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

"Brother, this is the Yinma River!"

Yang Lin introduced to everyone, "My brother Deng Fei has set up camp on the mountain ahead. It's another half an hour's walk to get there!"

"This place is much better than my backyard!" Bian Xiang looked around enviously.

Lin Chong, who was standing nearby, also praised, "The terrain here is treacherous. As long as we build a pass on this mountain road and station three to five hundred soldiers, even if the enemy has thousands of troops, it will be difficult for them to break through this place."

"My two elder brothers only see the advantages of this terrain, but they are unaware of its disadvantages,"

Yang Lin said with a wry smile, "The mountains here are steep and cannot be cultivated. All the grain and fodder in the mountains must be purchased from the town a hundred miles away. In previous years, we could still buy them, but since last year, the lower reaches of the Yellow River have flooded, and there are disaster victims everywhere in Hebei. The landlords and grain merchants have all hoarded grain to protect themselves."

"My brother has been worried for many days about how to feed everyone in the mountains."

No sooner had he finished speaking than three figures, looking terrified, suddenly ran out of the narrow post road.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

Two of them were dressed as government officials, while the other was wearing a wooden cangue and was a convict escorting prisoners.

Upon seeing Zhao Yuan and his "government troops," the two constables hurriedly shouted, "Gentlemen, there are thieves behind us! Please save us!"

The convict being escorted remained silent with a stern face throughout the entire ordeal.

"You all should first explain yourselves: what is this person's name, and why was he exiled? Then we'll consider whether we should save you!" Zhao Yuan asked with a smile.

Seeing that Zhao Yuan was dressed like a wealthy man, and that the local government soldiers were quite respectful to him, the two escorting officers assumed that Zhao Yuan was a high-ranking official who had come in disguise. They quickly knelt down and bowed.

"In response to your question, sir, this man's surname is Pei, given name Xuan, and he is from Jingzhao Prefecture. He once served as the clerk of the Six Offices, but was exiled to Shamen Island for committing a crime!"

0 . .......

Pei Xuan? Isn't that the Iron-Faced Chief?

Zhao Yuan, recalling the man's identity, frowned slightly and asked, "What crime has this man committed? Why don't you tell me?"

"this......"

The two constables exchanged a glance before replying.

"Pei Kongmu did not actually commit any crime. It was only because of his uprightness that he offended a powerful figure in the court, which led to this predicament."

"You two actually dare to tell the truth for him?" Zhao Yuan asked in surprise.

“Pei Kongmu is upright and selfless. Although we are lowly officials, we admire him and that is why we are willing to tell the truth,” the official replied.

"If you admire him, why make him wear wooden shackles?" Lin Chong frowned and asked.

He was the only one in this group who had been exiled and knew the tricks and methods involved.

On the way to the prison, as long as enough money is spent...

The bailiffs would then remove the official seal from the wooden cangue, open it, and allow the prisoner to walk freely.

Once they reach the place of exile, they will put this wooden cangue on them and seal it.

"It's not that we're unwilling to remove these wooden shackles, but Pei Kongmu won't allow it!"

Both officials looked helpless as they spoke.

"Are these two telling the truth?" Zhao Yuan asked Pei Xuan to confirm.

Pei Xuan glanced at Zhao Yuan, then surveyed the surrounding government troops for a moment, before cupping his hands and saying...

"It is indeed true. The two of them have treated us very well along the way, and they themselves have not committed any major offenses. I beg you, heroes of the greenwood, to spare their lives!"

Chapter 116 The Flaw in the Disguise

Hearing Pei Xuan plead for them,

The two constables were both taken aback and said in surprise, "What nonsense is Pei Kongmu talking about? These are clearly government troops, not bandits!"

"Hahaha......"

Seeing that the two constables were still confused, everyone burst into laughter.

Bian Xiang shook out his armor and asked with a smile, "Are those government troops as mighty as I am?"

