The scene shifts to the grave of the Sixth Brother.
Zhang Mazi put one arm around the Second Brother's shoulder and gently patted the Sixth Brother's tombstone, saying, "Sixth Brother, seventy percent of the task is done. Now I'm sending your Second Brother out of the city. As for the rest, I will definitely keep my word."
After hearing this, the Second Brother nodded heavily, then turned and left without looking back.
The Advisor, who had been squatting behind them, also stood up and walked to the tombstone: "With 1.8 million in hand, I think little Sixth Brother's revenge has been taken."
He was clearly having second thoughts at this point, as the money was already in hand, and staying would be purely risky.
Compared to revenge, the Advisor clearly cared more about his own life.
Seeing that Zhang Mazi didn't make a sound or respond to him, the Advisor anxiously persuaded him again: "I think, not only Sixth Brother's revenge, but also the Madam's revenge has been taken!"
Zhang Mazi still wouldn't budge.
Tang the Advisor immediately became anxious: "You're not really planning to fight Huang Silang to the death, are you? My benefactor!"
Hearing this, Zhang Mazi finally turned to look at the Advisor: "I'm not your benefactor. Huang Silang is."
Zhang Mazi's words startled the Advisor. He felt that he no longer had Zhang Mazi's trust.
In the scene, the two walked and chatted. Zhang Mazi took off his sunglasses and seriously introduced himself: "My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Muzhi."
The Advisor praised him with emotion: "A good name. Governor of Yanzhou, Governor of Yuzhou, Muzhi, your father must have wished for you to become a great man."
From this, it can be seen that the Advisor was truly a cultured person.
Zhang Mazi then began to recount his past: "After I came out of the Military Academy..."
Zhang Mazi spoke of the people he had followed, the places he had been, and how he was forced to become a bandit after returning to the country due to warlord conflicts.
Finally, Muzhi was also called Mazi.
The Advisor sighed: "What a pity, such a good character, 'Mu'."
Zhang Mazi's gaze was deep as he looked into the distance, his tone wistful: "People are unwilling to believe that a bandit is named Muzhi. They'd rather believe he's called Mazi, and they particularly want to believe that his face should have pockmarks on it!"
As soon as these words were uttered, many viewers felt a tremor in their hearts.
This sentence was so damn right! Because people often only want to see what they want to see.
This line truly struck a chord with people, feeling like a wake-up call.
By this point in the movie, classic and profound lines were already countless.
Many viewers felt their CPUs were about to burn out.
Because some lines clearly had metaphors, but some they could grasp, while others were vague and hard to pinpoint.
But no matter what, this movie, seen up to here, could completely be hailed as a masterpiece!
It should be no problem for the domestic box office and reputation to surpass the truman show.
After hearing Zhang Mazi's story, Tang the Advisor also had a sincere expression.
The atmosphere was right, and he also wanted to tell his own story.
However, he was cut off by Zhang Mazi's blunt statement, "You're just a swindler!"
Seeing this, the audience burst into laughter.
After all, just a moment ago, they were in a heartfelt reminiscence, but now it suddenly turned humorous.
...
After this incident, the struggle between Zhang Mazi and Huang Silang escalated, and the audience couldn't wait to see the outcome.
Huang Silang, having been outsmarted by Zhang Mazi, began to secretly plot, even taking out a landmine, intending to send Zhang Mazi "on his way" when he left the city to suppress bandits.
And the one who met with Huang Silang this time was a fake Zhang Mazi with a face full of cigarette burns.
During their conversation, they mentioned information like the Xinhai Revolution and the year 1910, which instantly made history-savvy viewers connect many previously misunderstood plot points.
And the more they pondered, the more they felt this movie was not simple.
At the same time, the scene shifted.
Liu Ruyan, playing Sister Hua, was seen holding a gun to her own head with one hand and a gun pointed at Zhang Mazi with the other.
This scene left Zhang Mazi and all the viewers completely bewildered.
And the most classic segment, "Because you are a good person," began to unfold.
It's worth noting that when Liu Ruyan auditioned, it was for this very scene.
And Su Yu was her acting partner!
With that audition, Liu Ruyan's grasp of this segment was clearly even more precise.
During filming on set, she didn't cause Zhang Guoshi any worry at all.
