Chapter 62: The First New Year on the Mountain

After rescuing Wang Jin and bringing him back to the mountain, Ren Yuan had previously spent a large sum of money to invite renowned local physicians up to treat Wang Jin's injuries.

After all, three cobblers with their wits combined can equal Zhuge Liang; in the absence of An Daoquan, these local famous doctors would have to suffice.

Simultaneously, Ren Yuan issued another order for the entire mountain garrison to maintain as low a profile as possible. Apart from striking against tyrannical local magnates, doing business with Chai Jin's side, and collecting a few road tolls, the absolute most important tasks for the entirety of Liangshan remained constructing fortifications and steadily developing.

As for the surrounding walled cities, Liangshan's attitude was to maintain temporary peace and non-interference.

Not long after returning to the mountain, Sun An had also set off down the mountain personally, carrying Ren Yuan's handwritten letter to search for Qiao Lie and, incidentally, to find An Daoquan.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and the end of the year quietly arrived.

Snowflakes drifted down, the world was blanketed in silver, and a vast portion of the eight-hundred-li marsh had frozen over.

Amidst the boundless white of heaven and earth, tiny specks of crimson light emanated from within the Liangshan stronghold, bringing a touch of warmth to the winter.

"Hang all the red lanterns up! That's right, don't hang them crookedly!"

"Paste the Spring Festival couplets up as well, and don't mix up the order, or people will laugh at us."

"Brother Du Qian, do you even know how to read couplets?"

"Damn it! How could I not know how to read them? Hurry up and get them set up properly for me!"

Inside the stronghold, Du Qian was directing the junior bandits to speed up the decorations while bantering and joking with them.

This year was the first year-end celebration since Ren Yuan took over Liangshan, and for Du Qian, everything felt like a dream.

Because at this time last year, Liangshan was still under Wang Lun's command, and back then Wang Lun only gave each junior bandit two hundred copper cash (to reiterate, in this book one thousand cash equals two strings of coins, and two strings of coins equal one tael of silver), while the banquet consisted merely of a table of extravagant dishes prepared exclusively for himself and Wang Lun.

As for the ordinary bandits, only a single pig was slaughtered last year to be divided among all the bandits in the entire stronghold.

That scene was so stingy that even Du Qian found it disgraceful, and the entire New Year was spent in a cold and desolate manner.

This year, however, was different. Liangshan this year was truly wealthy and generous.

Before the end of the year, Grand Official Chai's side had punctually delivered a massive sum of money to the stronghold according to the profit-sharing agreement.

That was a full two hundred thousand strings of copper cash! When had the stronghold ever been this rich?

When Du Qian saw that pile of money back then, his eyes glazed over.

"Accept it, my dear chief steward. Grand Official Chai doesn't earn any less on his end than we do. Just think about it, the people he knows are all big shots. To those wealthy families in Tokyo, this is nothing at all."

Ren Yuan had comforted Du Qian with those words at the time. There was no help for it; after all, Du Qian had previously followed that miser Wang Lun, so his horizons truly were not broad enough.

However, Ren Yuan still admired Chai Jin greatly. Being able to sell liquor so successfully meant that choosing to partner with him was definitely the right decision.

(Let me mention this here to prevent anyone from saying the profit is too unreasonable. The liquor business in the Northern Song Dynasty was extremely profitable, known at the time as *qujiao*. According to historical records, through this system in the late Northern Song Dynasty, the Northern Song court could generate an annual revenue of over ten million strings of cash, second only to the double taxes and the salt monopoly. Of course, not everyone was qualified to sell liquor; it required official approval, and private brewing or selling of liquor was a serious crime. Therefore, why partner with Chai Jin in this book? Because in the original novel, Chai Jin ostensibly possesses the descendants of Chai Rong holding an Iron Certificate of Privilege, and the court would still grant him certain preferential treatment. As long as he did not stir up trouble, the court would not touch him, but would instead treat him favorably to display benevolence—such as tacitly allowing him to harbor criminals or engage in certain businesses. If the Chai family only wanted to make money, the court would not interfere, though naturally some bootlickers would be jealous. Thus, Chai Jin's liquor business was legal, which is why partnering with him was chosen for this book. Although Chai Jin does not seem to engage in this business in the original novel, this setting is entirely reasonable. Just think about it, for Chai Jin to have a family fortune of several million strings of cash with substantial household expenses, an annual income of several hundred thousand to nearly one million strings of cash is quite reasonable.)

"Brother, with such a lucrative method of making money, we can reduce the number of times we raid down the mountain and focus on developing peacefully. Our lives are truly going to get better and better!"

At that time, Du Qian had never felt his spine stand up so straight!

Need money to buy horses to prepare a cavalry unit? Need money to build ships to integrate a naval force? Need money to construct fortifications? Need money to pay military stipends to the stronghold soldiers... None of these were issues anymore!

Your father here now has two hundred thousand strings of cash!

Taking out one hundred thousand strings of cash to distribute—is that enough?

We have money! We are willful! We are just this filthy rich!

Therefore, the year-end preparations across the entirety of Liangshan this year were exceptionally well-handled.

If you have money and want to be extravagant, you have to spend it!

"Brother Du Qian, I've searched far and wide for you."

