Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Chapter 195 Guan Yu's Great Sword Amazes Hua Rong; Loyal Son from a Good Family Finds It Diffic

Hua Rong was jolted awake by Guan Sheng's powerful, mountain-like strike, his blood surging and his hand throbbing with pain. He knew that the red-faced giant before him was a formidable fighter, far surpassing any opponent he had ever faced. If the fight continued, his life would be in danger.

Hua Rong feinted with his silver spear, the tip trembling as if he were about to thrust back, but in reality it was a "getaway tactic" to use the momentum to retreat.

"Where do you think you're going!" Guan Sheng roared, his voice like a dragon's cry. Red Hare moved at the sound, its four hooves flying, as fast as lightning.

Guan Sheng flicked his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and the blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, slicing towards Hua Rong's back. Hua Rong felt a gust of wind and was so frightened that he could only duck down and hold his silver spear behind his back, barely managing to block the powerful slash.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing was deafening. Hua Rong's white steed neighed, its legs buckled, and it almost fell over. Taking advantage of the moment, Hua Rong spurred the horse's belly, and the white steed, in pain, galloped forward with all its might.

Just as Hua Rong was about to be captured alive by Guan Sheng, two riders suddenly charged out from the side. On horseback was a father and son; one was old but still fierce, the other young and sharp-witted. They were Liang Tian, ​​the military commander of Rencheng County, and his father, Liang Ting.

"General Hua, go first!" Liang Tian shouted, his eyebrow-tipped dagger carrying the force of wind and thunder, aimed straight at Guan Sheng's face.

Liang Ting was not to be outdone; he brandished his elephant-trunk-shaped ancient crescent blade, the tip pointing directly at Red Hare's leg. Although the father and son's martial arts skills were not as good as Guan Sheng's, their teamwork was excellent, and their swordsmanship was ruthless.

Upon seeing this, Guan Sheng raised an eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"What a reckless fool!" he hissed, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade undiminished in its momentum. The back of the blade deflected Liang Tian's eyebrow-tip blade, while the edge swung back to parry Liang Ting's elephant-trunk-shaped ancient moon blade. Red Hare swiftly somersaulted, dodging Liang Ting's attack.

Seeing Hua Rong escape, the Liang father and son felt a sense of relief, but also a surge of grief and indignation. They knew that they were no match for Guan Sheng on their own. However, to secure a chance for Hua Rong's survival and to serve the court, they were determined to do so without hesitation.

"Kill!" Liang Tian roared, his eyebrow-tipped blade transforming into a ball of silver light, attacking Guan Sheng's vital points.

Liang Ting followed closely behind, wielding his elephant-nose crescent blade with the force of a whirlwind, blocking Guan Sheng's retreat. The father and son were determined to entangle Guan Sheng.

Guan Sheng sneered, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade spinning and creating a ball of green light, blocking all the sword techniques of the father and son.

Hua Rong was no longer concerned with the battle behind him; all he knew was to escape. He spurred his white steed wildly, galloping relentlessly towards Jeju City. All the way, he had only one thought in his mind: survive, and return to Jeju!

Li Hanxiao watched from afar as the Liang family father and son were surrounded, but he was in no hurry to order an attack. He knew that Liang Ting and his son were rare and loyal men, and if they could be won over, they would be a great help to Liangshan.

"Father, you go first, I'll hold him off!" Liang Tian roared, his brow blade aimed straight at Guan Sheng's face.

Guan Sheng sneered and slashed horizontally with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Liang Tian barely managed to block, but felt a tremendous force strike him. His eyebrow-shaped blade flew out of his hand, and he was thrown backward, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out blood.

"Heavens!" Liang Ting exclaimed in shock, and slashed at Guan Sheng with his elephant-trunk-shaped ancient crescent blade.

Guan Sheng swung his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, the back of which struck the blade of the Ancient Moon Blade. Liang Ting felt an immense force strike him, his weapon flew out of his hand, and he staggered backward, nearly falling.

Just as Liang Ting and his son were in despair, Li Hanxiao rode Beihai Saluzi slowly to the front of the battle.

He glanced at Liang Tian struggling on the ground, then at Liang Ting, whose face was pale, before finally fixing his gaze on the five hundred Liang family soldiers who were surrounded by Liangshan infantry.

"General Liang, Lieutenant General Liang!" Li Hanxiao's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"I, the chieftain, admire your loyalty and bravery, father and son. The Liang family army is also an elite force."

