Liver in Water Margin, outlaw madman

The noise at Wangjiacun Wharf gradually subsided.

Zhang Shan scanned the docks to make sure everything was in order, then left a team of capable men to guard the fish market and ferry crossing. He then turned around, led the big guy beside him, and slowly walked toward the Wang family compound.

Zhang Shan turned his head to look at the big guy beside him, a genuine smile on his face, and praised, "Big guy, you did a great job this time, truly outstanding."

He was genuinely surprised, but also truly relieved.

Unexpectedly, the big man was able to lead the team to stabilize the situation, remaining calm and composed in the face of the enemy, and successfully withstood the counterattack of the Wang family's villagers, becoming a key link in breaking the deadlock.

This composure is far more valuable than any skill level.

The tall man in front of us got this nickname because he was the tallest among the brothers, but he was exceptionally thin, with slightly slouching shoulders, looking like someone who had been starving for years.

After being praised by Zhang Shan, the big guy immediately scratched the back of his head, a simple, honest blush spreading across his dark face: "Third Brother, did I embarrass you?"

"Haha, not only did you not embarrass yourself, you really made us proud!" Zhang Shan laughed loudly and patted his arm.

The smile lasted only a moment before Zhang Shan's expression suddenly turned serious, his eyes filled with genuine concern, and his tone became somewhat somber:

"We were lucky this time; the other side was just a rabble. We must never be so reckless next time. We brothers have fought our way up from Tokyo to here, and our friendship of over ten years has not been easy. You have an elderly mother to support, so please be careful."

These were brothers who had been through thick and thin together for over a decade. If even one of them were missing, he would feel a pang of heartache for a long time.

Upon hearing this, the big man's eyes instantly reddened, and his nose tingled slightly. He quickly lowered his head, afraid that Zhang Shan would see his outburst.

He knew in his heart that his third brother truly treated him as a brother and genuinely cherished his life, rather than just using him as a pawn to charge into battle.

"Thank you for your concern, Third Brother." The big man's voice was a little choked up. He paused for a moment before continuing, "I was also anxious at the time. We had escaped from Tokyo and wandered all the way here. We finally managed to settle down in Liangshan and have a place to live. If we couldn't hold on this time, we brothers would really have nowhere to go."

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Shan felt a sudden pang in his heart, and his nose stung with tears. He was speechless for a long time.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Shan looked up at the big man, his tone firm and without the slightest hesitation: "Big man, when we return to Liangshan, you'll also have a seat and manage affairs with the brothers. But from now on, we can't keep calling you 'Big Man.' When you're in the martial world, you need a proper title."

If he doesn't reward or promote his own brothers who have made great contributions, not only will the brothers be dissatisfied, but he himself won't be able to get over it in his own heart.

Upon hearing this, the big man froze on the spot, his eyes wide with disbelief, followed by a surge of ecstasy that left him feeling awkward and unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

He always felt that it was only right for his third brother Zhang Shan and fourth brother Li Si to be leaders, as the two of them were always decisive and responsible, and the brothers were all convinced of their abilities.

But as soon as the three Ruan brothers arrived at the mountain, they were given high positions and chairs. It would be a lie to say that he was not jealous or resentful. He just kept it to himself and dared not show it, assuming that his third brother had his own reasons.

Now that I can sit in a high position, it's something I never dared to dream of.

He scratched his head, a hint of frustration on his face, and muttered, "Third Brother, you can't call me Er Gouzi. That nickname is too crude and doesn't sound respectable."

They were originally from the lowest rungs of society, living hand to mouth since childhood. They were lucky to have even a nickname to survive, let alone a proper name.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shan pondered for a moment. In the martial world, a name was indeed important; it had to be both down-to-earth and consistent with his skills. He slowly said, "A person in the martial world needs a respectable name. You are skilled with a spear, so from now on, you'll be called Wang Wu, Spear Wang Wu. How about that?"

The big guy, Wang Wu, immediately lit up, nodding repeatedly, so excited he could barely speak: "Wang Wu! Great! I'll be called Wang Wu! My eldest brother is called Zhang San, my second brother is called Li Si, and my name is Wang Wu, it all goes well, so can I be the third brother?"

Zhang Shan was both amused and exasperated by his straightforward question. He was speechless for a moment, then simply waved his hand, too lazy to argue about the ranking. Seeing that he was delighted and had no objections, the matter was settled.

All the way, Wang Wu was so excited that he danced around, his mouth stretched from ear to ear, and he couldn't stop smiling. He kept thinking about the name "Long Spear Wang Wu," thinking that he would be a big shot in the martial arts world from now on, no longer the lowly ruffian Er Gouzi that no one cared about. He couldn't wait to fly back to Liangshan and let his old brothers know his new name.

Before long, the two arrived at the gate of the Wang family compound. Although the wall was damaged, it had been well guarded by the Liangshan brothers. The noise inside the compound gradually subsided, leaving only the sound of inventorying supplies.

