Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 150 Side Story: Mangdang
Mangdang Mountain is the place where Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, started his uprising by slaying a snake. During the Tang Dynasty, it belonged to Songzhou.

It is not a mountain, and is surrounded by endless plains.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, this place was a vast expanse of water and dense undergrowth, a hiding place bestowed by Heaven upon fugitives. Therefore, when Liu Bang first raised his army, he led the men of Pei County to hide there.

After a thousand years of reclamation, the vast marshland has been drained, leaving only a few small ponds, and the thickets have been transformed into fertile fields. Even if a wandering knight wanted to visit the old haunts and pay homage to the most successful knight in history—Emperor Gaozu of Han—he would still have to ask the landowner's permission.

Zhangjiazhuang and Shijiazhuang controlled the land in the Mangdang Mountain area. Conflicts over land division and irrigation led to constant feuds and countless deaths.

By the twelfth year of the Dazhong era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, only three orphaned and helpless children remained in Zhangjiazhuang.

The head of the Shi family, his face contorted with rage, stomped his broadsword into the muddy snow, burying the old head of the Zhang family manor in it. “That damned bastard who killed my brother is finally dead! Today I will wipe the Zhang family out of the woods!”

Corpses littered the surrounding area, but seven or eight loyal old servants still gripped hoes and clubs tightly, forming a circle to protect their three young masters who huddled against the wall, trembling with fear.

But they still cannot shake off the fear of death.

The owner of Shijiazhuang has accepted the surrender of many of Zhang family's maids, servants, and household staff, because the Shi family also needs manpower.

He didn't want to let these old servants go, simply because he hadn't had his fill of killing yet.

Since these old fogies failed to recognize the situation in time, they will not have another chance.

Master Shi let out a sinister laugh: "Everyone, don't move. I can chop off these gray heads all by myself. Once we catch those three brats, we'll deal with them slowly."

After saying this, the head of Shi Family Manor strode towards the wall, his footsteps kicking up snowflakes.

A tall figure appeared out of nowhere and suddenly blocked his path.

"Master Shi, may I have a word with you in private?"

Master Shi was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously spat a mouthful of phlegm at the other person's face.

But the other party simply waved his sleeve lightly, and the phlegm flew back and splashed all over Master Shi's face.

Master Shi's eyes were dazzled, and he hurriedly wiped them with his sleeve. Only then did he see the face of the person opposite him clearly, and he was shocked: "Wang... Alliance Leader Wang?"

“They’re all people I know, so that makes things easier.” Wang Xianzhi said calmly, his hands behind his back. “I have some old ties with the head of Zhang Family Manor, and I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Master Shi paused for a moment, then said, "Our two families have a blood feud that cannot be interfered with by outsiders."

Wang Xianzhi raised his eyes: "The Zhang family has already been nearly wiped out by your Shi family, isn't that enough? Three children, what's wrong with letting them go? I, Wang, can guarantee with the reputation of the Zhenyi Alliance that the three brothers will never seek revenge against the Shi family after they grow up. Otherwise, the Zhenyi Alliance will send someone to kill them."

Master Shi gritted his teeth: "Not enough. Reporting to Alliance Leader Wang, not counting the servants and maids, thirty members of my Shi family, both men and women, have died at the hands of the Zhang family in the past fifty years. Yet, the Zhang family has only repaid twenty-seven lives so far. Only by including these three brats can we offset the blood debt."

The Shi family had a significantly larger population than the Zhang family.

Moreover, Master Shi deliberately concealed important facts.

Fifty years ago, it was a member of the Shi family who killed a member of the Zhang family in a brawl, becoming the first drop of blood in a series of murders. Before the Zhang family head killed the Shi family head's father, the Shi family head had already personally killed two of the Zhang family head's brothers.

The eldest of the three Zhang brothers suddenly roared, "You, surnamed Shi, don't try to sound so high and mighty! You're just after our land, that's why you're determined to wipe us out!"

Wang Xianzhi revealed a playful smile: "Master Shi, that's where you're wrong."

Master Shi's expression changed drastically.

He was deeply embarrassed by the hurtful attack on his character.

With a fierce determination, he resolutely declared, "Since that's the case, the Shi family will not take an inch of the Zhang family's estates and houses. Let me kill those three brats, and all the property will belong to the Zhenyi Alliance!"

Master Shi kowtowed and said, "Otherwise, my grandfather, father, and brothers in the afterlife will not be able to rest in peace. They will come to me day and night to seek justice in my dreams!"

