[Fantasy] Water Margin Heroes (Complete) - 1-3

[Synopsis] He established an empire larger than the Mongol Empire; he had more descendants than Genghis Khan. In Asia, his name could stop the crying of foreign children; in Europe, his name was worshipped. The first chapter

of the Liangshan arc , "

First Return to Water Margin,"

describes how the East China Desert was formed in the late 21st century. Although the Chinese people had recognized the importance of the environment and technology had greatly improved, humanity was still somewhat powerless against the desert. Even in the early 22nd century, the East China Desert continued to expand at a rate of several kilometers per year. It must be said that in the face of vast nature, humanity can only adapt to it.

Several sand scorpions desperately burrowed into the soil, trying to avoid the scorching sun. The drought-resistant cacti had withered, and the sand seemed to have been scorched into crystals, dazzlingly bright. The few signs of life in the desert gradually disappeared under the blazing sun.

Just as the sun was admiring its masterpiece, several small planes suddenly flew in from the horizon, dispersing at the edge of the desert and entering this forbidden zone of life. Seeing someone dare to challenge its authority, the blazing sun intensified its fiery power.

After the plane plunged into the heart of the desert, it began to descend. If anyone were below, they would have seen several people climbing on the wings.

Then, a Superman movie quietly unfolded in the desert. Dozens of meters above the ground, a dark figure leaped from the wing. In the air, it somersaulted and spread its legs, its movements as graceful as an acrobat. If this were in a theater, no matter the ticket price, it would be packed.

After the person jumped, the plane didn't stop, continuing its ascent.

Zhang Yang landed with a somersault, standing deep in the desert. Looking up, seeing the plane had already disappeared from sight, he muttered a curse. Jumping out of the sand, he looked around and saw only yellow sand and a few withered, yellowed cacti.

Cursing the monstrous instructors, Zhang Yang began digging rapidly into the scorching sand with his hands.

Since undergoing genetic modification, they no longer considered themselves human.

First came hellish physical training, which instilled fear in even those nearing superhuman abilities.

Next came the cultivation of patriotism and national identity, essentially forcing them to memorize the nation's recorded history—an insurmountable task for ordinary people, given the vast amount of historical records from each dynasty. Fortunately, their genetic modification significantly enhanced their brains, allowing them to complete the task. Having barely

endured that inhumane period, they were then subjected to even darker psychological training. Even after the modifications, nearly half of their comrades were sent to mental hospitals for treatment. The surviving soldiers needed to spend a month alone in the desert to become qualified superhuman warriors.

In a short time, Zhang Yang dug a sandpit large enough for himself with his bare hands. He lay down in the pit and slammed his palms against the sides. Sand poured down, instantly burying him. The desert returned to its deathly silence. Zhang Yang forced himself into a state of deep breathing.

At midnight, the desert, which had seemed like a sea of fire during the day, transformed into a frigid world.

Amidst a cloud of yellow sand, Zhang Yang leaped to his feet, cursing, "This is no place for a human! I almost suffocated. At least I didn't get sunburned to a crisp."

He then walked towards a cactus several meters tall in the distance. The cactus was columnar, over three meters high, standing majestically and quite magnificent. Due to the drought this year, its stem had withered, only its sharp thorns still gleaming with a dark sheen.

Zhang Yang carefully plucked a few thorns, then dug open its outer layer, digging all the way to the center to find a tender, juicy stem. This was a delicacy in the desert, both thirst-quenching and hunger-satisfying. After eating some, to supplement his nutrition, Zhang Yang dug up a few scorpions and swallowed them raw. He wandered the desert for half the night, and when the sun appeared on the horizon, he began digging again to lie in wait.

For several days, Zhang Yang spent his time like this, only to find that he had eaten all the cacti within his sight.

That night, as Zhang Yang lay on the sand dune admiring the moon, a crack suddenly appeared above his head. Before he could even think, his vision brightened, and he found himself in a forest, where daytime had returned.

Looking at the thick, lush trees around him, Zhang Yang felt a headache coming on. Each tree was hundreds of years old. He'd never heard of such a forest before; where in the 22nd century could he find one? Judging by the tree species, he was still in the north, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where.

He fiddled with his multi-functional search device for a while, only to find, to his disappointment, that while all its search functions worked, it couldn't contact the base.

After some thought, Zhang Yang decided to leave the forest first.

He admired the rare primeval forest while keeping a close watch on his surroundings. This good habit was cultivated by his instructors' frequent surprise attacks.

He hadn't gone far when he heard several people talking in the distance. Strangely, they were speaking a Shandong dialect, even though Mandarin was widely spoken in the 22nd century.

Zhang Yang had only heard it mentioned by some of his older relatives during family ancestral rites when he was very young. Out of curiosity, Zhang Yang had learned some of it, and the grandfathers had even boasted that they were protecting a language on the verge of disappearing. But the speaker was full of energy, clearly not an elderly person.

Zhang Yang cautiously crept closer and was taken aback when he saw the people speaking. They were all dressed in gray cloth short shirts, with headscarves wrapped around their heads, and several broadswords leaned against a tree nearby. There were also seven single-wheeled wooden carts nearby.

Zhang Yang, well-versed in history, judged from the weapons and clothing that the people were from the Song Dynasty. But why would they be dressed like that? Zhang Yang couldn't figure out.

Filming? Obviously not. Since the late 21st century, movies have been computer-generated. Even if someone were willing to pay a high price for real people to film, there would be no need to use dialects. Nowadays, very few people can understand them anyway. Spending a fortune to make a movie that no one cares about is clearly not something a normal person would do.

As Zhang Yang was pondering this, he saw a dozen or so people walking along the mountain path outside the forest. Leading them was a burly man, about 1.8 meters tall, with a large blue birthmark on his face and a few reddish wisps of beard. He wore a straw hat and a blue gauze shirt, carrying a broadsword, and frequently peered into the forest. Following him were eleven porters, all carrying heavy loads, and drenched in sweat under the blazing sun. At the very end were two young men supporting an elderly man in his fifties.

Seeing that they were all dressed in Song Dynasty attire, Zhang Yang was stunned. Had he somehow traveled back to the Song Dynasty? This thought filled him with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow. Joy because with his superhuman skills, he could surely dominate in this age of cold weapons; sorrow because he would never see his family again.

Just then, he saw the group reach the edge of the forest. A cool breeze blew through the trees, and the porters all put down their loads, slumping into the shade of the trees, unwilling to suffer under the scorching sun any longer.

As the burly man was shouting and cursing, the three men behind him caught up and found a cool spot to sit.

The burly man had no choice but to run after the three men, and while arguing with them, he discovered the seven men who had been hiding in the woods earlier, so he abandoned the three men as well. Holding a broadsword, he rushed into the pine forest, shouting, "You dare to look at my goods!"

The seven men who had been hiding in the woods jumped up at the sight. One of them, a gaunt man, said in a panic, "We are seven brothers from Dengzhou, selling dates to Dongjing (Kaifeng). We are just passing through here. We only have some dates, nothing else. Please spare

our lives, sir." The burly man breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, glanced at the group a few more times, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Don't panic, everyone. I am also a traveler. I thought you were highway robbers. Please forgive any disturbance."

The seven men seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as well. The man who had spoken earlier added, "The world is not peaceful these days, so it's no wonder you were suspicious. Take some dates and share them with your companions."

The burly man said, "No need, you can rest." With that, he returned to the other side.

The porters, initially worried about encountering villains upon seeing several burly men hidden inside, began to laugh at the burly men for being overly anxious when the men returned saying they were just date merchants.

Zhang Yang, having roughly understood their conversation, assumed they were two groups of ordinary merchants and was about to go out to inquire about the era

when one of the seven men, a nine-foot-tall giant, whispered to the man who had spoken earlier, "Scholar, that Yang Zhi is nothing special. I thought he had three heads and six arms. Why don't we just go out and take them down directly? Why bother?"

The scholar shook his head and said, "Yang Zhi is a descendant of the Golden Knife General Yang, and his skills are superb. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. If we injure him, it won't be honorable in the martial arts world; if we injure our own brothers, it will be even worse. We should outsmart him. Even if our plan is exposed, we can still gain the reputation of 'Outsmarting the Birthday Convoy.'"

Hearing this, Zhang Yang was stunned. It seemed he had returned to the world of Water Margin. This part must be about outsmarting the birthday convoy.

Chapter Two: How to Be a Good Guy

Zhang Yang had just vaguely recalled the Water Margin when he saw a man carrying a load of buckets, singing as he climbed the hill.

"The scorching sun burns like fire,

the rice in the fields is half withered.

The farmer's heart is boiling like soup, while

the young masters and princes wave their fans."

The man sang as he reached the hill, then put down his buckets in the pine forest to cool off.

The porters, having walked for half a day, were parched and rushed forward to buy wine. Yang Zhi, however, was cautious and firmly refused to let them drink. While they were arguing, Chao Gai and his seven companions jumped out to buy wine.

Zhang Yang knew that the wine seller must be Bai Sheng, the White-Day Rat, and that the drama was unfolding just like in the Water Margin—lacking any chivalrous spirit. Seeing this, he immediately began to consider how to maximize his own gain.

Historically, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was currently in power. He was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty. During his reign, he indulged in pleasure, spending his days writing calligraphy, composing poetry, painting, listening to songs, and watching dances in the Shoushan Genyue and Jiucheng Palaces. He was neither capable nor concerned with governing the country, managing finances, or employing officials. He entrusted political power to the treacherous minister Cai Jing, leading to corruption and plunging the people into misery. In

the first year of the Chonghe era, a once-in-a-century flood struck, affecting almost the entire area south of the Huai River. Before the people could recover, the following years of the Xuanhe era were filled with natural disasters, making life even more difficult.

Even more alarming was Huizong's political and military incompetence, coupled with his ambition and desire for glory. He secretly conspired with the Jin Dynasty to attack the Liao Dynasty, resulting in a crushing defeat for the Song army. The Jin Dynasty later conquered the Liao Dynasty and immediately marched south to conquer the Song Dynasty. It can be said that the alliance with the Jin to attack the Liao not only depleted the Song army but also invited a wolf into the house. In the end, more than half of the territory was lost, the people suffered terribly, and Zhao Ji himself was captured and sent to the harsh north.

According to *Water Margin*, the bureaucracy was even more corrupt, and soon four bandit groups would seize power, meaning the Song Dynasty was already on the verge of collapse.

Besides, even if he helped Yang Zhi through this crisis, he would at most get a minor official position, and with so many treacherous officials suppressing him, he wouldn't be able to rise to a higher rank. He didn't want that treacherous life in officialdom. Moreover, doing so would offend the江湖 (jianghu) figures, which would be detrimental to his future development.

Chao Gai and his group didn't seem to need his help, and even if he joined them, he wouldn't gain any real merit. If he went to Liangshan with them, Chao Gai would most likely become the leader. Later, Song Jiang would also join the fight for power, making the competition fierce, and it wasn't suitable for him to get involved.

Remembering that Yang Zhi would later join the outlaws at Erlong Mountain in the Water Margin, where he would encounter Lu Da, a fierce foot soldier, and Cao Zheng, Lin Chong's apprentice, the ruthless Cao Zheng, he figured he could use Cao Zheng to win over Lin Chong. Why not go to Erlong Mountain with Yang Zhi to consolidate their forces first, then preemptively kill Wang Lun? At

that point, Chao Gai and his men wouldn't be able to cause much trouble under his command. Having decided on his destination, Zhang Yang pondered for a moment and devised a plan that would earn him favors from both sides. After Yang Zhi and his men drank the medicinal wine and Bai Sheng descended the hill, he emerged from the woods, laughing, "Since you friends have your eyes on this birthday tribute, I won't block your path to wealth. However, Yang Zhi is a descendant of loyal officials, and I must protect his life."

Both groups were startled by the strangely dressed man who jumped out of the woods, his words even more astonishing, though their reactions varied.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi immediately jumped up, only to find his legs weak, realizing he had been tricked. Thinking of his future ruined, he was filled with hatred and threw his broadsword at Wu Yong with all his might. He then felt his body go limp and he collapsed to the ground. The other soldiers, drunk, were even more drooling and unable to move.

Wu Yong and the others were shocked to hear Zhang Yang expose their plan. Liu Tang and the three Ruan brothers surrounded Zhang Yang. Chao Gai and his two companions also turned their attention to Zhang Yang. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhi made this move, and it seemed Wu Yong was about to be splattered with blood.

But Zhang Yang flashed forward and appeared before Wu Yong, catching the broadsword between two fingers.

Wu Yong, seeing the broadsword so close at hand, felt his legs go weak and forgot why Yang Zhi had thrown it. He immediately knelt down, trembling, and said, "Thank you so much for saving my life, young master."

Zhang Yang helped Wu Yong up and laughed, "It was nothing, nothing to mention."

The others were also astonished to see Zhang Yang appear before Wu Yong from over ten feet away in a flash. Such skill made taking a life incredibly easy. Liu Tang and the three Ruan brothers, who had been about to attack, secretly felt lucky.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Zhang Yang knew he had made a deep impression on them and had saved Wu Yong's life, thus exceeding his expectations.

Seeing that Yang Zhi and the others had fallen asleep, Zhang Yang, wanting to leave a deeper impression on Chao Gai and his men, laughed and said, "Scholar, what a clever scheme! Just now, Liu Tang drank a ladleful from that barrel of wine, both putting Yang Zhi at ease and distracting Bai Sheng. Then, the scholar calmly administered the drug—truly a meticulously planned operation."

Hearing Zhang Yang not only describe their methods in detail but also name the three men,

the men were even more horrified. Seeing that they were being manipulated, Zhang Yang was secretly pleased and, feigning a charlatan's air, continued, "However, man proposes, God disposes. Within a month, the scheme will surely be exposed. That Bai Sheng will suffer a bloody fate then. You should pack up your gold and silver."

With that, he waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

Wu Yong and the others, having lost faith in Zhang Yang's words, began to believe him somewhat.

But Zhang Yang knew the importance of keeping quiet, so no matter how much they questioned him, he remained silent.

Seeing that it was getting late and Zhang Yang hadn't spoken again, Wu Yong thanked him profusely and had Ruan Xiaoqi bring a load of gold and jewels, saying, "Since you didn't expose our actions, you should get a share."

Zhang Yang didn't want this load of gold and silver to ruin his "master" image; after all, with his modified, abnormal skills, all the gold and silver in the world was practically useless to him. He feigned indifference, saying, "What use do I have for these things? You should hurry down the mountain. If you really can't find shelter, come find me at Liangshan Marsh. I can guarantee your safety there."

Seeing Zhang Yang's enigmatic words and his disregard for money, Wu Yong truly believed him to be some kind of master. After thanking him again, he and the others loaded the eleven loads of gold and jewels into the cart, covered it up, and pushed it down Huangni Ridge.

Only after they were out of sight did Zhang Yang remember that Yang Zhi was still sleeping there; he had forgotten to ask for the antidote. Having just played the master, he was too embarrassed to ask for the antidote again, so he could only wait idly by. Fortunately, he had undergone brutal mental training, and the forest was much more vibrant than the desert, so the time didn't feel unbearable.

Chapter Three: The Lifesaving Grace

Now, as Chao Gai and his seven companions descended the hill, Bai Sheng, who was already waiting at the foot of the hill, hurriedly came forward to greet them.

Chao Gai was still concerned about Zhang Yang's words about Bai Sheng facing bloodshed, and said, "Brother Bai Sheng, why don't you stay at my manor for a few days? You can go home after things have calmed down."

Bai Sheng, however, was a gambling addict and had already planned to gamble heavily with the gold and silver he had received. Hearing this, he smiled and declined, saying, "Guardian, you're too cautious. We'll be careful on our journey, and no one should know."

Ruan Xiaoqi, being straightforward, then recounted Zhang Yang's words in detail.

Bai Sheng, however, didn't see Zhang Yang and laughed, "He's most likely hiding in the woods, overhearing you all calling him that. That talk of bloodshed is definitely a hoax. I'm afraid you've all misjudged him; that man is probably just a wandering sorcerer."

Wu Yong, realizing this, understood that Zhang Yang had come from the direction where they had been hiding, so it was quite possible he had overheard them. Moreover, with his skills and eyesight, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to see them administering the drug. The truth of what he said next was still unknown,

so it couldn't be taken at face value. Seeing that Bai Sheng had made up his mind, and fearing a fight might break out, he laughed, "Brother Bai Sheng is right. We can't completely trust metaphysics. Let him go back first."

Chao Gai, who didn't believe in fortune-telling anyway and admired Wu Yong's wisdom, gave Bai Sheng a load of gold and silver, and they went their separate ways. The events continued to unfold according to the trajectory of the Water Margin. The setting sun cast its

golden

rays, adorning the rolling mountains with a shimmering edge. Flocks of birds flew overhead, their wings beating against the air with a whistling sound. Wisps of smoke rose from distant villages, carried by the gentle breeze for miles, like a ribbon cleaving the sky.

Zhang Yang gazed at the last rays of sunset, deeply captivated by nature's masterpiece.

Yang Zhi, having drunk little, awoke quickly. He scrambled to his feet and saw the fourteen men, drooling and still fast asleep. He grumbled, "Now that we've lost the birthday gifts, how can we face Liang Zhongshu? One careless mistake, and I have nowhere to go, nowhere to return to my country. Where can I go? I might as well find a place to die on this hill." With that, he lifted his robes, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked down at Huangni Ridge, ready to jump.

Hearing Yang Zhi's sigh, Zhang Yang had already come to his senses. Seeing Yang Zhi about to jump off the hill, he knew Yang Zhi would soon realize his mistake, but to ensure Yang Zhi owed him another life, he quickly grabbed him, saying, "A true man should live as a hero and die as a ghost. How can you take your own life at the slightest setback?" Yang

Zhi had only acted impulsively, but being pulled back by Zhang Yang, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Turning around, he saw the young man who had just saved his life, unaware that Chao Gai and the others were also... Having no intention of killing him, Zhang Yang turned and knelt down, saying, "Thank you for your timely warning, benefactor. I, Yang Zhi

, will never forget it." Zhang Yang helped Yang Zhi up and smiled, "I have long admired your ancestor. If you, Commander, do not despise me, we can address each other as brothers."

Yang Zhi said bitterly, "How can I return to the court now? What kind of Commander am I? You have saved me twice in one day. I am willing to serve you as my elder brother for the rest of my life."

Zhang Yang saw that Yang Zhi was already over thirty years old, while he himself was only in his early twenties. Such an address felt strange. Moreover, he had just returned to ancient times and needed someone to take care of him.

Thinking of this, he quickly followed the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, turned and knelt down, saying, "An elder is my elder brother. Please do not refuse, brother." He thus acknowledged Yang Zhi as his elder brother.

Yang Zhi quickly helped Zhang Yang up, saying, "Then I've been too kind."

Zhang Yang said, "Brother, it's getting late. Let's go down the hill first."

Yang Zhi had reached the hill around noon, and seeing that the sun was already setting, he didn't know that Zhang Yang had forgotten about the antidote. Moved, he said, "I feel bad that you've looked after me for half a day."

Zhang Yang didn't blush at all, laughing, "We're brothers, no need to be so polite."

Yang Zhi was naturally carefree; otherwise, he wouldn't have killed Niu Er. Hearing this, he didn't say much, but went over and picked up two broadswords, tossing one to Zhang Yang, saying, "The world is not peaceful; let's take two swords for self-defense."

Although Zhang Yang was confident that he could move freely even among a large army, he still caught the sword.

The two descended the hill, and seeing that they had walked for half the night, they rested in the woods. When it was slightly brighter, they set off again in the cool morning air, walking another twenty li.

Along the way, Zhang Yang, having undergone rigorous training, didn't feel any discomfort. Yang Zhi was feeling hungry and tired. Seeing an inn ahead, he said, "Let's have

some food and drink before we continue our journey." Zhang Yang, noticing Yang Zhi's fatigue, nodded in agreement.

The two entered the inn, chose a clean mulberry wood table and stools, and sat down, their broadswords leaning against each other.

A woman by the stove asked, "Would you like a light, sir?"

Yang Zhi replied, "Let's get two jiao of wine first, borrow some rice to cook, and some meat if there's any. I'll pay you back if we stop cooking for a while."

The woman first called a young man to pour the wine while she cooked and stir-fried the meat.

The young man poured wine for the two of them, and Yang Zhi raised his cup, saying, "Let's drink to our acquaintance."

The army had originally intended to train Zhang Yang and his comrades to be a perfect combination of special forces soldiers and secret agents, and they had also received some training in high-society life. Zhang Yang had tasted many famous wines and was eager to try the taste of this ancient wine. After raising his cup in acknowledgment, he drank it all in one gulp, but almost vomited. The wine was noticeably sour and astringent, quite different from modern famous wines.

Zhang Yang drank one cup, then stopped drinking, instead inquiring about江湖 figures from Yang Zhi. He learned that Wang Qing of Huainan and Tian Hu of Hedong had begun to rebel. Recently, a peasant uprising had also broken out in Kaizhou, which was why Yang Zhi and his group had taken a detour.

Seeing the chaos already present, Zhang Yang asked, "I've heard that some people in the江湖 can summon wind and rain. Do you know anything about them, brother?"

Yang Zhi laughed, "Brother, you must have heard it from the villages. Those people are just good at predicting the weather, able to judge the weather from celestial phenomena and animal behavior, using this to deceive ordinary people. No one who frequently travels the江湖 believes them."

Hearing this, Zhang Yang breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had arrived in a more realistic Water Margin world; in this way, relying solely on martial arts, he would be invincible. At least there was no one who could injure him with flying swords, otherwise he would have to live with his tail between his legs.

Chapter Four: Encountering Cao Zheng

While the two were talking, the woman brought out the food. The two then began to focus on eating.

After a hearty meal, Yang Zhi patted his pockets and realized his purse was missing. He asked Zhang Yang, "Brother, do you have any money?"

Zhang Yang had nothing on him except the search device and a first-aid kit. Hearing this, he remembered how Yang Zhi and Cao Zheng had met. He thought to himself, "If I ate and dashed, it would damage my image. Yesterday, a load of gold and silver was placed before me, and I didn't take it. Now I don't even have money for the meal.

Truly, 'Heaven's sins can be forgiven; self-inflicted sins cannot be forgiven.'"

Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly.

Yang Zhi was taken aback.

Seeing his embarrassment, Zhang Yang knew he was there and felt awkward, so he simply wiped his mouth and left, like in the Water Margin. Not wanting to be known as a dine-and-dasher, he noticed the broadsword leaning against the table and had an idea. He called over the young man who was sifting wine and said, "We have no cash on us, so we'll repay your meal with a broadsword, how about that?"

The young man picked up a broadsword, and seeing that the blade was sharp and the handle was made of fine peach wood, he couldn't help but feel greedy. He hesitated and said, "Sir, this sword isn't very good. I'm afraid it won't be enough to cover the meal."

Yang Zhi had suffered a series of misfortunes this year, and his temper was flaring. Seeing that the young man was also trying to bully him, he became furious, jumped up, and slashed the young man, sending him sprawling.

The woman saw this and screamed, "Someone's causing trouble! Husband, come quick!"

As soon as she finished speaking, several shirtless men dragged sticks in through the back door. The burly man in the lead seemed afraid of damaging the inn, so he waved to stop the others and said to Yang Zhi, "You dare to come out and fight?"

Zhang Yang knew that this was most likely Cao Zheng, and also wanted to see the two men's martial arts skills, so he didn't stop them.

Yang Zhi, who was looking for an outlet for his frustration, was delighted by this. He grabbed his broadsword, jumped out of the room, and assumed a fighting stance.

Cao Zheng also swung his staff and rushed out to fight Yang Zhi.

Cao Zheng was already inferior to Yang Zhi in skill, and Yang Zhi, in his depressed mood, was attacking with all his might. After a dozen or so exchanges, Cao Zheng could only parry and dodge.

The young man sifting wine and the farmhands, seeing Cao Zheng at a disadvantage, were about to help when Cao Zheng leaped out of the way, shouting, "Don't fight! You burly man wielding the broadsword, tell me your name!"

Yang Zhi replied, "I am Yang Zhi, the Blue-Faced Beast!"

Cao Zheng exclaimed in surprise, "Could you be Commander Yang of the Eastern Capital?"

Yang Zhi asked curiously, "How do you know I am Commander Yang?"

Cao Zheng dropped his spear and staff, bowed, and said, "I was blind to your greatness."

Yang Zhi helped Cao Zheng up and asked, "Who are you?"

Cao Zheng replied, "I am originally from Kaifeng Prefecture, and I am eighty years old... " Cao Zheng, a disciple of Lin Chong, the head instructor of the Imperial Guards, was known as the "Knife-wielding Ghost." He explained that a local wealthy man had entrusted him with five thousand strings of cash to travel to Shandong, but he lost everything and could not return home, so he married into this peasant family. The woman in question was his wife, and the young man serving wine was his brother-in-law.

Yang Zhi said, "So you are Lin Chong's disciple. Your master was framed by Grand Marshal Gao and became an outlaw, now at Liangshan Marsh."

Cao Zheng replied, "I've heard that, but I don't know if it's true. Please, Your Excellency and this gentleman, come to my house and rest for a while."

The two followed Cao Zheng back to the inn. Cao Zheng invited them to sit down and told his wife and brother-in-law to prepare more food and drink for them.

Cao Zheng cupped his hands to Zhang Yang and asked, "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

Zhang Yang smiled and replied, "My name is Zhang Yang, a nobody."

