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

Ruan Xiaoqi laughed and said, "In my opinion, even if we buy this chestnut horse and give it to my brother, I'm afraid it will eventually end up in Qiongying's hands."

The three decided to buy horses.

Ruan Xiaowu took out a ten-tael garlic-shaped gold bar from his person, and was about to hand it over, but then suddenly took it back.

"Brother, give me your gold bar too!"

Since they needed to gather information before setting out, Zhao Yuan and his group naturally brought a considerable amount of gold and silver with them.

Even today, everyone entering Bianliang City carries a ten-tael garlic-shaped gold bar.

Although Ruan Xiaoqi found it strange, she still handed over her gold bar.

After receiving the gold bars, Ruan Xiaowu immediately stuffed both ten-tael gold bars into the hands of the horse seller.

"Brother, this twenty taels of garlic-shaped gold is our payment for the horses!"

Chapter 260 The Jurchens Set Up a Challenge

"This... is too much, too much!"

The sickly-looking man quickly spoke up.

"Haha, brother, just take it."

Ruan Xiaowu laughed and said, "I have an older brother who was also a former instructor in the Imperial Guards. I think you, brother, are quite capable. It would be such a pity if you lost your life due to illness!"

"Brother, take this gold and hire a famous doctor; he'll surely cure your illness."

"this......"

The man selling the horse was about to refuse, but the young woman beside him pulled him back.

He suddenly realized that if he were to die, his wife and children would be left destitute and helpless, and how would they survive?

Thinking of this, the man could only, with red eyes, bow and clasp his hands in a gesture of respect.

"My name is Guo Ying. Thank you for your generosity, brave man. Please leave your name. If I can survive this ordeal, I will repay you with my life!"

"Haha, it's nothing, Brother Guo, why bother taking it to heart?"

Ruan Xiaowu laughed heartily, without revealing his name, and then led his horse away with Ruan Xiaoqi and Zhang Shun.

Guo Ying watched the three people's backs and quickly pulled the woman up to bow down in gratitude.

......

Ruan Xiaowu and his two companions, leading their chestnut horses, left Beigu Bridge.

Zhang Shun suddenly froze for a moment, then shouted, "Oh no! Where did Tie Niu go?"

Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi were also taken aback, and looked around.

Sure enough, Li Kui, that dark-skinned fellow, was nowhere to be seen.

"I was just saying that when I was judging the horses, I felt something was missing, and it turns out it was the absence of Tie Niu's chatter,"

Ruan Xiaoqi patted her thigh.

“That black fellow is reckless. My brother didn’t want him to wander around the streets, but we made a promise to keep an eye on him, and that’s why he agreed.”

"Now that this scoundrel is gone, what if he causes trouble? How are we going to explain this to our brother!"

"I remember when we stopped buying horses, Tie Niu was still there,"

Ruan Xiaowu recalled, "He must have gotten confused while we were judging horses and wandered off somewhere. If we ask around, we're sure we'll find some clues."

The three of them split up and asked the surrounding people for information.

Sure enough, someone saw a burly, bearded man with a dark complexion heading north along the street.

Zhang Shun and the Ruan brothers pursued the matter all the way.

They gradually arrived at Fanlou, the most bustling and prosperous place in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital.

This Fanlou, also known as Baifanlou, was the premier of the seventy-two main restaurants in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital.

Fanlou is not a standalone building.

It is a complex of buildings, divided into five sections: east, south, west, north, and central, with a flying bridge and railings in the middle.

The decorations were lavish, with beaded curtains and embroidered foreheads.

During the daytime, distinguished scholars and dignitaries came in an endless stream.

Even in the evening,

This Fanlou restaurant was also brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Even people from the countryside like Zhang Shun, Ruan Xiaowu, and Ruan Xiaoqi had long heard of the name Fanlou.

The three of them saw the Fanlou restaurant from afar.

Then they saw a fighting arena being set up in front of the exquisitely carved building.

On the arena sat a dozen or so burly men.

Everyone there wore braids and gold earrings, making them look different from those in the Central Plains.

And beneath that arena

The area was densely packed with people, creating a great deal of noise.

"Damn it, why is no one stepping forward! Doesn't this just let the Jurchens look down on us Han people?"

"Alas, all the capable people in Bianliang have been driven away by those treacherous officials. Otherwise, if any of the talented men in the Imperial Guards, such as Leopard Head Lin Chong or Golden Spear Xu Ning, had come out, how could they have allowed the Jurchens to run rampant?"

"You don't know this, do you? There are indeed some formidable figures among the Imperial Guards, but Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others have issued orders strictly forbidding the Imperial Guards from provoking the Jurchens. Otherwise, why do you think it's been three days since then, with only civilian heroes going up to challenge them, but not a single soldier in sight!"

