Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

If Li Hanxiao were to take him in, he could frequently gather intelligence on enemy countries within Liao territory, including the situation in Jin. In the long run, he could also cooperate with Li Ying to find a way to take Liangshan Marsh's rare goods to Liao territory, and then exchange them for horses to transport them back.

This "Golden Retriever" Duan Jingzhu originally made a living by stealing good horses from the north and reselling them to the Central Plains, where good horses were scarce. It can be said that he was very familiar with how to smuggle horses across the border, making him a capable person to handle this matter.

However, Li Hanxiao was more interested in knowing why this kid had stolen the horse out of desperation. Was he perhaps in debt to loan sharks?

"Tell me first, why did you steal our horses? You claimed you had no choice but to? Who forced you to steal the horses at knifepoint?"

As Li Hanxiao spoke, he squatted down to match Duan Jingzhu's position, his eyes fixed on the horse thief.

"It's all because after I arrived in Shandong, I met a Taoist priest..."

Before Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," could finish speaking, Li Hanxiao reached out and interrupted him, signaling him to stop.

"I understand. Did you encounter a Taoist priest known as 'Dragon Soaring into the Clouds' Gongsun Sheng, who told you to seek refuge with Li Hanxiao of Liangshan Marsh?"

Upon hearing Duan Jingzhu's opening remarks, Li Hanxiao immediately understood everything!

This guy must have run into "Dragon Soaring into the Clouds" Gongsun Sheng!

"Yes, yes, that's right. He said that Li Hanxiao, the leader of Liangshan Marsh, is a first-rate hero in the world and is recruiting talented people. He asked me to go and join Li Hanxiao's cause, but I'm just a horse thief... of humble origins... How could Chief Li accept me? I could only think of stealing a good horse as a gift to gain entry... I never expected to offend such a powerful figure..."

After saying this, Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," began to repeatedly bow to Li Hanxiao, begging for his forgiveness.

Do you know who I am?

Li Han smiled and asked Duan Jingzhu, the "golden retriever," with a playful expression.

"do not know."

Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," shook his head vigorously, thinking to himself, "If I had known who you were and that you were not someone to mess with, why would I have bothered with you?"

"I am Li Hanxiao, the master of Liangshan."

Li Hanxiao spoke at a moderate pace, his voice clear and distinct. Duan Jingzhu, the "golden retriever," didn't react at first, but after a second or two, he belatedly realized what was happening and sat up straight, his eyes wide open, carefully observing Li Hanxiao from head to toe.

After a moment, he finally spoke, "Good sir, are you perhaps making fun of me?"

Just then, Qin Zhi, the "Golden-Faced Buddha," and Shi Xiu, the "Desperate Saburo," walked into the backyard and saw Li Hanxiao and Duan Jingzhu, the "Golden-Haired Dog."

"Chief, who is this man...?"

Shi Xiu, the "workaholic," immediately became alert.

"I'm just a horse thief, but I do have some connection with him. Let's see if he's willing to join Liangshan!"

Li Hanxiao replied casually.

"A horse thief? What would you need a horse thief for, up the mountain? To steal horses?"

Qin Zhi, the "Golden-Faced Buddha," asked in bewilderment, "Because his Jade Top Hay Yellow horse was stolen by the Canal Gang, the 'Golden-Faced Buddha' developed an inexplicable aversion to the horse thieves."

"Alas, how could we possibly understand the chieftain's calculations!"

"Desperate Saburo" Shi Xiu pulled "Golden-Faced Buddha" Qin Zhi. Although "Desperate Saburo" Shi Xiu had not been following Li Hanxiao for very long, he could see that Li Hanxiao often had foresight and ingenious ideas, and his thinking was often three or four steps ahead of theirs. Therefore, it was normal for Li Hanxiao to sometimes do things that were difficult for them to understand.

"Could it be...could it really be Chief Li?"

Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," initially didn't believe Li Hanxiao's story, but the people around him addressed him as "chieftain," which forced him to accept it.

“It’s the real deal. Since it was Mr. Gongsun Yiqing who asked you to join Liangshan, I will accept you. However, you’ll have to change your old habit of stealing horses. We at Liangshan don’t want petty thieves!”

