Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

"Ow!"

The boy's hunting dog came running at top speed, carrying a bloody object in its mouth, and placed it in front of him.

The boy's name is Li Hanxiao. He was originally a special forces soldier in modern times. While carrying out a drug enforcement mission behind enemy lines, he was wounded and fell off a cliff after a fierce battle with the enemy.

When he opened his eyes again, he had traveled back to Guanjiangkou during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song.

For some unknown reason, he replaced the original Li Hanxiao and became the thirty-second generation descendant of Li Bing, the governor of Shu County in the Qin Dynasty. He lived in the Erwang Temple at the mouth of the Guanjiang River, tending the incense and serving as a temple keeper. Because he was the second son, he was known far and wide as Li Erlang.

Li Hanxiao, who had just transmigrated, inherited this temple from his ancestors. This temple was not only a place where the people of Dujiangyan worshipped Li Bing and his son, but also the ancestral hall of the Li family. In addition, it also enshrined the spirit tablet of Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun. He was the only one of the Li family members still alive in this generation.

Li Hanxiao only brought with him a potato and a sweet potato that he had captured from the enemy before he traveled through time.

It was these two high-yield crops that ignited his hope. He knew very well that these two plants originated in the Americas and were high-yield crops that did not exist in this era. Perhaps they could help him to be ennobled and become a high-ranking official. Therefore, they had to be properly preserved.

Two years ago, Li Hanxiao first cleared land for planting, and propagated potatoes and sweet potatoes to the second generation, while also managing the Erwang Temple.

Although the Song Dynasty was on the verge of the Jingkang Incident during the reign of Emperor Huizong, the Sichuan Basin was known as the Land of Abundance, free from the worries of drought and flood, and its people were prosperous. Even though Li Erlang had traveled through time, he was still able to live a life of comfort and ease.

At the same time, he also found several manuscripts left by Li Bing's son, Li Erlang, in the Erwang Temple. These manuscripts contained family martial arts, the art of eagle control, and the method of serving dogs.

It turns out that Li Erlang not only helped his father Li Bing to open up the two rivers and improve water conservancy, but also participated in the Battle of Yan and Ying between Qin and Chu, fighting on the battlefield. He was also a highly skilled martial artist.

Moreover, he was skilled in controlling hawks and feeding dogs. He once led his hawks and dogs to hunt and kill man-eating beasts in Sichuan. These techniques of controlling hawks and feeding dogs were left behind by him.

In his spare time from farming and studying, he learned this skill. Today, while studying at the Erwang Temple, he discovered that his hunting dog had somehow brought him a bloody object.

"manpower?"

Li Hanxiao looked closely and saw that it was a severed human hand on the ground. Judging from the cut, it seemed to have been torn apart by some kind of ferocious beast.

There are many wild beasts in the nearby mountains, and jackals, tigers and leopards often come down the mountain to hurt people. Li Hanxiao immediately picked up his bow, arrows and hunting fork, whistled to call back his eagle, and ordered his hunting dogs to lead the way to rescue the people.

The hunting dogs leaped high and crouched low, carrying Li Hanxiao straight to the back mountain. After running for more than ten miles, they found a large man beside a pool of water, brutally killing more than ten people.

The burly man was seen wielding a sharp blade, dissecting a dead body. Blood stained the entire pool red. The people were so frightened that they cowered on the ground, their faces ashen, trembling like leaves, and silent as cicadas in winter. Some of the more timid ones had even fainted from fright.

"Who dares to harm the innocent here! Take this arrow!"

Upon seeing this, Li Hanxiao was filled with rage and malice. He drew his bow and nocked an arrow as full as a moon, aiming it at the big man's back.

"Roar!"

An arrow struck him squarely in the back. The burly man howled, but the sound was so loud it didn't sound like a human voice; it was more like the roar of a wild beast.

The burly man cried out in pain and turned around. Only then did Li Hanxiao see the man's true face clearly. It wasn't a human at all! It was a human body with the face of a feline, vicious and menacing, its mouth full of blood, and blood beads still hanging on the three whiskers on its left and right sides. It turned out that it had just been eating human hearts!

Li Hanxiao was startled. Even though he was a king of soldiers in his previous life, he had never seen this thing before. It looked like a mountain spirit or monster from "Journey to the West", a mountain cat that had become a spirit!

After hesitating for a moment, the lynx spirit pounced and flew more than two zhang away, heading straight for Li Hanxiao.

"Ouch!"

Li Hanxiao, the hunting dog, was eager to protect its master. It darted out like an arrow and crashed into the lynx first. It bared its sharp teeth and bit down on the neck.

"Roar!"

The lynx, in pain, slashed with its claws, instantly leaving the hound covered in blood and its skin torn open, but the hound still refused to let go.

"Oh!"

"Ouch..."

The lynx spirit swung its claw again, sending the hound flying. Its belly was ripped open and its intestines spilling out; it was barely breathing.

But before it died, it tore off a piece of flesh from the lynx spirit's neck, causing blood to gush out and stain half of the lynx spirit's body red.

