The fifth of the Eight Great Bandits, Gao Ru Yue (Gao Yingxiang)

After sitting on the ground for half an hour, Gao Ruyue finally had the strength to stand up. He stumbled over to the body of the bald bandit and first took out some scattered silver coins from his arms. After not finding any other valuables, he peeled off the bandit's fur coat.

I heard that the new county magistrate with the surname Han, at the beginning of his term, had made a hundred or so large boxes. It seems that he won't be satisfied until these boxes are filled.

In chaotic times, a person is worse than a dog; even someone as noble as Gao Yuet has no mood to seek justice for this dead man. He trampled down some yellow earth and reburied the remains.

After the words of the old yamen runner, the Zhang brothers felt a chill. If Gao Ruyue really becomes the ruthless leader of the village militia, their lives will be far from peaceful.

A flail, accompanied by the sound of wind, rushed towards the back of his head. Gao, as tall as a mountain, fell to the ground, and the iron ball of the flail grazed his back, leaving two deep gashes on his back from the spikes on the iron ball

Gao Ruyue brought the smuggled salt back home and joked when he saw his wife Liang's happy face, saying, "You can finally get the bracelet you wanted this time."

Gao Ruyue looked around and saw the yamen runners holding iron rulers. They said in a gentle tone, "Brothers, we are old acquaintances. Are you also here today to make trouble for me?"

The sweat fell like raindrops, quickly forming beautiful mud cups on the yellow sand.

As Gao Ruyue pushed the rooster cart to the city gate, he was stopped by two soldiers.

This time can be considered a narrow escape from death. For those who are as brave as Mount Tai, returning to An'sai County at this moment also brings a feeling of escaping from death.

Gao Ruyue shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. Normally, these two brothers wouldn't even dare to breathe in front of me. Today, they dare to extort me on their own. There must be someone supporting them from behind. I, Gao Ruyue, will have to see who is bold enough to challenge me to a fight."

With a mournful cry, Gao Ruyue rolled on the ground twice and swung his long knife horizontally, making a loud "crack" sound. Immediately after, a piercing and miserable scream sounded beside him, and a bald man fell down with a "plop" next to him.

His vision was severely blurred, and the sourness caused by sweat entering his eyes almost made him give up all resistance.

Just as I was about to tell my wife to pack her belongings and leave, I saw my wife, Liang, already sitting obediently on the chicken cart, holding a floral cloth bundle.

There was no one at the city gate. In the distance, from the watchtower, came the triumphant laughter of Zhang Tinghuai.

Gao Ruyue remained unperturbed, smiling as he took out a handful of loose silver coins from his pocket and placed them in the soldier's hand, saying: "I ask for a bite to eat, and I hope my two elder brothers will lend a hand. On another day, I will invite both of you to my home for a drink!"

At this moment, he really wanted to lie down and rest for a while. As for the knives in the hands of the bandits, he didn't want to pay any attention to them at all.

Leaning against the chicken bus, he sat up, his hands weakly hanging down to the ground, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth growing stronger. Not far from him lay four corpses.

The soldier smiled as he tucked the silver coins into his bosom, then his expression changed abruptly, and he shouted: "Gentlemen, we usually do not keep watch at the door, but today we heard that you, Gao Guyue, are about to strike it rich, so we specifically came here to wait for you"

The trafficking of illicit salt has been a grave crime since ancient times, and Gao Guyue is well aware of this, which is why he chose to take the winding mountain path

He gasped for breath, trying to straighten his body, but his hands were firmly locked around the bandit's neck, and his mouth continued to gnaw at the bandit's bald head... The smell of blood was overwhelming

He carefully examined the four bandits he had killed, gazing at the small pile of silver coins he had collected, and sighed, saying: "In this day and age, even bandits have no money"

The old constable, seeing that Gao Ruyue had become fierce, realized he was no match for him and did not approach to apprehend him. He shouted loudly, "Gao Ruyue, the local militia is about to surround you. Why are you not leaving quickly? What are you waiting for?"

Gao Ruyue pushed the chicken cart towards the city gate, walking while saying: "Zhang Tinghuai, your true nature is well known to me. If you dare to ruin my good plans, you must first ask about the knife in my hand"

Gao Ruyue suddenly stood up, drew his long knife, and walked towards the person entering the door. Zhang Tinghuai, who had just entered, was startled to see Gao Ruyue approaching with a knife, and with a leap, he dashed out of the door, shouting loudly: "Gao Manzi, listen up! By order of the magistrate of Feng County, you are to be apprehended for being a smuggler of salt! Come out and surrender at once!"