Fearing that Cao Zheng might look down on Zhang Yang, Yang Zhi added, "This is my brother."

Cao Zheng knew that Zhang Yang, who could address Yang Zhi as a brother, must possess considerable skill, and dared not be disrespectful.

During the drinking, Cao Zheng inquired again, "Why has the Imperial Envoy come here?"

Yang Zhi recounted in detail how, as Imperial Envoy, he had lost the Flower and Stone Tribute, and now he had lost Liang Zhongshu's birthday tribute.

Cao Zheng, hearing that Zhang Yang had managed to rescue Yang Zhi from seven men, was secretly impressed and said, "Since that's the case, please stay at my humble abode for a few days, and we can discuss things further."

Yang Zhi replied, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness. However, I fear the authorities will pursue us, so I dare not stay long."

Cao Zheng asked, "If that's the case, where do you intend to go?"

Yang Zhi said, "We two don't know each other well and are just about to wander the martial world to find a place to stay."

Cao Zheng said, "The authorities will surely hunt you down, so why risk your life? If you're looking for a place to settle down, I know a good one. Not far from here is Puzhou, where there's a mountain called Erlong Mountain. It's a strategically important place, and there are several hundred men there. The leader is called Golden-Eyed Tiger Deng Long. If you're interested in becoming an outlaw, you can join them there and find a safe haven."

Yang Zhi said, "Since there's such a place, why not go and seize it to settle down? It's better than living under someone else's roof. You also..." "Let's go together and I'll be a leader, better than you staying here slaughtering pigs and selling meat."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zheng turned over and bowed, saying, "I've long wanted to go to Liangshan to find my master, but I've heard that Wang Lun is narrow-minded and unforgiving. He said my master, Lin Chong, suffered greatly at his hands when he joined the Liangshan bandits, which is why I've delayed until now. If you, Commander, would be so kind as to offer me your service, I would gladly serve you."

Yang Zhi helped Cao Zheng up and said, "I see you're a good man, that's why I'm taking you along. No need for formalities, today..." "It's still early. Pack your valuables, and we'll head to Erlong Mountain to seize the stronghold."

Cao Zheng said, "You may not know, but Erlong Mountain is fifty or sixty li from here. If we force our way there, we'll surely be exhausted. Why don't we rest here for a day and set off again early tomorrow morning? We'll arrive there by noon, and then we can rest and recharge our strength. That would be perfect for seizing the stronghold."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang couldn't help but look at Cao Zheng with new respect. In the Water Margin, it was Cao Zheng who devised the plan to capture Erlong Mountain. His words were insightful, and he should train him well in the future; perhaps he could become capable of handling things independently. He smiled and said, "Brother, Brother Cao is right. We'll stay here for the night."

Yang Zhi, seeing that Zhang Yang had spoken, didn't say anything more.

That night, everyone stayed at the inn.

Chapter Five: Lu Da's Recklessness

The next day, they got up at dawn. Everyone had eaten their fill and prepared some dry rations. Zhang Yang, Yang Zhi, and Cao Zheng, along with their families and five or seven villagers, set off for Erlong Mountain.

At midday, they saw a tall mountain. Cao Zheng pointed to it and said, "That's Erlong Mountain. There's a grove of trees ahead; we can eat some dry rations there, rest for a while, and then decide what to do next."

The others had no objections and entered the grove, only to be startled. They saw a large, fat monk, completely naked, with floral tattoos on his back, sitting under a pine tree, enjoying the shade. Beside him leaned a thick, arm-sized staff, probably weighing several dozen pounds.

Upon seeing them, the monk grabbed the staff from the tree root, jumped up, and shouted, "You scoundrel! Trying to ambush me while I'm resting!"

Zhang Yang, seeing this, knew it was Lu Zhishen and wanted to show off his skills to seize the position of chieftain later. He remained silent, waiting for Yang Zhi to make his move.

Hearing the monk speak with a Guanzhong accent, Yang Zhi, realizing they were from the same region, called out, "Where are you from, monk?"

Lu Da didn't reply, but swung his staff and attacked.

Seeing this, Yang Zhi also raised his broadsword and charged at the monk.

The two of them clashed in the woods, exchanging blows, one above the other. They fought for thirty or forty rounds, neither gaining the upper hand.

Cao Zheng and the others, never having witnessed such a fierce battle, were dumbfounded.

Yang Zhi and Lu Da, seeing their opponent fight to a standstill, secretly admired him.

Zhang Yang, wanting to show off his skills, saw the opportunity and slipped between the two.

Cao Zheng and the villagers cried out in alarm when they saw Zhang Yang charging towards Yang Zhi and Lu Da's weapons.

Yang Zhi, seeing this, hurriedly tried to retract his broadsword, but Lu Zhishen's martial arts were astounding, forcing him to fight with all his might, and he couldn't stop his momentum for a moment.

Lu Da had fought Yang Zhi for dozens of rounds and was secretly impressed by Yang Zhi's martial arts skills. Seeing that Yang Zhi had several companions beside him, he also went all out, wanting to finish Yang Zhi off first to avoid being attacked from both sides later. When the blue-faced man's companion suddenly rushed into the middle, he was delighted and increased the strength of his attack, intending to weaken his opponent first.

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Zhang Yang knew that his move was quite unexpected. He smiled slightly and grabbed the weapons of the two men with lightning speed.

The crowd was stunned to see the two formidable weapons being easily caught by Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang looked at the crowd's dumbfounded expressions, released his grip with satisfaction, and smiled at Lu Da, saying, "It seems we have some misunderstanding. We don't know you. We just came to rest in the forest. Why resort to knives and guns?"

Lu Da sheathed his weapon and subconsciously weighed his monk's staff in his hand. It was still the same sixty-two-pound water-polished monk's staff. How could someone catch him with their bare hands? In his shock, Lu Da did not hear what Zhang Yang said and naturally did not reply.

Seeing that everyone was still in shock, as if they hadn't heard him, Zhang Yang coughed a few times. Only

then did they come to their senses, looking at Zhang Yang with admiration.

Zhang Yang then repeated what he had just said.

Lu Da, hearing this, awkwardly scratched his bald head and said, "I thought you were from Erlong Mountain!"

Zhang Yang laughed, "We came here to seize their stronghold; we're not from Erlong Mountain yet." Then, feigning ignorance, he asked, "What grudge do you have against Erlong Mountain?"

Lu Da said, “I am Lu Da, an officer under General Zhong of Yan’an Prefecture. I became a monk after killing Zhen Guanxi with three punches. People call me the Flower Monk because I don’t abstain from alcohol and meat. Later, I met Lin Chong, the Leopard Head, and that scoundrel Gao Qiu wanted to kill him. I saw injustice and saved his life. So Gao Qiu wanted to capture me, and I fled into the Jianghu.

I came to Shizipo in Mengzhou and met Zhang Qing, the Vegetable Gardener, and Sun Erniang, the Mother Night Demon. I heard that Baozhu Temple on Erlong Mountain was a safe place to stay, so I came to join them. But that scoundrel Deng Long wouldn’t let me stay on the mountain. I beat him up, and he locked up his gates and wouldn’t come out.

I had no choice but to rest here first. When I saw you all come, I thought Deng Long had sent someone to ambush me.”

Zhang Yang introduced everyone to him.

Yang Zhi, having heard of the renowned Lu Da and being from the same hometown, quickly became acquainted with him. Yang Zhi then recounted in detail the story of selling his knife and killing Niu Er, as well as the loss of the birthday tribute.

Cao Zheng, hearing that Lu Da had saved his master's life, also paid his respects with great courtesy.

After exchanging pleasantries for half a day, Yang Zhi worriedly said, "Now that the pass is closed, how can we seize his territory?"

Zhang Yang looked up at the mountain; his abnormally sharp eyes, enhanced by his modifications, easily took in the situation. He saw that the pass was only about ten feet high and constructed of wood. With his skills, he could easily jump over it or destroy it for a direct assault. But having already witnessed their own strength, they figured that demonstrating their wisdom would make it easier to win over the crowd. Thinking this, he laughed and said, "This is easy. I'll use a little trick to make them let us up the mountain."

Yang Zhi said, "Brother, since you have such a good plan, why not tell us?"

Zhang Yang said, "But we'll have to trouble Brother Lu Da first."

Lu Zhishen said, "As long as we can take down the stronghold, I'm willing to suffer some hardship. Brother, please tell us first."

Zhang Yang said, "We've all changed into village clothes, tied up Brother Lu Da, and made slipknots with the ropes. We went to the pass and said, 'We run an inn in a nearby village. Brother Lu Da came to my inn to drink, got very drunk, and refused to pay back his money, saying...'" "Go and report that someone is coming to attack your stronghold, so we heard about it. While he's drunk, we'll tie him up here and present him to the king. That scoundrel will surely let us go up the mountain. When we get to his stronghold and see Deng Long, we'll loosen the knot in his rope, and the three of us will attack together. That scoundrel will surely be doomed! If we kill him, none of the others will dare disobey. What do you think of this plan?"

Lu Da laughed and said, "This is the best plan! Deng Long was kicked by me and is looking for revenge; he'll surely let us go to the pass."

The group discussed and decided on the plan. Zhang Yang and Yang Zhi changed into peasant clothes, tied up Lu Da, and followed the plan. They successfully tricked them into going to the pass. Zhang Yang killed Deng Long, and Lu Da and Yang Zhi also killed many of the henchmen. Seeing their leader dead and Zhang Yang and his men's superior martial arts, the stronghold's henchmen all surrendered.

Chapter Six

: As Wish Fulfilled. After Deng Long's death, the henchmen of Erlong Mountain all surrendered. Not knowing which of Zhang Yang's men was the leader, they all shouted that they were willing to submit to the various leaders.

Lu Da, however, disliked the noise and roared, "Shut your mouths, all of you!"

Seeing Lu Da's fierce appearance and superior skills, the henchmen immediately bowed their heads and kowtowed, daring not to utter another word.

Cao Zheng knew his own abilities and was content to be a minor leader. He led the villagers to kneel before him and said, "Since ancient times, a snake cannot move without a head, and a bird cannot fly without a head. I am willing to obey the orders of the three elder brothers."

Zhang Yang secretly praised Cao Zheng's intelligence. Since he couldn't become the chieftain anyway, this way, no matter who the position fell to, he would be the first to support it. After a moment's thought, he knelt down and said, "A stronghold cannot have too many leaders, lest there be disunity in command. I am young and inexperienced, and I am willing to serve under the orders of my two elder brothers."

His words were quite meaningful; he feared the three of them might fight over the position of stronghold leader, so he eliminated that possibility. He then withdrew first, leaving the other two, whose martial arts were evenly matched and who hadn't yet determined a winner. They would undoubtedly be unwilling to submit to each other, and the position of stronghold leader would most likely remain

with him. Moreover, this would make him appear virtuous and noble. Lu Da had originally intended to share the position of stronghold leader with Zhang Yang and Yang Zhi, and upon hearing this, he found it reasonable. Seeing that only Yang Zhi, whose martial arts were comparable to his own, remained, he was torn. Serving him as leader felt somewhat unsatisfying, while recommending himself was difficult to do, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Yang Zhi, naturally, also didn't want to let Lu Da become the leader, yet he couldn't very well flatter himself. Seeing Zhang Yang, who had done him a great favor, still kneeling there,

Lu Da hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Brother, you are both wise and brave, and you contributed the most this time. The position of chieftain should rightfully belong to you." Lu Da also genuinely admired Zhang Yang's martial arts skills, and upon hearing this, he no longer hesitated, saying, "Brother Yang Zhi is right, and I am also willing to accept you as chieftain."

Seeing that everything was under control, Zhang Yang still declined, saying, "There is an order of seniority, and I am willing to take the last seat."

Lu Da, however, said, "In the martial world, martial arts have always been paramount

. With your skills, you are certainly capable of taking the position of chieftain." Zhang Yang declined again and again before "reluctantly" agreeing, making Lu Da the second-in-command, Yang Zhi the third, and Cao Zheng the fourth. The henchmen paid their respects in turn.

Zhang Yang then ordered his men to carry the corpses of Deng Long and the others to the back mountain to be burned. He had Cao Zheng lead his men to inventory the granaries and tidy up the houses, and they rested on the mountain that night. The next day, Zhang Yang set fire to the mountain stronghold and, with over three hundred followers who were willing to follow, took his valuables, money, and provisions, headed down the mountain towards Liangshan. He gave some money to the remaining followers who refused to follow, to prevent them from gathering in the mountains again and harming the people.

A few days later, the large group arrived at Lijia Pass and saw in the distance an inn nestled by a stream and lake, surrounded by dozens of old trees.

Yang Zhi said, "That's the inn of Zhu Gui, the 'Dry Land Crocodile' of Liangshan. He specializes in spying on passing merchants. Those with money are reported back to the stronghold. But lone travelers without money are let through; those with money are drugged and rendered unconscious, or even killed instantly. Last year, when I passed through Liangshan, Wang Lun invited me up the mountain, and I met Zhu Gui once. He's quite a man, but he seems somewhat unsuccessful."

Zhang Yang knew from *Water Margin* that Zhu Gui hadn't gained Wang Lun's trust because he joined late, only becoming a fifth-ranking leader after Lin Chong joined, though he was still relegated to a lower position. He thought he could try to win him over.

Zhu Gui, hearing the commotion outside, came out to investigate. Seeing Yang Zhi, he quickly came over to greet him.

Zhang Yang, seeing Zhu Gui's tall stature and imposing appearance, became even more determined to recruit him.

Yang Zhi explained the purpose of the visit.

Zhu Gui was overjoyed to hear that so many people had come to join his gang. He greeted Zhang Yang and the other leaders one by one, inviting them to sit in the main hall. He quickly ordered the waiter to prepare the usual drinks and treat everyone. Then, he took out a yellow birch bow, nocked a whistling arrow, and shot it towards the reeds across the harbor. As soon as the arrow landed, a small boat appeared

, rowed out by some henchmen. Zhu Gui hurriedly wrote a letter detailing the names and numbers of the heroes joining the gang, and gave it to a henchman to deliver to the stronghold. Meanwhile, he slaughtered a sheep to treat the heroes. Upon receiving Zhu Gui's letter, Wang Lun summoned Song Wan, the Cloud-Piercing Vajra, and Du Qian, the Sky-Touching Warrior, to the Liangshan Hall. Once seated, Du Qian asked, "Brother, what brings you here?" Wang Lun replied, "Something terrible has happened

. Yang Zhi from outside the mountain has led over three hundred of his Erlong Mountain followers to join us. Accompanying him is Lu Zhishen, the Flower Monk who saved Lin Chong. Even more frightening is a man named Zhang Yang, who can command those two tigers. If they come to the mountain, we'll have nowhere to hide." Du Qian, somewhat simple-minded, asked, "Last year, didn't you want to keep Yang Zhi in the capital? Why are you afraid of him now?" Wang Lun knew Du Qian's shortcomings; he had only made him a confidant because of his simple-mindedness, and he had relied on Du Qian when he was in trouble. Hearing this, he sighed and said, "The situation is different now. I kept him in the past because I saw that his martial arts were comparable to Lin Chong's, so they could keep each other in check. Now that he is with Naruto, he will surely join forces with Lin Chong after he goes up the mountain. They are all skilled in martial arts, so there will be no place for us to stand then."

Song Wan said, "Brother's concerns are very valid, but if we refuse them entry to our harbor after they come to join us, it would be unreasonable, and we would lose face if word got out."

Wang Lun nodded in agreement, "Brother Song Wan is right. We'll let them in, and then arrange for our men to stay outside the pass. We'll only invite a few leaders into the stronghold, and then politely refuse the rest of them. They are outnumbered and weak, and they certainly won't dare to act rashly on the spot. If they gather their forces below the pass and start a conflict, we can rely on the pass to defend it and we won't be afraid of them. We just need to be careful of Lin Chong acting as an inside agent. Du Qian, you will take men to monitor Lin Chong. If he dares to make any rash moves, you will kill him."

Du Qian didn't see anything wrong with this and nodded in agreement. Seeing that he wasn't asked to monitor Lin Chong, the tiger, Wang Wan didn't say anything more. The three of them discussed it and decided to send a boat to pick up Zhang Yang and the others, while also ordering their trusted men to be on guard. At the same time, they notified Lin Chong, and everyone went to the beach to welcome them.

Zhu Gui, upon receiving Wang Lun's order, also led Zhang Yang and the others into the harbor.

As the group entered the moor, they found themselves surrounded by crisscrossing waterways and swaying reeds. Although Zhang Yang possessed an exceptional memory, he quickly lost his bearings, unable to discern the path they had taken. He felt the waterways all looked the same, with reeds taller than a person on either side.

Chapter Seven: Night at the Mountain Stronghold .

Finding the route difficult to remember, Zhang Yang turned his attention to Zhu Gui, who was accompanying him. Seeing no other Liangshan members around, he said, "Brother, you seem quite handsome; why are you confined to an inn, greeting and seeing off guests?"

Zhu Gui blushed upon hearing this, embarrassed, and replied, "I've only been with the stronghold for a short time, and my skills are mediocre. Having a place to stay is already a blessing."

Seeing the helplessness in Zhu Gui's eyes, Zhang Yang knew he was also resentful, but hadn't found an opportunity to express it. He continued, "I heard that Lin Chong, the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards in Tokyo, only became a fourth-rank leader in your stronghold. I imagine your stronghold must be teeming with talent, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers reside. That's why I brought my boys to join you. Seeing that even a hero like you is only a minor leader in an inn today, I know my suspicions are correct. Now I'm even more eager to meet your leaders."

Zhu Gui naturally knew that Du Qian and Song Wan's martial arts were only comparable to his own, and Wang Lun was merely a poor, failed scholar who only ranked ahead of Lin Chong because he joined the outlaws earlier. Zhang Yang had mistaken this simpleton for a hero, and thinking of this, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. But the thought of being overshadowed by these three incompetents filled him with resentment.

Moreover, Wang Lun had refused to let Lin Chong join the stronghold, and now with so many heroes joining, a fierce battle was inevitable. He hoped to kill Wang Lun so he could rise to power.

Seeing Zhu Gui's strange expression and the fierce glint in his eyes, Zhang Yang knew that Zhu Gui had already formed some ideas and would likely choose the right person. He said nothing more and simply admired the surrounding scenery.

Before long, the group reached the mountainside, where towering mountains stretched to the horizon. The mountain was lined with massive trees, and halfway up, stood a pavilion called "Broken Gold Pavilion."

Just as they disembarked, a henchman ran up the mountain shouting, "Leader Wang has ordered that the Erlong Mountain henchmen rest on the beach, and several leaders follow me up the mountain."

Lu Da, already somewhat displeased that Wang Lun hadn't greeted them at the foot of the mountain, was enraged by the henchman's arrogant manner and raised his fist to strike him.

Zhang Yang reached out and grabbed Lu Da's fist, saying, "Brother Lin Chong is still on the mountain, don't make things difficult for him."

Hearing this, Lu Da withdrew his fist, saying, "If it weren't for Brother Lin Chong, I would have given you a good beating today."

The henchmen, seeing Lu Da's tall, strong, and imposing figure, and his fist the size of a vinegar jar, dared not utter a word.

Along the mountainside, they saw a large pass, with spears, knives, swords, halberds, bows, crossbows, daggers, and lances laid out before it, surrounded by wooden blocks and stones.

A henchman went to inform them. Wang Lun then led a group of leaders out to greet them.

Zhang Yang saw that the leader, a handsome man dressed as a scholar, was Wang Lun, and bowed in greeting.

After exchanging greetings, they entered the pass, where flags of the troops lined both sides. After passing two more passes, they finally arrived at the gate of the stronghold. They saw high mountains on all sides, and three imposing passes surrounding the stronghold. The central area, resembling a mirror, was a flat plain, roughly three to five hundred feet square. The main gate was located near the mountain pass, with side rooms on either side.

Upon reaching the main hall of the stronghold, Wang Lun repeatedly and modestly invited Zhang Yang and his group to ascend the steps. Zhang Yang and his four companions stood in a line on the right; Wang Lun and the other leaders stood in a line on the left. After exchanging

pleasantries, they sat down as host and guests. Wang Lun instructed a junior leader to go down the mountain to entertain the arriving entourage, as there were guesthouses below the pass for their lodgings. During the drinking, Yang Zhi recounted the events since their departure from Liangshan. Upon hearing that Zhang Yang's martial arts were far superior to Yang Zhi's, Wang Lun's expression changed drastically, and he dared not keep them on the mountain any longer. Until the banquet ended, he remained silent about joining the group. Afterwards, he feigned drunkenness and excused himself, instructing Zhu Gui to arrange for everyone to rest.

As the group approached, Lu Da said, "Wang Lun speaks haltingly and isn't a straightforward person. Brother, why did you bring us to him? We're afraid we'll suffer later."

Zhang Yang shook his head and said, "He has no intention of taking us in."

Lu Da exclaimed happily, "That's great! We can go back to Erlong Mountain and live a carefree life, much better than suffering his wrath here."

Yang Zhi also said, "Last time we met, Wang Lun was quite forthright. How come he's become so indecisive today?"

Cao Zheng didn't believe that Zhang Yang would come to him without understanding Wang Lun's character. After a moment's thought... Cao Zheng guessed Zhang Yang's intentions; he most likely wanted to seize Liangshan just like he had seized Erlong Mountain. Although he guessed Zhang Yang's thoughts, he didn't want to say it outright, so he said, "My master used to be so bold, but today he's silent and taciturn. It seems the rumors in the martial world are mostly true. Tomorrow I will kill Wang Lun to avenge my master."

Zhang Yang knew Cao Zheng probably guessed his thoughts, but he didn't want his own men to kill Wang Lun, lest word spread that he had forcibly seized someone else's stronghold. He also hoped Lin Chong would come to visit everyone later, so he could provoke him into killing Wang Lun. He shook his head and said, "Brother Cao Zheng, don't be impulsive. We'll act according to the circumstances tomorrow. Everyone, go back and rest."

Lin

Chong was overjoyed to see so many old friends come to the mountain today, but seeing Wang Lun's expression during the meal, and remembering how Wang Lun had repeatedly declined when he came, he knew Wang Lun had no intention of keeping everyone on the mountain, so he couldn't be happy anymore. After the banquet, Lin Chong returned to his room, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, and decided to join the others.

Just as he stepped outside, he saw a henchman furtively hiding behind a tree in the distance. Lin Chong assumed he was just needing to urinate and didn't think much of it. Reaching the gate, he found it closed.

Just as he was about to question him, the gatekeeper shouted, "Chief Wang has ordered that no one is allowed to leave the gate tonight."

Lin Chong was about to yell at him when he saw Du Qian leading several men coming from the same direction he had come from; the henchman who had been hiding behind the tree was among them. Lin Chong thought for a moment and realized they were watching him. Remembering that Wang Lun had always suspected him since he came to the mountain, and now that they had sent people to monitor him, he was furious.

When Du Qian arrived, seeing Lin Chong's angry expression, he became somewhat intimidated and asked with a forced smile, "Instructor Lin, where are you going?"

Lin Chong, seeing Du Qian's smiling inquiring tone, didn't want to lash out, and coldly replied, "I was thinking of meeting my disciple Cao Zheng at the pass, but Chief Wang issued this order. I wonder where Chief Du is headed?"

Du Qian, somewhat slow-witted, was speechless at Lin Chong's question.

Seeing his expression, Lin Chong knew his suspicions were correct and sneered, "The moon is beautiful tonight; I suppose Chief Du is out enjoying it."

Du Qian, already embarrassed, subconsciously nodded, "Indeed, indeed."

Lin Chong, knowing Du Qian was somewhat simple-minded, didn't argue further, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother, enjoy the moon. I'll head back now." He then walked towards his room.

Du Qian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lin Chong return. Looking up, he realized that the sky was full of dark clouds and there was no moon at all. He couldn't help but say to his henchmen behind him, "There isn't even a moon tonight. How could Lin Chong have told me to come out and admire the moon?"

The henchmen, having witnessed Lin Chong's anger, knew they had been caught out and were afraid he would take action. They were secretly relieved when Lin Chong left, but upon hearing this, they all burst into laughter. One henchman, seeing Du Qian's dark expression and knowing his simple-mindedness, quickly said, "There was a moon just now, but it's covered by clouds now."

Du Qian nodded, "No wonder."

Hearing this, the henchmen laughed even harder, but fearing Du Qian's anger, they all turned pale with suppressed mirth.

Du Qian ignored their feelings and led his men back to lie in ambush near Lin Chong's house.

Zhang

Yang, unaware of what was happening inside the pass, waited half the night, and only fell asleep when Lin Chong didn't arrive.

Chapter Eight: The Showdown with Wang Lun.

The next morning, a henchman came to invite them, saying, "Today, the leaders of the mountain stronghold invite all heroes to a banquet at the pavilion in the water village south of the mountain."

Zhang Yang dismissed the henchman, instructing the leaders to carry their weapons, concealed on their persons, and dressed neatly before attending the banquet.

They hadn't gone far when Song Wan came on horseback to invite them again. The group arrived at a pavilion in the Nanshan

Water Fortress. Wang Lun, Du Qian, Lin Chong, and Zhu Gui all came out to greet them and invited them to sit down in the pavilion, where they were seated as host and guests. Wang Lun ordered his men to set out a feast. After several rounds of wine and two servings of food, Zhang Yang and Wang Lun chatted. But when the topic of joining the group came up, Wang Lun evaded the question. Zhang Yang noticed Lin Chong was just drinking silently with his head down and began to feel a headache coming on.

