Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

While they were practicing firearms at Liangshan Marsh, a man was secretly heading to the residence of Song Jiang, the "Righteous Protector," in Yuncheng County.

Although it's only June or July, this person was completely covered up with clothes, like the Michelin Man, as if he couldn't bear to be seen.

Who is he? It's none other than the "wise strategist" Wu Yong!

This man abandoned Chao Gai on Huangni Ridge and fled for his life. He wandered the Jianghu for a while, and now he has returned.

He returned this time to take revenge on Li Hanxiao. His plan was foiled by Li Hanxiao, and he and Chao Gai parted ways. He was not strong enough on his own to bring down Li Hanxiao, so he needed someone with enough prestige to use him.

Originally, "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" Chao Gai was a good candidate, but unfortunately, Chao Gai and he had already parted ways. Wu Yong had used and then abandoned Chao Gai, so even if Wu Yong went to find Chao Gai again, Chao Gai probably wouldn't pay any attention to him.

Wu Yong had been in Yuncheng County for a long time and knew that there was a highly respected hero in the martial arts world within the county. That hero was Song Jiang, also known as Song Gongming, the "Heroic and Righteous Hei Sanlang," the "Protector of Justice" of Yuncheng, and the "Timely Rain" of Shandong.

Compared to "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" Chao Gai, "Calling for Justice" Song Jiang was in no way inferior. His reputation and the popularity he gained through his generosity and righteousness were basically better and more impressive than Chao Gai's.

Moreover, Wu Yong also knew that Song Jiang was a clerk in Yuncheng County, had connections with the government, and was a close friend of the two powerful constables in the county, "Beautiful Beard" Zhu Tong and "Winged Tiger" Lei Heng.

Therefore, the "wise strategist" Wu Yong approached Song Jiang, wanting to tell him about Li Hanxiao's robbery of the birthday gifts, and plotting to get Song Jiang to inform the government so that they could attack Liangshan again!

Wu Yong is a man who holds grudges and seeks revenge. He attributed all the reasons for his defeat to Li Hanxiao, forgetting that he himself had been plotting against Li Hanxiao from the very beginning...

Meanwhile, Song Jiang, the "Righteous Protector," had finished his official duties at the yamen and, without having eaten, took a jug of wine and a bag of meat home. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard someone call out from the side, "Sir Song!"

Song Jiang turned around and saw Wu Yong covering the leper patient, so he asked, "Who are you, sir...?"

Wu Yong quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Wu Yong, and I greet Clerk Song!"

Upon hearing the name Wu Yong, Song Jiang immediately became interested. He grabbed Wu Yong's hand and said, "Could you be Mr. Wu Yong, the 'wise strategist' who teaches in Dongxi Village? Come in, let's have a drink together!"

Song Jiang was a friendly person and had long heard of Wu Yong's reputation as a "wise strategist," but he had never had the chance to meet him.

"Then I'll have to bother you, clerk. I happen to have some confidential matters to report to you!"

Wu Yong was invited into the house by Song Jiang. Song Jiang laid out wine and meat, drank a few cups with Wu Yong, and took the initiative to say, "I have long admired your name, sir, but we have never met. May I ask what brings you here to see me today?"

Wu Yong sighed and said, "I have long admired your reputation, sir, and know that you are very talented, but you are frustrated and unfulfilled. Just like me, I have a lot of knowledge but nowhere to use it, so I can only drink and lament my own fate!"

As Wu Yong spoke, he raised his wine cup toward the moonlight streaming in through the window, seemingly with a sense of melancholy.

Wu Yong's words also deeply moved Song Jiang, giving him a sense of shared misfortune. Since becoming a clerk, Song Jiang had been a low-ranking official, not an official, and clerks could not be promoted to official positions.

How could Song Jiang be willing to accept that?

"Alas, life is full of disappointments..."

Song Jiang couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes, but I do know of a chance to turn things around, but I don't know if I should say it!"

Wu Yong spoke up.

"Hmm? What chance?"

Upon hearing the word "opportunity," Song Jiang's eyes immediately widened like copper bells.

He desperately wanted to improve and climb the ranks, but he never had the opportunity!

"Does Clerk Song know about the recently lost birthday tribute?"

Wu Yong said.

"Of course, the imperial court ordered our Jizhou Prefecture to apprehend the thieves who stole the birthday tribute on time. He Tao, the magistrate of this county, was even tattooed on his face because of this. If no replacement is found by the deadline, he will be exiled, either to Cangzhou or Shamen Island!"

Song Jiang answered.

"I know who kidnapped them!"

