Undercurrents surge in the Juyi Hall
In the Gathering Hall, with Gongsun Sheng seated and my identity confirmed, the atmosphere heated up again. Leaders from various factions came forward to greet Gongsun Sheng, their words respectful. It was clear that he held a preeminent position in Liangshan, not only due to his Taoist teachings, but also due to the wisdom and strength he demonstrated in the capture of the birthday gift and the subsequent events.
I was assigned a seat not far behind Gongsun Sheng, a discreet spot from which I could see the entire venue. Qingsong stood quietly behind me.
I held the pipa, seemingly lowering my head and looking submissive, but in fact I was secretly observing everyone in the hall.
In addition to the familiar Chao Gai, Wu Yong, Liu Tang, and Lin Chong, there are also the three heroes of the Ruan family (Ruan Xiaoer, the standing Tai Sui, Ruan Xiaowu, the short-lived Erlang, and Ruan Xiaoqi, the living Yama), all of whom are proficient in water and have heroic spirit; there are old Liangshan people such as Song Wan, the King Kong in the Clouds, and Du Qian, who may have ordinary abilities but are quite experienced; and there is Bai Sheng, the Daytime Rat, who huddles in the corner with flickering eyes and seems a little out of place.
The place was bustling with activity, filled with the cacophony of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the murmur of discussion, a vibrant atmosphere of the countryside. Was this the core of Liangshanpo, the place that would later rock the Song Dynasty? It seemed different from the "heroic gathering" I'd imagined. It felt more like a medley of underworld gangs, where strength reigned supreme and the good and the bad were mixed.
"Mr. Gongsun," Chao Gai said in a loud voice, holding up a bowl of wine, "Now that you're here, we seven stars are finally together! We must drink heartily today and not leave until we're drunk!"
Everyone agreed.
Gongsun Sheng simply picked up the teacup in front of him and said calmly, "I am a monk from outside the world and do not drink alcohol. I will use tea instead of wine to toast you brothers."
As soon as he said this, the noisy atmosphere in the hall quieted down. Many people's eyes wandered between him and Chao Gai, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Chao Gai's smile froze for a moment, then he laughed heartily again, "I was negligent! You are a Taoist, so you are no less rough than us! Come, have some tea! Cheers!"
He took the lead and drank the wine in the bowl, thus putting an end to this little episode.
But I noticed that Wu Yong was waving a feather fan, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he was thinking about something. And a few seats below, a man with a sallow complexion and a three-strand mustache seemed to have a very faint, ambiguous smile on his lips.
Was that... Wu Yong's later important partner, the military strategist Zhu Wu? He seemed to have yet to show his true colors.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere became lively again. Everyone began to talk loudly, bragging about their martial arts, discussing anecdotes of the Jianghu, and some began to discuss the future development of Liangshan.
"Now that we have occupied Liangshan, we have strong soldiers and horses. What should we do next?" a leader asked loudly.
"Needless to say! Of course we will recruit soldiers and expand our territory! Let those corrupt officials know how powerful we are!" Liu Tang roared, waving his fist.
"That's right! Now that we have money and food, we should do something big!" Ruan Xiaoqi also agreed excitedly.
Many leaders nodded, the crowd excited. Expansion seemed to be the consensus among the majority.
Chao Gai also nodded repeatedly after hearing this, obviously quite interested.
At this moment, a slightly feminine voice sounded. The voice was not loud, but it clearly overwhelmed the noise: "Brothers, I think this matter needs to be considered in the long run."
When everyone looked over, they saw that the person who was speaking was a pale-faced scholar sitting below Wu Yong. It was none other than the wise man Wu Yong's younger brother, the talented scholar Xiao Rang.
Xiao Rang stood up and bowed to the crowd. "Although the imperial court has been unable to do anything to us for now, it's because we're defending a strategic location, and the incident happened suddenly. If we expand rashly, we'll make too many enemies, and perhaps draw a large imperial army to siege us. This wouldn't be a good strategy. In my humble opinion, we should focus on consolidating our stronghold, training our troops, and accumulating money and food."
His words were well-reasoned and immediately attracted the approval of some of the more cautious leaders.
