This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 537 Song Jiang: I desperately want to improve!
Xiang Yuan believes that Song Jiang and Liu Bei are somewhat similar, referring to the two characters in the novel, mainly because of the author's description in the original work.

Luo Guanzhong was not only the author of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," but also participated in the writing of "Water Margin." Although "Water Margin" was written first, and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" came later, it is undeniable that "Water Margin" contains a large number of Three Kingdoms elements because of him.

The most typical case.

Liangshan has five tiger generals, the leader of whom is "Big Saber" Guan Sheng. He has phoenix eyes that point to the sky, a face like a red date, a majestic body, and a flowing beard. He wields the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and is a descendant of Guan Yu.

Whether he reads the Spring and Autumn Annals is hard to say, but he does enjoy reading and is well-versed in military strategy.

Lin Chong, the second of the Five Tiger Generals, nicknamed "Leopard Head," was as skilled in martial arts as Guan Sheng. He had a leopard's head, round eyes, a swallow's chin, and tiger's whiskers, and wielded an eighteen-foot-long spear.

The strategist Wu Yong, nicknamed "The Wise Star," holds a feather fan and wears a turban, corresponding to Zhuge Liang. However, he only corresponds to Zhuge Liang's wisdom; the ability to summon wind and rain is reserved for "The Cloud Dragon," Gongsun Sheng. Only by combining the two can the strategist save me.

After that, there were characters like the Bearded Gentleman, the Little Overlord, the Little Marquis of Wen, and the Sick Guan Suo...

Then there's Lu Junyi, who's considered the strongest fighter on Liangshan Mountain. The description is far too exaggerated; he seems to be invincible, just like Fengxian.

Let's return to Song Jiang and Liu Bei.

What they had in common was that they were both good-looking and had brothers who had risked their lives for them; they were clearly destined for great things.

Other similarities include kindness, loyalty, and personal charisma.

The difference is that Liu Bei maintained his established persona from beginning to end, while Song Jiang initially established his persona, but it gradually crumbled later on...

It collapsed to the point where it was unbearable to watch.

Both Liu Bei and Liu Huangshu sought out talented individuals, winning them over with fervent flattery and sincerity. His later actions also reflected his loyalty to his brothers.

Song Jiang recruits followers...

Those who caught Song Jiang's eye were better off joining him; otherwise, they would suffer disgrace at best, and at worst, disgrace and the destruction of their families. His later actions proved that these followers were right to refuse to join him.

In short, Song Jiang not only ruined his brothers, but also their entire families!

Xiang Yuan sat in the carriage, shaking his head and starting to calculate. The more he calculated, the more he rolled his eyes. Song Jiang was really too much of a scoundrel. People who comment on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms say that Liu Bei was ruthless and cunning, but people who comment on the Water Margin never say that Song Jiang was ruthless and cunning.

He is truly dark-skinned, both physically and mentally.

As the carriage drove out of Kaifeng Prefecture, Xiang Yuan continued his calculations inside, wondering which of the 108 demonic stars, besides Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong, could be considered true heroes.

Wu Song is definitely one of them.

"Speaking of which, where is Wu Song at this time?"

Xiang Yuan raised his hand to calculate. Heaven hadn't given him the talent for divination. His method of divination was the same as Bai Wuyan's: input keywords, and then use his powerful cultivation level to calculate the desired result.

Forced relationships are never sweet, which made Xiang Yuan roll his eyes.

"Why didn't the White House head roll her eyes when she forced the divination... Oh, she has a lot of pride. Last time I asked her to roll her eyes, she just scratched me."

Xiang Yuan muttered something under his breath, rolled his eyes twice, and then figured out where Wu Song was.

He didn't go anywhere. He stayed in Qinghe County and lived with his elder brother. Wu Dalang was responsible for selling steamed buns to earn money to support the family and raise his younger brother. Wu Song's innate superhuman strength was largely due to Wu Dalang's efforts.

After some time, Wu Song will get into a fight, get drunk, and lose control of his strength, accidentally killing someone with a single punch.

