Magical Water Margin: They all call me brother

Page 107

Huyan Zhuo was a pillar of the state, personally promoted and recommended by Grand Commandant Gao! He was a trusted confidant whom Gao Qiu had entrusted with the important task of conquering the enemy, defying public opinion before the emperor! This defeat was not only a military failure, but also an extreme denial of Gao Qiu's judgment and a shaking of the foundation of his immense power! His political enemies would inevitably seize this opportunity to take advantage of the situation and usurp his power!

Gao Qiu clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his flesh, a drop of crimson blood falling deep into his crimson official robe.

After a brief silence, a devastating rage erupted from Gao Qiu's heart! The air in the entire hall seemed to freeze and suffocate. Gao Qiu's eyes twitched violently, the veins on the side of his neck throbbed like writhing earthworms, and a deep, suppressed roar, as if squeezed from the deepest hell, rolled in his throat:

"Hoo, Yan, Zhuo!!!"

Gao Qiu roared three times, each word filled with venomous hatred. All the servants in the hall felt a chill that seemed to have a physical presence, and involuntarily held their breath.

As Gao Qiu had predicted, his nemesis, Grand Commandant Su, immediately launched an attack. A barrage of accusatory memorials, like poisoned arrows, rained down on the emperor! "Losing the army and disgracing the country," "Insane and mad," "Arrogant and domineering, leading to this defeat," "Ashamed of the emperor's favor"... Each memorial seemed to express concern for the country and its people, but in reality, they directly accused Gao Qiu of misjudging people and failing to recognize their worth, rendering him unfit for important responsibilities.

Ministers who had previously aligned themselves with Gao Qiu or remained neutral sensed the shift in public opinion. Seeking self-preservation or currying favor, they flocked to this media frenzy. Some recounted Huyan Zhuo's past "unruly and disobedient" behavior, while others accused him of "greed for merit, recklessness, and stubbornness." Suddenly, the defeated general Huyan Zhuo became the very source of all evil, responsible for the Song Dynasty's humiliation and heavy losses. Consequently, Gao Qiu's prestige within the army faced an unprecedented crisis of trust.

Even Gao Qiu's allies, Grand Tutor Cai Jing and Grand Commandant Tong Guan, were unable to forcefully step forward and suppress the voices in the court at this critical juncture. They could only secretly protect their allies. Gao Qiu was exhausted and could only submit a memorial saying that this defeat was all his fault and that he wanted to resign from his position as Grand Commandant and accept a reprieve.

But Emperor Zhao disagreed: "It was just a defeat. A total of 40,000 soldiers were lost. Compared with my 800,000 Imperial Guards, what are the lives of these 40,000 people?"

Removing Gao Qiu from his post? That's utter nonsense! Without Gao Qiu, who will help me manage so many affairs? Without anyone to help me make decisions and manage things, how can I have time for romance, painting, writing poetry, drinking, and making merry?! I haven't even finished my paintings yet!

However, this was still a matter of great public anger. After thinking it over, Emperor Zhao simply pushed all the blame onto Huyan Zhuo: "Minister Gao is not wrong. Huyan Zhuo has also fought several brilliant battles. Now that the entire army has been wiped out, it must be Huyan Zhuo who is at fault! It has nothing to do with my Grand Commandant!"

At this moment, in order to protect his Gao Qiu, Emperor Zhao did not hesitate to betray Hu Yanzhuo and use him as a shield for Gao Qiu. All his previous ambitions and the lofty sentiments he had felt about being a new pair with Emperor Taizu of Song and Hu Yanzan vanished.

Seeing that the emperor rejected Gao Qiu's resignation without hesitation and allowed him to continue as Grand Commandant in charge of Liangshan, the enthusiasm of the officials seemed to be doused with cold water: It must be that scoundrel Gao Qiu who has blinded the emperor. Can't this bring him down to ruin? No, we must get rid of him!

Meanwhile, Gao Qiu was exhausted from fighting the court officials and didn't have time to deal with Hu Yanzhuo. He just accused her of a serious crime to shift the blame. In the end, he didn't have time to write the final verdict, giving Hu Yanzhuo a final chance to breathe.

After hearing the controversy surrounding him in the court, Huyan Zhuo knew he was in deep trouble. The defeat was too crushing. If he returned to Tokyo now, even if he wasn't beheaded, he would be dismissed from his post, imprisoned, tattooed on the face, and exiled to the army.

