Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

Page 411

The pirate who came a step behind listened to the sound inside the house, held up his trousers outside and cursed: "Straight mother thief can't control her crotch! Hurry up and do that stupid thing, brothers are still waiting for someone to cook porridge to fill their stomachs!"

There were bursts of knowing laughter from the pirate crowd.

"Timely Rain" Song Jiang and "Huangjiang Dragon" Li Jun were wrapped in thick cloaks, standing on a rock on the island, watching the chaotic pirate water village in silence.

After standing for a long time, Song Jiang asked Li Jun, "Brother Li Jun, what do you think?"

Li Jun frowned and said: "Brother Gongming is right. The people on Sea Snake Island can't achieve any great things. This island is isolated in the sea, and they can only plunder passing merchant ships to make a living, and it is difficult to expand their foundation. In my opinion, Wang Yuan is also A person who is content with the status quo and has no courage, how can he be more ambitious than brother De Gongming."

"Brother is right. This island is only suitable for sheltering from the limelight temporarily. I have to go ashore before I can use my life's means to fight for prosperity and wealth for a lifetime. Brother Li Jun, I have thought about it these days. With the current strength, It is difficult to go ashore and compete with the imperial court for the state capital, and the imperial bird emperor will not recruit us. Why don't we persuade Wang Yuan to cross the sea and go north together to join the Khitan and Liao kingdoms that the imperial court fears most. With thousands of soldiers and horses, we will wait Brothers will surely find a place in Liao. In the future, with the help of Liao’s elite soldiers, I will go south and sweep Hebei and Shandong, and I will avenge today’s revenge.” Song Jiang told his confidant Li Jun about his plan.

After Song Jiang and others came down to Sea Snake Island under the leadership of Chai Jin, Wang Yuan wanted to respect Engong Chai Jin as the master of the island.Because Song Jiang was also there, Chai Jin refused to accept it, and lived temporarily on Haisnake Island with Song Jiang and others as a guest army.

However, Wang Yuan obviously only respected Chai Jin, which made it difficult for the ambitious Song Jiang to take power on the island.Song Jiang therefore moved his mind not to invest in other places.

Chapter 674 Song Jiang's Vision

"Mixed River Dragon" Li Jun, as the commander of the navy in Liangshanbo, has a good kung fu in the water, and there are two or three hundred remaining sailors under his command.It was Li Jun who was driving the snatched sea boat and fled to Sea Snake Island with Song Jiang, Chai Jin and others.

Now Wang Yuan and Chai Jin are very close, and he has no intention of supporting Song Jiang as the big brother on the island. If Song Jiang wants to make a difference, he can only rely on Li Jun who has a navy in his hand.Therefore, after coming to Sea Snake Island, Song Jiang held onto Li Jun and hung out with him all the time.

It's not that Song Jiang didn't have the idea of ​​robbing the class and seizing power, and annoyed Wang Yuan.However, after careful observation, he was not sure that he could easily replace Wang Yuan.

This "crocodile whale" Wang Yuan himself is a brave man, and he has more than 1000 loyal pirates under his command.These desperadoes at sea only recognize Wang Yuan, and they don't recognize his gold-lettered signboard of "Shandong is raining in time, calling for righteousness". It is wishful thinking to use the reputation of the rivers and lakes to suppress the pirates of Haisnake Island.Therefore, the "big crocodile whale" Wang Yuan is not the "White Man in White" Wang Lun back then, and the danger of annihilating him is much greater.

In addition, Chai Jin was Wang Yuan's benefactor, and he had a close relationship with Wang Yuan after he came to the island.With Wang Yuan's support, although Chai Jin did not take the top spot, he was already half of the island owner.

Speaking of it, "Little Whirlwind" Chai Jin is also Song Jiang's benefactor, and he saved Song Jiang when Song Jiang was in distress.In addition, Chai Jin has rescued and helped many heroes in the Jianghu. In terms of reputation in the Jianghu, Chai Jin is not weaker than Song Jiang.

When Chai Jin went to Liangshan after being dragged down by Wu Yong and Lei Heng, it was naturally impossible to compete with Song Jiang, who was firmly seated as the deputy village leader.However, from time to time, it was Song Jiang who could not compete with Chai Jin for the seat.Song Jiang also noticed that Chai Jin and Chai Daguan had ambitions no weaker than his own.

