Magical Water Margin: They all call me brother

Page 134

“Brother! Qin Ming is a warrior! A rough man! But this… this Shandong military governor? Prince Qi?! These conditions… isn’t this clearly a way to make the court turn against us?”

Qin Ming couldn't sit still any longer and quickly got up to ask Liu Hong.

Guan Sheng, wielding a broadsword, frowned deeply. Although she did not want to be granted amnesty, the conditions proposed by Liu Hong shocked her.

“Brother. The matter of surrendering to the emperor concerns our lives and the very survival of our stronghold. I dare to ask, brother, are you trying to provoke the court by offering such outrageous conditions, forcing them into a fight to the death? This request from the military governor and the prince is something that even the Emperor Zhao on the throne would never agree to, let alone Grand Commandant Su! I don’t understand why you are making such a demand?”

The impetuous Suo Chao was even more straightforward. She slammed her fist on a nearby pillar, making a dull thud that revealed her inner frustration and confusion.

“Brother! We follow you because we believe you can lead us to a bright future. But this Prince Qi… isn’t that like wanting the moon in the sky?! How could the court be willing to grant away the entire Shandong province? Isn’t that just courting death?”

However, among all the surrendered generals, the one who reacted most violently and was most deeply affected was Huyan Zhuo, the Double Whip General.

Huyan Zhuo was once a trusted military commander who commanded a large army. He was a direct descendant of Huyan Zan, a founding general, and his bloodline was marked by generations of loyalty to the emperor and the country. He joined Liangshan after being defeated and had nowhere else to go. He also wanted to save the lives of his brothers. Deep down, his sense of belonging to the Song Dynasty had not been completely extinguished.

Liu Hong recruited her into Liangshan because he agreed to accept the imperial pardon. For Huyan Zhuo, Liangshan was merely a stepping stone, a way to clear her name and return to the imperial court.

But the conditions Liu Hong proposed today were like a knife to her heart, shattering her hopes and overturning all her understanding of "loyalty" and "amnesty"!

Huyan Zhuo did not slam his fist on the table and rise. Instead, he stood there as if all his strength had been drained, his face ashen, and his hands, which had once commanded thousands of troops, were now trembling slightly. He stared intently at Liu Hong, who remained calm on the tiger-skin chair, his voice hoarse and filled with a near-desperate confusion.

“Brother! The reason we brothers follow you, fighting bloody battles without fear of swords and axes, is more or less because we hope that one day we can be recruited by the imperial court, clear our names of banditry, bring glory to our family, and ultimately serve the court and earn a respectable status! Even being appointed as a militia commander or defense commissioner would be better than being labeled as bandits and outlaws in this marshland! It would be an insult to our ancestors!”

Hu Yanzhuo's chest heaved, and he grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, his cheeks flushed, and his words came out like a rapid-fire cannon:

“We brothers and sisters respect you very much, so we waited until the imperial envoy left before speaking. But today you want the ‘Shandong Military Governor’? And the ‘King of Qi’ who will carve up a territory for you?!”

Hu Yanzhuo suddenly raised his voice, which was filled with disbelief and accusation.

"Brother! Are you begging for amnesty?! You promised us that when you tried to recruit us!!!"

Huyan Zhuo looked around and pointed to the surrendered generals whose expressions were also changing, their sore spots touched by his words.

“We brothers and sisters are surrendered generals! We bear the responsibility of defeat and joined Liangshan, which already carries the crime of disloyalty and injustice! If it were just a normal amnesty, the court might have considered that we had turned back from our wrong path and our crimes might have been reduced! But now Your Majesty is demanding the throne and the power of the regional governors from the court!”

A deep fear flashed in Huyan Zhuo's eyes:

"If such demands were to reach Tokyo, the court and the public would surely be shaken! The Emperor would be furious! He would see Liangshan as a major threat! He would see us surrendered generals... as the core henchmen of a rebellion that seeks to carve up our territory! What hope do we have of turning back?!"

All eyes were on Liu Hong.

