Magical Water Margin: They all call me brother

Page 116

After much deliberation, Zhang Qing realized that Liu Hong's suggestion was actually his optimal solution. He sighed on the spot, then suddenly kowtowed and surrendered.

"My sister is willing to hold the whip and stirrup for her brother, and lead the charge!"

Liu Hong was overjoyed. He broke an arrow and swore an oath in the Dongchang Prefecture government hall. He helped Zhang Qing up and made her offer wine to Lu Zhisheng, Suo Chao, Wang Ying and others who had been injured by her to apologize and let the matter drop. Lu Zhisheng didn't care much. He was mainly unconvinced and wanted to fight Zhang Qing a few more times to return the wine.

Suo Chao was quite open-minded. On the battlefield, fighting is purely a matter of individual martial arts skills. When two armies fight, each is fighting for their own master. Since she has surrendered, she is like a younger sister to him, so he returned the toast and drank with her.

As for Wang Ying, being petty, seeing that everyone else was responding to Zhang Qing and that she really couldn't beat them, she could only accept it and then return the favor.

After a banquet, Zhang Qing had already become one of the Liangshan heroes. Everyone laughed heartily, obeyed orders, and was overjoyed. Liu Hong also rescued Chai Jin from the death row in Gaotang County and made Chai Jin personally kill the entire Yin family to vent his anger. After careful consideration, she realized that she had offended Gao Qiu and it would be difficult for her to continue her life outside. So, she simply brought the Chai Family Manor, whose wealth far exceeded everyone's expectations, to join Liangshan. The heroes who received her support all toasted her and bowed in submission.

When Liu Hong learned of Chai Jin's wealth, he was secretly astonished. Although Chai Jin was a member of a fallen royal family, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. He risked his life to rob the birthday convoy, but he only earned 100,000 strings of cash.

He led his brothers into Gaotang County, plundered the county's treasures, opened the government offices, and killed all the wealthy landowners, but the total amount was only two hundred thousand strings of cash.

Chai Jin's defection brought him an astonishing three million strings of cash, a fortune that stunned the bandits.

Seeing Chai Jin's generosity, Zhang Qing, realizing he had only recently joined Liangshan and hadn't yet achieved any merit, feared he wouldn't be able to establish a firm foothold. He immediately recommended a veterinarian to Liu Hong: "There's a veterinarian in Dongchang Prefecture, surnamed Huangfu, named Duan. He's skilled at judging horses, knows their symptoms of head, mouth, cold, heat, and illness, and his medicine and acupuncture are invariably effective. He truly has the talent of a horse connoisseur. He's originally from Youzhou. Because of his blue eyes, yellow beard, and enormous size, resembling a cannibal, he's known as 'Purple-Bearded Uncle.' Liangshan also has other uses for him. We can have this man bring his wife and children up the mountain. Please grant me your permission."

"Not only that, I can also trick the gates of Dongchang Prefecture into opening, lure my brother's troops, and storm into Dongchang Prefecture!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong was overjoyed. After slaughtering all the wealthy landowners in Gaotang County and plundering all their treasures and grain, he distributed one-third to the public treasury, one-third to reward his soldiers, and one-third to the common people. Having won the hearts of the people of Gaotang, he quickly followed Zhang Qing to Dongchang Prefecture, which was nearby. As expected, Zhang Qing easily tricked the city gates open, allowing the Liangshan troops to repeat the policies they had implemented in Gaotang in Dongchang Prefecture: killing the prefect, seizing gold and silver, and dispersing the people, thus winning their hearts.

However, Liu Hong had no intention of stationing himself in Dongchang Prefecture, for no other reason than that he could not hold it.

This is the heart of the Central Plains, a flat plain with no natural defenses. The Liangshan army was able to storm Gaotang without any obstacles, as were the imperial troops. It's hardly a good place to start a business, and given Liangshan's current capabilities, it would be difficult to hold it. Even if they did manage to hold it, the gains would far outweigh the investment.

According to the saying "golden corner, silver edge, grass belly," the Shandong prefectures and counties west of Mount Tai are like a grass belly, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Throughout history, only Cao Cao rose to power here and was fortunate enough to gain control of the north. Other warlords were basically among the first to be crippled and eliminated.

