met free Page 208
Page 208
Chen Liqing, looking somewhat awkward, reached into Liu Huiniang's arms, took the box containing the pearls, and held it in her arms, stroking it.
Looking at the scene before her, Liu Huiniang felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She's been up the mountain for over a month, and Zhao Yuan hasn't given her anything yet.
If only my uncle could make it to Chenqiao Town before sunset...
Suddenly, a thought popped into Liu Huiniang's mind.
Anyway, she already knew that her parents were in Jingyang Town.
At worst, I can go back to Liangshan with Zhao Yuan and the others first, and then go to Jingyang Town to see my parents.
This time, however, Liu Huiniang was going to be disappointed.
In the afternoon, just after Shenshi (3-5 PM), there was still an hour before sunset.
Chen Xizhen then hurriedly arrived at Chenqiao Town wearing a Taoist robe.
After all, he only had one precious daughter, Chen Liqing.
Although he was obsessed with Taoist practices, in the end, nothing was more important than his daughter.
"father......"
Upon seeing Chen Xizhen enter the room, Chen Liqing immediately called out guiltily.
No one knows a father better than his daughter.
Having been raised by her father, Chen Liqing naturally understood Chen Xizhen's loyalty to Song Ting.
But today, although her actions were based on righteous indignation,
On a whim, he went onto the arena and killed three golden statues.
However, to some extent, it ultimately undermined the court's strategy of allying with the Jin to attack the Liao.
So after seeing Chen Xizhen,
Chen Liqing immediately assumed that her father was going to scold her.
Unexpectedly, Chen Xizhen walked to the bedside,
Looking at her daughter lying on the couch, wrapped in silk cloth, her face pale and bloodless,
But tears immediately streamed down her face.
"Daughter, thank goodness you're alright. If anything had happened to you, how could I face your deceased mother..."
"father......"
This was the first time in Chen Liqing's life that she had ever seen her father shed tears.
Her lips hesitated for a long time before she finally whispered,
"I thought Dad was going to scold his daughter."
"Hmph, of course I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
Chen Xizhen wiped away her tears and said angrily,
"I could tolerate you going on stage to fight, even if you killed that Jurchen man! But why did you have to shield that Zhao fellow from an arrow?!"
"He has no relation to our family, why should you risk your life to save him!"
"Father, I was just angry when I saw the Jurchens launching a sneak attack, and I acted instinctively..."
Chen Liqing had just finished speaking when Chen Xizhen sternly stopped her.
"Nonsense! Even if you're angry, you should go find that golden man!"
At this point, Chen Xizhen asked suspiciously,
"Daughter, you don't necessarily like...?"
"Father! What nonsense are you talking about!"
Chen Liqing blushed and cautiously glanced at Liu Huiniang beside her.
"That guy surnamed Zhao is dark-skinned and old. How could my daughter possibly be interested in him?"
Chapter 289 Wu Yong Meets Song Jiang
Chenqiao Town Wharf
Wen Huanzhang has already boarded the ship with his family.
Shi Qian, however, had to remain in Bianliang to gather information on the court's next moves.
When the soldiers came to report that they had brought Chen Xizhen to the inn,
Zhao Yuan then ordered Zhang Shun and the Ruan brothers to set sail down the Guangji River and return to Shandong.
......
While Zhao Yuan was on his way to Tokyo to rescue Xu Guanzhong...
In Shandong, two major events also occurred that alarmed the bandits.
Firstly, there were Chao Gai, Gongsun Sheng, Liu Tang, and Wu Yong.
Under the pretext of presenting birthday gifts, they infiltrated Erlong Mountain.
Taking advantage of the moment when their mountain stronghold leader, Golden-Eyed Tiger, was off guard, they killed him in one fell swoop.
Chao Gai and his three companions then occupied Erlong Mountain.
Then, following the example of Liangshan, they began to raise the banner of "acting on behalf of Heaven."
To avoid disturbing passing merchants, travelers, and local residents.
They specifically targeted wealthy and unscrupulous landlords and gentry for robbery.
In just over ten days, Wu Yong devised a plan, and Chao Gai, Liu Tang, and Gongsun Sheng led their henchmen in a charge.
Three villages were captured in succession at Erlong Mountain, affecting 200 areas of Qingzhou, causing shock among both officials and civilians.
The prefect of Qingzhou, Murong Yanda, was the brother of Consort Murong in Emperor Huizong's palace.
Previously, he had gloated over the emergence of powerful bandits like Liangshan in Yunzhou and Jizhou.
Now bandits are rampant on their own land.