Seeing that it was past noon, Wang Lun turned back and told his men to bring something. Three or four men went and soon returned with a large plate containing five large silver ingots. Wang Lun then rose and poured a cup, saying to Zhang Yang, "I am deeply grateful to all the heroes who have gathered here in righteousness. It is a pity that my humble mountain stronghold is but a small pool of water; how can it possibly attract so many true dragons? I have prepared some small gifts, hoping you will kindly accept them. Please rest your horses at your main camp, and I will send someone to personally come and surrender."

Seeing that Lin Chong was still drinking with his head down, and remembering his injuries, Zhang Yang feigned indignation, saying, "It is a pity that I still wished to join the leaders in killing corrupt officials and bringing peace to the people. It seems that was just wishful thinking on my part. If we cannot reach an agreement, we will all take our leave, but we dare not accept any gold or silver."

Lin Chong had returned home the previous night, tossing and turning for half the night, already harboring the intention to kill Wang Lun. Hearing Zhang Yang's ambition, and remembering his enemy Gao Qiu, his murderous intent grew even stronger.

Wang Lun was overjoyed to hear that Zhang Yang was leaving, and laughed, "Why refuse? It's not that our mountain doesn't welcome heroes like you, but we lack food and shelter, and we fear you might be misled in the future, so we dare not keep you."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Chong raised his eyebrows, his eyes widened, and he sat on his chair and shouted, "When I came up the mountain last time, you also complained about food and shelter. Today, Brother Zhang and all the heroes have come to this stronghold, and you say such things again. What's the reason for this?"

Seeing that Lin Chong had finally taken the bait, Zhang Yang quickly said, "Instructor, please calm down. It was our fault that we ruined the friendship between your stronghold and us. Today, Chief Wang..." " The officials gave us money to go down the mountain and didn't force us to leave. Please calm down, leader, we'll leave on our own."

Lin Chong, recalling his experiences after arriving at the mountain, felt his killing intent intensify. He said, "This is a man who hides a knife behind a smile, whose words are pure but whose actions are corrupt! I won't let him go today!"

Wang Lun shouted, "Look at this beast! He's drunk again, and he's trying to offend me with his words. He's only making things worse for me!"

Lin Chong roared, "You're just a poor, failed scholar with no literary talent. How can you be the leader of this stronghold!" He kicked the table aside, stood up, and pulled out a sharp knife he had prepared under his clothes.

Zhang Yang pretended to step forward to persuade them, blocking Du Qian and Song Wan and shouting, "Don't fight!"

Lu Da, Cao Zheng, and Yang Zhi, seeing this, also blocked the entrance. Although the henchmen saw that things were not going well, seeing three tigers blocking their way, they dared not go forward.

Lin Chong grabbed Wang Lun by the chest and cursed, “You’re just a poor, rustic scholar. It’s only thanks to Du Qian that you’re here. Master Chai has been so generous to you, befriended you, and recommended me, yet you still refused. Now that all the heroes have gathered here, you want to send him down the mountain? This Liangshan is yours! You jealous and treacherous thief, what use are you if you’re not killed! You have no magnanimity or talent, and you’re not fit to be the leader of this stronghold!”

Du Qian and Song Wan wanted to step forward to persuade him, but Zhang Yang blocked their way like a mountain, unable to move them. Zhu Gui also harbored resentment towards Wang Lun, but seeing this, he only verbally tried to dissuade him without stepping forward.

Wang Lun panicked when he saw this and cried out, “Where are my trusted men?”

Although several of his close confidants wanted to come to his rescue, seeing the imposing presence of Lu Da and the other two, who dared to step forward?

Lin Chong immediately grabbed Wang Lun, cursed him again, and plunged a knife into his heart, knocking him down on the pavilion. He then cut off Wang Lun's head and held it in his hand, frightening Du Qian, Song Wan, and Zhu Gui into kneeling and saying, "We are willing to follow our brother and take up the reins!"

Zhang Yang was not worried that Lin Chong would dare to be the chief, so he pulled over a chair and made Lin Chong sit down, shouting, "Today, we support Instructor Lin as the leader of the stronghold. Anyone who does not submit will be punished like Wang Lun!"

Lin Chong shouted, "Brother, you are mistaken! Today, I only acted out of righteousness and killed this unrighteous villain. I had no intention of taking this position. Today, Brother Zhang, you are letting Lin Chong sit in the first place. Won't this make me a laughingstock among the heroes of the world? If you want to force me, I would rather die! I have something to say, but I don't know if you will agree with me?"

The crowd said, "Who dares to disagree with what the leader says? We are willing to hear his words."

Lin Chong said, "Lin Chong is a member of the Imperial Guard who was exiled here. Today, all the heroes..." "When Jie and his companions gathered here, Wang Lun, narrow-minded and jealous of talent, refused to accept them, leading to their deaths. It wasn't that Lin Chong wanted this position. Given my courage and integrity, how could I dare to resist the government troops and eliminate the chief villain beside the emperor? Now, we have Zhang Yang

, a man of both wisdom and courage. Today, I prioritize loyalty and will appoint him as the leader of the stronghold. Is that alright?" Yang Zhi and the other two admired Zhang Yang, and Du Qian and the other two dared not object, all saying, "The leader's words are most appropriate."

Zhang Yang, however, feigned, "No. Since ancient times, 'a strong army cannot suppress its lord.' I am merely a newcomer from afar; how dare I presume to take the position?"

Lin Chong pushed Zhang Yang forward, forcing him to sit on a chair, and said, "The matter has come to an end today; please do not refuse. Anyone who disobeys will be treated like Wang Lun."

Zhang Yang refused repeatedly before finally "reluctantly" sitting down.

Lin Chong then ordered everyone to pay their respects in front of the pavilion. While sending his underlings to prepare a feast at the main stronghold, he also sent men to summon the numerous minor leaders from the mountains to gather at the main stronghold.

Lin Chong and his group helped Zhang Yang into his sedan chair and horses, and then proceeded to the main stronghold. Upon arriving at the hall of assembly, they dismounted and entered the hall. The crowd helped Zhang Yang to sit in the first seat in the center, where incense was lit.

Lin Chong then said to Lu Da, "Today, the stronghold is fortunate to have so many heroes gathered here. With righteousness clear, we are no longer as cowardly as before. Brother, you should sit in the second seat." Lu

Da, being a forthright man and having saved Lin Chong's life, did not stand on ceremony and immediately sat in the second seat.

Lin Chong then said, "Brother Yang Zhi is a descendant of loyal and virtuous men, and his martial arts are superb.

Please take the third seat." Zhang Yang saw that if he continued to defer, all the Liangshan heroes would have to be placed at the back, which might cause resentment among the Liangshan followers. Moreover, Zhu Gui had just fought Wang Lun and was considered to have already submitted to him. If he were to arrange things, he would have to think of something. So he said, "Everyone

, let's not be modest anymore. Lin Chong, Lu Da, and Yang Zhi will all be the chief leaders, and the other four will be the junior leaders. There is no order of precedence for now. We will arrange the seating order later based on their merits." Everyone agreed. Thus, the eight heroes of Liangshan were seated. There were seven or eight hundred people in total, both in front of and behind the mountain, who came to the hall to pay their respects and stood on both sides.

Zhang Yang said, "You are all here today. Instructor Lin has made me the leader of this stronghold. You will all remain in your posts, managing affairs on both sides of the mountain, guarding the fortress and the beachhead, and ensuring nothing is lost. Everyone must work together with one heart and one mind to uphold justice."

He then ordered the houses in the stronghold to be prepared, settling the people of Erlong Mountain in peace. He took out some gold and silver from Erlong Mountain and distributed it in the main hall to the minor leaders and many henchmen. At that moment, they slaughtered oxen and horses to offer sacrifices to heaven and the gods, celebrating their renewed reunion.

The leaders drank until midnight before dispersing. The next day, they held another banquet to celebrate, and the feasts continued for several days. Zhang Yang also ordered the granaries to be tidied, the stockades repaired, and weapons forged in preparation for the government army; he arranged boats of all sizes and trained soldiers and sailors in shipboard combat to prepare for battle. At the same time, he sent men to monitor He Tao, the envoy from the Three Capitals of Jizhou who was tasked with apprehending the enemy. (

Chapter
9: Rescuing

Chao Gai) After becoming familiar with the people and affairs of the mountain stronghold, Zhang Yang began training his soldiers. He first selected fifty men from the two mountain outlaws as his personal guards, training them with brutal methods. Zhang Yang also had the leaders of the other strongholds gather for training. Only those who passed the tests could become the main force of the stronghold, ensuring the army's future combat effectiveness.

That day, while Zhang Yang was training his troops, a scout from the foot of the mountain reported: "He Tao is leading twenty constables toward Yuncheng County."

If there was anyone among the Liangshan heroes that Zhang Yang was wary of, it would undoubtedly be Song Jiang. This man was like Liu Bei of the Three Kingdoms, adept at winning people over and eager to be granted amnesty. If he were to join the Liangshan bandits, it would surely lead to another internal conflict. Chao Gai also had a past relationship with him, and to prevent him from joining Song Jiang in the future, Zhang Yang decided to cultivate the relationship first.

Although Zhang Yang had already spoken to Song Jiang at Huangni Ridge, in order to diminish the value of Song Jiang's tip-off and to win over the hearts of the people, Zhang Yang still decided to go down the mountain himself.

Zhang Yang instructed Yang Zhi and Lu Da to guard the stronghold, and took Lin Chong and Zhu Gui down the mountain. They retrieved spare warhorses from an inn outside the moat, and after riding for about an hour, they came to a large stream blocking their path, with two villages faintly visible upstream.

Zhu Gui was now on equal footing with Du Qian and others in the mountain stronghold, commanding over a hundred henchmen. He was riding high and deeply grateful to Zhang Yang, the man who had changed his fate. Upon arriving at the village, he said, "The village on the east side of the river is Dongxi Village, and the one to the west is Xixi Village. A few miles further ahead is the east gate of Yuncheng County, hence both villages are very prosperous."

Zhang Yang also remembered a mention in the Water Margin that Chao Gai seized some kind of blue stone pagoda here, thus earning the title of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King. The three entered the village and saw a large manor house at the entrance, surrounded by earthen walls, with two or three hundred large willow trees standing out prominently outside the walls.

Zhu Gui said, “This is the estate of Chao Gai, the village headman and Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King. His ancestors were wealthy men in this county and township, known for their generosity and love of befriending heroes from all over the land. Anyone who came to him for help, regardless of their character, would be allowed to stay at his estate; and when they wanted to leave, he would give them money to help them get on their way. He loved wielding spears and clubs, and was also very strong. He never married and spent his days honing his skills. Brother, if things aren't urgent, we should go and pay him a visit.”

Zhang Yang reined in his horse and laughed, “That's exactly why we've come to see him.” He then dismounted.

The gatekeeper of the estate had already come out upon hearing

the commotion. Zhang Yang said, “Go and inform the village headman that an old friend from Huangni Ridge is requesting an audience.”

The gatekeeper, seeing Zhang Yang and his two companions dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, was puzzled but dared not ask any further questions and went to inform them.

Although more than twenty days had passed since the Huangnigang incident, Cai Jing's power was immense, and the local officials dared not neglect the matter. Ten dubious arrest warrants were flying everywhere, and only the portrait of Yang Zhi bore a seven-tenths resemblance. The江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) were also very enthusiastic about the hero who dared to provoke such a powerful figure, and people everywhere were inquiring about the matter.

Chao Gai, Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, and Liu Tang were drinking under the grapevines in the back garden when the three Ruan brothers, having received their money, returned to Shijie Village. When Chao Gai heard from the servants that an old friend from Huangni Ridge was requesting an audience, he was greatly alarmed and asked hastily, "How many men do they have?"

Seeing Chao Gai's alarmed expression, the servants replied in surprise, "Only three."

Chao Gai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then they're not officials. Scholar, who do you think they are?"

Wu Yong thought for a moment and said, "They're most likely the young man who suddenly appeared last time. A few days ago, I heard that Yang Zhi and a young man named Zhang Yang seized Erlong Mountain and later occupied Liangshan. That man also told us to go to Liangshan to find him after the incident. I think Zhang Yang is that young man. Let's go out and see why he's here before deciding what to do."

The four men went out and saw that it was indeed Zhang Yang. They exchanged pleasantries and then ushered the three men into the manor. Once in the reception room, Chao Gai had tea served and then dismissed the servants.

Wu Yong, still remembering Zhang Yang's rescue, said, "Our benefactor has established a mountain stronghold; there must be many matters to attend to. He must have something to instruct us on today. We are eager to hear the details."

Zhang Yang, seeing that Wu Yong still remembered his kindness, secretly praised his own quick thinking that day. He said, "The Huangni Ridge affair has been exposed, Bai Sheng has been imprisoned, and the officials from Jizhou will be here to arrest people within a day. I've come to warn you to prepare."

Upon hearing this, Chao Gai panicked and asked Wu Yong, "The situation is critical; how can we be rescued?"

Wu Yong said, "Brother, there's no need to discuss it. 'Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is

the best.'" Chao Gai asked, "But where should we go?"

Wu Yong said, "Brother Zhang Yang came to rescue us; why don't we serve him?"

Upon hearing this, the three men, like drowning men seeing a drowning man looking for help, immediately understood . Like grasping at a straw, they immediately knelt down and bowed

in gratitude. Wu Yong followed suit, saying, "We are willing to serve you, brother, and beg you to take us in." Zhang Yang helped the four up, saying, "With the four brothers joining us on the mountain, our stronghold will be even stronger. How could I refuse?"

Chao Gai and the other two were overjoyed to hear this. Although Wu Yong believed that the matter had been exposed, he still had some doubts and asked, "We handled the Huangni Ridge matter with utmost secrecy. How did it come to light?"

The others also looked at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang, knowing Wu Yong was somewhat suspicious, laughed and said, "Your preparations are indeed meticulous, but there's a fatal oversight."

Wu Yong, quite confident in his plan, asked doubtfully, "My benefactor, please tell me."

Zhang Yang laughed and said, "You only pretended to be date merchants, but you forgot that the village head is usually generous and righteous. Anyone who comes to him for help, regardless of their character, is allowed to stay at his manor. Every villager within a ten-mile radius has been to the village head's manor. The village head, disguised as a merchant, not only failed to conceal his presence but also aroused their suspicion. That day when you rested at the Wang family inn in Anle Village..." "Have you noticed the person whose name was on the register?"

Wu Yong slapped his forehead upon hearing this and said, "That's right, the headman knows many people in the surrounding villages, so he must have been recognized."

Chao Gai thought for a moment and said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. That person does look familiar; he might have been to my manor before!"

Zhang Yang laughed and said, "That person is the younger brother of He Tao, the arresting officer of the Three Capitals of Jizhou. That's why things went wrong. We shouldn't delay; the headman should immediately have someone pack our valuables, and we'll go up the mountain first." Upon hearing this,

Chao Gai went to tell his family to pack their valuables, and everyone grabbed their weapons and prepared for battle.

Chapter Ten: Burning the Manor and Joining the Outlaws

While everyone was busy, a servant came to report, "Song Jiang, the clerk of Yuncheng County, requests an audience."

Zhang Yang said, "The officials from Jizhou must have already arrived in Yuncheng County. This man must have some connection with the headman, which is why he came to inform him."

Chao Gai said, "Brother is right. This man is my sworn brother. He is skilled in writing and officialdom, and also loves practicing martial arts, having mastered many techniques. He only associates with heroes of the Jianghu, and anyone who comes to him, regardless of rank, is accepted and kept at his manor." Gu, who spent his days accompanying Song Jiang, never grew weary; if Song Jiang wanted to leave, he would generously provide financial assistance, living a life of extravagance, regarding gold as dirt. He never refused anyone who asked him for money or goods, and was always ready to help, resolving disputes and saving lives. He regularly distributed coffins and medicine to the poor, relieving those in distress and helping those in need, thus becoming famous in Shandong, where he was known as the "Timely Rain."

As the crowd exited, they saw Song Jiang, who appeared to be in his thirties, less than six feet tall. While his features were not bad, his dark complexion made him seem somewhat unattractive. The crowd immediately felt that he was not as impressive as he had heard.

When Song Jiang saw Chao Gai come out, he rushed forward and said urgently, "Brother, you don't know, I risked my life to save you. Now the Huangni Ridge incident has been exposed! Bai Sheng is already in the Jizhou jail, and he has implicated you and the other seven. The Jizhou government sent men to arrest you, saying you were the ringleader. Luckily, you ran into me. I just said the magistrate was asleep, and I had the people from the prefecture wait for me at the teahouse across from the county. That's how I rushed here to report to you, brother. Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best. I'll go back and get him to issue an official document in the hall. The magistrate will surely send men down tonight. You mustn't delay. What will we do if there's any mistake!" "I regret that I didn't come to your rescue."

Chao Gai laughed, "I already know about this." Then he gestured to Song Jiang, "This is Brother Zhang Yang of Liangshan. We have already pledged allegiance to him. Why don't you come up the mountain with us, brother, and enjoy your carefree life? It's better than you having to watch people's faces in the government office every day."

Song Jiang, hearing that Chao Gai already knew, couldn't help but feel a fleeting disappointment, but it vanished in an instant. Hearing Chao Gai tell him to join the outlaws, he cursed inwardly:

"I am, after all, a government official. How could I be outdone by you? If it weren't for the current unrest, and the possibility of needing your help in the future, why would I care about your life or death?" Thinking this in his heart, he said aloud, "My father is very strict at home, so I'm afraid I can't go up the mountain with the brothers. The official is still waiting for me at the teahouse. If I'm late, he might become suspicious. I'll take my leave now. Brother, don't forget my intentions today." After saying this, he mounted his horse and rode away.

Chao Gai wanted to say something more, but seeing that Song Jiang had already gone far away, he had no choice but to return to the manor with the others to pack their things.

Seeing that Song Jiang reminded Chao Gai of his kindness before leaving, Zhang Yang knew that Song Jiang was also a cunning man.

Chao Gai's family fortune was substantial, and before they could settle things properly, it was already late.

Yuncheng County was nearby, and Song Jiang, fearing He Tao would become suspicious, went back and led him to see the magistrate. The magistrate, hearing that the robbers of the Grand Tutor's birthday gifts were under his jurisdiction, dared not be negligent. He took the magistrate's officers and two captains, Zhu Tong and Lei Heng, and mustered over a hundred cavalry, infantry, archers, and local soldiers. Together with Inspector He and two lieutenants, they left through the east gate and rushed towards Chao's house in Dongxi Village.

Zhu Tong, who had a relationship with Chao Gai, informed the magistrate halfway there that Lei Heng should lead men to attack the front gate, while he would lead men to intercept them at the back gate. Magistrate Shi Wenbin, who had just taken office, was unaware of the intricacies of the situation, but finding Zhu Tong's explanation reasonable, he allowed him to go. Zhu Tong, upon arriving in the village, didn't hide, but instead made a great show of force to inform Chao Gai.

A villager saw this and reported to Chao Gai, "The government troops have arrived! There's no time to lose!"

Zhang Yang, also wanting to meet Zhu Tong and Lei Heng, said, "Village head, you lead the villagers to protect the elderly and children and escape first. I'll cover the rear."

Chao Gai, deeply moved by Zhang Yang's loyalty, said, "Scholar, you can protect them. I'll cover the rear with my brother."

He then ordered the villagers to set fires in all directions.

Wu Yong led several villagers to protect the elderly, children, and valuables, escaping from the back of the village. Zhang Yang and his heroes followed behind. Just as they left the courtyard, a burly man approached.

Chao Gai shouted, "Captain Zhu, don't force me, lest we damage our brotherhood."

Zhu Tong, seeing that the soldiers had fallen behind, dared to say, "Chief, you still don't see my good intentions: I feared Lei Heng would be stubborn and unwilling to do favors, and I would trick him into staying behind. I rushed here to inform you. You mustn't go anywhere else; only Liangshan can provide refuge."

Chao Gai said, "I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, brother. This gentleman beside me is Brother Zhang Yang of Liangshan. We are going to Liangshan."

Zhang Yang, seeing that the man was eight feet four or five inches tall, with a tiger-like beard one foot and five inches long, a face like a red date, and eyes like bright stars, resembling Guan Yu, also felt a sense of admiration. He clasped his hands and said, "I have long heard of your great name, Captain. Seeing you today, I can see you are indeed a man of great righteousness. However, you released the chief and his men; you will likely face punishment upon your return. Why not come with us to Liangshan and uphold justice?

" Cheng County is right next to Liangshan, and Zhu Tong, being a captain, naturally paid close attention to Liangshan affairs. He was surprised to see that Zhang Yang, who had recently surpassed several heroes to become the leader, was actually a handsome young man. Hearing the approaching soldiers, he declined, saying, "I've long admired your name, Chief, but I still have some unfulfilled wishes. I'll return to the stronghold to serve you when the opportunity arises. The pursuers aren't far off; I'll go and draw them away."

Zhang Yang knew that his stated wishes were mostly about career advancement, so he didn't press the matter, saying, "In that case, we'll wait for you at the stronghold, Captain. If you need anything, just send someone with a message."

Zhu Tong was secretly impressed by Zhang Yang's thoughtfulness. Hearing the approaching footsteps of the soldiers, he cupped his hands and said, "I'll draw them away; we'll meet again when the opportunity arises." He

then turned and went to meet the soldiers. Zhang Yang and his companions also disappeared into the darkness, chasing after Wu Yong and his group.

The magistrate and his men were still more than half a mile from the village when they saw a fire start up in Chao Gai's manor, spreading from the main hall, billowing black smoke and sending red flames soaring into the sky. Knowing something was amiss, they quickly ordered Lei Heng to bring men.

Lei Heng arrived and saw Zhu Tong leading his soldiers, wandering aimlessly. He thought to himself, "Zhu Tong and Chao Gai are best friends. Perhaps he's the one who let the men go; I have no reason to be the villain. I also intended to let him go, but now I've gone, and I haven't received the favor. Chao Gai is not someone to be trifled with."

The two men chased aimlessly for several more miles before reaching the manor and reporting to the magistrate, "The thieves received advance warning and took all the valuables. How can we catch up? These thieves are truly formidable!"

He Tao, upon hearing this, said, "There are still three..." "The thieves are from Shijie Village; they must have gone there. We can go there tonight and surely capture them all."

Zhu Tong, fearing he would catch up with Chao Gai and his men again, said, "That place is near Liangshan Marsh, surrounded by deep waterways and reed marshes. They often rob people there, let alone now with that band of bandits. Without a large force, how can we dare to go there to capture anyone?" Hearing

this, He Tao had no choice but to capture a few neighbors and villagers who were unwilling to go up the mountain to take back to the prefecture to make up the numbers, while also going back to fetch reinforcements.

Chapter Eleven: Liangshan Meeting

Zhang Yang and his group left Dongxi Village, and Chao Gai sent his men to inform the Ruan brothers. When the group arrived at the entrance of Shijie Village, they saw the three Ruan brothers holding weapons to meet them.

Ruan Xiaoer approached and asked, "Are there any pursuers behind us?"

Chao Gai replied, "Thanks to Zhu Tong for drawing away the government troops; we haven't been pursued along the way."

Ruan Xiaoer said, "That's good, but the government will definitely come to arrest us again, and we shouldn't stay here any longer. What are your plans, brother?"

Chao Gai smiled and gestured, "This is Brother Zhang Yang from Liangshan. Thanks to you for delivering the message, we've already joined the group. Why don't the three of you come up the mountain together? Then we brothers can gather every day."

Only then did the Ruan brothers notice Zhang Yang beside them, remembering that he... The words and actions of Huang Nigang inspired a sense of reverence, and the three of them knelt down, saying, "Brother, if you do not despise our poverty, we three are willing to serve you."

Zhang Yang helped the three up, saying, "Brother, you flatter us. Since you three are willing to follow the greater good, please pack your things and set off. We

can talk again on the mountain." Ruan Xiaoer said, "We have already sent our families to the lake, and boats are prepared on the shore. We can go up the mountain at any time."

Zhang Yang said, "Everyone has been traveling all night and is tired. Let's go up the mountain and rest first."

So the group boarded a boat and entered the lake from Shijie Lake, heading towards the mountain stronghold. After traveling for a long time, they arrived at a waterway, where they heard the sound of drums and gongs from the shore. Looking around, they saw seven or eight henchmen rowing out four patrol boats. Upon seeing Zhang Yang ahead, they all greeted him and went back to patrolling.

The group arrived at Jinshatan, passing the large stronghold along the way. Yang Zhi and several other leaders, having heard that the heroes had come up the mountain, also came to greet them. When Yang Zhi saw that the men behind Zhang Yang were from Huangni Ridge, he realized that it was like enemies meeting again, and his eyes were filled with hatred. He snatched a broadsword from one of the henchmen and pounced on Zhang Yang from behind.

Zhang Yang knew that Yang Zhi still harbored loyalty to the court and resented Chao Gai and his associates for ruining his career. He stopped Yang Zhi and advised, "Brother, don't be impulsive. The current emperor is incompetent, and treacherous officials are in power. It's not worth your life. Besides, the Chao brothers are robbing the people's hard-earned money from Liang Zhongshu. If you really give it to the treacherous Cai Jing, allowing him to use it to bribe his henchmen and frame loyal officials, that would be a grave crime. Think of the Yuanyou Party case—how many loyal officials were killed? In recent years, harsh laws have been implemented, making life unbearable for the people. Do you really want to aid and abet the tyrant?"

