Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 262 The Su and Li sects are inseparable; their fortunes are intertwined, and their losses are shared!
Another 1,200 horses, good horses, but far from enough. The strong horses head south, to Liangxiang, Zhuozhou...

The cavalry needs to be expanded; the immediate goal is 6,000 cavalry, requiring at least 18,000 horses, and at least 6,000 to 8,000 dedicated auxiliary troops.

Su Wu traveled slowly on the road, even sending his troops ahead to return early, while he himself proceeded leisurely. He was not slow at first, but after passing Xiongzhou and entering Hebei, he slowed down, and when he entered Jingdong, he slowed down even more.

There's no other reason than the trepidation of returning home. What trepidation? The entire Dongping Prefecture is draped in mourning white; he must go and see it all, yet he's afraid to go…

The saying "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers" sounds trivial, while the saying "A true man should stand tall and charge into battle" sounds exhilarating!

It's not impossible to be hard-hearted!
But if one's heart is as hard as iron, how can one expect to die alongside comrades?

If one is not as hard-hearted as iron, and cannot be a good general or a good commander, how can one become a good general or a good leader?
Things in this world are always so contradictory.

Perhaps this contradiction is not a bad thing; it is simply an inevitable part of the road to success.

When Su Wu arrived in Qizhou and met Zhang Shuye, Zhang said he wanted to hold a grand banquet. Su Wu did not agree, saying that it would be enough for the two of them to have a small drink and there was no need to make a big fuss.

Uncle Zhang nodded. There were six or seven dishes and a jar of good wine. The two sat facing each other, slowly eating and drinking.

Zhang Shuye asked, "Scholar, is my son brave?"

Why ask?

Zhang Zhongxiong, the second son, died in battle!
Su Wu nodded: "Brave!"

In that battle, people charged and fought, their lives were as worthless as grass; falling from their horses meant certain death...

"Drink some wine!" Zhang Shuye downed a mouthful of wine and continued, "Bo Fen passed by on his way back from the campaign. I told him that we should find some time to come back and get married, but he said he would first return to Dongping to join the army and then come back to ask for instructions..."

Su Wu nodded: "Yes, I will write a letter to Dongping Prefecture and have Bo Fen ride to Qizhou immediately."

"Alright!" Zhang Shuye didn't say anything more, and just raised his cup again.

"Have you found them yet?" Su Wu asked.

"I entrusted Yi'an Jushi to help me search, and Yi'an Jushi guaranteed that he would reply in three to five days," Zhang Shuye nodded in reply.

“Master Yi’an…” Su Wu nodded, then said, “The sooner the better, try to get married in about ten days, and then stay at home for a month…”

"There's still time! There's still time!" Zhang Shuye said, though he was actually very anxious.

But Zhang Shuye simply wouldn't tell his eldest son to come home.

Su Wu wouldn't say such a thing. What kind of person was Zhang Shuye? To say such a thing would be an insult to him.

Su Wu simply raised his cup and said, "A toast to Minister Zhang!"

"You're very polite!" Uncle Zhang raised his cup respectfully.
Su Wu then said, "Sir, you are an elder, why be so formal?"

"With you on the bamboo and silk scrolls, we are worthy of our ancestors and our descendants. Please!" Zhang Shuye drank it all in one gulp.

"You should also be included in the bamboo and silk records, as should Brother Bofen and Zhongxiong!" Su Wu said slowly, and then drank a cup.

"We are incompetent, and the fate of our nation and its people is sealed with death!" Zhang Shuye's words were perhaps spoken on behalf of his son.

"As long as you don't blame me..." Su Wu's words were surely tinged with fear. As Zhang Shuye spoke, his red-rimmed eyes were truly unbearable to look at.

Su Wu went to pour wine for Zhang Shuye.

"Didn't the scholar also lead the charge? Whose fault is it? Don't blame the scholar!" Zhang Shuye tried to snatch the wine pot from Su Wu's hand.

Su Wu exerted great strength, and Zhang Shuye could not possibly snatch it away. The wine cup was filled, and Su Wu raised it again: "Please, my lord!"