Therefore, east of Shandong, Liu Hong primarily employed rural policies, killing wealthy landowners to appease the common people and establishing his base in various rural areas. The only territories he actually controlled were easily defensible regions, such as Liangshan Marsh. In case of trouble, his naval speedboats could reach the area within a day and a night.

The counties and prefectures east of Mount Tai in Shandong are the most strategic locations, especially Dengzhou, which is located at the easternmost edge of the Shandong Peninsula. Surrounded by the sea on three sides and land on one side, and with high mountains all around, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it an ideal base.

After Liu Hong issued his pacification order, he commanded the various leaders to pack their carts, provisions, gold, and silver, and set off together.

The general's whip cracked in the stirrups, and the soldiers below sang a triumphant song. The money and provisions of the two prefectures were transported back to the mountain stronghold. All the troops before and after rose up, and there was no further conversation on the road. They quickly returned to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness at Liangshan Marsh. Liu Hong ordered the release of Gong Wang and Ding Desun, and also comforted them with kind words. The two kowtowed and surrendered. They continued to serve as Zhang Qing's deputies, and Huangfu Duan was added to the stronghold, specializing in veterinary medicine to ensure the safety of Liangshan's horses and to treat and care for sick warhorses.

Chapter 324: Liangshan Marsh is like a tiger with wings

At this moment, Liangshan was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, celebrating the partial victory of the war.

North of the Yellow River, Liu Hong successively conquered Gaotang and Dongchang, plundering the wealth of the two counties, and also won over two heroes, Chai Jin and Zhang Qing, to join him on the mountain.

South of the Yellow River, Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, Mu Hong, and Li Ying repelled Zhang Shuye and Dong Ping's grain-robbing squad. Huyan Zhuo and Qin Ming also routed Zengtou City, though they were somewhat annoyed when they were killed in the subsequent pursuit of Shi Wengong. These men caused almost no real damage to Liangshan.

Meanwhile, in Dengzhou, Shandong, Yun Tianbiao was also helpless against Wu Song, Li Jun, and Luan Tingyu. He fought the three of them repeatedly but did not gain any advantage. Hearing that Gao Lian had already sent supplies, he stopped trying to hold them back and quickly led his troops back to the city, no longer fighting against the Liangshan army.

At this moment, Liangshan had already surpassed its peak.

Originally, Liangshan Marsh had three generations of leaders, and Wang Lun was a useless and incompetent man who was jealous of talent and only built a rudimentary structure.

Chao Gai's abilities were also relatively limited, and he only wanted to create a utopia and live a good life on Liangshan Mountain, with little desire for expansion.

Song Jiang was capable, but unfortunately, he joined Liangshan too late, and the factions were too mixed. He gradually built up his power by becoming the leader of Liangshan while simultaneously gathering together various factions. By the time they fought Zengtou City, Liangshan was still rife with factions and factions. After Chao Gai died, Gongsun Sheng simply gave up and rarely took action unless it was a matter of life and death. Therefore, the battle with Zengtou City was a back-and-forth affair.

Now, Liu Hong was the leader of Liangshan from the very beginning. Under his control, Liangshan developed rapidly. With the guidance of modern ideology and theory, from the moment Liangshan defeated the Zhu Family Village and won the hearts of the people, not to mention a small Zengtou City, even the ordinary Tongzhou was no match for Liangshan.

After the grand banquet, Liu Hong rewarded his generals, appointing Zhang Qing as the cavalry commander to fight under Lin Chong.

Chai Jin was appointed as the chief steward of the internal affairs department of Liangshan Marsh and concurrently the supervisor of the money and grain warehouse.

Subsequently, Li Ying and Mu Hong were appointed as deputy chief stewards of the Liangshan Marsh Internal Affairs Office, concurrently serving as deputy supervisors of finances and grain, and escorts of finances and grain.

In this way, Liangshan's logistics system was completely completed. Liu Hong designed a three-person system with Little Whirlwind Chai Jin as the main person and Soaring Eagle Li Ying and Unobstructed Mu Hong as the assistants. With the addition of Little Obstructed Mu Chun and Ghost Face Du Xing as the two deputies, they were fully responsible for the operation of the logistics system and the escort of grain and fodder, so that Liangshan's money and grain could operate normally.

