Chapter 142: I, who was clinging to someone powerful, became the powerful person myself?

Yang Chang had previously plotted against Gao Qiu and Li Kui, and only Hu Sanniang, Wu Song and Zhu Tong knew about it.

He was about to leave Liangshan and go to Beijing, and according to the plot, he would conquer Liao and the bandits. In the end, although Zhu Tong escaped unscathed, Wu Song lost an arm.

As he was about to go down the mountain, Yang Chang wanted to take the opportunity of eating chicken in the evening to talk to his two most trusted brothers about his plans after being recruited.

He wants to take Hu Sanniang to cultivate immortality, so Wu Song and Zhu Tong should stay in the mortal world, so he plans to persuade them to retreat as soon as possible.

Lu Zhishen lived next door to Wu Song. This monk was open-minded and unrestrained. How could he miss out on delicious food when he heard about it? At that time, Lin Chong was talking at his house, so he rushed over to eat with him.

Lin Chong thought that he was able to take revenge thanks to Yang Chang's meticulous planning. Although he didn't know why Yang Chang was able to "instruct" Li Kui, he was still grateful to him and he had not had time to thank him properly. So, he, who was always reserved in his behavior, walked to the front of the table to eat for free.

Yang Changyi saw that there were two more people and two chickens were obviously not enough. But this was not a problem for Yang, as he could just add more steamed buns to the pot.

Wu Song helped to greet the guests in the front hall, while Yang Changze and Hu Sanniang were busy in the kitchen. After all the chicken was stewed in the pot and seasoned, he cut two plates of cured meat to accompany the wine.

Zhu Tong was eight feet five inches tall, and Wu Song, Lu Zhishen, and Lin Chong were all eight feet tall. The square table was not spacious enough for the four of them, and it would be even more crowded with the addition of Yang Chang and his wife, so they divided the seats before drinking.

Zhu Tong and Lu Zhishen were the broadest men, so they occupied the two seats on the east and west sides. The main seat on the north side was reserved for Yang Chang and his wife, so Wu Song and Lin Chong had to squeeze into the last seat on the south side.

The scene looked like a group of strong men crowded around a small coffee table, drinking and partying.

Fortunately, it was just the beginning of spring, so it was warmer to huddle together. Moreover, everyone was close to each other and didn't mind the crowding and discomfort.

Yang Chang raised his wine bowl to start the conversation. The guests then ate some cured meat, drank and chatted while waiting for the main course. The topic was the events before and after the surrender.

During the conversation, Lu Zhishen suddenly interrupted and said curiously, "I have a question. There are thirty-six gold medals and thirty-six pieces of red brocade this time, which should include Li Kui's share. I don't know where this black fellow has gone. Why didn't Brother Gongming send someone to bring him back? Are you afraid of revenge from Gao Qiu's accomplices even if you recruit him?"

"Those traitors are protected by the officials." Lin Chong frowned and expressed his opinion.

Seeing that Wu Song and Zhu Tong were silent, Lu Zhishen scratched his bald head, looked at Yang Chang and asked, "Brother Yang, I see that you usually have a lot of ideas. Do you know why Brother Gongming didn't invite Li Kui back?"

"Because we can't hire him, the iron bull has become a dead bull."

"what?"

Lin Chong stood up excitedly, but Wu Song soon pulled him back to sit down and said in a deep voice, "Sanlang, can we talk about this?"

"you know too?"

Lu Zhishen stared at Wu Song.

Yang Chang nodded and said, "This matter is a top secret of Liangshan. You can only keep it in mind. If Li Kui's head had not been used as a token of surrender, how could the court have easily recruited Gao Qiu after such a big incident?"

"Head? Letter of surrender?"

After hearing this, Lin Chong's eyes widened and bad memories suddenly came to his mind.

Yang Chang then drugged Li Kui and asked Song Jiang to let Zhang Shun tell him about Li Kui's drowning in the middle of the lake.

Lu Zhishen was so angry that his eyes were full of rage. He raised his fist to hit the table to vent his anger, but Yang Chang quickly grabbed his wrist and reminded him in a deep voice: "Master, don't be angry. If you overturn the table, how are we going to eat later?"

