Chapter 123: A Plebeian Insulted You, So What?

"Leopard Head" Lin Chong thrust his serpent spear with fury, piercing the commander of the Jinan Prefecture expeditionary force, He Taiping, to death. "Cloud-Soaring Vajra" Song Wan rushed up, severed the head, and hoisted it high upon a bamboo pole to display to the imperial troops.

Yang Ye, possessing the gift of clairvoyance, witnessed Lin Chong slaying the general and immediately issued an order to his soldiers to shout in unison: "Those who surrender shall be spared! The heroes of Liangshan treat their captives with mercy!"

As the waves of shouts rose and fell, this chaotic melee—where a ragtag force had dared to challenge the elite imperial army—finally drew to a close. The Battle of Shagou Ridge saw over three thousand imperial soldiers slain and more than eight thousand captured, while their own losses were fewer than one thousand—a truly glorious victory.

"Knife-Wielding Ghost" Cao Zheng walked with a limp from behind Huyan Zhuo. He gazed at the martial arts instructor Lin, who was still darting about pursuing fleeing soldiers, his serpent spear dancing with elusive, ghostly precision, and his heart was filled with confusion.

Hadn't Brother Lin Chong been suffering from the "armor-shedding wind" ailment? Cao Zheng remembered clearly that when they arrived, the doctor had diagnosed him with a condition requiring at least half a year of rest before he could return to the battlefield. Today, that half-year mark was still far off.

As it turned out, after Yang Ye and his fifteen heroes took Caozhou by night and captured Gao Shide, he had sent a capable soldier to sneak into Puzhou under the cover of darkness. This soldier met with Lin Chong and Hu Sanniang, relayed the good news, and urged them to bolster their defenses and hold firm until He Taiping retreated.

Upon hearing that Yang Ye had captured Young Master Gao, Lin Chong felt his blood boil. He yearned to sprout wings and fly to Caozhou to avenge his deep, heaven-reaching grudge. Perhaps protected by the spirit of Lady Lin, Lin Chong broke into a heavy sweat that very night, and the "armor-shedding wind" vanished as if cured instantly.

Overjoyed, Lin Chong immediately gathered his commanders to counterattack He Taiping. However, when they charged out of the city, they found that He Taiping’s main force had already decamped overnight, marching in a grand sweep toward Caozhou to rescue the young master. Only Li Zongtang’s three-thousand-strong rear guard remained outside Puzhou. Unable to find He Taiping, Lin Chong took his frustration out on these remaining troops, leading "One-Arrow" Hu Sanniang, Du Qian, Song Wan, and others in a fierce assault.

Though Li Zongtang was skilled and powerful, his intellect was that of a common plowman; he understood nothing of military command, relying only on brute force. His troops could not withstand Lin Chong’s charge and were routed in a single battle. Li Zongtang could only flee for his life with a few dozen men.

Lin Chong did not stop after annihilating the rear guard. He led a company of light cavalry to trail He Taiping, pursuing him all the way from Puzhou to Shagou Ridge. There, at the final, critical moment, he seized the opportunity to deliver the most lethal blow to the imperial forces.

Yang Ye finally met Lin Chong, one of the Water Margin heroes he had admired most on Earth. The two were kindred spirits, and they hit it off immediately, as if they were fated to be the closest of friends.

Once the heroes finished clearing the battlefield, they cheered and returned to Caozhou City in triumph. Upon arrival, Yang Ye summoned Wu Song and Mi? to invite Lin Chong and Huyan Zhuo for a council. The five of them gathered in the inner hall of the prefect's residence.

As soon as Lin Chong entered, Yang Ye greeted him with a smile: "Brother Instructor, I have a generous gift for you today." With that, he clapped his hands, and soldiers brought in Gao Shide, bound hand and foot.

Seeing the man who was his lifelong enemy, Lin Chong’s tiger eyes widened; he wished he could tear the wretch to pieces. When Gao Shide looked up and saw that face—a leopard-like visage contorted with rage—he was so terrified that he fainted on the spot.

Yang Ye smiled and said, "This thief was fortunate to be captured by me. Please, brother, deal with him as you see fit—only, do not let him die too easily."

Lin Chong looked up and laughed, his eyes brimming with hot tears, venting the hatred and fury he had harbored for years. He muttered to himself, "My lady, your deep grudge can finally be avenged today." He cupped his hands and bowed to Yang Ye: "Many thanks, brother, for your righteous aid."

Yang Ye bowed back: "Think nothing of it, brother. Take this little dog away, but be careful—do not let others see."