As expected of a former royal nobleman, Chai Jin possessed first-rate accounting skills, an extremely vast network of connections, and a wealth of knowledge. He knew where to buy what items at the lowest prices and maintained close ties with merchants all over the country. In just a few days, he expanded Liangshan's trade network dozens of times. Merchants from all over the country knew that Little Whirlwind Chai Jin had moved to Liangshan and came to pay their respects.

In the past, many persecuted and exiled heroes would have sought refuge at Chai Jin's manor.

Now that they've heard Chai Jin is at Liangshan Marsh, they've decided to slap their thighs and say, "Let's go to Liangshan!"

Chai Jin is also very satisfied with his current life.

Although I was wealthy before, the Zhao family kept a close watch on me. I could make money however I wanted, but the Emperor said he would keep my life as a wealthy man and he would never break his promise.

However, the Zhao family would never allow Chai Jin to have a private army, weapons, or armor. They restricted her in this regard, which prevented Chai Jin from establishing a private guard. This is also why she was easily captured by Gao Lian.

Chai Jin, being a descendant of Chai Rong, never lost his fighting spirit and was very unhappy about this.

Upon entering Liangshan, she was like a drunkard who had been holding back his alcohol all his life, finally tasting the nectar of immortality. Liu Hong trusted her and entrusted her with managing the entire Liangshan treasury's funds and provisions, causing Chai Jin to become unbearably enthusiastic and begin working feverishly!

The iron and coal mining output in Dengzhou is relatively limited due to labor shortages? No problem, I know those Jin people in Shanxi well! We have plenty of iron and coal mines to spare, buy, buy, buy!

A blast furnace for forging iron? I have some connections in Cangzhou. Go buy twenty of them and forge iron! I have as many as you need! You're Liangshan's chief blacksmith, Tang Long the Golden Leopard! Quickly take your blacksmiths and forge me armor and weapons, the more the better! You want as much steel as you need, I'll give you as much steel as you need!

Brother, I know how to buy weapons and armor. There are many Liao and Song generals on the Liao-Song border who are drawing salaries without working and reselling weapons, even crossbows and armor. I couldn't do anything about it before because I was being monitored too closely, but now I don't care anymore. I'll just go find these Liao and Song border generals.

For money, they'd sell not only weapons, but even warhorses! The Liao-Song border had been at peace for over a hundred years; neither side believed they'd ever fight, so their defenses were increasingly weak and their officials increasingly lazy. For money, they'd even sell their generals' armor.

As for ships? The ships from these two shipyards in the Bohai Bay are the best—take your stinking money and stay away from my fleet!

As for the sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal that Ling Zhen wants, and the various medicines that Huangfu the horse doctor needs? No problem, no problem, there's nothing I, Chai Jin, can't get, and no way I can't find!

What? You say there are bandits robbing on the road? Forget about the Liangshan banner, even if you raise my Little Whirlwind Chai Jin's banner, seven out of ten bandits in the Central Plains have received my favors, taken my start-up capital, or angel investment. Who would dare to rob my caravan?!

In a short time, Liangshan was transformed under Chai Jin's management. The equipment and arsenal of its soldiers were greatly increased, medical institutions were built from scratch, and the logistics system became more and more complete. The entire Liangshan was completely renewed. Chai Jin even proudly said that with his logistics system and Liangshan's well-equipped naval escort, it would take no more than thirty-six hours for a pancake to be baked in the oven and delivered to any soldier in Shandong.

Looking at the thriving Liangshan, Chai Jin nodded in satisfaction. "This is what life is all about! Watch me arm all seven legions of Liangshan! I'll build up the entire logistical system! This is our legion!"

Chai Jin felt grateful to Liu Hong for giving her such great power.

Who would have thought that five years ago, Chai Jin only saw that Liu Hong had some ability, so he gave him a batch of start-up funds and let him carry out large-scale construction in Liangshan, building the city of Qiqiu and four large strongholds in the east, west, south and north.

Five years later, he rose to fame and became a powerful figure in Shandong, becoming one of the four great bandits of the Song Dynasty. Even Chai Jin himself joined Liangshan Marsh and became a member of Liu Hong's forces.

