The Thief Prince

The following morning, Gan Zhu and Gan Xun came to say goodbye.

Li Zheng escorted him down the mountain, all the way to Jinshatan Beach.

Upon reaching the beach, Gan Zhu cupped his hands and said, "Brother, there's no need to see me off any further. I'll be going now."

"I'll leave those three ships at your dock for a few days until I find a buyer, then I'll come back to collect the goods."

Li Zheng nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, brother, you can use the dock as you like. The crew's meals will also be provided by the bandit group for the next few days."

Upon hearing this, Gan Zhu repeatedly expressed his gratitude: "Brother, I will remember your kindness. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call on me. The Jin Fan bandits are willing to serve you."

Li Zheng cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "The same applies to Liangshan."

Gan Zhu nodded and led Gan Xun onto the ship.

Li Zheng watched him leave before returning to the mountain stronghold.

Wang Zhaoyuan stayed on the mountain and sat in a chair. Li Zheng arranged a clean room for him and assigned two henchmen to serve him, specifically to handle official documents and dispatches.

Wang Zhaoyuan did not refuse and immediately compiled a list of the names of the leaders in the stronghold, the amount of grain and fodder, and the remaining weapons.

Li Zheng looked at the booklet and found the handwriting clear and well-organized, which made him even more satisfied.

A few days later, Li Zheng summoned Ma San and Sun Wang to his side.

Once inside the hall, Li Zheng cut to the chase: "Do either of you know Niutou Mountain?"

Both of them shook their heads.

Li Zheng said, "This mountain is fifty li northwest of Liangshan. A band of bandits has occupied the mountain and become its kings. I intend to attack this mountain. Which of you two can go and scout out the situation there?"

Upon hearing this, Ma San looked troubled.

Although he was quick on his feet and capable of patrolling the mountains and relaying messages, he was an amateur when it came to infiltrating enemy camps to gather intelligence.

In contrast, Sun Wang, who came from a scout background, was well-suited to his profession.

Sun Wang stepped forward and said, "Brother, I'm willing to go."

Li Zheng nodded: "How many people do you want to bring?"

Sun Wang replied, "Brother, you don't know this, but scouting enemy positions is different from other things. The fewer people you have, the more secretive you can be. I can go alone."

Upon hearing this, Ma San frowned and said, "This is not a good idea. We should take a few brothers with us to avoid making a mistake."

Sun Wang was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

He was still a surrendered general and had not yet gained the complete trust of the mountain stronghold.

He lowered his head for a moment, then said somewhat dejectedly, "Brother is right, then I'll send a few more..."

At this moment, Li Zheng waved his hand and said, "No need. You go alone. Just ask Lao Geda for your travel expenses and equipment."

Sun Wang looked up in astonishment: "Brother, I..."

Li Zheng smiled and said, "If you employ someone, you should trust them; if you don't trust someone, you shouldn't employ them. I trust you."

Sun Wang's eyes reddened slightly as he clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother, wait for me. I will definitely return in three days at the earliest, five days at the latest."

After saying that, he turned and went out the door.

Watching him leave, Ma San said with some worry, "Brother, what if he doesn't come back after we let him go?"

"With his abilities, even if all the brothers in the village were sent out, they probably still wouldn't be able to capture him."

Li Zheng retorted, "His skills lie in scouting enemy positions. Are we hiding him out of fear that he'll leave?"

"Since he is a brother, we should trust him. Even if he really runs away without a word, it's better than him harboring ulterior motives and staying in the village, which will cause trouble sooner or later."

"Besides, he doesn't seem like a shrewd opportunist to me."

. . . . . .

Sun Wang left the village gate, but as Li Zheng had expected, he did not take the opportunity to escape.

It's true that he was forced to join, but these days on the mountain, he practiced and drank with his brothers every day, and worked together to cultivate fields and build houses. Gradually, he developed a sense of belonging to the mountain stronghold.

Unlike when he was with the border troops and the Zhao family, he was only killing for them in exchange for money.

But in Liangshan, everyone worked together to protect the stronghold and lived a rare period of peace.

Therefore, Sun Wang made up his mind to handle things perfectly this time so that his brothers would fully accept him.

He was an experienced scout, and instead of heading straight for Niutou Mountain, he first detoured to the nearby Jingmen Town.

Upon entering the town, he immediately changed his clothes and disguised himself as a merchant.

After wandering around the town for half a day, he set his sights on a local rascal.

These kinds of scoundrels are the most reliable sources of information. Many powerful figures rely on them to dispose of stolen goods and gather intelligence, as they are very knowledgeable about the surrounding areas.

Sun Wang followed the rogue and found out that he lived in a dilapidated temple outside the town.

As night fell, Sun Wang sneaked into the dilapidated temple.

The rascal was fast asleep behind the pillar, snoring loudly.

The methods of scouts in the army are ruthless. Sun Wang sneaked up to the ruffian's side, covered his mouth, and plunged a knife straight into his left shoulder.

The rogue was awakened by the excruciating pain and struggled desperately to get up.

Sun Wang simply stared coldly into his eyes until his struggles weakened.

The rogue felt despair, thinking that the man in front of him looked at him like a butcher looking at livestock, without any emotion whatsoever.

Sun Wang said in a low voice, "I'll ask, you answer, understand?"

The rascal, his face covered in sweat from the pain, nodded whimperingly.

Without saying a word, Sun Wang stabbed him in the right shoulder with another backhand.

The ruffian was completely speechless, only managing a trembling voice as he pleaded, "Spare me... Hero, spare me..."

Sun Wang drew his knife and wiped the blood on the rogue's clothes: "Do you know Niutou Mountain?"

The rogue nodded repeatedly.

Sun Wang said, "I want to know the background and origins of that gang of bandits on the mountain. Tell me everything you know."

The rogue, enduring the pain, said, "Niutou Mountain is fifteen miles from here. There used to be a Taoist temple on the mountain, but it was abandoned a few years ago."

"Later, a group of bandits arrived, led by a man named Wang Jing. They gathered more than three hundred men, occupied the Taoist temple, and killed and robbed people all day long."

"Now no one passes within a few miles of Niutou Mountain, and even merchants avoid it."

Sun Wang chuckled lightly: "You've described it in such detail, you must be familiar with that group, right?"

The rogue had been silent for a moment when he immediately felt Sun Wang press the tip of the knife against his waist again.

He quickly replied, "Yes, I know them! I know them! They occasionally come to town to do business, and I've done a few things for them."

Sun Wang nodded: "You don't need to be afraid. I have an old grudge against those people. Take me to the mountain to take a look from afar, and I will treat your wound and give you some money."

The rogue hurriedly replied, "I am willing to go."

Under the moonlight, Sun Wang helped the rogue up from the pillar, and the two walked fifteen miles of mountain road.

By the time we arrived at the destination, it was already getting light.

When Sun Wang looked up, the mountain was not very high, and it was indeed shaped like a cow's head, resembling a reclining cow.

The mountain is covered with a variety of trees, and a narrow path winds its way up, with a section of courtyard wall peeking out from halfway up the mountain.

Sun Wang looked around for a moment, then turned to the ruffian and asked, "Is this the place?"

The rogue nodded repeatedly, pleading, "Hero, please let me go home."

Seeing that Sun Wang didn't respond, the rogue was overjoyed and turned to leave.

At this moment, Sun Wang stepped forward and slit his throat from behind.

The scoundrel collapsed without uttering a sound.

Sun Wang dragged the corpse into the roadside bushes, then stripped the rogue's coat and put it on himself. He adjusted the short knife at his waist and walked up the mountain along the path.