Chapter 228: To Gain Rank and Office, Kill and Burn, Then Accept the Court's Amnesty

…

After hearing Yuwen Xuzhong finish explaining Zhao Yu's Water Margin plan, Wu Yong, who was restless to the bone, felt not the slightest worry, fear, or reluctance—none of those negative emotions at all. What he felt was nothing but undisguised excitement.

Seeing this, Yuwen Xuzhong thought to himself, "This man truly is a reckless fool. Faced with such a shocking, world-upending scheme, he shows not a trace of fear, and instead his heart leaps with excitement. Whether Your Majesty gained this man as a blessing or a curse, I cannot say."

Yuwen Xuzhong mulled it over inwardly, but did not show a hint of it. He merely nodded slightly and said, his tone carrying a measure of probing and deliberation: "The New Policies, Second Set, which the court is implementing—this is a fine plan to save the people—yet it has been secretly obstructed by the gentry. The gentry are also deeply entangled with local officials, their local influence so deeply rooted that the court's decrees cannot get through. The court had no choice but to employ such a dangerous stratagem, to force the gentry to accept reform, give up part of their vested interests, and leave the common folk a way to survive."

Yuwen Xuzhong further justified it for Zhao Yu: "If not for this, how would the court have resorted to such heavy-handed measures?"

Wu Yong laughed and said: "This commoner comes from among the people, and the New Policies, Second Set have also been implemented in my hometown—how could I not know how the gentry resist the court's reforms? In this commoner's view, the court's plan is most fitting. The gentry's affliction is like a stubborn sickness clinging to the bone—it cannot be cured without a fierce remedy."

Yuwen Xuzhong had not expected Wu Yong to accept this vicious scheme so easily. He should know that when he himself first learned he was to carry out this vicious scheme, his heart had struggled a hundred times over, as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at it. Only after weighing the pros and cons again and again, and citing Zhao Yu's grace in recognizing his talent as well as the greater good of the nation, did he manage to convince himself to view it as the only path to save the country from peril, and reluctantly set foot upon this bloody road that was destined to cost countless gentry their lives.

Yet now, seeing Wu Yong not only show no aversion to this vicious scheme but actually voice approval, Yuwen Xuzhong could not help but be secretly astonished and puzzled. He could not understand why Wu Yong would accept it so calmly, even seeming to harbor some kind of expectation. He gazed into Wu Yong's eyes, which glittered with a cunning light, trying to catch some clue within them, but all he saw was a hunger for the unknown challenge and an indifference to the gentry's fate.

What Yuwen Xuzhong found most incomprehensible was that Wu Yong was also a scholar, and had nearly passed the jinshi examination at that—by rights he could be counted among the gentry. He should have resonated with the gentry, so why would he so easily take a stand against them, even seeming to regard the storm about to befall the gentry with an almost cold, detached observer's gaze?

This was something Yuwen Xuzhong—who had passed the jinshi examination with ease and had quickly been promoted by Zhao Yu—could not understand: for a poor-scholar lad like Wu Yong who had failed to pass the jinshi, how rare and precious an opportunity that was guaranteed to let him rise was.

Put it this way—even if you were now to ask Wu Yong to slaughter all the gentry like Huang Chao did, "trampling the ministers' bones underfoot on the imperial avenue," Wu Yong—this poor-scholar lad with a pent-up grievance in his bones, thirsting to rise above the rest—would probably agree without the slightest hesitation. Because in his view, this was not merely a reform of the court, but a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a man of such humble birth to turn the tables, take charge, and rewrite his fate.

A nameless light glittered in Wu Yong's eyes—a hunger for power, a pursuit of status, and above all a desire for revenge against all those past days of being mocked and looked down upon for his birth. He knew full well that, no matter how things unfolded, as long as he followed closely in Zhao Yu's footsteps, he could transform himself from an obscure poor-scholar lad into a pivotal figure capable of swaying the situation, and also obtain the fame and fortune he desired, putting his political ambitions into practice.

Yuwen Xuzhong could not quite read Wu Yong, but it did not matter, because his task was only to keep an eye on Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others, to prevent them from slipping out of Zhao Yu's control, and to keep this matter from spiraling. The rest would be handled by Song Jiang and his people.

