It was evident.
The two individuals were none other than the once renowned generals of the Zhao Kingdom Li Mu and Sima Shang.
Back when Guo Kai plotted against them, Li Mu and Sima Shang would have surely perished if not for Yan Ting's intervention.
"General," Sima Shang said as he looked at Li Mu, "we've been detained in this place for over half a year. Why hasn't the person behind this come to meet us yet? What exactly is their goal?"
Hearing this question, Li Mu remained calm. "You've asked me this dozens of times now. We eat and stay together you think I'd know any more than you?"
"But one thing is certain: whoever is behind this will eventually come to see us," Li Mu added. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to save us, nor would they have let us live this long."
"Let's just wait," Li Mu concluded.
Sima Shang nodded, his face tinged with sorrow. "It's been so long now... I wonder if our Zhao Kingdom still exists."
At the mention of Zhao, Li Mu's expression grew somber as well. "Whether it still exists or not, it no longer concerns us."
"Zhao has abandoned us."
These words plunged the two into a deep silence.
The Zhao King had plotted against them, leaving them deeply disheartened. Once, their hearts were filled with loyalty and resolve, but now, all of that seemed meaningless.
At that moment!
Outside the stronghold, someone rushed in to report.
"Yan Luo, the lord has returned!"
A Yan Ting operative quickly approached the black-clad man who had been training the recruits and informed him.
Upon hearing this, Ying Bu's heart leaped with joy. He immediately waved his hand and commanded, "The lord has returned. Everyone, stop!"
All the recruits stopped their training, each filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Back when the Qin army had yet to invade Zhao, Zhao Feng had met some of the early Yan Ting operatives. However, these later recruits had never seen him, nor had he seen them.
"The real mastermind is finally coming," Li Mu said, rising from where he had been seated.
Sima Shang also stood up.
Both men directed their gaze toward the entrance of the stronghold, eager to finally uncover the identity of the one who had saved them.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, a group of black-armored guards led the way.
Zhao Feng, clad in a black military uniform, walked steadily into the Yan Ting stronghold.
"Greetings, my lord!"
All the Yan Ting operatives in the stronghold knelt, bowing deeply with fanatical reverence.
Entering Yan Ting was not merely a matter of loyalty; it required passing Zhao Feng's stringent screenings. Periodically, he would reassess their loyalty, and anyone deemed untrustworthy would have their name handed over to Ying Bu for elimination.
To Zhao Feng, there was no mercy for traitors who might rebel at any moment.
With the power of his system, Zhao Feng was able to maintain absolute control and loyalty within Yan Ting.
"Rise," Zhao Feng commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.
"Thank you, my lord!" The operatives responded in unison.
"My lord," Ying Bu quickly stepped forward.
"You've done well. The development of Yan Ting has been arduous, and I commend you for your efforts," Zhao Feng praised him.
Yan Ting had matured into a structured organization with clearly defined hierarchies, and Zhao Feng had entrusted its leadership to Ying Bu, who had proven to be capable and reliable.
"As your servant, I will remain forever loyal to you," Ying Bu replied with utmost respect.
Zhao Feng nodded, saying no more. His trust in Ying Bu was already the highest within Yan Ting.
Then, Zhao Feng's gaze shifted toward Li Mu and Sima Shang. He began walking toward them.
As Zhao Feng approached step by step, the expressions of Li Mu and Sima Shang grew increasingly complicated.
Especially Li Mu.
"This man looks familiar… Have I seen him somewhere before?" Sima Shang muttered, scrutinizing Zhao Feng as if trying to place his face.
"Qin General, Zhao Feng," Li Mu said, uttering four words that carried immense weight.
"What?" Sima Shang was stunned. "It's him?"
As he thought back, he suddenly recalled seeing a portrait in Dai County. The face in the portrait now perfectly matched Zhao Feng's.
"I can't believe it's him," Sima Shang said, still in shock.
"Renowned as Qin's most promising general, and he's secretly established such a formidable intelligence network?" Li Mu couldn't help but feel deeply astonished.
