The Second Volume of Water Margin

  "Shi Wengong?" Song Jiang saw Wu Yong's mysterious appearance and asked strangely: "Last time, I also invited this person to the mountain, but didn't expect him to be highly paid to be a teacher. What does this have to do with Shi Wengong?"

  Wu Yong burst out laughing and said, "This matter still requires the help of this person. I have come up with a plan here, it must be done in such a way, brother, you can become the master of Liangshan Marsh."

  When Wu Yong whispered his plan to Song Jiang, Song Jiang was overjoyed and danced with excitement, saying: "Mr. Ji's plan is ingenious, every step is linked together, even if Zhuge Liang were reborn, he couldn't do better than this! With this plan, how can we worry that the great affair won't be settled?"

  Song Jiang's words made Wu Yong feel very pleased, and he lightly shook his feather fan with a smile, saying: "In that case, let's proceed step by step..."

  Early morning.

  Tuo Tuo Tian Wang grasped the large knife in his hand and began practicing seriously within the courtyard.

  This great sword has been with me for many years, light and heavy, long and short, all at will. But just as the Xu family's knife method was about to be exhausted, I put it away and let out a long sigh into the air.

  "Great blade, great blade, the last time you drank your fill of fresh blood was when we rescued Song Jiang in Jiangzhou." Chai Ge shook his head and thought to himself: "I have wronged you... becoming the leader of this mountain stronghold, yet rendering you useless, Chai Ge is ashamed!"

  "Brother, your knife skills are astonishing and make ghosts and gods weep. I was enjoying the show, why did you stop practicing?" The speaker was Red-Haired Ghost Liu Tang, who had been watching from the side and couldn't help but feel surprised when Xu Ge stopped his hands.

  Xiang Gai slowly walked to the weapon rack, put away his large knife, and then sighed: "Even if I practice my skills until I can split Mount Hua, what's the use? The leader of this mountain stronghold is like that, hiding on the mountain every day. Even borrowing grain from down the mountain requires Gongming Xian to go."

  "The master of the stronghold, cannot be lightly moved." Tuo Da Tian Wang Chu Gei self-deprecatingly said: "Every time I think about going down the mountain to take a walk, I'm always rejected for this reason. Sometimes I feel that being the master of the stronghold is not as good as letting it go to Gong Ming Xian Di. Me being a leader, and brothers charging together, isn't it wonderful!"

  "What's gotten into you, brother? You're a man of great virtue and prestige, the one everyone looks up to. The position of leader is of utmost importance, how can you just hand it over?" Liu Tang advised: "Next time we borrow grain, I'll accompany you together with our brothers."

  Huang Cheng heard this and changed his worried expression to a joyful one, saying: "Exactly! Next time if there's something going on, I'll take you several old brothers out, and have Gongming younger brother guard the camp!"

  At this moment, a little rascal came to report: "Big Head, Song Head has invited you, saying that there is an important matter and asking Big Head to go to the assembly hall."

  "Ah, brother, what did you say?" Liu Tang chuckled and said: "Isn't this just the right thing? It's like sleep came knocking on the door with a pillow!"

  "Oh?" Chu Gei raised an eyebrow: "Thanks for your auspicious words, brother. You come with me and take a look, let's see what's going on so early in the morning."

  Inside the Heroes' Lodge, Song Jiang and Wu Yong had already arrived. Seeing Chai Ge coming, they hastily paid their respects. Chai Ge waved his hand: "Younger brother, what matter do you summon me for?"

  The four men sat down separately, and Song Jiang said: "Brother, you don't know, just now a big Han came to join our mountain stronghold. Since brother was not here, it's not convenient to lightly agree, so I specially invited brother to come and see him once."

  Tuo Da Tian Wang Chuang Gai heard this and felt somewhat impatient: "Matters of the mountain stronghold, younger brother can also take charge, why must you call me?"

  "This man also brought some intelligence related to our mountain stronghold, so I didn't dare to act arbitrarily." Song Jiang listened to Chai Ge's words, his expression unchanged, and continued to speak.

  "Oh, so be it. Let's call him up and have a look." Chong Gai nodded and said: "If it's an official soldier message, it's better to take precautions early!"