Chapter 325: Turbulent Times at Chai Jin's Mansion

After working at Liangshan for a month and things were on track, Chai Jin began to have his own thoughts. The combination of the Chai family's enormous wealth and Liangshan's formidable army had created a terrifying effect where one plus one was greater than two. Liu Hong had guns, and Chai Jin had money. With the two combined, the already massive Liangshan expanded like crazy.

So here's the question: after a hundred years, to whom should such a vast fortune be passed? Should it be granted amnesty? Should everything in Liangshan be given to the imperial court?

Are the others fools who can't see that Liu Hong is lying? Can't I see it too? From the first moment I met this kid, his eyes were filled with endless ambition and aspirations. He didn't have the slightest intention of accepting amnesty.

After much thought, Chai Jin came to his conclusion. The next day, he invited Liu Hong to his room for dinner, and Liu Hong readily agreed. He went from the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness to Chai Jin's residence and found her standing in the courtyard to greet him. Her crimson brocade robe trailed to the ground, inlaid with a lifelike painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, made of hammered gold foil and lapis lazuli fragments! Where the phoenix flapped its wings, thousands of golden feathers were clearly visible, each feather made of red gold wire with fine kingfisher feathers inlaid on it. When the sunlight shone on it, it shimmered with iridescent light, and the phoenix's eyes were adorned with two pigeon blood rubies, shining brightly in the sunset, as if it would burst through the brocade and take flight at any moment! The hem of the robe was trimmed with a wide strip of red gold, with tiny pearls from the East China Sea hidden inside, strung together to form a luxurious cloud and wave pattern. With each step, the pearls shone warmly, and the golden light surged subtly.

Atop her head hung a crane-shaped hairpin carved from a single piece of mutton-fat jade, holding her long, black hair in a coiled bun. A red coral tassel, hanging from the beak of a phoenix, brushed against her smooth, full, jade-white forehead. On either side of her were three filigree combs inlaid with jewels, their teeth meticulously arranged from hundreds of translucent diamond awls. When sunlight pierced through, it refracted into beautiful, iridescent fragments on her flushed cheeks.

A pair of golden silk vine earrings with dripping water at their ears, each end dangling a large, longan-sized gold bead from the South Seas, sway slightly with each nod, their shimmering light like molten gold.

That dignified and noble face was extremely proud and elegant. Her skin was as smooth and lustrous as jade, without a single wrinkle. Only a few very fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes looked like gilded patterns etched by time when she gazed, adding to the calmness of a deep pool.

Her eyebrows, like distant, inky mountains, were meticulously outlined with gold-flecked ornaments, their slanted strokes towards her temples exuding an air of dignified authority. Most striking were her alluring phoenix eyes, their pupils as deep as the night sky, with a rare golden-brown halo around the iris. Her lips were full and luscious, like frozen lychees soaked in rose juice, a natural beauty mark adorning the corner of her right lip, like a touch of vermilion on snow, breathtakingly beautiful.

Her accessories and jewelry were of the highest quality. She wore a wide, coiled dragon and gold-inlaid belt with a buckle made of a single piece of emerald, intricately carved with two dragons playing with a pearl. The dragons' scales and claws were even inlaid with fine gold patterns as fine as hair! She also wore a string of nine-linked mutton-fat jade pendants, which, together with the agarwood and agarwood beads hidden in her sleeves, created an aura of luxurious elegance as she walked.

These former royals, without needing to speak, were like jade trees and precious flowers in full bloom, as if they had fallen from the heavens to the Jade Pool.

For a moment, Liu Hong was also captivated by Chai Jin's appearance, and before he knew it, Chai Jin had pulled him into his boudoir.

"From the first time I met my brother, I knew that he had a greater ambition than Zhao'an."

Chai Jin leaned close to Liu Hong's ear and whispered something, blowing air into Liu Hong's ear.

"And I need an heir to safeguard my family business."

"Then I'll give you one."

Liu Hong was equally straightforward. With one hand around Chai Jin's slender waist and the other lifting her snow-white chin, he gazed at the former dynasty princess with an aggressive look, admiring her dignified and elegant beauty.

