Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Chapter 150: Distributing Gas to Stop Water and Rain, Exploring Coal Mine Surfaces and Landslides

At 3:45 AM, entire sections of roof beams floated on the surface of the Yellow River.

Xu Guanzhong, with disheveled hair and bare feet, waded through the mud. The hem of his blue Taoist robe was soaked with blood—left by a flock of sheep that had been swept down from upstream not long ago. Don't underestimate this flood just because it's water; it also contains a lot of hard wood and rocks. Any unlucky creature swept into the water would probably be turned into mincemeat...

In the center of the Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Talents Formation formed by the heads of three sacrificial animals, the lightning-struck jujube wood sword that Li Hanxiao had just made from lightning-struck jujube wood was trembling violently.

"Brother Lehe, hurry and get the cinnabar!"

Xu Guanzhong's voice was hoarse with a metallic scraping quality. He was no joke about casting this spell, because this rain was not a normal natural phenomenon, so he would have to pay a heavy price to reverse it...

"Iron Whistle" Le He hurriedly presented the cinnabar jar he had bought from the city, only to see "True Lord Xu" Xu Guanzhong immediately bite his middle finger and use the cinnabar to draw tadpole-shaped cloud seal script on the yellow talisman.

It is said that the blood in the middle finger has innate pure yang energy, which can ward off evil spirits.

Therefore, in critical moments when there are no other magical weapons at hand, one would prick the middle finger and splatter blood on it. Blood from the middle finger is what ghosts fear most, and ancient exorcists often used this method to defeat ghosts.

At this moment, Xu Guanzhong was using his own blood and energy to circulate the magic. If you go against the will of Heaven, you will naturally pay a price. Don't underestimate that little bit of blood from the middle finger; in the end, it could very well cost Xu Guanzhong two years of his lifespan, because that little bit of blood is a concentrated version...

"Iron-backed Wolf" Shan Shiqi was carrying two crying children past when he saw "True Lord Xu" Xu Guanzhong casting a spell. He couldn't help but gasp – the blood droplets seeping from the talisman were floating upwards against the rain.

"Iron-backed Wolf" Shan Shiqi thought to himself, "I must never offend Xu Guanzhong again. If I mess with him, he might just casually poison me, and I won't be able to handle it!"

"Boom!"

But then, suddenly, a bolt of purple lightning struck the old willow tree a hundred paces away, igniting a ghostly blue flame in its canopy. It was terrifying, and even the rain couldn't extinguish the flames.

Li Hanxiao held the three-pointed double-edged sword and looked up at the sky. Water was dripping from the cowhide rope wrapped around the handle, leaving honeycomb-like dents in the muddy ground.

"Mr. Xu, this rain..."

Li Hanxiao thought that Xu Guanzhong's spell would not work, but then things changed.

"Chief, please observe."

Xu Guanzhong suddenly slammed the lightning-struck jujube wood sword heavily onto the incense table, and blue light simultaneously burst from the eye sockets of the three sacrificial heads.

Suddenly, the dark clouds in the northwest parted, and sunlight, like gold foil, shone on the turbulent river. This ray of sunlight swept away the previous gloom, and the torrential rain also subsided considerably, eventually stopping completely.

The sudden appearance of sunlight caused gasps of surprise among the fleeing people who were still trying to climb to higher ground. A lame old man knelt down in the mud and kowtowed, his forehead shattering a clam shell as he did so, oblivious to the fact that he hadn't even noticed: "The Dragon King has opened his eyes!"

The woman Shi Xiu, nicknamed "Desperate Saburo," was supporting suddenly tugged at his sleeve: "Hero, look!"

Following her trembling finger, everyone looked and saw seven rainbows rising in the middle of the Yellow River, like a bridge built by immortals.

Xu Guanzhong staggered, leaning on the incense table for support, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: "The twenty-four generals of the Thunder Department each have their own duties. I...I...can only borrow three hours of Qingming."

