With Oliver Sheng's assurance, Magistrate Chen felt a bit more at ease.

Nowadays, Oliver Sheng was the most powerful person in River West County. Below the level of Grandmaster, no one dared to cause trouble in his territory.

"New Year's Eve is coming up soon. How about we have a drink together on that day?" Magistrate Chen suggested to Oliver Sheng.

To be honest, he was craving some Western Wind Blaze.

But Oliver Sheng, this guy, insisted he had to pay for it. He didn't even give him a single jar for free, which made him so angry that he ignored Oliver for three days.

"Sure, come to the barracks then and celebrate with us," Oliver Sheng nodded.

This would be his first New Year in this world.

Magistrate Chen went back home. In this freezing weather, he really didn't want to go out unless necessary; it was too cold.

Even with his martial artist's blood energy, he couldn't ignore the harsh cold of the northwest.

Oliver Sheng ordered to strengthen the city's defenses and patrols.

Nowadays, the constables in the county were all soldiers under his command.

With New Year's Eve approaching, the common people in the city had already started buying supplies for the celebration.

Magistrate Chen also had people hang festive red lanterns along the main streets of the county.

Oliver Sheng also gave his soldiers a rare break to prepare for the New Year.

The distillery was also taking a holiday today. Oliver Sheng had promised to give rewards to Du Fei, Summer Lotus, and the others who worked there.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We are about to welcome a new year, a new beginning."

"Today, the distillery will rest. No work. I will also fulfill my promise and give you your rewards."

"Master Du, you each get ten taels of silver. Summer Lotus, you each get five taels of silver."

"Thank you, General, thank you!" Du Fei and the others thanked him happily.

This was a reward, not their wages. They were grateful to have such a good employer.

"Thank you, General. Your great kindness is something we can never repay in this lifetime."

"Why say such things? Let the past be the past. We should look forward to a bright future," Oliver Sheng said with a smile to Summer Lotus and the other women.

Now, there was a sparkle in their eyes. They were no longer numb and lifeless; they felt reborn.

And all of this was thanks to Oliver Sheng. They would remember his kindness for the rest of their lives.

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After arranging things at the distillery, Oliver Sheng went to the craftsman's workshop.

Today, the craftsman's workshop was also taking a holiday.

"Everyone, today we will rest well. There will be enough wine and meat for everyone," Oliver Sheng told the hundreds of craftsmen.

"Enough wine? Really, General?" a strong blacksmith asked happily.

"What, have I ever lied to you?" Oliver Sheng laughed.

"Great! I want to drink Western Wind Blaze. I want a whole jar," the simple man laughed.

"You want a whole jar to yourself? Dream on. Western Wind Blaze costs hundreds of taels of silver per jar outside."

"Hahaha, no worries. We brew it ourselves. We don't count it that way," Oliver Sheng joked with the craftsmen, showing no airs.

The craftsmen liked Oliver Sheng a lot and felt at ease around him.

Not only in River West County's garrison, but in Peace Pass and the entire Great Wei, everyone was immersed in the joy of the upcoming New Year.

The court had also taken a holiday. The Luo Capital was bustling with activity, with countless lanterns, tourists, and merchants.

New Year's Eve, also known as the last day of the year.

On New Year's Eve, the barracks were bustling. Large iron pots were set up, cooking beef and mutton bought for the occasion.

The soldiers gathered in small groups, chatting about the beautiful and fair-skinned girls at Misty Willow House.

The barracks were filled with the aroma of meat. How could they not eat well for the New Year?

Cameron Guo, Wesley Hu, Xiao Chuyi, Felix Wu, Zane Wang, and Hunter Tang, along with other colonels, tribuni, and sergeants, gathered to discuss their soldiers' training.

Oliver Sheng was very busy, accompanying Summer Lotus and the other women, dining with Master Du and the brewers' families, and eating with the craftsmen.

He was stretched thin.

Summer Lotus and the other women spent New Year's Eve together. Master Du and the brewers celebrated with their families.

The craftsmen who made heavy armor also spent New Year's Eve with their families, all separately.

As the overall leader, Oliver Sheng naturally had to celebrate with his subordinates.

It wasn't until evening that Oliver Sheng returned to the barracks.

