Water Margin: From a White-Robed Scholar to Donning the Yellow Robe

Chapter 33 Going to Yanggu County to Find Wu Song

Wang Lun has been here for more than half a month.

From resolving the fire crisis at the beginning and becoming sworn brothers with Lin Chong, to now, with their army gradually growing stronger and their wealth increasing.

With the people having places to live, the troops training normally, and Zhu Gui's intelligence bureau getting back on track.

Wang Lun then began to think about doing other things.

His first thought was to visit Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty. After all, in a few years, Bianliang would be destroyed by war, and the city depicted in the famous painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" would be gone forever.

But then I remembered that I was not strong enough at the moment, and it would be too dangerous for me to go.

After a moment, two places came to mind.

One is Yuncheng, which is closest to Liangshan Marsh, where there is a "Timely Rain" named Song Jiang.

Although Wang Lun disliked Song Jiang, Liangshan still needed him. After all, Song Jiang's reputation was too great, and dozens of heroes from the Water Margin came because of him, including many experts.

Another place is Yanggu County, which is a bit far from Liangshan Marsh, but if you ride a fast horse, you can get there in half a day.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Lun summoned several high-ranking leaders, including Lin Chong, Chao Gai, Yang Zhi, Lu Zhishen, Gongsun Sheng, and Wu Yong.

After everyone was seated, Wang Lun cleared his throat and said, "I plan to travel down the mountain again, for about half a month."

Ah!

Everyone was shocked again. The last time Wang Lun suddenly decided to travel to Jeju Island, it had already made everyone very worried.

Seeing that they were about to refuse, Wang Lun waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry. This time I'm going to Yanggu County. We'll disguise ourselves a little, and no one will recognize us. Besides, I plan to bring Leaders Yang Zhi and Gongsun with me. With them there, what else could I possibly need?"

Lin Chong was somewhat relieved. Yang Zhi's martial arts skills were extremely high. After all, he was a descendant of the Yang family generals. With him protecting him, Wang Lun should be safe.

As for Gongsun Sheng, Lin Chong remained noncommittal. He considered him a Taoist who knew some sorcery, not worthy of respect.

"Brother, what are you going to that damned Yanggu County for? I'm going too!" Lu Zhishen said loudly, offering to go with him.

Chao Gai shook his head and said, "No, your appearance is too conspicuous. If you go, you'll be more likely to be exposed. How about we go together?"

After a moment's thought, Wang Lun realized that although Chao Gai was also handsome and had an extraordinary bearing, he was not as striking as Lu Zhishen. However, considering that he had been gone for half a month and had some matters to entrust to Chao Gai, he shook his head and refused.

Lin Chong asked, "Brother, what brings you to Yanggu County?"

Wang Lun smiled and said, "There is a tiger-slaying hero named Wu Song in Yanggu County. He is a very capable hero. I calculated with my fingers and found out that he is about to be in trouble. I want to go and meet him, save his life when the time is right, and then invite him to join Liangshan."

Wu Song?

Everyone shook their heads, indicating that they did not recognize him.

But when he heard Wang Lun say that he was a tiger-fighting hero, he took it more seriously, after all, someone who can fight tigers is not an ordinary person.

But Lu Zhishen shook his head and said, "Tiger-slaying hero? Brother, what's so difficult about slaying a tiger? If you want to see tiger-slaying, I'll go and slay three or five for you, it's not difficult at all."

Wang Lun laughed loudly and said, "Zhishen, I know you are highly skilled, but Wu Song's skills are no less than yours. He drank eighteen bowls of wine, got seven or eight parts drunk, and killed a tiger with glaring eyes and a white forehead with his bare hands."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Speaking of armed men, many of you here would dare to fight a tiger, but to fight a tiger bare-handed while drunk is quite rare.

Lu Zhishen thought about it and realized that if what Wang Lun said was true, he might not be able to do it.

"I invite Yang Zhi and Gongsun to come with me, and Zhao Si will also go." Wang Lun saw that Zhao Si, who was standing next to him, had something to say, so he added his name.