Just as Du Qian was lost in his memories, Song Wan walked over.

"What is it?"

"The Big Brother is looking for you. Brother Sun An has returned, and he's back together with his good brother Qiao Lie and the Divine Physician An Daoquan. In his words, they've returned just in time to celebrate the New Year. So, the Big Brother has asked all the chieftains to head over to the Loyalty and Righteousness Hall."

"Alright, then let's go together."

Du Qian and Song Wan—one managing the finances and the other managing the kitchens—frequently cooperated with each other, and their relationship could be said to be the closest.

"All of you, work diligently. Don't slack off during the New Year!"

Inside the Loyalty and Righteousness Hall, Ren Yuan was leading the other chieftains in warmly receiving Qiao Daoqing and An Daoquan.

Qiao Daoqing wore a purple-gold embedded-gem fishtail Daoist crown, a black-bordered raging-flame brocade crane cloak, a multi-colored silk sash around his waist, and cloud-toed square red boots on his feet. Slung across his back was an ancient sword of refined iron, with several apricot-yellow ancient talismans tucked in; he possessed protruding eyebrows, jade-green eyes, a full beard, a square mouth, and a voice resembling a bronze bell.

"Brother Qiao Lie, I've heard your esteemed name for a long time!"

"The Big Brother flatters this younger brother too much. Brother Sun An told me that the Big Brother praised my Daoist arts greatly on the mountain, but in truth, they are merely some illusionary techniques and do not merit such high praise from the Big Brother."

Qiao Daoqing was being quite modest at the moment, which might also have been related to the fact that he came up the mountain early and had not yet sunk into depravity alongside Tian Hu.

"You can wield spears and staves, practice mystical Daoist arts, and arrange troops into battle formations. Brother Qiao, from what I know, the only person in the Jianghu with your level of skill who can be mentioned in the same breath as you is that Daoist priest Gongsun, nicknamed 'Cloud-Soaring Dragon'." (According to the original Water Margin, before Gongsun Sheng went back up the mountain a second time to learn the Five Thunders Technique from True Man Luo, he was merely on par with Qiao Daoqing. Of course, as we've already stated, this book contains no supernatural magic.)

"He is a direct disciple of True Man Luo, whereas I am merely an obscure Daoist who has never even laid eyes upon the True Man; I cannot compare to him."

Mentioning this matter, the expression on Qiao Daoqing's face grew somewhat dim; it seemed that failing to successfully become an apprentice back then still left some shadow in his heart.

"That view is entirely mistaken, Brother Qiao Lie. According to what you say, you achieved methods comparable to someone trained by a famous master without ever receiving instruction from one yourself—does this not prove that your innate talent is even higher? You should feel proud, brother!"

Ren Yuan began his sweet-talking persuasion. In truth, the relationship between Qiao Daoqing and Gongsun Sheng strongly resembled another pair within his own martial arts sect.

Although back in the days under their benevolent master, the master never mentioned that person's name, Ren Yuan had still uncovered certain clues. Combined with the promptbooks and storytelling scripts he had read in his past life, Ren Yuan felt certain that there must be something going on within his own martial arts sect.

Ah, the story between the Second Senior Brother Lu Junyi and that other man.

When they eventually crossed paths, it would surely be magnificent.

"Does the Big Brother truly think so?"

Qiao Daoqing had always believed that it was due to his insufficient talent that he was not favored and accepted as a disciple by True Man Luo. As a result, Ren Yuan's words today gave him a completely different perspective.

"That's right. Think about it carefully—isn't that the logic? If they wouldn't take you, then so be it! When our abilities surpass theirs in the future, the ones who will regret it are them! They are the ones who were blind and missed out on a great talent like Brother Qiao Lie!"

"What the Big Brother says is right! This younger brother was trapped in a mental obstacle before!"

A different brilliance emerged on Qiao Daoqing's face; this matter, which had dealt him a particularly heavy blow, now seemed no longer quite so severe.

"That's more like it! A new year brings a fresh atmosphere. Brother Qiao Lie, from now on in the stronghold, you must give Brother Zhu Wu plenty of assistance. In the future, you shall also serve as Liangshan's military strategist and participate together in military deliberations!"

Ren Yuan patted Zhu Wu on the shoulder, knowing that Zhu Wu was currently under tremendous pressure. Although Qiao Daoqing was not a conventional, by-the-book strategist, he could certainly fill the role, and he was already the person most capable of assisting Zhu Wu.

"Big Brother, you've finally remembered me."

Zhu Wu joked with Ren Yuan as well, though naturally he was extremely happy, because Qiao Daoqing could indeed bring him immense help.

Well-read, skilled in arranging battle formations, capable in both civil and military affairs, Zhu Wu felt that he might even be able to slack off a little.

"Big Brother, I heard Brother Sun An has returned?"

Du Qian and Song Wan hurried over at that moment. Everyone first exchanged greetings with Qiao Daoqing; being bold and uninhibited men, the distance between them vanished in an instant.

At that moment, however, Ren Yuan walked over to someone else, bent down, and said respectfully:

"Ren Yuan of Liangshan pays respects to the Divine Physician. That the Divine Physician is able to visit my humble stronghold today truly brings brilliance to our humble quarters! Please receive this bow from Ren Yuan!"