"I'm so angry, how can I eat?"

Unable to vent his anger, Lu Zhishen stood up, touched his head, and turned around in circles, angrily saying, "You keep saying that we are brothers, but in the end you are willing to sacrifice your brother's life for a promising future? I should have known better than to surrender."

"Li Kui killed innocent people indiscriminately. Why should Master speak for him? I think he deserved a good death!"

Seeing Zhu Tong staring at him, Lu Zhishen frowned and said, "You can take revenge openly, but using such means is too mean. Brother Zhu, since you agree with Song Jiang, I have different ideas from you and cannot make plans with you. Farewell!"

"and many more!"

Yang Chang stood up and pulled Lu Zhishen, saying righteously: "This matter has nothing to do with Zhu Jieji. My wife and Li Kui have a blood feud. Do you think I can be brothers with him? From the moment I plotted against Gao Qiu, I took Li Kui with me."

"So it was you? I went to look for you that night? And that's why you set up this trap?"

Lu Zhishen's face was full of disbelief.

"Yes."

Yang Changhao pointed at Wu Song and Zhu Tong and said, "My two brothers helped me. My second brother was responsible for luring Yan Qing away, Zhu Jieji got Gao Qiu drunk, and I personally gave Li Kui the drug. Of course, it was Song Jiang who decided whether Li Kui lived or died."

"How can you have such a mind? I feel you are a stranger."

"Sit down."

Wu Song stood up and pressed Lu Zhishen to his seat, and reminded him in a deep voice: "You asked for help from Sanlang on behalf of Lin Jiaotou. Now Gao Qiu has died as he wished. How can you blame my brother for using tricks? If Sanlang didn't have these skills, how could he have hidden it from Song Jiang and Wu Yong?"

"That's right." Lu Zhishen smiled innocently, stroking his big round head and said, "I don't blame him, I just think he doesn't show off his talent. It turns out that he has such a lively mind. I think he should not be called Yang Chang, but Chief of Staff!"

"If Sanlang didn't have any skills, couldn't Song Gongming send him to Tokyo and then settle the pacification?" Wu Song responded while picking up the wine jar to filter wine for Lu Zhishen.

Lu Zhishen looked at the muddy wine in the bowl, frowned and cursed: "After thinking about it, Song Jiang is even muddier than this wine, he is simply a piece of shit!"

"Everyone has his own aspirations. I think if Li Kui hadn't been paralyzed, he might have been willing to die. I just reminded you of this, and you have to forget it after hearing it, so as not to ruin the future of more brothers."

"Don't worry, Brother Yang. I have already forgotten about it."

After hearing Yang Chang's reminder again, Lu Zhishen patted his chest to assure him. At this time, the silent Lin Chong suddenly spoke up, looking at Yang Chang and asked, "Brother Yang, I want to ask you something. Li Kui said that it was Mr. Yiqing who sent the wine, but you said it was you just now."

"My figure is not much different from Mr. Yiqing. That night, I wore a Taoist robe and pretended to be him. Li Kui preconceived that I was the wrong person, so the plan went smoothly."

"That's right. When you rescued Song Taigong up the mountain, you were dressed as a Taoist priest."

Lin Chong suddenly stood up in the middle of his words, walked around Zhu Tong and came to Yang Chang, then knelt on one knee with his fists clasped, and said solemnly: "Thank you, Brother Yang, for helping me to get revenge. Lin Chong could not have done it on his own. I have nothing to repay you with, so I can only let you do whatever you want with my broken body."

"Brother, what are you doing? Get up quickly."

Yang Chang hurriedly went to help Lin Chong, and his action shocked others.

At this moment, Hu Sanniang called out from the back kitchen: "Sir, it's time to make the pot cakes."

"Just come."

After Yang Chang finished speaking, he said goodbye and left.

Lu Zhishen glanced at Yang Chang's back, then crawled on the table with his hands like a child, looked at Lin Chong stupidly and asked, "Junior brother, what did you mean just now?"

"Brother Yang is both intelligent and brave, far superior to Song Gongming. He must be extraordinary, so no matter what happens when we go down the mountain, I plan to follow him. Anyway, now that my great revenge has been taken, I don't have any other thoughts."

