Chapter 50: Even Banditry Requires Principles

Lu Wei paced the open ground for a long time, hesitating, unable to make up his mind in the end.

"Go call Second and Fifth over," Lu Wei instructed.

The river bandits at his side naturally knew he meant the former Second-in-Command and Fifth-in-Command.

Before long, the two arrived before Lu Wei.

"Big Brother, what is it that couldn’t be said indoors? Coming out here only makes Second-in-Command suspicious," Ma Su said.

Hearing "Second-in-Command" now, Lu Wei felt a surge of anger, nearly grinding his teeth to powder. After everything that man had pulled, you still call him Second-in-Command!

"Take a look at this first," Lu Wei said as he handed over the wanted notice.

Strictly speaking, there shouldn't have been so many literate men in a bandits' lair, but as it happened, these few could all read.

Lu Wei had attended school for a few years as a child before turning to boat work. Ma Su had actually been a proper scholar once, but lacking talent, he couldn't even pass the lowest imperial exam. He later took up labor, met Lu Wei, and had followed him on the river ever since. Fifth, Xu Zhong, had formerly been a prison warden; he had killed a man by accident and fled here to become a river bandit. He didn’t know many characters, but enough to get by.

The two took the notice and were instantly stunned. Second-in-Command was the Shen family’s son-in-law?

"What do you make of this?" Lu Wei asked.

The looks on Ma Su and Xu Zhong’s faces were truly something to behold. What could they make of it? Their minds buzzed with confusion!

A son-in-law of a noble house ought to be graceful and refined, shouldn’t he? Yet Second-in-Command's every word was rebellious, his mouth full of tales of heroism. How could he be the Shen family’s son-in-law?

"I really underestimated our Second-in-Command. Lies and truth all mixed together, half real and half false, and I never detected a thing," Lu Wei said, fuming.

"Big Brother, I agree. And the things he said—they made sense! I truly couldn’t tell he was just making things up to save his own skin," Ma Su said, puzzled.

"If you ask me, there’s nothing to consider. The notice says fifty thousand taels. All we have to do is send him back, and with that money, we can go anywhere," Xu Zhong said, practically seeing piles of gold and silver in front of him.

"Shen family’s money—do you think you’ll live long enough to spend it? Do you really believe they’d hand over a hundred thousand to you?" Lu Wei retorted.

"Big Brother, I actually think it’s feasible. But let’s not take the money—just return Second-in-Command. The Shen family will owe us a favor. Who knows, that could prove useful in the future," Ma Su suggested.

"Then how should we tell him?"

"This..." Ma Su hesitated, lowering his head in thought. If they laid the cards on the table, neither side could save face—so much for building a relationship.

Lu Wei’s heart was deeply conflicted. On one hand, Lu Jin had deceived him; on the other, he was truly moved by Lu Jin’s words, his desires growing uncontrollably. And yet the one who lit this fire of ambition in him was a noble’s son-in-law—how could he possibly help him realize any grand designs?

"I’ve made up my mind—let’s go back," Lu Wei said after a long silence.

"Ah? What are you planning, Big Brother?" Xu Zhong asked.

"Always talking about brotherhood—I want to see how sincere he really is. At worst, we drown him in Yunmeng Marsh and feed him to the fish. I have to vent this anger," Lu Wei said, striding away.

When the three returned inside, they found Lu Jin already mingling with the bandit brothers, his cheeks flushed with drink. He seemed perfectly at ease, as if this place were truly his home.

"Big Brother, you’re back. What took you so long?" Lu Jin asked as he saw Lu Wei return.

"Just a small matter," Lu Wei replied offhandedly.

"You don’t look well, Big Brother. Is something troubling you? Tell me, maybe your brother can help you think it through," Lu Jin said, pulling Lu Wei over and pushing him into a seat.

Lu Wei: "..."

Lu Wei felt dazed—could this really be the son-in-law of a grand family from Jiangnan?

"It’s handled. Nothing worth troubling a brother over. Come, drink!" Lu Wei pushed aside his worries and raised his bowl.

The room filled with the clinking of cups and the raucous cheer of men. Lu Jin, too, drank his fill.

"What are your plans, brother?" Lu Wei asked.

