Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Zhao Xin and Gao Liang went around asking people to invite Kong Hou to come out of the mansion and treat Gao Liang's elderly father.

But everyone in Yizhou knew that Ruan Zhao'er was Gao Feng's darling. Now that he was sick, even his father, Ruan Qixiang, dared not say much, let alone anyone else.

Left with no other choice, the people of Zhaojia Village had to set off to return.

Then, on the way back, they met Shi Xiu and his group at Li Gui's house.

......

After Gaoliang returned home, she summoned her four maids.

He told them that he intended to go to Liangshan to find the divine physician An Daoquan to treat his father.

"My lady, have you told Lord Zhaoxin about this?" asked the maid Guihua.

"With his temperament, he hates evil as if it were his enemy, and wishes he could kill all the bandits in the world. If he knew I wanted to go to Liangshan, he would definitely stop me,"

Gao Liang sighed, "For now, we can only keep it from him and we'll set off on our own."

"But my lady, is it really true that Liangshan doesn't disturb ordinary people, as the rumors say?"

Another maid, Mint, said worriedly, "What if we go and they kidnap us and take us up the mountain?"

"So, the five of us changed into men's clothing, found a carriage, and secretly took Father to Jeju Island,"

Gao Liang said, "When we get to the vicinity of Liangshan, we will not immediately seek medical treatment. Instead, we will first investigate the surrounding area. If Liangshan is indeed as rumored, and does not harm ordinary people, then we will go up the mountain to seek medical treatment. If Liangshan is no different from ordinary bandits, then we will have no choice but to return the way we came."

Hearing her arrangement, the four maids were relieved.

Everyone hurriedly prepared their belongings for the long journey.

That night, Gao Liang and his four maids changed into men's clothing, drove a horse-drawn carriage, and took his father away from Zhaojia Village, heading towards Jizhou.

The next day, Zhao Xin came to Gao Liang's house to request an audience.

However, they were told that Gaoliang was resting in her room due to the fatigue of her long journey and would not be receiving guests for the time being.

Three days passed before Zhao Xin learned that Gao Liang had already left home.

Furthermore, since only Gao Liang and her four maids knew about the trip to Liangshan, the rest of the Gao family were unaware of it and naturally could not inform Gao Liang of her whereabouts.

Helpless, Zhao Xin could only send people to inquire everywhere and wait for news.

......

At this time,

Gao Liang, accompanied by four maids and her elderly father, had already traveled by land first, then by water, and entered the territory of Jizhou.

As they drove the carriage towards Liangshan, they began to inquire about news of Liangshan.

Soon, they learned from the people that

Liangshan not only does not harm ordinary people, but also helps them to uphold justice, punish evil gentry and corrupt officials, and act on behalf of Heaven.

"In this light, Liangshan is indeed different from ordinary mountain bandits," Gao Liang exclaimed.

The maid Rose, however, reminded her with a strange expression: "Madam, Liangshan hates gentry and landlords who oppress tenants the most. Our Gao family doesn't have much land and few tenants. The old master and madam are kind to people, so no tenants have suffered such grievances. But the Zhao family has a lot of land and often oppresses tenants."

"this......"

Gao Liang was taken aback; he hadn't expected that.

Another maid, Buddha's Hand, laughed and said, "What's wrong with that? Madam hasn't married Master Zhao Xin yet, so naturally she can't be considered a member of the Zhao family. Besides, we're dressed as men now. As long as we don't reveal our true identities, who will know where we come from?"

Chapter 194 Liangshan Becomes a Hot Commodity

At this moment, Guihua, the maid who had been silent, said, "Madam, I've heard some news, but I don't know if it's true or not."

"what news?"

Gao Liang and the other three maids immediately turned their gazes toward them.

"This plague in Shandong was caused by famine victims from Hebei outside Xucheng,"

Guihua said, "But after the outbreak, the Yunzhou government did not provide any assistance, leaving the many victims to fend for themselves."

"That corrupt official in Yunzhou is truly hateful!" Gao Liang cursed angrily.

Bohe, standing nearby, asked, "Sister Guihua, weren't we talking about Liangshan? How did we get to Xucheng?"

"This matter is related to Xucheng,"

Guihua said with a strange look on her face, "Many people say that Liangshan took the disaster victims from Xucheng to the side of the marshland, not only providing them with food and lodging, but also inviting a divine doctor to treat their plague."

"A makeshift disaster relief operation? And a disease treatment center?"

Rose laughed and said, "Sister Osmanthus, you must have misheard."

“It could also be the work of some local government, but the Liangshan spies took credit for it and spread it around,” Buddha Hand thought of a possibility.

"I think this might really have been done by the Liangshan 110,"

Gao Liang pondered for a moment: "Back in Yizhou, that man said that the Liangshan leader had specially invited a divine doctor from Jiankang Prefecture to treat the plague. It was because I heard this that I brought you and Father to Jizhou."

"I've also heard that it's not just disaster victims in Hebei,"

Guihua continued, "Anyone who has contracted the disease can go to the camp north of Liangshan Marsh for treatment. Not only will it be free, but food and lodging will also be provided."

Now even sorghum was starting to have doubts.

Because in their minds, all mountain strongholds made a living by robbing the people.

Previously, the fact that Liangshan did not harm ordinary people but instead helped them seek justice and avenge their grievances already made them seem extremely unusual.

This provides free treatment for the plague to the people, along with food and lodging. Even the government cannot do this, let alone a bandit stronghold.

"Wife, what should we do now? Should we still seek medical help?"

Mint said with some worry, "If what Sister Osmanthus said is true, then the area around Liangshan must be full of disaster victims infected with the plague. If we go there, what if we get infected too..."

