Chapter 17

Unbeknownst to him, at the same time, Luo Keji, who had left the mountain, was also pondering the principle of speaking deeply to those with whom one has a shallow relationship.

As a child of the old border army, he had joined his elder brother on the battlefield at the age of fifteen and fought in various places with the official army, almost missing out on the normal emotional and life experiences of a young person. After being forced to join Liangshan, he rarely sighed over anything.

As a fan of Water Margin, he was easily moved by the fates and opportunities of various characters, and it was hard to imagine that such a tough-looking young leader had such a delicate and rich side. After hearing about the death of the Heavenly King Chao Gai, he sighed again.

Reflecting on his brother's words, he thought he should interact more with this person. At present, Liangshan was in a period of turmoil. Although he was a marginal figure, he still had some insight. Moreover, with his identity as a Hai Shengzi, he could easily socialize without arousing suspicion. Perhaps one day, he could be of some use.

It must be understood that the leadership of the Liangshan bandits was more like a primitive military democratic council on a small scale. The seven leaders with different responsibilities all had the right to propose, and then the numerous high-ranking leaders would deliberate and vote, with the chief leader having the final say.

In this way, the development direction of the Liangshan bandits would not deviate from the track set by the supporting forces behind the scenes. The downside was that while they were well-prepared to defend against external attacks, they were constrained in their offensive direction due to differences in stance and opinion.

Every month, when matters were deliberated in the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, the loud arguments never ceased. Using modern standards and terminology, this was a "vibrant social organization" that had to face the bottlenecks and issues of developing into a "powerful anti-government armed force."

Since the previous leader Song Xian led dozens of people to start the banditry, the current chief leader Lu Tianjun, under the command of external aid, had expanded the Liangshan cause, and it had been 25 years since then. The chief leader was getting old and increasingly focused on making plans for the future, adopting a laissez-faire attitude towards internal disputes.

If nothing went wrong, after the power transition, he would be arranged by the overseas faction to take his accumulated wealth and buy land and property on a large island under the jurisdiction of the overseas faction, living out his days as a wealthy old man.

Therefore, among the few disappointed radicals, there arose a somewhat treasonous sentiment: the chief leader was old and confused, thinking that after a lifetime of bloodshed and lawlessness, he could still hope to retire in peace and comfort.

The contradictions between the leaders had become so apparent that even someone like him, who was not particularly concerned with power struggles, could feel it. How much more so for the old-timers of Liangshan? Some turned a blind eye, some just got by, some tried to maintain and mediate, and some saw it as an opportunity to change their status and were eager to act.

Although they did not openly show their differences and disputes in formal settings, as their subordinates and confidants, they were constantly making small moves, even affecting the rear army, which was both hard and idle.

For example, more and more people were privately coming to the mountain's medical tent to obtain various medicines and other auxiliary items, and even some low-ranking leaders were privately stockpiling supplies.

And the reasons given by some people to persuade the cavalry leader were also compelling.

There were examples of bandits becoming official soldiers and even establishing their own territories and gaining official recognition, but Liangshan, due to the long-term manipulation by the overseas faction, was in an awkward position, neither official nor bandit. Although it was well-known and had a large base, it was constrained in further development.

It was time to make a decision. The huge crisis of the five prefectures' army surrounding the mountain almost led to the complete destruction of Liangshan, which had been dominant for twenty years. The chief leader had announced in the hall that the leader who first broke through the siege among the three routes would become his successor.

After several days of hard fighting, with 47 leaders vying for the lead and suffering casualties, it was the army from Dengzhou, backed by the overseas faction, that emerged and sealed the deal.

This turned the competition for the next leader of Liangshan into a mess, making everyone's future even more uncertain. The deep dissatisfaction was palpable. In the distribution of spoils and captives, the Dengzhou army, with its strong position, took the lion's share, which further humiliated some people in Liangshan.

Unfortunately, the chief leader was now focused on muddling through and retiring to the overseas territory as soon as possible.

Thus, things had reached this point, and even his brother, who had always tried to remain neutral and stay out of the conflict, had to choose a side.

Thinking about this, he felt a headache.

His brothers were brave and good fighters, but they were clearly lacking in management and planning. Unfortunately, the person had not been on the mountain long enough to understand the situation, otherwise, he could have been used internally. If it were a normal day, he could have been taken in and gradually developed, but now, it was better to be cautious.

However, Luo Keji was somewhat unconvinced. In this chaotic world, the spies of the Hai Sheng people were everywhere, even among the various factions of Liangshan. What difference did a few more make? It might even be an opportunity.

According to his brother,

This person was quite thoughtful and had a broad range of knowledge and vision, which was not common among the Liangshan people. Being forced to join the mountain and manage the records and warehouse was a waste of his talents.

If he were to be used, even a camp leader's advisor might not be enough. However, it was too early, and he had to be patient. He should try to meet his needs as long as they were not too obstructive, to test his abilities and background.

"Oh no, I forgot something,"

Luo Keji suddenly remembered,

"I forgot the task my brother gave me."

He hesitated for a moment and then decided,

"I'll deal with this difficult matter next time."

However, the Water Margin commentary he had brought back was folded to the chapter where Lin Chong joined the mountain and fought Wang Lun.

...

I had to put aside my thoughts because someone from above had come to pass a message.

