Liver in Water Margin, outlaw madman

Chao Gai, the head of Dongxi Village, loved to practice with spears and clubs, spending his days honing his skills.

He's not interested in women!

The village was full of burly men.

With parents and elders gone, he's now in charge of his own household—a true middle-aged version of Shi Jin (a legendary figure in Chinese history known for his ruthlessness and intrigue).

After descending the mountain, Wu Yong went straight to Chao Gai without stopping for a moment.

"What brings you here, sir? It's been so long! If you hadn't come soon, I would have sent someone to invite you!" Chao Gai put down his stick and rushed to greet Wu Yong, overjoyed.

Wu Yong didn't stand on ceremony, sat down and drank a cup of cold tea, then said to Chao Gai, "Chief, I've thought it through!"

"Ah, what have you figured out?" Chao Gai was stunned and didn't react for a moment.

"I want to work in the county government, otherwise all my skills will be wasted if I just stay in the countryside teaching!" Wu Yong said, half-jokingly.

Chao Gai chuckled, sat down as well, and downed a cup of cold tea: "Brother, don't joke. The county government has strict rules; it's nowhere near as comfortable as our place!"

"Being carefree prevents one from becoming a complete person, and becoming a complete person prevents one from being carefree!" Wu Yong said coldly, "Brother, don't you think that the world is becoming increasingly turbulent?"

"Leaving aside the distant ones, let's talk about something closer to home, like Liangshan Marsh. If they come down the mountain to borrow grain one day, should we lend it to them or not?"

Upon hearing this, Chao Gai burst into laughter: "What are you saying, sir? How dare Wang Lun of Liangshan come down the mountain to borrow grain from me? I'll make sure he never returns!"

"Guardian, your news is outdated. Liangshan has a new leader now, and Wang Heng, the younger brother of Wang Jin, the clerk of Jizhou Prefecture, has been killed!" Wu Yong said with a sneer.

In the past, he had thought of Chao Gai as a hero.

But when compared to Liangshan, it becomes clear that they are worlds apart.

Others had already set their sights far ahead, while Chao Gai only knew how to hide in the manor and enjoy himself, unaware of the danger approaching.

Chao Gai's expression changed drastically: "Wang Heng is dead? I even bought fish from him!"

"Well, if the magistrate doesn't believe it, he can ask someone he knows in the county to verify it," Wu Yong said.

Faced with such a major event, Chao Gai dared not delay. He was a wealthy man in Yuncheng County, and if the Liangshan bandits came down the mountain to plunder, he would most likely not be able to escape.

"Come with me, sir, to the county seat. We can ask you about getting into the county government."

Wu Yong wasn't unwilling to tell Chao Gai the truth, but rather to protect him. Chao Gai was, to put it nicely, a generous and magnanimous man who didn't concern himself with trivial matters.

To put it bluntly, they can't keep things to themselves and are easily fooled.

The two rode their horses at a brisk pace and arrived at a restaurant in the county town. They tossed a piece of silver to the waiter and asked him to invite Song Jiang.

Chao Gai was a celebrity in Yuncheng County and a regular customer of major restaurants.

The waiter happily took the silver and went to call for help; this single piece of silver was worth several days' wages.

A moment later, Song Jiang arrived with small, measured steps. Before he even reached the stairs, his laughter preceded his words: "Brother, what brings you to the county town today?"

"Brother, please sit down." Chao Gai pulled Song Jiang into the private room and then closed the door.

Song Jiang was taken aback, and his heart skipped a beat. What was going on today?

"Brother, has Wangjia Village been destroyed by Liangshan?" Chao Gai asked directly. He was a man who didn't beat around the bush and hated beating around the bush the most.

If it were anyone else, Song Jiang would have easily glossed over it with a joke, but Chao Gai was no ordinary person.

This is his sworn brother.

Why was he able to wield such influence in the county government, and why did he have a reputation for being generous and righteous?

How can one become wealthy?

Without the support of major investors, that would be absolutely impossible.

