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

Jiao Ting stood guard at the door, while the others went into Zhao Yuan's room to discuss the birthday gifts.

"Well, we're not late, are we?" Zhao Yuan asked.

Shi Qian picked up the teapot, poured everyone a cup of cool tea, and then replied,

“Brother, you’ve come at the right time. According to the spies in the prefect’s office, the birthday tribute will be transported away tomorrow morning.”

"Is everything arranged?"

"Don't worry, brother. I've taken care of everything."

Shi Qian nodded and assured him, "There will absolutely be no problems."

"It's true that timing is everything."

Zhao Yuan downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, looked at everyone, and said...

"Everyone, go back to your rooms and rest. Don't wander around. Get plenty of rest and we'll proceed as planned tonight."

"Yes!" Shi Qian and the others bowed in agreement.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the group went together into the main hall.

I had just sat down and was about to order some drinks and food when

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a series of firecrackers went off from the street outside the inn.

Immediately afterward, a guest who entered the room exclaimed with a hearty laugh, "I never expected that this year's martial arts champion would be from our Daming Prefecture!"

"Tch, just a martial arts champion, not a civil service champion?"

Some of those who weren't guests of Daming Prefecture said sourly.

"Although the martial arts champion doesn't have the same prestige as the civil service champion, at least one like him only comes along every three years!"

Immediately, a guest retorted, "If you look down on the martial arts champion so much, why don't you take the exam yourself?"

......

Many guests were still discussing the martial arts champion.

Just then, a government official entered the shop and shouted to the shopkeeper, "The Prefect has ordered that since this year's martial arts champion is from Daming Prefecture, the whole city should celebrate this. From today onwards, for the next ten days, all shops along the street must hang red lanterns and red silk to celebrate."

The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and whispered, "As long as we don't have to pay any money, that's fine."

Upon seeing this, the constable immediately put on a stern face.

"What are you muttering about?"

"No, it's nothing, officers. Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is prepared."

The shopkeeper cupped his hands in greeting, then took out a string of copper coins and slipped it into the hand of the head constable.

"This little bit of money is for you gentlemen to have some tea and wine."

"Hehe, shopkeeper, if it were any other day, we wouldn't make things difficult for you with this much money, but today, this amount isn't enough."

The bailiff said with a forced smile, "The prefect has ordered that every shop must pay five taels of silver to celebrate the selection of the martial arts champion in Daming Prefecture."

"What... what kind of money is this?" The shopkeeper was dumbfounded.

"Didn't the prefect say that the whole city should celebrate together? When that happens, hiring opera troupes and acrobatics won't be cheap."

The constable replied impatiently, "Hurry up and pay, we still have to go to the next place!"

The shopkeeper sighed, took out five taels of loose silver from behind the counter, and reluctantly handed it over.

After accepting the money, the constables turned and left, satisfied.

They left, but the atmosphere in the inn's lobby changed.

The guests, who had been excited about the emergence of a martial arts champion from Daming Prefecture, fell silent.

"Sigh, if only those vampires had all been killed by the heroes of Liangshan at the beginning of the year!" a guest couldn't help but shout angrily.

One customer, unaware of the situation, asked curiously, "What happened at the beginning of the year?"

"You don't even know this?"

One of the meddlesome guests, speaking in a storyteller's tone, slowly recounted...

"At the beginning of this year, the leader of Liangshan Marsh in Shandong, having heard that Master Lu of Daming Prefecture was unparalleled in spear and staff skills, came to challenge him to a duel..."

......

"The leader of Liangshan fought his way out of Master Lu's mansion, while his other leaders had already defeated the gatekeepers and occupied the north gate! After the two sides joined forces, they left triumphantly."

After the person finished telling the story, someone in the know added to it.

"I heard that the Cuiyun Tower was also burned down by the Liangshan leader's men, in order to attract the attention of the government. It's a pity that the prefect's wife was not burned to death!"

"If Cai Jing's daughter were burned to death, the prefect of Daming Prefecture would definitely be replaced by someone else. At that time, everyone would be able to save a lot of trouble by not having to collect money for the birthday tribute every year," a guest sighed.

"Stop dreaming. You think that just because you changed the prefect, these exorbitant taxes and levies will be gone?"

The innkeeper said helplessly, "At least our prefect Liang Zhongshu only needs to curry favor with Cai Jing. I've heard that some officials in other prefectures, in order to get promoted, will flatter all six traitors. The people under their jurisdiction are living much worse lives than we are here."

The so-called "Six Traitors" refers to the six favored ministers around Emperor Huizong of Song: Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Mian, and Li Yan.

The guests were all talking about it.

Upon hearing the words "Martial Arts Champion," Zhao Yuan was reminded of someone.

He then sent Shi Qian out to find out who this year's martial arts champion was.

After one stick of incense,

Shi Qian returned to the inn, but one person was following behind him.

It was none other than Yan Qing, the notorious playboy of Daming Prefecture!

"Greetings, Chief Zhao,"

Yan Qing bowed respectfully, and Zhao Yuan quickly helped him up and pulled him to sit down at the table.

"How have you been, brother? And what about Master Lu? Has the government been giving him any trouble?"

“Brother, you don’t know this, but Brother Yan Qing is now Master Lu’s steward.”

Shi Qian laughed and said, "That steward Li Gu from before was a traitor and has already been kicked out of the manor by Master Lu."

