Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 38: Casting stones to ask for directions
In the small parade ground in Yanggu County, drums had already been sounded several times, and only about 200 people had gathered there.

Apart from the hundred or so people on duty, Yanggu County has no more than three hundred soldiers at most.

Logically speaking, Yun Liwan should have 500 soldiers under his command, and this number must be on the roster. It seems that Yun Liwan has many ways to make money.

Just look at these 200 people, all of them are in rags, many are old and weak, and their spirits are not even good. They can't even form a strict team...

Yun Liwan seemed to be used to it, and didn't say much. He just asked everyone to go out of the city to look for Su Wu and Ximen Qing, and told the public that a few people were missing from the camp...

He went to the county government office to see the magistrate.

After the county magistrate had spoken to him, he just didn't understand or know what was going on.

Yun Liwan ordered his subordinates to search carefully, and regardless of his tiredness, he rode towards Dongping Prefecture under the cover of night.

It was really a desperate situation. Faced with life and death, I had no choice but to struggle more.

I have to take the risk. When I meet Dong Ping again, I will tell him everything. I can no longer hide the affairs of Liangshan and Liu Tang.

I know that at this time, I must ask Shangguan to save my life.

Just wait for the sun to rise again.

Su Wu has already appeared outside the city of Daming Prefecture. This city of Daming Prefecture is really not comparable to Dongping Prefecture.

Looking left and right, the city wall stretches so long that you can't see the end of it. The wall is probably more than 50 feet high. It is hard to imagine how difficult it would be to attack a city like this.

Entering the city, the city is so vast, the population is so large, and the streets are so prosperous, it is on a completely different level.

This place is indeed Beijing, with the restaurant signs, the colorful doors of the buildings, the passing carriages, and even... those brothels and theaters...

It’s a pity that I came back this time because of urgent matters, otherwise I would really like to see the world here.

I also think of Yan Qing, the famous playboy in this city, who is handsome, proficient in playing all kinds of musical instruments and singing, and is always happy in the brothels and taverns...

But I also wondered what the scene was like in the city of Tokyo Bianliang where the emperor lived. It sounded a bit familiar, after all, there was the famous painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" that gave me a glimpse of it.

The Daming government office was even more magnificent. The Liang Zhongshu, from whom the birthday gift of 100,000 yuan was robbed, was not a fifth-rank official. Zhongshu was the title of his official title, and Zhongshu Sheren was a fourth-rank position.

As he was already an important official in the imperial court, he was able to participate in government affairs and was also responsible for the emperor's edicts.

Liang Zhongshu, whose real name is Liang Shijie, will work in Daming Prefecture for a period of time and then return to the capital without any accidents. With his father-in-law Cai Jing behind him, he will surely rise rapidly.

Su Wu came with a group of people, including seven people tied up, and about a dozen hunters escorting them. There were also two yamen runners, Su Wu and Wu Song, in front of them, which was actually a weird look.

He just handed Cheng Wanli's letter to the yamen runner and waited for more than a quarter of an hour. Then someone came to lead the way into the yamen. The rest of the people were waiting in the outer courtyard. Su Wu followed the guide and went in.

He waited for a while until he reached a side room in the main hall before he saw Liang Zhongshu slowly walk in.

This man was also about forty years old, with a white face and a slightly plump figure. He looked good to sell. As soon as Su Wu bowed, he said, "Did you really capture the thief who robbed the birthday gift?"

"Reporting to the Minister of the Secretariat, the prisoner has been brought to the front courtyard." Su Wu didn't know this man's character at this time, so he was a very well-behaved person.

"Well... Magistrate Cheng said in the letter that some soldiers in Dongping Prefecture were secretly colluding with the bandits?" Liang Zhongshu asked again.

Su Wu had a stack of confession files in his hand, so he just walked forward and said, "Mr. Zhongshu, please have a look."

Liang Zhongshu picked it up and began to look through it.

Su Wu actually observed this man seriously, and slowly formed a basic impression. This man must be from a scholarly family, living a life of luxury since childhood, and then passed the imperial examination and married the daughter of Prime Minister Cai Jing. He must have a prosperous career...

People like this are actually difficult to deal with.

But there are solutions. Su Wu said, "The gang of robbers who robbed the birthday gift escaped capture time and again. Even the army went to catch them but ended up in a miserable way. If there were no one in the government who was secretly connected with them, it would be impossible for them to do such a thing. Even ordinary people would not have such courage." Liang Zhongshu frowned when he heard this, and came to see Su Wu and asked, "Your opinion is new."

