Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 118 A Vajra-like Method, a Bodhisattva's Heart

Tiger Sorrow Stream.

Located 18 li southwest of Zhujiaji, running east to west, as the name suggests, it is a long, narrow, winding stream sandwiched between two cliffs.

Along the north bank of the stream, there is a naturally formed passage.

During the flood season, the channel is about two zhang wide, and during the dry season, it is four or five zhang wide. It connects to Qingzhou in the west and leads directly to Rencheng in the east. Further east is Zizhou.

The original Qingzhou Patrol Camp was built at the western exit of Huchoujian, embedded in the mountain in an irregular spoon-shaped area.

The camp was quite large, and at its peak, it housed over six hundred troops.

However, the camp had been abandoned for many years, the stockade walls had been mostly demolished, most of the barracks had collapsed, and weeds were growing wildly, taller than a person.

When Zhu Biao arrived, he saw the captured bandits bending over and pulling weeds.

"Stop slacking off! Hurry up and grab them, you damn well better!"

With his back to the camp gate, Bronze Bull swung his thick iron bar, making a loud whistling sound, and yelled, "Let me make this clear from the start: this grass is your bedding for tonight. If you don't gather enough, you deserve to freeze to death!"

"Bronze Bull! You're quite the big shot, aren't you?"

Zhu Biao, with his sharp eyes, spotted him from afar and couldn't help but laugh and scold him.

"Commander!"

Turning his head, he saw Zhu Biao, and especially when he saw the dozen or so large carts loaded with wine and meat following behind. The man immediately grinned.

"Help! The commander has arrived, and he's brought plenty of wine and meat to treat us!"

"Third Brother!"

"Commander!"

Upon hearing the commotion, all the other overseers rushed out, with Pang Qiutang being the fastest.

Only Luan Tingyu, mature and prudent, held back the dozen or so archers around him and remained in place to keep watch and stabilize the situation.

"Is everyone alright? Are you hungry or cold?"

"good!"

"We have meat at every meal, and there's plenty to eat! We can keep warm by the fire all day long, so we're never cold."

The crowd gathered around him enthusiastically, chattering amongst themselves.

"That's good."

Zhu Biao nodded: "How are the wounded brothers? Have their injuries worsened? I brought the doctor with me this time."

He wasn't making it up; this trip to Huchoujian almost emptied out the entire Zhujiaji village.

The kitchen of Zhu Family Tavern was busy all night, roasting hundreds of chickens, more than twenty sheep, steaming countless buns, and almost all of the Drunken Immortals in the restaurant were sold out.

In addition to food and drink, Zhu Biao also brought pots and pans, cloth, bedding, kudzu fiber, hemp fiber, rice, flour, and soy sauce.

Even Wang Yuanru, a quack doctor, was dragged over by him.

"Don't worry, Commander, they are all fine."

"I've only suffered a scratch, but that won't stop me from fighting. As long as the commander gives the order, Er Gou guarantees he won't be a slacker!"

"The military leader is benevolent and righteous!"

Another chaotic chorus of answers followed, though the voices were disordered, the spirit was united, and everyone's eyes shone brightly.

"alright!"

Zhu Biao straightened up on his horse and waved his hand vigorously: "Stop blocking the entrance, hurry up and help unload the carts. We'll change into new clothes, then eat meat and drink wine to celebrate the New Year!"

moment.

On the gentle slope behind the camp, all the local soldiers had washed and cleaned themselves and changed into thick, clean new clothes.

However, they did not eat, drink, or drink alcohol. Instead, they stood in a line, staring intently ahead at the two pine coffins that were being slowly lowered into the ground.

The coffin contained the remains of two fallen soldiers.

At this moment, not only were all the local militia present, but even the captured bandits were pulled over and made to squat aside to watch the ceremony.

"Seal the earth!"

As the coffin hit the ground, Zhu Biao let out a low shout.

More than twenty strong bandits rushed up and started throwing soil to fill the grave. They worked very hard and covered the grave in the blink of an eye.

"Erect a monument!"

Zhu Biao shouted again.

The couple's parents and siblings stepped forward, weeping, and placed two wooden tombstones in front of the grave, then covered them with soil.

"May Stone and Third Child rest in peace, brothers, without worrying about their family!"

Zhu Biao tossed a handful of paper money into the sky.

"May you have a safe journey!"

Everyone shouted in unison, and in an instant, paper money flew everywhere.

"May Stone and Sanhai die on the battlefield, their deaths swift and decisive. They are heroes of our militia. Each of them will receive a hundred strings of cash and a donkey as compensation."

After the tomb was erected, Zhu Biao announced it to the public.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu San and Zhu Wu each led a donkey cart over, with neatly stacked golden copper coins in the cart bed.