Yang Zhi had previously served as a military commissioner, specializing in transporting precious stones and flowers. He had witnessed many instances of cruelty being inflicted on the people of Jiangnan, especially along the Imperial Canal, where countless people were conscripted into hard labor and killed. He was taken aback by Zhang Yang's words.

Zhang Yang, naturally aware of the principle of giving a sweet treat after a slap, said to Chao Gai and the others, "Brothers, please apologize to Brother Yang Zhi. From now on, we'll be united and help each other in the stronghold."

Having already arrived at their territory, and remembering Zhang Yang's rescue, Chao Gai and the others bowed down to apologize.

Seeing that Zhang Yang had given him ample face, and remembering Zhang Yang's life-saving grace, Yang Zhi readily agreed and helped them up.

Seeing that the group had begun to settle down, Zhang Yang arranged for them to eat and drink and rest. Zhang Yang, however, possessed extraordinary energy; after settling everyone, he went to apologize to Yang Zhi. Seeing how much Zhang Yang valued him, Yang Zhi felt relieved.

After raging all day, the blazing sun finally remembered its inevitable destiny and slowly retreated into the western mountains, yet as if afraid people would forget it, it used its last ounce of energy to paint the few clouds on the horizon a blood-red hue, exceptionally magnificent.

After a day of training, Zhang Yang returned to the main camp and sent for the assembled leaders and newly arrived heroes. Everyone knew that duties would be reassigned, and each had their own thoughts as they gathered in the Hall of Righteousness. Seeing everyone standing, Zhang Yang smiled and said, “Let’s not distinguish between those close and those distant. The old leaders of Liangshan will sit on the left, the main seats, and the new leaders will sit on the right, the guest seats. We’ll decide everyone’s seating arrangements based on their future contributions.”

Hearing this, everyone sat down on both sides.

Zhang Yang continued, “While seating arrangements are not important, duties must not be confused. I will first assign responsibilities according to everyone’s strengths. Wu Yong, with his exceptional strategic skills, will be the strategist; the three Ruan brothers, skilled in water combat, will be the naval commanders; Gongsun Sheng, adept at timing and calculation, will manage the camp’s finances; and Chao Gai and Liu Tang will be the infantry commanders.”

This arrangement was well-considered by Zhang Yang. The three Ruan brothers and Chao Gai only had a connection because of the birthday tribute. After receiving the gold and silver, the three returned to Shijie Village. Their time together was short, and there was little affection between them. He had given them power, and they would likely side with him.

Although Wu Yong had spent the most time with Chao Gai, their personalities were very different, and their relationship was obviously not very close; otherwise, Wu Yong wouldn't have helped Song Jiang seize power later. He was no worse at dealing with people than Song Jiang, and he had given him power, so Song Jiang should be loyal to him.

Gongsun Sheng was the only literate person, and putting him in charge of money and provisions was a last resort.

Moreover, the seven of them used to respect Chao Gai, but now they were equals, and Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng even had more real power than him, so they would inevitably lose their unity.

The previous leaders had not lost their power, and the new leaders had all been assigned positions, so everyone was naturally very satisfied.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Zhang Yang knew that his words had resonated with them. He then feigned concern and said, "Brother Bai Sheng is still suffering in prison. Does anyone have a way to rescue him?"

Chao Gai and the others were taken aback. Chao Gai only considered him a former vagrant who had once sought refuge with him, and the others had no dealings with Bai Sheng, so naturally they didn't take him seriously. Indeed, they hadn't put much effort into rescuing Bai Sheng in the novel.

Zhang Yang's desire to rescue Bai Sheng stemmed from other considerations. Since Zhang Yang joined the Liangshan bandits, he had forbidden his men from plundering. The stronghold's supplies were running low. Robbing Cai Jing's birthday gifts would surely attract a large army. It would be better to simply capture Jizhou, which would replenish supplies and weapons, enhance Liangshan's prestige, and earn them a reputation for chivalry.

Wu Yong was taken aback, then said, "Regarding Bai Sheng's matter, we can send someone there to bribe his superiors and subordinates to ease his burdens, so he can escape."

Zhang Yang shook his head, saying, "How can I bear to see him suffer so much in prison? Besides, both he and his wife are in prison; how can they both escape? The prefect of Jizhou will surely send troops to attack the stronghold to fulfill his duty. We can defeat them first, then impersonate government troops and go to Jizhou to rescue Brother Bai Sheng."

Wu Yong said, "In that case, I'm afraid the imperial court will send a large army to suppress the stronghold."

Lin Chong had just learned a few days ago that his wife had been forced to death by Gao Qiu, and he wanted to make a big scene so that he could provoke Gao Qiu to take revenge. Hearing Wu Yong's words, he became very anxious.

Zhang Yang didn't want to reveal his true thoughts, but seeing Lin Chong's wide-open eyes, he was moved and said firmly, "We must kill all the corrupt officials and gentry. If we hesitate, when will Brother Lin Chong ever avenge his great enemy?"

Lin Chong was deeply moved and knelt down, saying, "Brother, I am willing to repay your great kindness with my life. If the government troops from Jizhou dare to come, I am willing to lead the charge."

Zhang Yang helped Lin Chong up and laughed, "Brother, you flatter me. I have always kept your matter in mind, but when the opportunity arises, I will make sure you avenge me personally. I already have a plan this time, and I will make sure the government troops are not defeated. The most important thing is to train the troops well and prepare to resist the imperial army."

Everyone admired Zhang Yang's sincerity.

That night, everyone drank until midnight before dispersing. The next day, they drilled the troops, repaired the stockades, and forged weapons to prepare to meet the government army.

Chapter Twelve: Personally Luring the Enemy .

Now, He Tao returned to Jizhou and had no choice but to report the truth to the governor. Upon hearing that the bandits had escaped, the prefect dared not delay. He immediately ordered a patrol inspector to lead 500 soldiers, and together with He Tao, they headed towards Shijie Village. Their advance was like a locust plague, slaughtering and devouring all the pigs, sheep, chickens, and geese raised by the villagers along the way.

Upon arriving at Shijie Village, they learned that Chao Gai and his men had already joined Liangshan. The two men, however, dared not lead their troops to attack Liangshan. They sent for reinforcements from the prefecture while simultaneously settling in Shijie Village, plundering the villagers and requisitioning boats.

Their plundering had not escaped the notice of Liangshan's spies. Zhang Yang had already arranged for his navy to annihilate them at the marsh, but after waiting a day and seeing that the government troops had settled in Shijie Village and showed no intention of entering the marsh, he guessed their plan. He summoned the leaders and said, "It seems the government troops are waiting for reinforcements to arrive. If they do, even if we win, we'll likely suffer heavy casualties. Does anyone have a plan to lure the government troops into the harbor?"

Upon hearing this, everyone began to rack their brains, but after a long time, none of them had a feasible solution.

Wu Yong said, "Why don't we take the initiative and attack? The government troops number only five hundred, and they're not well-trained. The mountain stronghold can easily win."

Zhang Yang shook his head and said, "The casualties would be considerable. I already have a plan to lure the government troops into the harbor. The original plan remains unchanged: the navy will continue to set up an ambush. I will lead the government troops into the harbor, and once they enter the ambush, you will fire three volleys of arrows and then cut off their retreat."

Ruan Xiaoer said, "Why don't I go and lure the government troops? I'm a good swimmer, and I can escape from the water afterward."

Zhang Yang was exceptionally skilled and didn't take the few hundred government troops seriously, but he wouldn't miss any opportunity to win people's hearts. Hearing this, he said, "No need. I can protect myself, and besides, you're the one they want to capture. How can I let you take the risk?"

Although everyone was already somewhat used to Zhang Yang's "righteousness," they were still deeply moved to see that Zhang Yang was willing to risk himself rather than let his brothers take any risks.

Zhang Yang gave some more instructions to everyone, then went down the mountain alone, rowing a small boat towards Shijie Lake.

As soon as they entered the lake, they saw dozens of small boats casting nets everywhere. Strangely, most of the boats were used by the elderly and infirm, and there were even a few village women.

Zhang Yang rowed up to an old man and asked, "Old man, you are so old, why are you still fishing in the lake by yourself?"

The old man glanced at Zhang Yang, and seeing he wasn't an official, sighed and said, "You don't know, several hundred soldiers have recently come to the village, saying they're going to attack the Liangshan bandits and rid the people of this scourge. This should be a good thing, but they're waiting for reinforcements and haven't brought any money or provisions. They're eating our rations and demanding we fish in the lake for them. All the able-bodied men in the village have been taken to the city to carry weapons. To meet their demands, we have to fish in the lake as a whole. Isn't that a terrible thing?"

Zhang Yang, hearing the old man say it was a good thing, was taken aback and asked, "I heard that after I went up the mountain, I didn't allow my followers to come down and plunder. Why do you want the soldiers to arrest them, sir?"

The old man replied, "When Wang Lun first came up the mountain, it was the same. But they need food and drink. After being robbed a few times, passing merchants have taken a detour. They don't dare to rob the prefectures and counties, so naturally, it's the people of the surrounding villages who suffer."

Zhang Yang, hearing this was a problem he had already considered, understood and accepted it. He smiled, bid farewell to the old man, and rowed back towards the village.

Seeing this, the old man hurriedly called out, "They're arresting people in the village to serve them. What are you going to do?"

Zhang Yang laughed, "I'll go and take them away." He then rowed straight towards the village. Once out of sight, Zhang Yang tore his clothes in several places and gritted his teeth, inflicting a few wounds on himself.

On the bank, he saw several soldiers carrying chickens. Zhang Yang stepped forward, took out a silver ingot, and said, "Gentlemen, I have urgent business with your general."

The first soldier took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and looked Zhang Yang up and down before saying, "Come with me."

Zhang Yang followed the soldiers for a short while before arriving at a place where dozens of fishing boats of various sizes were moored to dead stakes in a small river bend. There were about a dozen thatched houses nestled against the mountain and beside the water. The soldiers were sunbathing in the courtyard. Seeing Zhang Yang enter, they assumed the other soldiers were beating villagers again and paid him no attention.

The soldier led Zhang Yang to a thatched hut in the middle and said, "Wait here while I go announce your arrival."

Zhang Yang waited outside for a moment, then the soldier came out and said, "Go in."

Zhang Yang went inside and saw two burly men drinking wine. One of them had a hollow gold seal tattooed on his face. Zhang Yang knew that this must be He Tao, who had almost been exiled.

The two men didn't get up when Zhang Yang entered. He Tao asked, "Who are you? What business do you have with me?"

Zhang Yang replied, "I am Zhang Yang from Liangshan."

Before he finished speaking, the two men jumped up, reaching for their waists, only to find them empty. They then remembered that they had forgotten to put their waist knives away while drinking.

Seeing their nervousness, Zhang Yang chuckled inwardly but feigned panic, saying, "I have a favor to ask, gentlemen, please don't be so tense."

The two men, realizing Zhang Yang had no ill intentions, cautiously formed a triangular formation. He Tao asked, "What brings you here?"

Zhang Yang gritted his teeth, "A few days ago, Chao Gai and seven others came to Liangshan to join us, offering ten thousand strings of cash as a tribute. I was greedy and took them in. Later, I learned they had robbed the birthday tribute, so I dared not take them in anymore. Little did I know they harbored evil intentions all along; they bribed their henchmen to drug the leaders during the banquet and usurp the position of chieftain. I hadn't drunk much, so I was only just sober, and then, taking advantage of their momentary lapse in attention, I..." " I'll head down the mountain. If you're willing to help me capture Chao Gai and the other bandits, I'm willing to offer all the wealth of the stronghold to you two."

Upon hearing this, He Tao's eyes lit up, and he asked, "How many people in your stronghold have defected to them?"

Zhang Yang feigned ignorance and said, "They haven't been on the mountain long, and they've only bribed a few dozen people. My trusted men have also been bewitched by them. If you can rescue my men, I can regain control of Liangshan. I'm willing to offer half of the stronghold's income to you in the future."

He Tao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: It seems that Heaven is on my side. As long as I capture Chao Gai and the others, the Grand Tutor will definitely look at me again. With some money from the stronghold, I can surely become a militia commander. As for Zhang Yang, he'd be useless once he joined Liangshan; He Tao didn't want to cooperate with a bandit. Although He Tao was already seven-tenths convinced, just to be safe, he still said, "You dare to trick us into going up the mountain? Guards!"

Zhang Yang quickly feigned panic, saying, "This lowly man wouldn't dare lie to you, sir!"

At this moment, two burly soldiers slowly entered.

Seeing Zhang Yang's "panicked" appearance, He Tao believed that such a coward wouldn't lie to him, and decided to have some fun. He waved his hand and said, "Take him out and give him thirty lashes."

Seeing He Tao's mocking expression, Zhang Yang was secretly furious, but to lure them into the harbor, he still pretended to be panicked, crying and shouting as the soldiers dragged him out.

Those soldiers had no connection with Zhang Yang; they pinned him down and beat him mercilessly. Fortunately, Zhang Yang had undergone reformation, greatly increasing his resistance to blows, and he didn't react much. He just pretended to be incredibly pitiful.

Afterward, he was dragged into the house by the soldiers.

Seeing Zhang Yang's tearful and snotty face, He Tao suppressed a laugh and asked, "Was there anything untrue in what you said just now?"

Zhang Yang cried out, "Every word is the truth! Please investigate, sir."

He Tao already believed him, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "Very well, there's no time to lose. We'll go up the mountain now. If it's true, I'll help you reclaim your position as chieftain."

After saying this, he ordered someone to gather the troops.

Chapter Thirteen: Such Soldiers

He Tao immediately ordered his men to gather, showing a rather swift and decisive manner. However, his subordinates ruined this impression. The soldiers lying in the courtyard did not get up upon hearing the order, and only slowly rose after many soldiers from other places had arrived. It took a long time for all five hundred soldiers to arrive, but the ranks were extremely chaotic, and the soldiers were whispering among themselves. He Tao and the bandit patrol inspector seemed to be used to this, and only slowly came out of the house upon hearing their subordinates' report.

Looking at the soldiers before him, Zhang Yang couldn't help but admire He Tao's courage. This rabble, if they were to truly fight, probably wouldn't even be able to defeat Chao Gai and his seven men. Yet he dared to lead them to the bandit's lair; it seemed he was not only ambitious but also incredibly audacious.

He Tao emerged, glanced at the ranks, and the soldiers calmed down slightly. He Tao nodded in satisfaction and said, "Now that there's infighting at Liangshan, it's a perfect opportunity for us to make a contribution. As long as you obey my orders, each of you will be rewarded with ten strings of cash after the deed is done, and you'll also be given three days' leave."

The soldiers cheered upon hearing this.

Looking at the chaotic soldiers, Zhang Yang couldn't help but feel even more "worried" about He Tao.

He Tao, however, believed the morale was high and waved for everyone to board the boat.

Zhang Yang pretended to limp and followed He Tao onto a larger fishing boat, leading the way towards Liangshan Marsh.

Upon entering the Liangshan waterway, He Tao, looking at the intricate waterways and the vast reed marshes on both sides, felt a surge of panic. However, thinking of his future rise to power, he forced himself to remain calm and asked Zhang Yang, "You won't get lost, will you?"

Seeing the fear in He Tao's eyes, fearing he might retreat, Zhang Yang replied, "Don't worry, sir, I've done this dozens of times; I definitely won't go astray."

He Tao then ordered a soldier to hold a knife to Zhang Yang's neck before following Zhang Yang's guidance into the reed marshes. Inside, all that could be seen was a winding waterway, with reeds taller than a person on both sides completely blocking one's view.

Just as they reached the center of the reed marshes, Zhang Yang heard the sound of a bowstring. He immediately sidestepped and elbowed a nearby soldier into the water, grabbing a waist knife in the process. He Tao, seeing this, was about to question him when the sky darkened, and crossbow bolts rained down like locusts. Zhang Yang darted to He Tao's side, knocking him unconscious with a single blow, and casually deflected several incoming arrows.

The soldiers were chatting idly, completely unaware of this turn of events. After the first volley of arrows, although casualties were not heavy, the government troops were thrown into chaos, and the captains hadn't even had time to react. Two more volleys of arrows then rained down on them. With no shelter on the boat, almost everyone was armed except for a few quick-thinking individuals who jumped overboard.

These soldiers were mostly refugees recruited last winter, never having seen battle before. Suddenly faced with this sudden change, they began to cry and wail.

The Ruan brothers also appeared at both ends of the waterway with their naval forces. Their henchmen, seeing these once arrogant soldiers now reduced to such cowardly behavior, couldn't help but laugh.

Zhang Yang looked at these "soldiers," shook his head, and shouted, "Those who surrender will not be killed."

Hearing this, the soldiers felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, and they all struggled to kneel and surrender.

Zhang Yang then thought of another plan and shouted, "Every unit (fifty men) must check each other. Find the bodies alive, find the people alive; if even one is missing, kill them all without mercy."

The soldiers immediately began searching for their comrades, and those who had fallen into the water after being shot by arrows were dragged onto the boats. Fortunately, most of them were from a water-rich area and could swim. In no time, they had all gathered their men, much faster than before at Shijie Village.

Zhang Yang then ordered the naval forces to escort the soldiers away, unit by unit. Upon receiving He Tao's plea for help, Huang An

,

the military commissioner of Jizhou, led a thousand men towards Shijie Village. He Tao and his men had looted the nearby villages on their way, leaving Huang An frustrated and furious. Arriving at the village entrance, he saw He Tao and several soldiers waiting to greet him. There was a palpable sense of impending hostility, but since they were not under each other's command, he hesitated to attack. He rode forward and said in a low voice, "Officer He, you've had quite a haul on your journey."

One of the soldiers coughed.

He Tao shuddered slightly, realizing the problem, and smiled, "I've prepared gifts for the general. Please come into the village to talk." Huang An

nodded in satisfaction, not bothering to investigate further. He immediately spurred his horse towards the village, while one of He Tao's men went to lead the rest of the main force to rest.

Ignoring his men, Huang An led two personal guards into the village and, guided by He Tao, arrived at a larger courtyard. He dismounted and entered the house, about to speak, when he saw his two guards being knocked unconscious by two men behind He Tao. Before Huang An could react, he shouted, "He Tao, are you trying to rebel?"

Zhang Yang emerged from behind He Tao, laughing, "Commander Huang seems too slow to realize things. I'm in charge now."

Seeing He Tao had already retreated to the side, Huang An exclaimed in surprise, "Who are you, daring to attack an official of the imperial court?"

Zhang Yang, seeing Huang An still oblivious, was quite puzzled. "How could such a fool be a militia leader?" Huang An wondered, but Zhang Yang had no time to waste. He said in a deep voice, "I am Zhang Yang of Liangshan. I'll give you two choices. First, go and tell your men to lay down their weapons, and I'll spare your life. Second, you serve your country loyally, and we'll deal with your rabble. They're probably already surrounded."

Huang An was shocked to hear Zhang Yang reveal his identity. He completely forgot about the imperial court and the emperor. He knelt down with a thud and said, "Leader, just give the order, and I will cooperate fully."

Zhang Yang felt even more disgusted with Huang An because he was not only foolish but also cowardly. He didn't want to say anything more and said directly, "Come with us."

When they arrived at the village entrance, they saw that a large group of people had appeared all around them, each with a bow and arrow. Huang An's men were surrounded. Although they were all armed, many of them were trembling.

When the bandits at the village entrance saw Zhang Yang arrive, they made way for him, and Zhang Yang let Huang An go in to persuade the government troops to surrender. The soldiers, who had little will to fight to begin with, quickly laid down their weapons.

It turned out that after capturing He Tao, Zhang Yang had subtly displayed his superhuman skills. He then ordered his mountain stronghold men to don government armor and ambush the village. Zhang Yang personally led He Tao to welcome Huang An into the trap. He Tao, having witnessed Zhang Yang's prowess, knew he could be killed at any moment and dared not resist.

When Zhu Gui led his soldiers to camp at the village entrance, the ambushing forces gradually surrounded them. Some saw them but assumed it was reinforcements arriving, only realizing they weren't his own troops when the situation became tense. Many of these were newly recruited refugees, naturally lacking any fighting spirit. (To prevent peasant uprisings, the Song Dynasty often selected able-bodied men from refugees for military service. This was one reason for the Song army's low combat strength.)

Chapter Fourteen: Deceiving the Enemy of Jizhou

. After Zhang Yang had subdued Huang An and his men, he ordered Yang Zhi and the three Ruan brothers to escort the prisoners back to the mountain. Zhang Yang, along with several leaders and five hundred followers, headed towards Jizhou. The common people, seeing them dressed in military uniforms, avoided them like the plague, none daring to question them, and naturally, no one noticed anything amiss.

The next day, upon arriving at the city gate, the guards assumed it was their own troops returning and remained unsuspecting. After easily capturing the east gate, Zhang Yang left Song Wan with fifty men to guard it, and ordered Du Qian, Cao Zheng, and Zhu Gui each to lead fifty men to attack the other three gates, allowing entry but not exit. Most of the city's troops had already been taken away by Huang An, leaving only a few hundred elderly and weak. Zhang Yang then ordered Lin Chong and Chao Gai to lead two hundred men to attack the city's military camp.

Zhang Yang, along with Lu Zhishen and Liu Tang, led the remaining one hundred men directly towards the government office. The common people along the way, seeing the fierce faces of Lu Zhishen and Liu Tang, and the unfamiliar faces of the soldiers behind them, the more astute among them, connecting this to the situation at the city gates, realized something was wrong and hastily closed their gates to avoid danger.

Upon arriving at the yamen (government office), the two guards, seeing the group's aggressive approach, saw one run inside to report to the prefect, while the other cautiously stepped forward, saying, "This is the yamen; no one may enter without permission."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Da slapped him into the courtyard. Zhang Yang left a few men to guard the gate and led his men straight to the court to arrest the prefect, while Liu Tang led his men to rescue Bai Sheng. Seeing that everyone was armed with knives and guns, and they only had a fire poker, the guards dared not resist. Soon, the Liangshan forces controlled the yamen.

Zhang Yang calmed Bai Sheng with kind words and then ordered Liu Tang to open the treasury and granaries, loading money and grain onto carts. He also ordered several men to patrol the streets to prevent anyone from robbing the people, and to spread the word that the people had come to seek justice.

The people of the city were initially terrified upon hearing that the Liangshan forces had entered. But later, seeing that the bandits were not robbing the people, but instead sent men to patrol the streets and catch a few impoverished people who took the opportunity to plunder, they became bolder and flocked to the yamen to watch.

Zhang Yang sat in the courtroom for a long time, seeing that the people were just watching but no one came in to file a complaint, and he was getting anxious. An old man with white hair pushed through the crowd, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty, please do justice for me."

Zhang Yang was overjoyed to see someone take the plunge and gestured to the bailiffs on either side to help the old man up, saying, "Old man, please tell me your grievances, and I will certainly do justice for you."

The old man cried, "I used to be a lowly servant in the yamen. Three days ago, I hurt my back, and my daughter came to tend the flowers and trees for me. But she went into this place and never came out again. Please, Your Majesty, find my daughter for me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang knew that it was probably the prefect who had taken advantage of her, but he didn't know if he had succeeded. He made a malicious guess and shouted, "Bring the prefect up here!"

The bailiffs below hesitated upon hearing Zhang Yang's order, but Lu Da stomped his staff heavily beside him. Seeing this, the bailiffs hurriedly brought the prefect into the courtroom.

When the prefect entered the court and saw the old man, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. He knelt down and said, "Your Majesty summoned me here. What are your orders?"

Zhang Yang asked, "Do you recognize the old man beside you?"

The prefect replied, "He's a servant in my household."

Zhang Yang then asked, "Did his daughter enter the manor three days ago?"

The prefect hesitated for a moment before saying, "She did, but she left afterward, and I don't know anything about her since."

Zhang Yang had already noticed the fear in his eyes when he saw the old man and shouted, "You really don't know? If I find her in the manor, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The prefect shuddered at Zhang Yang's fierce gaze. After a moment's thought, he hurriedly said, "I did keep her in the manor, but that woman has a fiery temper, and I'm worried about the Grand Tutor's affairs, so I haven't harmed her at all. Your Majesty, please investigate." Upon hearing this,

Zhang Yang ordered someone to accompany the prefect to fetch the woman.

Before long, two young maids helped a woman in.

Zhang Yang looked closely and was immediately struck by her beauty. The woman had fair skin, long, elegant eyebrows, and almond-shaped eyes that sparkled like stars. Her entire face was delicate and beautiful, ethereal and otherworldly, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns. Her complexion was somewhat pale, and her lips were chapped, but this only added to her endearing quality.

Zhang Yang secretly decided to take her into his own household. Seeing the woman about to curtsy, he quickly said, "Miss

, there's no need for such formality." But the woman still struggled to kneel and kowtow. Zhang Yang quickly helped her up, saying, "Miss, you are frail; such a grand gesture is unnecessary."

The woman bowed her head in thanks to Zhang Yang and stood behind her father. Zhang Yang glanced at the woman again before turning to the prefect and asking, "Why is she so frail?"

Seeing Zhang Yang's stern expression, the prefect was terrified and kowtowed, saying, "It was caused by her fasting; it has nothing to do with me." Hearing

the woman's fierce spirit, Zhang Yang admired her even more. He shouted, "If you hadn't been lustful, none of this would have happened. You, as an official, don't think of bringing benefits to the people, but instead harm them. You deserve to die! Guards, drag him out and behead him! Confiscate all his property!"