No! I must find a way to reverse the future!

Huyan Zhuo found a dilapidated temple and rested for the night. Then he found a boat and headed straight for Qingzhou. He was in dire straits. By the time he arrived in the city, it was already late. He dared not see the officials and spent the night in an inn. At dawn the next day, he went straight to the steps of the government office and paid his respects to Prefect Murong.

When Prefect Murong saw Huyan Zhuo in such a disheveled state, he was greatly shocked and asked, "I heard that the general was capturing the bandits of Liangshan Marsh, so why are you here?"

Huyan Zhuo had no choice but to recount the entire incident. Prefect Murong sighed.

"Although the general has lost many men, this is not due to slow progress. We fell into the enemy's trap and there was nothing we could do. The area under my jurisdiction has been invaded by bandits. Since the general has come here, you should first clear out Peach Blossom Mountain, Two Dragons Mountain, and White Tiger Mountain. Once you have wiped them out in one fell swoop, I will do my best to recommend you to the emperor so that you can lead your troops to take revenge. As long as the general takes down the three mountains, Qingzhou will definitely do its best to assist the general!"

Huyan Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed again, saying, "I am deeply grateful to Prefect Murong! If I am granted such revenge, I swear to repay your kindness with my life." Prefect Murong invited Huyan Zhuo to a guest room to rest and change his clothes and have a meal. The armored waiter then told him to go back.

The next day, Prefect Murong dispatched two thousand cavalry and infantry to lend to Huyan Zhuo, along with a blue-maned horse. Huyan Zhuo thanked the benefactor, donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led his troops to seek revenge, beginning the annihilation of the Three Mountains of Qingzhou.

This time, the bandits of Qingzhou were in deep trouble! The bandits of Baihu Mountain were originally Kongming and Kongliang, but now they have gone up the mountain in the morning, leaving behind a group of thugs, who were all slaughtered by Huyan Zhuo like cutting melons and vegetables.

The bandits of Erlong Mountain, originally Lu Zhisheng, Wu Song, and Yang Zhi, had all joined Liangshan. At this moment, the remaining bandits on the mountain were Deng Tong, who was no match for Huyan Zhuo. His head was blown off by a steel whip in a single round! The entire mountain stronghold scattered like birds and beasts.

Riding high on the momentum of having annihilated two mountain strongholds, Huyan Zhuo marched directly towards Peach Blossom Mountain! After several battles with Little Tyrant Zhou Tong, Tiger-Slaying General Li Zhong was no match for Huyan Zhuo, though his defeats weren't as devastating as those at White Tiger Mountain and Two Dragon Mountain. Seeing he was outmatched, he immediately appealed to Lu Zhisheng of Dengzhou for help: "Sister! For the sake of our friendship in Guanzhong, please save me!"

Chapter 291: Lu Zhisheng's Frenzied Charge

Hearing that the Liangshan troops stationed in Dengzhou had moved, Huyan Zhuo was very disdainful.

A while ago, I forced all the elite Liangshan troops to return to defend Liangshan Marsh. In the first battle, I annihilated one-third of Liangshan's main force, and in the second battle, I also inflicted heavy casualties on all of Liu Hong's veterans. Even if I ultimately lose, it will only be because I was tricked and set up; it will be a strategic mistake! Tactically, I have always maintained the advantage!

Although Liangshan won, it was only by bringing all their elite troops to Jizhou that they achieved victory. Moreover, they also suffered considerable casualties.

As for the garrison troops left behind in Dengzhou? Probably just some Tom, Dick, and Harry. If Liu Hong were leading Liangshan troops in pursuit, I'd be a little afraid of him. But what kind of Liangshan troops are in Dengzhou? I might just go out and say I captured Qin Ming, defeated Sun Li, Hu Sanniang, and Hua Rong, and then wiped out Lin Chong—that guy would be scared out of his wits.

Huyan Zhuo truly didn't take this Liangshan detachment seriously. If they were powerful, Liu Hong would definitely have called them back to fight the most crucial decisive battle. Since he didn't call them back, it meant that Liu Hong felt the Dengzhou garrison couldn't change the course of the battle. So, he picked up a pair of steel whips, rode the blue-maned horse given to him by Prefect Murong, and boldly went into battle.