"Take your life!"

Li Han laughed as his hunting dog died, his heart breaking. He fired three arrows in quick succession, each hitting the lynx spirit squarely in the chest and abdomen, but the monster's defenses were simply too strong, and they had no effect whatsoever!

"Ow!"

With no obstacles in sight, the lynx demon charged straight at Li Hanxiao. Given the power of its sharp claws, Li Hanxiao was likely in grave danger.

"Chi~"

At this moment, Li Hanxiao's falcon swooped down, its sharp claws and beak aimed directly at the lynx spirit's eyes.

The lynx spirit was unaware of the ambush in the sky and lost an eye. However, felines are naturally best at dealing with birds of prey. The lynx spirit endured the pain, spun around, and its tail swept towards the eagle like a steel whip and iron mace.

With a muffled "smack!", the eagle was struck by the tail, its feathers falling to the ground and its wings breaking. The force of the tail strike was considerable, comparable to the swing of a crocodile's tail. The eagle was certainly not going to survive!

The sacrifice of the hound and the eagle was not in vain; they gave their lives to give Li Hanxiao an opportunity. Taking advantage of the lynx spirit's distraction, Li Hanxiao raised his steel fork, rushed forward, and plunged the fork into the wound on the lynx spirit's neck caused by the hound's bite.

"puff!"

The hunting dog had originally bitten the lynx in the neck, a vital spot, and now Li Hanxiao had added another bite, powerful enough to kill the beast!

Cat blood sprayed all over Li Hanxiao's face, blinding him completely. Li Hanxiao felt as if he had been struck hard in the chest and abdomen again, and he collapsed to the ground.

It turned out that the lynx, in its dying moments, used all its strength to claw at Li Hanxiao's chest and abdomen, resulting in a mutual destruction.

As the lynx spirit collapsed and died, the people scattered and fled. Li Hanxiao also felt a burning sensation in his chest and abdomen, then everything went black, and he lost consciousness...

Before long, a dark cloud drifted over and slowly descended, and two generals descended from the sky.

"Huh? That escaped grass god is dead?"

"He was killed by this boy. Wasn't he the temple keeper of the Erwang Temple?"

“Brother Yao, he was able to eliminate evil and save the people, so he can be considered a righteous man. Moreover, he has some connection with the True Lord. Why don’t we take him to the True Lord to ask for his help…”

While Li Hanxiao was unconscious, he only felt a fragrant breeze on his face. Then, he didn't know what was poured into his mouth, but it felt like a fine nectar, flowing from his throat to his chest and abdomen, reaching every part of his body, making him feel warm all over...

"Ok?"

Li Hanxiao opened his eyes and found himself in a solemn hall.

"Kangzhuang Yao Li Si Grand Commandant? Guo Shen, Zhijian Er General? Am I dead?"

It's no wonder Li Hanxiao was curious, because there were six people in his current group whose faces matched the statues of the six Meishan brothers in the True Lord Temple in his Erwang Temple. So he recognized them and thought he had already died and returned to heaven.

"Haha, little brother, you're not dead. What you just killed was a sinful grass-headed god who escaped from our Guanjiang Estuary. His magic power was crippled by the True Lord, and he killed people and ate hearts in an attempt to regain it. We tried to capture him, but we were a step too late, and you killed him!"

"Commander Kang said."

"Grass God?"

Having served as the temple keeper of the Erwang Temple for so long, Li Hanxiao was still familiar with the myths and legends of this world. It is said that Erlang Shen, along with his dog Xiaotian and the Meishan brothers, traveled all over the mountains and rivers of the world, and the four continents of China. They annihilated and subdued the demons, monsters, wandering ghosts, and evil cultivators who had gathered in the mountains and forests to do evil. They recruited the most powerful among them and bypassed the Heavenly Court to form an army, which was stationed at Guanjiang Estuary.

Because they did not receive an imperial decree from the Heavenly Court, they were called "Grass-Head Gods". Although there were only 1,200 Grass-Head Gods, they were all the best among all the demons in the world, each with extraordinary magical power and great supernatural abilities.

I'm so lucky to be alive!

He never imagined that he would actually transmigrate into a world where gods and immortals existed...

"The True Lord has arrived!"

With a shout, the legendary Erlang Shen appeared before everyone. The six brothers of Meishan immediately bowed. Li Han smiled and saw that Erlang Shen was indeed as good as his name. He was handsome and elegant, dressed in yellow, and was majestic and powerful. He had the majesty of disturbing mountains and the courage of capturing dragons in the sea.

"Li Hanxiao, the temple keeper of the Erwang Temple, greets the True Lord!"

Li Hanxiao followed the example of the Meishan brothers in paying his respects, but he didn't expect that this Erlang Zhenjun was so approachable. He simply waved his hand and said, "We're all brothers, so let's skip the formalities!"

"You're the temple keeper of the Erwang Temple? You're the one who kept the incense burning there, and today you've helped us clean house. You're one of us! I've already used the Golden Elixir Holy Water to heal your injuries, so I can guarantee you'll be alright!"