Next, Yuwen Xuzhong and Wu Yong carefully discussed and sorted through the Water Margin plan. In the end, the two of them settled on this: Wu Yong would return home to persuade Song Jiang to rise in revolt, while Yuwen Xuzhong would recruit men for Song Jiang and Wu Yong, to ensure the smooth progress of the uprising plan.

Wu Yong gladly accepted the order, the hot blood in his heart surging even more tumultuously, as if he could already see himself standing in the court, pointing at the realm, his glorious future spread out before him.

After the two of them had settled on the grand plan, Yuwen Xuzhong said toward the door: "You two, come in."

The moment Yuwen Xuzhong's words fell, two burly men entered from outside the door.

Of these two burly men, one had a leopard's head and ringed eyes, a swallow's jaw and tiger's whiskers, a body of eight chi in length, and was twenty-five or twenty-six years old; the other had a body of six chi five or six cun in length, a very slim waist and broad shoulders, and was just over twenty years old.

Yuwen Xuzhong pointed at the two burly men and said to Wu Yong: "One of them is called Lin Chong, the other Xu Ning. They will assist you and Song Jiang in the uprising. Once I have settled matters on my end, I will come find you. Remember—my name is Gongsun Sheng!"

At this point, Yuwen Xuzhong was still baffled, unable to understand why Noble Consort Zhang had given him this name, and even less why Noble Consort Li and Noble Consort Ye had laughed so meaningfully.

Shaking his head inwardly, Yuwen Xuzhong took out one thousand taels of "garlic-head gold" and handed it to Wu Yong as startup funds, then sent Wu Yong, Lin Chong, and Xu Ning back to Jizhou.

After they went out, Lin Chong asked Wu Yong: "Does the Strategist know how to ride a horse?"

Wu Yong's old face reddened. Although his family could be considered well-off, it depended on who you compared them to. Compared with ordinary folk, it was indeed so, but compared with true high officials and nobles, gentry clans, wealthy households, and great merchants, calling his family a poor household was already flattering them—otherwise he would not have had to take a part-time job as a tutoring teacher at a wealthy family's home.

Seeing that Wu Yong could not ride a horse, Lin Chong found a donkey for Wu Yong.

And so, the three of them returned to Jizhou.

On the road, Wu Yong asked about Lin Chong and Xu Ning's backgrounds, and learned that one was a drill instructor of the Imperial Guards and the other an instructor of the Golden Spear Squad of Zhao Yu's personal guard—both had been inexplicably chosen to join this affair.

The journey passed without further talk.

Soon, the three of them arrived at Wang Wang Yuncheng in Jizhou Prefecture.

After a brief rest at Wu Yong's home, the three of them went to the teahouse opposite the Wang Wang Yuncheng Office to wait for Song Jiang.

When Song Jiang came out of the county office with a companion, Wu Yong intercepted him in the street and called out: "Clerk, please come in here for tea."

Song Jiang, seeing it was his old friend Wu Yong, asked with a smile: "Strategist, didn't you go to the capital for the examinations? How could you have come back so quickly?"

Wu Yong laughed and said: "Please come into the teahouse, Clerk, and we'll talk over tea."

Seeing that Wu Yong did not answer but only invited him into the teahouse to talk, how could Song Jiang not understand—Wu Yong had some secret and important matter to discuss with him.

Song Jiang did not waste any more words, and followed Wu Yong into the teahouse, then to a private room in the corner.

There, Song Jiang saw Lin Chong and Xu Ning.

At first glance, Song Jiang could tell that Lin Chong and Xu Ning were not only burly and valiant in appearance, but also extraordinary in bearing—the kind that had surely seen the world.

Song Jiang proactively bowed and said: "I dare not ask the esteemed brothers their surnames?"

Lin Chong bowed very politely and said: "I am Lin Chong, formerly a drill instructor of the Imperial Guards in Jingcheng."

Xu Ning, by contrast, was more taciturn. He also bowed and said: "Xu Ning, formerly an instructor of the Golden Spear Squad of Your Majesty's personal guard."

