Chapter 1139: Heavenly King Sun
In the evening, the setting sun cast down across Jiangzhou, emitting a layer of blurriness.
In Fang Clan’s estate, the villagers who had their dinner started to patrol the streets.
This was what Landlord Fang asked for. If anyone were to notice traces of the Red Turban Army, they would be rewarded with one dou[1] of rice if they were to report this.
“Doggy, hurry up!”
The young man whose nickname was Erniu squatted on the top of the wall and urged his good friend.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
The young man called Doggy was biting onto a strand of straw and carrying a fis.h.i.+ng basket, planning to head off to catch fish.
“Of course I’m in a hurry. If I could be the first to discover the Red Turban Army, I’d be able to get one dou of rice. My younger sister will be able to have a few filling meals.”
Erniu licked his lips.
“You’re better off going to catch fis.h.!.+”
Doggy said in disdain.
“Even if I catch fish for three months, I can’t trade it for one dou of rice!”
When Erniu saw that his friend wasn’t interested in patrolling, he instantly felt dejected. As they were good friends, he was willing to share half the rice with Doggy.
The two of them walked quietly along the field.
“Do you have something troubling you?”
Erniu suddenly spoke up. Doggy was usually talkative and would keep trying to find out about his sister.
“I…”
Doggy hesitated for a while before eventually saying, “I’m planning to head to Mount Zhao and join the Red Turban Army!”
“What?”
Erniu was given a fright. “You don’t want your life anymore? Those people are bandits. If the government catches them, they’d be beheaded.”
“But they are a volunteer army who does things that enforce justice on behalf of heaven!”
Doggy looked toward the far distance. “Do you know? For the past one month or so, the increase in the Red Turban Army’s reputation has made life a lot better for our family.”
Doggy’s father had borrowed quite a lot of money from the landlord so that his mother could get to see a doctor for her illness. They had been so pressurized and were left with no choice, thus were planning to sell Doggy to Blacksmith Li in the county as an apprentice. However, the Red Turban Army’s appearance had caused the landlord to not dare to pressure them to pay their debt.
“If it wasn’t for the Red Turban Army, I’d be slogging to death in the blacksmith shop my entire life.”
Doggy knew that apprentice was just a nice way of putting things. The truth was that they’d be selling him off as a slave to Blacksmith Li’s family. Other than blacksmithing, he’d also have to serve the entire family.
As for the pay, there was no such thing. It’d be good if he could have three meals a day.
Many people who were struggling to make ends meet would choose this path and send their children out.
Erniu fell silent.
His family was Landlord Fang’s sharecropper and he heard from his dad that they used to have six mus of paddy fields in the past, but because they had borrowed money from the landlord’s family for an emergency, they were in their current state.
It was really impossible to pay off high-interest loans.
“Pui, even if I were to see the Red Turban Army, I wouldn’t notify the Fang Clan.”
Doggy spat out a mouthful of saliva.
The two of them were planning to take a shortcut and thus entered a bamboo forest. However, their bodies soon stiffened up. It was because over 100 men were resting in the bamboo forest.
They were wearing red clothes and had red turbans on their heads. Under the setting sun, they look like flames.
“Red… Red Turban Army?”
Erniu was so scared that his legs were s.h.i.+vering.
“Hurry up and run!”
Doggy let out a low bellow and gave Erniu a push while he stayed behind. At the same time, he grabbed tightly onto the hatchet that was hung on his waist.
This was purely an instinctive reaction.
Although the Red Turban Army proclaimed to be enforcing justice on behalf of heaven, many people hadn’t seen it with their own eyes. What if it wasn’t true?
“Ho? This young lad is so righteous despite being of such a young age. He’ll definitely be a great man in the future!”
Expensive Pork’s voice was very loud and he looked at Doggy with admiration. “Young man, do you want to come to Mount Zhao to become an outlaw?”
“You’re Swallow Li San?”
Doggy summoned up his courage and asked.
“Do you think that he deserves to be a swallow when he’s so fat?”