Song Jiang wanted to get angry and get rid of Wang Yuan, but he was afraid that Chai Jin would side with Wang Yuan.At the beginning, Wang Lun, who was supported by Chai Jin, was robbed of the cottage by Chao Gai and others. This time, he will definitely not watch his family be eradicated by Song Jiang.

"Touching the sky" Du Qian was once funded by Chai Jin, just like the "White Man in White" Wang Lun. Song Jiang judged that he was likely to advance and retreat with Chai Jin.

Now Song Jiang has only Li Jun, Jiang Jing, Du Chong, and Li Yan around him, and his soldiers are not as many as Wang Yuan, Chai Jin, and Du Qian.

In desperation, Song Jiang thought of persuading everyone to give up Haisnake Island and go north with him to the Liao Kingdom to seek a way of life.

Song Jiang thought in his heart that this sea is the territory of pirates, and he can only live under the eaves of others.As long as everyone is tricked into going ashore, the pirates will lose their prestige a bit.Given time, he will be able to control this team in his own hands.

"Brother Gongming, I heard that the Liao Kingdom is fighting against the Jurchens. If I go to vote at this time, won't I be sent by the Khitans to fight against the Jurchens on the front line, and help them get chestnuts from the fire, and be the dead ghost?" Li Jun asked with a frown.

"Brother Li Jun, do you know that there are many Han people in the Liao Kingdom? As long as we get the military power in the Liao Kingdom, we can recruit a large number of supplementary soldiers. Why are we afraid of going to the battlefield to fight the Jurchens? In my opinion, the Liao Kingdom is powerful and must It will defeat the rebellious Jurchen tribe. We can profit from it and expand our own strength." Song Jiang looked to the north and said confidently.

This guy Song Jiang was born as a magistrate in Yuncheng County, but a petty official who failed the imperial examination.Competing with the heroes of the rivers and lakes on Liangshanbo who don't know a few big characters, Song Jiang can handle it with ease.But when it comes to judging the situation of Song, Liao, and Jin, Song Jiang is incapable of doing so, full of mistakes and omissions.

Don't say that Song Jiang couldn't see the situation clearly. At this time, there were several magistrates in Bianzhou, Hebei, who wrote to the Taoist emperor, saying that the Khitan and Liao Kingdom's military strength is strong, and they will eventually defeat the Jurchens and quell the civil strife in Liaodong.Therefore, they are all firmly opposed to forming an alliance with the Kingdom of Jin!

In the Western Army, veteran Zhong Shidao and other generals also opposed the attack on Liao. They didn't see clearly that Liao was strong in the outside world, and they were powerless in the face of Jin.

At this time, the entire Song Dynasty knew with certainty that the Liao regime would quickly collapse under the attack of the Jin army, and only Ximen Qing who came across.

Although Song Jiang's judgment was wrong by a tiny bit, Li Jun, a salt smuggler and black shop owner like "Jiangjiang Dragon", couldn't understand it even more.Like Song Jiang, he only knew that the Khitan and Liao Kingdom in the past were stronger than the Great Song Dynasty, so he didn't know the Jin Kingdom of the Jurchens.

Therefore, Song Jiang took refuge in the Liao Kingdom and counterattacked Da Song's revenge plan, which Li Jun very much recognized.Li Jun made up his mind and followed Song Jiang north to Liao Kingdom.

"Mixed River Dragon" Li Jun historically broke away from Song Jiang's brigade after conquest of Fangla, and took his brothers to Siam in Southeast Asia to start anew, and later became the king of Siam.In terms of vision, he even surpassed Song Jiang and others in the later stage.

However, Li Jun was also in the battles, especially when he was fighting against the Fang La army in the south of the Yangtze River, he met many people in the southeast coast, and only then did he completely open his horizons.At this time, he still doesn't have the foresight ability of the later stage.

"Brother Gongming is right. Brother, I am willing to follow him to the north of Liao Kingdom." Li Jun said with his fists clasped.

"With brother Li Jun's words, I don't have any worries! Brother Li Jun, I'll go back and discuss with the brothers first, and persuade Mr. Chai and the island master Wang Yuan to go north." Song Jiang took Li Jun to Dazhai go.

At this time, the fog on Sea Snake Island had gradually dissipated, and a dexterous fast boat pierced through the mist and rushed straight into the water village.

"This is the spies coming back. Seeing how anxious they are, maybe they have bumped into a good deal again!" Li Jun said to Song Jiang after looking back.

After coming to Sea Snake Island, Song Jiang's army couldn't eat for nothing. Li Jun had gone out to sea with the pirates to rob merchant ships several times, so he knew the pirates' actions clearly.