To be honest, neither Lin Chong's nor Xu Ning's positions were particularly high.

But it depended on who you compared them to. Compared with Song Jiang, a mere petty clerk, Lin Chong and Xu Ning—especially the latter—had statuses that were exceedingly lofty.

Hearing that Lin Chong and Xu Ning held such lofty positions, Song Jiang hurriedly said: "My foolish eyes failed to recognize the drill instructor and the instructor—please forgive the offense. The petty clerk surnamed Song, named Jiang, is none other than myself."

Lin Chong and Xu Ning returned the courtesy: "We have long heard of your great name, but never had the fortune to meet you. It is only through our acquaintance with the Strategist that we have been able to behold your honored countenance."

Song Jiang said: "I am惶恐. Drill Instructor, Instructor, please take the seats of honor."

Lin Chong said: "How could the two of us dare to take the seats of honor? Clerk, please take the seat of honor."

Song Jiang said: "The drill instructor and the instructor are both great personages who have come from Jingcheng, and are visitors from afar—they naturally take the seats of honor." The three of them exchanged courtesies for a while. Knowing that among their group, they would have to decide who was in charge, Lin Chong and Xu Ning firmly refused to take the seat of honor, so Song Jiang had no choice but to take the host's seat. Wu Yong sat at the lower end as companion, and Lin Chong and Xu Ning took the guests' seats.

Song Jiang called the tea server to bring four cups of tea.

Before long, the tea arrived.

The few of them drank tea for a while.

Only then did Song Jiang ask: "Drill Instructor, Instructor, what official business brings you to our humble county?"

Lin Chong and Xu Ning did not answer, and looked toward Wu Yong.

Only then did Song Jiang realize that, no matter how lofty Lin Chong's and Xu Ning's statuses were, they seemed to take orders from Wu Yong.

This secretly piqued Song Jiang's curiosity—he wondered what special experience this old friend of his had had, that could make great personages like Lin Chong and Xu Ning take orders from him.

Song Jiang looked at Wu Yong, his meaning as if to say: between us two brothers, let's not stand on ceremony—if there's something you want me to help with, just say it straight out.

However, Wu Yong did not immediately bring up the matter of asking Song Jiang to organize the uprising. Instead, he first asked: "I wonder what Brother's thoughts are on the New Policies, Second Set that the court is implementing?"

Song Jiang thought to himself: what thoughts could I possibly have? Of course I oppose it. If this policy is implemented by the court, how much less money will my family make in a year? How would I still have so much money to give generously to charity and help people out of their difficulties?

But Song Jiang and Wu Yong were old friends of many years, and he knew Wu Yong would not shoot without aim—there had to be a reason for asking him this way.

Song Jiang looked again and saw that Lin Chong and Xu Ning had come from Jingcheng—or one could also say, from the court—and immediately understood.

Song Jiang said: "This policy is a fine plan to save the people. If it can be carried out, our Great Song will surely enjoy peace and prosperity, the common folk will live and work in contentment—it is truly a great blessing for the realm!"

Seeing how quick-witted Song Jiang was, Wu Yong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. On the surface, he glanced at Lin Chong and Xu Ning, his meaning as if to say: "See? The man I recommended is not wrong, is he?"

The mission Lin Chong and Xu Ning received was to cooperate with Song Jiang and Wu Yong in the uprising—there was nothing else—so, faced with Song Jiang and Wu Yong playing off each other, they could only respond with a smile and keep their mouths shut.

Wu Yong felt as if he had thrown a punch only to land on cotton.

Shaking his head inwardly, Wu Yong stopped looking at Lin Chong and Xu Ning and instead said to Song Jiang: "To be frank with you, brother, on this trip to the capital I stumbled upon a strange encounter that would benefit the futures of you and me, brothers. If this matter is carried out, not only will you and I soar to greatness, but all of elder brother's many friends will reap great benefits as well."

Song Jiang's heart stirred at those words!

Although he held the post of Wang Wang Yuncheng Clerk, that was only a minor official. Even though he had studied the classics and histories from childhood and grown into a man of schemes with a certain talent and ambition, within the official system of the Zhao Song dynasty, a minor clerk's room for advancement was limited, making it very hard to realize his grand ideals.

