Chapter 34: No, No, This Won't Do...

Behind the small mountain village, there were several cattle sheds halfway up the slope, surrounded by dozens of men clutching crossbows. Inside the sheds, heart-wrenching screams echoed incessantly.

Dong Jian, an old bailiff, was a master at both taking statements and extracting confessions. Su Wu did not go inside to watch; he simply let Dong Jian handle each one—the five underlings, Liu Tang, and even Ximen Qing—ensuring every confession was crystal clear.

Su Wu sat alone on a ridge halfway up the hill, watching the morning sun slowly rise. He spoke to Lin Mao, “Life in the mountains is bitter, and the times are hard...”

Lin Mao nodded. “Is the Captain referring to the incident at Jingyang Stronghold?”

“Yes. I have a plan; hear me out,” Su Wu said in a consultative tone.

“Just give your orders, Brother. I know you would never bring us harm,” Lin Mao replied directly.

“Listen first. Jingyang Ridge is perilous on both sides, but the northern peak is especially treacherous. Building a fortress there serves two purposes. First, it is for self-preservation. Having offended those Liangshan bandits—and they are dangerous—they may seek revenge in the future. With a fortified stronghold, no matter how many come, they will be helpless.”

“Good. I will discuss it with the brothers; we shall do it at once,” Lin Mao agreed.

“I haven’t finished yet. Second, the brothers’ archery skills are truly exceptional, and their courage is remarkable. Instead of living among tigers and leopards in the woods, it would be better to leverage your skills to make a living. Countless merchants pass through Jingyang Ridge every day. Once the fortress is built, you need not bully people; even if you only take one in a hundred from the passing trade, it would be a fortune far greater than anything you could scrape together in the wilderness!”

“Well said, well said! How could I not listen to your words, Brother?” Lin Mao pledged again.

Little did he know, Su Wu still wasn’t finished. “Don’t be hasty. There is a third reason: in this territory, I can protect you. If I manage to secure a formal official position in the future, I can even grant this stronghold official status, and you will have nothing to worry about.”

“Brother, your vision is truly far-reaching. I will carry it out; rest assured,” Lin Mao replied.

“Building a fortress requires funds and grain. Within seven or eight days, I will send you one thousand strings of cash. Use it to hire workers and speed up construction, so we don’t run into complications.”

“My deepest thanks, Brother! We shall add the thousand strings you gave us last time to this, and we will certainly not fail you,” Lin Mao said, rising to bow deeply.

“In time, I will help you find better armor and crossbows, and you can recruit more men. Only then can you truly grow and thrive.” Su Wu was thinking truly long-term.

“I shall follow your lead in everything, Brother.” Lin Mao was visibly moved, realizing that his destiny had irrevocably changed.

“We are brothers, and we shall work together to make our future brighter,” Su Wu said. He stood up from the ridge and brushed the dirt from his clothes.

The morning sun was rising, a red orb burning in the azure sky. Su Wu suddenly felt a sense of immense clarity; his body felt filled with strength, and he looked upon this vast world, sensing there was much to be accomplished. He glanced at Lin Mao and saw that the man’s eyes were moist.

***

Su Wu smiled and patted Lin Mao on the shoulder without another word.

The screams in the cattle shed had ceased a while ago. Su Wu entered to see Ximen Qing. The dashing “Great Official” Ximen no longer looked so dashing; his face was swollen, his body covered in cow dung, and he was hoisted by ropes from the rafters. The fluid dripping from his nose and mouth was a mixture of saliva and blood.

Seeing Su Wu enter, Ximen Qing opened his eyes slightly and groaned, trying to speak but failing to make himself clear. He had clearly suffered greatly.

If one has suffered, one is usually no longer stubborn.

Su Wu began, “Great Official Ximen, I am actually a kind-hearted man; I cannot bear to see such scenes. You might be wondering why you have ended up this way and how you offended me. I will tell you: there is no real reason. In the end, it is the law of the jungle. I know much about your affairs—for instance, your adultery with Song Huilian and the murder of her husband, Jiang Cong... You kill others, and others will kill you. Don’t you think that is how the world works?”

Dong Jian asked from the side, “Captain, is this case true?”

Su Wu nodded. “Yes, force a full confession regarding this case.”

Ximen Qing’s head slumped, unable to lift it again.

“Rest assured, Captain, I will use more methods on this wretch!” Dong Jian gritted his teeth, shocked that Ximen Qing had a murder case on his hands.

Su Wu walked out and went to another shed where Liu Tang was held.

Liangshan was a bit of a headache...

Upon reflection, given the current strength of Liangshan—Chao Gai, Wu Yong, the Ruan brothers, the few men left from Wang Lun’s time, and several hundred underlings—they were actually not to be feared. The only one of note was “Panther Head” Lin Chong. Although Lin Chong was somewhat weak in character, he was a master of martial arts and no amateur when it came to leading troops.

However, at this moment, Liangshan truly lacked the capability to attack a city.

Therefore, sending Liu Tang to Daming Prefecture in exchange for money and merit, and perhaps gaining favor with Liang Zhongshu, was a move worth making. There was no need to worry for now.

Thinking further, what role did Liangshan play for Su Wu? He quickly realized: powerful bandits were necessary. Powerful bandits meant great merit, and great merit meant a future. He actually needed them! A thought occurred to him: raising bandits to secure one’s own importance.

But the bandits had to be kept under control; they could not be allowed to run wild.

Once he understood this, Su Wu felt his steps grow lighter. The path to the future lay beneath his feet.

***

Meanwhile, in Yanggu County, Yun Liwan acted out of character. He had arrived at the city gate tower early to sit and drink tea.

He was waiting for someone. He had been in a great mood, expecting good news. But as the time passed, no one appeared.

Anxiety began to gnaw at him. He summoned the gate guard commander and asked, “Have you seen Ximen Qing return?”

The commander shook his head. “Reporting to the Adjutant, I have not.”

Yun Liwan asked again, “Have you seen Su Wu return?”

The commander shook his head again. “No sign of Su Wu either...”

Yun Liwan was completely bewildered. What could be happening? He paced out of the tower, scanning the near and far horizons.

“Has anyone delivered a letter?”

The commander shook his head. “None.”

Yun Liwan looked up at the position of the sun and felt a surge of panic. “This is bad, this is bad...”

“Adjutant, what is bad?” the commander asked, hoping to share his superior’s burden.

But the Adjutant ignored him, rushing down the stairs. He went home briefly before sprinting to the county office to request an urgent audience with Magistrate Meng Yi.

Meng Yi received him and asked, “What is it?”

“Well... I fear I have encountered a difficult situation,” Yun Liwan said, bowing low.

“Oh? What could possibly be difficult for Adjutant Yun in Yanggu County?” Meng Yi’s voice carried a hint of mockery.

“It is my own rashness. Because of my brother, I had some friction with Captain Su at the office. We are colleagues, and it should not have been this way. In the future, I will discipline my brother properly. I hope you, sir, might join us at the Lion Tower; I wish to ask you to act as a mediator so I can apologize to Captain Su, and we may all be satisfied. Would you have the time, sir?”

As he spoke, Yun Liwan placed a box he had been carrying onto the tea table beside Meng Yi.