Lu Da couldn't stand this kind of bullying and oppression. Before Zhang Yang finished speaking, he personally dragged the prefect out. Seeing this, the prefect cried and begged for mercy, but Lu Da, annoyed by his noise, grabbed the prefect's jaw and pulled it off. Soon, everyone heard a scream from outside the courtyard. The people of Zhou had been suffocating under the heavy burden of taxes in recent years, and seeing an official being killed, they cheered loudly.

Zhang Yang glanced at the beautiful woman again and said to his 'father-in-law,' "Your daughter is still a little weak. Why don't you take her to the back for a day to recuperate before going home?"

The old man, seeing Zhang Yang kill someone so suddenly, even though it was a corrupt official, was still a little scared. He didn't dare to ask any questions and helped his daughter towards the back hall.

The woman gave Zhang Yang a graceful curtsy before turning and following her father.

Seeing this, the surrounding people, those with grievances, rushed to plead their cases. Zhang Yang first tried the corrupt officials and gentry, who, relying on their power, committed countless atrocities without restraint. Witnesses and evidence abounded, and in a short time, Zhang Yang had executed over a dozen people. A small portion of their wealth was given to the victims, while the rest was seized by Zhang Yang. The people, seeing the city's villains punished, naturally applauded and praised Zhang Yang.

In truth, Zhang Yang's purpose was to plunder wealth. However, directly seizing it might damage his reputation and hinder his future ambitions for power, so he devised this method to gain both fame and fortune.

Chapter Fifteen: Coercion and Enticement .

Zhang Yang then recalled two heroes from Jizhou in the Water Margin: the scholar Xiao Rang and the jade craftsman Jin Dajian. One could write in various calligraphic styles, while the other excelled at carving inscriptions, books, jade, and seals. They were also skilled in martial arts, wielding spears, swords, and knives. Zhang Yang, considering that few in the mountain stronghold were literate and that he might need the two men's skills later, immediately sent Liu Tang with men to invite them.

It wasn't until evening that Zhang Yang dismissed the villagers and went straight to the back hall. Upon arriving, he saw Liu Tang resting with his eyes closed, while Xiao Rang and the other man sat on pins and needles, their faces filled with suspicion and fear.

The two men had initially been overjoyed to hear of Zhang Yang's massacre of corrupt officials and gentry, but the sudden arrival of Liu Tang with his men, without knowing his background, naturally filled them with apprehension. Furthermore, Liu Tang's ugly appearance, crude nature, and less-than-polite manner only added to their fear.

In truth, Zhang Yang, fearing that a polite invitation wouldn't work, deliberately had Liu Tang give them a hard time first, to embolden them so he could manipulate them later.

Zhang Yang deliberately made his footsteps heavy as he entered. Upon hearing the sound and seeing Zhang Yang, Liu Tang quickly bowed and greeted him.

Zhang Yang instructed him to gather the other leaders, then, addressing the somewhat flustered Xiao Rang and his companion,

he clasped his hands in greeting and said, "I had other matters to attend to and was unable to personally invite you two brothers; please forgive my rudeness." Seeing Zhang Yang's polite words, Xiao Rang breathed a sigh of relief and returned the greeting, saying, "You're too kind, leader. May I ask what brings you here?"

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "To be honest, brothers, I have long admired your names and wish to invite you both to join me on the mountain to uphold justice."

Xiao Rang and his companion were startled upon hearing this, exchanging glances. Xiao Rang was about to speak.

Zhang Yang continued, “Gentlemen, please hold your decision. The current emperor is incompetent, only interested in pleasure. Power in the court is entirely in the hands of sycophants like Cai Jing. To curry favor with the emperor, they impose exorbitant taxes and even sell official positions, leading to widespread corruption and misery among the people

. You two must have experienced this firsthand. Can you really stand by and watch the people suffer?” In recent years, Cai Jing had implemented harsh policies, forcing even many local gentry to pawn their property. Both men, having suffered under such oppressive rule, deeply sympathized with his words. However, heavily influenced by Confucianism, they hesitated to consider becoming outlaws. Xiao Rang said, "We too have suffered greatly from the oppressive government, but we are both weak and powerless compared to the heroes among you. I'm afraid we can't accomplish anything significant."

Zhang Yang replied, "That's not true. Our stronghold lacks literate people, and you two are not weak scholars. Please put aside personal gains and losses and do something for the people."

Xiao Rang was rendered speechless by Zhang Yang's accusation and was in a dilemma. The other leaders had already entered, and Zhang Yang introduced them to each other. Seeing so many roughnecks, the two dared not voice any objections.

Zhang Yang then pretended that the two had tacitly agreed to join the mountain and immediately ordered a banquet to celebrate their arrival and the rescue of Bai Sheng. Seeing that the die was cast, the two dared not say anything more. After the banquet, Zhang Yang had several men accompany them to move their belongings, subtly implying surveillance. The two had no choice but to move their belongings to the government office.

Zhang Yang then thought of the woman he had rescued earlier that day, and his heart warmed. After asking for directions, he went straight to the father and daughter's room. The servants in the mansion assumed Zhang Yang had also taken a liking to the woman, and they served him even more attentively. When

Zhang Yang arrived outside, he saw the light was still on inside, so he knocked on the door. A maid opened the door and, seeing a handsome young man she didn't recognize, was startled and about to speak. The old man, having already seen Zhang Yang, stepped forward to perform a deep bow.

Zhang Yang stopped the old man, saying, "Old man, there's no need for such a formality. I've come to see how your daughter is recovering and to say goodbye."

The beautiful woman quickly stepped forward and gave a graceful curtsy, saying, "This humble woman, Wen Lian, greets my benefactor."

Hearing the woman's name, Zhang Yang secretly memorized it. Seeing that Wen Lian had become even more radiant and beautiful after her rest, his possessiveness intensified. Having undergone brutal psychological training by special forces, he didn't reveal a trace of his true feelings, and said solemnly, "Seeing that the young lady is safe and sound, I'm relieved. We'll be returning to the mountain stronghold tomorrow. The imperial court will surely send a new official to take office, and these days officials are all corrupt. The prefect died because of you, and I'm afraid we'll be implicated. If you have relatives or friends to rely on in other places, it's best to go far away ."

Upon hearing this, the old man thought for a while and sighed, "Our ancestors have all lived here, and in recent years the world has been turbulent, with many bandits on the road. We haven't been in touch with our relatives for several years, and we don't know how they are doing. Where are we supposed to go?"

Zhang Yang had already planned that after they left the city, he would stage a "heroic rescue" scene, and then win the beauty's heart. Hearing that the old man had nowhere else to turn, which would save him a lot of trouble, Zhang Yang said, "Since that's the case, if you don't mind my lack of hospitality, why don't you stay at my mountain stronghold for a while, and then settle down down the mountain? Is that alright?"

The old man thought Zhang Yang meant well, but little did he know that he was also after his daughter. He declined, saying, "How could we dare to trouble our benefactor again? If Lian'er is lucky, she can find a relative or friend to rely on."

Seeing that the old man was already somewhat tempted, Zhang Yang didn't want to go through the trouble of staging a "hero saves the beauty" scene again, and said, "The stronghold has a large camp specifically for the chief's family to live in, it's not troublesome at all."

The old man also didn't want to risk his life on the journey. Hearing this, he pulled his daughter over and said, "Since our benefactor says so, this old man dares not refuse any longer. To prevent people from gossiping about our benefactor, I am willing to entrust my daughter to our benefactor, to be his slave or concubine, and to obey our benefactor's every command."

Seeing his goal easily achieved, Zhang Yang was secretly pleased, but still feigned anger, saying, "What do you take me for? Is this kind of repaying kindness something a man like me would do?"

Seeing this, the old man quickly said, "Don't be angry, benefactor. I just wanted to find someone to rely on. If you don't agree, I wouldn't dare presume."

Wen Lian, who had been imprisoned by the prefect and resigned to death, was later rescued by Zhang Yang. Seeing his benefactor's youth and good looks, she also had the idea of repaying him with her life, but she had no opportunity to express it. Hearing her father speak up for her, she was secretly pleased, but seeing him angrily rebuke her father, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Seeing the beautiful woman's tears, Zhang Yang felt a surge of pity for her, her exquisite face now tinged with sorrow. He quickly said, "I am but a mountain bandit, old man, how could you presume to marry me? If you are truly sincere, I wish to marry Lian'er. Would you be willing?"

The old man, worried about his future, was overjoyed to hear Zhang Yang's offer to marry his daughter as his principal wife. He exclaimed, "Such a wonderful thing, how could we refuse?" Wen Lian blushed upon hearing this, shyly lowering her head and fiddling with the hem of her dress.

Seeing the beauty's bashful appearance, Zhang Yang felt even more aroused, his lower body beginning to stir. To avoid an awkward situation, he quickly excused himself and left.

Back in his room, he tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep.

Chapter Sixteen: Zong Ze Goes Up the Mountain

The next morning, Zhang Yang gathered his men and left the city. The sun had just risen, casting its scorching heat upon the earth. Zhang Yang looked at the exceptionally harsh sun overhead and the cracks that had opened up in the ground. Knowing that this year would likely be another drought, just as history had recorded,

Zhang Yang ordered the purchase of almost all the livestock in the city before he could transport the money, rice, and weapons out. The large contingent wound its way for several miles, moving slowly forward. Lin Chong led a hundred men to clear the way, Chao Gai led a hundred men to patrol the middle, and Zhang Yang led a hundred men to bring up the rear.

After traveling for more than ten miles, they saw a large cloud of dust rising behind them. Zhang Yang ordered the caravan to continue, while he and his men turned back and arrayed themselves.

Soon, several riders arrived, followed by dozens of poorly dressed, wounded soldiers. Leading the charge was an old general, around sixty years old, with a gaunt face, carrying a steel-tipped iron spear. As he approached, he reined in his horse and shouted, "Who dares block the way?"

Zhang Yang replied, "I am Zhang Yang of Liangshan. Who comes here?"

The old general shouted, "I am Zong Ze, the prefect of Dengzhou! You audacious bandits, daring to plunder the prefecture and kill officials and civilians! Those who know what's good for them, come with me to the capital to confess your crimes and avoid war!"

Upon hearing that it was the famous anti-Jin general Zong Ze, Zhang Yang was overjoyed. He recalled that historical records showed Zong Ze had been exiled to Zhenjiang in the first year of the Xuanhe era for opposing Emperor Huizong's proposal to ally with the Jin to destroy the Liao. He couldn't help but feel a surge of appreciation for his talent.

He clasped his hands and said, “General, please hear me out. The current emperor is incompetent and only cares about pleasure. The court is filled with treacherous officials who wield power and petty men who, to satisfy the emperor's desires, have implemented harsh policies in recent years. The people are already overburdened, which is why Tian Hu of Hedong (Shanxi) and Wang Qing of Huainan rebelled. The people of Jiangnan are also burdened by the tribute of precious stones and flowers; within a few years, they will inevitably rise up in rebellion, and the Central Plains will soon become a battleground.

Yet the emperor still wants to ally with the Jin to destroy the Liao. The Liao has been established for a hundred years and has become much more Sinicized, while the Jurchens are barbaric and unruly. If we help them destroy the Liao, increasing their power, they will likely send troops south again. At that time, I fear…” "I fear there is a risk of national annihilation, and the people will be slaughtered.

General, you must also be aware of this, which is why you submitted your memorial to the Emperor. However, the Emperor's mind is made up, and there are treacherous officials instigating you. If you go, you will at best be dismissed from your post, and at worst lose your life. Why not come with me to the mountain and preserve some strength for the country?"

After listening, Zong Ze sighed and said, "I previously thought the chieftain was just a bandit hero, but I didn't expect him to have such insight. If you can truly preserve some vitality for the country, it will be a glorious feat that will go down in history when dealing with the Jin Kingdom in the future. But as a subject, how can I disobey the imperial

decree?" Zhang Yang was impressed by Zong Ze's magnanimity and advised, "General, you are mistaken. If you are killed on this trip, it will be a foolish act of loyalty. Can you really bear to see the people suffer?"

Zong Ze hesitated upon hearing this.

Zong Ze's son, Zong Ying, who had also opposed his father's trip to the capital, seized the opportunity to persuade him, "What he says makes sense. Why doesn't Father stay? He can protect the people of this region."

Zhang Yang added, "If the emperor can regain his strength, I am willing to join the court with the general. We can achieve merit on the battlefield and secure titles and honors for our wives and children."

Hearing this, Zong Ze no longer had any reservations and sighed, "Very well. Ying'er, go and fetch your mother and the others."

Seeing that Zong Ze was willing to go up the mountain, Zhang Yang hurriedly said, "I will go with you to fetch the old lady."

Zong Ze was secretly moved by Zhang Yang's enthusiasm and said, "No need to trouble the chieftain. Let my son go. Let's talk as we go."

Zhang Yang then stopped being polite and began to talk to Zong Ze about his situation. He learned that Zong Ze had been ordered to return to the capital because he had submitted a memorial opposing the alliance with the Jin to destroy the Liao. When he arrived in Jizhou, he heard that the Liangshan bandits had plundered the city, so he led a few servants and dozens of remaining soldiers to pursue them.

Zhang Yang, with his vast military and historical knowledge spanning millennia, completely won over Zong Ze. Zong Ze even considered having his son, Zong Ying, apprentice under him, but Zhang Yang, seeing that Zong Ying was slightly older than himself, dared not agree. Their insistence resulted in Zong Ying becoming Zhang Yang's personal guard captain, a situation Zong Ying could only accept helplessly when he arrived.

The group arrived at the marshland, where Wu Yong and others, who had already gathered intelligence, dispatched numerous boats to meet them. Upon reaching Jinshatan, they found Wu Yong and several of the remaining leaders leading men to greet them on the beach. The group went up to the main camp together. Wu Yong arranged for the newly arrived leaders and their families, Gongsun Sheng went to inventory the money and provisions, and Yang Zhi inventoried the weapons brought back from the Jizhou military camp. Zhang Yang also personally arranged for Wen Lian and her father to stay in a separate courtyard next to his. As

the sun began to set, drums and gongs sounded in front of the Hall of Righteousness.

The leaders rushed over upon hearing the sound, and everyone took their seats.

Zhang Yang introduced all the newcomers to the mountain, then said, "We gathered here in righteousness, and the brothers, despite my lack of wisdom and strength, made me their leader. However, I am young and inexperienced, and I have always wanted to find a capable person to lead us, lest I jeopardize the future of our brothers. Today, we have finally welcomed Lord Zong Ze to the mountain. Lord Zong is both scholarly and martial, upright and resolute, perfectly suited to be the leader of the stronghold. Please, sir, take a seat."

Although Zong Ying had been forced by her father to become Zhang Yang's personal guard captain, she had always been resentful. Hearing this, she was overjoyed and looked at Zong Ze expectantly.

Zong Ze's arrival was moved by Zhang Yang's words; his starting point was also for the country and the people, but he had not considered his own safety or power. Having been impressed by Zhang Yang's extensive knowledge along the way, they hurriedly said, "Now that I've joined the mountain, I'm no longer an official of the court. Besides, although the chieftain is young, his knowledge surpasses mine. How dare I presume to be superior?"

Seeing that the other leaders also looked on with disapproval, Zhang Yang knew that Zong Ze couldn't shake his position, so he feigned, "Master Zong is highly respected; how dare a junior like me presume to take his place?"

Although Zong Ze had a reputation for integrity, it was limited to the Dengzhou area.

Ruan Xiaoqi, born into poverty and oppressed by the harsh government in recent years, hated officials the most and was also upright. Seeing Zhang Yang repeatedly declining

, he shouted, "Brother, you keep declining; you're chilling the hearts of us brothers." Liu Tang, who had also been impressed by Zhang Yang these days, said, "Except for you, brother, none of us are convinced."

Lu Zhishen also shouted, "If you continue to decline for others, we'll all leave!"

Zong Ze also declined repeatedly.

Zhang Yang had no choice but to say, "Since that's the case, I will temporarily assume the position of chieftain. The newly arrived members will obey my orders. Xiao Rang will manage the chieftain's official documents, Jin Dajian will oversee the forging of military tallies, Zong Gong will hold the position of military advisor, and Bai Sheng will be the infantry leader."

The crowd naturally had no objections, and Zhang Yang then ordered a banquet to welcome the new leaders. The banquet lasted until midnight before the banquet ended.

Chapter Seventeen: Feigning Drunkenness to Commit Murder

Throughout their journey, Zhang Yang frequently sought opportunities to express his feelings for Wen Lian. The young and innocent Wen Lian, experiencing her first stirrings of love, could hardly resist the allure of Zhang Yang, who possessed a thousand years of knowledge. Coupled with their betrothal, her heart quickly filled with his image. That evening, upon hearing that her lover had gone to a banquet, she worried about him being unattended after his drunkenness. After putting her father to bed, she went to wait for him in Zhang Yang's courtyard. After waiting for a long time without his return, she felt no resentment, only worry. She sat in the courtyard for a long time, reminiscing about their time together

. That evening, after the banquet, Zhang Yang entered his secluded courtyard and saw Wen Lian sitting on a stone bench, her slender hand gently supporting her chin, seemingly lost in thought, a hint of shyness or joy occasionally flashing across her face.

Was she thinking of him? Zhang Yang shamelessly wondered. As the alcohol took hold, an wicked thought quietly surfaced. After considering it for a moment, he ultimately couldn't resist the temptation. Pretending to be drunk, he staggered in, his steps heavy.

Hearing Zhang Yang's footsteps, Wen Lian looked up and saw him enter with a drunken gait. She quickly went to support him, saying, "Why did you drink so much?"

Zhang Yang, already harboring wicked thoughts, climbed on top of Wen Lian, inhaling her faint, virginal fragrance, which only fueled his arousal. His arms, supported by Wen Lian, swayed intentionally or unintentionally across her ample breasts, occasionally brushing against the nipples. Wen Lian felt a strange sensation travel from her breasts to her heart with each gentle touch. She was about to resist, but seeing her lover still drunk and oblivious, she couldn't bear to abandon him. She could only support Zhang Yang as they walked into the house.

Zhang Yang saw the bed and suddenly grabbed one of her breasts with his right hand, squeezing it hard.

Wen Lian, already somewhat aroused by Zhang Yang's actions on the way, felt her body go limp and collapsed onto the bed when her breasts were suddenly attacked.

Seeing this, Zhang Yang also "threw" onto Wen Lian, his large mouth coincidentally sealing her cherry-like lips. His right hand began to vigorously rub her.

Wen Lian fell onto the bed, about to scream, when Zhang Yang sealed her lips with his. At the same time, waves of pleasure surged through her chest. Inexperienced in such matters, she couldn't resist the teasing of Zhang Yang, who had been with dozens of women in modern times. Before long, she was lost in a boundless sea of desire.

Seeing that Wen Lian was aroused, Zhang Yang quickly tore off their clothes, revealing a devilishly beautiful body. High, firm breasts, a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand, a smooth, flat abdomen, and a mysterious garden below. Her fair and delicate skin turned a bewitching pink due to passion.

As Wen Lian was lost in her ecstasy, she suddenly felt a chill and became more aware of her surroundings. Opening her beautiful eyes, she saw that she and her lover were naked together. She was filled with shame and pushed him away forcefully with both hands.

Seeing that the beautiful woman had sobered up a bit, Zhang Yang pretended to be drunk and used brute force to pin her down, groping her all over.

Wen Lian, seeing her lover was still drunk and unconscious, was anxious but dared not cry out, fearing it would ruin her future husband's reputation. She could only try to resist, but under Zhang Yang's ravaging hands, she soon succumbed to wave after wave of pleasure.

After a while, seeing that the beautiful woman was ready, Zhang Yang adjusted his angle, thrusting his hips forward and entering her smoothly.

Wen Lian, who had never been a guest before, now found herself facing Zhang Yang, a modified pervert whose genitals were far stronger than normal. She immediately felt a tearing pain in her lower body, the intense pain causing her face to turn pale and her starry eyes to mist over.

Although Zhang Yang was somewhat despicable and lustful, he was also a man who cherished women. Just as he was about to act, he saw the beautiful woman's appearance and was momentarily stunned. If he continued to feign drunkenness, he wouldn't be able to consider Wen Lian's feelings, which would cause her immense pain and even leave a psychological scar. But if he were sober now, it would undoubtedly be a major flaw.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Yang chose the latter. He closed his eyes, shook his head vigorously, and then pretended to be clueless, saying, "What are you doing here?"

Wen Lian was worried that her lover would cause her even more pain, but seeing him suddenly sober up, she felt extremely shy, thinking about their current relationship. She was afraid that her lover would suspect that she had seduced him, so she didn't notice Zhang Yang's unusual behavior.

Seeing Wen Lian's shy appearance, Zhang Yang felt even more pity for her. He pretended to have just discovered their situation, slapped his head hard, and said, "Did I take advantage of you while I was drunk?"

Wen Lian nodded shyly.

Zhang Yang continued, "How could I have done such a beastly thing? How can I still have the face to live in this world?" After saying that, he stood up with a resolute expression.

Seeing her lover's pained expression, Wen Lian quickly pulled Zhang Yang back, shyly saying, "I'm willing, don't blame yourself."

Seeing the beauty's deep affection, Zhang Yang decided to continue his act a few more times.

Seeing her lover's unwavering resolve, Wen Lian disregarded her lower body pain and kissed Zhang Yang's lips, her lower body beginning to gently rub against him. Enjoying the beauty's passion, Zhang Yang struggled a few more times before pretending to be lost in desire—his hands began to roam over her delicate body, and his lower body began to thrust forcefully.

At first, Wen Lian tried her best to seduce her lover, but she was quickly overwhelmed by Zhang Yang's powerful thrusts, feeling as if her soul had been thrown to the clouds, lost in waves of pleasure, moaning and uttering incessantly. Just as

Zhang Yang was enjoying himself, the beauty cried out and fainted.

Seeing this, Zhang Yang cursed inwardly. The genetic modification had clearly enhanced his kidney function considerably; he wondered how many women he would need to satisfy him in the future. He was currently in the throes of passion, but seeing the beautiful woman's tired yet satisfied face, he was afraid of hurting her. He could only hold the beauty, enjoying the spasms of her lower body for a while, before helplessly forcing himself to sleep.

Zhang Yang only woke up leisurely when the first rays of sunlight shone through the window.

Opening his eyes to see a flawless face was undoubtedly a great happiness. If that beautiful woman could give him whatever he wanted, most people would immediately abandon everything and choose depravity.

Zhang Yang opened his eyes and saw Wen Lian's still somewhat alluring face, recalling the pleasure of the previous night, and his heart stirred. His already unsatisfied little brother immediately became as hard as iron.

Wen Lian was fast asleep when she was awakened by the throbbing pain in her lower body. Opening her eyes, she saw her lover looking at her with embarrassment, and guessed what was inside her. Remembering how she had actually fainted from pleasure last night, she felt a pang of apology. Her lower body still ached, but influenced by the traditional Chinese virtues of obedience and submission, her buttocks swayed gently. She also felt a pang of regret for the pain

she had experienced at the beginning of the night, and said shyly, "Please be gentle, my husband." Zhang Yang felt waves of pleasure washing over him. Just as he was about to act, he noticed Wen Lian's brows furrowed slightly, knowing she had suffered greatly last night. He quickly reached out and pressed her buttocks, saying, "You just lost your virginity yesterday; you must take care of yourself."

Seeing Zhang Yang's gentleness even after he had taken her body, Wen Lian felt a surge of sweetness in her heart.

While Zhang Yang was enjoying his moment with Wen Lian, he heard hurried footsteps entering the courtyard. He quickly said, "Someone's coming; don't make a sound."

Wen Lian was startled by the arrival of someone and

quickly burrowed under the covers. Zhang Yang noticed his clothes from the previous night were torn and quickly went to the wardrobe to change. Just as he finished dressing, the person began knocking on the door. Zhang Yang opened the door and saw his future father-in-law. He quickly said, "Uncle, you're up early."

The old man asked anxiously, "Have you seen Lian'er?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang had a sudden thought and said, "No, she must have gone to the mountains to play. Uncle, go look for her elsewhere first. I have some errands to run, and I'll go look for her for you later."

The old man replied, "How could I not have thought of that? I'll go look for her now. If you have something to do, you don't need to come."

Zhang Yang said, "It's alright, I'll finish my business quickly. Uncle, go take a look around first."

After his future father-in-law left, Zhang Yang turned back into the room and saw Wen Lian still huddled under the covers. He quickly grabbed a set of his clothes and put them on the bed, saying, "Hurry up and get dressed, or your father will come again."

Hearing that it was her father, Wen Lian felt extremely embarrassed and quickly threw off the covers and got up, exposing her beautiful upper body to the air.

Zhang Yang's eyes widened at the pair of playful jade rabbits.

Wen Lian, seeing her lover's infatuated gaze, felt immense pride. However, the thought of having consummated their marriage before marriage filled her with shame, and she feared Zhang Yang would look down on her later. Tears welled in

her eyes. Zhang Yang, seeing his beloved's tears, was startled. Noticing the worry in her eyes, he remembered this wasn't modern times, and premarital sex wasn't so easily accepted. He quickly embraced her, saying, "Lian'er, don't be afraid. We'll be married in three days. Whatever happens afterward, I'll protect you."

