xymnovel Chapter 11 Seamless and Logical
Chapter 11 Seamless and Logical
Everyone raised their bowls and drank it all in one gulp.
Amidst the sound of shattering ceramic bowls, a brand new group was born.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Liu Bei pressed everyone back into their seats.
"We must take this birthday tribute. With this money, we can recruit soldiers, stockpile provisions, and secure our livelihood in this chaotic world, so that we can achieve great things."
He looked at everyone and spoke, word by word.
"I have a plan that can kill three birds with one stone."
He then revealed his plan to frame Liangshan, recruit heroes, and reap the benefits.
Everyone was stunned.
Liu Tang's mouth gaped open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.
The Ruan brothers felt a chill run down their spines.
Gongsun Sheng looked at Liu Bei with eyes full of surprise and admiration.
Lin Chong was even more excited. He never expected that this Brother Chao Gai, besides having a grand vision, also had such profound calculations!
"Brothers,"
Liu Bei looked at everyone and said, "I know it's not fair to make our brothers risk their lives without giving them any reward. So after we get the birthday gifts, I'll take some out to help you brothers improve your families' living conditions."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.
Liu Bei then changed the subject: "However, I have one request."
"Brother, please speak!"
"Money is acceptable. But you must never be greedy, gamble, or visit prostitutes. And most importantly, you must never use the money to flaunt it. Remember, we're in a business where you risk your lives. If anything goes wrong at any stage, we'll all be executed!"
His gaze finally swept over Ruan Xiaowu's face.
Everyone felt a chill and responded in unison.
"We will remember this!"
Liu Bei nodded, then looked at Gongsun Sheng.
"Taoist Master, do you know where the birthday tribute has reached now?"
Gongsun Sheng's spirits lifted.
"Reporting to the head of the garrison. I have inquired along the way. Yang Zhi, the Blue-Faced Beast who escorted the birthday tribute, is an extremely cautious man. There are about twenty of them. They set off from Daming Prefecture and traveled along the official road that passes through Zijin Mountain, Erlong Mountain, Taohua Mountain, Sangai Mountain, Huangnigang, Baishawu, Yeyundu, and Chisonglin."
"Now, judging by the time, they should have already passed Umbrella Mountain. Their next stop will definitely be Huangni Ridge!"
After listening to Gongsun Sheng's words, Lin Chong suddenly spoke up.
"Master Daoist."
His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced everyone's conversation.
"Is Yang Zhi, the Blue-Faced Beast who escorted the birthday gifts, about seven feet five or six inches tall, with a large blue birthmark on his face and a few reddish whiskers showing on his cheeks?"
Gongsun Sheng paused for a moment, then nodded.
"It is indeed this person. I saw him once from afar; his blue mark is very conspicuous, there is no mistake."
Liu Bei turned his gaze to Lin Chong: "Brother, do you recognize this person?"
A complex expression appeared on Lin Chong's face, a mixture of admiration for a worthy opponent and a touch of melancholy from past events he found unbearable to recall.
"More than just recognizing them."
He said slowly:
"When I first joined Liangshan, the chieftain Wang Lun was narrow-minded and insisted that I go down the mountain to kill someone as a pledge of loyalty before he would take me in."
"Although I, Lin Chong, have become an outlaw, I am unwilling to kill innocent people indiscriminately. I waited at the foot of the mountain for three days and just happened to see this man carrying a load of luggage passing by in front of the mountain."
"I faced him and we fought for forty or fifty rounds without a clear winner."
"Later, it was Wang Lun who came down the mountain himself and said that we were both heroes, which finally persuaded us to part ways. I later learned that he was Yang Zhi, the grandson of Yang Linggong, one of the Five Marquises, and a descendant of three generations of generals. He had lost the tribute of precious stones and flowers and was about to sell his belongings to make connections in Dongjing (Kaifeng) to find a way out."
The room fell silent.
An opponent who could fight Lin Chong for forty or fifty rounds without a clear winner.
What kind of martial arts is this?
