novelSusiti Chapter 44 Leave a toll
Chapter 44 Leave a toll
Wu Song and Wang Lun drank wine from large bowls and talked about life.
This reminded Wang Lun of Duan Yu and Qiao Feng from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," whose images are actually quite similar to his own and Wu Song's.
However, Duan Yu knew the Six Meridian Divine Sword, which allowed him to expel the wine he had drunk from his body.
But I cannot.
After drinking for a while, he felt his stomach was so full that he couldn't take any more, so he shouted that he was surrendering.
Wu Song laughed heartily: "Brother, if you don't surrender soon, Wu Song won't be able to drink anymore."
The two then helped each other and left the Lion Tower.
Wang Lun gave them directions, and after walking for a while, they found themselves heading out of the city.
Wu Song stopped, and Wang Lun, whom he was supporting, could barely move. Wang Lun asked, "Brother, where are we going?"
Wang Lun let out a drunken hiccup: "Let's... go to Liangshan and become bandits!"
Wu Song said anxiously, "Brother, my elder brother Wu Da is still at home. Let's wait a few days until we've packed up before we set off."
Wang Lun laughed and said, "Brother Song, why should you worry about such trivial matters? When did Zhao Si, who was beside me just now, leave Lion Tower?"
Wu Song then suddenly remembered that the young man named Zhao Si who had been following Wang Lun had disappeared without a trace, and he had no idea where he had gone.
"I've already ordered him to go and help Wu Da pack up, and to pawn off Wu Da's house as well. We can just leave the city directly."
It turned out that Wang Lun had already made arrangements. Wu Song was so engrossed in drinking that he hadn't noticed when Zhao Si left. But after hearing what Wang Lun said, Wu Song felt relieved. He didn't have any assets in Yanggu County, so there was no need to pack anything. He then followed Wang Lun out of the city.
The two men, drunk, left Yanggu County and rested in a pavilion northwest of Yanggu.
Before long, several riders galloped up, led by Zhao Si, followed by Wu Dalang, who rode on horseback like a child. Several fine horses followed behind, presumably prepared for Wang Lun and Wu Song.
Wu Song hurriedly stepped forward to greet Wu Dalang. Wu Dalang's injuries had already healed by about 70%. When he learned that his younger brother Wu Song was going to join this group of people to Liangshan, Wu Dalang was initially very resistant. Wu Song was actually going to be a bandit?
But then he thought that if he didn't become a bandit, he would have nowhere else to go. He had originally moved from Qinghe County, and now that such a disgraceful thing had happened to his family, he could no longer stay in Yanggu County.
Liangshan is actually a good place to go.
He cooperated with Zhao Si to quickly sell the property, discarding all the items inside except for some gold and silver. Over the years, he had saved a considerable amount of money selling steamed buns in Yanggu County, and with the sale of the property, his pockets were now quite full.
Seeing that Wang Lun remained seated, Wu Song realized that Yang Zhi and Gongsun Sheng were missing and stepped forward to ask, "Oh dear, brother, where have Commander Yang and Daoist Gongsun gone?"
Wang Lun laughed and said, "I reckon they'll be out soon."
As they were talking, a group of merchants arrived from a distance. There were three carts, piled high with goods, and more than ten militiamen were guarding them. The two men on either side, riding tall horses, were none other than Yang Zhi and Gongsun Sheng.
Wang Lun then called everyone to mount their horses and go to meet them.
Yang Zhi, carrying a red-tasseled spear, clasped his hands and said, "Brother, Gongsun and I have fulfilled our mission and seized all the valuables from Ximen Qing's house."
Wu Song was shocked: "You've kidnapped Ximen Qing?"
Wang Lun laughed and said, "Ximen Qing is rich but heartless, and he has harmed the villagers. Although he has been sentenced to death by hanging, there is no guarantee that his family members will not try to bribe the county magistrate. Therefore, the best way is to rob Ximen Qing's family of their property."
Wu Song was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. Wang Lun was right; that was exactly the point.
