Moma Liangshan

Chapter 34: The Scheme at Baozhu Temple, the Ambush at Longshan

After receiving the news, Wang Lun personally led twenty men to Erlong Mountain. Together with the fifty men led by Lu Zhishen and the three Ruan brothers, the force at Erlong Mountain suddenly reached seventy-five men. The leader of the force escorting the birthday gifts was Liang Chun, a steward from Liang Zhongshu's residence, along with ten Xiangjun soldiers and ten military officers, totaling twenty-one men. Wang Lun secretly arrived at Erlong Mountain with his men. Upon meeting Lu Zhishen, he asked, "Have all the loiterers within a twenty-mile radius been driven away?" Lu Zhishen replied, "There were over twenty hunters and a dozen woodcutters in the mountains. After some intimidation, we compensated each family with twenty strings of cash. Now, everyone, young and old, regardless of age or gender, has been cleared out. The village where we are resting now is where those thirty-odd families lived." Wang Lun nodded and asked, "Were any lives lost?" Ruan Xiaoer replied, "Don't worry, Chief, we brothers dared not forget your instructions. Some people initially tried to resist, so we gathered all the villagers together. First, Chief Lu uprooted a crooked pear tree in front of everyone. Then, the fifth and seventh brothers killed two gray wolves with their bare hands. Hundreds of villagers were terrified and quickly accepted their compensation before leaving. Later, an old man from the village came to inquire when he could return home, and Chief Lu told him he could in half a month."

Wang Lun was extremely satisfied and said, "Very thorough! After the matter is accomplished, the four leaders will each receive 1,000 strings of cash, and the rest will each receive 500 strings of cash."

The next day, a man came to deliver a message. Wang Lun asked, "Who are you?" The man replied, "Reporting to the chieftain, I am Lin Chong's disciple, my name is Cao Zheng. I run an inn with my wife down the mountain. Chief Lu saw me when he escorted his master to Cangzhou. Now, Chief Lu has ordered me to gather information down the mountain." Wang Lun asked, "Young man, have you come with news of the birthday tribute?" Cao Zheng replied, "There is no news of the birthday tribute. I have come to report news from Baozhu Temple." Wang Lun was puzzled and looked at Lu Zhishen. Lu Zhishen said, “Besides the thirty-odd households of villagers, there is also a temple on Erlong Mountain called Baozhu Temple. Baozhu Temple is located in a dangerous area, accessible only by one road. Now the abbot has returned to secular life and grown his hair back, and the other monks have followed suit. He has also gathered several hundred men who rob and plunder. The leader is called Golden-Eyed Tiger Deng Long. If we want to make a move here, we must first deal with this gang of bandits. Five days ago, I went alone to challenge them, and I kicked Deng Long to the ground, causing him to flee back to the mountain in a panic. Since then, no matter how I challenge them, they have avoided battle. The brothers are at their wits' end and are thinking of a solution.”

At this moment, Cao Zheng said, "I have come up with a plan, but I don't know if it's feasible?" Wang Lun said, "Please instruct me, young master!" Cao Zheng said, "The three brothers of the Ruan family will take off their battle robes, change into villagers' clothes, and disguise themselves as shop assistants in my shop. Then, select three or four skilled brothers to dress up in the same way. Then, tie up Chief Lu and make a slipknot. I will go down the mountain and shout: 'We run an inn in a nearby village. This monk came to my inn to drink. He got very drunk and refused to pay his debts, saying that he would report to the police to attack your stronghold. So we will hear him and take advantage of his...'" "He's drunk. Tie him up here and present him to the King. That fellow will surely let us go up the mountain. Once we enter the stronghold and see Deng Long, untie the knot on the rope. I'll hand the staff to Chief Lu and the three Ruan family chiefs, and together we'll capture Deng Long. After Deng Long is done, the rest of the henchmen will not dare to disobey. I wonder what the chief and the four chiefs think?" Wang Lun said, "This plan is excellent, but it's unfair to Chief Lu!" Lu Zhishen said, "I'm all rough and tough; it's not unfair at all." Wang Lun looked at the three Ruan brothers and said, "You three have hidden knives in your clothes..." "Don't hesitate then, kill Deng Long! Anyone else who dares to resist, kill them all without mercy!" Lu Zhishen then asked, "What about the hundreds of henchmen?" Wang Lun pondered for a moment and said, "My son has now secured a position as magistrate of Laoshan County, responsible for rebuilding the Mizhou Maritime Trade Office, which requires a large number of able-bodied men. After we rob the birthday tribute, we'll have some free time to send them all to Laoshan to build the docks and shipyards." Ruan Xiaoer asked, "They're all brothers of the Green Forest, isn't that a bit too harsh?" Wan Lun shook his head and said, "This is a last resort! We robbed..." "The birthday gifts from Liang Zhongshu will certainly not be let go easily by either the capital city or Daming Prefecture. If we don't have a foolproof plan, we'll inevitably uncover some clues. Once exposed, my son's career in the court will certainly be affected." Lu Zhishen chimed in, "The chieftain and young chieftain are kind and generous; they won't suffer too much injustice at Laoshan. Once the storm has passed, they'll definitely be released." Wang Lun smiled and said, "Keeping watch over those lackeys is only for safety's sake. Keeping them locked up for a long time won't do any good; why prolong it?"