He wasn't killed, he was just knocked unconscious.

Wu Song had drunk too much and couldn't think straight. He simply picked up the bucket and ran away to Cangzhou to seek refuge with Chai Jin, whose ancestors had been wealthy. He stayed at Chai Jin's mansion for nearly two years.

Knowing he hadn't committed any crime, he rushed to Qinghe County to find his brother. However, because he had drunk too much at Jingyang Ridge, he lost control of his strength and killed a tiger.

When he went with the hunter to the county government office in Yanggu County to collect the reward money, he was kept by the county magistrate as a constable. There he met Wu Dalang, who was moving house, and moved into his elder brother's house that same day.

Wu Dalang moved because he married Pan Jinlian, whose beauty attracted many suitors, and he moved to Yanggu County because he could no longer bear the harassment.

Xiang Yuan arrived early, before these events unfolded. The Wu brothers were both single, and making a good living was the most important thing for them.

"Fine, like attracts like. Pan Jinlian and Wu Dalang are mismatched, it's unfair to both of them. It's better to break off this marriage."

Xiang Yuan shook his head slightly. Even so, he did not believe that the plot of the demonized Xuanxu Realm would be like that. Judging from the physiques of Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen, even if Wu Song was not as big as Lu Zhishen, he estimated that he was about the same size as Lin Chong.

Anyone who's got nothing better to do than play drinking games with Wu Song after drinking. If they want to die, they can just say so directly; there's really no need to be so tactful.

"How strong is Ximen Da Guanren's martial arts? Was he killed by Wu Song in three or two punches, or did he almost kill Wu Song in three or two punches?" Xiang Yuan's lips twitched, hoping that the changes wouldn't be too drastic.

Ximen Qing could only take seven or eight punches at most, no more.

"Wu Song, who hasn't even completed two years of training at the Chai residence, I wonder if his martial arts skills have reached their peak..."

Xiang Yuan raised his hand and pinched. In his understanding, the peak of martial arts among the 108 heroes was undoubtedly Lu Junyi, followed by Lu Zhishen, Lin Chong, Wu Song, and Guan Sheng.

He accepts rebuttals for his personal rankings, but he will resolutely not change them.

"Having gained so many important combat troops from me, it's probably going to be difficult for Song Jiang to rise to power in the future... Oh, after this meeting, it's hard to say whether he'll even have a future!"

Xiang Yuan stopped muttering to himself and did not immediately move the carriage to Yuncheng. He planned to continue the separation experiment of the Demon Star and the Reincarnation Relic while traveling.

He wasn't just calculating Wu Song; he also took the opportunity to calculate a few other demonic figures he remembered.

Good news: We have no shortage of guinea pigs.

Bad news: The world is too wicked.

Take the brothers Zhang Shun and Zhang Heng, for example. They ferried passengers across the river, and often killed and robbed them when they reached the middle of the river. Passengers who boarded their pirate ship and didn't obediently hand over their money were either lucky enough to be hacked to death or unlucky enough to be thrown into the water and drowned. Their methods were extremely cruel.

Take, for example, the brothers Kongming and Kongliang. They had a dispute with a wealthy man from their hometown, wiped out his entire family, and gathered hundreds of people to become outlaws on White Tiger Mountain, where they robbed and plundered, making a living without any initial investment.

What's outrageous is that they were Song Jiang's apprentices.

Take, for example, Zhu Gui and Li Li, who ran a black market. Although they didn't sell human flesh buns, they committed numerous murders and robberies. Zhu Gui would even render the fat of his victims into oil to use as lamp oil, making him utterly depraved.

"Although the finale says that evil deeds will be punished, the retribution is too late. I'll suffer a little injustice and arrange their retribution in advance."

Xiang Yuan waved his hand and pointed in the air, and the space inside the carriage suddenly became spacious. He then pointed his finger down several more times, and several white mice returned to their places.

……

In the afternoon, Xiang Yuan stepped out of the carriage with a regretful expression.

The next stop is Jeju Island, Yunseong. We've arrived.

