Chapter 99: Li Gang

In the Water Margin world, atop Tongguan, Zhang Zhang Jie ascended with Wu Song to gaze into the distance.

Several months had passed since he and Wu Song left Cross Slope.

The matter of Sun Ye Erniang and Zhang Qing running their black inn was properly resolved thanks to Zhang Zhang Jie's juren title.

With irrefutable evidence, Sun Ye Erniang and her accomplices, who led beasts to devour people, were sentenced to immediate beheading.

Wu Song and the five brothers of Lu Lu Congyi were deeply satisfied.

The sudden death of a county official during this time was negligible.

During the period since leaving Big Tree Cross Slope,

Zhang Zhang Jie had traveled through Henan and parts of Hebei.

Why only parts of Hebei?

Naturally, because part of Hebei was no longer under Great Song control!

For instance, the future famed capital of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties—Youzhou (Beijing region)—lay under Liao control.

In 936 AD, the puppet emperor Shi Shi Jingtang of Later Jin ceded sixteen prefectures, including Youzhou, to the Khitan (Liao).

The Liao elevated Youzhou to Youdu Prefecture, later known as Nanjing or Yanjing,

and from then on, Youzhou ceased to exist as an independent administrative division.

The Song had repeatedly attempted to reclaim Youzhou: in 979, Emperor Taizong's personal campaign failed;

in 1122, Song forces briefly captured Youzhou, but soon lost it back to the Liao army…

Gazing at the majestic scene below Tongguan—peaks clustering like waves, ridges piled one upon another—

and recalling the countless displaced civilians he had seen along the way,

Zhang Zhang Jie recalled the poem "Shanpo Yang: Reflections on Tongguan" by the Yuan dynasty poet Zhang Zhang Yanghao.

"Peaks gather like a crowd, waves rage like fury, Tongguan's road lies between mountains and rivers.

Gazing westward toward the capital, my heart hesitates.

Sadness fills the places once trodden by Qin and Han, where ten thousand palaces have turned to dust.

When a state rises, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer."

Moved, Zhang Zhang Jie could not help but speak aloud.

Behind him, Wu Song, touched by his emotion, fell silent.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

At that moment, crisp applause echoed.

"I never expected Great Song to harbor a scholar so devoted to the nation and its people—I deeply admire you."

A young man, twenty-five or six, dressed in a blue robe, with a refined scholarly face,

approached from around the corner of the wall, accompanied by a servant dressed as a bookboy.

A servant dressed as a scholar's attendant walked around the corner of the city wall.

Zhang Zhang Jie turned and considered whether to kill him to silence him.

But then he thought: it was only a poem,

not an anti-poem containing the name of the rebel general Huang Chao—no need to be so sensitive.

"I am Li Gang, honored to meet you."

The young man bowed respectfully and introduced himself.

The young man bowed and politely introduced himself.

Hearing the name, Zhang Zhang Jie froze.

He suddenly recalled the 21st-century viral phrase "My dad is Li Gang."

But this was the Song dynasty, centuries before the 21st century—clearly this Li Gang was not that Li Gang.

Seeing Zhang Zhang Jie's surprise, the young man—or rather, Li Gang—was unfazed, explaining smoothly:

"My name is the same as that of the famed Tang minister Li Gang.

My father gave me this name hoping I would emulate Li the minister,

learn from his integrity, boldness in speaking truth, and one day speak for the people."

'Oh! So it's that Li Gang!'

Hearing Li Gang's clear explanation, Zhang Zhang Jie finally understood who this Li Gang was.

This required a look back at the Tang-era Li Gang.

Perhaps many men in Tang times were named Li Gang, but only one was recorded in history and held up as an example:

the one who served three dynasties and four emperors, tutored three crown princes of two dynasties,

later called by posterity the "Crown Prince Killer" or "Crown Prince Curse."

The Tang Li Gang had tutored Yang Yong, the first crown prince of Emperor Wen of Sui;

Li Li Jiancheng, the first crown prince of Emperor Han Gaozu of Tang;

Li Li Chengqian, the first crown prince of Emperor Taizong of Tang.