Gongsun Sheng laughed and said, "Ximen Qing's house is filled with countless gold, silver and valuables. Add some more gold and silver, and it's worth at least seventy or eighty thousand strings of cash. We've made another fortune."
Everyone burst into laughter, and even Wu Dalang became happy.
The group continued onward, but not towards Liangshan.
The reason why Yang Zhi and Gongsun Sheng were able to rob Ximen Qing's house was because Zhu Gui had previously mentioned that he had already planted Liangshan intelligence agents in Yanggu.
Only Wang Lun and Zhu Guicai knew the method for contacting intelligence agency personnel.
Just outside the county government office, Wang Lun informed Yang Zhi and Gongsun Sheng of the contact information. The two of them urgently contacted the intelligence bureau, and together they went to rob Ximen Qing's house.
The Ximen household was already in chaos. Upon learning that Ximen Qing had been beaten and sentenced to death by hanging in the county government, Wu Yueniang immediately organized people to find all the valuables in the mansion, preparing to spend some money to rescue Ximen Qing.
Unexpectedly, in broad daylight, Yang Zhi and Gongsun Sheng led their men to rush into the Ximen mansion, killing several of the servants and terrifying everyone into not daring to move.
Yang Zhi then ordered his men to tie up everyone in Ximen's mansion, and ordered that gold, silver and other valuables be loaded onto carts. Afterwards, he hung a sign on Ximen Qing's gate that read, "Important business is at the mansion, guests are not welcome."
Everyone in Yanggu County knew about Ximen Qing's affairs, so naturally they avoided Ximen's residence from afar. Passersby who saw the sign avoided it even more.
Even so, Wang Lun was still worried about his identity being exposed and being surrounded and annihilated by nearby government troops. That's why he not only did not return to Liangshan, but instead headed northwest, intending to detour back to Liangshan halfway there.
A group of people walked from midday to dusk before taking a short break in a grove of trees.
After eating some dry rations, they were about to continue their journey when they suddenly heard a whistle. Nearly a hundred henchmen rushed out from the woods and surrounded them.
Wang Lun couldn't help but laugh and said, "Oh dear, it's strange that bandits have been robbed by bandits themselves."
Everyone burst into laughter, completely disregarding the henchmen around them.
With the martial arts skills of Wu Song and Yang Zhi, and the Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Orthodox Method of Gongsun Sheng, even if our side is outnumbered, how could ordinary mountain strongholds be a match for them?
Just as she was laughing, a rider came up from behind. It was a woman, tall and wearing silver armor and a maroon cloak. She held a sword in each hand and her eyes and brows exuded a heroic spirit.
Wang Lun's eyes lit up. This woman wasn't particularly beautiful, but she had a unique charm.
He looked around at the people and asked, "Do any of you recognize her?"
Everyone shook their heads.
The woman walked into the circle of henchmen, her large eyes scanning the crowd before finally settling on Wang Lun, whom she could tell was the leader of the group.
"I planted this tree, I opened this road; if you want to pass, leave your toll."
Seeing that she spoke very seriously and had a clear voice, Wang Lun's impression of her improved even more.
After hearing her finish speaking, Wang Lun stepped forward and politely asked, "Miss, may I ask your age?"
The female general was taken aback, completely unexpected that the other party would suddenly ask her age out of the blue. She scolded, "Didn't you hear me? Leave your toll!"
Wang Lun laughed and said, "The young lady looks no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, while these trees over there are so tall, they must be fifty or sixty years old. How could you have planted them? This road was built by the Song Dynasty court, what does it have to do with you?"
The female general's face froze instantly. This was just a pretext for highway robbery; who would have taken it seriously?
"I absolutely cannot leave you this toll, but if you can defeat this hero beside me, I can reward you with ten taels of silver to buy wine and food." Wang Lun pointed to Wu Song beside him.
Wu Song strode forward, put his hands on his hips, and looked at the female general on horseback with an even more arrogant expression.