Chapter 152: Crossing the River to the South, Song Jiang drank the foot washing water
Mu Hong is a man of few words and he doesn't hold back either.

He invited Cao Jie to the farm, and before he even sat down, he got straight to the point and asked him about his rebellion in the mountains.

Seeing him so straightforward, Cao Jie and his party laughed and asked, "Why are you so anxious, brother Mu Hong?"

Mu Hong pointed to the north and said helplessly, "The old emperor has given us no way out! I went to the county today, and the county magistrate said that the higher-ups have issued a document to increase taxes next year. If they can't collect taxes, they will hold us responsible. Tell me, the landlords don't have any surplus grain, but they are still raising taxes. Is this still fair? Is there still law?"

After years of heavy tax increases, the people's ability to bear it has reached its limit. If the government continues to increase taxes, rebellion will be imminent.

If you want to ask: When the feudal dynasty raised taxes, didn't it all fall on the peasants at the bottom? What does this have to do with Mu Hong, a landlord and tyrant?
Then I tell you: the Song Dynasty raised taxes equally. Common people had their own taxes, landlords had their own taxes, and even those whose family members were officials could not escape the tax increase.

It’s just that officials can make money and don’t care about those taxes.

Since Mu Hong dominated Jieyang Town, why did the imperial court allow him to abuse his power and become a local emperor?

Naturally, they saw his ability, and every year when it came to collecting taxes, Mu Hong, the local gangster, would be the one to take the lead.

If the entire county fails to deliver the figures, the first person to be held accountable will naturally be Mu Hong.

If one does not want to be held accountable by the court, one can either oppress the people at the bottom of society to death and collect all the taxes; or one can make up the difference oneself; the court only wants the taxes, but does not care where they come from.

Mu Hong was obviously driven into a state of panic by the taxation and had some rebellious thoughts in his heart.

Rebellion is very normal in the Great Song Dynasty.

Don’t do basic exercises!

'No wonder Song Jiang was able to easily subdue the three tyrants of Jieyang. He was forced to do so by the imperial court!'

If there were no oppression, small landlords like Mu Hong would live like gods. Why would they risk their heads to rebel?

Thank you for the gift from the government!
Cao Jie had a plan in mind, and said with a smile: "Brother Mu Hong, what we say cannot be heard by outsiders, and the news must not be leaked!"

"Of course." Mu Hong nodded, then turned to Mu Chun and said, "Go guard outside and don't let anyone get close."

"Brother...how did I become an outsider?"

Mu Chun looked reluctant, but under Mu Hong's stern gaze, he could only mutter and walk out of the room.

Following him out were Ruan Xiaoqi, Liu Tang, Shi Qian, Jiao Ting, Xue Yong and others, who occupied the high ground one by one and monitored the entire Mujiazhuang.

Only Cao Jie, Gongsun Sheng, Chao Gai, and Mu Hong and his son were left in the hall.

"Brother Mu Hong, do you know Liangshan in Shandong?"

"But what about the 800-li Liangshan Marsh?" Mu Taigong arrived first.

"It is here. We brothers have occupied Liangshan Marsh. There are thousands of us brothers."

Mu Hong was overjoyed: "I originally thought that Chen Xizhen of Yizhou, Shandong was already very powerful, but I didn't expect that brother had quietly won over so many brothers and built such a great foundation. I, Mu Hong, am not talented, but I am willing to serve as a pioneer under brother's command and rebel against Zhao Song."

"Brother, join us. Liangshan has one more great general."

"Then I will pack up my gold, silver and valuables, burn down the farm tomorrow, and then go up the mountain with my brother."

Mu Hong is really a man of swift and decisive action. He does things without any procrastination. He does things like burning down the ancestral house and cutting off the retreat without blinking an eye.

The corners of Mu Taigong's mouth twitched. Although he agreed to go up the mountain, there was no need to cut off his retreat and fight a desperate battle!

"Brother, don't worry. We still have to go to Jiangzhou. When we finish this trip, we can go up the mountain together." Cao Jie advised. "In that case, I will accompany you to Jiangzhou. Whether it is killing people or arson, I, Mu Hong, will help you do it. It's just a token of my loyalty."

Cao Jie smiled and said, "Why not gather reliable people like Brother Li Jun and provide support in Jieyang?"

Mu Hong's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together, "Brother, you're going to do something big!"

Duke Mu knew his son's character well. His frankness referred to his fighting ability, which no one could stop. But it also referred to his character, which was rash and reckless.

He coughed twice and said, "Da Lang, you have to listen to your brother from the Cao family. First, you have to provide support. Second, you have to sell off the family's land and shops, and deal with the government tax collectors. If you leave, your brother won't be able to do these things. By the way, you have to restrain Mu Chun. You know what kind of person he is. He can't keep his mouth shut. Don't let the secrets out."

"This is easy. Just ban him from traveling, and it won't cause any more trouble."

Everyone discussed the result overnight.

If we want to cash out this Mu Family Manor, it's worth several thousand strings of cash. It would be a waste to just burn it and leave.

Mu Hong is reckless, so Cao Jie doesn't dare to keep him around now.

At the ferry leading to Jiangzhou, Mu Hong looked eagerly: "Brother, I will wait for your arrow to pierce the clouds, and then I, Mu Hong, will charge towards Jiangzhou."

"Brother, just wait for my news."

"Brother, slow down!"

Li Jun personally drove the boat and stood at the bow and said with a smile: "Brother Mu Hong, leave your brother to me, Li Jun. With us here, I will ensure that you can send your brother to Jiangzhou safely and bring him back safely."

Everyone got on the boat and sailed to Jiangzhou on the opposite bank.

the river is long and tempestuous, it was like a hero.

Not far to the west of Jiangzhou is the ancient battlefield of Chibi, and to the south of Jiangzhou is the vast Poyang Lake, the largest inland lake in the Song Dynasty, and it is unknown how many pirates it has bred.

As for Jiangzhou, it is the Xunyang described by Bai Juyi, and it is also the Chaisang in the Three Kingdoms period, a thoroughfare of land and water and a strategic location.

At this moment, the two brothers Song Gongming and Kongming and Kongliang finally arrived at Jieyang Ridge. They were hungry and looked at the burned-down hotel in front of them and sighed.

"Master, the Yangtze River is just ahead! This river is so wide!"

"This water is really fast! Much faster than the Yellow River."

Song Jiang looked out over the river and saw a steady stream of cargo ships with dotted sails. Among them was the ship that Li Jun was steering to take Cao Jie to Jiangzhou.

He seemed to sense something and looked at it with a serious expression for a long time before he looked away and looked at the shop that had been burned to ruins.

Suddenly I felt like I had lost something important.

It made him feel heartbroken for a moment!

At the same time, Chen Xizhen and his daughter Chen Liqing from Yuanbi Village in Yizhou were also rushing to Jiangzhou.

What Cao Jie didn't know was that if the timeline of the entire world was developing towards "God of War", Chen Xizhen would practice in Lushan Mountain after achieving success and eventually pass away in the Immortal Cave.

This time, Chen Xizhen came for the inheritance of Lu Zu.

Unfortunately, no matter whether it is Song Jiang or Chen Xizhen, no matter how cunning you are, you have to drink my, Cao Jie's, foot washing water.

(End of this chapter)