Su Wu continued to deceive: "The few thieves arrested this time are proof of this. That's why Governor Cheng realized that there were such daring thieves in the Dongping army. He had to be on guard, so he sent me here from afar."

Liang Zhongshu looked at the case file again, and slowly his face became angry. When he had finished reading it, he turned to look at Su Wu and said, "Prefect Cheng asked you to borrow troops. The imperial court's troops must obtain the order of the Privy Council when they pass through the prefecture..."

Su Wu answered: "Now the situation is urgent. A rebellion is right before our eyes. If you can predict the enemy's moves and act according to your will, and kill them on the spot, with Tong Shumi and Cai Taishi in the court, this will be a great achievement!"

Liang Zhongshu smiled slightly when he heard this: "You are just a small captain, but you really know a little about the affairs of the court? Did Prefect Cheng teach you to say that?"

Su Wu did not answer the question, but continued: "Sir, now that the bandits have occupied the 800-li Liangshan Marsh, they are difficult to wipe out due to the geographical advantage. If we want to wipe them out completely, we must first eliminate their wings outside, and then use the siege to weaken the enemy. Only then will it be effective."

Su Wu just described Dong Ping and his ilk as Liangshan's wings outside. Now it seems that there is nothing wrong with this statement.

Liang Zhongshu's eyebrows widened when he heard this, and then he looked at Su Wu and said, "It seems that it was not Prefect Cheng who taught you this. You really have some strategies in your mind. This prefecture is also worried about this matter. You came at the right time. Unfortunately, you are of low status, and it seems that your strategies are useless."

There was obviously other meaning in Liang Zhongshu's words.

Su Wu immediately said, "Since Minister Cheng has recommended me, I will do my best to arrest this gang of thieves and bring them before Minister Zhongshu."

Liang Zhongshu laughed when he heard this: "You are really smart. You understand the words of this government to recruit you, but you are loyal. Your character is not bad, and you know how not to offend this government. No wonder Governor Cheng thinks so highly of you. It seems that you can really do it."

Su Wu also smiled and said: "Mr. Zhongshu is the one who understands the human heart and has profound attainments."

"Haha... I've tested you a few times, and you're flawless. Now let me ask you, how many soldiers do you want to borrow?" Liang Zhongshu had already stood up from behind the desk.

"More than a thousand soldiers and horses will be enough, but General Suo, the military commander of Daming Prefecture, must go in person." Su Wu replied.

"Hmm? You have found out all this. Among my subordinates, Suo Chao is truly the best. You also have a serious demeanor. It seems that this matter is really going to be accomplished. I will write you a letter and seal it, and you can go find Suo Chao yourself."

Liang Zhongshu started writing, but he also said, "Remember your words. Bring those thieves to my presence tomorrow!"

"I'll keep it in mind! I won't break my promise." Su Wu bowed.

Obviously, Liang Zhongshu's hatred for that group of thieves could not be increased any more! Su Wu's move was just right to please him.

As for when tomorrow will be? We will talk about it later. Anyway, there will be a day.

Su Wu has now figured out many things. Bandits like those in Liangshan cannot gain power in the Song Dynasty. Even without Song Jiang who wants to recruit them all the time, Liangshan cannot succeed.

There are two reasons. First, the Song Dynasty was the dynasty in which the literati and the imperial power were most closely bound together. The interests of the aristocratic families from all over the world were too consistent with those of the imperial power. Even if there were any conflicts, they were internal conflicts among this group of people. To the outside world, they must have been a community of common interests.

Therefore, it is extremely difficult for the grassroots to truly rise.

Second, besides the Song Dynasty, there are other powerful enemies. The Liao Dynasty is only one of them, and not the main one. In the near future, the Wanyan Jurchen Jin Dynasty will sweep in.

If you really destroy your country and cannot focus on the outside world, it will be even more difficult.

Therefore, before Su Wu came to Daming Prefecture, he had thought about a lot of things. He wanted to make use of the power of the aristocratic class and the imperial power of the Song Dynasty, and at the same time establish his own power. Only in this way could Su Wu advance step by step in this chaotic world.

This path is clear.

Therefore, Cheng Wanli's place is the first stone, and this trip to Daming Prefecture is the second stone.

Throw a stone to test the water and see if the road is easy to walk on.

There is one good thing about the Song Dynasty, which is that you don't have to kneel down to everyone you meet.

(Brothers, I have advanced six more places and am now 23rd in the overall rankings. I have some bold aspirations in my heart. Please help me, brothers! Thank you very much!)
(End of this chapter)