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

Chapter 134 Secretly Discussing the Punishment of Traitors

Upon hearing Shi Qian mention this person's name, Wang Lun's mind immediately cleared, and he asked, "It's him?"

Zhu Gui said, "When King Chao sent troops to attack Master Du, Liu Tang was not in Liangshan, so I have investigated many times but have never been able to find out who leaked the news."

Wang Lun nodded; of course he knew where Liu Tang had gone.

"It turns out that Liu Tang was on his way back to Liangshan when he saw Chao Tianwang leading his troops on an expedition. He then devised a plan to lure the government troops into an ambush and have Chao Tianwang and the chieftain fight each other. He then ordered us to capture this man and send him to Huang An to deliver a message, which led to what happened next."

After Zhu Gui finished his report, his eyes gleamed, and he said, "This man's intentions are so malicious that he should be executed."

Wang Lun smiled and said, "Brothers, tell me, what are the characteristics of Liu Tang?"

Wu Song said, "Liu Tang's martial arts skills are not weak."

Shi Xiu said, "But this person is also somewhat reckless and not a very thoughtful person."

Wang Lun said, "What Chief Zhu Gui just said, although the plan was not perfect, was indeed feasible. When Brother Yang Zhi first came to Liangshan, he had a grudge against King Chao, so I stepped in to mediate and asked King Chao to lead troops to attack Master Du, which was to help Brother Yang Zhi win the pledge of loyalty."

He smiled slightly and said, "If King Chao were to be ambushed because of this, who would be the first person he suspects?"

Wu Song was taken aback and said, "You suspect your brother?"

Wang Lun laughed and said, "Of course they would suspect me. They had the intention to kill me when they came to Liangshan, but Instructor Lin stood on my side, which thwarted their plan. In addition, with the matter of Yang Zhi, when they encountered an ambush, they would naturally think that I was the one who used them to kill me."

Everyone nodded. Logically speaking, Chao Gai and the others would naturally suspect Wang Lun and Yang Zhi immediately.

"So, this plan is undeniably ruthless. How could Liu Tang, a reckless man, come up with such a scheme?"

Wang Lun chuckled, waved his hand noncommittally, and said, "I already know about this matter. Liu Tang is currently with the army, so we can't capture him. If it disrupts the morale of the army, it will have a significant impact."

Zhu Gui asked, "According to your advice, brother, what should we do?"

Wang Lun said, "Release this man and tell everyone that we arrested the wrong person. Secretly deploy trusted men around him, and capture anyone who contacts him or kills him to silence him."

Zhu Gui laughed and said, "Brother, this is a brilliant strategy of feigning indifference to lure the enemy into a trap."

Wang Lun nodded and said, "Brother Shi Xiu, you are in charge of this matter. Be careful and bring along some skilled brothers. I estimate that the people who come into contact with him are not weak in martial arts."

Shi Xiu roused himself and immediately replied, "Yes."

Wu Song stepped forward and said, "Since our opponent is quite skilled in martial arts, why don't I go and join Brother Shi Xiu?"

Wang Lun looked at Wu Song and shook his head, saying, "Brother Song, you don't need to go. Although the opponent is skilled in martial arts, Shi Xiu can just lead some of his trusted brothers."

Wu Song had no choice but to give up, but he was still full of doubts.

"You may all leave now. Shi Qian, you stay. I have a few words to say to you." Wang Lun said, seeing that things had been explained. He then dismissed them.

Only Shi Qian remained.

"What are your orders, brother?" Shi Qian stood alone in the middle, somewhat bewildered yet also excited. His life had been saved by Wang Lun, so he was naturally willing to go through fire and water for Wang Lun.

"Your agility is the best, so I'll have you keep an eye on someone."

"I wonder who my brother wants me to keep an eye on?"

Wang Lun looked at Shi Qian and slowly said, "Song Jiang."

Shi Qian was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. He wasn't familiar with Song Jiang, so he could keep an eye on him if he wanted. Besides, he knew that Song Jiang's martial arts skills weren't high, so keeping an eye on him wouldn't be difficult.

After Shi Qian left, Wang Lun felt inexplicably excited. After thinking for a while, he instructed, "Xiao Si, go and call Pang Wanchun here."

