Transmigrating to the Song Dynasty: Water Margin Business Management

Upon returning to the Liangshan camp, Wu Yong immediately began interrogating Sun Yong and Wang Fu, attempting to extract more information about Tong Guan's conspiracies from them.

Under the intimidation of the Liangshan heroes, Sun Yong and Wang Fu quickly confessed everything. It turned out that after Tong Guan fled back to the capital, he meticulously planned a series of conspiracies. Knowing that he alone could not completely overthrow the Liangshan heroes, he secretly contacted Gao Qiu and Cai Jing.

Tong Guan tearfully recounted the "evil deeds" of the Liangshan heroes to Gao Qiu and Cai Jing, claiming that he had kindly hosted a banquet to reward them, only to be repaid with treachery and an attempted assassination. Upon hearing this, a sinister glint flashed in Gao Qiu's eyes, and he said, "Lord Tong, do not be hasty. We will make the Liangshan bandits pay a heavy price." Cai Jing chimed in, "Indeed, their audacity is outrageous; they must be severely punished."

After a secret plot, the three decided to weave a massive net to bring the Liangshan heroes to their deaths. Tong Guan first fabricated a series of evidence, including so-called letters of collusion between the Liangshan heroes and the Liao army, and a plot to rebel. Gao Qiu, on the other hand, used his influence in the army to spread rumors, exaggerating the "crimes" of the Liangshan heroes, claiming that they held considerable military power and attempted to overthrow the court.

Cai Jing, in the imperial court, used his silver tongue to constantly slander the Liangshan bandits to the emperor. He said, "Your Majesty, the Liangshan bandits are originally from humble backgrounds and are unruly. This time, Lord Tong Guan kindly rewarded them, but they suffered this calamity, which shows their wolfish ambitions. If we do not send troops to wipe them out quickly, they will surely become a major threat."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious and ordered the arrest of Lin Yue, placing Gao Qiu in full charge of the matter. Tong Guan assisted him, knowing that Lin Yue was known for his integrity in the court and sympathized with the Liangshan heroes; if he was not eliminated, it might ruin their grand plan.

Therefore, Tong Guan gathered some generals who were at odds with Lin Yue to come to the capital to testify. These generals were usually jealous of Lin Yue's talent and prestige, and now that they had received benefits from Tong Guan, they naturally spared no effort to smear Lin Yue.

One of the generals, named Zhang Shan, vividly described the situation in court: "Your Majesty, Lin Yue has long been colluding with the Liangshan bandits. I have seen him secretly communicating with the Liangshan people on many occasions. His movements are elusive, and he must be plotting something he doesn't want to tell anyone."

Another general, Li Hui, chimed in, "Your Majesty, Lin Yue frequently spreads discontent against the court within the army, inciting the soldiers' emotions. His intentions are despicable!"

Another general named Wang Tao added fuel to the fire, saying, "Your Majesty, I personally heard Lin Yue say that the current emperor is incompetent and foolish, and that he wants to join forces with the Liangshan bandits to overthrow the court and become emperor himself."

These lies were told with such detail and conviction that they seemed to be true. Tong Guan added fuel to the fire, saying, "Your Majesty, everything these generals say is true. Lin Yue's crimes are heinous and he should not be let off lightly."

Gao Qiu also said, "Your Majesty, the evidence is now conclusive, and Lin Yue deserves to be executed. If he is not punished, it will be difficult to appease the people."

Upon hearing the slanderous accusations against him, Lin Yue trembled with rage, his eyes wide with fury. "These treacherous villains dare to spew such lies! I, Lin Yue, have lived a life of integrity and loyalty to the court. How can I be so defamed!" He was enraged and immediately prepared to mount his horse and head to the capital to confront these traitors and demand justice.

Upon learning of Lin Yue's impulsive act, Zhao Tianming and Wu Yong rushed to stop him. Zhao Tianming grabbed Lin Yue's reins and said urgently, "General Lin, you mustn't act rashly!"

