The Robbery of Grain on the Official Road in Jiangling Prefecture
A case of grain robbery on the official road in Jiangling Prefecture more than ten years ago.
Legend has it that the Supreme Bliss Cult was behind this case, ordering the Nangong traitor Nangong Yu to set an ambush. Their aim was to seize grain and fodder to raise troops and horses, in preparation for rebellion to overthrow the Great Song. When the plot came to light, Nangong Yu took his own life out of fear of punishment, and the Nangong Family donated a great sum of its wealth to smooth things over; only then did the authorities let the matter rest.
The Death of the Bull Demon King
The orphan of the grain transport officer who died in the line of duty was furious that the Imperial Court would not pursue a mere Jianghu family. In his rage he turned to banditry and styled himself the Bull Demon King. More than ten years later, he happened to rob the wife and children of Kuizhou's Great Hero Tan Badao, and saw a Longevity Lock engraved with his own name, which he recognized as the thing he had worn since childhood. Only then did he realize the true culprit was someone else.
He wrote to the Nangong Family to verify, and used Greenwood channels to seek the truth, but could never obtain the crucial evidence. Though the Nangong Family shared his hatred, they feared for their reputation, and without ironclad proof they could not bring accusations against Tan Badao. Not to mention that the Bull Demon King roamed the Greenwood and was often up to no good. Who in the world would believe this Mountain Bandit over the Great Hero Tan Badao?
Knowing he would never obtain justice in his lifetime, he sought out the legendary Apricot Blossom Immortal Ruixing of Nanyang and received a Brocade Pouch whose instruction was to surrender himself at Kuizhou. He did so, yet justice never came. Just before the execution, in his despair, the Flying Hero Tang Buyi, whom he had once loathed to death, came swaggering down to the dungeon with a wine jug to see him off.
In the moment before Niu Changshou went to his death, reviled by all, he passed away with a smile.
The Strange Hero Solves a Strange Injustice
If the gift decided for Nangong's Birthday Banquet is 's "help finish off the Nangong Family's enemy", then Zhao Huo, , and set out to capture Tan Badao. This is one of the few chances to see throw the Flying Swallow Meteor Feather.
After it succeeds, is all mystery at the birthday banquet, saying he will present a formidable weapon as a birthday gift. But presenting a weapon at a birthday banquet is hardly fitting for the occasion. "On behalf of our Sect Leader, I respectfully present a birthday gift—one Wangba Blade!" The guests burst into uproarious laughter. Just as Nangong Yuan could bear it no longer and was about to explode, someone among the guests noticed something amiss: this blade was Kuizhou's Great Hero Tan Badao's Broken Mountain Slash! Then Zhao Huo and played off each other, half in earnest and half in jest, laying out the case of the grain robbery on the official road in Jiangling Prefecture more than ten years ago clearly and plainly.
It turned out that back then Tan Badao had led twelve Greenwood brothers from twelve strongholds to ambush the grain convoy. The army grain went to the twelve strongholds to see them through the winter, and all the official silver was traded for Xixia's Golden Blade from Tuoba Bao; the Broken Mountain Slash was the return gift. Then, to silence him, he cut Tuoba Bao in two with a single slash, making a name for himself in the Jianghu. And what Nangong Yu set up on the official road was not an ambush but a banquet, to welcome the grain transport officers with a feast. Tan Badao knew nothing of Nangong Yu's affairs; Nangong Yu's bad name was a label the world's wagging tongues had forced upon him.
The instigator Tan Badao had run rampant for many years on nothing but his power. Seeing that his day was done, he finally confessed. And on that day, the crosstalk Zhao Huo and performed became an eternal masterpiece. Later generations wrote a drama from it, titled "The Strange Hero Solves a Strange Injustice", and it has been praised forever after.