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

It's worth noting that even the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty only received a monthly salary of three hundred strings of cash.

In local prefectures and counties, the magistrate of a large county (with more than 10,000 households) received 20 strings of cash per month, while the magistrate of a small county received 12 strings of cash per month.

Although court officials also received various subsidies and illicit income.

But Li Kui only received a fixed monthly salary of 2.0.

Every time the Liangshan army went down the mountain to fight, they would set aside a portion of the spoils as rewards for the leaders.

In addition, the revenue from various transactions in the bandit camp would also be distributed as dividends to the leaders.

In short, Li Kui earned far more money at Liangshan than a county magistrate in a small county.

"Two hundred strings of cash per month?"

Sure enough, upon hearing that he would receive a monthly salary,

Li Kui paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "That's enough, that's enough. When I was a jailer in Jianzhou, I only earned three strings of cash a month!"

Seeing him smiling happily, Liu Huiniang deliberately added, "By the way, violating the discipline and laws of the mountain stronghold will result in not only being beaten with military rods but also being fined. For example, someone who got drunk and fought in the army will not only receive fifty lashes but also have half a month's salary deducted! That's a whole hundred strings of cash!"

Chapter 197 Liu Huiniang's Thoughts

"Brother, is what this little vixen is saying true?" Li Kui quickly turned his head and asked.

Zhao Yuan nodded: "Ah Xiu really didn't lie to you."

Liu Huiniang, who was standing to the side, had wanted to see Li Kui's simple-minded and remorseful expression.

Unexpectedly, the dark-skinned man only paused for a moment before smiling with a look of relief.

"That's good. Even if half is deducted, I still have a hundred strings of cash left, enough to eat meat, drink wine, and support my mother in her old age."

This guy's ideas are definitely different from ordinary people's...

Liu Huiniang pursed her lips helplessly.

After the leaders finished reporting their findings, they all departed.

After everyone else had left, Zhao Yuan looked at Liu Huiniang and said,

"Tie Niu is honest and straightforward, but impulsive. If guided well, he can become a hero; if not, he can become a murderous demon."

"I understand what you mean, brother,"

Liu Huiniang chuckled and explained, "I just wanted to have some fun; I didn't mean to do anything to him."

"You'd better really understand,"

Zhao Yuan gave the girl a deep look: "Don't provoke him. That black-haired fellow has a fiery temper. If you really anger him, he'll just chop you down with an axe. Then all your schemes will be useless."

As the two were talking, a guard suddenly came in to report that Zhu Gui was requesting an audience.

Zhao Yuan only received the news of Xucheng's reopening that morning.

Zhu Gui has been confined to the city for almost a month now.

He will definitely return to Liangshan to report on things once the lockdown is lifted.

But no one expected him to return so quickly.

"Brother Zhu Gui is finally back!"

As Zhao Yuan spoke, he got up to go to the door to greet him personally.

Seeing this, Liu Huiniang quickly said, "Brother, then I'll take my leave now."

"No need. Since you are my assistant, you should also meet him."

After Zhao Yuan finished speaking meaningfully, he gestured for the girl to follow.

A bitter smile appeared on Liu Huiniang's face. After sighing inwardly, she followed.

She now deeply regrets having gone north with Zhao Yuan and the others.

Although Zhao Yuan was kind to everyone and treated her like a younger sister,

But among the twenty or thirty leaders on Liangshan Mountain, who knows if there are any with ulterior motives!

Just a few days ago, Hu Sanniang was used as a shield.

After Hu Sanniang returned home, Liu Huiniang felt that she was living alone in the bandit's den. If she didn't find a backer, who knew what these bandits would do to her?

That's why she deliberately displayed some of her talents and volunteered to help Zhao Yuan with his paperwork.

The young woman intended to use this opportunity to warn the leaders of Liangshan, as she was someone Zhao Yuan valued.

But unexpectedly, after she recommended herself,

Zhao Yuan not only readily agreed to let her help with the text, but even the many leaders of Liangshan no longer avoided discussing matters with her.

Liu Huiniang was initially too curious about Liangshan to notice this.

Only when she realized something was wrong did she discover that she seemed to have gotten quite deeply involved in Liangshan.

Many of the Liangshan leaders seemed to have already tacitly accepted that she was also a member of Liangshan.

Even her soldiers treated her with the same respect as they would any other leader.

This young woman had only taken temporary refuge in Liangshan out of necessity.

He did not want to have too much entanglement with Zhao Yuan and others.

She worried that if she directly told Zhao Yuan that she wanted to leave, he would refuse.

That's why he's been teasing Li Kui these past two days, trying to provoke the dark-skinned fellow.

If this brute were to lay a hand on her, Liu Huiniang could use the excuse that she could not stay in Liangshan to beg Zhao Yuan to send someone to Tokyo to find her relatives.

She just didn't expect Zhao Yuan to have seen through her thoughts, which is why he warned her earlier.

Now they're sending her to see Zhu Gui, the intelligence chief.

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to deepen Liu Huiniang's entanglement with Liangshan, to keep her on Liangshan.

Although the girl was unwilling, she dared not refuse.

Although she had personally witnessed Zhao Yuan treating the poor people very well these past few days,

But the more this happened, the more Liu Huiniang feared Zhao Yuan.

If Zhao Yuan were merely an ordinary bandit...

Liu Huiniang was relieved that all they knew was robbery and plunder.

The more Zhao Yuan spared no expense in helping ordinary people, the more it showed that he had grand ambitions.

Liu Huiniang was taught by Liu Guang from a young age, and although she somewhat disagreed with her father's blind loyalty to the Song court,

But if they truly stand on the opposite side of Song Ting, they might immediately turn against each other.

