Heroes Arrive Again at Liangshan Marsh; Wu Song Drinks at Jingyang Ridge

Song Jiang bowed to Yang Zhong and Luo Zhong and said, "I hope that you two seniors will teach the Liangshan army some spear techniques if it is not difficult for you."

Yang Zhong and Luo Zhong were both experienced and shrewd. Seeing Song Jiang training troops and recruiting talents, they knew exactly what he was thinking. However, some things were left unsaid, and they both remained silent, choosing to remain oblivious.

After discussing it, they agreed to Song Jiang's request that Yang Zhong teach spear fighting on odd-numbered days of the month and Luo Zhong teach it on even-numbered days.

Seeing that they had drunk enough, Song Jiang ordered someone to take Luo Zhong and Yang Zhong to rest.

During the meal, Wu Yong quietly asked Bian Xiang who was stronger between the two old men and him. Bian Xiang thought for a moment and said, "I don't know since we've never competed. But if they were young, I might be inferior in terms of technique, but I would be stronger, so it might be a 50/50 chance. But if it were now, I would be about 60% confident of winning."

Having assessed the two men's martial prowess, Wu Yong smiled, shook his fan, and said nothing more.

Except for Zhu Gui and a few others, everyone else had a great time drinking!

Although Song Jiang was somewhat disappointed that Zhu Gui did not bring back Huangfu Duan, he did not blame Zhu Gui. However, Zhu Gui was quite uncomfortable!

On the day Zhu Gui arrived in Dongchang Prefecture, a martial arts contest was being held. This wasn't a civilian contest, but rather a selection process by the prefect of Dongchang to strengthen local security. The contest aimed to appoint skilled individuals from the populace as patrol inspectors and arresting agents. This could be considered a special path to officialdom, provided, of course, that one possessed genuine talent!

Huangfu Duan was also watching the arena fight that day, because his friend Zhang Qing, the Featherless Arrow, was among them. Zhu Gui also successfully met Huangfu Duan, but Huangfu Duan had a fine horse to tame and didn't have time to accompany Zhu Gui to Liangshan!

After the arena competition that day, Zhang Qing also invited Huangfu Duan to drink together. If it were anyone else, Zhu Gui might have used his wits to trick Huangfu Duan into joining Liangshan, but Huangfu Duan was a man of principle, and with Zhang Qing always by his side, Zhu Gui had no way to do anything!

He had seen Zhang Qing's skills before, even off the stage. Zhang Qing's skill with stones was superb, and his martial arts were unmatched. He was definitely the biggest favorite to become the patrol inspector. Zhu Gui stayed for two days, but not wanting to waste any more time, he had no choice but to return to Liangshan from Dongchang Prefecture!

Seeing that Zhu Gui always looked ashamed, Song Jiang planned to take Zhu Gui to Dongchang Prefecture to find Huangfu Duan and bring him up the mountain. If possible, it would be best if Zhang Qingyi could also come up the mountain!

Besides being exceptionally skilled in judging and treating horses, Huangfu Duan also had a very close relationship with Xu Guanzhong. Coupled with Zhang Qing's abilities, Song Jiang was determined to go on this trip no matter what!

The banquet had ended, and everyone was preparing to rest when another patrolman came in and said, "Brother, two more burly men have come looking for you!"

Song Jiang was taken aback and asked, "Did they say their names?"

The patrolman nodded and said, "They introduced themselves as Shan Shiqi and Zhu Jing!"

Song Jiang was so happy he almost cheered. Today was truly a double blessing. What was Liangshan lacking at the moment? You could say it lacked everything, but what it lacked most was high-level combat power. And now, two of them had arrived. Add to that the future Yang Zaixing and Luo Yanqing, and Liangshan was visibly rising, with a present and a future!

Song Jiang hurriedly said to the patrolling soldiers, "I'll go pick them up myself!" He wanted to call everyone to come along, but seeing that they were all a little drunk and had been training all day, he swallowed his words and gestured for them to go and rest.

Upon arriving at Golden Beach, the moonlight shone directly on the sand, as if adding a layer of silver gauze to the fine sand that was already draped in gold, making it beautiful and enchanting!

Shan Shiqi and Zhu Jingze stood on the shore waiting for Song Jiang to arrive!

From afar, Song Jiang spotted two imposing men, exuding an imposing aura. Upon closer inspection, he realized these two men possessed an air of valor and were by no means petty villains!

Shan Shiqi bowed and said, "My family has gotten into trouble, and Zhu Jing and I have come to seek refuge with you, brother. We hope you will take us in!" Zhu Jing also bowed beside him.

Song Jiang took the two men's hands and said, "Brothers, you must be tired from your journey. Let's have some food and drink first, then rest for the night. Tomorrow, I will arrange positions for you both!"

Shan Shiqi was overjoyed, never expecting that coming to Liangshan was the right decision!

Before joining Liangshan, Shan Shiqi and Zhu Jing fled after killing a ruffian. They originally intended to go to Hebei to find a place to become bandits, but they ended up in a place called Yunmeng Village, where they were warmly received by the village head!