Song Jiang turned his head to look at the door of the private room, leaned against Chao Gai, and looked at Wu Yong at the same time.

"Brother, please speak freely. This is Wu Yong, the strategist. He's the one who planned everything in the past," Chao Gai explained.

Song Jiang then slowly said, "Yes, it was the Liangshan bandits who did it. The master of Liangshan has changed, but their background is too powerful, so we dare not make a fuss, and the magistrate pretends not to know."

After saying that, he couldn't help but add, "Brother, please don't spread this around; this matter is far too important!"

Wu Yong listened intently from the side. He was also verifying the information about Liangshan. He had not seen Lin Chong, nor did he know Lin Chong.

Judging from Song Jiang's current appearance, it's highly likely that he is genuine.

No wonder Zhang Shan wanted him to go to the county government office; the people of the county town didn't notice the change and were still kept in the dark.

"Brother, how powerful could this mere bandit from Liangshan be?" Chao Gai asked curiously.

"Oh, brother, don't ask anymore. It's better not to know." Song Jiang was clearly unwilling to say more.

Chao Gai was not satisfied and continued to ask, "Brother, how can I be at ease if you don't explain clearly? What about my vast estate?!"

Song Jiang was taken aback before he realized what was happening.

Chao Gai must have heard some rumors and was afraid that Liangshan would borrow grain. With just a little inquiry, all the wealthy households in the surrounding area knew about it.

"Brother, the leader of Liangshan has been replaced by someone from Dongjing (Kaifeng), most likely the one who killed Gao Qiu." Song Jiang wasn't entirely sure either.

Chao Gai gasped sharply: "Brother, are you sure?"

Song Jiang gave a wry smile, spread his hands, and said, "Brother, how can I be sure? I've met with Commander Lei and Commander Zhu. Why don't I invite them over so you can ask them again?"

Chao Gai shook his head: "That won't be necessary."

After he finished speaking, the private room fell into a long silence.

If it were just an ordinary petty thief, Chao Gai wouldn't be afraid at all.

But if someone dares to kill Gao Qiu, and can kill Gao Qiu and also seize Liangshan, then they are no ordinary petty thief!

At this point, Wu Yong completely believed what Zhang Shan had said.

"Don't worry, Chief. Since the Liangshan people have hidden themselves in Liangshan, they obviously don't want to be exposed in the short term," Wu Yong said with a smile.

"Besides, what kind of reputation does Wang Heng have? He's a local tyrant who bullies and oppresses the people. It's said that several righteous men killed Gao Qiu; they certainly wouldn't do something like plundering and extorting!"

Wu Yong is now subconsciously speaking well of Liangshan.

Song Jiang quickly added, "Brother, there's no need to worry. The Liangshan people don't want any more conflicts. Let's observe the situation first."

Chao Gai gave a wry smile: "Brother, what else can I do besides observe the situation? Abandon my family and property and run off somewhere else?"

"Let's drink, let's drink, let's not talk about these troublesome things." Chao Gai shook his head, shaking away these troublesome things.

Seeing this, Song Jiang laughed and said, "Let's drink, let's drink."

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Wu Yong gently tugged at Chao Gai's sleeve.

Chao Gai then realized what was happening and quickly said, "Brother Wu Yong wants to get a job in the county government. Do you have any connections?"

Song Jiang was taken aback. Already slightly drunk, he asked in confusion, "Why do you want to be a minor official?"

Before Wu Yong could answer, he said self-deprecatingly, "I, Song Jiang, am over thirty years old. I have achieved nothing, neither fame nor fortune, and have accomplished nothing. I am just drifting through life in this county government, a lowly clerk. Why do you want to get involved in this mess, sir?"

Wu Yong sneered inwardly. He would naturally be unwilling to be a minor official for the rest of his life.

Following the rules and regulations for a few coins was not his pursuit.

Seeing this, he smiled and said, "To be honest, Clerk, I came to the county office for no other reason than to protect Brother Chao Gai's vast fortune!"