Chapter 51: The Otherworldly Liangshan

“Uncle, could it be that the location of my upcoming major examination is in Yannan Circuit?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu grew even more puzzled. Even if it involved fierce bandits, how formidable would they have to be for Bai Shang to give him such special instructions?

It should be noted that for the same major examination, academy students from commoner backgrounds could only rely on the resources provided by the academy. Some of the more troublesome tasks were indeed difficult to accomplish.

But Wang Yu was different. If the opponents were truly troublesome, if he wished, it would not be difficult at all to borrow a troop from the Yannan Circuit government office.

In fact, the annual year-end major examination was extremely important for students of the Great Cang Academy. Literature students were dispatched to various government offices to serve as clerks or ordinary staff, while martial students joined the military to undertake various missions.

The results and performance in these examinations were recorded and served as important credentials for their future development.

“That’s right, it is Yannan Circuit. Within Yannan Circuit lies a mountain called Liangshan, composed of seven ridges and eight peaks including Tiger Head Peak, Snow Mountain Peak, Hao Mountain Peak, and Little Huangshan. Beneath Liangshan lies a vast swamp, surrounded by three thousand miles of watery marshes, a treacherous terrain where more than a dozen groups of notorious bandits and underworld figures have gathered! However…”

Bai Shang seemed a bit weary and took a small sip of tea before continuing, “About half a year ago, a group of strongmen led by Chao Gai and Song Jiang managed to unite all the scattered bandit groups on Liangshan. They thoroughly consolidated the bandit forces there, plundering wealthy households and tyrants nearby, even raiding surrounding county towns multiple times. Over the past six months, it’s said that Liangshan has amassed over ten thousand bandits! It has become quite a significant threat!”

“Liangshan... Song Jiang!” Hearing these names, Wang Yu’s pupils contracted sharply. Could it really be that person?

He remembered that the system had once mentioned that when it descended, it encountered another similar system. Two tigers cannot share one mountain—unless one is male and the other female.

Thus, the two systems fought fiercely. Wang Yu’s system emerged victorious, utterly destroying the other and gaining some unknown but considerable benefits, although it lost track of data on several characters.

It seemed that such a figure had appeared today. As for why there wasn’t a pair, the system had already told him that sometimes they might come as a group. Also, the system’s use of “groups” as a unit hinted at certain situations.

Still, what in the world was going on? To have a Liangshan in this otherworld as well, and with Chao Gai and Song Jiang actually there.

“Nephew, have you ever heard of this Liangshan?” Bai Shang asked, his expression peculiar.

Having endured countless trials and hardships in his lifetime, Bai Shang had experienced far more than Wang Yu. Although Wang Yu tried his best to hide it, Bai Shang noticed the brief flicker of abnormality in his expression.

“Only occasionally mentioned by others,” Wang Yu replied calmly.

He did not deny Bai Shang’s question because he understood that Bai Shang already had an answer in mind. There was no need to leave a bad impression.

“Uncle, if it’s just a Liangshan, it shouldn’t warrant such solemnity, right?” Wang Yu diverted the topic to prevent further probing.

Liangshan’s strength was indeed considerable, but if they truly wanted to, they could suppress it. Not to mention, Ling Donglai might not be able to kill all ten thousand bandits, but silently eliminating a few bandit leaders would not be difficult.

Once a few leaders were slain, the ten thousand would naturally scatter like chaff, making them easy to wipe out.

Therefore, Wang Yu did not believe that Bai Shang would have spent so much time discussing just this simple matter.

Speaking of which, Chao Gai and Song Jiang were quite capable. Within only half a year, they had united all the bandits on Liangshan and gathered over ten thousand men.

“The emperor has personally appointed the Fourth Prince to lead the troops. You, Zhao Kuangwei, that young fellow from the Sima family, and the entire cohort of your academy will all serve under the Fourth Prince’s command and follow his orders! You’ll know the details within two days!” Bai Shang’s expression turned grave as he spoke.

Being entangled deeply with several princes was never a good thing, especially as this Fourth Prince was somewhat special.

“The Fourth Prince!”

Wang Yu was genuinely surprised.

From what he knew, the Fourth Prince’s mother had died early, and there was no record of her clan being powerful. Moreover, the Fourth Prince himself was usually quiet and reserved. Such a person would ordinarily have no claim to the throne.

Yet this announcement felt off somehow.

In past years, students were assigned to various armies as squad leaders or section chiefs at most, or at best as company leaders—lowest-level officers.

But this time, the army was personally led by a prince, appointed directly by the emperor himself, which made Wang Yu uncertain. Could the Cang Emperor be elevating the Fourth Prince?

Especially since not only was the Fourth Prince personally leading the army, but the entire formation was arranged for him. Wang Yu himself, along with Zhao Kuangwei—scions of the Four Town Families—had been trained in military camps from a young age and had some experience leading troops.

Sima Qingrou, from the wise clan among the six great families, was an ideal strategist to face a group of bandits and mountain robbers.

Furthermore, each of these noble families had their own bodyguards, adding another force for the Fourth Prince to utilize. This lineup was practically handing the bandits an easy victory!

Perhaps the Fourth Prince would earn some merits, but he would still be vastly inferior to the other princes. Nonetheless, this matter was a clear signal, and one personally sent by the Cang Emperor.

“Uncle…”

Wang Yu was about to question further, hoping to uncover the reasons behind this, but Bai Shang waved his hand and said, “It’s an old matter; there’s no need to discuss it further.”

Clearly, there were secrets Bai Shang was unwilling to reveal.

“An old matter!” Wang Yu was astonished. Could there be a story behind the Fourth Prince?

Recalling the events at the Drunken Dream Pavilion and Zhao Gao’s investigation revealing some secret connection between the Fourth Prince and the young marquis Cheng Zhe, Wang Yu grew increasingly vigilant. It seemed he would need to pay extra attention to the Fourth Prince in the future.

Since Bai Shang refused to elaborate, Wang Yu naturally did not press further. After all, Bai Shang was his future father-in-law; if he did not wish to speak, Wang Yu could hardly force him.

Wang Yu was about the same age as the Fourth Prince, so if Bai Shang called it an “old matter,” it probably involved the previous generation rather than the prince himself.

“All right, don’t be alarmed. Just focus on your own duties,” Bai Shang said with a wave.

Little did Bai Shang realize, this bandit suppression mission would not let Wang Yu settle quietly; he was bound to stir up trouble.