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

Chapter 556 Qin Ming: Didn't I rebel for nothing? [1st Update]

A royal edict was posted at the gate of Tokyo, attracting a large crowd of people who stopped to watch.

A burly man with a purple face and a fan-shaped beard squeezed into the circle, tore down the imperial edict, and turned to leave.

The government troops instinctively wanted to chase after him, but they saw that he was walking very fast, as if he had grown wings or was flying on the grass!
In the blink of an eye, the burly man disappeared below the horizon...

The burly man with the purple face ran all the way to a village shop on the outskirts of Tokyo, where he saw a small, fat, dark-skinned man standing at the shop entrance from afar.

The chubby little black boy was craning his neck to look ahead, like a statue waiting for its husband.

The burly man with the purple face felt a warm glow in his heart and ran forward to present the imperial edict to the chubby little man:

"Brother, look!"

The chubby little man took the imperial edict, opened it, and couldn't help but beam with joy:

"Alright! I've accepted the offer!"

Holding the imperial edict in both hands, the chubby little boy strode in excitedly, loudly announcing with great enthusiasm:
"Brothers, the imperial edict has arrived!"

A group of men were drinking in the lobby on the first floor of the village shop, and they cheered when they heard what the little fat man said.

In one corner, a burly, black man who had lost both arms was biting a wine bowl, tilting his head back and drinking it down in silence.

On the other side of the wall, in the corner, stood a high-ranking official with dragon-like eyebrows, phoenix-like eyes, white teeth, and red lips, and a three-pronged mustache covering his mouth.

Hearing the news, he was not happy, but instead frowned and took a sip of wine in silence.

Besides these two, even Dong Ping was happy for them; their surrender meant he was safe.

As long as Song Jiang and his men remain within the system, they must cling tightly to the coattails of Gao Taiwei's adopted son!
Having accepted the imperial edict, Song Jiang had no intention of wasting time. He immediately checked out of the room and summoned everyone to head to Tokyo.

Dong Ping took a shortcut and returned to Tokyo first, so as not to let anyone know that he was colluding with Song Jiang.

Song Jiang had a total of more than 300 men, all of whom were dressed in military attire, while Wu Yong was dressed in a feather fan and silk turban.

They carried the imperial edict on a tray and arrived in Tokyo in a grand manner, temporarily residing outside the Shinso Gate.

Song Jiang originally thought he would be able to meet Emperor Huizong of Song, but it turned out he was overthinking it; he only met Gao Qiu.

In the original story, their 108 leaders were all present and accounted for, and they also led 100,000 troops, so they naturally gained the attention of Emperor Huizong of Song.

Now they only have ten leaders and more than three hundred men. How could Emperor Huizong of Song possibly meet with them?

If it weren't for Gao Qiu's recommendation and Zhang Bangchang's support, Emperor Huizong of Song wouldn't have bothered to issue this imperial edict.

However, the imperial edict still made Song Jiang very happy. Emperor Huizong actually appointed him as the military commander of Yangzhou, appointed Qin Ming as the military supervisor of Yangzhou, and appointed Wu Yong as the judicial advisor of Yangzhou.

Gao Qiu reassured Song Jiang: "The Privy Council says that newly surrendered people have not yet rendered meritorious service, so it is not appropriate to grant them titles so hastily."

"We can wait for future campaigns, establish meritorious service, and then reward ourselves with official rank and honors."

"It was only because I spoke on your behalf before His Majesty that you were given your official positions."

"Commander Song, you'd better perform well in Yangzhou."

"With me in the court, as long as you achieve meritorious service, I guarantee you will be promoted and given higher ranks!"

"His kindness to Song Jiang is like a second birth to him!"

Song Jiang was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and he bowed deeply to Gao Qiu.

"Song Jiang will remember this forever!"

The leaders who didn't get official positions were naturally disappointed, and even Qin Ming, who did get one, found it quite boring.
He was originally the military commander of Qingzhou Commandery, and his apprentice Huang Xin was the military supervisor of Qingzhou.

