Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Chapter 193 Old Master Song sweeps and cleans to welcome the bandits; Chief Li's kindness and p

The next day, as dawn broke.

A faint ray of dawn struggled to pierce the thin mist that shrouded Yuncheng County. In the air, the lingering faint stench of blood from yesterday's trial mingled with the fresh scent of earth and morning dew, creating an atmosphere that, far from eerie, evoked a sense of renewal and rebirth.

Inside the county government hall, the lights burned all night long, and the candle wax from the tall tallow candles piled up like small hills on the bronze candlesticks.

Li Hanxiao also didn't sleep a wink that night. He stood with his hands behind his back before the huge sand table, his eyes bloodshot, yet his gaze was brighter than the brightest star in the night sky. On the sand table, the location of every street, every field ridge, and even every well in Yuncheng County was clearly marked with different colored sand and pebbles, like a map that had come to life.

“Mr. Wen,” Li Han smiled and extended his slender finger, gently tapping a corner of the sand table. The manor circled by a few red stones was the location of “Song Family Manor.” “This first fire, though burning brightly, only warmed the hearts of the people. The people’s hearts are trustworthy, but the foundation is not stable. The building will collapse, and it cannot be supported by a single pillar.”

The strategist, Wen Huanzhang, dressed in a blue robe, swayed slightly in the morning breeze that swept in from outside the hall. He stroked his long beard and slowly walked to the side of the sand table. His deep gaze fell on the spot where Li Hanxiao pointed, and he said slowly, "This time, the chieftain's 'trial by the people' was a thunderous and overwhelming victory. He eliminated bullies like Niu Er who had been entrenched for many years and distributed all the land and money to the victims. He has won the hearts of the people in one fell swoop. Now, the people in the city all regard Liangshan as their second parents. The scene of welcoming the royal army with food and drink is no different. However... this Song Family Village is an insurmountable obstacle, a thorn in the side, which must be eliminated."

Li Hanxiao slowly straightened up. The fish-scale armor made of black iron on his body emitted a dull yet rhythmic, slight knocking sound as he moved, like a heavy prelude to the sounding of war drums.

"The brothers Song Jiang and Song Qing are now both under the command of Zhang Shuye in Jizhou Prefecture, acting as his henchmen and are at odds with Liangshan. Especially Song Jiang, this man is cunning and scheming, and has repeatedly devised vicious schemes to kill us brothers."

“According to the corrupt and decadent laws of the Zhao Emperor, such crimes should be punished by exterminating nine generations of one’s family as a warning to others.” Li Han smiled as he looked through the open hall door toward the increasingly bright dawn in the eastern sky, his tone as calm as a deep, ancient well, without the slightest ripple.

"However, I, Li Hanxiao, act on behalf of Heaven, not according to the law that has long since become the henchman of the powerful, but according to the justice of Liangshan itself. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. I will not, nor do I deign to, hold Song Jiang's blood debts against his family."

"Moreover, I have already ordered people to investigate in many ways. This Mr. Song has a good reputation in Yuncheng County. He usually provides relief to the villagers and helps those in distress. He is not the same kind of person as his son who is only interested in pursuing fame and fortune."

Wen Huanzhang nodded slightly, his eyes revealing sincere approval: "The chieftain is benevolent and magnanimous, which is the breadth of vision of a great man and the demeanor of a king. However, our army has just pacified Yuncheng, and although the people have submitted, our foundation is not yet solid. Song Taigong is highly respected in this area, and his words and actions carry immense weight. If we can gain his wholehearted assistance, the matter of Yuncheng can be settled in a day, as stable as Mount Tai. But if he harbors resentment because of his son and secretly hinders us, it will be like a thorn in our side, and will eventually become a great threat."

Li Han smiled slightly, a confident yet somewhat cold smile curving his lips.

"Therefore, I will go and meet this Lord Song today. I will see with my own eyes whether his reputation for 'filial piety and righteousness' is truly deserved or just a hoax."

He turned around abruptly, his voice as clear as metal and stone.

"Prepare the horses!"

Songjiazhuang.

Half-withered ivy climbs the gray brick and tile walls of the courtyard, trembling in the chilly morning wind, as if lamenting the fate of the manor. This sizable manor, with its exquisite layout and sturdy materials, silently speaks of the former wealth and prestige of its owners.

But at this moment, the village was shrouded in gloom and deathly stillness, as if the air itself had frozen.

At this moment, Song Taigong, Song Qing, courtesy name Ming, was like an old beast trapped in a desperate situation, pacing anxiously back and forth in his courtyard, leaning on a heavy, dragon-patterned cane. His deeply lined old face was filled with fear and despair, his eye sockets were sunken, as if all his energy had been drained away overnight.

The Liangshan bandits have breached the city!

The arrogant and domineering magistrate, Shi Wenbin, was bound hand and foot and thrown into a death row cell. It is said that he has been so frightened that he has gone insane!

Niu Er, the "hairless tiger" who had been running rampant in Yuncheng for more than ten years, was publicly mutilated and cut into pieces, his flesh and blood were mangled, and even his bones were torn apart by the angry people and taken home to make soup to feed their dogs!

Will the Song family be next?

His two good-for-nothing sons, Song Jiang and Song Qing, were both in the government troops of Jizhou Prefecture, openly opposing Liangshan under Zhang Shuye, who was determined to wipe them out. How could Li Hanxiao, the legendary ruthless killer, not hold this accountable? How could he tolerate the entire Song family being wiped out?

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

A young servant, his face ashen, scrambled in from the front yard, stumbling and crawling. In his panic, he tripped and fell hard on the threshold, landing face-first in the dirt. He couldn't get up for a long time and could barely speak.