As Li Hanxiao spoke, he pulled Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," to his feet.

"Chief Li, rest assured, I will never steal horses again, even if I have to go through fire and water on Liangshan!"

Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," thought to himself that stealing horses was not only technically demanding but also extremely risky. He had long wanted to quit the business, but he had no choice. He hadn't learned any other skills; his father had been a horse thief who was caught stealing horses in the Liao Kingdom and beaten to death. He didn't know anything else, so he could only keep stealing horses.

"Alright, I'd like to ask you, with three fine horses here, why did you only steal this black horse?"

Li Hanxiao wanted to use Duan Jingzhu's professional eye, the "Golden Retriever," to see what the advantages of this "One-Zhang-Black" horse really were.

"Reporting to Chief Li, this horse is large and robust, with deep ribcage, a broad chest, a strong back, a sturdy rump, and thick shoulders suitable for wearing a collar. Its limbs are strong and covered with abundant mane. This horse is probably as strong as three or four oxen. Just imagine, if it were to charge into battle wearing a horse armor..."

When Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," said this, Li Hanxiao couldn't help but think of the "Iron-Armored Chain Horses" in the original novel "Water Margin," as well as the "Iron Pagoda" cavalry of the Jin Dynasty, which was almost able to sweep away everything at the same time.

If this horse were to charge into battle, even without armor, it could probably kill a lot of people just by crashing into them, because its size is just too enormous. Calling it a mobile tank from the era of cold weapons is not an exaggeration at all!

"Alright, you've got some sense, kid. We're heading back to Liangshan Marsh. You can come along too!"

After Li Hanxiao finished speaking, he called everyone to set off. Duan Jingzhu, the "Golden Retriever," also had a horse to ride. Upon closer inspection, Li Hanxiao realized it was a Mongolian miniature horse.

"Your horse is quite good, but it doesn't seem to be a horse from the Central Plains!"

Li Han smiled and said.

"Yes, this is a horse I obtained when I went to the Wugudilie Military Command of the Great Liao Kingdom. Don't let its small size fool you, it has extraordinary stamina!"

Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," proudly patted the neck of the Mongolian horse he was sitting on.

Li Hanxiao knew that Mongolian horses originated from the Mongolian Plateau region and lived in a semi-wild state. They had neither comfortable stables nor fine feed. They traveled day and night on the vast grasslands where foxes and wolves roamed, enduring the heat and mosquitoes in the summer and withstanding the cold of -40°C in the winter.

Although Mongolian horses are relatively short in stature, plain in appearance, have short necks, strong physiques, broad chests, long manes, hard skin, and coarse hair, capable of withstanding Siberian blizzards and kicking foxes and wolves to pieces, through training, Mongolian horses have historically been a superior type of military cavalry.

Since Duan Jingzhu, the "Golden Retriever," has been to these Mongolian regions before, we should have him go there to buy a large number of excellent Mongolian horses in the future to improve the horse breeds of Liangshan Marsh.

Li Hanxiao and his group set off, then returned along the same route, heading straight for Yeyun Ferry. The "One-Zhang Black" horse that Li Hanxiao had finally acquired was not for pulling a cart, but rather to give to the "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue in exchange for Du Xue's favor.

We arrived at Yeyun Ferry. This ferry crossing was still controlled by the canal gang. The river was very strange. In other places, it was very rapid, but only here was the current relatively slow. Therefore, only this place could be used as a ferry crossing.

The canal gangs monopolized this ferry crossing. No matter who you were, if you took a boat from here, you would be subject to their extortion and bribery, much like the toll booths of later generations. If you were so capable, you could choose not to take the boat and not have the canal gang take you across; you could return the way you came, or you could swim across yourself.

However, given the swift current, it is highly likely that the swimmers were swept away by the water.

When Li Han arrived at the ferry, he met the members of the Canal Gang and immediately told them that he wanted to find their leader, "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue.

Among these members of the canal gang were people who had seen Li Hanxiao before and knew that Li Hanxiao was the leader of Liangshan Marsh. They rushed to inform "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue and told Li Hanxiao and his group to wait where they were.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Hanxiao removed the saddle from "One-Zhang-Black" and harnessed another horse to the carriage, freeing up this horse so that it could be handed over directly to "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue later.

