Water Margin: From a White-Robed Scholar to Donning the Yellow Robe

When Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo's army appeared in Wang Lun's sight, the sky was covered with dark clouds and a north wind was blowing.

It looked like heavy snow was about to fall.

The government troops were stationed in Shili Town, which is located at the border of Jizhou and Puzhou.

Neither side acted rashly, and instead sent scouts to probe each other.

The Liangshan Flying Tiger Army now has three armies in Jizhou. According to Wang Lun, they only need to take turns defending the city. As long as Huyan Zhuo does not choose to launch a strong attack on Jizhou, a thousand troops are more than enough to defend the city.

In Wang Lun's memory, Huyan Zhuo would not actually choose to attack the city, but instead set up a chain of horses, which seemed very sophisticated, but was actually full of flaws.

In the original story, in order to break the Lianhuanma formation, Liangshan tricked Xu Ning into joining them, and he used the hook-and-sickle spear technique to break the Lianhuanma formation.

Xu Ning is no longer needed. If Huyan Zhuo really sets up the linked horse formation, he has many ways to break it.

He was worried about Zhang Shuye.

According to the original story, Zhang Shuye did not come with Huyan Zhuo this time.

Zhang Shuye later served as the governor of Jizhou, which facilitated the Liangshan surrender. Then came the Jingkang Incident, in which Zhang Shuye and his sons fought desperately against the Jin army, and his entire family perished in battle.

Zhang Shuye is not to be underestimated.

Perhaps it was Wang Lun's time travel that caused a change in the plot of Huyan Zhuo's attack on Liangshan. With Zhang Shuye around, Wang Lun had to be more cautious.

This is the butterfly effect. Because of Wang Lun's intervention, Wu Song, Yang Zhi, and Lu Zhishen went up the mountain ahead of time, and the Liangshan forces grew stronger ahead of time.

Huyan Zhuo's attack on Liangshan was also brought forward.

It seems that the future path cannot be followed entirely according to the plot of "Water Margin" as we remember it. Perhaps because of Wang Lun's appearance, many people will change, and the future is gradually becoming unpredictable.

As night fell, large, fluffy snowflakes began to fall.

This was the first time Wang Lun had ever seen heavy snow since his time travel. As a southerner in his previous life, he had rarely seen such heavy snow, and he found it all quite novel.

Looking at the swirling snowflakes, Wang Lun felt like stretching his limbs, so he took his long sword and went to the courtyard to practice his swordplay.

He was originally handsome, but during this period of intensive training, not only did his martial arts skills improve, but his physique also changed, with his muscles becoming tighter and more muscular.

The swordplay was swift as the wind, and the figure tumbled and rolled amidst the heavy snow, appearing as if an immortal had descended to earth.

After finishing a set of sword techniques, Wang Lun's forehead was slightly sweaty. He stood in the snow, exhaling stale air, and prepared to sheathe his sword and return to his house.

Just then, a whooshing sound rang out as a pebble hurtled towards Wang Lun.

He reacted quickly, pinpointing the location of the sound, and swung his sword to block. With a "clang," he knocked the stone down, but his wrist was still slightly sore from the impact.

The person who came had incredible wrist strength.

"Which brother is joking with me?"

Wang Lun turned around with a grin, assuming that the people closest to his courtyard were Wu Song and his trusted confidants, such as Lu Zhishen.

But then they saw a man standing under the eaves, wearing a black cloak over a gray cotton-padded jacket. He looked dignified and had a robust build, but they didn't seem to recognize him.

He frowned. "Are you one of Huyan Zhuo's men?"

The visitor shook his head and said, "We've met before, but you've forgotten."

He took a few steps out from under the dark eaves into the light. Wang Lun looked closely and was both surprised and delighted. He said, "You are... uh..."

He suddenly realized that he did not know the man's name, but he knew that he was Zhao Yupan's bodyguard.

The man clasped his hands slightly and said, "My name is Qin He. My master sent me to deliver a message, requesting that you leave the city for a while."

His master must be Zhao Yupan.

Wang Lun was overjoyed and said "Wait a moment" before rushing into the house.