In the scene, Sister Hua stared at Zhang Mazi with a furious expression: "The Second Brother left without saying goodbye, and the Third Brother is also leaving. You living people are tearing people apart!"
The Advisor listened and curiously asked, "Are you doing this for the Second Brother or the Third Brother?"
"Shut up!" Sister Hua snapped.
After threatening the Advisor with the gun to shut him up, she aimed the gun at her own head again.
Zhang Mazi looked at Sister Hua: "I understand the meaning of your left hand, and I understand the meaning of your right hand, but when your left hand and right hand are combined, I truly don't understand."
It wasn't just Zhang Mazi who didn't understand, was it? The audience and film critics didn't understand either!
But soon they understood completely!
Because the subsequent dialogue and lines were too shocking to their worldview.
Zhang Mazi asked, "Were you bought by Huang Silang?"
"Yes," Sister Hua replied.
"Did he hit you?" Zhang Mazi asked again.
"He did," Sister Hua nodded readily.
"Did I hit you?" Zhang Mazi raised his voice when asking.
"No," Sister Hua still answered decisively.
"Do you hate him?" Zhang Mazi asked again.
"Yes," Sister Hua nodded.
"Do you hate me?"
"No."
At this moment, Zhang Mazi was almost laughing out of anger.
"Then why don't you point the gun at him, but point it at me?" Zhang Mazi questioned, both annoyed and amused.
Sister Hua, however, answered self-righteously: "Because you are a good person."
"What?!" Zhang Mazi suddenly stood up and roared, "What the hell kind of logic is this! Do good people have to be pointed at with guns?!"
This rapid-fire exchange between Zhang Mazi and Sister Hua instantly ignited all the premiere halls!
This answer sounded extremely unreasonable, but upon careful thought, it was so logical!
Yes, you are a good person! You have a bottom line! You won't hurt her!
But Huang Silang is an evil person, and evil people have no bottom line! He can be as bad as possible!
So the type of people Sister Hua represents are afraid of Huang Silang, but dare to point a gun at Zhang Mazi, who helps her and is kind to her!
Is it ironic? Is it worldview-shattering? But that's reality.
After such a baffling scene, Zhang Mazi's questioning revealed that it was the Third Brother who had given Sister Hua the idea!
It turned out that Sister Hua wanted to join them and become a bandit.
However, when Zhang Mazi agreed, Sister Hua said she wasn't ready yet!
Zhang Mazi was directly amused to anger, turning to ask his brothers who among them was ready before becoming a bandit?
When he asked the Advisor, the Advisor quipped, "No, I was eating hotpot and singing songs, then fell into the water with a crash, and when I came out, I was here."
The classic line appeared once again, directly causing the audience in the cinema to burst into laughter.
And while Zhang Mazi was assigning tasks to Sister Hua here, the scene shifted to Huang Silang's side.
His lackey Hu Qian handed a document to Huang Silang: "This is the surprise!"
Huang Silang saw the document and only then realized that Tang the Advisor was Ma Bonde, and was the real county magistrate!
He, who was always cunning and treacherous, couldn't help but smile bitterly.
It was truly a case of "hunting geese all day, only to be pecked in the eye by a goose."
However, his desire to deal with Zhang Mazi and the others became even more urgent.
The scene returned to Zhang Mazi's side. Zhang Mazi led everyone to identify Huang Silang's double.
Sister Hua walked forward with a gun, pulled apart the double's clothes with both guns, exposing his chest.
But she only took one look and decisively said, "Fake!"
The audience suddenly understood at this moment! It seemed Sister Hua was indeed experienced, knowing Huang Silang's physical characteristics so well?
The subsequent plot was Huang Silang confronting Zhang Mazi.
He exposed the true identities of Zhang Mazi and Tang the Advisor!
But unexpectedly, Zhang Mazi, with a bit of banter, and Tang the Advisor directly admitted to it.
Zhang Mazi actually instantly changed into Tang the Advisor's nephew!
This outrageous move truly stunned everyone.
But Huang Silang didn't delve deeper, as he didn't have a good way to deal with Zhang Mazi and the others at the moment.
However, to eliminate future troubles, he decided to offer half of the bandit suppression funds, and also promised to let Ma Bonde become the county magistrate of three counties afterward!
