Chapter 110: Ascending Mount Liang

Although this inn served as a lookout and contact point for Liangshan, the methods of communication remained solely in the hands of the leaders stationed there. Aside from the two of them, the subordinates knew nothing of the secret codes. Without these codes, even if one were to raze the inn to the ground, the waterway leading to the main stronghold of Liangshan would remain undiscovered.

Just as Zhu Gui retreated behind the building, a man with a slightly oversized head, round, staring eyes, and a physique that seemed top-heavy—yet possessed a face that looked somewhat aged—walked out, holding a small jar of wine.

"Greetings, heroes. I am Du Xing, nicknamed 'Ghost Face,' the deputy leader of this post. I have some fine wine here; come, let me share a cup with you!" Du Xing approached with a smile, and the two men in the forest naturally did not refuse.

If Zhu Gui’s smile made them feel as though there were a dagger hidden behind his grin, then "Ghost Face" Du Xing possessed a naturally comical countenance. For some reason, his facial skin was heavily lined with wrinkles, and every time his expression shifted, the wrinkles moved with it. At first glance, he truly resembled a ghostly mask.

"It is a pleasure to drink with you, Brother Du. After all, we shall be on the same side from now on, shall we not? May I ask how many men are currently on Liangshan, and how many leaders like yourself are there?" Lin Zhong asked.

Du Xing chuckled. "Brother Lin, Brother Yang Zhi, to be frank with you, Liangshan has only gained its reputation over the past year or so. Before that, it was not unified; various gangs of all sizes relied on the terrain of the Liangshan marshes to survive and skirmish with officials and merchants. It was not until the current leader, Wang Lun—known as the 'White-Clothed Scholar'—led everyone to repel a government force that Liangshan was unified. Zhu Gui and I both had our own followers before this."

"So, this Wang Lun must have considerable ability!" Yang Zhi said, exchanging a glance with Lin Zhong. The nickname "White-Clothed Scholar" made it clear that this man was a practitioner of the literary arts.

"He has ability, but he does not use it in the right places!" Du Xing poured himself a cup of wine and downed it in one gulp. "I am giving you both a word of warning: Wang Lun is narrow-minded. He certainly will not allow men of your caliber to remain. While he may not go so far as to harm you, do not expect to find a place for yourselves on Liangshan."

"Surely not!" Lin Zhong said. "I inquired earlier, and I heard that Liangshan has taken in quite a few heroes!" They had indeed made inquiries before. Having fled the city gates with no money, and possessing great skills, they had turned their blades against petty bandits and mountain outlaws along their journey, seizing enough gold and silver to sustain themselves until they met Lin Chong.

Their knowledge of Liangshan came from the mouths of these very bandits. They had even killed a man who intended to defect to Liangshan; that fellow had also just robbed some travelers and had cast a lecherous eye upon Yang Zhi and Lin Chong’s wife. His strength had just reached the early stage of the second rank, but unfortunately, he encountered them and died in the wilderness.

It was from him that they learned of Liangshan's large numbers and its superior geographical location, which led to their plan to bring everyone to the mountain. Looking at Du Xing now, his words did not seem false. Both of them could clearly sense that Du Xing was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the second rank, yet judging by his tone and demeanor, it was clear he was suppressing his cultivation for fear of Wang Lun’s jealousy.

Lin Zhong smiled. "Brother Du, does no one among the brothers have any objections to the leader’s behavior?" Lin Zhong felt this was an opportunity to probe just how deep Wang Lun's authority really ran.

"Heh heh, let us drink, let us drink! This is fine wine!" Du Xing said, pouring himself another cup.

"Hey, you 'Ghost Face,' didn't you say this wine was gone last time? How did you pull out another jar! I’ve been craving this for ages!" Zhu Gui returned and sidled up to Du Xing, grinning as he tried to grab the wine cup, only for Du Xing to dodge away.

"You 'Dry-Land Crocodile,' if I gave this to you, you’d just drink it like water! A waste!" Du Xing curled his lip. His primary duty here was brewing; his skill was the very foundation of this inn's existence. Had it not been for his unsettling appearance and the fact that his craft was coveted by others, making it impossible for him to stay in other taverns, he would never have come to Liangshan.