Seeing that the two men looked down on their luck, but couldn't hide their heroic spirit, he asked them a question!

The two refused to admit that they had fled here because of a lawsuit involving personal names, intending to go to Hebei to become mountain bandits!

Seeing that the two men were unwilling to say more, the village head was probably afraid of someone's life, so he simply recounted Song Jiang's previous visit to Yunmeng Mountain.

Finally, he told the two that if they were truly in dire straits, seeking refuge with Song Jiang would be a good option!

Zhu Jing was somewhat tempted, but Shan Shiqi was more cautious. He thought that no matter what, Song Jiang was an official, and he wouldn't do something as despicable as getting him to associate with the government. However, it might be difficult for him to take him in!

Bao Zheng patted his chest on the spot and said that Song Jiang would definitely accept them, and then wrote a letter to Shan Shiqi!

Shan Shiqi thought that since Song Jiang was famous, it wouldn't hurt to go and meet him. So he changed his route from Hebei to Shandong!

The two traveled eastward to the territory of Jizhou Prefecture, but dared not enter the city. They found an inn and asked about Song Jiang. Unexpectedly, this was the East Village Inn of Liangshan. The innkeeper was quick to notice and, upon learning that the two were looking for Song Jiang, he took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with them!

Upon learning that the two men had indeed joined Song Jiang, he did not lead them to Yuncheng, but instead shot a signal arrow to summon boats to pick them up!

After reading the letter, Song Jiang never expected that his act of kindness on Yunmeng Mountain that day would trigger so many chain reactions. It seems that he really needs to do good deeds more often in the future!

The next day, since Shan Shiqi and Zhu Jing were newcomers, Song Jiang arranged for them to serve as instructors to train soldiers, and they would be promoted later!

After arranging everything, Song Jiang, carrying the Chunyang Sword, led Shan Shiqi to Yuncheng County.

Since it's a long trip, it's necessary to talk to Shi Wenbin first. If we could bring Wu Song along, that would be perfect!

Shan Shiqi and Bian Xiang were to guard Liangshan. If Liangshan didn't really need someone to guard it, Song Jiang would have loved to bring them all out with him!

Shi Wenbin was somewhat surprised to learn that Song Jiang was going to Dongchang Prefecture, but he still gave Song Jiang some brocade to deliver to the prefect of Dongchang. The two had been classmates and had some friendship. The prefect of Dongchang's birthday was coming up, so he asked Song Jiang to deliver a gift.

Time was still a bit tight; it was already the end of April, and the time for the birthday tribute was getting closer and closer!

The three men, accompanied by two soldiers, bought some more gifts and set off for Dongchang Prefecture!

Actually, Dongchang Prefecture is not far from Yuncheng County, but it passes through Yanggu County. Thinking of the place that changed Wu Song's life, Song Jiang smiled bitterly.

The group traveled for three days and arrived at Yanggu County.

This place is still far from the county seat.

Around noon that day, everyone was hungry and thirsty. They saw a tavern ahead with a banner in front of it that read, "Three bowls and you're done."

Wu Song laughed and said, "Brother, 'Three bowls and you're done!' Why don't we go in and take a look?"

Song Jiang was also delighted. They had actually come to Jingyang Ridge, the place where Wu Song made his name. He just wondered if the tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead was still there.

The group of five entered the shop and found a table to sit down. Wu Song was a little hungry and said loudly, "Shopkeeper, bring us all the good wine and meat! I'm starving!"

Seeing that these people were all dressed as government officials, the waiter dared not neglect them. He took five bowls and five pairs of chopsticks and placed them in front of them. He also brought out a large jar of wine and filled each bowl with wine.

Wu Song laughed and said, "Doesn't the sign at the gate say 'Three bowls are enough to cross the hill'? How can one bowl of wine be enough?"

The waiter smiled and said, "Don't be impatient, sir. This wine has a high alcohol content and a strong aftereffect. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Song Jiang looked at the wine. Although it was village wine, it was not as cloudy as ordinary village wine. On the contrary, it had fewer impurities and was more crystal clear. He thought that the wine was brewed with excellent craftsmanship.

Wu Song glanced at the wine, then picked up the bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and exclaimed, "Good wine, but it's a pity, it's not smooth enough. Host, as the saying goes, wine without meat is not the way to treat guests."

The innkeeper said, "We slaughtered a sheep this morning, and we have some lamb legs here."

Wu Song happily replied, "Alright, we have plenty of men here. Bring on the meat, and you'll be well paid."

The waiter went inside and brought out two lamb legs and a large plate of mutton. He then brought it out and placed it in front of the group, before filling Wu Song's bowl with wine.

Wu Song raised his bowl and said, "What a pity. If I had never tasted Brother Song Jiang's wine, this wine would indeed be quite good. But ever since I drank Brother Song Jiang's wine, all other wines taste bland and tasteless to me."

Song Jiang laughed and said, "Second Brother, as long as you want to drink, I'll send you wine every month, as much as you want."

Wu Song laughed loudly, "Brother, you must keep your word! I'll offer you a bowl of wine."

Zhu Jinghe and the other two also picked up their bowls, and the five of them clinked their bowls together and drank them all in one gulp.

