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

Chapter 145 Song Jiang sentenced Song Gongming to beheading

"Punishment has no degree of severity; its application must be based on fairness. The difficulty lies not in applying the law fairly, but in making the right judgment."

Wang Lun got up very early and said this to Yang Zhi, Shi Xiu, and Pang Wanchun, who were standing in front of him.

Wu Song must have had a sleepless night. Wang Lun told Zhao Si not to call him. Today is Song Jiang's trial, and Wu Song's presence will only make things more difficult for him.

He would also choose to stay at home.

Yang Zhi and the others did not understand what Wang Lun was saying.

"What I mean is that the severity of the punishment doesn't matter; what matters is that the judgment is fair," Shi Wenbin explained as he walked in from outside.

After explaining, he bowed to Wang Lun and said, "I heard last night that someone was trying to assassinate my brother, but fortunately he is unharmed."

Wang Lun smiled and nodded. He was very satisfied with Shi Wenbin. According to the intelligence department, Song Jiang had personally invited Shi Wenbin to a drinking party a few days ago.

Shi Wenbin did not see Song Jiang, which shows that Shi Wenbin was extremely perceptive.

He knew that there was no such thing as good wine or good banquet.

After having breakfast together, the group went to the main hall. Wang Lun sat on the high seat, while the others sat on either side.

Zhao Si ordered his men to bring Song Jiang up first.

After a night, Song Jiang seemed to have aged considerably. His complexion was darker, and he appeared to be fatter and shorter. He was listless and looked like a walking corpse.

Wang Lun asked in surprise, "You tortured him?"

Shi Xiu laughed and said, "Song Jiang is the Liangshan agricultural commissioner. How could we dare to torture him? He's just depressed because he can't figure things out."

Wang Lun laughed and said, "Brother Gongming, what's bothering you?"

Song Jiang looked up at Wang Lun and snorted coldly.

With a wave of his hand, Zhao Si sent soldiers forward who kicked Song Jiang to his knees.

Wang Lun laughed, "Song Jiang, Song Jiang, you think your conspiracy with Shi Bao is flawless? You think you can kill me with yourselves? Haha, do you think I, Wang Lun, am a fool after all this time of painstakingly building up Liangshan?"

"To tell you the truth, Liangshan has an intelligence division. Although Dai Zong was involved, he did not truly participate in the core affairs of the intelligence division."

Upon hearing Wang Lun's words, Song Jiang suddenly looked up. It turned out that the Intelligence Division was not as simple as it seemed. He thought that Dai Zong had mastered most of the Intelligence Division's secrets, but it turned out that... Dai Zong was just a peripheral figure.

"Ever since you entered Jizhou, I've had Zhu Gui send men to monitor you, Song Jiang. I've never trusted you. You think your secret plot with Shi Bao in the fields outside the city went unnoticed, but the intelligence department saw it all clearly long ago."

Song Jiang was so angry that he trembled all over. It turned out that Wang Lun had been spying on him from the very beginning.

"I know you are on good terms with Hua Rong and Huang Xin, so I deliberately had someone put medicine in Huang Xin's food to make him have diarrhea, and then Hu Cheng took over the city guard duty. I also deliberately let Hu Cheng let you in."

"I knew Dai Zong was on your side, so I deliberately told him about the spy we had captured who was delivering messages to Liu Tang, and I also deliberately revealed that I would release the spy to lure out the person behind him. Sure enough, Dai Zong soon told you about it."

Song Jiang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. It turned out that the information Dai Zong had revealed was deliberately orchestrated by Wang Lun. It was precisely because Song Jiang knew about this that he panicked, fearing that Wang Lun would investigate him, putting Wang Lun in control and leaving him in a passive position.

That's why Song Jiang chose to take the risk.

"I knew you would go to find Hua Rong and Huang Xin, so I had already asked Yang Xianfeng to lead his troops to be ready at any time. If the two of them made any unusual moves, Yang Xianfeng would immediately lead his troops to surround and kill them. Fortunately, they did not choose to rebel with you, and thus saved their own lives."