Lin Yue glared at Zhao Tianming and roared, "I, Lin Yue, have always acted uprightly and honestly. How can I tolerate such wanton slander? I will definitely go to the capital to explain the truth to the Emperor!"

Wu Yong stepped forward and solemnly advised, "General Lin, we understand your feelings. But going to the capital now is tantamount to walking into a trap. Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Cai Jing and their gang have already set a trap, just waiting for you to jump in."

Lin Yue said with grief and indignation, "Am I destined to bear this injustice like this?"

Zhao Tianming gripped Lin Yue's arm tightly and said sincerely, "General Lin, the Liao army is invading now, and the border is in grave danger. As a general, you are resourceful, brave, and skilled in battle. Guarding the border is of paramount importance. If you go to the capital now, not only will you fail to clear your name, but you may also plunge the border into peril."

Lin Yue frowned and fell into deep thought.

Wu Yong continued, “General Lin, His Majesty is currently being misled by slander. If you go to reason with him now, you may not be able to see him, and you might even give those treacherous people an opportunity. We will try to clear your name and restore your innocence. But right now, protecting our country and resisting the Liao army is the most important task.”

Lin Yue gritted his teeth, his face full of resentment: "But, this injustice..."

Zhao Tianming patted Lin Yue on the shoulder: "General Lin, trust us. As long as you achieve great military exploits on the border and let the court see your loyalty and value, the truth will eventually come out."

Lin Yue sighed, the anger in his eyes gradually replaced by helplessness: "Fine, since that's how it is, I'll stay at the border. But you must seek justice for me and not let the villains succeed."

Zhao Tianming nodded solemnly: "General Lin, rest assured, we will certainly not fail in our mission."

Wu Yong also said, "General Lin, you just focus on guarding the border, leave things here to us."

Lin Yue gazed in the direction of the capital and said fiercely, "Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, Cai Jing, you traitors, I, Lin Yue, will never let you get away with this!" Then, he turned and walked towards the camp to prepare for the deployment of border defenses.

Tong Guan was overjoyed to learn that Lin Yue had not come to the capital, and immediately went to Gao Qiu and Cai Jing's residence to discuss their next conspiracy.

Inside Gao Qiu's luxurious study, the three sat together. Tong Guan, with a sinister smile on his face, said, "Grand Commandant Gao, Grand Tutor Cai, it's truly heaven's help that Lin Yue didn't come to the capital!"

Gao Qiu stroked his beard, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "It's better that he doesn't come. We can then confirm the evidence that he is hoarding troops and plotting a rebellion."

Cai Jing nodded slightly, gently waving his folding fan: "Not bad, but this evidence still needs to be carefully designed to ensure it is foolproof."

Tong Guan's eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice, saying, "I have a plan. Now that the Liao army is invading, we can secretly send a message to them, telling them to concentrate their forces to attack the border guarded by Lin Yue. Lin Yue's forces are already limited, and with our interference, he will definitely be unable to resist. Once he suffers a defeat, we can use this as an excuse to accuse him of deliberately losing the battle and betraying the country."

After listening, Gao Qiu pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is ingenious, but if the Emperor discovers it, we will not be able to escape punishment."

Tong Guan quickly replied, "Grand Commandant Gao, rest assured. We will act with utmost care and leave no evidence. As long as we arrange for a reliable person to contact the Liao army, we can silence them after the deed is done, and no one will know."

Cai Jing said, “Lord Tong is right. However, it is not enough to simply let Lin Yue be defeated. We also need to place people in the court to spread rumors, exaggerate his defeat and losses, and exaggerate his incompetence and treason.”

Gao Qiu nodded in agreement: "Grand Tutor Cai's consideration is thorough. We can bribe some officials to impeach Lin Yue in court and put pressure on the Emperor."

Tong Guan continued, "In addition, we also need to plant spies in the army to monitor Lin Yue's every move. If he makes any move, he must report to us immediately."

Cai Jing laughed and said, "In that case, Lin Yue will definitely have no chance of escaping."

The three exchanged a knowing smile, as if they could already foresee Lin Yue's tragic end.

