Unable to reach bandits of Shadow Forts, notorious Cui Ba meets his end on street
Leader of Shadow Forts, Chen Guang, is quite cunning and ruthless in his actions. His strategist, Yang Jiping, is also not to be underestimated.
He appears as a refined scholar, earning him the nickname "Smiling Fox."
Under the leadership of Chen Guang and Yang Jiping, Eighteen Shadow Forts have flourished, doubling their sub-forts in just a few years. Among them, Water Dragon Camp in Bianjing and Dragon's Den in Cizhou are the most renowned.
Water Dragon Camp operates on Bian River, led by Qin Jianghan, able to create Storm Surge. He has two generals. One is He Chong, "Mountain-Crushing Force." The other is Fang Shisan, who made contributions plundering tribute stones. He previously worked under Cui Jinlou at Dragon's Den. It is said that he values loyalty and sends most of his earnings back home.
Speaking of Dragon's Den, one cannot ignore Si'en Town incident.
On that night, under a dark and windy sky, a night watchman was patrolling the Dock when he saw someone lying on the shore, half of their body still in the water. The watchman thought, "How much horse urine did this drunkard drink to be in such a state? Let me wake him up." Upon closer inspection, it was no drunkard but the leader of Dragon's Den, Cui Jinlou!
Cui Jinlou lay there with wide-open eyes, lifeless on the ground. Usually adorned in luxurious silks, he was found in tattered clothes, barely covered by a piece of rag. When the rag was lifted, the colors were more vibrant than any fabric shop could offer blue, red, black, and purple, with not a single piece of intact flesh. The scene was beyond tragic! The poor watchman was so terrified by Cui Jinlou's gruesome state that he dropped his wooden clapper and drum into the river and didn't dare close his eyes after returning home.
As a branch of Shadow Forts, Dragon's Den also claimed to "act on behalf of heavens." However, after Cui Jinlou's death, every household in Cizhou celebrated, even more lively than the New Year.
Eighteen Shadow Forts recruited bandits and refugees extensively. The main fort couldn't control them all. Cui Jinlou, who met his end on the street, was one of the most notorious among those doing evil.
Besides Cui Jinlou, another tyrant of Shadow Forts still alive is Jiang Xingke on Cizhou River. He has long dominated the river, plundering passing ships and sparing no lives. According to sailors who narrowly escaped, he is a terrifying figure. As evidenced by a verse:
His face is as black as lacquer, quite peculiar, with sparse hair standing upright.
Black lips and white beard, truly fierce, with eyes that emit a cold light and broom-like eyebrows.
Though I am old, I still hope to die peacefully, so let's end this topic here. To know what happens next, please listen to the next installment.