Song Jiang collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

"You're willing to take a risk, and Shi Bao wants to use you to enter the city. You've hit it off immediately, but little do you know that your every move is part of my plan. I'm still a little worried that Hua Rong will choose to rebel with you. Hua Rong is a master of martial arts, and I value him highly. I don't want to kill him."

"Therefore, I arranged for Pang Wanchun to get close to Hua Rong and accompany him to your banquet. I also asked Brother Pang Wanchun to secretly give Hua Rong a few words of advice, so that he would give up his desire to follow you."

Song Jiang sighed softly and said, "So... everything was under your control."

Wang Lun laughed and said, "Song Jiang, you've been so clever all your life, but you've made a foolish mistake. You want to incite Qin Ming and Chao Gai to rebel? Haha, you underestimate me. I only gave Chao Gai a thousand soldiers to guard Yuncheng. If he dares to rebel, I still have three thousand soldiers in the Liangshan stronghold, and I will immediately cut off Chao Gai's head."

Does Liangshan still have three thousand soldiers?

This was something Song Jiang was completely unaware of, but Wang Lun's statement clearly indicated that Chao Gai had not sent troops.

With a wave of his hand, Wang Lun sent Shi Qian tossing out the three letters written by Song Jiang.

"I know everything you do. Do you think I wouldn't know when you send someone to deliver a message? Your messenger was killed by Shi Qian's men as soon as he appeared."

It turns out the letter never got sent.

Song Jiang was so angry he felt like he was going to vomit blood.

"Suppose Qin Ming receives your letter and chooses to listen to you, sending troops back to attack Jizhou. Ha, before his troops even turn around, they will encounter Luan Tingyu's ambush. I sent Qin Ming to Danzhou precisely because Luan Tingyu is in Jinxiang County, which is the only way from Danzhou to Jizhou. Although Qin Ming has more troops, he may not be able to quickly defeat Luan Tingyu."

Although Song Jiang did not know Luan Tingyu, he heard the story of the Zhu Family Village after arriving in Jizhou and knew that Luan Tingyu was a very capable person. He then knew that Wang Lun's words were true.

"I have already secretly ordered Luan Tingyu to be on guard, and I have also written letters to Lin Chong, who is attacking Yanzhou, and Huyan Zhuo, who is attacking Guangji Army. As soon as Luan Tingyu and Qin Ming clash, their two armies will quickly return to reinforce and capture Qin Ming in one fell swoop."

Song Jiang lowered his head helplessly. He had only roughly thought of the plan to rebel, but he did not expect that Wang Lun had already thought of it beforehand.

Just like playing chess, Song Jiang thought three moves ahead, while Wang Lun had already thought ten moves ahead.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Wang Lun finished explaining all the plans, allowing Song Jiang to die knowing why.

Song Jiang said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. I, Song Jiang, have nothing to say."

Wang Lun nodded and said, "I must say, you, Song Jiang, are a true hero, but I have no choice but to kill you. Because my desire to kill you has spanned a thousand years."

None of them understood the meaning of the second half of Wang Lun's sentence, but they all understood the first half, and no one came forward to plead for Song Jiang.

Song Jiang colluded with foreign rebels, intending to kill Wang Lun and take his place; who dared to plead for him?

"Drag him out and execute him!"

At Wang Lun's command, soldiers stepped forward and dragged Song Jiang out. Shortly afterward, the soldiers returned carrying Song Jiang's head.

Outside the main hall, Wu Song was standing. He did not enter the room, but knelt down before Wang Lun at the door and said, "Wu Song begs that Song Jiang be buried properly, so that his body will not be left to rot in the wilderness."

Wang Lun sighed softly and said, "Since you have spoken, I will grant your request for brotherhood. Go and bury Song Jiang."

Wu Song was a man of loyalty and righteousness. He did not choose to plead for Song Jiang, but instead chose to collect his body and bury him. This was perfectly reasonable, and Wang Lun was not angry. On the contrary, he thought more highly of Wu Song.

"Bring Dai Zong up here."