Chapter 25: A Grand Banquet at Mount Liang (Part I)

"Thanks to the leadership of our Chieftain, along with Leader Yuan and Leader Song, our stronghold has seen a bountiful harvest since last night!"

"After careful audit, we have seized five hundred and eighty taels of gold, two thousand seven hundred taels of silver, forty-eight thousand six hundred strings of copper coins, and jewelry valued at approximately nine thousand strings from the residence of the Xixi village head. After deducting the fifteen thousand strings distributed to the villagers before returning to the mountain, and the nine thousand strings for the settlement allowances of the leaders (the original six plus the three Ruan brothers), the total added to our treasury is approximately forty-three thousand strings. Combined with our existing twelve thousand, our current stockpile stands at fifty-five thousand strings."

In the Grand Assembly Hall of Liangshan, Ren Yuan sat at the head, listening to the report delivered by Du Qian and his head accountant.

The establishment of a new stronghold was indeed a task of endless administrative detail. Ren Yuan had only just returned from Shijie Village before rushing straight to the Assembly Hall.

"As for provisions, we have brought back approximately sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty shi of grain. Additionally, we have secured one hundred and twenty horses, two hundred and sixty oxen, three hundred and seventy-five mules, four hundred and eighty sheep, and over four thousand three hundred chickens, ducks, and geese. Other spoils are still being inventoried, but this is the general situation. I await the Chieftain's instructions!"

Du Qian’s most important accountant, Old Jin, recited these figures from his ledger, his posture growing straighter with every word.

"Well, well. The village head falls, and Liangshan feasts," Ren Yuan mused, rubbing his temples. Raiding a household was indeed the fastest way to acquire wealth; the decades of savings kept by the Xixi village head were truly staggering. Now, it all belonged to Liangshan.

"Well done, thank you for your hard work. By the way, have the pensions and salaries been arranged?"

"Brother, Old Jin and I have discussed this. We will announce it once the three Ruan brothers bring the naval forces up the mountain in a few days. At that time, the stronghold will have about 1,000 combat soldiers. When not deployed off the mountain, each will receive 100 wen daily, with a monthly salary of 3 strings of cash."

"In the event of war or missions to borrow provisions, each soldier will receive 6 strings before heading down. Upon return, additional rewards will be issued proportionally based on merit. Sub-leaders receive 5 strings monthly, with 10 strings when deployed. Leaders receive 10 strings monthly, with 20 when deployed. Rewards for sub-leaders and leaders upon return are also issued proportionally."

"In the event of a death in battle, the pension is set at 80 strings, which the stronghold will deliver to the family."

"Good, that is well handled. Thank you both."

Seeing the bloodshot eyes of Du Qian and his men, Ren Yuan knew they had barely rested all day.

"Tell Song Wan to prepare a grand banquet in a few days. With such spoils and the navy arriving soon, Liangshan has every reason to celebrate."

"Understood, Brother. We shall head out now; do get some rest yourself."

The Ruan brothers were remarkably efficient. In less than three days, they arrived at Liangshan with two hundred and thirty-six highly skilled boatmen and their families, swelling the stronghold’s population by over three hundred in just a few days.

"Keep building the houses and the passes! I don't fear the lack of funds; I only fear moving too slowly!"

With so many people arriving, the pressure on logistics surged, and Du Qian and Song Wan were kept constantly on their feet.

"Prepare the banquet! Today is a great day for our navy to join us—only the finest food and wine!"

"How many people are still without shelter? If necessary, clear out an entire camp. The Chieftain said we must settle the common folk first!"

"Have the rewards for the last mission been prepared? Not yet? Hurry! Seize the occasion of this great day to distribute all the bonuses! And remember, no skimming! Anyone caught skimming will forfeit their head!"

While the logistics camp was in a frenzy, the front camp was equally bustling.

"What do you think? The location I chose for you three—this makes for a fine naval camp, doesn't it?"

Yuan Lang was accompanying the Ruan brothers and the naval contingent to inspect the new camp. He hadn't been idle either, overseeing the layout of the various passes and fortifications. He had to admit, the former Chieftain Wang Lun, despite his flaws, had been capable in this regard. At the very least, Wang Lun had done a decent job building the main stronghold and the three passes at the front. This had saved Yuan Lang a great deal of effort.

