Chapter 28: Striking First to Gain the Advantage
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Li Gui naturally knew of Zhu Fu’s reputation, but although both men had made their way in Yishui County, they had never met.
In those days, Li Gui was nothing more than a street thug—a thug without even the slightest reputation, and therefore of no value as an acquaintance.
Zhu Fu, however, under the protection of Green-Eyed Tiger Li Yun, had already earned some renown in the city and possessed an establishment of his own. How could he possibly look favorably upon trash like Li Gui?
But fortunes had turned. Li Gui had now become the leader of the criminal underworld and had even killed the corrupt county magistrate. His fame had grown so great that Zhu Fu in his present state could not hope to compare.
Thus, the moment they met, Zhu Fu prostrated himself before Li Gui and addressed him as elder brother.
“I have long heard of your illustrious name, Elder Brother. I have only regretted that fate never allowed us to meet. To encounter you today—what greater fortune could there be? I am willing to follow in your wake and accomplish something of consequence!”
He was the first Liangshan hero to come seeking refuge. Among the seventy-two Earthly Fiends, he occupied the position of the Ksitigarbha Star. Though his ranking was relatively low, he had both a name and a place in the world, and was certainly no ordinary man.
Li Gui had once thought that, if only he had known killing could earn him heavenly fortune, he should have chopped Zhu Fu to pieces before killing the magistrate. Surely Zhu Fu’s fortune would have been even greater than the magistrate’s.
After all, this was the world of Water Margin, where the leaders of Liangshan were born with greater fortune than ordinary people.
But now that Zhu Fu had already bowed before him, Li Gui could hardly go out of his way to kill him. Taking him on as a subordinate would do just as well.
If he eventually seized the chief seat of Liangshan, then all these Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends would become his sworn brothers. It would do no harm to build a little fellowship with them in advance.
“Haha… I have long known your name as well, Brother Zhu Fu. Since you have come to the mountain, you are one of our own from this day forward.”
Li Gui made no show of honoring talent or humbling himself before worthy men. He simply waved a hand and told Zhu Fu to rise.
“We intend to establish checkpoints and collect taxes on the mountain, and we are badly in need of someone who can read and keep accounts. Since you have run an inn, you should understand ledgers. How would you like to serve as our tax officer?”
Zhu Fu accepted the command gladly. As for seating order, he was placed fourth, behind Yellow Fourth Brother and Old Seventh Li.
Having only just joined the mountain, he hardly dared to complain. All he could think of was earning merit as soon as possible. When he saw Li Gui order wine and a banquet to welcome the new chieftain, he immediately rose and clasped his fists.
“Elder Brother, the banquet can wait. Before coming up the mountain, I learned that the prefecture’s patrol inspector has already arrived in Yishui County. He is recruiting soldiers and drilling them rigorously. In only a few days, he will march against the mountain.”
He gave a detailed report on the county’s military preparations, but did not mention a single word about the man behind Li Gui.
Secrets were best kept by as few people as possible. Quietly making one’s fortune was an eternal truth.
Li Gui cast a sidelong glance at Old Seventh Li. Intelligence within the stronghold had always been his responsibility, and now he had not produced the slightest bit of information. Old Seventh Li could hardly escape blame.
Covered in cold sweat, Old Seventh Li hurriedly rose and fell to his knees.
“Elder Brother, this is entirely my fault. I will go down the mountain at once and investigate the matter thoroughly.”
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Zhu Fu quickly intervened. “Elder Brother, do not blame him. The news has only just come out, and it concerns only the events of the past few days. Second Brother cannot be faulted.”
Seeing Old Seventh Li trembling like a leaf, Li Gui gave a cold snort and let the matter pass.
He had actually anticipated the government army’s campaign and had specifically instructed Old Seventh Li to keep watch. Clearly, after unifying Yishui, the man had grown complacent. Otherwise, he might have failed to learn every detail, but how could he possibly have missed an army recruitment drive of such magnitude?
In the end, Old Seventh Li was simply rotten mud that could never be shaped into anything useful.
Had he not been among Li Gui’s earliest followers, Li Gui would have split him in two with an axe long ago.
There were not many capable men in the stronghold. For now, he would have to make do with him.
Li Gui questioned Zhu Fu in detail about the situation and gained a clearer understanding of the patrol inspector, Liang.
