Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

"That's right, I won't let any of these three villages escape. They can't get away!"

Once Li Hanxiao and Wen Huanzhang had made up their minds, they immediately began to select their generals and set off for the expedition. Li Hanxiao personally took command, leading fifteen leaders, including "Leopard Head" Lin Chong, "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi, "Flowery Monk" Lu Zhishen, "Golden-Faced Buddha" Qin Zhi, "Red-Faced Tiger" Yuan Lang, "Three-Strike Axe" Cheng Da, "Horse Hawk" Ma Ji, "Two-Headed Snake" Xie Zhen, "Double-Tailed Scorpion" Xie Bao, "Yin-Yang Hand" Lu Hui, "Sickly Yuchi" Sun Li, "Cloud-Piercing Golden Wings" Ou Peng, "Iron Flute Immortal" Ma Lin, "Fire-Eyed Lion" Deng Fei, and "Death God" Bao Xu, to attack the Zhu Family Village. The rest of the troops and Wen Huanzhang stayed behind to guard Liangshan Marsh.

Li Hanxiao had mustered his troops and ordered "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang to lead the way. The next morning, by the water's edge, "Smiling Tiger" Zhu Fu and Wu Dalang steamed countless buns, giving each henchman two buns, a piece of meat, and a bowl of wine. After they had eaten their fill, they set off, galloping forward towards the three villages of Dulonggang.

While walking down the road, Li Hanxiao called over "Two-Headed Snake" Xie Zhen and "Double-Tailed Scorpion" Xie Bao.

"My two brothers, I have a mission for you: sneak into the Zhu Family Village ahead of time and prepare to coordinate with us from the inside. When the time comes, listen for the sound of cannon fire!"

Li Hanxiao believed that they should first send someone into Zhu Family Village to coordinate an attack from the inside. Firstly, this was to rescue the Hu family father and son. After all, it was possible that if Li Hanxiao and his group attacked Zhu Family Village, Zhu Chaofeng would kill the Hu family father and son. Therefore, they needed someone to protect them secretly.

Secondly, the presence of insiders and outsiders would also help Li Hanxiao defeat the Zhu Family Manor. If Wen Huanzhang's plan succeeds, turning the three sons of the Zhu family and Luan Tingyu into stray dogs, and then defeating them from the outside, the forces inside the Zhu Family Manor might put up a stubborn resistance. If they were to fight them head-on at that point, the losses would be too great.

If we could send Jie Zhen and Jie Bao to infiltrate the Zhu Family Village beforehand, we could then use the old trick of colluding with outsiders. Why not?

"Yes, sir. I've only heard that the Zhu Family Village is located in a dangerous area with complicated paths. Does the chieftain know how to get into the village?"

"Two-headed snake," Jie Zhen asked.

"But turn left when you see the poplar tree, and that's the way out. Keep going and you'll get into the village! The Zhu Family Village shouldn't be completely sealed off right now, and they're probably checking for outsiders. You two just need to hide inside the Zhu Family Village and not be discovered."

Before Li Hanxiao could answer, Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," spoke up about the method. Having grown up on Dulonggang, she was very familiar with the situation in Zhujiazhuang.

After learning about the situation in Zhujiazhuang, the two brothers, "Two-Headed Snake" Xie Zhen and "Double-Tailed Scorpion" Xie Bao, rode two fast horses and quickly headed to Dulonggang to lie in ambush. Li Hanxiao estimated the distance and figured they would arrive at Dulonggang and engage the enemy by tomorrow morning.

It was time to plan the attack, so Li Hanxiao temporarily halted the march and summoned his generals for a meeting.

Li Hanxiao led his troops straight to Dulonggang. According to the original plan, the troops were actually divided into three routes: one to attack Hujiazhuang, one to cut off the retreat of Zhujiazhuang's troops, and the other to surround Zhujiazhuang, making it impossible for Zhujiazhuang to provide support.

"Chief Li, I am familiar with Hu Family Village, and I am willing to lead troops to attack it!"

Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," volunteered to reclaim her homeland. Di Quan thought it was a good idea, since she was a native of Hu Family Village and the people of Hu Family Village listened to her.

However, Hu Sanniang's martial arts skills might not be fully up to the task, so Li Hanxiao went there personally to seize Hu Family Village.

In addition, Li Hanxiao also planned to go to Hujiazhuang first to win the hearts and minds of the local people in order to prepare for the subsequent annexation.

This kind of thing can't be done by Hu Sanniang alone. Otherwise, the people of Hujiazhuang will only thank the Hu family. They need to know that it was Li Hanxiao's troops who came and liberated them. If they want to thank someone, they should thank Li Hanxiao.

