Ninety-nine loyal to the country one hundred and twenty do not forget each other

  "What's big brother doing?" Han Jiu'er saw that instead of taking off his clothes and going to bed, Xiao Wu was putting on more layers, wearing the leather cloak he had taken off earlier. She asked knowingly.

  "The world is full of dangers, I sleep with my clothes on to be prepared for the unexpected." Xiao Wu pretended to inspect the doors and windows, but in fact this inn was quite large and had many guests staying there, without any suspicious signs.

  "Rivers and lakes?" Han Jiu'er stared at Xiao Wu with a pair of starry eyes, making his heart feel hairy, and suddenly spoke shocking words, "Rather than being together in misery, it's better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. Could brother be hinting at this meaning?"

  "Sister, don't misunderstand, how dare I have such a thought?" Little Wu never expected to be led astray by Han Jiu'er like this, as if he had been ambushed by a skilled boxer and was at a loss for words in his defense.

  "Why did you sacrifice your life to save me? Guī Tóu Gē has already spoken the truth." Han Jiǔér, who had taken the initiative, pressed on fiercely.

  "It's my duty, I must do my best." Xiao Wu was at a loss for countermeasures and could only defend himself.

  "Since there's nothing else to do, brother, help me wash my feet with some water, I'm too tired to move." Han Jiu'er was willing to spare someone and spared him, stretched her waist, leaned against the head of the bed, not pretending, just got off the boat and rode a donkey, it was really tiring.

  "Ah?" Xiao Wu was taken aback for a moment, and he felt that Xiaoniang's thoughts were becoming more and more unpredictable. It seemed that this trip had not only broadened his own horizons, but also... He didn't dare to continue the conversation, so he buried his head in his work.

  Xiao Wu found the thermos in the corner of the room, poured it into a foot bath, tested the water temperature, and then carried it to the bedside. He had never been so considerate to his wife at home before. Alas, who made him call her sister?

  "Thanks, brother." Han Jiuer said as he stretched out his little boots in front of Xiao Wu, implying that not only should he fetch water, but also wash his feet for him.

  "It's improper..." Xiaowu's face suddenly turned red, feeling extremely embarrassed. Men and women should not be intimate with each other, being in the same room was already inappropriate, how could they have such a close relationship?

  "If an elder sister is drowning, rescue her with your hand. If a younger sister is dirty, wash her with your foot. What can't be done?" Little girl was quick-witted and sharp-tongued, strongly arguing and determined not to let this half-brother off the hook.

  Xiao Wu thought to herself that she was innocent and naive, if she continued to refuse, it would only make her appear insincere. Taking a deep breath, she squatted down quickly and removed the girl's boots and stockings, revealing a pair of delicate feet as white as snow.

  It is said that foot-binding originated with the Southern Tang Emperor Li Yu, and was popular in the palace and among courtesans during the Song Dynasty. In recent years it has spread from the capital to other areas, but the custom of binding feet has not yet become widespread among ordinary people. Therefore, although Han Jiu'er is a young lady from a good family, she still has natural feet; first because she is still young, and second because her feet are naturally small and slender, even more so than Jinlian's.

  Han Jiuer didn't expect Xiao Wu to be so decisive, she had grown up like this, but it was the first time a man took off her boots and socks, her heart racing like a deer, her face burning with shame, only blaming herself for being so forward.

  Xiao Wu didn't know what to do, clumsily grasping her jade-like foot and putting it in the basin. Just now a tangled mess, this moment really touching that warm, soft ankle, his heart swayed involuntarily.

  The two of them didn't say another word, Xiao Wu seemingly focused on washing Han Jiu's feet, but in reality was distracted and unfocused. The little girl leaned against the headboard, not daring to move, her body tense, more exhausting than when she washed her own feet. This process could be described as "heart-stopping".

  "Brother, go to sleep." Finally finished washing up, Han Jiu'er's voice was as soft as a mosquito, her face as red as a cloth, she didn't dare look at Xiao Wu again, lifted her feet and crawled into the quilt, turning her back on him, also sleeping with her clothes on.

  "You go to sleep first, I'm not sleepy yet." Xiao Wu stood up straight like a pardoned man, already covered in sweat.

  Han Jiu'er was truly exhausted, and soon his breathing became steady as he entered the land of dreams. Xiao Wu filled the lamp with oil, not daring to extinguish it, nor did she dare go to bed. She moved a chair to sit in front of the bed, for her, the long night had just begun, and she didn't know how to get through it.

