"Ding! System successfully activated. Congratulations, host, you have received a starter gift pack."
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received the top-tier general Ma Chao, accompanied by the Xiliang Iron Cavalry!"
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received Cao Cao's Heaven-Relying Sword. This sword cuts through iron like mud and is a peerless blade."
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received ancient salt-making techniques, which can refine well salt and rock salt, and produce sun-dried salt."
"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received a firearm, accompanied by nine bullets."
"Note: All rewards issued by the system will belong to the host one hundred percent. If they are generals or soldiers, they will also be one hundred percent loyal to the host, with no possibility of betrayal."
Holy shit!
It even gave me a gun?
After seeing the last reward, Lin Yi's pupils contracted. This was an era of cold weapons, yet he had been given a gun. He was going to be invincible!
The only pity was that it had just nine bullets. Otherwise, with that gun alone, he could have rampaged across the land and conquered a realm of his own.
Fortunately, the other rewards were no small matter either.
Especially the first one.
Starting with Ma Chao the Splendid of Xiliang!
After seeing this reward, Lin Yi's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help growing excited.
Way to go, system!
Right off the bat, it had given him Ma Chao the Splendid, who was widely regarded as one of the top five fighters in the Three Kingdoms.
What people loved to talk about most were Ma Chao's exploits. He was the man who had nearly killed Cao Cao, which meant he had nearly changed the pattern of the realm being divided into three. His other feats were just as astonishing.
At the Battle of Tong Pass, Ma Chao fought Yu Jin one-on-one and got the better of him in eight or nine exchanges, forcing Yu Jin to flee. He then took on the famed general Zhang He alone and defeated him in twenty exchanges. After that, he nearly killed Cao Cao.
Later, when the attack came as his forces were halfway across the Wei River, he fought Xu Chu for over two hundred exchanges without either gaining the upper hand.
Then, in the Xiliang camp, he took on six opponents at once, fighting Han Sui, Hou Qian, Li Kan, Liang Xing, Ma Wan, and Yang Qiu alone. Not only did he win outright, but he also cut off Han Sui's arm.
Still later, he showed his prowess again when he faced Zhang Fei and the others.
If Liu Bei had not been wary of Ma Chao and afraid to put him to important use later on, Ma Chao might have forged a true legend. Now that Lin Yi had gained his complete loyalty, he could put him to use without worry.
And this time, the system had not only given him Ma Chao, but also the Xiliang Iron Cavalry under his command-a full thousand elite troops. That was an undeniably lavish gift.
The Xiliang Iron Cavalry were astonishingly powerful, among the finest of all cavalry. Otherwise, they would not have forced Cao Cao to cut off his beard and robe in flight.
Lin Yi was short of manpower, and now the system had delivered Ma Chao and a thousand Xiliang Iron Cavalry. It was timely rain indeed.
As for Cao Cao's Heaven-Relying Sword, although it wasn't the one from The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, it was still a famous sword of the age, an extraordinary weapon. The only pity was that he wasn't skilled in martial arts, so he would keep it for now.
The ancient salt-making techniques, however, set him thinking. In his memory, salt was scarce in Northern Liang and rather expensive. If he could produce it himself, he would never lack money.
These days, people could put up with a lack of just about anything, but no one could really last without salt.
Now he had men, a gun to protect his life, and a way to make money. It seemed time to show the world what the heir of Northern Liang was capable of.
"Young master, are you all right?"
Haitang had just brought him some food. Seeing the ever-changing look in the young master's eyes, she felt her heart pounding. Could his illness have returned after he fell unconscious?
"Don't worry, I'm fine!"
Lin Yi tasted the food. It was really quite good. He answered casually.
Its color and presentation were both first-rate. It seemed these maids were top-notch cooks as well. His father had certainly put thought into it.
Only after he had finished eating did Lin Yi rise to his feet and say in a low voice, "Tell Han Song to meet me in the council hall. A captain of the guards who can't even catch an assassin-I don't think he wants the job anymore!"
As the captain of the prince's residence's guards, the man was a trusted confidant of his father, the prince. Yet he had proved so useless. It seemed Lin Yi needed to teach him a lesson.
A thought crossed his mind. It was also time to take a look around the prince's residence. This was his turf, after all.
After leaving his room, Lin Yi headed straight for the front courtyard.
The vast palace was truly luxurious beyond compare. The Great Ning Dynasty had built it to win over his father, and it seemed they really had put thought into it.
Just as he was about to look for Han Song, he heard two people whispering to each other. They were talking about him, too, and he couldn't help stopping.
If you dare talk behind my back, I'll show you how terrifying feudal society can be! he thought coldly.
I'm the heir. How dare servants talk about me?
He also didn't know whether it was because of the system, but he felt his hearing had improved considerably. He could even hear people speaking quietly.
After listening to them for a while, he also figured out who they were.
The two seemed to be his followers, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. Lin Yi grew somewhat interested. What would they say about him behind his back?
Zhang Long heaved a long sigh and wailed, "I'm done for. When the young master was assassinated last time, I hid off to the side. He's going to skin me alive this time!"
The young master had been assassinated, yet he, a follower, was perfectly fine. That was a grave offense.
Given the young master's temper, he was probably going to lose a layer of skin.
"Hmph!"
Zhao Hu glanced at him and said disdainfully, "You deserve a beating. Last time, I pretended to faint and fell to the ground. You were the one wailing there like an idiot, without a bit of sense."
"Ah, things were urgent. I was caught off guard by the fright. But really, why did the young master have to offend so many people? It doesn't feel safe being a guard," Zhang Long sighed.
Zhao Hu sighed and agreed, "Tell me about it. Being his follower is far too dangerous. Only that fellow Zhou Bao isn't afraid of death. He actually took a blade for the young master, and he's still laid up."
"I wanted to rush up and take the blade for the young master too, but damn it, I chickened out at the crucial moment. The young master should know what kind of man I am. He surely won't blame me," Zhang Long said, comforting himself.
Damn it!
Hearing what his followers said, Lin Yi's face instantly darkened. How were these two followers of his Zhang Long and Zhao Hu? They were clearly Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix.
During the assassination, every one of them had clung to life and feared death. One had even pretended to faint. They were truly loyal to the core.
Other than sucking up and fighting, the two had no talents at all. They were utterly useless. Now they even dared to criticize their master behind his back. It seemed they really didn't know what death was.
Ahem, ahem!
At that moment, Lin Yi coughed lightly twice, then walked into the courtyard.
The argument in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt. Cold sweat streamed down their faces as they stared in horror at the courtyard entrance.