Lin Chong looked up at the gate of Yuncheng County, wondering how he had arrived in Yuncheng so soon after leaving Kaifeng. Were they really that close?
Or perhaps, all along, he had been looking at a fake map.

Lin Chong could guess the specific reason, and asked Xiang Yuan, "Young master, would you like to go to the magistrate's office? With your status, you can see Song Jiang by simply asking the magistrate."

"Then I told the magistrate that I was still in Kaifeng in the early morning and it took me half a day to travel by carriage to reach Yuncheng?"

"..."

So you knew it was unreasonable!

"Let's go. Clerk Song is known for his generosity and kindness, and he is famous for helping the poor and needy. He is well-off, so it's not difficult to find him. We can just ask around."

Xiang Yuan looked at Lin Chong, then at Lu Zhishen: "Moreover, given your appearances, there's no need to go looking for Song Jiang. Just take a stroll around the county town, and you'll bump into each other by chance."

Xiang Yuan wasn't just talking nonsense. Song Jiang was famous, but not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry would be worthy of his friendship. Ordinary hooligans and scoundrels should stay out of his way, and Song Jiang's money didn't fall from the sky.

Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong are different; they look like worth investing in. Before long, Song Jiang will come to their door, exchange pleasantries, and then treat them to a meal of hospitality.

Song Jiang's hospitable manner was impeccable; he would always be polite to anyone who came. He truly deserved the title of "Timely Rain." Xiang Yuan's words were barbed because he knew about Song Jiang's later inhumane actions.

Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong, unaware of the underlying sarcasm in Xiang Yuan's words, guessed that his reputation was undeserved and decided to wait and see.

The three of them went to the largest restaurant in Yuncheng, located by the river, where a gentle breeze made it very pleasant.

With Lu Zhishen's physique, let alone going upstairs, he would have trouble even entering the door, so the innkeeper invited the three of them to sit down in the backyard.

As Xiang Yuan had predicted, Song Jiang soon passed by the place after the food and wine were served.

He was around thirty years old, not tall but definitely not short, with a slightly dark complexion, phoenix-shaped eyes, silkworm-like eyebrows, square lips, a broad forehead, and a flat top.

Song Jiang was very handsome, with a commanding presence, bright eyes, and a touch of authority between his brows.

"My name is Song Jiang. I was just passing by when the innkeeper told me that you three distinguished guests had extraordinary appearances and were no ordinary people. I was curious and came to bother you. I hope you three will not take offense." Song Jiang bowed with his hands clasped, and his smile softened his sternness, making him very amiable and easy to like.

Song Jiang spoke exceptionally well, possessing an irresistible charm that made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze. Yet, a touch of authority mingled within his words, making people instinctively bow down and want to call him "brother."

A natural charisma and leadership aura make it easy for people to trust him; he can be a leader in troubled times, a high-ranking official in prosperous times, and a peacemaker in peaceful times.

Lu Zhishen was the first to stand up. He was intelligent and bolder than Lin Chong, and more meticulous. Knowing that Xiang Yuan was not particular about details, he introduced himself and invited Song Jiang to take a seat.

Lu Zhishen's name is widely known among monks, but outside of that circle, his fame is only so-so. With so many heroes and outlaws in the world, how could Song Jiang possibly remember them all? He was flattered and sat down. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, he marveled at Lu Zhishen's magnanimous spirit, which was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"And who are these two..." Song Jiang asked as he stood up.

Song Jiang had excellent eyesight and could tell that Lin Chong had the appearance of a bodyguard and servant among the three. Although he looked fierce, he was actually somewhat weak and refined at heart. Lu Zhishen was more like a retainer among the three. Only Xiang Yuan, who seemed a bit unreliable in the middle, was the one who would be in charge.

This man was dressed in extraordinary clothes and had a demeanor that exuded a sense of disdain and arrogance. He must have come from a noble family, which explains why he had two fierce warriors accompanying him and protecting him all the way.

Before they had even talked much, Song Jiang had already figured out the three men's background based on his experience.

