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Text: Yanyan
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Preface
In "Water Margin", the relationship between Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong has undergone subtle changes from "brother" to "Lin Jiaotou", what kind of story is hidden behind this? Lu Zhishen has always been bold and straightforward, why did Lin Chong's attitude change so much?
How could a dignified head of the Tokyo Forbidden Army be reduced to the end and no one cared about it in Liangshanbo? What exactly happened to the brotherhood between them? Is it the temptation of money, status, or power that has gradually eroded this originally recreated brotherhood?
Or is there a deeper reason why the relationship between the two people who once fought side by side has changed so drastically? Let's explore this confusing brotherly feud and uncover the story behind it.
The two hit it off at first sight
In "Water Margin", Lin Chong and Lu Zhishen's encounter took place in a vegetable garden outside Tokyo. At that time, Lin Chong was still a prominent head of the 800,000 forbidden army in Tokyo, while Lu Zhishen was a fugitive wanderer with two swords in his hands, and he was driving away a group of annoying ruffians there.
Lin Chong happened to pass by and was attracted by Lu Zhishen's superb martial arts, and couldn't help but praise loudly, "This master is extraordinary, making a good instrument." The two got acquainted in this way and had a good impression of each other. Lu Zhishen told him the identity of the fugitive, but Lin Chong didn't mind, but took the initiative to call Lu Zhishen "brother". Since then, they have become friends in life and death.
A coincidence created this deep friendship across classes and identities. Since then, the two have been inseparable, and they often learn martial arts and talk about life together. Lu Zhishen is a lot older than Lin Chong, and often calls Lin Chong with the affectionate title of "Brother Luda", and the latter also respectfully calls Lu Zhishen "brother". It's a "familiar at first sight"!
A special fate that is also friend and foe
However, this seemingly carefree brotherhood was soon put to the test. When Lin Chong was doing an errand in Tokyo, he accidentally offended Gao Yanei, Gao Yu's henchman, who set his sights on Lin Chong's beautiful wife and wanted to forcibly take possession of it.
Although Lin Chong was angry in his heart, he still swallowed his anger and decided to just take a step back and open the sky. But Lu Zhishen is not a good person, he can't get used to seeing his "brother" suffer such humiliation, and he is determined to teach the arrogant and domineering Gao Yanei a lesson.
Even if Lin Chong repeatedly blocked and persuaded each other, Lu Zhishen was unmoved. In the end, he risked his life and went to Tokyo alone to settle this long-standing grudge.
Although Lu Zhishen failed to get his wish in the end, but put Lin Chong in more trouble, this move undoubtedly demonstrated his selflessness and loyalty to Lin Chong's "brother". Even though the two have a special relationship of friend and foe, Lu Zhishen still does his best to protect the "brothers" he regards as siblings.
This self-sacrificing spirit and brotherhood are truly admirable. Even if it is fateful, Lu Zhishen still fights for his "brother", which can be described as a beautiful stroke.
Brotherhood is betrayed
However, the gears of fate did not stop there. Since then, Lin Chong has been framed and imprisoned under Gao Yu's calculations, and his life is almost guaranteed. Fortunately, Lu Zhishen learned about this and rushed all the way to the rescue, so that Lin Chong escaped.
But in the process of this rescue, Lu Zhishen was very disappointed with Lin Chong's various performances. The originally majestic head of the Tokyo Forbidden Army, when facing Dong Chao and Xue Ba, the junior officials under Gao Yu, was so flattering and obedient, without the slightest bit of heroism.
What made Lu Zhishen even more disdainful was that at the critical moment when he was about to be arrested, Lin Chong refused to resist with all his might, and almost died under the hands of Dong Chao and Xue Ba. This kind of cowardice and kindness is completely contrary to the ideal image of "brother" in Lu Zhishen's heart.
In Lu Zhishen's view, Lin Chong has completely lost his true nature and lost his heroic and fearless appearance. He was deeply disappointed and angry, and the brotherhood, which had once been regarded as siblings, seemed to be on the verge of rupture.
But that wasn't the end of the story. Just after Lu Zhishen tried his best to rescue Lin Chong, Lin Chong inadvertently told Lu Zhishen's identity. This gaffe directly led to Lu Zhishen being homeless and could only be left behind.
This kind of betrayal of revenge undoubtedly became the last straw and completely destroyed Lu Zhishen's trust in Lin Chong. The brothers who were originally regarded as siblings have now become their own bane. The disappointment and anger in Lu Zhishen's heart can be imagined.
The shattering of brotherhood and the shadow of Liang Shanbo
After that, Lu Zhishen decided to defect to Liangshan in Erlong Mountain, and Lin Chong also joined Liangshanbo on a snowy night. The two met again in Liangshan, but this time they met very differently than before.
Lu Zhishen can no longer call Lin Chong a "brother", and is replaced by an ordinary "Lin Jiaotou". This change of title undoubtedly reflects Lu Zhishen's inner disappointment and rupture.
At the moment when the two met, the discussion in Lu Zhishen's heart surged out: I once risked my life to save you, but in exchange for your betrayal, do I still want such a brotherhood? What did you, Lin Chong, do to make me, a brother who once regarded you as a sibling, no longer be able to treat you as a brother?
It turned out that in Lu Zhishen's eyes, Lin Chong not only betrayed himself, but also betrayed their former brotherhood. This heart-wrenching disappointment naturally turned into indifference and alienation towards Lin Chong. From then on, their relationship never returned to the intimacy it once was.
What's worse is that in Liangshanbo, a place that is proud of brotherhood, Lin Chong's behavior is even more difficult to forgive. The heroes of Liangshanbo all regarded brotherhood as the first creed, and Lin Chong not only betrayed his brother, but also betrayed the former leader of Liangshan, Wang Lun.
It is impossible for such a person to be respected and trusted in Liangshanbo, let alone obtain the so-called brotherhood. From then on, Lin Chong could only be alone in Liangshanbo, and no one cared about him, which can be said to be different from what it used to be.
For Lu Zhishen, this "brother" who was once regarded as a sibling has now been completely reduced to a "Lin Jiaotou". This transition from intimacy to estrangement and rupture has undoubtedly become the most painful scene in his life experience.
epilogue
The maintenance of brotherhood requires not only the bond of blood or interests, but also the sincere trust and mutual help. Lin Chong's betrayal completely shattered the piety in Lu Zhishen's heart, so that he could no longer regard Lin Chong as a close relative.
This ups and downs of brotherhood and feud undoubtedly left us with deep thoughts: in the journey of life, can we be loyal to our relatives and friends? This is a subject that each of us needs to be vigilant about.