Chapter Thirty-One: A Man’s Pride

Catfish Mouth.

Barefoot Zhang San led over three hundred Taihu lake bandits, escorting Chen Yuanyuan toward the lakeshore. The Catfish Mouth was just ahead. Zhang San finally relaxed; even if Ming troops tried to pursue them now, it was too late. He turned to the lake bandits behind him and said, “Brothers, let’s rest for a moment.”

Liu Badao, a leader among the bandits, sidled up to Zhang San, grinning slyly, “Big Boss, all the chiefs have their fortress wives now, but I’m still single. Isn’t this Chen Yuanyuan…”

“No!” Zhang San replied sternly. “We may be bandits, but even thieves have their own code. Old Boss set the rules—never seize another man’s wife! Especially when Chen Yuanyuan belongs to General Wang, a true hero. We demand ransom to survive, not to commit further sins by taking his woman.”

“Big Boss,” Liu Badao protested, “Old Boss also said that any woman who enters the fortress can never leave. How’s this any different?”

“It’s not the same,” Zhang San replied.

“How is it not?” Liu Badao shouted. “Aren’t all women the same? If Wang can have her, why can’t I?”

“You, Liu Badao, simply cannot!”

Before Liu Badao could finish, a chilling voice echoed from ahead. Zhang San and Liu Badao spun around—there, at the mountain pass, appeared a figure in a crimson battle robe and black iron armor, unmistakably a Ming commander.

It was none other than Wang Pu.

With a wave of his hand, fifty retainers surged forward behind him, muskets aimed squarely at the bandits. As Zhang San and his men reeled in shock, Ming soldiers appeared on the left, right, and behind, encircling them completely.

“You are surrounded!” Wang Pu called out in a deep voice. “If you know what’s good for you, lay down your weapons and surrender!”

“Surrender!”

“Surrender!”

“Surrender!”

Scarface, Xiao Qi, Chang Yanling, Li Zushu, and three hundred retainers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the mountain.

“Never!” Zhang San spun around, dragging Chen Yuanyuan close and pressing a sharp dagger to her slender neck. He barked, “General Wang, you’re truly formidable, predicting I’d take Catfish Mouth. I respect you as a hero. If you let me and my brothers go, the fifty thousand taels of ransom are written off, and I’ll return your woman unharmed!”

Wang Pu responded coldly, “And if I refuse to let you pass?”

“Then we fight to the death!” Zhang San roared. “I’ll slit your woman’s throat first!”

“General, don’t mind me!” Unexpectedly, Chen Yuanyuan struggled to speak with resolve. “Do not let these scoundrels escape!”

“Silence!” Zhang San hurriedly covered her mouth, growling, “General Wang, I’ll count to three. If you don’t let us through, prepare to collect your woman’s corpse! One, two…”

Wang Pu’s mind raced. Zhang San’s bandits numbered over three hundred, while his own retainers were only two hundred, plus Chang Yanling and Li Zushu’s soldiers made about three hundred more. If a battle broke out, victory might come at a heavy price.

Most importantly, even if Zhang San could be captured, Chen Yuanyuan would surely perish, and Wang Pu had no intention of sacrificing his newly-wed bride—especially one as delicate and beautiful as her.

“Very well!” Wang Pu decided instantly, declaring loudly, “I’ll let you go!”

“Good, that’s straightforward,” Zhang San replied. “Then General Wang and your men, kindly step aside.”

Wang Pu spoke gravely, “You may leave, but my woman stays!”

Liu Badao shouted angrily, “You dare play tricks? Big Boss…”

Zhang San quickly raised a hand to stop Liu Badao, then spoke to Wang Pu, “General Wang, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’ve been burned by officials too many times. Your woman will be returned intact, but for now, she’ll have to see us off a bit longer.”

“This is not negotiable!” Wang Pu said sternly. “My woman must stay!”

“Then there’s nothing left to discuss,” Zhang San replied with a cruel grin. “General Wang, I’ll just kill your woman first!”

“Wait!” Wang Pu shouted. “I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Liu Badao barked, “Out with it, then!”

“You just want a hostage, don’t you?” Wang Pu said coldly. “Is taking a woman hostage heroic? Are you not afraid to be laughed at by the outlaws? Leave the woman, and I’ll be your hostage instead!”

At heart, Wang Pu was still a street tough. Despite leading a thousand retainers in Liaodong and surviving many battles, his ways remained much the same—proud, impulsive, loyal.

Of course, Wang Pu’s offer wasn’t just reckless; he had an ulterior motive. He hoped to win over these lake bandits for future use, believing he’d someday return to Jiangnan, where they could prove invaluable.

“General Wang,” Zhang San stared in disbelief. “Are you joking?”

Wang Pu sneered, “Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Are you really willing to risk it all for a woman?” Zhang San asked.

“Listen, Zhang San! She is my woman!” Wang Pu declared loudly. “If a man can’t protect his own woman, is he even a man?”

