The main force returning from Zhoushan broke into smaller groups amid earth-shaking gongs and drums, slowly filtering into Hangzhou.
They would rest briefly in Hangzhou, sell off some miscellaneous spoils, then take the money and escort their fallen brothers home in batches.
The moment Yang Ge and Yang Tiansheng returned to their lodgings, Yang Tiansheng seized Yang Ge by the throat with both hands, brimming with indignant grief. "I never thought a straight-looking fellow with thick brows and big eyes like you would pay to buy a ranking too..."
"Wait!"
Yang Ge instantly spotted the crucial detail and pinned him with one hand. "'Too'? Those Five Heroes of Zhoushan-you sent someone to cook that up?"
Good grief. He had been wondering which know-it-all with nothing better to do had acted so quickly.
They had not even reached Hangzhou before their fame arrived ahead of them.
Who would have thought it was this idiot!
Yang Tiansheng struggled fiercely, defending himself with righteous conviction. "Returning home without flaunting your newfound glory is like wearing splendid robes through the night..."
His little abacus was clacking loud and clear. Yang Erlang, Yang Erlang-anyone hearing that name would know he was the second son. Once Yang Tiansheng's own name got out there, would that not make him Yang Dalang for certain? Would that not make him Yang Erlang's elder brother fair and square?
Yang Ge was speechless. "Are you throwing money around, or just being a fucking idiot? Do you have no idea what your own status is? This is the sort of thing everyone can understand but no one can say aloud. If you expose it, where does that leave the Court's dignity? Are you afraid the Court won't send troops to wipe out your Bright Cult?"
Yang Tiansheng said, "You don't know a