The Second Volume of Water Margin

  Just as Ximen Qing was indulging in his fantasies, the rogue Yan Qing had already finished making a list of the valuable jewelry: "Brother Ximen, take a look! It's all done!"

  Ximen Qing took over the booklet with Yanqing's ink still wet and looked at it, suddenly feeling dizzy and his eyes blurred. Although he had been in this world for a long time, he was still used to reading horizontally, and had no interest in the vertical rows of tiny characters.

  "Ah, good!" Ximen Qing pretended to take a look and then handed it back to Yan Qing: "These ornaments are left to you to take care of, I'm at ease with you handling things!"

  Yan Qing was slightly surprised, when he was at the Lu Mansion, even if his relationship with his master Lu Junyi was good, it was impossible to casually hand over something worth 7 or 8 thousand guans for him to take care of, and even the inventory book was handed over to him together.

  If Rogue Yan Qing really meant it, just cross out some from the list of deeds, and these ornaments would belong to Yan Qing.

  But Yan Qing is just Yan Qing. Ximen Qing treats him this way, so he naturally wouldn't have such thoughts, instead he would feel that this trust is his responsibility.

  "Wait a minute." Ximen Qing seemed to have thought of something: "I see that you've done a good job with this ledger. Here's another one, which was found in a wooden chest left behind by the late Great Master Fahua from the Fahua Temple. There are many things recorded here in a rough and ready manner. Can you take a look at it for me?"

  Ximen Qing took out a small booklet from his bosom and handed it to Yanqing.

  Yan Qing took over and opened it to take a look, flipping through several pages, and indeed they were just some trivial accounts, such as how much oil money was earned on a certain day, or how much was spent on repairing the house on another day.

  "Look inside, is there any information related to Zengtou City?" Just as Yan Qing was wondering what was so interesting about a ledger, Ximen Qing reminded him: "The identity of Da Yuan, the monk, is not simple. He is an undercover agent from the Imperial City Guard, specifically keeping an eye on Zengtou City. This small booklet must be pressed under his waist card, and there must be some unusual places inside."

  The young rogue Yan Qing nodded, turned over a few more pages, and suddenly felt that something was not quite right. He pointed it out to Ximen Qing: "Brother Ximen, look here...and also here. Although they are the same as before on the surface, just a flow of words, but between the two lines there are some small characters..."

  Ximen Qing took a closer look and indeed found that between the two rows of small characters, there were even smaller characters mixed in, suddenly feeling an urge to scold someone.

  What's the point of recording intelligence if you're going to make it so complicated with all these twists and turns, first a secret room then a box, and on top of that using such small font... Back when I was learning the Jiu Yang Zhen Jing from Master Yuandai's notes in the cracks of the Lanka Sutra, it wasn't this troublesome!

  Yes, now it's Northern Song Dynasty, and Master Jueyuan still doesn't know where he is in the six paths of reincarnation.

  In short, this small character is completely written out of torture!

  "Little Brother Yi, can you copy all these words for me?" Ximen Qing reluctantly handed the heavy task over to the rogue Yanqing: "I'm getting a headache from looking at these small characters."

  Yan Qing nodded and said, "Ordinary people would indeed find it a bit strenuous to read, but Xiao Yi has practiced archery and often trains his eyesight. This small font is nothing to him; wait until I copy it out for you in the next few days."

  "Then wait for your handwritten copy." Ximen Qing shook his head helplessly: "This Zeng family is not simple either. The whole family of Zeng's ancestors are people from the Jin country, who borrowed money to do business here and actually collected intelligence on Lingzhou's left side, secretly reporting it to the Jin country."

  "Xiao Yi is indeed careful." Yan Qing nodded seriously and said: "What Zeng Sheng did in the Fahua Temple's branch temple was indeed different from ordinary people of our dynasty. What Ximen brother said can be understood. The Jin State is located in a very cold place, and doing ginseng business with the Song Dynasty often involves buying by weight after drying. Merchants of the Song Dynasty can make ten or even hundredfold profits just by reselling it. The Zeng family has been here for several years, and their gains are probably not small."

  "It's not possible to support so many soldiers, and yet they spent a large sum of money to hire Shi Wengong as their teacher?" Ximen Qing deeply agreed: "I heard it's several hundred taels per year!"

  "The Jin State has long regarded the Great Song Dynasty as a fat sheep. Yan Qing sighed: "The old master had dealings with them in previous years, when they were still called Jurchen, and had a deep understanding of this. These words were all spoken by the old master to me."

  "This Lu Junyi is not a good bird who keeps a low profile, I reckon he's involved in some smuggling business with the Jin State, otherwise he wouldn't have such a huge fortune." Ximen Qing had some reservations in his heart, but seeing Yanqing mention Lu Junyi with some nostalgia, he quickly changed the subject.

  "This Jin state, although located to the north of Liao state, currently has no direct conflict with our dynasty. At present, it mainly occupies the prefectures and counties of Liao state, but judging from Zhenzhou city, the Jin state's ambition is like a wolf's, and cannot be underestimated."

  Wu Song suddenly stopped his action and added: "No matter whether it's a golden dog or a Liao dog, neither is a good person. If they come to offend my Great Song, I, Wu Song, will kill one by one, and show no mercy!"

  Ximen Qing's heart moved and he asked: "Second brother, where did these words come from?"

