Water Margin: The Tale of Li Erlang of Guankou

Chapter 199 Li San of Heze Receives New Command, Liangshan Fleet Sets Sail for the First Time

Inside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, enormous tallow candles crackled in their bronze crane-shaped lampstands, casting the imposing figures of the Liangshan leaders onto the mottled walls, as if dozens of silent demons had appeared out of nowhere within the hall. A night breeze swept in through the open doors, carrying the unique coolness of the marshland, a mixture of moisture and the scent of grass, causing ripples to spread across the wine bowls before them, yet unable to dispel the overwhelming heat that had filled the hall because of Li Hanxiao's single word.

"navy?!"

Lu Zhishen, the "Flowery Monk," stared wide-eyed, his large, fan-like hand slamming heavily on the sandalwood table. The impact made the rough earthenware wine bowls on the table jump, nearly spilling the wine.

"Chief! Did I hear that right? The navy? The navy that's going to fight on that salty, endless sea?!"

For Lu Zhishen, a man from Guanzhong, the sea was too far away. Since childhood, he had heard merchants from the north and south talk about the legends of the sea, saying that the water was blue and boundless, with fish as big as mountains, monsters that could glow, and countless treasures of gold and silver.

For a man who had spent half his life on land, the sea was the most distant and incredible legend in the stories told by storytellers, the ultimate longing that existed only in dreams and drunken ramblings.

“That’s right! It’s the Navy!” Li Han’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a heavy hammer, striking everyone’s heart and stirring up a thousand waves.

"We, the Liangshan Marsh, cannot be mere mudfish in this eight-hundred-mile-long marshland. If we are to be, we must be a mighty dragon that can stir up the winds and clouds across the four seas!"

Ruan Xiaowu, nicknamed "Short-lived Second Brother," was so excited that he jumped up from his seat. He ripped open his shirt, revealing a blue dragon tattoo that seemed to come alive in the candlelight, its claws outstretched. Spittle flying, he roared, "Brother is right! Absolutely right! We brothers, born and raised in the water, our greatest dream in this life is to travel to that legendary sea! When that time comes, let alone those dilapidated rafts of the Jin Dynasty Tartars, even if the Dragon King of the East Sea came, I'd pluck a few of his whiskers to go with my wine!"

"Living Yama" Ruan Xiaoqi was an even more reckless character. He grabbed the large bowl on the table, downed the remaining wine in one gulp, wiped his mouth hard with his sleeve, and chuckled, "Brother, when the time comes, we'll sail our ship to Korea and Japan, and learn from them, rob them! Let them taste what it's like to be robbed!"

The leaders in the hall burst into laughter upon hearing this, feeling an unprecedented surge of heroic ambition welling up within them, as if the boundless blue sea had unfolded before their eyes. Even seasoned men like Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen, who had seen countless storms, had a strange gleam in their eyes. This talk of the navy was like planting a seed of limitless possibilities in their hearts.

However, as soon as the laughter subsided, Ruan Xiaoer's face, which had been flushed with excitement, gradually fell down, like an eggplant wilted by frost.

He scratched the back of his shaved head, a slightly embarrassed and honest look on his face. He smiled at Li Han, his voice lower and tinged with humility: "Brother, this...this idea is good, absolutely good. But, as I said before, I have to say, our skills are only good enough for swimming around in this small lake. The old folks say that the waves on the open sea are higher than mountains, and the wind can blow boats into the sky! We...we're afraid...we're afraid our skills won't be enough at sea!"

Li Han smiled and nodded. He knew that Ruan Xiao'er was telling the truth, the truth from the bottom of his heart. He understood the Ruan brothers' concerns. They were the best of the inland waterway naval forces, but the methods of fighting on the open sea and inland lakes were completely different, requiring entirely new knowledge and technology.

He walked slowly to the center of the hall, where a massive map, encompassing the entire Song Dynasty and even its surrounding territories, was already laid out. He extended his slender finger and pointed to the vast, azure sea that occupied most of the map, and said in a deep voice, “Brother Er, there’s no need for modesty. You three brothers are exceptionally skilled in the water, rare in the world, natural-born naval commanders. This ability will be just as useful at sea. But inland river warfare is all about close-quarters combat, relying on a fearless and valiant spirit. Naval battles, on the other hand, depend on the wind and currents, the opportune moment and terrain, strategic planning, and weapons capable of long-range attacks. They are indeed two different things.”