"This place is excellent. Thank you, Brother Yuan Lang. If our navy is ever needed, just say the word. Our brothers will not hesitate!"

"We are all one family, no need for such formalities!" Yuan Lang patted Ruan Xiao'er on the shoulder. "I leave this in your hands. The men bringing the food and wine will be here shortly. Eat well, drink well—I must head back to the front camp."

"Brother, could you tell the kitchen staff... for our naval brothers, perhaps not so much fish? We catch it every day, and we've grown quite tired of it..." Ruan Xiaoqi said with a sheepish grin.

Yuan Lang laughed heartily. "Haha, I had already anticipated that! In the future, when you have no duties during the day, you will still manage the fishing, but the kitchen will exchange it for other meats by weight. We will ensure you are satisfied."

"That’s great! Hehe, I knew Brother would be thoughtful and wouldn't let us suffer." Ruan Xiaoqi laughed, but his mirth was so loud that his brother gave him a firm thumping.

"Go ahead, Brother. We have things under control here." Ruan Xiao'er could tell Yuan Lang wasn't making excuses—he was truly busy. It was said that even Chieftain Ren Yuan had been working at a feverish pace these past few days.

The reputation of Liangshan's "acting on behalf of Heaven" was spreading rapidly. Many people from nearby villages, hearing the news, were eager to join. This was a good thing, and the naval forces needed to integrate quickly.

The front camp of Liangshan served as the temporary venue for today's banquet. The families of the soldiers had gathered there. The Chieftain had decreed that everyone should celebrate together. A hundred large round tables were packed full, and the aroma of meat wafting through the air made many mouths water.

"Liangshan is truly massive! Brother, we made the right choice coming here!" A younger man sat at one of the tables, peering around the camp with wide eyes.

"This is just the beginning. Haven't you noticed your brother-in-law isn't here? Their naval camp is separate," the elder brother instructed, though his trembling body betrayed his own awe. It wasn't just his brother who was inexperienced; he was just as stunned. A gathering of over a thousand people—more than their entire village combined—this was no mere bandit den!

The two were from Shijie Village, surnamed Liu. They had arrived just recently, and by chance, they were the distant brothers-in-law of Ruan Xiao'er.

"Yusheng, Jinsheng, come, drink some water first." Ruan Xiao'er's wife, Madame Liu, was at the table. While tending to her child, she poured water for her two younger cousins. They were her paternal cousins, and having heard about the recruitment, they had followed her to the mountain. As their elder sister, she naturally looked after them.

"Sister, you're the wife of a Liangshan leader now. Why are you still doing chores like cooking? Shouldn't you have some maids?" Liu Jinsheng asked, not fully understanding. He felt that since his brother-in-law was a major naval commander, he should be treated with more privilege.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Madame Liu tapped him on the forehead. "Everyone on Liangshan is a poor, suffering soul just like us. The Chieftain is benevolent, which is why he provides us with food and shelter. We aren't here to play the part of wealthy lords."

"Besides, your brother-in-law has only just arrived and has yet to prove his worth, yet he was given a command position immediately. That shows the Chieftain’s trust. We mustn't do anything shameful to drag him down."

"Furthermore, I was a child of a poor family; I have hands and feet and am used to working. Why would I need maids?"

"Exactly. Keep your head down, work hard with the Chieftain to achieve great things, and you'll do right by our parents," Liu Yusheng added, also lecturing his brother. He hadn't wanted to bring him along, but their father had insisted that "brothers are best when fighting tigers," leaving him no choice.

"Brother, our swimming skills are only average. Brother-in-law said the navy only wants those who are skilled in the water. We can't join the navy," Liu Jinsheng worried.

"If we can't join the navy, we'll join the infantry. Remember what Brother-in-law said? Liangshan plans to have cavalry, infantry, and naval forces. Since there's no leader for the cavalry yet, there are only the infantry and navy. If we can't go to the navy, we'll go to the infantry. With our skills, we'll make something of ourselves yet!" Liu Yusheng said, though he was really trying to convince himself.

Even though they had become outlaws, Liangshan was different from other places. At least, according to his brother-in-law, this place offered a real path for ordinary people!

"Well said! Brother, come, let's have a bowl together!"