Chapter 481

Shandong, Gaotang Prefecture.

The city walls loomed heavy in the twilight, and the direction of the prefectural jail exuded a chilling aura.

Inside the Liangshan Hall of Gathered Righteousness, the atmosphere was solemn.

A dust‑traveled man knelt below the hall — he was a trusted aide of Chai Jin's manor, come to beg for help.

"Chao Tianwang, Wu Junshi, all chieftains! Please, Liangshan heroes, save my lord!"

The man's voice choked, his forehead bruised red from kowtowing.

"The Gaotang prefect Gao Lian is the uncle‑brother of the current Grand Commander Gao; relying on his power, he runs rampant unchecked!"

"Because my lord's manor servant quarrelled with Gao Lian's brother‑in‑law Yin Tianxi, Yin Tianxi fell to his own death, yet Gao Lian falsely accused my lord of ordering a servant to commit murder, throwing him into death row, where he will soon be executed!"

"I beg you heroes, for old times' sake, to come to his aid righteously!"

Chai Jin, descendant of the Later Zhou emperor Chai Rong (in the script world), keeps a vermilion script and iron pledge, and delights in befriending heroes under heaven.

He is famed in the jianghu as the 'Little Whirlwind', has frequent dealings with Liangshan, and owes gratitude to Chao Gai, Song Jiang and the others.

Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in indignation.

"Damn it! This dog official bullies people too much!"

Ruan Xiaoqi was the first to jump up, eyes wide.

"Lord Chai is so righteous, yet he suffers this injustice! Brothers, raise troops, raze Gaotang Prefecture and rescue our lord!"

Lin Chong also wore an angry look:

"Gao Lian, you dog official, you take lives like weeds, lawless and heaven‑defying! How can we sit by and ignore such false imprisonment!"

Du Qian, Song Wan and others also spoke up, demanding troops be sent.

Rescuing Chai Jin, both publicly and privately, fits Liangshan's reputation of putting righteousness first; none could object.

Chao Gai looked at Wu Yong:

"Military advisor, what do you think of this?"

Wu Yong swayed his feather fan slightly, then pondered:

"Rescue, we must rescue. Lord Chai has done us favors; emotionally and rationally we cannot stand by."

But how to rescue requires careful consideration. Though Gaotang is not a major military stronghold, its defenses are solid and Gao Lian commands some troops. A frontal assault, even if successful, would inflict heavy losses on Liangshan and utterly break with the Imperial Court, leaving no room for compromise.

The words 'room for compromise' in his speech caused those on the right who harbored thoughts of amnesty to flicker in their eyes.

Liu San could not help but interject:

What the military advisor said is absolutely right! Should we…… try courtesy before force? Send someone to explain the benefits and harms to that prefect, appeal to emotion, move with…… uh, perhaps we could get him to release Lord Chai? Avoid a big battle……

Nonsense!

Ruan Xiaowu shouted in anger.

Reason with that kind of dog official? If he listened to reason, Lord Chai wouldn't be in death row! You're just scared!

Liu San's face flushed red, and he dared not speak further.

Wu Yong waved his hand to stop the argument, his gaze turning to Shi Dun, who sat silently beside Chao Gai:

Brother Shi Dun, what are your thoughts?

Shi Dun rose, bowed to Chao Gai and Wu Yong, and said in a low voice:

Your Majesty, Military Advisor. To rescue, we must strike with thunderous force, swift and decisive, to minimize cost in saving Lord Chai and to deter the petty.

I propose we split forces into two routes. One route will make a frontal attack, led by Instructor Lin commanding the elite infantry and cavalry, to assail the east gate and draw the main official forces.

The other route will be a covert crossing, with the Ruan brothers selecting those skilled in water and agile, approaching by water under night cover, sneaking into the city, rushing straight to the jail, rescuing the person and withdrawing swiftly.

The key lies in internal and external coordination with precise timing. We need a detailed map and someone inside the city to rendezvous.

He paused, then looked at the messenger:

Brother, at Lord Chai's manor, are there still reliable men inside Gaotang City? Could you obtain the city's defense map, especially the routes near the jail?

The man hurriedly replied:

Yes! There are still a few teachers and manor retainers hiding in the city! The defense map…… I'll risk my life to get it!

Chao Gai heard this and slammed the table, deciding:

Good! We'll follow Brother Shi Dun's plan! Instructor Lin, Ruan brothers, muster the troops and prepare for action! Be sure to rescue Lord Chai safely!

Received!

Lin Chong and the three Ruan heroes answered in unison, their fighting spirit soaring.

Wu Yong added:

This operation is also a chance to hone our Liangshan brothers' combat skills, especially the newly trained troops, who need to prove themselves in battle. Brother Shi Dun, your mind is meticulous; please join the army as an advisor to assist Instructor Lin in coordinating all sides.

