The Hero's Path Ends at His Feet: So What If It's an Abyss?

Hua Rong was a little embarrassed and was about to speak when Song Jiang quickly comforted him, saying, "It's a good thing that Bao Yan wants to improve herself. It's good that she has A-Xia and Qiu-Xia to keep her company!"

When Hua Rong heard Song Jiang speak, he could no longer blame Hua Baoyan, so he could only glare at her!

Hua Baoyan smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, Brother Gongming! Brother Gongming is much more open-minded than my older brother!" Then she said to Pang Qiuxia, "Qiuxia, you should come along too!"

Pang Qiuxia glanced at Pang Wanchun, and seeing that he was just smiling and didn't object, she quickly nodded and agreed, "Okay!"

Song Jiang looked at the two and laughed, "Practice your martial arts well and study military strategy diligently. After you have completed your studies, I will specially build an all-female army for you, so that you too can be remembered in history and leave a lasting legacy, telling future generations that women are not inferior to men, and that women are certainly no less capable than men!"

The young women were instantly filled with excitement and enthusiasm!

After a few days of getting to know her, Song Jiang discovered that Hua Baoyan was not the kind of well-mannered, demure young lady, but rather a spirited, lively, and cheerful woman!

Although both were stunningly beautiful, they were also skilled in martial arts, proficient in horseback riding, archery, and swordsmanship—in modern terms, they were tomboys. Pang Qiuxia was the same way, which is why these two vibrant and talented archer sisters were always together. Ever since they met, they seemed to have endless topics to discuss and were always inseparable! They certainly brought some youthful and beautiful scenery to Liangshan, a place full of men!

It's unclear how Hua Rong managed to persuade Hua Baoyan to marry the rough-and-tumble Qin Ming. Was it some trick Song Jiang used in the original story, or did she genuinely fall for Qin Ming? Otherwise, given Hua Baoyan's personality, she would have surely made a huge scene and threatened to kill herself!

But no matter what, in this life, just because she calls him Brother Gongming, he won't force her to marry someone he doesn't like!

In ancient times, especially during the Song Dynasty, the constraints on women's thinking reached an unprecedented level of pathology. Particularly after the rise of Neo-Confucianism, women were required to abide by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. If a husband died, a woman was expected to remain a widow and could not remarry. Many women considered it an honor to receive a chastity memorial arch.

As for reading? That's really just wishful thinking! Very few people are like Li Qingzhao; most lead a life of going back and forth between home and work, rarely venturing outside their homes!

But in Song Jiang's view, the poison of feudal society goes far beyond this. It affects not only women but also men. It binds people's minds and makes them ignorant so that they can be controlled!

Why are the common people in Lu Xun's writings so apathetic, ignorant, and devoid of any compassion, only able to be spectators and blindly follow the crowd? It's because they are all illiterate, lack knowledge, and no one tells them to abandon old ideas, learn new ones, and look to the future. Therefore, they can only live in a daze. This is an extremely ugly and pedantic image.

The New Culture Movement liberated people's minds, enabling many talents to learn knowledge. Students also became a new force in the revolution. Furthermore, the great leader proposed the strategy of encircling the cities from the countryside, overthrowing local tyrants and evil gentry, and distributing land, which united the peasants and led to the creation of a new China!

Since we've joined Liangshan, illiteracy is unacceptable and cannot exist. This is Song Jiang's bottom line, and one of the things he must do!

Noticing the men staring at him, Song Jiang put down his bowl and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Wu Yong asked with a strange expression, "Was what you just said a joke, Clerk?"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "This is my expectation and my wish: that everyone is well-versed in the classics, that everyone has enough to eat, that there is no injustice in the world, and that the government acts as the people's guardian!"

"Brother, you are so kind and righteous! I, Liu Tang, admire you the most!" Liu Tang stood up, bowed, and said sincerely.

Song Jiang shook his head and said, "The task is arduous and the road is long; this is only the first step! Let's move forward towards this goal!"

Chao Gai said with shame, "In the past, I thought my reputation was on par with yours, my worthy brother. But after hearing your words today, I realize that we are worlds apart! From now on, if anyone dares to disobey you, I, Chao Gai, will be the first to speak to them!"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Brother, please don't say that. It would be embarrassing for Song Jiang. In my opinion, only with the help of my brothers can I advance further!"

In truth, who didn't have passion, integrity, and dreams when they were young? It's just that sometimes dreams seem unattainable, and everyone eventually has to bow to reality and life!

Song Jiang then said to Wu Yong, "I'm sure you'll be quite busy in the days to come, sir!"