As soon as Wu Yong finished speaking, Song Jiang stood up abruptly, leaning half his body onto the table. He didn't care that there was a plate full of meat underneath him or the grease on it. He just grabbed Wu Yong's hand tightly, his throat moved twice, but he couldn't say anything. He was too nervous!

Song Jiang composed himself, swallowed twice, and then asked, "Who is it?"

"It's the new master of Liangshan Marsh, Li Hanxiao!"

No sooner had Wu Yong finished speaking than Song Jiang pressed on, "Is it Li Hanxiao of Liangshan who defeated two thousand of my Jizhou Prefecture's Huang Tuanlian's troops?"

"Exactly!"

After careful consideration, Song Jiang realized that Li Hanxiao was not someone to be trifled with. Back then, Huang An thought that Liangshan was in a period of leadership transition and must be weak internally, so he wanted to lead two thousand soldiers to attack it. However, Li Hanxiao defeated them with just a hundred cavalry.

Huang An has been bitten by a dog and has contracted rabies; he's now in a state of waiting to die in Jeju City.

It's not impossible that Li Hanxiao and his gang actually stole the birthday gifts at Huangni Ridge. After all, Li Hanxiao's band of bandits were exceptionally strong, capable of eliminating other forces vying for the birthday gifts amidst the chaos of Huangni Ridge and ultimately seizing them. Song Jiang believed this.

"However, how did you learn of this, sir..."

Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," had already devised a countermeasure and reason for Song Jiang's question. Of course, he couldn't say that he was also part of the robbery of the birthday gifts, but since he didn't want to get involved, he couldn't reveal the affairs of Chao Gai and his group.

This was also a way of protecting himself, because after Wu Yong returned, he inquired about Chao Gai's recent situation. He heard that "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" Chao Gai was not only not killed, but was also buying land and building houses like crazy.

Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," already knew that Chao Gai was probably in cahoots with Li Hanxiao.

Nevertheless, Wu Yong still felt somewhat guilty towards "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King" Chao Gai. After all, he had used Chao Gai and then abandoned him. If he didn't care about that, he wouldn't be a human being!

"After learning that the birthday tribute had been lost, I was also very eager to know who was responsible. So I went to the vicinity of Huangni Ridge to investigate for several days. Finally, I learned from the nearby villages that among the bandits who came to rob the birthday tribute, there was a group of bandits whose leader was called Chief Li."

"The rest of the groups have also been investigated. They are undoubtedly the Zijin Mountain, Erlong Mountain, Qingfeng Mountain, and Sangai Mountain. Now they are all gone, and none of the leaders of these places have the surname Li."

"Who else could gather such a powerful force in such a short time? It's like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Who else could it be but Li Hanxiao's Liangshan Marsh?"

After hearing Wu Yong's words, Song Jiang pondered deeply. He knew that what Wu Yong said was true; Li Hanxiao did indeed have the ability, and it was highly likely that his men had stolen the birthday gifts.

If he could find a way to report to the government and retrieve the birthday gifts, his future would naturally be bright. However, he was still worried that the Liangshan bandits were not ordinary bandits. If he sent the Jizhou Prefecture government troops, they would not be able to defeat them. The militia commander Huang An and his two thousand soldiers were a cautionary tale.

"What the scholar says is absolutely right. But I'm afraid the government troops of Jizhou Prefecture won't be able to deal with these fierce bandits. And Huang An's two thousand men, the militia commander, are no match for them either, are they?"

Song Jiang raised his own question: "Even though you know Liangshan has the birthday gifts, you still can't take them back. You're just not strong enough!"

Wu Yong raised the corner of his mouth and began to guide and influence Song Jiang's thinking.

“Brother Gongming, think about it. The government troops of Jizhou Prefecture may not be as good as the bandits of Liangshan Marsh, but whose birthday tribute is this?”

"It's a birthday gift from Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture to his father-in-law, Grand Tutor Cai!"

Song Jiang hadn't yet realized what Wu Yong's intention was in asking him that question.

"Then should we inform Liang Zhongshu about this?"

After Wu Yong finished speaking, Song Jiang suddenly understood!

If Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture knew that Liangshan Marsh had stolen his birthday gifts, wouldn't he be furious and send troops to investigate?

Jeju Prefecture was lax in its military preparedness, but Daming Prefecture was a powerful "Beijing" with strong troops!

"Understood. Although this won't attract Grand Tutor Cai's imperial army, it will allow us to get Liang Zhongshu to send troops to help!"

Song Jiang said.

"That's right. Please, Clerk Song, take me to report to the prefect tomorrow, and then directly to the provincial government!"