Li Hanxiao's gaze slowly swept across the map, as if reviewing a list of his future generals. His finger pointed to each place name, and he recited the names of those who had dominated the Liangshan navy in the original Water Margin: "I already have a few candidates in mind for the leadership of the Liangshan navy. Li Jun, 'River Dragon' of Jiangzhou; Zhang Heng, 'Boat Fire'; and Zhang Shun, 'White Streak in the Waves'. These three are heroes of the river, well-versed in naval warfare. They have long been in Jiangzhou, dealing with the government and possessing a thorough understanding of the various forces on the water." "In addition, it is said that you will be aided by 'Emerging Cave Dragon' Tong Wei and 'River-Turning Mirage' Tong Meng, both heroes skilled in naval warfare. There are also 'Red-Bearded Dragon' Fei Bao, 'Curly-Haired Tiger' Ni Yun, 'Taihu Dragon' Bu Qing, and 'Skinny-Faced Bear' Di Cheng from Yuliu Village on Taihu Lake, known as the Four Heroes of Taihu, also water dragons. They have lived on Taihu Lake for generations, their familiarity with the waters is no less than that of you Ruan brothers, and each possesses unique skills. In the future, I will definitely find a way to invite them all up the mountain to join me in this great undertaking!"

“Besides,” Li Hanxiao continued, tracing the map over distant place names, many of which were unfamiliar to most, “there are also the bandits like Yang Hu and Hua Pufang, who have been active on the waters of Taihu Lake and the Yangtze River for many years. They are highly skilled in martial arts and have a wealth of experience. Then there are the Geng brothers, Geng Mingchu and Geng Mingda, who are fishermen by trade. They have unique insights into fisheries and hydrogeography, making them natural guides and sailors. Not to mention the Four Dragons of Zhejiang in the Jiangzhe region, whose water skills are superb, specializing in underwater infiltration and sabotage. They are all valuable assets!”

Wen Huanzhang, listening from the side, was secretly shocked. He hadn't expected that his chieftain already had such a detailed list of potential talents, as if all the heroes in the world were already in his grasp. Looking at Li Hanxiao's calm yet confident profile, his admiration for Li Hanxiao grew even stronger. Such a broad vision and long-term planning were far beyond the reach of ordinary heroes.

Li Han's joke suddenly shifted as he pulled out several sheets of high-quality hemp paper from his pocket and slowly spread them out on the table. The lines on the drawings were drawn with a special kind of charcoal pencil, clear and precise, completely different from any other drawing method of the time. The brushstrokes were delicate, and the details even revealed the structure and functional divisions of the ship, making it seem like a work of art from the future.

"But that's all in the future. You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. To build a navy, you must first have powerful weapons! Look, these are the blueprints for two new types of ships that I drew overnight."

Upon hearing this, the three Ruan brothers immediately pressed their heads closer, like three cats smelling fish. The blueprints depicted two enormous ships they had never seen before, with unique and imposing designs, unlike any vessels they had ever encountered. Not only were they far larger than ordinary ships, but their structures were also more complex and intricate, brimming with Li Hanxiao's unique design concepts.

"This ship is called the 'Fujian Ship'," Li Han said, pointing to one of the ships with a pointed hull and a high bow, resembling a giant seabird poised to take flight. "Its hull is pointed, its top is wide, its bow is raised, and its tail is high, shaped like an olive, with a draft of over ten feet. This unique design makes it far superior to all other ships of the time in terms of wave-breaking performance. It excels at sailing in the open sea and deep waters, and its ability to withstand wind and waves is far beyond what we currently use in terms of sand ships and warships! Even when encountering ten-foot-high waves, it can ride the wind and waves and come and go freely!"

He then pointed to another ship with a relatively flat bottom and a wide hull, resembling a mobile water fortress.

"This ship is named 'Guang Ship.' Its hull is made of ironwood, as sturdy as iron, and it has more than ten compartments inside. This design ensures that even if one compartment is damaged, it will not sink, greatly enhancing the ship's survivability. What's even better is that it has a shallow draft and a wide hull, allowing it to carry up to 10,000 shi of cargo! It can not only sail on the turbulent seas, but also go upstream to explore the inland waterways of our Central Plains with ease! Whether for transporting troops, grain, or conducting trade, it is an invaluable tool!"