These three were called "first crown princes" not because they were the only ones,

but because each had a second crown prince after them.

None of the three he tutored met a good end:

Yang Yong was executed by Yang Guang, who forged an edict from Emperor Wen.

Li Li Jiancheng died in the famed Xuanwu Gate Succession Law of the Tang.

Li Li Chengqian, after a failed rebellion, was exiled to Qianzhou and died en route.

Yet this "Crown Prince Killer" was posthumously honored as Grand Master of the Imperial Household with the posthumous name "Zhen,"

proving his character was unshakable and his ability truly outstanding.

After reflecting on the Tang Li Gang's life,

Zhang Zhang Jie's mind turned to the most famous Li Gang of the Song dynasty.

Yet to avoid a mix-up of names, Zhang Zhang Jie still asked:

"May I ask, is your father Li Kui, the jinshi of Yuanfeng Third Year?"

Li Gang was astonished: "I never expected you to know my father's name."

Seeing Li Gang confirm it, Zhang Zhang Jie finally knew the identity of the man before him.

This Li Gang was none other than the famed anti-Jin minister and national hero of the Song-Jin transition,

styled Brother Boji, known as Master Liangxi, originally from Shaowu, Fujian, later relocated to Wuxi, Jiangsu.

He lived by the creed: "The ancestral lands must be defended to the death; not an inch shall be given away."

He organized the defense of Dongjing against the Jin, enduring repeated demotions yet never abandoning his anti-Jin stance.

When the Jin besieged Kaifeng in Lady Jingkang First Year, Li Gang served as Commander of the Four Walls of the Capital,

leading troops and civilians to repel the Jin and organize the "Defense of Kaifeng."

Had Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong entrusted him with power, the Lady Jingkang Humiliation might never have happened.

"If it is Master Li before me, younger brother Zhang Zhang Jie has been remiss."

Zhang Zhang Jie immediately became warm.

This Li Gang was exactly the talent he needed!

"Brother Zhang's devotion to the nation and its people is profound; this 'Shanpo Yang' is a timeless masterpiece—how could you be remiss?"

Li Gang lavished praise on Zhang Zhang Jie's "Reflections on Tongguan."

Li Gang highly praised Zhang Zhang Jie's reflections on Tongguan's ancient past.

Facing Li Gang's unreserved admiration, even Zhang Zhang Jie's thick skin flushed slightly.

But the true author of "Shanpo Yang: Reflections on Tongguan," Zhang Zhang Yanghao, had not yet been born for centuries,

so he had no one to blame it on.

After all, "Shanpo Yang: Reflections on Tongguan" was indeed a masterpiece destined to endure.

"When a state rises, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer"—enough to ensure its eternal legacy.

"Where are you headed, Master Li?"

Embarrassed, Zhang Zhang Jie changed the subject.

Li Gang bowed toward Bianliang:

"I am going to Bianliang to seek a scholarly title."

In Great Song, scholarly titles and official rank were supreme; scholars pursued them with directness…

"I too intend to go to Bianliang to seek a title—why not travel together?"

Zhang Zhang Jie, with ulterior motives, proposed.

Zhang Zhang Jie: I'm just hungry for his body—I admit I'm lowly~

Li Gang's face lit up with delight: "That is precisely my wish—I dare not even ask."

The two quickly grew familiar after reaching agreement.

"Brother Brother Boji, this is Wu Song, Brother Wu Er."

Zhang Zhang Jie introduced Wu Song to Li Gang.

'What a mighty man—he must be the equal of ancient evil spirit Oulai!'

Gazing at Wu Song, towering like an iron tower, Li Gang inwardly marveled.

Looking at Wu Song, who stood like a iron tower, Li Gang felt admiration.

Li Gang bowed to Wu Song.

On their first meeting, Li Gang performed a formal, rigid bow.

Wu Song returned the bow to Li Juren.

Wu Song bowed back with a deep, rumbling voice.

Since Li Gang was heading to Bianliang to take the metropolitan examination for a scholarly title,

he clearly already held the juren degree, just like Zhang Zhang Jie.

"Li San is my personal servant."