After following the chubby little black man in a rebellion and traveling all over the country for so many years, he returned to find himself holding the official position of his apprentice!

Wasn't his rebellion for nothing?

No, before the rebellion he was a fifth-rank official, after the rebellion he was an eighth-rank official!
He even regressed three ranks!
Others were rebelling, he was committing a sin!

Gao Qiu held Song Jiang's hand and whispered in his ear:

"Once you arrive in Yangzhou, train your troops well; they will be of great use in the future!" "Understood, Your subordinate!"

Song Jiang's dark face turned bright red. Had he finally gotten on board with Grand Commandant Gao?

On a nearby, leafy tree, a shifty-eyed man in black silently made a note:

Gao Qiu whispered something in Song Jiang's ear, and Song Jiang's face turned red and his whole body trembled...

……

A few days after Song Jiang and his party headed south, Cai Fu's messenger arrived in Tokyo.

Tokyo was exceptionally lively that day!

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, firecrackers crackled, red flags fluttered, and crowds thronged the streets!
That scene was huge. The last time it was this lively was when Wu Mixi harassed Gao Chong's mother and was beaten to death by Gao Chong, and Dong Ping took sides and had his arm chopped off by Cai Fu...

"Excuse me! Excuse me!"

A handsome young scholar with delicate features and a clear, bright voice immediately caught the attention of the ruffian.

Seeing the young scholar's fair and delicate skin, they all crowded around him with ulterior motives.

As a result, he couldn't squeeze in, and several burly men surrounded the young scholar.

A rogue, oblivious to his own mortality, tried to squeeze in, but two burly men blocked him, glaring angrily.

The rogue suddenly felt something hard pressing against him.

Looking down, I saw it was a scabbard!
The burly man's hand was already on the knife handle; if he squeezed again, he would stab him twice!

With the protection of several burly men, the young scholar successfully squeezed to the front of the crowd.

As I was tiptoeing to look around, I suddenly heard someone beside me say:
"The Fifth Young Master has come too?"

Ok?
The young scholar was startled and turned his head to see a beautiful face with lifeless eyes.

These lifeless eyes, which usually look like those of a dead fish, are now looking at me with a smile.

Who else could it be but Cai Ya, the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor's mansion?

This is embarrassing...

The young scholar blushed slightly: "I came out to play today and saw this commotion, so I came to join in the fun..."

Cai Ya looked at the young scholar with a smile: "What a coincidence, Fifth Young Master, how did you know that the Prince of Qi was coming to court today?"

"What a coincidence?"

The young scholar's face turned so red it was almost bleeding.
"I don't know, I just happened to be passing by..."

Even if we see through each other but don’t say it out loud, we can still be good friends.

Cai Ya walked over and stood next to the young scholar, hand in hand, side by side:

"He's coming right away."

It didn't matter that they were sisters; Luan Yu, the family retainer protecting her, sensed something and suddenly turned around:

Straight bitch!
Luan Yu's face turned green when her gaze fell on Cai Ya and the young scholar's clasped hands, and she quickly turned her head away.

Look no further!

Just then, the onlookers cheered, and Cai Ya and the young scholar quickly stood on tiptoe to look outside.

A troop of cavalrymen came marching in, lined with people to welcome them. Their armor was gleaming, and the men and horses were strong and powerful, like heavenly soldiers!
Although there were only ten of them, their momentum was overwhelming, outshining the surrounding Song Dynasty imperial guards who were escorting them.

Leading the group was a young general in white robes and riding a white horse, wielding a silver spear; behind him stood a general with a leopard's head, round eyes, and a goatee...

The young scholar and Cai Ya stared wide-eyed, looking from beginning to end, and then from end to beginning.

The young scholar finally couldn't help but ask Cai Ya, "Sister, which one is the King of Qi?"
"Don't get me wrong, I was just asking casually..."

(End of this chapter)