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

Chapter 259 The Four Fierce Warriors and Eight Great Hammers: The Iron Hammer [2 Updates]

Runan?

Cai Fu originally meant that the area around Liangshan Marsh, Runan, had been excavated for hundreds of miles!
It was already quite surreal that Liangshan was upholding justice in the Song Dynasty, but who would have thought they'd have to enforce the law across state borders...

But since they've come all this way to ask for help, and we trust the King of Justice more than the government, how can we not go?
"Grandpa, I'll be going to Runan tomorrow."

Cai Fu readily agreed:
"Once I find out the truth, I will definitely give your sister and the whole village justice!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Di Taigong knelt down again and kowtowed repeatedly, which made Cai Fu feel heavy-hearted.

The Song Dynasty at present is definitely not as peaceful and prosperous as depicted in the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival".

There were a staggering 434 recorded uprisings, or rebellions, during the Song Dynasty!
You can imagine how chaotic it was!
In fact, bandits are as common as dogs, and outlaws roam everywhere, but these things are not reflected in famous paintings.

Since they've come to me for help, and since I have the capability, I'll just enforce the law across state lines!

After seeing off the profusely grateful Di Taigong, Cai Fu began to select his generals.

Because Di Taigong said that among that group of strongmen was one with unparalleled bravery, one of Lu Junyi, Lu Zhishen, and Wu Song had to be taken away.

Why not bring two? Cai Fu was afraid that one wouldn't be enough to keep Song Jiang in check.

"My second brother went last time!"

Lu Zhishen immediately chimed in, "Brother, you must take me with you this time!"

After he said that, Lu Junyi was in a difficult position to respond, but Wu Song still had a chance to try:

"Big brother, take me with you!"

After weighing the options, Cai Fu decided to bring Lu Zhishen along.

The main reason is that among the three, Wu Song has the highest IQ and is the most decisive in killing.

If Song Jiang really dared to cause trouble while I was away, Wu Song would probably make sure he was splattered with blood in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness!

However, Lu Junyi or Lu Zhishen are both options. Lu Junyi lacks the courage, while Lu Zhishen has it but is too reckless and easily falls into traps.

Moreover, the band of strongmen in Runan were on the mountain, and Lu Zhishen, who was skilled in both horsemanship and footwork, was more suitable for them than Lu Junyi.

"Brother-in-law, I'm going too!"

Fang Jie volunteered: "I want to see for myself that one who can fight ten thousand men!"

Cai Fu was taken aback: "Didn't you say you were useless?"

"My apprentice has it!"

Fang Jie beckoned to Lü Fang triumphantly, and Lü Fang promptly offered it with both hands.

Good guy!
Cai Fu's mouth twitched twice secretly:

Tell me, what on your body isn't your disciple's?
However, it would be better to bring Fang Jie along, as Fang Jie is also incredibly brave, making this trip much safer.

Cai Fu then selected Shi Xiu, Sun Li, Le He, Yang Lin, Xie Zhen, Xie Bao, and Shi Qian, making a total of ten leaders, which he figured should be enough.

Since this trip was for fighting, Cai Fu mustered a thousand men and they would set off the next day.

That said, Cai Fu already had almost as many henchmen as Song Jiang.

The more than 1,000 henchmen from Erlong Mountain, the more than 300 retainers from Hujiazhuang, the more than 1,000 henchmen from Mangdang Mountain, the more than 2,000 surrendered soldiers from Guan Sheng, the more than 3,000 surrendered soldiers from Zhang Qing, the more than 10,000 surrendered soldiers from Zhang Shuye, plus the more than 500 naval troops of the three Ruan brothers, totaled 17,000 to 18,000 men.

If Guan Sheng, Zhang Qing, and Zhang Shuye hadn't successively delivered the imperial court's grain and supplies to Cai Fu, they really wouldn't have been able to afford to feed him.

Even so, Cai Fu was already planning to establish military settlements.

Liangshan is so big, it's not impossible to build terraced fields.

The thousand lackeys that Cai Fu had gathered were all infantry.

Jie Zhen, Jie Bao, and Shi Qian led two hundred henchmen ahead.