With heavy thoughts on her mind, Liu Huiniang followed Zhao Yuan out of the military tent.

......

Outside the tent, Zhao Yuan personally came out to greet them.

Zhu Gui hurriedly bowed down, his face full of self-reproach, and said, "Brother, it's all because of Zhu Gui's incompetence that I almost ruined Liangshan!"

After Sugijo opened,

Zhu Gui already knew about the recent events at Liangshan.

If Zhao Yuan hadn't noticed that no intelligence had come from Xucheng for several days, and hadn't specifically sent someone to investigate,

They wouldn't have known that Lin Chong and the others who had been in contact with the famine victims of Xucheng might have contracted the plague.

If Lin Chong's cavalry had been allowed to go to Liangshan, leading to the spread of the plague...

The foundation of Liangshan is likely to be completely destroyed!

When the time comes, Zhu Gui will naturally be held accountable!

"Alright, the matter is over. Now that Liangshan is safe and sound, let's not dwell on these things."

Zhao Yuan stepped forward to help Zhu Gui up.

Unexpectedly, the Dry Land Crocodile raised his head and said with tears streaming down his face, "Brother, if you don't punish him, how will Zhu Gui face Liangshan in the future! Please, brother, remove Zhu Gui from his position as intelligence leader!"

　113 “Brother, let’s not mention this matter again. The Liangshan inn intelligence network is all the result of our hard work. The position of inn intelligence leader naturally belongs to Brother Zhu Gui!”

Zhao Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "As for the punishment, how about this: I will temporarily transfer you to the position of intelligence chief, and forfeit one year's salary. You can be reinstated to your full position after you have made meritorious contributions in the future. What do you think?"

"elder brother......"

With red eyes and a trembling voice, Zhu Gui called out, then respectfully bowed three times.

“Brother, you are so magnanimous. I, Zhu Gui, will surely be shattered to pieces in the future to repay your kindness.”

His strong reaction was also due to the lifting of the lockdown on Xucheng.

Zhu Guicai learned that a new leader, Shi Xiu, had arrived on the mountain and was temporarily taking over his position as the head of the hotel's intelligence network.

He initially thought this was Zhao Yuan's way of expressing dissatisfaction with him and using it as a pretext to dismiss him from his post.

That's why he rushed back to Liangshan, wanting to apologize in person.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuan did not hold his mistake against him. Not only did he not dismiss him from his post, but he also allowed him to redeem himself through meritorious service!

Zhu Gui was helped up by Zhao Yuan, filled with gratitude.

After exchanging pleasantries about their long-awaited reunion,

Zhu Gui suddenly remembered something and hurriedly reported, "Brother, the daughter of Prefect Cheng of Yunzhou may be seeking medical treatment on the north bank of Liangshan!"

Chapter 198 What? There are no rooms left?

"Cheng Wanli's daughter?"

Zhao Yuan frowned: "How did you find out about this?"

“Brother, before the city of Xucheng was sealed off, Prefect Cheng’s daughter went to the camps of disaster victims in Hebei to give money and food many times. As a result, she contracted the plague. This is common knowledge in Xucheng.”

Zhu Gui explained, "When I was almost at the north bank of the marsh, I saw Cheng Wan'er's wet nurse and wet nurse in the crowd."

"These two men, looking quite anxious, drove a carriage towards the inn. The one who could make them so hasty must be Prefect Cheng's daughter!"

"elder brother,"

Zhu Gui suggested, "If Liangshan takes this opportunity to control Prefect Cheng's daughter, perhaps we can negotiate some terms with Prefect Cheng?"

"Cheng Wanli is, after all, the governor of a prefecture; how could he possibly submit so easily?"

Zhao Yuan shook his head and said, "Furthermore, if word gets out that Liangshan is holding a weak woman hostage, people will only laugh at us."

"What does my brother mean...?" Zhu Gui asked.

"Just treat her the same as those wealthy people who seek medical treatment."

Just as Zhao Yuan finished speaking, Shi Xiu strode over.

"Brother, I just saw someone I know at the inn!"

When Shi Xiu arrived, Zhao Yuan introduced him, "Brother Shi Xiu, this is Zhu Gui, the 'Land Crocodile.' Our Liangshan inn intelligence network was built up little by little by Brother Zhu Gui."

"Greetings, Brother Zhu Gui!" Shi Xiu bowed respectfully.

Zhu Gui quickly smiled and said, "I had heard you mention before, brother, that you met a hero in the north, a man known as the Desperate Saburo. It's a pity I never had the chance to meet him. Now that I've met you, brother, you are indeed a man of great appearance and extraordinary bravery."

The two exchanged a few polite words.

Zhao Yuan then asked, "By the way, Brother Shi Xiu, which valiant hero are you referring to as an acquaintance?"

“Brother, this acquaintance of mine is not a man,”

Shi Xiu laughed and said, "Brother, do you still remember what I told you before? When I was helping Brother Li Kui bring our mother up the mountain, we encountered a group of people from Zhaojia Village in Yizhou."

“Of course I remember,” Zhao Yuan nodded.

Zhao Xin and Gao Liang were also formidable figures with names and surnames in the novel *The Story of the Suppression of Bandits*.

“Brother, I was just checking around the inn when I saw that old woman whose father is ill. She was dressed as a man and was asking about Doctor An with a few companions. If it weren’t for her unusual skin color and the fact that she was wearing a mask, I almost wouldn’t have recognized her.”

Shi Xiu said, "It seems that she came here to find a doctor for her father."

"This girl's filial piety is commendable,"

Zhao Yuan casually made up an excuse: "Brother Shi Xiu, lead the way. I'll go see her."