Seeing Zhang Yang's concern, Wen Lian's worries vanished. She gently kissed Zhang Yang and said, "Turn around first, I need to get dressed."

Zhang Yang, who had always admired beautiful women's attire, quickly replied, "You've just lost your virginity, let me help you get dressed."

Wen Lian dared not let Zhang Yang do it, declining several times, but Zhang Yang persisted. Worried about her father's return, she finally relented, and the two playfully dressed.

Zhang Yang then escorted Wen Lian back to her courtyard, letting her change before going to find his adoptive father-in-law.

Three days later, Zhang Yang and Wen Lian became husband and wife, with a simple ceremony. Zhang Yang knew the court would inevitably send troops to attack, so he enjoyed his newlywed bliss while simultaneously reorganizing his forces. ( Chapter 18

, 05-09 : The Three-Prefecture Joint Suppression ) Meanwhile, neighboring prefectures, upon learning of the fall of Jizhou, had no choice but to submit petitions to the court. Furthermore, officials who had fled Jizhou also went to the capital to inform Cai Jing of the truth. At this time, Emperor Huizong was busy with his infatuation with the famous courtesan Li Shishi, and paid no attention to the memorials. He only ordered Cai Jing to attend court every three days to handle affairs. Cai Jing was furious when he heard that someone dared to harbor those who robbed his birthday convoy. At three o'clock the next morning, the Emperor ascended the throne. Three whips cracked, and the civil and military officials lined up. Emperor Huizong sat on the throne, and the head official shouted: "If there is anything to report, step forward and speak; otherwise, the court shall be adjourned." In recent years, Emperor Huizong had entrusted most of the power to Cai Jing, who had handled most of the daily court affairs and even made arbitrary decisions on the appointment of officials. Emperor Huizong had also become accustomed to his daily life of pleasure, and the morning court was merely a formality. Just as he was about to dismiss the court to meet Li Shishi... Cai Jing stepped forward and reported, "Zhang Yang, the leader of the Liangshan bandits in Jizhou, has committed numerous heinous crimes, gathering a group of vicious thugs and villains. Just a few days ago, he slaughtered all the officials and civilians of Jizhou , and looted all the granaries and treasuries. This is a major threat; if we do not eliminate him soon, he will grow into a powerful and difficult-to-control force. I humbly request Your Majesty's decision." Emperor Huizong, who had acquired a rare item the day before and was about to use it to please Li Shishi, was stopped by Cai Jing. Already somewhat angry, he became even more furious upon hearing this, rebuking, "You said the world is at peace, so how come Wang Qing and Tian Hu occupied cities and rebelled a few days ago, and now bandits are plundering cities?" Cai Jing, knowing Huizong's temperament well, remained calm despite his anger, and said in a deep voice, "The Liangshan bandits are nothing more than a minor ailment, easily eradicated. However, the prefect has also been killed by them. Your Majesty only needs to appoint a new official, and the bandits will be wiped out in no time." Upon hearing this, Huizong breathed a sigh of relief. Concerned for his beloved, he said, "The matter of the new official will be discussed later, but the bandits cannot be allowed to run rampant. Minister Gao, who do you think can lead the troops to annihilate the bandits?" Grand Commandant Gao Qiu of the Palace Guard already knew what had happened and that Cai Jing's birthday tribute had been robbed for two consecutive years, so he must be furious and request the Emperor to send troops. He had already prepared his words and stepped forward, saying, "The Liangshan bandits are nothing but a rabble. Your Majesty can order the armies of several nearby prefectures to join forces to annihilate them. Success is assured." Emperor Huizong nodded and said, "Minister Gao is quite right. Order the Qingzhou Imperial Guards to join forces with the garrison troops of Dongping and Dongchang Prefectures to annihilate the Liangshan bandits. Urge them to send troops to attack Liangshan as soon as they receive the order, and make sure to wipe out the marshland and exterminate the entire population." (At this time, there were no two prefectures, so I will write it according to the Water Margin for now. When writing about foreign wars, I will try to use real place names.) Gao Qiu received the order and retreated to the side. Emperor Huizong then asked in a deep voice, "Does anyone else have anything to report?" Seeing the emperor's displeasure, none of the ministers dared to speak up. After a few moments, Huizong said, "Since no one has anything to report, let's adjourn the court." He then rose and left, changing into plain clothes he had prepared beforehand, and with two guards, went to meet Li Shishi. After Huizong left, the ministers also left the court in groups. Gao Qiu went straight to the Palace Guard's residence and ordered the Privy Council to send an officer with the imperial edict to the three prefectures to proclaim the order. Meanwhile, Qin Ming, the commander of the Qingzhou army, received the edict and led three thousand imperial guards towards Dongping Prefecture, while simultaneously sending messengers to order the Dongchang Prefecture garrison to assemble there. This man was originally from Kaizhou in the mountains. Because of his impetuous nature and thunderous voice, everyone called him Thunderbolt Qin Ming. His grandfather was a military officer who wielded a spiked club and possessed the courage of ten thousand men. On this day, as Zhang Yang was training his troops, a scout from the foot of the mountain reported, "Two thousand garrison troops from Dongchang Prefecture are heading towards Dongping Prefecture." Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang ordered the drums and gongs to be sounded in front of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, and the leaders rushed over. After everyone was seated, Zhang Yang said, "The scouts from the foot of the mountain report that the garrison troops from Dongchang Prefecture are moving towards Dongping Prefecture. What are your thoughts?" As soon as he finished speaking, Zong Ze said, "According to the court's usual practice, if someone rebels, nearby troops will be sent to suppress them first. It seems that Dongchang Prefecture is heading to Dongping Prefecture to join them. In that case, there must be troops from another prefecture to the north or east, which is why Dongping Prefecture, located in the middle of the three prefectures, was chosen. If it were a prefecture of the same level, the commanders would be unclear and difficult to mobilize. I'm afraid the other force is the Imperial Guards of Qingzhou." Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang immediately had a plan. However, wanting to assess everyone's abilities, he said, "What you say makes sense, Master Zong. I wonder what good strategies you all have to defeat the enemy?" Wu Yong said, "Although the stronghold now has more than 2,300 men, most of them are newly surrendered government troops, who are not very reliable. Of the original stronghold's troops, there are only about 700 regular soldiers. If the troops from the three prefectures were to gather, we would have no choice but to defend to the death. If we want to launch an attack, we must first defeat the troops of Dongchang Prefecture before we can fight." Ruan Xiaoqi had escorted prisoners back to the mountain last time but hadn't gone to Jizhou. Later, after hearing that Lu Da had killed many corrupt officials and gentry, he was filled with envy. Upon hearing Wu Yong's words, an idea immediately struck him, and he replied, "Then we can impersonate government troops again and wipe out all the corrupt officials and gentry in Dongchang Prefecture." Lin Chong shook his head, saying, "This time, the stronghold's forces are insufficient, and we have no shortage of money and provisions. We cannot risk dividing our troops again." Ruan Xiaoqi considered for a moment and realized he had misspoke. He scratched his head and said, "Then let's wait until we defeat the three armies before taking Dongchang Prefecture." Zong Ze, hearing their conversation, had a sudden inspiration and said, "Although we cannot impersonate government troops to raid Dongchang Prefecture, we can trick Dongping Prefecture into opening up the city and defeat one of their armies. Then, only the Qingzhou army will remain. They have come from afar, their horses are exhausted, and they have lost the advantage of terrain. They will surely be defeated. However..." "Only by annihilating the entire Dongchang Prefecture garrison can we trick the Dongping Prefecture city gates open." Seeing everyone's added explanations, Zhang Yang, who shared his own thoughts, laughed and said, "With everyone's planning, the three imperial forces have vanished like smoke, demonstrating the strength of our stronghold. Listen to my command: Yang Zhi, Lu Da, Chao Gai, Du Qian, Song Wan, Ruan Xiaoqi, Liu Tang, Cao Zheng, and Bai Sheng will lead six hundred regular soldiers and three hundred selected regular soldiers to follow me down the mountain to encircle and annihilate the Dongchang Prefecture troops. Zhu Gui will lead fifty men to infiltrate Dongping Prefecture. If the Dongping Prefecture troops discover anything amiss when we arrive, you will seize the south gate. The strategist and the other leaders will remain to guard the stronghold; no one may leave without my orders." Everyone responded with a chorus of "Yes, sir!" and went to prepare. That same day, Zhang Yang bid farewell to Wen Lian and led his troops down the mountain. ~~~~~~~~~~~ School starts today, from now on at noon... Chapter Nineteen: Zhang Qing, the Featherless Arrow. Zhang Qing, the militia commander of Dongchang Prefecture, was originally from Zhangde Prefecture, a former member of the Tiger Cavalry. He was skilled at throwing stones, hitting his target every time, hence the nickname "Featherless Arrow." He had two lieutenants: one named Gong Wang, nicknamed "Flowery-Necked Tiger," covered in tiger stripes and with a tiger's head on his neck, skilled in throwing spears on horseback; the other named Ding Desun, nicknamed "Arrow-Struck Tiger," with scars on his face and neck, skilled in throwing forks on horseback. His troops were also well-trained, a true elite force. Upon receiving Qin Ming's letter, he led two thousand elite soldiers towards Dongping Prefecture.

Although it was already August, the scorching heat showed no sign of abating. The blazing summer sun had turned the fields into gaping, ugly maws, seemingly ready to devour anyone who stood in their way.

Zhang Qing led his troops for a day, and seeing the continuous mountain ranges ahead, he knew that once they crossed them, they would reach Dongping Prefecture in another day. To ensure they arrived on time, Zhang Qing turned and shouted, "Once we cross the mountains ahead, we'll set up camp and rest!"

Hearing that they would soon be able to rest, the soldiers exerted their last ounce of strength, and the already exhausted army surprisingly sped up even more.

Gong Wang looked at the soldiers sweating profusely behind him and shook his head, saying, "The court is unaware of the situation in various regions and is doing a lot of useless work. Although bandits have been rampant in recent years, who dares to confront the government troops head-on? Every time the army arrives, the bandits scatter like birds and beasts, resulting in nothing but wasted money and supplies. Qin Ming also knows the situation in various regions, so why is he making a mountain out of a molehill? He can just meet up and attack the bandits outside the port, why make us travel so many unnecessary detours?"

Zhang Qing shook his head upon hearing this, saying, "Don't underestimate the Liangshan bandits. Just in terms of spears and clubs, the 800,000 Imperial Guards of Dongjing..." "Lin Chong, the martial arts instructor, and Yang Zhi, the Blue-Faced Beast, who escorted the birthday gifts, are far superior to us," he said, then added with pride, "Fortunately, we all have the skill of using hidden weapons, so the outcome is unpredictable. But if Liangshan has a few more leaders with high martial arts skills, then it's hard to say."

Ding Desun, however, was cautious. Hearing this, he said, "If that's the case, they might attack us first. It would be better to send more scouts ahead to avoid an ambush."

Zhang Qing was only warning Gong Wang not to be careless; in fact, he was quite confident in his own throwing stones. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "No need. Even if they do have a few heroes, their men are still a rabble. They certainly wouldn't dare to abandon their terrain advantage and fight us head-on. If they really leave the marsh, that will be our time to make a name for ourselves."

Gong Wang, however, truly looked down on the Liangshan people. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "What you say is true, sir. If they really dare to come, my throwing spear is not to be trifled with."

Seeing that neither of them thought much of it, Ding Desun didn't want to cause any trouble, so he said no more.

Zhang Qing didn't bother to thoroughly scout the mountain terrain before leading his army into the mountains.

Once inside, the roads became treacherous, and the morale boosted by Zhang Qing's "plum-to-quench-thirst" tactic quickly dissipated, the column began to move slowly.

Zhang Qing and his two companions had to urge the soldiers back and forth. After walking for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the mountain slopes on both sides suddenly became precipitous. Busy urging the soldiers on, Zhang Qing and his companions didn't notice anything amiss until the two sides became sheer cliffs. Only then did Zhang Qing become somewhat alarmed, but it was too late to turn back. He could only send scouts ahead to investigate while urging the soldiers to speed up.

Gong Wang, behind them, urged the soldiers on, looking at the narrow strip of sky above, feeling extremely uneasy.

After walking for a long time, seeing nothing unusual, they had just breathed a sigh of relief when they heard a sudden horn sound from the cliff behind them. Then, countless giant logs and rolling stones rained down, instantly blocking their path. The remaining soldiers were buried in the rubble. Upon seeing this , Gong Wang was greatly alarmed and hurriedly ordered his soldiers to press close to the mountainside as they advanced. However, the soldiers, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, paid no heed to orders and only focused on running forward.

Just as the terrain ahead began to flatten, Zhang Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he heard a loud rumbling sound behind him. Knowing something had happened, he was about to send someone to investigate when he saw his soldiers beginning to panic. Zhang Qing quickly ordered several dozen of his personal guards to restrain the soldiers. Before the ranks could be properly organized, a scout galloped in, reporting, "A group of men is blocking the way at the valley entrance."

Knowing that his route was blocked, Zhang Qing was terrified upon hearing of the ambush ahead. His troops were trapped in the valley, unable to deploy. If hundreds of archers blocked the entrance, he would surely be unable to break through. He would starve to death in the valley without them even lifting a finger. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Qing dared not charge rashly and instead ordered his soldiers to regroup. Fortunately, Zhang Qing was extremely strict in training his troops, and although the soldiers were panicked, it didn't take too long. Zhang Qing then ordered his men to advance slowly, clinging to the cliff face to avoid further attacks from above.

Upon reaching the valley entrance, they found hundreds of troops waiting in full battle array, just as he had predicted. Each soldier held a powerful bow, their arrows gleaming coldly, aimed directly at them. Knowing that charging forward would mean being riddled with arrows, Zhang Qing halted his troops, shouting, "Who goes there? Why are you attacking our troops?"

Although Zhang Qing tried to remain calm, his soldiers, seeing their retreat cut off and an ambush ahead, began to panic. Gong Wang and his companion were helpless and could only try their best to control the troops.

Zhang Yang had assumed Zhang Qing would be cautious, and for concealment, he had only ordered Chao Gai to lead a portion of his troops to hide on the cliff, while the rest lay in ambush some distance outside the valley. Unexpectedly, Zhang Qing hadn't even checked the situation on the cliff before entering the dangerous area.

Zhang Yang, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity pass. He had Chao Gai cut off Zhang Qing's retreat while his own troops blocked the valley entrance, successfully trapping Zhang Qing's forces. Seeing the government troops already in disarray, Zhang Qing, merely going through the motions, shouted, "I am Zhang Yang of Liangshan! Now that you are surrounded, why not surrender with your troops to avoid unnecessary casualties?"

Zhang Qing had already guessed they were from Liangshan, but hearing the confirmation still made him somewhat embarrassed. After all, Ding Desun had just warned him, and he had underestimated their strength and courage. While feeling ashamed, Zhang Qing also considered his options. Given the current situation, a direct confrontation was clearly impossible; he had no choice but to take a risk. If he could capture the bandit leader, he would surely find a way out. Once he was out of this place, the scales of victory would tip in his favor. Thinking of this, he shouted, "If you can defeat me with your true skills, I will surrender with my men."

Zhang Yang laughed and said, "The outcome is now decided, so you can surrender."

Zhang Qing replied, "You won by trickery, which doesn't count as true skill. If you can defeat my steel spear, I will surrender to you." Zhang

Yang knew what Zhang Qing was up to, but in order to subdue him, he still shouted, "You are already a defeated general, I don't need to pay attention to you."

Seeing that Zhang Yang wouldn't fall for it, Zhang Qing was about to use a provocation tactic again.

Zhang Yang said, "But to convince you, I'll give you a chance. If you can last three rounds against me, I'll let you go."

Zhang Qing, who was confident in his martial arts skills and had come up with this plan, was furious that Zhang Yang looked down on him so much. He said angrily, "It's a deal!"

Zhang Yang laughed, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."

The leaders of the mountain stronghold had witnessed Zhang Yang's superhuman skills and usually dared not challenge him for fear of losing face and hurting their pride. Now, seeing that Zhang Qing actually wanted to challenge Zhang Yang, they all looked at Zhang Qing with mockery.

Zhang Qing saw their eyes and thought they also looked down on him, so he became furious, spurred his horse, and charged out of the valley with his spear.

Zhang Yang saw this and rode to meet him.

Seeing that Zhang Yang had come out empty-handed, Zhang Qing forgot his original intention and thrust his spear towards Zhang Yang's heart.

Seeing that Zhang Qing's spear, in terms of both power and speed, was far inferior to Lin Chong and the others, Zhang Yang knew that Zhang Qing's skill lay in throwing stones. To completely subdue him, Zhang Yang simply swept his arm, and Zhang Qing felt a sharp pain in his hand, the spear flying from his grasp. Seeing Zhang Yang's arm reach for him again,

Zhang Qing quickly dodged and turned his horse to ride back. Zhang Yang, wanting to give him a chance to throw stones, also gave chase. Seeing Zhang Yang approaching, Zhang Qing was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "No matter how strong you are, you'll probably fall under my stone." Thinking this, he took a stone from the brocade pouch on his saddle, deliberately slowed his horse, and when Zhang Yang was close enough, he turned and fired.

Seeing that Zhang Qing's stone was not only incredibly fast but also aimed at the vulnerable face, Zhang Yang realized that Zhang Qing's reputation was not undeserved. He immediately shouted, "Well done!" and only when the stone was close enough did he grab it and throw it at Zhang Qing again.

Zhang Qing was extremely confident in his throwing stones. After launching the stone, he turned his horse to catch someone. But then he heard Zhang Yang shout "Good!" and with a flick of his right hand, the stone flew towards him much faster than he could. Before he could dodge, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and fell off his horse. Seeing that he had been injured by a skill he had honed for many years, Zhang Qing felt utterly hopeless and drew his sword to slit his own throat.

Although Zhang Yang wasn't afraid of Zhang Qing's flying stones, he knew this move was more than enough to deal with ordinary people. Seeing this, he naturally didn't want to lose a valiant general. He immediately leaped from his horse to Zhang Qing's side, snatching Zhang Qing's sword. He shouted, "Victory and defeat are common in war; how can you take your life so easily?"

Zhang Qing shook his head, saying, "My years of arduous training in flying stones not only fail to harm others but also injure myself. What's the point of my life?"

Zhang Yang said, "Lin Chong and Yang Zhi couldn't even withstand a single blow from me, could they? In this world, besides me, who else can easily dodge your stones?"

Zhang Qing had acted impulsively, but upon hearing this, he thought of the many bandits injured by his stones and felt there was some truth to it.

Zhang Yang then spoke a few more words of comfort and persuaded him with righteousness. (To avoid readers accusing me of padding the word count, the content will not be repeated, but it's similar to the previous persuasion of Zong Ze.) Seeing Zhang Yang's kindness and remembering his previous promise, Zhang Qing surrendered.

Chapter Twenty Dong Ping vs. Qin Ming

After Zhang Qing surrendered, Zhang Yang told him about his plan. To dispel any doubts, Zhang Qing turned to Gong Wang and said, "Lead your men out of the valley in batches and exchange their armor with the mountain stronghold's men."

Zhang Yang's men numbered only a thousand, and he couldn't possibly exchange all their armor with the government troops, so he "generously" said, "Just bring five hundred men; it'll save you the trouble."

With everything settled, Zhang Yang and his men chatted idly. Zhang Qing said, "I've just remembered someone the stronghold might need. This man's surname is Huangfu, and his given name is Duan. He's skilled at judging horses, knows the diseases and ailments of livestock, and can cure them with medicine and acupuncture—truly a talent worthy of a horse connoisseur. He's originally from Youzhou, but because of his blue eyes and yellow beard, he looks like a foreigner, hence the nickname 'Purple-Bearded Earl.' He lives in Dongchang Prefecture. If you're interested, you could send someone to trick the city into opening up, firstly to get some money and provisions, and secondly to 'invite' him to the mountain."

Zhang Yang also knew that Huangfu Duan was a well-known figure in the Water Margin, and the stronghold had hundreds of warhorses; they would definitely need his help in the future. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've also heard his name, and now we have a thousand more men. If the Dongping Prefecture officials see through our ruse, it won't be good. Let Yang Zhi lead Cao Zheng, Du Qian, Ruan Xiaoqi, and Bai Sheng, along with five hundred boys who haven't changed their clothes, to take Dongchang Prefecture. Gong Wang will lead five hundred of his men, pretending to escort prisoners back to the city. After we take the city, we should follow the example of Jizhou and not kill indiscriminately."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi glanced discreetly at Zhang Qing and said, "Dongping Prefecture and Qingzhou still have five thousand soldiers, while we only have three thousand now. How can we divide our forces?"

Zhang Yang knew he was still worried that Zhang Qing might defect, so he laughed and said, "Brother, don't worry. Although the government troops still have five thousand, they can be easily defeated one by one. Brother, just lead your men to take Dongchang Prefecture. In a few days, we can drink together at Liangshan."

Seeing that Zhang Yang had made up his mind, Yang Zhi didn't say anything more.

After chatting for a while, everyone went to rest.

In fact, Zhang Yang's arrangement was well-considered. Firstly, Zhang Yang believed Zhang Qing was truly loyal, and even if things changed, he was confident he could lead his men to break through the siege. Secondly, through their conversation, Zhang Yang also discovered Gong Wang's straightforward and honest nature, so there was no need to worry about him resorting to trickery or changing his mind. Moreover, in terms of pure force, Gong Wang was no match for Yang Zhi and his men. Therefore, the matter was not particularly risky.

Early the next morning, Yang Zhi led his men to clear the mountain path, while Zhang Yang led his troops straight to Dongping Prefecture.

Dongping Prefecture's militia commander, Dong Ping, the Double-Spear General, received Qin Ming's letter and sent scouts to investigate the area ten miles outside the city.

When Zhang Yang's men arrived three miles outside Dongping Prefecture, they saw several dozen riders approaching.

As they approached, Zhang Qing whispered to Zhang Yang behind him, "That's Dong Ping, the commander of the Dongping Prefecture militia, known as the Double-Spear General. He's from Shangdang County in Hedong, skilled with double spears, and possesses the courage of ten thousand men. What's even more remarkable is that he's knowledgeable in all walks of life, from the most basic religious arts to the most advanced. He can play musical instruments and is skilled in everything. When he goes into battle, he likes to put two small flags in his quiver, which read: 'Heroic Double-Spear General, Elegant Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.'" Zhang

Yang had already clearly seen that Dong Ping's quiver indeed had two small flags, and that he was quite handsome, around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Although Zhang Yang looked down on the character from *Water Margin*, he hoped Dong Ping was like the description in the novel, so he could save himself a lot of effort. As for women, as long as he had the strength, he wouldn't mind helping him snatch a few.

With this in mind, Zhang Yang signaled Zhang Qing to go forward. As they approached, Dong Ping was about to speak when Zhang Yang leaped up and captured him. After exchanging some pleasantries, Dong Ping surrendered.

The group entered the city, and with Dong Ping's cooperation, they controlled all the key locations almost without bloodshed. Then Zhang Yang immediately ordered the city gates to be sealed off, allowing entry but not exit.

After arriving at the government office, Dong Ping said, "Why doesn't the chieftain emulate Jizhou and uphold justice for the people? This Prefect Cheng Wanli was originally a tutor under Tong Guan. After obtaining this lucrative position, he has been harming the people. He must be killed. I am willing to serve him." Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang

immediately realized that Zhang Yang was still after the man's daughter. However, he still needed Zhang Yang's help and couldn't afford to turn against him, besides, he didn't care about a woman. He just needed Zhang Yang to be grateful. Thinking of this, he gave Dong Ping a deep look and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you

, my good brother. I've also heard that he's corrupt and lawless; only killing him can appease public anger. But since you and he were colleagues, you should also take care of those orphans and widows." The other leaders were taken aback. Zhang Yang hadn't cared about orphans and widows in Jizhou.

Dong Ping was also thinking of taking the woman away when he met Zhang Yang's meaningful gaze. He was startled, and seeing that Zhang Yang had hit the nail on the head, he shivered, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Yang waved his hand to stop him, saying, "Go quickly. We have things to discuss with you when you return." Dong

Ping left the house and pondered for a while, feeling that his thoughts seemed to be seen through. But thinking of the woman's beauty, he gritted his teeth and killed Cheng Wanli. He then ordered his personal guards to watch over Cheng's family before returning to the main hall, though his eyes held a hint of fear when he looked at Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang knew the crux of the matter, and since this was the result he wanted, he said nothing more. After some discussion, everyone went to rest. Dong Ping remained somewhat afraid of Zhang Yang and didn't dare to approach the woman.

The next day, when Qin Ming led his men to the city gates, Zhang Yang, Dong Ping, and Zhang Qing invited them into the city. Qin Ming, unsuspecting, ordered his subordinate, Huang Xin, the military supervisor of Sanshan, to arrange for the troops to set up camp. He himself only took two personal guards and entered the city alongside Dong Ping and Zhang Qing.

Once inside, Qin Ming found the city unusually quiet. There were no pedestrians on the streets, and the occasional cry of a baby quickly disappeared. The empty streets felt particularly oppressive. Qin Ming asked in surprise, "Why are there no people on the streets today?" "

It turned out that, to prevent accidental harm to civilians, Zhang Yang had ordered the people to return home and take shelter as soon as Qin Ming's troops were ten miles away.

Dong Ping said, 'To welcome you, sir, I allowed the people to take shelter for half an hour.'

Qin Ming said, 'General Dong, why are you disturbing the people like this? Quickly have them released from their confinement.'

