Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Not content with just robbing people, they also take their lives, either forcing them to eat "broad-cut noodles" or "wonton noodles."

It seems very generous, but in reality, it just means that the guests have to choose how they die.

Thinking of Song Jiang, if Li Jun hadn't arrived in time to save him,

This future leader of the martial arts world almost met his end at the hands of Zhang Heng, a mere bandit.

Even now, their mother has fallen seriously ill.

Zhang Heng simply watched helplessly as his younger brother carried their elderly mother on his back on a long journey to seek medical treatment, without offering any assistance along the way, while he was only concerned with his unscrupulous business.

This man was committing heinous crimes in the Xunyang River with great relish, completely oblivious to the fact that he had a seriously ill old mother.

It was as if he himself had sprung out of a crack in a rock!

Looking at the life trajectories of these two brothers, it's clear who is better or worse.

Although Zhang Shun had shortcomings in minor matters, at least he still had a sense of shame.

He can distinguish right from wrong in his actions, knows how to repent, and is extremely filial to his mother.

Such a man is completely different from his own brother.

Not to mention that this white streak in the waves is extremely agile in the water.

Since he was known as the number one naval commander of Liangshan in the original Water Margin timeline, he must have had extraordinary abilities.

Zhang Heng, one of the three scourges of Jieyang, should surely have some sense of brotherhood among villains, right?

However, when the Mu brothers asked him to hand over Song Jiang so they could take revenge, Zhang Heng ignored them completely and refused to hand over Song Jiang, whom he considered his prized possession!

This man, who was unfaithful to his friends and disrespectful to his mother, actually held his younger brother in high esteem.

When Zhang Shun is mentioned, he always says with great pride, "My brother is as white as snow, and he can swim fifty miles on a day, and he can stay submerged for seven days and seven nights!"

The facts also proved that Zhang Heng did not lie about this matter.

After Zhang Shun joined Liangshan, he immediately captured Huang Wenbing, nicknamed "Wasp Sting," which was his first meritorious act in front of Song Jiang.

After going up the mountain, Zhang Shun's performance became even more outstanding.

When confronting Tong Guan, he single-handedly lured five hundred government troops into an ambush.

During the great battle against Gao Qiu, he led his navy to stab through the government army's large ships underwater and captured Gao Qiu alive.

Later, after being granted amnesty, he repeatedly distinguished himself in the campaign against Fang La.

But in the end, he went to carry out his espionage mission alone outside the walls of Hangzhou.

Before leaving, he himself felt that something was wrong, but he only said to Li Jun: "I will repay Brother Gongming's kindness over the years with this life, and it will not have been in vain to live this life!"

After saying this, he bravely went into battle, but his words became a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the end, his blood splattered at Jinmen, and he died a tragic death.

These are just his military achievements; in addition, Zhang Shun also owes a special debt of gratitude to his commander-in-chief, Song Jiang.

Let's not even mention Huang Wenbing, Song Jiang's sworn enemy who captured him alive.

Later, when Song Jiang attacked Daming Prefecture, he developed sores on his back, and for a time no one could cure them.

It was Zhang Shun who volunteered to go to Jiankang Prefecture, invited An Daoquan back, and ultimately saved Song Jiang's life.

This person can be described as someone who can admit his mistakes and correct them, possessing both courage and wisdom; he is a rare and exceptional talent in the navy.

How could Zhao Yuan let such a person go!

"Brother Zhang Shun and Auntie, please rest assured, what my two brothers promised is exactly what I promised!"

Zhao Yuan assured them, "Please feel free to do as you please on this passenger ship. If you wish to disembark when we reach Shandong, I will not stop you!"

After saying this, fearing that Zhang Shun's mother wouldn't believe him, Zhao Yuan swore an oath: "If I break this oath, I am willing to be struck by lightning!"

"Brother Zhao's Hall!"

People at that time were extremely superstitious, and they were shocked to hear that Zhao Yuan dared to make such a vow.