  After an unknown amount of time, Han Jiu'er let out a sweet and gentle murmur in her sleep, turned over, and turned her small face around. Her eyelashes were long, her cheeks were flushed with a soft red glow, and her sleepy appearance was especially pitiful.

  Since they met, Xiao Wu had never been able to gaze at her face so carefully. For a moment, he was dazed and felt as if the beautiful Jun family's daughter was sleeping beside him.

  "Brother, brother..." Xiao Wu was dazed and confused, feeling as if someone was shaking her arm, but it was strange that she was calling out for her brother. As soon as she thought of this, she suddenly opened her eyes, only to find that it was just a dream. The sky was already bright, and she had fallen asleep leaning against the chair, with a quilt still covering her body, but the bed was empty.

  Ninth sister? He was startled and jumped up, a smiling face flashed out from behind, scratching his nose and saying: "Are you ashamed or not? You're dreaming of Auntie all the time, calling 'wife, wife' nonstop, it's really disgusting!"

  "Drive!" Xiao Wu fiercely whipped the mule, driving it to fly fast, thus avoiding Han Jiuer's teasing. Heaven knows how many embarrassing names she had fabricated, all of which were pinned on his head.

  "Brother, don't run, little brother has thought of another dream phrase... " Han Jiuer shouted and yelled, no different from a mischievous child. The pedestrians on the official road saw the two brothers and couldn't help but think, how could the younger brother be so handsome, while the older brother was so rough? They must not have been born to the same mother.

  Two people chased each other, laughing and talking, and didn't feel bored on the way. They spent their days traveling and nights resting, passing through Qingzhou, heading southwest along the road. On this day, they arrived at the border of Yanzhou, where they had to cross the Ji River, turning northwest, passing through Daming Prefecture, crossing the Yellow River, and then not far from Xiangzhou.

  In the afternoon, a ferry on the east bank of the Ji River was crowded with travelers waiting to cross the river. Xiao Wu and Han Jiu'er stood among the crowd, looking around, but saw only the withered reeds swaying on both banks, the wide water surface, and the blue waves rippling, no wonder the Ji River was famous for its "clearness".

  It's early winter, the shallow water near the shore has already frozen into a thin layer of ice. By the time of the third nine-day period, it will be possible to walk on the ice and cross over. However, for now, one has to rely on that boat to ferry across. On the wide river, there is only one flat-headed ferry boat, slowly coming and going back and forth.

  Han Jiuer's slender body was weak, standing in the cold wind for a long time, she couldn't help but shiver. Xiao Wu saw this and took out his own fur coat from his bag to wrap her in it. When going out, one should avoid showing off their wealth. As a rustic country bumpkin, he didn't know that the fur coat given by Zong Bi was extremely valuable, made of rare dark grey squirrel skin, but it couldn't escape the eyes of connoisseurs, and several sharp gazes shot over.

  Finally on board, this old flat-head ferry can carry dozens of passengers. The cabin boards have been removed to make it an open deck. Livestock is tied at the stern, goods are placed in the middle, and people sit at the bow. For a time, men, women, old and young, bustle about, each occupying their seats.

  Xiao Wu carried a large bow on his back, with an iron spear wrapped in cloth slung over one shoulder, and held hands with Han Jiu'er. They found a sheltered spot to sit down, and only then did they have the leisure to observe their fellow passengers. The other travelers had all settled in and were quiet, but the wind was strong on the surface of the boat, and everyone was huddled together for warmth, shrinking their necks and hiding their hands. Most of them were traveling merchants or couples visiting relatives, but a few peasants wearing bamboo hats and carrying hoes caught his eye.

  Xiao Wu was also a farmer, and he knew that at this time of year it was already the slack season for farming, and all the farm tools had been put away in storage. But these few farmers seemed somewhat suspicious, and Xiao Wu couldn't help but grip his iron spear tightly. The boatman saw that everyone was on board, and since there were no more passengers coming from the shore, he collected the fare, pulled up the plank, untied the rope, and started to pole the boat across.

  The boat reached the middle of the river, but then heard a faint and melodious song floating on the water's surface. As the singing grew louder, a small sampan came riding the waves, with two fishermen wearing tattered straw hats, one rowing and the other paddling. In an instant, they drew near the ferry boat, and the lyrics of the song became clear.

  A fisherman sang: "Overturn it, break the barrel, spill the vegetables, and that's a good world for human beings..."

  "Brother, they're singing a rebel song!" Han Jiuer whispered to Xiao Wu.

  "What?" Little Wu was startled and didn't quite catch it.

