Jiangnan Great Tang is an honorific title for the southern regime established by the Li clan. Ever since nine years ago, when Raymond Hill changed his name to Albert Thompson and renamed the country Tang, after two generations of diligent governance, its territory has expanded from a corner of Wu to include Jingchu and Lingnan. It is no less than the Jin dynasty at its peak. In terms of people's livelihood, it far surpasses the northern Jin as well. Although it has not yet reached the point where “no one picks up lost items on the road and doors are left unlocked at night,” at least it is gradually moving away from the chaos of war. Even the military men holding great power dare not act as recklessly as those in the north. (Note 1)

  "Then you’re in for a lot of trouble!" Frank Thompson hadn’t expected Brian Scott to plan so far ahead for Little Ben, and was stunned for a moment, pursing his lips and shaking his head.

  To him, training someone whose mind had been damaged to take the imperial exams in Jiangnan Great Tang was even less realistic than teaching a wild boar to climb a tree. Rather than wasting energy on that, it would be better to carefully plan how, when Big Boss Brooks returned with the money from selling heads, everyone could make a clean getaway to avoid being hunted down by John Baker's henchmen!

  However, these thoughts he would never share with Brian Scott. The two of them hadn’t originally belonged to the same bandit gang; it was only by chance last summer that they ended up working together at the White Horse Temple on Mount Wagang. In the future, it would be best if they never crossed paths again. After all, when buying land and retiring with such a large sum of money, the fewer people around who know your background, the better.

  The second-in-command, Brian Scott, likewise never expected Frank Thompson to support him. He had originally been the young master of a wealthy family, but after his home was destroyed by war, he was forced to become an outlaw. Since then, many of his youthful ideals had become nothing but dreams. Yet in these past few months, he often saw his younger self in Little Ben. So he wished he could teach him everything he knew, letting the boy make up for all the regrets of his own youth.

  With the mindset of carefully polishing jade, from this moment on, he became even more diligent in teaching Eric Scott. If once wasn’t enough, then twice; if twice wasn’t enough, then three, four, even eighty or ninety times. Anyway, with the current danger outside, no one could risk going out to “do business” and get targeted by John Baker. Rather than sitting idle and getting restless, it was better to focus all his energy on Little Ben.

  As a result, Eric Scott's days became even more “arduous.” He had just memorized the Thousand Character Classic when he was forced to take on a copy of the “Three Hundred Poems” from who knows where. He had barely memorized the first two pieces of the “Three Hundred Poems” when, come morning lessons, he was handed a tattered volume of the “Book of Documents.” If it weren’t for the chaos and decline outside, Second Uncle Scott might have even given him the “Analects” and “Mencius” as textbooks. (Note 2)

  Fortunately, the chief Thomas Brooks returned just in time. Otherwise, Eric Scott would have been forced to “hang his head from the beam and prick his thigh with an awl” to study. On the very first day of the chief’s return, he announced the official end of his “student life.” Wagang Fort had taken on a big job; if it went well, none of them would be bandits anymore, and all might, like the legendary Cheng Yaojin and Xu Maogong, completely change their fates and even have their names recorded in history.

  “The King of Han has raised a righteous army, vowing to drive the Khitan back beyond the frontier. All the wealth we obtained before actually came from the King of Han. The one in charge of this matter is the King’s right-hand man, Commander of the Six Armies, Mr. Green. On this trip out of the mountains, I, Mr. Brooks, was introduced by an old friend and went especially to meet Mr. Green; we had a very pleasant conversation.” The chief Thomas Brooks gathered the core members of the fort together and, without even catching his breath, excitedly announced. (Note 3)

  He did not return alone; he brought with him his old friend Walter King—the Uncle King whom Eric Scott had met more than twenty days ago—and Walter King's son, Arthur King, a broad-shouldered, steady and solid young man. The latter was about the same age as Eric Scott, so he soon snuck over, and the two of them huddled in a corner, whispering.

  Eric Scott had lost most of his memory and had no idea who the King of Han mentioned by Thomas Brooks was, nor did he know how high a rank the Commander of the Six Armies was, or why meeting him would make the chief feel so honored. As for the things Thomas Brooks said next, such as “If this mission succeeds, everyone in the fort can join the King of Han’s ranks, with rations and pay equal to the elite guards…” and so on, he was completely confused. So when the Han youth came over to talk, his attention immediately wandered. Turning his head, he lowered his voice and asked, “Your father, is he a high official? Did he come here to recruit us?”

  Arthur King had met Eric Scott more than half a month ago and knew his head had been struck with an iron mace. So he wasn’t offended by the blunt question, just smiled and replied in a low voice, “He’s just a cavalry officer, nothing much! But my foster father—the Mr. Green they mentioned—has been a trusted follower of the King of Han for over twenty years. So anything he promises, the King of Han will definitely honor. You won’t be left with empty hopes!”

  “Why should we be happy? Just so we can risk our lives for your foster father and that King of Han? How do you know he’ll win in the end? Besides, people die in wars, don’t they?!” Unhappy with the arrogance in Arthur King’s tone, Eric Scott raised his eyebrows and fired off a string of questions.