Along this route, Li Hanxiao personally oversaw the operation, accompanied by "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang and two deputy generals, "Cloud-Piercing Golden-Winged" Ou Peng and "Iron Flute Immortal" Ma Lin.

"Chief, I have not yet rendered any service. May I be allowed to lead the attack on the Zhu Family Village?"

Yang Zhi, nicknamed "Blue-Faced Beast," volunteered for the mission. Li Hanxiao was quite pleased that he was willing to take responsibility, because in the original story, after joining Liangshan, this guy mostly did not put in any real effort and had very few achievements.

His willingness to volunteer now proves his loyalty to Liangshan Marsh, so Li Hanxiao ordered another group, led by "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi, to surround the Zhu Family Village.

Li Hanxiao sent "Flowery Monk" Lu Zhishen, "Golden-Faced Buddha" Qin Zhi, and "Red-Faced Tiger" Yuan Lang to help him. Since there were no fierce generals in Zhu Family Village, these people were enough.

"The route to cut off the Zhu Family Village's retreat is the most important. I don't want to annihilate them all in one battle, but rather to keep them outside the Zhu Family Village, isolated and helpless, starving them for two days before wiping them out. Who will lead this route of troops?"

Li Hanxiao asked.

"Chief, shall I go?"

Lin Chong, nicknamed "Leopard Head," stepped forward.

"Alright, then you, Instructor Lin, will lead the remaining troops to hold them off outside and give them a small setback!"

Therefore, another force, led by Lin Chong, blocked the Zhu family's troops attacking outside Li Family Village.

With the arrangements made, the troops split into three groups that very night, each heading forward according to Li Hanxiao's instructions. They were to advance on Dulonggang the following morning and fight independently.

Dulonggang, Hujiazhuang.

After the Hu Family Village was captured by the Zhu Family Village through a treacherous scheme, Zhu Chaofeng dispatched his trusted confidant, Zhu Er, the steward of the Zhu Family Village, with 500 soldiers to garrison the Hu Family Village.

The victor is king and the loser is a bandit. After the Hu Family Village was destroyed, the men and women of the Hu Family Village succumbed to the tyranny of the Zhu Family Village and suffered endless bullying.

This Zhu Er is no good either. In just a few days in Hujiazhuang, he has ruined many young women and wives. The people of Hujiazhuang have no one to stand up for them and dare not speak out against him.

Right now, it's dawn, and Zhu Er should be up by now. But this kid has been partying every night in Hu Family Village with five hundred men from Zhu Family Village, and he and those five hundred are still hungover!

"Good wine! Good wine!"

Zhu Er was still savoring the old wine he drank yesterday in his dream, unaware that his life was about to begin its countdown!

"Is your Hu Family Village completely undefended?"

Li Han smiled as he looked at the almost completely undefended Hu Family Village and asked the "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang beside him with considerable surprise.

"No, there are still sentries on duty every day, but since the Zhu family has taken over my village and surrounded the Li family village, they assumed that there would be no one to threaten Dulonggang, so they have relaxed their guard!"

"One-zhang-green," Hu Sanniang said.

"Alright, then this is doing us a favor. Brothers, follow me and charge in!"

Li Hanxiao brandished his three-pointed double-edged sword and charged ahead from the forest where he was hiding, heading straight for Hu Family Village.

"kill!"

"One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang watched as Li Hanxiao led his troops in a charge, rushing straight to the gate of Hu Family Village as if no one else was there.

It doesn't matter if you don't have a key, Li Hanxiao still has a big key in his hand!

"open!"

Li Hanxiao swung his three-pointed double-edged sword at the door and cleaved it in two along the crack, splitting the doorpost that was stuck in the doorway in two and opening the door.

"Shh-"

As soon as Li Hanxiao opened the gate of Hu Family Village, he whistled, and a chorus of barks rang out, summoning his pack of dogs.

"Bite anything wearing yellow! Show no mercy!"

According to Hu Sanniang, the soldiers of Hu Family Village all wore red, while those of Zhu Family Village wore yellow, hence the saying that dogs only bite those wearing yellow!

"Ouch!"

Because there was going to be a battle the next day, Li Hanxiao deliberately didn't feed the dogs the day before, just waiting for them to run wild and bite people the next day!

The pack of dogs, already starving, rushed into Hujiazhuang and quickly searched for their prey. Soon, a series of barks and cries of pain rang out.

"what……"

This was the first time that Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," had ever witnessed someone driving a pack of dogs into battle. The constant barking and screams sent chills down her spine.

"Hmm...where did this stray dog ​​come from!"

Zhu Er was still drinking in the Golden Palace in his dream when two dog barks suddenly rang in his ears, pulling him directly back to reality.

Zhu Er rubbed his sleepy eyes and saw clearly that there was a big dog standing not far away. The big black dog looked at him with the same lustful eyes it had for a sausage, drooling with desire!

