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

Chapter 232 Cai Fu: Young man, your path has broadened! [1st Update]

Henchman: "When the Second and Third Chieftains led us back to the mountain, we saw a herd of stray wild horses..."

Qiu Qiongying: "What ownerless horse? What wild horse? Am I not human?"

Henchman: "The Second and Third Chieftains originally intended to get a few horses for free, but they didn't expect there to be a beauty on one of them..."

Qiu Qiongying: "Hmph!"

Henchman: "Because there were two people, the second chieftain and the third chieftain, who made a bet."

"Each person shoots one, let's see who shoots the most accurately."

"As a result, only the man was shot down, while the beauty not only escaped the arrow but also killed the three chieftains!"

"The second chieftain then led us to fight them, and later the second chieftain also died at the hands of a beauty..."

Qiu Qiongying stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at Tang Bin:

They also said you set a trap!

"Absolutely not!"

Tang Bin was both shocked and furious: "I've already joined my brother's ranks, how could he have set a trap for me?"

Qiu Qiongying demanded, "How do you explain those two dead men?"

"Non-my family, its heart must be different!"

Tang Bin shook his head: "Wen Zhongrong and Cui Ye's ancestors were from Goryeo."

"Due to the war, they were stranded in the Liao Kingdom and then eventually ended up in the Song Dynasty."

"The two men became outlaws after committing murder and took over Baodu Mountain."

"I didn't know them at all. I was just passing by when they robbed me. That's how we became acquainted."

"They were no match for me, so they were willing to give me the position of chieftain and recruit me to join them on the mountain."

"I originally thought they were sincere, and since it was a long way to Liangshanbo, I stayed on the mountain."

"Who knew they would sideline me? I was nominally the chief of the stronghold, but the real power was still in their hands."

"I can't do anything about it. After all, they built this stronghold and they recruited the henchmen."

"I was originally unwilling to submit to Tian Hu, but it was only because the two of them actively promoted this matter that I was recruited by Tian Hu..."

"I see!"

Cai Fu expressed his understanding.

Tang Bin is like a high-ranking leader who was parachuted in; he has no foundation, so of course the people below won't listen to him.

“But now that Wen Zhongrong and Cui Ye are dead, you can truly take control of Baoduzhai, brother.”

Cai Fu put his arm around Tang Bin's shoulder and felt that Tang Bin's shoulders were very broad and thick, and that Lu Zhishen was no better than him.

"Don't worry, brother, just give me a month!"

Tang Bin said confidently, "It's a sure thing!"

"very good!"

Cai Fu thought for a moment, then said to Guan Sheng:
"Fourth brother, you and Tang Bin are sworn brothers. Why don't you stay and spend more time with Tang Bin?"

"I will stay in Jin for a few more days. When I leave Jin, you can come back to Liangshanbo with me."

Cai Fu made this suggestion mainly because he felt it would be too difficult for Tang Bin to control such a large area as Baoduzhai by himself.

It should be noted that Baoduzhai was a large village with 10,000 people, and Tang Bin had no popular support.

So Guan Sheng was left to help Tang Bin, but Tang Bin's thoughts had to be taken into account.

Guan Sheng and Tang Bin's relationship wasn't close enough for him to bring this up.

Fortunately, Guan Sheng and Tang Bin had established a good relationship, which pleased Tang Bin greatly.
"most!
"Brother Cai Fu, I want to take control of Baoduzhai on my own. But one tree cannot support the whole forest, and one hand cannot clap!"

"Could you please ask me to leave a few more capable brothers to help me?"

Young man, your path has widened!

This is the true attitude of someone who genuinely pledges allegiance. Cai Fu thought about it and said:

"Shi Jin, the 'Nine-Dragoned Swordsman,' was shot by an arrow and stayed behind to recover from his injury."

“He used to manage the mountain stronghold, so let him lend you a hand.”

Speaking of which, how similar are Shi Jin from Shaohua Mountain back then and Tang Bin from Baoduzhai now?