  Just then a big Han man came up, and seeing the four leaders, he turned over and knelt down, first paying his respects. Chao Gai saw that he was born with an unusual appearance, red hair and yellow beard, and asked: "What is your surname and name? Where are you from? Why have you come to join our mountain stronghold?"

  Song Jiang waved his hand and ordered the little servant to bring over a chair, telling the man to sit down and talk.

  The big fellow replied: "My surname is Duan, and my double name is Jingzhu. Because I look different from ordinary people, they all call me the Golden Haired Dog. My ancestral home is in Zhuo Zhou. In my life, I have relied on stealing horses in the northern border to make a living."

  "Last time I went to the north of Gunzhen Ridge, I stole a fine horse. Its coat was as white as snow, without a single mixed hair on its body. From head to tail, it measured one zhang (about 3.3 meters), and from hoof to back, it stood eight chi (about 2.6 meters) tall. This horse could travel a thousand li in a day, and was famous in the north as the 'Zhaoye Yusi' horse, also known as the 'Night-Shining Jade Lion Horse', which was the mount of the Crown Prince of Dajin."

  "On the rivers and lakes, I've only heard of Timely Rain's great name, but never seen him. I wanted to bring this horse to offer to our leader as a symbol of my loyalty. Unexpectedly, when I arrived at Shengtou Market in the southwest of Lingzhou, it was taken away by Shi Wenguang, the teacher of the Zeng family, and the five tigers of the Zeng family. The little people said that Liangshan Po's Song Jiangming is not what I expected, with many dirty words, which I dare not repeat. I managed to escape and came to inform you."

  Upon hearing this, Liu Tang's face became somewhat unnatural. To say that Chao Gai was the leader of Liangshan Marsh, but in the Jianghu world, the reputation of Timely Rain Song Jiang was even higher. These things Liu Tang naturally knew, but he couldn't mention them to Chao Gai.

  This time, the scene is set in a timely rain, with Song Jiang of Liangshan Marsh and others present. Not even mentioning the name of Chai Jin's heavenly king, what kind of feeling would he have sitting in the middle listening to this?

  Liu Tang couldn't help but take a glance, and indeed, there was some dark color on Xu Ge's face, without a hint of a smile.

  At this time, no one can laugh, and the mouth says to flee to Liangshan Po, but the fleeing is not the big head leader Chao Gai, but the second leader Timely Rain Song Jiang. This is like a pearl-selling merchant who finds that the customer has abandoned the pearls and only wants the box that holds the pearls.

  Song Jiang was also secretly observing Chai Ge's expression, and this scene was not without reason to come to Liangshan Marsh, but the first link in Wu Yong's plan. At this moment, seeing Chai Ge's expression like this, Song Jiang decided to add another fire.

  "Doesn't the name of Chao Da Tian Wang ring a bell to you, besides knowing only my and Timely Rain's names?" Song Jiang sternly rebuked: "Chao Tian Wang is the leader of the mountain stronghold, everyone on Liangshan Marsh looks up to him with respect. How dare you be so presumptuous!"

  "A humble man is momentarily confused, I hope Your Majesty will not blame me!" Duan Jingchu hastily got up and bowed again to Emperor Taizong.

  Xiang Ge's face finally eased a bit, and he stretched out his hand to signal Duan Jingzhu to sit down and speak: "Brave warrior, what slanderous words did the Zeng family say? Don't hesitate to tell me!"

  "How dare you!" Duan Jingzhu shrank his neck: "Those obscene words are really hard to hear, and the Zeng family even fabricated a nursery rhyme called 'The Little Boy's Song' sung by children in Zengtou Market, it's really unspeakable!"

  Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chao Gai heard this and became furious, saying: "If you have something to say, just say it! You're being ambiguous and evasive, not a good man!"

  The golden-haired Duan Jingzhu trembled with fear, glanced at the wise and resourceful Wu Yong, saw Wu nod slightly, then said: "Ringing the iron bell, all ghosts and spirits are shocked. The iron cart and iron lock have sharp nails on top and bottom. Sweeping away the clear waters of Liangshan, eliminating Chao Gai's uprising in Dongjing! Capturing Lin Chong alive, capturing Wu Yong alive! Zeng Family's Five Tigers! Renowned throughout the land!"

  Hong Gai's hair stood on end, his eyes bulged, and he gripped the armrest so hard that it broke off. He let out a loud roar: "How dare this beast be so rude! I must go myself! If I don't catch this beast, I swear not to return to the mountain!"

