Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

"Father, I think Third Brother's words make sense. If we can poison Li Ying, we can also reduce our losses. Why not do it?"

Zhu Long stepped forward to express his support for Zhu Biao's idea. He had been wounded in the arm by Li Ying's flying knife on the battlefield that day and was filled with resentment. He only hoped that Li Ying would die soon so that he could relieve his hatred.

"Then let's do as Biao'er wishes. I will write a letter to Li Ying and send it to him. If he really falls for the trap, then Dulonggang will be the domain of our Zhu family!"

Thinking of this, the old man Zhu Chaofeng couldn't help but sigh, "I'm already old. No matter what wealth I build now, it will all belong to you three brothers in the future. For the future of our Zhu family, I'm willing to die for it..."

"Father, why say such things? Now that we've taken Li Family Village, you'll live to be a hundred years old!"

Zhu Hu then began to offer words of advice.

"Sigh, I hope so, but I don't know why, I've been feeling uneasy these past few days..."

After the discussions at Zhu Family Village were completed, Zhu Chaofeng sent his trusted confidant, Zhu Er, to deliver a letter to Li Family Village.

"What? The Zhu Family Village dares to come here and issue a challenge?"

When Li Ying heard that the Zhu Family Village had sent someone to deliver a message, he thought it was a challenge and became furious.

"Master, this is not a declaration of war, but a letter seeking peace."

"Oh?"

When Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," heard that it was a letter seeking peace, he was quite surprised, because this was not in line with the usual style of the Zhu Family Village. In the past, the Zhu Family Village was known for its domineering behavior on Dulonggang, always taking advantage of others and never suffering losses.

It's somewhat baffling that they're now taking the initiative to negotiate peace...

"Bring me the letter!"

Although Li Ying was puzzled, he had to read the letter to find out what this old bastard Zhu Chaofeng was really up to.

"Uncle, the Zhu family's sudden request for peace is probably not sincere. Uncle, please don't believe them!"

Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," was there trying to persuade Li Ying. In her opinion, the Zhu family was using this as a delaying tactic and had ulterior motives.

"Hmm... The Zhu family said they want to meet me at Fengshi Pavilion tomorrow at noon to make peace and cease hostilities. They said they are willing to renew the alliance, restore friendship, and release your father and brothers..."

Li Ying looked at the contents of the letter and was also a little puzzled. It was hard to imagine that the Zhu Family Village could spit out the Hu Family Village that they had already swallowed!

"This must be another wicked scheme by the Zhu Family Village. They might be plotting to harm Uncle. We must not go there!"

Although Hu Sanniang didn't understand what the Zhu Family Village was trying to do, she was very clear that there were no good people in the Zhu Family Village, and all their actions would definitely not lead to anything good. As long as Li Ying went there, he would definitely fall into their trap.

“But if I don’t go, I’m afraid I’ll be ridiculed. I think Zhu Chaofeng’s words in this letter are sincere, and he doesn’t seem to be lying…”

Although Li Ying was puzzled as to why the Zhu family had suddenly agreed to a truce, he was still unwilling to fight them to the death. After all, it was hard to say who would win if they fought to the death...

Furthermore, Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," considered himself a renowned figure in the martial arts world. Since the Zhu Family Manor had invited him to the gathering, it would damage his reputation if he dared not go.

In this world of martial arts, some people love money, and some love fame. Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," is extremely wealthy and naturally has no shortage of money, but he cherishes his reputation very much.

In other words, he was burdened by his reputation. He believed that as a person of status, he should not care what others thought. If they invited him, he had to go. Not going would be considered beneath him.

"Uncle, you mustn't! That old scoundrel from the Zhu family is cunning and treacherous. He must have some tricks up his sleeve. If he has laid an ambush there beforehand, setting up a trap, you might lose your life!"

Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," tried her best to persuade Li Ying, but the problem was obvious. First, Li Ying himself felt that he should go, and no matter what Hu Sanniang said, he remained unmoved.

Secondly, this "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang was not very good at persuasion; she wasn't very good at talking and couldn't come up with a strong reason to convince Li Ying after talking for a long time.

On the contrary, Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," burst into laughter when he heard Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang Green," say that the Zhu Family Village was very likely to be setting up a trap.

"A trap? They dare to set up a trap in front of me? That's tantamount to inviting humiliation and destruction upon themselves. I'll just wipe out the entire Zhu family in one fell swoop!"