Pang Wanchun was a wandering swordsman who spent most of his time in the Jiangnan region and had almost no contact with people from the Shandong area.

Besides Lu Zhishen, Yang Zhi, and others, Wang Lun felt that Pang Wanchun was more reliable.

Wang Lun already had a clear understanding of all of this. Perhaps because of his time travel, he had altered Chao Gai's storyline, and the series of events triggered by Chao Gai's storyline had also undergone some slight changes.

For example, Liu Tang was ordered by Chao Gai to take gold and silver to thank Song Jiang.

Although the overall framework of the matter remained unchanged, Song Jiang, upon hearing Liu Tang mention that Chao Gai had failed to surpass Wang Lun and instead became the third most powerful figure in Liangshan, with Wang Lun and Lin Chong ranked ahead of him, would inevitably have more opinions about Wang Lun.

By using Liu Tang as a messenger to inform the soldiers of Jizhou, Wang Lun had roughly guessed that among the people present, only Song Jiang and Wu Yong possessed such cunning.

However, Wu Yong also fell into an ambush with Chao Gai, putting himself in danger. Although this is a possibility, it is unlikely.

At that time, Song Jiang was a clerk in Yuncheng. He met Liu Tang and heard about Wang Lun from Liu Tang. If he had learned that Chao Gai was going to lead troops to attack Du Yuanwai in Jizhou, he might have come up with some cunning ideas.

Pang Wanchun quickly arrived at Wang Lun's room. He originally thought that Wang Lun was going to see a group of people, including himself, but he didn't expect that he was the only one there.

Wang Lun smiled at Pang Wanchun and asked, "How is the cavalry archery training going?"

During this period, Pang Wanchun and Hua Rong selected soldiers with strong arms to form a mounted archery corps, which is currently training in archery.

Pang Wanchun then reported the facts truthfully.

After listening to the report, Wang Lun nodded and thanked him for his hard work before slowly saying, "Brother Pang, I need your help with something. Are you willing?"

Pang Wanchun quickly replied, "If the chieftain gives an order, how dare I disobey?"

Wang Lun nodded and said, "This matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. You must not tell anyone, including... Hua Rong."

Pang Wanchun was taken aback. He and Hua Rong were training the cavalry archers together and were very close. The fact that even he was being kept in the dark showed how serious this matter was.

He quickly replied solemnly, "Yes, please give your instructions, brother."

Wang Lun whispered a few words in Pang Wanchun's ear. Pang Wanchun's expression changed slightly, but he still nodded in agreement.

After Pang Wanchun left, Wang Lun ordered Zhao Si to find Yang Zhi, and the two of them held a secret meeting behind closed doors for quite some time.

After Yang Zhi left, Wang Lun summoned Ruan Xiaoer.

After discussing with several people, it was already late at night. Wang Lun lay on the bed fully clothed, but he still couldn't fall asleep, so he simply went to Qiao'er's room.

The room he arranged for Qiao'er was in the backyard of the yamen, a secluded little courtyard. After Qiao'er's careful arrangement, it was already very elegant and exquisite.

As Wang Lun walked to the entrance of the courtyard, a person emerged from the darkness and knelt before him, saying, "Greetings, Chieftain."

The man was dressed in black, blending seamlessly into the night. Wang Lun would not have noticed him if he hadn't come out on his own initiative.

As soon as he spoke, Wang Lun knew who he was. This man was Zhang Cheng, whom Zhu Gui had previously arranged to infiltrate the Zhu Family Village. Because of his great contributions in the Zhu Family Village, he was personally rewarded by Wang Lun and promoted to a minor position in the Intelligence Division.

Among Zhu Gui's men, this person is currently the most trusted, so the task of secretly monitoring Qiao'er fell to him.

Wang Lun said in a low voice, "No need for formalities. Zhang Cheng, is there any movement inside?"

When Zhang Cheng heard the chieftain call his name, he was overjoyed and whispered, "Chieftain, there is nothing unusual inside. She is already asleep and should not have noticed anything."

Wang Lun gave a soft "hmm" and said, "You continue to guard outside, I'll go in and take a look."

Zhang Cheng bowed, then vanished into the darkness in a flash.