Li Hanxiao quickly stepped forward to help Xu Guanzhong up. Just as he was about to speak, Guan Sheng's Red Hare suddenly reared up.

The mane of this fine steed bristled, and its iron hooves, as big as bowls, kicked up sparks on the bluestone slabs.

"There's an ominous aura!"

Xu Guanzhong said.

At this moment, Hao Siwen, known as "Jingmu Han," was leading his team on their way to find the coal mine. He held his silver spear horizontally, the tip of which was pointing directly at the southwest official road.

Above the pipe, a gilded carriage, escorted by more than twenty black-clad servants, sped by. The character "Yang" embroidered on the curtain gleamed blood-red in the sunlight.

Horse hooves shattered the sunlight, and Yang Lu lifted the carriage curtain, revealing half of his sinister face: "What kind of demon is causing trouble here?"

Beneath his python robe, half of his gold-threaded soft armor was visible, and a gilded waist tag hanging from his waist was engraved with "Chief of the Inner Palace Attendants".

The separation of the Inner Palace Attendants' Department and the Palace Attendants' Department was a unique feature of the Song Dynasty's eunuch system, distinguishing it from previous dynasties. The Inner Palace Attendants' Department, then known as the "Empress's Department," was responsible for serving in the inner palace and performing intimate duties, thus maintaining close ties with the emperor and empress.

The Inner Attendants Department, also known as the "Front Department," was responsible for serving in the palace, cleaning, and handling miscellaneous tasks. The Inner Attendants Department had positions such as Chief Attendant, Chief Attendant, Deputy Chief Attendant, and Attendant.

The Inner Palace Service had positions such as Left and Right Chief Administrators, Deputy Chief Administrators, and Assistant Administrators. The Chief Administrators, Deputy Chief Administrators, and Assistant Administrators were all of the sixth rank. According to the regulations at the time, vacancies in the Inner Palace Service were filled by officials from the previous Inner Palace Service.

This man was none other than the adopted son of Grand Commandant Yang Jian, a eunuch whom Yang Jian had personally promoted in the palace.

This person was also left behind by Yang Jian in his hometown to take care of his own family property.

Yang Jian was originally a eunuch and had no ability to have children, but he liked to take in so-called "adopted sons," and quite a few of them. He was quite comparable to Wang Zhen, the powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Yingzong of Ming.

Strangely enough, eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty generally had a strong presence, such as Liu Jin, Wei Zhongxian, and Wang Zhen. They all shared a common habit: adopting sons. Yang Jian was one of their predecessors. Unlike Tong Guan, the Privy Councilor, who, despite being a eunuch, was tall and imposing, and the only eunuch in Chinese history with a beard, Yang Jian did not adopt any sons and was very career-oriented.

Historically, this grandson colluded with foreign powers and spent money to redeem the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun from the Jurchens. In the end, he became the one who conquered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. According to the will of the late emperor of the Song Dynasty, whoever conquered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was granted the title of king despite not being of the same surname. He was eventually granted the title of Prince of Guangyang.

Yang Jian, on the other hand, took in a large number of adopted sons, mainly eunuchs, to wreak havoc in the palace and ensure that he knew everything that happened within the entire imperial palace.

At this moment, Hao Siwen, nicknamed "Jingmu Han," stopped the guy. The coal mine they were going to also belonged to Yang Jian, and it would be bad if this guy found out. So Hao Siwen wanted to stop him here for a while.

Yang Lu appeared here because the foreman of the coal mine ran to his residence in the city to report that the coal mine had collapsed due to water seepage and could no longer operate. So Yang Lu came to check. It was not because Hao Siwen thought that they ran away because they were afraid of the flood.

This coal mine has brought Yang Jian a considerable income. If it really can no longer be mined, Yang Jian probably won't let him off easily, which is why he came to check it out as soon as possible.