Someone teased, bringing about a series of laughter.
“I’m called Expensive Pork!”
Expensive Pork sized Doggy up. “Come, I’ll bring you to meet the leader!”
Doggy followed him. He thought that the leader of the Red Turban Army would be someone with broad shoulders, a thick waist, and a flabby face. He didn’t expect to see a handsome young man.
He sat on a big rock, holding onto a book, and was concentrating on his reading. The light from the setting sun landed on his sharp face, giving him a graceful and dignified aura.
To think that this was a bandit leader?
Doggy was stunned. His family was poor and couldn’t afford to send him to a school. However, he had sneaked there to listen to the cla.s.ses. The teacher’s disposition astonished him, but it was nothing worth mentioning when compared with this young man.
Very soon, Doggy saw that young man reproaching Expensive Pork.
He said that advising people to become outlaws was harming them. A young lad like him should go and study, learning morals and principles, or learn a skill. Even if he couldn’t serve the country, he should at least be able to ensure that his family didn’t have to fret over food and clothing.
For some reason, Doggy felt touched upon hearing these.
“Go back home! Don’t run around at night!”
Sun Mo smiled at the young lad, taking out a silver ingot and tossing it at him. “I’m giving it to you. Young lad, you must study. If you haven’t started studying yet, then go to school. If you have, then use this money to go to Jiangzhou City to take a look, broadening your horizons!”
Doggy looked stunned.
Even his father hadn’t touched a piece of shattered silver before. This silver ingot should be at least 50 taels, right?
(It’s enough to sell me ten times over!)
“Dalang, it’s about time.”
Sun Erniang came over.
“En, inform the others to get prepared to set off!”
Sun Mo closed the book. When he pa.s.sed by the young man, he hesitated for a moment before handing him the book. “This is a copy of the [Records of the Grand Historian]. You can take a look at it in your free time. After all, reading makes one smart!”
Ba-thump!
Doggy dropped to his knees and gave him three hard kowtows.
“Leader, I’m willing to become an outlaw and follow you!”
After saying that, Doggy realized that the countenance of the young man sank.
“Youngsters should set long targets and seek to be conferred a rank of n.o.bility or to become a minister. Why do you want to become a bandit?”
Sun Mo rejected.
At the sight of this scene, Sun Erniang’s beautiful eyes gleamed, filled with respect.
Other leaders would want to keep young death warriors and would keep persuading others to become outlaws. However, Sun Mo was considerate toward them.
It was no wonder he would call himself the Great Teacher Sun Mo of the Red Turban Army.
Landlord Fang was very scared of death. During this period, the number of guards at his manor had doubled. Moreover, in order to have them put their lives on the line, he doubled their salaries as well.
It was a pity that Sun Mo’s Red Turban Army had evolved long ago. It had been three months since their first expedition and having been through over 20 operations, it wasn’t overboard to say that they had been tempered by blood and fire.
They carried out their familiar night a.s.sault, attacking in progression. By the time the Red Turban Army killed their way into the landlord’s house, the battle had basically ended.
The guards wanted money, but they wanted their lives even more. When they saw these bandits dressed in red, seeming to be unafraid of death and having excellent blade skills as the rumors claimed, their morale plunged rapidly.
Of course, some skilled guards and mercenaries weren’t afraid of death. However, all of them crumbled as Sun Mo led the elites to launch a round of fierce attacks.
“If only there are explosives!”
Sun Mo looked at the few members of the Red Turban Army who were lying in pools of blood, feeling very upset. He knew the proportion for making explosives, but it wasn’t an easy feat to get his hands on the materials.
Sun Mo’s group was very ma.s.sive now and was sufficient to empty the entire food storage. However, he still left one-third as he always did, distributing them to the villagers.
The villagers moved the food happily with their faces masked up. They then set the landlord’s house on fire.
When the sun rose, several tens of youngsters and young men went after Sun Mo’s Red Turban Army, either under their parents’ agreement or secretly running off by themselves.