Li Gang introduced the young man beside him to Zhang Zhang Jie.

"Brother Li San."

Zhang Zhang Jie bowed in greeting.

Li Gang was in his early twenties, and his servant was also in his early twenties—several years older than Zhang Zhang Jie.

How had Li San ever seen such a scene before?

His face flushed crimson as he waved his hands frantically in refusal:

"This humble servant Li San dares not accept the honor of being called 'brother' by Jieyuan Zhang.

Jieyuan Zhang may simply call me servant Li San."

Earlier, while chatting casually, Zhang Zhang Jie and Li Gang had already exchanged their scholarly titles.

And since Li Gang, at twenty-nine, was far older than the nineteen-year-old Zhang Zhang Jie,

the two agreed to address each other as brothers—Li Gang as elder, Zhang Zhang Jie as younger.

Zhang Zhang Jie, reduced to the younger brother, helplessly spread his hands: this was the burden of being too outstanding!

To be thrust into the senior group, dominated by middle-aged and elderly men…

Seeing how earnestly Li Gang insisted, Zhang Zhang Jie reluctantly acquiesced.

Wu Song and Li San also exchanged formal bows, thus becoming acquainted.

"Hah! Today I've heard a timeless masterpiece emerge,

and met a man like virtuous younger brother Di Renjie—this calls for a great cup!

Younger brother Di Renjie, shall we four of us drink until we're all drunk tonight?"

Li Gang invited with a laugh.

Zhang Zhang Jie, eager to deepen his bond with Li Gang, naturally did not refuse:

"Tonight, this younger brother will risk his life to keep you company."

"Younger brother, you're a man of spirit!

I happen to know a tavern nearby whose wine is exceptionally fragrant—let's go at once."

Eager and enthusiastic, Li Gang led the way ahead.

Soon, the group arrived at a tavern beneath Tongguan.

"Landlord, bring the wine!"

As soon as Li Gang entered, he called out loudly.

"Coming, coming, sir!"

The tavern was small; the landlord, also serving as waiter, moved swiftly to pour several bowls of wine.

At the same time, the landlord brought out dried tofu and small side dishes to accompany the wine.

"Sir, this dish of fennel beans is a gift from our humble shop."

After serving the food, the landlord also placed a dish of fennel beans on the table.

'The fennel beans remain, but the poor scholar who knew the four ways to write the character "hui" is gone forever.'

Zhang Zhang Jie stared at the golden-yellow dish of fennel beans, lost in thought.

Hadn't he, before his transmigration, been just another man unable to shed his long robe?

"Younger brother Di Renjie, please!"

Li Gang raised a bowl of wine with grandeur and drained it in one gulp.

"Please."

Zhang Zhang Jie, troubled in heart, also raised a bowl and drank it down.

"Hah! This is the way to drink!"

Li Gang laughed heartily, clinking bowls with Zhang Zhang Jie several times over.

"Drink, drink… burp…"

After three bowls, Li Gang belched and collapsed face-first onto the table.

"Brother Brother Boji? Brother Brother Boji?"

Zhang Zhang Jie called out several times, realizing Li Gang was completely drunk and unconscious.

"Young Master Zhang, my master has a very weak tolerance for alcohol."

Li San spoke sheepishly.

'Pfft!

I thought he was a wine god—turns out he's a weakling.'

Zhang Zhang Jie was speechless inside.

Given Li Gang's earlier bold demeanor, Zhang Zhang Jie had assumed he could drink a thousand cups without falling!

He'd even prepared Plan B: using his internal Qi to neutralize the alcohol.

And yet Li Gang was felled by three bowls of sorghum wine, barely 10–20 proof.

"Young Master Zhang, may I first help my master rest?"

Li San asked Zhang Zhang Jie for permission.

"Go ahead," Zhang Zhang Jie waved him off.

Wu Song, who had already finished five or six bowls, watched Li Gang being carried off by Li San with a complex expression.

"Brother Wu Er, let's keep going."

Zhang Zhang Jie looked at the full table of wine and dishes—he couldn't let it go to waste.

He was a man who finished every grain of rice in his bowl!