Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

After leaving the Grand Commandant's mansion, when they arrived at the Donghua Gate market, Zhu Biao did something unusual.

He picked out a sturdy sheepskin money bag for himself. Just now, when he was rummaging through the money in the outhouse, his old money bag had unintentionally gotten a little dirty.

When he entered the Grand Commandant's mansion, in addition to the silver coins and jade pendants that he had "gifted" to Gao Yanei, he also had two gold ingots and seven or eight silver ingots.

The first time I went to the outhouse, I hid it; the second time I went, I retrieved it.

A path is essential for assassination, while gold and silver are essential for escape; neither can be lacking.

However, he was quite well-off now, so since he was at the market, he decided to buy more things.

Ruyi bought rouge and face powder for makeup, clothes for Pang Qiutang to change between men and women, leather boots and stockings for Zhu Wu, and outfits for her to use when changing identities.

Later, I saw some unique foods and toys from Bianliang and bought some of them.

After all, I'm leaving soon, and I don't know when I'll be able to come back again.

In the end, he had so much stuff to sell that he couldn't carry it all, so he had to hire a donkey cart.

On the way back to Sanyuanlou from Donghuamen Market, there was a stretch of road through the west of the city. As we were walking, there was a sudden commotion of chickens and dogs running around in front of us, and then the donkey cart slowly came to a stop.

"All the damn cars, stop the hell! All you bastards in those cars, get out!"

Outside the car, a loud, arrogant shout could be heard in the distance.

"What is it?"

Zhu Biao remained calm, lifted the curtain, and asked a question.

"Hey!" the innkeeper complained.

"It's all because of those bastards from the Military Patrol Academy!"

"That 'street-cleaning tiger' was beaten to a pulp by some hero the other day, and now those bastards from the military patrol have gotten a chance to run around the streets and extort money under false pretenses."

At this point, he turned to look at Zhu Biao and breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, sir, there's no need to worry. The person they've found has a dark face and a big beard; he won't be able to extort money from you."

At this time, Zhu Biao hadn't changed his clothes, but he had removed his mustache, leaving his mouth completely bald without a single stubble, making him look completely different from Wang Wuda of Yan'an Prefecture.

But he still didn't quite believe the shopkeeper's story. He thought, "They're just trying to extort money, so who cares if it looks like it or not?"

However, Zhu Biao remained calm and didn't even intend to put on an act, since he held the Palace Guard token personally issued by Gao Qiu.

It's more than enough to deal with the military patrol, especially Zhu Qi's faction.

Gao Qiu held a higher official position than Zhu Mian, but Zhu Mian was more favored than Gao Qiu. It's hard to say who was superior to whom; they were probably just giving each other face.

"Kid, get out of the car."

Sure enough, when it was Zhu Biao's turn to be inspected, the military patrolmen completely ignored his appearance. When they saw the cart full of good stuff, their eyes lit up.

"Sir~"

The cart owner was a nice guy and even tried to offer some advice, but he was punched to the ground by a military patrolman.

"You old fool, obstructing the military patrol institute's investigation, do you want to die?"

After the patrolman finished cursing the cart owner, he turned around and saw Zhu Biao holding a waist badge in front of him, coldly saying:

"I am an clerk under the Commander of the Palace Guard. Ha, the Military Patrol Bureau's investigation has actually traced it back to my Palace Guard?"

Snapped!

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Biao slapped him to the ground.

"Who gave you the guts, huh?"

This slap was something he added on the spot. He suddenly thought that if he could make Gao Qiu and Zhu Mian fight, even if it was just to make them feel disgusted with each other.

It's entirely beneficial and has no drawbacks!

"You bastard! How dare you hit someone from my military training institute!"

Several nearby patrolmen, unaware of what was happening, quickly gathered around.

Zhu Biao didn't hesitate either. He jumped off the donkey cart and, like a tiger among sheep, began punching and kicking the donkey while cursing under his breath.

"I'm going to beat you bunch of bastards. You even dare to stroke the tiger's whiskers of the Imperial Guard. I think you're asking for trouble."

"well played!"

Someone shouted from the street.

"Good! Well done! Kill these bastards!"

The next moment, cheers erupted, shaking the heavens and the earth. Not only were the patrolmen stunned, but Zhu Biao was also drenched in cold sweat.

Damn it! We were too hasty and ignored public grievances. Things have blown up, and we need to get out of here!

When Zhu Biao returned to the residence, it was already dark, and he only had two small bundles left in his hands.

Most of his stuff was left on the donkey cart, which made him feel a little frustrated.

"Husband! Third Brother! Young Master!"

But when he saw three eager and handsome faces—no, two handsome faces and a large, square face with protruding teeth—he was surprised.

Zhu Biao's mood suddenly improved.

Having someone waiting for you is a blessing, especially for someone like him who is an "outsider," and he especially needs this kind of connection.