"My name is Lin Chong..."

Lin Chong glanced at Xiang Yuan, who nodded slightly, before continuing, "Commander of the Imperial Guards of the Capital."

"It turns out to be an official from the capital. I, Song Jiang, have offended you greatly. I hope you will forgive me!"

Song Jiang hadn't expected to uncover such a big fish, and hurriedly bowed in respect. He was a clerk in Yuncheng, not an official position, but a low-level clerk, essentially a secretary in the county government office. Because of the vast gap between clerks and officials, clerks not only lacked official ranks, but also, under normal circumstances, could not pursue a career in government.

Therefore, even though Lin Chong was a military officer and Song Jiang was a civil official, they still had to address each other as "superior" because of the huge difference in their status.

Moreover, Lin Chong was not only a military officer in the capital, but also a military officer in the Imperial Guard. When he went out, he was automatically ranked one rank higher. To Song Jiang at that time, he could already be considered a big shot.

Lin Chong was embarrassed by Song Jiang's polite attitude. He had always been a low-ranking military officer and had never received such treatment in officialdom. In addition, Song Jiang spoke very nicely, so he immediately developed a good impression of him.

This dark-faced man looks kind; his reputation for benevolence and righteousness is truly well-deserved!
Lin Chong was very impressed. He turned to look at Xiang Yuan again, nodded, and said to Song Jiang, "This is Gao Yanei, the son of the Grand Commandant of the current court."

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

Song Jiang gasped, and looking into the distance, he felt that the somewhat frail man suddenly appeared heroic, imposing, and extraordinary.

Without saying a word, he straightened his clothes and bowed repeatedly.

"interesting!"

Xiang Yuan squinted at Song Jiang, slightly disappointed that he wasn't the one from the Hua Zizai Tian sect. But he saw a longing in Song Jiang's eyes, an urgent desire to improve.

If he were to bring Song Jiang to the capital now and recommend him to Gao Qiu, so that Gao Qiu could groom him as a trusted confidant, what would be the outcome?
Xiang Yuan's gaze was intense, scrutinizing and amused, until Song Jiang's slightly dark face turned red. Based on his experience in the workplace, he could tell that this was because his superiors appreciated him.

He had only come to join in the fun and make friends with some passing heroes, but he unexpectedly stumbled upon an extraordinary fortune, which thrilled Song Jiang immensely.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and his face turned redder.

Seeing his behavior, Lin Chong didn't take it to heart. That's how it is in the capital, nothing strange about it.

Lu Zhishen was slightly disappointed. He had always thought that Timely Rain was a man of righteousness and benevolence who did not covet wealth and power. Now it seemed that he had been overthinking things based on hearsay.

"Sit down and talk."

Xiang Yuan waved his hand, and after Song Jiang carefully sat down, he raised his cup and said, "The reputation of 'Timely Rain' Song Gongming has been heard in the capital by our yamen... Uh, don't be nervous, this is a compliment."

Seeing Song Jiang startled and losing his composure, Xiang Yuan couldn't help but sigh at how times shape people. Without God's perspective, who could have imagined that this reserved man would one day lead an uprising and become a major threat to the imperial court!

What's especially surprising is that he betrayed his brother without even blinking an eye.

"This time, I'm going on a long journey for two reasons. First, to relax, and second, because my father is lacking a few capable and ambitious people around him. I want to take this opportunity to find hidden talents and virtuous men who have been buried by the absurdity of the world. Since Clerk Song has such a good reputation, I think he is the great sage I'm looking for." Xiang Yuan praised Song Jiang lavishly.

This thrilled Song Jiang so much that he gulped down several cups of wine, then fell to the ground and kowtowed, looking as if he had seen his second parents: "What virtue or ability does Song Jiang possess to deserve such high regard and promotion from our benefactor..."