After Lin Chong finished speaking slowly, Lu Zhishen was completely stunned.

"You. You guys"

“Master, don’t look at me. Sanlang and I are brothers, so we will naturally support each other.”

"me too."

Wu Song and Zhu Tong were echoing each other, which made Lu Zhishen feel isolated.

He hung his head and thought for a while, then he held the corner of the table and murmured, "I despise Song Jiang. Since you all think highly of Brother Yang Chang, I will stand with you."

Yang Chang didn't know that with his efforts in making pot cakes, he easily poached four of Song Jiang's brave generals. But when he brought the chicken to the table, everyone didn't continue the previous topic, but just ate the meat and drank wine.

Although Lu Zhishen wanted to join Yang Chang, as he ate pot cakes with chicken, he thought to himself that although there was nothing else that could be gained by following Yang Chang, at least he could have a delicious meal from time to time, and it didn't seem to be a loss when he thought about it this way.

Seeing that everyone was enjoying the meal, Yang Chang took the initiative to start a conversation.

"There are 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers in Liangshan, and only a few thousand people have returned with their rewards. Most of them plan to work for the court, but the emperor and the ministers will not be reassured by tens of thousands of soldiers. I guess there are two options after entering the capital. One is to be dispersed and settled in various places for garrison, but if the court does not grant corresponding official positions, I guess the brothers will not agree; the second is to let us conquer the four directions. In this way, we will have military exploits, but there will inevitably be some losses, and it may not end well." "What does Sanlang want to say?"

Wu Song and Yang Chang were sitting opposite each other. When they saw him come out to "support the actor", Wu Song quickly responded: "I think fame, wealth and status are like floating clouds. If you don't have too high aspirations, it's best to retreat while you can."

"So you're not going to Tokyo?"

"That's not the case. I will choose to retreat when the time is right."

As soon as Yang Chang finished speaking, Wu Song and Zhu Tong looked at each other, while Lu Zhishen stared blankly and scratched his head. Only Lin Chong said firmly: "Whether it is to fight on the battlefield or to retreat bravely, I will follow your steps."

"Ok?"

"Me too."

"And I."

"Although I don't understand, count me in as one."

Everyone agreed in succession, which made Yang Chang confused. He thought: My buddy is going to practice Taoism, why are you following my lead?
"No, I am of the same rank as you. I am not even a general of a battalion. Why are you following my steps? Song Jiang and Lu Yuanwai are the chief and deputy chiefs of the camp. They should be the main officials in the imperial court."

"It doesn't matter who the court is in charge of, isn't it enough for us to be in charge of you?"

"How can I be so worthy? I have never led more than a thousand people, and Master Lin is the commander of a village."

"It doesn't matter. Everyone can bring some and together they will be plenty. Anyway, I only take orders from you."

"well said."

Yang Chang originally wanted to give everyone a shot of prevention, but in the end it became a "mobilization meeting". Four people all expressed their desire to "cling to him", making this guy very miserable.

When did my bro become so charming? I am not as good at talking as Hei Sanlang. Are you guys mistaken? I am the one who wants to hug your legs?

Just when Yang Chang was worried, Su Yuanjing had returned to Tokyo to report.

When he was reported as the "substitute for the prince consort", Zhao Ji frowned and asked, "Since this man is so powerful, what does it matter if he is taller than Yang?"

"Uh"

Su Yuanjing was stunned when he heard this, and then he organized his words to answer: "He is still a little behind Yang Chang, but he is already a leader in Liangshan, and he has the advantage of being young and unmarried."

"Do you think that no one wants my daughter, so I can only choose a prince consort in Liangshan?"

"what?"

Hearing Zhao Ji's teasing words, Su Yuanjing was frightened and bowed down quickly, stammering: "No, no, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

"I have my eyes on Yang Chang. You come down and do your job well. It would be best if we can finalize the decision as soon as they arrive in Beijing."

"Yes"

How could Su Yuanjing dare to refuse?

At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace hurried in and asked Zhao Ji: "Your Majesty, Tong Shumi has something urgent to ask for your attention."

