Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The moonlight was obscured by the clouds and lost its cool brilliance for a while. The dark night was torn apart by the firelight, and the Chao Gai Zhuangzi in Dongxi Village was illuminated like daylight.

Clang, Clang, Clang——

Amidst the sound of soldiers and armor clashing, the burly Lei Heng, carrying a simple sword, and dozens of soldiers holding hooks and sickles approached his colleague with a long beard: "I came in from the front door. Did Zhu Dutou ever see Chao Tian when he met someone... cough, that guy Chao Gai?"

Zhu Tong looked at him thoughtfully, glanced at the dozens of sergeants watching him, and said sternly: "I've never seen it before. This Zhuangzi is empty. Zhemo ran away after hearing the wind."

Lei Heng originally didn't want to capture Chao Gai. Seeing that there was no progress on Zhu Tong's side, he breathed a sigh of relief. The two of them were standing when the county captain came with a few soldiers outside. Seeing the two of them, he felt cold in his heart: " But you didn’t get anyone?”

The two looked at each other and clasped their fists together: "This village is empty, there are no other people, and there are signs of rummaging. It must have been escaped with gold and silver, so there is no thief."

The county captain immediately stamped his feet and wailed: "Such a big thief can't be caught. I don't want to make Shangguan look coldly. You two lead the sergeant to search for it."

The boss of Zhu Dian and Lei Heng was not happy, so Zhu Dian stepped forward and said: "It's not that I don't want to do it, it's just that the sergeant who arrived here is exhausted, and this dark thief doesn't know what to do." They fled along the road or the cat was waiting for an opportunity in the dark. If they happened to be hiding in a dark place nearby, wouldn't it be putting their lives in danger if we saw the two of us taking most of the soldiers away?"

Hearing this, the county lieutenant looked around, feeling that there seemed to be some danger in the darkness. He straightened his collar with both hands, coughed, and tried to hold up his chest: "Well, this county lieutenant is not an ungrateful person. He came to get someone overnight. It's a bit harder, let's take care of a few bankers and neighbors first, and then we'll talk about it when we get back."

How could Lei Heng and Zhu Dian have any objections unless they were ordered to rush to get Chao Gai? They immediately captured a few bankers who stayed behind, collected the team, and a group of people lit torches and hurried back to the county town at night. Since Li Kuan went to the Yamen with Song Jiang in the afternoon to submit official documents, he urged Yuncheng County to send sergeants to arrest Chao Gai.

Wen Bin, the magistrate of the county, had no choice but to ask the county lieutenant to take two chiefs, Zhu Tong and Lei Heng, to catch Chao Gai. Li Kuan waited in the back room of the county seat until dawn on the second day before he saw the gang. When people learned that Chao Gai's people were going to Zhuangkong, they couldn't help but stumbled and wailed: "I have suffered so much from this traitor. I will definitely be held accountable by my father-in-law when I go back today."

Looking at the way Shi Wenbin was watching the show, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "Your county doesn't have to look at me like this. I just want to think about whether there will be any trouble from the minister."

Shi Wenbin immediately changed his face and said in a solemn voice: "Your Majesty is a magnanimous man, so you won't make it difficult for me, a humble official, right?"

Li Kuan sneered: "I don't know whether the prime minister is magnanimous or not, but your county must not forget that there are officials in the prime minister's office waiting for me in the state capital to catch the thief, and I am waiting for your county to catch the thief. Now even If none of the accomplices were caught, will your county benefit from it?"

When Shi Wenbin heard this, his heart felt cold, and he thought of something and said quickly: "There is no one else in the official document except Chao Gai, the chief villain. Now that he is the banker here, we should know his name and appearance."

Li Kuan was silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "Come on, it's better to have three melons and two dates than nothing. Please ask your county to interrogate it quickly, so that I can report my knowledge to my husband."

The magistrate of Yuncheng nodded repeatedly: "It's your duty to observe and sit back less."

"I'm sorry to trouble your county."

The two of them talked, and Shi Wenbin ordered them to be interrogated, but they were not punished. The villagers were also honest and immediately confessed Wu Yong, Liu Tang, Gongsun Sheng and others. At that time, the magistrate took several confessions, and even Together with the banker, they were handed over to Li for observation. The man had no choice but to take these people back to the state capital in despair. As for the innocent neighbor, Song Jiang helped him deal with it.

……

Under the same sky.

Under the shade of the tree, Chao Gai and others who had fled overnight were sitting on the big bluestone to rest. A banker gave water to everyone. These people did not light a fire because it was too hot, so they ate hard dry food with cold water and waited for a while. Relieve the hunger fire in your belly.

"Further ahead is the boundary of Puzhou. Once we reach this point, no one will be able to catch up." Chao Gai sat down and knocked his legs and feet: "I wonder how Brother Song Xian is doing. Will he be punished if he goes back?"