  "Overturned? Isn't that the high-ranking official Gao? Breaking the jar, isn't it referring to Tong Guan's secret service? Spilling the vegetables, is it not Cai Jing's doing as the Prime Minister? Speaking of which, High Commander Gao and Secret Service Director Tong are in charge of military and government affairs respectively, they have done their best. Only Prime Minister Cai has taken control of both the court and the outside, imposing the flower stone tax, setting up the bracketed land system, oppressing the people, it's no wonder the people's resentment is so great." Han Jiu'er, as a member of an official family, naturally understood the affairs of the imperial court.

  Cai Gongxiang is a derogatory term for Cai Jing, only because Emperor Huizong of Song, who proclaimed himself "Teaching Lord, Daoist Ruler and Emperor", trusted three ministers the most. Cai Jing was called "Gongxiang", eunuch Tong Guan was called "Niangxiang" (literally "Female Prime Minister"), and another eunuch Liang Shicheng was called "Yinxiang". Xiaoniang had some grievances against Cai Jing, but also had personal grudges. Originally, her great-grandfather Han Zhongyan and grandfather Han Zhi were suppressed by Cai Jing, being labeled as members of the "Yuanyou Clique", and it was only thanks to the remaining influence of her great-great-grandfather Han Qi that they were able to be reinstated.

  As the two of them were whispering to each other, another fisherman said: "Sailing on Liangshan Marsh, emerging from the wind and waves, a knife flies on an uneven road, striking the oars in mid-stream!"

  That one sound "hit the middle of the current" had not yet faded, and then a whistle was heard. The ferry boat people's shadows flashed, those several villagers lifted their bamboo hats, all with red scarves tied around their heads, brandishing hoes in unison to create trouble. One pressed down on the helmsman, while the others occupied the exposed deck intent on causing harm.

  The ferry lost its helmsman and spun around on the water's surface, while from the withered reeds along the shore several small boats darted out, each with a man crouching in it who sprang up, brandishing swords and surrounding them.

  The passengers on the boat did not expect to encounter strong bandits on the river, and they were in a state of great confusion. However, they saw a short, stout, and agile man with a dark face and sharp eyes, holding a wooden sword, jump out and shout: "Old and young, men and women, do not be alarmed! I am Song Jiang, also known as 'The Hero' from Liangshan, who has always been dedicated to upholding justice and helping the poor. Due to the cold weather and the lack of food and clothing for my brothers, I have come to borrow some goods from you. When we succeed in the future, we will definitely return them. Do not harbor any other intentions, as my brothers are not as friendly as I am, and our weapons do not have eyes - if we are not careful, we may send you into the water, where you will freeze to death..."

  The crowd of passengers heard this and all bowed their heads, while Xiaowu saw that the bandits were numerous and he himself was carrying Han Jiu'er, so it was not good to resist, and could only suffer financial loss to avoid disaster. He laid down his iron spear and used his eyes to signal to Xiaonizi to calm down. Several of the bandits began to search each person, ordering men to remove their belts and women to take off their hair ornaments, putting everything into a bamboo hat, when it was full they would pour it onto the boat board, while others rummaged for valuable goods, also carrying them onto the boat board.

  A Lüo walked over, Xiao Wu held back his breath and handed over his luggage along with the saddle bag. However, he didn't expect that the other person had already set his sights on Han Jiu'er's fur coat and without saying a word, went forward to grab it.

  Han Jiuer misunderstood and thought the other party had ulterior motives, so she kicked her legs wildly and shouted: "You scoundrel, you stinky rascal..."

  He didn't expect this handsome young man to be a girl, his eyes lit up and shot out a lustful light: "What a lovely little maiden..."

  Xiao Wu's eyes narrowed, knowing that he would eventually have to make a move. With a flick of his wrists, he swiftly wielded the iron spear and struck Liuluo's abdomen with precision. The poor guy let out a muffled groan as his body bent in half, flying backward like a shrimp, crossing over half the cabin before splashing into the icy river below. Xiao Wu had shown mercy, using only the butt of the spear to strike him.

  Having launched the attack, there was no time to delay, Xiao Wu sprang up, his eyes and hands moving in unison, wielding the gun tail like a windmill, sometimes thrusting, sometimes sweeping, sometimes hooking, and in an instant, he had knocked down more than half of the powerful bandits on the ferry.

  It happened suddenly, the bandits were all standing while the passengers were crouching, with a clear target and no obstacles. Secondly, Xiaowu's experience in traveling through the northern country had improved his marksmanship, and he was able to subdue the enemy with every shot. The bandits were completely stunned, and the passengers were left staring blankly.

