Chapter 47: North Mountain Hotel, the Death-Dealing Judge
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“So what?”
Wei Dingguo had made up his mind long ago.
“Our elder brother treats us with loyalty; naturally, we must repay him in kind.
“He merely wants us to look after the underground horse market. We have the convenience of our positions—what harm is there in showing it a little consideration?”
Shan Tinggui fell silent.
“Besides, surely you’ve heard of the tale: ‘The Rival Xuande Frees the Jade Unicorn, and King Cai the Blade Burns Down Daming Prefecture’!”
Wei Dingguo looked at Shan Tinggui.
“Prefect Liang Zhongshu was strung up and beaten. How do you suppose he’ll carry himself from now on?”
Good heavens!
Shan Tinggui instinctively met Wei Dingguo’s gaze.
So you aren’t a fool after all...
...
After Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo departed, Cai Fu returned to Dragonhead Market, summoned his brothers, and prepared to set out as well.
“Third Brother, Dragonhead Market is in your hands.
“Master Zhou and Fourth Brother will assist you. Whenever you cannot decide a matter, discuss it with them together...”
Before leaving, Cai Fu repeatedly reminded Shi Wengong of his duties.
Shi Wengong said solemnly, “Big Brother, rest assured. Leave everything to me!”
Cai Fu put an arm around Shi Wengong’s shoulder as they walked.
“Yu Baosi has been a horse trader for more than a decade, and he spent many years making his way around Zengtou Market. He knows every aspect of the business, so you may safely entrust the horse ranch to him.
“Bao Xu is loyal and devoted, but rough-tempered and uncouth. Let him try handling Dragonhead Market’s security for now.
“If he does well, let him continue. If he does poorly, tell me and I’ll transfer him elsewhere. You can appoint someone new...”
Shi Wengong nodded in agreement.
Cai Fu continued, “The messenger should have reached Liquan Mountain by now. Once Master Zhou and the others relocate here, make the necessary arrangements...
“Dragonhead Market occupies a strategic position, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it already has a foundation to build upon. Once developed, it will be no weaker than Liangshan Marsh...”
According to Cai Fu’s arrangements, Dragonhead Market would be led by Shi Wengong, Yu Baosi, and Bao Xu.
With Zhou Tong, Yue Fei, Tang Huai, Zhang Xian, and Wang Gui assisting them, its strength was no less than that of the Zeng family estate.
Its forces consisted of several dozen mounted bandits, five or seven hundred underlings from Dead Tree Mountain, and a hundred Qilin Righteous Riders.
With such a foundation, it was only a matter of time before Shi Wengong developed the place—so long as he did not squander it.
Even if he did, Zhou Tong was there above him to keep him in check. Thus Cai Fu could leave without worry.
“Big Brother! Second Brother!”
Shi Wengong seized Cai Fu with one hand and Lu Junyi with the other.
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“Liangshan Marsh is a den of dragons and tigers!
“When you go there, be cautious in every matter. If you sense that the situation is turning against you, send word to me at once!
“I’ll lead the troops up Liangshan and kill my way in!”
“Don’t worry, Third Brother!”
Lu Junyi gave a confident, icy laugh.
“Last time, I fell into Song Jiang and Wu Yong’s treacherous scheme, and they toyed with me like a fool!
“But this time Big Brother will be there. It won’t be so easy for them to deceive me again!
“If it comes to a real fight, I’d like to see who among them can stand against me!”
The reason Lu Junyi had been forcibly kept at Liangshan Marsh for four months was that Song Jiang and Wu Yong had completely duped him.
Before going to Liangshan Marsh, Lu Junyi had even boasted:
“...How dare such sparrows contend with a great roc?
“...In the forked sack on my cart, I have already prepared a sack of seasoned hemp rope.
“If these bandits are fated to die and should happen to fall into my hands, I’ll cut them down one by one with my saber. Then all of you will tie them to the cart with me.
“...We shall deliver the bandit chief to the capital, where I will claim merit and receive my reward. Only then will the ambition of my life be fulfilled!”
And then he fell straight into their trap.
Wu Yong successively arranged for Li Kui, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Liu Tang, Mu Hong, Li Ying, Zhu Tong, and Lei Heng to challenge him one by one.
None of them fought more than three exchanges before withdrawing.
Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, and Li Ying truly possessed considerable strength. By mixing the capable among the incapable, they appeared to be leading Lu Junyi to meet Song Jiang, while in reality they were creating a false impression in his mind:
Liangshan Marsh was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!
Later, Hua Rong’s arrow struck the red tassel of Lu Junyi’s felt hat, while Qin Ming, Lin Chong, Huyan Zhuo, and Xu Ning led the cavalry in a charge from both sides. All of it served to deepen that false impression.
And Lu Junyi truly believed it.
Later, when Lu Junyi said he wanted to leave, the chiefs all sprang forward, employing both threats and persuasion.
For instance, Li Kui shouted:
“I risked my life and went all the way to Beijing to fetch you here, yet you refuse even to share a feast with my brothers!
“I’ll tie my fate to yours and fight you to the death!”
Zhu Wu, for his part, threatened him as well:
“Though we are but younger brothers in rank, we have also exerted ourselves for you. Do you think we have hidden poison in our wine?
“If Officer Lu is offended and refuses to eat with us, that is no concern of mine. I fear only that the younger brothers may do something regrettable—by then, it will be too late to repent!”
If Wu Yong’s scheme had not frightened Lu Junyi into submission, men like Li Kui and Zhu Wu would never have been worthy of threatening him.
It was not until Cai Fu spoke a single sentence that he awakened from his dream:
“If Liangshan Marsh truly had anyone stronger than you, why would they go to such lengths to obtain you? Why would they travel a thousand miles from Liangshan Marsh to Daming Prefecture and spend months making all this trouble?”
Once Lu Junyi understood the point, he was so furious that his lungs nearly burst. Only then did he find himself again, regain his confidence, and accompany Cai Fu back to Liangshan.
After bidding farewell to Shi Wengong, Cai Fu, Lu Junyi, Cai Qing, Yan Qing, Jiao Ting, Yang Xiong, and Shi Xiu took the main road toward Liangshan Marsh.
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...
Liangshan Marsh, North Mountain Inn.
“Life-Seeking Judge” Li Li sat beneath the shade of a tree outside the inn, his robe open at the chest. He drank wine and fanned himself.
He had worked his way from Jieyang Ridge to Liangshan Marsh, but the novelty he had felt upon first arriving had already worn off.
Once everything returned to normal, Li Li discovered a problem:
Before joining Liangshan, he had run a murderous black inn. After joining Liangshan, he was still running a murderous black inn...
What exactly had he gained by joining Liangshan?
No, that was not quite right. Before joining Liangshan, he had been the boss. After joining Liangshan, his seat ranked near the very bottom!
Everyone outranked him!
And before joining Liangshan, he had pocketed ill-gotten money. After joining Liangshan, he still had to hand it over to Jiang Jing, who managed the money and grain!
What an outrage!
Fortunately, joining Liangshan did have one great advantage:
Before joining, he had to bear the consequences whenever trouble arose. After joining, there was no trouble that Liangshan could not cover up.
Thus Li Li became even more reckless. Of all the travelers who passed through his North Mountain Inn, not one escaped without being robbed.
“Oh?”
Half-drunk, Li Li’s eyes lit up.
More customers!
Three travel-worn guests were approaching along the road. Each was broad and powerfully built, and their bulging bundles looked heavily laden.
Li Li set down his wine bowl and went out to greet them with a broad smile.
“Gentlemen, will you be stopping for refreshments or lodging?”
His large eyes were webbed with red veins, and a thick, curly red beard covered his face, giving him a distinctly fierce appearance.
So Li Li narrowed his eyes into slits as he smiled and stepped forward to offer the three travelers a deep, obsequious bow.
At the same time, he sized them up: one large, sturdy man, one smaller sturdy man, and one enormous fat man whose body was buried in layers of flesh.
The two sturdy men looked rather alike. If Li Li was not mistaken, they were brothers.
The three travelers dismounted and tied their horses to the great tree beside the inn.
The fat man asked Li Li, “We’re hungry from the road. What food and wine do you have for sale?”
Li Li replied, “Only cooked beef and unfiltered white liquor.”
“That will do.”
The fat man ordered him, “First cut us five pounds of cooked beef, then bring four jugs of wine. We’ll eat and be on our way.”