Hao Siwen, nicknamed "Wellwood Falcon," did not resort to violence directly. Firstly, he had no reason to do so. Secondly, facing someone with a formidable background, he could only say that the water ahead was too deep and he had to take a detour, pushing the situation forward as long as possible.

Meanwhile, "Big Knife" Guan Sheng had already led everyone on a detour to that coal mine.

When they arrived, they found some coal miners still in several sheds next to the coal mine. They learned that the coal mine had collapsed and their relatives had been crushed to death inside. They were waiting there for the owner to come and give them an explanation.

At this moment, the entrance to the coal mine was filled with swelled wheat straw. Guan Sheng, known as "Big Knife," walked inside, wiped the coal dust off his face, and used his Green Dragon Blade to cleave the driftwood blocking the entrance.

Red Hare pawed its front hooves restlessly five zhang away, its mane covered with broken tiles washed down from upstream, gleaming with a bluish-black luster in the sunlight.

"This mine probably won't last even half a quarter of an hour."

Wang Yin held up a tinderbox and shone it inside. The miners' bodies floating on the water had turned white from being submerged. Their knuckles were still wrapped in hemp ropes that hadn't been untied to prevent them from twisting their arms. He had worked as a stonemason and knew a little about minerals, so he could tell what was going on in the coal mine.

Si Xingfang, who was standing nearby, used a broadsword to lift up a corpse and discovered that the character "Yang" was branded on the back of the neck.

"The gunpowder is in the box under this stone slab!"

Duan Jingzhu, nicknamed "Golden Retriever," searched around and discovered traces of gunpowder.

"I'll clear the way!"

The "flower monk" Lu Zhishen slammed his staff into the ground, and the thick, water-polished iron staff pierced three inches into the bluestone slab.

This "flower monk" had bulging muscles on his arms like gnarled roots of an old tree. He grabbed the collapsed mine cart and lifted it up, revealing a gunpowder barrel wrapped in tarpaulin underneath.

Just as Bian Xiang was about to step forward to retrieve the gunpowder, he suddenly heard "Little Marquis Wen" Lü Fang shout: "Watch your head!"

But then a loud crash was heard as the leaking mine beam smashed down where everyone had just been standing.

With lightning speed, Shi Xiu, nicknamed "Desperate Saburo," grabbed a corner of the tarpaulin, and the 20-pound gunpowder barrel slid out of the mine, skimming the water's surface and carving a deep trench in the muddy ground.

There should still be over a hundred pounds underneath!

"I just saw how much gunpowder was down there," said Lu Zhishen, the "Flowery Monk."

Wang Yin used his steel spear to lift the wet account book from the water. The ink on the parchment had smudged into clumps, which made him frown.

"That old scoundrel Yang Jian, making money like this by mining coal! He's even hoarding military-grade artillery powder—the very kind of powder from the Tokyo Armory! He managed to transport it all here to blast coal for himself! He's got connections everywhere!"

Suddenly, the sound of hooves rolled in like muffled thunder. Yang Lu rode on his Qinghai horse, his python robe stained with dirty water. Hao Siwen, known as "Jingmu Han," did not stop him, but only delayed him for a while. Now they had arrived at the same place.

"Who are you people? How dare you! You dare touch the Grand Commandant's property?"

As he spoke, the guards beside him instantly drew their steel swords, and dozens of servants who had followed him around the mine were also armed.

"Fathers! This gunpowder can save Puzhou! They're going to blow up the north bank dike, stop them!"

"Jingmu'an, who came along with us!" Hao Siwen suddenly jumped onto the coal pile and shouted.

Before the words were finished, a lame old man rushed out of the miners' shed, wielding a pickaxe and smashing down the nearest servant: "Er Gouzi was forced down the mine by them and drowned!"

In an instant, more than a hundred kiln workers crawled out of the mud and water, wielding hoes and picks, and rushed toward the black-clad servants.