Then, Huyan Zhuo saw a large, plump nun riding a chestnut horse. Her figure was as voluptuous and beautiful as a concubine of the Tang Dynasty, her physique as imposing and majestic as a demon-subduing bodhisattva. Her cassock billowed like a scarlet storm. Her staff was enormous, like a pillar supporting the sky. On her fierce, jade-like face, her proud breasts stood before her flawless body. At the slightly open neckline, a series of crimson peonies bloomed in full glory, like a bewitching spring color sealed beneath the Buddhist robe. Her five-hundred-pound body was rooted to the ground, creating a wondrous scene where strength and beauty merged!

What the hell is this?

Hu Yanzhuo's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, as if he were intimidated by the Buddha-like, demonic appearance. But in an instant, a chilling light shattered the ripples! His black and white steel whips crackled with thunderous force, and his figure transformed into a resolute, deadly shadow that tore through the dust and smoke, charging forward with ferocious force! His jet-black robe swirled in the air like a ferocious giant bat, staining the sky behind him like ink! The Big Dipper embroidered in silver thread on the robe shone with a cold light, like seven halberds of divine punishment hanging in the dark night, dragging out a terrifying, soul-shattering black storm!

"You bald monk! Get lost when you see me! I've captured your Thunderbolt Qin Ming alive! Run if you don't want to die!"

Lu Zhisheng paid no heed to this, brandishing his hundred-pound ink-painted staff and urging his warhorse forward. The two lightning-fast figures clashed fiercely before the iron walls of the camp! Hu Yanzhuo, with her black hair as dark as night and blood-stained silver armor, had bloodshot eyes, and her blue-maned horse kicked up towering dust! The two dragon-patterned water-polished steel whips in her hands were imbued with the murderous aura of countless dead souls, like two black and white evil dragons tearing through the sky! The left whip crashed down like a raging sea and a collapsing mountain, carrying the immense power to destroy cities and shatter kingdoms! The right whip shrieked as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were splitting, tearing through the air and stabbing straight at her opponent's waist and abdomen!

Lu Zhisheng's imposing figure pressed down like a mountain, her crimson kasaya billowing like raging flames. Facing the two monstrous steel whips that attacked simultaneously, she burst into wild laughter, her tongue like thunder. Her hundred-pound monk's staff, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, met the attack head-on, unleashing a powerful upward strike with the immense force capable of shattering Mount Sumeru! The staff vibrated and hummed, creating a swirling abyss of wind pressure!

"Clang!!! Clang!!!"

The moment the whips and staff clashed, a devastating sonic boom erupted, unimaginable power exploding at its core! A spherical shockwave, visible to the naked eye, shattered! The horses beneath them simultaneously let out agonizing neighs, their armor shattering, hooves sinking deep into the earth, tearing countless jagged trenches into the scorched ground like plowshares! Where the shockwave swept past, the ground churned, tore, and bulged like boiling water; the nearest chevaux-de-frise and deer antlers were crushed to dust, and fluttering banners, along with their thick flagpoles, instantly turned into a shower of flying debris!

Hu Yanzhuo took three steps back in shock. She had been fighting for more than ten years and had never met a match in strength. Even the Khitan ogres were not as strong as her.

Today, he lost to the fat nun in front of him in a contest of strength.

Hu Yanzhuo overlooked one point: Liu Hong did not transfer Lu Zhisheng back not because Lu Zhisheng was unimportant, but because Dengzhou was too important, which is why he had his sister guard the city.

Amidst the clanging and banging, the battleground had become a living hell! Hu Yanzhuo's monstrous whip shadow sometimes coiled like a venomous python around his staff, and at other times resembled a twin explosion, transforming into two black and white demonic lights that crashed down mountains! Lu Zhishen, on the other hand, wielded his ink-wash Zen staff like a spinning, world-destroying windmill! There were no special effects, no fancy tricks, just sheer brute force, unstoppable and unparalleled!

As the battle raged on, Huyan Zhuo's black and white whips unleashed the power of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, transforming into two inky black star rivers that tore through the night sky, carrying the might of heaven as they plunged straight down! Like the Big Dipper falling from the heavens! Lu Zhishen's staff burst into crimson light, raising a golden wheel that could melt away karmic fire, cleaving through the void to smash headlong into the enemy, while the Buddhist light behind him condensed into the phantom of a Bodhisattva, like a Vajra glaring angrily at the eight wastelands!