The bandits were used to such matters and arranged for them to carry the food reserves without needing Sun Mo to say anything.
…
“Fourth Boss is back.”
When the boats appeared near the mountain stronghold, a bandit shouted out. Then, they came out in groups to receive them.
“It’s another rewarding trip!”
“I also want to follow the Fourth Boss to have a great life!”
“I wonder if they’ll still allow people to join the Red Turban Army?”
The bandits looked at the goods that were being unloaded from the boats, feeling very jealous.
The First Boss stood on the slope, watching the other brothers smiling and receiving Sun Mo. His countenance turned increasingly dark.
He had yet to decide if Sun Mo would become the fourth boss, but the other bandits had started calling him that. This meant that Sun Mo’s reputation had surpa.s.sed his.
The most troublesome thing was that Sun Mo would always bring back a new batch of people each time he came back.
These newcomers only recognized the Red Turban Army and not him, the first boss.
“If this continues, my mountain stronghold will be taken over.”
The first boss didn’t wish to just sit and wait. He felt that he must think of a way to suppress Sun Mo, letting Sun Mo know who the boss was.
“Brother Sun, shall we have a drink together?”
The third boss came and invited Sun Mo to a drink.
At the table, the third boss tried hard to persuade Sun Mo.
“I heard some news. You’ve gone overboard and Jiangzhou’s Inspector General has decided to send troops out to wipe out the Red Turban Army!”
Sun Mo’s mouth twitched, not commenting.
“Sun Mo, stop it!”
The third boss sighed. “Although the Great Jing Country is being ruled by an incapable ruler and officials are throwing their weight around, I feel that it’ll take at least 50 years before this country goes into a decline. Can’t we just live a peaceful and quiet life?”
“What’s the reason you’ve studied so much?”
Sun Mo asked.
“Of course it’s to watch over and govern a place, taking care of the people!”
Although the third boss was only a distinguished-talent, he had lofty ambitions.
“The reason I studied is to establish societal values, to give meaning to people’s lives, to spread the knowledge pa.s.sed down from our predecessors, as well as to create a foundation for long-lasting peace! Even if I’ve become a bandit, my original intent hasn’t changed!”
Sun Mo drank a cup of wine and said firmly.
The third boss was completely stunned. These four lines were like a bolt of lightning that had struck his head, making him astonished beyond words.
“Since the incapable emperor has no morality, then why not change to a capable emperor?”
Sun Mo let out a soft laugh.
Clank!
The third boss stood up from fright. Such words were a great disrespect and one would have nine generations of their family executed for that.
“Since we’ve become bandits and will have to die anyway, what’s there to be afraid of?”
Sun Mo shrugged.
“Hold on, change to another? You’re thinking of…”
The third boss thought of a possibility.
“To build up the Red Turban Army’s reputation and then force the imperial court to enlist the rebel soldiers by offering amnesty. When that happens, our men can help to support a capable emperor to the throne!”
Sun Mo was lying to the third boss.
“Although it’s very difficult, it’s not impossible to achieve.”
The third boss was no longer in any mood to drink. He frowned and thought about this. He had craved to have his name cleared and to enter the imperial court. Being a government official was something that held a great attraction to him.
“The Inspector General wants to kill me?”
Sun Mo laughed. “How many bandits are hidden in this Eight Hundred Miles Lake? Some groups have been creating trouble for over a hundred years. What do you think will happen if I were to help him wipe them out?”
The third boss’s eyes gleamed. This would be a great meritorious achievement.
“And my Red Turban Army that can fight will eventually abide by the Inspector General’s orders. What do you think he’ll do then? Of course, if the Inspector General doesn’t want us, we can just turn to someone else. I don’t believe that everyone in this imperial court is a steel board!”
Sun Mo had long since thought of their future development paths.
“I heard that Prince Qi is young, intelligent, quick-witted, and has high values and morals. Why not we…”
The third boss became agitated. But at the thought of the difficulty in wiping out the other bandit groups, he felt dejected again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do it. But this time around, I’ll need the government’s cooperation. Should you be getting help from people for this?”
