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

Over time, rumors even began to circulate that it was haunted.

As for Li Baozheng's family, perhaps they had done too many heinous things.

On the contrary, he was extremely devout to Buddhism.

After the ghost stories began in Xixi Village,

Li Baozheng feared that the spirits of those he had wronged were seeking revenge.

He then spent a large sum of money to hire a monk to build a blue stone pagoda to guard the stream.

They wanted to drive all those wronged ghosts to Dongxi Village and prevent them from entering Xixi Village!

Unexpectedly, this move angered Chao Gai, the head of Dongxi Village!

He waded across the stream alone.

They seized the blue stone pagoda and erected it in Dongxi Village.

From then on, Chao Gai was known as the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Night Raid on Xixi Village

That day, everyone on Liangshan Mountain had a full meal.

As the sun sets and night falls,

Three hundred and sixty regular soldiers, led by their respective captains and deputy captains,

They were taken to the west bank of the marsh by the three Ruan brothers' boat.

This battle was Zhao Yuan's first since taking command of Liangshan.

To fire the first shot in this opening!

Zhao Yuan made comprehensive preparations.

Beforehand, Zhu Gui had already sent spies.

We thoroughly investigated the detailed situation of Xixi Village!

When it came time to take action...

The entire Liangshan stronghold mobilized its entire force, going all out!

Now in the mountain village,

Only Qiongying and Zhu Gui remained, leading the female soldiers and the elderly and weak to guard the area!

If mobilization is necessary, military discipline must be clearly stated.

Zhao Yuan had already emphasized this before boarding the ship at Jinsha Beach.

After disembarking on the west bank of the lake, he said no more.

The soldiers were divided into small teams.

Let's follow the stream!

This is the big stream that separates Dongxi Village and Xixi Village!

Just follow the stream forward,

After walking for less than half an hour, you can see Xixi Village and Dongxi Village!

Along the way, to avoid the soldiers making noise and alerting the target,

The three officers each had a dry twig in their mouth.

The squad leaders were also nervously watching their respective soldiers.

Because it was based on the Liangshan military law adapted from "Training Records".

If a soldier makes a mistake, not only the soldier should be punished, but the captain should also be punished!

If the captain makes a mistake, the entire team will be punished!

During the training sessions these past few days,

Several captains have already been punished because of mistakes made by their soldiers.

He was beaten until his skin was torn and bleeding.

As for Zhao Yuan and Sun An's group of people...

Because the two squad leaders drank alcohol during training.

Let Zhao Yuan and Sun An get their butts.

He was also beaten with twenty strokes of the military rod by Lu Zhishen's enforcement team!

I witnessed firsthand that even the chieftain of a mountain stronghold had to obey military law.

The authority of the Liangshan military law was immediately established!

Whether they were ordinary soldiers or squad leaders,

They all memorized it carefully and acted cautiously.

I was terrified that I might accidentally break military law!

But in fact, those two squad leaders who were drinking...

They were Zhang San and Li Si who used to follow Lu Zhishen.

These two had previously revealed Zhao Yuan's true identity while drinking.

That's what attracted Wang Lun's scheme.

Although Zhao Yuan did not blame them,

But Zhang San and Li Si felt extremely guilty and kept asking to be punished.

At that time, the Liangshan military law had just been promulgated, and it was necessary to make an example of someone to deter others!

Zhao Yuan then simply had them put on this show.

As a result,

The two were punished, and their wish was fulfilled.

The soldiers of Liangshan were also warned and never dared to disregard Liangshan military law again!

But if you're going to put on an act, you have to make it real.

The twenty lashes Zhao Yuan and Sun An received on their buttocks were real.

This made it difficult for the two of them to walk while on the march.

They were all still limping a bit!

Following the stream for half an hour,

Liangshan's men and horses arrived outside Xixi Village.

Because of rampant banditry in recent years, villages have been forming fortified villages for self-protection!

Xixi Village is no exception!

But that Li Baozheng from Xixi Village is a scoundrel.

Although the tenants are trained to guard and patrol the village daily,

But as always, they treated her harshly, without offering any rewards.

These tenants would never do anything for him!

The entire Xixi Village needs to be patrolled and defended, and it can be said that there are flaws and loopholes everywhere.

After arriving outside the village,

According to the plan, Lu Zhishen and Song Wande's troops...

Immediately, four small teams were dispatched to guard the entrances and exits of Xixi Village.

The remaining men joined forces with Zhao Yuan and Lin Chong, who had led troops from both capitals.

They charged straight toward the richest and largest farm in Xixi Village!

Along the way, however, they encountered the tenants whom Li Baozheng had arranged to patrol.

But these people already hated Li Baozheng to the core.

How could anyone risk their life for him!

Upon seeing the bandits approaching, the first reaction was...

Instead of immediately issuing a warning,

Instead, they all turned around and fled back to their respective homes.

Most of these tenant farmers were already destitute.

They weren't afraid of being robbed by bandits at all!

Rushing along,

When the Liangshan troops appeared in front of the gate

The guards on the estate then realized what was happening.

While shouting loudly, they quickly tried to close the gate!

The estate had walls built to protect it from thieves.

It was built to be three or four zhang tall!

There are also high platforms inside the walls, which allow guards to stand on them and shoot arrows at the outside!

You could say this is a kind of rural city wall.

If entering through the main gate is not an option and a direct assault is the only choice,

The Liangshan forces are bound to suffer heavy losses!

Fortunately, just as the gates were about to close,

Zhao Yuan and Lu Zhishen had already rushed to the gate!

Both of them possessed the strength of a thousand jin (approximately 500 kg).

With the two of them blocking the way,

The four or five guards inside the manor who wanted to close the door couldn't even push it open!

Before the door was completely closed,

Lin Chong immediately took the lead and led the Liangshan men into Li Baozheng's estate!

What followed, naturally, was a massacre.

Anyone who dares to resist with weapons will be cut down!

In order to control the tenants, Li Baozheng enslaved the villagers.

The estate also had fifty or sixty guards.

However, most of these people are scoundrels and ruffians.

He usually helped Li Baozheng bully the villagers, which was acceptable.

How can we possibly deal with real bandits!

After about ten people were killed...

These ruffian guards were already intimidated.

They all knelt down and begged for mercy!

There are those shameless people who even turn around and curry favor with the Liangshan soldiers.

Leading the Liangshan soldiers, they searched and ransacked the entire estate!

Li Baozheng was originally flirting with (Nuoqian Zhao)'s concubine.

When discussing which position to use at night,

He was dragged out of the room by the Liangshan soldiers!