In late April, rain pattered down on and off. This meant the rainy season... or, more precisely, the Jianghuai region was once again entering its customary wet season, which would presumably spread swiftly northward, bringing unbroken overcast skies and rain to the Ji River basin right on schedule in May.
During a brief lull in the rain, Niu Da, a leader who ranked securely among the top four in the Exorcising the Dragon Gang's western camp, led his troops into Dang County. After settling his men in briefly, he hurried to find Great Dragonhead Zhang, who was overseeing affairs in the city. When he found him, the man was tilting his head to look at heads.
Human heads.
Several hundred of them. Some were fresh, still seeping threads of blood; others had long since been washed pale, black, or blue-green by the rain. They were heaped together, their hair knotted into a mass by mud and bloodstains, making for a particularly striking sight.
But there was no helping it. These were military merits.
During the battle that evening, Great Dragonhead Zhang had personally declared that everyone under his banner would share honor and disgrace, so at least there had been no need to draw unnecessary distinctions. But in the subsequent fighting, pursuits, and escapes, severed heads inevitably still had to serve as the measure of military merit... Moreover, these powerful local families of the Eastern Territories, descendants of Eastern Qi's military aristocracy, were naturally well versed in such matters. Zhang Xing was the one who seemed out of touch with the masses.
"Once someone collects enough heads, they have to be promoted?"
After looking for a while with his hands behind his back, Zhang Xing suddenly turned to ask Niu Da behind him. His spirits were surprisingly good.
"Yes."
Already