"I am a dissolute young man, used to being idle and carefree. Now that I have taken on the job of steward, I don't have a single moment of free time every day. Naturally, I am quite annoyed."

Yan Qing replied with a smile, "As for Xiao Ke's master, after his battle with Chief Zhao, he has regained his former spirit for martial arts practice and is planning to travel around the world next spring to challenge masters from all over the world."

"Master Lu is truly in high spirits,"

Zhao Yuan exclaimed in surprise, then cupped his hands and said,

"We have important business to attend to in Daming Prefecture, so we cannot visit Master Lu. Please convey this to Brother Yanqing. Also, if Master Lu leaves home next year, please make sure he comes to Liangshan for a visit."

"Don't worry, Chief Zhao, I will inform my master."

After saying this, Yan Qing asked with a smile, "By the way, Chief Zhao, do you know who this year's martial arts champion is?"

Seeing his expression, Zhao Yuan naturally already knew the answer in his heart.

"Look at how happy you are, brother. Is this year's martial arts champion Xu Guanzhong?"

Chapter 219 The wool comes from the sheep's back

"The chieftain is right, it is indeed Brother Xu,"

After Yan Qing finished speaking with a delighted expression, he suddenly stood up and addressed the crowd in the inn's lobby,

"Everyone, my brother has been fortunate enough to become the top martial arts champion. Today, I will be paying for all the drinks at each table. I hope everyone can join me in celebrating my brother's achievement!"

After Yan Qing finished speaking, he thought he would surely receive a round of applause as usual.

To his surprise, everyone in the room just stared at him with displeasure, not one of them giving him a kind look.

"this......"

Yan Qing was somewhat puzzled.

Zhao Yuan quickly pulled him down to sit and recounted in detail how the yamen runners had come to collect the money.

"Brother Yanqing, please don't blame these guests. It is naturally gratifying that Brother Xu has become the top martial arts scholar. However, Liang Zhongshu took the opportunity to amass wealth, which is why everyone is not happy."

"So that's it..."

Yan Qing slammed his hand on the table in anger, gritting his teeth as he roared.

"That damned Liang Zhongshu! Not only did he extort his master before, but now that Brother Xu has finally become the top martial arts scholar, he insists on making Brother Xu suffer the resentment of the whole city."

After saying this, the prodigal Yan Qing stood up, went to the counter, and bowed to the shopkeeper.

"I'm sorry, because of Brother Xiao Ke's matter, the shopkeeper has suffered financial losses."

As he spoke, Yan Qing took out five taels of loose silver and placed them on the counter.

"Consider this money as compensation, and please don't hold a grudge against my brother!"

"Sir, I can't possibly accept this."

The shopkeeper said this, but quickly picked up the loose silver coins.

"This is not Xu Zhuangyuan's fault. It's all the prefect's fault for taking the opportunity to make money. Everyone knows that."

After compensating the shopkeeper,

Yan Qing returned to Zhao Yuan and the others' table, then prepared to take his leave.

"Chief Zhao, please forgive me, I cannot stay any longer..."

"Brother, are you planning to compensate every single shop on this street?"

Zhao Yuan frowned and said, "This is not Brother Xu's fault, why bother?"

"Chief, you may not know this, but although Brother Xu is not in Daming Prefecture, Aunt Xu is here,"

Yan Qing sighed, "The old man's health is not good to begin with. If he knew that the people of Daming Prefecture were being harassed by the prefect because of Xu's brother's success in the imperial examination, he would definitely feel bad."

"Brother Yan Qing's consideration for Brother Xu is truly commendable,"

After Zhao Yuan finished speaking, he looked at Qiong Ying.

"Girl, give me all the garlic-shaped gold coins you brought."

Qiongying took off her bundle and took out ten ten-tael garlic-shaped gold bars.

"Brother, these are all I brought with me this time."

Zhao Yuan took the garlic-shaped gold ingot and immediately stuffed it into Yan Qing's arms.

"I only brought these with me in a hurry this time. Brother, please take them. It is my way of doing my part for Brother Xu."

"Chief Zhao, how can this be?"

Yan Qing was about to refuse when

"Brother, have you forgotten the bet I made with Brother Xu?"

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Although it's a bit unlucky to say it like this, I've already won half of that bet. It's only a matter of time before I win it all. By then, Brother Xu will be one of my brothers from the mountain, so this gold can be considered a gift from me to him in advance."

During the first month of the lunar calendar, Zhao Yuan encountered Xu Guanzhong in Daming Prefecture.

The two had made a bet: if Xu Guanzhong could pass the martial arts exam this year and become an official, he would choose to resign and retire from public life shortly afterward.

If he really does that, then Zhao Yuan will have won.

At that time, as a wager, Xu Guanzhong would have to go to Liangshan and serve Zhao Yuan!

When Zhao Yuan and Xu Guanzhong made their bet, Yan Qing was right there and naturally remembered it.

To be honest, in Yan Qing's heart,

They also felt that Zhao Yuan had a very good chance of winning the bet.

Yan Qing, as Xu Guanzhong's brother, naturally knew exactly what kind of person Xu Guanzhong was.

With the current corrupt political climate, how could Xu Guanzhong, who cannot tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes, possibly stay for long?

At that time, he might really go to Liangshan and rebel...

Thinking of this, Yan Qing did not refuse. He put the hundred taels of gold into his pocket, cupped his hands in thanks, and said...

"I will always remember the chieftain's kindness and will repay it in the future."