#123 - Chapter 123: Changing the Flag

The next day, the morning light spilled like golden splendor, and a faint fish-belly white appeared on the horizon.

Inside the Hongmen training ground, the noise was deafening, and the atmosphere was lively.

Cheng Feng was busy preparing a grand celebration banquet, personally overseeing every detail to ensure the banquet was perfect.

"Master Chef, the ingredients must be the best. Money is no object. Tonight, the brothers of Hongmen must fully enjoy this feast!" Cheng Feng instructed the chef.

The fierce battle of the previous night seemed to be still before his eyes. The clash between Hongmen and the Sisui Gang was like a wildfire, thrilling and soul-stirring. Under Cheng Feng's leadership, the brothers of Hongmen were like fierce tigers descending the mountain, unstoppable, crushing the forces of the Sisui Gang one by one.

After the fighting ended, Hongmen took in some prisoners. These former enemies were now, in Cheng Feng's eyes, nothing more than the foundation for Hongmen's future growth. He knew that a powerful gang needed not only brave and skilled brothers but also a tolerant heart, capable of accommodating all kinds of talent.

Cheng Feng stood in the courtyard, watching the busy crowd, and a surge of heroic feeling welled up in his heart.

When he first arrived in this strange world, he had to face not only the pressures of life but also his own confusion about the future.

Whether to make money or not, whether to be stable or not, these questions, in Cheng Feng's view, were just multiple-choice questions on his life's path.

Now that he had chosen the path of the gang, Cheng Feng would not give up easily. He would use his own hands to carve out a piece of the world that belonged to him.

At the same time, the takeover of the Sisui Gang's territory was in full swing.

Originally, the Sisui Gang occupied the main passage for Hongmen's outward development in the adjacent streets. This area was not only a commercially prosperous zone but also one of the main roads out of the city, making it a rich and lucrative piece of land.

Cheng Feng stood in front of the Sisui Gang's former headquarters, looking at the magnificent building before him, and his heart was filled with infinite thoughts. He knew that the takeover of this territory was not just a simple change of power but also an important step in Hongmen's outward expansion.

"Pass down the order that all brothers must strictly abide by discipline, must not oppress the people during the takeover process, and must not take property privately," Cheng Feng solemnly instructed Wang Hu, who was beside him.

He understood that if a gang wanted to establish itself for a long time, it must win the hearts of the people.

As the order was issued, the brothers of Hongmen began to take over the Sisui Gang's territory in an orderly manner. Following Cheng Feng's instructions, they cleared out the remnants of the Sisui Gang one by one, while pacifying the people, promising to protect their safety and maintain their interests.

On this territory that once belonged to the Sisui Gang, the banner of Hongmen flew high. The people came out of their homes, curiously watching this sudden change. They talked about it, feeling both curious and expectant about the arrival of Hongmen.

"I heard that the brothers of Hongmen are very disciplined. With them here, our lives should be better," an old man said to the young man beside him, leaning on his crutch.

"Yes, I've heard that too. The leader of Hongmen is a visionary man. He will definitely bring changes to everyone," the young man said, his eyes flashing with hope.

The Hongmen banner was designed with reference to the Renmen Ding, with a character in the middle of a large circle, but with circles connected, resembling a character and a picture. The black background and red characters had a certain mystery to them.

During the takeover process, Hongmen also took away the Sisui Gang's assets.

As expected, they had accumulated a considerable fortune. The gang's treasury contained more than 1,500 taels of silver, as well as various properties and jewelry, and so on.

With the capture of this territory, Cheng Feng had completed a small part of his goal.

And the replenishment of silver gave Hongmen the confidence to recruit people.

In the bustling street corners, in front of the crowded restaurants and teahouses, several eye-catching red paper notices attracted the attention of passersby.

The notice clearly read: "Hongmen is expanding, recruiting talents! Those who are physically strong or have special skills are welcome to try!"

Recently, due to a series of successful operations, Hongmen's territory has expanded rapidly, and the original fifty brothers were no longer enough to support the operation of the entire sect. Therefore, Cheng Feng decided to take this opportunity to expand the manpower and strengthen the sect's strength.

On the streets and alleys, there was much discussion. People were talking about Hongmen's move. Some lamented the rise of Hongmen, while others were eager to try and join this emerging force.

"I heard that Hongmen has been on a roll recently, with its territory expanding. We have to go and see if there is a chance to join."

"Yes, I heard that their leader values rules and regulations, and rewards and punishments are clear. Following him will definitely be right."

The discussions of the people did not affect Cheng Feng at all.

But Hongmen's high salary and benefits allowed the people at the bottom to see some hope of getting ahead.

Cheng Feng originally wanted to assign some manpower to his subordinates to strengthen the management of the territory, but Wang Hu reported that there were too many people who signed up to join in the afternoon.

Cheng Feng was not sure how many of these people were capable, but as long as they had a clean background and could still stay after training, Cheng Feng would recognize them.

Now, they had to let the atmosphere cool down first, and Xu Le, the remaining pawn, should also play a role.

"Leave your name, address, and expertise. We will have a comprehensive assessment later. Record them all these days."

Faced with the discussions in the crowd, Cheng Feng's expression remained unchanged, but ripples arose in his heart. He knew that the generous treatment provided by Hongmen was indeed a rare dawn for those living at the bottom, an opportunity to change their destiny.

Of course, he also understood that this did not mean that everyone could be competent in Hongmen's life.

"I want to give them a chance, but I also want them to know that this opportunity is not easy to get," Cheng Feng thought. "Only in this way can we screen out the people who are truly suitable for us."

The life of Hongmen is not something that ordinary people can accept.

Training, execution, and also abiding by the discipline that Cheng Feng considers very important, is comparable to the army.

Only those who have experienced these things, even if there are not many left in the end, will each be his own people.

As night gradually fell, the celebration banquet officially began. The courtyard was filled with fine wine and delicacies, and the brothers of Hongmen took their seats. Cheng Feng stood on the high platform, raised his glass and shouted: "Brothers, today we drink this cup together to celebrate our victory! But we must understand that this is only the beginning. In the future, there will be more challenges waiting for us. We must unite and move forward together, so that Hongmen can leave a strong mark on this world!"

After speaking, the crowd shouted in unison, their voices shaking the earth. Cheng Feng's eyes flashed with excitement. He knew that at this moment, they were true brothers, comrades fighting together for Hongmen.

The banquet lasted until late at night, and the brothers of Hongmen talked about the future, full of pride.