Captain Liu's New New Life

Jiang Hu trembled as he listened to these five ragged brothers speak, his heart filled with desolation.

Two hundred men... all lost before they even entered the gate?

A brother in tattered clothes sobbed, "Commander, let's quickly join the prince. I don't think we have a chance anymore."

"They're already on guard. If Little Six and the others confess, we'll have even less hope!"

Jiang Hu flew into a rage, kicking him and cursing, "Bullshit! Don't you know our own brothers? Taoyuan County must be taken, otherwise how will we explain to the prince!"

He understood the prince's character well. Though usually generous, there was no good outcome for failing a mission.

"We don't have time! Taoyuan County might send people to report to the capital. It will be big trouble for us then. We must act quickly!"

"Tomorrow, all our men will leave the city with equipment, and put on our gear outside the city."

"Commander, we don't have horses!" A discordant voice came.

Damn!

Blue veins popped up on Jiang Hu's forehead as he gritted his teeth. "Then go buy some! Buy them back from wherever you sold them! If you don't have enough money, go collect or borrow it!"

"Commander, what if we don't have money for the toll stations?" Another discordant voice spoke up.

"Who asked that! Who!?" Jiang Hu raged, scanning his brothers. "Shut your mouths! I'm not finished, don't interrupt!"

"Forget about the toll stations. Since our brothers have been captured, we'll use the pretense of clearing out mountain bandits, forge a government dispatch, and enter the city directly! Any more questions?"

"What if they don't believe us and won't open the gates?"

Jiang Hu snorted coldly, "With the seal and a fake token, how could a small county near the capital not believe us? Also, we can't bring short swords anymore. Switch to long sabers. Once we enter the city, we'll make them pay blood for blood!"

A brother in tattered clothes worried, "Commander, what if the forgeries are discovered? Are you sure this will work? I feel like Taoyuan County can't be judged by normal standards!"

Jiang Hu said irritably, "Enough! I know what I'm doing. Fang Zheng isn't in the county, and his shortsighted subordinates won't know much! Everyone rest early. Those who need to buy horses, go buy horses. We'll leave as soon as possible tomorrow!"

The next day, on the city wall of Taoyuan County.

Captain Liu stood guard on the wall, absently propping his chin and staring into the distance, lost in thought.

A comrade beside him asked, "Brother, thinking about women? Want to go have some fun tonight?"

Captain Liu shook his head. "Forget it, I'm saving money! After the bonuses are paid this year, I won't do this job anymore. I'll go into business."

"Business!? Brother, don't be hasty. Different trades are like different mountains. How could we do business? Don't end up losing everything!"

Captain Liu pointed toward the capital in the distance, his voice tinged with envy. "Old Sun from the county, the one who performs with monkeys, sold all his horses overnight. He must have made a fortune! A monkey performer can make money, why can't I? I've figured it out, relying on a fixed salary won't make you rich in a lifetime! You'll never get a beautiful wife!"

Saying this, Captain Liu put his hand on his brother's shoulder and earnestly advised, "Xiao Qiang, you're still young and unmarried. You don't know how hard the world is."

"Do you know how wild the women in our county are? If your house is a welfare house assigned by the county, they'll look down on you. Without even a private toilet, who would be with you?"

Xiao Qiang fell silent. "True love doesn't care about that. As long as there's a place to live, it's fine."

"Don't be naive. All young people think that way, but with time you'll understand no woman wants to suffer with you! Those women are extremely competitive! And I'm not just talking about women. When you have children and take them to school, if it's two li away from school, your child won't let you take them anymore! Why? Because other kids arrive on horses while you're on a donkey! Even your child will think you're embarrassing. When you get home at night, your wife and child will criticize you behind your back. Can you handle that? Where's the true love then?" Captain Liu spoke like a seasoned veteran, his face bearing a faint melancholy.

Xiao Qiang stubbornly said, "Then I'll go find someone in the capital!"

"Take my advice, don't look for outsiders, find someone local! Does someone from outside get a share of the county's year-end silver? Is there a subsidy for their children's school fees? Don't be foolish!"

Xiao Qiang pondered deeply. "Business is too risky. If the assigned house isn't good enough, I could borrow some silver from the county and buy a big mansion. Then I wouldn't lack for women, would I?"

Captain Liu gave a cold laugh. "Still dreaming of buying a mansion? Haven't you seen how fast land prices are rising in the county? That 'Ancestor-Eighteen Loan' would keep you from ever getting ahead."

"The interest compounds yearly. By the time your great-grandson is born, you might have paid it off. Can you imagine your great-grandson being born with debt? When he grows up and understands, he might not even scatter your ashes!"

Xiao Qiang's face filled with worry. "Brother, you're so right... I never thought about it before. I used to think my life was pretty good. Now that you mention it, I feel like there's no hope for my future."

"That's right! Everyone's like that when they're young, well-fed and carefree! I've been there, so I know the only way to live well is to go into business!" Captain Liu smiled with satisfaction, having successfully peddled his anxiety.

Xiao Qiang licked his lips, his eyes darting around. Suddenly, he asked shyly, "Brother, why don't I join you in business? Do you think I could?"

"Of course! You're more than capable, brother! How could I not include you when I make my fortune?" Captain Liu was delighted, never expecting to recruit a partner before even starting. This would ease the financial pressure considerably. "After the New Year, I'll find Old Chen from the printing shop to make us two sets of fake identities, and then we'll set out to make our fortunes!"

Xiao Qiang was overjoyed. "Brother! What business will we do?"

"Horses! Selling horses! I think there's potential in this! After the New Year, we'll go to Hengjiang City to buy a batch of horses and then sell them in the capital. I've checked, and prices in Hengjiang Prefecture are much cheaper than in the capital, and the market in the capital is good. Old Sun sold two thousand horses so quickly. Buy low, sell high. We'll make a killing!"

Xiao Qiang paused. If others are selling horses, should we also sell horses?

The cost of fodder on the road, at least two taxes to pay, plus the expense of establishing connections... would there still be profit in the capital? Never mind, Captain Liu must have calculated all this!

Just follow him and get rich!

Both looked toward the capital, their eyes full of hope...

Just as they were dreaming of the future, dust suddenly rose in the distance!

Captain Liu immediately picked up a telescope to look.

He saw over a thousand people riding horses, surging majestically toward the county.

Even as they galloped wildly, their formation remained orderly, clearly a true elite force!

Captain Liu's expression changed dramatically. After careful observation, he urgently said to Xiao Qiang beside him, "Go to the county office immediately and notify them. There might be a large invasion force! Have everyone prepare, and civilians should return home temporarily!"