It was still early, just as dusk was falling, and the banquet was already over. Uncle Zhang was drunk, and he got drunk too quickly!

Stepping out of the government office, a gentle breeze stirred. Slightly tipsy, Su Wu mounted his horse...

"Scholar Su!" someone shouted.

Su Wu turned his head, smiled slightly, dismounted, and bowed, saying, "Brother Zidao..."

Li Hang, Li Zidao.

"Hurry, hurry, my dishes are getting cold!" Li Hang stepped forward and pulled them back repeatedly.

Su Wu couldn't refuse, so he nodded and said, "Alright, alright, I'll get on the horse, you get on the carriage..."

"Why get on any vehicle? I came from Malaysia..." Li Hang's face was filled with excitement and pride.

horse?
Su Wu looked around, but where were the horses?

Just look at Li Hang heading not far away, oh, donkey!
Indeed, where in Qizhou could one find any extra horses? Any horse that could be ridden was used by the cavalry, and those that were not so easy to ride were used to pull military carriages.

However, in terms of basic skills, there is not much difference between riding a horse and riding a donkey.

Li Hang then chuckled, "Scholar Su, what do you think of my precious steed?"

"Not bad! Let's go!" Su Wu flicked the reins, and his black steed, Ta Xue Wu Zhui, began to move slowly.

One was high-pitched, the other low-pitched. Li Hang looked up and asked, "Scholar Su, would you like to hear a song?"

Su Wu understood immediately and nodded: "Please!"

"The sky meets the clouds and waves, connecting with the morning mist; the Milky Way seems to turn as a thousand sails dance. It's as if my soul has returned to the Emperor's abode, where I hear the voice of Heaven, earnestly asking me where I am going... The roc soars ninety thousand miles on the wind; may the wind not cease, but blow my humble boat to the three sacred mountains!"

"Excellent words, with a grand and sweeping spirit! Truly a heroine, not inferior to men!" Su Wu praised quickly, knowing with his knees that it was Li Yi'an's work.

"Haha... Scholar, you've praised me so highly, my elder sister must be overjoyed! There's a high chance that my elder sister wrote this poem just to hear your praise!" Li Hang laughed heartily.

Su Wu laughed as well: "What I said before was just a joke, why should Yi'an Jushi take it so seriously..."

"Ah... the scholar made a joke, and my elder sister was so angry that she couldn't eat. She took it so seriously. It's also my elder sister's heart that's filled with sorrow. Amidst the vast clouds and starry sky, she only asks the celestial beings, where is her home... My elder sister also wants to be like a man, full of heroic spirit, but despite her words, she is ultimately a sorrowful person..."

Li Hang sighed deeply. Ever since then, no matter what his elder sister's expression or words were, her heart was always filled with sorrow.

This soaring ambition, like a roc taking flight across ninety thousand miles, was never Li Qingzhao's true intention.

After speaking, she looked up at Scholar Su again, who also sighed softly: "Yi'an, Yi'an, yet so difficult to find peace..."

“That’s just his nature. He’s always been sentimental, and also prone to overthinking and drinking. What can be done?” Li Hang replied, glancing at Scholar Su, perhaps hoping for something…

Scholar Su nodded: "Let's go and see if we can offer any advice."

Li Hang then smiled and said, "Once the scholar goes there, he will surely be able to resolve the issue!"

"What do you mean?" Su Wu asked.

Li Hang smiled but didn't answer. He just whipped the donkey's back twice, and sure enough, the donkey could run very fast.

"Chirp!" Su Wu spurred his horse, and the horse sped off.

There were about ten riders behind them...

Baotu Spring is not large, but it is a wonder. It gurgles incessantly, yet the water is exceptionally clear. The surrounding corridors, pavilions, flowers, plants, and strange rocks, when shrouded in the mist of twilight, truly have a touch of celestial beauty.

Many lanterns were lit on both sides, and Li Qingzhao was already sitting in the pavilion waiting. On the opposite side of the pavilion, singers, dancers and musicians were already in place.

