Chapter 53: A scoundrel can also be a hero

Even a scoundrel can have the courage of a hero, and a little bit of ambition can turn things around.

There was a man named Han Powu in Suide in the northwest. He was born in a poor family and had been a playboy as a child. At the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the army like most men in Suide.

This man developed a rough and generous character when he was in the underworld, and he was also able to get along well in the army. Within a few years, he was able to pull a strong bow and was the bravest among the three armies.

It is said that the men from Suide, the women from Mizhi, and the poor people in the capital are really just hooligans?

This city is too prosperous, with its bright lights, wine and women, extravagance and decadence, which has wiped out the heroic spirit of men.

Even a skilled fighter like Lin Chong only wants a happy wife and children, and has no intention of resisting the persecution from the powerful.

Even Lin Chong is like this, let alone other ordinary people.

Most of the poor people just hang out on the streets, trying to make ends meet and live a miserable life.

At the beginning of the year, Lu Zhishen came to the Daxiangguo Temple in the capital and was sent to work as a vegetable head in the vegetable garden near the Wuyue Temple outside the Suanzao Gate.

When the local ruffians saw that a new monk had come to take care of the vegetable garden, they wanted to give the fat monk a warning and waited for an opportunity to push him into the manure pit.

As a result, these scoundrels failed to steal the chicken and ended up losing the rice, and were thrown into the cesspool by Lu Zhishen.

Although the ruffians are scoundrels, they have one advantage: if they are not as skilled as others, they will just admit defeat.

The ruffians pooled some money and, led by their two leaders, "Street Rat" Zhang San and "Green Grass Snake" Li Si, bought ten jars of wine and led a pig to come and apologize to Lu Zhishen. Lu Zhishen did not pursue the matter further, and the two sides reconciled.

These ruffians naturally became Lu Zhishen's subordinates.

What really impressed the younger brothers was the uprooting of the weeping willow tree. They witnessed Lu Zhishen's supernatural power and were full of admiration for him.

Later, Lu Zhishen was wanted after he got into trouble. It was Zhang San and Li Si who mediated and he was able to escape from Tokyo.

The Old Water Margin also describes that Zhang San, Li Si and a group of ruffians wanted to avenge their eldest brother and also hated Gao Yanei for forcing Lin Niangzi to death, so they decided to get rid of the harm to the people and used a trick to castrate "Hua Hua Tai Sui".

From scoundrels to heroes, Zhang San and Li Si demonstrated with their actions that Tokyo City also has some heroic spirit.

When Lu Zhishen returned this time, he contacted Crossing Rat and Green Grass Snake immediately and made a plan according to Cao Jie's instructions. Zhang San and Li Si immediately applauded and found four trustworthy brothers to join him.

I only wish to accomplish this great task, and then go out into the world with Lu Zhishen. Even if I die, it is better than being stuck in this mess in Tokyo.

At the market, Gao Kan, the "Playboy", was visiting the bird stalls with his minions. Apart from being a good wife, this guy's only hobby was playing with birds.

He was seen walking with an arrogant look on his face, with a gardenia stuck on his round, white head. His minions would occasionally shout at and drive away those ignorant pedestrians who were blocking his way.

In Tokyo, if you see a silly man with a wilted gardenia stuck next to his ear in autumn and winter, don't think he is a fool, but a wealthy man of extraordinary status.

That wilted gardenia is definitely worth a lot of money.

Zhang San and Li Si have four trustworthy brothers. One of them is nicknamed "Big Guy". When he saw Gao Yanei coming, he immediately went to greet him.

"Yanei, Yanei!"

Gao Yanei looked at him and exclaimed, "Yo!" He reached out and patted the big guy's chest, and said with a smile: "Big guy, how did you come out from here?"

"It's hard to explain! Ever since the brothers broke up, I haven't had a good life. Now, I'm selling birds."

"Oh, it's quite popular!"

"How can I compare with you! Following the general, I can eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks, and have whatever I want, whatever I want will come true..."

By the way, how did these two people know each other?

At that time, Gao Qiu was just a vagrant young man in the Xuanwu Army in Tokyo. Gao Kan was naturally not Gao Qiu's godson, but his uncle.

He hung out on the streets, and among the group of scoundrels he mixed up with was a big guy.

Later, Gao Qiu attached himself to Prince Duan, and later Prince Duan became the emperor of the Song Dynasty. Gao Qiu rose to prominence overnight, and Gao Kan became Gao Yanei.

