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

Chapter 381 Hua Rong: Please, Brother Cai Fu, save Brother Song Gongming! [2 Updates]

"It's actually him?"

This was indeed unexpected for Song Jiang, who subconsciously asked Kongming:
"Where are people?"

Kongming: "Wait outside the courtyard."

Song Jiang and Wu Yong exchanged a glance and said, "Bring him in!"

Kongming went out and, together with Kong Liang, brought Zhang Qing in.

Upon seeing Song Jiang, Zhang Qing immediately bowed deeply.

"This humble brother pays his respects to Brother Song Gongming..."

Song Jiang frowned: "Zhang Qing, why did you leave Liangshan Marsh in the first place?"
"And why did you come to Erlong Mountain?"

Zhang Qing recited from the prepared draft:
"I lost my wife, and Brother Yan Shun doesn't like me. He's always trying to cause me trouble. I can't stand it, so I want to quit the martial arts world."

"Who knew that after leaving Liangshan Marsh, I would have nowhere to go, nowhere to go either, and could only wander the world..."

"I originally lived as an outlaw on Erlong Mountain, but after thinking it over, I think I might as well go back to Erlong Mountain."

"Who knew that when I arrived at Erlong Mountain, I found that there was another stronghold there. I was just observing when I was captured by some henchmen..."

"I see……"

Song Jiang looked at Wu Yong, who nodded slightly. Only then did Song Jiang get up and help Zhang Qing to his feet.
"Brother Zhang Qing, to tell you the truth, this is a branch stronghold that Song Jiang established."

"Master Lu and Wu Song are both at Liangshan Marsh. If you want to go and join them, I will send someone to take you there."

"I will not go to Liangshan Marsh!"

Zhang Qing seemed to be moved by Song Jiang's sincerity:
"Ever since Cai Fu came up the mountain, Master Lu and Wu Erlang have been hanging out with him every day, and have long since distanced themselves from us brothers!"
"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't want to leave the martial world!"
"Brother Song Gongming is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness. I am willing to stay at Erlong Mountain and serve you!"

Song Jiang was overjoyed by Zhang Qing's words:

I knew my brothers still cared about me!

Song Jiang didn't suspect Zhang Qing anything, after all, before Cai Fu joined Liangshan, he was the succubus of the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, Li Zhong, Zhou Tong, Zhu Wu, Chen Da, and Yang Chun, all members of the Three Mountains Sect, followed him.

What's wrong with Zhang Qing being willing to follow him?
……

Liangshan Park.

Cai Fu had traveled too far last time, first to the Southern Kingdom and then to the Liao Kingdom, and was quite tired.

So after returning to Liangshanbo, Cai Fu'an stayed there peacefully for several months without going anywhere else.

Every night I sleep side by side with my brothers, and during the day I practice martial arts with them. It's so much fun!

As for Ma Ling, Cai Fu wrote back asking Ma Ling to be taken back to Mozhou and left there to help Shi Wengong.

Mozhou was located within the territory of the Liao Kingdom, and was an exclave. In case of any situation, Cai Fu would not be able to rush to its aid in time.

Therefore, if Ma Ling is given to Shi Wengong, he can immediately send the news back if anything happens.

Nothing much happened after Ma Ling left.

About a month later, Yang Zhi and Yang Zaixing returned from Mozhou, and Xuan Zan and Luo Yanqing took their place to assist Shi Wengong.

The past few months had been unusually peaceful at Liangshan Marsh, until this day, when Hua Rong fled to Liangshan Marsh.

"'Little Li Guang' Hua Rong? What brings him here?"

Cai Fu had a strange, auspicious premonition:
"Please come in quickly!"

He Yuanqing then invited Hua Rong, whose silver armor was stained with blood, in.

Hua Rong bowed to Cai Funa and begged, "Brother Cai Funa, please save Brother Song Gongming!"

"What's wrong with Brother Hua Rong?" Cai Fu helped Hua Rong up with both hands. To be honest, he was quite tempted by Hua Rong, but Hua Rong was a loyal follower of Song Jiang.

In the original novel, after Song Jiang died, Hua Rong even committed suicide for him, which shows how loyal he was.

As an aside, friendship is also a form of affection.

"Brother Cai Fu, the imperial army has besieged Erlong Mountain for over half a month now..."

