Lin Yu, an ordinary internet worker and passionate fan of Water Margin, died suddenly after working late into the night. When he woke, he discovered he had transmigrated to the fifth year of the Zhenghe era in the Northern Song and become a hunter by the shores of Liangshan Marsh, nicknamed “Lin the Fool.”
With a broken leg, on the brink of death, and owning nothing, that was his starting point. But Lin Yu had one powerful advantage: he knew the origins, personalities, and fates of all 108 heroes of Water Margin inside and out.
After an unexpected rescue of Li Jun, a salt smuggler, Lin Yu used modern knowledge to improve the salt-making process and went into business with Li Jun, secretly building up their strength in a fishing village. When oppressive government policies drove the villagers to despair, he led more than thirty households into Liangshan Marsh and built their first stronghold among the reeds.
He recruited Wang Lun as a clerk, opened an inn and brought in Zhu Gui and Zhu Fu, then took in Du Qian and Song Wan... Liangshan was beginning to take shape. When Lin Chong was framed by Gao Qiu, Lin Yu went to the capital, Dongjing, in person and rescued Lin Chong’s wife. On the way, he met Lu Zhishen, Shi Xiu, Shi Qian, and Ma Ling, recruited Lü Fang and Guo Sheng, and struck up a friendship with Yang Zhi when he passed through the mountain.
As the stronghold grew, Lin Yu went down the mountain to seek out Wu Yong and formed a bond with Chao Gai through their salt-smuggling business. News of the birthday tribute shipment arrived, and Shi Jin, Zhu Wu, and the others from Shaohua Mountain came to join them. Li Kui also accepted an invitation to join. At Huangnigang, they outwitted everyone and seized the birthday tribute, recruited Suo Chao, and made Liangshan’s name ring across Shandong. The court sent troops to suppress them, but Liangshan used the marsh’s natural defenses to inflict a crushing defeat.
Yang Lin, Deng Fei, Pei Xuan, and Tao Zongwang joined in succession. On the day the stronghold celebrated its victories, Chao Gai was arrested on his way home from a banquet. Lin Yu led his men in a jailbreak and rescued Chao Gai...