The compensation was extremely generous, far exceeding the usual standards.

A hundred strings of cash could buy several acres of fertile land, enough to feed a family of five for several years, and a large animal would provide an extra means of livelihood.

However, this was Zhu Biao's first time commanding local militia in battle, and also the first time he had been killed in action, so it had to be taken very seriously.

"Thank you so much, Commander!"

The couple's families were immediately filled with gratitude, and they all knelt down, crying and shouting. The other village soldiers were also moved to tears, and even the mountain bandits were somewhat touched.

Noon.

The camp's original council hall, after simple renovations, now has a dozen or so crudely made tables lined up in a row, piled high with steaming meat dishes and wine jars.

Several bonfires were burning brightly all around, making the hall as hot as summer.

Zhu Biao, along with all his subordinates, stood on either side of the table.

As for the bandits, Zhu Shun, the head of the cart guild, was watching over them with dozens of cart drivers. They had also received meat, but no wine.

"Brothers, let's start with this first bowl of wine, to those who died or were wounded in battle! Cheers!"

Zhu Biao raised the wine bowl with both hands.

"Dry!"

Everyone drank it all in one gulp.

Zhu Biao raised his second bowl of wine: "We've won! Everyone deserves credit for this battle, and everyone will be rewarded afterwards. Let's drink to our victory!"

"A resounding victory!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically.

Zhu Biao wiped his mouth and raised his third bowl of wine: "Today is both a celebration of victory and the New Year. I wish all my brothers a prosperous New Year. Let's drink another bowl!"

We wish our commander a prosperous and auspicious New Year! May your military prowess be ever-growing!

The roar was like thunder, shaking the dust to the ground. After three bowls of wine, everyone's face became a little rosy, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively.

Not far from the council hall, in several houses that had not yet collapsed, the bandits huddled together, each holding only a cold, hard steamed bun.

"Damn it! They deserved to win!"

A short, stocky bandit swallowed the last bite of his steamed bun, and, smelling the pungent aroma of meat and wine filling his nostrils, cursed angrily.

"They really treat their men like brothers, providing them with both respect and practical benefits. We, on the other hand, live like pigs and dogs in the mountain stronghold, yet we still have to risk our lives."

"Wild Boar, what do you think that killing god will do to us in the end? What do you think?"

The gaunt bandit beside him asked in a low voice, making a beheading gesture. The "god of death" he was referring to was naturally Zhu Biao.

One drink, one fire, and over three hundred people were killed, including the two leaders. What else could he be but a god of death?

"Won't!"

The wild boar said confidently.

Why?

"If you wanted to kill us, you would have done so already. Why keep us around?"

The skinny bandit's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously licked his lips.

"Then, will he try to recruit us?"

"Tch~"

The wild boar curled its lip and sneered.

"Stop daydreaming! Are you blind? Didn't you see the quality of their men? Even the elite Imperial Guards are far inferior."

"Then what's the point of keeping him around?"

The bandit leaned dejectedly against the earthen wall, lamenting, "What else can I do? Labor and hard work, of course!"

"Sanlang! Come, come, let your second brother offer you a bowl of wine. This victory was exhilarating; I've never felt so happy!"

At this moment, the atmosphere of the banquet in the hall had reached its peak, and Wu Song was particularly excited, drinking until his chest was exposed and his face was flushed.

"Go away, you big wine vat, don't touch Third Brother, I have important things to say."

Unexpectedly, he had just picked up his wine bowl when he was pushed aside.

"How dare you!"

Wu Song's tiger-like eyes narrowed as he was about to explode, but upon recognizing Pang Qiutang, he immediately swallowed his anger.

Last time he was tricked by Pang Qiutang and Lin Chong in a drinking contest and got so drunk that he was unconscious. Today, he still doesn't dare to act recklessly.

Because their men outnumbered their own twice as many, they couldn't win a direct confrontation.

"Third Brother, what exactly do you plan to do with those women? Give me a straight answer today!"

Pang Qiutang had also drunk quite a bit; her face was flushed, and her tone was somewhat sharp.

Zhu Biao didn't argue with her. Instead, he affectionately put his arm around her shoulder and patted her hard.

"Once the camp is set up and they have recovered, I will build a weaving workshop so they can spin cloth and earn wages."

Pang Qiutang was stunned for a few moments, then her nose tingled and her eyes reddened.

"Third Brother, I, I didn't misjudge you. You are, you are the most respectable person in the world."

"6

Hey~

At this moment, Coach Zhang suddenly smiled and came over, while Wu Jiuchou gestured to Zhu Biao from afar.

"This is called Vajra Practitioner, yet he has the heart of a Bodhisattva. My lord, I am truly impressed and offer you a toast."