For a moment, the soldiers of both armies watched intently. To witness such a battle between two top masters was truly worth dying for! They saw the Xuanmo Star River chisel the golden sun, the Crimson Flame Golden Wheel cleave the ink sea, the core point swallowed light and exploded, the wind for ten thousand miles shattered the yellow sky, the divine steed shattered bones and neighed, and the traces of Buddha, demon and Dao cracked the earth with light.

The three Heavenly Generals unleashed a series of furious strikes, resulting in both of the two fierce generals being defeated and wounded.

The two generals fought for a full hundred rounds without a clear victor. This time, Huyan Zhuo finally understood what it meant to be exhausted. Lu Zhisheng's strength was astonishing, and his staff was terrifyingly heavy. Every time the whip and staff clashed, Huyan Zhuo's arms trembled. At this moment, his arms were sore and numb, as if they were being bitten by thousands of ants! After a hundred rounds of this hard-fought battle, the steel whips in his hands, which were originally as light as a feather, were now as heavy as Mount Tai.

Lu Zhisheng was also exhausted. Huyan Zhuo was indeed a fierce general who had made her hungry. Her stomach was empty and she was screaming like a hundred ghosts. Thinking that there was still Wu Song, she temporarily left the scene and let Wu Song take over to fight Huyan Zhuo again!

Seeing that the other party had changed, Hu Yanzhuo thought that Liu Hong shouldn't be so stubborn. Even if Dengzhou was important to him, it was enough to leave this nun here to guard it. He couldn't possibly leave another person of similar strength here, could he? Besides, this person couldn't even ride a horse. He was just an infantry leader, so he should be fine.

In a flash of lightning, before Huyan Zhuo could react, Wu Song charged into the formation with his signature "Mandarin Duck Steps." Huyan Zhuo had just caught a whiff of wine and heard a whoosh of wind when Wu Song wielded his twin swords and cleaved her horse into eight pieces! She lost her balance and fell into a pool of blood.

Before Huyan Zhuo could even get up, his Mingguang armor had already been slashed five or six times by Wu Song. If it weren't for the protection of this armor, Huyan Zhuo would already be dead!

Hu Yanzhuo was shocked. After fighting Lu Zhisheng for a hundred rounds, she was in terrible condition. Wu Song's speed was already incredibly fast. Although his two snowflake steel sabers lacked destructive power, they were light and swift. Even in her prime, Hu Yanzhuo might not have been able to block every single blow. Moreover, now her arms were sore and numb, her strength was too great, and she could barely wield her powerful double whips. She simply couldn't stop Wu Song's terrifying attacks, which were like a raging storm!

The Big Dipper battle robe was instantly torn to shreds, and the Bright Goose Feather Battle Armor gradually became battered and bruised.

After fighting for ten rounds, Huyan Zhuo was exhausted and looked terrified. Knowing that he was no match for Huyan Zhuo, he turned and ran away. Lu Zhisheng and Wu Song took the opportunity to lead the Dengzhou troops of Liangshan to launch a major attack and crushed the Qingzhou troops that Huyan Zhuo had borrowed in one blow!

Chapter 292: Huyan Zhuo's Defeat and Capture

At this moment, Huyan Zhuo was truly in despair. Where did all these fierce generals come from? I can't beat the main force of Liangshan, I admit Liu Hong is powerful.

But now I can't even defeat a small detachment of Liangshan's forces in Dengzhou?!

Seeing that Huyan Zhuo had been defeated, and that Lu Zhisheng and Wu Song had led the Dengzhou army to join forces with the bandits of the Three Mountains led by Tiger-Slaying General Li Zhong and Little Tyrant Zhou Tong in Qingzhou, the prefect of Murong was terrified. He kept the city gates tightly shut and dared not open them.

At this moment, Huyan Zhuo was in a miserable state. As the commander of the imperial army, he didn't even have a single servant by his side. He was filthy and exhausted, starving, and extremely disheveled. His armor, covered in wounds, and the blood-stained whips at his waist seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, making it hard for Huyan Zhuo to breathe. He couldn't even lift his own weapons and armor.

