Chapter 25

In the center where the lights are brilliant,

Lu Tianjun, holding a seven-jewel rhinoceros horn cup, had just taken a sip of the rich Sanle wine. The flavor of the three exotic fruits—Keli, Amo, and Pili—fermented together, filled his already dulled mouth, making him relax a bit.

He had been a fugitive on the mountain for twenty-one years, and had been the chief leader for seventeen years. His ambitious and vigorous prime had turned him into a gray-haired old man.

But after continuously defeating and burying numerous challengers and ambitious people, he still firmly controlled this unique force in the chaotic northern region. Some called them the Liangshan Bandits out of hatred and fear, others called them the Liangshan Righteous Thieves out of respect and obedience, and various people with vested interests and backgrounds called them the Liangshan Gang, a violent and armed group.

Although his beard was already white, his eyes were still clear, and his spirit was strong. He raised his cup to toast, while observing his comrades, the core members of the hall, and the subordinates below. Each of them had a hidden side beneath their usual appearances.

For example, his military advisor Feng Junzi. Only a few people, including Lu Tianjun, knew that his real surname was Xu, and he was a distinguished figure from the "Ghost Bone" among the three talents of the Eastern Sea. His only preference was for handsome young servants.

Then there was the second-in-command, Chen Ju, known as Taiyin. In reality, he was impotent, which led to disharmony with his wives and concubines. He killed them after they had affairs with minor officials and servants, and reported them as missing, filling their bodies into the fish pond. One of the lovers was a nephew of the Inspector, which led to his enemies seizing the opportunity, forcing him to abandon his position and flee. After arriving on the mountain, he took in several more women and intensified his cruel treatment of them.

The third-in-command, Zhu Changgong, known as Jinyao, was not as benevolent as he appeared when he was a local wealthy man. Before his family was seized and destroyed, he secretly did dirty work for the prominent officials in the state, handling black money.

Even the only female in the Liangshan leadership, Jiu Niang Lu Linglong, had a background in the entertainment world. She was an outstanding figure in the Qingzhou official entertainment troupe, and after being redeemed by a major sea merchant, she reappeared as the representative of a large overseas faction, Lady Lu. To some extent, she was also Lu Tianjun's close comrade in monitoring internal and external affairs and in intimate relations.

Of course, her lovers were not limited to Lu Tianjun alone. If one considered her a partner, they would inevitably be cuckolded. Lu Tianjun merely appreciated her as a mature woman for her tenderness and consideration in bed.

These few people formed the core circle around Lu Tianjun, the largest force, followed by the other power factions and their respective domains represented by the other members of the Nine Stars, forming the highest management of Liangshan.

These people, whose life experiences and paths were vastly different, were forcibly brought together by this chaotic era, becoming the powerful Liangshan force that dominated the region.

This made Lu Tianjun feel a mix of heroic spirit and a sense of loss. Soon, all of this would be gone, but the suitable successor had not yet been decided, which made the leaders and subordinates, who had just fought and defeated the invading government troops, even more divided and restless.

Moreover, being accustomed to the identity of a great leader in this land, where one word was followed by all, merely settling in a corner as a wealthy man was not his only pursuit.

It was not until the gatekeeper announced the arrival of Ji Wangsun and his entourage that he finally showed a somewhat polite smile. One of the main guests and purposes of today's banquet, the representative of the external faction who had been absent due to illness, finally appeared.

This Ezo land, during the Qianyuan period, was occupied by Tang Chinese sea merchants with a background from Yizhou, who cultivated and developed the large northern island of Japan for several generations, eventually forming a vassal territory.

The Ji Bo faction was one of the largest among them. Recently, it had become one of Liangshan's trade partners due to the discovery of large amounts of easily mined coal, making it wealthy and beginning to invest in Liangshan.

Although it was called a Bo faction, compared to the more established Silla faction or Yizhou faction, and the many overseas vassals of Japan, it was still a new faction in terms of history and foundation.