Zhu Gui was not offended. He turned to Lin Zhong and his companion and said, "Gentlemen, the boat has arrived."

The two followed Zhu Gui to a reed marsh behind the building. Zhu Gui produced a whistle and blew a series of short and long notes, and a boat glided out.

"These are the two men, and I shall be returning with them," Zhu Gui stated.

"Is Leader Zhu missing the fine wine of the stronghold?" the boatman asked with a laugh, showing his familiarity with Zhu Gui.

The three sat in the boat. As they were gradually enveloped by the reed marsh, it seemed as though there was no path forward, yet the small craft continued to advance.

"A formation!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Zhong’s eyes. It was no wonder the Liangshan waterways had baffled government forces so many times. He wondered, however, whether this was a natural formation or one laid out by human hands.

"Brother Lin has a sharp eye," Zhu Gui remarked. "This Liangshan marsh is a natural maze. We brothers relied on experience to map it out bit by bit. When government troops come to suppress us, if they bring few men, they don't know the reeds as we do; if they bring many and destroy the reeds, we have already long since retreated."

This reed maze was the first line of defense for the marsh.

Lin Zhong nodded, his desire to claim Liangshan for himself growing stronger than ever.

Soon, they emerged from the reeds, and a wooden dock appeared before them.

A squad of fully armored soldiers came to meet them. The three ascended the mountain, passing over a dozen checkpoints, each guarded by rotating patrols. Hidden sentries were placed throughout, making the place feel less like a mountain stronghold and more like a fortress.

Lin Zhong and Yang Zhi were both well-versed in military strategy, and as they traveled, they calculated how they would attack or defend the position if it were under their command.

When they arrived before the main hall, they exchanged a glance. They were certain of it: this was an excellent place to build a foundation.

The two sat down with Zhu Gui, and subordinates brought tea. Lin Zhong lifted the cup and sniffed the aroma, his eyes narrowing slightly. The tea was not the finest, but it was first-class. Judging by this, Wang Lun truly did not intend for them to stay.

"I did not expect such refined tea to be served on Liangshan. I look forward to the days ahead when we can enjoy life with our brothers!" Lin Zhong said, and Yang Zhi understood his implication.

Zhu Gui looked at the tea and offered a bitter smile; he knew their leader, Wang Lun, would not keep these two.

Just as he was about to speak, a gong sounded. Three men, followed by a squad of strictly equipped and somber-faced soldiers, emerged from the hall.

"Ha ha, heroes, you have waited long. I am Wang Lun. Thanks to the generosity of my brothers, I sit in the first chair here at Liangshan. These two are Du Qian, nicknamed 'Reach-the-Sky,' a man of great loyalty. This is 'Cloud-Piercing Vajra' Song Wan, the commander of our Liangshan infantry." Wang Lun was dressed in white, holding a folding fan; one might easily mistake him for an elderly scholar.

"Lin Zhong and Yang Zhi offer our respects to Leader Wang!" they said in unison.

Zhu Gui stepped forward and recounted their experience and strength. "Leader, Brothers Lin and Yang are rare experts. If they join our Liangshan, let alone the surrounding bandit dens that refuse to submit, even those local manors would no longer be our match!"

Although Liangshan was the largest bandit force in the area, it had failed to subdue all the surrounding hills. The marsh was a good defensive barrier, but it also meant every outing was a major operation.

Moreover, to prevent the bandits from causing too much harm, the government supported local gentry in forming fortified manors to keep them in check. Around Liangshan lay places like the Zhu Family Manor and Zengtou City, which acted like a giant hand gripping the paths leading to truly prosperous lands. Even around the marsh, there were united villages that, while not posing an existential threat to Liangshan, could still cause them significant trouble.

Wang Lun nodded. "Leader Zhu’s words are reasonable. Both of you are rare talents. If you are willing to join Liangshan, I am willing to offer you the position of deputy leader."

Lin Zhong and Yang Zhi looked at each other. "We are ready to follow your orders, Leader!"