"Him? Isn't he sick in bed? What could be so urgent?"

"It is said to be military information from Liao."

"Hmm? Let him in."

Zhao Ji changed his attitude at this time, and waved to Su Yuanjing: "Go back and think about it carefully, and make sure to get this done."

"The minister obeys the order."

When Su Yuanjing was leaving the hall, he saw Tong Guan walking in anxiously. Even his salute did not get a response, as if he was in a hurry to find a toilet.

What happened to the Liao Kingdom?

Zhao Ji had the same idea. When he heard that the Jin army had conquered Zhongjing, he became very nervous.

"How could the Jurchens be so brave? Where is the Liao emperor now?"

"The military decree did not mention this."

"Will we reach Yanjing?"

"It's unlikely. If the Jin army moves south to surround the Liao emperor, he will have no way to retreat. I guess he will flee westward."

"makes sense"

When Zhao Ji was twirling his beard and thinking, Tong Guan frowned and reminded him: "Your Majesty, the most urgent matter cannot wait. The Jin army is as fierce as wolves and tigers. If we let them conquer Yanjing first, it will be difficult for us to take it back."

"Yes, we must send troops immediately. The tens of thousands of people in Liangshan are quite capable. Mr. Su once suggested transferring them to the border defense. This matter has not yet been issued to the Privy Council for deliberation. What do you think?"

"No."

Tong Guan answered firmly. He raised his hands solemnly and said, "The Jurchens are difficult to deal with. If we attack Liao as bandits, it will damage the dignity of our country. If they can win, it will be fine. If they lose, it will give outsiders the false impression that the Song army is weak, which may attract the covetousness of the Jin people."

"This"

"If they hadn't taken advantage of the water, how could they have defeated the imperial army so many times? Going north to attack Liao, they don't have the advantage of the terrain, and will be affected by the city, so the probability of failure is very high."

In fact, the suggestion to let the Liangshan bandits defend the border was the result of discussion between Tong Guan and Cai Jing. They asked someone to subtly remind Su Yuanjing, and finally the idea reached Zhao Ji's ears.

At that time, Tong Guan and Cai Jing were unaware of the situation in the Liao Kingdom and planned to let Song Jiang and others be cannon fodder first, and then Tong Guan would lead the army to pick up the leaks. As a result, the situation in the north took a sharp turn for the worse.

At this time, the Liao Dynasty was in decline, and the Song Dynasty had a great chance of winning. As the initiator of the alliance with Jin to attack Liao, how could Tong Guan give up the merit of destroying the country? So he tried his best to stop Huizong.

Moreover, after the Privy Council received the urgent report from Daizhou, Tong Guan immediately sent people to Jizhou and ordered Zhang Shuye to reward Song Jiang to retain him and delay the Liangshan troops from entering the capital.

Zhao Ji was an expert in calligraphy and painting, but his military affairs were a mess.

After listening to Tong Guan's analysis, I felt that I was naive. It seemed a bit ridiculous to destroy a country with a bunch of bandits.

"You plan to transfer the Western Army to the north?"

"Your Majesty is wise and wise. Zong Shidao will come to Beijing to report on his work this year. I have asked him to prepare the army, horses and armor in advance. As long as the court has sufficient money and food supplies, we can send troops north at any time."

"I understand. The Western Army cannot be withdrawn completely. The Privy Council must also select some imperial guards. You should go back and make preparations. I will order Wang Fu to prepare money and food."

"Your Majesty, I mentioned this to the king a few days ago, but he said that the treasury was tight at the beginning of the year."

"It's your business to take care of these things. I will issue an order to make way for the Northern Expedition!"

"Yes."

After the king and his minister finished their discussion, they each made preparations for the Northern Expedition.

During this period, Song Jiang led 60,000 Liangshan soldiers on a mighty march all the way to the border of Tokyo.

As he was about to arrive in Beijing to meet the emperor, Song Jiang was excited and thrilled, but his excitement was soon dampened by the intelligence he received from the scouts.

There were military mobilizations around Tokyo, and the number of troops reached tens of thousands.

What do you mean? No more surrender?

(End of this chapter)