Upon entering the pavilion, we gave a slight bow, exchanged only a few words of pleasantries, and then took our seats.

The servants and maids attending to them immediately got busy.

Li Hang laughed and said, "It's not cold yet, haha..."

Actually, it's close; Baotu Spring is very close to the government office.

Li Qingzhao raised her cup first: "The great scholar Su Shi has a poem, with heroic bearing and a feather fan and silk turban, talking about the elegant figures of the past. I only think about the future, but I wonder how future generations will remember the scholar!"

Su Wu was taken aback. What had gotten into Sister Li today? Had she suddenly changed her tune? As if her lips were coated with honey?
Su Wu quickly cupped his hands in humility, saying, "Laywoman Yi'an has overstated my abilities; how could I dare to compare myself to Zhou Yu!"

"Such a heroic and bloody victory, even surpassing Zhou Yu, is no less than anyone else!" Sister Li said again, her face truly serious, not at all like a joke.

Su Wu was stunned; this was the first time he had received such treatment.

But then Li Hang said, "Scholar, you don't know, the armies returning south are coming in column after column. My elder sister has seen them one after another, and sent people to inquire about each one, asking about the details of the battles. She wants to know every single thing, big or small, and she also asks you when you will return..."

Su Wu was somewhat surprised, then looked at Sister Li. Sister Li was not a shy young lady, and simply nodded: "You are a true man!"

Does Sister Li still like this kind of thing? Does she like the idea of ​​"living as a hero and dying as a ghost"?
"Most of the time it was out of necessity..." Su Wuzhen said this, not as modesty, but as the truth. If it wasn't out of necessity, why would he want to be the first to fight every time he was truly facing death?

Why was it out of necessity?

It was this wretched Song Dynasty that forced him into this predicament. If it were the prosperous Han or Tang Dynasty, leading troops to destroy a country and quell a rebellion, why would a commander-in-chief need to lead from the front like this? The soldiers, of course, charged forward with shouts of excitement.

At this very moment, not in the army, and facing a woman, Su Wu no longer feigned his toughness; he softened considerably and was able to speak his true feelings…

I wonder, I wonder when the day will truly come when I won't need to personally lead the charge anymore...

It wasn't that Su Wu didn't trust his subordinates; it was that he often felt uneasy. If he lost, all his previous efforts would be in vain, and if all his previous efforts were in vain, what difference would it make from death?
When will we be able to tolerate a defeat, one defeat that doesn't mean all our previous efforts are wasted? Perhaps then Su Wu will be able to stop insisting on leading from the front...

Sister Li nodded slightly: "Please have a drink!"

Su Wu nodded, raised his cup, and followed, with Li Hang accompanying him. Li Hang called out to the distance, "Come on, sing the lyrics!"

The song is about the soaring roc across ninety thousand miles of wind.

Su Wu finished his drink, then turned to the side and listened attentively.

Now that the second round of drinks has arrived, and I'm slightly tipsy, my thoughts are racing. If there really are celestial emperors and immortals, wouldn't I also like to ask them where I should go?

Was Su Wu confused? No, he was not confused, but he was burdened with many things on his mind, and the pressure on his shoulders was immense... He also thought about Zhang Shuye just now, and he also thought about how many people in Dongping were dressed in mourning... After the song ended, Su Wu remained lost in thought for a long time.

Li Qingzhao broke the silence: "Scholar, are you returning tomorrow?"

Su Wu turned around and said, "I will return tomorrow!"

Li Qingzhao nodded, and the scene quieted down again.

Li Hang immediately laughed heartily: "Let's drink! Let's drink!"

The three of them drank together, and Li Hang instructed, "Let's dance! Let's have some cheerful music, and beat the drums!"

Indeed, the atmosphere was different. Su Wu smiled and said, "I was thinking about other things just now. Please don't take offense, Yi'an Jushi!"

Li Qingzhao nodded: "No, no... I also saw those cartloads of coffins heading south..."

Su Wu was also somewhat surprised that Li Qingzhao knew what was on his mind...