Zhang Tingsong's brothers watched as Gao Ruyue entered the county without any obstruction, only sneering behind him.

An Sai County is nothing more than a small town with a few thousand people. On ordinary days, there are constant banditry incidents and occasional rebellions against officials. At this moment, when Zhang Tinghuai was seen fleeing in a disheveled state wearing the uniform of the local militia, people immediately believed it to be true. Every household closed their doors, and some even jumped over walls to escape outside the town.

The body leaned to one side, causing his mouth to move away from the bandit's head, and his hand to move away from the bandit's neck.

Gao Ruyue washed his face and slumped down under the eaves, patting his chest as he said: "This experience was truly perilous; I never expected the bandits in the chaotic mountains to be so fierce. In the future, if I take this route again, I must bring more people with me"

Gao Ruyue was enraged, swiftly dodging the thrusting spear, reaching out to grasp the descending spear shaft, and with a shout, he actually seized Zhang Tinghuai's spear, lifting his leg to kick Zhang Tingsong to the ground

Mr. Liang pointed at a hole in the woolen bag and lamented, "The bag is torn, and you didn't even notice? How much salt must have been spilled along the way?"

The loess barely covered the corpse, and he stomped on the earth a few times with force, as if to offer his final effort for these deceased souls

He greatly hoped to find horses for the bandits to ride, but unfortunately, these four bandits were without mounts. Judging by the tattered shoes they wore, their steeds were their own legs

Rolling up to the side of the chicken cart, I trembled as I reached out to touch the woolen bag; the bag was plump, which brought a sense of reassurance.

With a furious glare and wielding a long knife, he exclaimed: "So, grandfather, I have become a rebel now?"

The large patches of blood in the middle of the road have turned dark and thick, causing the yellow earth to slightly curl up, forming dark yellow mud rolls. As Gao Yu stepped on these mud rolls, the last traces of existence of the four bandits were scattered by the wind

Only a skeleton has emerged from the edge of the collapsed trench, and it is unknown when the person died

Reinitiating the chicken cart, Gao Hu Yue's mood finally improved. Just thinking about how selling this one hundred jin of coarse salt would make life easier for his family for a year, his steps became much lighter

As for the trafficking of private salt, it is nothing but a joke

The couple was conversing at home when they suddenly heard a commotion outside the wall, followed by the sound of their front door being kicked open from the outside

Gao Ruyue stopped wielding the long knife, stood up straight, and only then did he feel an overwhelming soreness throughout his body. His knees buckled, and he knelt down into the yellow earth

A salt block the size of a fingertip fell from the chicken cart and ultimately landed on the yellow earth. Gao, bending down, picked up the salt block with his mouth, not daring to lick it with his tongue, for salt is precious and must not be wasted

How can they think to dismiss us with just a few coins?

The bald man's bald head is embedded with one of his teeth

After emerging from the chaotic mountains, there were finally some signs of human habitation ahead, and the heart, which had been hanging high like a towering peak, was finally set at ease

One of the soldiers pierced the wool sack on the chicken cart with a spear, took out a grain of salt from the opening, and said: "If the horse traders cannot receive money, can they receive money by trafficking in salt?"

He was gasping violently, his chest rising and falling like waves, his throat felt as if he had just swallowed a piece of hot coal, burning with pain, parched to the point of almost smoking

Having said that, he stepped forward swiftly and kicked Zhang Tingsong, who had just gotten up and was preparing to sneak away, to the ground. With a twist of his wrist, the long knife swept across Zhang Tingsong's neck, and a spray of blood erupted. Zhang Tingsong fell limply to the ground, clutching his bleeding neck and rolling incessantly.

An old constable at the forefront pushed open the door of Zhang's courtyard and said to Zhang Tingsong and his brothers: "Brother Gao, it is not that we, the old brothers, want to take you, but the county magistrate has issued an order, and we have no choice but to come."

The old constable glanced at the already rising smoke signals and, with a helpless wave of his hand, said: "It's too late for you to do anything now. Out of consideration for our past relationship, you may leave now"

The four corpses were dragged into the ditch by the roadside, and with a firm step on the edge of the ditch, the soft yellow earth buried the four bodies.

Gao Ruyue, upon seeing this, gradually lost the smile on his face and coldly said: "Zhang Tinghuai, Zhang Tingsong, what are you brothers planning to do?"

Zhang Tinghuai turned and ran, shouting as he ran: "Rebellion, rebellion, Gao Guyue has rebelled!"

