Water Margin: From a White-Robed Scholar to Donning the Yellow Robe

Chapter 113 The Liangshan Heroes Make a Scene in Jiangzhou

Wang Lun and his group settled in Jiangzhou and, following the pre-arranged contact marks, located the groups led by Hua Rong and Shi Xiu.

The group found a quiet place to discuss their next move.

"In my opinion, we should just storm into the prison, rescue Song Gongming, and then fight our way out of the city," Hua Rong suggested.

Wang Lun rolled his eyes and said, "Jiangzhou is not like Jizhou. Jizhou only has two thousand garrison troops, while Jiangzhou is an entire prefecture, and the prefect Cai Jiu is the son of Cai Jing. Do you think the defenses here would be weak?"

Hua Rong nodded: "Brother is absolutely right."

Wang Lun looked at Dai Zong and said, "This matter still depends on you, Dean Dai."

Dai Zong was originally on his way to deliver a letter to Prefect Cai Jiu in Tokyo, but on the way he realized how powerful Liangshan was, so he went to ask for help.

This is quite different from the original story. Wang Lun thought about it for a long time and believed that his appearance had already caused changes in Liangshan. One move affects the whole situation, which led to changes in other things as well.

In the original story, Dai Zong was captured by Zhu Gui, who ran an inn, which led Liangshan to learn of Song Jiang's capture. After returning to Jiangzhou, Dai Zong was exposed by Cai Jiu for lying and forging letters, and was also imprisoned.

Dai Zong was already deeply grateful to Wang Lun, and upon hearing his name called, he immediately said, "Please give your orders, Chief."

Instead of going to Tokyo to deliver the message, he secretly sneaked into Jiangzhou, so he disguised himself slightly, covering his face with a gray cloth at this moment.

"We need to allocate some manpower to clear the roads. You've been in Jiangzhou for many years and are extremely familiar with this place. Let me ask you, where is the execution ground for prisoners, and which road is the fastest to leave the city from there?"

Upon hearing Wang Lun's question, Dai Zong immediately replied, "The execution ground is only two intersections away from here. The closest one is the West Gate, which is directly across the main street in front of the government office."

Wang Lun pondered and said, "Rushing into the prison to rescue people is not feasible. Firstly, there are many soldiers near the prison, and the place is cramped. Even if our men are highly skilled in martial arts, they will not be able to exert their full strength."

He spoke slowly, his mind racing, and continued, "We choose to rescue people at the execution ground. The execution ground is spacious, and there are many onlookers. Once we rescue them, we can rush into the crowd and prevent the soldiers from blocking us."

When he spoke, everyone always obeyed, so they all agreed.

"Li Jun hasn't arrived yet. Once they do, ask Tong Wei, Tong Meng, Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun, and the Mu brothers, Mu Hong and Mu Chun, to guard the area near the West Gate. Once we succeed, they must immediately protect the city gate and prevent the government troops from closing it."

It was important to guard the city gates, but once they were closed, they would truly have no choice but to be surrounded and killed by government troops.

"The rest of us will hide in the crowd. Zhao Si will be banging a gong in the distance. Once you sound the gong, Hua Rong will shoot the executioner first, and then we will all rush in. After rescuing the people, we must not linger in the fight. Just head towards the west gate."

Everyone agreed.

"Shi Qian, your task is the most important."

Wang Lun looked at Shi Qian, who was small and thin, and looked more like a monkey next to Lu Zhishen.

Shi Qian jumped up immediately: "Please give your instructions, brother."

He was captured by the Zhu Family Village, but was rescued by Wang Lun's troops, who then destroyed the Zhu Family Village. In his heart, Wang Lun was like a savior, and therefore he respected Wang Lun greatly.

Because Wang Lun had told him not to steal, he never stole anything after joining Liangshan.

"Use your best skills. After we set off, sneak into Cai Jiu's mansion. Steal what you can, and set fire to what you can't. Make as much noise as possible."

Upon hearing Wang Lun's instructions, Shi Qian chuckled and patted his thin chest, saying, "Leave it to me. I'll make sure Cai Jiu's house is never peaceful."

Wang Lun laughed and said, "You need to be careful. After all, he is Cai Jing's son. There might be experts guarding his residence. After you succeed, leave immediately and meet us at the West Gate."