Seeing that he had achieved his goal of deceiving Song Jiang, Wu Yong couldn't wait to prepare the second half of his revenge plan.

"Alright, please stay here for the night, scholar. Tomorrow, you will come with me to the prefectural capital!"

The two spent the night at Song Jiang's house. The next morning, Song Jiang, the "Righteous Protector," and Wu Yong, the "Strategist," went to the Yuncheng County government office to report the matter to Shi Wenbin. Shi Wenbin, a county magistrate, knew that this was a serious matter that could not be delayed, so he immediately told Song Jiang to take his personal letter to the prefect of Jizhou Prefecture to see the prefect.

Song Jiang and Wu Yong then entered Jizhou City again, went to the prefectural government office, and handed over the letter.

Before long, someone summoned the two men inside. The prefect asked them if the situation was true, and the two men swore an oath, convinced that it was Liangshanbo who did it.

Seeing their certainty, the prefect of Jizhou looked troubled and said, "This is difficult. The bandits of Liangshan Marsh are not to be trifled with. A few days ago, they defeated two thousand soldiers of Jizhou Prefecture. The militia commander Huang An was seriously injured and is now dying at home. We have no soldiers or generals at the moment. How can we go to conquer Liangshan Marsh?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yong raised his head and said, "My lord, this birthday tribute was originally lost by Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture. Why don't we send him an official document saying that the whereabouts of the birthday tribute have been found, and that it is located in Liangshan Marsh, but because Jizhou Prefecture lacks troops, we earnestly request his assistance?"

"Please, Liang Zhongshu, lend us a hand..."

Upon hearing Wu Yong's words, the prefect of Jizhou pondered for a moment. He thought to himself that, logically, Liang Zhongshu should send troops to retrieve his birthday tribute, but he was afraid of offending him and making him think that he had failed in his duties.

So he decided that while asking Liang Zhongshu for help, he also had to find a way to send Liang Zhongshu some gifts to bribe him.

Isn't that how things are in officialdom?

The prefect of Jizhou made up his mind, prepared gifts, wrote a letter, and sent it to his trusted confidant in Daming Prefecture so that Liang Zhongshu could know about it.

Meanwhile, the prefect of Jizhou had a fairly good impression of Song Jiang, the "Righteous Protector," and Wu Yong, the "Strategist." After all, even though He Tao had his face tattooed, he still hadn't figured out who had stolen the birthday gifts, but these two were very efficient.

The prefect of Jeju Prefecture thought to himself that he had no one he could rely on right now, but these two seemed like a good option, so he asked, "Would you two be willing to come and work for my staff?"

Before Wu Yong, the "wise strategist," could answer, Song Jiang, the "righteous protector," knelt down before the prefect of Jizhou.

"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask!"

As the saying goes, "Even a prime minister's family members become seventh-rank officials." Isn't the process of becoming an official just a case of "when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven"?

If he works well under the prefect, he'll be much better off than he was in the county government of Yuncheng County; at least he'll be able to become an official!

Wu Yong was surprised that Song Jiang reacted so quickly when this matter was brought up, and immediately replied, "I agree!"

"Alright, from now on, follow me and do a good job!"

"Your Excellency, I have something else to say!"

Wu Yong, however, still had some thoughts he hadn't fully expressed.

"Is there anything else you need? Please speak freely!"

The prefect of Jizhou waved his hand, indicating that Wu Yong was referring to "this thing".

“My lord, regardless of whether Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture will help us or not, I think we should prepare an army in advance, either to assist Liang Zhongshu’s army or to prepare for defense. Otherwise, if Liang Zhongshu’s army comes and sees us unprepared, it will be bad if we go back and tell Liang Zhongshu.”

Wu Yong raised a valid point. You asked Liang Zhongshu for help, saying that your Jizhou Prefecture couldn't win and that the enemy had sent troops. Your local area should at least show sincerity by sending troops to participate in the battle and guide the way.

"In addition, we must prepare plenty of supplies for the troops. When Liang Zhongshu's army arrives, we must make sure they are well fed and well-fed!"

When Liang Zhongshu's troops arrive in Jizhou Prefecture, they must be treated to the best of food and drink. If these lords are not served well, not to mention whether they can fight well, just the fact that they will cause trouble for the Jizhou prefect when they return home is enough for them to suffer.

“Excellent, excellent, very thoughtful! This matter of rewarding the troops will be handled by the chief clerk. However, we currently lack generals, and the militia commander Huang An is dying of illness. Who can lead the troops to assist the soldiers of Daming Prefecture?”

The problem was raised by Wu Yong, so the prefect of Jizhou naturally asked him for a solution.