Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

"No, please let me explain."

As Bai Sheng spoke, he looked around mysteriously and pulled Chao Gai inside the door, then looked around again from behind the door.

"What are you doing? Sneaking around like that!"

Chao Gai was quite puzzled by Bai Sheng's actions.

"Guardian, I originally bought this wine from a brewing merchant in Daming Prefecture. He said it was a special wine that Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture had asked him to brew for his father-in-law, Grand Tutor Cai, on his birthday. It was to be sent along with the 100,000 strings of gold and jewels that had been purchased, and was to be delivered as a birthday tribute on the fifteenth of June. This wine is what's left over. He said that this wine is not easy to brew and the method is difficult, and he will not brew any more from now on. If you want to drink it, where can you find it?"

Bai Sheng's words brought up the matter of the birthday tribute, and Chao Gai couldn't help but laugh, "In that case, I'm afraid that Grand Tutor Cai can't handle this good wine. I've heard that Liang Zhongshu's birthday tribute is robbed every year, and the tributes from last year and the year before are still missing. He's a fool, making such a big show of it, how could he not get robbed? I heard that last year he had more than a dozen carts of 'Peaceful Carts,' with ten Imperial Guards stationed in front of him to escort them. Each cart had a yellow flag with the words 'Presented to the Grand Tutor's Birthday Tribute' written on it. Each cart also had a soldier following it. With such a grand display, I'm afraid the bandits wouldn't know it was a birthday tribute, wouldn't they be asking to be robbed?"

Bai Sheng quickly picked up Chao Gai and nodded repeatedly, "That's right, that's right, the magistrate is indeed resourceful. However, I heard from that guest that this time Liang Zhongshu is unwilling to lose the birthday tribute again. He found the Yang family generals' descendant, 'Blue-Faced Beast' Yang Zhi, to escort it. They changed their appearance again, saying they didn't need carts. Instead, they packed all the gifts into more than ten loads, pretending they were goods for guests. They had some Imperial Guards disguise themselves as porters and carry them, secretly delivering them to Tokyo overnight. With this arrangement, it's impossible for anyone to rob them!"

Upon hearing this, Chao Gai pondered and said, "I have also heard of Yang Zhi's name in the martial arts world. He is a descendant of the Yang family, a military family. He passed the martial arts examination in Dongjing and became a Palace Attendant. He is a capable man. It will not be easy for him to succeed in transporting this birthday tribute."

"However, your hearsay is ultimately inaccurate. The details of the birthday tribute were so meticulous, how could the brewer have known about them?"

Chao Gai thought about it again and decided to just take it as a joke.

Bai Sheng, however, persisted, saying, "What the village head says is incorrect. The brewer said he learned about it from the old steward at Liang Zhongshu's residence. That old steward is a relative of Liang Zhongshu's wife, the wet nurse of the Grand Tutor's household. How could the information be false? Moreover, when that person left Daming Prefecture, he happened to meet Yang Zhi, who was leading his troops on the journey at the beginning of the month. He recognized Yang Zhi because of the blue birthmark on his face. How could it be false!"

After hearing Bai Sheng's words, Chao Gai no longer doubted it. After thinking about it carefully, he thought, "If they set off at the beginning of the month, they will arrive in Shandong by the beginning of June..."

"That's right. If you ask me, the annual birthday tribute of Liang Zhongshu is all the blood and sweat of the people that he has plundered. If I had the ability, I would take it and distribute it all to the people. That would be the act of a true man!"

Bai Sheng's words really stirred Chao Gai's heartstrings. In his view, the birthday tribute was indeed ill-gotten gains, and a true man should indeed take this ill-gotten wealth to help the people.

However, Chao Gai did not show it on his face or his mouth. Instead, he joked, "What, you day rat, do you still have the guts to steal Grand Tutor Cai's birthday gifts?"

Bai Sheng laughed heartily, "How could I possibly have such ability? If I were to go and retrieve it, it would require a capable and righteous man like you, Brother Baozheng, to do such a chivalrous thing. That's what a true man should do! I'm going back now, Brother Baozheng, please!"

Bai Sheng had probably achieved his goal. He gave the two men one or two taels of silver and left singing.

"The scorching sun burns like fire, the rice in the fields is half withered and scorched. The farmer's heart is boiling like soup, while the young masters and princes wave their fans!"

Listening to Bai Sheng's singing, and recalling what Bai Sheng had said before—that he was going to retrieve the birthday gifts as if it were something a man like Chao Gai would do—Chao Gai felt a surge of heroic spirit welling up in his chest, but he couldn't let it out. It was stuck in his heart, making him very unhappy.

In fact, at this moment, Chao Gai had already begun to have some thoughts about taking the birthday gifts.