After all, he had bought the county magistrate positions for six counties!!
Six county magistrates? The audience seeing this scene truly felt a bit speechless.
Were county magistrates like cabbages in that era? How could they be bought in bulk?
However, this bizarre, even absurd, plot was a fact!
...
On the day they left the city to suppress bandits, Zhang Mazi and the others took to the stage to speak.
Their words were also indirect mockery and sarcasm directed at Huang Silang!
However, with Tang the Advisor acting as a meddler, their sharp exchanges were easily defused by him.
After leaving the city, Tang the Advisor also laid his cards on the table; he produced his letter of appointment.
It turned out that this guy was originally supposed to take office in Kangcheng, not Goose City at all! He had been lying from the very beginning!
This made the audience feel that the trap he dug was truly deep!
If the Advisor hadn't confessed himself, everyone would still have been kept in the dark.
But this bandit suppression would certainly not go smoothly.
Zhang Mazi and his team encountered an ambush.
During the battle, Zhang Mazi and the others discovered the Second Brother's hanging corpse. Everyone was enraged, suspecting that someone had leaked the news!
And Tang the Advisor happened to be squatting behind them at the time, hearing Zhang Mazi's conversation with the Second Brother, which made him highly suspicious.
But the battle had already begun and couldn't be stopped.
During the battle, the Seventh Brother was shot in the mouth and couldn't blow the whistle, so he asked the Advisor to blow it for help.
As a result, the Advisor's casual whistle, when translated, meant: "Big Brother is dead!!"
The Seventh Brother snatched the whistle away and shouted, "You blew Big Brother to death!"
At this, the sad atmosphere, which had been present due to the Second Brother's death, was instantly broken, and the cinema was filled with the audience's laughter.
Upon hearing the whistle, the Third Brother told the Fifth Brother to check.
The Fifth Brother rushed to Zhang Mazi, only to hear Zhang Mazi angrily exclaim, "What the hell are you talking about? I'm still alive, aren't I?"
The Fifth Brother quickly blew the whistle: "Big Brother is not dead."
Zhang Mazi glared at him and asked irritably, "Why didn't you blow 'what the hell are you talking about'?"
The whistle sounded again, and another whistle came, revealing that the fake Mazi had been captured.
Everyone approached the fake Mazi. The fake Mazi took out a box, hoping to save his life, but Tang the Advisor became agitated.
Under everyone's interrogation, the fake Mazi revealed a shocking truth: Tang the Advisor's wife and son had both been killed.
It turned out that everyone thought the mother and son Tang the Advisor brought were there to swindle money, but in reality, Tang the Advisor might truly have had family waiting for money to save them.
Upon learning this, Tang the Advisor drove off like a madman.
However, tragedy struck again!
His carriage was blown up by the landmine arranged by Huang Silang.
Amidst the scattered silver, Zhang Mazi found Tang the Advisor's head.
At this moment, Tang the Advisor was still alive, and he asked weakly, "Are you really Zhang Mazi?"
"I am!" Zhang Mazi replied.
"I'm dying, don't lie to me..." the Advisor said with a strange yet relieved expression.
"Don't worry, I am Zhang Mazi!" Zhang Mazi nodded affirmatively.
"Mazi..."
"Yes!"
"My butt, my butt hurts..."
Upon hearing this line, the audience, who had been a bit sad, burst into laughter.
"Advisor, Advisor, your butt is on the tree, it doesn't hurt anymore." As Zhang Mazi replied, the camera showed the Advisor's lower body, which was now hanging from a tree...
And this scene, which should have been a moment of farewell, inexplicably made people want to laugh!
Tang the Advisor continued, "I have five letters of appointment in my butt pocket, they're all for you...! Please, don't go back to Goose City. You can't defeat Huang Silang... Take the silver and leave...!"
It was clear that Tang the Advisor was genuinely thinking of Zhang Mazi at this moment.
And in his heart, he believed that Zhang Mazi absolutely could not defeat Huang Silang!
Zhang Mazi nodded: "Don't worry, I won't go back to Goose City!"
"I lied to you about two more things..." the Advisor added.
"Just let it be."
"No, I must tell you before I die..."