Shi Dun nodded in assent.

He knew this was an opportunity for the Northward Aspiration faction to further seize military command, drill its core forces, and put new tactics and concepts into practice in actual combat.

A hidden outpost outside the city.

Chen Wen and Qian Gui also received the news.

"Gaotang…… Chai Jin…… descendant of Later Zhou emperor Chai Rong……"

Chen Wen repeated those words softly, his eyes momentarily dazed.

Although he knew this 'Chai Rong' was not that Chai Rong, and this 'Chai Jin' was not the bloodline of that mighty Later Zhou emperor he remembered, merely a projection of the Iron Crow Army's scripted world, a character walking a set track.

But hearing that name, images from many years ago involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Fragments of his time alongside that magnanimous, far‑visioned ruler in the true river of history.

Back then he was young, called Chen Wenzhong, having encountered the enlightened lord Chai Rong, who recognized and promoted him, entrusting him with important duties.

Sovereign and minister in harmony, they fought side by side, dreaming together of subduing all heroes, pacifying the Central Plains, and restoring peace with a grand blueprint.

Chai Rong's benevolent recognition was the key reason Chen Wen could rise swiftly, accumulating the initial capital and reputation to contend with Zhao Kuangyin.

That trust and ambition, when recalled even now, still makes my heart surge, and I also feel fate's trickery; that person has passed.

And the two worlds are now separated by a vast curtain of light, each treading a completely different path.

"Who could have imagined that, in this distorted mirror image, we would again intersect with the 'Chai' clan in this way?"

Chen Wen let out a soft sigh, his tone carrying an indescribable complex feeling.

"Although it is a phantom, its ancestral name still leaves the heart uneasy."

Qian Gui stood to the side, listening silently.

He knew the history between the ruler and that Zhou Shizong, understanding where this feeling came from.

Chen Wen gathered his spirit, his eyes regaining clarity and sharpness.

Through Shi Yong, he could faintly sense a resentful, suppressed Fortune Momentum in the direction of Gaotang Prefecture, entangled with a corrupt, dark aura from the government.

At the same time, a familiar, cold and yin energy fluctuation also wove faintly around Gaolian's residence.

"The Iron Crow Army has indeed intervened."

Chen Wen said coldly.

"They may wish to use this opportunity to drain Liangshan's strength, or to do something in the chaos. Perhaps this Chai Jin's misfortune is itself part of their script, intended to drive him to Liangshan to complete the so-called 'Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends'."

Qian Gui said:

"Shi Dun has already participated in the planning, setting the strategy of open attack and covert crossing. Should we secretly assist?"

"Yes."

Chen Wen said decisively.

"This is another opportunity for us to disrupt the Iron Crow Army's script and train the Northward Aspiration faction's strength."

"Whether this Chai Jin is real or phantom, bearing the Chai name and suffering this injustice, we cannot stand by."

"You immediately take a few capable men, infiltrate Gaotang Prefecture first, find the Chai family manor's insider, ensure the deployment map is accurate, and, while they act, secretly eliminate any possible Iron Crow Army hidden posts, protecting Shi Dun and the rescue team."

"Remember, unless necessary, do not strike directly; focus on providing information and removing obstacles."

"Understood!"

Qian Gui received the order, immediately selected personnel, and prepared to depart.

Chen Wen added:

"Tell Shi Dun that after the rescue, he can try to explain the righteousness to Chai Jin. Chai Jin's identity is special; if he can understand and lean toward Northward Aspiration, it will greatly benefit Liangshan's future reputation. After all, in the eyes of people in this world, he remains a descendant of that Zhou Shizong, and his attitude carries weight."

Three days later, night, Gaotang Prefecture.

The moonlight was hazy, the starlight dim.

Outside the east gate of the prefectural city, torches suddenly blazed, and shouts of killing shook the heavens!

Lin Chong led the charge on horseback, wielding an eighteen-foot serpent spear, commanding hundreds of Liangshan horse and foot troops, forming ranks, loudly cursing at the city wall, bows and crossbows firing together, presenting a strong assault posture.

The garrison on the wall was greatly alarmed, gongs sounded in all directions, and arrows fell like rain.

Gaolian was awakened from sleep by the report, hearing that the east gate was urgent, he hastily summoned the main forces to reinforce, and the city's deployment instantly became empty.

At the same time, in a secluded spot by the river connecting the marsh on the west side of the prefectural city,

Several dozen black shadows silently emerged from the water like ghosts—namely Ruan Xiaoer, Ruan Xiaowu, Ruan Xiaoqi, and the elite fighters led by Shi Dun.