Huyan Zhuo's desperate and indignant accusations still echoed in the Hall of Righteousness, sending shivers down everyone's spines. The surrendered generals' gazes, filled with fear, doubt, or bewilderment, were all focused on Liu Hong. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the air was as still as the calm before a storm.

"Brothers and sisters, don't get agitated! Don't fight!"

Wu Yong was unsure what Liu Hong, whom he served and was loyal to, wanted to do, but he stood up first to smooth things over and calm the atmosphere.

"As the saying goes, 'Asking for the moon is easy, but settling for the moon is easy.' We have defeated the imperial army of 100,000 four times, and our fighting strength is unparalleled. The imperial court must want to grant us amnesty. But at this moment, we don't know where the imperial court's bottom line is, so that's why my brother offered the exorbitant price of the Prince of Qi!"

"Anyway, the imperial court can't beat us, so they can't possibly agree to Prince Qi's demands. But they will definitely raise their bargaining chips. When that happens, what the imperial court gives us won't be just two prefects or three sub-prefects!"

"You can't use the King of Qi and the military governor of Shandong to set a price! That's outrageous!"

Suo Chao retorted to Wu Yong's words with a string of curses.

Liu Hong's gaze slowly swept over the familiar faces, each now filled with unease, finally settling on Huyan Zhuo's face, contorted with agitation. He showed no anger at being offended; instead, a cold, knowing smile played on his lips as he slowly rose from the tiger-skin chair.

"Sister Huyan, Sister Qin, Sister Suo, and all my brothers and sisters who have served the court!"

Liu Hong's voice was deep, yet carried a metallic quality, piercing the silence.

"Two prefects? Three sub-prefects?"

Liu Hong's lips suddenly curled into an extremely contemptuous and mocking arc, and his voice rose sharply, filled with naked disdain.

"Is this official position really that high-ranking?! Is it really that prestigious?! Is it even enough to fill that old bastard Gao Qiu's teeth? Open your eyes and see clearly!"

Liu Hong shouted sternly, his finger pointing towards Tokyo as if it would pierce the roof.

"Cai Jing! Gao Qiu! Tong Guan! Yang Jian! These four treacherous officials, like four ancient tortoises, firmly occupy the highest position in the court! They suck the people's blood and sweat, obscure the emperor's ears, and distort the truth! We, Liangshan, have torn their dignity to shreds four times in a row! We have crushed their prestige! Recently, we even captured that old scoundrel Tong Guan alive! In front of the world, we have torn the dignity of these four treacherous officials time and time again! We have trampled the dignity of these four old dogs time and time again! We have slapped their old faces so hard they resounded!"

Liu Hong paused abruptly, his voice suddenly turning icy cold, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell:

"But—what about the emperor sitting high on the dragon throne?! Is he blind?! Is he deaf?! He still regards these four old fools as his right-hand men and confidants! He lets them continue to control the government and have the power of life and death!"

Liu Hong surveyed the crowd, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing deep into the hearts of each person:

"Generals, you have been in officialdom for a long time and understand things better than I do! We have offended these four treacherous officials to the point of no return! Some of us killed Gao Qiu's entire family, some caused trouble in Dongjing, some killed Gao Qiu's nephew Gao Lian, most of our brothers participated in seizing Cai Jing's birthday gifts, and we also captured Liang Zhongshu and Tong Guan alive... We have offended these four treacherous officials to the point of tearing them apart and fighting to the death!"

Liu Hong's voice suddenly rose to an almost shrill level, filled with intense warning and indignation:

"Do you think that even if I, Liu Hong, nodded today and led the brothers to accept those insignificant official positions, and then scattered you all to the ends of the earth, like scattering beans to those hungry wolves?! Then what?! Think about it, then what?! Gao Qiu has a hundred ways to kill us! A hundred ways!! He'll have his demons and monsters crush each and every one of us like bedbugs!"

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, the generals' faces turned pale with fright.

"Don't you believe me! I, Liu Hong, come from humble beginnings, have never been an official, and am just a commoner. But I can still think of countless ways Gao Qiu will kill us! Just listen to them!"