However, before he could finish, he lost his breath.
This scene also left the audience in suspense: what were those two things he lied to Zhang Mazi about? It made people unable to help but guess.
This could also be considered a blank space in the movie.
After the Advisor's death, Zhang Mazi and the others decided to return to Goose City for revenge!
A group of people, carrying the "Myriad People's Umbrella" confiscated from the fake Mazi, swaggered back to Goose City.
And a large banner with the character "Kill" was hung on the city wall of Goose City.
At first, the women who greeted Zhang Mazi into the city beat drums and recounted Huang Silang's evil deeds over the years.
And Zhang Mazi publicly challenged Huang Silang, declaring that he would cut off Huang Silang's head within three days.
During this time, Zhang Mazi's men scattered money again, with white silver coins covering the streets.
But the people of Goose City were indifferent; only a group of geese wandered over the silver.
This scene looked truly ironic.
Zhang Mazi sent Old Third to find Sister Hua and Huang Silang's double.
At night, the umbrella of ten thousand people fell.
But the next day, the silver also disappeared without a trace.
Old Seventh and the others saw the people picking up the silver and thought their chances of winning had increased, but Zhang Mazi still believed he only had a 30% chance of success.
Subsequently, the carriage sent by Huang Silang easily collected the silver!
And Zhang Mazi stated that the chances of winning had reached 60%!
Because he wanted to ignite the anger in the hearts of the people.
After the silver was collected, Zhang Mazi began to distribute guns!
But the people initially dared not take the guns, which made his brothers very anxious.
Zhang Mazi then said, "let the bullets fly for a while."
On the other side, Huang Silang looked at the street with a complex expression.
He remarked with both appreciation and disdain, "Repeatedly defeated, yet repeatedly fighting! I like it!"
Hu Qian carefully reminded him, "Master, those are guns. Should we not respond with force?"
Huang Silang fanned himself and said coldly, "Taking silver is greed, taking guns is rebellion. They don't have the courage!"
These few short sentences fully revealed the arrogance of those in power, tearing open the dark curtain of that era and exposing the cruel reality of those in power exploiting those below them.
And just as Huang Silang expected, guns and ammunition were scattered all over the streets during the day, yet no one dared to touch them, and the people's cowardice was also exposed.
Old Seventh and the others eagerly waited for the people to act, anxious like ants on a hot pan.
"Big Brother, the silver was collected, and no one took the guns. What should we do?"
Old Seventh looked anxiously at Zhang Mazi, full of worry, feeling that Big Brother might have miscalculated this time.
Everyone asked about the chances of winning, and Zhang Mazi, with a calm expression, made a 'seven' gesture.
"Huang Silang collected the money, and no one wanted the guns. Where did this 70% chance of winning come from?" Old Seventh asked, full of confusion.
Zhang Mazi said lightly, "If Huang Silang didn't collect the silver, why would I distribute guns?"
These words contained a hidden meaning that Old Seventh and the others couldn't grasp for a moment, leaving them stunned and pondering repeatedly.
Facts proved that Zhang Mazi's judgment was very accurate.
That night, just like the scene of distributing silver, the guns on the street were swept away overnight!
The next morning, Old Seventh and the others found the guns gone and were overjoyed: "I understand! You didn't distribute guns; you distributed the sparks to ignite the people's anger!"
However, many viewers believed that Zhang Mazi was 'bolstering the courage' of the long-suffering people.
In that turbulent era, releasing anger required courage, and guns undoubtedly provided the most courage!
Film critics praised screenwriter Su Yu's ability to control people's hearts, and the audience deeply resonated with it.
Huang Silang, seeing this, indeed panicked. He realized that the people of Goose City were breaking free from his control!
So he anxiously roared at his subordinates, "Collect the guns! Collect the guns immediately!"
But could he get his wish this time?
Many people were murmuring to themselves, thinking hope was slim.
Several black horses pulling a black carriage sped through the streets, the same carriage Huang Silang had used to collect money before.
But this time, Zhang Mazi didn't just watch; he quickly drew his gun, fired several shots at the carriage, then hid in the shadows, deliberately missing.
"No movement. What does Big Brother mean?" Old Seventh and the others looked bewildered.