Cai Fu, along with Lu Zhishen, Fang Jie, and Shi Xiu, led five hundred henchmen as the central army.

Sun Li, Le He, and Yang Lin led three hundred henchmen to escort the rear, while the rear guard was also in charge of supplies.

Since only a thousand men were mobilized, there was no need for elaborate road-building or bridge-building. They could all disguise themselves as travelers and disperse to continue their journey, with the rear guard escorting the supplies disguised as itinerant merchants.

When Cai Fu set off the next day, he noticed something was wrong:

Why didn't Shi Xiu come? Why is it Hu Sanniang who came instead?
Why isn't Xiuer here?

Cai Fu walked up to Hu Sanniang and asked in a low voice. Hu Sanniang, with her head held high and chest puffed out, whispered:

"He has an upset stomach! Your disciple will go to war in his place!"

Stop making trouble!

Cai Fu gave Hu Sanniang a meaningful look:
Did you force him to get an upset stomach?
Hu Sanniang blinked guiltily.

Cai Fu caught a glimpse of a figure moving around out of the corner of his eye, but upon closer inspection, he saw only a towering tree.

Cai Fu smiled and said: "You little show-off, are you doing this here?"
That's it.

Cai Fu thought about it and didn't blame Hu Sanniang. He had always taken Shi Xiu out with him and had ignored her feelings.

They are all my students, how can I show favoritism to one over the other?

Fang Jie also gave Hu Sanniang a meaningful look:
My brother-in-law's little apprentice is quite handsome!

Could it be...

……

Having an advance team made a difference; Cai Fu's journey was smooth until he reached the foot of Wutong Mountain.

He saw the village where Di Taigong's sister lived, which had been burned to the ground and reduced to ruins...

The bodies were buried by some kind person, and they were all piled up together, the grave mound as big as a mountain.

Cai Fu stood silently before the enormous grave. Shi Qian leaned closer and whispered the story to him:
"...It all started because a few thugs came to Wutong Mountain and tried to kidnap a young woman."

The villagers dared not resist, but the young woman's cries attracted a passing young man on a white horse and with a silver spear.

The boy killed a few henchmen, ignored the villagers, and continued on his way on horseback.

"As a result, a big king came from Wutong Mountain with several hundred henchmen and killed the whole village."

"There was an old man who went to the city to visit relatives. When he returned, he saw the henchmen walking away..."

"The old man went to the government to file a complaint, but the government couldn't deal with the bandits of Wutong Mountain, so the old man had no choice but to stay here and guard the grave."

"After inquiring with my father-in-law, my younger brother went up the mountain overnight to gather intelligence on the military situation."

"It turns out there were two kings on this mountain, one named Cao Cheng and the other named Cao Liang."

"Cao Cheng was fond of befriending heroes of the Jianghu, so heroes from all over came to submit to him."

"But there's only one child who's truly capable..."

Upon hearing the names Cao Cheng and Cao Liang, Cai Fu already had a basic understanding of this group of powerful figures.

In "The Story of Yue Fei", these two guys became too powerful. When Yue Fei went to suppress the bandits, they had already gathered hundreds of thousands of followers.

This should be the time when Cao Cheng and Cao Liang were just starting out, and that kid was probably...

"I heard his name is He Yuanqing!"

Shi Qian continued, "At only ten years old, he wields a pair of large iron hammers and possesses the courage of ten thousand men!"

"Cao Cheng and Cao Liang were able to repeatedly repel the government troops because of He Yuanqing!"

Sure enough it was him!

Cai Fu narrowed his eyes. This He Yuanqing would be one of the "Four Fierce Warriors and Eight Great Hammers" of Yue Fei's army in the future!

The Four Fierce Warriors and Eight Great Hammers are Yan Chengfang (Golden Hammer), Yue Yun (Silver Hammer), Di Lei (Bronze Hammer), and He Yuanqing (Iron Hammer).

The Eight Hammers were quite a force to be reckoned with in Zhuxian Town, but who would have thought that He Yuanqing, at such a young age, would be aiding and abetting evil...

(End of this chapter)