Song Jiang thought the wine was alright, but not as strong as his own, and the taste wasn't as refined. It seemed that no matter what, it was still village wine, and its taste was ultimately a bit rough.

After finishing a bowl of wine, the waiter came over and filled it again. Wu Song drank very quickly, and he was also really hungry from traveling. He ate some mutton and then drank a third bowl.

The waiter saw that Wu Song had finished three bowls of wine but didn't come to pour more. Wu Song was a little puzzled and laughed, "Bring me more wine! I haven't had enough yet!"

The waiter said, "Sir, our specialty is 'Three Bowls and You're Done,' but we only sell three bowls of wine!"

Wu Song said, "How can that be? The guest wants to buy wine, but the host won't sell it to him."

The waiter said, "Sir, you can see that the banner in front of my door clearly says: 'Three bowls and you can't cross the hill.'"

Song Jiang chuckled inwardly. This was basically the same plot as the original story, except that he and three soldiers were added.

Wu Song said, "I saw it!"

The waiter said, "Although our wine is village wine, it is no worse than aged wine. Most customers can only drink three bowls and have no capacity for a fourth bowl, let alone get past Jingyang Ridge. So we only sell three bowls of wine to our customers."

Wu Song laughed and said, "Can you tell I'm drunk?"

The waiter said, "My wine is called 'Fragrant Through the Bottle,' also known as 'Intoxicating Upon Leaving.' It's mellow and delicious at first sip, but you'll be intoxicated after a short while."

Suddenly, Song Jiang asked, "May I ask, innkeeper, is there a tiger ahead?"

The waiter replied with some surprise, "A tiger? I've never heard of that. Sir, where did you hear that there's a fierce tiger on Jingyang Ridge?"

Song Jiang was somewhat disappointed. It seemed that the "Jingyang Ridge" level hadn't been unlocked yet, and he wouldn't get to see Wu Song fight the tiger today. However, he still said, "I heard someone on the way here say that there is a fierce tiger on Jingyang Ridge."

The waiter shook his head and said, "That's utter nonsense. At least thirty or forty people pass through Jingyang Ridge every day, and I've never seen a tiger there."

Wu Song said, "Pour me some wine first."

At this moment, the innkeeper also came out. Seeing that Wu Song remained completely unmoved, he secretly admired him and said to the waiter, "Everything varies from person to person. Go and pour the wine for the gentleman!"

After hearing what the boss had said, the waiter went inside to get the wine jug. Just then, another voice came from the doorway: "Shopkeeper, I'm a little tired from traveling. Bring me some wine to drink."

Passing Jingyang Ridge, the "Three Bowls and You Can't Cross the Ridge" route is a must, so it's normal for travelers to stop at the inn to rest and have a meal. However, Song Jiang heard the loud and clear voice and looked towards the inn's entrance.

A man walked in. What did he look like? He had a face like a red date, phoenix eyes and silkworm eyebrows, walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and had a long beard that reached his belly. He was not yet forty years old.

Song Jiang was captivated by the man's appearance. If it weren't for Wu Song sitting next to him, he would have been certain that he was in the Song Dynasty, in the world of Water Margin. He would have thought he had come to the Three Kingdoms period. This man looked so much like Guan Yu, even more so than Zhu Tong.

But thinking about Mi Sheng, who looks a lot like Cheng Yaojin, he guessed that this must be a similar person. He just wondered if this was a descendant of Guan Yu, Guan Sheng. Thinking of Guan Sheng, he thought of Hao Siwen, that passionate young man.

However, Guan Sheng should not be in Shandong at this time; it is unknown whether he is in Hedong or Kaifeng.

The man who looked just like Guan Yu also saw Wu Song, Zhu Jing, and Song Jiang. His gaze lingered on Song Jiang for only a moment before turning to Wu Song and fixing on him.

Song Jiang felt somewhat helpless, but that was reality. Both Zhu Jing and Wu Song were indeed much better looking than him.

The man nodded, thinking to himself, "This young man looks like a hero."

Wu Song was also attracted to this man, and the two were interested in becoming acquainted.

Wu Song stood up and spoke first: "This brother has an extraordinary appearance. How about we have a few drinks together?"

The man smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. I'll take my leave then." Without any further ado, he sat down at the table.

The shopkeeper took a bowl, placed it in front of the man, filled it with wine, and then filled it with wine for Wu Song as well.

Wu Song raised his bowl and said, "I'll offer this bowl to this elder brother."

The man also picked up his bowl and said, "I can tell from your appearance that you are a hero."

The two drank it all in one gulp, and the man then toasted Zhu Jing with another bowl, saying, "This brother is no less impressive!"

Zhu Jing smiled and drank a bowl with him!

The three of them drank a bowl of wine and became acquainted. The man completely ignored Song Jiang, who was standing next to him. Song Jiang didn't care, since he didn't like drinking anyway.

Wu Song asked, "May I ask your name, elder brother?"

Song Jiang was also curious about this guy's name. He wondered if it was Guan Sheng. If it really was Guan Sheng, then he couldn't let him leave like this no matter what.