Water Margin: Hu Sanniang and I swapped clothes

"A group of people, armed with steel forks, are robbing and plundering treasures?"

If Jie Zhen and Jie Bao weren't Sun Li's cousins, Sun Li might have believed it.

The problem is that Jie Zhen and Jie Bao are Sun Li's cousins, and Sun Li is related to Jie Zhen and Jie Bao.

Xie Zhen was indeed vicious, and Xie Bao was indeed reckless and fearless, but both brothers were upright and honest people.

They wouldn't lie about killing the tiger, let alone rob it.

If it really comes to robbing and plundering, it's a dangerous and dangerous business. Why didn't Xie Zhen and Xie Bao become bandits, but instead became hunters?

If they really wanted to follow Lai Dachong, why didn't Jie Zhen and Jie Bao follow their cousin Lai Sunli? At least Sunli could arrange a captain position for them!

Because Xie Zhen and Xie Bao were unwilling to curry favor with those in power, as Sun Li's official rank rose higher and higher, the cousins ​​interacted less and less.

In addition, Xie Zhen and Xie Bao were hunting in the deep mountains, and Sun Li was an official in the prefecture city. The distance between them made their interactions even less frequent.

Therefore, Sun Li is unaware of the current situation of Xie Zhen and Xie Bao, but not being unaware does not mean that Sun Li does not care about Xie Zhen and Xie Bao's life or death!

Aunts and uncles are close relatives, generation after generation; even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected!

No matter how much Jie Zhen and Jie Bao's mother is, she is still Sun Li's aunt. How could Sun Li ignore his cousin?

After hearing Wang Kongmu's distorted version of the truth, Sun Li guessed that Xie Zhen and Xie Bao were probably framed.

So here's the question: who is the "Sick Tyrant"?

Although Sun Li was unaware of Xie Zhen and Xie Bao's current situation, he knew that Xie Zhen and Xie Bao had never traveled the martial arts world.

No, Jie Zhen and Jie Bao have never even left the mountains!

The butler's description of "the tyrant" sounded familiar, but Sun Li couldn't quite place who it was.

Another feature with a fleshy growth on its head is so obvious that it could be anything but a "unicorn dragon".

Sun Li knew that "Unicorn Dragon" Zou Run had taken up residence in Dengyun Mountain, and also knew that Zou Run and Sun Xin were like brothers.

It's impossible for Zou Run to save Xie Zhen and Xie Bao, because Sun Li knows that Zou Run and Xie Zhen and Xie Bao have no connection.

Of all the people Sun Li knew who had connections with both Xie Zhen and Xie Bao, and also with Zou Run, there was only one—

His own brother, Sun Xin!

Therefore, Sun Licai's kidnapping of Mao Taigong and his son, the "sick tyrant," must be related to Sun Xin, even if it wasn't Sun Xin himself.

This silly bird...

Sun Li's face turned green: Why didn't you discuss saving people with me first?

Wang Kongmu urged again, "Commander Sun, this is a matter of life and death, please send troops as soon as possible!"

"nonsense!"

Sun Li rolled his eyes at Wang Kongmu: "Instead of bringing up Jie Zhen and Jie Bao, where am I supposed to send troops?"

"What the commander says is true, what he says is true..."

Wang Kongmu wore a forced smile, but inwardly he was cursing him horribly.

……

Dengzhou Prison.

Covered in blood from the beating, Jie Zhen and Jie Bao lay side by side on a clump of dry straw.

"Crack!"

Jie Bao held a hard steamed bun in both hands and took a big bite, almost breaking his front tooth!

"Hiss! Hiss!"

While gasping for air, Jie Bao complained to Jie Zhen:

"Brother, this is absolutely inedible!"

"nonsense!"

Jie Zhen said irritably, "If I really fed you lots of meat and fish, you wouldn't be able to eat it!"

Before he could finish speaking, the prison warden stuffed a plate of large fish and meat through the gap under the cell door.

There was even a pot of wine!

"Oh, this..."

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao stared blankly at Bao Jieji, who grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth:

"Have a good meal and drinks, you two!"

We're doomed!