"Plans? What plans?" Lu Jin replied, puzzled.

"Life here at the water fortress is hard. And, if I may speak frankly, brother, with the conditions as they are, your talents really have no place to shine. So I was thinking of sending you home first. Once we’ve built this island up a bit, we’ll invite you back. Meanwhile, in town, you could help us gather information..."

Lu Wei believed this was a perfectly reasonable suggestion. Surely Lu Jin would seize the opportunity to leave.

"What do you mean, Big Brother? You just made me Second-in-Command, and now you want me to go back? Are you toying with me?" Lu Jin smashed his wine bowl on the ground, his face flushed with anger.

The three who knew the truth were dumbfounded. Why was he reacting this way? Shouldn’t the Shen family’s son-in-law be eager for such an excuse to return home? Why did he refuse?

"Oh, brother, you wrong me. I meant it sincerely. It’s just, as things stand, there’s really no room for you here. Going home, you can at least reassure your family and friends. You’ve been gone over a month—how can I, as your elder brother, not think of you?"

"I thought you were looking down on me, Big Brother," Lu Jin said, hiccupping.

"Shall I arrange for someone to escort you home tomorrow, then?"

"I’m not going. I have my hands and feet—why can’t I find a role here?" Lu Jin pushed Lu Wei aside.

Go back? He would, but not yet. Now he was truly destitute, even his last belongings taken by the bandits. If he returned now, he’d have nothing to eat. Why bother?

As for the Shen family, Lu Jin had no idea how much effort they’d spent searching for him. In his mind, their relationship was finished.

More importantly, from recent events, he’d recognized his own weakness. Without real power, all talk was empty. Befriending these outlaws might just be his chance at strength.

Lu Jin had indeed deceived Lu Wei, but in truth, he was also swept up by his own passion—how could he return now?

The three were thoroughly baffled. Why would the Shen family’s son-in-law give up a good life to become a river bandit? Was being a bandit really so desirable?

Could he have overheard their conversation? Impossible—they’d chosen a remote spot specifically to avoid being heard.

But Lu Jin had no such ability; it was all pure coincidence.

"Brothers, let me say a few words." Lu Jin stood, wine bowl in hand, and knocked it against the table.

The room quieted, all eyes on the Second-in-Command. Lu Wei, meanwhile, was completely lost—where had things gone wrong?

"Let me ask you—who are we?" Lu Jin looked around the room.

"Aren’t we river bandits?"

"Heroes and men of honor!"

"Well said. We’re river bandits, but also heroes. Let me ask you again—why are you all here?" Lu Jin’s gaze swept the room.

Many lowered their heads. Who would choose this path if there was any other way? Of course, some were simply killers and thieves.

"Second-in-Command, the landlord took all my land—I had no way to live, so I became a bandit."

"That bastard Wang’s son got my wife pregnant. I killed him."

Once someone spoke up, others followed, pouring out their woes. Some even wept softly. The hall became a meeting of grievances.

"Let me ask you—what will you do in the future?" Lu Jin slammed his bowl on the table, raising his voice.

"…"

No one could answer. Living as a bandit meant living day to day—any moment could be their last. What future was there?

Lu Wei wished to intervene, uncertain what Lu Jin was aiming for, but faced with this scene, he couldn’t even if he tried.

"Let me tell you—you have no future. In the past, you suffered, lost your way, and so you became river bandits. Today you rob travelers, tomorrow you kill and plunder. Today you kill him, tomorrow he kills you." Lu Jin, emboldened by wine, spoke with the passion of a storm.

"But have you ever really thought about what has forced you down this path? What has left you with no future? It's this rotten world, corrupt officials lining their pockets, landlords seizing everything they can. They're the ones who’ve left us with no way out!"

"We rob and oppress those just as poor as ourselves—what kind of heroes are we?" Lu Jin thundered.

"Our true enemies are the corrupt officials who oppress the people, the landlords who plunder without restraint. Only by smashing this rotten world to pieces can we have a future, can our children and grandchildren have a future!"

"So we must not content ourselves with being mere bandits. We must fight for all those who suffer in this world—for justice, on behalf of Heaven itself!" Lu Jin’s voice shook the rafters.

Four words—each one a blade, each a hammer blow to Lu Wei's heart.