Chapter 76

Wang Lun, on horseback, kept adjusting the leather armor his mother had given him, while Lin Chong laughed and said, "Brother, this inferior leather armor produced by the local workshops is still considered good. If you were wearing the fine armor you bought from the capital, it would be even more unbearable!" Wang Lun and Xu Ning had both inspected the armor he brought back from the capital, and both agreed it was of the highest quality. They both said that Brother had good luck, having bought the best goods from the eunuch's warehouse.

When they first left Er Long Mountain, the weather was only slightly warm. After a few days, the temperature gradually rose. Even the passersby in light clothing felt the heat, let alone this group of people in full armor. The leather did not breathe, making everyone feel extremely uncomfortable.

Wang Lun smiled bitterly and shook his head, seeing the sweat continuously flowing down his head and seeping into his boots, making his feet wet and sticky. Every time they stopped to rest, the boots could be emptied of water.

Seeing this, Lin Chong turned back and called out, "Everyone, open up your armor. Looking so neat and tidy doesn't make us look like soldiers at all!"

Everyone was delighted and began to loosen their armor on horseback. Instantly, a group of well-armed elite cavalry looked like a bunch of unruly soldiers. Wang Lun laughed and said, "Brother knows his stuff. This way, we won't be exposed!"

Lin Chong shook his head and sighed, "To see the last hope of the nation in such a state, who will we rely on in the future?" He saw everyone unarmoring themselves, but his own armor remained intact, maintaining the last dignity of a former Song imperial guard.

As they were talking, the group arrived at the foot of a large mountain. They saw a group of people on the road, all armed with knives and spears, blocking a convict. The two guards were cornered and in despair. Just as they were about to give up, they noticed a group of soldiers coming and shouted in joy, "Sir! Save us! We are guards from Jingzhao Prefecture, heading to Shamen Island. We encountered these bandits on the way. Please help us!" Wang Lun was startled, thinking that if a convict from Jingzhao Prefecture was being sent to Shamen Island and was ambushed here, it must be that person.

Lin Chong, who had been wearing armor for the past few days, looked like a former imperial guard. Upon hearing the plea for help, he instinctively wanted to step forward. He had already taken a few steps when he suddenly pulled back his horse and shook his head in self-mockery.

The bandits, seeing this, thought the soldiers were afraid. Seeing them all unarmored and disheveled, they became even more contemptuous. The leader of the bandits shouted, "Two of you watch these guys, the rest come with me. These cowardly soldiers have good horses!"

Wang Lun couldn't help but laugh. At that moment, Zhang San, on horseback, said curiously, "You do your robbing, we don't care. Why are you bothering us?"

The leader of the bandits laughed and looked at his companions, then shouted, "Soldiers, stop! Where are you from? If you know what's good for you, hand over the road money, take off your armor, and give us your horses. We'll spare your lives!"

Jiao Ting, unable to bear it, jumped off his horse and walked forward, saying, "If you want road money, see if my fists agree!"

The leader of the bandits, seeing this, was about to fight with his cudgel, but his companion said, "Brother, you stay back, let me take him on!" The leader put away his cudgel and said, "Watch me take you on!"

Jiao Ting laughed and stepped forward. He hadn't been in a fight for months and was eager to test his improved skills. He was looking for an opponent, and these bandits were just what he needed. Wang Lun, knowing his thoughts, didn't stop him and said, "Brother, be careful, don't get into a prolonged fight!"

Jiao Ting loudly responded and rushed forward, empty-handed. The bandit swung his cudgel, but Jiao Ting dodged and caught his wrist, using his strength to make the cudgel fall to the ground. Lin Chong, on horseback, said, "Jiao Ting's empty-handed disarming skills are getting better!" He had noticed that Jiao Ting had been practicing with the maidservants, and he no longer considered him an outsider.

Wang Lun smiled and replied, "With so many people on the mountain giving him pointers, if he didn't improve, he'd be ashamed to face anyone!"