"You, you guys..."

The two constables then realized something was wrong and hurriedly knelt down, trembling, begging for mercy.

"Pei Kongmu, how did you figure out that we are not government troops?" Zhao Yuan asked curiously.

"The court is in chaos, with treacherous officials in power, and the army is no different,"

Pei Xuan sighed, “You soldiers are all dressed in neat armor and your ranks are so orderly. Even the Bianliang Imperial Guards rarely have such discipline, let alone the local militias!”

"So that's where the flaw was!" Zhao Yuan looked at Lin Chong with amusement.

"It was my oversight!" Leopard Head gave a wry smile.

It turned out that during the past few days, while everyone was resting, Lin Chong had been in charge of training Bian Xiang's henchmen.

After some reorganization, it was still only superficially impressive.

But these strong and muscular henchmen already looked somewhat like elite soldiers.

The group had initially thought this would make the government troops appear more convincing.

But they forgot that the local army had already become complacent.

Most of the local militia lacked training and spent their days guarding the homes of high-ranking officials, farming, and doing menial work, essentially becoming servants.

Helpless, Lin Chong could only ask his henchmen to be more lax and return to their original demeanor when they were in the mountain stronghold.

The once orderly queue was now in complete chaos.

Even the soldiers were disheveled and their armor was in disarray.

Then Pei Kongmu sighed, "This is what local militias should look like."

At this moment, a group of soldiers could be seen charging out from the post road behind them.

Upon seeing the government troops in this direction, they quickly stopped in their tracks.

However, they did not retreat, but stood there watching.

"Thieves aren't afraid of officials? How laughable this world is!" Pei Kongmu sneered.

Zhao Yuan glanced at the two constables kneeling on the ground, unsure of what to do, and gestured for them to rise.

"Pei Kongmu, we'll stay. What are you going to say when you get back?"

Upon hearing the word "go back," the two men knew that Zhao Yuan was about to spare their lives. They quickly knelt down again to express their gratitude before replying.

“We will say that Pei Kongmu contracted an illness on the way and died, and his body was burned to ashes.”

"Jiao Ting, give each of these two ten taels of silver as a reward for their care of Pei Kongmu during the escort," Zhao Yuan instructed.

The two constables initially thought it would be a difficult task, but they persisted only because they admired Pei Xuan's character.

Unexpectedly, just moments ago he was worried about his life, but in the blink of an eye he received a reward of silver.

The two of them were stunned for a moment.

"What are you all standing there for? Do you want to stay and keep us company too?"

Bianxiang glared at them, and the two constables were startled, hurriedly fleeing into the distance.

"Pei Kongmu, I am Zhao Dalang from Liangshan,"

Zhao Yuan dismounted, cupped his hands in a salute, and said sincerely, "Kong Mu is not tolerated by the court because of his uprightness and integrity. My Liangshan is in need of someone like Kong Mu. If you don't mind, I would like to ask Kong Mu to come up the mountain with me."

"this......"

Pei Xuan looked at Zhao Yuan with surprise: "Chief Zhao, although I have practiced dual swords for a few days, it was only for fitness. I wonder why Chief Zhao invited me up the mountain?"

"Kongmu is impartial, upright, and incorruptible. I intend to appoint him as the military commander, in charge of military discipline and law throughout the stronghold! This position is of great importance, so please do not refuse!"

Military judge, also known as military judge.

Currently, the military judge of Liangshan is concurrently held by Lu Zhishen.

This military officer, born a frivolous monk, though intolerant of even the slightest imperfection, still retained a certain江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit.

While not necessarily engaging in favoritism or corruption, they sometimes couldn't help but show some sense of brotherhood and loyalty.

Compared to him, it would be more suitable for the iron-faced Pei Xuan to be the military judge.

"The court has abandoned me, yet you have entrusted me with an important position. I have no other way out now, so I am willing to follow the chieftain up the mountain!"