Liu Hong suddenly started counting on his fingers, his tone as cold as if he were reciting a death warrant.

"First, we'll sow discord! We'll scatter us brothers all over the country, leaving you scattered and unable to care for anyone. Then, we'll find a pretext to falsely accuse you of a peasant uprising, collusion with the Liao and Jin dynasties, embezzlement of public funds—any one of these charges will land you in jail! You'll be all alone in those government offices, crying out to heaven and earth in vain!"

"Secondly, we'll push them to the front lines! We'll feign being given important positions, pushing our brothers into the most dangerous battlegrounds. We'll fight Fang La! We'll fight the Liao! We'll fight to the last drop of our blood! Even if we don't die by the enemy's blade, we'll be shot to death by our own arrows!"

"Finally, they can simply frame you for treason! Fabricate evidence and say that you secretly colluded with surrendered generals and plotted rebellion! Wouldn't that be enough to execute your entire family?! In that case, with a single imperial edict from the capital, you, your family, and your subordinates will all be wiped out! Just like Lu Junyi! She fought loyally for the country and did nothing wrong, yet she was inexplicably labeled a traitor!"

Liu Hong finished speaking in one breath, his chest heaving violently.

"Huyan Zhuo! You were also framed by Gao Qiu and that's why you joined Liangshan. Just now, Grand Commandant Su said that the court appointed you as the Military Commander of Hedong. Wasn't that the same position you held last time?!"

"A mere military commander, you come to Shandong whenever Gao Qiu orders you to, and you die when he says the battle situation is bad, like a dog, unable even to appeal to the Emperor! And that was before you had any grudge against Gao Qiu. Now that you've offended him, going back to be the military commander of Hedong, only to be played by Gao Qiu all over again? Is that really worth it???"

Liu Hong's eyes were sharp as he stared intently at Hu Yanzhuo and the others, whose faces had turned deathly pale.

"I'm telling you! Returning to the court with this official position is a dead end! It's a path that will lead our brothers to a slow death in pain, humiliation, and despair! It's a fate where we'll be chopped up and fed to the dogs, and even in our dying moments, we'll be cursed as 'remnants of a traitor'! I, Liu Hong, have gone through so much hardship not to send our brothers to Gao Qiu's guillotine!!!"

Liu Hong's most brutal descriptions of the deathly landscape of officialdom were like a bucket of ice water, completely extinguishing any remaining illusions of amnesty in the hearts of Hu Yanzhuo and his ilk. They were not only persuaded, but also deeply shocked and terrified by the clear, hellish vision of the future.

"Let me tell you! Amnesty? Fine! But unless the official positions offered by the amnesty can rival Gao Qiu, guarantee our brothers' protection in the court and prevent them from being killed by the four treacherous ministers, or unless we brothers directly storm the capital to purge the emperor's inner circle, I will never agree to let my brothers die in vain! Let your blood stain my official robes, Liu Hong's!!!"

Chapter 387: Liangshan Marsh's Second Battle with Daming Prefecture

Liu Hong's words, each one a tearful lament, piercing the heart like an ice pick, echoed like thunder in the Hall of Righteousness. Every analysis of Gao Qiu's methods, every description of the tragic deaths after "amnesty," was like a red-hot iron, searing the hearts of Huyan Zhuo, Qin Ming, Suo Chao, and all the surrendered generals who had once harbored illusions about amnesty.

Dead!

In the vast hall, only heavy breathing and the chilling effect of Liu Hong's words remained. Hu Yanzhuo, who had just been so emotional and skeptical of Liu Hong, was now deathly pale, his lips trembling slightly, as if he were still trapped in the inescapable, treacherous political machinations Liu Hong had described. He tried to speak, but his throat felt like it was filled with a lump of hot lead.

Thunderbolt Qin Ming's eyes widened, his initial rage vanished, replaced by boundless fury and a sense of humiliation at being mocked by the court. He slammed his fist into his thigh, producing a dull thud, his voice dry and hoarse, filled with disbelief and pain: "Brother is right! I, Qin Ming, was truly blinded by greed! I... I almost believed that nonsense!"