Wang Lun was already waiting at the courtyard gate. Upon seeing Zhang Shan return, he immediately hurried forward, his face filled with barely concealed excitement and shock. His hands trembled slightly, and his tone was urgent:

"Chief, you're finally back! The Wang family's assets have all been tallied up. We never imagined that this mere rural fishing tyrant would have a fortune several times greater than ours at Liangshan!"

Wang Lun was genuinely shocked. In his early years, he had joined the Liangshan outlaws and engaged in the dangerous business of highway robbery, braving wind and rain and risking his life, yet he had accumulated very little wealth, far less than a landlord who monopolized the fish catch. He felt both envious and smug.

Zhang Shan nodded, reached out and took the list of hemp paper that Wang Lun handed him. The paper was rough and covered with writing in ink. He lowered his eyes and carefully flipped through it, his gaze sweeping over each line.

The list begins with hard currency:

Five hundred taels of gold,

Three thousand taels of silver,

Twenty thousand strings of copper coins.

Zhang Shan gasped as he looked at the string of numbers, while Wang Lun beside him clicked his tongue in amazement.

No wonder Wang Lun lost his composure; this amount of cash alone is almost equivalent to a birthday tribute.

Although Liang Zhongshu's 100,000 strings of cash birthday gifts were a one-time congratulatory gift, it was still the entire fortune of a local bully who monopolized the local fish catch.

This is similar to the local bullies who monopolized earthwork and battlefields in later generations. They may seem insignificant, but the wealth they amassed was never known to outsiders, and their exorbitant profits far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

Suppressing his shock, Zhang Shan continued flipping through the list, which read:

Three thousand shi of grain,

The remaining gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins, precious fabrics, antiques and other miscellaneous items, when converted, amounted to approximately two thousand strings of cash.

Wang Lun, who had been standing to the side, stepped forward as soon as Zhang Shan finished reading. His voice, still excited, rose several decibels as he said, "Chief, what our stronghold needs most right now is food. If we eat this food sparingly and carefully, it's enough to feed hundreds of brothers for half a year!"

He had been in charge of Liangshan for many years, and they had always lived a frugal life. Food and supplies were often in short supply, and the brothers might not even be able to eat a full meal every day. He had never seen such abundant money and food before. At this moment, he was overjoyed, feeling that Liangshan could finally catch its breath.

Zhang Shan gently shook his head, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "We brothers are all strong and capable men. We have to practice martial arts and train daily, and we also have to work hard to guard the stronghold. How can we skimp on food? If we're not well-fed, we won't have the strength to train, and we won't be able to guard the stronghold."

The amount of grain seemed considerable, but if the brothers were allowed to eat as much as they wanted, with every meal provided, it would only last for three months.

However, Zhang Shan was not worried. Now that they controlled Liangshan Marsh, they had vast fishponds teeming with fish and shrimp. If they were still worried about food, that would be a huge joke.

Turning to the end of the list, Zhang Shan raised an eyebrow, pointed to the "fields" column, looked at Wang Lun, and asked, "What's going on with these fields? How can the Wang family, a fishing family, own so much land?"

Wang Lun quickly stepped forward, pointed to the list, and explained in detail: "Chief, this is a note. The Wang family owns 800 mu of fertile land. In addition, they also have 1,000 mu of wasteland that they have reclaimed themselves, all around the marshland."

Zhang Shan nodded slightly. The land around the lake was fertile and close to the water source, making irrigation convenient. It was understandable to cultivate good fields there. However, he was puzzled by this thousand acres of wasteland. Wasteland yielded very poor harvests. Why would a shrewd bully like Wang Heng bother to cultivate it?

Seeing the puzzled look on his face, Wang Lun was about to explain in detail when Ruan Xiaoqi, who was standing nearby, quickly interjected:

"Brother, you don't know this, but the area around Liangshan Marsh is mostly mudflats and wasteland. The terrain is low-lying, and when the rains rise, the entire field will be submerged by the lake, and the crops will be completely lost. Only in years when the water recedes can we barely harvest some grain."

He paused, pursed his lips, and continued with a hint of resentment in his voice, "Even so, ordinary people dare not cultivate the land. Once you turn wasteland into farmland, the government will immediately come knocking to collect taxes. The exorbitant taxes are as numerous as hairs on a cow. All the grain you grow with a year's hard work is not enough to cover the taxes. In the end, you've worked for nothing and lost money."

"As time went on, the people simply stopped farming and left the land to lie fallow. Nobody wanted to do a losing business."

"In the end, all these wastelands were seized by the wealthy families in the village. They had connections and influence, and could collude with the government to evade taxes. Even if they cultivated the land, they didn't have to pay a single penny of tax, and all the harvest was theirs, making a sure profit."

After listening, Zhang Shan's eyes lit up slightly. He was secretly amazed and a look of unexpected joy appeared on his face.

He hadn't expected that taking Wangjia Village would bring such an unexpected surprise; Liangshan Marsh truly was a treasure trove.

With fish to eat and barren land to cultivate, Liangshan could become self-sufficient and never have to worry about food again, as long as it was managed properly.