The fact that Liang was recruiting soldiers meant that he lacked manpower. The fact that he was intensifying their training meant that his original troops had been little more than scattered, undisciplined men.
Even so, Liang possessed an inherent advantage as an officer of the government army.
Given enough time—not much, merely one or two months—he would be able to lead a thousand men to surround and suppress the stronghold. With complete arms and equipment, those troops would easily overwhelm the two hundred ordinary spearmen defending the unfinished walls of Elm Mountain Stronghold.
Rather than sit and await their doom, it was better to strike first and crush the newly trained recruits in a single blow.
With that thought, Li Gui spoke.
“Thanks to you for coming up the mountain to warn us. Otherwise, I fear I would still be kept in the dark. You have rendered us no small service. I must trouble you once more, however. Return to Yishui County and investigate the military camp thoroughly. Once everything is prepared, I will lead our forces out and destroy this government army.”
“What are you saying, Elder Brother? Now that I have joined the mountain, those government soldiers are my enemies as well. Leave it to me to investigate the matter fully.”
Zhu Fu was about to descend the mountain when Li Gui hurriedly called him back. He ordered someone to bring a bundle of gold and silver and told Zhu Fu to take it with him.
“Such is the way of officialdom. How can one manage relations above and below without money? Take it and spend it as needed. If it is not enough, simply send word up the mountain, and I will have more delivered to you.”
Zhu Fu himself was a generous and loyal man who cared little for wealth, but he did not stand on ceremony. He took the gold and silver and departed at once. Only after reaching the foot of the mountain did he open the bundle for a look, whereupon he sighed.
“I worked myself to the bone for more than ten years, yet everything I earned amounted to less than half of this. It truly leaves a man speechless!”
“Brother Li Gui is indeed magnanimous. A casual gift from him is worth a hundred times what an ordinary subject could ever earn.”
From that moment on, Zhu Fu’s resolve hardened. He would not waver again. He made his way back to the inn, where he ran straight into Green-Eyed Tiger Li Yun, who had come to visit.
“Where have you been, Brother? I have not seen you all day.”
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Zhu Fu truly lived up to his nickname, Smiling Tiger. Patting the bundle of gold and silver hidden behind him, he said with a broad grin, “I heard a fat sheep was passing nearby, so I went to make a little extra money.”
Li Yun was a constable, but he showed no surprise or disapproval. He merely glanced over, saw that Zhu Fu had made a considerable haul, and looked away.
Zhu Fu opened the inn’s doors and invited Li Yun inside.
When Li Yun saw the overturned tables and chairs, along with the wine jars smashed across the floor, he asked in surprise, “Was the place robbed?”
Zhu Fu smiled and answered vaguely, “Nothing appears to be missing. Most likely some wild cats or dogs were making a nuisance of themselves. Master, pay it no mind. Sit for a while, and I will bring out some wine.”
He went into the rear courtyard, shoved the bundle beneath the bed, sliced up some cooked meat, drew two pots of wine, and returned to the table.
After they had downed three or five cups, Zhu Fu ventured cautiously, “Master, after those two incidents involving anti-bandit funds, I have come to understand that remaining a commoner is ultimately no good. I would like to find some official standing. Do you have any connections?”
Li Yun did not find the request improper. Had he himself not realized, after being dragged into the affair surrounding Li Gui, that in the eyes of the powerful, even a family of hereditary constables was nothing more than a fat sheep?
“If you are willing, you could first serve under me as a yamen runner. I will not even take the customary fee from you. Later, when an opportunity arises, we can seek you a better position.”
As a constable, that was all he could promise.
In the past, Zhu Fu might have valued a regular position as a yamen runner. But now he had already resolved to abandon the righteous path, follow Li Gui in murder and arson, and wait for the day they received an imperial amnesty.
He reached over and filled Li Yun’s cup again, then asked softly, “Elder Brother, do you know anything about that patrol inspector Liang? If I joined his army as a squad leader or standard-bearer, could I earn merit and rise through the ranks?”
“Heh…”
Li Yun gave a cold laugh and drained his cup. Then he set it heavily upon the table.
“Although I have never had any dealings with that patrol inspector Liang, I do know that he is a man who loves money.”
“If you have gold and silver, he would dare promise you anything—not merely a squad leader’s post, but even a constable’s position or command over a unit.”
“But if you hope to earn merit and receive rewards so that you may rise in office, that will be exceedingly difficult.”