She longed to return to the court, but home was out of reach. All her friends in the court were urgently warning Huyan Zhuo—run! Gao Qiu, to keep his position as Grand Commandant, wanted to pin all the blame for this defeat on you! Returning to the court would only mean certain death! You'd be killed by that football-playing ruffian!!!

Huyan Zhuo's once mountain-like body swayed violently, his knees slamming heavily to the ground, his face deathly pale.

That once heroic and stern face, with its chiseled features, now looked as if all its soul had been drained away. It was deathly pale with a bluish-gray tinge, even the last bit of color had faded from its lips, which were pressed tightly into a fragile straight line, suppressing a wailing that was about to break down deep in its throat.

Those once fierce, hawk-like crimson eyes, burning with fighting spirit, were now nothing but boundless emptiness and numbness. The pupils dilated, unfocused, staring at the broken steel whip in his hand, yet it was as if he were piercing through the void, seeing only emptiness, a dark future.

Grief, sadness, pain, and helplessness overwhelmed Hu Yanzhuo. Her fingernails dug deep into the soft flesh of her palms, and blood slid down between her fingers, mixing with the previous bloodstains and dripping onto the soil, yet she felt no pain whatsoever.

Physical wounds are nothing compared to the anguish in her heart. She raised her head, gazing at Tokyo, but no sound came out. All the grief, indignation, grievances, questions, and cries within her finally turned into a mouthful of blood that surged up again, only to be swallowed back down by her, deadly and silently.

Deep within those eyes that once held the power to intimidate armies, only endless ashes remained after the fire had burned. Upon those ashes lay a bloody scar, forever unhealed, carved open by the very empire it served.

Meanwhile, Liu Hong had completed the initial integration. He used methods such as persuading Han Tao, Peng Qi, and Ling Zhen to surrender, gradually eroding the faith of Huyan Zhuo's soldiers. One by one, the garrison troops of Dingtao, the imperial guards of Dongjing, and even veterans who had fought against the Western Xia for decades on the Shanxi border, all had no choice but to join Liangshan.

Liu Hong summoned Pei Xuan, the Iron-Faced Chieftain, to allocate the men who had descended the mountain, dividing them into five armies to set off. The vanguard was led by Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Yan Shun, and Wang Ai Hu; the second force consisted of Mu Hong, Yang Xiong, Xie Zhen, and Xie Bao; the central force was led by the commanders Liu Hong, Wu Yong, Lü Fang, and Guo Sheng; the fourth force consisted of Zhu Tong, Chai Jin, Li Jun, and Zhang Heng; and the rearguard consisted of Sun Li, Sun Xin, Yang Lin, Ou Peng, and Cui Jun to coordinate the rearguard action.

Liangshan Marsh mustered five armies, totaling twenty leaders and three thousand cavalry and infantrymen, and marched in a mighty force to capture Huyan Zhuo.

When they first left the marshland, they were like dragons soaring in the sea; when they first emerged from Liangshan, they were like tigers and leopards running in the wind.

Five armies advance side by side, with twenty generations of heroes in front and behind; a single force marches together, with three thousand soldiers at the head and tail.

Embroidered banners flutter like clouds and mist, while swords and spears gleam like snow and frost. Bells jingle, warhorses gallop; painted drums beat, soldiers leap with joy. Yellow dust swirls across the land, a misty rain falls from the sky.

Amidst the imperial banners, the wise and resourceful Wu Zixu stands in a throng; beneath the green canopy, Liu Xianzhong sits serenely, acting on behalf of Heaven. In the past, even ghosts and gods bowed in reverence; now, the common people sing his praises.

When the three thousand elite troops from Liangshan arrived in Qingzhou, Prefect Murong was terrified.

He thought about it carefully. Dengzhou was taken by Liangshan in a month. Huyan Zhuo's elite border troops, along with the imperial guards from the capital, were ultimately wiped out by Liangshan. What qualifications do I have to fight Liangshan head-on? Can I win?

Thinking of this, Prefect Murong didn't care anymore. He abandoned the seal of the Prefect of Qingzhou and took the gold and silver treasures he had amassed from the people over the years, and made a quick getaway!

The next day, when the court was in session, all the officials and constables saw that Prefect Murong had resigned and fled, and they were filled with panic. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; no one wanted to die, so they all absconded with their money. The entire city of Jizhou was left undefended, and the city gates were wide open! Some of the minor officials whose families were still in the city, who did not have time to escape, even welcomed the Liangshan army to take over Qingzhou.