"Yes." Shi Qian clasped his hands in excitement.

That night, Li Jun and his group also entered Jiangzhou and found Wang Lun. Naturally, they followed Wang Lun's arrangements.

The arrangements have been finalized.

The next day, having already heard that someone was going to be beheaded at the execution ground, the people flocked there in droves. Wang Lun and the others also hid their weapons and squeezed into the crowd.

After 9:00 AM, soldiers shouted and cursed from behind the crowd, and the people made way for them.

As everyone watched, sixty or seventy soldiers and jailers escorted Song Jiang toward the execution ground.

Wang Lun looked closely and saw that Song Jiang was indeed short, fat, and dark-skinned, walking with his toes pointing outwards. He had no heroic bearing whatsoever. If he hadn't been righteous and cunning, he certainly wouldn't have earned the title of "Timely Rain of Shandong".

Upon arriving at the execution ground, Song Jiang was escorted to kneel facing south. The indictment plaque beside him read: "Song Jiang, a prisoner from Jiangzhou Prefecture, deliberately composed rebellious poems, fabricated seditious words, and plotted rebellion. He shall be executed."

The onlookers pointed and whispered among themselves. Song Jiang hung his head in dejection, not daring to look up at anyone.

Before long, the executioner, Cai Jiu, arrived and, with his entourage, sat down in a shady spot on the north side.

Wang Lun sized up the man. Cai Jing was handsome when he was young, and this man was Cai Jing's ninth son. He also looked dashing and debonair.

Someone stepped forward from the middle of the execution ground and announced loudly, "It is three quarters of an hour later."

Cai Jiu then waved his token: "Report back that the execution is complete."

The executioners on either side of Song Jiang stepped forward and removed his shackles. The executioners, holding their executioner's blades, were imposing and their fierce eyes glared at Song Jiang, who trembled with fear.

The executioner reported: "Identity verified."

He stepped forward, stood in a suitable position for beheading, and raised the magic knife in his hand.

Just then, Zhao Si, who was watching from a high-rise building in the distance, quickly banged a gong.

With a series of clangs, two arrows suddenly shot out from the crowd. Although the arrows were fired one after the other, they seemed to hit the two executioners simultaneously, striking them right in the heart. The two executioners staggered backward and fell to the ground.

Hua Rong succeeded with two arrows, and Wang Lun and the others drew their swords and charged forward with shouts.

From the upper floor of the teahouse next door, a burly, tiger-like man jumped down, wielding two broadswords. Shouting "Ah-ya-ya!", he charged into the group of soldiers, hacking down several men with each stroke of his sword.

Wang Lun smiled, and it turned out to be Li Kui, the Black Whirlwind. He really did fight like a madman, rushing into the crowd like a black whirlwind.

He brandished his knife and killed several people, then said to Wu Song, "Go follow this scoundrel, and don't let him harm the common people."

Wu Song quickly swung his sword and attacked, closing in on Li Kui.

The execution ground was thrown into chaos, with the people scattered in all directions.

Meanwhile, Wang Lun's dozen or so highly skilled warriors charged into the midst of dozens of jailers and soldiers, hacking and slashing with swords and axes, leaving these men dizzy and disoriented.

Cai Jiu, who was in the distance, was terrified and shouted, "Quickly call the soldiers! It must be some bandits coming!"

Wang Lun laughed loudly, "I am Wang Lun from Liangshan Marsh, and I have come here to rescue Song Jiang from Shandong."

Upon hearing this, Cai Jiu was taken aback, as was Song Jiang.

Song Jiang looked up and sized up Wang Lun. He saw that Wang Lun had an extraordinary bearing and appearance, and his swordsmanship was also very skillful. The soldiers around him had no chance to fight back.

Song Jiang murmured, "So you're Wang Lun?"

Wang Lun shouted, with Lu Zhishen standing guard beside him, "The Flying Tiger Army of Liangshan is here! We only punish corrupt officials, not the innocent. All bystanders, please stay away!"

Lu Zhishen's voice was loud and deep, like a thunderclap in a clear sky, which frightened Prefect Cai Jiu so much that he ran away.