As she spoke, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Song Jiang: I really want to improve!
Song Jiang did have the idea of ​​going to the capital to try his luck and meet a patron, but he was very self-aware. The capital was full of wealthy and powerful people. Without the help of a noble person, how could he, a nobody from out of town, expect to be noticed by a patron?
Just because the Song family is rich?
Stop joking. The Song family's spare money is only good for helping people in the martial arts world. But when they get to the capital, even if he kneels down, no one will want to accept his money!

This is a class difference, like between a clerk and an official. They work in the same government office, but the official travels in a sedan chair while the clerk wants to carry it. However, because they are not well-fed and lack the strength, the official does not give them the opportunity to carry the sedan chair.

The chasm is insurmountable; it's that simple.

Today is different. Song Jiang, who was once a victim of exploitation, saw the possibility of harvesting his own wealth and secretly vowed that he would not let this opportunity slip by.

Song Jiang never doubted Gao Yanei's identity. He had seen all sorts of heroes in the martial arts world, but he had never met anyone of Lu Zhishen's or Lin Chong's caliber before. Especially Lin Chong, whose manners and behavior were polite and proper, clearly indicating his background within the system, making it extremely unlikely that he was faking it.

If he were truly deceived, and it was a scam that could involve these two experts, then Song Jiang would accept his fate.

"Don't cry anymore. Get up and let's eat and chat. It's quite a coincidence that I'm here today. I happened to hear about Clerk Song's great reputation and came to see him for myself. You don't need to think about any gratitude for his help. The reputation you have built is the result of your own efforts. It's better to rely on yourself than on others. Work hard in the Grand Commandant's office and earn a good future for yourself."

Xiang Yuan raised his glass: "This young master is at ease, you drink it."

"I will never forget the kindness and favor shown to me by the young master!"

Song Jiang gulped down several more cups in a row, his drinking capacity being astonishing due to the local specialty.

Halfway through the meal, Song Jiang used the excuse of serving dishes to settle the bill with the innkeeper. He also instructed the innkeeper that he had important guests to entertain that day and that no one should be allowed to enter the backyard.

If my colleagues aren't up to it, then my brothers outside are even less likely to be.

They're all so loose-lipped; after a few drinks, they're already thinking about fighting and brawling, which will only offend important people.

After Song Jiang returned, Xiang Yuan smiled slightly without pointing it out, and instead asked, "Sir Song, have you ever heard of the story of how your dog father—bah, my father, the Grand Commandant—rose to power?"

One slip of the tongue almost dragged Xiao Yan into this mess.

"The Grand Commandant rose from humble beginnings, studied diligently without ceasing, and was determined to make progress, which is why he has achieved his aspirations today and is now able to serve his country with his life..."

Song Jiang said a lot, but to summarize it simply, Gao Qiu's success today is entirely due to his own efforts.

The truth is clearly not so. Gao Qiu's success was 1% due to hard work, and the remaining 99% was pure luck.

To be fair, Gao Qiu had the talent and ability to seize opportunities; otherwise, he wouldn't have had so many influential people helping him. But he was truly lucky to become a high-ranking official.

He displayed his ball skills at the Prince Duan's mansion, captivating the amateur Prince Duan so much that the prince took the initiative to bring Gao Qiu to his side and regarded him as a confidant.

A month later, the idle Prince Duan... ascended the throne!

When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven. Gao Qiu only spent half a year gilding his resume before becoming the Grand Commandant of the Palace Guard.

Gao Qiu was able to win over Prince Duan because he had many skills. Having more skills meant having more options. He had a special skill to deal with different important people. It's fair to say that he had the ability to seize opportunities. He succeeded through his own efforts.

But that's all. Gao Qiu has done his best. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be nothing more than a prince's confidant who can play football for the rest of his life.

Could Gao Qiu have achieved his goal of becoming emperor through his own efforts?
And it's only for one month!

His enviable luck is why he is portrayed as a great villain in many literary works, which is truly enviable.

Xiang Yuan chuckled: "Sir Song is right. My father has indeed achieved his current success entirely through his own efforts. Since you think so, then I won't give you any more help. You can work hard on your own."

Song Jiang: ()
No, that's how people talk in official circles. Why don't you follow the rules, young master?

