Chapter 479: Song Jiang's Choice

In the clerk's office of the Yuncheng County yamen.

The oil lamp burned like a bean, illuminating Song Jiang's somewhat weary face.

He was bent over the desk, copying today's criminal case documents; the pen tip made a rustling sound on the paper, the handwriting upright and strict, just as people see him—steady, thorough, righteous and generous in giving wealth. In this Yuncheng County, from the magistrate down to peddlers and porters, who does not praise him with a cry of 'Timely Rain,' Clerk Song?

Yet no one knew that beneath his broad, benevolent exterior, his inner depths constantly surged with an ineffable anxiety and unwillingness.

Song Jiang himself felt he possessed the talent to govern the world and strategies aplenty, yet because he came from the clerk class, in this county office he was ultimately nothing more than a runner and copyist—a 'clerk' rather than an 'official'.

Above his head seemed an invisible, indestructible barrier, blocking every path of advancement.

Recently, Liangshanpo changed hands, and the news that Chao Gai and his fellows had raised the 'Northward Aspiration' banner was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples through his heart.

He had private acquaintances with Chao Gai and Wu Yong, well aware that that band was no mere pond-dwellers.

Those two words, 'Northward Aspiration,' made his heart pound, and he faintly sensed a dangerous yet alluring power that contradicted his understanding of 'loyalty and righteousness.'

What further unsettled him was that lately an inexplicable chill seemed to constantly wrap around him.

It was as if an unseen pair of eyes in the darkness continually watched his every move.

Sometimes, waking from midnight dreams, he would startle for no reason, his heart feeling hollow, as if he had lost something vitally important, yet could not recall what it was.

"Clerk Song, aren't you off duty yet?"

A gentle voice sounded at the doorway.

Song Jiang looked up and saw a clerk from the county office who usually went unnoticed, surname He, a man of few words, who now took the initiative to speak with him.

"It's Clerk He, I still have some documents to finish."

Song Jiang forced his usual smile and rose to greet him.

"Please come in quickly."

Clerk He entered, closed the door, his face bearing a hint of mystery, and lowered his voice to say:

"Do you know, Clerk, that over at Chao Baozheng of Dongxi Village there's been quite a commotion lately?"

Song Jiang's heart stirred, but his face remained composed:

"Oh? I've been busy with official duties lately and hadn't heard the details. All I heard was that they intercepted the birthday tribute convoy that Liang Zhongshu of Beijing Daming Prefecture was sending to Cai Taishi of Dongjing, and now they've taken over Liangshanpo—so that's also a way out."

"It's more than just a way out!"

Clerk He leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower.

"They've raised the 'Northward Aspiration' banner, set up shrines to heroes and a lecture hall, and established three iron laws to bind their followers—clearly they intend to… cough, cough, undertake a great undertaking!"

He observed Song Jiang's expression and continued:

"In my humble view, though Chao Gai and company are powerful for now, they are ultimately mere rabble-rousers who cannot amount to much. Moreover, this 'Northward Aspiration' talk is outright treason; sooner or later it will invite an imperial expedition, and then both jade and stone will burn—a pity for your friendship with them…"

Song Jiang frowned slightly, but did not respond.

Clerk He shifted the tone of his speech:

"However, if a person who understands great righteousness, knows how to assess the situation, and commands prestige both in the jianghu and the officialdom were to go up the mountain and guide them, perhaps they could be led back to the right path, accept the court's amnesty, earn a hereditary title and stipend, and leave their name in history—who knows?"

His gaze, heavy with meaning, fell upon Song Jiang.

"Clerk, your righteousness reaches the heavens, your fame shakes Shandong; if you were willing to step forward, perhaps…"

Song Jiang's heart gave a violent jump.

Amnesty!

Leave one's name in history!

These few words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the deepest part of his heart.

Isn't this the very path he has long yearned for in his subconscious, yet dared not contemplate deeply?

It would both free him from the lowly status of a clerk, preserve the name of 'loyalty and righteousness,' and allow him to achieve great deeds!

This Clerk He, who usually keeps a low profile, today spoke words that hit exactly where he itched.

Is it a coincidence, or…

He suppressed the throbbing in his chest and spoke slowly:

"Clerk He's words are of great importance; allow me, Song Jiang, to ponder them carefully. But now Chao Gai and his fellows are in the ascendancy; they may not heed unwelcome loyal advice."

"It's up to people to make it happen."

Clerk He smiled; that smile in the dim lamplight looked somewhat blurred.

"The opportunity will surely come. As long as you, Clerk, harbor this thought in your heart, then naturally a benefactor will appear."

Having said that, he clasped his hands in farewell, leaving Song Jiang alone in the room, his emotions surging.

Hardly had Clerk He departed when another figure, as if melting into the shadows, appeared soundlessly on the road Song Jiang must take home.

It was Qian Gui.

He had come on Chen Wen's orders to try to contact Song Jiang, to make a final bid for his support, or at least to ascertain his stance.

"Clerk Song."

Qian Gui's voice was flat, cutting off Song Jiang's contemplation.

Song Jiang started, looked up, and saw a stranger, a capable young man, blocking the path; he felt wary.

"Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important."

Qian Gui got straight to the point.

"I only ask you, Clerk, one thing: do you know the true meaning of those two words 'Northward Aspiration'? Do you know that what Liangshan is doing now is not ordinary banditry, but aspires to support China and resist foreign invasion?"

He fixed his gaze on Song Jiang's eyes.