Cai Fu didn't keep too many people, as keeping too many would overshadow the others. He believed that Shi Jin and Tang Bin would cooperate well.

Tang Bin had no objections, and Shi Jin had no objections either, so Guan Sheng and Shi Jin stayed at Baodu Mountain.

After resting for a day at Baodushan, Cai Fu and his group continued their journey and arrived at Weisheng Prefecture a few days later.

Outside the city gate, Qiu Qiongying bit her cherry lips, her large, watery eyes staring intently at Cai Fu:

"Brother Cai Fu—"

Cai Fu: "What?"

Qiu Qiongying: "According to your plan... is it really going to work?"

Cai Fu frowned: "You don't believe me?"

"no……"

Qiu Qiongying quickly used her chubby baby face to act cute with Cai Fu:

"I'm so excited!"

"Do not worry."

Cai Fu rubbed her little head twice:

"As long as you don't reveal any flaws, that big worm is completely doomed."

"I won't!"

Qiu Qiongying shook off Cai Fu's large hand, her small neck stiffening:
"You're the ones who shouldn't give yourselves away!"

What clues could we possibly give?

Cai Fu looked around and smiled:
"We six are just your followers; we only have a few lines to say!"

Qiu Qiongying gave a soft snort, turning her head away defiantly, but the corners of her rosy lips couldn't help but turn up in a smile. As a princess of Jin, Qiu Qiongying naturally didn't need to queue and led Cai Fu and the others directly through the green channel.

Cai Fu, Lu Junyi, Yan Qing, Yang Zhi, Shi Xiu, and Shi Qian, dressed like attendants, followed Qiu Qiongying inside.

The guards at the gate didn't dare to stop them at all; in fact, they had to clear a path for them.

Soon, Cai Fu and the others followed Qiu Qiongying to the Imperial Brother-in-law's residence, passing through the halls and rooms and directly entering the inner courtyard.

The emperor's brother-in-law, Wu Li, was Qiu Qiongying's adoptive father. Naturally, she could come and go freely in the emperor's brother-in-law's mansion, and no one dared to interfere.

Cai Fu and his group followed Qiu Qiongying directly to meet Wu Guojiu.

This Imperial Brother-in-law Wu was a burly man, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted; he looked every bit the fierce general!
In the original work, Wu Guojiu is described as follows: Wu Li is skilled with spears and clubs, has the strength of a thousand catties in both arms, can draw a hard bow, and is used to wielding a fifty-catty wind-splashing broadsword!

As Wu Guojiu was talking to his wife, Ni, about their missing daughter, the couple burst into tears.

"My lord, we only have this one daughter. Why don't you go to Liangshan Marsh and bring Qiongying back?"

With tears welling in Ni's eyes as she pleaded, Wu Guojiu sighed.
I also want to bring her back...

"But this is no longer our family's business. The King is very concerned about this matter!"
"If you insist on keeping your daughter tied to that Sai Xuande, it would be best to wait until you have a son or daughter before bringing her back!"

"How could Your Majesty arrange things this way?"

Madam Ni wiped away her tears: "Qiongying herself is still a child, how can she bear children for someone?"

"Not too young!"

Wu Guojiu shook his head with a wry smile: "He's not young anymore, but..."

"We've never met Sai Xuande, so we don't know what kind of person he is, or whether he treats Qiongying well..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Ni cried even harder:
"Qiong Ying is stubborn. What if he hits her?"

"He dares!"

Wu Guojiu, his beard bristling and eyes wide, said:
"Does he think my fifty-pound 'Wind-Splashing Broadsword' is ineffective?"

Qiu Qiongying had just reached the door when she hesitated for a moment before calling out:

"Father, Mother, I'm back..."

"what?"

Wu Guojiu and Ni Shi initially thought they were hallucinating. They exchanged a glance before simultaneously looking towards the doorway.

"Is it really Qiong Ying?"

At that moment, Ni burst into tears, running to Qiu Qiongying and embracing her tightly.
"Daughter, you're finally back!"

