The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1244 - 650: Zhangqiu Ancient Town

In the Great Xuan Dynasty, there was a saying, "South has Suzhou and Hangzhou, North has Linqing and Zhangqiu."

The term "Lin Zhang" refers to Liaocheng's Linqing and Yanggu's Zhangqiu.

During the Great Xing Period, with the opening of the Huantong River section in Luzhou, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passed through the three towns of Zhangqiu, Acheng, and Qiji in the eastern part of Yanggu County, leading to rapid prosperity, making them renowned towns along the canal.

Especially this Zhangqiu Town.

It is located on the north bank of the Yellow River, serving as the dock entering the Huantong River section of the Grand Canal, acting as an important hub for the distribution of goods.

Bamboo and wood, citrus, rice, tung oil, silk, and tea produced in Jiangnan were mostly unloaded here and transported by land to Jinzhou, Shan State, Yu State, and various places in Luzhou.

Goods from the inland, including local products like black dates, Ejiao, Jiao State sea salt, etc., were also shipped from here to the south. Therefore, the town was extremely prosperous, boasting nine gates, nine outer areas, seventy-two streets, and eighty-two alleys.

Docks have always been places where the Three Religions and Nine Sects gather.

Zhangqiu Town was naturally no exception.

Especially since it was located in Yanggu County.

The fame of Jingyang Ridge spread far and wide with the "Water Margin".

Since the Song Dynasty, the aura of the Liangshan pugilistic world had never dissipated.

At this moment, on the dock, the masts and sails gathered like a forest.

Porters sweating profusely, the incessant neighing of animals, merchants speaking a mix of southern and northern accents... the entire dock was filled with the constant noise, presenting a scene of prosperity.

And this was just the dock.

In the distance on the Huantong River, there were still numerous ships waiting to dock.

The number was so great that it even crowded the entire river channel.

"Zhangqiu Town was originally called Zhangqiu Town."

On the deck of a large ship, the local Cao Gang leader "Water Dragon" Chen San smiled and introduced, "This place floods every autumn, hence the name 'Zhangqiu'. Over time, it evolved into Zhangqiu."

His smile was gentle, even with a hint of subservience.

If people from the pugilistic world nearby saw this, they would be very surprised.

This Chen San was no easy character, coming from the Zimu Sect, and was considered top-notch in Yanggu County.

Yanggu County borders Liangshan.

As the saying goes, "Drink the water of Liangshan, and you will stretch your arms and kick your legs."

This area has always been rich in martial spirit.

The Quail House north of Liangshan was the hometown of Cheng Yaojin.

During the Song Dynasty, martial spirit prevailed even more.

During the Xuanhe Era of Song Huizong, heroes from all corners of the world gathered at the Liangshan marshes, masters congregated, and they were renowned throughout the martial arts world.

But at that time, there were more masters, not just the one hundred and eight good men of Liangshan.

In the north of Liangshan, at Jianfu Temple on Liugong Mountain, there was an old abbot, Yuan Tong, who was one of the Ten Grandmasters of the Divine State at the time, undefeated across the country.

Every time the Liangshan heroes fought, they would rest and practice martial arts there.

Abbot Yuan Tong absorbed the strengths of the heroes' skills, creating the Liangshan Kung Fu. Because this kung fu was often practiced at midnight and noon, it was called the "Zimu Sect."

After Song Jiang and others were recruited and harmed, Yuan Tong took their descendants into Liugong Mountain for protection.

The unharmed heroes of the Liangshan marsh also turned to Jianfu Temple to become monks and make a living.

Hence, the Liangshan Zimu Sect had its roots established.

The skills of this sect all bore the names of the Liangshan heroes, such as Wu Song Fist, Wu Song's Drunken Fist, Zhi Shen Fist, Zhi Shen Stick, Yang Zhi's Saber, Yan Qing Fist, Yan Qing Stick, Lin Chong Spear, Li Kui's Axe, Shi Qian's Light Body Technique, Sun Erniang's Twin Knives, and so on.

Chen San was originally a Zimu Sect expert, and with his deep knowledge of water, he earned the nickname "Water Dragon."

It meant that he was fiercer than the former "White Stripe in the Waves."

With the support of the sect and his skills, he thus became the leader of the Cao Gang.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was the foundation of the Cao Gang.

Being able to become a leader and control a section of the river showed his capabilities.

But now, he displayed a humble demeanor.

Beside him was Li Yan, who had come by boat from Yu State.

"Young Hero Li."

Seeing Li Yan remain silent, Chen San pointed to the distant town and said, "The streets of Zhangqiu Town are all named after what they sell, like Rice Market Street, Sugar Market Street, Firewood Market Street, Bamboo Pole Lane, etc. Where would you like to stay?"

"Somewhere quiet will do."

Li Yan nodded and lowered his voice, saying, "Where I stay doesn't matter much. As wanderers of the pugilistic world, we're not that particular. It's better for Hundred Households Chen to find out the situation early."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Chen San looked serious and nodded quickly.

Indeed, Chen San had another identity, a Hundred Households Captain of the Captain Bureau.

The relationship between the Cao Gang and the court was inherently ambiguous, mostly relying on the court's business for survival, cooperating with the court, one in the open and one in the dark, to jointly maintain order in the canal.

Chen San's smooth sailing could be attributed to his hidden role in the Captain Bureau. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Li Yan and others, escorted by the Heluo Chamber of Commerce, had just left Kaifeng when Chen San approached.

He was ordered by the Capital to contact him, secretly investigating the "Jianmu" organization.

Since entering the pugilistic world, Li Yan had become entangled with this organization in a life-and-death feud, which was already an unending situation.

Relying on himself alone, he was inevitably in a passive position.

At least in this matter, cooperating with the court was the best choice, so after receiving information from Wang Xuanmo, he immediately reported to the Xuan Sacrificial Officer. The court was investigating Zhao Changsheng and promptly dispatched elite soldiers to cooperate.

"I have already sent people to Qufu."

"The Kong Family has been conferred a title by the court, very cooperative, currently investigating that 'Kong Hui'..."

"As for the fleeing Japanese monk, the Cao Gang brothers are keeping an eye on him..."

He dared not be negligent, detailed each of his arrangements.

Those involved in this operation were all elite of the Law Enforcement Hall and the Captain Bureau.

He also had some connections in the capital and knew that although Li Yan came from a humble background, he was a prominent figure in the Mystic Sect Sect and maintained close relationships with certain influential figures in the Capital, far beyond what he could offend.