  "Brother, save me!" Suddenly, Han Jiu'er's cry for help came from behind, Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned around to see that the bandit leader Song Jiang was holding a wooden sword to her neck.

  What a bitter fate! Xiao Wu let out a long sigh in her heart, and resentfully stuck the gun barrel into the cabin board. Since she got to know Han Jiu'er, this was already the third time she had been held hostage, yet it seemed to have become their destiny - she always got tied up, while he always rescued...

  "Hero, you and I are like well water and river water that do not interfere with each other. If you make another reckless move, I will surely take your sister's life." Song Jiang's face was ferocious, revealing his cruel heart, truly treating Han Niu'er as if she were his own little sister.

  "Good fellow, if you harm my sister, I will unleash a bloodbath!" Xiao Wu's tone was stern and severe. He knew that at this point, if he showed any more weakness, not only would he be unable to save Han Jiu'er, but he himself would also be in danger. He was no longer the naive youth of his past, having killed bandits, Liao soldiers, and even a wolf, his entire body exuding a fierce and intimidating aura that made people instinctively believe him.

  "You don't move, I won't move. The wind is strong and the waves are high, everyone scatter!" Song Jiang saw that he had encountered a tough opponent, so he turned around and retreated with the wind at his back, using the jargon of the rivers and lakes to order a withdrawal. At the same time, he kept an eye on the large bow on Xiao Wu's back, while using his knife to threaten Han Jiu'er, shrinking behind her as they backed away step by step.

  Xiao Wu indeed had the intention to shoot and kill Song Jiang, but seeing that he was on high alert, Xiao Wu couldn't make a move, and could only watch as Song Jiang took Han Nü'er onto the boat.

  Halfway through, a Cheng Yaogong appeared, and the strong bandits retreated with their tails between their legs. They gloomily rescued their companions who had fallen into the water, and with another whistle, they drove their boat away like flying.

  "Sister!" Xiao Wu immediately grasped the large bow in his hand and chased to the side of the boat, looking at the surging emerald water, a wave of nausea, this seasickness came at the worst possible time.

  "Thanks to you, young hero..." The crowd of passengers surrounded Xiao Wu, thanking him repeatedly.

  "Boatman, pull ashore quickly!" Xiao Wu shouted as he rushed over.

  Needless to say, the boatman had already docked the ferry on the opposite bank. Xiao Wu couldn't wait for him to lower the plank, so he used his spear as a pole vault and leaped onto the shore, chasing after them along the river dike, leaving behind a chorus of admiring gasps.

  "Little girl, where are you from?" Song Jiang asked with a kind and gentle attitude, probing Han's tone.

  "Short and dark, let go of your own family, otherwise my brother will kill you until not a single piece is left!" Having experienced such scenes several times, Han Jiu'er's courage had grown significantly, and she didn't show any weakness.

  "Thieving woman... I won't bother with you, hahaha!" Song Jiang was scolded until he rolled his eyes and laughed angrily.

  "Great King, that little rascal is really coming after us." The group of bandits on the boat made a commotion, and from afar, they saw that fierce young man walking along the shore, chasing after them with great momentum.

  "Good kid!" Song Jiang couldn't help but praise, actually getting rid of Xiao Wu's method was very simple, just go ashore on the other side, Xiao Wu would be left to gaze out at the river, but he ordered, "Just keep going forward, let's see whose is faster, our boat or his legs!"

  Xiao Wu never thought of this, his feet didn't touch the ground, and he kicked up dust and dirt as he quickly caught up with the boat on the river. His footwork was really impressive. The hooligans were speechless at first, but then they saw that Xiao Wu was unstoppable, and one by one, they started speaking out of turn, spouting nonsense and trying to provoke him.

  Xiao Wu was looking down from a high place, listening to the conversation that made his heart burn with anger. The group of bandits were already within range of the large bow, but he thought about how it would affect him and hesitated. If he accidentally missed, it might harm Han Jiu'er instead, so in the end, he didn't dare shoot an arrow.

  So they breathed and pulled, Xiao Wu tightly tied to the strong pirate's back, following closely for a good two hours. The river surface grew wider and wider, until suddenly the riverbank came into view, with a vast expanse of water facing them. Inlets and bays intersected, reeds stretched out in all directions, wind howled and waves surged, the sky and water blended together as one color, forming a magnificent lake.