Lin Chong was a veteran of the world and had spent his life in the bureaucracy; he understood Yang Ye’s meaning perfectly. He gave an acknowledgment and let the soldiers carry the unconscious Gao Yanei away. As for how Lin Chong sliced Gao Shide into a thousand pieces to offer as a sacrifice to the soul of his wife, that is a matter for another time.

After Lin Chong departed, Huyan Zhuo asked Yang Ye: "Brother, is it wise to help Instructor Lin take such revenge? Brother Song Gongming’s ambition is to seek amnesty from the imperial court. Gao Shide is, after all, Gao Qiu’s son. If we kill him like this, are you not afraid the court will refuse to accept us?"

Yang Ye laughed: "Gao Qiu is our mortal enemy at Liangshan. He has many foes on the mountain, not just Instructor Lin. Furthermore, Brother Song Gongming has already killed his kinsman, Gao Lian, and they are already locked in a blood feud. Killing his son now is merely adding hatred to hatred; does a dead pig fear the boiling water? Our relationship with Gao Qiu will not substantively change because of this."

"We cannot hope for acceptance from our enemies. If Liangshan is to seek amnesty, we must first eliminate Gao Qiu. If he lives, even if we are granted amnesty, we are bound to meet a miserable end later."

Huyan Zhuo heard the cold undertone in Yang Ye’s words and recalled his methods for dealing with the local tyrants in Caozhou. He could not help but shiver, asking tremulously: "Brother, you do not intend to use this chance of the Grand Marshal attacking Liangshan to assassinate him, do you?"

Yang Ye’s expression turned solemn as he replied in a low voice: "Brother, how could I? The Grand Marshal holds a position of supreme status; he is the head of all military officials in the Song Dynasty. Such a man must not die at our hands in Liangshan. Killing him is different from killing Gao Shide or Gao Lian—that would truly sever any path to amnesty."

Huyan Zhuo asked again: "Then what are your plans, brother?"

Yang Ye smiled mysteriously: "This hermit has his own clever schemes. You shall know in due time, brother."

Once the post-battle affairs were settled, Yang Ye reorganized the civilian militia—raised by the strategy of "killing tyrants and dividing land"—into smaller units and scattered them among the villages of Caozhou. He left "Knife-Wielding Ghost" Cao Zheng in secret to serve as their liaison.

Lin Chong had Du Qian and Song Wan guard Puzhou, while Huyan Zhuo left Han Tao to guard Jiaxiang. Yang Ye also recalled the troops of Ma Jin and Teng Kan, abandoning Nanwang Camp. He gathered the three armies into one force, then, led by Lin Chong and Huyan Zhuo, they set off to return to Liangshan to attack Gao Qiu.

Yang Ye, possessed of high martial skill and the "Drifting Clouds and Distant Smoke" light-foot technique, could travel hundreds of miles a day—as fast as the finest steed. Thus, he sped ahead to report the detailed status of the four locations—Jiaxiang, Puzhou, Nanwang, and Caozhou—to Song Jiang at Liangshan.

Just as he entered the territory of Yuncheng County, he felt his mobile phone—used specifically for contacting Zhao Min—vibrate. As he pulled it out, he heard Guan Jiahui’s urgent voice: "Yang Ye, come quickly and help! We have been ambushed by imperial troops at the foot of Liangshan."

In truth, Yang Ye kept in frequent contact with Zhao Min and the others, and they were always aware of each other’s movements. Ever since Zhao Min had met with Wen Xijun in secret and obtained vital military intelligence from the girl—who felt indebted to Yang Ye for saving her life—they had become entangled in the current struggle.

After the raid on the execution grounds in Tokyo, Wen Huanzhang had been imprisoned by Gao Qiu. Zhao Min and Guan Jiahui had first rescued Wen Xijun, then intercepted the officials on the road to save Wen Huanzhang, who was being exiled to Shamen Island. Afterward, Zhao Min’s group headed east, circling through Hebei back toward Liangshan in Shandong.

On their way, they passed through Mian Mountain in Jiexiu, Hebei, where they encountered bandits under Tian Hu who were pillaging, raping, and looting. The leading bandit, named Wu Li, possessed some considerable strength.

Though Zhao Min was a woman, she possessed the spirit of a hero. She loathed such common bandits and ruffians. Instantly, she unleashed her might, utilizing the Sacred Fire Tablet and the Orchid Finger-Flicking technique to scatter the bandits like leaves in a storm. Guan Jiahui exerted her own prowess, using the "Spring and Autumn" saber technique to cleave Wu Li in two.

After the battle, as they went to liberate the captives, they discovered a martial arts prodigy among them—a beautiful little girl of about eleven or twelve. The moment Zhao Min saw her, she was enchanted; it was a rare, diamond-like talent seen once in a generation.

Those with such talent possessed photographic memories and nimble minds, capable of mastering even the most complex martial