Li Ying wasn't afraid at all, because his martial prowess was undeniable. Even if all three sons of the Zhu family attacked at once, he could still overwhelm them. Moreover, Zhu Long had already been injured by one of his flying knives.

If he were to deal with someone now, the most difficult one would be Luan Tingyu, the "Iron Rod," because Li Ying is fearless and has nothing to fear.

"But……"

"One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang was about to persuade him again, but Li Ying interrupted her, "Alright, there's no need to say anything more. I suppose Zhu Chaofeng has realized how powerful I am and dares not fight me anymore. I will definitely rescue your father and brothers this time. Don't say any more!"

Li Ying's tone was resolute, and Hu Sanniang knew she couldn't dissuade him, so she could only say in the end, "In that case, please, Uncle, take more men with you!"

Li Ying stubbornly shook his head, ignoring the unpleasant but truthful advice from "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang.

"Back in the Three Kingdoms period, Guan Yu went to the meeting alone with only a few boatmen and sailors. If I bring more people, it will seem like I'm afraid of the Zhu family!"

So stubborn and self-willed, Hu Sanniang was too lazy to persuade him anymore. The next day at noon, "Soaring Eagle" Li Ying led more than ten villagers, dressed in full armor, out of Li Family Village and headed to the Fengshi Pavilion on Dulong Ridge to attend the meeting.

Upon arriving at the destination, Li Ying could see Zhu Chaofeng, his son Zhu Hu, his third son Zhu Biao, and their teacher "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu waiting in the pavilion, surrounded by more than twenty guards from the Zhu Family Manor.

"Master Li, it's been a long time! Please have a seat!"

When Zhu Chaofeng saw Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," arrive, he stood up and invited Li Ying to sit down.

Li Ying snorted coldly and said in a sarcastic tone, "How could I possibly trouble you, Zhu Chaofeng? In your eyes, my Li Family Village is nothing more than a dilapidated kiln, which could collapse at any moment, isn't that right?"

Zhu Chaofeng chuckled twice after hearing Li Ying's words, and then said, "We three villages were originally good friends, and we stood together against outsiders. Don't say anything outside the rules. The other day, I went to Hu Family Village because Hu Sanniang hired someone to kill my third son. You, Master Li, should have heard about this. Later, I chased this woman to your village and we started fighting. It was really not my wish."

"Not what you wanted? You only realize it wasn't what you wanted after you've fought and lost? Let me tell you clearly, even if your Zhu Family Village had twice as many troops, I, Li Ying, wouldn't be afraid!"

Li Ying put on a show of power, slamming his hand on the table in an attempt to intimidate the Zhu family.

"Yes, yes, hasn't my son already experienced the might of you, Master Li? He dares not fight again, so he has come today only to make peace, establish an alliance, and restore friendship!"

Regardless of what Zhu Chaofeng was really thinking, he was undeniably shrewd on the surface, never revealing his true feelings. He appeared utterly cowardly, as if he were afraid of Li Ying's anger, a performance that was remarkably convincing.

Li Ying was quite surprised and pleased to see that the old scoundrel Zhu Chaofeng could put on such an attitude. His pride and vanity were satisfied in one fell swoop!

Therefore, Li Ying's tone softened considerably as he asked Zhu Chaofeng, "Making peace is not difficult, but are you sincere?"

"Of course, of course. If we can stop fighting and make peace, the Zhu Family Village will follow your lead from now on, Master Li. I am old and my sons are useless. How can I compete with you?"

"What about the matter of Hu Family Village?"

Li Ying continued to ask.

“Yesterday I also asked the Hu family father and son, and they also expressed their thoughts. Indeed, our Zhu Family Village had gone too far in the past. If we stop fighting and make peace, we will naturally let them go back.”

Up to this point, Li Ying was satisfied with what Zhu Chaofeng had said, so he nodded and said, "If your Zhu family had understood this principle earlier, you wouldn't have ended up being betrayed and abandoned by everyone!"

“What Master Li says is true. We brothers will remember it. Father, since Master Li is willing to make amends, you two should drink this cup of wine and let bygones be bygones. What do you say?”

Zhu Biao then had someone bring over a pot of wine.

Seeing this, Li Ying looked at the wine pot with some vigilance. After all, he was not without experience in the martial arts world. Although the Zhu family was saying all the right things, if the wine was poisoned, it would be fatal.

Seeing Li Ying hesitate, Zhu Chaofeng laughed and said, "Biao'er, people suspect we're setting up a trap. Drink a cup first and let Master Li see!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao poured himself a cup of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and then turned the cup upside down and waved it in front of Li Ying to show him that he had drunk every last drop.

Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," only felt relieved after seeing Zhu Biao drink a cup of wine himself. After all, even tigers don't eat their cubs, and no matter how cunning Zhu Chaofeng was, he wouldn't poison Zhu Biao, would he?

"Alright, I'll drink this cup to the brim, and we'll make up someday!"

Li Ying, nicknamed "Soaring Eagle," picked up the wine glass closest to him and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Biao secretly laughed as they watched Li Ying finish his drink.

"Master Li, it's easy to draw a dragon or a tiger, but difficult to draw their bones; you can know a person's face, but not their heart. I never thought you would fall into my hands today!"

Seeing that he had been drinking, Zhu Biao stopped pretending, grabbed his spear, and called for everyone to surround him.

"Huh? Zhu Biao! What do you want to do?"

Seeing that the situation had changed again, Li Ying couldn't help but stand up and question Zhu Biao.

"You're right, that's it for today. Don't even think about leaving!"

Zhu Hu roared and brandished his steel knife, ready to strike.

"You have quite the nerve, but do you think I, Li Ying, am afraid of just a few of you!"

Li Ying's face turned cold. He took the mixed iron steel spear from the servant beside him, ready to wreak havoc.

"Haha, Li Ying, we know you are highly skilled in martial arts, but what you don't know is that we poisoned that cup of wine just now. Do you still have the strength?"

"what?"

Hearing Zhu Biao's words, Li Ying was caught off guard, but he did indeed feel a sharp pain in his abdomen, and his strength gradually weakened until he could no longer hold the gun in his hand...

"No, you drank it too..."

Li Ying was in so much pain that he was covered in cold sweat and couldn't help but ask.

"Haha, let me let you die knowing why. This wine was not poisoned originally. I put the poison on the cup closest to you, and you drank from that cup, so naturally you were poisoned!"

Zhu Biao let out an extremely unrestrained laugh, seemingly mocking Li Ying, and also laughing at the fact that the overall situation was settled.

"rat!"

Li Ying was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood. At this moment, even if he wanted to resist, he had no strength left.

"Cut Li Ying to pieces!"

At Zhu Hu's command, the villagers immediately charged forward, while Li Ying and his dozen or so servants quickly protected Li Ying and retreated, fleeing towards Li Family Village.

However, the Zhu Family Village was already on guard, afraid that your dozen or so people might rebel.

But then all the servants of the Zhu Family Manor who had been lying in ambush suddenly rushed out. Although Li Ying's dozen or so servants fought desperately, they all fell one by one into pools of blood.

“I, Li Ying, am like a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs.”

Li Ying also fell to the ground, regretting that he hadn't listened to "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang!

Just as things were at their most critical, a delicate shout rang out, "Follow me!" and a group of men charged in, intercepting the pursuers from the Zhu Family Village.

The person who came was none other than "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang. Ever since Li Ying left, she knew that the situation was probably not good, so she went to "Ghost Face" Du Xing, who was recuperating from his injuries, and asked for some troops.

At this moment, she led her troops out and arrived on horseback, temporarily blocking the pursuit of the Zhu Family Village and rescuing Li Ying.

"Hu Sanniang, where are you going!"

Seeing that "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang had ruined her plans, "Iron Rod" Luan Tingyu rushed forward and struck her with four or five blows in quick succession. Hu Sanniang was unable to withstand the attack and had to retreat in defeat. However, she did manage to rescue Li Ying.

"Quick, take Uncle to see a doctor!"

Upon returning to Li Family Village, Hu Sanniang directed the villagers to carry the unconscious Li Ying to the doctor for treatment.

How is Uncle?

"The master has been poisoned; the poison has attacked his heart!"

The doctor immediately tried to treat him, but Li Ying had already been poisoned. Although the doctor did his best, he could only pull Li Ying back from the brink of death.

Although Li Ying survived after treatment, the residual poison in his body could not be cleared, leaving him bedridden and likely unable to fight for some time.

"I regret not heeding good advice and falling into the Zhu family's vicious scheme..."

Lying on the bed, "Soaring Eagle" Li Ying looked ashen-faced. It could be said that the Li Family Village had relied on him alone to compete with the Zhu Family Village for a time. Now that he was lying down, the Li Family Village was completely powerless to resist the Zhu Family Village.

Although Li Ying was rescued, the Zhu Family Village knew that Li Ying's life was probably short, so they immediately led their troops to attack the Zhu Family Village.