"That...that big leader of Liangshan, the Living Yama Li Hanxiao...leading a huge, dark mass of men, a forest of swords and spears...is coming towards our village!"

"what!"

Old Master Song felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, followed by a loud bang in his ears. His dragon-patterned cane slammed to the ground with a loud crash. His entire body swayed violently, and if it weren't for the quick reflexes of his old steward who caught him, he would have collapsed to the ground unconscious.

"It's here...it's finally...it's come after all..."

His lips trembled, his teeth chattered uncontrollably, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes went out completely.

It's over! Heaven is going to destroy the Song family! My entire Song family is doomed today!

"Quick! Help me up!"

Just when everyone thought he was about to faint, Song Taigong suddenly pushed away the servants who came to help him and his wife who was already crying her eyes out. With all his strength, he struggled to stand up straight, his body which was no longer upright.

He looked around at the courtyard where he had lived his whole life, and at his family and servants who were also huddled in the corner like lambs to the slaughter, their faces filled with terror. A chillingly resolute look flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"To die is to die! But not to die a wretched, filthy death!"

He suddenly strode to the corner, grabbed a worn-out bamboo broom used for sweeping, and roared in a hoarse voice, as if squeezed out of his throat.

"What are you all standing there for! Sprinkle water! Sweep! Clean up all the dust in the yard! Open the main gate and welcome the guests!"

"Grandpa, what's wrong with you...?" the old steward asked in a trembling voice, his face full of confusion and fear.

"Even if the bandits are at our door, the Song family will be reduced to dust, but we will die with honor and cleanliness! We cannot let people gossip behind our backs and call us a filthy family, so that we will be disliked even in death!"

Song Taigong's voice was filled with a heavy sob, yet it also revealed an undeniable stubbornness and a final dignity.

He personally lifted the bucket of water from the well, the water feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. Gritting his teeth, veins bulging, he forcefully splashed the icy well water onto the dusty flagstones. Then, he picked up a broom and, stroke after stroke, used all his strength to sweep away the fallen leaves and dust in the courtyard.

His back was hunched, and his gray hair was disheveled in the chilly morning wind; the scene was tragically heartbreaking.

It was as if he wasn't sweeping the floor, but rather using this almost ritualistic method to cleanse the endless fear and despair in his heart; it was as if he was clearing a clean path to the underworld for himself and his entire family.

The gate to the manor creaked open and swung wide.

Li Hanxiao rode on the magnificent Beihai Salu Purple Horse, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the old man in the manor, his hair and beard white, his body bent over as he diligently swept the courtyard. A subtle emotion flickered in his eyes.

Behind him stood a group of Liangshan leaders, including "Death God" Bao Xu and "Iron-Backed Wolf" Shan Shiqi, their faces filled with murderous intent. The cold iron armor on their bodies reflected a chilling glint in the pale morning light, like a legion of demons emerging from the underworld.

“Chief, this old man does have some backbone. Even on his deathbed, he still has the mind to sweep the courtyard and put on airs,” Bao Xu said in a deep voice. His thick arms and the terrifying giant sword, wider than a door panel, casually slung over his shoulder, gleamed with a chilling aura in the morning light.

Li Hanxiao remained silent, simply observing. After a moment, he dismounted with swift and decisive movements. He casually handed the reins to his solemn-looking guard beside him, then, alone, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked towards the open gate of the manor.

He walked up to Song Taigong, looked at the old man's gray hair and his hands, which were bulging with veins and trembling from excessive exertion, and suddenly stopped. He bowed deeply to the old man who was shivering in the cold wind.

"Junior Li Hanxiao pays respects to Master Song."

His voice was gentle and peaceful, without a trace of menace, as if he were just an ordinary junior greeting a respected elder.

Old Master Song froze abruptly as he swept the floor, as if he had been frozen in place. He slowly and laboriously raised his head, his old, cloudy, bloodshot eyes looking at the renowned leader of Liangshan, a man who was said to be able to stop children from crying at night.

Younger than rumored, and also more...amiable.

The broom in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," making a crisp sound that broke the deathly silence.

Suddenly, he collapsed to his knees with a thud, the cold stone slab sending a chill down his spine as if his very bones had been frozen.

"The sinner Song Qing pays his respects to the King! No... he pays his respects to Chief Li!"

"Sir, what is the matter? You mustn't! Please rise!"

Upon seeing this, Li Hanxiao quickly stepped forward and reached out his hands to help.

"Human relations come first. How can an elder kneel before a junior? Such a grand gesture from you is surely too much for a junior to bear!"

Old Master Song, however, grasped at this last straw, kneeling on the ground with all his might, refusing to get up no matter what. He tremblingly pulled out a roll of something tightly wrapped in oilcloth from his bosom, held it high above his head, his voice hoarse and filled with despair.

"Chief, please forgive me! My unfilial and disobedient son, Song Jiang, has no regard for ancestral virtues, no understanding of righteousness, and has willingly fallen into depravity, joining the government as an official and associating with bandits. He has long since severed all ties with my Song family! I... I have failed in my duty to educate my son and deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

"This is the document that the sinner personally went to the government office to sign back then! It is written in black and white on paper, and there is also the official red seal of the government as proof. He has long been expelled from the family and removed from the clan! From now on, his life, death, fortune and misfortune have nothing to do with my Song family!"

"He shall bear the full weight of all his heinous crimes! I beg the chieftain to see the truth and spare the lives of my entire family of over two hundred people! I am willing to offer up all my property and land, in the only request that the chieftain allow my Song family to have at least one remaining bloodline!"

Old Master Song wept uncontrollably, banging his head heavily on the cold bluestone slab with a dull thud. Soon, his forehead was covered in blood.