A wave of overwhelming shame washed over them. Liu Hong's contemptuous question, "Two prefects, three sub-prefects, are these really high-ranking officials?!" struck them like a whip. They were still dreaming of returning home in glory and restoring their family's honor, unaware that in the eyes of those four treacherous officials, even such positions were nothing more than shrouds for the dead! They had been too naive, too underestimating the relentless vengeance of their enemies!

Hu Yanzhuo finally succumbed to the immense emotional shock and shame, and with a thud, she knelt on one knee, bowing her once proud head deeply before Liu Hong, who sat in the main seat. Her shoulders trembled violently, and her voice was filled with suppressed sobs and regret.

“Brother! It was Huyan Zhuo who was foolish! He didn’t understand this relationship and still harbored those unrealistic fantasies! He almost... almost pushed the brothers into an abyss of no return! Please punish me, brother!”

As Huyan Zhuo knelt down to admit his mistake, the tense and oppressive atmosphere seemed to shatter instantly. Qin Ming, Suo Chao, and the other generals also rose solemnly, clasping their hands and bowing to Liu Hong. A low but firm chorus of apologies and declarations of commitment echoed through the hall.

"We are fools!"

"I misunderstood my brother!"

"Brother is wise! We are in awe!"

"I am willing to follow my brother, through water and fire, even unto death!"

At this moment, all the doubts and fears, faced with the cold reality and extreme oppression, transformed into a deeper respect and reliance on their leader, Liu Hong. One-third of the surrender faction understood that Liu Hong's seemingly absurd demands for the positions of "Shandong Military Governor" and "King of Qi" were not unrealistic ambitions, but rather the only way to maximize their survival and freedom!

He wasn't looking at the imperial court's rewards at all; what he was concerned with was how to carve out a safe haven for Liangshan amidst the wolves and jackals! This ruthlessness, this clarity of mind, this protective instinct to fight his way through for his brothers gave them an unprecedented sense of security and exhilaration.

The remaining third of those who had no desire to be granted amnesty stood firmly by Liu Hong's side, while the last third, who themselves didn't know whether being granted amnesty was good or bad, also deeply admired Liu Hong's loyalty.

Looking at Huyan Zhuo kneeling and admitting his mistake, looking at Guan Sheng bowing his head, and looking at Qin Ming whose eyes were once again filled with fighting spirit instead of confusion, the cold sharpness in Liu Hong's eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a resolute and decisive look. He stepped down from the tiger-skin chair, personally helped Huyan Zhuo up, and then patted Qin Ming's shoulder heavily.

"Sister Huyan, Sister Qin."

Liu Hong's voice was no longer as intense as before, but every word was powerful and resonant, carrying an unquestionable authority and deep affection.

"Get up! Let's not talk about the past anymore! In this world, it's better to rely on ourselves than on others. It's better to rely on the weapons in our own hands than on that Zhao official!"

His gaze swept across all the eyes in the Hall of Righteousness, which had once again become fervent and resolute:

"Since the imperial palace in Tokyo has already been occupied by wolves and cannot tolerate even a glimmer of light, then we will forge our own sword and cleave open a bright and clear world! Since the four treacherous villains want us dead, then we will live more gloriously and more joyfully than them! Since the emperor doesn't value our lives, then we will take control of our own lives!"

"it is good!"

"Yes! Brother is right!"

"Make your own decisions!"

The crowd was instantly agitated; suppressed shame ignited into boiling blood, and anger at being mocked was forged into soaring fighting spirit! The surrendered generals of the court, their eyes filled with tears, forcefully wiped them away, replacing them with a resolute determination to burn their bridges! The previous estrangement caused by doubt was completely shattered by Liu Hong's resounding "wake-up call." In its place was a unity and trust forcibly forged in dire straits, a unity made even purer by recognizing the harsh reality.

Inside the Hall of Righteousness, under the banner of "Acting on Behalf of Heaven," all doubts vanished!