Erlang Shen said with a smile.

"Thank you so much, True Lord, for saving my life!"

Li Hanxiao pushed the gold mountain, overturned the jade pillar, and performed a grand ceremony.

"You were brave and righteous, helping those in distress. I have the utmost respect for a righteous person, how could I not save you? It's just that your skills are too poor, and you almost lost your life!"

Upon hearing Erlang Shen's words, Li Hanxiao lowered his head in shame. After all, the mountain cat spirit was a minor deity, and with his mortal eyes, it was indeed difficult for him to deal with.

"I saved your life today, and I sensed a mysterious power within you. I believe you will be no ordinary person in the mortal world. Fate has its own destiny, and the mortal world is about to descend into chaos. Since you have a chivalrous heart, I will teach you some martial arts and weapons today. In the future, when you travel the world, you should uphold justice, help the needy, and relieve the suffering of the people. Do not lose your chivalrous heart!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Li Han smiled to himself, "I've heard people say that Erlang Shen is a man of great integrity and skill, and he's certainly not far from it."

After saying that, Erlang Shen picked up the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Divine Sword and began to practice the Erlang Sword Technique. Li Hanxiao was focused and did not dare to forget a single move.

"Remember this method!"

As they practiced their final move, Erlang Shen suddenly pointed his blade directly at Li Hanxiao's brow. Li Hanxiao shuddered and snapped out of his daze, only to find himself in the main hall of the Erwang Temple!

"From now on, you will be a disciple of Yang Erlang of Guankou. I bestow upon you a three-pointed sword, a golden bow and silver bullets to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path. I also revive your fierce eagle and loyal hound to lend you a helping hand. The fate of the Great Song Dynasty is coming to an end. Foreign tribes covet the divine artifact. In Qi, Lu, Yan, and Zhao, the 108 demon stars of the Heavenly and Earthly Fiends have emerged. You must go north to accomplish your mission and relieve the people from their suffering. You must not be tempted by the comforts of Shu!"

Erlang Shen's voice appeared out of nowhere in the empty hall. Only then did Li Hanxiao realize that what had just happened was not a dream. He immediately bowed to the north and said, "Disciple will remember!"

Li Hanxiao stood up and found a three-pointed double-edged sword and a set of gold bow and silver bullets on the ground. His hunting dog and eagle were standing on the offering table and sitting next to the prayer mat, respectively.

They seemed quite different from before. The eagles were noticeably larger, with a wingspan estimated to be close to two meters, which even the largest gyrfalcons might not be able to match. Their eyes were quite sharp, and their feathers emitted a pale golden light.

The hound's body became more robust, while its limbs became longer. What was originally the slender body of a greyhound has now become similar in size to a Tibetan Mastiff, with a clear increase in both speed and strength.

"The Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends... the One Hundred and Eight Demonic Stars..."

Li Hanxiao recalled Erlang Shen's words. Erlang Shen had passed on his skills and weapons to him so that he could resist the foreign tribes and relieve the people from their suffering. This was consistent with history. It was now the fourth year of the Zhenghe era, and in ten or eight years, the Jin army would be invading the Central Plains from the south.

But these 108 Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends sound like the 108 heroes of Liangshan from the classic novel *Water Margin*... The era matches up...

Li Hanxiao suddenly realized that he seemed to have traveled into the world of "Water Margin" without even knowing it!

It seems that to resist the Jin dynasty's southward advance, the strength of the Liangshan heroes will be indispensable...

Thinking this through, Li Hanxiao plotted in his mind. Relying on the imperial court to defend against the Jin Dynasty was no longer an option. Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong of Song had appointed treacherous officials and were among the worst emperors in history. The best way was to raise the banner of rebellion and destroy the Song Dynasty before the Jin Dynasty could invade the south.

Now, many people in various places are unable to bear the oppression and have risen up in rebellion. However, the people in the south are well-off and are the source of silver and grain for the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty has a strong control, so it is not easy to start a rebellion in these places.

Conversely, the four provinces where the Liangshan heroes operated in "Water Margin" were in a region of poverty and hardship, with numerous mountain strongholds and close to the border, making it relatively easier to start an uprising. The Liangshan heroes' area of ​​activity was mostly in this region.

According to the timeline of "Water Margin", the Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends have not yet gathered. The story is still in its early stages, and the ruler of Liangshan Marsh is still that good-for-nothing Wang Lun.

If we can occupy Liangshan and use it as a base, and with the addition of potato and sweet potato cultivation, we can become self-sufficient. We can then either conquer the world or establish our own territory. Great things can be accomplished!

Thinking of this, Li Hanxiao knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times before the shrine of Erlang Shen in the hall. He hurriedly packed his valuables, dug out all the sweet potatoes and potatoes, and carried them with him. He led a yellow dog on his left, held a falcon on his right, carried a bow on his back and a knife, and prepared to leave Guanjiang Estuary, head north, and change the world.