Red candles dripped tears, the bedchamber was warm and fragrant. Chai Jin's crimson robe with gold phoenix thread was easily removed by Liu Hong, like peeling an eggshell, revealing her flawless, fair skin, which shimmered with a pearly luster in the flickering candlelight. At this moment, this usually poised and elegant noblewoman was aroused by Liu Hong's kisses; her jade-like legs clung tightly to his strong, muscular body like serpents emerging from water!

"Mmm... Ugh—!"

A soft moan, sweet as honey, suddenly rose in pitch, transforming into a long, alluring cry. Liu Hong merely kneaded her soft breasts slightly, and the intense stimulation caused the former princess's head to jerk back, revealing a delicate and graceful swan-like neck. Her raven-wing-like hair was completely soaked with sweat, and her rosy lips parted slightly, unconsciously opening and closing as the blood in her body surged, causing her to gasp for breath.

Seeing the usually dignified, elegant, and noble Master Chai display such a girlish and infatuated demeanor in front of him, Liu Hong couldn't resist a playful urge. As he placed the jade spear against the clam shell, he suddenly leaned down and whispered in Chai Jin's ear.

"My lord, I'm going in now."

Chai Jin was stunned for a moment, before he could react, he felt a simultaneous tearing and satisfying ecstasy in his lower body, his body experiencing a wave of wild pleasure after his noble bearing had faded! His slender waist arched like a crescent moon! As if pulled by invisible strings, it was suspended in mid-air, taut to its limit by Liu Hong's increasingly fierce thrusts. Then came a high-frequency tremor like a storm, every inch of his muscle greedily absorbing the pleasure of the collision!

"My lord? How have I been serving you?"

"You...you shouldn't be like this...aren't you ashamed?"

Chai Jin blushed crimson from being repeatedly addressed as "Master." His pair of snowy peaks, adorned with coral beads, were no longer concealed with their usual restraint. With each rhythmic and powerful thrust from below, they traced breathtaking, surging arcs in the air! The tender buds at their tips had already hardened like agate beads, reflecting an alluring watery hue under the swaying light.

Jade Peak trembles wildly, and nectar overflows. In the depths of the secluded valley of Jade Gate, where fragrant grasses grow lush, an endless stream of warm, moist currents gushes forth! At first, it drips like clear spring water onto peony stamens, then gathers into the spring tide that silently wets the silken quilt, reflecting the candlelight and refracting a dazzling, shimmering light.

The magnificent cloak covering the two, embroidered with phoenixes in Suzhou gold thread, was now being tossed and turned by the impact! Under the candlelight, the brocade surface resembled a crumpled golden sea, its delicate and precious tides rising and falling with the rhythm of the raging waves! The golden phoenixes, bathed in flames amidst the waves, flapped their wings, intertwining with the flowing black hair and rolling beads of sweat inside the tent, creating a vivid and sensual erotic scene!

"Brother...brother...you're so...so amazing!"

Chai Jin's starry eyes had already transformed into two pools of intoxicating amber! She unconsciously writhed in response, her slender waist rubbing against her strong arms, producing soft, sweaty, sensual sounds. Her cherry lips whispered in Liu Hong's ear, her voice a sweet, honeyed whisper:

"Don't stop... I want... more... deeper! Fill me completely..."

Liu Hong roared, his attack growing ever more swift, like a tiger pouncing on a sheep. With one hand, he plucked at the two already blooming, moist peony petals, causing the flower to tremble and glisten with dew; with the other, he kneaded a pair of swaying, snow-white breasts, his fingers digging deep into them, creating a thousand soft, bouncy waves! Heavy breathing, sticky splashes, the crisp sounds of flesh slapping against flesh, and the noblewoman's unrefined moans and sobs blended into a soul-stirring, intoxicatingly seductive paradise!

As the ninth, ultimate wave of pleasure swept through his limbs and bones like a torrent, the previous heroic ambitions of filling the sea and moving mountains were completely crushed by the overwhelming pleasure that made his internal organs feel like they were about to burst! Chai Jin's slender waist, which had been taut like the moon, instantly softened like the first melting spring water, and his tightly wrapped feet slid down limply onto the brocade quilt, his fingertips spasming with pleasure.