Amidst this chaos and absurdity, only the exhausted and wounded Huyan Zhuo stood alone, raising her twin whips, blocking the gates of Qingzhou. She charged single-handedly against the Liangshan army, like a knight who had lost all faith and purpose, utterly weary, seeking death as her final destination.

Subsequently, Huyan Zhuo was like a grain of silver sand, completely swallowed up by the Liangshan army. Exhausted, Huyan Zhuo seemed to be seeking death. He charged towards Liu Hong's banner alone, disregarding everything, until he was knocked unconscious and captured alive.

Chapter 293: Eloquent Tongues and Double Whips Return to Liangshan (Supplementary Chapter)

"The old rules apply. Once you enter Qingzhou, you are only allowed to rob government officials and wealthy households. You are not allowed to harm the common people! If you dare to disobey my orders again, you will suffer the same fate as those nine river pirates last time!"

Liu Hong gave the order again, and this time, all the Liangshan soldiers nodded in agreement. The situation of looting the people that occurred during the last attack on Dengzhou did not happen again.

After arranging for everyone to rob the place, Liu Hong immediately went to the place where Hu Yanzhuo was imprisoned. The noose was deep inside, and the beauty of torture was in full bloom. The rough cowhide rope, with its savage tension, bit deep into the muscles of Hu Yanzhuo's strong and muscular forearm, leaving circles of astringent purple bruises on the honey-like, sweaty sheen.

His steel armor had long been shattered, revealing large patches of firm, honey-colored skin covered in glistening sweat from the intense struggle.

Drops of damp sweat rolled down the winding path, soaking the tattered robe that was now only half-finished and barely hanging down to the waist. The once black star-studded battle robe had now transformed into a bewitching tattered veil, the tears vaguely outlining the breathtaking curves of the waist; the hem, half-covered in mud, trembled weakly in the wind like butterfly wings, occasionally revealing the taut lines of the blood-stained thighs below.

The dazzling silver light of the Big Dipper on his robe now lingered ambiguously between his sweat-dampened waist and sticky blood scabs, like a cold star sinking into a scalding swamp of desire.

She was forced to kneel in the cold, wet mud, her posture like that of a sacrifice. Her soaked black hair, like melting night, clung stickily to her slender, swan-like neck, staining the delicate hollow of her collarbone. A few strands of hair even peeked eerily into the depths of her slightly open neckline, making the snow-white skin on the back of her neck, which was forced to be exposed, glow with an eerie, dying porcelain light.

That once cold and stern face that commanded the respect of the entire army was now as pale as a piece of fine porcelain. His blood-stained lips were tightly bound by ropes, yet they parted slightly uncontrollably. His rapid, warm breaths exhaled misty vapors into the cold air, like a silent invitation.

Those eyes, once a blazing furnace that destroyed everything, were now extinguished, leaving only ashes. Each time the neck muscles tensed when forced to tilt the head back, each time the ropes dug into the tender flesh caused uncontrollable slight spasms, it was as if war drums were striking invisible strings of desire.

"Gulp—kill me."

As Liu Hong approached, Huyan Zhuo's eyes darkened. He only wanted to die. He had already been severely punished by the court. Since he could not redeem himself today, he would rather die on the battlefield than go back to prison or the execution ground.

Liu Hong stood quietly in front of Hu Yanzhuo, drew his knife without hesitation, cut the ropes, and personally untied Hu Yanzhuo. He then took off his robe and draped it over Hu Yanzhuo's body. He personally helped her up, led her into the tent, and sat her down in his own seat, leaving the already bewildered Hu Yanzhuo even more confused.

By this moment, Liu Hong was already adept at deceiving the court's generals. His voice was not loud, but it pierced through the iron bars like a cold needle, striking Huyan Zhuo's numb nerves.

"We have become outlaws here because we were framed by treacherous officials of the court and forced by local officials. We have no choice but to do this! We brothers are skilled in both literature and martial arts, but we have no way to serve the emperor. We can only stir up trouble here and force the court to grant us amnesty so that we can serve the country with all our might!"

