Chapter 17

A faint streak of morning light pierced through the hazy night, illuminating the darkest moment before dawn. Under the gradually brightening sky, the vast expanse of water, eight hundred miles wide, which cradled the giant island, had already been awakened by the heavy ships cutting through the water. As the rising sun shot out its first ray, the crimson red seemed to herald the birth of dawn.

Amid the faint blue smoke from the extinguished torches, the bustling Jinsha Beach, which had been noisy for most of the night, continued to be lively and chaotic. Looking around, one could see people of all kinds hurrying to and fro on the beach, like industrious ants, transporting the rich spoils of the battle.

Zhu Gui, the head of the garrison, was standing on a high ground by the shore, gazing far out over the water. The conflicting feelings of excitement and hesitation were colliding intensely in his heart, causing the middle-aged man's face to show a complex mix of emotions. Under the morning light, there was a sense of indescribable沧桑 (cang桑, meaning "沧桑" can be translated as "weathered" or "aged" in this context).

Watching the two flying spot-billed ducks on the lake, Zhu Gui's thoughts gradually spread out.

A few days ago, an old friend he had met in the江湖 (jianghu, meaning "the world of martial arts and chivalry") came to the Li Family Inn and personally expressed his desire to join the stronghold. Overjoyed, Zhu Gui treated his friend with fine wine and food. However, due to the unfortunate timing, the chieftain of the stronghold had just been struck by lightning and was still bedridden. Therefore, Zhu Gui did not immediately introduce him to the mountain but truthfully informed him that the chieftain was unwell and asked him to wait a few days. Unexpectedly, after staying at Zhu Gui's inn for two days, enjoying good food and lodging, the friend, having learned the inner workings of the stronghold, suddenly had a change of heart. He claimed that he still had some unfinished business at home and would return after taking care of it, and then left.

Zhu Gui believed that he had treated his guest with utmost sincerity and hospitality, discussing the world of martial arts during their free time. When the friend asked about the stronghold's affairs, Zhu Gui had been completely open, seeing him as a potential brother in arms.

Therefore, when the friend expressed his intention to leave temporarily, Zhu Gui did not think much of it. After all, they had known each other for many years and were old acquaintances. He even provided travel expenses and earnestly urged him to return soon.

However, the friend's talk of returning home was just a pretense. He turned around and joined Chao Gai's stronghold. If that was all, it would have been fine, as everyone has their own aspirations. The critical issue was that during Liangshan's attack on Xixi Village, this person betrayed the stronghold's secrets to Chao Gai, plunging Zhu Gui into a dire situation!

After Chao Gai learned the truth about Liangshan, he naturally harbored ambitions. Fortunately, the chieftain was well-prepared for this battle and, with the support of the Xixi villagers, managed to scare off the enemy and turn the tide. But when Zheng Qian described the harrowing scenes of the previous night, Zhu Gui felt a surge of regret, frustration, hatred, and anger, like a flood, overwhelming him. He wished he could tear that untrustworthy friend apart.

Han Bo Long, Han Bo Long! You've really done me in!

Zhu Gui let out a deep sigh, feeling quite embarrassed. He turned to look at the bustling scene at the dock, where piles of grain and hay were being moved by excited bandits, some leading oxen, others herding sheep, and many more carrying wooden chests filled with gold, silver, and copper coins in pairs. The pleasant sound of the coins and silver clinking together as they were moved infected everyone's mood. The joyous atmosphere around him only made Zhu Gui feel a strong sense of guilt, his heart heavy with regret.

"Brother Zhu! I couldn't find you anywhere, but here you are, enjoying the view. What a good mood you're in!" The small leaders Zheng Qian and Zhou Zhi, who had arrived together, called out to him with smiles on their faces.

Zhu Gui turned and smiled bitterly, "In terms of age, I'm only a few years older than you two. Just call me brother as before. We have a long way to go, so let's not become distant!"