  Liu Tang stood up and stepped forward with big strides: "Brother is going into battle, Liu Tang is willing to be the vanguard!"

  Song Jiang saw that the fire was about to arrive, so he quickly got up and walked in front of Chai Ge, cupped his hands and said: "Brother is the master of the mountain stronghold, can't make a move easily, this time let me go instead!"

  "Brother! It's not that I want to steal your credit, but since we came up the mountain, this mountain stronghold's master hasn't made a move in a long time. Does the name 'Tuo Da Tian Wang' still carry any weight on the rivers and lakes?"

  Song Jiang had a worried look: "If it's like this, brother must bring Military Strategist and Dai Zong two brothers along, if something happens, can also send a message. Song Jiang will firmly defend the mountain stronghold, waiting to respond to brother at any time."

  "Brother, you have considered this very thoroughly." Xiang Gai nodded and then said to Duan Jingzhu: "You also go with the army! Bring that Zhaoye Yu Shi Zi horse for Brother Song Jiang to ride!"

  "Brother, don't kill me! What virtue or ability does Song Jiang have to deserve this precious horse? It's still brother who is a hero beyond compare. This 'Zhaoye Yuzi' horse is a fine steed matched with a hero, and they complement each other perfectly."

  Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chuang Ge heard this and coldly laughed twice: "I like inferior horses the most, they can charge into the fray. That Zhaoye Jade Lion Horse is probably just like a silver-plated wax spearhead during the Shehuo Festival - shiny on the outside but unable to protect its master in battle! Whoever wants it can take it, I don't care!"

  Song Jiang's face changed slightly upon hearing this, but fortunately he was originally dark-skinned, so it wasn't noticeable. He didn't mention the matter of the Shuangyue Yuzi horse again.

  On that day, Wu Yong arranged for Duan Jingzhu to go down and rest. On the second day, Chao Gai, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, brought 3,000 soldiers, divided into three armies: front, middle, and rear. Twelve generals were appointed: Zhī Duó Xīng (Wu Yong) as military advisor, Shén Xíng Tàibǎo (Dài Zōng) to follow, and Hóng Fā Guǐ (Liú Táng) as vanguard; Yuán Shì Sān Xióng and Jǐn Máo Hǔ Yànshùn led the front army. The middle army had Ruǎn Shì Sān Xióng, Jǐn Máo Hǔ Yànshùn, Huǒ Yǎn Xiǎo Yī Dēng Fēi, and Mó Yún Jīn Chì ōu Péng. Bái Rì Shǔ Bái Shèng and Mō Zhe Tiān Dū Qiān led the rear army.

  After finishing their meal, the three armies set off down the mountain together. Song Jiang and Hua Rong led the others in a farewell ceremony at Jinsha Beach below the mountain. Just as they were drinking wine, a strange gust of wind suddenly arose, swirling around once before rushing towards Chai Ge's newly-made military flag, blowing it back and forth, left and right, unsteadily.

  "Brother, just as you are about to lead the troops out, there is this strange wind. I fear it may be inauspicious for the army, so why not wait a few more days before going?"

  Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chao Gai put down his wine, his eyes scanning the faces of the crowd, seeing that most were joyful and excited. He said: "The heavens and earth are unpredictable, don't be surprised by strange things! Taking advantage of this warm spring weather, if we don't take him now, waiting until he becomes a force to be reckoned with will make it too late. Military strategist, don't stop me, no matter what, I must go and try my luck!"

  Wu Yong originally intended to provoke Gao Qiu, but unexpectedly, the Heavenly King of the Pagoda was majestic and silent.

  Huang Yue took big strides to the flag bearer's side, seeing that the strange wind was getting stronger and stronger. The military flag was being blown violently, and the flag bearer was struggling to hold on with great difficulty. He let out a loud shout: "Take it!"

  What a mighty Totem King! With a swift motion, he snatched the recognition flag from the flag bearer's hand and stood upright against the wind, shouting: "I've even seized the precious Jade Stone Pagoda, what makes you think your little gust of wind can stop me?"

  It's strange to say that after being blown by that strange gust of wind, they actually retreated and dispersed!

  "It's no wonder he's the King of Heaven!" The generals all cheered in unison, and even Song Jiang was shocked beyond measure.

  "Let's go!"