He had considered the possibility that their savior might be from another kingdom, but he had never imagined it would be a general of Qin, let alone Zhao Feng himself.
Soon, Zhao Feng reached Li Mu.
"General Li Mu, your reputation precedes you. I am honored to meet you today," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
"Zhao Feng?" Li Mu asked, still uncertain.
"It seems General Li knows of me," Zhao Feng said with a small grin.
"Slayer of Pang Yuan, defeater of Wei Wuji, and the one who ended the life of our elder general, Lian Po. Who in the world hasn't heard of your name?" Li Mu replied, his tone filled with mixed emotions.
Looking at Zhao Feng's youthful appearance, it was astonishing to think that someone so young had already achieved such unparalleled military feats, overshadowing countless seasoned generals.
Zhao Feng smiled but said nothing. Instead, he waved his hand, signaling for someone to bring over three cushions and a low table adorned with wine.
"Sit," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile, taking his seat first.
Li Mu and Sima Shang exchanged a glance before sitting down as well. They were well aware of their current situation. If Zhao Feng had wanted to kill them, he would have done so long ago. The fact that they were still alive meant he had a purpose in mind.
Now that they were finally meeting him, they were determined to figure out what that purpose was.
"We've never met before, and in fact, we've been on opposite sides of the battlefield. Why did you save us?" Li Mu asked directly.
Zhao Feng, unfazed, picked up the wine jug and poured a cup for himself and the two generals.
"This is the finest wine from the Jiuxian Tavern. Won't you have a taste?" Zhao Feng lifted his cup and took a sip.
Seeing his calm demeanor, Li Mu sighed inwardly but did not refuse. He picked up his cup and took a sip.
As the wine touched his lips, his eyes lit up.
"This is indeed fine wine," Li Mu said. "I've spent many winters in the northern frontier, drinking only the strongest liquors. I've tasted all kinds of fine wines, but this one stands out it's the strongest I've ever had."
Hearing Li Mu's praise, Sima Shang, who had been hesitant, immediately took a sip as well. His eyes also lit up. "Excellent wine!"
Seeing their reactions, Zhao Feng smiled faintly, set down his cup, and asked, "Do you know who tried to kill you?"
"General, you already know. Why ask?" Li Mu replied, his gaze dimming.
As a man who held loyalty and righteousness close to his heart, Li Mu was deeply bitter about being betrayed by his king.
"Both of you were devoted to Zhao, yet the Zhao King plotted to kill you," Zhao Feng said. "I can only imagine how disheartened you must feel."
"But your talents as commanders are extraordinary. That is why I saved you."
"I couldn't bear to see two exceptional generals lost to the world."
"It would be too great a pity for you to die at the hands of your king," Zhao Feng added, his tone calm and composed.
Li Mu caught the key point immediately, fixing Zhao Feng with a sharp gaze. "Are you trying to persuade us to defect to Qin?"
"If that's your intent, General, you'd best abandon it now. Even though you saved us, and even though Zhao betrayed us, serving Qin would go against all principles of loyalty and righteousness."
Zhao Feng, however, remained unhurried.
"Why do you think I'm trying to recruit you for Qin?" he asked.
"If not for Qin, then what? Are you recruiting us for yourself?" Sima Shang interjected a hint of disbelief in his voice.
But when he saw Zhao Feng's silent, smiling expression, both Li Mu and Sima Shang were utterly shocked.
"If I were to say that I do indeed wish for you to serve under me, would you consider it?"
"The world is vast, far greater than just the land of Shenzhou. And the world isn't limited to the Hua Xia people alone," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
Li Mu gazed steadily at Zhao Feng, then swept his eyes over the Yan Ting base, before speaking with a hint of deeper meaning. "To secretly establish such a force, training death soldiers this is not an order from the King of Qin."
"Raising death soldiers and building your power is a grave taboo for any court official."
"Yet you not only did it, but you've done so on such a grand scale."
"If this matter were discovered by the King of Qin, no matter how much potential you have, he would eliminate you."
"And further..."