The two of them chatted easily on horseback. Jiao Ting had already thrown the bandit to the ground and was about to punch him. The leader of the bandits, seeing this, became desperate and shouted, "Don't hurt my brother!" and rushed forward to save him.

Suddenly, a sharp sound of a spear piercing the air was heard. The bandit, sensing danger, stopped and saw a long spear planted in the soil a step in front of him. His face turned pale as he looked at the person on horseback who threw the spear. Seeing Jiao Ting still punching his brother, he gritted his teeth and stepped forward to save him. Lin Chong exclaimed, "This man has a sense of righteousness!"

Wang Lun nodded and shouted, "Jiao Ting, stop!"

Jiao Ting stood up, and the bandit who was about to save his brother stopped, bowing and saying, "I didn't recognize you, please tell me your name!"

Wang Lun also bowed and replied, "I see this place is quite dangerous. Is this Yinkema River? Are you Fire-eyed Lion Deng Fei and Jade Banner Meng Kang?"

The red-eyed bandit was surprised and bowed, saying, "How do you know our names? Are you sent by the prefecture to capture us? We may not be skilled, but we won't surrender easily!"

Wang Lun and Lin Chong exchanged glances and smiled. Wang Lun said, "Those guards, we are soldiers from Shamen Island. If you believe us, leave the convict and go. If you don't believe us..."

The two guards, hearing this, bowed repeatedly, saying, "We believe, we believe, we all believe!" They had almost died at the hands of the bandits and were relieved to see these unexpected cavalry. Now, hearing that the leader was willing to let them go, they were even more grateful.

Wang Lun laughed and waved his hand. The two bandits were in an awkward position, unsure whether to let them go or not. Deng Fei shouted, "Since this good man has spoken, let these two go!"

Seeing the guards walk away, Wang Lun dismounted and said, "I am Wang Lun from Liangshan, this general is Lin Chong, the head instructor of the 800,000 imperial guards in the capital, and the one who fought your brother is my personal head, Jiao Ting. I have long heard of your names, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Meng Kang exclaimed, "Oh, brother, we are all brothers on the road, why didn't you say so earlier? I got a good beating!"

Jiao Ting laughed but didn't say anything, just bowed to the beaten bandit, who also hurried to return the bow.

Deng Fei laughed and said, "We are brothers, Wang Leader, why didn't you say so earlier? Come, come, come to our small camp for a rest. Although it can't compare to your Liangshan, it has its own charm!"

Wang Lun smiled, bowed, and nodded to Lin Chong. They all followed the bandits up the mountain. The convict was also helped up by two bandits. On the way, Wang Lun saw the mountain, with vast wild waters and surrounding green mountains. Old trees reflected the setting sun, and a few clouds floated in the distance. The desolate fields were quiet, with no children tending cattle. The ancient ferry was desolate, with no one to water the horses. It was a perfect place for bandits to set up camp and for heroes to raise their banners.

Wang Lun's soldiers also found the mountain beautiful, but when they reached the camp, they saw it was very simple, with no more than a hundred or two hundred people, including those who had been on the road. They were from the best camp in the world, and their proud expressions were obvious.

Wang Lun coughed, and Deng Fei, seeing this, said, "Wang Leader, you are skilled. You turned Liangshan into a great camp, even attracting a hero like Lin Chong! I am not skilled, so my camp is like this. I don't mind, but I feel sorry for my brothers who are suffering here."

Wang Lun understood his meaning. He thought this man was righteous and had a strong sense of saving others. He had once saved Iron-faced Judge Pei Xuan and immediately gave him the leadership of the camp. Later, he joined Liangshan and, in every battle, would save any brother who was in trouble, regardless of their relationship. He died while saving Su Chao, killed by Shi Bao.

"Is it true that you, Deng Leader, eat people?" Wang Lun suddenly asked.

