Inside the Xia Lin Government Office, there was a hubbub.
The officers under Yang Minggui, wearing brocade robes they had looted from somewhere, appeared quite ill-fitted, baring their chests as they embraced the beauties Yang Minggui had rewarded them with, grinning with large yellow teeth, drinking wine, and staring disdainfully at the man in coarse clothing entering the office.
This group seemed more like mountain bandits than any military officers.
Yang Minggui held a wine cup made of gold, inlaid with gemstones, which he had found in the home of a wealthy family in Xia Lin. He had a fondness for these gold shiny objects.
Yang Minggui took a sip from the golden wine cup, then set it down with a composed posture, and said lightly, "Who goes there?"
The man in coarse clothing kneeled on one knee, cupped his hands in a salute, and said respectfully, "I am Hu Qiang, a native of Qingtian County."