Wang Xianzhi smiled calmly: "So, Master Shi doesn't want to accept my mediation?"

Master Shi said loudly, "It's not that I, Shi, dare to challenge the Zhenyi Alliance, but my family feud is too great to be true. I cannot agree."

"Alright, then you can have another family head make the decision."

In the blink of an eye, Master Shi was grabbed by the face and lifted up like a chick, his eyes filled with unspeakable fear.

Then, everything went black before Master Shi's eyes, and a cold, bloody substance suddenly rushed into his nostrils.

The Shi family members were terrified, but after being swept over by Wang Xianzhi's gaze, not one of them dared to speak or even move.

Wang Xianzhi pressed down with his palm, forcibly pinning Master Shi to the ground in a cold pool of blood formed from blood and snow.

Master Shi struggled violently with his legs like a slaughtered toad, stirring up snow dust in the snow, but soon fell silent.

Wang Xianzhi clapped his hands: "Master Shi said that if this is done, his grandfather, father and brothers in the underworld will be dissatisfied. So I sent him down to ask, but no news came back. I suppose they are not dissatisfied."

His calm gaze swept over the members of the Shi family: "How about I, Wang, select another person to go down and ask?"

"Alliance Leader Wang, spare my life!"

The historians all abandoned their weapons and kowtowed, begging to be spared.

The three Zhang brothers bowed down in surprise and tears, expressing their gratitude for being given a second chance at life.

Wang Xianzhi took out several silver ingots and personally handed them to the old servants, saying, "I greatly admire loyal and righteous men like you."

The words still echoed in the courtyard, but the figure, as ethereal as a lone wild goose, had already drifted away.

The servants looked at each other in disbelief. If it weren't for the silver ingots still warm from their bodies, they would never have believed that Wang Xianzhi, the leader of the martial arts alliance, would personally reward such lowly servants as them.

...On the eve of the decisive battle between Cao Jun and Yan Shuai Zhen Ranyu against Qing Qi, the three Zhang brothers in Mangdang Mountain inevitably recalled this old story.

Because their old friend Zhu Wen had come to the Hall of Righteousness and asked them to join the battle to avenge their leader Wang Xianzhi.

Having survived the attack from Shijiazhuang, the three Zhang brothers, after much painful reflection, spent lavishly to build the Juyi Hall on Mangdang Mountain, where they befriended chivalrous heroes and provided food and lodging for traveling heroes.

In addition, Mangdang Mountain was a sacred place for chivalrous wanderers, where Liu Bang slew the snake, which was quite attractive. The three Zhang brothers quickly gained a high reputation in the martial arts world and were regarded as heroes who were as generous and righteous as Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin of Wagang in the past.

The manor built by the three brothers in the mountains was likened by wandering knights to a mirage city in ancient times, or a lawless place like the border town during the Five Barbarian Tribes period.

Even Zhu Wen's martial arts skills were learned from the older generation of wandering knights on Mount Mangdang.

Although Wang Xianzhi forbade the Zhang and Shi families to stop killing each other, as the three brothers grew up and their power increased, the Shi family eventually felt fear and chose to sell all their farmland to the Zhang family and then leave for distant lands; Mangdang Mountain was thus completely surrounded by the Zhang family's farmland.

The abundant harvests of these paddy fields and dry lands were enough to make the chivalrous heroes gathered on Mount Mangdang sing with gusto, forgetting all their worries about home.

“Zhang Guiba, I’ve already said it—after this battle, it’s up to you who you follow. Or, with your reputation and wealth, you can even form another battalion.”

“I, Zhu Wen, was once your retainer. Your reluctance to join my camp is a minor matter. But you have repeatedly said you would repay the life-saving grace of Alliance Leader Wang with your lives. Are you planning to go back on your word this time?”

Seeing the three brothers' hesitant expressions, Zhu Wen's words became quite impolite.

The three Zhang brothers were naturally unwilling.

They formed alliances with fugitives in order to expand the power of Zhangjiazhuang.

Although Mount Mangdang is known as the Mountain of Freedom, its location amidst wide streets and thoroughfares has long been a target of the government. The reason it has remained peaceful is that the wandering knights associated with the three brothers have not done anything too outrageous over the years.

Other martial arts sects might send troops to support the Grass Army in their decisive battle against Commander Yan, leaving the imperial court unable to attend to such matters. If Zhang Family Village, a key target of attention, were to join the battle, while the gold and silver could be loaded onto carts and taken away, the farmland and residences would be in grave danger.