Pei Xuan bowed and said, "But I still have an elderly wife and young daughter at home. I beg the chieftain to help me bring them to the stronghold so that my family can be reunited!"

"That's easy. Let's find a place, and Kong Mu will write a letter as proof. Then I'll send someone with the letter to bring Kong Mu and his family up the mountain!" Zhao Yuan assured him.

"I entrust everything to the chieftain!" Pei Xuan said with tears in his eyes.

Zhao Yuan and his group were talking to Pei Xuan.

The group of men not far away were also puzzled by the soldiers' inaction.

A burly man, wielding chains, rode out on horseback and demanded, "Where are you government troops from? What brings you to Yinmachuan?"

"Haha, Brother Deng Fei can't sit still anymore."

Yang Lin chuckled, then bowed to Zhao Yuan and said,

"Brother, let me go find him and talk to him."

Zhao Yuan nodded, and Yang Lin immediately spurred his horse and rode over.

Before even getting close, he burst into laughter and said, "Brother Deng Fei, look who I am!"

It turned out that the strong and muscular man was Deng Fei.

He stared at Yang Lin with bloodshot eyes, looking him up and down, and then asked in surprise,

"Brother Yang Lin, when did you join the government army?"

"Brother, why would I join the government army?"

Yang Lin pointed to his armor: "I have joined Liangshan. This official's uniform was taken from a group of government troops I defeated not long ago."

"Congratulations, brother, you finally have a place to stay!" Deng Fei said with a cupped hand and a smile.

"Brother, I won't beat around the bush. I've come here to invite you to come with me to Liangshan,"

Yang Lin advised, "Before the New Year, I came to visit you, brother. I heard you complaining that your supplies on the mountain are running low and you might not be able to last long. Why don't you come with me to Liangshan? There you'll have plenty of food and money, which will relieve you of your worries!"

"I know Liangshan is a good place, but the previous leader, Wang Lun, was jealous of talent and intolerant of people, so we should not go and join him!"

Deng Fei hesitated and said, "I recently heard that Liangshan has changed its master, to the hero who killed the tiger with one punch. Although I admire him, I don't know if he is willing to accept him."

"Whether my chieftain is willing or not, brother, you'll know as soon as you ask him."

Yang Lin smiled and pointed towards Zhao Yuan's side.

"The new leader of Liangshan has already arrived?"

Deng Fei quickly straightened his clothes: "Please, brother, lead me to pay my respects!"

Chapter 117 Smuggled Horses

As Deng Fei drew closer,

Zhao Yuan took a look and saw that he was indeed born with red eyes, making him look different from ordinary people.

The two had met before, and Deng Fei noticed that Zhao Yuan treated him as usual.

Unlike most people, he wasn't curious about his red eyes; he already felt a certain degree of goodwill towards him.

Recalling what Yang Lin had just said, Deng Fei, being a straightforward man, didn't want to delay and spoke frankly.

"Chief Zhao, grain prices in Hebei have skyrocketed this year, and our little village is on the verge of collapse. I just heard from Brother Yang Lin that Chief Zhao is willing to accept us as his refuge. I wonder..."

“Brother Deng Fei’s willingness to join me is a great blessing for Liangshan, and I am naturally extremely happy to do so,” Zhao Yuan said with a smile.

"Chief Zhao, there is something I need to explain first,"

Deng Fei scratched his head: "Although there are one or two hundred men in my stronghold, many of them are old brothers. If I were to join Liangshan, I would have to take them all with me!"

Upon hearing his words, Zhao Yuan secretly praised him, thinking that he was indeed a man of integrity.

In the original Water Margin, this person spent most of his life saving people.

　18 Whenever there is a battle, as long as he is present, if any of his brothers are defeated and encounter danger, no matter how close or distant the relationship is, Deng Fei will risk his life to save them.

Even his ultimate death was at the hands of Shi Bao, in an attempt to rescue Suo Chao.