Seeing that they were out of sight of the troops outside the city, Zhang Yang spurred his horse forward and said, 'I am Zhang Yang of Liangshan. Dong Ping and the other two have already joined our stronghold. Why don't you join us in this righteous cause, General?'

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming was about to draw his sword when Dong Ping and Zhang Qing grabbed his arms, and his two other personal guards were also restrained.

Qin Ming struggled a few times, but seeing that he could not break free, he angrily said, 'Qin Ming was born a citizen of the Song Dynasty, and will die a ghost of the Song Dynasty. The court appointed me as the commander-in-chief of a military force and concurrently as the commander-in-chief, and has not wronged Qin Ming. How could I be a bandit and betray the court? If you want to kill me, then kill me. Don't expect me to submit to you!'"

Dong Ping said, "General, why be so stubborn? The current emperor is incompetent, and treacherous officials are in power. Why should you risk your life for them?" Qin

Ming angrily replied, "You traitor

, you are not worthy to speak to me." Dong Ping, who was very concerned about his reputation, retorted angrily, "Those who know when to yield are the heroes. How many more blows can you take?"

Qin Ming snorted angrily, but truly said nothing more.

Zhang Yang and his companions tried to persuade Qin Ming for a long time, but Qin Ming's mind was made up, and he refused to answer. Seeing his integrity, Zhang Yang felt even more protective of him. He ordered Qin Ming to be placed under

house arrest, and then tricked Huang Xin and several commanders into joining him. That very night, they surrounded the Qingzhou army. The Qingzhou army, leaderless and unaware of their opponents' strength, surrendered after a short standoff. The next day, Zhang Yang left Chao Gai, Liu Tang, Song Wan, Zhu Gui, Zhang Qing, and Ding Desun in Dongping Prefecture to act on behalf of Heaven. Zhang Yang then led Lu Da, the surrendered Huang Xin, and a thousand troops towards Qingzhou.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Due to time constraints at noon and slow typing, this will be changed to the evening. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Chapter Twenty-One: Qingfeng Two Strongholds

Meanwhile, Zhang Yang led his troops north to Qingzhou. The journey was uneventful. One day, they arrived at a place where a high mountain stood beside the official road. The mountain was steep, and the base was densely wooded.

Seeing a pass faintly visible on the mountain, Zhang Yang asked, "Are there any fellow martial artists on that mountain ahead?"

Huang Xin replied, "Yes, that's Qingfeng Mountain. The three leaders there have gathered five or six hundred henchmen, robbing and plundering. The previous commander and General Qin both led troops to suppress them, but this mountain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, so they all returned empty-handed. Later, they had to set up Qingfeng Village at the crossroads ahead to prevent them from harassing Qingzhou."

Zhang Yang asked, "Who are the leaders?"

Huang Xin replied, "Qingfeng Mountain has three leaders. The leader is Jinmaohu Yan Shun, originally a sheep and horse trader, who lost his capital and ended up robbing in the bandits. The second is Wang Ying, who is short and stocky, and known in the martial arts world as Dwarf Tiger. He was originally a cart driver, but he saw money on the road and robbed a passenger. When the matter was discovered, he escaped from prison and went up the mountain with Yan Shun. The last one is Zheng Tianshou, who is fair-skinned and handsome." People called him the "White-Faced Gentleman." He originally made a living as a silversmith, but he had been fond of martial arts since childhood. He wandered the Jianghu (martial arts world) and, while passing through Qingfeng Mountain, encountered Wang Ai Hu. They fought for fifty or sixty rounds without a clear winner. Yan Shun, seeing his skill, kept him on the mountain and made him the third-ranking officer. "The three of us are all about as skilled as I am, but we were able to resist the government troops because of our advantageous location."

Zhang Yang wasn't particularly interested in these three and asked, "Who guards Qingfeng Village ahead?"

Huang Xin replied, "The chief officer is the civil official Liu Gao, and the deputy chief officer is the military official Hua Rong. Liu Gao isn't a problem, but Hua Rong comes from a military family and is quite skilled in martial arts. What's more worrying is his unparalleled archery; he can hit a target from a hundred paces away without fail. That's why he's here to guard the village. Fortunately, he doesn't know our background yet, so he's probably unprepared."

Zhang Yang thought for a moment. If he subdued the people of Qingfeng Mountain first, he would still have to control them when they arrived in Qingzhou. It would be better to deal with it on the way back. Thinking of this, he said, "Then let's go to Qingfeng Village first. Hua Rong and Liu Gao will definitely come to greet you then, and we can take them down together."

After discussing the details, the group headed straight for Qingfeng Village. Yan Shun, seeing so many government troops on Qingfeng Mountain, naturally wouldn't want to make a fool of himself. Qingfeng Village was originally there to block the bandits from Qingfeng Mountain, Peach Blossom Mountain, and Erlong Mountain. Zhang Yang's large army couldn't be hidden from the scouts in the village. As soon as the group approached the village, they saw the gate open and dozens of riders rush out. Leading them was a young general, with red lips and white teeth, bright eyes, and sword-like eyebrows that went straight into his temples, looking extremely heroic. Zhang Yang couldn't help but cheer when he saw him.

When Hua Rong got closer, he was taken aback to see that the one leading the group was Huang Xin. He clasped his hands and said, "Didn't the Commander go with General Qin to suppress the Liangshan bandits? Why are you back so soon?"

Huang Xin replied, "Yesterday, scouts from Qingfeng Mountain brought news that Yan Shun, that scoundrel, intends to take advantage of the Qingzhou Imperial Guards' absence to collude with the Taohua Mountain bandits and attack Qingzhou. The Commander has already gathered six thousand troops, more than enough to attack Liangshan. Worried about this situation, he sent me back to assist Magistrate Hua."

Hua Rong, having achieved early success, was also extremely arrogant. Since taking office, Yan Shun and his men hadn't dared to provoke him. Hearing Huang Xin's words, he was secretly annoyed. However, Huang Xin was his superior, so he couldn't refute him. He simply said indifferently, "In that case, sir, lead your troops into the stronghold first."

The group entered Hua Rong's small stronghold, and Dong Ping and Lu Da secretly took control of key areas. Huang Xin then had Hua Rong send someone to invite Liu Gao, and Zhang Yang launched another attack, capturing both men. The troops in the stronghold were also disarmed by Dong Ping and Lu Da.

After taking office, Hua Rong had been oppressed by Liu Gao for a long time. He was very dissatisfied with the court's system of using civil officials to control military officials and often thought about retiring. He also had many dealings with people from the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts

world). After being persuaded by Zhang Yang and Huang Xin with righteousness, he hesitated for a long time before surrendering. Liu Gao, who usually oppressed the people and was corrupt, was terrified when he heard Zhang Yang's name and remembered his deeds in Jizhou. Upon seeing Hua Rong surrender, Zhang Yang immediately untied him personally. He hurriedly cried out, "I am also willing to submit to the King."

Hua Rong glanced at Liu Gao with disdain and said, "Since taking office, this corrupt official has been swindling some wealthy households in this village, abusing the law, and doing whatever he pleases. Chieftain, you must not let him off."

Liu Gao still had two hundred soldiers in his stronghold, and Zhang Yang did not want to start another war. Even if he deserved to die, he wanted to use up his remaining value first. Thinking of this, he said, "These matters need to be investigated before a decision can be made. Let's hold a trial tomorrow."

Hua Rong heard this and did not say anything more.

Zhang Yang stared at Liu Gao again and said, "Are you now willing to cooperate with us and subdue your stronghold's men?" Liu Gao

shivered when he met Zhang Yang's sharp gaze and hurriedly said, "I will obey the chieftain's orders."

Immediately, Zhang Yang led Huang Xin and five hundred men to Liu Gao's small stronghold. With Liu Gao's cooperation, they took control of the stronghold without bloodshed. Zhang Yang had Zong Ying arrange for men to patrol and then let Liu Gao return to his own courtyard. The people of Qingfeng Town, several miles away, noticed nothing amiss and went to sleep as usual that night.

Liu Gao returned to his house, glanced at his wife draped in a thin veil, and sighed. In his youth, Liu Gao had been a dashing and romantic figure. Although he had married a beautiful wife, he still relied on his literary talent to frequent brothels. Later, he contracted syphilis, suffering greatly. Although he recovered, his kidney function was severely impaired. He then restrained himself, but could no longer satisfy his wife and felt guilty. He usually endured it silently, and at his wife's urging, he also devoted his energy to accumulating wealth.

Liu Gao's wife, Zhen, looked at her perfect body with self-pity, remembering the grievances of the past years, and was filled with rage. Thinking Liu Gao was also lamenting his disability, she scolded, "Whose house did you go to for drinks again? Why are you only just returning?"

Liu Gao sighed, "I'm about to die, how could I have the heart to drink?"

Although Zhen Shi looked down on her husband, she knew her fate was tied to his, and upon hearing this, she hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Liu Gao said, "Now the stronghold is controlled by Zhang Yang of Liangshan. He has slaughtered all the corrupt officials in Jizhou, and tomorrow he will hold a trial for me. I will definitely not escape death then."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Shi was stunned. Death was not the problem; she was left with no future. After thinking for a long time, she said, "Why don't I go and spend the night with Zhang Yang? Maybe he will spare your life."

Liu Gao glanced at his wife's perfect body under the thin veil, swallowed, and knew that his wife was a beauty among beauties. However, when he was young, he only indulged in novelty and did not enjoy her more often. Later, when he was impotent, he dared not easily provoke her. Anyway, he couldn't use him anymore. If it could save his life, it would be worth giving him to Zhang Yang.

Thinking of this, he pretended to be reluctant and said, "No matter what, I'm a useless person now. I've wasted so many years of your life, and I already feel ashamed. Zhang Yang is young and handsome. If you can serve him in the future, it will be a great blessing."

Zhen Shi had been with Liu Gao for many years and naturally knew what he was thinking. Although she was contemptuous, she didn't say it out loud. After saying a few words of reluctance, she put on a coat and walked towards Zhang Yang's room.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Colluding with each other

The August night sky was exceptionally high and the stars were unusually bright. Zhang Yang looked at the night view for a while before going back to his room to sleep. Just as he took off his coat, he heard a series of light footsteps outside the door. Judging from the voice, it seemed to be a woman. Just as Zhang Yang was wondering, the person began to knock on the door. Zhang Yang quickly put on his coat and opened the door.

Zhen had no intention of saving Liu Gao. Seeing that Zhang Yang was indeed young and handsome, her eyes lit up. She knelt down, secretly pulling her already loosely fastened upper garment even wider. She sobbed softly, "Please, Your Majesty, save me."

Zhang Yang opened the door to find a seductive woman, her hair disheveled and her clothes in disarray. Through the slightly open collar, he could see that she wore only a thin veil underneath, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white skin and a deep cleavage. Since returning to ancient times, Zhang Yang had been abstinent. Although he later married Wen Lian, he feared hurting her and only ever indulged in fleeting pleasures, which only deepened his frustration. Seeing the allure of this mature woman, he was overcome with desire.

With Zhen kneeling, half of her full, white breast was fully revealed. Zhang Yang swallowed hard, suppressing his lust. He bent down and took Zhen's arms, feeling the soft, rounded shape of her arms. He forced himself to banish the thought of plunging into the young woman's mind, helped her up, and asked, "Who are you? Why are you calling for help?"

Zhen replied, "My name is Zhen Qiaoyun. Five years ago, Liu Gao forced me into marriage, and I suffer his daily humiliation. Just now, after he returned, he said that the King had led his troops to raid the stronghold and would kill him tomorrow, and then rape me before he died. I heard that someone could stand up for me, so I struggled to come and beg for help. If the King can save me from this predicament, I am willing to serve the King as his slave."

Upon hearing that this woman was Liu Gao's wife, Zhang Yang couldn't help but recall the description in the Water Margin. Moreover, judging from her footsteps just now, she had walked calmly, not struggled to come. Since she was trying to deceive him, and he was also very interested in her, why wouldn't he accept a gift offered to him? Thinking of this, he feigned anger and said, "So Liu Gao really has committed many evils. Tomorrow I will definitely take his dog's head."

Seeing Zhen Shi trembling with fear, he quickly softened his tone and said gently, "You can stay here tonight! I'll go somewhere else."

Seeing that Zhang Yang seemed uninterested in her, Zhen Shi quickly said, "Everyone else is already asleep. Why should Your Majesty disturb them? Besides, Your Majesty saved me from the fire. I am willing to serve Your Majesty." Saying this, she went into the room and closed the door.

Zhang Yang quickly said, "You mustn't do that." Zhen

Shi didn't speak, but slowly removed her outer garment, leaving only a thin, transparent veil. Instantly, her high, full breasts and mysterious garden were clearly visible. Zhen Shi gave Zhang Yang a charming look and then threw herself into his arms, gently rubbing her full, soft breasts against his chest.

Zhang Yang was already burning with desire; how could he resist such temptation? His lower body immediately erected.

Feeling the strength of Zhang Yang's lower body, Zhen was overjoyed. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her lower body tightly against his hot member, and began to caress it.

Seeing Zhen's allure, Zhang Yang thought to himself: She came here wanting to submit to me, so why should I endure this hardship?

With that thought, he placed his hands on Zhen's full breasts and round buttocks, kneading them vigorously. Although Zhen had been married for several years, she was only twenty-five or twenty-six, in the prime of her life, and her body naturally felt much better than Wen Lian's youthful body.

Having abstained from sex for many years, and with her body already mature, Zhen was exceptionally sensitive. After being caressed by Zhang Yang, her face flushed with desire, her eyes were filled with lust, and her lower body was overflowing with desire. Having been empty for so long, once Zhen's desire was ignited, she had no more restraint and quickly tore off both of their clothes. Her jade-like hands gently grasped Zhang Yang's member, guiding it towards her paradise.

Zhang Yang was only interested in Zhen Shi sexually, and naturally showed her no mercy. His lower body, barely reaching the entrance, thrust in and began to move forcefully.

Zhen Shi, having abstained from sex for many years, coupled with Zhang Yang's exceptionally strong genitals, felt as if a hot, hard iron rod had entered her. The intense pain jolted Zhen Shi from her desire, and Zhang Yang's violent thrusting made her roll her eyes back—she tried to push him away with

all her might. Zhang Yang, caught up in his passion, didn't care about her well-being, tightly embracing Zhen Shi's slender waist, simply venting his pent-up lust. Zhen Shi dared not cry out, and could only grit her teeth and endure the bitter fruit of her own making.

After a long while, Zhen Shi felt the pain gradually subside, replaced by an intoxicating pleasure. The bone-melting sensation was unbearable for Zhen Shi; she shook her hips forcefully, matching Zhang Yang's thrusts. Her cherry lips couldn't help but let out soft moans.

Seeing Zhen Shi had returned to her wanton state, Zhang Yang picked her up and carried her to the bedside.

Having just experienced that intoxicating pleasure, Zhen was unwilling to give it up. She wrapped her arms around Zhang Yang's neck and thrust her lower body forcefully. Seeing Zhen's intense desire, Zhang Yang became wicked, pressing his right hand against her plump buttocks and forcefully penetrating her. His lower body immediately plunged deep into her.

Zhen felt as if her body was being pierced; the intense pleasure caused her body to convulse, and a thick stream of fluid sprayed onto Zhang Yang's weapon.

Seeing Zhen's climax, Zhang Yang showed no mercy, placing her on the edge of the bed, making her hold onto the edge and arch her round buttocks. He then began his assault from behind, his hands reaching forward to vigorously knead her ample breasts.

Zhen's desire was reignited by Zhang Yang's thrusts, and she frantically responded to him. After several orgasms, she felt a sudden darkness before her eyes and fainted. Zhang Yang showed her no mercy, only falling asleep with the beautiful woman in his arms after enjoying his first orgasm after his transformation.

Before dawn, Zhang Yang woke up early. Seeing that Madam Zhen was still half-asleep, with most of her body exposed, her mature charm was undeniably alluring, but Zhang Yang didn't want to make this public knowledge. Suppressing his impulse, Zhang Yang shook Madam Zhen.

Madam Zhen didn't have Zhang Yang's abnormal stamina; it took her a long time to open her dazed eyes, her first sensation being intense pain in her lower body.

Seeing that Madam Zhen was awake, Zhang Yang said, "I'll be going now. Later, find two more maids and tell them you are maids I found for Madam. I don't think anyone will dare to make things difficult for you. Liu Gao will be dealt with."

Having experienced that intoxicating pleasure, Madam Zhen, seeing that Zhang Yang was willing to take her away, no longer cared about her status. Hearing this, she quickly said in a coquettish voice, "Okay, I'll go find two personal maids right now." She tried to get up, but as soon as she moved, she felt weak all over and had no strength to move.

Seeing this, Zhang Yang laughed and said, "No need to rush, you can rest a little longer."

Zhen Shi took Zhang Yang's concern as genuine, giving him a charmingly reproachful look, and said, "It's all your fault! You were so rough last night, you didn't hold back at all."

Zhang Yang's heart warmed by Zhen Shi's allure. He embraced her and caressed her before letting go, saying, "I'm leaving now. You rest a bit, then go find someone."

Zhen Shi was already aroused again by Zhang Yang. Although she wanted more intimacy, she wasn't sure how much Zhang Yang liked her, so she didn't dare to be presumptuous. She reluctantly got up, helped Zhang Yang dress, and said sweetly, "Come back soon, I'll be waiting for you."

Seeing Zhen Shi's understanding, Zhang Yang kissed her and said, "I'll be back soon."

Zhang Yang bid farewell to Zhen Shi, remembering how Hua Rong in *Water Margin* deeply resented Zhen Shi for instigating Liu Gao, fearing he would harm her life. He left Dong Ping to handle the affairs of Qingfeng Village, while the rest of the others went with Zhang Yang to Qingzhou.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Qin Ming's Surrender

Dusk had fallen, blurring the sky. The sky, once ablaze with the colors of sunset, gradually faded, losing its luster. A few twinkling stars, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, lingered against the deep blue backdrop, alongside a crescent moon, seemingly lonely yet echoing each other in the boundless sky.

Qin Ming saw that even the moon had a few stars to keep it company, while he was all alone, and couldn't help but sigh. After being "escorted" up the mountain yesterday, he had been placed in this secluded courtyard, attended by two henchmen, and his movements were unrestricted; he was free to roam the mountain stronghold. Although the treatment was generous, Qin Ming still felt deeply depressed at being a court official imprisoned here by bandits. He had contemplated suicide several times, but remembering his wife and children waiting for him at home, he had no choice but to endure the pain of life once more.

Just as he was brooding, he heard footsteps approaching. Looking towards the sound, he saw several leaders of Liangshan. Qin Ming had been introduced to them by his henchmen during his stroll earlier that day. Qin Ming vaguely remembered that they were Wu Yong, Zong Ze, Gongsun Sheng, Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, Chao Gai, and Zhang Qing.

It turned out that Yang Zhi and Chao Gai had successively transported a large amount of money and grain back from Dongping and Dongchang prefectures, and the leaders had been busy for two days to count and seal the treasury. Wu Yong, hearing that Zhang Yang valued Qin Ming, led his men to persuade him to surrender.

Qin Ming glanced coldly at everyone, then looked up at the night sky again.

Seeing Qin Ming's posture, Wu Yong thought for a moment and decided to let Zong Ze go first.

Seeing Wu Yong's signal, Zong Ze said, "I am Zong Ze. Perhaps General Qin has heard of me."

Qin Ming's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but he still didn't look directly at the crowd, raising his head and saying, "I only heard of Zong Ze's diligence in governing the country and his uprightness. I never imagined he would become an outlaw."

Zong Ze smiled bitterly, "I used to think of myself as a diligent and benevolent official, but after talking with the chieftain several times, I realized I had been an accomplice of treacherous officials for many years."

Qin Ming was taken aback by Zong Ze's words, then turned to look at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

Zong Ze said, "In recent years, Cai Jing and his gang have increased exorbitant taxes and levies, then used the people's hard-earned money to build gardens, bewitching the emperor and making His Majesty... " He was gradually losing the wisdom he possessed upon ascending the throne. As a court official, I not only failed to submit a memorial to dissuade him, but also helped the treacherous officials plunder the people. Although I did do some things for the people, it was nothing compared to the various taxes I extorted from them.

Seeing that Zong Ze suddenly seemed to have aged ten years, Qin Ming hurriedly said, "Your Excellency was only forced by the treacherous officials. If it were someone else, the people would probably suffer even more."

Zong Ze shook his head and said, "Perhaps. Now the power of the court is entirely controlled by treacherous officials, and loyal and virtuous people are either demoted or exiled. I am merely surviving in the court, and even have to be an accomplice of the treacherous officials. I think General Qin has also felt this."

The prefect of Qingzhou, whose surname was Murong and given name was Yanda, was the brother of the current Emperor Huizong's Consort Murong. Relying on his sister's influence, he ran rampant in Qingzhou, harming good people, deceiving his colleagues, and doing whatever he pleased. Not only did they reduce the number of soldiers in the local garrison to a few dozen, but they also extended their reach to the Imperial Guards under Qin Ming's command. Fortunately, the Imperial Guards were deployed to various places on a rotating basis, so he dared not embezzle pay, but embezzlement still occurred frequently. Qin Ming knew of his power, but for the sake of his own ambitions, he had no choice but to swallow his anger. Hearing Zong Ze's words, he couldn't help but sigh.

Seeing that Qin Ming was softening, Lin Chong also said, "I am Lin Chong, the son of a military family, and I once served as an official in the court. Unfortunately, treacherous officials are in power, fabricating charges and using official positions for personal revenge, forcing me to have no home to return to and no country to serve, which is why I have to hide here. You know that the court can no longer tolerate us now."

Qin Ming had also heard of Lin Chong's deeds, knowing that he had been ruined by Gao Qiu, and he usually felt great sympathy for him, but he was of low status and could not change anything. After listening to Lin Chong's words, he could only sigh.

Zhang Qing also said, "I also lead a local militia, controlling the troops in this area, but what can I do? Most of the bandits I kill are farmers driven to bankruptcy by the oppressive policies of recent years. How many are truly vicious bandits? I also have to serve as a bodyguard for those corrupt officials and gentry. Over the years, I've actually spilled a lot of people's blood, and unwittingly become an executioner who persecutes the people. It's better to stay in this mountain stronghold, kill corrupt officials and tyrants, and act on behalf of Heaven to cleanse the world of corruption, than to be an accomplice to the court."

Qin Ming thought of the people he had killed in recent years and couldn't help but sigh, "Being an outlaw is ultimately not a long-term solution."

Seeing that Qin Ming was already inclined to join him, Wu Yong hurriedly said, "All of us brothers are devoted to serving our country. How can we waste our time like this? As long as the Emperor can regain his strength, we will submit to the court and serve the country loyally. We can fight on the frontier, earn titles and honors, and that would be a worthwhile investment of our martial skills."

Qin Ming was also somewhat tempted and asked, "If the Emperor continues to indulge in pleasure, how long must we wait here?"

Zong Ze's face flashed with determination, and he firmly said, "At most two years. If the Emperor is still the same, I would rather persuade the Chief to raise an army, overthrow the Song Dynasty, and help the Chief build a new dynasty."

Qin Ming asked in surprise, "..." "Why is Your Excellency in such a hurry?"

Zong Ze replied, "The Emperor has already decided to ally with the Jin to destroy the Liao. If the two countries truly join forces, the Liao will surely be destroyed within five years. However, the Jin people are inherently brave and have won every battle since the founding of the state. They will inevitably covet our vast Central Plains. Since the time of Emperor Taizu, our country has implemented a policy of strengthening the central government and weakening local powers, suppressing military generals. As a result, our generals are now ignorant of military affairs, our soldiers are unable to fight, and we are hampered by many treacherous officials. Our country has suffered more defeats than victories against the Liao cavalry. If we were to fight the even more valiant Jin people, we would not be able to hold out for long. In the end, the country will surely be destroyed, and the people will be slaughtered.

If the Emperor still insists on his own way within two years, we should..." "As a citizen of the Han Dynasty, how can I bear to see my compatriots suffer? I have no choice but to become a rebellious subject and a treacherous son. Besides, this world does not belong to one family. As long as the Han people are in charge, what difference does it make who is the emperor? Moreover, the chieftain is wise and brave, and with so many fierce generals assisting him, it shouldn't take more than a few years to unify the world. Then, we can prepare our horses and strengthen our troops to resist foreign aggression and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. At the very least, we can delay the emperor's attack on Liao, and we Han people can have more time to breathe."

Although Qin Ming was a military general, he only saw one prefecture and one route, and did not have a full understanding of the situation of the world. Having heard about Zong Ze's character, he knew that he would not exaggerate. After thinking for a moment, he clasped his hands and said, "I originally thought that the Song Dynasty only had some internal troubles, but I did not expect that the external troubles were so serious. Zong Gong's words are like a wake-up call. Qin Ming is willing to advance and retreat with Zong Gong."

Wu Yong was overjoyed to see that Qin Ming was willing to follow Zong Ze's example. These days of interaction have shown them that although the chieftain is young, he is highly skilled. If they are willing to join the outlaws, they will surely be bound to his chariot.

Qin Ming looked up and saw that the stars in the sky had multiplied, finally shining brightly. His loneliness dissipated.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Rescuing Third Sister.