The three brothers thought they were wealthy and living a good life, so why should they rebel? Even though the government troops often raided the people, the Zhang family village was strong enough to protect themselves unless they were caught accusing the villagers of colluding with the rebels.

Zhang Guihou said, "Our brother and I are too kind to repay the Alliance Leader's great kindness, even if we were to die for it. However, this matter is of great importance, so we should discuss it carefully..."

Zhang Guibian, the youngest of the three brothers, also said, "Otherwise, once Commander Huang and Brother Zhu defeat Commander Yan, we will definitely sell our possessions and join the righteous army, shall we?"

Zhu Wen looked at these three stingy men and knew it would be difficult to pluck a single feather from them.

With the decisive battle imminent, every additional force increases the chances of victory; there is no room for delay.

The three brothers were not optimistic about the future of the Grass Army. They were clearly waiting for Marshal Yan to annihilate the Grass Army so that they would no longer have to worry about that debt of gratitude!
Zhu Wen laughed angrily: "Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say."

Zhang Guiba said apologetically, "It's such a pity that Brother Zhu arrived too hastily. If he had come a month or two earlier, we could have made more preparations and definitely made it in time for the decisive battle. I have prepared fifty taels of gold as a small token of my support for the righteous army..."

"No need!" Zhu Wen's eyes were cold as lightning as he said decisively, "Keep your gold and go buy more estates!"

He strode towards the hall, stepped over the threshold, and after walking thirty steps, suddenly turned back.

"Brother Liangyu, is there anything else you wish to say to me?" Zhang Guiba asked gently.

"Yes." Zhu Wen's face showed a mocking expression: "Didn't you brothers claim to be descendants of Zhang Xun?"

There are countless people with the surname Zhang in the world. The prominent Zhang families in the Songzhou area generally try to establish some connection with General Zhang Xun, who once guarded Suiyang.

The three brothers' expressions suddenly changed.

Zhu Wen suddenly drew the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword, slashed it across his left thumb, and instantly sliced ​​off a large chunk of flesh, with bright red blood splattering in all directions.

He then raised a horn bow from behind his back, nocked an arrow, and let the bowstring cut into his wound, causing blood to gush out even more. Zhu Wen's eyes, however, burned even brighter, and he seemed completely oblivious to the pain.

"Dare to laugh at Jing Ke for not being a hero, and call Nan Ba ​​a true man!"

Zhu Wen shouted loudly, his voice deafening, and with his blood-stained hands, he drew his bow like a crescent moon and shot an arrow toward the character "义" (righteousness) on the plaque of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

His archery skills were originally mediocre, but with righteous indignation and courage, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration. His long arrow slashed through the air and embedded itself in the red lacquered plaque, completely disappearing into it, with only the tail feathers trembling.

Upon closer inspection, the arrow was embedded precisely in the center of the character "义" (righteousness), without the slightest deviation.

"It truly is General Nan Jiyun's divine intervention," Zhu Wen exclaimed, then turned and headed down the mountain without looking back.

The three Zhang brothers stared at Zhu Wen's retreating figure as he disappeared from sight, speechless.

Nan Jiyun was one of the most famous wandering knights in the more than two hundred years of the Tang Dynasty. There are still many temples dedicated to him, more than twenty in Songzhou alone. Most of them are worshipped together with Zhang Xun, Xu Yuan, Lei Wanchun, and the Four Loyal Men of Suiyang who sacrificed their lives to resist the An Lushan Rebellion.

Zhu Wen's actions of drawing his sword to chop off his finger and shooting an arrow at the plaque were imitations of Nan Jiyun's past actions when he was unable to borrow troops.

Zhu San'er compared himself to Nan Jiyun, and the Zhang family had claimed to be descendants of Zhang Xun for generations, to the point that many people in the martial arts world believed it.

When the leader of the alliance was executed, heroes from all over the land rose up in a frenzy, eager to avenge their blood feud.

If the three brothers disregard Wang Xianzhi's past kindness and continue to claim to be descendants of Zhang Xun, they will only become a laughingstock.

"Forget it." Zhang Guiba sighed. "I think Zhu San'er is no ordinary man. If we go with him, the benefits will probably go far beyond this little manor!"

Zhang Guihou and Zhang Guibian pondered for a long time before nodding in agreement.

The next day, the entire village was engulfed in flames.

A caravan escorted by over a hundred strong and capable young warriors was already traveling on the main road from Songzhou to Qingqi...

(End of this chapter)