However, Liangshan's position was also quite delicate, but it would not refuse a new channel, especially a crucial source of coal for the northern winter.

Although the largest supporter on the surface was the Tamna faction, the lords behind the small Tamna faction had inconsistent attitudes, and Liangshan was not their only choice.

Ezo, though just a large island, was geographically closer to the Japanese faction and had ties to the Yizhou faction. This would likely influence the undecided major figures behind the Tamna faction.

There was also a personal reason why he was unwilling to retire so easily.

After all, although Liangshan had many interactions with external factions, they were mainly through sea merchants or private servants. A representative from a noble family, even a grandson, was a first for Liangshan.

Therefore, with Ji Gongsun's appearance, at his subtle indication, some people gathered around the chief of the Nine Stars were already eagerly showing their delight and expectations, loudly praising and cheering. As the main characters took the stage, various familiar performances began.

Fortunately, I was far enough away that it was not easy to pay special attention to such a minor figure in the bustling crowd, especially someone I had never met. After the initial shock, I quickly calmed down, watching this group being warmly led to the main seat, only ten steps away from the Nine Stars.

Their identities and backgrounds were not hard to find out. This person was said to be the grandson of the head of the Ji Bo faction on the large island of Ezo. According to my knowledge of the feudal system in the "Rites of Zhou," I could勉强 call him Ji Gongsun.

In some ways, he could be considered quite handsome, but his eyes were somewhat narrow, and his lips were thin, giving him a dangerous and stern look, which undoubtedly had a special appeal to women.

As he took his seat, his witty and charming remarks and greetings made the atmosphere at the guest seats finally warm up.

But just as one wave had not yet subsided, another arose. I had just sat down and taken a few sips of sour wine to calm my agitated heart when a commotion arose beside me.

My head buzzed, and I felt a surge of anxiety because I saw a figure walking towards me. It was not my familiar Luo Kedi, but his brother, Luo Piaoqi.

Although he was not in armor, just wearing a cotton robe and a simple headwrap, he had an invisible aura that made people, whether drunk or sober, make way for him.

This... This... Is he forcing me to take sides?

Although I knew this would happen eventually, I did not expect it to come so soon, and in such a public setting where almost everyone with a name in Liangshan was present.

You're really giving me too much credit. Although this is just a minor incident at the edge of the banquet, I believe that with the gossipy and malicious attitudes of those around me, it will be known by everyone before the night is over.

Could I refuse? Clearly not. Refusing on the spot would mean cutting myself off from Liangshan. For most people, it might just be a joke about a commander's poor judgment or someone's lack of appreciation, but there would also be envious and opportunistic people who would find various ways to cause me trouble.

I could only instinctively follow his words, nodding in agreement.

Then, amidst the envious and resentful gazes of those around me, I had to raise my cup in a show of respect, completing the effect he wanted.

When I sat down again, the sounds of flattery and attempts to form connections filled the air. The importance of connections and backing has always been the same, both in ancient and modern times.

"Ma Bu, the Right General Liu Qi, is quite worth befriending..."

This was the only response I could give.

Well, I can say that when I was a moderator, I had read a lot of the three classic works, often mentioned alongside the four great classical novels, that are must-reads for history enthusiasts: "The Missing Gold Basin," "Li Zicheng," and "The Yellow Plum Rain."

These three books cover the significant changes in the late Tang, late Northern Song, and late Ming dynasties, depicting the power struggles from top to bottom in the declining dynasties and the struggles for survival and rebellion from the bottom up in peasant uprisings.

They also encompass the universal principles and lessons of the rise and fall of dynasties, the internal and external causes, and the gains and losses.

The protagonist of "The Missing Gold Basin" is Liu Qi, who is the second historical figure I have identified in this timeline after Zong Ze. Unfortunately, I lack a reason to approach and befriend him, so I decided to leave this opportunity to the Luo brothers and see what unexpected results it might bring.

Amidst the noisy and heated atmosphere of the banquet,

"Are you thinking I'm overdoing it?"