"That's not possible, brother. Now that you're a leader in the stronghold, how can we treat you like before? If the chieftain hears about it, he'll scold us for not respecting our superiors. But to be honest, the chieftain doesn't scold people anymore, and it feels a bit strange!" Zhou Zhi laughed.

Zheng Qian laughed and scolded him, then looked at the fourth leader who had stayed behind that night. To his surprise, Zhu Gui sighed and did not respond. His face, with its prominent cheekbones, was full of worry, his eyes dull, and he was staring at the thin layer of mist on the water. Zhou Zhi's joke had fallen on deaf ears, and Zhu Gui was in no mood for laughter. If others feared Wang Lun's scolding, Zhu Gui wished Wang Lun were there to scold him harshly, so he could feel better.

Noticing Zhu Gui's unusual demeanor, Zheng Qian asked, "Brother Zhu, is there something troubling you?"

Zhu Gui sighed again, forcing a bitter smile that made Zheng Qian and Zhou Zhi feel uneasy and confused.

Seeing their awkward expressions, Zhu Gui felt it was inappropriate and tried to muster some spirit, finding a topic to discuss. "The chieftain and the two leaders should be returning soon, right?"

"Probably, why don't you rest for a bit, Brother Zhu? We'll inform you when they return," Zheng Qian said with concern.

Zhou Zhi added, "Head Leader Zhu has been in the cold wind all night. You must take care of your health!"

Zhu Gui shook his head. He wanted to wait for Wang Lun's return and personally apologize to the three leaders who had gone on the expedition.

Zheng Qian and Zhou Zhi exchanged glances, feeling helpless in this situation. They decided to talk about some good news, hoping to cheer Zhu Gui up.

Zhou Zhi said, "It's a pity I didn't go down the mountain. Otherwise, I could have seen the might of our brothers! Last night, we not only avenged Li Si but also brought back enough supplies to last the stronghold for a year. It's all thanks to the chieftain's foresight and his clever plan!"

Zheng Qian glanced at Zhu Gui, seeing him smile slightly, and thought the strategy was working. He quickly added, "It's more than just a clever plan. The chieftain burned the land deeds, and the government is too busy seizing the land from the village head to bother us. Even the favor he did for Chao Gai, by selling the spoils to him, shows the chieftain's broad-mindedness! If the news of Chao Gai's disgrace spreads, it will be a laughingstock for him in the world of martial arts!"

Zhou Zhi nodded in agreement, sighing, "Brothers, isn't it a coincidence? How did the chieftain know that Chao Gai is a scoundrel who loves to sabotage others' plans? If it weren't for the villagers' help last night, the stronghold might have suffered a severe blow!"

As Zhou Zhi mentioned the truly perilous moments of the previous night, Zheng Qian also sighed, saying, "As you said, it was thanks to the villagers' support that the stronghold overcame the crisis! When the chieftain distributed the grain, we were all hesitant. After all, it was over four thousand stones of grain! It wasn't like it was blown in by the wind, and anyone would feel the pain. But the subsequent events have made us believe in the chieftain's wisdom! On the way back, the chieftain ordered that the stronghold must not unjustly use force or oppress the good people. Not just ordinary people, but even passing merchants, no matter how wealthy, should not be harmed. In today's world, where evil prevails, we have enough to do just by upholding justice and punishing the wicked! We must remember that people's livelihoods are hard, and we should not disturb them! These are the chieftain's exact words, and I couldn't have thought of them myself!"

As they spoke, they heard Zhu Gui sigh deeply again, clearly touched by their words. Zheng Qian and Zhou Zhi were puzzled by Zhu Gui's behavior but did not dare to ask, only looking at each other in confusion.

At this moment, a cheer erupted from the dock. All three turned to look and saw a fleet of ships appearing in their line of sight. Zhu Gui, who had been in a daze, did not wait for the others and ran toward the beach. Zheng Qian and Zhou Zhi exchanged glances, full of doubt, and followed closely behind.

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