xymnovel Chapter 105 Wang Lun Refuses to Be Offered Amnesty
Chapter 105 Wang Lun Refuses to Be Offered Amnesty
The wedding finally ended, and the leaders were able to drink with peace of mind. Most of them were heavy drinkers, drinking heartily.
Meanwhile, another table was set up in the room, which Wang Lun had specially arranged to host a banquet for Zhang Shuye, with Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen, Chao Gai, Yang Zhi, Huyan Zhuo, Guan Sheng and others as guests.
After several rounds of drinks, Zhang Shuye saw that Wang Lun was in high spirits, which was the perfect opportunity for him to bring up the matter of surrendering to the emperor.
He raised his wine cup and said, "Chief Wang, besides congratulating Wu Song on his wedding, the Emperor has also assigned me a task."
Upon hearing this, everyone knew that this was Zhang Shuye's true purpose for coming.
Wang Lun smiled and said, "Please speak."
Zhang Shuye said, "Under the leadership of Chief Wang, Liangshan has grown rapidly, captured Jizhou City, gained the recognition of the people, and made outstanding achievements."
He swept his gaze across the crowd, showing no fear despite being among the Liangshan leaders, and said, "But has Chief Wang considered what you will do in the future? Continue to conquer cities and territories, only to have the imperial court send hundreds of thousands of troops to besiege you? No matter how strong Liangshan is, can it be stronger than the imperial court?"
Everyone put down their wine cups, sat up straight, and guessed Zhang Shuye's intentions.
"The Emperor is not angry about your actions. On the contrary, he praises Chief Wang for his righteousness and talent. Now that the court is in need of capable people, why doesn't the Chief Wang join the court and serve the Emperor with me? With the Chief Wang's talent and the martial arts of the other leaders, we can all be granted titles and honors for our wives and children. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
After he finished speaking, he looked intently at Wang Lun.
Wang Lun glanced around, observing the expressions of the leaders, and smiled, "I wonder what benefits the Emperor has promised us?"
"The Emperor said that this is just a formality for me to negotiate with the chieftain. If the deal goes well, there will be an official decree later." Zhang Shuye thought Wang Lun was interested and cheered him up. "The Emperor has decided to appoint you as the prefect of Jizhou, and you will be in charge of the civil and military affairs under your command."
This is already an excellent condition. Wang Lun already occupied Jizhou, and now the imperial court has directly appointed him as the prefect, which fully recognizes his abilities.
All the leaders looked at Wang Lun with different expressions.
"Anything else?" Wang Lun continued to ask.
Zhang Shuye said, "All the leaders have been rewarded. Lin Chong, Yang Zhi, Guan Sheng, Huyan Zhuo, Qin Ming, and others, your previous mistakes have been wiped clean. If you wish, you can still be reinstated to your original positions."
These words shocked the leaders even more.
Wang Lun always had a smile on his face, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
He chuckled and asked, "I'd like to hear everyone's opinions. Instructor Lin, what do you think?"
Wang Lun first called out Lin Chong's name.
Lin Chong was filled with emotion and said in a deep voice, "If you, brother, accept the imperial pardon, I will follow you. I would even be willing to be a captain. But if you want to be reinstated to my original position..."
He glared at Zhang Shuye and said, "Because of that scoundrel Gao Qiu's persecution, my family is now ruined and I am dead. How can I possibly be reinstated? He may give me back my position, but can he return my dead wife to me?"
Zhang Shuye could only sigh. He already knew about Lin Chong's matter, but what could he do? This whole thing started because of Gao Qiu. Could he possibly punish Gao Qiu?
Wang Lun smiled and said, "Yang Xianfeng, what do you think?"
Yang Zhi, already a blue-faced beast, now had an even more ashen face. He said, "I am just like Instructor Lin. If you, brother, were to accept the imperial pardon, I would serve as a captain under you and be reinstated to my original position. Hmph, I will not return to Tokyo until Cai Jing and Gao Qiu are eliminated."
Because he sent Cai Jing a birthday gift, which led to the subsequent events, he concluded that all the responsibility lay with Cai Jing and Gao Qiu for their corruption.