"General, you're finally back," Cameron Guo and the others said, looking like they had been waiting forever.

"Tonight is New Year's Eve. Except for the soldiers on duty, everyone gets a bowl of Western Wind Blaze," Oliver Sheng announced loudly to the soldiers.

"Long live the General!" The soldiers cheered happily at the news of having wine to drink.

"Hurry up, General Sheng. Everyone's waiting for you," Magistrate Chen was also there.

"Everyone, eat and drink up. In the new year, let's strive to become stronger, march into the grasslands, and show those barbarians our might," Oliver Sheng declared, his voice echoing in every soldier's ears.

"Yes!"

Nearly ten thousand soldiers shouted in unison, startling the nearby residents. But upon realizing it was the garrison, they felt reassured.

Oliver Sheng gave the order, and everyone went to get their wine and prepare to celebrate New Year's Eve.

"Come, General Sheng, let me toast to you," Magistrate Chen raised a bowl of Western Wind Blaze to Oliver Sheng.

Oliver Sheng raised his bowl, "Come on, everyone, let's drink together."

Everyone raised their bowls to celebrate.

The barracks were lively, welcoming the arrival of the new year.

Meanwhile, Nolan Dan and Mason Wei were chasing Isla Qin into the Qingyuan Mountains in neighboring Suiyuan County.

Suiyuan County, next to River West County, was part of the Great Wei's western plateau, an extension of the Great True Ancient Buddha Plateau.

In these mountains lived a tribe of black wolf demons. The wolf king of this tribe was a great demon comparable to a human at the Innate Great Perfection level.

Isla Qin had fled into these mountains, and Mason Wei, Nolan Dan, and others had followed her into the Qingyuan Mountains.

The mountains were a snowy wilderness. While others were celebrating the New Year, they were enduring the cold, living a rather miserable existence.

Nolan Dan was somewhat better off, always carrying a jar of Western Wind Blaze. The strong wine kept him warm and comfortable.

Mason Wei and the others, smelling the wine, were envious but could only watch.

They weren't familiar with each other, so there was hardly any conversation.

......

In the Luo Capital of Great Wei, in the palace, Empress Hazel Han was hosting a banquet for her ministers.

"Beloved secretaries, in the new year, I hope you will join me in governing Great Wei even better, making it more prosperous," Hazel Han said to her ministers.

"Long live Your Majesty, long live Great Wei!"

The ministers raised their cups in response.

"Hmm? Green Ant Wine."

After taking a sip, the ministers' eyes lit up.

They hadn't expected Empress Hazel Han to serve Green Ant Wine at the banquet.

Empress Hazel Han had taken the Green Ant Wine sent by Oliver Sheng as tribute and used it to entertain her ministers.

"Excellent wine."

"This wine truly lives up to its reputation. It's a pity I couldn't buy any," said Minister of War Wang Cheng.

"Hehe, I was lucky enough to buy a few jars," Minister of Revenue Jasper Zuo said with a smile.

"I heard this wine has been raised to five hundred taels of silver per jar. It's outrageously expensive."

"I heard this wine is brewed by a general at the northwest border. Great Wei indeed has many talented people," Left Minister Quentin Fu said, nodding as he savored the wine.

While the Empress was hosting her ministers, Calvin Yang was also hosting the soldiers at Peace Pass, and Oliver Sheng was drinking with his four colonels.

Tonight, everyone was celebrating New Year's Eve.

......

Meanwhile, at the southwestern border of Great Wei, at Demon Suppression Pass, the Silver Moon Wolf Emperor of the demon tribe was leading his demon soldiers in an attack on the pass.

In the northern frontier, in the three states of Yan and Qi, the General Who Guards the North and General Li were leading troops in battle against the Huns.

In Suizhou, in a mountain cave, was a base of the White Lotus Sect.

The former Sixth Prince of Great Wei, Han Shang, was practicing the secret arts of the White Lotus Sect.

Han Shang's face had turned blood-red and demonic. To one day rise again and reclaim the throne, he had resolutely joined the White Lotus Sect and started practicing its secret arts, hoping to use its power to aid his ascent.

"Hazel Han, I never expected you to be the one hiding the deepest. Heh heh... wait for me. I will take back everything that belongs to me."