Chapter 261: Fang La Captured, the Dust Settles

…

Song Jiang returned from court, bringing the promotions and rewards Zhao Yu had granted to his officers and soldiers, boosting the morale of what was once Song Jiang's rebel army—now the Tiger Guard.

Riding this surge of morale, the Tiger Guard advanced westward along the West River, capturing Fuyang, Xincheng, Tonglu, Jiande… all the way to Fang La's hometown, Qingxi County in Muzhou.

Meanwhile, Liu Fa also captured Shezhou and was now reclaiming its subordinate counties—Wuyuan, Qimen, Jixi, and Yi—driving all of Fang La's rebel forces back into Muzhou, preparing to encircle them in concert with the Tiger Guard.

By the way, Liu Fa's progress was slower than Song Jiang's not because his Western Army was weaker than Song Jiang's Tiger Guard, but because the strategy, from Zhao Yu to Tong Guan to Liu Fa, was to use Song Jiang's rebels to exhaust Fang La's forces, making the Tiger Guard the main force to crush Fang La's rebellion.

Upon reaching Qingxi County, Song Jiang sent scouts to reconnoiter the terrain of Bangyuan Cave, where Fang La's rebels had taken refuge.

They reported that the mountain resembled a natural stupa-shaped white pagoda; its main peak, Gecuanjian, rose hundreds of zhang high, hailed as the ancestral peak of southeastern mountains, boasting the most mysterious siliceous rock wall formations, with jagged boulders and bizarre peaks forming a complex mountainous terrain.

The area also featured the unique "Nine Unlocked Stone Gates"—ten natural stone archways, some formed by converging ridges like natural city gates, others carved by ancient local residents from the rock, creating a terrain easy to defend but hard to assault.

The mountain lay at the junction of Shezhou, Hangzhou, and Muzhou, bordering Lin'an and Chun'an counties; to the northeast lay Qianmu Tian Qijian, to the west stood Zhangshan Qingliang Peak, to the south stretched the Baiji Mountains, to the southeast rose Jinzi Peak, and to the north lay the East and West Tianmu Mountains and Yuling Mountain Range.

In short, the place was both perilously defensible and accessibly connected; a direct assault would not only be difficult to succeed but could inflict heavy casualties on our side, and might allow Fang La's rebels to flee through the complex terrain and rise again.

Song Jiang understood this battle concerned the peace and stability of the Zhao Song dynasty's realm, as well as the honor of himself and his Tiger Guard, so he dared not act rashly.

Song Jiang gathered his officers, strategists, and advisors, seating them around a temporary military tent to deliberate on how to eliminate Fang La.

"The terrain of Bangyuan Cave is extraordinarily treacherous. A forced assault will surely cost us heavy losses and yield little. If Fang La escapes through hidden paths, all our efforts will be wasted, leaving a grave threat to the court. Speak freely—what should we do?" Song Jiang asked.

"At present, the only solution is to offer a substantial reward to find someone familiar with Bangyuan Cave's terrain, so they can guide our troops past the dangers and strike directly at the rebels' stronghold, deciding the outcome in one battle," Zhang Suo suggested.

"Excellent," Song Jiang said. "Issue my order: from today, anyone who provides a detailed map of Bangyuan Cave or leads us to a secret path shall be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold. If one renders great service, the court will grant further rewards without limit. Simultaneously, dispatch spies deep into surrounding villages to secretly seek out those who know Bangyuan Cave's terrain."

At that moment, a messenger reported: "Your Excellency, a barrel-maker requests an audience."

Song Jiang was startled. "What? Even a barrel-maker dares come to see me?"

But Yu Wenshong suddenly leapt to his feet, exclaiming with joy: "Chen Gutong!"

Only then, prompted by Yu Wenshong, did Song Jiang realize the visitor was Fang La's key strategist, Chen Gutong.

Song Jiang thought to himself: "Chen Gutong is Fang La's trusted advisor—he must know Bangyuan Cave's terrain inside out. Could this be heaven's aid?"

Song Jiang hurriedly said: "Bring him in at once!"

Then he realized this wasn't enough to show sincerity—on this critical juncture, if Chen Gutong truly came to defect, it was like Xu You abandoning Yuan Shao to join Cao Cao at Guandu.

Thus, even if Song Jiang couldn't match Cao Cao's barefoot rush to greet him, he must personally go out to meet him, to demonstrate the court's sincerity.

Thinking this, Song Jiang didn't bother fastening his outer robe—he dashed out of the tent in three strides.

Yu Wenshong and the others followed him out to welcome Chen Gutong.

In the morning light, Chen Gutong wore a tattered felt hat, his short tunic and straw sandals caked in mud, looking like an ordinary old farmer—but upon closer look, he carried an air of calm composure and unshakable confidence, giving the impression of extraordinary stature.