  The strong bandits' boats were like fish returning to the great sea, turning left and right, dispersing and drilling into the harbor. Song Jiang's triumphant laughter echoed through the wind: "Youngster, if you have the ability to chase after us, otherwise, we'll take your sister as our mountain stronghold's lady."

  "Song Jiang, watch closely!" Xiao Wu's heart was burning with anxiety, his seven orifices smoking with rage, he couldn't help but grasp his bow and arrow, ready to kill someone to establish his authority. Just then, a flock of wild geese suddenly took flight from the reeds, diverting his attention, and he shot off a round of "Twelve Linked Pearls". The geese in the sky let out mournful cries, and with a series of "plops", a string of them fell to the ground. Xiao Wu's loud voice echoed across the lake: "If any of you dare to touch a single hair on my sister's head, I'll make it rain geese like this!"

  Is there such a shooting technique in the world? The bandits were stunned, only feeling a chill on their scalps, and in the previous chase, this young man was enough to shoot them all to death. However, he spared his life, not even shaking the oars, just wanting to get away from this disaster as far as possible.

  Although Xiao Wu had spoken fiercely, he was also helpless and could only watch as the gang of bandits disappeared into the lake. Thinking about what might have happened to Han Jiu'er, his teeth clenched in anger and his chest felt like it was going to burst. Just as he was at a loss for what to do, he saw a boat emerge from the reeds, with two people standing on it - the same fishermen who had been singing earlier. Seeing them heading straight towards him, Xiao Wu's heart suddenly filled with hope, and he stuck his iron spear into the ground, put away his large bow, and waited by the water's edge.

  The boat stopped two steps away from the shore, and the fisherman standing at the bow took off his straw hat, revealing a face full of freckles, with a rough appearance. He greeted Xiaowu with a fist bump and spoke in a Shandong accent: "Brother, I am Ruan Shi'er from Shigecheng Village, and this is my younger brother Xiaoqi behind me. We admire your martial arts skills and ask Big Brother Song to release your sister. However, he has a condition that you must join us in exchange, what do you think?"

  "Join the gang?" Xiaowu, who had always been loyal to the country, hadn't even thought about becoming a bandit. Moreover, this body was given by his parents, how could he tarnish its innocence? He was about to refuse, but then he thought that if he preserved his own innocence, Han Jiu'er's innocence would be hard to preserve. For a moment, he was in a dilemma.

  "Brave warriors, we are all poor and struggling to survive. The imperial court has set up the 'kuò tián suǒ' (a system of land ownership), incorporating Liangshan's 800-li water area as public property, imposing heavy taxes on it. Those who break the rules will be treated as thieves. We have been forced to gather in the mountains and forests, although we have robbed and plundered, we have never committed any heinous crimes... As long as you join us, we will all be brothers, your sister will be my sister, who dares to touch her?" Ruan Xia'er persuaded with kind words.

  "It's like that, and it can't be helped..." Xiaowu hesitated, thinking that the imperial court was unaware of the situation, and that the officials were forcing the people to rebel, and not all the bandits and robbers were bad people. It would be better to pretend to agree for now, and then wait for an opportunity to take Han Jiu'er away.

  "As expected, it's refreshing! May I ask, brave warrior, what is your surname and where are you from?" Ruan Xiao'er was overjoyed.

  "My brother, I'm Xiaowu. I didn't take the wrong path by choice, but I don't dare to tarnish our ancestors' surname. Please forgive me." Xiaowu said with a serious expression, and this declaration showed his sincerity.

  "That's right, a good family's children, who would want to be a thief?" Ruan Xiao'er didn't suspect anything else and said, "Younger brother, you can hand over your life pledge letter, then you can join the gang."

  "My little brother can recognize a few characters, but there is no paper or pen in front of him, how can he write a statement?" Xiao Wu asked foolishly, not knowing the rules of joining the gang.

  "Little Wu Ge misunderstood." Ruan Xiaoqi, who had been silent at the helm, couldn't help but burst out laughing, "To surrender and confess is to kill a person, cut off their head and present it to Na."

  "Ah?" Xiao Wu was startled, only then realizing that his thoughts had been too simplistic. Although he had already taken lives, they were all people who deserved to be killed. But if he were to kill indiscriminately, how could he bring himself to do it?

  "Submit the life-saving letter within three days, there is a small path in front of the river embankment, and many people pass by every day. My younger brother can go to wait for him." Ruan Xiao'er said, throwing over an arrow, "This is a signal arrow, after you get it, shoot it at the boat, and there will be a ship to pick you up."