Wang Lun looked at Guan Sheng.
Guan Sheng said, "I have only been in Liangshan for less than a month. It is a very good place. There is no infighting among the brothers, and the people support me very much. When I first came to attack Liangshan, I did my best, even if I didn't achieve anything. But Gao Qiu sent Li Yuhou to humiliate us. If it weren't for the chief, I would have been dead long ago."
He looked at Zhang Shuye and said, "Prefect Zhang, tell me, if it weren't for the chieftain's rescue, would you have survived?"
Zhang Shuye's expression changed slightly, but he knew that Guan Sheng was telling the truth, so he nodded.
Wang Lun looked at Lu Zhishen.
Lu Zhishen raised his wine bowl and laughed, "I've always been carefree. If you, brother, accept me as an amnesty and can tolerate me, I'll follow you. If you can't, I'll go back to Erlong Mountain, become a mountain king, and live a very happy life."
Wang Lun laughed and said, "How could I not tolerate you? No matter where I go, I will always need you, Lu Da."
He chuckled and said, "I know everyone's opinion, and I understand the thoughts of the other leaders as well, so there's no need to say more. Prefect Zhang, brothers, let me also share my views."
Everyone was looking at him.
Wang Lun said, "The current emperor is a good father and a good painter, but not a good emperor. He lets corrupt officials run rampant in the court, and he turns a blind eye to the suffering of the people."
Upon hearing this, all the leaders nodded in agreement. Zhang Shuye also closed his eyes sadly; he already understood Wang Lun's meaning.
"Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, Tong Guan, Yang Jian—which one of them wasn't a corrupt official, which one wasn't a heinous villain? Before we occupied Jizhou, what kind of life did the people live? They were barely clothed and starving."
"Now, the people of Jizhou may not say they are well-fed and clothed, but since Liangshan took over the city, no one has starved to death and no one has been wronged."
"If even one Jizhou is like this, what kind of life do the people of the countless other prefectures like Jizhou live? There is an old man from the north in Liangshan named Wang Cheng. Do you all remember him? His village was raided by the Liao people, and he fled south all the way. No Song official was willing to help him. Only when he arrived in Liangshan could he get enough to eat."
Wang Lun took a deep breath and continued, "The officials are immoral, the ministers are treacherous, what have the common people done wrong? I, Wang Lun, have said before that I only have two things to do."
He looked at the crowd, and the leaders said in unison, "This sword cuts down the wicked but not the righteous; this body guards the country but not the sovereign."
Wang Lun raised his wine cup and drank it down with the other leaders, saying, "Prefect Zhang, I respect you because you have a heart that loves the people."
"The Song Dynasty is so exhausted. If we accept the imperial pardon, can the Emperor protect us? I'm afraid Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and their cronies have already prepared a thousand ways to kill us."
Wang Lun said with a serious expression, "I can only feel at ease when I have the knife in my own hand."
Everyone nodded.
"I appreciate Prefect Zhang's kindness. From now on, we will be neighbors and rivals. Today we will revel in our revelry, but when we meet again, I will show no mercy, and I don't think you will either."
Wang Lun raised his glass to Zhang Shuye, who had no choice but to drink it.
"Perhaps Liangshan will one day accept the imperial pardon, but not now. Once Cai Jing and Gao Qiu have faced the consequences, and you, Prefect Zhang, enter the court as prime minister, perhaps I will consider it."
Wang Lun looked at Zhang Shuye and said solemnly, "But if one day Liangshan's army becomes strong and powerful, and we really can't stand Cai Jing and Gao Qiu, we might lead our troops into the capital to cleanse the court of corrupt officials and do a good deed."
"I only hope that the Song Dynasty will be peaceful and prosperous, and that the people will have enough to eat and wear. Prefect Zhang, please convey these words to the Emperor on my behalf and thank him for his kindness. If I have the opportunity, I will visit him in person."
Zhang Shuye nodded, wanting to say something more, but then heard Lu Zhishen shout, "Drink! What are you talking about with all this talk of amnesty? Get Prefect Zhang drunk first!"