After thinking for a while, Chao Gai told Li Dalang to invite Wu Yong, the "wise strategist" of the school, to come and have a drink with him to relieve his depression.

After Ma Lin and Bai Sheng finished their business, they naturally went home. Bai Sheng went to his house to pick up his wife, packed their things, and told the neighbors that if anyone came looking for them, they should say that the couple had received a sum of money and had already sold some dates to Tokyo, so as not to expose the truth if Wu Yong and Chao Gai came looking for them.

Just as night fell, Wu Yong, fanning himself with a goose feather fan, arrived at Chao Gai's manor.

"The village head said there's fine wine today, and I've come to drink it!"

"Professor, there is indeed some fine wine tonight, please!"

After exchanging greetings, some dishes were laid out on the table in the hall. Chao Gai and Wu Yong drank a cup first, and Wu Yong couldn't help but exclaim, "What excellent wine! I have never seen such fine wine before. May I ask where this fine wine comes from?"

"This is the wine that idle man Bai Sheng brought to my estate to sell today. It's quite good, but..."

Seeing Chao Gai holding the wine bowl, looking hesitant and wanting to say something, Wu Yong, who was as shrewd as a monkey, naturally knew that things were not so simple, and asked, "Is there perhaps some other story behind this?"

"The one who understands me is Professor. That White Rat bought this wine from a wine merchant in Daming Prefecture. He said that this wine was specially made by Liang Zhongshu. He wanted to buy 100,000 strings of gold and jewels from Liang Zhongshu in Daming Prefecture, Beijing, to send to Tokyo to celebrate the birthday of his father-in-law, Grand Tutor Cai, as part of the birthday tribute. That man knew the old steward in Liang Zhongshu's mansion. He also said that the birthday tribute would not be carried by carts, but by porters, and that the famous 'Blue-Faced Beast' Yang Zhi would be the escort. It would be transported by land, and would pass by here sooner or later."

After listening to Chao Gai's words, Wu Yong thought for a moment and nodded. "I heard a few days ago that Yang Zhi was exiled to Daming Prefecture for killing Niu Er in the streets of Dongjing. He and Suo Chao, an officer in Daming Prefecture, were promoted and appreciated by Liang Zhongshu. It is reasonable for Liang Zhongshu to send him to escort the birthday tribute. This matter is probably true."

Wu Yong also believed that the information from Bai Sheng was true, and Chao Gai naturally had no doubts either. He couldn't help but sigh, "Bai Sheng even said that he just didn't have the ability, otherwise, what's wrong with taking such ill-gotten gains? Even people like Bai Sheng know this principle, yet we, the fine men of the world..."

Chao Gai paused slightly at this point, then continued, "To be honest, Bai Sheng even said that a man of my caliber, with his exceptional skills, should be the one to seize the birthday tribute. That made me think... to be frank, Bai Sheng's words meant he considered me, Chao Gai, a true hero, and I'm thinking the same thing..."

Wu Yong understood Chao Gai's thoughts. He put down his feather fan, picked up a wine bowl, and handed it to Chao Gai. "Brother, are you... feeling restless and wanting to take the birthday gifts?"

“Alas, Professor, in this life, I, Chao Gai, only seek righteousness, and care about nothing else. Taking this ill-gotten wealth is a righteous act in itself. Do you think I, Chao Gai, could remain unmoved? But I am alone, and Yang Zhi is no ordinary man; he has many helpers there as well. I fear…”

Chao Gai also knew that although he was skilled in martial arts, it would be tantamount to suicide to rob the birthday gifts alone. He needed a clever mind and some helpers.

“If you are willing, brother, I am willing to assist you. This matter is good, but there is only one problem: too many people cannot do it, and too few people cannot do it either. There are many servants in your manor, brother, and none of them can be used.”

Wu Yong considered that if things were not kept secret, they would be exposed, so he had to find someone who was both capable and trustworthy.

"Good, with the professor's help in planning, we're sure to succeed. But where can we find such a helper?"

Chao Gai thought about his local connections. He had quite a few friends, including the clerk "Hu Baoyi" Song Jiang, the two constables "Mei Ran Gong" Zhu Tong, and "Chai Chi Hu" Lei Heng. But these were all officials, and they would never help him commit illegal acts.

"The search must be for capable people. Right now, we only have the village head and a young man. No matter how we try to get things done, this matter cannot be accomplished. Even if the village head is very capable, he cannot handle it. This matter requires seven or eight good men. More would be useless."

As Wu Yong spoke, he was thinking and suddenly remembered the three Ruan brothers from Shijie Village, so he told Chao Gai about it.