With Zhao Si serving him hand and foot, he didn't need to worry about any other matters.

Zhao Si was overjoyed and said, "Yes, sir."

"After we left, everything at Liangshan continued as usual. Instructor Lin continued to train the soldiers, first ensuring they mastered the basics, and then we would discuss practicing military formations when I returned."

"Chao Tianwang is in full charge of recruiting soldiers. Recruiting soldiers should not stop during this period. The more soldiers and civilians you recruit, the better."

"Wu Yong is assisting Song Wan in overseeing the construction of the rear village and the farming of the people. Song Wan is not as quick-witted as you, Chief Wu, so please put in more effort."

All three clasped their hands in agreement.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Lu Zhishen looked around and realized he had nothing to do.

Wang Lun smiled and said, "Zhishen, if you have nothing to do, keep Lin Chong company and train the soldiers together."

Lu Zhishen then agreed, because he would feel bored if he were idle all day.

After giving his instructions, Wang Lun, along with Yang Zhi, Gongsun Sheng, and Zhao Si, disguised themselves as Taoist priests and descended the mountain once more.

Gongsun Sheng, possessing the most otherworldly and ethereal air, remained his master, with the Taoist name Qingfengzi. Wang Lun was called Wuchenzi, and Yang Zhi was called Wusuzi.

Zhao Si quickly asked, "And what about me? What is my Daoist name?"

Wang Lun thought for a moment and said, "You will still be called Zhao Si. You are the youngest Daoist disciple, so you don't need a Daoist name."

Zhao Si was immediately disappointed.

After leaving Liangshan Marsh, the four turned north and sped along the road. In less than half a day, they saw a county town ahead.

Zhao Si explained, "Brother, this is Yuncheng County."

Yuncheng?

Wang Lun took a deep look. Yuncheng was where Song Jiang was. Liu Tang had already arrived in Yuncheng to deliver Chao Gai's letter and gold bars to Song Jiang.

According to the original plot, Song Jiang would soon kill Yan Poxi, then flee to Chai Jin's manor for refuge, and then go to Qingfeng Village to seek refuge with Hua Rong.

It's just unclear how far the story has progressed at this point.

After thinking it over, I decided not to provoke Song Jiang for the time being, and to wait until he finished the original story and was sentenced to death for writing a rebellious poem in Jiangzhou before I could think of a solution.

They entered Yuncheng and stopped at a restaurant.

Food processing in the Song Dynasty had reached a very high level, so many dishes were very well made. Braised pork, in particular, tasted excellent.

The four of them drank and ate meat, treating it as a trip.

As they were eating, they heard someone say from the side: "Have you heard? Song Jiang, the clerk, has killed someone."

Wang Lun quickly listened intently and discovered that Song Jiang had already killed someone.

Another person whispered, "I heard the one who died was named Yan Poxi. She was his lover, but she slept with someone else."

Wang Lun nodded slightly. Just like the original plot, it seemed that his arrival would not change the original story.

Unless it was someone like Lu Zhishen or Yang Zhi who changed the time of joining Liangshan due to their own interference.

"Song Jiang is short and stocky, so he probably isn't very good in bed..."

Wang Lun wanted to burst out laughing. It turned out that Song Jiang was indeed incompetent; the people were already spreading the word.

He leaned closer and asked, "And then what happened? Was Song Jiang arrested?"

The two men who were talking looked at Wang Lun and his companions and, seeing that they were just wandering Taoist priests, said, "They've run away. That Song Jiang, also known as Song Gongming, has a nickname in the martial arts world: Timely Rain. He knows many people. I don't know who helped him, but he's long since disappeared."

Wang Lun nodded, thinking that with Song Jiang's escape, it wouldn't be long before he joined Liangshan. Once Song Jiang joined Liangshan, more than ten leaders, such as Hua Rong and Li Kui, followed suit.

Liangshan is about to undergo a major upgrade.

He happily paid for the drinks for the two men, and then got up and set off with Yang Zhi and the others.

In his memory, not long after Song Jiang fled, Wu Song was about to kill Ximen Qing, and he wanted to get to know him as soon as possible.