Luo Piaoqi, back at his seat, whispered to Luo Kedi, whose expression was somewhat displeased.

"Or that secretly befriending him and keeping him in the dark would be more useful..."

"His private operations and connections have already been noticed by Lu Baiyan. They just lack a good reason to act, as they fear being squeezed out of their positions."

"After all, there are many warriors on this mountain, but truly capable clerks and advisors are few and far between."

"Among them, those who can handle documents, manage affairs, and keep accounts are even rarer, not just in our own faction but in Liangshan as a whole."

"So your efforts to form a bond were a preemptive move, and mine was a more open approach."

"This way, others won't have a chance to test him."

"Not everyone on this mountain has the patience to form sincere connections."

"Besides, some people can't wait anymore."

The banquet hall was filled with red-faced and heated drinking. As the main leaders and a few others left, the rest finally relaxed, letting go of their last bit of restraint, standing up and moving around, calling out to friends and making connections.

People were getting drunk, shouting and making a fuss, exposing their chests and backs, staggering around, and even coming to blows over minor disagreements, creating a chaotic and overwhelming atmosphere.

Adding to this, some older and more lecherous clerks kept coming over to try to form connections, which I could not handle. I slipped out to clear my head and relieve some pressure, and I saw a familiar face.

Jiang An, the former leader of the righteous army, was sitting in a corner, looking depressed and lost, drinking alone. I had some knowledge of his recent situation.

Although he was now a close advisor to the military strategist, a position that seemed prestigious, he was actually at the bottom of the middle ranks in Liangshan, not in the main army but in a private and irregular unit.

Privately, he only commanded fewer than fifty men, and besides his loyal follower Wang Fuer, he had only a dozen or so old subordinates, none of whom were particularly capable or effective.

Compared to his previous role as a leader of a thousand men, commanding a region, this was a stark contrast. After surrendering to Liangshan, his capable subordinates were scattered and assigned to other units, and he rarely, if ever, saw them.

Moreover, being chosen as a close advisor to the strategist, while giving him some privileges and conveniences, also cut off his normal path to fame and fortune. As a guard for the only great strategist of Liangshan, the chances of them being sent to fight and risk their lives were almost non-existent, and they usually handled mundane tasks like standing guard and running errands.

This was undoubtedly a constraint and a setback for Jiang An, who had ambitions and demands.

"Jiang Head..."

I thought for a moment and decided not to avoid him, calling out to him.

"Don't call me that..."

He did not seem surprised to see me, just gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Call me Jiang Doutu or Brother Jiang. Now, we're not so different, and we can be on equal terms."

"After all, there are few familiar faces left on this mountain."

"Do you know..."

He sighed, looking down.

"Several of my old comrades, including Cao Dulizi, are dead..."

I was about to say something, but he interrupted me.

"They didn't die in battle, but fell to their deaths at night while walking on mountain paths, or drowned in a horse trough while drunk, or were killed when a door post fell on their heads..."

"If I hadn't inquired and secretly examined the bodies..."

"Who would have thought that these strong, bull-like men had bruises and contusions all over their bodies, and blood clots in their mouths and noses when they died?"

He stared at me with red eyes.

"Do you believe it? I do."

I was silent, realizing that the power struggles in Liangshan had already reached these peripheral figures. I was indeed fortunate.

"Sometimes I can't help but think that I might have caused their deaths..."

He shook his head in self-reproach.

"I envy you. Your skills will always be useful wherever you go..."

"Whoever is in power won't deliberately target you..."

Saying this, he became dejected again.

"Do you remember that eunuch from before?"

I thought for a moment and spoke again.

"..."

He suddenly looked up, surprised.

"That nobleman is still alive and is now a guest of Liangshan."

In an instant, I saw a mix of regret, resentment, and indignation on his face.

Since I had this chance to meet Jiang An, I decided to reveal my discovery to him. He was extremely grateful, thumping his chest and gripping my arm, swearing to repay me.

After all, it seemed that we had some common ground in our private stances.

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