Dinner was a hot pot, essentially a Song Dynasty version of hot pot, with mutton, rabbit, fish, winter bamboo shoots, tofu, cabbage...

Zhu Biao, who has never liked drinking, poured a full glass for everyone and raised his glass first:

"Here's to tomorrow!"

Without saying a word, Zhu Wu stood up and raised his glass:

"A resounding victory!"

Ruyi and Pang Qiutang exchanged a glance, slowly stood up, and simultaneously placed their wine glasses next to his.

"Here's to tomorrow!"

After downing his drink, Zhu Biao didn't sit down, but instead said in a deep voice:

"Tomorrow, Ruyi and Zhuwu will go into Ganjing Lane again to exchange for Madam Lin and Instructor Zhang. Hold out until dark, then Huang Ji and I will exchange you for them."

He paused, then scanned each person in turn, and said, word by word:

"The day after tomorrow at dawn, once the city gates open, you must leave Bianjing immediately, regardless of whether I return or not."

"Here you go!"

After a long while, everyone responded in unison.

The makeshift rescue team assembled by Zhu Biao was finally taking shape, obeying orders without question, and even if they were unwilling, they would not say no.

The next day, as dawn broke, the sleeping city of Bianliang awoke, and the once quiet streets began to bustle with people.

Ding ding ding~

At the easternmost end of Ganjing Lane, a couple selling vegetables knocked on the door.

They wore several layers of short brown clothes, gray and patched at the edges, and their scarves covering their heads and faces were covered with white frost.

The woman carried a vegetable basket, while the man carried a heavy charcoal box, from which charcoal ash occasionally spilled out.

Who is it?

"Old man, your servant has brought you vegetables and charcoal."

Instructor Zhang pushed open the courtyard gate and said politely.

"Hey, you're heading to town early, aren't you? Come on, bring your things in, have a bowl of hot tea to warm yourself up."

Across the street, at the entrance of that restaurant, a triangular-eyed rascal, who had been guarding the place all night and was covered in snow, almost frozen into an ice sculpture, grumbled:

"He's still drinking tea, damn it! That old Zhang is all nice to peasants, but he's always cursing and beating us brothers!"

"If we're eyeing someone's daughter, do you think they'll treat us well?"

The dark-faced rogue suddenly sighed:

"To be honest, our job is really damn wicked, it's immoral."

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.

The vegetable-selling couple walked out of the courtyard. At the gate, the woman helped the man carry the load on his shoulders and brushed the dust off his shoulders.

"Aba aba~"

The man gestured a couple of times, then placed her empty vegetable basket on the charcoal box. The woman held onto his waist, and the two slowly walked towards the street.

"Damn it! Even a mute can talk about having a caring and considerate wife!"

Seeing this, the man with the triangular eyes couldn't help but curse again.

The dark-faced ruffian stared blankly at the couple's departing figures, completely oblivious to anything amiss.

"After the New Year, I want to work as a shop assistant in a trading company and stop wasting my time."

After a long while, he suddenly blurted out a sentence.

"Dad, slow down, my heart is pounding and my legs are weak."

Just as we were about to walk out onto the main street, the woman selling vegetables suddenly spoke.

The man slowed his pace and said in a deep voice:

"Don't be afraid, Zhenniang, your father is here."

The vegetable-selling couple had now been replaced by Instructor Zhang and Madam Lin, and Zhu Biao's plan to escape was not complicated.

To put it simply, it boils down to four words: bold and meticulous!

"Dad, what if Ruyi and the others get discovered?"

"Don't worry, that young man is meticulous and must have a backup plan."

Coach Zhang offered words of comfort, though his voice trembled slightly.

blah blah~

Just then, a donkey cart slowly pulled up in front of us. The driver was a sallow-faced man who called out in a loud, boisterous voice:

"Zhang the mute, you've sold all your charcoal. Get in the car; I'm heading back to the village anyway, so I'll give you a ride."

People were coming and going on the street, and no one paid any attention to this scene, but the father and daughter trembled at the same time, and their eyes reddened.

Half an hour later, the donkey cart slowly drove out of Fengqiu Gate in the north of the city.

After traveling another four or five miles, until they reached a secluded and deserted place, the yellow-faced man suddenly jumped off the cart.

"Instructor Zhang, Madam Lin, change your clothes quickly!"

The sallow-faced man was Zhu Biao, who handed two travel permits to Instructor Zhang.

"He traveled north to Xiangzhou to wait for someone. After five days, he did not arrive. Instructor Zhang went to Zhujiazhuang in Dulonggang, Qingzhou, where Instructor Lin was waiting."

"My benefactor!"

Since leaving Bianliang City, Madam Lin had been choking up, and now tears were streaming down her face. She was about to kneel down to Zhu Biao when he grabbed her arm.

"Madam Lin, the road ahead is still fraught with danger. It is far from the time to give up and weep. Instructor Zhang, please take good care of yourself."

After saying that, he turned around, strode off towards Bianliang, intending to enter the city for the third time!