They relied on the deployment map and inner-city routes provided by the Chai family manor's insider, evading patrol soldiers, using grappling hooks and other tools to silently scale the city wall and infiltrate the city.

After Qian Gui and others had cleared a few key positions' sentries in advance, they proceeded smoothly, rushing straight to the prefectural jail.

In the depths of the cell, Chai Jin wore heavy shackles, his appearance emaciated, yet his eyes still retained a noble composure.

Hearing the faint shouts of killing outside and the approaching hurried footsteps, a spark of hope ignited in his eyes.

"Clang!"

The prison door was forcibly split open by Ruan Xiaoqi with brute strength!

"Great Officer Chai! Liangshan brothers have come to rescue you!"

Chai Jin looked at these drenched, sharp-eyed men before him, his heart stirred, and he cupped his hands, saying:

"Many thanks, heroes, for your rescue! I, Chai Jin, will never forget it!"

Shi Dun stepped forward and said softly:

"Great Officer, the situation is urgent; please follow us away quickly!"

While he had someone remove Chai Jin's shackles, he quickly said:

"Gaolian is lawless, framing the loyal; the Imperial Court has been dark for a long time. Great Officer, have you ever wondered why, in this land of China, the good suffer while the wicked run rampant? Why the barbarian dust of the north cannot be cleared for ages? Your ancestor Zhou Shizong was heroic, seeking unification; if he saw today's scene, what would he feel?"

Upon hearing this, Chai Jin's body shuddered, his gaze toward Shi Dun suddenly becoming sharp and complex.

His ancestors' glory, the vermilion-script iron charter, was originally a protective charm, but now it has almost become a death warrant.

"This world, this Imperial Court…" He pressed his lips tightly, not answering immediately, but deep in his eyes something seemed to be loosening.

The crowd protected Chai Jin, retreating swiftly along the original route.

Along the way they encountered several sporadic gaps, all swiftly dealt with by the agile Ruan brothers and Liangshan heroes.

Shi Dun coordinated from the center, issuing clear orders, while Qian Gui, in the more peripheral shadows, silently disposed of two Iron Crow Army scouts trying to sound an alarm.

By the time Gaolian realized he had been tricked and angrily led troops back to the jail, the people were already gone, the cell empty, leaving only a mess on the ground.

Outside the east gate, Lin Chong saw the appointed time had come, the fire inside the city as the signal, knowing the rescue succeeded, he immediately ordered the feint-attack units to alternate covering, withdrew calmly, and vanished into the night.

Liangshanpo, Gold Sand Beach.

Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and others personally welcomed the triumphant troop.

Chai Jin stepped onto Liangshan soil, beholding the sternly ordered camp and the spirited troops before him; especially upon hearing the words "Northward Aspiration" and seeing the Hall of Heroic Spirits and the Lecture Martial Hall, a complex light flashed in his eyes.

He bowed deeply to Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and all the chieftains:

"King Chao, Military Advisor Wu, all Liangshan brothers, the grace of saving my life outweighs Mount Tai! Chai Jin offers my thanks!"

He paused, lifted his gaze northward, and spoke in a low yet firm voice:

「In the past I only knew the righteousness of the martial world; today I finally understand that in this world there are still true heroes who do not forget the aspiration to look north. The dying wish of my ancestors, I dare not forget. If you do not despise me, Chai Jin wishes to offer his modest strength. 」

Chao Gai was overjoyed, quickly helping Chai Jin to his feet.

In this battle, Liangshan not only successfully rescued Chai Jin, but also dealt a blow to the arrogant bluster of the Gaotang Prefecture officials; furthermore, in actual combat they tested the new tactics and forged the core strength of the 'Northward Aspiration' faction.

Shi Dun's planning and coordination abilities, the Ruan brothers' bravery and water combat skills, and Lin Chong's steady command were all fully demonstrated.

Moreover, Chai Jin's attitude undoubtedly brought great prestige to the 'Northward Aspiration' faction.

The news reached Yuncheng; Song Jiang heard that Chai Jin had been rescued to Liangshan, and he rather approved of Liangshan, his feelings mixed, the notion of being forced onto Liangshan seemed to become a bit more urgent.

The Iron Crow Army's deployment in Gaotang Prefecture was disrupted, failing to achieve the expected effect; only that cold yin energy lingered unwillingly in the night for a moment before finally dissipating silently.

A calamity in Gaotang Prefecture became an important tempering of the 'Northward Aspiration' fire of Liangshan; although the flame experienced turmoil, it became all the more bright and steadfast.

After Chen Wen, from afar, learned that Chai Jin had safely ascended the mountain and declared his stance, the turmoil in his heart arising from the name 'Chai Rong' also gradually calmed, leaving only a more resolute will to move forward.