"Chao Gai and company are all hot-blooded heroes; if they could obtain your sincere assistance, someone like you, to jointly uphold great righteousness, they might well accomplish a genuine undertaking—far superior to that illusory, dependent path of 'amnesty.' Why cling to a corrupt court and become its lackey?"

These words were the exact opposite of what Clerk He had just said, like ice and fire intertwining, striking at Song Jiang's heart.

His complexion shifted; the notion of 'amnesty' that Clerk He had aroused in his mind clashed violently with the 'great righteousness' put forth by the man before him.

However, a deep-rooted fear of the system, panic over the consequences of rebellion, and that latent desire deep in the heart for orthodoxy and official rank, which the Iron Crow Army had long guided and amplified, quickly gained the upper hand.

More importantly, from this person he sensed an aura similar to that of He Shuoban that made him uneasy, only more direct, more……dangerous.

'Preposterous!'

Song Jiang stepped back, his voice and expression stern, as if trying to dispel his inner turmoil by raising his volume.

'You rebel ministers and traitorous sons, how dare you spread heresy and confuse the masses here! I, Song Jiang, am a man of the Great Song in life and a ghost of the Great Song in death; loyal to the sovereign and patriotic, heaven and earth can bear witness! How could I join forces with you rebels?'

'That Liangshan… Chao Gai and his brothers were merely muddle-headed for a moment, deceived by villains! I… I will surely find an opportunity to persuade them to turn back from the wrong path!'

His words were spoken righteously, both to impress Qian Gui and to bolster his own conviction.

A flicker of disappointment and coldness passed through Qian Gui's eyes.

He could see clearly that Song Jiang did not wholly disbelieve the principle of Northward Aspiration; rather, his inherent compromising nature and calculation of self-interest had outweighed that faint spark of hot-bloodedness.

Especially deep in his spirit, it seemed bound by an invisible shackle, causing him instinctively to reject and fear any path that might completely overturn the existing order.

'Different paths, no joint planning.'

Qian Gui said no more, coldly.

'I only hope that, Officer Song, you will not regret your decision today in the future.'

Having spoken, he flickered and vanished into the shadow of the alley corner, as if he had never appeared.

Song Jiang stood where he was, his chest heaving violently, fine cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Although that confrontation involved no swords or blades, it left him with a pressure unlike anything he had ever felt.

He returned home dazed and dispirited, sat in a chair, and remained silent for a long time.

The night grew deeper.

Suddenly, a frantic knocking sounded at the door, accompanied by a woman's shrill wail:

'Officer! Officer, save me!'

Song Jiang opened the door to find Madame Yan from the neighboring lane; her daughter Po Xi had recently had some ambiguous entanglement with him.

Madame Yan wept, saying that several unknown ruffians had broken into her house, abducted Po Xi, and left a message demanding that Officer Song hand over… hand over his private correspondence with the Liangshan bandits in exchange!

Song Jiang felt as if struck by lightning; his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

He indeed had correspondence with Chao Gai, though the contents were merely ordinary greetings; yet if it fell into official hands, it would be ironclad evidence of collusion with bandits—his future would be ruined, his life endangered!

Who is it?

Who would be so vicious as to set this trap?

Is it someone from Liangshan trying to force him up the mountain?

Or… is it the power behind that mysterious person just now?

Or perhaps… it is that hidden force in the darkness that has been guiding his 'fate'?

Immense fear and anger seized him.

He collapsed into the chair, his whole body icy cold.

It's over.

Everything is over.

Whether he hands over the letter or not, this leverage has already been seized by someone.

In Yuncheng County, and indeed on the whole path of the 'orthodox way', his road seems to have been blocked all at once.

Aside from the path that has been 'pointed out' for him, he seems to have nowhere else to go.

……

A hidden stronghold outside the city.

Qian Gui reported to Chen Wen the details of his contact with Song Jiang.

'…His resolve is set, or rather, he is deeply bound by an invisible shackle, making him hard to win over.'

Qian Gui concluded.

'He would rather cling to the fantasy of amnesty than confront the risks and responsibilities of the Northward Aspiration path.'

Chen Wen heard this without showing much surprise.

Through Shi Yong, he had long detected in Song Jiang a twisted and stubborn yuan-energy imprint identical to that of the Iron Crow Army, knowing he was already an important piece on the board, not easily moved.

'Since he is hard to win over, we must guard against and counterbalance him.'

Chen Wen said in a low voice.

'The Iron Crow Army will surely create incidents to drive him up the mountain. Once he ascends, with his prestige and scheming, he will inevitably become the banner of the amnesty faction, standing opposed to Elder Brother Chao Gai's Northward Aspiration path.'

'We must get ahead of him, further consolidate Liangshan's foundation, and let the Northward Aspiration idea take root in people's hearts. At the same time, we must closely monitor Song Jiang's movements, and if necessary… we can seek to delay or interfere with his ascent to the mountain, buying Liangshan more time.'

His gaze was sharp; he knew well that the contest with Song Jiang and the Iron Crow Army behind him would shift from the shadows to the light, becoming more direct and intense.

Inside the Yuncheng County magistrate's office, Song Jiang gazed out at the heavy night beyond the window, all color drained from his face, his hand clenched tightly around a secret letter, his knuckles whitening from the force.

His decision, under an invisible push, is inexorably sliding onto that preset track.

And atop Liangshan, the great banner bearing the character 'Aspiration' flutters in the night wind, unaware that an internal upheaval concerning the future path is already silently approaching.