The next day, Cao Zheng, Lu Zhishen, and the three Ruan brothers fled up the mountain, while Wang Lun personally led dozens of his henchmen to provide support at the foot of the mountain. Cao Zheng took Lu Zhishen's monk's staff, the three Ruan brothers concealed knives in their clothes, and the others carried clubs. They arrived at the foot of Baozhu Temple. The henchmen on the gate saw a bound monk approaching and rushed up the mountain to report. The other two underlings shouted from the gate, "Where are you from? What are you doing here?" Cao Zheng stepped forward and boasted, "We are villagers from the foot of the mountain, running a small inn. Yesterday, this fat monk came to our inn to drink, got very drunk, and refused to pay his debts. He even kept saying he was going to borrow troops from elsewhere to attack Erlong Mountain, and while he was at it, he would plunder all the villagers. We had no choice but to continue serving him good wine, and after he was drunk, we tied him up securely with ropes and brought him here to present to Your Majesty, to show our villagers' filial piety and prevent him from suffering further misfortune." The underlings were overjoyed and said, "Wait a moment." One of them went up the mountain to inform Deng Long. Deng Long was delighted and shouted, "Bring him up the mountain! Take out this scoundrel's heart and liver to drink with, to appease my resentment!" The henchmen received the order, opened the gate, and ordered the monk to be brought up the mountain.

Cao Zheng and the three Ruan brothers escorted Lu Zhishen up the mountain under the guard of their henchmen. They saw three fortified passes below the temple, each one incredibly precipitous: two interlocking, completely enclosing the temple. The mountain peaks were majestic, the terrain treacherous, and the roads steep. Above the passes, logs, cannon stones, powerful bows, and crossbows were densely packed. Passing through the three passes, they entered the gate of Baozhu Temple, where they saw three main halls. Between the halls, bluestone paved the ground, and the surrounding area was fenced with felled timber. Deng Long, leading seven or eight henchmen, brandishing steel knives, pointed at Lu Zhishen and cursed, "You bald donkey, you've slept with this king! Today I'll take your heart and liver, steam them, and serve them with wine!" Lu Zhishen secretly loosened the ropes, and as Deng Long approached, he suddenly shouted, "You worthless bird, courting death!" Before the words were finished, he took the monk's staff from Cao Zheng and swept it across, splattering Deng Long's skull. The three Ruan brothers simultaneously drew their swords and shouted, "Kneel down and you'll be spared!" The henchmen, already terrified and now without Deng Long, dropped their swords, knelt, and begged for mercy. Lu Zhishen exchanged a glance with the three Ruan brothers, opened the gate, and welcomed Wang Lun up the mountain. Once on the mountain, Wang Lun looked at the four or five hundred henchmen kneeling in the open space and said softly, "These people are a rabble, but their numbers are large. In my opinion, select twenty percent of the strongest and most agile young men and incorporate them into our ranks. After a few days of reorganization, divide them into two teams. One team will be led by Chief Lu, and the other by the Ruan brothers. What do you all think?" Lu Zhishen said, "Chief is wise, but there is one problem. I and the three Ruan brothers are both leaders; how can I lead one alone?" "Centaur. In my opinion, it would be best to divide the reorganized force into four, each leading a squad." Ruan Xiaoqi laughed heartily and said, "Chief Lu, please don't worry. My fifth brother and I are not capable of leading troops. We're fearless in battle, but when it comes to giving orders, we can only give haphazard commands!" Ruan Xiaoer added, "The three Ruan brothers are from the same mother and are used to fighting together. If we were separated, it would probably weaken our abilities." Ruan Xiaowu nodded in agreement. Wang Lun said, "Time is of the essence, and we're all brothers, so there's no need to be so calculating. Please, Chief Lu, don't refuse!" Lu Zhishen said, "I'll gladly accept your offer!"

The four men first selected the strongest men, then chose the most agile from among them. After two rounds of selection, eighty-seven men remained, who were then fully integrated with the original seventy and trained jointly by Lu Zhishen and the three Ruan brothers. Seven days later, Wang Lun divided the one hundred and fifty-seven men into two teams: one team of seventy-nine men led by Lu Zhishen, and the other team of seventy-eight men led by the three Ruan brothers. The two teams were then trained separately by Lu Zhishen and the three Ruan brothers for four days. Four days later, Cao Zheng brought news that the birthday gifts had arrived at the foot of Erlong Mountain, and asked Wang Lun to prepare. Wang Lun summoned Lu Zhishen and the three Ruan brothers, saying, "With eight times the manpower, we can easily rob a group of twenty men from Daming Prefecture. We are only after wealth, not to kill. Remember this when we act!" Lu Zhishen replied, "We don't need so many men; sixty will suffice. Sixty men, one in front and one behind, will quickly close the net once the birthday tribute is surrounded. Not a single one will escape. On the other hand, we must not be careless with the more than three hundred guards in the temple." Wang Lun said, "In that case, Chief Lu, you and I will provide support from the outside. The three Ruan brothers will be in charge of robbing the birthday tribute. What do you think?" Lu Zhishen immediately replied, "I agree!" The three Ruan brothers... Seeing that Wang Lun had entrusted him with the vanguard position, and that Lu Zhishen showed no displeasure, Xiong felt grateful. Ruan Xiaoer said, "The chieftain's kindness and Lu Zhishen's righteousness will be remembered by all of us brothers." With everyone united, Wang Lun was overjoyed and said, "My son is truly fortunate to have the help of all of you heroes. After the deed is done, Liangshan will slaughter chickens and sheep for a three-day celebration." Ruan Xiaoqi chuckled and said, "As long as the chieftain provides plenty of Eight Immortals Wine, we'll have inexhaustible strength." Lu Zhishen patted his round belly and said, "Just thinking about that Eight Immortals Wine makes my mouth water." Wang Lun said, "After the three-day celebration, each leader will receive ten more jars."