"Brother Xiao Rang is right!" a leader echoed, "We've just established ourselves, so we shouldn't be too conspicuous."
"I'm not afraid of him!" Liu Tang shouted in dissatisfaction, "We are heroes of Liangshan, how can we be afraid of those drunkards and good-for-nothings?"
"That's right! What's the point of being a coward!" Ruan Xiaowu also shouted.
The hall was immediately divided into "radicals" and "conservatives", and they argued endlessly.
Chao Gai listened to the arguments from both sides with a frown on his face, as if he couldn't make a decision. He subconsciously turned his gaze to the three people sitting in the first seat - himself, Wu Yong, and Gongsun Sheng who had remained silent.
Wu Yong gently waved his feather fan, smiled, and was not in a hurry to express his opinion, as if he was waiting for the opportunity.
Gongsun Sheng just drank his tea quietly from beginning to end, as if the argument in the hall had nothing to do with him.
"Mr. Gongsun," Chao Gai finally couldn't help but ask, "How do you think...how should we decide this matter?"
Everyone's attention was instantly focused on Gongsun Sheng.
The opinion of this Ruyunlong is obviously of great importance.
Gongsun Sheng put down his teacup, his gaze swept calmly over the crowd, and he spoke slowly, "The laws of nature are constant; they do not exist for the sake of Yao, nor for the sake of Jie. Liangshan's fortunes are just beginning to gather, like young shoots breaking through the soil. It needs time to establish a solid foundation and absorb the rain, dew, and sunshine. If it is exposed to the storm too early, it may die."
His voice was clear and carried a mysterious meaning. Although he did not express his position directly, his meaning was already very clear - support Xiao Rang, postpone expansion, and focus on stability.
The hall suddenly fell silent. Radicals like Liu Tang and Ruan Xiaoqi, though resentful, were unsure how to refute Gongsun Sheng's remarks about "heavenly principles" and "fate."
Wu Yong's eyes flashed, and he interjected at the right moment, "Sir, you're absolutely right! 'Build high walls, store up abundant food, and slowly claim the throne' is the way to maintain a long-term foundation. For now, we should prioritize stability."
Seeing Wu Yong's response, Chao Gai finally made up his mind and said, "Alright! Then follow the advice of the master and the scholar! All leaders must intensify the training of their troops, strengthen their defenses, and stockpile food and fodder. Without orders, no one is allowed to go down the mountain and provoke a fight!"
"Yes!" All the leaders responded in unison.
The debate about the future direction of Liangshan seems to have come to an end.
But I noticed that when Gongsun Sheng was speaking, Zhu Wu, who was sitting in the corner with a slightly yellow face, looked at Gongsun Sheng with a look that was not only full of inquiry but also had a hint of deep fear.
Although Wu Yong agreed with Gongsun Sheng, the rhythm of the way he waved his feather fan seemed to be slightly faster than before.
I understood. Liangshan wasn't a monolithic entity. The hidden factions and scheming were probably more complex than the public debates. Gongsun Sheng, with his superior position and mysterious abilities, could make a difference, but this would inevitably arouse the vigilance and even dissatisfaction of some.
Especially Wu Yong. Is this wise man really willing to be outshined by Gongsun Sheng in everything?
After the meeting, everyone dispersed. Chao Gai personally arranged accommodation for Gongsun Sheng in a relatively quiet, independent courtyard in the back mountains, adjacent to the side courtyard where I had previously lived. This was obviously to accommodate his ascetic habits and also to facilitate...keeping an eye on me, his "distinguished guest" with whom he had a close relationship.
Returning to my assigned room, I opened the window and gazed out at the nightscape of Liangshan Lake. The vast expanse of water, dotted with sparkling stars, was a stark contrast to the tranquility of Zixu Monastery.
This will be the new battlefield.
Not only for survival, but also for... that heart of Tao that I am determined to obtain.
I know that in the days to come, I need to be more careful, not only to deal with possible dangers from the outside, but also to pay attention to the undercurrents that are everywhere in this Juyi Hall.
And how will Gongsun Sheng cope with being at the center of this vortex? My "strategy" path seems to be facing even greater challenges in this new environment.
But, I am fearless.
Now that we have embarked on this path, we can only move forward.
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