Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 85 One cannot discuss ice with a summer insect!

Evening, Erlong Mountain.

On a sunny, unnamed, gentle slope, two more graves without even tombstones have appeared.

Two of Zhu Biao's servants, who were close to him, are now gone forever.

Luan Tingyu brought eight people with him on this mission to provide support. Two of them were killed in battle, and the rest were all wounded.

At this moment, a large, covered cart pulled by two donkeys appeared in the convoy. The ruts on the cart were extremely deep, and Zhu Jiu and the other wounded soldiers were all squeezed onto it.

This car was purchased from a nearby market by the astute Instructor Zhang, who volunteered to help Su Fang.

The donkey cart was driven by Su Fang, while Luan Tingyu rode his horse alongside Zhu Biao.

In fact, he had also suffered several minor injuries and was exhausted, but he was strong-willed and proud, and refused to squeeze in with the wounded.

Hearing the suppressed groans that occasionally emanated from inside the carriage, Zhu Biao frowned and couldn't help but sigh.

"Oh dear, I completely forgot about Doctor Shi."

Shi Langzhong was a promising military doctor from Shen County, skilled in medicine and knowledgeable in three disciplines.

Zhu Biao's original intention was to send Zhu San and Zhu Wu to Shen County to invite him when he arrived in Yanggu, while Wu Da was dealing with his property and sorting out his belongings.

Unexpectedly, he was caught up in two messy incidents: Wu Song's disappearance and Ximen Qing's sabotage. He had no choice but to leave in a hurry.

"Don't worry, Saburo."

Seeing his behavior, a warm light flashed in Luan Tingyu's eyes, and he spoke up to comfort him.

"The boys only have minor injuries. Once they get back to the village and rest properly for a few days, they'll be lively and energetic again."

Zhu Biao didn't reply immediately. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "After the New Year, I intend to set up a camp at Tiger Sorrow Gorge. I would like to ask Master to deign to serve as the deputy commander. I wonder what Master thinks?"

Tiger Sorrow Gorge is a dangerous spot on the very edge of Dulonggang.

Similar to the layout of a narrow passage, it is also a shortcut connecting Qing and Ji prefectures. There used to be a patrol checkpoint there, but there were very few merchants and travelers, and it has been abandoned in recent years.

"Um?"

Luan Tingyu raised a thick eyebrow; being a worldly-wise man, he keenly discerned the unspoken meaning in Zhu Biao's words.

"By setting up camp at Tiger's Sorrow Gorge, does Sanlang intend to establish his own independent force?"

"Exactly!"

Zhu Biao spoke frankly.

"My two older brothers have many disagreements with me and often hinder me. Rather than fighting among ourselves, it's better to be independent."

This is his true thought.

Originally, he wanted to stay in the Zhu family for a while longer, hoping to gain more influence and eventually take charge of the household on his own.

However, this time, his two older brothers' fight over the horse indirectly led to the death of his trusted confidant, which touched a raw nerve and made him realize the reality of the situation.

In addition, the sights and experiences he gained on this long trip, along with his rapidly increasing combat strength, strengthened his resolve.

You can't talk about ice with a summer insect!

If he stays in the Zhu family, he will inevitably have a falling out with his two older brothers and get caught up in the vortex of family infighting.

To be honest, he didn't even consider the wealth of a country bumpkin.

Luan Tingyu frowned and pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Sanlang, I know you have great ambitions, but isn't this approach too hasty?"

"Without the Zhu family's money and provisions, how can your remaining few thousand strings of cash support eight hundred militia?"

"Heh~"

Zhu Biao chuckled and asked in return.

"Master Luan, even with the full support of your family, you can still support eight hundred elite soldiers, plus a cavalry squad."

"Uh~"

Upon hearing this, Luan Tingyu's expression changed drastically.

Yes, the Zhu family can only support three hundred soldiers and a dozen cavalrymen at most. If they add another five hundred soldiers and thirty cavalrymen, they will definitely be unable to make ends meet.

He turned his head and saw Zhu Biao's confident expression, and blurted out, "Sanlang, what's your plan?"

"Set up checkpoints to collect taxes."

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow slightly and whispered four words.

Dulonggang is a long, winding, serpentine slope running east to west, with towering mountains on both sides, hence the name Dulong.

The Zhu family is located to the west, right next to Qingzhou, with the Hu family sandwiched in between, and the Li family's territory to the far east, which connects to Yuncheng.

However, Huchoujian blocked another branch road, the exit of which connected to Rencheng in the south of Jizhou, and further on to Zizhou.

Previously, the patrol checkpoint was abandoned because a group of bandits were entrenched in the mountains beyond the exit.

