The Second Volume of Water Margin

  After leaving the assembly hall, Song Jiang returned to his residence and ordered someone to find Godly Swift Cavalryman Dai Zong to complain: "Brother, how can you be so careless? If I hadn't been there today, Chai Ge would have blamed it on you, and your fault wouldn't have been small."

  Dai Zong, the Double-headed Serpent, felt discontent in his heart and called out: "Brother Gongming is a renowned hero of Shandong's Timely Rain, why should he be subordinate to Chao Tianwang? That Chao Gaibut is merely the village head of Dongcun Village, how can he compare with Brother's prestige on the rivers and lakes? One day, we brothers will surely support Brother to become the master of this mountain stronghold."

  "Shut up! You're talking nonsense!" Song Jiang's face turned even darker, and he raised his hand to hit Dai Zong: "Chao Tianwang is ten years older than me, and he's a man of honor and justice, with a great reputation in the jianghu. He also saved my life, if it weren't for him, you and I would have died on the execution ground in Jiangzhou! Don't ever mention this again!"

  Dai Zong's expression didn't change, and he spoke straightforwardly: "No matter how much you scold or beat me, I'll still say the same thing: Brother should be the leader of the mountain stronghold. Now, most of the leaders on the mountain are here because of you; how many are actually following Chao Gai? In the Jianghu world, when people mention Liangshan Po, they only know that there's a 'Gongming Gege' (Brother Gongming), but no one knows about 'Chao Tianwang' (Heavenly King Chao)."

  Song Jiang's face turned somewhat calm after hearing these words, and he put down his hand and sighed: "Isn't this all for the sake of our brothers in the mountain stronghold? If we continue to follow Chao Gai's path, the government will eventually send a large army to attack us. At that time, even with the natural defenses of the Water Margin and the strong passes of the mountain stronghold, when the great army arrives, it will still be crushed."

  "Brother Gongming is just and righteous, all brothers understand." Dai Zong observed his words and expressions, knowing that although Song Jiang repeatedly opposed with his mouth, in his heart he still wanted to be the leader of the mountain stronghold. Only then did he put down his mind: "Dai Zong only follows Brother Gongming! If Brother Gongming goes east, Dai Zong will definitely not go west!"

  "My brother's loyalty, I, Song Jiang, am aware of it." A hint of complacency flashed across Song Jiang's eyes: "This matter must not be rushed! It still needs to be carefully considered!"

  "I understand!" The Divine Footprint's Taibao Dai Zong couldn't conceal the wild joy in his eyes and bowed to answer.

  "All right, you've come down from the mountain this time. What news have you heard?" Song Jiang's tone changed: "Is there any news about my brother Wu Song?"

  He heard that Wu Song killed a tiger with his bare hands on Jingyang Ridge and became the chief of Qinghe County.

  "What's going on?" Song Jiang's face fell, and he frowned: "Since parting with my sworn brother Wu Song at Chai Da Guanren's mansion in Haizhou, I thought he was just visiting relatives. Who would have thought that he actually became a leader of the outlaws? To get him to join us on the mountain, we'll need to come up with a clever plan."

  As Song Jiang fell into thought, Dai Zong took out a folded paper from his bosom and presented it to Song Jiang, saying: "Brother, let's not talk about Wu Song for now. I heard an interesting story in Daming Prefecture that's quite amusing."

  Song Jiang curiously took it over, unfolded and read it, but on it was a short article titled "Blowing Snow Seven Rest Book".

  "Disrespecting her husband's way, scolding him, divorce!"

  "Stop your groundless crying and nagging, you're being a disobedient wife!"

  "Unreasonable jealousy, discord with husband, divorce!"

  "Refusing to repent and threatening with death, stop!"

  "Return the dowry and divorce!"

  "Bully and oppress the weak, stop it!"

  "There are three unfilial acts, and having no descendants is the worst!"

