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

Chapter 182 Cai Fu: I treated you like a brother, and you treat me like a son-in-law? [4 chapters, please subscribe]

Cai Fu nodded: "It's true that it's not easy for anyone."

When Fang La saw that Cai Fu did not deny it, he became certain of his guess that Liangshan Marsh should be led by Cai Fu.

After all, he had heard of Cai Fu's reputation in Jiangnan, and as for Song Jiang, he was far inferior to Cai Fu.

"Today, the Sword King has traveled a thousand miles to deliver the divine physician, regardless of whether the physician can ultimately cure the Imperial Uncle..."

Fang La looked at Cai Fu with a sincere expression:

"I owe the Sword King a debt of gratitude!"
"If the imperial army attacks Liangshan again in the future, the Sword King need only write a letter, and I will immediately lead the army north!"
Even if we can't reach Jeju Island, I can still share some of the pressure with the Sword King and stand with him through thick and thin!

Cai Fu raised his glass: "Brother Fang, you are so righteous, I toast you!"

Fang La smiled and drank a cup of wine with Cai Fu, then said:
"King of Blades, there is something I'm unsure whether I should say..."

Cai Fu knew the real drama was about to begin: "Brother Fang, please speak freely."

Fang La put down his wine cup, his gaze fixed intently on Cai Fu:

"I wonder if the Sword King is married?"

eh?

Cai Fu was stunned:
He thought Fang La was going to talk about some kind of alliance or counter-alliance!
So after all that, they wanted to arrange a blind date on the spot?

That's right. Cai Fu remembered that Fang La had a daughter named Princess Jinzhi, who was already over the age of marriage.

Fang La came from humble origins and had no prejudice against social classes. In the original story, he married Princess Jinzhi to Chai Jin.

The false identity that Chai Jin fabricated at the time was just a white-robed scholar who was an orphan and knew how to tell fortunes.

Although he was touted as being both a scholar and a warrior, Chai Jin's skills were only enough to fool Fang La, a local warlord.

So, could it be that Fang La wanted to recruit him as his son-in-law?
Cai Fu frankly admitted, "I am not married."

His relationship with Hu Sanniang was only slightly ambiguous; it was far from marriage, let alone a romantic relationship.

As for Qiu Qiongying, she was just a young girl.

Fang La was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately looked to his right and left arms—

Left Chancellor Lou Minzhong!

As the two sides took their seats as host and guest, Fang La had already introduced Lou Minzhong to Cai Fu.

Although Lou Minzhong appears late in the original novel, he leaves a deep impression on Cai Fu because of his traitorous behavior.

Lou Minzhong accomplished two major tasks for Fang La:
The first major event was introducing two undercover agents, Chai Jin and Yan Qing, to Fang La, and facilitating Chai Jin's marriage to Princess Jinzhi.

The second major event was accepting the feigned surrender of Li Jun, Ruan Xiaowu, Ruan Xiaoqi, Tong Wei, and Tong Meng.

Due to Lou Minzhong's recommendation, Fang La appointed Li Jun as the Grand Commander of the Navy, in charge of the Qingxi Water Fortress...

If Lou Minzhong hadn't ultimately killed Ruan Xiaowu and then hanged himself in service, Cai Fuzhen would have believed he was a traitor.

The reason why Lou Minzhong was so easily tricked was ultimately because he was originally just a teacher in Qingxi County.

Although some of the articles are of high quality, they are not very good.

In other words, he's cut from the same cloth as Wu Yong.

No, he's not even as good as Wu Yong.

Wu Yong at least had some schemes and tricks up his sleeve, but he was born with a natural talent for falling for traps.

The reason why Lou Minzhong was so easily tricked and became the Left Prime Minister is ultimately because, in the original novel "Water Margin," Fang La was just a woodcutter in the mountains of Shezhou.

He went to the stream to wash his hands and saw his reflection in the water. He was wearing a flat-topped crown and a dragon robe.

He used this to tell people that he had the blessings of an emperor, and thus rebelled.

In other words, you've caught the wave; as long as you dare to rebel, someone will rebel with you.

Of course, Fang La had his merits even if he lacked education, as he was able to establish such a vast empire.

For example, trusting those you employ.