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao felt utterly dejected.

They really fed us lavish meals; this is our last meal before we're executed!

Just as Jie Zhen and Jie Bao were in utter despair, they suddenly heard Judge Bao ask from outside the prison gate:

"May I ask what brings Commander Sun to my prison?"

Commander Sun?

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao exchanged a surprised and delighted glance: Could it be that their cousin Sun Li has come to rescue us?

Sure enough, it was Sun Li who arrived.

Just as Jie Zhen and Jie Bao were about to rush into their cousin's arms after leaving the prison, they saw Sun Lichong and the others winking at them.

As cousins, they had a certain tacit understanding, and Jie Zhen and Jie Bao obediently allowed themselves to be escorted away by the government troops.

Sun Li led 500 government troops, escorting Xie Zhen and Xie Bao out of the city and headed towards Shilipai.

When Sun Li arrived at Shilipai, he saw that the sign for the Shilipai Hotel had been changed to "Juxianzhuang".

The person sitting at the counter wasn't Sister-in-law Gu, but a pot-bellied man.

Sun Li understood everything immediately.

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao looked at each other in bewilderment: Why did Shili Pai Hotel become Juxianzhuang?

Sun Li urged his horse to continue onward, and after traveling another seven or eight li, he ordered them to rest on the spot.

Sun Lijiao sat imposingly on a reclining ox rock and brought Xie Zhen and Xie Bao to him.

"I'm going to interrogate the prisoner, and no one is allowed to disturb me!"

Sun Li dismissed the government troops, then frowned and asked Xie Zhen and Xie Bao:

"Why didn't you mention my name when you were thrown into death row?"

Xie Zhen sighed, "We've already been tortured into confessing by the prefect. My brother is a military officer; how can he possibly overturn our case?"

Jie Bao sighed, "Mentioning my brother's name will only cause him trouble..."

There are some people who, no matter how much hardship or suffering they endure, would rather not cause trouble for others.

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao are that kind of people.

"You guys..."

Sun Li was speechless.

Because Xie Zhen and Xie Bao were right, he, as the military commander, really did not have the ability to overturn their case.

The imperial court valued civil officials over military ones, and the prefect was under immense pressure...

But who says that just because they don't have the ability to overturn their cases, they don't have the ability to save them?

Sun Li untied the tiger-eye bamboo-jointed steel whip from his waist and lashed it fiercely at the death row cangue around Xie Zhen's neck:

"Bang!"

With a single blow, the twenty-five-pound death row inmate's yoke was smashed to pieces!

Sun Li smashed the death row shackles on Jie Bao's neck with another whip, and snorted coldly:

"You've really underestimated your elder brother!"

"elder brother!"

Jie Zhen and Jie Bao rushed into Sun Li's arms, tears streaming down their faces.

Sun Li, holding Jie Zhen and Jie Bao in his arms, finally made a decision that went against the wishes of his ancestors:

Do you still remember the place where the tiger was shot by an arrow?

"Your second brother is waiting for you there!"

"Brother, if you release us, how will you continue to serve as an official?"

Jie Zhen, having narrowly escaped death, began to worry about Sun Li:

"Why don't you come with us?"

Sun Li shook his head with a wry smile: "I still have to go back to pick up your sister-in-law!"

"You guys go first, we'll meet up at Dengyun Mountain!"

"If we haven't arrived by tomorrow, you should leave, and go as far away as possible!"

Without hesitation, Jie Bao said, "Why don't we go with you to pick up your sister-in-law!"

"You're only dragging me down!"

Sun Li pointed to the bloodstained legs of Jie Zhen and Jie Bao, who had been struck with the disciplinary rod, and said confidently:

"Listen to me! You all go first, I have a plan!"

"Don't forget, the troops in Dengzhou are all under your command, brother!"

Upon hearing this, Jie Zhen and Jie Bao realized it made sense, and immediately bowed to Sun Li.

"I'm taking my leave first, brother. Take care!"

Sun Li helped Jie Zhen and Jie Bao up: "When you see Second Brother, please tell him for me—"

"May the Sun family have many descendants!"