"I'm curious," Li Mu continued. "Right now, you're in the limelight within Qin, hailed as the most promising general of the state. You've already been promoted to commanding general, and within ten years, you might even become Qin's Great General. Why, then, would you take the risk of building such a force?"
He found it difficult to fathom why Zhao Feng, as a military general, who already had the King's trust and a personal guard at his disposal, would feel the need to create this shadowy organization.
"General Li, even as the Grand General of Zhao, holding command over two hundred thousand troops at the borders, you were still ambushed and nearly killed," Zhao Feng replied with a faint smile. "The reason I built this force is simple: for self-preservation, to avoid ending up in a situation like yours."
Li Mu's eyes widened slightly at these words, but he remained silent. After all, without Zhao Feng's intervention, he would have been left to die in the wilderness, his body devoured by wild beasts, his death unacknowledged.
"What of Zhao now?" Li Mu asked, concern evident in his tone.
Zhao Feng responded calmly, "I've already left the battlefield and come here. What do you think has become of Zhao?"
At these words, Li Mu's expression faltered. He had likely guessed the truth upon seeing Zhao Feng but found it difficult to accept nonetheless.
"Alas..."
A heavy sigh escaped Li Mu's lips, laden with sorrow and grief. His face turned pensive as if his spirit had dimmed.
"The unification of the world is an inevitable trend," Zhao Feng said, taking another sip of wine. "Just as the three families divided the lands of Jin in the past, it was an undeniable reality shaped by their actions."
"Indeed," Li Mu murmured. "An inevitable trend..."
"The trend lies with Qin," he continued, his voice filled with a mix of bitterness and resignation. "Heaven favors Qin and not Zhao. Qin has produced wise rulers in every generation, while Zhao has been left with... sigh."
Generations of wise rulers.
These words carried immense weight, reflecting the pressure Qin placed on the other states.
After all, which nation could claim to produce rulers of such caliber consistently? Only Qin could make such a boast.
Yet Li Mu was unaware of what history would reveal. After generations of wise rulers, Qin would expend its national fortune in unifying the world, only to be undone by the infamous Qin Er Shi, Hu Hai. The first great unified dynasty would also become the shortest-lived.
Li Mu took a sip of wine and then looked directly at Zhao Feng. "If we refuse to serve you, does that mean we won't leave here alive?"
"General Li is a clever man," Zhao Feng replied with a faint smile. "The entire world already believes Li Mu is dead."
"Indeed," Li Mu said, a bitter laugh escaping him. "The whole world believes I am dead."
He then turned his gaze to Zhao Feng, his expression more solemn. "But I am curious both Sima Shang and I are mere warriors. We are not like these assassins of yours, skilled in stealth and subterfuge. All we know is how to lead troops into battle. What use could we possibly be to you?"
Sima Shang also raised his head, awaiting Zhao Feng's response.
"General Li," Zhao Feng began, his tone calm, "the world is vast. It is not limited to the land of Shenzhou. Are you truly content to only roam Shenzhou and not venture beyond its borders?"
"What do you mean by that?" Li Mu asked, his brow furrowing. "Are you implying that you wish to establish your domain?"
"Establishing my domain would be an exaggeration," Zhao Feng said with a slight smile. "But preparing for the future? That would be accurate. Who can say what lies ahead?"
"As long as you pledge your loyalty to me, I can guarantee you this: I will never mistreat either of you. On the contrary, I will give you the chance to fully utilize your talents," Zhao Feng said sincerely, standing and clasping his hands in a respectful gesture.
Li Mu slowly rose to his feet and asked, "If we pledge our loyalty, what will you offer us?"
Zhao Feng smiled and clapped his hands. "Zhang Ming."
"Yes, my lord," Zhang Ming replied, immediately understanding the signal. He clapped his hands as well.
Moments later, dozens of guards escorted a group of men, women, and children to where Li Mu and Sima Shang were standing.
When Li Mu and Sima Shang saw the people before them, their expressions changed dramatically.
"Father, Mother..."
"And Wu'er, Ying'er..."
Li Mu's eyes filled with emotion as he rushed toward them without hesitation.
Sima Shang was equally moved.
