Chapter 85

As this Daming Prefecture was the foremost stronghold in Hebei, known as Beijing at the time, there were certainly many officials patrolling within the city walls. Considering that their group was quite large and would attract attention, Wang Lun asked Lin Chong to take Tang Bin, Deng Fei, and the rest of the guards to find a place to stay outside the city. He changed into plain clothes and gave Lin Chong some instructions before entering the city with Jiao Ting and Hao Siwen, who had no criminal record.

Before entering the city, Wang Lun specifically checked the wanted notices at the city gate. He saw that the wall was covered with reward posters from various prefectures and counties, but after searching for a long time, he did not find his own name.

Wang Lun thought that the incident of castrating Gao Yannai had been half a year ago, and the heat had probably long since passed. Moreover, since he had become a bandit leader in Jizhou, the local governor would not have widely distributed the wanted notice for him. After all, it was not a glorious matter for the governor, and if he made a big fuss about it, it would seem as if he was afraid that others would not know that such a notorious bandit leader had emerged under his rule. What benefit would there be? Otherwise, when Song Jiang personally went to the capital to seek out Li Shishi, why did the officials of Kaifeng not pay much attention to the conspicuous black man?

Seeing no abnormalities, Wang Lun took Jiao Ting and Hao Siwen straight to the Cuiyun Tower, the most popular social venue in the area. The owner of such a grand tavern was certainly no ordinary person, and the officials would not come to check randomly.

That night, Wang Lun and the three others stayed at the Cuiyun Tower. The innkeeper, seeing that these three guests were generous, treated them very attentively. After resting for a night, Wang Lun and Hao Siwen waited in the room for Jiao Ting's news the next day. By mid-afternoon, Wang Lun saw Jiao Ting return, rubbing his eyes, clearly tired. He must not have slept well the previous night, so Wang Lun asked him to rest in the room. He and Hao Siwen took turns waiting for Shi Qian, instructing a waiter to get them a private room with a view of the street for tea and sightseeing. However, the tavern was doing such good business that even the rooms with windows were all occupied. Wang Lun did not mind and sat with Hao Siwen in the main hall, drinking tea and chatting.

Wang Lun savored the excellent tea from the tavern, preparing to chat with Hao Siwen, but saw him staring blankly at the teacup on the table, lost in thought. Wang Lun felt somewhat surprised, thinking that apart from being somewhat excited when they first met, Hao Siwen was usually gloomy and hard to understand.

Wang Lun did not disturb him, but pondered for a while and finally guessed the reason.

Considering Hao Siwen's background, Wang Lun speculated that if he were a legendary figure like a celestial being reincarnated, he would have become an emperor or a renowned hero. However, this hero, reincarnated as Jingmuan, was already over thirty and still a commoner, with no hope of achieving anything. Seeing the best years of a man's life pass by without accomplishment, how could he not be anxious? If he were just a simple brute, it would be one thing, but he had studied history since childhood and had his own views on the rise and fall of dynasties. Therefore, he was unwilling to join anyone recklessly, but also did not receive the favor of the court, resulting in his current state of being neither high nor low, wasting his years.

If things had gone according to the original course, he would have been recommended by Guan Sheng and later appointed by Cai Jing as a nominal vanguard, though unclear in status. Although this was his first time being summoned by the court, did this nearly twenty-year-old potential general still harbor the initial enthusiasm for the court?

Looking at how Xun Zan, the ugly prince, and Guan Sheng, the great swordsman, were busy, but Hao Siwen showed no action, and when forced to fight Lin Chong and Hua Rong for over twenty rounds, he saw no hope of winning and did not fight to the death, but simply fled. When Guan Sheng surrendered, he did not say much and followed suit. After that, on the mountain, he rarely took the initiative to do anything.

Later, when Song Jiang was recruited to attack Fang La, Hao Siwen was captured while patrolling with Xu Ning. Xu Ning managed to break through the encirclement, but when he looked back, Hao Siwen had already been captured and could not be saved.

Given Hao Siwen's taciturn nature, if Fang Tianzhen failed to recruit him, the most he would do is execute him. Why did he have to "torture him to death" and display his head? In battle, taking a life is the ultimate measure, and after taking a life, further desecration of the body is rare. Fang La's army had not treated other captured heroes this way before.

Looking at this silent hero, Wang Lun sighed. Another man burdened by the weight of glory. Perhaps after being captured, this taciturn man had already decided to die, and provoking Fang Tianzhen was his ultimate outburst after a lifetime of suppression. As the saying goes, "the greatest sorrow is a dead heart." As a man of understanding, he had lived a life of immense weariness.

Now, with the changes brought by his arrival, would the fate of this man, like Yang Zhi, who was also suppressed, change?

While Hao Siwen was lost in thought and Wang Lun was sighing, two middle-aged men entered the tavern. They looked very similar, like brothers, but one had a fierce and restrained demeanor, while the other wore a flower in his hair, had a slight smile, and a carefree expression. As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Waiter, the usual place!"

The waiter hurriedly greeted them, "Sir, unfortunately, all the private rooms are occupied. Would you like to rest in the main hall for a moment? A room will be available soon!"

The man with the flower in his hair said, "What are you talking about? When have we ever used the main hall? Besides, today we are being treated by the bailiff Liu. If you make us sit at the entrance, it will be embarrassing."

The waiter looked distressed, seeing that he could not persuade this young master, and turned to the other middle-aged man with a stern look, pleading with him. The conversation drew the attention of several tables in the main hall, and those who recognized the brothers quickly looked away, not daring to stare. The man with the flower in his hair urged, "Begging my brother is useless. Just call the innkeeper, and I will talk to him!"

The waiter pleaded, but the stern man said, "Forget it, let's make do."

The man with the flower in his hair did not argue further and saw that a scholar nearby had an empty seat, so he sat down. The waiter quickly brought tea and apologized, and the stern man also came over, waving his hand, "Go about your business, we are waiting for someone."

The waiter quickly left, and the stern man poured tea for himself. At that moment, another official entered and saw the two men, shouting from a distance, "Cai Yuyi, why are you sitting here? This innkeeper is so blind!"

Cai Yuyi stood up and invited the official to sit, saying, "Where we sit is not important. Where is Liu Yushi?"

Liu Yushi laughed, "No need to bring a group of brothers everywhere!" Suddenly, he noticed that several tables were looking at them and shouted, "What are you all looking at? Do you want me to lock you up?"

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