After that group of hooligans dispersed, the big guy followed Zhang San and Li Si and wandered around Suanzaomen. Occasionally they caught a good bird, and the big guy would take it to the bird market to sell it.

So, in order to make money from Gao Yanei, they temporarily set up this bird stall.

"Hey big guy, are there any good birds?"

"You don't know, young master. Who would hang such a precious bird here? They are all kept as treasures at home! If you hang it here, someone will grab it! If you want to buy it, you have to go to my house."

"Oh, from what you said, you have some good birds at home?" "To be honest, I do have some good birds. This bird! Although it looks plain, it is different. It can speak Persian. It's amazing."

"Oh ha ha ha, you brag too much."

"Look at this bird... Go for a walk! I'm not here to buy a bird."

The big guy has been hanging around on the streets all his life. He speaks differently to different people and his acting skills are impeccable. He put down his hands and ignored Gao Yanei.

Gao Yanei's curiosity was aroused. He got anxious and grabbed the big man's hand and said, "Don't be in a hurry. If you really have this magical bird, I really want to see it."

The big guy tried to catch him by himself, "What? You want to see it? Some other day, some other day, some other day! I'm busy here!"

"No, no, I want to see it today. True gold is not afraid of fire, and a good bird is not afraid of people looking at it. If I really like it, I will give you five times the price."

"Really?"

"Of course. If you don't have it, we'll pull all the hair off your head." The minions laughed.

"Young Master, you don't know, my bird is afraid of strangers. If there are a group of people, my bird will be scared."

"Don't keep me in suspense. Lai Fu, go with the big guy and deliver the bird to my house."

The big guy was startled and asked, "What's the matter with the lord today?"

Gao Yanei laughed lewdly: "Of course there is something wrong. Half a year ago, I fell in love with a young woman, and I am going to get her soon. I also want to let people enjoy my bird..."

His eyebrows danced with joy, and his chubby face was full of pride: "It's a pity that the woman's cowardly husband actually divorced her. It's a bit less interesting."

The big man was furious, but his expression remained unchanged. He smiled and said, "Since the young master wants to accomplish something great today, then you go ahead and do it. I'll take the bird to your house tomorrow."

"No, no, the bird must be delivered this afternoon. I want both the man and the bird today."

"Okay, okay, then the silver..."

"Your money is indispensable."

The big man sighed in his heart and watched Gao Yanei and others disappear in the crowd.

As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes.

In order to trick Gao Yanei, Cao Jie used the "bird trick" from the old Water Margin. If it works, it would be perfect, as it would quietly make him "cry to the sky and the earth but no one will respond."

When this plan failed, Cao Jie's backup plan was the "beauty trap".

It is not difficult to win over Gao Yanei. The difficult part is to teach him a lesson, send Lin Niangzi away, and avoid getting into trouble.

"Master, Master..."

Zhang San, a street rat, was not good-looking and not tall, but he was very smart. When he saw that his "bird plan" had failed, he immediately reported:

"Master, that Huahua Taisui didn't take the bait and went to look for Madam Lin."

The "walker" Zhishen frowned and snorted, saying, "It doesn't matter. If this plan doesn't work, I'll come up with another one."

"Master, do you have any other plans? If you need help, please let me know."

Li Si was tall and thin, with a slender waist. He also clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Yes, Master! We will definitely take the bird of Huahua Taisui, enforce justice on behalf of heaven, and eliminate harm for the people."

Lu Zhishen put his hands behind his back and nodded slowly: "Gao Yanei can't escape this disaster. If this plan doesn't work, there is another plan waiting for him to take the bait. You six brothers, take up your weapons and listen to my orders."

"Yes!" Everyone was excited.

Cao Jie naturally did not tell this group of ruffians about the beauty trap, nor did he use them.

He personally set up a dragnet to lure Gao Yanei into the trap.

"Sister-in-law, when Gao Yanei comes, you should do this... this... Don't panic, we are nearby, and we will kill you if you see any unusual movement."

Cao Jie reminded again.

Madam Lin nodded and said, "Uncle, I remember everything. But I have seen you read the Art of War, and the military sage Sun Tzu said, "Plan for defeat before planning for victory." If the plan fails, please leave immediately and don't take risks for me."

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. I'm not trying to make money from Gao Qiu. This is just a small test for me!"

(End of this chapter)