Zhang Mazi calmly uttered the classic line: "let the bullets fly for a while!"
These words instantly elevated the tone, as if containing endless profound meaning.
Indeed, Zhang Mazi's gunshots were like a fuse, and gunshots echoed throughout the streets and alleys.
A black horse from Huang Silang's house, startled, galloped wildly, but fell to the ground after a few steps.
"They're angry! The people are all angry!" Old Seventh and the others cheered excitedly.
Huang Silang, watching from a distance, was already furious, cursing, "Damn commoners, how dare they kill my horse!"
The people's resistance seemed to foreshadow Zhang Mazi's imminent victory.
In the scene, Zhang Mazi, with Old Fourth, Old Fifth, and Old Seventh, rode horses, brandishing knives and shouting, "Guns in hand! Follow me!"
Old Seventh and the others followed closely: "Kill Silang, seize the blockhouse!"
This scene was magnificent and exhilarating.
However, they shouted themselves hoarse, yet no commoners responded. The sudden cold reception poured cold water on the audience's enthusiasm.
"Why is this happening?" The audience looked confused.
Some perceptive viewers felt that the people not daring to show up was more realistic, after all, fighting Huang Silang meant risking their lives, and the anger in their hearts was not enough to make them easily bet everything.
Facing this situation, Zhang Mazi did not get discouraged. He turned his horse around and shouted again, and Old Seventh and the others quickly followed.
They shouted again and again, and the sound of hooves echoed.
The people's indifference contrasted sharply with their passionate fervor.
Zhang Mazi was like a lonely crier, trying to awaken dormant souls, his solitary courage was moving.
After an unknown number of laps and shouts, figures of armed commoners finally appeared at the end of the long street.
The cinema instantly erupted; the people rushed towards Huang Silang's blockhouse, and the decisive battle seemed imminent.
But when Zhang Mazi and his companions reached the blockhouse gate, they looked back and found no one behind them!
The people had returned at some unknown time, and only a group of geese wandered over on the road.
At this moment, even the audience was stunned.
After all, they had guns, and they had rushed out! At the most crucial moment, why did they all go back?
And Zhang Mazi gave the answer.
Zhang Mazi whispered, "I understand."
Understand what??
"Whoever wins, they will help!" Zhang Mazi said in a deep voice.
Everyone suddenly understood!
Then Zhang Mazi continued to lead the way, firing at the gate.
And Huang Silang's gate's iron sheet was truly very, very thin; bullets easily pierced holes through it!
It was such a paper tiger, yet no one dared to break it first.
The question marks Zhang Mazi shot into the iron gate seemed to be asking, "Why?"
The gunshots from the crowd were incessant, but none of Huang Silang's men showed their faces; they seemed truly afraid.
From fierce tigers, they turned into meek sheep!
At this time, Old Third returned with Sister Hua and the missing Huang Silang's double.
Sister Hua explained, "Huang Silang's double ran away, and I went after him."
Old Third said, "She chased, I went to block."
Many viewers noticed that Old Third had other intentions early on.
He had previously advised Sister Hua to threaten Zhang Mazi, and now this again!
During these three days, he and Sister Hua had also likely been observing the development of the situation.
Old Third's actions perhaps represented those who joined due to temporary passion but later wavered and betrayed, echoing the commoners who turned back midway.
Zhang Mazi didn't ask much; what he valued was that the fake Silang had been brought back!
This allowed him to begin his next plan.
Zhang Mazi and his men continued to fire wildly at the blockhouse, their firepower fierce like a tide.
Huang Silang, looking incredulous, asked, "Are there really only four people, damn it?"
The gentry of Goose City were like hyenas watching a show; they whispered among themselves, awaiting the final outcome.
They too would listen to whoever won!
At dawn, Zhang Mazi and his men, surprisingly, were parading the fake Silang, preparing for a triumphant procession.
Their acting was so realistic that they directly deceived Wu Juren.
Wu Juren shouted frantically, "Huang Silang has been captured!"
The commoners believed it to be true and joined in one after another.
Wu Juren was the first person to cause trouble for Zhang Mazi after Zhang Mazi and the others entered the city.
Now, seeing the situation change and the tide turn, he was the first to switch allegiance to Zhang Mazi and his men.