  "Ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

  Song Jiang exclaimed: "This writing is neither poetry nor prose, rarely seen in the past thousand years. It seems to be a... farewell letter? Who could have written it? There's an aura of loftiness that makes us look up to it in awe!"

  "It's related to Wu Song's brother, the author of this article is a county official from Qinghe County, with the surname Ximen and the single character name Qing, also known as Chuixue." Dai Zong nodded and said: "There's something inexplicable in this text that makes men all over the world identify with it, it's truly an extraordinary tale for the ages. Not to mention the big names, I've heard that even in the Eastern Capital City, it's being secretly spread around."

  "Many men have copied it out and carry it with them, reading it over from time to time when they are feeling depressed, and finding in it a strange power of consolation."

  "That's right!" Song Jiang's spirit soared, and he casually put the copy of "Blowing Snow Seven Rest Book" that Dai Zong had copied into his pocket: "If I had this book at that time, I, Song Jiang, wouldn't have to turn against that woman, and would have divorced her directly."

  Dai Zong naturally understood that Song Jiang was referring to the matter of Yan Po, and he smiled wryly twice. Seeing that Song Jiang had no intention of returning it, he could only take advantage of his own fresh memory to go back and copy another version.

  Song Jiang still had a worried look on his face: "If only we could invite Ximen Qing up the mountain..."

  "Haha, what are Brother Gongming and Brother Dazong talking about, looking so happy?" A middle-aged man with a goose feather fan in his hand walked in from the doorway, with clear eyebrows and eyes, a white face and long whiskers.

  Song Jiang saw the man and clapped his hands with a smile: "So it's Mr. Jialiang who has arrived, no wonder there's a big deal going on."

  He was Wu Yong, also known as "Jia Liang Mr." and nicknamed "Zhì Duō Xīng", who lived in the same village Dongxi, Yuancheng County as Tota Tianwang Chao Gai.

  Although from the same village as Chao Gai, having been friends since childhood and also collaborating with Chao Gai to cleverly obtain 100,000 strings of birthday silk, Wu Yong's relationship with Song Jiang was actually the closest, often coming and going.

  Song Jiang then told Wu Yong about Ximen Qing and Wu Song's affairs, and took out the "Blowing Snow Seven Rest Book" for Wu Yong to see.

  Wu Yong looked at it and couldn't help but praise: "This person is indeed a rare talent in the world. This article has come out, I don't know how many men's voices have been spoken out, even unmarried men who have seen it will secretly agree."

  "Could Brother Gongming be wanting to get this person into trouble?"

  Song Jiang nodded and said: "Such a rare talent, how can I not use it? Mr. Qianlang must think of a way for me."

  Wu Yong smiled and said: "What's so difficult about this? It's just a matter of using some tactics, either deceiving or forcing them, and then tying them up and bringing them to the mountain."

  Dai Zong smiled on one side, these are all commonly used means, nothing is more familiar.

  Isn't it just that Qin Ming put on a helmet and armor, rode a war horse, disguised himself, and went to raid Qingzhou City? The government thought Qin Ming had rebelled and killed his whole family, even displaying the head of Qin Ming's wife. If not for this, would Qin Ming have joined the gang?!

  Song Jiang also promised Qin Ming the hand of Li Kui's younger sister, although she was still young and had not yet reached marriageable age. This move deeply impressed Thunderbolt Qin Ming.

  Lu Junyi was originally unwilling to surrender, but Wu Yong specially reminded Li Kui to report first. If it weren't for the mistakes in between, Lu Junyi's family would have been broken and he had no choice but to come and surrender!

  Wu Yong gently shook his goose feather fan and slowly said, "This is a trivial matter! However, there is currently a major event that is pressing and cannot be avoided!"

  Song Jiang saw Wu Yong utter these astonishing words and knew that Wu Yong must have some important matter to discuss with him, so he hastily said to Dai Zong: "Brother, you've had a hard journey, go back and rest early, I'll discuss something with Mr. Gao."