"Brother! If...if this ship could really be built, it would truly be...truly a divine weapon!" Ruan Xiao'er stared at the blueprints, his eyes wide, his Adam's apple bobbing, and saliva almost dripping from his mouth. He could almost see himself standing on the bow of such a colossal ship, commanding thousands of troops and dominating the seas. Having spent his life by the water, he knew the impact of a ship's quality on naval warfare; this design completely overturned his understanding of ships.

“Of course we can build it,” Li Han smiled confidently. “However, building such a large ship is no easy task. We need a large quantity of high-quality timber—preferably pine from Fujian and ironwood from Guangnan. These timbers are hard, corrosion-resistant, and top-grade materials for shipbuilding. We also need tung oil to prevent decay and insect infestation, incredibly strong hemp rope, and hundreds of skilled craftsmen proficient in shipbuilding. All of these require money, and we need to exchange them for Liangshan's exclusive goods!”

He turned his head, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, landing on "Soaring Eagle" Li Ying, who was standing to the side.

"Brothers Li Ying and Du Xing!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Li Ying and Du Xing clasped their fists and knelt on one knee with a loud thud.

"This matter of foreign trade is entirely entrusted to you two!" Li Hanxiao's voice was resolute. "Our Liangshan's high-proof liquor, 'Heavenly River Jade Brew,' is mellow and sweet, and a single cup is hard to come by. Our refined snowflake salt is as white as snow, far surpassing ordinary table salt. And the cotton cloth newly acquired in Yuncheng is soft in texture and has excellent warmth retention; these are all rare commodities unavailable elsewhere. You must immediately organize a caravan to head south to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, contact those maritime merchants who have grudges against the government and are willing to take risks, and trade with them! I don't want gold or silver, I only want the timber, tung oil, iron, and other materials needed for shipbuilding! The more the better! This matter concerns the century-long plan of our Liangshan navy, and it must not be neglected!"

"Yes, sir!" A glint flashed in Li Ying's eyes. He knew this was yet another opportunity for him to unleash his full potential and reap immense wealth. Du Xing, meanwhile, silently took notes, plotting how to pull strings and evade the authorities.

"Brother Ma Bian!" Li Han smiled and turned his gaze to the silent figure in the corner, who was like a shadow.

"Here!" Ma Bian's voice seemed to come from the shadows, cold and decisive.

"You must depart immediately and infiltrate the Dengzhou and Laizhou areas! The Jurchens have established the 'Whale Sea Travelers' spy network along our Shandong coast for quite some time. They collude with merchants from Goryeo and Japan to smuggle military supplies and gather intelligence on the strength and weaknesses of our Great Song Dynasty. You must thoroughly investigate their background, uncover their communication codes with Goryeo and Japanese merchants, and identify all their strongholds! I need to know the movements of every single ship and the details of every single person! No one but you can accomplish this task!"

"Yes, sir!" Ma Bian's figure, like a ghost, silently disappeared into the shadows outside the door, as if he had never been there, leaving only a faint smell of blood.

"Brother Tao Zongwang!" Li Hanxiao's gaze finally landed on the dark-skinned, thin man with a simple and honest face, who was still clutching half a steamed bun in his hand.

"Ouch! Chieftain! Please spare me!" Before Li Han could even open his mouth with a smile, "Nine-Tailed Turtle" Tao Zongwang's dark, thin face was already filled with an expression more bitter than bitter herbs. He plopped down on the ground, threw the shovel in his hand, and started acting like a rogue.

“Chief, look at me! Ever since I came up the mountain, I’ve been building walls by day and digging pits by night. I even dream about building dikes. I’ve been working non-stop for months, and I’ve lost twenty pounds! Every brick and tile on Liangshan Mountain, inside and out, was laid by my own hands! Now you want me to build some kind of shipyard? I… I’m afraid my body can’t take it! You’d better find someone else! If this continues, I’m going to go on strike! Even if I, Old Tao, die, I’ll die on a road construction site, not in a shipyard!”