Song Jiang sent his generals back and came to Chao Gai's camp with a little anxiety.
After the three brothers exchanged greetings for a while, they sat down separately. There was a mat in the middle of Chao Gai's tent. There were some dishes on the mat, and five or six jars of wine were placed on the floor. Chao Gai sat on the main seat. Without speaking, Shi Jin, who was sitting on the right side, faced Song Jiang across the table and said: "Brother Gongming, the three of us brothers haven't had a drink together for a long time. Come on, today it's just you and me. Let's have a good drink." Dayton,”
When it came to drinking, Song Jiang had some doubts in his heart. After all, the meal was unexpected. Although he didn't think it was the Hongmen Banquet, it was still very strange. Song Jiang said with his usual smile: "Yes, back then, In Yuncheng County, we were forced by the government to hide here and there without a chance to sit down and have a good meal. Now, God has seen to it that we three brothers conquered Yuncheng County. It is really hard. After all, it’s time to have a good drink,”
Chao Gai also spoke up and said: "Yes, after all the hardships come happiness, it's time to say some things."
"Here, I'll fill it up for the two eldest brothers," Shi Jin said, standing up, holding a jar of wine in his hand, removing the mud seal, and poured the mellow wine into three adjacent wine bowls.
The three brothers each picked up one, clinked their glasses with each other, and drank a bowl first. Shi Jin filled it up again. The three brothers drank while chatting. In less than half an hour, they also drank the wine. When he was more than fifty years old, Chao Gai sighed, put his hand on the back of Song Jiang's hand, and said: "Brother, Shi Jin and I were arrested and hunted by the court because of the birthday incident. It was thanks to you. Only by reporting the news to me and the two of you can you avoid death. I respect you for this bowl of wine."
Song Jiang quickly picked up the wine bowl and drank with Chao Gai. Song Jiang quickly said: "If I hadn't been supported by my brother, I wouldn't have been able to enter the yamen and become a police officer. Now I wouldn't be able to live in the streets and suffer hardships in this life." I may not be able to stand up yet, but it is my honor to be able to save my brother."
Chao Gai didn't listen to what he said and continued: "Later, you also committed a crime and were arrested by the court. You were able to drag a group of brothers to Liangshan. I was very happy for you. I remember that Hua Rong and Qin Ming came first. , Huang Xin, Yan Shun, Wang Ying, Zheng Tianshou, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng and others led no less than a thousand troops. At that time, Xiao Si reported to the mountain. I thought it was a trick used by the government to seize Liangshan. , I am not acquainted with these people, but all of them later dared to take off all guard, come up to the mountain, and treat each other sincerely, just because they were holding a piece of letter from you, brother. Do you know why?"
Song Jiang said: "It's the elder brother's preference for the younger brother."
"No," Chao Gai looked into Song Jiang's eyes and said word by word, "It's trust."
After hearing this word, Song Jiang felt as if he had been pricked by a needle. An indescribable feeling spread throughout his body, making Song Jiang's cheeks slightly hot. Song Jiang smiled coquettishly and bowed his head slightly.
Chao Gai continued: "Later, when you went up the mountain, I brought all the brothers down the mountain to meet you. The first words you said when we met are still fresh in my memory. You said, 'Brother, my little brother has a bad fate. Now he is wandering around the world. "Jiang Hu, I hope my elder brother will show mercy and take me in." Do you know what I was thinking at that time?" Chao Gai did not intend to let Song Jiang answer, and Song Jiang had no way to speak. Chao Gai paused and continued: "I thought at that time, dear brother, Liangshan This is your home, and this is your return, so how can I take you in?"
Chao Gai spoke so emotionally that Song Jiang couldn't help but blush. Shi Jin silently drank wine for the two of them. Chao Gai continued: "My three brothers were all persecuted by the government and had no choice but to die. But fortunately, my three brothers , although he is in grass, he is kind-hearted and has never made trouble in the arena or persecuted the virtuous. My three brothers are not creatures of the pond. They live in Liangshan, and they cannot satisfy us no matter what. Brother Shi Jin is on the Yongxing Military Road. A whole world has opened up. I originally wanted to rise up in Liangshan and echo from the east to the west, but for my brother..." Chao Gai's voice dropped sarcastically when he said this, and he shook his head slightly, as if he was sad.
Shi Jin held his hand on the back of Chao Gai's hand and called him "big brother" comfortingly.
Chao Gai sighed and continued: "I really don't have the talent and strategy to compete in the world, so I let you, brother, follow me and suffer the injustice."
After hearing this, Song Jiang immediately left the table and knelt down, saying, "Brother, where did you start with these words?"
"Brother Song, please get up quickly. We three brothers don't say anything foreign. I have heard a little bit about the misunderstanding between the two brothers. After all, it is a knot in my heart. No one is happy, and it will be more harmful in the long run. It's not good, why don't I, my brother, speak openly today, saying that all the misunderstandings have been resolved, and we can support each other and work together to achieve great results in the future," Shi Jin opened the skylight and spoke openly.
Song Jiang pondered for a moment, nodded, as if he had made a lot of determination, and said: "Since brother said so, then if one family does not speak of two families, brother, you are the first to rise up, so I won't say it here. What's the matter, but for Brother Chao Gai, I don't want him to take this road. After all, Liangshan is no more remote than the Yongxing Military Road. Liangshan is a thorn in the side of the court. Once troops are sent out, there will be an encirclement and suppression from all directions. Brother Chao Gai has left. The mountain stronghold must be plotted by the Song soldiers. When the time comes, it will be difficult to take the first place. What should be done? Moreover, once the war breaks out and wars continue, the people will inevitably be affected. These are what I thought at the time, but now, I have also thought about it carefully. "Song Jiang paused for a moment, then looked at it and said: "We brothers are like chopsticks. If we work separately from all four sides, I am afraid that the roots of the imperial court will be easily broken. Only the three of us brothers are looking at one place. Only by uniting together and becoming a pair of chopsticks can we avoid being killed by the imperial court."
Chao Gai nodded and said: "This is the first time I have heard this metaphor, and it is quite good."
Shi Jin said: "King Chao Tian once told me that Brother Song hopes to be recruited by the imperial court. Now that he can open his heart and say this to us, Brother Chao and I will..."
"Regardless of past grudges," Chao Gai said, probably in a threatening tone.
"We have already discussed it. We three brothers will each perform their duties. King Chao Tian will guard the stronghold and provide backup. Brother Song, you can buy soldiers and horses in Yuncheng County to develop your power. I will return to Chang'an tomorrow and advance from the west to the east. Fight all the way to make peace with the brothers. When the time comes, we will overthrow the Song Dynasty, establish a court where the people are peaceful, and open up a peaceful and prosperous era."
"Okay..." Song Jiang stood up. Chao Gai and Song Jiang both stood up, picked up a bowl of wine, clinked their glasses, and drank.