"I'm not teasing you anymore. Everyone knows my father was appointed Grand Commandant, so I won't say anything more."

Xiang Yuan looked at Song Jiang meaningfully and said, "When the Grand Commandant was still just a hanger-on in Prince Duan's mansion, he knew his position was unstable and was afraid of making a mistake. The first thing he did was not to sing praises to the prince, but to immediately draw a line, cut ties with his former cronies, and beat anyone who came to visit him to death with sticks..."

“Sir Song, this is the path to success. Don’t let idle people affect your career.”

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency. I will remember it forever and never forget it!"

Song Jiang had never heard of these secrets before. While marveling at how Gao Qiu deserved to be a high-ranking official, he decisively regarded him as a role model and prepared to learn from him.

After a moment, he asked another question: "May I ask, Your Excellency, Song Jiang is of shallow learning and does not understand the profound meaning of this action. If I sever ties with my former brothers and friends and become a heartless and ungrateful person, wouldn't Your Excellency look down on Song Jiang?"

"How could that be? This is clearly loyalty!"

"Thank you so much, Your Excellency! Thank you so much, Your Excellency!"

To Song Jiang, Xiang Yuan's words were invaluable, and many things he had understood before, and many things he hadn't, gained new insights at that moment.

The banquet ended with everyone enjoying themselves.

According to geographical boundaries, Song Jiang is the master; according to social status, Xiang Yuan is the master.

Song Jiang personally saw him off, escorting the carriage for ten miles before reluctantly bidding him farewell with tears in his eyes. After returning to Yuncheng, he went straight to the Song family's old residence, waiting for Xiang Yuan's return while simultaneously selling everything he owned, intending to squander his entire fortune to entertain the Grand Commandant and his son.

loyalty!

Outside the carriage, Lin Chong had seen too many people like Song Jiang, so he was used to it and felt nothing.

Lu Zhishen walked along, shaking his head, quite disappointed with the trip. It wasn't that Song Jiang was incompetent, but rather that he was too mediocre. Master Lu had come with high hopes, and thus returned disappointed.

He was currently pondering a question: if Xiang Yuan was testing Song Jiang at the dinner table, did Song Jiang pass the test or fail?

Xiang Yuan said that whether or not they passed the test was not important; what was important was sending Song Jiang to the Grand Commandant's mansion to be Gao Qiu's secretary.

This combination sounds pretty cool!
"but……"

While looking forward to this, Xiang Yuan also harbored some doubts, wondering if history might self-correct. He reasoned that Song Jiang's current mediocre state was due to a lack of experience, and his story hadn't yet begun. After all, this guy was the leader of Liangshan, and possessed a destiny bestowed by the stars; a mediocre path to officialdom seemed inconsistent with his "Heavenly Star" destiny.

How will it be corrected?

Suddenly, Xiang Yuan felt hopeful again, hoping that the self-correction of history and destiny would be more significant.

You can't be too weak, or you'll fall over with a push. He's born with superhuman strength, and if he can't use it to his full potential, he'll go berserk!

After taking only a few steps, Lin Chong stopped the carriage, speechless as he looked at Qinghe County ahead, then at the reins in his hand, feeling a sense of helplessness, as if saying, "What use is this iron rod to me?"

He knew that the Heavenly Venerable Taiyi Jiuku was incredibly powerful, but as the coachman, he felt very uninvolved!
Lin Chong dared not complain. He comforted himself and tried to think positively. The Heavenly Venerable was an impatient man and would return to Kaifeng soon, where he would be able to see his wife again.

Qinghe County.

Surrounded by mountains and rivers, shaded by green trees, this small town is complete in every way. Shops line both sides of the long street, making it quite prosperous for a small county town.

"Killing!"

"Murder!"

Before the carriage even entered the gate, the long street was already bustling with noise as a tall, muscular figure rushed rapidly toward the city gate.

"Commander Lin, go and have a match with him, lest the thief escape."

"Please wait a moment, young master. Lin Chong will be right back."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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