"Eek...oh no...it's really...it's really going to melt..."

This noblewoman, who once stood aloof from the clouds, now had tears welling in her eyes and let out a soft, kitten-like sob:

"Brother... have mercy... have mercy on me... this golden goblet is already overflowing... any more and I'll melt into a puddle of fragrant mud..."

Within her magnificent body, there was no longer an inch of emptiness, but was completely filled, overflowing, and overflowing with scalding pleasure! All that remained was the endless languid sweetness of being limp as cotton after being utterly conquered, wanting only to drown in the afterglow.

Chapter 326: The Privy Council's Meeting of Traitors

Amidst the flourishing prosperity of Liangshan Marsh, a different scene unfolded in Tokyo City. Gao Qiu heard the devastating news from Gaotang County! It was like a poisoned ice spike piercing his skull! The urgent battle report, stained with mud, blood, and the smell of gunpowder, silently slipped from Gao Qiu's tightly clenched hand.

"Gao Lian was killed in battle, the Yin family was exterminated by Liangshan, and it was confirmed that there was a fierce general in Liu Hong's team who looked exactly like Lin Chong."

The few characters in black ink magnified and distorted infinitely in his crimson vision, like a scorching hot iron branding his retina! Gao Qiu let out a series of gasping "ho...ho..." sounds, as if an invisible giant hand was gripping his neck, unable to utter a complete syllable. In that instant, he seemed to hear a destructive roar, like ice cracking and mountains collapsing, coming from the very foundation of his golden mountain of power!

"Liangshan, Liangshan, Liangshan!!!"

A piercing, inhuman scream tore through the silence of the palace. Gao Qiu staggered backward like an ancient tree struck by lightning, crashing into a large sandalwood table. The priceless porcelain brush washer, the jade paperweight, and the mountain of urgent memorials collapsed with a deafening roar, but he ignored them! The crimson ink from his dragon eyes splattered onto the purple robe embroidered with cranes and auspicious clouds, spreading into a dirty, writhing patch of blood-brown.

The Grand Commandant, who commanded all the armies in the land, now had eyes as red as boiling blood, his pupils unfocused like punctured lanterns! His withered, white fingers convulsively tore at his graying temples, large locks of black hair, scalp and all, as they were ripped off! With a "thud," they fell into the blood-stained shards of broken porcelain! Yet he seemed oblivious, only convulsively and repeatedly slamming his head against the cold, gold-brick floor! Each time, thick, sticky blood splattered out!

"I'm all alone now!"

Gao Qiu suddenly sprang up, weeping, looking like a vengeful ghost. His exquisitely woven red robe with the Qilin embroidered patch was torn to shreds, falling like shredded corpses and butterfly wings! His withered chest, covered with bloodshot wrinkles, was exposed, his ribs heaving violently like a broken bellows!

"Liu Hong! Lin Chong! You bandits! Kill! Kill them all!"

Gao Qiu's frenzied roar echoed through the palace like a lone wolf howling at the moon! He grabbed a handful of unopened tiger tallies and hurled them violently at the dragon-patterned ceiling beams! "Thump!" Shards of gold and jade flew everywhere! He then staggered towards the jade scroll map hanging on the wall, his ten fingers clawing at it fiercely. The meticulously drawn map of the land was torn to shreds in the violent ripping! Five bloody holes were torn through the eight hundred li of water that symbolized Liangshan by his five fingers!

"Raze it! Raze this den of thieves to the ground! Crush it to dust! Scatter its bones!"

Gao Qiu's voice suddenly broke at the climax of his roar, and his body stiffened abruptly! He clutched his chest, his face rapidly turning from flushed red to deathly pale, like a broken rag doll with its skeleton removed. With a "thud," he fell face down heavily amidst the mess on the ground, having fainted in extreme grief. When the servants rushed to lift Gao Qiu up, they could only hear helpless sobs.

"I...I am the Grand Commandant of the current dynasty...I have won everything, why, why am I the only one left in my family who has died..."

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The next day, Gao Qiu, who had recovered somewhat, immediately sent his official to summon the officials of the Privy Council to come and discuss important military matters.