"Mother... you're still alive. This is wonderful," Sima Shang exclaimed as he embraced his mother and wife.
In an instant, these two renowned generals of the world were reduced to tears of joy, displaying emotions as raw as any ordinary man.
No matter how strong someone may appear, they are still human. Even the toughest warriors have tender hearts.
"You can thank our lord for this," Zhang Ming said calmly. "It was his order that saved your families. Before we intervened, the King of Zhao had already issued a decree to exterminate your entire clans, and the Zhao royal guards were tasked with carrying it out."
"If we had arrived even a moment later, you would never have seen your loved ones again."
"Son, thank this nobleman at once!" Li Mu's mother said, her voice trembling with both gratitude and indignation. "If not for him, we would all be dead. That heartless Zhao King... he never intended to spare us."
The families of both Li Mu and Sima Shang added their voices, recounting their near-misses with death and the atrocities they almost faced at the hands of the Zhao King.
Hearing this, Li Mu and Sima Shang turned their gaze to Zhao Feng. Gratitude and emotion were evident in their eyes.
In truth, after being rescued, they had already anticipated the worst possible fate for their families. However, seeing their loved ones alive now was beyond anything they could have hoped for.
Now that they saw their families were safe and alive, with everyone unharmed, Li Mu and Sima Shang's feelings became overwhelmingly complicated. Naturally, they were filled with immense gratitude toward Zhao Feng.
Without hesitation, Li Mu and Sima Shang exchanged a glance. In the silent exchange of their eyes, a decision was made.
The two walked straight toward Zhao Feng and knelt before him.
"A debt of life-saving grace."
"A debt of saving my family."
"From this day forward, Li Mu pledges his life in loyalty," Li Mu said earnestly, facing Zhao Feng.
"Sima Shang likewise pledges to serve loyally to the death," Sima Shang added, also kneeling.
"Having the support of both of you generals is a tremendous blessing. With your help, I am confident that we can train the most elite soldiers under the heavens," Zhao Feng said, stepping forward to help the two men up.
History.
At this moment, history had shifted again.
Li Mu was alive. Sima Shang was alive.
And now, they were under Zhao Feng's command.
"The end of the Qin dynasty," Zhao Feng thought to himself. "I'm looking forward to it more and more."
"Li Mu can train cavalry, and with his offensive strategies, he possesses the aggressive edge even Lian Po never had. He's an extremely rare talent among commanders."
"Sima Shang, on the other hand, makes an excellent deputy." Zhao Feng's face lit up with satisfaction.
In truth, knowing the trajectory of future history, gaining the loyalty of Li Mu and Sima Shang at this moment thrilled Zhao Feng far more than simply gaining a thousand points for all his attributes.
"Since both of you have now joined my ranks, you are one of us. Is there a place where your families can be properly settled?"
"I disdain using family members as leverage to threaten my subordinates," Zhao Feng said, smiling as he helped them up.
Hearing these words, Li Mu and Sima Shang were deeply moved.
They had originally assumed Zhao Feng would use their families as hostages, but now it was clear that they had been overthinking.
"In these chaotic times, there is no truly peaceful place to live."
"I have already lived here for over half a year. Though it lacks the bustle of the outside world, it is secluded, calm, and free from war and slaughter."
"So, I request that you allow my family to stay here at this base, to live in peace. Once the wars of the world come to an end, they can return to the outside world," Li Mu said after some thought, his tone sincere and respectful.
Zhao Feng nodded. "Since you've decided, so be it."
Then Zhao Feng turned and called out, "Han Xi."
"At your service," Han Xi quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully before Zhao Feng.
"Make arrangements for the families of both generals. Provide them with housing and ensure they lack for nothing in terms of food, clothing, and daily needs," Zhao Feng instructed gently.
"Understood," Han Xi responded promptly.
At the same time, Zhao Feng checked the loyalty levels of Li Mu and Sima Shang.
After saving their families, their loyalty had already surpassed the threshold of 70, meaning they would no longer betray him easily. With time and further trust, their loyalty would reach above 80, cementing their absolute allegiance.
