Do you have the strength to force me to join the Liangshan bandits?

Chapter 151 Cai Fu: The past is the past, the present is the present! [1st update]

"Someone from the Commander's Mansion has arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qing exclaimed, "Please come in quickly!"

Before long, Zhang Qing, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun met two officers and two generals.

One of the commanders was tall and robust, with broad shoulders and a dignified appearance, exuding an aura of dominance.

Another one had phoenix eyes, silkworm eyebrows, and a sallow complexion.

The two generals had round faces, big ears, big mouths, and thick lips, and in addition to these four features, they also had full beards.

The other was a deputy general, but let's not mention him.

The yellow-faced guard, the "Four Great" generals, and the deputy general each carried a large box, the contents of which were unknown.

Zhang Qing glanced at it but didn't dare to ask.

After exchanging greetings, Zhang Qing invited the two officers and two generals into the central command tent.

Zhang Qing had sharp eyes and could tell at a glance that the two officers and the two generals were not of the same ilk.

The two commanders had a great understanding of each other, and the two generals had a close relationship.

However, the two commanders and the two generals did not seem to be very familiar with each other.

Zhang Qingxin remained doubtful and asked respectfully:
"Since you four are from the Commander's Mansion, do you have any credentials?"

The domineering Yu Hou took out Grand Commandant Gao's waist token and arrogantly tossed it to him:

"We are the two officers of the Imperial Guard!"
"My surname is Cai, and his surname is Yang!"

"Those two are from Daming Prefecture, go and ask them yourself!"

Zhang Qing could catch flying stones, so catching a waist token would naturally be easy for him.

However, after receiving the waist token, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

As expected, even a seventh-rank official, a mere palace guard, dares to be so arrogant towards me!
However, although Zhang Qing was the military commander of Dongchang Prefecture, he didn't dare to act arrogantly in front of the commander of the palace guards.

Suppressing his anger, Zhang Qing carefully examined Grand Commandant Gao's waist token, confirmed its authenticity, and then returned it with both hands.

Gong Wang and Ding Desun exchanged a glance, both daring not to speak out in their anger.

"Suo Chao, Military Commander of Daming Prefecture!"

The four generals took out Liang Zhongshu's waist token and handed it to him:
"This is my deputy general, Zhou Jin."

After carefully examining the waist tag and confirming that it was genuine, Zhang Qing returned it to Suo Chao.

Although Suo Chao's attitude was better, Zhang Qing nodded apologetically to him, but still had to ask Cai Yuhou first:
"What are your orders, Grand Commandant?"

Cai Yuhou snorted coldly:
"We rushed all the way from Tokyo to this remote and impoverished place!"

"As a result, we couldn't even get a sip of tea..."

"Tea!"

Zhang Qing hurriedly called for his personal guards:

“Bring tea!”

Thinking it over wasn't enough to express his respect for the Commander's Mansion, Zhang Qing emphasized:
"Serve me the best tea!"

When the guards brought the tea, Zhang Qing politely poured Cai Yuhou a cup of fine tea himself.
"Please use it, Lord Yu!"

Of course, Zhang Qing couldn't show favoritism, so he poured tea for Yang Yuhou, Suo Chao, and Zhou Jin.

Finally, he poured himself, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun each a cup of tea before asking Cai Yuhou:

"May I ask, Lord Yu, what are the Grand Commandant's orders?"

Cai Yuhou, however, calmly blew on the tea froth and rolled his eyes at Suo Chao:
"Let him speak first!"

Zhang Qing had no choice but to ask Suo Chao again, who looked miserable and said:
"Supervisor Zhang may not know yet, but a major incident has occurred in our Daming Prefecture!"
Do you know the most ferocious one from Liangshan, the "King of the Northern Knives"?

"I heard something."

Although news of Cai Fusan's disturbance in Daming Prefecture had not yet spread, Zhang Qing was already well-known in Dongchang Prefecture for his two disturbances in Daming Prefecture and two disturbances in Dongjing.

Putting aside political stances, Zhang Qing still admires Cai Fu quite a bit.

He wouldn't dare say that in front of Cai Yuhou and Suo Chao.