Yang Lu's Qinghai horse suddenly neighed in agony—some young man had severed the horse's leg tendon with a wheat-cutting sickle.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Guan Sheng, known as "Big Sword," charged into the enemy ranks on horseback. With a flash of cold light from his Green Dragon Blade, three servants with drawn bows were already decapitated.

A servant tried to light a signal flare, but was pierced through the chest by a halberd thrown by Guo Sheng, nicknamed "Sai Rengui," and pinned to the half-collapsed stone wall of the mine.

"Brothers, hurry up and move it!"

Despite carrying four barrels of gunpowder on his shoulder, Bian Xiang moved with incredible speed, while "Iron-backed Wolf" Shan Shiqi swept his iron rod across the road, breaking the bones and tendons of the servants who blocked his way.

Suddenly, Shi Xiu, the "daredevil," caught a glint of cold light behind the coal pile. His broadsword flashed, slashing away a stray arrow: "An ambush!"

On the distant hillside, Yang Chengen, who, like Yang Lu, was Yang Jian's adopted son, put down his ornate bow and sneered: "This cunning commoner was quite alert; he didn't succeed."

He also came with Yang Lu, but his main responsibility was to protect Yang Lu secretly, since the flood was devastating and there were disaster victims everywhere, so there was a risk of something going wrong.

When he saw Hao Siwen, nicknamed "Jingmu Han," deliberately blocking the road, he realized something was wrong. So he secretly followed behind with his men to see what was going on!

The scarred man beside him smirked obsequiously: "Master archer, want to fire another shot...?"

"No need."

Yang Chengen stroked the jade pendant at his waist. "Let them move the gunpowder to the north bank. We'll wipe them all out in one fell swoop. Didn't they say they wanted to blow up the north bank dike? I'll see if they dare with the two of us here!"

At this moment, the boundary marker with the character "Yang" on the north bank embankment gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Ling Zhen, nicknamed "Thunderbolt," used an iron awl to chisel a hole the size of a bowl into the rammed earth, and black gunpowder flowed into the gap like fine sand.

34"Twelve explosive moments, linked together in a series."

The "Thunderbolt" muttered to itself, touching its waterproof leather straps, "It's a pity it lacks the right amount of sulfur; its power would probably be reduced by 30%..."

The group that had just gone to retrieve the gunpowder had brought it back and also mentioned their encounter with Yang Lu.

Li Hanxiao understood that time was of the essence. These henchmen of Yang Jian were unlikely to give up easily and wanted to blow up the dam, so a fierce battle was inevitable!

Suddenly his ears twitched slightly, and the sound of metal clashing came from afar.

Li Hanxiao held the three-pointed double-edged sword in his hand, the blade reflecting the billowing dust a hundred meters away.

More than a hundred mounted servants charged over the corpses of the people who had perished on the embankment as the floodwaters crashed against it, their hooves crushing the swaddled baby into a bloody pulp.

"You audacious scoundrel!"

Yang Chengen, who wanted to lure Li Hanxiao and the others here and capture them all, arrived at the scene a little later with more than two hundred of Yang Jian's servants. He pointed his gold-inlaid horsewhip at the crowd on the embankment, and the ruby ​​at the tip of the whip drew a blood-red arc.

"This dike connects to the Grand Commandant's 30,000 mu of imperial estate bestowed by the emperor; even the slightest damage to it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"

The wicked servants behind him burst into laughter and loudly echoed his call, creating a tremendous uproar.

"Imperial estate land bestowed by the emperor? I heard that eunuch Yang Jian forcibly seized this flood-discharge farmland on the north bank?"

Li Hanxiao showed no mercy and immediately called Yang Jian a "castrated dog"!

"You, you are brave!"

Yang Chengen was also a eunuch, but unlike Yang Lu, he knew martial arts. Upon hearing the words "castrated dog," he reacted as if he had a stress response, and roared in an extremely shrill voice.