“Mmm, mmm, mmm—”

Chen Yuanyuan tried to speak, but her mouth was still covered.

“Alright!” Zhang San called out. “General Wang, you are a true man, worthy of respect. I, Zhang San, am convinced!”

“Zhang San, I’m coming over,” Wang Pu said.

With that, Wang Pu strode toward Zhang San.

Chang Yanling and Li Zushu cried out in protest, “Big brother, don’t!”

Chen Yuanyuan shook her head desperately, wanting to say that it was not worth risking himself for her, a woman of the dust, but she could only make muffled sounds.

Wang Pu raised his hand to stop Chang Yanling and Li Zushu, saying, “No need to worry, brothers. Zhang San may be a bandit, but he’s a man of honor—he won’t betray his word.”

Zhang San couldn’t help but release his grip and clasped his hands in salute, “Thank you for your trust, General Wang.”

As soon as Zhang San let go, Chen Yuanyuan cried out, “General, don’t! It’s not worth risking your life for me!”

Wang Pu walked boldly to Chen Yuanyuan, declaring, “Yuanyuan, do not fear. You are my woman, and as long as I live, no one will harm you!”

Despite being a Ming commander, Wang Pu’s mindset remained that of a modern man.

If this were today, a street boss who couldn’t protect his own woman would never again be able to hold his head high among his brothers or survive in the underworld. It wasn’t about love, but a matter of pride.

Chen Yuanyuan was nearly in tears, “General, it’s not worth it for me, a woman of the dust.”

“Yuanyuan, remember this,” Wang Pu gazed at her intently. “I don’t care what you were before—whether a noble lady or a courtesan. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are now my woman, the wife of Wang Pu, commander of Datong. As long as you are mine, I will never let anyone bully you, even if it costs me my life. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” she replied, nodding vigorously as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Chen Yuanyuan, born amid the brothels, had heard countless tales of unfaithful men and tragic women. Many courtesans had married into powerful families, but few found happiness. Wang Pu, a Ming commander, was willing to risk his life for her, a woman of ill fate—how could she not be moved by such devotion?

Perhaps, from that moment on, Chen Yuanyuan gave her heart entirely to Wang Pu.

Zhang San pressed his dagger to Wang Pu’s neck, saying to Chen Yuanyuan, “Miss, you may leave now.”

Liu Badao protested, “Big Boss, you can’t let her go!”

“Shut up!” Zhang San roared. “Are you the Big Boss, or am I?”

Liu Badao dared not speak further.

Chen Yuanyuan turned back, gazing tenderly at Wang Pu. He smiled, “Yuanyuan, don’t be afraid. Go with Xiao Qi and the others back to the camp. I’ll return soon.”

“General, I’ll be waiting for you in the camp,” Chen Yuanyuan replied softly. “You must come back.”

Seeing Wang Pu in the bandits’ hands, and Zhang San indeed releasing Chen Yuanyuan, Chang Yanling and Li Zushu had no choice but to open the way. Zhang San and the lake bandits, escorting Wang Pu, swaggered through Catfish Mouth, boarded their ships at the dock, and sailed several miles into the lake before stopping.

Zhang San ordered a small boat to be set afloat, then turned to Wang Pu, clasping his hands, “General Wang, thank you for the escort. Now you may return.”

Liu Badao protested, “Big Boss, are you really letting him go?”

“Do you plan to kill General Wang?” Zhang San replied coolly. “We are outlaws, sworn enemies of the authorities, but we also respect heroes. General Wang is a great hero—if I were to kill him today, how could I ever show my face among the brotherhood, or face the heroes of the world?”

“But shouldn’t we get the silver before letting him go?” Liu Badao argued.

“Rubbish!” Zhang San snapped. “I’ve already agreed with General Wang, not a single tael of the fifty thousand ransom! Are you trying to force me to break my word?”

Liu Badao was silenced.

Wang Pu suddenly spoke, “Zhang San, would you hear a word of advice?”

“I’m all ears,” Zhang San replied.

“Being a lake bandit is not a long-term path,” Wang Pu said. “Have you considered finding another way?”

“What do you mean, General Wang?” Zhang San asked.

“If you’re willing, from today you’ll be my trusted retainer, and your brothers will be my personal guards. As for the old and young of your forty-eight strongholds, I can bring them all to Datong and provide for them. As long as I have food, none will go hungry.”

“Big Boss, don’t trust his sweet words!” Liu Badao warned. “Officials are never any good.”

Wang Pu spoke solemnly, “My word is my bond—I will not break it!”

Zhang San replied, “We’re used to freedom and can’t bear the constraints of officials. Thank you for your kindness, General Wang, but farewell—may the green hills and flowing waters last, and may we meet again!”

Wang Pu, seeing he could not persuade them, saluted, “Safe travels, Big Boss.”

Zhang San laughed twice and called, “Brothers, let’s go!”

Wang Pu sighed and returned to shore to rejoin Scarface and the others.