"But can you see clearly?" Li Han smiled and waved his hand. More than a dozen cannons hidden in the mountain valley in the distance, their muzzles gleaming with a ghostly light, were all aimed at the direction of Liang's army.

Liang Ting's heart sank; he knew the power of artillery.

"General, these five hundred Liang family soldiers are all your own men, right?" Li Hanxiao continued.

"They risked their lives for you and were loyal to the court for you."

"If you resist stubbornly today, with a barrage of artillery fire, the five hundred Liang family soldiers will be reduced to ashes in an instant, leaving not a single blade of grass behind!"

"General Liang is fearless, but can you bear to let these sons who grew up with you die in vain?"

Liang Ting's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Li Hanxiao. He wanted to serve his country loyally, but he couldn't bear to see his soldiers, who had followed him for so many years, die in vain. He struggled violently within himself, finally letting out a long sigh.

"I...we surrender!" Liang Ting's voice was hoarse as he slowly put down his weapon.

Li Han smiled and nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, the Liangshan soldiers immediately stepped forward to confiscate the weapons of the Liang family army, but did not bind them.

Li Hanxiao did not kill the captured Liang family soldiers, but instead ordered them to be treated to good wine and meat.

"Miracle doctor" An Daoquan and his medical team bandaged and treated the wounded in Liang's army.

Li Hanxiao personally untied Liang Ting and his son.

"General Liang, Lieutenant General Liang," Li Han smiled and cupped his hands, speaking gently, "On the battlefield, each serves their own master; we are enemies, not friends."

"Below the battlefield, all are sons of the Han people, of the same root and origin."

"Li did not wish to commit further atrocities, nor did he wish to see the elite of the Han people slaughtering each other."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ting and his son Liang Tian, ​​though somewhat surprised by Li Hanxiao's benevolence, still maintained a disdainful expression. They were officials of the imperial court; how could they easily bow down?

Li Hanxiao was not angry. He instructed his men to treat the Liang family father and son well and not to neglect them in the slightest.

He then secretly summoned Yang Zhi, the "Blue-Faced Beast," Ma Bian, and Bai Sheng, the "White-Day Rat."

“Within Jeju City, there must be great fear and unease over Hua Rong’s defeat,” Li Hanhan said with a smile.

"The news of Liang's army being captured must be widely publicized inside and outside Jeju City."

"Let's say that the Liang family father and son have surrendered to Liangshan, and the Liang family army has also submitted."

"Let the rumors keep circulating, changing three times a day, so that Song Jiang and Wu Yong will become suspicious and waver!"

Ma Bian and Bai Sheng accepted the order and left.

The preferential treatment Li Hanxiao received in the Liang family army prisoner-of-war camp contrasted sharply with Hua Rong's abandonment and escape.

"That scoundrel Hua Rong, he ran away so fast!" a Liang family soldier complained bitterly. "He left us here to die!"

"Chief Li is benevolent!" another wounded soldier exclaimed. "Not only did he not kill us, he also treated our wounds and illnesses."

Gradually, resentment towards Hua Rong and gratitude towards Li Hanxiao arose in the hearts of the soldiers of Liang Family Army.

When the news reached Jizhou, the surprise attack had failed, and Hua Rong fled back in disarray. Song Jiang and the soldiers defending Jizhou were deeply shocked.

"What? General Hua Rong was actually defeated?" Zhang Bao exclaimed, his face turning pale.

"So what if he lost!" Wu Yong sneered. "That fellow may be skilled in martial arts, but he's still just flesh and blood. How could he possibly withstand the sorcery and firearms of the Liangshan bandits?"

The constant rumors and gossip, like maggots clinging to the bone, clung to Jeju City.

"Have you heard? The Liang family father and son have surrendered to Liangshan!"

"I heard that Liang Ting and Li Han are even jokingly calling each other brothers!"

Song Jiang and Wu Yong were even more unsure whether it was true or false. They suspected that Li Hanxiao might be planning a "double agent" scheme.

Three days later, the spies sent by Li Hanxiao spread rumors inside and outside Jeju City.

"The Liang family father and son have secretly agreed to Li Hanxiao's request to cooperate from within and without to take over Jizhou City as a gift for advancement!"

This rumor spread throughout the streets and alleys, causing widespread panic in Jeju City.

Upon hearing this, Song Jiang and Wu Yong were completely shaken.

