Chapter 475

In Chao Gai's manor, a secret room.

The excitement from successfully seizing the birthday tribute had not yet fully faded, but the crowd's mood was not panic; rather, it was an exhilaration tinged with caution.

More than ten chests filled with gold, pearls, and jewels were piled in the corner; by candlelight they glittered, symbolizing vast wealth and bearing the weight of the future.

Chao Gai, Wu Yong, the three Ruan brothers, Bai Sheng, and Shi Dun sat around the table, all eyes fixed on Chen Wen.

"Master Chen," Chao Gai spoke first, his voice resonant with a hint of anticipation, "Here we have one hundred thousand strings of gold and pearls. What should our next steps be? You once said we would use this as capital to undertake a great venture. Chao Gai and the brothers wish to hear the details!"

Chen Wen swept his gaze over the crowd and said calmly:

"Chief Chao, brothers. Now that we hold vast wealth, we are like a flood‑dragon in water. Yet a dragon in shallow water is played with by shrimp; without a solid foundation, even mountains of gold and silver are nothing but rootless duckweed, ultimately accomplishing nothing."

"Dongxi Village and Shijie Village may be our homeland, but their scope is too narrow and they have already been marked by the authorities; they are certainly no place for a long‑term foothold."

Wu Yong lightly shook his feather fan and said:

"What you say is quite right. Though we have borrowed your clever hand to temporarily confuse the officials, will Liang Zhongshu and Cai Jing really let it rest? Lingering here long will surely breed trouble. We must find a base that can advance to attack and retreat to defend."

Ruan Xiaoqi, impatient, shouted at once:

"Where else can we go? Are we really to go up Liangshan and endure that scoundrel Wang Lun's nonsense?"

Chen Wen gave a slight smile and looked at Ruan Xiaoqi.

"Don't rush, Brother Seven. Liangshanpo, with its eight‑hundred‑li expanse of water, crisscrossing inlets and outlets, is easy to defend and hard to attack—truly an excellent choice for a base."

He shifted his tone, and his voice grew sharp.

"However, we go there not to live under others' roofs, depending on their breath!"

"Wang Lun is narrow‑minded, incapable of tolerating others, and lacks the ambition to swallow heaven and earth. Men like him occupying this strategic stronghold are like pearls cast in darkness, a fine blade gathering dust."

"A true hero must have the daring to replace another!"

These words sparked, and everyone's spirits were lifted!

Shi Dun timely spoke in a deep voice:

"My master's intention is that we must go to Liangshan, but its master needs to be changed! Only a hero like Chao Tianwang, with a heart for the world and righteousness as lofty as the clouds, is worthy of this eight‑hundred‑li watery expanse, capable of leading the brothers to forge a new world!"

Chao Gai's tiger eyes flashed with sharp light, a surge of heroic passion rose in his heart.

He had never been willing to be beneath others; previously he had worried about his reputation in the jianghu and never thought of this. Now, after Chen Wen and Shi Dun pointed it out, he suddenly felt enlightened!

"What you and Brother Shi Dun said exactly matches my wish! If Wang Lun understands the times, yields his position, and joins us in righteous uprising, we can leave him a seat. If he does not appreciate the gesture…"

He clenched his fists, joints cracking, and the unspoken words carried a chilling killing intent.

Wu Yong's eyes glittered with wisdom as he added:

"My lord, this matter must be planned before acting. Under Wang Lun's command, Du Qian and Song Wan are no concern; only Leopard‑Head Lin Chong, whose martial skill is superb, forced into banditry by Gao Qiu's persecution, surely harbors resentment. If we can win him over, the great undertaking is assured."

Chen Wen nodded.

"The scholar's considerations are thorough. Lin Chong is a man of feeling; he hates the court's treacherous ministers, not the righteous of the world. If we invite him with the ambition of 'Northward Aspiration,' treating him with sincerity to build a base and protect the people, we may well win his genuine aid."

"Northward Aspiration..."

Chao Gai repeated the word, his gaze blazing as he looked at Chen Wen.

"You have mentioned 'Northward Aspiration' several times; what exactly is this ambition? Please enlighten us!"

Everyone else held their breath, waiting for Chen Wen's reply.

Chen Wen rose, walked to the window, pushed it open, and gazed into the dark northern night; his voice low and full of power:

"Northward Aspiration looks to the Yan‑Yun homeland trampled by the Khitan iron hooves;"

"It looks to the fallen Zhongyuan, the shattered mountains and rivers urgently needing restoration;"

"It looks to the countless men of virtue across the world, like you and me, who refuse to suffer humiliation and will not live in ignominy!"