  Wu Song hesitated for a moment, then said: "To be honest, I used to roam the Jianghu and gained some small fame, but in Tokyo I met someone who made me surrender to their martial arts skills, and I became their apprentice."

  "After studying for a few years, I did make some progress in martial arts, but in other areas, there was no improvement. I secretly ran out and continued to wander around the rivers and lakes, so I'm ashamed to mention my teacher's name."

  "Indeed, indeed." Ximen Qing's heart beat with excitement: "Wu Song has indeed learned from a master in the capital, I don't know which one of the military leaders it was. He has acquired the martial art of killing people and some knowledge of military tactics."

  "Since Second Brother won't say, I won't ask either." Ximen Qing laughed and said: "When we get to the capital, Second Brother will have a chance to pay his respects to his own teacher. A day as a teacher is a lifetime as a father; if you hide and don't see him, I'm afraid that's not what your teacher would want to see either."

  Wu Song wanted to speak but stopped himself, thought for a moment and lowered his head to continue sharpening his knife with a "whooshing" sound.

  Ximen Qing saw that Wu Song didn't want to say much, so he gave up and chatted with Shi Qian and Yan Qing for a while. Just then, Xia Tianqing brought in a bucket of hot water for everyone to soak their feet and rest. Immediately, everyone washed their feet and rested separately.

  "After I've recovered and regained my strength, I'll have a great battle with Zeng Shoushan!"

  "What! How is this possible!" Zeng Chang looked at the two spies he had sent out, his hands trembling with rage: "Did you really see it clearly?"

  "We both saw it clearly in the firelight, there's no mistake." The thin man replied: "The soldiers on guard at Liangshan also discussed it loudly, absolutely no mistake."

  "You all get out! Go and ask two teachers to come and see me!" Zeng's face turned red with rage as he clenched his fists and forced out a few words: "Get everyone here!"

  After a while, Shi Wengong and Su Ding, two teachers, and the other three tigers of Zengjia, Zeng Tu, Zeng Mi, and Zeng Suo, all received the news and arrived at the hall one after another.

  "Did you summon us here because there's news about the Fahua Temple?" Deputy Master Su Ding asked, "Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng are dragging their feet with their tasks. If they want to take down the Fahua Temple, they should have sent someone to report back earlier..."

  Shi Wengong saw that Zeng had a bad look on his face, with eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, and hastily pushed Su Ding in secret, telling him not to continue speaking.

  Zeng Tu stepped forward steadily and asked in a low voice: "Father, is something wrong with fourth brother and fifth brother?"

  Zeng Nong seemed to have lost his soul, wooden and unresponsive. Zeng Lian asked him several times, but he didn't come back to himself until then. Weakly, he pointed at the two servants: "Tell Master everything you saw and heard..."

  "The Fourth Master and Fifth Master they both..."

  One of the servants hesitated, seemingly reluctant to speak out, when Zhen, who was standing nearby, impatiently stepped forward, grabbed the servant and shouted: "Speak up, you're stammering and making it hard for people to understand. If you don't spit it out, I'll cut off your tongue so you can never speak again!"

  Zeng Tu and Zeng Suo knew that Lao Er was notorious for his short temper, and many of his subordinates had suffered at his hands. They hastily stepped forward to intervene. The little servant was so frightened that he nearly wet himself and couldn't speak. Another servant reluctantly continued: "The two young masters were defeated by the Fahua Temple and beheaded by Liangshan. Now their heads are hung on the gate of Liangshan's stronghold as a warning."

  "Which of you Liangshan bandits is so bold!" Zeng heard this and became enraged, saying: "You two fools, why didn't you bring back the head?"

  "Second brother!" Zeng Tu advised: "They are just minor agents, being able to bring back information is already doing their job, where did you get such skills! You retreat first, let me ask the questions!"

  Zeng's eldest brother was furious and shouted: "I'll take the troops to fetch back the heads of my two younger brothers tonight!"

  "Don't be rash!" Shi Wengong stepped forward and shouted, "Now that Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng have been defeated, not a single soldier has returned to Fahua Temple. It's likely that all 500 men were killed inside. Our city is in a precarious situation with limited strength, while Liangshan has thousands of troops. How many men can you lead to raid the camp? We must deliberate carefully before making a decision!"

  "Discuss, discuss! Fahua Temple is also one of the places you insisted on occupying!" Zeng Mi seemed to have thought of something: "You sent hundreds of lives over for no reason! I think you're a spy from Liangshan!"

  "Nonsense!" Zeng angrily stood up and slapped him: "Get out of here!"

  Zeng Mi, who was eight feet tall, looked at his father in front of him, who was now shorter than himself, and stared with wide eyes without saying a word, then ran out of the hall in a huff.

  "Dad, you don't have to hit Second Brother either." Zeng Tu looked at the angry Zeng Nong and didn't know what to say for a moment.

  He looked up at the sky and sighed, then glanced at Zeng Zhuo and Zeng Suo, and bowed his hands to Shi Wenguang: "My son is rude, lost his words and offended the teacher, I apologize for him."

  " Erlang was also sudden news, Shi Mou would not mind." Shi Wengong also knew that Zeng Mishi was born with a rough temperament and did not take it to heart: "The current situation is unfavorable to our Zeng head office, we must discuss it carefully."