Song Jiang straightened his robes and stepped forward with a deep bow: "I have long admired your name; to meet you today is a fortune beyond measure!"

Chen Gutong smiled and returned the bow: "Your Excellency humbles this humble subject. I am but a mountain barrel-maker—how could I deserve such honor?"

Song Jiang said: "You are too modest! Not only have I long heard of your profound insight, but Your Majesty has also heard your name."

This time, Chen Gutong was genuinely startled.

Song Jiang had been in the south, fighting Fang La as an enemy—he knowing Chen Gutong's name was natural.

But Zhao Yu, seated in the imperial palace of Dongjing Bianliang, knew the name of this lowly barrel-maker? How could this not astonish him?

Chen Gutong silently weighed the truth of Song Jiang's words, yet his expression remained unchanged, still wearing that calm, composed smile: "The Emperor knows this humble subject? I am truly honored."

Song Jiang knew Chen Gutong didn't believe him, but he didn't explain immediately—instead, he stepped aside to invite him: "Tea has been prepared inside. Please, enter and rest."

Inside the tent, Song Jiang poured Chen Gutong a cup of tea himself before speaking: "Recently, when I returned to the capital and spoke of Fang La, Your Majesty said three of Fang La's men were most regrettable: Bao Kang, Lü Jiang, and Chen Gutong. Bao Kang was the descendant of a loyal minister who abandoned the court to join the rebels—a loss to the state. Lü Jiang's strategy to 'march straight on Jin Ling and hold the Yangtze's natural barrier' was an excellent plan to seize the south. Your strategy—'kill Huizhou and Yanzhou to demonstrate power, then charge across the river, win the people's hearts, and march into Chang'an'—was especially praised by Your Majesty, who called it a royal strategy; how could a mere bandit dare use such a path to kingship?"

Song Jiang's words—no, Zhao Yu's assessment—struck Chen Gutong's heart. If Fang La had adopted his strategy, he wouldn't have lost so badly. A flicker of barely perceptible emotion passed through his eyes, yet he remained calm and reserved, speaking slowly: "Your Majesty overpraises me. I am but a barrel-maker; what I did came from desperation—not royal strategy, merely petty wisdom in chaotic times."

Song Jiang saw Chen Gutong was moved, but still needed one final push. He intensified his words: "Your Majesty also said your view—that 'the world's momentum is like barrel staves: bind them, and they unite; fail to bind, and they scatter'—is a Jin Yuliangyan of profound insight. The myriad prefectures and common people are like the staves of a barrel: seemingly separate, yet tightly interlinked. If the court can bind them as a strong hoop does—with benevolence as the rope and edicts as the nails—it will unite the hearts of the realm, making Great Song unshakable, standing firm against any storm."

Hearing Song Jiang relay Zhao Yu's words, Chen Gutong was deeply moved. In his view, court corruption festered, corrupt officials ruled, scholar-gentry plundered land, leaving the people no way to survive—like a rusted, broken hoop losing its grip on the staves. Fang La's uprising seized precisely this moment of the hoop's loosening, stirring the world. Had a wise ruler and virtuous minister understood this truth earlier, and used thunderous force to mend the broken hoop, how could Fang La have ever gained a foothold?

Yet Zhao Yu grasped it instantly—he fully understood the Zhao Song dynasty's core ailment.

Chen Gutong's heart surged with emotion. He sighed: "If the hoop loosens, water leaks; if hearts scatter, the state falls. The Emperor's use of this metaphor to govern reveals his boundless vision and deep concern for the people. Truly, this is Great Song's fortune and the people's blessing!"

"Success!"

Song Jiang's heart leapt. He pressed directly: "I've heard Bangyuan Cave's terrain is perilous, with ten gates and nine locks, hard to breach. If you can guide us, relieving the court's urgent crisis, I shall grant you the foremost merit in crushing the rebels, and I will personally report to Your Majesty to ensure your talent is not buried, securing glory for your ancestors and favor for your wife and children."

Chen Gutong had come to defect to the Zhao Song dynasty; now that he knew Zhao Yu had noticed him, how could he not seize this chance to help Zhao Song eliminate Fang La and secure his own future?

Chen Gutong didn't waste words—he spoke bluntly: "Bangyuan Cave lies deep in a valley, with complex, treacherous terrain and multiple fortified passes. Only those who know the mountains intimately can find the advantages. But the locals have either been killed by Fang La or already joined his rebels. I am not from here either—I rely on locals to guide me up and down. On this matter, I am helpless."

As he spoke, Chen Gutong subtly observed the expressions of those around him.

Many did show disappointment, even anger—but Song Jiang and the key figures remained composed.

Chen Gutong nodded inwardly, then added: "Though I am unfamiliar with Bangyuan Cave's terrain, I know one man who knows it perfectly—and who will surely aid Great Song."

Song Jiang asked: "Who?"