Not long after, Tong Guan, the Privy Councilor of the Eastern Hall, led the three Grand Commandants—Gao Qiu, Yang Jian, and Su Yuanjing—to the Hall of Honor to pay their respects to Grand Tutor Cai Jing. At this moment, Gao Qiu was no longer afraid of the consequences of defeat. Liu Hong and Lin Chong had slaughtered his entire family, leaving only Gao Qiu. "I'm not even afraid of death, so what am I afraid of losing my official position?"

In front of Cai Jing, Gao Qiu recounted the perilous situation in Shandong in detail, seeking ways to counterbalance and defeat Liangshan. The officials exchanged glances, each showing fear.

But just then, a man emerged from behind the Grand Commandant of the Infantry. He was Bao Yi, the Defense Commissioner of the government office. His name was Xuan Zan and he was in charge of the troops. He had previously served as the Prince's son-in-law in the Prince's mansion. People called him the Ugly Prince's Son-in-law because he was not good at flattery and spoke his mind. He offended many people and was not given important positions. He was only able to serve as the Military Commissioner.

Tong Guan was a sycophantic and obsequious man, and I could not get along with him, so I always harbored suspicions towards him. At that time, this man could not hold back any longer and stepped forward to report to the Grand Tutor: "When I was in my hometown, I had an acquaintance. This man is a direct descendant of the Righteous and Brave King of Wu'an during the Three Kingdoms period of the Han Dynasty. His name is Guan Sheng, and he looks similar to his ancestor Guan Yu. He wields a Green Dragon Crescent Blade and is known as Guan Sheng the Great Blade. He is currently serving as the Inspector of Pudong, but he is relegated to a low-ranking position. This man studied military strategy from a young age and is well-versed in martial arts. He is as brave as ten thousand men. If we invite him with gifts and appoint him as a general, he can wipe out the water bandits, exterminate the madmen, protect the country and its people, and expand the territory. The fate of the nation rests on this man. I beg Your Majesty's decree!"

Gao Qiu and Cai Jing were overjoyed upon hearing this, and immediately dispatched Xuan Zan as an envoy with documents and horses, who rushed to Pudong overnight to formally invite Guan Sheng to the capital for discussions. All the officials then withdrew.

Xuan Zan received the official document, mounted his horse, and set off. With only three or five followers, he arrived at the Pudong Patrol Office within a day, dismounted, and announced his arrival. Guan Sheng then instructed his family, along with his childhood friend Hao Siwen and a dozen or so officers and soldiers from Guanzhong, to pack their weapons, armor, and luggage, and they followed Xuan Zan on a nightly journey. Along the way, Guan Sheng pondered: given the situation at Liangshan, even Huyan Zhuo's three or four thousand elite cavalry had been defeated. How the hell was he supposed to fight?!

Upon arriving in Tokyo, the gatekeeper informed Grand Tutor Cai, who then summoned them. Xuanzan led Guan Sheng and Hao Siwen to the main hall, where they paid their respects and stood below the steps. Cai Jing observed Guan Sheng; she was truly a woman of imposing stature. Standing at 2.56 meters tall, she was strikingly beautiful, dignified and elegant, with long, flowing black hair that reached her ankles. Her eyebrows reached her temples, her phoenix eyes shone upwards, her face was like a ripe date, and her lips were like painted vermilion—truly a heroine.

Guan Sheng also looked at the three of them.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating only three faces as aged as ancient trees: their skin etched with deep lines, their eyes sunken, as if absorbing all the light in the hall, leaving only two unyielding blobs of ink. They wore extravagantly luxurious official robes, gold and silver threads still faintly flowing in the gloom. Cai Jing sat in the main seat, as imposing as a rock; to his left was Gao Qiu, to his right Yang Jian, the three forming a formidable, overwhelming presence. The swaying candlelight stretched and twisted the shadows of the three aged, powerful officials, making them writhe like living creatures, or like heavy nightmares, layer upon layer pressing down on and enveloping Guan Sheng, Xuan Zan, and Hao Siwen, almost suffocating them.

"The bandits of Liangshan are wreaking havoc in Shandong. May I ask a wise general to devise a brilliant strategy to resolve this calamity?"

Cai Jing wanted to test Guan Sheng's abilities, so he asked him for a solution to the Liangshan problem.