"So you're going to go to sea again today?" Song Jiangkou muttered something, and walked into the Juyi Hall in Dazhai together with Li Jun.

Hearing the commotion on the pier of Shuizhai, the owner of Sea Snake Island, "Crocodile Whale" Wang Yuan, "Little Cyclone" Chai Jin and other leaders gathered in the Juyi Hall. After meeting with Song Jiang and Li Jun, the guests were divided into seats. Sit down and wait for the spies to report.

In a short while, two capable pirates ran into the Juyi Hall and reported to the island owner, the "big crocodile whale" Wang Yuan: "Island owner, you guys found a small one from the northeast of Rushanzhai in Dengzhou. Fang Lai's large merchant fleet is heading southwest, and it should be going to Mizhou Banqiao Port to do business."

"Great merchant fleet? How many ships do you guys have?" Wang Yuan asked with wide-eyed eyes.

"Island owner, I've carefully checked the small ones. There are at least twenty large ships with a deep draft. They must be fully loaded with cargo." The pirate continued to report.

"A fleet of this size must be rich merchants, and they must be prepared. Does the fleet have armed escort?" Wang Yuan asked again.

"The owner of the island is wise. There are men with knives and guns on every ship in the fleet. I'm afraid there are hundreds of escorts." The pirate replied.

"Wow! You two caught a big fish this time! Why hire so many guards instead of cherishing valuable goods?"

Chapter 675 Cat and mouse chase

"Little ones, let me get on the boat for the master. A big fish hit the net today! If anyone misses the master's business, the master will throw him into the sea to feed the old turtle!" A loud shout spread throughout the water village of Haisnake Island, startled A few pirates hurried out of the cabin with their trousers in their hands.

I saw the owner of Sea Snake Island, the "Crocodile Whale" Wang Yuan, wearing a black fish skin tights and holding a ghost-headed machete, and boarded his pirate ship side by side with Chai Jinchai, a senior official in green and white crown.

Seeing this, the pirates in the water village hurriedly dropped their busy work, reminded their partners who were still sleeping late, and climbed onto the pirate ships one by one.

The pirates knew that the big fish that the island owner talked about must be a big deal.After robbing this merchant fleet today, the brothers have a lot of money to go ashore to find flowers and ask willows, and have a good time.

In the other corner of the water village, Song Jiang, Li Jun, Xiang Chong, Li Yan, and Du Qian also boarded several of their navy warships, and they were going to attack with the Liangshan Army and the pirates. The fleet slaughtered and looted.

Now, as a guest army taken in by others, Song Jiang can't stay on the island to eat and drink for nothing, he can only suppress his grievances and dissatisfaction, and go to sea with these pirates.

Since Song Jiang and others came to Sea Snake Island, this kind of robbery has not happened once or twice, so the pirates and Liang Shanshui's army have cooperated tacitly.

Amid the sound of conch shells, the pirates drove their warships out of the harbor one by one, lined up on the sea, raised their sails, and followed Wang Yuan's warships to the northwest.

The matter of intercepting waterways and robbing merchant ships at sea was naturally directed by the experienced pirate leader Wang Yuan.

After Wang Yuan asked his subordinates about the situation in Juyi Hall, he judged and speculated based on the wind direction, and decided to intercept the merchant fleet found by his subordinates on the waterway near Tianheng Island off Laizhou.

Facts proved that Wang Yuan's judgment on ocean current and wind speed was accurate. When they rushed straight from Sea Snake Island to Tianheng Island, they just blocked the way of the northern merchant fleet.

When Wang Yuan gave an order, the pirates around him blew their conch horns to attack.The pirates from Haisnake Island and the Liangshan Army, a total of more than 2000 people, boarded more than [-] pirate ships and rushed towards the merchant fleet in the northeast.

The armed guards on the merchant fleet also spotted the pirate fleet, hurriedly beat drums and gongs as a warning, turned the bow and retreated to the way they came.

"Hahaha~ There is no reason for these guys to run away when they bump into my hands. Pass down the order and let the little ones chase at full speed. No man on board will be left. If there is a woman, take it back to the island and be happy!" Wang Yuan's eyes showed fierceness. Lightly shouted.

"Brother Wang Yuan, those merchant ships turned their bows so quickly, it can be seen that the people who operate the ships are also experienced at sea. Is it possible for me to catch up with those guys?" Chai Jin asked suspiciously.