Deng Fei laughed, and Meng Kang replied, "We don't hurt people when we rob. Who would call you a cannibal?"

Deng Fei also laughed and said, "My red eyes are natural, but the rumor spread and became this. However, having a bad reputation in the world has its benefits. I'm too lazy to explain, but I hope you understand, Wang Leader!"

Wang Lun nodded, thinking that such a righteous man who valued his brothers' lives would not be like Yan Shun or Wang Daohu, who mistreated people. Li Kui, on the other hand, did eat human flesh, but it was more like a child's way of acting cool, not a habit. Besides, he hadn't started doing such things yet, so there was still a chance to change him.

Seeing that the righteous Deng Fei and the skilled shipbuilder Meng Kang had the intention to join, Wang Lun stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your hospitality. I boldly ask you to join my camp, each with a seat, what do you say?"

Deng Fei's face lit up, but he didn't immediately agree. He looked at Meng Kang, who nodded, and then said, "When we rob, passersby from Shandong often scold us, saying that Liangshan, with its great power, doesn't harm us, but we, the unskilled, still rob on the road. We have long wanted to see the power of the great camp. Now, meeting Wang Leader, it must be fate! My small camp has about a hundred horses, a few carts of wealth, and a hundred or two hundred brothers who can serve!"

Wang Lun laughed, "You still have a hundred horses. We didn't have a single horse in our camp before the New Year!"

Deng Fei said, "Brother, why don't we do a few more months of business, rob more horses for you! This area is close to Liao, with many horse traders!"

Zhang San laughed, "Good man, but our cavalry already has two thousand men! We don't need more horses!"

Deng Fei and Meng Kang looked at each other, surprised, and asked how they got so many horses in four or five months. Zhang San explained, and Deng Fei and Meng Kang were amazed, saying, "Brother, you are skilled, even daring to attack the prefecture's soldiers!"

Wang Lun laughed and chatted with them, then looked at the convict, saying, "Are you surnamed Pei, named Xuan?"

The convict, who had been listening to the conversation, was startled when Wang Lun spoke to him, and said, "How do you know my name?"

"I have heard that Pei Xuan is loyal and just, and the people call you Iron-faced Judge. You were framed by the governor of Jingzhao and sent to a distant place. Do you have a place to go? If not, why not join us on Liangshan with these two good men?" Wang Lun knew that if Pei Xuan didn't meet him, he would be saved by Deng Fei and Meng Kang and join them at Yinkema River, so he decided to persuade him.

Pei Xuan sighed and bowed, saying, "Now, even heaven and earth don't accept me. Thank you, Wang Leader, and the other good men for saving my life. I will join you on Liangshan!"

Wang Lun bowed and called Jiao Ting to bring out three hundred taels of gold, giving one to each of the three. They looked at each other, and Pei Xuan said, "Wang Leader, what is this for?"

"This is the rule set by the leader. Each new leader receives a thousand strings of coins to settle in. I also received it when I joined last year," Lin Chong explained with a smile.

Wang Lun smiled and bowed to the three, saying, "Please accept it!" He thought it was fortunate that he had brought a thousand taels of gold from Er Long Mountain, otherwise, the gift to Chai Daoguan would not be a round number, which would look bad.

Deng Fei and Meng Kang looked at each other. Meng Kang, who had joined Yinkema River after being forced to build ships for the transport of stones, was not familiar with the rules of the underworld and thought it was normal for larger camps to do this. However, Deng Fei, who had traveled widely, had never heard of such a thing. If he met a small-minded leader, he wouldn't even be allowed to join, let alone receive money. He sighed, "The great camp is different! We are not in the wrong place!" He then warmly invited everyone to the hall, ordering the bandits to slaughter cattle and sheep to entertain the guests.

Note: I need some support for the Three Rivers vote. The pursuers are close! I hope the good men can help me! I still have a cold, and after writing two chapters of 8,000 words, my head is spinning.

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