Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Whether Pan Jinlian is pitiful or not is none of Li Hanxiao's business. Although her tragedy is related to her life trajectory, the latter half is purely a matter of personal choice.

However, Li Hanxiao would never allow her to have any negative impact on the mountain stronghold.

However, these are things we can only take one step at a time and can't make a decision too early...

"However, this matter can't be rushed. We need to go and retrieve the birthday tribute in a few days, which will take some time. How about we deal with this matter after we get the birthday tribute?"

Li Han asked with a smile.

"I will grant your request, Second Brother. However, I have a favor to ask: could you accompany me to retrieve the birthday gifts? Although I am not particularly skilled, I can still be of use by your side to protect you from both open and covert robberies!"

Wu Song clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and became serious. Li Hanxiao knew that Wu Song had told him he wanted to join Liangshan and was eager to make some contributions, so he wanted to go with him.

Logically, having Wu Song there would be a great help in retrieving the birthday gifts, but Li Hanxiao was also worried about Wu Song's health. "Brother, I shouldn't stop you from going, but you're still recovering from your illness, I'm afraid you might hurt yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song quickly waved his hand and said anxiously, "Alright! Alright! Luckily, I worked up a sweat after killing that tiger, and I feel great. In addition, my two sisters-in-law and Jin'er have been taking medicine and nourishing food these past few days, so they are almost fully recovered. Otherwise, how could I have killed a tiger with my bare hands!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hanxiao agreed, meaning that Wu Song should also be included in the quest to retrieve the birthday gifts.

After the discussion was settled, Li Hanxiao asked to skin the white tiger. Wu Song originally wanted Li Hanxiao to use the skin to make a tiger-skin chair, but Li Hanxiao refused. Wu Song then said he wanted to give the skin to Lin Niangzi, Li Shishi, Jin'er, and other women to make fur coats, but Li Hanxiao refused that as well.

"This is the tiger you killed, so you should keep it. It is rightfully yours. You don't have any decent clothes, but this tiger skin is quite sturdy. Give it to the craftsman to tan and dry, and we'll use it to make you a suit of leather armor so you'll have something to wear when you go into battle!"

Li Han smiled and spoke his mind. He had previously tried to check the hardness of the tiger skin and found that it was extremely tough and thick with good elasticity, making it very suitable for making leather armor.

"Since that's the case, Wu Er won't refuse. However, the fur from that tiger's tail is enough to make a fur scarf. Brother, please take it for your sister-in-law!"

Wu Song said.

"You didn't give me a single penny of betrothal gift, yet you're thinking of giving it to me? Save it for Jin'er's betrothal gifts!"

Li Han smiled and said.

As for the tiger meat and bones, they were either eaten or used as medicine; in any case, everything was put to good use.

Three days later, at Purple Mountain.

At this time, Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," had arrived at Zijin Mountain and met the three chieftains: Zhu Jing, the "Drilling Spear," Shi Ding, the "Iron Mantis," and Zhong Liang, the "Copper Iron Head."

Logically, since he was neither a relative nor an acquaintance, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to go up the mountain even if he arrived at the destination. However, he happened to arrive just as the third leader, "Copper Iron Head" Zhong Liang, was ambushed with a poisoned dart while robbing a security escort agency. He was poisoned and on the verge of death, and there was no decent doctor to be found around the mountain stronghold.

Wu Yong was well-read and had studied many medical texts, so he volunteered to go up the mountain to save Zhong Liang. He recognized the type of poison Zhong Liang had been given and treated him accordingly, saving Zhong Liang's life.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhu Jing held Wu Yong in high esteem. After exchanging names, they realized that the scholar before them was none other than the renowned "Strategist" Wu Yong, and treated him as an honored guest, providing him with fine wine and meat.

"How is the Third Chieftain's wound healing?"

During the banquet, Wu Yong inquired about it.

"He's out of danger!"

Na Zhongliang patted his arm, which had been hit by the dart, and said.

"Thanks to Mr. Jia Liang's treatment, my brother was spared from death. May I ask what brings Mr. Jia Liang to our Zijin Mountain area? If there is anything we three brothers can do to help, we will certainly do our duty!"

As the chief of the mountain stronghold, Zhu Jing was eager to repay Wu Yong's kindness as a host.

When Wu Yong saw that his brothers were about to take the bait, he pretended to sigh and said, "Alas, Wu Yong has been traveling around all this time just to find a few capable and courageous heroes to do something great!"

The three chieftains immediately became interested and asked in unison, "What important matter is it?"

"Do you all know about Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture? He collected 100,000 strings of gold and silver jewelry as a birthday gift to send to Tokyo to celebrate his father-in-law's birthday. It was all the people's hard-earned money. I have already found out his route this year and who was escorting him."