"We're fine. I've heard that as long as the disease doesn't worsen, the miracle doctor can cure those who have just contracted it,"

Rose shook her head and said, "The main problem is our old master. He's already ill and weak. If he were to contract the plague..."

"My lady, isn't there a rhyme about preventing plague? It's said that it originated from Liangshan,"

Guihua advised, "The old master has been in a coma for longer and longer periods these past two days. If he doesn't receive treatment soon, I'm afraid he won't last much longer."

"Very well, let's set off immediately tomorrow! We'll head to the north bank of Liangshan Marsh to find that divine physician to cure my father's illness!"

Gao Liang said in a deep voice, "As for these rumors about Liangshan, seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Whether they are true or false, we will know when the time comes!"

......

Meanwhile, in Xucheng, Yunzhou,

Some people are also wondering whether or not to go to Liangshan Marsh for medical treatment.

"Master, please nod your head in agreement quickly!"

With red and swollen eyes, the prefect's wife tugged at the sleeve of Cheng Wanli, the prefect of Yunzhou, and pleaded bitterly.

"Wan'er is our only biological daughter. If anything happens to her, I don't want to live anymore!"

"You...you mustn't push me any further!"

Cheng Wanli said with distress, "Those Liangshan bandits are the real problem, while I am the prefect of Yunzhou. Officials and bandits cannot coexist. If others find out that I, Cheng Wanli, actually sought help from bandits to save my daughter, how will I face anyone in the future?"

"If something happens to Wan'er, how can you face others? How can you face the souls of us, mother and daughter, when we are gone?"

The prefect's wife snorted: "In short, if you agree today, fine. If you don't, I will personally take Wan'er to Liangshan!"

"you!"

Cheng Wanli was so angry that his face turned ashen, but seeing his wife's serious expression, he knew she was ready to do what she said she would do.

In fact, the reason why the couple had a quarrel was entirely caused by Zhao Yuan.

Previously, when he led the Hebei refugees away from Xucheng,

Zhao Yuan once ordered archers to attach epidemic prevention measures and An Daoquan's prescription for treating the epidemic to arrows and shoot them into the city.

Cheng Wanli also received one.

At that time, his daughter had been suffering from the plague for a month, and her condition had long since worsened; no one in the entire city of Xucheng could cure her.

After seeing the prescription on the arrow, Prefect Cheng decided to give it a try, even if it seemed hopeless.

He had someone prepare the medicine according to the prescription, decocted it into a soup, and fed it to his daughter.

Unexpectedly, An Daoquan's prescription was indeed miraculous.

After his daughter took the herbal medicine, her previously worsening condition gradually stabilized.

Although the plague was no longer worsening, it was also difficult to cure.

If this drags on any longer, even the miracle doctor's prescription might be useless.

The prefect's wife immediately became anxious.

The demand was that Prefect Cheng either bring the divine physician to Xucheng to treat his daughter, or send his daughter to Liangshan Marsh for medical treatment.

With Liangshan's army strong and well-equipped, it would be quite good if the military strength of Yunzhou could hold the city; how could they dare to stir up a hornet's nest?

The latter, however, was too proud to send his daughter to seek medical treatment, and Prefect Cheng, mindful of his status, simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

The couple argued for a long time.

Seeing that his wife was threatening suicide repeatedly, Cheng Wanli sighed and could only nod in agreement.

"I can send my daughter to Liangshan for medical treatment, but you have to agree to two conditions."

"Sir, please speak quickly!" the prefect's wife hurriedly asked.

"First, neither of us can go with you!"

Cheng Wanli explained, “I am, after all, the governor of a prefecture. If I go to Liangshan and the bandits discover my identity, the consequences will be unimaginable. You are my wife, and the same applies to you.”

"this......"

The prefect's wife thought for a moment and said, "Yes, Wan'er's wet nurse and wet nurse have always loved her. This time, when Wan'er contracted the plague, it was her wet nurse who took care of her day and night by her bedside. With them accompanying her to Liangshan, I can rest assured."

"Secondly, if my daughter's identity is discovered, the bandits will use her to threaten me,"

Cheng Wanli said with a stern face, "Then I have no choice but to uphold justice and disown this daughter."

"Your daughter's condition is critical, and you still have time to think about these things?"

The governor's wife angrily replied, "I will agree to this condition as well."

"Since you've agreed, hurry up and pack your daughter's things,"

Having made his decision, Cheng Wanli felt a great sense of relief.

"I'll go find Dong Ping now and ask him to open the gates of Xucheng and allow the people to enter and leave freely."

"At that time, there will surely be people suffering from the plague going to Liangshan for medical treatment. Have your wet nurse and her husband take Wan'er and blend in with them on their way to Liangshan. As long as they don't reveal their identities, the people on Liangshan shouldn't be able to find out."

Chapter 195 North Bank of the Water Margin

North bank of Liangshan Marsh

Compared to the previous situation where there was only one lonely hotel, it is now much more lively.

The original thatched-roof village shop has been expanded and transformed into a two-story solid wood restaurant.

A large wooden sign hangs on the outer wall of the restaurant.

The document lists the exchange rates for the supplies Liangshan needs over the next three days, along with refined salt and white sugar.

That's right, the salt and sugar business in Liangshan has reopened.

Although in the previous month, due to the pandemic, no merchants dared to come to Liangshan Marsh anymore,

But these days, after learning that Liangshan had hired a divine physician who could cure the plague,

The profit-driven nature of merchants was immediately revealed.

Over the past month, the prices of refined salt and white sugar from Liangshan have been rising steadily in various regions.

But to a merchant, that's all pure silver!

Therefore, after Liangshan brought back the disaster victims from Hebei for treatment,

Many merchants who heard the news felt that Liangshan must have found a cure for the plague if they dared to do this, so they risked their lives to come over.

Today, on the hotel's wooden sign,