"Take the families of the two generals to their new accommodations. Ensure that all living essentials are fully prepared," Han Xi instructed her subordinates. Shortly after, attendants arrived to escort Li Mu and Sima Shang's families out of the hall to be settled.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng returned to his seat.
"Han Xi, Ying Bu," Zhao Feng called.
"Report to me on the current development of Yan Ting and the Wine Immortal Tavern."
"Master," Ying Bu began.
"Over the past two years, under your orders, Yan Ting now has more than 6,500 agents. Among them, 4,000 have already been deployed on missions, while the rest remain at various bases undergoing training."
"In addition, the organizational structure of Yan Ting has been further refined and divided into specific tiers for better management," Ying Bu reported respectfully.
"Very good," Zhao Feng nodded, then turned his gaze to Han Xi.
"Master," Han Xi said, stepping forward.
"Currently, the Wine Immortal Tavern has expanded to over thirty establishments, covering the Yingchuan Commandery. Additionally, ten branches have been opened in the territories of Wei and the former Zhao state."
"The tavern's expansion is proceeding steadily. I am preparing to open branches within Qin's borders next," Han Xi said with reverence.
"With you overseeing it, I have no worries."
"As for the expansion of the taverns, proceed as you see fit. However, under no circumstances should anyone discover the existence of Yan Ting or link the taverns back to me."
"If anyone dares to investigate the taverns' secrets, eliminate them," Zhao Feng commanded coldly.
"Understood," Han Xi said, bowing her head.
The two then continued their reports.
As Zhao Feng listened, he gained a clear understanding of the current state of Yan Ting and the Wine Immortal Tavern's development.
"Over 6,000 agents in Yan Ting and a chain of taverns bringing in wealth day and night."
"The forces Master Zhao has secretly built are truly terrifying," Li Mu and Sima Shang thought to themselves as they exchanged glances, deeply shaken.
If they hadn't heard the reports from Han Xi and Ying Bu with their ears, they would never have believed that such a hidden yet powerful force existed in the world.
"With the taverns generating a steady income, is Yan Ting still troubled by financial difficulties?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile, looking at Ying Bu.
"With the profits from the Wine Immortal Tavern as a foundation, there are no financial issues to speak of."
"If Master wishes to expand recruitment efforts, it can be done at any time," Ying Bu replied immediately.
Zhao Feng smiled. "Now that the Zhao state has fallen, Yan Ting must not remain confined to Yingchuan. Your next task is to identify suitable locations in Zhao territory for training new agents. The usual rules still apply, and you know what to do."
"I grant you full authority over Yan Ting's operations," Zhao Feng said, looking at Ying Bu.
"I will not disappoint you, Master," Ying Bu replied without hesitation.
"Master," Li Mu interjected. "Now that the two of us are under your command, we request that you assign us tasks. Otherwise, we will feel unworthy of your great kindness and unable to repay it."
Li Mu, being a straightforward and honorable man, had made his decision. Zhao Feng had saved his entire family, so pledging loyalty was natural. Furthermore, he knew that without this allegiance, his entire family would still face certain death.
Seeing Li Mu's initiative, Zhao Feng smiled approvingly. "Out in the world, Li Mu and Sima Shang are officially dead. For now, you cannot reveal yourselves publicly."
"From this day forward, the two of you will assist Ying Bu in training Yan Ting's agents. Although they are not soldiers, I want them to be as disciplined and skilled in the art of war as the most elite troops."
Li Mu and Sima Shang bowed deeply. "We accept this task, Master."
"By the way," Zhao Feng added. "How are the agents stationed in Sand Village?"
"Have they managed to infiltrate the manor?" Zhao Feng turned to Ying Bu.
"Master, rest assured. I've already arranged for over fifty agents to infiltrate the area, including those who have blended into the village itself."
"They are more than capable of ensuring the safety of the Madam and the young miss," Ying Bu reported promptly.
"Good," Zhao Feng said, nodding in satisfaction.
After all, the initial reason for founding Yan Ting was not only to prepare for the future but also to protect his mother and sister.
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