This gang of thugs is brainless; whenever they encounter merchants or travelers, they rob and kill them without leaving any room for negotiation.

This led to the disappearance of pedestrians and the disruption of trade routes.

Zhu Biao's plan was to eliminate this group of fools, then repair and expand the road, set up checkpoints to collect taxes, and open a few more shops along the way to create a market.

He wants to use business to support his army!

As for the period before the trade route was established, he had a thousand taels of gold from Liang Siqi, as well as more than two thousand taels of silver obtained by scraping corpses and extorting money.

That's enough to sustain him for a while. Besides, he can use the war to sustain the war effort.

"Setting up checkpoints to collect taxes?"

Luan Tingyu frowned and thought for a long time.

"Sanlang, it might work in the short term, but in the long run, once the Qingzhou Patrol Office and the Jingdong East Road Grain Transport Office hear about it, how could they possibly agree?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He raised his riding whip, pointed to the mountains not far away, and said something completely unrelated.

"After the New Year, I'm going to level this White Tiger Mountain blocking my doorway and kill those two beasts from the Kong family."

The Kong brothers, who occupied White Tiger Mountain, would become the future "heroes" of Liangshan: the hairy star Kong Ming and the lone star Kong Liang.

These two brothers are also beasts in human form.

They were originally wealthy households in Kongjiazhuang at the foot of the mountain, but later they got into a conflict with a wealthy man from a neighboring village over the land and water.

Each side gathered their fellow villagers and servants for a brawl, resulting in casualties on both sides, a stalemate.

As a result, the two brothers led a group of men into the wealthy man's house that night and slaughtered all fifty-plus members of the family.

Even pregnant women and young children who couldn't speak were thrown into the well.

They then led their entire family into the mountains and became outlaws.

"What happened after the Kong brothers were wiped out?"

For a moment, Luan Tingyu's mind went blank, and his brows were furrowed so deeply they looked like water was about to drip from them.

"After that, I went to Qingzhou again, and spent several thousand strings of cash to ask Lord Murong for a position as a patrol inspector, and promised to pay 50% of the commercial tax."

After a slight pause, Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow and teased, "Master Luan, do you think Master Murong would be willing?"

"hiss!"

Luan Tingyu gasped.

He stared blankly at Zhu Biao, feeling that this disciple he had watched grow up was becoming increasingly unfamiliar, and now his deep scheming sent chills down his spine.

How could Murong Yanda possibly refuse such a windfall?

He was a powerful relative of the emperor, and while he was indeed greedy and treacherous, he was not an incompetent official. He was determined to wipe out all the bandits in Qingzhou and clear the trade routes.

If Zhu Biao could kill the Kong brothers and pacify White Tiger Mountain, it would naturally suit Murong Yanda's wishes perfectly.

Moreover, he would receive a considerable immediate tribute, as well as a steady stream of income in the future.

Let alone a mere ninth-rank county-level inspector, he would gladly nod even if he were a seventh-rank prefectural-level inspector.

There is absolutely no reason to refuse.

Another thing Luan Tingyu didn't expect was that Murong Yanda was also someone who coveted military power.

Zhu Biao didn't cost him a single penny or a grain of rice, yet he managed to raise a large and capable army. He couldn't refuse even more.

"Third Brother!"

At this moment, Pang Qiutang, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly leaned over and interjected.

"Why should that damned old man Murong benefit from the taxes we worked so hard to collect?"

She stiffened her neck and asked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

This young woman had followed her brother in killing officials and rebelling, acting without any scruples. Later, she followed Zhu Biao in fighting and trekking all the way.

He had already killed countless thieves, bandits, and highwaymen, and even the Imperial Guards had shot several dead. He had even killed Gao Yanei.

Now, she has no respect for the government whatsoever.

In fact, not only her, but everyone in the group was secretly pricking up their ears and glancing at him furtively.

Even the groans from inside the donkey cart subsided somewhat.

His men were all fierce and daring men who wouldn't flinch even if a knife stabbed them.

They're just generally not very bright, lacking in finesse, and especially lacking in a broad perspective.

Damn it! The road ahead is long and arduous.

Zhu Biao sighed inwardly, exhaled a long breath, suppressed his chaotic thoughts, and patiently explained, "Times have changed. We are no longer rootless duckweed, and we cannot fight recklessly and then walk away afterwards."

"Dulonggang and Huchoujian will be our livelihood in the future. We need to be able to get by on the surface and also have someone to take care of us in terms of official relations."

Pang Qiutang, Wu Song, and the others seemed to understand but not quite, while Instructor Zhang nodded emphatically, and Luan Tingyu sighed deeply.

"Sanlang has grown up! The Zhu family has produced a prodigy! One day, he will surely change the family's fortunes!"