Only a burning flame remained, awaiting Liu Hong's command to incinerate the corrupt temple and carve out a true realm for them. At this moment, all the power of Liangshan was concentrated on Liu Hong like never before. The wolves finally abandoned their illusions about the dog cage, revealing their sharpest fangs, ready to follow their alpha wolf and tear a bloody path ahead. At this moment, all 108 stars belonged to Liu Hong.

Amidst the united spirit and fervent atmosphere of Liangshan, they continued their preparations to attack Daming Prefecture and demand justice for Lu Junyi.

Meanwhile, in the capital city of Tokyo, there was an uproar of fury. The emperor and his ministers were stunned. The Shandong military governor? The Prince of Qi? Have they gone mad?!

But now the situation is very awkward. It's impossible to give him this title, what are we thinking? But if we continue to fight, we can't win, at least not against a force of 100,000. The country is currently facing a tense war, Fang La is being quelled, and preparations are underway to unite with the Jin to destroy the Liao. There's really no time to fight Song Jiang.

Then, how about giving him a different reward? How about appointing him as the Pacification Commissioner of Shandong, which is equivalent to the Governor of Shandong Province, so that the Liangshan brothers and sisters won't be separated or scattered? But that's too dangerous. The separation of powers will fail in Shandong, causing an imbalance.

Just as the imperial court was hesitating, Liangshan launched another attack, sweeping across Daming Prefecture in a grand manner!

Chapter 388: Lu Junyi First Reveals His True Dragon Form

The Liangshan army swept in like a dark cloud, their banners proclaiming "Acting on Behalf of Heaven" and "Great Sage of Chaos" fluttering in the wind, heading straight for the walls of Daming Prefecture. This important northern town, already terrified by the Liangshan army's repeated victories over prefectures, was now utterly demoralized. When "Jade Kirin" Lu Junyi personally led his vanguard to the city walls, it became the final straw that broke the morale of the defenders!

"Lu... Lu Junyi is back! He's led the Liangshan forces back in a fierce battle!"

"Heavens! The Jade Kirin is personally leading the way! How...how are we supposed to guard this place?!"

"Run! Liangshan has utterly defeated Grand Commandant Gao and captured Privy Councilor Tong alive! We can't stop them!"

"The Imperial Guards of Daming Prefecture were all given away by Guan Sheng long ago and haven't been replenished at all. Last time, when Song Jiang captured Daming Prefecture, he dismantled them and took away all the city's defensive weapons. How are we supposed to fight back?!"

Panic spread like a plague across the city walls. The defending commander was already terrified; to hell with holding out and risking his life. The gatekeeper, in his terror, didn't even wait for the Liangshan heroes to make a move before tremblingly opening the gates of Daming Prefecture. Countless soldiers abandoned their weapons and armor and fled in panic, like lambs being driven by wolves.

Daming Prefecture, a formidable northern city known as an impregnable fortress and one of the four capitals of the Song Dynasty, was breached without bloodshed by the formidable Liangshan army, which made it seem as fragile as paper!

The Liangshan army entered the city in an orderly fashion. Song Jiang, commanding his brothers, skillfully took control of the key locations—after all, he had done it before. Lu Junyi, high on his horse, his golden scale armor gleaming coldly in the autumn sun, ignored the remaining chaos within the city. His hawk-like gaze was fixed on one place in the city—the foundation that had once belonged to him, but had been ruthlessly taken away and trampled upon—the Lu family mansion!

The thunderous hooves shattered the former tranquility before the mansion's gates. The loyal servant Yan Qing, leading the charge, wielded a staff in his right hand and a crossbow in his left, leading a squad of elite guards. They swept away the resistance within the mansion like cutting vegetables, suppressing the servants and laborers who had long lived in fear. Clearing all obstacles for his master, Lu Junyi slowly stepped into the familiar courtyard, each step crushing the glory and decline of the past decades. The flower hall was still the same flower hall, but now it reeked of betrayal and filth.