"We band together not to rob homes and loot for idle pleasure;"

"Nor are we like Song Jiang, seeking only a hollow amnesty to become lackeys of the powerful;"

"What we aim to do is to take Liangshan as our foundation, accumulate strength, widely gather heroes, to repel the barbarians abroad and comfort the people within."

"When the time is ripe, we will use this eight‑hundred‑li watery expanse as a starting point, Northward Aspiration toward Zhongyuan, to clear the firmament! This is the true purpose of our seizure of this ill‑gotten wealth, and it befits the heroic fervor in our chests and the sharp blades in our hands."

These words, like a great bell and drum, shook Chao Gai, Wu Yong and the others, their hearts stirred and blood boiling!

They had before entertained the notion of acting on heaven's behalf, but never so clearly, never so grandly!

Ruan Xiaoqi flushed with excitement, face red, he suddenly drew his waist blade and chopped a strike into the table corner!

"Well said! Northward Aspiration toward Zhongyuan, to clear the firmament! This is satisfying! I, Ruan Xiaoqi, will follow you!"

Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaowu also nodded heavily, their eyes burning with a light never seen before.

Wu Yong drew a deep breath and bowed deeply to Chen Wen:

"Your ambition, Master, is as vast as the sea of stars! I, Wu Yong, formerly knew only scheming and tactics; today I finally understand what a true grand design is. I wish to follow you and the lord to jointly uphold this great Northward Aspiration endeavor!"

Chao Gai, even more excited and unable to restrain himself, seized Chen Wen's hand.

"Master Chen! Without your awakening, I would have gravely erred! From now on, you shall be the chief military advisor of my Liangshan, and we shall all obey your orders! This Northward Aspiration ambition shall be the very foundation of our Liangshan stronghold!"

Chen Wen returned the grip on Chao Gai's hand and said in a low voice:

"Lord Chao, your words weigh heavily. I, Chen Wen, will do my utmost to assist the lord, together with all the brothers, to plant this Northward Aspiration banner across mountains and rivers!"

Then, in this secret room, they all took 'Northward Aspiration' as their watchword and swore brotherhood by drinking each other's blood.

The decision was made, the goal clear—to seize Liangshan, use it as a base, and launch the great Northward Aspiration undertaking!

Several days later, Chao Gai, Wu Yong, the three Ruan brothers, Bai Sheng, Shi Dun and several confidants, carrying some silver and gold as 'resources for advancement,' sailed straight to the Gold Sand Beach of Liangshanpo.

In the Hall of Gathered Righteousness, seeing Chao Gai and company's mighty presence and their generous gifts, Wang Lun's apprehension deepened; his words became evasive and perfunctory, his intention to see them off obvious.

At the banquet, when Wang Lun again ordered his servant to bring out travel money to send the crowd down the mountain, the long‑restrained Ruan Xiaoqi was the first to lash out.

Lin Chong already bore a deep grudge against Wang Lun; seeing Chao Gai and company's extraordinary demeanor, and further provoked by Wu Yong's covert prompting, having heard only a glimpse of the 'Northward Aspiration' ambition, his heart surged, old and new grudges exploded together, and he suddenly attacked!

A cold flash gleamed, blood spattered five paces!

Wang Lun lost his head; Du Qian and Song Wan submitted.

Under Wu Yong's presiding, everyone unanimously elected Chao Gai as the new chief of the stronghold.

The first thing Chao Gai did after taking office was not to bestow grand titles, but solemnly announce before all the chieftains and bandits:

"From today onward, we establish our stronghold on Liangshan, not to rob homes and plunder houses, not to seek temporary refuge!"

"We gather in righteousness for the purpose of 'Northward Aspiration'!"

"Northward Aspiration toward Zhongyuan, to drive out the Hu invaders; internally cultivate virtuous governance, to protect and bless the common people!"

"All who aspire to this are brothers; all who oppose this aspiration are our enemies!"

His voice rolled like thunder across Liangshanpo, imprinting a distinctly different mark in the heart of everyone who heard it.

The new flag rose slowly before the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

Embroidered on it was not "Acting on behalf of Heaven," but a mighty, vigorous giant "hope" character, its arrow pointing straight north!

Chen Wen stood on a distant boat, sensing the renewed "Fortune Momentum" on Liangshan, imbued with clear direction and vigorous vitality, and nodded in satisfaction.

This time, Huo Bing Wang Lun is no longer merely a simple power shift as in the original story, but has been endowed with an entirely new core purpose.

The foundation of Liangshan has been different from the very moment the stronghold was established.