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Zhu Er hadn't realized the seriousness of the problem. He grabbed a wine glass from beside him and threw it at the big dog.

Most dogs are afraid of sticks or stones, and will run away if hit. But this dog was clearly not afraid. On the contrary, it was quite excited after being hit, and even raised its neck and barked.

It would have been better if it hadn't barked. As soon as it made a sound, it attracted three more large dogs that were no less big than it. All four dogs stared intently at Zhu Er.

Zhu Er also felt threatened and scared at this moment, so he immediately got out of bed and pulled out a knife from the side.

When the four large dogs saw that he had drawn his knife, they all moved closer.

The imposing presence of four large dogs walking side by side was considerable, so Zhu Er could only roar loudly to bolster his courage, "Get lost! Don't come any closer! I'll kill you if you come any closer!"

However, his roars were obviously in vain, and the four large dogs bared their gleaming fangs and pounced directly on Zhu Er.

"what!"

Zhu Er originally wanted to swing his knife to slash, but as soon as he raised the knife, a large dog bit his wrist and knocked him to the ground. Then, his body was subjected to a violent attack by several dogs...

With the help of his henchmen, Li Hanxiao's troops easily wiped out the henchmen of the Zhu Family Village.

The villagers of Hujiazhuang initially thought it was the people from Zhujiazhuang looting there, so they all hid in their homes, not daring to breathe.

Later, some of the bolder ones spotted the figure of "One-Zhang-Qing" Hu Sanniang in the crowd, and only then did they realize that it was Hu Sanniang who had brought people to rescue them!

So, all the common people came out to thank Hu Sanniang.

However, Li Hanxiao would not let this honor remain with Hu Sanniang forever; he wanted to keep it for himself.

After all, it was Li Hanxiao who provided the troops and fought the battles, so it's not unreasonable for him to ask for something in return.

Li Hanxiao, however, was prepared. He had "Iron Flute Immortal" Ma Lin escort in three large carts of grain and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, we are the heroes of Liangshan. We heard that you have been oppressed by the Zhu Family Village, so we have raised an army to attack the Zhu Family Village and rescue you. You have suffered these past few days, so come quickly and collect some grain!"

Meanwhile, the Liangshan soldiers had already set up their cooking stoves and pots, ready to cook and distribute porridge.

Originally, Hujiazhuang was not short of food and was even relatively wealthy. However, after it was seized by Zhujiazhuang, Zhujiazhuang plundered Hujiazhuang's granaries and ransacked every household, leaving the people of Hujiazhuang in dire straits, suffering from hunger and cold.

"Fellow villagers, this is Chief Li of Liangshan Marsh. He promised to come and rescue my father, brothers, and all of you!"

Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," also agreed with Li Hanxiao's statement, since what Li Hanxiao said was the truth.

With Hu Sanniang's testimony, Li Hanxiao's image as a public-spirited and righteous man was thus solidified in the eyes of the people of Hu Family Village.

Li Hanxiao unwittingly won over the hearts of the people.

"Thank you very much, Chief Li!"

"Thank you so much, Chief Li, for saving my life!"

"Chief Li is truly a righteous and benevolent leader!"

"We want to join Liangshan!"

"Please, Chief Li, lead us to rescue the old master and the others!"

"The young lady and Chief Li are a much better match than Zhu Biao!"

……

From somewhere in the crowd, a few voices suddenly rang out, expressing their desire to join the Liangshan bandits—exactly the effect Li Hanxiao wanted…

Li Hanxiao waved his hand, and "Golden Wings of the Clouds" Ou Peng ordered his henchmen to push up a cart full of weapons.

"Brothers, we Liangshanbo act on behalf of Heaven and will never tolerate these traitors from Zhu Family Village who harm the people. However, Zhu Family Village is a local stronghold, and it is difficult for me to eliminate them by myself alone. If any of you are willing to join me in killing these traitors, please take your weapons and come with my troops!"

Li Hanxiao's call to arms immediately garnered a response from the people who harbored deep hatred for the Zhu Family Village. The young and strong among them immediately grabbed their weapons and joined the ranks of Liangshan Marsh.

Seeing this long-awaited scene, Hu Sanniang, nicknamed "One-Zhang-Qing," found it quite moving; she had never seen the people of her village so united.

But she didn't realize that the people in her own village seemed to have developed a strong sense of loyalty towards Li Hanxiao...

This is exactly what Li Hanxiao wanted: to make these people see him as their lifeline and to instill in them the fear that if he left, they might fall back into misery.

If Li Hanxiao were to leave, do you think these ordinary people would follow him?

This is the so-called "psychological warfare tactic," which deceives these ordinary people and Liangshan Marsh into forming a united front.