"By the way, I have three acquaintances in Shijie Village. They are the three Ruan brothers of Shijie Village: 'Standing Tai Sui' Ruan Xiao Er, 'Short-lived Erlang' Ruan Xiao Wu, and 'Living Yama' Ruan Xiao Qi. They are all tough guys with great skills. If we can get their help, we can accomplish great things!"

Just like in the original story, Wu Yong wanted to drag the three Ruan brothers into the mess.

"I've heard of these three men's reputations; they are truly heroes. Professor, there's no time like the present. Why don't you stay here tonight, and we can go to Shijie Village to find them tomorrow?"

Chao Gai asked.

"Alright, please send someone to the school to let them know that these two teachers have something to do and are on leave for a few days."

After all, the robbery of the birthday gifts hasn't happened yet, and Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," still has to take care of the business.

The next day, Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," got up at dawn, took some silver, and headed towards Shijie Village under the still-lingering darkness.

Around noon, Wu Yong arrived at Shijie Village. He remembered that when he was teaching there, he had some connection with the three Ruan brothers and knew where they lived. So he went straight to the island in the middle of the lake to find the "Standing Tai Sui" Ruan Xiaoer.

When they arrived at the destination, they found that Ruan Xiaoer's family had left empty. Wu Yong then went to look for Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi, but found the same thing.

Wu Yong then asked his neighbor, who told him that the three Ruan brothers had already brought their families and followers to Liangshan to join the band.

Upon learning that the three Ruan brothers had joined the outlaws in the mountains, Wu Yong was somewhat disappointed, as he had lost his very capable assistants.

"However, I heard that Wang Lun, the leader of Liangshan Marsh, was recently killed by a group of outsiders, and a guy named Li Hanxiao took over as the leader. Not long ago, he even defeated Huang An's two thousand troops. He's quite formidable. If we could get him to help us seize the birthday tribute..."

Wu Yong's mind was incredibly sharp; he immediately set his sights on Li Hanxiao.

According to Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," the matter of the birthday tribute should be classified as confidential, and not many people know the inside story.

It just so happens that there is a powerful group of strongmen near Jizhou Prefecture, and among them are the three Ruan brothers, who are acquaintances of Wu Yong. If he can pass on this information to Li Hanxiao and ask him to seize the birthday gifts, the chances of success will be much greater.

Moreover, the two of them would also receive a share of the rewards for their meritorious service in delivering the message; at the very least, they could sit in a chair on Liangshan Mountain.

Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," was quite pragmatic. He knew that nothing stays hidden forever, and as long as they were involved in stealing the birthday gifts, their scheme would inevitably be exposed sooner or later; there was no escaping it.

Therefore, the best approach is to find a suitable place to rely on after seizing the birthday gifts. Liangshan Marsh is a good target, as it is close by and has formidable strength. They can evade legal troubles and are not afraid of the imperial court arresting them.

Wu Yong had already planned that once he joined the Liangshan bandits, Chao Gai would have unparalleled prestige, and Wu Yong was quite shrewd. If the opportunity arose, he would first win over the three Ruan brothers, whom he knew well, and bring them into their faction. Then, he would continue to win over the other leaders of Liangshan, thus weakening Li Hanxiao's power...

Perhaps in the end, the historical situation of the Tian family usurping the Qi throne will be repeated in Liangshan Marsh. He is very familiar with this "turning the tables" tactic. In the original work, he orchestrated the killing of Wang Lun and pushed Chao Gai to the top position of Liangshan Marsh.

With that in mind, Wu Yong rushed back to Dongxi Village and told Chao Gai about his plan.

"The three Ruan brothers have gone to Liangshan to join the gang? What a coincidence."

“However, brother, if we can give the message to Li Hanxiao and have him lead the team to retrieve it, then it will be a sure thing. We will also gain a reputation for chivalry and get a share of the spoils. With this merit, we can even sit in a chair on Liangshan. After all, after the deed is done, we will need a place to hide from the law.”

Wu Yong revealed his plan, but Chao Gai still hesitated. "The people's hard-earned money should be taken from the people and returned to the people. But Li Hanxiao took the birthday gifts, and he may not return them to the people. Even if we get a share, how much will we get? This is not what I want!"

“Brother, how could you not know the stakes involved? We’ve already joined Liangshan. The information about the birthday gifts was provided by you and me, so we’ve naturally earned merit. The three Ruan brothers are old friends of mine, and I can persuade them to follow your lead. As for the other leaders, I can also make plans. When the time is right, we can turn the tables and you will become the master of Liangshan!”

At this point, Wu Yong even cupped his hands in a gesture of congratulations to Chao Gai.

"No! Such a usurpation of the host's position is an unjust act that must not be done!"

Chao Gai was surprised by Wu Yong's rather divergent thought process and stopped him from speaking.