But they could all see through Lin Chong's eyes.
That was the look of a hero appreciating another hero.
Liu Tang clicked his tongue: "Goodness, this is truly... I never imagined there were such heroes in the world."
Liu Bei sincerely praised, "To be able to fight my brother to a standstill, without being at a disadvantage, this man is truly a hero."
These words warmed Lin Chong's heart.
Back then, when Wang Lun saw that he was highly skilled in martial arts, he not only had no appreciation for his talent, but was also wary of him at every turn, fearing that he would take away his position.
When Chao Gai heard that someone he was about to become a mortal enemy was highly skilled in martial arts, his first reaction was to admire him.
This is what it means to have a broad perspective.
Ruan Xiaowu couldn't help but ask, "Brother, then... what do we do now? Brother Lin Chong recognizes him, how are we supposed to fight?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei suddenly burst into laughter.
Everyone was puzzled by his laughter.
"Brother, what are you laughing at?" Liu Tang asked, puzzled.
Liu Bei stopped laughing and glanced at everyone: "What should we do? This couldn't be better!"
He stood up and walked to the center of the room.
"Originally, we were going to go to great lengths to leave some clues and deliberately frame the Liangshan gang."
"Now, if Brother Lin Chong were to fight him again, who would doubt that Liangshan Marsh robbed the birthday gifts?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback at first, but then suddenly realized what he meant.
Yes!
Lin Chong was originally a member of Liangshan. Not to mention that everyone in the Jianghu knew him, at least Yang Zhi knew him!
If he were to fight Yang Zhi again on Huangni Ridge, wouldn't that perfectly cover up the whole mess and make perfect sense?
"Brilliant!"
Wu Yong clapped his hands and laughed.
"Brother's plan is truly a stroke of genius! This way, we don't even need to put on an act!"
Liu Tang and the Ruan brothers also realized what was happening, and they all grinned and laughed so hard they almost fell over.
What I thought would be a huge problem turned out to be a convenient opportunity delivered to my brother's doorstep.
Gongsun Sheng looked at the newly appointed "Baozheng" in front of him and sighed inwardly.
He only thought about robbing ill-gotten gains and acting as a righteous man.
But this Brother Chao Gai was making his move on a much larger game.
He meticulously calculated every move he made, taking into account the hearts of all people, the timing, and the changes.
Amidst the laughter filling the room, Liu Bei sat down again and filled each of the wine bowls on the table.
He held up his bowl.
"In that case, let's discuss this in detail."
He looked at the crowd, his eyes gleaming.
"How should this opera from Huangnigang be performed to make it flawless!"
"I've been waiting for you to say that, brother!"
Liu Tang asked excitedly, "Brother, how do we make our move? Should we drug them or dig a trap?"
Liu Bei shook his head.
"No need for that."
His gaze swept over Lin Chong: "At that time, Brother Lin and I will personally take action."
He turned around and looked at the crowd.
"Brother Lin, go fight Yang Zhi. We'll deal with the other guards. If we see any signs of them trying to escape, we'll stop immediately and quickly take the birthday gifts and leave. Yang Zhi will keep us informed of what happens next."
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
Rob the birthday gifts?
Only Lin Chong's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
Last time, Yang Zhi and I were evenly matched; this time, let's see who prevails!
"good!"
Lin Chong stood up: "I am willing to be the vanguard and claim this credit!"
"I am willing to follow my brother and achieve this feat!"
The crowd cheered, and then Liu Bei said, "But before that, we need to disguise ourselves, otherwise there will always be hidden dangers. Liu Tang, shave off your beard, hair, and eyebrows."
Liu Tang was taken aback: "Huh? Brother, our bodies and hair are gifts from our parents..."
Liu Bei frowned: "Hmm?"
Liu Tang immediately gave in: "I'll shave, I'll shave..."
Liu Bei then looked at Gongsun Sheng and the Ruan brothers: "We also need to change our appearance."
The four of them agreed in unison, "Okay, we'll listen to our brother!"