"I think we can't let those treacherous officials get their hands on this ill-gotten wealth. The fine men of the martial world must take it. I just don't know where there are any men with the courage to take it!"

As Wu Yong finished speaking, he glanced at the three men, only to see them looking at each other, seemingly tempted.

After all, 100,000 strings of gold and silver jewelry is no small amount; it's enough for Zijin Mountain to use for several years!

If they can capture Zijin Mountain, they will have no trouble making a name for themselves.

"Mr. Jialiang, the escort of these birthday gifts must be quite difficult to guard against..."

Zhu Jing did not rush to express his opinion, but wanted to further extract some useful information from Wu Yong.

"That's right. In previous years, the birthday tribute was robbed and its whereabouts are still unknown. Logically speaking, since Liang Zhongshu is sending it again this year, it should be under strict protection. Unexpectedly, he did the opposite and took a clever trick!"

Wu Yong's enticing words certainly piqued the interest of the three men, who urged him to speak quickly.

"This Liang Zhongshu changed his appearance and said that he did not need the carriage. Instead, he packed all these gifts into more than ten loads, pretending they were goods for guests. He had some Imperial Guards disguise themselves as porters and carry them to Tokyo overnight. Think about it, who cares about these traveling merchants? Isn't this much more eye-catching than the grand and ostentatious transport of the birthday tribute?"

Zhu Jing and the other two nodded. This was indeed going against the grain.

"In that case, robbing this birthday tribute would be quite easy!"

The second leader, "Iron Mantis" Shi Dingxin, said that the birthday tribute was only escorted by twenty or thirty people. Even if they were elites, they could wipe them out with five hundred men.

"Not necessarily. The one escorting the birthday gifts is 'Blue-Faced Beast' Yang Zhi. He's quite skilled."

Wu Yong said.

"But what about Yang Zhi, the descendant of the Yang family generals, who once served as a palace guard officer in Tokyo?"

"Of course."

"Hmph, I doubt Yang Zhi alone can take on ten men!"

At this moment, Zhu Jing spoke up. He had always been very confident in his abilities, even to the point of being somewhat arrogant. Of course, he had heard of the abilities of "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi, but he also felt that if Yang Zhi and he were to fight, they would be evenly matched.

If we have the help of our brothers, taking it will not be difficult!

"That's right. If the three heroes lead a few hundred henchmen to take it, no matter how powerful Yang Zhi is, he can't fight against four hands with two fists. Even a tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves. He will surely be knocked to the ground!"

Wu Yong then seized the opportunity to stir up trouble and incite others.

"Brother, why don't we do as the master suggests and take men to seize this birthday tribute?"

Zhong Liang, nicknamed "Copper Head Iron Head," said.

Zhu Jing was now eighty percent determined to go, and turned to ask Wu Yong, "Sir, since the odds of succeeding in taking this birthday tribute are so high, do you think we can seize this wealth?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yong slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Of course! The three chieftains are heroes whose abilities are no less than Yang Zhi's. If they lead a few hundred elite henchmen to rob the stronghold, even if Yang Zhi had three heads and six arms, he wouldn't be able to stop them!"

"Then shall we seize this wealth and honor?"

Zhu Jingdao.

"Good! The ill-gotten gains of these corrupt officials should not be allowed to flow into their pockets. You all take it, and that will stop them from emboldening such arrogance!"

Wu Yong continued to fan the flames.

"However, if you want to rob this haul of wealth, you must plan carefully. Your birthday convoy will pass through Zijin Mountain, Erlong Mountain, Taohua Mountain, Sangai Mountain, Huangnigang, Baishawu, Yeyundu, and Chisonglin. Although the birthday convoy will pass through your mountains, you must not rob it here."

"As the saying goes, a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow. If we were to rob you within your mountain territory, we would be giving them a handle to use against you. You would be the most suspected, and the old scoundrel Cai Jing and Liang Zhongshu would be the first to suspect you. If we were to send a large army to wipe you out, wouldn't we be digging our own grave?"

After listening to Wu Yong's analysis, the three chieftains nodded in agreement. Wu Yong then said, "Since we are going to take the birthday gifts, it would be best to do it in another prefecture to avoid suspicion. The place also needs to be suitable for an ambush. I think Huangni Ridge is the best place!"

"Sir, you are known as the 'wise strategist,' so what you say must be correct. Please, sir, guide us brothers on our journey."

It was obvious that the chieftains on Zijin Mountain weren't very bright, so they believed Wu Yong's provocation without much thought.

