to receive his orders.

"Chief Zhang, wait!"

Yang Ting's voice was somewhat abrupt, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

Shen Lie turned around and glanced at his personal guards.

This fellow is usually the most greedy, why has he changed his ways today?

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Zhang Heng also looked puzzled, his hand holding the wine bowl frozen in mid-air: "This... Warrior Yang, is there anything you need?"

Yang Ting ignored Shen Lie's gaze, forced a smile at Zhang Heng, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Vice Envoy Zhang, you may not know this, but my lord has been traveling a long way and caught a cold in Daizhou a few days ago, so his stomach is a little upset. This rich and meaty food might not be to his liking."

At this point, Yang Ting subtly gave Shen Lie a wink.

"Why not just prepare some vegetarian food and a couple of pounds of poultry? Slaughtering a live sheep is too much trouble, and if it takes too long, it won't be as good."

These words were perfectly reasonable, both giving Zhang Heng a way out and trying to cover up the matter.

In Yang Ting's view, Shen Lie's kindness was a good thing, but it depended on the circumstances.

The lives of these twenty men are now in the hands of this fortified village. If they were to fall out over a few pieces of meat, they would all die here.

As long as you don't eat it or look at it, this matter can be considered settled.

However, Shen Lie found these words strange.

When did he develop indigestion?

After being jostled around on horseback for the past few days, my stomach is really empty, and I'm thinking of having a good meal to replenish my energy.

But he was a smart man. Seeing Yang Ting acting so strangely, he assumed that the fellow had discovered something was wrong, so he didn't expose him. He simply picked up the wine bowl and took a sip.

But Zhang Heng refused to accept it.

In this outlaw world, face is more important than anything else.

Now that Zhang Heng is going to become the deputy commander of the militia, he will follow Magistrate Shen to Yaozhou to make a living.

If Shangguan is served tofu and wild vegetables for his first meal, what will become of "The Flying Hawk"?

"Does Mr. Yang mean he thinks I, Old Zhang, am a rough man and that he hasn't treated me well?"

Zhang Heng put the wine bowl on the table, and his face immediately darkened.

"Although this place is a mountain stronghold, now that we have submitted to the lord, we are all one family. How can we let a family visit and not even give them a meal?"

"Besides..."

Zhang Heng glanced at Yang Ting, his tone tinged with arrogance.

"The sheep from my fortified village are famous for their fine skin and tender meat; I wouldn't even eat them myself. Today, I specially had the kitchen slaughter them to welcome Magistrate Shen. Are you making such a fuss because you're afraid I'll poison the meat?"

"No, no..." Yang Ting's forehead veins throbbed with anxiety, but he dared not say it outright, "It's just that..."

"If that's not the case, then shut up!"

Zhang Heng waved his hand, interrupting Yang Ting's explanation, and turned to Shen Lie with a smile on his face.

"My lord, do not listen to this fellow's incessant chatter. When you're on the march and fighting, your body is weak and needs nourishment even more. When the sheep comes up later, we'll take its heart and liver; you must eat them while they're hot, they're incredibly nourishing!"

Shen Lie put down his wine bowl and glanced back and forth between Yang Ting's pale face and Zhang Heng's enthusiastic face.

Upon hearing the words "heart and liver," he naturally understood Yang Ting's meaning.

Reason told him that he was now in a wolf's den, with only twenty personal guards by his side, while the main force was still far away.

If you turn against them now, not only will all your previous efforts be wasted, but you might even get yourself into trouble.

The so-called surrender is essentially a case of seeking an alliance with a tiger.

Since we're dealing with a tiger for its skin, how can we complain that the tiger eats people?

If we can just endure this for now, and wait until we reach Yaozhou and gain military power, it won't be too late to tear Zhang Heng to pieces.

"Since Yang Ting said..." Shen Lie suppressed the acid churning in his stomach, maintaining his calm demeanor, and continued Yang Ting's train of thought.

"That's settled then. Vice Envoy Zhang, I have indeed been suffering from indigestion these past few days, and all this rich, meaty food is getting a bit greasy. Why don't we follow your lead and get some wild vegetables from the mountains? That would be quite a treat."

This is already giving them a very generous way out.

This satisfied Zhang Heng's hospitality while subtly refusing the "deadly" ingredients.

"Oh! You're too kind, my lord!"

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Heng, displaying his reckless and unruly spirit, reached out and grabbed Shen Lie's arm.

"The magistrate is a distinguished guest; he only came to this wretched village because he thinks highly of me, Old Zhang. If I were to make the magistrate eat vegetarian food, where would I put my face? If this gets to Commander Shi's ears, he'd think I, Old Zhang, am a stingy wretch!"

"Your Excellency, please rest assured!" Zhang Heng patted his chest and said, "My cook's skills are superb! This lamb was just brought up from the foot of the mountain the day before yesterday; the meat is so tender you could squeeze water out of it! Even if you have a sensitive stomach, a couple of bowls of that lamb soup will cure any ailment!"

Having said that, he didn't give Shen Lie a chance to refuse, and shouted directly at the door, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling, tell those cooks to get things done!"

Yang Ting grew anxious and was about to try to persuade him again.

But then the curtain at the hall door was lifted, and a sobbing sound came from inside.

Two shirtless cooks dragged in two women who were bound hand and foot.

The two women were dressed in rags, their eyes filled with despair.

Zhang Heng pointed at the two women, looking at Shen Lie with a face full of pride:

"My lord, please look! These are the tender lambs I was talking about! They were just bought a couple of days ago... they're still chicks! Freshly slaughtered and roasted, they're the most delicious!"