The reason he liked to befriend the heroes of the jianghu and often gave generously to the righteous cause was precisely because he had found no success in officialdom and turned instead to the jianghu to seek recognition and a sense of achievement.

Song Jiang knew Wu Yong understood his ambitions. So, the fact that Wu Yong still dared to say that if this matter were carried out they would soar to greatness, and that even the brothers who followed Song Jiang would benefit greatly, was enough to show that this must be a rare opportunity for promotion and wealth.

Song Jiang's gaze could not help but flicker, his heart surging with an irrepressible excitement and anticipation. He said slowly, "Xuejiu, don't keep us in suspense. What fine thing has fallen upon you and me, brothers? Is it the Drill Instructor and the Weapons Instructor who mean to favor us brothers?"

Wu Yong laughed and said, "It is indeed a fine thing that has bumped into you and me, brothers—only this fine thing was not sent by the Drill Instructor or the Weapons Instructor, but rather…"

At this point, Wu Yong pointed up at the sky.

Song Jiang looked at the sky, and for a moment did not catch on.

But very soon, the corner of Song Jiang's eye swept across Xu Ning, and inspiration struck him: he realized that what Wu Yong meant was that the person ordering them to act was none other than the present Emperor Zhao Yu.

Song Jiang, usually extremely steady, immediately sprang to his feet with a "whoosh." Panting heavily, he stretched out a trembling index finger and pointed at the sky.

Wu Yong nodded.

Song Jiang felt his heart was about to leap right out of his chest!

Song Jiang knew Wu Yong would not deceive him, but he still could not help confirming: "Is this truly so? The matter is of grave importance—Xuejiu, you must not jest about it!"

Song Jiang's voice trembled slightly; in his eyes there was both an incredulous joy and a trace of anxiety and unease.

Wu Yong's expression turned solemn as he slowly nodded. Lowering his voice, he said: "This matter is absolutely true. On this trip to the capital, by a stroke of fate, I won the favor of Your Majesty, who entrusted me with a great undertaking, and instructed me to recommend the heroes of Jizhou to take the lead. I pledge my life on it—the man for this is none other than elder brother; there is no second choice…"

Next, Wu Yong laid out to Song Jiang, in full and without omission, the extraordinary experience he had had on this trip to the capital to sit for the examinations.

Although Song Jiang believed Wu Yong would not deceive him, to be fair, however he listened, Song Jiang felt the whole thing was utterly preposterous. The Emperor nurturing bandits to serve his own ends? There was no such logic.

But then Song Jiang reconsidered: these gentry were all local tyrants in their own countryside, and imperial authority simply did not function in their remote regions. And when he thought again about the methods these gentry had used to resist the court's two new policies, it seemed that perhaps, without resorting to such extreme measures, it would have been utterly impossible to make the gentry accept reform.

Therefore, what Wu Yong said might well be true.

Wu Yong also knew the matter was too great; to make Song Jiang believe, he would have to produce something solid.

But the fact was, Zhao Yu had not given Wu Yong any token of any kind.

Wu Yong understood this as well. On the surface, Zhao Yu would absolutely never admit to any connection with them. So, if they carried this out well, they would certainly not be short on rewards; but if they failed, needless to say, they might well end up being genuine bandits.

Wu Yong could only say to Song Jiang: "Once elder brother has made preparations here, the court will send a great personage to carry out this great undertaking together with us. What more could elder brother be uneasy about?"

Hearing Wu Yong say that Zhao Yu would send someone to join them in the uprising, Song Jiang's heart eased considerably, but he still could not help hesitating. The matter was simply too enormous—if they went through with it, the number of people killed would be far too great.

Seeing Song Jiang hesitate, Wu Yong grew a little anxious, and simply struck at Song Jiang's weak point: "If you want an official post, kill and burn and then accept the imperial amnesty. Otherwise, does elder brother mean to remain a clerk his whole life?"

Wu Yong's words struck right at Song Jiang's heart. A fierce glint flashed in Song Jiang's eyes, and he said in a low voice: "Very well. These bandits who kill and burn—you and I, brothers, shall be them…"

……

(End of this chapter)