"Gentlemen, I shouldn't refuse your hospitality, but according to my estimation, Yang Zhi and his party will arrive at Huangni Ridge around the third or fourth day of the sixth lunar month. Time is short, and you will all need to quickly gather your men and set off. Although I am willing to join, I cannot go at this time because I have a close friend, Chao Gai, the 'Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King' from Dongxi Village, Yuncheng County, Jizhou Prefecture. I would like to go find him first and we can go up the mountain together to join the group. You all go and retrieve the birthday gifts first. I will return as soon as I find Chao Gai. We cannot delay important matters!"

Wu Yong used Chao Gai as a means of escape, like a cicada shedding its shell.

"So it is the famous 'Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King'! If he can come up the mountain, that would be the best. Sir, go quickly. We brothers will also organize our troops, leave some men to guard the mountain stronghold, and then lead our elite troops to Huangni Ridge!"

As Zhu Jing, nicknamed "Sky-Piercing Spear," spoke, he picked up his awl-shaped spear from the weapons rack and began to brandish it with a "whoosh."

"At that time, I will have to test my skills and see how the Yang family spear compares to mine!"

"What a spirit! In that case, Wu Yong will take his leave!"

"Farewell, sir!"

Wu Yong, having successfully completed his mission, descended the mountain. However, he did not leave immediately but waited in the woods at the foot of the mountain for an hour.

He needed to confirm whether Zhu Jing and his men had actually sent troops.

An hour later, Wu Yong saw the troops on Zijin Mountain descending the mountain. "Drilling Spear" Zhu Jing led his two brothers, "Iron Mantis" Shi Ding and "Copper Iron Head" Zhong Liang, down the mountain with five hundred henchmen. This was obviously their way to seize the birthday gifts!

Logically, they should have left one leader to guard the stronghold, but it's also possible that although Zhu Jing was unwilling to admit defeat, he still believed that he might not be able to defeat "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi. Therefore, it would be more certain for the three leaders to go down the mountain together.

However, Wu Yong didn't care if they all went down the mountain. His goal was to create a big mess, the more people the better, so that they would all be severely injured in the end, and that he and Chao Gai could kill Yang Zhi and Li Hanxiao so that they could take advantage of the situation.

As for how skilled Yang Zhi and Li Hanxiao were, Wu Yong knew. One was a descendant of the Yang family generals and a formidable figure who had long been famous in the martial arts world. The other, although a newcomer, could wipe out two thousand government troops with ease. Neither of them were easy to deal with.

The more people who went, the greater the likelihood that they would be killed, a point that Wu Yong was well aware of.

Once Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," confirmed that troops had been dispatched from Zijin Mountain to retrieve the birthday gifts, he immediately set off at full speed towards Qingzhou.

Originally, there were many hills in Qingzhou, and Wu Yong had not yet decided which one to persuade. After thinking about it for a moment, he decided to go to Qingfeng Mountain to persuade one of them.

Firstly, there wasn't enough time. After he finished persuading Qingfeng Mountain, he would have to return to Dongxi Village to meet up with Chao Gai and handle the matters related to heading to Huangnigang. There wouldn't be enough time to go to other mountains.

Secondly, he carefully analyzed Qingfeng Mountain and Erlong Mountain, which were relatively close. In comparison, Qingfeng Mountain seemed to be stronger. Qingfeng Mountain had three mountain kings: "Jinmaohu" Yan Shun, "Aijiaohu" Wang Ying, and "Baimianlangjun" Zheng Tianshou, with three main combat forces.

There is only one chieftain on Erlong Mountain, Deng Long, nicknamed "Golden-Eyed Tiger," so from a strength perspective, Wu Yong should go to Qingfeng Mountain first.

Wu Yong rode swiftly towards Qingfeng Mountain, a journey that took another three or four days. He found Qingfeng Mountain rugged and precipitous on all sides. Strange, ancient pines with verdant canopies stretched out, and old trees were draped with vines. Waterfalls cascaded down, their chilling air making one's hair stand on end; the precipitous cliffs plunged straight down, their clear light dazzling and startling. The sound of streams and woodcutters' axes could be heard intermittently; the peaks seemed to fall precariously, and the cries of mountain birds were mournful. It was hardly a beautiful, tranquil place.

Wu Yong immediately knew that there must be bandits lurking nearby, and that there might be quite a few bandits waiting to capture him in the woods and bushes.

Then, the "wise man" shouted, "Heroes, I, the 'wise man' Wu Yong, have come to pay my respects. Please do not make a move. I want to see your chieftain. We are all fellow martial artists, so please do not kill your brothers!"

As soon as Wu Yong finished shouting, more than a dozen henchmen rushed out of the nearby woods and blocked his way.