Li Qingzhao further stated: "Eight thousand men returned alone, which is why Xiang Yu did not cross the Yangtze River to the east..."

"Yes, now I have more than eight thousand followers under my command, tens of thousands. This is just the first time, but in the future, it will be time and time again..."

Su Wu truly began to open his heart, perhaps because of the wine, or perhaps because of Li Qingzhao.

Once he opened his heart, Su Wu couldn't hold back his words and continued, "If one day I really have to return alone, I wonder if I'll be able to cross the Yangtze River to the east..."

People always need an outlet to express themselves, but these are words that, for no reason, cannot be spoken in front of anyone.

Li Qingzhao replied: "If we return, who knows if we will rise again! If we do not return, we will be heroes for all time! Scholars, study more, and who knows if you will be chosen to rise again..."

"Is that so?" Su Wu smiled and looked over.

Li Qingzhao nodded earnestly: "As long as the elders of your hometown don't blame you or take it personally, then it's possible that you could make a comeback. Haven't you heard that after the Battle of Changping, Zhao had no men left, and even children and women could take up knives and climb onto the city walls! Qin, standing below the city, could only watch helplessly?"

Li Hang chimed in, "Yes, sister is right. The people of your hometown won't blame you. As long as they still care about you and as long as the two routes of Jingdong still recognize you, even if you suffer a crushing defeat in the future, just come back and you can make a comeback!"

"Is it really true?" Su Wu asked, which meant he had genuine doubts, or rather, he wasn't that confident. Even Xiang Yu wasn't that confident, let alone Su Wu.

Li Hang immediately replied, "Truly! Even if I were to squander all my wealth, I would still help the scholar make a comeback!"

These words inexplicably brought tears to Su Wu's eyes, but he did not shed any.
He raised his cup and said, "Master Yi'an, Brother Zidao, please!"

Su Wu drank it all in one gulp, seemingly feeling much more at ease. It was just like what the siblings had said: it's not that they might make a comeback, but rather that the people of their hometown wouldn't blame him!

This statement truly has the power to soothe the soul.

Just like Zhang Shuye, he never blamed Su Wu. Even though one son died, another son took over the battle!
Drink again!

Who knows if another drinking session will lead to a comeback? Now, we have a base, territory that truly belongs to us, and the hearts and minds of our people and army.

So what if we lose?

Even if you lose, you can come back and fight again!
Su Wu had always thought that he could only rely on himself in the Song Dynasty, in the late Northern Song Dynasty. At this moment, Su Wu suddenly felt that he had countless supporters behind him, whether it was the people's hearts, the army's morale, or the hearts of the literati!
A force rising from below was continuously rising from Su Wu's heels, supporting him!
Enriching the people, strengthening the military, and building a strong nation were not just Su Wu's ideals, but the ideals shared by many people in this era!
Some people are doing it, some want to do it, and some don't know how to do it!
What Su Wu brought was to enable those who were doing it to do it better, to encourage those who wanted to do it to actually do it, and to let those who didn't know how to do it simply follow his lead.

“Scholar…” Li Hang uttered softly.

"Hmm!" Su Wu came back to his senses.

"Haha... Scholar, please come again!" Li Hang raised his cup.

"Respect to Brother Zidao, respect to Layman Yi'an!" Su Wu paid his respects twice and drank the wine in one gulp.

After drinking, I slowly stood up and saw the Baotu Spring gushing forth ceaselessly, just as it has a thousand years later.

Li Yi'an also got up and stood with Su Wu by the railing.

Su Wu said, "Just watch, I will sweep this world away and restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties. I will fight to the death!"

Li Qingzhao stood to the side, glancing at Su Wu. She noticed his sharp features, his thick neck, and even the prominent Adam's apple.

He's lost a lot of weight...

Li Yi'an asked, "Are we going to fight the Tanguts again?"

Su Wu nodded: "Fight the Dangxiang, open up the Hexi Corridor, go to the Western Regions, and that's the Han and Tang dynasties!"

