Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 121 A Decisive Break, No Turning Back

Da Da Da~

More than thirty elite cavalrymen rushed out of the camp at lightning speed, and then stopped five or six hundred paces away, blocking the road completely.

"Dad! Why did you come in person?"

Zhu Biao dismounted, first bowing to Zhu Chaofeng, then cupping his hands to his two older brothers and calling out to them in a nonchalant manner.

"Happy New Year, elder brother and second brother."

"My dear child, I eat well and live in a warm place at home, but you are suffering in the freezing cold. I am truly worried about you, so I came to see you."

Zhu Chaofeng was helped down from the carriage by Zhu Yan. He had lost a lot of weight in the few days since they last met, and his eye sockets were sunken.

Zhu Biao quickly walked a few steps to him, took his arm, and asked anxiously, "Dad, why do you look so haggard? Are you feeling unwell?"

Zhu Chaofeng's eyes suddenly reddened. He patted his hand, forced a smile, and comforted him, "No, no, my son, don't worry. I've just had a poor appetite and haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Dad, is that really true?"

Zhu Biao turned his head and gave Zhu Long and Zhu Hu a cold, sidelong glance.

He was suspicious; having been away from home for so many days, these two must have gotten into some trouble again.

"Really, my son, your father has brought you grain. Hurry up and move it in. Also, let your father take a look at your camp."

"that is!"

Zhu Hu suddenly interjected, "Third brother, you're so inconsiderate. We came all this way to deliver grain, and you're making us stand outside in the cold wind."

"yes!"

Zhu Long also spoke up: "Let me, elder brother, think about this carefully. After the New Year, once I get a job in the patrol office, I will also build a camp."

This guy looked exceptionally arrogant today, his chest puffed out high, and his nostrils practically pointing to the sky.

"An inspection mission? Father, what's going on?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao immediately frowned.

Hey~

Before Zhu Chaofeng could reply, Zhu Long chuckled and took a few steps forward with his hands behind his back.

"Third brother, the other day in Yuncheng, Lord Shi Wenbin intended to promote me and appointed me as the head of the Dulonggang Patrol Office."

He paused for a moment, then said jokingly, "Although I'm just a captain, without any rank or grade, I can't compare to your prestige as a ninth-rank militia commander, but I don't spend a penny and still have military power."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's brows furrowed even deeper, and a surge of anger welled up within him.

This is not a windfall; it must be Li Ying's plan to divide and conquer. I suspect the Hu family is also involved, contributing money and effort as well.

The Patrol Inspectorate and the Militia Battalion belong to two different systems, but their powers often overlap. Both can be summoned and are in charge of the local militia.

If they belong to the same prefecture or county, it's easier to say.

The problem now is that Zhu Biao's militia position was appointed by Qingzhou, while Zhu Long's patrol post was assigned by Jizhou and was normally under the direct jurisdiction of Yuncheng.

Later, Zhu Biao wanted to use the pretext of local militia to suppress bandits to take over the military power of the Hu and Li families.

Zhu Long could then use the prestige of the Patrol and Inspection Division in apprehending bandits to force his way out of the situation.

Furthermore, even if he wanted to use force to annihilate both families, he would have no legal basis to rely on, and if he actually did so, he might even be labeled as a rebel.

Li Ying, as expected of a seasoned veteran, used the insignificant position of head constable to plant a thorn in Zhu Biao's side.

This put him in a dilemma.

The key issue is that this nail is his own brother, who is mentally challenged, which makes him even more upset. No matter how fierce he is, he can't kill his own brother, right?

Letting out a long sigh, Zhu Biao suppressed his anger and said, "Father, this was my sister-in-law's family's idea, wasn't it? What do you have to say about it?"

Zhu Chaofeng, feeling guilty, avoided his gaze and said in a trembling voice, "My dear son, our three villages in Dulonggang have been friends for generations and are of the same blood. Your elder brother is, after all, Li Ying's nephew-in-law. He... he is in a difficult position."

He paused, gripped Zhu Biao's hand tightly, and added in a low voice.

"My dear son, your sister-in-law is pregnant."

After hearing what he said, Zhu Biao was stunned. Then, he suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

"Hahaha" 6~

He could understand Zhu Chaofeng's dilemma and the choice he had to make.

The three villages are allies, and have been on good terms for generations. Li Ying is also his in-law. Zhu Long is the eldest son of the Zhu family, and now that his sister-in-law is pregnant, the child in her belly may be a direct descendant of the Zhu family for three generations.

These real ties, these heavy weights, overturned the scales in his heart.

"In that case, congratulations, brother, on this double celebration!"