Sun Mo lowered his voice and told the third boss of his plan.
The next day, with the support from the third boss, Sun Mo became Mount Zhao’s fourth boss. At the first moment he a.s.sumed the position, he proposed to send out an invitation to all the bandit leaders in Eight Hundred Miles Lake, requesting for them to come to Mount Zhao to discuss a great matter half a month later.
This caused a great stir in the Eight Hundred Miles Lake.
…
Xu Hong had been a bandit for many years, and the power he belonged to was called the Mountain-Pa.s.sing Dragon. Their reputation was very frightening, but they only had around 500 people.
“Boss, could this be a gathering that was planned with a malicious intent?”
An underling was worried.
“Are you a fool? Although the Red Turban Army has a great reputation, it’s still very difficult for them to take over so many powers.”
Xu Hong scolded, “And don’t be saying such things recklessly.”
The fis.h.i.+ng boat got close to the dock. Xu Hong saw that the bandits standing on the wooden dock were all wearing red turbans, each of them standing upright with their chests puffed out, looking energetic.
“F*ck, they look sharper than the imperial guards.”
Xu Hong felt a little scared.
He stepped onto the dock and saw a few familiar faces. They were all the secondary leaders from other powers but not the chief.
“Everyone, this way please!”
Sun Erniang was in charge of receiving the guests and making arrangements for their food and accommodations.
That night, Xu Hong and the others were able to eat soft and fluffy rice as well as large pieces of pork.
“Boss, I’ve checked. Even those old and weak are also eating these!”
An underling mumbled softly.
Usually, people from mountain strongholds would only get to eat such a delicious meal before they were to head out for a plundering operation. They’d usually scrimp and save at other times. Those who were old, weak, sickly, or crippled would eat even worse because they couldn’t make any contributions.
“It seems that the Red Turban Army has been striking it rich recently!”
Xu Hong felt envious. “Forget it, regardless of what that Heavenly King Sun wants to do, let’s have our fill first. Even if we were to die, we must die with a full stomach.”
After finis.h.i.+ng his food, Xu Hong went to ask for second servings before walking away unwillingly.
It was because this female cook who was helping out was very beautiful.
“Tsk, to think that such a beautiful woman is doing such tough ch.o.r.es. If she was in my mountain stronghold, she’d definitely be the first boss’s wife!”
Xu Hong was eating while thinking of how to chat up to her when a strong man beat him to it.
He had drunk wine and was talking about lewd stuff while trying to take liberties with her. That young woman had no choice but to back off incessantly.
“This is atrocious!”
Xu Hong wanted to play the hero and save her, but he knew this strong man. He was called Zhang Kui and was a ferocious man who was the best at fighting, second only to Second Boss Lu amongst the Mount Zhao’s bandits.
It was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
“What the h.e.l.l are you doing?”
An explosive bellow rang out by Xu Hong’s ears and then he saw a big bowl flying over. If Zhang Kui hadn’t been fast enough in dodging, his face would have been smashed.
A ferocious man then came charging over.
“Expensive Pork, have you not gotten a bad enough beating from me the other time?”
Zhang Kui let out a cold snort.
“Sister-in-law, are you alright?”
Expensive Pork paid Zhang Kui no heed and checked if Mei Niang was alright.
“I’m fine!”
Mei Niang didn’t wish to create trouble for Sun Mo.
“Bullying my Brother Sun’s wife is bullying Brother Sun! Even if I have to throw away my life, I must let you pay for it!”
Expensive Pork broke out in rage.
“Why? We’ve been brothers for so many years, but you want to fall out with me over a woman?”
Zhang Kui reproached.
Xu Hong understood it now. This woman was Sun Mo’s wife and Zhang Kui should have received the orders from a certain boss to intentionally create trouble for Sun Mo, causing him to feel humiliated.
There was going to be a good show to watch!
[1] 1 dou = 10 liters.
[2] Literal translation of the name means two/second cows..