......

Seeing the surrounding people discussing amongst themselves, their expressions filled with indignation and resentment,

Zhang Shun stepped forward and inquired.

Only then did I realize that this arena was actually set up by the Jurchens.

They specifically chose this place to test their martial arts skills against the Han people.

The arena has been set up for three days.

On the first day, as many as a hundred people went up to the arena to challenge the golden statue.

However, they lost more often than they won.

The next day, the number of participants was halved, and not a single Han Chinese won.

The third day is today.

It was past noon when the Han people went up to fight, but there were fewer than three of them, and all of them were defeated by the Jin people.

The reason why fewer and fewer Han Chinese dare to step into the ring and challenge others is that...

Besides the fact that these Jurchens were truly skilled in martial arts,

This is also related to their ruthless and merciless actions.

The Han men who dared to take the stage to challenge in the past two days,

Most of the losers had broken bones and tendons, but there were three others...

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He was actually beaten to death by that golden man on the arena.

Even the few who managed to win were all covered in injuries.

Because Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and others prevented the Imperial Guards from interfering in this matter,

These challengers were all ordinary men.

This arena offers no gold or silver prizes.

Regardless of winning or losing, you'll end up with a lot of injuries.

How can anyone support a family like this?

Therefore, to this day,

Even though the common people were all indignant and resentful of the Jin people's arrogance and cruelty,

But those who dare to step onto the stage are now few and far between.

"Damn it! These Jurchens are going too far!"

Ruan Xiaoqi said angrily, "No wonder my brother told us in the past that these Jurchens are rude and cruel. Today, after seeing them, it is indeed true."

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Saying,

This "living Yama" was about to step forward and challenge the golden man to a duel.

But Zhang Shun and Ruan Xiaowu quickly pulled them away and dragged them to a secluded corner.

"Brother, don't be silly,"

Ruan Xiaowu rebuked, "Although we have martial arts skills, they are all water-based. If we were in the water, we would not be afraid of even a hundred or eighty Jin men. But once we are on land, eighty percent of our skills will be lost. How can we fight against the Jin men?"

"Fifth Brother, even if that's the case, I want to go up too!"

Ruan Xiaoqi said angrily, "These Jurchens dared to set up a martial arts arena in Tokyo and then beat three Han people to death in public on the stage. This is not a martial arts competition! They are clearly deliberately trying to embarrass us Han people!"

"Even if I'm not good enough, I'll still show these Jurchens the backbone of the Han people!"

"Brother Qi, how could Brother Wu and I not be angry too!"

Zhang Shun said helplessly, "But have you forgotten why we came to Tokyo this time?"

"We came here precisely to save Xu..."

As Ruan Xiaoqi finished speaking, she suddenly stopped struggling.

"Brother, it's good that you remember this."

Ruan Xiaowu sighed, "These Jin people are annoying, but the life of Scholar Xu is more important. If we get injured on this stage, how can you expect me to save him all by myself?"

Seeing that Ruan Xiaoqi was still somewhat upset, Zhang Shun was about to speak up again to persuade her.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a loud shout suddenly rang out from the arena.

"You golden men, don't be so smug! I, Iron Ox, will come and test my strength against you!"

Chapter 261 Li Kui Takes the Stage

"Tie Niu? How did he get up there?"

Zhang Shun and the other two stared in disbelief at the dark-skinned man who stepped onto the stage.

"Tie Niu's skills all lie in that axe. But we can't use weapons in this arena. If something happens to him, how will we explain it to our brother..."

Ruan Xiaowu slammed his fist against the wall.

"This is another series of challenges. They won't let you off the stage until you defeat those dozen or so golden statues in one go."

Zhang Shun pondered for a moment, then looked at the two Ruan brothers and said...

"Alright, I'll go find my brother right now! Fifth Brother, Seventh Brother, keep an eye on Tie Niu. If he can't defeat the Jin man, and he's about to go all out, even if it breaks the rules of the arena, you must save Tie Niu!"

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang Shun. With the two of us here, we'll make sure nothing happens to Tie Niu!"

After Ruan Xiaowu finished making his promise, he saw Zhang Shun mount the "180" chestnut horse.

Ignoring the curses and scorn of passersby, he spurred his horse and galloped out of the city.

"I hope my brother has already returned to the passenger ship..."

Ruan Xiaowu prayed silently in her heart.

Then he pulled his brother and squeezed to the front of the ring.

On the arena at this moment,

A burly, golden-haired man, seeing another Han Chinese coming to challenge him,

He stood up, his face contorted with anger and annoyance.

This time, the Jurchen envoys to the Song Dynasty, besides the chief and deputy envoys,