Zhu Long's face grew even more smug: "Sure thing, third brother, when your eldest nephew is born, you, as his official uncle, must present him with a grand gift."

At this moment, Zhu Hu added insult to injury: "Third brother, how much longer are we going to stand here in the cold wind? Your dilapidated camp doesn't even have a single habitable house, does it?"

"really!"

Zhu Biao suppressed his smile: "My camp is crude and shabby, and it houses hundreds of fierce mountain bandits. It is really unsuitable for entertaining guests."

"What bandits?"

Zhu Long and Zhu Hu were both stunned.

The two of them have been holed up at home lately, busy scheming against each other, completely unaware that White Tiger Stronghold has already been destroyed.

Zhu Biao completely ignored them, subtly breaking free from Zhu Chaofeng's grasp, and turned around to shout, "Master Luan! Call the bandits over here and have them carry the grain back to camp!"

"Here you go!"

A moment later, more than two hundred ragged, dark-skinned bandits filed in a long line. Two familiar faces picked up a grain sack and obediently walked to the back.

During this time, none of the bandits uttered a sound.

These past few days, although they have endless work to do, their food has improved accordingly.

From barely surviving to now having two meals a day, each person gets a large bowl of mixed grain porridge and a bowl of hot soup with oil floating on top.

To be honest, this food is better than when they were bandits, and they don't have to get beaten up.

Zhu Long and Zhu Hu weren't fools; they could tell the difference between real and fake bandits, and they were immediately stunned.

"There are so many bandits?"

Zhu Longzhang's head is big enough to fit an egg.

"Third brother, how did you capture so many bandits? Where did you capture them from?"

Zhu Hu was smarter; he asked the right question.

However, Zhu Biao didn't reply to him at all, nor did he even give him a second glance. He simply turned to Zhu Chaofeng and asked in a deep voice, "Father, how much grain was transported this time?"

Zhu Chaofeng's mind was in a mess, and he didn't react for a moment, blurting out, "Five hundred shi."

"Where's the horse feed?"

"It is also five hundred shi."

""

Zhu Biao nodded, then suddenly shouted to Zhu Wu, "Have Zhu Ping count out seven hundred strings of cash and bring it to me immediately!"

"My little one!"

Zhu Chaofeng was struck dumb, his eyes narrowed sharply, and his voice cracked.

"What are you doing? This grain is a gift from your father, it's free!"

"Father, it's only right to spend money to buy grain."

Zhu Biao smiled calmly.

"After the New Year, the family will need to support both a private army and a patrol battalion, which will be quite expensive. Now that I have separated from the family, it is no longer appropriate for me to take advantage of the family."

Before he could answer, Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Long, pointed at the bandits who were transporting grain, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"Brother, the duty of the patrol office is to apprehend thieves. My camp is simple, and recently, many bandits have escaped. You, the captain, are going to be quite busy."

"Third brother, what do you mean? Are you threatening me?"

Zhu Long wasn't truly stupid; he instantly understood the implication behind his words.

"threaten?"

Zhu Biao gave a half-smile.

"These bandits were captured by me from White Tiger Mountain. In the future, there will be more and more prisoners from Shadow Mountain, Peach Blossom Mountain, Erlong Mountain, and Tiger Head Mountain."

"With so few soldiers and so little food, how can we possibly keep an eye on things?"

With red eyes, Zhu Chaofeng reached out to pull Zhu Biao.

"My youngest son, it doesn't have to be this way. You are brothers, and you should work together to help each other."

""

Zhu Biao dodged to the side, his smile carrying a deeper meaning: "Heh, Dad's right, we're brothers."

"My lord! The money has arrived!"

Just then, Zhu Ping drove up in a horse-drawn carriage, the cargo bed filled with gleaming copper coins, piled up like a small mountain.

Zhu Biao picked up a string of coins and stuffed it into Zhu Long's hand.

"Brother, you'd better watch yourself; don't ever ask me for help again!"

He then leaped onto the horse and pulled on the reins.

"I understand what my father means. It's cold outside, so let's turn back soon. Master Luan, please see my father off for me."

Before he finished speaking, he had already ridden back to camp.

"My little one~"

Zhu Chaofeng cried out in sorrow. His body stiffened slightly, but he ultimately did not turn around.

"Dad, it's windy outside, you should get in the car."

Zhu Long's expression kept changing. Finally, he threw the string of copper coins in his hand back onto his own grain cart and brought it close to Zhu Chaofeng.

"The third brother is right. Now that I've got the inspector's job, there will be many more places at home where we need money and food."

"Snapped!"

Zhu Chaofeng slapped him hard across the face.

"If you dare take even a single coin of this money, I will expel you from the family and remove you from the genealogy!"