Chapter 55

Finally, they were on their way back.

Wang Lun glanced at Jiao Ting, who was snoring loudly in the carriage, and covered him with the blanket he had pressed under his body. However, he found himself wide awake. He casually pulled the curtain of the carriage and saw the night sky dotted with stars, one of which was unusually twinkling. Wang Lun, lost in thought, stared at it, gradually falling into deep contemplation.

Reflecting on the results of this trip down the mountain, it could truly be described as bountiful.

Bringing Lin Niangzi back to reunite with her brother was not to be mentioned, as it was the fundamental purpose of this trip, and success was now within reach. The horses and armor obtained from the loot of Zhang Qing and Sun Ergniang would certainly elevate the bandit camp's combat strength to a new level. The highlight of this trip, however, was the heroes and valiant men he had met along the way, which far exceeded his expectations.

With first-class experts like the Flower Monk Lu Zhishen, the monk Guanghui, and the Golden Lance Xu Ning, along with the one-armed blacksmith Tang Long, the straightforward attendant Jiao Ting, and the hermit-like scholar Wen Huanzhang, so many valiant men joining his bandit camp, how could he not be overjoyed?

Another noteworthy point was that he had also recruited many minor leaders, such as the righteous Zhang San and Li Si, the shrewd and capable Jiang Zhipeng, and the skilled craftsman Mo Shisan. Thinking about it, Wang Lun felt extremely satisfied.

These were all rare talents! Now that they were united around him, this lineup, combined with the eight good brothers in the bandit camp, was more than enough to deal with the Tower-Bearing Heavenly King Chao Gai. Even when facing the protagonist Song Jiang, he could confidently say that he was not at a disadvantage!

The efforts of the past month finally allowed him, who had been burdened with worries since that night, to breathe a sigh of relief. Although the road ahead was still long, with powerful imperial troops, the Western Army, and the emerging Jurchen iron cavalry standing as formidable obstacles, at least the immediate crisis was resolved, giving him ample time to plan his next moves.

The deputy commander of the box troops, who was patrolling on horseback by the roadside, saw Wang Lun pull up the curtain and came over with a smile to greet him. This originally stern-faced box troop officer, after receiving thirty strings of coins from Wang Lun, instantly became beaming with joy. His more than twenty subordinates, who were forced to endure this hardship during the New Year, could hardly have a good face, but they dared not complain due to the eunuch's authority. After Wang Lun gave each of them ten strings of coins, they all called him "Sir" with great affection, much to the disdain of Zhang San, who was driving the carriage.

Speaking of the eunuch, Wang Lun found him to be a remarkable person. This eunuch, after receiving the money, was somewhat trustworthy. Not only did he issue the official document, but he also thanked Tang Long for the Han-style Changxin Palace lamp from the Sui Dynasty, and in return, gave Wang Lun four sets of Mingguang armor of equivalent value. However, when Wang Lun asked for his name, the middle-aged eunuch just smiled, which surprised Wang Lun and made him speculate about who this person might be among the six villains or ten evildoers of the late Song Dynasty. If Mo Shisan were here, he wouldn't have to think so hard.

After bidding farewell to this unidentified eunuch, Wang Lun, to prevent any unforeseen events, took care of the box troops. These people, having received the money, naturally followed Wang Lun's wishes, ready to move when needed and stop when required. Thus, the convoy set off at night. Tang Long and the others, due to the late hour, had not rented carriages and were resting in the capital, planning to set off the next day. Not long ago, Lu Zhishen had sent word that he had received nearly three hundred fine horses, none of which were workhorses, and after a bit of training, they could be put into battle. However, the money was a bit short, but Fan Tianxi didn't say much, just took the money and left. Wang Lun thought that Lu Zhishen must have already reached his destination.

Lost in thought as he traveled, Wang Lun's mind would have wandered further if the convoy hadn't suddenly stopped.

"Robbery!"

A thunderous voice echoed in the silent night, startling Wang Lun. He wondered how anyone could dare to rob on the official road within the jurisdiction of the capital. Without hesitation, he stuck his head out and ordered Zhang San to steer the carriage out of the convoy and head to the front. The carriage behind him also veered out, indicating that Xu Ning had also heard the commotion.

When Wang Lun arrived, he saw several box troops lying on the ground, unable to move, while the rest, with their spears raised, nervously guarded against the black giant sitting on the ground. The giant shouted, "I don't care about your military equipment or horse supervision. Just bring your leader here and hand over a cart of goods, and I'll let you go east!"

