Now, Ao Tu subdued the bandits.
One who had been close to the bandit chief spoke out against him.
Ao Tu laughed. "Where did this Guan Yu of the Western Ox Continent come from?"
He beat him to death and buried him.
Seeing this, the other bandits all knelt and acknowledged Ao Tu as their Great King.
Ao Tu asked, "Where did you all live before?"
The bandits said, "We usually rob travelers all around here. There are too few of us to have a mountain stronghold to live in. Yang Meng's home is another thirty li west. You can rest there, Great King."
Ao Tu asked, "Who is Yang Meng?"
A sturdy man stepped out from among the bandits. His features looked somewhat vicious, and there was a short scar beside his eye. He said quietly, "Great King, I am Yang Meng."
Ao Tu said, "Good. Lead the way to your home."
Yang Meng led the way.
They walked over thirty li and reached the place. North of the main road stood a homestead with a few rooms enclosed by a fence. It was an ordinary household.
Yang Meng walked over. After taking a few steps, he somehow grew more assertive and shouted, "Open the gate! Hurry up and open it!"
An old man came out of the courtyard at the sound. He was Yang Meng's father. Seeing them, he was already used to it and dared not say much, hurriedly inviting them inside.
Yang Meng ordered, "Go prepare food! We have an honored guest today. Kill some chickens and ducks to entertain him!"
Yang Meng's father said, "You ate the old hen a while ago. The chickens we have now have only just grown and are about to start laying eggs. Wouldn't eating them now be a waste?"