Hua Rong was injured, yet he still managed to travel a long distance to Liangshan Marsh, which meant he was already at his last gasp.

He forced himself to speak and said, "That corrupt official, Grand Commandant Gao Qiu, is in charge and has mobilized ten military governors!"
"They are Wang Huan, the military governor of Henan and Hebei; Xu Jing, the military governor of Shangdang and Taiyuan; Wang Wende, the military governor of Hongnong in Jingbei; Mei Zhan, the military governor of Yingzhou and Runan; Zhang Kai, the military governor of Anping in Zhongshan; Yang Wen, the military governor of Lingling in Jiangxia; Han Cunbao, the military governor of Yanmen in Yunzhong; Li Congji, the military governor of Hanyang in Longxi; Xiang Yuanzhen, the military governor of Pengcheng in Langya; and Jing Zhong, the military governor of Tianshui in Qinghe!"

"Each of the ten military governors led 10,000 troops, and Gao Qiu selected another 30,000 elite soldiers from the imperial camp, making a total of 130,000 troops marching towards Erlong Mountain!"

"There is only one road leading up Erlong Mountain. The strategist originally said it was a good place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack!"
"Unexpectedly, they were surrounded by an army of 130,000 men at Erlong Mountain, becoming like turtles in a jar..."

What a perfect trap!
Cai Fu almost burst out laughing: You guys are only now realizing that Erlong Mountain is a dead end?

The reason why Liangshanbo was not easily besieged by government troops was because Liangshanbo was a large lake with a radius of 800 li.

Even a million-strong army wouldn't be enough to completely surround the lake, which spans eight hundred li in circumference.

However, Erlong Mountain is surrounded by cliffs and precipices, which is Baozhu Temple, Song Jiang's stronghold.

There is only one road leading down the mountain, which seems easy to defend but difficult to attack, but in reality it is a dead end.

The government troops blocked this dead end. They didn't have to do anything; they could just wear you down every day!
Unless your troops are sharp and can fight their way out, the problem is that the Tenth Commander is not someone to be trifled with.

They were all from outlaw backgrounds, had been recruited by the imperial court, and were all brave and skilled in battle, each one incredibly fierce.

Cai Fu remembered clearly that in the original novel, Wang Huan and Lin Chong fought for seventy or eighty rounds without a clear winner.

Han Cunbao also possessed unparalleled bravery, and fought Huyan Zhuo for a hundred rounds without a clear victor.

Zhang Kai's gun was described as "appearing and disappearing like a ghost," killing Zhang Qing and causing him to flee, as well as scattering fifty or sixty cavalrymen.

Jing Zhong, the weakest of the ten military commanders, was only killed by a single whip after fighting Huyan Zhuo for twenty rounds.

In the original story, Song Jiang defeated Gao Qiu because he had the advantage of the terrain of Liangshan Marsh and the support of the 108 heroes.

Now that Song Jiang has neither the advantage of terrain nor the support of the people, it would be strange if he didn't suffer a defeat!

As Hua Rong spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes:

"Brother Song Jiangming sent my younger brother, my brother-in-law, and Instructor Lin to lead a thousand elite cavalrymen to charge down the mountain!"
"My brother-in-law and Instructor Lin fought their way out, and I just managed to break through the encirclement to come and deliver the news!"

"Please, Brother Cai Fu, save Brother Song Gongming!"

"If we're too late, I'm afraid Brother Song Gongming's life will be in danger..."

At this point, Hua Rong burst into tears, but forced himself to kneel down before Cai Fu and kowtow repeatedly!

Such a fine general, why isn't he my brother?

Cai Fu was so jealous that his "iron arms" hardened.

Logically speaking, it would be better if Song Jiang died, so that Cai Fu could inherit Song Jiang's estate.

But if Cai Fu were to stand by and do nothing, his "Sai Xuande" persona would crumble.

Therefore, Song Jiang had no choice but to save him.

Cai Fu has been recuperating at Liangshan Marsh for so long, it's time for him to come out and make a move.

This time, Gao Qiu's momentum is so great. If Cai Fu defeats Gao Qiu, he will surely become a force to be reckoned with!

Once Cai Fu truly rivaled the other three major bandits in both prestige and strength, he was ready to establish his own independent regime...

[Don't worry, there's more to come. First, please give me some monthly tickets and recommendations!]

(End of this chapter)