Walking nearly 20 miles under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the dilapidated city of Ansai County was now in sight

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the overturned chicken cart, with the wool bags on it intact as before, and Gao Huyue finally breathed a sigh of relief

Liang said: "When you were not here, the Zhang brothers joined the local militia and have reportedly gained the favor of the county magistrate. Sir, it would be wise to be cautious; if you can avoid offending them, it is best not to offend them."

Gao Ruyue laughed heartily and said: "Since grandfather has already become a rebel, why not settle into this title of a rebel."

Gao Ruyue spat out a mouthful of blood-stained saliva and said to the yamen runners, "You bunch of dog thieves, how dare you surround my grandfather"

Zhang Tinghuai, holding a spear, coldly laughed and said: "Give me half of the private salt for my brother, otherwise you can wait to be imprisoned and executed"

Gao Ruyue tightly gripped the bald man's neck with both hands, opening his mouth wide to bite down hard on the smooth scalp of the bald man

Trafficking in illicit salt is not considered a serious crime in our border region; usually, people just laugh it off. However, once the county magistrate takes it seriously, trafficking in illicit salt can become a capital offense.

The trousers are no longer usable, as the bandit's leg has been severed by him, and blood has already soaked through the trousers

Without regard for height, Zhang Ting Song straightened his spear and thrust it towards Gao Ru Yue, while Zhang Ting Huai swung his spear in a wide arc, bringing it down on Gao Ru Yue's head.

Zhang Tingsong hurriedly said: "Nonsense!"

Gao Ruyue snorted and said: "It was originally intact, but it was the work of the Zhang brothers, Zhang Tinghuai and his sibling. These two sons of bitches dare to extort me. This matter will not end here with them!"

Gao Ruyue put down the chicken cart and clasped his hands, saying: "I can't collect the money for selling the horse!"

Carefully locking the door, and under the distant watch of the officials, he pushed the chicken cart towards the city gate

The old constable watched Gao Guyue, who was like a mad tiger, with vigilance and slowly retreated, saying: "What can be done now that things have come to this point?"

Mr. Liang expressed his concern: "The newly appointed county magistrate is not someone easy to deceive. If you continue to refuse to participate in the local militia, he will use you as an example to show others."

Old dog, I won't kill you today. Go back and tell that surname Han, sooner or later, I will chop off his head and use it as a ball to kick.

I have heard that the county magistrate hopes that Brother Gao will become the leader of the local militia, but Brother Gao has always been unwilling. If Brother Gao changes his mind and becomes the leader of this militia, then the Zhang brothers would merely be two local militia members under your command. Whether they are crushed or molded would still depend on Brother Gao's will

Gao Ruyue sighed and said: "When the local militia leader is supposed to be the grain collector, just look at this year of severe drought; which family can still afford to pay the official grain tax?"

Having spoken, he thrust the spear he had seized into the ground and turned to enter the house

Gao Ru Yue let out a long sigh, strapped the long sword to his back, and pushed the chicken cart out of the house

He dared not let go, nor could he afford to speak freely; he only remembered that if he did not kill this damned bandit, the bandit would kill him.

Gao Manzi, where have you gone to make your fortune this time? Why haven't I seen you trading horses?

Returning to the plains, Gao Ruyue strapped his long sword across his back and adjusted the felt hat commonly worn by the knife-wielders of Guanzhong. He believed that with these two items, the local ruffians in the nearby villages would instinctively keep their distance.

He could feel countless gazes peering at him through the cracks in the door, yet there was no sound, only the monotonous creaking of the cart wheels.

Gao Ruyue smiled as he came out of his house, pointing a knife at Zhang Tinghuai and said: "If you truly wish to take me, the city gate would be a good place. It is only because I am unwilling to be extorted by you that you secretly undermine my good fortune, is that right?"

If I were to become the grain chief, heaven knows how many lives would be lost. These officials are inept at suppressing bandits, unclear in their judgments, yet they excel at extorting grain and making money.

It is unclear how much time has passed, when a cool breeze swept by, Gao Ru Yue slowly opened his eyes, and the bald man lying beneath him had already fallen silent

Standing in the middle of the street with a long sword in hand, imposing and majestic, he glared at the trembling old constable and said: "I will not take on the role of grain chief!"

As Liang helped her husband take off his outer coat, she smiled and said: "You are back, and my heart that was hanging in suspense has finally settled. I can live without the bracelet, but how can I live without you?"

Just a moment, I will take two pounds of salt to their home and have a visit, slowly easing the relationship. In our village, there is nothing that cannot be resolved among neighbors.