My nominal superior, who I had never met, was said to be a close confidant of the Liangshan chief leader, Lu Tianjun, named Lu Baiyan. He controlled most of the daily operations in Liangshan, such as salt, iron, tea, and wine shops, and was also a source of some black market items.

However, there were rumors that he was more of an informant for the chief leader, widely present within the Liangshan group. I knew this because someone "kindly" told me.

This time, I was asked to help register a batch of new ingredients. To prepare for winter, a batch of weaker livestock would be slaughtered and made into various preserved and pickled foods.

As a relatively scarce source of meat on the mountain, every bit of the slaughtered animals was required to be recorded in detail to prevent waste and loss.

This task of counting and recording was a job with some benefits, clearly an extension of someone's goodwill. Why would I refuse?

Where there are people, there are various needs and selfish desires, which are reflected in the daily chores as the power to handle and oversee them.

"Master Xia..."

"Bookkeeper Xia..."

Amidst the various nods and greetings, I chewed on the Sichuan pepper duck claws in my mouth, weighed and counted the bags of seasonings and spices in front of me, and occasionally grabbed a bit to put in a small pocket sewn into my clothes. All the busy and supervising people ignored me.

The other end of the storage room also included the Liangshan communal kitchen. Some items that needed to be identified would be specially delivered by me, and over time, I gained a familiar path and channel.

Although the living standards in this chaotic world were generally low, the Liangshan leadership still provided as much convenience and enjoyment as possible, which gave me some opportunities.

In the communal kitchen, as a provider of new recipes, I had certain conveniences. I could privately taste and sample dishes and provide reasonable suggestions for new ingredients and dishes.

This also gave me a source of information about the Liangshan leadership. The periphery of the communal kitchen was a group of hundreds of servants and slaves, and although Liangshan was essentially a large bandit den, it did not hinder the upper echelons' pursuit of luxury and enjoyment in daily life.

Compared to subordinates and vassals, these servants who took care of daily life had a more direct understanding of the upper echelons' daily life and had no clear concept of privacy, which helped me avoid and prevent certain things and taboos, allowing me to maintain my integrity.

Under the spacious wooden roof, which had been blackened by smoke, dozens of stoves were scattered, spewing smoke and fire amidst the bustling heads and figures.

The clattering of pots and pans, the steaming and splashing of water, the chopping and cooking, the loud calls and announcements, and the various clattering sounds mixed with the smell of sweat and cooking food, made me feel both familiar and close, as if I had returned to the university canteen where I had worked part-time in the past.

"Master Xia, come over here for a moment."

I was suddenly called and led to a smaller, quieter kitchen.

Compared to the hundreds of people sweating and bustling in the large communal kitchen nearby, there were only dozens of people working here, but the ingredients, tools, and techniques were undoubtedly more refined.

Even the servants who served the dishes walked with light, careful steps, unlike the rough and ready ones in the large communal kitchen.

"I hear you have seen a lot. Do you know how to remove the blood and fishy smell from these brains?"

The head chef, a fat, greasy man, waved his hand at me, looking troubled.

"Ordinary cold water just doesn't work. It disperses and becomes unusable."

Another chef complained in a low voice,

"No one on the mountain has ever made this before."

"Oh, I've heard of some methods."

I looked at the bowl of brains in his hands and thought for a moment,

"First, use a fine skewer to remove the membrane on top. Then soak them in warm water to remove the blood threads, and finally, gently shake them in cold water to remove the fishy smell."

"Good, good."

Afterward, he handed me a bundle of dried sausages, a large piece of lard, and the bowl of mashed brains, which were a good source of protein.

I was just about to leave with these rewards when I heard,

"Damn eunuch."

The chef was muttering and spitting into the prepared dish, stirring it with his fingers.

"Let you complain, I'll make you eat until you die, you bastard."

Eunuch? I thought, recalling the eunuch from the five prefectures' army who had been used as a token of allegiance but was still alive. The special treatment he was receiving was not for ordinary people.

"What are these brains for?"

I asked calmly.

"Three-brain soup. The higher-ups specifically requested it, made with the brains of pigs, sheep, and cattle, mixed with safflower, cinnamon, and other spices."

"So they specially slaughtered a batch of animals to get the brains."

I confirmed my suspicions. Only eunuchs had such peculiar tastes and demanding requirements, and they were secretly treated as honored guests within the Liangshan bandits.

This was not good news. If this eunuch could become a respected and relied-upon figure in the Liangshan bandits, those who had betrayed him would certainly be affected. I didn't know if this was the collective will of the leadership or just some individuals' decision.

Unfortunately, I didn't know how to use this opportunity. I lacked the necessary channels and trustworthy people. If I rashly tried to curry favor, I might end up in a burlap sack with a stone tied to it, sinking to the bottom of the lake to grow lotus flowers.

I suddenly thought of a name—Jiang An.

When I saw Jiang An again, he was by the side of Liangshan's seemingly righteous military advisor, obediently like a long-time assistant. His attire and the oil on his face indicated that even after changing allegiances, he had quickly found a powerful patron and was still living well, unlike others.

Although he was surprised to see me in this setting, he only gave a forced smile and a polite greeting, with nothing more to say.

There was no direct conflict of interest, no need for deep interaction, and he was just a nodding acquaintance on the journey of life.

Halfway through, I ran into someone sent by Luo Keji, delivering a message that the market was about to open. This meant my plan could be accelerated.

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