Although Cai Yuhou's surname was Cai, Zhang Qing didn't think of Cai Fu, since Cai Jing also had the surname Cai.

How could the people of the Palace Guard be associated with rebels?
"He came to Daming Prefecture again a couple of days ago!"

Suo Chao cried, "He even killed the man who stayed behind..."

"what?"

Zhang Qing, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun were all greatly alarmed:

The Prefect of Daming Prefecture is a high-ranking official of the third rank!
Cai Fu, the "King of the Northern Swords," actually dared to kill even a high-ranking official of the third rank? Suo Chao, after embellishing the story, told Zhang Qing and the other two, adding:
"I rushed to Tokyo to deliver the news, but instead got the short end of the stick..."

At this point in Suo Chao's speech, Cai Yuhou frowned:
"Ok?"

Suo Chao and Zhang Qing exchanged a glance, then quickly picked up their teacups and took a sip.
"This is excellent tea!"

Zhang Qing had already seen the whip marks on Suo Chao's hands and even his cheeks.

It's easy to imagine that Suo Chao was used as a punching bag by those above him.

But when those in power do this kind of thing, those below can't say a word.

Zhang Qing quickly picked up his teacup as well: "Cheers, cheers, cheers..."

Gong Wang and Ding Desun exchanged a glance and simultaneously picked up their teacups:
"Tons, tons, tons..."

After having tea, Suo Chao smoothly changed the subject:
"The Grand Commandant sent me to assist the General so that I may atone for my sins with meritorious service!"

Zhang Qing clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I have long heard of the name 'Vanguard' of Daming Prefecture; it is as famous as thunder in my ears!"
"With General Suo's help, defeating Liangshan Marsh is just around the corner!"

"most!"

Cai Yuhou then spoke:
"Your Excellency sent me with a message: you only have ten days!"

Only ten days?

Zhang Qing became anxious upon hearing this:

"Lord Yu, the imperial edict didn't mention any time limit before we set off!"

"Then was then, and the present is now!"

Cai Yuhou's eyes widened:
"Before the imperial edict was issued, Minister Liang of Daming Prefecture was not assassinated by the rebels!"

Yang Yuhou provided an assist from the sidelines:

"What? Does Commander Zhang disregard the Grand Commandant's words?"

Zhang Qing immediately chickened out:

"No, no..."

"However, the rebels at Liangshan have many soldiers and generals, and within ten days..."

For some reason, as she spoke, Zhang Qing felt a little dizzy and couldn't even lift her eyelids.

"Clap!"

Suddenly, Gong Wang, nicknamed "Flower-Necked Tiger," dropped and shattered a teacup, falling forward to the ground!
"Chiliu——"

"Arrow-Struck Tiger" had fallen asleep at some point, slid off the chair, and plopped down on the floor...

Because they hadn't had a chance to speak and could only drink their tea in silence, they were the first to be knocked out.

Zhang Qing was taken aback and suddenly stood up.

Suddenly, everything went black, the world spun around him, and he slumped back down.

"What's going on...?"

Zhang Qing's speech was slurred, but he saw that Cai Yuhou, Yang Yuhou, Suo Chao, and Zhou Jin across from him were all laughing.

He vaguely understood something, but he was already powerless and could only be slaughtered at the mercy of others.

Shi Qian emerged from the dark corner:

"Brother, the sleeping potion from Liangshan Marsh is absolutely amazing!"

"Absolutely awesome!"

Cai Fu gave a thumbs up:

"Alright, guys, pack up those three and get out of here!"

So Yang Xiong, Suo Chao, and Zhou Jin each opened the large boxes they had brought.

All three large boxes were empty.

They were able to fit Zhang Qing, Gong Wang, and Ding Desun into the large box.

One box per person, no more, no less.

"Brothers, let's go!"

Cai Fu tore off Zhang Qing's waist tag.

With this waist tag clearing the way, they successfully left the camp.

Inside the large box, Zhang Qing vaguely understood where Gao Qiu and Liang Zhongshu's waist tokens came from.

I also understood what the big box was for...

(End of this chapter)