"Tomorrow!" A loud voice suddenly rang out. It was Li Hang. He stood up and strode over, his voice ringing out again: "Tomorrow I will send two hundred thousand strings of cash to Dongping Prefecture to fund the army. This is the Li family's private property. Just watch and see, let the scholar repeat the Han and Tang dynasties!"

Su Wu was also filled with excitement. In the past, when he said this, he mostly just said it in words, but he didn't feel much excitement in his heart.

Today, I felt a surge of excitement for no reason, but Su Wu said, "You don't need to send these 200,000 strings of cash to Dongping Prefecture. I had something to do after I came back like this, and you, Brother Zidao, should take the lead in doing it!"

"But please give your orders. If the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties is truly restored, even though I have not studied hard enough and have never achieved official rank, I, as a man, should still be willing to die for it!" Li Hang seemed to rise with excitement.

In the original story, there was no Li Hang. He should have ended up with his family fortune gone, living a precarious life, just a minor official in Lin'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, earning a meager living to support his family, including his widowed sister, and dealing with all sorts of frustrating matters, desperately seeking help to get his sister out of prison...

But in Su Wu's story, he suddenly appears.

Su Wu said, “I want to build a new government office, though it can’t really be called a government office. I just don’t know what word to use to describe it, so I’ve named it ‘Fund,’ which means ‘basic money.’ Your 200,000 strings of cash will go into this fund, and I will put in 2 million strings. You can also win over the prominent families in Jingdong to invest in the fund together!”

Li Hang asked in confusion, "Scholar, what exactly does this...fund do?"

Su Wu slowly explained, “I do everything, including business. We mine; there are many minerals in Jingdong, and mining has already begun in Qingzhou, but I don’t have time to manage it. I also have businesses in Hangzhou and other places in Jiangnan, but the management staff is stretched thin. Furthermore, we build bridges and roads, forge ironware, trade grain and cloth, and build river and sea ships. In the future, all of these will be included in this fund. I will contribute all the mines that have already been opened, as well as the businesses and trades I still have, as equity into this fund. Brother Zidao, how about you take the lead in managing it?”

Li Hang understood, but asked, "Apart from building bridges and paving roads, everything else is a profitable business."

"No, building bridges and paving roads should also be a profitable business. We should build wide and straight roads, maintain them regularly, and make them smooth and accessible everywhere. In this way, we can collect tolls from caravans and horses! Even if we don't make a profit, we shouldn't lose too much."

Su Wu was about to officially begin managing his base, and he planned to greatly develop commerce, trade, metallurgy, and mining.

With these, Su Wu still had many plans, including those involving firearms and cannons, which needed to be put on the agenda. In the past, there simply wasn't enough time, but in the last year or two, everything had moved too fast. Su Wu was either here or there, with battles raging one after another.

Even more so, they schemed and plotted in the capital just to have a bit of power in their hands.

Now things are finally stable. People's hearts are at peace, the army's morale is high, and the territory is secure. It's time to truly start a major undertaking.

Li Hang understood and then asked, "So, how much money is actually in this fund?"

Su Wu estimated for a moment: "I can offer around ten million strings of cash at a discounted price!"

“This…” Li Hang was shocked.

Su Wu immediately said, "The main reason is that I bought many properties in various cities in Jiangnan at low prices after the war. Now those cities are slowly recovering their former prosperity, and those properties are naturally rising in value. The mines in Qingzhou are also worth a lot of money, as are my fleet and a lucrative business. If that business is really expanded, it will be a big business. There is also a large ironworks outside Dongping Prefecture that is not enough and should be expanded. The mines in Jingdong should also be continuously developed and sold throughout the day..."

JD.com has a large population, with nearly ten million people in two regions alone. Su Wu also has a lot to do, so why create such a fund?
There are several reasons, and each one is important.

First, it facilitates management, ensures that efforts are focused on a common goal, allows Su Wu to make strategic adjustments and instructions from a high vantage point, and facilitates the operation of large capital.