This sycophantic, fence-sitting behavior was both hilarious and despicable!
But more than that, it was tragic! The tragedy of such people!
The plot continued to unfold, with Zhang Mazi publicly beheading the fake Silang.
And Huang Silang, watching this scene from the blockhouse, was already pale: "Oh no, I've become the double!"
That's right, the commoners didn't care if Huang Silang was real or not! Because it no longer mattered.
At this point, even if it was fake, it became real.
After killing the fake Silang, Zhang Mazi shouted, "To the blockhouse! Take back what is yours!"
The next moment, the commoners rushed towards the blockhouse, and Wu Juren took the lead, crashing through the riddled iron gate.
See! In fact, this seemingly sturdy and unbreakable gate would fall if you had the courage to just push it gently!
But why is it that some still can't understand this principle?
After everyone rushed into Huang Silang's manor, Hu Qian, seeing the unfavorable situation, tried to blend into the crowd of commoners, but was knocked unconscious by Wu Juren.
His eagerness was astounding.
And those who rushed into the courtyard, even if they saw the real Huang Silang, no one cared anymore; they began to frantically loot things!
Zhang Mazi, meanwhile, led Huang Silang aside, and another classic dialogue of the entire movie appeared!
"The money went to you, I accept that, but why distribute it to them?" Huang Silang asked, puzzled.
From beginning to end, he had never looked down on this group of people!
Moreover, he felt that he and Zhang Mazi were of the same kind.
"Master Huang, let me ask you a question." Zhang Mazi didn't answer the question but instead asked one back.
"Speak." Huang Silang knew he was beyond help and nodded decisively.
"Do you think money is more important to me, or are you more important to me?" Zhang Mazi asked.
"Me." Huang Silang answered with great certainty!
"Think again." Zhang Mazi said with a smile.
"It wouldn't be money, would it?" Huang Silang probed, not understanding.
"Think again."
"I'm still more important!" Huang Silang replied.
"Neither you nor money are important to me." Zhang Mazi replied to Huang Silang with a serious, deep voice.
At this moment, not only Huang Silang was stunned, but the audience was also stunned.
"Then who is important?" Huang Silang asked the question everyone cared about most.
"Not having you is very important to me!"
These words conveyed Zhang Mazi's attitude towards old-era beneficiaries like Huang Silang; his voice was deafening.
Huang Silang's blockhouse collapsed, but in that era, there were clearly countless other Huang Silangs!
The movie also entered its climax.
The scene shifted, and Old Third and the others appeared, pushing bicycles and accompanied by Sister Hua.
Old Third said he was going to the Demon Capital, and Sister Hua also changed her mind about being a bandit.
Old Third also stated that he would marry Sister Hua in place of Second Brother.
Zhang Mazi asked, "Aren't you happy being with me?"
Now that Huang Silang had fallen, everyone went their separate ways, and no one knew the loneliness and sadness in Zhang Mazi's heart at this moment.
He took out his gun, imitating Sister Hua's initial threat to him, with one hand pointed at his own head and the other pointing at the crowd in front of him.
But Old Third and the others stood in front of Sister Hua!
What an ironic scene! When Sister Hua did that, they didn't immediately stand in front of their own Big Brother!
"Girl, you look better when you hold the gun like this. It's yours!" Zhang Mazi smiled and tossed the gun to the crowd.
He himself watched the crowd leave, laughing... because they were no longer on the same path!
The scene shifted to the end.
Zhang Mazi rode a white horse, looking up at the sky, where an eagle was soaring and circling.
Everything seemed to return to the beginning, but he no longer had companions by his side!
He rode his horse along the railway tracks, and the opening song "Farewell" played again.
But the people in the passing train had changed.
Following Zhang Mazi's gaze to the tail of the train, there was a faint figure, very much resembling Huang Silang!
Although Huang Silang of Goose City was dead, there were countless "Huang Silangs" outside, and his former brothers and comrades seemed to have become new "Huang Silangs."
Zhang Mazi swept away his fatigue, and his eyes reignited with fighting spirit!
Accompanied by the music of "The Sun Also Rises," he charged again!
And the movie "let the bullets fly" thus came to an end.
What remained was only the astonishment and sighs of film critics and the first batch of viewers.