Through countless dynasties, I can summon the heroes of Chinese history.

Laizhou, Fengxiang County, on Liangshan Mountain.

Not only does the world of Earth have a place called Liangshan Marsh, but this other world also has its own version of Liangshan Marsh, which is very similar to the band of outlaws known on Earth.

After all, even their locations are basically the same.

The Liangshan Mountain on Earth is located in Shandong, the heart of the Qilu region. This otherworldly version of Liangshan is also located in the east. They occupy the marshland and establish a stronghold, becoming a force in the eastern corner.

Laizhou, within Fengxiang County, was the stronghold of Liangshan.

This place boasts eight hundred miles of water, with vast expanses of misty waves and crisscrossing waterways. Surrounded by reeds and hidden shoals, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it a naturally strategic and advantageous location. It can be used to plunder prefectures and counties, or to defend itself by relying on its natural defenses.

Initially, Liangshan was just an ordinary bandit den. The bandits were vicious and robbed villages and towns, and they did all sorts of evil deeds, which made the local people hate them to the bone, but they were powerless to resist.

It wasn't until Chao Gai, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, came up the mountain with his trusted men, including the three Ruan brothers, and killed the cruel and ruthless former chieftain Wang Lun, forcefully seizing the stronghold, that he changed his old ways and established new rules, only intercepting wealthy passing merchants and taking their goods without harming their lives. Only then did the people have a chance to breathe a little easier.

After Song Jiang led his brothers to join the Liangshan bandits, he drastically revised the mountain rules, establishing the guiding principles for Liangshan's future survival and development.

From then on, the Liangshan people strictly adhered to their creed, never indiscriminately killing innocent civilians, nor robbing ordinary passing merchants;

When officials pass through the watery area, those who are honest and upright will be allowed to pass and will be escorted out of the country. However, those who are corrupt and lawless will be hunted down and killed without mercy.

If they encounter wealthy and powerful families who hoard grain and fodder, levy exorbitant taxes, and exploit the people, they will gather their men and openly move their wealth and grain up the mountain. Anyone who dares to resist with a knife will be killed without mercy.

Upon hearing of nouveau riche scoundrels who oppress the good and plunder the rich, no matter how far away they are, we will send men to them day and night to confiscate all their property and transport it back to our mountain stronghold to provide relief to our brothers.

With the system in place, Liangshan's righteous actions, which acted on behalf of Heaven, have been carried out in just a few months, numbering over a hundred, which has gradually improved Liangshan's reputation.

The people of the surrounding counties all praised them highly, saying that Song Jiang and his gang were a righteous and upright army dedicated to helping the poor and elderly and punishing evildoers. They hoped that they could come to their hometown to eliminate evil and bring peace, so that everyone could be free from the exploitation and bullying of corrupt officials and gentry and live a peaceful life.

From then on, righteous men and refugees flocked to Liangshan, and the mountain stronghold grew stronger and stronger. Now it has more than 10,000 soldiers and dozens of leaders under its command. Its army is strong and its influence is growing day by day.

Seeing the strength of Liangshan, the prefect of Fengxiang County was worried that it would cause chaos in the area. He sent government troops to suppress them several times. However, Liangshan relied on the natural advantage of the eight hundred li of waters under its jurisdiction, set up ambushes and waited for the enemy to tire themselves out. Every time, the prefectural troops who came to suppress them were defeated and fled in disarray.

After all, the Prefect of Fengxiang County, to put it nicely, was a prefect, but to put it bluntly, he was a puppet, with real power in the hands of powerful families.

Without the intervention of powerful clans, how could these ordinary soldiers possibly win?

On this night, all was quiet.

On the back peak of Liangshan, a man stood alone facing the moon, with a pot of strong liquor and a wine cup in front of him.

It was the fourteenth day of the month. Although the moon was not full, it was still bright and clear. Its light spread across the vast expanse of water, making the sky and water blend together and sparkle. The reeds on the shore swayed in the wind, and the moon's shadow danced in the breeze, creating a unique and serene scene.

The moon-gazer was dressed as a scholar, wearing a turban with a brow-high handle, a wide linen shirt with black trim, a brown belt around his waist, a brocade handkerchief hanging from his waist, and spotless silk shoes and socks on his feet.

He was born with delicate features, a fair complexion, a long beard, and an elegant demeanor, exuding a scholarly air.

Although he appeared to be gazing intently at the moon, his mind was not on the moonlight at all. A lingering sorrow was between his brows. Every time he looked at the moon in the sky, he would tilt his head back and drink a mouthful of strong liquor.

After finishing his drink, he put down his glass, looked around warily, his eyes revealing a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, clearly waiting for someone in the shadows.

The young man admiring the moon was none other than himself.

It was Wu Yong, the strategist who held the third-highest position in Liangshan, who was responsible for all the major and minor strategies of Liangshan.

His solitary visit to admire the moon tonight suggests there's a hidden reason behind it.

Suddenly, a figure in black appeared silently like a ghost, its footsteps light and without making a sound, and gently patted him from behind.

Wu Yong was startled and his whole body tensed up. He turned around sharply to be on guard, but when he saw the person's appearance, his tense expression instantly relaxed and he was overjoyed. This person was the guest he had been waiting for.

The man in black remained silent, raised his hand to Wu Yong, then turned and led the way, winding through the mountain paths and dense forests, avoiding various checkpoints, until they reached a desolate and deserted mountain valley, where they finally stopped.

"Wu Yong, have you thought this through?" the man in black asked directly.

Wu Yong quickly stepped forward and replied, "I have already made up my mind without the slightest hesitation. Are you sure that if my Liangshan brothers join the Prince of Laiyang's forces, they will be given a government military position?"

"Of course it is true. As long as you are willing to obey orders, not only will all the brothers on the mountain be incorporated into the army and receive rations, but Chao Gai, Song Jiang, and the three of you will also receive extraordinary rewards from the Prince of Laiyang, being granted official positions!"

The man in black spoke with absolute certainty, without the slightest ambiguity.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yong breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to the man in black, saying, "That's good. Rest assured, sir, I will do my utmost to handle this matter flawlessly!"

The man in black's expression suddenly darkened, his eyes sharp as knives, and he warned sternly, "Remember, this matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. You must keep it to yourself and never reveal it to anyone in Liangshan, not even Chao Gai or Song Jiang. Understand?"

"Rest assured, sir, the scholar understands the implications and will keep his mouth shut!"

Wu Yong immediately bowed and said respectfully, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

After all, the person in front of them was the special envoy of the King of Laiyang. If they could establish a relationship with him, Liangshan would naturally become an official army and would not have to bear the stigma of being bandits.

"That's excellent."

Having received Wu Yong's definite answer, the man in black said no more. With a flicker, he vanished into the thick darkness like a lone shadow in the night, disappearing without a trace.

Wu Yong immediately returned to his residence, closed the door and focused on planning. He meticulously rehearsed the agreement with the man in black and the subsequent steps of inviting people, repeatedly considering every detail, not daring to overlook the slightest thing.