Ruan Xiaoqi, Hu Sanniang, Shi Xiu, Wang Dingliu, and the Liangshan generals Longhu and Xiong Jiao immediately became anxious.

Zhang Shun and his mother were both stunned for a moment, and then...

Zhang Shun said gratefully, "Chief Zhao, what have I done to deserve such a solemn oath from you!"

His mother also said with a surprised expression, "Just seeing that the chieftain is willing to make such a vow for us, mother and son, I am already somewhat convinced that what Madam An said is true."

"Haha, Auntie, didn't you just say that seeing is believing, hearing is believing?"

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "By the time we arrive at Liangshan Marsh, your mother should be almost fully recovered. At that time, Brother Zhang Shun will take you around the area, and you will then know how we Liangshan people usually conduct ourselves!"

Chapter 174 The Case

"Brother Shi Xiu, don't worry too much about family matters,"

After reassuring Zhang Shun and his mother, Zhao Yuan looked at the somewhat sullen Shi Xiu and advised, "Since your uncle regards Brother Shi Xiu as his own son, he must be hoping that you will be safe and sound. It's not your fault that things have turned out this way."

Shi Xiu sighed, "Now I have nowhere to go, so I can only trouble you, brother. I hope you won't find it offensive."

"Haha, why do you say that, brother?"

Zhao Yuan patted his shoulder and laughed, "I told you long ago that if you ever need anything, you can come to Liangshan to find me anytime. Now that you've come to join me, I'm overjoyed and would never look down on you!"

"elder brother......"

With red eyes, Shi Xiu clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Brother's kindness, I, Shi Xiu, will repay with my life!"

The passenger ship returned along the same route.

Compared to the three people Zhao Yuan, Ruan Xiaoqi, and Hu Sanniang, along with a dozen or so guards,

On the return trip, their group was noticeably more lively.

Ruan Xiaoqi would invite his brothers Longhu, Xiongjiao, Shixiu, Wang Dingliu, and Zhang Shun to drink every day.

Two elderly people, Wang Dingliu's father and Zhang Shun's mother, huddled together, chatting about things from the 090 era.

Zhao Yuan, along with Hu Sanniang, accompanied An Daoquan and his wife in studying medicine.

Although Zhao Yuan himself knew nothing about medicine, the system contained medical books from various eras.

In order to improve the couple's ability to cope with the epidemic,

Zhao Yuan exchanged many medical books from the Song Dynasty and later from the system, such as "Treatise on Epidemic Diseases" from the Ming Dynasty and "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" from the Qing Dynasty, for An Daoquan and his wife to refer to.

However, he underestimated the allure of these medical books, written centuries later, to An Daoquan and his wife.

After reading the medical book written by Zhao Yuanmo, the two immediately immersed themselves in it, studying it repeatedly day and night.

After reading these, they pestered Zhao Yuan, repeatedly asking him if he remembered any other medical books or ancient texts.

Unable to resist the two's persistent requests, Zhao Yuan simply exchanged modern books on traditional Chinese medicine, such as "Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine" and "Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine," from the system.

Then delete the inappropriate parts, and write out the rest bit by bit from memory.

These traditional Chinese medicine books from later generations captivated An Daoquan and his wife.

Every day, as soon as they open their eyes, they are there discussing and researching (bica).

Zhao Yuan, too, was completely reduced to a writing machine.

He locked himself in his room every day, reciting medical texts from memory.

Hu Sanniang felt sorry for him, seeing that Zhao Yuan's arms ached from writing every day.

Ignoring the teasing looks from Ruan Xiaoqi and the others, they rushed over to help.

Or, when Zhao Yuan was writing, she would massage his shoulders and legs.

Or perhaps Zhao Yuan dictated, and she helped him write it down.

After some time, he had memorized quite a few medical books.

The feelings between the two also deepened day by day.

"Brother, you have such a sharp mind!"

