Chapter 21: Rumors of a Great Rebellion Arise at Liangshan Marsh

It was already late into the night, yet the streets had suddenly become bustling. Countless households on either side had lit their lamps and stepped out to see what was happening. Bailiffs hurried to and fro, and the street was packed with soldiers. One by one, corpses were carried out of Su Wu’s residence.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, though people dared not speak too loudly, keeping their voices to nervous murmurs.

"To think they would actually break in and commit murder. I never expected this."

"Sigh... Chief Su is in grave danger tonight. I fear things will be difficult for him from here on out. He has truly offended someone he shouldn't have."

"Do you know who is pulling the strings behind this?"

"Who doesn't? You don't know? Hmph! Who else could it be?"

"Alas... Chief Su is a truly honorable man. I only hope he can weather this storm safely."

"Open arrows are easy to dodge, but hidden ones are hard to guard against. If they failed this time, there will surely be another."

Suddenly, a carriage approached from the distance, and someone shouted, "The Magistrate is here!"

Indeed, the Magistrate had arrived. As he stepped down from his carriage, Su Wu came out to greet him. "Sir, why did you have to make this trip yourself in the middle of the night?"

"I have been in Yanggu County for several months now, and yet such a grave case has occurred. If I did not come in person, how would the people view me?" Meng Yi said as he stepped inside.

The bodies had already been taken to the yamen, and bailiffs were washing the blood from the courtyard floor. Meng Yi walked straight into the main hall and sat down, looking at Su Wu, who was covered in blood. "It seems you possess both great courage and formidable martial arts."

"Just good fortune, sir," Su Wu replied.

"There is no need for pleasantries between us. I assume you know who is behind this?" Meng Yi asked.

Su Wu nodded. "I don't need to guess."

"And how do you intend to respond?" Meng Yi asked again.

Su Wu thought for a moment, looked at Meng Yi, and said suddenly, "A man's life is worth more than a nod of the head. If they want me dead, I must kill them in return."

Su Wu waited for Meng Yi’s reaction.

"Sigh... some men are easy to kill, while others are difficult—or perhaps, unwise—to kill. The aftermath of such a deed can be quite troublesome," Meng Yi said bluntly.

The easy ones were the likes of Ximen Qing, but Yun Liwan was a different matter. If an imperial military officer were assassinated, it would inevitably trigger a massive backlash. Not to mention anything else, Dong Ping would likely come in person to oversee the investigation. The grievances between Su Wu and Yun Liwan would not be hard to uncover, and Su Wu would inevitably find himself in deep trouble.

Su Wu replied, "Regardless, I cannot simply sit here and be slaughtered. I was lucky today, but if they come again, I fear I would surely lose my head."

"I heard one of them escaped?" Meng Yi asked.

"A large man escaped," Su Wu nodded.

"The city will be searched tonight. Tomorrow, you should head to Dongping Prefecture on official business. Your fate is in your own hands," Meng Yi suggested, though he made it clear he would not be truly involved.

"My thanks, sir."

Meng Yi stood up and left. Merely coming to see for himself was already a sign of considerable favor.

By the time the house was cleaned up in the dead of night, it was spotless. Su Wu was not afraid of a house where people had died; he intended to sleep as usual, though he first had to wash himself clean.

Meanwhile, at the residence of the Military Advisor Yun Liwan, things were in a state of chaos. Ximen Qing had hurried over in a panic, asking, "Advisor, has it truly failed?"

Yun Liwan cursed, "They always brag about their superior martial arts and cunning, claiming they can kill anyone in the underworld. Yet when it actually comes to the task, they can't even handle a mere county head bailiff!"

Ximen Qing was shocked. "Advisor, that shouldn't be! Yu Baosi has a frame nearly ten feet tall and the girth of several men. How could he possibly be defeated by Su Wu?"

"Hmph!" Yun Liwan turned his head away. "If I hadn't personally taken him out of the city, he would have been arrested by the bailiffs by now."

Only then did Ximen Qing believe that Yu Baosi had failed. He was even more stunned and asked, "Advisor, what… what should we do now?"

Yun Liwan looked at Ximen Qing, seeing the genuine panic on his face, and snapped, "What are you panicking about?"

Ximen Qing hurriedly explained, "It’s not panic, it’s just… now the entire county of Yanggu knows of our feud with Su Wu. If he had died, it would be one thing, and no one would say anything. But since he is still alive, I fear he will…"

"Fear what? That he will kill you?" Yun Liwan asked.

Ximen Qing swallowed hard. He hadn't expected Su Wu to be such a dangerous man. Now that things had reached this point, he had to find a way to resolve it. He suggested, "Advisor, can we find more capable men?"

"Where would I find them?" Yun Liwan retorted. He was an imperial officer, not a man of the underworld. He only knew Yu Baosi because of the business the man conducted. He didn't know any of the truly fearsome outlaws.

Ximen Qing knew that the only way forward was to find stronger help and see this through to the end. His mind raced.

"Recently, I've heard… that some major outlaws have emerged at Liangshan Marsh in Yuncheng..."

Yuncheng was not far from Yanggu; even with winding roads, it was only a little over a hundred miles away. The area around Yuncheng had been very lively lately. Someone had hijacked the one-hundred-thousand-string birthday gift for Liang Zhongshu, a case that had caused a massive stir. The culprits had been identified but had escaped to Liangshan Marsh. There were even rumors of a mutiny on the mountain, and that it had changed masters. Later, it was also reported that the famous "Timely Rain" Song Jiang, a clerk in Yuncheng, had suddenly fled after being implicated in a murder case.

Yun Liwan asked, "Do you know them?"

Ximen Qing waved his hands repeatedly. "How would I dare to know such wanted criminals of the imperial court…"

"Then why are you bringing them up?" Yun Liwan snapped.

"Well…"

"Speak if you have something to say!" Yun Liwan’s temper was already frayed. The failure tonight had left him feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles, a thorn in his back, a bone in his throat.

"Perhaps I should go and try?" Ximen Qing said, having no other choice.

Yun Liwan sat up straight and frowned. "Very well. You may go, but act on your own. Do not mention that I am behind this. As for money, as long as the deed is done, I will pay whatever it takes."

Things had reached a point where he had to spare no expense.

Ximen Qing smacked his lips and nodded. "As you command."

"There are many bailiffs on the streets right now. Leaving the city in the middle of the night might attract attention. Wait until early morning, then go. Find someone quickly and return, so that we don't invite more trouble."

Yun Liwan could not even sleep in peace. Su Wu was even fiercer than the outlaw Yu Baosi; he was terrified that a man like that might act recklessly, or that something worse might happen.

Ximen Qing left the residence and started toward his home, but suddenly he stopped and changed direction.

Why? He realized that if Su Wu were driven by fury, he might come seeking revenge. Ximen Qing knew that if Su Wu thought about it, he would surely count Ximen Qing among his enemies.

If he couldn't go home, where would he go in the middle of the night? He remembered the words of a certain person and headed in that direction.