His wife, Jia, was trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind. She was dragged out of the inner room by two fierce soldiers, her hairpins and ornaments scattered, her face ashen and lifeless. Following closely behind, dragged out was Lu Junyi's steward—one of the instigators who had led him to his imprisonment—Li Gu!

Li Gu had long lost the composure he had when he secretly sabotaged things back then. His legs trembled, and sweat poured down his back. He tried to force a fawning expression, but it looked worse than crying: "Master...Master...you...you're back safe and sound! I...I've been waiting for you day and night, Heaven has eyes..."

"Your Majesty!"

Yan Qing's voice carried the rage suppressed for countless days and nights as he struck Li Gu's knee with his stick. The force was so great that it shattered his kneecap! With a "thud," Li Gu and the terrified Jia Shi knelt side by side on the cold floor tiles.

Lu Junyi did not step forward immediately, but stood there looking down at Li Gu, his eyes as cold as a thousand-year-old ice, enough to freeze any life. He first stared at Li Gu, the man he had once regarded as a confidant and entrusted with his family business. His voice was low and slow, but it carried immense power, each word striking Li Gu's heart.

"Li Gu, have I, Lu Junyi, ever wronged you? Have I ever shortchanged you even a fraction of your salary? Do you remember—who saved your worthless life in Daming Prefecture? Who sent medical care and medicine to your destitute mother, who was on the verge of freezing to death in the wilderness, and brought her to live out her days in my household?! Why have you betrayed me!"

With each question, Lu Junyi's voice grew colder. Li Gu was rooted to the spot by his piercing gaze, forgetting even to kowtow and beg for mercy. Cold sweat soaked his back, leaving him trembling like a leaf and with a look of despair in his eyes.

"I... I had no idea the Song army would lose! I had no idea you, sir, would come back!!!"

Li Gu's trembling words made Lu Junyi laugh in anger. At this point, she was too lazy to speak, her gaze shifting to Jia Shi, who was trembling beside her, afraid to look up. In that gaze, besides coldness, lay a deep, profound pain of betrayal by her closest confidante.

"Madam, why do you ask?"

Madam Jia's legs went weak with fear, and she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse: "Master...Master...I was forced...It was Li Gu...he threatened me, it was Liang Zhongshu who wanted to kill my whole family...I...I...it's not my fault! Putting aside the facts, I was forced!"

"A threat?!" Lu Junyi burst into a shrill, wolf-like laugh, filled with boundless irony and pain. "What a 'forced' excuse! What a 'threat'! You bastard!!!"

Lu Junyi's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a madman! The long-suppressed humiliation and overwhelming hatred turned into molten lava! He did not draw his sword, nor did he need to!

Amidst Jia's horrified gaze and Li Gu's desperate wails, Lu Junyi strode up to Li Gu, his large, fan-like hand gripping Li Gu's throat like an iron clamp. Li Gu only had time to utter a strange "hoarse" sound before he was lifted high like a chick! The terrifying sound of bones shattering rang out clearly. Li Gu's legs kicked a few times, his eyes bulged, blood gushed from his mouth, and he instantly fell silent.

Lu Junyi slammed Li Gu's limp corpse down in front of Jia Shi like a broken sack! Jia Shi was so frightened that she couldn't even scream.

Lu Junyi suddenly turned around, his blood-stained hand not hesitating at all, filled with boundless hatred and utter despair, and grabbed Jia's hair!

"You wretch! Go to the underworld and keep your lover company!"

With a roar, Lu Junyi exerted force with both hands, and a sharp crack resounded! Jia's neck twisted violently at an unnatural angle! Her eyes glazed over instantly, her beautiful face frozen in terror and agony, and she collapsed limply beside Li Gu's still convulsing corpse. Her life ended in an instant!

Blood slowly seeped from her mouth, nose, and neck, staining the blue brick floor and Lu Junyi's resolute and cold face. The once magnificent flower hall of the Lu mansion now contained only two still-warm corpses, and the air was filled with a heavy stench of blood and death.

The entire arena fell silent. Yan Qing and his personal guards held their breath, watching their master, who seemed to have returned from hell.