  "If there's anything, just send someone to call me. The two brothers can discuss it freely, and Dai Zong left."

  Dai Zong finished speaking and went out, slamming the door shut behind him.

  Wu Yong sighed: "Dai Zong brothers are loyal and devoted to their elder brother, we can rest assured to use them."

  Song Jiang knew that Wu Yong and Dai Zong were old acquaintances, so he nodded and said: "Director Dai has known me since we left Jiangzhou together, following me all the way. His contributions and hardships are by no means small."

  "What was Mr. Jia referring to just now when he mentioned a big matter?" Song Jiang suddenly asked in a low voice.

  Wu Yong liked this Taoist name very much throughout his life, adding brightness to it, indicating that he was not inferior to Zhuge Liang, but rather slightly superior.

  Now Song Jiang is making a "Mr. Highlight" and another "Mr. Highlight", Wu Yong listened with relish, and sat face to face with Song Jiang, stretching out two fingers: "We have been in Liangshan Marsh for a long time, Brother Gongming has also led the army out several times, winning many prestige, already surpassing...Tuo Ta Tian Wang."

  Song Jiang listened to the opening and immediately knew that the clever Wu Yong was trying to persuade him to replace Chao Gai, the leader of the mountain stronghold. To be honest, this wasn't the first time Wu Yong had mentioned this matter, but since Wu Yong and Chao Gai had been friends since childhood, Song Jiang couldn't help but feel uneasy. He pretended to be angry and said: "Mr. Wu, how could you say such a thing? My life is still thanks to the kindness of Leader Chao, how can I bear to do something so treacherous? Don't mention this again!"

  Wu Yong chuckled and said, "Don't speak in riddles in front of smart people. Most brothers on this mountain understand that Chao Da can be the big brother, but he can't be the master of this stronghold. Firstly, his reputation in Jianghu is not enough, secondly, since he came to the mountain, he only knows how to defend and doesn't know how to make progress."

  "Although I have known Xu Tianwang since childhood, considering the future of the mountain stronghold, Gongming brother should be the master of this mountain stronghold!"

  Wu Yong's words were so grand and majestic that even Song Jiang was moved, but he repeatedly pushed back: "If I, Song Jiang, were to do such a thing, I would be guilty of being disloyal and unfilial. Even if Chao Tianwang abdicates, I, Song Jiang, could never become the leader of the mountain stronghold. Mr. Gai, please persuade me again, or I will die in front of you!"

  As he spoke, Song Jiang stood up and pulled out a paper knife from the table, holding it against his own chest with an air of great righteousness.

  Wu Yong's eyes rolled a few times, and he hastily got up, kneeling down like a candlestick, with his hands clasped together: "If Brother Gongming is going to die, then I, Wu Yong, will have no more lord in this world, and as a useless person, I can only follow Brother Gongming and go together!"

  Song Jiang saw Wu Yong showing such loyalty, so he threw away the paper knife, turned his anger into joy, stretched out his hand to help Wu Yong up and said: "Today I finally understand Mr. Chia's heart, Song Jiang is ashamed!"

  Wu Yong, having already won Song Jiang's approval, was now on the same rope as a grasshopper. As long as he supported Song Jiang to become the leader of the mountain stronghold, his own position as second-in-command would be secured. He then pointed to heaven and swore an oath, saying many words of loyalty.

  The two sat down again, and Song Jiang reopened the topic: "Mr. Jia Liang, why did you scold me!"

  Wu Yong smiled and said: "Since brother's intention is already set, it's just a matter of seeking an appropriate opportunity to take the position."

  "Mr. Jia's words are not wrong." Song Jiang nodded and said: "But the opportunity he mentioned, I don't know when it will appear in what year or month."

  "Since there's no ready-made opportunity, let's create one." Wu Yong said with a mysterious expression: "Does Brother Gongming still remember Shi Wengong?"