Chapter 19: True Righteousness of Liangshan! We Are Going Up the Mountain!
“Fellow villagers! Please don’t rush! Line up one household at a time—there’s enough money and grain for everyone!”
Ren Yuan personally stood by the distribution line to oversee the giving of money and grain, wary of any embezzlement.
He repeatedly instructed his men to maintain basic courtesy during distribution, reminding them not to treat the villagers like servants summoned and dismissed at will.
Throughout the distribution, whenever he saw any lackey scolding the villagers, Ren Yuan would step forward and deliver a swift kick! After making those few men apologize, none of the others dared to act arrogantly.
Even the village chiefs and leaders lowered themselves, treating people kindly; if these lackeys misbehaved, they would be scolded to death.
Each household, upon receiving their money and grain, expressed endless praise and heartfelt thanks. Though the cold night wind still blew, the manor of the Xixi village headman was bustling with warmth and activity.
Besides distributing grain, the remaining supplies had to be loaded onto carts and sent back to the mountain stronghold as swiftly as possible.
After all, the commotion was considerable; if the county soldiers from Yuncheng discovered this, the Liangshan band was not yet strong enough to confront the official army head-on.
“Great Leader! I have something to say!”
From one household of seven or eight people, after collecting their money and grain and preparing to leave, a young man suddenly dashed forward, knelt before Ren Yuan, and kowtowed deeply.
“Young man, what are you doing? Stand up and speak!”
Ren Yuan was taken aback but quickly called the boy to rise.
“Great Leader! You are a great man! Giving us money and grain—I’ve thought it through! Though I’m young, I have strength and can endure hardship! I want to live like Fourth Brother, with pride... pride... yes, that’s it—pride and dignity! I don’t want to endure oppression and hunger any longer! Great Leader, please take me in!”
The young man stayed kneeling, loudly declaring his resolve.
His words stirred many; soon, others from different households emerged one after another, all coming before Ren Yuan and kneeling.
“Great Leader! Take me too! I’m strong and can take a beating!”
“Great Leader! Me as well! I’ve even trained a few days with sticks!”
“Great Leader! My brother and I both want to join Liangshan!”
In an instant, those willing to join Liangshan came one after another. Song Wan and the others were greatly surprised; roughly counted, there were at least two or three hundred men—almost as many as those who had descended from Liangshan this time!
Most astonishingly, none of the families tried to stop their children from joining the band.
In other words, the people of Xixi village tacitly accepted their children going to the mountain to become outlaws.
“Everyone! Listen to me!”
Seeing so many eager to join, Ren Yuan was naturally pleased, but since Liangshan was still a bandit stronghold, becoming an outlaw was not exactly an honorable calling.
Hence, he had some matters he had to address upfront.
“Although Liangshan acts in the name of justice, it remains a gathering place for outlaws. After joining, you’ll have enough to eat and won’t be bullied, but you must understand—this is a perilous life, like licking blood from a blade. One misstep could injure you badly or even cost your life and fortune. Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
The kneeling crowd exchanged glances but no one showed any sign of backing out.
“Great Leader! We won’t regret it! Please take us in!”
“Exactly! Great Leader, a true man’s word is like a nail; we absolutely won’t regret it!”
Satisfied, Ren Yuan nodded. What he wanted were sincere recruits.
“G-Great Leader, may this old man say a word?”
At that moment, two elderly men with white hair and beards emerged from among the villagers.
“Please speak, honored elders,” Ren Yuan said respectfully. In these times, living to such an age was a blessing, and he did not dare be rude.
Both elders, leaning on canes, exchanged a glance and silently nodded before taking turns to speak.
“We two brothers have lived in this village for over seventy years, and today is the first time we’ve seen such generosity and righteousness from a great leader.”
“Great Leader, we old folks have lived simple lives, tilling the soil. The village headman has tyrannized here for over a decade, and we endured it, but in our hearts, we longed to be free.”
“Yet, Great Leader, the empire is unjust. We toil all year, but most of our harvest was seized by that headman and his henchmen—the magistrate’s officers and the county’s constables. Many families starved through the year. His children also ran wild in the village, and over twenty villagers have been beaten or killed by them!”
“Great Leader, although today Liangshan has removed one evil, who knows if another headman will rise to oppress us? We are old and have few years left, but these young men are still strong! We cannot let them resign themselves to such fate!”
“We understand your concerns, Great Leader, but please take them up the mountain. Everyone has their destiny and fortune; we blame no one. We only ask that, once on the mountain, you treat them well.”
“Great Leader, you are so righteous. Surely, living as outlaws is not a permanent solution. If one day you can win favor with the government, these young men will have a future and no longer suffer as we have. We bow to you and beseech your mercy—please take them up the mountain!”
The two elders bowed deeply. Ren Yuan hastened to help them up.
“Honored elders, rest assured. I will take them up the mountain! Those who wish may bring their families as well!”
“I, Ren Yuan, pledge my life that once on Liangshan, they will lack nothing! As long as I live, I will ensure they benefit and strive for a better future!”
“Excellent, excellent! Great Leader, you are a man of accomplishment. On behalf of the young men of Xixi, I thank you!”
“Thank you, Great Leader!”
“Thank you, Great Leader!”
The two elders grasped Ren Yuan’s hands firmly, truly reassured.
Those wishing to join Liangshan were overjoyed, especially since Ren Yuan had said families could come along, which was even more enticing.
“Yuan Lang!”
“Yes, Brother?”
“Go and compile the list of all those willing to join. From now on, they are all members of Liangshan!”
“Understood!”
Yuan Lang’s face lit up. Having just come into a large sum of money and grain tonight, gaining three hundred strong young men would make this expedition a huge success.
“Song Wan!”
“Yes, Brother?”
“Hurry and distribute the money and grain properly to the villagers! Load the rest onto carts and transport it back to the stronghold!”
“Brother, rest assured! Not a single grain will be wasted; you can hold me accountable!”
Song Wan also made a solemn pledge. This money and grain were the firmest foundation for the stronghold’s growth.
Besides, both had clearly seen that when the village headman was killed, though the villagers were grateful to Liangshan, that gratitude was limited and they did not feel close ties.
But once the leader began handing out money and grain, the villagers regarded Liangshan as their savior—not only with gratitude but bringing their families, ready to join!
Especially Yuan Lang, who counted three hundred and sixty-eight able-bodied men willing to go up the mountain this time! Each one a strong field laborer who, with some training, would be battle-ready!
At the very least, these newcomers were stronger than the elderly and weak currently guarding the stronghold.
Moreover, over a hundred family members would ascend with them, instantly swelling Liangshan’s forces to over a thousand!
In the current Song dynasty, any band numbering over a thousand was considered a major force!
“By the way, Chief, the village headman’s household has some minor retainers and concubines. What shall we do with them?”
A leader approached Ren Yuan with the question.
“The main culprit is gone; the rest shall not be punished by association. Each retainer will receive ten lashes, two strings of cash for travel expenses, and be banished from Xixi village forever. If they resist, they can clean their necks and wait—let’s see how sharp Liangshan’s blades are!”
“As for the concubines, their ancestors left them two hundred acres of upper farmland—this land deed shall be returned to them. Warn them never to harm others again, and to forget today’s events. If any dare seek revenge against Liangshan, we will not show mercy next time!”
Yuan Lang, Song Wan, and the others laughed heartily upon hearing this.
“Brother is truly just and merciful. But rest assured, if these people cause trouble again, we won’t wait for you to act—we’ll personally sever their heads and deliver them to you!”
The manor at Xixi village was alive with hope and determination, as a new chapter for Liangshan was about to begin.