"Brother Song Gongming is a rare good man in the world." Liu Tang gave him a thumbs up and spat out the crumbs from his mouth: "In the past, I was a little dissatisfied with his reputation, but this time I have seen what true loyalty is like. "

"I hope nothing happens."

Chao Gai sighed, Wu Yong drank a sip of cold water and said calmly: "Brother Tianwang, don't worry about this. Brother Song Jiang has been in the yamen for many years and is already familiar with various matters. He will not put himself in danger."

"This is the best." Chao Gai nodded, took a bite of the cake, swallowed it three times, raised his head and said, "There is also Bai Xiandi, we must save him."

"That scoundrel!" Liu Tang suddenly stood up and took a sip. Wang Dashou and Liu Tong frowned at him, and the red-haired ghost yelled: "He has put us in such a bad way today, who cares?" Let him take care of his own life and death in death row."

Qiu Xiang wanted to echo a few words, but Fang Han grabbed his shoulder and shook his head at him. He just sat there obsessively eating cakes, and next to his ears was Chao Gai's angry voice.

"That's not what you say." Chao Gai shook his head: "Although Brother Bai Xian is not very capable, he is a loyal man. He is not someone who betrays his friends for glory. There must be something fishy about this trip. If he is not rescued , Chao Gai will be uneasy for the rest of his life."

Wang Dashou and Liu Tong looked at Chao Gai and were filled with emotion and admiration in their eyes.

Liu Tang sat down and muttered: "Brother is so kind, be careful not to let that guy get hurt in the future."

Wang Dashou raised his eyebrows, but Wu Yong couldn't see it. He quickly smiled and spoke first: "Brother Tianwang has been getting along with brother Bai Sheng for a long time. I don't think he is mistaken as a person. He is just a brother. How can Xie save him?"

Chao Gai looked at the burdens in front of the bankers behind him and the people on the side: "I and these people will never be able to attack the prison. We have a lot of money here, and we can buy Bai Xiandi's life."

Liu Tang snorted and turned his head away. Liu Tong, Wang Dashou and the young man Qiu Xiang were all nodding aside. Only Fang Han and Wu Yong were twirling their beards with expressions of embarrassment on their faces.

Chao Gai looked at them: "What's going on? Is there something wrong?"

Fang Han shook his head in silence, and Wu Yong said: "Brother, it's easy to think. If brother Bai Sheng is in jail because of his affairs, we can redeem him by spending some money. But this time is different. What we are trying to get is the traitor." Xiang Cai Jing’s birthday, that old thief is so powerful, which official has the guts to let him go privately?”

Liu Tang suddenly became energetic: "What the professor said makes sense, brother, just forget it."

"No." Chao Gai shook his head: "Since we can't buy anyone, we will think of another way. The worst we can do is ask someone to rob the prison." Wang Dashou couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Who can I ask for..."

After saying one sentence, Liu Tong lowered his head and his eyes flashed. Chao Gai was also speechless immediately. To rob a prison like this, he must first break the city. There is only one Saojin family with such strength, but he doesn't want to do it first. He said that he had a problem in his heart and didn't want to find it. Even if he found it, how could anyone help him? They are all well-known people in the world, and no one is inferior to the other.

Seeing the silence among the others, Wu Yong licked his dry lips and said after a while: "Brother, there is a way we can try, but this matter is beyond our control and may be risky. Brother, are you willing to try it? "

"Professor, please tell me." Chao Gai suddenly raised his head: "It's better to have a way than to wait."

"This method may take a while." Wu Yong stroked his beard and smiled: "Brother Bai Sheng is in prison in Jeju. With the power of the traitor, he will not be convicted there, but will be escorted to Beijing. As long as We will enter the city to do some planning and find out when he will set off, then I will wait for the opportunity."

"Professor is very thoughtful, so what if the traitor directly executes Bai Sheng in prison?" Liu Tang yelled, holding his neck.

Wu Yong spread his hands and said: "Then there is no other way. I can only find an opportunity to give Brother Bai Sheng a meal of delicious food and a few jars of fine wine, so that he can become a dead ghost."

When Liu Tang wanted to say more, Chao Gai patted his thigh and said, "Just follow what the professor said, I'll just find a place and wait for a few days."

Then he said to Fang Han and Qiu Xiang: "Excuse me, you two, please stop with us for a moment, and then we can continue on our way after brother Bai Sheng is rescued."

"Brother is doing it for loyalty, and I respect you. Whatever you say, I will do." Qiu Xiang patted his chest in agreement, and Fang Han also nodded: "The king doesn't have to worry about the two of us. Since we said we would go back to the west of Beijing together, it's natural Can’t wait.”

"Okay!" Chao Gai nodded and looked at the people over there: "At this time, I am the only one who has been exposed, but my brothers and others are fine. Then I would like to ask the professor to take charge of this matter with Liu Tong and Wang Dashou. "

But Wu Yong shook his head repeatedly: "Brother, what you said is wrong. I think our identity has been revealed at this time."