This fellow immediately looked distressed and could only ask Qin Ming and Huang Xin to prepare for battle every day and guard against bandits plundering.
The second matter concerns the prominent figures in the bandit world.
Song Jiang, the timely rain, actually killed Yan Poxi in Yuncheng, and then fled into the Jianghu, disappearing without a trace.
This matter is also related to Chao Gai and others.
They had originally occupied Erlong Mountain and plundered three or four villages.
With the money and provisions they obtained, they completely won over the hearts of the many henchmen of Erlong Mountain, and after establishing a foothold,
Chao Gai, however, was a man of honor and remembered Bai Sheng, the White-Day Rat, who was still in the Jizhou prison.
This guy, who lacked any sense of propriety and revealed the identities of the four of them while gambling and drunk,
Liu Tang, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng were naturally angry.
But he couldn't go against Chao Gai's wishes.
In the end, Wu Yong had no choice but to take action himself.
But he brought Liu Tang with him, along with the hundred taels of gold they had looted.
They arrived in Yuncheng.
He came here to find Song Jiang.
Although Wu Yong was very intelligent, he was ultimately just a village schoolteacher.
I didn't know many people in Jeju, and most of them didn't have much status.
As for Song Jiang, although he served as a clerk in Yunzhou,
However, he also made many connections with officials in Jeju.
If we could get her help, rescuing Bai Sheng would undoubtedly be much simpler.
Wu Yong led Liu Tang to a teahouse opposite the county government office and they sat down.
He then gave the waiter a string of cash and told him to go to the county government office and invite Clerk Song over.
A moment later, as Song Jiang followed the waiter into the teahouse with a puzzled expression,
Upon seeing Wu Yong and Liu Tang, he was naturally greatly alarmed.
Although these two men were simply disguised, someone who had never seen them before would certainly not associate them with the bandits wanted by the government.
However, Song Jiang met Wu Yong several times at Chao Gai's manor and they became quite familiar with each other.
He immediately recognized Wu Xuejiu.
Once Wu Yong was recognized, Liu Tang, who was standing nearby, could no longer hide it from him.
"Brothers, how did you get here?"
Song Jiang feigned surprise and chased the waiter away.
He pulled the two of them aside and asked in a low voice,
"You two brothers, how dare you barge in like this! There are wanted posters for you right at the entrance of the county town!"
"The portrait on that notice looks like scribbles, who can recognize it?" Liu Tang said nonchalantly.
Wu Yong, standing to the side, explained in a low voice, "You may not know this, but I have come here on behalf of Brother Chao Gai to thank you for saving my life last time."
As he said this, Liu Tang hurriedly took off his bag.
When it was placed on the table and opened, it contained more than ten gleaming gold bars!
"How does this work!"
Song Jiang quickly declined, saying, "I saved Master Chao out of loyalty, not for this little bit of gold and silver."
“Two days ago, people from Jeju Prefecture came. If it weren’t for the clerk risking his life to warn us, we would have been captured and taken to Jeju long ago,”
Wu Yong advised, "This gold and silver is a small token of our appreciation from Master Chao and the three of us. If you, Clerk, do not accept it, we will not be at peace with ourselves!"
Seeing that he had said so, Song Jiang could only nod.
Then, as if remembering something, he quickly reminded her.
"Wu Xuejiu, Liu Tang, brothers, listen to my advice, you should leave Yuncheng as soon as possible. You should know that He Tao, the arresting officer from Jizhou, is still in the city!"
"He Tao hasn't returned to Jizhou yet?" Wu Yong asked in surprise.
“A few days ago, he led soldiers and constables from Jizhou and Yuncheng to arrest you, but they were frightened by Liangshan and returned empty-handed.”
Song Jiang explained, "How could he dare return to Jizhou? He could only stay in Yuncheng under the pretext of finding out your whereabouts."
Chapter 290 Wu Yong's Scheme
Song Jiang originally intended to use He Tao's name to persuade the two to leave quickly.
Unexpectedly, after Wu Yong listened to his words,
But they clapped and laughed.
"Great! We have a way to do what Brother Chao Gai asked us to do!"
Seeing that both Song Jiang and Liu Tang looked puzzled,
Wu Yong then explained in a low voice, "To be honest, Brother Chao Gai sent us here for the second reason: to find a way to save Bai Sheng's life."
"this......"
Upon hearing this, Song Jiang was stunned for a moment.
"Bai Sheng has already been detained by the Jizhou Prefecture. How can we rescue him?"
"Hehe, if the clerk lends a hand, this matter won't be difficult,"
Wu Yong, looking as if he had everything under control, said with a smile.
"I?"