Wu Guojiu was actually faster than Ni Shi, but after getting up, he hesitated for a moment and fell behind Ni Shi.

Holding the dual authority of the Emperor's brother-in-law and the Privy Councilor, Wu Guojiu stepped forward and embraced both the mother and daughter in his arms.

I wanted to say something, but my nose stung and I couldn't speak, only repeating:
"It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back..."

Seeing how much Wu Guojiu and Ni Shi treated Qiu Qiongying, Cai Fu couldn't help but think of their ending in the original novel.

Zhang Qing, using the alias "Quan Yu," infiltrated the Imperial Uncle's residence. After recognizing Qiu Qiongying, he pretended to win two battles, gaining the Imperial Uncle's trust.

Therefore, Wu Guojiu married Qiu Qiongying to Zhang Qing.

Two days later, Zhang Qing, Qiu Qiongying, An Daoquan, and Ye Qing, working together from the inside, poisoned Wu Guojiu to death.

Of course, by this time Liangshan Marsh was already under government control.

When the government troops suppressed the bandits, they didn't kill many rebels, including Wu Guojiu.

Cai Fu felt that it was a waste of the feelings that Wu Guojiu and his wife had for Qiu Qiongying.

If it weren't for the protection of Wu Guojiu and his wife, Qiu Qiongying would have met an unimaginable fate in that chaotic era of war, with both parents dead, only ten years old, and a face that could launch a thousand ships.

Although Wu Guojiu was a rebel, he joined Tian Hu's rebellion because Tian Hu had married his sister. He had no choice but to follow Tian Hu.

Therefore, Cai Fu felt that Wu Guojiu should not have died, because of his kindness in raising Qiu Qiongying, he should not have died.

On the other hand, Qiu Qiongying may not have been without feelings for Wu Guojiu and his wife.

In the original story, she was only sixteen years old when she married Zhang Qing. How much of her own opinion could she possibly have?

Besides, it was Wu Yong's plan to poison Wu Guojiu, and the chapter was titled "Wu Yong's Plan to Poison Wu Li." Whether or not Wu Li was poisoned was not up to her.
The family of three hugged each other and cried for a while. After Wu Guojiu composed himself, he asked Cai Fu and the others who they were.

“They are all Cai Fu’s men. Cai Fu was worried about me, so he sent them to escort me all the way.”

Qiu Qiongying wiped away her tears and told Wu Guojiu.

Wu Guojiu glanced at Cai Fu, Lu Junyi, and the others:

"Excellent! Every single one of them is a formidable warrior!"

"That kid surnamed Cai is quite thoughtful!"

Just then, a middle-aged butler rushed in:
"Master, the King has arrived!"

"Oh?"

Wu Guojiu was taken aback:
"It must be because the King knows that Qiongying has returned and wants to question Cai Fu about this matter in person!"

He wasn't surprised. Tian Hu was his brother-in-law, and the two families often visited each other and had a very good relationship.

Otherwise, Qiu Qiongying, the adopted daughter of Tian Hu's brother-in-law, would not have been granted the title of princess by Tian Hu.

Cai Fu keenly noticed that the middle-aged butler's gaze towards Qiu Qiongying was unusual, as if he were looking at a daughter...

Wu Guojiu waved to the middle-aged steward:

"Please, Your Majesty, have a seat in the hall. We'll be right out!"

The middle-aged butler stole another glance at Qiu Qiongying before leaving, and Cai Fu was basically certain of his identity:
Ye Qing, Qiu Qiongying's loyal servant.

Qiu Qiongying, however, was stealing glances at Cai Fu.

Although Cai Fu had planned it this way, Tian Hu's arrival was too sudden.

They were completely unprepared when Tian Hu arrived at Wu Guojiu's house.

Cai Fu nodded slightly, indicating that she didn't need to worry.

"Let's go, daughter."

Wu Guojiu used a handkerchief to wipe away Qiu Qiongying's tears:
"When the king asks you a question later, you can answer if you want to, and I will cover for you if you don't want to."

(End of this chapter)