Fang La looked at Lou Minzhong, who immediately understood and smiled at Cai Fu:

“Cai Dao Wang, what a coincidence! His Majesty has a daughter, Princess Jinzhi, who is of marriageable age and unmarried!”

"When His Majesty asked her, she only said that she wanted to marry the best hero in the world!"
"I think Cai Daowang is famous throughout the world, full of martial virtue, and has the righteousness to send a divine doctor a thousand miles away. Isn't he a first-class hero in the world?"

Seeing that Cai Fu showed no objection, Lou Minzhong then looked at Fang La:
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Fang La stroked his beard and nodded with a smile: "Cai Daowang is truly a first-rate hero!"

"In that case, this old minister will humbly act as matchmaker!"

Lou Minzhong looked at Cai Fu with a big smile on his face.

In fact, not only Fang La, but Lou Minzhong also had a positive view of Cai Fu.

Firstly, Cai Fu's reputation had already spread to Jiangnan.

Lou Minzhong conducted a special investigation and found that all of Cai Fu's stories were very similar.

This means that Cai Fu's story is very likely true.

If Cai Fu's story is true, then that would be too much of a lie.

Secondly, Lou Minzhong also saw Cai Fu in person, and he was indeed handsome and imposing!
Thirdly, Liangshan Marsh had defeated the imperial army three times in a row.

The first time he recruited Huyan Zhuo, the second time he recruited Guan Sheng, and the third time he recruited Zhang Qing.

In other words, Liangshanbo had already established a firm foothold in Shandong.

Even the imperial court would find it difficult to shake Liangshan Marsh.

It should be noted that Liangshan Marsh's geographical location was not comparable to that of the three major bandits; it was only 500 li away from Tokyo.

The fact that Liangshan Marsh could gain a foothold in such a sensitive geographical location made it worthwhile for Fang La to go to great lengths to win them over.

……

I treat you like a brother, but you treat me like a son-in-law?
Upon hearing this, Cai Fu exclaimed, "Is there really such a good thing?"
This was clearly a political marriage, but for Cai Fu, it was all beneficial.

At least for Cai Fu right now, it's all beneficial and without any harm.

However, Cai Fu still wanted to make the unpleasant point clear upfront:

"I am grateful for your kindness, Brother Fang, but please forgive my bluntness!"

"Once Physician An has cured Uncle Fang, Cai Fu will still have to rush back to Liangshan Marsh."

"Brother Fang, can you bear the pain of being separated from your father and daughter?"

Fang La frowned. He could tell that Cai Fu's description of the pain of separation between father and daughter was only the first layer of the story.

To put it more bluntly, Cai Fu did not marry into the family; even if he married Princess Jinzhi, he remained independent.

The problem is that his plan to recruit Cai Fu as a son-in-law is simply to take over Liangshan Marsh without firing a single shot.
If he were to marry Princess Jinzhi to Cai Fu, Cai Fu would simply take her away, and they would live separate lives from then on...

No, why would he give away all those years of raising such beautiful young cabbages to a wild boar?

But he started the conversation first. Does that mean he's saying he can't bear the pain of being separated from his daughter?
Fang La was very frustrated.

Lou Minzhong didn't expect Cai Fu to say that, after all, even he would have happily agreed!

How to break?
Lou Minzhong looked at Fang La, who frowned:
Are you the prime minister and am I the prime minister?

"What's the harm?"

Lou Minzhong decisively triggered his traitorous nature:
"Your Majesty, even if the princess marries, she is still Your Majesty's daughter!"
"The day His Majesty leads his troops north, and the Sword King's army marches south!"
"Won't the father and daughter be able to reunite after they join forces?"

The Prime Minister is right!

Fang La then thought:
Although he couldn't bring Liangshan Marsh under his control by marrying off his daughter, Cai Fu was still his son-in-law!

I will definitely lead my troops north in the future!
When the time comes, ask Cai Fu to send troops. With his daughter's influence, how could Cai Fu not send troops?

By attacking from south to north while Cai Fu attacks from north to south, we can save a great deal of time and manpower!

Once their territories meet, Cai Fu will have no choice but to submit to them!

In the end, won't you be the one laughing last?
The plan goes through!
【4 more chapters coming soon, please subscribe or 2】

(End of this chapter)