Then Wang Lun's voice came from inside: "Ke'er, where did you run off to? Quickly prepare hot water, I want to take a bath."

The maid Zheng Ke'er was dozing by the stove when she heard Wang Lun's voice and exclaimed in surprise, "Taking a bath... It's still so early, is the chieftain resting yet?"

"Quick! Find my best clothes, brocade hats and fur coats, nothing can be missing."

"Where's my razor? I need to shave."

Zheng Ke'er was stunned, but she quickly went to prepare.

Wu Song, who was in the neighboring courtyard, heard the commotion and rushed over to see what was happening. He saw Qin He standing under the eaves and immediately became alert: "Who's there?"

Before Qin He could speak, Wu Song had already heard Wang Lun's voice.

A series of orders were given to Zheng Ke'er, as if he were in a hurry to do something extraordinary.

"My name is Qin He, and I come from Tokyo. My master wishes to see Chief Wang, so I have come to invite him."

Wu Song looked Qin He up and down, then asked suspiciously, "Dongjing? Is he one of Huyan Zhuo's men?"

He strode forward, ready to attack, and said, "What is Huyan Zhuo's purpose in meeting with my brother? Is he planning an ambush?"

Seeing Wu Song's murderous aura, Qin He quickly retreated and waved his hand, saying, "It's a misunderstanding. My master is not Huyan Zhuo, but an old acquaintance of Chief Wang."

Wu Song then stopped and looked in Wang Lun's direction, wondering if Wang Lun actually had an old acquaintance in Tokyo.

After thinking for a moment, he strode back.

Before long, Wu Song appeared, clad in armor and wielding a knife, with Lu Zhishen beside him, also carrying a water-milled monk's staff.

The two stood silently under the eaves like door gods, keeping a certain distance from Qin He.

Wang Lun quickly washed and dressed, put on his best clothes, applied incense to his body, and hung the half jade ring that Zhao Yupan had given him at his waist.

After thinking for a moment, he tied a long sword to his waist.

After carefully checking his attire, he roused himself and went out. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Wu Song and Lu Zhishen in full armor and carrying staffs, looking ready to go to battle.

Wu Song and the others looked at Wang Lun and saw that he was wearing a silver mink coat, fine leather boots, a sword at his waist, and half a jade ring of emerald green hanging from his jade belt.

He exuded wealth and luxury, especially with his sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, high nose bridge, bronze complexion, and lean yet exquisitely sculpted face, showcasing his handsome elegance to the fullest.

Wang Lun, seeing Wu Song and Lu Zhishen, asked in surprise, "What are you two doing here?"

Lu Zhishen asked, "Brother, who are you going to see? Wu Song and I are worried, so we'll go and guard you together."

Wang Lun smiled and said, "You two are very kind, but I only saw a woman. There is no danger."

He then remembered that he hadn't asked Zhao Yupan where he was, so he looked at Qin He.

Qin He quickly replied, "My master is located on the banks of the Ji River north of Jizhou City. Huyan Zhuo's army is to the west, so we are safe."

Wang Lun then said, "My two brothers, don't worry, there's no danger."

Wu Song and Lu Zhishen remained unmoved, standing tall and straight like pine trees under the eaves.

Knowing he couldn't persuade the two, Wang Lun had no choice but to give up: "Then please, my two virtuous brothers, act as my guards. I still have some things to prepare."

He ordered Zhao Si to prepare charcoal, a small stove, wine, meat, and other miscellaneous items, filling a large basket.

Once everything was ready, they rode out of the city, with Qin He, Wu Song, and Lu Zhishen following behind, braving the wind and snow, heading north of the city.

The Jeju River is the mother river of Jeju, and Jeju is named after the Jeju River.

Outside the city, along the riverbank, there are willow trees and pavilions, a place where literati and scholars usually gather.

Wang Lun took the lead and walked along the snow-covered banks of the Ji River for quite a while before he spotted a red figure in the pavilion ahead.

A bright red brocade cloak billowed in the wind, and a silver fox fur collar wrapped around her jade-like neck, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.

Upon seeing Wang Lun, her eyes sparkled, and a bright smile appeared on her lips: "You've come."