Before long, Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," appeared in Li Hanxiao's line of sight with a dozen or so men, each wielding a ten-foot-long spear.

Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," thought that Li Hanxiao was still angry about the last time and had brought people here to take revenge.

"Master Du, what do you mean by this?"

Li Hanxiao saw the furious "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue and couldn't help but ask what he was up to.

When Du Xue, nicknamed "Nine-Headed Lion," arrived, he noticed that Li Hanxiao and his group were not carrying any weapons. This was clearly different from what he had expected. He had been overthinking things; Li Hanxiao hadn't come to seek revenge at all...

The scene became awkward, and Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," had no choice but to make up a lie, saying, "I was just practicing martial arts with my brothers. Chief Li, what's wrong? Are you going back to Liangshan via our Yeyun Ferry? Do you want me to take you by boat?"

"Haha, Chief Du Xue is indeed as straightforward as ever, a true man of character. To be honest, we certainly need the boat to cross the river, but I, Li Erlang, have come here with a gift for you, Chief Du Xue."

After Li Han finished speaking, it was Du Xue's turn to speak. Du Xue immediately tried to refuse, "Alas, Chief Li, we are not that close. How can I accept your gift so easily? If our chief finds out, I'm afraid he will blame me!"

Du Xue, nicknamed "Nine-Headed Lion," wasn't stupid. He knew that Li Hanxiao intended to recruit him and understood that Li Hanxiao's act of giving him gifts was just another way to improve his image.

Although it was a well-intentioned gift, Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," was not prepared to accept it, because in his view, it didn't matter what gift he received.

This "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue only liked two things in his life: martial arts and horses, especially fine horses.

No matter what Li Hanxiao gave him, he felt he could never give it a second glance.

However, at that moment, suddenly, a huge shadow appeared behind "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue, completely covering his body.

Du Xue, nicknamed "Nine-Headed Lion," was startled and immediately turned around to look, only to find a colossal creature standing behind him!

"What...what is this?!"

Although Du Xue's eyes told his brain that he saw an incredibly huge black horse, his brain kept telling him that there couldn't possibly be such a big horse!

"Haha, you love fine horses the most. This is a fine steed I acquired in Jiankang Prefecture on this trip. It is called 'One-Zhang-Black.' This horse is incredibly strong, has a gentle temperament, and excellent speed. I am giving this horse to you, Chief Du Xue, to show my sincerity in making you my friend!"

As Li Hanxiao spoke, he handed the reins of the "One-Zhang-Black" horse to Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion."

However, Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," did not immediately take the reins of the "One-Zhang-Black." In his view, a horse of this size was simply unbelievable. He first circled the "One-Zhang-Black" horse several times, observing it carefully, before nodding with certainty and saying to himself, "It's a horse, it's a horse!"

"It's definitely a horse, not a cow. If you don't believe me, try riding it and you'll see!"

Li Hanxiao forcefully shoved the reins into the hands of the "Nine-Headed Lion" Du Xue and said.

"Then...then I'll give it a try!"

Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," was, after all, a horse lover. He might have been able to resist other temptations, but this was his favorite warhorse, and he couldn't resist it.

Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," leaped onto the "One-Zhang Black" horse and pulled on the reins. He then tightened the reins and propelled the "One-Zhang Black" horse away.

"Pooh!"

When this "One-Zhang-Black" horse raised its four hooves, it really stirred up a cloud of dust, sending a mouthful of river sand directly to Li Hanxiao, who was standing next to it.

When "One-Zhang-Black" runs, it doesn't look like a horse, but more like a tiger or a bear; it doesn't resemble the majestic demeanor of a herbivore at all.

At this moment, Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," gripped the reins tightly with his left hand and held the eighteen-foot spear in his right. He thrust the spear into the trunk of a large tree that was more than a person's thickness.

Immediately, Du Xue spurred his horse, "One-Zhang Black," forward, which propelled the eighteen-foot spear embedded in the tree trunk. With a "crack," the horse's momentum, along with the spear, snapped the large tree in two!

Du Xue, the "Nine-Headed Lion," was already incredibly skilled. If he were to take advantage of this horsepower, his fighting prowess would likely reach an even higher level.