"Wu Xuejiu, is this rumor true or false?" Song Jiang asked anxiously.

Wu Yong lightly waved his feather fan, his eyes gleaming. "It's better to believe it's true than not! Li Hanxiao is cunning and treacherous; this move is not impossible!"

"Even if Li Hanxiao really lets the Liang family father and son come back, we absolutely cannot let them enter the city!" Wu Yong said firmly.

Li Hanxiao met with Liang Ting and his son again.

“General Liang, Lieutenant General Liang,” Li Hanxiao said earnestly, “I have no grudge against you. This fight is just a matter of each serving our own master.”

"Now, I am willing to release you and your son, and take the Liang family army back to Rencheng."

"If you no longer participate in the fighting here, Liangshan will not pursue the matter further."

Upon hearing this, Liang Ting and his son exchanged bewildered glances. They couldn't understand why Li Hanxiao was being so magnanimous. But being able to live and protect their soldiers was something they naturally longed for.

"Thank you for sparing my life, Chief Li!" Liang Ting cupped his hands, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

And so, Liang Ting and his son, with five hundred Liang family soldiers, left Yuncheng County and returned to Jizhou Prefecture.

However, when they arrived at the gates of Jeju City, they found the gates closed and the city walls guarded by soldiers.

"Open the city gates!" Liang Ting shouted, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

On the city wall, Yan Shun shouted sternly, "Liang Ting! Liang Tian! Wu Xuejiu has already figured out your plan to surrender to Liangshan and coordinate an attack from within!"

"Today, I, Yan Shun, am ordered to guard the city gates strictly and will not allow you traitors to enter the city!"

Upon hearing this, Liang Ting and his son were struck dumb. They were utterly shocked and wanted to explain themselves.

"Yan Shun! You're talking nonsense! We are loyal to the imperial court!" Liang Tian roared.

"A hail of arrows!" Yan Shun gave them no chance to explain.

On the city wall, bowstrings twanged, and a hail of arrows rained down on Liang's army. Caught off guard, Liang's army suffered dozens of casualties.

"Father!" Liang Tian saw that Liang Ting had been shot in the shoulder, cried out in pain, and fell off his horse to the ground.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Seeing this, Liang Tian was filled with grief and indignation. He knew that they had been completely abandoned by the imperial court. Liang Tian led the remnants of the Liang family army, turned their horses around, and fled into the distance.

As night fell, the city walls of Jeju remained brightly lit.

Outside the city, the remaining Liang family army was in a sorry state, covered in blood.

Liang Tian helped the injured Liang Ting and they ran for dozens of miles before finding an abandoned earthen temple to rest.

The temple was covered in cobwebs, and a cold wind blew through the halls.

Liang Ting was shot in the shoulder, blood soaking half of his clothes, and his face was as pale as paper.

"Father, bear with it." Liang Tian carefully tore open Liang Ting's clothes, revealing a bloody and mangled wound.

The arrowhead was deeply embedded, penetrating three inches into the bone.

Liang Tian gripped the arrow shaft, his hands trembling slightly.

"Tian'er, don't move." Liang Ting breathed weakly, "This arrow is poisoned, forcibly pulling it out will be useless."

Liang Tian was in tears, his heart filled with grief and indignation.

"That bastard Yan Shun, what a cruel heart he has!" Liang Tian gritted his teeth. "He actually dared to shoot arrows at us!"

Liang Ting closed his eyes, his facial muscles twitching.

“It’s not his fault,” Liang Ting said hoarsely. “It was Wu Xuejiu who bewitched Song Jiang.”

"Father!" Liang Tian slammed his fist on the ground, sending sand flying. "We risked our lives for the imperial court, fought bloody battles for Jizhou City, and made great contributions!"

"In the end, it all came to this!"

"Li Han laughed at those bandits, saying, 'Let us go, and we'll treat you to good wine and meat!'"

"The imperial court treats us like traitors, and we are attacked with arrows!"

Liang Tian became more and more agitated as he spoke, and the suppressed anger in his heart finally erupted.

"What the hell?! Is there any justice left?!" Liang Tian roared, his voice echoing through the broken temple.

Liang Ting slowly opened his eyes, his gaze cloudy yet exuding a chilling aura.

"Justice?" Liang Ting gave a bitter laugh. "Where is justice?"

He recalled Li Hanxiao's words, "It is the world that kills, not us," and felt a mix of emotions.