Looking at the thick stack of Xuan paper covered with writing, Hu Sanniang couldn't help but sigh, "It's amazing that you can remember so much. When I was young, although my brother hired a tutor, I would get a headache just reading those books. After three years of study, I could barely read and write. I couldn't remember any of those classic texts."

"I just memorized it by rote,"

Zhao Yuan stretched and casually replied, "These medical books are just a bunch of words to me. Only when they reach the divine physician couple can they become true medical skills."

After talking and resting for a while, the two continued working.

Meanwhile, in Jiankang City at the same time,

The government officials gradually discovered the bodies one after another.

The first bodies discovered were those of Li Qiaonu, Old Lady Yu, and two maids.

Li Qiaonu was a prostitute in a brothel, so naturally she had other customers besides An Daoquan.

One of her clients came looking for her for several days in a row, only to find the door tightly closed each time.

Puzzled, he found the window through which Ruan Xiaoqi and Shi Xiu had climbed out.

They climbed over the wall and found the bodies of Li Qiaonu and the other three in the bedroom.

After receiving the news, the government officials and constables dawdled as they rushed off to investigate.

Upon seeing the inscription on the wall that read "The murderer is An Daoquan," they indeed pinned all the blame for the murder on An Daoquan.

The prefect immediately ordered the closure of Jishetang.

This is a lucrative job, especially considering the constables who were dragging their feet while investigating the body.

This time, however, everyone was scrambling and racing to get there as quickly as possible.

When An Daoquan and his wife left, they had already dismissed the apprentices at Jishetang.

Those who were homeless went to Shandong with the two, while the others went back to their own homes.

The constables searched the entire Jishetang pharmacy and quickly found Zhang Wang's body.

As for the gold and silver they had hoped for, they received not a single coin.

Only the cabinet full of ordinary medicinal herbs in the lobby is worth something.

The discovery of Zhang Wang's body in Jishetang, in the prefect's eyes, naturally confirmed An Daoquan's guilt in committing murder.

He immediately signed the arrest warrant and issued arrest warrants for An Daoquan.

At this moment, Zhang the butcher from West Street arrived, weeping and saying that Zhang the butcher had been missing for several days.

In the government office, the secret that had previously been bribed by Butcher Zhang...

He told the prefect about the affair between Butcher Zhang and Aunt Shi Xiu, suspecting that Shi Xiu, dissatisfied with his aunt's infidelity, killed Butcher Zhang and disposed of his body.

The prefect immediately ordered his officers to arrest Shi Xiu and interrogate him thoroughly.

A group of constables arrived at Uncle Shi Xiu's courtyard, broke down the door, and entered.

Soon, a putrid stench filled the air.

Following the smell, they found Butcher Zhang and Aunt Shi Xiu huddled together in the main hall, their bodies strung together by a waist knife.

The two men were found naked, lying on the offering table, and had been dead for several days.

After the coroner examined the body...

The butcher died from injuries to his throat and abdomen, which is considered normal.

The other person, Shi Xiu's aunt,

Although she also suffered a knife wound to her abdomen, the real cause of her death was that she was scared to death!

The constables were horrified when they recalled the memorial tablet that had been placed over Aunt Shi Xiu's face when they broke down the door.

Seeing this, the surrounding villagers who had been watching the commotion...

Rumors began to circulate that the ghost of Shi Xiu's uncle had come to haunt the adulterous couple.

Through Shi Xiu's hand, Zhang the butcher was killed, and Shi Xiu's aunt was frightened to death!

Seven people died in the three separate murder cases, which naturally drew great attention from the authorities.

The constables searched everywhere every day, and the entire Jiankang Prefecture fell silent in fear.

While the authorities were busy pursuing An Daoquan and his wife, as well as Shi Xiu,

Zhao Yuan and his group had arrived at Sishui, where they transferred from the large passenger boats on the river to smaller boats suitable for the waterways, and continued their journey north...