Secondly, we need to use something to completely bind all the elites of JD.com together, using interests to bind them. Loyalty or people's hearts are effective among ordinary people, as the saying goes, "the most righteous are often the lowest of the low." But in these wealthy and powerful families, loyalty and people's hearts are not so effective or reliable. Only interests are truly effective and reliable.

By binding everyone's interests together and putting them into this fund, if Su Wu collapses, the fund will immediately be fought over by various powers, and everyone will lose everything. Therefore, Su Wu cannot collapse.

Third, there's the issue of personnel. Su Wu naturally has a large share in the fund, but if he were to handle it all himself, he wouldn't have the energy or the manpower, especially since the staff would need to be professionals. Whether it's managing the funds or accounting, where would Su Wu find the time to slowly build such a talent team?
Managing such a large organization requires unimaginable effort and energy. Su Wu didn't have that much time or space, so the only option was to unite all forces that could be united.

Just like Meng Yulou in the past, the manpower under these wealthy and powerful families is readily available. As long as this fund is successfully launched and these people invest, the manpower will be delivered to them on their own initiative without Su Wu having to ask for it.

Fourth, it was also to expand capital. It would be quite a lot of pressure for Su Wu to invest alone. By bringing everyone else to invest, the pressure would be much less. This is how large capital was initially formed.

Fifth, he also needs to rely on these people's connections, networks, and channels to sell his goods. Many hands make light work; if Su Wu relied solely on himself, opening up many channels would require a great deal of effort...

Su Wu wasn't worried about people not coming; as long as it was profitable, everyone would come, even if they were a little slow, as long as they were willing to come. Of course, this also relied on the influence of the Li and Zhao families in Jingdong. As long as Li and Zhao provided the money and made the offer, the wealthy and powerful families of Jingdong would inevitably contribute, it was just a matter of how much.

If I actually make money in the future, then I won't have to worry.

Therefore, this matter absolutely requires Li Hang's assistance.

With this move, Su Wu could control all the wealthy and powerful families in Jingdong in the future, and he would only need to discuss any matters with Li Hang...

But then Li Hang asked, "In that case, the scholar is already making money from many of his businesses, yet he's letting others invest in them. Isn't that...?"

Su Wu waved his hand: "It's alright. The purpose of establishing the fund is to make more money and to enable the people to engage in more productive activities, so that there will be fewer people who are starving. Currently, many of my industries are making money from this, but as more and more minerals are extracted, and the fleet grows larger and larger, everyone will benefit!"

Another point is the importance of uniting forces. This may be more important than making money. Making money is just a means, while uniting forces is the ultimate goal.

Li Hang nodded: "I never expected that the scholar would be so righteous!"

Su Wu waved his hand: "I also think of the young men of Jiangdong. Now, aren't they also the elders of Jingdong? With everyone working together, things will surely flourish! This is a blessing for Jingdong!"

“Alright, I will do this. I will do my best. You said two hundred thousand strings of cash before, but two hundred thousand strings of cash is not enough to show how excited I am right now. I will sell some land to raise five hundred thousand strings of cash!”

Li Hangzhi's excitement needs no further explanation. Perhaps he wasn't thinking about the future, but rather about such a momentous event: Scholar Su had entrusted him with a fortune of ten million strings of cash. This trust, coupled with his ambition to revive the Han and Tang dynasties, made him incredibly excited.
Li Qingzhao was also there, listening attentively, her gaze becoming increasingly fixed on the scene...

I also want to ask, why would this person in front of me trust Li so much?

Su Wu said solemnly, "Brother Zidao, I entrust everything to you!"

Li Hang bowed deeply and said, "A scholar will die for one who understands him! From this day forward, the Su and Li families will be one, sharing both glory and ruin!"

"We'll live and die together!" Su Wu returned the greeting, standing up straight and bowing deeply.

Li Hang turned around and shouted, "Bring the wine over!"

The servants and maids quickly prepared the meal. The scholars didn't bother with the formalities of bowing and kowtowing; they simply drank a cup and exchanged countless words.

(Happy Labor Day, guys!)
(End of this chapter)