Jiao Ting, awakened from his sleep, was furious and followed Wang Lun out of the carriage, ready to confront the man. The man saw this and said, "None of those with weapons are my match. Where did this bare-handed man come from?"

Wang Lun held Jiao Ting back and stepped forward, saying, "A cart of goods is nothing. If you have the ability, take it, but don't delay our journey. How about this: I'll leave a supply cart here, and the rest will go ahead. What do you say, hero?"

The man, illuminated by the firelight, looked at Wang Lun and said, "You're a straightforward man. Let them go, but stay and entertain me!"

Wang Lun called over the deputy commander of the convoy and whispered a few words. The man warned, "Sir, be careful. This man is not to be underestimated; he has already injured several of my men!" Wang Lun thanked him and ordered Jiao Ting to go to the back of the convoy to protect Wen Huanzhang and the family members, but Jiao Ting refused. After Wang Lun whispered a few words to him, he reluctantly got into the carriage and led the convoy away.

At this moment, Xu Ning and Zhang Jiaotou gathered around. The three of them just nodded at each other without a word. After the convoy had moved far away, the man on the ground got up and said, "Do you want to fight one by one or all together?"

Zhang Jiaotou sneered and twirled his spear, planting it firmly in the ground, saying, "Young man, don't be too cocky. You'll soon know the consequences!"

The man laughed and Xu Ning, without a word, stood in front of him. The black giant, seeing this man with a golden helmet and a golden spear, felt a sense of awe. The moonlight slanted onto him, making him look very imposing. The man, not daring to underestimate him, tightened his grip on his broad axe, preparing for the fight.

Xu Ning, seeing this, raised his golden spear and greeted the man with a nod. The man laughed and ran up, and Xu Ning, seeing his formidable momentum, did not dare to be careless, carefully engaging in the fight. In a moment, they had already fought for forty to fifty rounds. Zhang Jiaotou, watching the fierce battle, thought to himself, "This is not good." Xu Ning's spear skills were unparalleled in the capital, even highly praised by his son-in-law Lin Chong, yet he seemed to be struggling against this man. Zhang Jiaotou wiped the cold sweat from his hands and picked up the spear from the ground, ready to join the fight.

Wang Lun, noticing the old instructor's unease, looked at him. Zhang Jiaotou shook his head and said, "This man's axe skills are unique, not typical of the military, but very fierce. I think Xu Ning can just hold him off for now, but after a hundred more rounds, it's hard to say!"

Hearing this from a seasoned military man, Wang Lun was alarmed and thought for a moment, saying, "Instructor, don't worry, let's see how it goes!" With Xu Ning's skills, even if he couldn't win, he should be able to protect himself. However, this man's ability to make Xu Ning struggle so much indicated that he was a well-known hero, which made Wang Lun even more interested in him.

The two continued to fight for another thirty to forty rounds, and Xu Ning became increasingly alarmed, thinking, "This is the first battle for joining Liangshan. I cannot afford to lose, as the safety of my family depends on me. I must not lose." He summoned all his strength and used his best techniques, which gradually slowed down the man's attacks.

Seeing Xu Ning's determination, the man also felt a sense of frustration, thinking, "What bad luck! Where did all these experts come from? I must have stepped on dog shit today. This golden-helmeted man is quite skilled. There are still two or three others who haven't joined the fight. The other two are not so formidable, but that old military man looks tough. If they join the fight, I'll be in trouble."

After another twenty to thirty rounds, the man spotted a weakness and jumped out of the circle, saying, "Go, go! I need to rest and rob the next convoy!"

Xu Ning, feeling ashamed, also stepped back. Wang Lun patted his hand and said to the panting man, "Why go through so much trouble? I'll give you this cart of armor!"

The man, hearing this, shouted, "Why do you sound just like that monk? I fought him for a hundred rounds and couldn't win, so I was about to leave, but he offered me good horses. Now I've fought this golden-helmeted man for a hundred rounds and can't win, and you, a scholar, are offering me armor! Listen, I'm here to rob, not beg! How unlucky can I be? I've been mistaken for a beggar twice in one night!"

The man's words made the three of them laugh, but Xu Ning was secretly impressed by Lu Zhishen's skills.

At this moment, Zhang San called from the carriage, "Man, my brother isn't looking down on you! He's showing appreciation, do you understand? Do you even know what appreciation means?"

The man, hearing this, loudly defended himself, "What appreciation? I'm robbing to get gifts. If I take something given by others, how can I present it? If the host asks where these things came from, what will I say? I can't win against you, so just let us go, no more talk!"

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