In the spring of the 9th year of Hongwu, a chase was taking place ten miles north of Pinggu County. A group of over twenty people in black clothes and masks were chasing after three men with swords drawn. The three men had no other weapons except for a wooden bow and two wooden sticks held by one of them, who had only one eye. They didn't even have the means to resist their pursuers.

  "Huff...huff..." The three people who were chased to a small path in the woods were almost out of breath, if they hadn't relied on their last bit of energy to hold on, they would have been knocked to the ground by the pursuing soldiers long ago. Now the pursuers were getting closer and closer to them.

  "Big brother, you and second brother go first, I'll stay behind to hold them off for a moment. You must bring the medicine back to the mountain stronghold, Bottleneck is waiting for it to save her life." The person who was left behind in the trio stopped speaking and turned around with his wooden stick, charging towards the pursuing soldiers.

  "Fourth elder brother! You damned fool! What's going to happen to your widow now that you're dead?"

  That big brother wanted to turn back to save his own brother, but was desperately held back by the second brother and continued to flee. Watching his own brother sacrifice himself to block the enemy, he was powerless, his eyes were about to split open, gnashing his teeth was not enough to prove the anger in his heart.

  The old fourth, covered in blood, held a wooden stick in his left hand, pointing at the enemy in front of him, while his right arm hung limply by his leg. Looking at the several people he had knocked to the ground, Old Fourth grinned silently, the fresh blood on his forehead dripping down his nose and onto his lips, he stuck out his tongue to lick it, slowly turning his head to look back at his brothers who had already left safely, the smile at the corner of his mouth grew even bigger.

  "Ah……!" He let out a loud cry to the heavens, the wooden staff slipping from his grasp as he charged forward again. The enemy, shouting encouragement to himself, vowed to kill this madman who seemed to have no regard for his own life.

  The icy blade was like a body, and the old fourth fell on his back without any resistance. The black-clad pursuers stepped over him, and the old fourth's gradually blurred eyes stared at the sky, as if he heard someone calling him.

  "Haha... Dad, dad, come quickly..." The small body of the bottle was shuttling through the flower cluster, and the silver bell-like laughter was so pleasant. At this moment, she turned her head to wave at Old Four, urging him to hurry over.

  "Bottle, Daddy's coming...!" The fourth elder's face was filled with a doting smile as he ran towards his precious daughter...

  The two people who had escaped far away suddenly stopped in their tracks, turned around abruptly, as if they had heard the old fourth's last scream. The older brother could no longer hold back, and two lines of tears fell quietly.

  Second brother's right hand tightly grasped his bow, he didn't shed tears, because he would make the enemy who killed his own brother bleed.

  ……

  Tie Shan gently wiped the corner of his eye, wiping away the tears that had long since dried. Looking at the three brothers in front of him, he said in a low voice: "Xiao Wu, you go down first and tell the brothers to prepare for the next few days. We're going to have a good fight with the government troops."

  Tie Feng didn't care about the three brothers' riddle, and as soon as he heard his eldest brother say they were going to war, he was overjoyed and hastily went out to arrange the troops.

  The three people left in the house were silent for a moment, and Lao San couldn't help but break the silence first. He stood up and said to Tie Shan: "Big brother, I know what Er Ge means, but do we really have to go all out with this batch of Ming soldiers? The killer who killed Lao Si is not them."

  "I knew that the group of black-clad masked men back then were sent by Zhao Chuhai, and the mastermind behind the murder of Old Fourth is also Zhao Chuhai. Look at what's written on this." Tieshan took out a piece of cloth from his pocket and handed it to Old Third.

  Lao San unfolded the cloth and saw that it was written: "Zhao Chuhai, in response to the bandit army's request, sent his own attendants to assist in sealing off the mountain; that year people stayed in the mountains."

  "What does this mean? Could it be that these yamen are the ones who chased and killed you back then?" Lao San asked, puzzled.

  "That's right, although they were all wearing black clothes and masks at the time, but several people's boots under their feet exposed their true identities. I and your second brother recalled afterwards that it was the boots worn by the bailiffs of Pinggu County."

  "But who is this person in the mountain, and why did he leave behind this secret letter? Why didn't he even reveal his face?" Old Three Li Shui still had concerns.

  "You don't need to ask about this person, but the news is absolutely accurate," Tieshan said with a complex expression.

  Li Shui subconsciously furrowed his brow, just as he was about to ask again, Ding Wu cleared his throat and spoke up: "Old Three, don't say any more, just one sentence, are you in or out?"

  "I've had enough, I've been a coward all my life, but if I shirk this responsibility again, I won't be human! Fourth Brother's grudge must be avenged! At worst, I'll stake my own life on it!" Li Shui gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

  "Alright! When the troops surround the mountain, you and Xiao Wu will stay behind to guard, while I and Lao Er go find those captors. Although we can't kill that bastard Zhao Chuhai, this group of captors must be eliminated to accompany Lao Si in death."

  "Remember, whether we succeed or not, you'll take Xiao Wu and surrender voluntarily. This vendetta is between us brothers, it has nothing to do with the villagers in the mountain stronghold. We can't implicate them."

  "Big brother! What are you talking about? Are you taking me, Li Shui, for some kind of fool? Although I agree with surrendering, the score with Lao Si must be settled. How can I be left out of the matter of killing and capturing?"

  "Haha! As expected of my Iron Mountain brother, let's go together to avenge Fourth Brother!" Iron Mountain walked over laughing and patted Li Shui's shoulder.

  "But big brother, what about Little Wu if we do this?" Ding Wu asked aloud.

  "He's still young, with a whole life ahead of him that he hasn't experienced yet. This matter of avenging the fourth brother is still uncertain whether it will end in life or death, so let's just let him stay in the mountains for now." Tie Shan said helplessly.

  Actually, Tie Shan had no idea how much of a chance he had to win this revenge, but since he decided to fight, then so be it, maybe life, maybe death, no regrets for his brothers.

  "That old three went with us to take revenge, what about surrender?" asked Lao Er again.

  "Don't worry, I'll make arrangements." The second son saw that Tie Shan was prepared and didn't ask again.

  "Hahaha! Let Xiao Wu surrender alone! I just think of Xiao Wu's expression when he knew he had to surrender to the Ming army and I want to laugh! Hahaha!" Li Shui said with a big laugh, Tie Shan and Ding Wu also followed suit, their laughter was so refreshing.

  This smile, perhaps it's the smile of finally getting revenge on the four great enemies, or perhaps it's the smile of no longer having to live this monotonous life, maybe... maybe...

  When did the four brothers meet in the army, fought together, and escaped together? The four men's feelings were so deep, but when the fourth brother was killed, how could they not avenge his death and still talk about brotherly love?

  ……

  Autumn wind comes slowly, a cup of wine under the moonlight, three brothers sit around a stone table in the courtyard, drinking and talking about past glories. They hear Iron Wind shouting loudly not far away, ordering his men to prepare their arms. The sound of rustling leaves fills the air. The three look at the empty stone stool, that was Old Four's seat. The four brothers often drank together in this courtyard, when Little Five was still just a child who only knew how to eat sweets. Faintly, it seems like they can still see Old Four holding up his wine cup, gesturing to them.

  Three people raised their wine bowls and shouted in unison: "Respect for Laozi..."

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