Wu Yong smiled slightly: "Scholars are afraid of being idle. As for teaching and educating people, I'm quite proficient in that area!"

Song Jiang laughed and said, "That's certainly not enough. I hope you'll write a few letters to Dean Dai, Mr. Xiao, and Mr. Jin, inviting them to join us at Liangshan!"

Wu Yong asked, "Does Mr. Xiao refer to the 'Divine Hand Scholar' Xiao Rang, and Mr. Jin refer to the 'Jade Arm Craftsman' Jin Dajian?"

Song Jiang nodded and said, "It is indeed these two. I have heard that Xiao Rang can imitate the calligraphy of various masters, and Jin Dajian can make all kinds of seal script in the world. These two have extremely special talents and will surely be of great use in the future!"

Wu Yong said, "In that case, I'll go write letters to Dai Zong, Xiao Rang, and Jin Dajian later." Unconsciously, Wu Yong changed his way of addressing Song Jiang from "clerk" to "brother," which made him seem much more affectionate!

Song Jiang said earnestly, "If they don't want to come up the mountain, there's no need to force them!"

Wu Yong laughed and said, "Brother, don't worry. With your silver tongue, you scholar, you'll surely get them to come to Liangshan!"

Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian are indispensable figures in Liangshan in the future. With them as partners, there are so many things they can do. For example, on the front lines of the battlefield, they can have an inside agent deliver false intelligence documents to the enemy and defeat them in one fell swoop!

Song Jiang, who deeply understood the importance of intelligence in later generations, naturally knew how valuable intelligence was. This is why Song Jiang so hoped that Dai Zong would join the mountain. Song Jiang was confident that he could form an all-pervasive intelligence organization with Dai Zong, Yan Qing, Yue He, and Shi Qian to work deep behind enemy lines!

If this intelligence organization only covered the Song Dynasty, Song Jiang felt it was somewhat inadequate. It had to encompass the entire land of China (including the Liao, Jurchen, Tibetan, Dali, and Western Xia) for Song Jiang to give it a second glance!

Over there, everyone was still eating and chatting enthusiastically. They were all young people with amazing appetites, and all the food was devoured without a single dish being wasted. Everyone was all smiles as they ate! Song Jiang and Chao Gai's servants were a little better off, as they occasionally had meat to eat. But for the fishermen led by Ruan Xiaoer and his crew, this was a delicacy they hadn't seen for months!

After dinner, the cooks put away their bowls, and Song Jiang told them to digest their food and allowed them to move around for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Song Jiang made them stand at attention for another half an hour, practice standing at attention and at ease, and then dismissed them to rest. After all, it was only the first day, and the grueling training had just begun!

Upon learning of the disbandment, many people excitedly jumped for joy, only to find that their thighs were already aching and their feet were in great pain, causing them to fall directly to the ground!

Song Jiang suppressed a laugh and told them to rest quickly. As for what to do about all that sweat? There was enough water by the lake, but there was no hot water available in the current situation!

That night, three people left Liangshan: Chao Gai, Liu Tang, and Pang Wanchun.

Chao Gai was, after all, the head of a local village. Although Dongxi Village didn't have much to do on a daily basis, besides handling some daily affairs for the villagers, he spent his time exercising, visiting relatives and friends, eating large chunks of meat, and drinking heavily. It was common for him to be away from the village.

However, since we are now doing some sensitive things with Song Jiang, we are afraid that being away from the village for a long time will cause gossip and arouse suspicion. Therefore, we will temporarily provide logistical support for Song Jiang in Dongxi Village, transporting supplies such as rice, flour, iron, and meat!

Liu Tang went to Jizhou Prefecture to find Xiao Rang and Jin Dajian, hoping to get Wu Yong's letter and persuade them to come to Liangshan to create a great cause together!

Pang Wanchun has a long journey ahead. He needs to go to Jiangzhou to find Dai Zong and deliver the letter to him. It may take him about a month to return to Liangshan!

In the dead of night, Song Jiang lay on a dilapidated bed. There was no light, and the room was shrouded in darkness. He thought of that famous line from a later poem: "The night gave me black eyes, yet I use them to seek the light!" His path was far from easy. Without a system, without any cheat codes, he had to rely entirely on himself. Even with his precognitive advantage, none of his enemies were insignificant. Could he truly lead everyone safely through the impending chaos and create a prosperous era together? One wrong step, and the abyss beneath his feet would swallow him whole, leaving him utterly doomed!

Shaking his head, Song Jiang murmured, "I only want to bring light; I will never fall into the abyss, never!"