It is said that when Zhang Yang and his party arrived in Qingzhou, the government troops were unprepared. Upon seeing Huang Xin, they allowed his men to enter the city. The city had only a hundred or so old and weak soldiers. Zhang Yang took control of the city almost without bloodshed. He first rescued Qin Ming's family, then redressed the grievances of the people, killing all the corrupt officials and gentry, confiscating all their money and grain, and finally distributing the remaining money and grain to the people.

Zhang Yang's actions were deeply meaningful. Firstly, it would make the people remember his kindness; secondly, if the new officials of the court dared to demand from the people, the soldiers would surely take the opportunity to plunder them, leading to widespread resentment and weakening the foundation of the Song Dynasty.

Zhang Yang led his troops back to Qingfeng Village, where Dong Ping had already taken care of everything in the town. After a night's rest, the group headed towards Liangshan. Along the way, Zhang Yang used both coercion and enticement to recruit five men: Yan Shun, the Golden-haired Tiger of Qingfeng Mountain; Wang Ying, the Dwarf Tiger; Zheng Tianshou, the White-faced Gentleman; Lü Fang, the Little Gentleman of Duiying Mountain; and Guo Sheng, the Second Rengui. Lu Da also led his men to recruit Zhou Tong, the Little Tyrant of Peach Blossom Mountain, and Li Zhong, the Tiger-Slaying

General, through a combination of persuasion and force. Along the way, the local people avoided this group of half-officials, half-bandits. However, upon entering Dongping Prefecture, the situation changed abruptly. The people stopped avoiding them, and some even brought wine and water to reward the group. It turned out that Chao Gai and his men had returned to the mountain, and news of the Liangshan forces acting on behalf of Heaven in Dongping Prefecture had spread throughout the surrounding villages. The people, seeing this strange group, assumed they were from Liangshan.

The newly recruited members, seeing the Liangshan forces' popularity, developed a greater respect for Zhang Yang.

That day, as the group passed through Xianglinwa, they soon saw a high mountain. Zhang Yang, leading fifty personal guards, rode at the head of the column, immensely proud of his achievements in just a few months.

Due to drought, the fields were riddled with holes, most crops withered and fallen. Even the fields painstakingly irrigated by the people drooped, their yields predictably poor. Every now and then, a few farmers could be seen staring blankly at their fields. Upon learning that the group was from Liangshan, many desperate farmers along the way sought refuge with them, and Zhang Yang had them incorporated into the rear guard.

Zhang Yang knew that Emperor Huizong had never realized the error of his ways until the fall of the dynasty. Given this year's harvest, if he continued to impose so many exorbitant taxes, even more impoverished farmers would rebel, allowing him to further expand his power. Tian Hu and Wang Qing would undoubtedly gain more influence, further shaking the foundations of the Song Dynasty. If Fang La were to rise up again, he could then take action.

Just then, a cloud of dust rose ahead. Zhang Yang also faintly heard the sound of hooves, sensing that there weren't many horses, so he led his men to approach.

A woman was galloping ahead, her face covered in dust, but it couldn't conceal her beautiful features. Her fitted clothing accentuated her stunning figure. She possessed a naturally exquisite beauty, with a delicate face, a beautiful nose, cherry-like lips, and especially captivating, spirited phoenix eyes. Her looks were no less than Wen Lian Zhen Shi's, but what was even more remarkable was that she possessed the charm of a graceful lady, the elegance of a talented woman, and the chivalrous spirit of a knight-errant. She had a far greater allure than the two women.

Zhang Yang glanced at her and immediately considered taking her for himself. Seeing dozens of riders chasing after her, he decided to stage a hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scene. He ordered Zong Ying and his personal guards to stay behind, then rode forward alone, calling out, "Don't panic, young lady, watch me deal with these scoundrels."

Hu Sanniang also saw the group ahead and was about to cry for help when she saw a handsome young man approaching alone.

Hearing this, she quickly said, "The people behind are highly skilled in martial arts; young master, you mustn't be reckless." In the blink of an eye, the two were upon her. Hearing the beauty's words, Zhang Yang gave Sanniang a resolute look and laughed, "A single spark dares not compete with the bright moon!" Without pausing

, he charged towards the group behind. Sanniang blushed at Zhang Yang's unabashed gaze. Seeing Zhang Yang's confidence, she inexplicably believed he could defeat Zhu Biao's group, and immediately reined in her horse, turning back to look at him.

Zhu Biao, seeing the beauty he was about to capture suddenly appear out of nowhere, seemingly oblivious to his impending doom, flew into a rage. He raised his steel spear and thrust it towards Zhang Yang's chest.

Seeing Zhu Biao's vicious attack, Zhang Yang was secretly enraged. He grabbed the spear and swung it forcefully, sending Zhu Biao flying.

However, Zhu Biao had practiced martial arts since childhood, and his wrists were very strong. Although he was off his horse, he wasn't thrown off. Just as he twisted his waist to kick Zhang Yang's wrist, he felt a great force and his back slammed into a nearby servant. Before he could even cry out in pain, his body was slammed to the right. The violent impact caused Zhu Biao to lose his grip and fall to the side.

Zhang Yang didn't kill anyone; he simply struck or swept, and in a short time, he had knocked dozens of people off their horses.

Hu Sanniang, who had always preferred martial arts to feminine attire, was also skilled in martial arts. Seeing Zhang Yang's martial arts prowess, her beautiful eyes lit up. Remembering her childhood wish to marry the greatest hero in the land, she felt a mixture of shyness and joy. When

Zhang Yang turned his horse around and saw Sanniang's shy and charming appearance, he was even more captivated.

San Niang, meeting Zhang Yang's burning gaze, felt even more flustered and lowered her head, saying, "San Niang thanks you for your help, young master. May I ask your name?"

Zhang Yang was startled to hear that the beauty before him was Hu San Niang, the number one female warrior in the Water Margin. If she and Zhu Biao were already engaged, wouldn't his efforts have been in vain? He might even have to stage another attack on the Zhu Family Village. But Hu San Niang would have to stay with him. However, if they were already engaged, given their families' reputations, who in the vicinity would dare to pursue her? Zhang Yang asked curiously, "I am Zhang Yang of Liangshan. Who is chasing you?"

Although San Niang came from a powerful family, she was still a young girl at heart, with a love for martial arts and a penchant for fighting injustice. Hearing that her savior was none other than the recently rising, righteous Zhang Yang, a ripple of emotion stirred within her. She recounted the whole story in a sweet voice.

In recent years, the Zhu Family Village had been impersonating Liangshan bandits, robbing passing merchants and amassing a large fortune. They used this wealth to recruit soldiers and horses, growing increasingly powerful. Naturally, they disregarded the other two villages on Dulonggang, frequently bullying them. The other two villages, being weaker, had no choice but to endure it.

However, this year, after Zhang Yang established his stronghold on Liangshan, they stopped their raids and raised the banner of "acting on behalf of Heaven." Seeing that Liangshan had conquered Jizhou and Dongping Prefecture, Zhu Chaofeng dared not continue his impersonation and feared an attack from the Liangshan heroes. He wanted to form an alliance with the other two villages, promising mutual assistance in times of trouble. However, the two villages had suffered too many losses and lacked trust in the Zhu Family Village, making it difficult to achieve their goal quickly.

Just as this stalemate was reaching a stalemate, another problem arose. When Zhu Biao accompanied the messenger to the Hu Family Village, he unexpectedly encountered Hu Sanniang. He was immediately captivated by her beauty and, upon returning home, instructed his father to send someone to propose marriage.

Zhu Chaofeng was troubled by the alliance issue. Hearing his son's idea, he thought that if their children could be betrothed, the alliance would be much easier to arrange. So he sent someone to propose marriage. However, Hu Sanniang was strong-willed and deeply resented the Zhu family's past domineering behavior. She was unwilling to marry Zhu Biao, and her father, elder brother Hu Taigong, and Hu Cheng doted on her, so they also tried to refuse.

Today, Sanniang went out alone and happened to encounter Zhu Biao leading a hunting party. Seeing that no one was around, Zhu Biao harbored a wicked intention: to capture her alive, force himself on her, and then propose marriage. Fortunately, Hu Sanniang was skilled in martial arts. Seeing the situation was unfavorable, she immediately spurred her horse and fled. Zhu Biao, unwilling to let his prize slip away, also gave chase with his men. Unexpectedly, he encountered Zhang Yang halfway and was given a beating.

After hearing the story, Zhang Yang learned of the past between the two. However, judging from the situation just now, without him, Zhu Biao wouldn't have been able to catch Sanniang, suggesting that their engagement would have some twists and turns. Thinking that the leader was Zhu Biao, Zhang Yang realized that his two heavy blows should keep Zhu Biao bedridden for a month, indicating that he still had a chance.

Zhang Yang chatted with San Niang for a while longer before escorting her back to the village. Along the way, he added several stories of cleverly judged wrongful convictions he had read about to his own life.

Zhang Yang chose stories of upright officials from later generations, stories San Niang had never heard of before. She believed Zhang Yang was truly a genius judge, and her heart was instantly captivated by his image.

Seeing the growing affection in San Niang's beautiful eyes, Zhang Yang knew when to stop and changed the subject to other strange tales, making San Niang even more eager to explore the outside world. Seeing this, Zhang Yang devised a plan. Reaching the village entrance, he said, "This is your village now. I need to catch up with the main force, so I'll take my leave."

San Niang, reluctant to part, said, "Young master, please come to my village for a cup of tea before you go."

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "If fate allows, we will meet again. Farewell."

San Niang's face flushed, and watching Zhang Yang walk further and further away, a touch of melancholy arose in her heart.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Retaking Liangshan

Zhang Yang returned to Liangshan with his troops and was overjoyed to hear that Qin Ming had surrendered. He selected over six thousand elite soldiers from the troops of the three prefectures and the bandits of various strongholds, combining them with the original regular soldiers to form seven thousand-man squads, each led by a commander: Zong Ying, Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, Chao Gai, Qin Ming, Zhang Qing, and Dong Ping. Wen Lian also felt that she alone could not satisfy Zhang Yang, and being gentle and kind by nature, she did not reject Zhen Shi. Zhang Yang then began training his troops while enjoying his new life.

Hearing that Zhang Yang had broken the three-prefecture coalition and even seized the three prefectures, Gao Qiu panicked. He himself had been the one to suggest the coalition, and although he had enjoyed the Emperor's favor in recent years, Tong Guan had just defeated the Western Xia army and been promoted to Grand Tutor, putting him in a position of great success. If he were to be reprimanded by the Emperor, his generals would likely switch allegiance. After some thought, Gao Qiu had his family prepare a sedan chair and headed straight for Cai Jing's residence.

Cai Jing had also learned of the defeat and, of course, wouldn't let anyone who dared to offend him go unpunished. Although he also controlled several imperial guards, he didn't want to weaken his forces unnecessarily. The only other military leaders in charge were Gao Qiu and Tong Guan.

Although Cai Jing had been appointed to his position because of Tong Guan, he only considered him a servant of the Emperor, someone who could speak on his behalf, and never a political ally. Unexpectedly, Tong Guan's power had grown increasingly strong in recent years, and he had even been promoted to Grand Tutor, placing him alongside Tong Guan among the Three Dukes. The thought of being ranked alongside a eunuch made Cai Jing feel as if he had swallowed a fly, so he naturally wouldn't seek Tong Guan's help again.

That left only Gao Qiu as an option. However, the struggle between Gao Qiu and Tong Guan had intensified in recent years. Tong Guan had just returned victorious, his influence soaring, and the three-prefecture coalition was Gao Qiu's idea. If the Emperor investigated, although Gao Qiu wouldn't actually be demoted, he would be at a disadvantage. Even with Wang Fu's help, Gao Qiu had to refrain from taking advantage of his misfortune to ensure his own safety.

Cai Jing had anticipated Gao Qiu's arrival, so he leisurely studied Emperor Huizong's calligraphy at home. When Gao Qiu requested an audience, Cai Jing simply had his servants lead him to wait in the living room, and after copying a few more pieces, he walked towards the living room.

Upon arriving at the living room, he saw that Gao Qiu was already waiting impatiently. He smiled and said, "I'm getting old, and my legs aren't as nimble as they used to be. I've kept the Grand Commandant waiting."

Although Gao Qiu cursed inwardly, he knew that Cai Jing had experienced many ups and downs in his official career, and in recent years he had become increasingly ruthless and vicious. If he wasn't careful, he might be attacked by Cai Jing in secret. He hurriedly stood up and said, "Grand Tutor, you flatter me. Grand Tutor, though old, is still vigorous and it is the perfect time for you to serve the country."

Cai Jing smiled and said, "We are all on the same side, so there is no need for formalities. Grand Commandant, you must have come with something. Please tell me."

Gao Qiu said, "The joint campaign of the three prefectures to suppress Liangshan has failed, and the bandits took the opportunity to plunder three places, killing and injuring a large number of officials and civilians. What do you think Grand Tutor should do?"

Cai Jing said, "Of course, we should petition the Emperor to send troops again to suppress the bandits."

Seeing that Cai Jing was pretending to be confused, Gao Qiu cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he pretended to be fearful and said, "Last time, in order to avenge the Grand Tutor's loss, I did not think deeply and came up with the idea of a joint campaign of the three prefectures. If the Emperor investigates, I..."

Cai Jing stroked his beard, shook his head, and said, "This matter is not easy to handle."

Although Gao Qiu did not know Cai Jing's thoughts, he knew that he would not let anyone else have the final say. "If Grand Tutor can put in a good word for me," Gao Qiu pleaded, "who in the court would dare to speak recklessly, and the Emperor wouldn't truly pursue this matter."

Cai Jing no longer refused, saying, "However, we still need to send another capable general to lead troops to suppress Liangshan. Do you have anyone in mind

, Grand Commandant?" Gao Qiu knew Cai Jing wouldn't give up easily and had already thought of someone. He said, "This man is a direct descendant of Huyan Zan, a famous general from Hedong at the beginning of the dynasty. His name is Zhuo, and he wields two copper whips, possessing the courage of ten thousand men. He is currently the Commander-in-Chief of Runing County, with many elite soldiers and brave generals under his command. If he leads troops to suppress Liangshan, he will surely achieve great success."

Hearing that he was a descendant of a famous general, Cai Jing nodded and said, "Grand Commandant, your appointment will be without fault. Tomorrow morning at court, we will report to the Emperor to promote him and bestow rewards upon him, and appoint him to a high position."

The two treacherous officials chatted for a while longer before Gao Qiu took his leave and returned to his residence.

The following morning at court, under the cover of Cai Jing and his cronies, Gao Qiu indeed escaped punishment. Emperor Huizong also sent someone to summon Huyan Zhuo. After Huyan Zhuo arrived in the capital, the emperor, seeing his extraordinary appearance, bestowed upon him

the prized black horse, "Treading Snow Black Steed." Huyan Zhuo then recommended Han Tao, the Hundred-Victory General of Chenzhou, and Peng Yi, the Tianmu General of Yingzhou, as the vanguard commander and deputy vanguard commander, respectively. Troops, armor, and provisions were also allocated, and by the time the troops from the three prefectures had all entered Jizhou territory, it was already September.

Such a large army, having traveled all this way, naturally could not be hidden from the Liangshan scouts. Zhang Yang, upon receiving the news, gathered the leaders to discuss strategies for meeting the enemy.

Wu Yong said, "I've heard that the commander, Huyan Zhuo, is a direct descendant of Huyan Zan, a founding general of the Hedong region. He is highly skilled in martial arts, wielding two copper whips, and is not to be trifled with. We must use a capable and courageous general to first defeat him by force, and then capture him by strategy."

Dong Ping, who had just arrived at the mountain and was eager to show off his skills, said, "I am willing to be the vanguard and capture this man alive for the chieftain."

Zhang Yang also knew that Huyan Zhuo's martial arts were no less than Dong Ping's, and that his troops also had heavily armored cavalry. If Dong Ping were to come down the mountain, he might be captured alive by Huyan Zhuo instead. Hearing this, he said, "We must not be careless. I've heard that their army has heavily armored cavalry, each horse wearing armor and the riders clad in iron armor, making them difficult to penetrate with arrows. When encountering enemy troops, they use arrows from a distance and spears at close range. If we try to fight them head-on with our mountain stronghold troops, I'm afraid it will be a losing proposition."

(Personally, I think it's difficult to implement a 30-horse linked battle formation. Putting aside the operational difficulty, it's easy to break. Just build a few earthen platforms behind your own troops, and when the linked cavalry is deployed, your own troops can retreat between the platforms, while the linked cavalry cannot pass through and may even collide, leaving them vulnerable to being cut down. Historically, the Jin army only used three linked cavalry. Obviously, the more warhorses there are, the more difficult the operation becomes, and the more openings there are.)

Dong Ping had never encountered heavily armored cavalry before, and upon hearing this, he remained silent.

Wu Yong said, "Although the heavily armored cavalry has great impact, they are also heavy. If we can lure them into the shallows near the shore, they will get stuck in the mud. Then we can use grappling hooks to capture them alive."

Zhang Yang laughed upon hearing this, "This plan is excellent. Everyone, listen to my orders: Lin Chong, Zong Ze, Dong Ping, Zhang Qing, and Qin Ming will each lead their cavalry to follow me down the mountain to meet the government troops. Chao Gai and Yang Zhi will lead their men to ambush in the reeds along the shore, preparing to capture prisoners. The three Ruan brothers will lead the navy to provide support."

With the deployment decided, Zhang Yang first led the various cavalry units down the mountain to set up camp.

~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Twenty-Six: A Victorious Battle

After a disappointing harvest, the few remaining green patches on the plain had faded, leaving the boundless land bare and yellow. Even near the water, there were many fine cracks in the fields.

Huyan Zhuo had already learned that Zhang Qing had ambushed him in the mountains last time, so after entering the mountainous area, he sent out scouts extensively. They cautiously made their way out of the mountains, only breathing a sigh of relief when they saw the plains before them. Looking at the map, he saw that they were less than thirty li from Liangshan, and the soldiers were showing signs of fatigue. He then ordered Peng Qi to lead the rear guard to set up camp near the mountains.

Just as the rear guard dispersed, a scout flew in to report: "More than a thousand cavalry are attacking." At that moment, dust rose on the horizon, and the ground trembled slightly.

Huyan Zhuo had planned ahead, only ordering the vanguard and the main force to hold their positions and not attack.

When Zhang Yang arrived nearby, seeing that the government troops' formation was tight and without any weaknesses, he also halted his troops.

As the two armies faced each other, at the entrance to the battle, the vanguard general Han Tao, spear in hand, reined in his horse and roared, "The heavenly army has arrived! Instead of surrendering, you dare resist! You're courting death! I'll fill up your marshland, crush Liangshan, and capture you band of rebels alive!"

Dong Ping, eager to show off his skills, immediately volunteered to fight.

Zhang Yang, knowing his martial arts were superior to Han Tao's, nodded in agreement.

Dong Ping, upon receiving the order, shouted and charged straight at Han Tao. Han Tao met him with his spear, but Dong Ping's spear thrusts were swift and fierce, like a storm. For a moment, Han Tao could only parry and block, like a small boat tossed about in a storm, on the verge of capsizing.

Seeing Han Tao at a disadvantage, Huyan Zhuo rushed to his aid. Zhang Yang, seeing a rare opportunity, also rode to his aid, while ordering the others to prepare for retreat.

Huyan Zhuo's horse was fast, and seeing that Han Tao could hold out for several more rounds... Facing a handsome young man who rushed out unarmed, Hu Yanzhuo thought to himself: "If I can kill a Liangshan leader first, it will surely demoralize the Liangshan bandits, and I can save some energy."

With this in mind, he abandoned Dong Ping and charged towards Zhang Yang.

Reaching him, he spurred his horse. His black steed, Ti Xue Wu Zhui, truly lived up to its reputation as a spirited steed; sensing its master's command, it exerted its strength, increasing its speed even further, leaping in front of Zhang Yang.

Hu Yanzhuo roared, his copper whip striking straight at Zhang Yang's skull.

When the whip was about a foot away from Zhang Yang's head, he seemed not to have reacted, his body making no attempt to dodge.

Seeing Zhang Yang's skill and daring to engage, Hu Yanzhuo couldn't help but secretly admire his courage. He could almost see Zhang Yang's skull shattered, white and red splattered all over him.

Seeing their commander eager to claim victory, the Liangshan bandits, seemingly intimidated, turned their horses and fled, cheering.

Peng Qi had also arrived with his cavalry to reinforce them. Seeing the Liangshan forces fleeing, he wanted to pursue them, but without his commander's orders, he dared not act rashly.

Just as he lamented the lost opportunity, he saw Zhang Yang slightly sidestep the copper whip, narrowly avoiding it, and simultaneously, with a swift movement, lift Huyan Zhuo onto his horse. He then galloped towards Han Tao without stopping. Peng Qi, seeing his commander captured, dared not hesitate, spurring his horse and charging towards Zhang Yang.

Han Tao, struggling to hold on, saw Zhang Yang capture Huyan Zhuo, whose martial arts far surpassed his own, in a single exchange, and then charge towards him. He was terrified. His movements slowed, and Dong Ping pierced his shoulder with a spear, knocking him from his horse.

Seeing Zhang Yang overtake him, Dong Ping felt resentful that Han Tao had embarrassed him, so he showed no mercy and pointed his steel spear at Han Tao's throat again.

Han Tao had nowhere to run and was about to close his eyes and await his death when he felt a tightening around his waist and was lifted into the air. Looking up, he saw that the person who had lifted him was the young man who had captured the commander alive, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Zhang Yang, having saved Han Tao,

then ordered Dong Ping to retreat. The vanguard and the central army were originally under the command of Huyan Zhuo and Han Tao. Seeing their superior captured and Peng Qi leading his men to escape, with no one to restrain them, they immediately gave chase. Peng Qi's infantry, who were ordered to set up camp, were taken aback. Several commanders discussed the situation and, fearing that they would be attacked by the Liangshan bandits if they stayed, they drew lots to leave one of the "unlucky" commanders to guard the supplies, and then they all followed.

Although Zhang Yang's warhorse was also a fine steed, carrying three people, it was panting heavily after running only a short distance. Seeing that Huyan Zhuo's Snow-Treading Black Steed was following closely behind, Zhang Yang leaped onto its back.

The black steed, nicknamed "Snowy Black Steed," lived up to its reputation as a steed capable of traveling a thousand miles. Its saddle dipped slightly as it caught sight of its master on horseback, unaware that he had been captured. It immediately resumed

its gallop. Peng Qi, seeing that he was about to catch up with Zhang Yang, was now hindered by the general's steed. He considered using arrows but feared injuring Huyan Zhuo and his companion, so he had no choice but to pursue relentlessly. After chasing for about ten miles, he saw that the infantry had fallen far behind, and the heavy cavalry in the center were also lagging behind. Fearing that the Liangshan forces might turn around and wipe out his light cavalry, he had to slow down and wait for the heavy cavalry. Fortunately, Huyan Zhuo's steed, after running for a few miles, seemed to be struggling under the weight, and its speed began to decrease.

Once Peng Qi rejoined the heavy cavalry, Zhang Yang led them towards Fudi from a distance. In the midst of the chase, they unknowingly reached the shore of the marsh. Zhang Yang followed the tracks of the Liangshan forces, running around the marsh. Not far along, he felt his horse sink into the mud. He quickly dismounted and galloped forward. The lightly laden horse leaped out of the mud and followed Zhang Yang.

Peng Qi, seeing Zhang Yang enter the reeds, was somewhat worried about an ambush, but with his commander captured, he had no choice but to pursue relentlessly. They traveled a short distance before the reeds obscured their view, and he didn't see this scene, only following the tracks. After chasing for several more miles, he heard a neighing of horses behind him. Turning back, he saw his heavily armored cavalrymen sinking into the mud. Due to inertia, many soldiers had been thrown from their horses, and the soldiers behind them, seemingly unaffected by this, pretended to be in a group.

Peng Qi was greatly alarmed, realizing he had fallen into a trap. He immediately ordered his heavily armored cavalry to halt.

As soon as the order was given, many grappling hooks emerged from the reeds by the water's edge, dragging the heavily armored cavalrymen one by one to the water's edge. Just as Peng Qi was about to turn his horse around to help, he saw the cavalry that had just fled emerge from the reeds ahead, and the young man who had captured their commander was also among them.

Seeing that the government troops were already intimidated, Zhang Yang shouted, "We've already set up tripwires along the way, and our heavily armored cavalry is useless. You must be exhausted from your march. Why not surrender now to avoid further casualties?"

The government troops, who had been pursuing with great momentum, felt their legs were already sore and numb, no longer fit for battle. The enemy had over a thousand cavalry, strong and well-equipped, and the speaker was unfathomable, perhaps even more formidable than Zhao Zilong, who had charged through a million-strong army seven times at Changban Slope. Their small force probably wouldn't last long enough to withstand a few rounds of attacks. The soldiers grew increasingly fearful, losing all will to fight.

Seeing the state of his soldiers behind him, Peng Qi knew the situation was hopeless. The path was uneven, blocked by reeds on both sides, and impassable from both sides. He sighed and led his troops to surrender.

Zhang Yang then ordered his navy to subdue the cavalry, while he himself, along with Peng Qi, went to subdue the infantry. Seeing that one of the three generals had surrendered and two had been captured, and realizing they were no match for the cavalry on the plains, the infantry also surrendered.

Zhang Yang led his troops back to the mountain stronghold, where Huyan Zhuo and Han Tao, persuaded by the crowd, also surrendered. Zhang Yang then began to reorganize his troops and ordered his men to retrieve the families of the three men.

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