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

"It wasn't me who saved the prefect today."

"But it is the people of Dongping Prefecture."

"If you have ever been harsh on the people, then today, Liangshan will surely hold you accountable!"

"I, Cheng, am ashamed,"

Cheng Wanli, his face filled with shame, bowed again.

“In the past, I have only been fulfilling my duties as governor when dealing with the people.”

"But to everyone's surprise, the people remembered all of this."

"Haven't ordinary people always been like this since ancient times?"

Zhao Yuan said calmly,

"They will naturally remember those who treat them well."

"By the way, I wonder what Prefect Cheng's plans are next?"

Zhao Yuan asked casually.

"Now that things have come to this, I, Cheng, am too ashamed to continue serving as the prefect,"

Cheng Wanli sighed.

"Cheng has already decided to resign and return to his hometown."

As soon as he said that,

Zhao Yuan immediately shook his head.

"The people of this entire city just saved the prefect,"

"Prefect Cheng, is this how you repay them?"

"What does Chief Zhao mean?"

Cheng Wanli asked, his face full of confusion.

"In this world, nine out of ten officials are corrupt, and the remaining one is even more corrupt."

Zhao Yuan said slowly,

“If Prefect Cheng resigns now, Tong Guan will surely send another official to Dongping Prefecture.”

"By then, they certainly won't be like Prefect Cheng,"

"Is it just about demanding money from wealthy and powerful people?"

"this....."

Cheng Wanli immediately understood Zhao Yuan's meaning.

Now, the entire Northern Song Dynasty court,

It has always been a collusion between officials and gentry.

They oppressed the lowest-class people together.

Over the past year or so

Although Cheng Wanli demanded more than 200,000 strings of cash from the wealthy gentry,

But for the people under his rule

But they cherished and cared for them greatly.

If it were any other official,

This amount of money, more than 200,000 strings of cash, or even more,

That would mean the burden would fall entirely on the shoulders of ordinary people.

"But now that things have come to this, how could I, Cheng, possibly still have the face to continue serving as prefect?"

Cheng Wanli sighed.

"The Prefect himself witnessed what happened today,"

Zhao Yuan advised,

"In the eyes of all the people in the city, the prefect is a good official who loves his people like his own children."

"Then why can't he be the prefect?"

"Can....."

Cheng Wanli was still somewhat hesitant.

Originally, according to his and Cheng Wan'er's agreement,

Even if Liangshan captured Dongping Prefecture...

But they certainly won't hold onto this city.

Although he temporarily surrendered to Liangshan,

But after Liangshan retreated...

As long as the matter is informed of Tong Guan, the Privy Councilor of Bianliang (Kaifeng),

That treacherous eunuch will surely protect the officials under his command.

Help Cheng Wanli cover up the matter...

Chapter 655 Cooperation with Cheng Wanli

But now...

After this morning

The common people pleaded for his life.

Cheng Wanli had finally come to a complete understanding.

From this point on,

He then severed ties with that treacherous eunuch Tong Guan of Tokyo!

Without a powerful backer

Based solely on the fact that Liangshan surrendered,

That would be enough to make Cheng Wanli suffer eternal damnation.

Even if he doesn't resign from his post...

Their fate is unlikely to be much better.

"Chief Zhao, things have come to this point. Even if I don't resign, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay."

Cheng Wanli smiled helplessly.

He poured out all his grievances.

"Excuse my bluntness, Prefect Cheng,"

Zhao Yuan smiled slightly.

He began to persuade them.

"These common people regard the prefect as their parent official,"

"Sir, if you leave now, what will happen to these people?"

"How many officials in later years would care for the people as much as Prefect Cheng did?"

"While Chief Zhao's words make sense, however..."

Cheng Wanli smiled wryly.

"If I want to stay in this position, I will have to offer at least tens of thousands of kan to Privy Councilor Tong in Tokyo."

“But all the money I had previously extorted from those wealthy gentlemen has already been sent to Tokyo.”

"Nowadays, where would we find the money to do these things?"

"What if we, Liangshan, were to pay for this?"

Zhao Yuan asked tentatively.

"What do you mean by this, Chief Zhao?"

Cheng Wanli had served as an official for many years, after all.

Naturally, I understand.

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; there's no ulterior motive involved.

He was an official, Zhao Yuan was a thief.

Officials and thieves have been irreconcilable enemies since ancient times.

Moreover,

The Liangshan heroes always fought under the banner of acting on behalf of Heaven and punishing corrupt officials.

How could he possibly help him bribe Tong Guan for no reason?

"I just think Prefect Cheng is a good official,"

Zhao Yuan explained with a smile,

"In this day and age, a good official who loves the people like his own children is a rare find,"

"Although I am a bandit, I do not want to see the people of Dongping Prefecture suffer,"

"That's why I wanted to help Magistrate Cheng."

"But......"

Cheng Wanli was still somewhat hesitant.

After pondering for a while,

He suddenly gritted his teeth.

He then asked directly,

"Is Chief Zhao trying to get me to serve Liangshan?"

"If that's the case, please forgive me, but I cannot agree."

"Although my family is poor, we are still a scholarly family,"

"Never work for bandits!"

"The governor has misunderstood,"

Zhao Yuan laughed.

"As I said, I helped the prefect only because I didn't want the people of Dongping Prefecture to suffer."

"I won't hide it from you, Prefect, but according to our spies from Liangshan,"

"After the failed attack on Liangshan by Dongping Prefecture,"

“Then Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Gao Kan and others in Bianliang, the capital of Tokyo, will surely send troops to suppress Liangshan.”

Zhao Yuan said this,

He looked at Cheng Wanli with a half-smile.

"Prefect, you have served in office for many years. How is the discipline of the Song court's troops these days?"

"The Prefect must be fully aware of this as well, right?"

"They all came from nearby prefectures and cities, specifically Yunzhou and Jizhou,"

"Our Liangshan will rise up to fight the enemy, but the people in these two places will inevitably suffer humiliation at the hands of the government troops."

"If there is a good official like Prefect Cheng, he can always protect the people to some extent."

"this....."