Therefore, Tong Guan secretly sent a trusted confidant, disguised, to infiltrate the Liao army camp and hold a secret meeting with the Liao generals. Tong Guan's confidant promised the Liao generals a large sum of money and cities, instructing them to launch a full-scale attack on Lin Yue's defenses.

The Liao generals, who had long coveted Song territory, readily agreed upon hearing of this benefit.

At the border post guarded by Lin Yue, the Liao army suddenly launched a fierce attack. In an instant, battle raged, and shouts of battle shook the heavens. Lin Yue calmly responded, directing his soldiers to fight bravely. However, due to the Liao army's superior numbers and ferocious offensive, Lin Yue's army gradually found itself in a predicament.

At this critical moment, the spies that Tong Guan, Gao Qiu, and Cai Jing had planted in the army began to take effect. They deliberately sowed discord among the troops and spread rumors that the imperial court had abandoned them and would not send reinforcements.

Upon hearing this news, the soldiers' morale plummeted. Lin Yue was extremely anxious, trying to reassure the soldiers while fiercely resisting the Liao army's attack.

Meanwhile, in the capital, officials bribed by Tong Guan and others impeached Lin Yue in court, claiming that his poor military performance had put the border in imminent danger.

Upon hearing these impeachments, the Emperor began to have doubts about Lin Yue.

Taking the opportunity, Tong Guan said, "Your Majesty, Lin Yue is a powerful and influential military commander. This defeat must have been intentional on his part. He intends to let the Liao army enter the pass and cooperate with them to overthrow the court."

Gao Qiu echoed, "Your Majesty, the evidence is now conclusive. Lin Yue should be punished swiftly to uphold the law."

Cai Jing then fanned the flames, saying, "Your Majesty, if Lin Yue is not dealt with soon, the situation may become irreversible."

The Emperor was swayed by their words and ordered Lin Yue to be escorted back to the capital to await punishment.

Upon learning of the Emperor's decree, Lin Yue was filled with grief and indignation: "I, Lin Yue, have been loyal to the country and fought valiantly for the court, yet I have been framed like this!"

However, he could not disobey the emperor's order, so Lin Yue had no choice but to entrust the border defense to his deputy and prepare to return to the capital to accept the investigation.

Lin Yue was thrown into a prison van and transported towards the capital. The van bumped along the winding mountain road, and the escorting team looked exhausted, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

As the army marched into a valley, a deafening cannon blast shattered the tranquility. Immediately afterward, countless pieces of firewood and stones tumbled down the mountainside, raising clouds of dust.

The escorting soldiers were immediately thrown into panic, and the ranks descended into chaos. Before they could react, a group of Liao soldiers surged out from both sides of the valley like a tide, quickly surrounding their path.

The Liao soldiers, each wielding a weapon and with fierce eyes, shouted loudly, "Put General Lin down!"

The escorting general, feigning composure, shouted, "How dare these Liao soldiers obstruct the imperial prison cart!"

Hecha sneered, "General Lin is a loyal and brave man. You treacherous people have framed a loyal and virtuous man. Today, we will definitely save General Lin!"

As they spoke, the Liao soldiers approached step by step, and the escorting soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, creating a tense atmosphere between the two sides.

Lin Yue, inside the prison cart, was also startled; he hadn't expected the Liao soldiers to appear here.

At this moment, Hecha shouted again, "If you don't release General Lin, don't blame us for being impolite!"

The general escorting the goods knew that the enemy outnumbered them, and his resolve began to waver. Just then, a quick-thinking soldier whispered to the general, "Sir, why don't we hand Lin Yue over to them first, and then go back and discuss this further?"

After a moment's hesitation, the general reluctantly ordered the prison cart to be opened.

Lin Yue stepped out of the prison cart, faced the Liao soldiers, and loudly declared, "As a general of the Great Song Dynasty, even if I am framed, I will never collude with the Liao soldiers!"

Hecha said, "General Lin, we respect you as a hero. We do not intend to be your enemy, but we do not want you to be harmed by villains."