Several people over there looked at each other in confusion. Chao Gai frowned and said, "How could it be? Brother Xiandi Song clearly said that I was the only one who would tell Brother Bai Xiandi to go to jail."

Nazhi Duoxing straightened his legs and relaxed a little: "If I am a member of the government, if I can't catch anyone, I will definitely bring the neighbors and the remaining villagers back to the county office for interrogation. We and our brothers have gathered in the village. Sometimes, the banker and the people around him will recognize each other. At this time, the names, surnames and appearances of the seven of us must have been included in the official sea arrest documents."

Everyone was silent for a moment, and Fang Han nodded: "What the professor said should be true."

Chao Gai was helpless: "What can I do?"

"It doesn't matter." Wu Yong chuckled and looked at Fang Han and Qiu Xiang: "Brother Fang, no one knows their names. They disguise themselves and can enter and leave the city at will."

Qiu Xiang's eyes lit up, he stood up quickly and looked at Chao Gai: "Brother, I'm willing to go."

Fang Han looked at his nephew and stood up with a sigh in his heart: "Since I'm so tired, I might as well take a walk."

Chao Gai was overjoyed and said quickly: "Then please two of you, just take whatever gold, silver, wealth and silk you need."

The two of them did not shirk at the moment, they cleaned up their appearance, took a few small silver ingots and broken silver, and then headed south. By the time they arrived, it was already the evening of the second day. The two of them had a good sleep and were well rested. I went to the prison early the next morning, and after some research, I got accurate information.

It was also Bai Sheng's good luck. Seeing that they could not catch the remaining criminals, the two officers in Cai Jing's Mansion lost their temper. They scolded the prefect so much that they then urged him to take Bai Sheng back to Beijing and hand him over to the Prime Minister's Mansion. The prefect of Jeju wanted these people with eyes on their heads to leave as soon as possible, so he put shackles on Baek Sheng and his wife, handed them over to the two officers, and sent another one to lead people to follow. This was a relief, and they could finally do it. Send the plague god away.

After Fang Han and others got the letter, they quickly asked Qiu Xiang to return to report to Chao Gai, while he followed them while marking the way. Chao Gai and others were overjoyed when they got the letter, and asked Wu Yong, Liu Tang and several bankers to join them. Looking at the money and silk, he, Wang Dashou, Liu Tong and others followed Qiu Xiang to rob Bai Sheng.

How did the two officials of the Prime Minister's Office know that they were being targeted? They just felt that the sun was too hot every day and waited for it to cool down before rushing forward. After only traveling for forty miles, they were driven away by Chao Gai and others. Go up, set an ambush in front, and when the men arrive, shout and fight out together.

The officers and soldiers of Jeju had long been beaten into fear by Liangshan. When they saw a strongman coming to kill them, no matter who it was, they shouted and ran away. The two officers wanted to call the sergeants to stay and defend against the enemy, but Wang Dashou and Liu Tong ran away. When they get close, one person will die in one fell swoop.

Bai Sheng watched helplessly as Chao Gai came forward and cut off the shackles with his sword. He couldn't help but bow down with tears in his eyes: "If it weren't for my brother almost losing his life, I would have sold my life to him from now on."

Wang Dashou grabbed the iron and grabbed it, kicked the day rat, and said with a smile: "You guys still have the nerve to say this, you don't have any control over your words. If it weren't for you, how could an official come to pick him up?"

Bai Sheng was helpless: "I was very tight-lipped in court, but they found out that the elder brother was leading the charge, and the younger brother was following. After telling the elder brother's name, the younger brother had no choice but to admit it, but he didn't say anything else."

Mrs. Bai nodded from the side: "The head of the family is right. He has been tortured for a long time without being punished. It is actually the government that has received the news."

Only then did everyone realize that Chao Gai saw that Bai Shenglu's skin was almost intact, and they couldn't help but sigh: "Sorry brother, Chao Gai didn't do things secretly. This disaster happened."

"How can you blame brother?" Bai Sheng shook his head quickly and gritted his teeth and said, "I just don't know who it is that leaked what we and others were hiding, otherwise I would have to kill this person and drink his heart and soul."

Fang Han saw him chatting and quickly stepped forward: "Don't say any more, leave here first."

Bai Sheng had never seen him before, so he couldn't help but look at Chao Gai: "This is..."

"Brother Fang is right, I'll leave first." Chao Gai nodded and said to Bai Sheng, "This is a hero from the west of Beijing and a friend of Brother Song Jiang."

"Ah...oh..." Bai Sheng was still confused and didn't understand why he brought up another big brother in the world. However, he also knew that it was not the time to talk. As soon as he took a step forward, he didn't know that his body was weak and his legs were weak. Fall down.

On the side, Wang Dashou and Liu Tong quickly helped the day rat up, and the group hurried towards Wu Yong and Liu Tang's hiding place.

Within a few days, a group of people dressed as merchants carried burdens and carried simple knives, heading towards the west of Beijing, and gradually drifted away. (End of chapter)