Look, we, the people of Liangshan, are not greedy or murderous, nor do we commit any unjust or immoral acts. We earnestly hope that the Inspector will take pity on this true sentiment and join us in upholding justice! Once the imperial court grants us amnesty, all of us brothers will be able to attain enlightenment and repay the Emperor's kindness.

Huyan Zhuo stared intently at Liu Hong for a moment.

"As the old saying goes, a loyal minister does not serve two masters, and a good woman does not marry two husbands. My entire family, including Huyan Zhuo, is loyal and righteous. Even for the sake of being granted amnesty, we would never join the rebels and tarnish our ancestors' reputation! Now that Jin has been captured, we only ask for a swift death!!!"

Seeing Huyan Zhuo's fierce determination, Liu Hong was also taken aback for a moment, and then took out his backup plan.

"General Huyan, please take a look at these documents."

Liu Hong addressed the matter directly, pulling out the documents seized from Liangshan.

"Several years ago, Emperor Zhao wanted a uniquely crafted Taihu rock. To please the emperor, Gao Qiu increased taxes in the entire Jiangnan region by 60%! He conscripted 100,000 men from Jiangnan to perform corvée labor, all to transport this giant rock from Jiangnan to Dongjing (Kaifeng). All the houses blocking the way were demolished, all the land was flooded, and even the city walls of the three counties that blocked the way were demolished and destroyed because of this rock!"

Fang La of Jiangnan thus rose in rebellion, and the suffering people of Jiangnan rallied in response! The three counties whose city walls had been breached were utterly defenseless! This led to Fang La's overnight rise in Jiangnan, becoming unstoppable!

"That old scoundrel Gao Qiu acts recklessly in the provinces, relying on the Emperor's trust! And in the central government, he uses his overwhelming power to cover up everything! My sister, Leopard Head Lin Chong, devoted herself to training 800,000 imperial guards for the Song Dynasty, but just because Gao Qiu's adopted son took a fancy to her wife, she was forced to leave the capital and could no longer live in Tokyo!"

"My sister Yang Zhi was merely persecuted by natural disasters and lost the tribute of precious stones. Such a fierce general ended up being exiled and killed by Gao Qiu!"

"And what about you, General? This defeat is not your fault, but Gao Qiu, in order to protect his own interests, has shifted all the blame onto you!"

Liu Hong used language that these feudal natives could understand and accept to explain the state of the world today. He opened his arms and questioned Huyan Zhuo.

"Looks familiar? This scene is happening right now throughout the Song Dynasty, right at this very moment! General, you are the next loyal official to be killed by Gao Qiu! Another wronged soul under the Kaifeng Prefecture! Unless you can make the most important decision of your life."

Liu Hong said with a serious expression, "Among all the truths, there was one lie mixed in."

"That is to prove your strength and courage, lead your troops, and join Liangshan Marsh! Become my commander, and together we will march on Tokyo! Kill Gao Qiu! Cleanse the court of corrupt officials! Let the Song Dynasty, which has been deceived by Gao Qiu, see the light of day again! Let the four words 'Acting on behalf of Heaven' benefit the entire Song Dynasty! If you can accomplish this, General, your merit and glory will even surpass that of your ancestor Huyan Zan! You will become a hero, a living legend, and your name will be etched in history!"

Liu Hong suddenly took a step forward, his gaze fixed intently on Huyan Zhuo's dazed eyes, his voice rising abruptly, carrying an undeniable penetrating force:

"Come on! Become a member of Liangshan Marsh!"

A deathly silence fell over the tent. Huyan Zhuo abruptly raised her head, tears streaming down her face, mingling with the blood and gore, carving deep furrows into her once-handsome face, twisted by despair and hatred. A dying, bestial wail escaped her throat. All that had sustained her pride crumbled before the cruel truth of Liu Hong's betrayal and the alluring prospect of his future, shattering into a wrecked mess.

She slowly and tremblingly reached out her hand, but instead of grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, she gripped Liu Hong's hand tightly—the touch of his large, burning hand scorched her palm, yet it was also like the only light to penetrate the darkness.

A suppressed roar finally escaped from her trembling throat, a mixture of boundless pain, overwhelming hatred, and a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve:

"Gao... Qiu... that old traitor... is my mortal enemy! This humble general is willing to follow the Great Sage to Tokyo! To purge the emperor's treacherous officials!!!"

Chapter 294: The Woman's Desire Leads to a Life of Passion and Debauchery