Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Jeju, on the official road to the east of Jinxiang.

A team of more than ten people, wearing raincoats and bamboo hats, holding whistle sticks, walked forward in the rain. Their purpose was very clear, crossing the forest and fields here to Luqiao Town, crossing the Surabaya River to Yanzhou, and then Go all the way east through Yizhou and go straight to Laizhou. There are acquaintances there. At least you can have a place to stay. The rest will depend on your ability.

The leader of the team looked around. Now that they have entered Jeju, he knows that there are Liangshan bandits here. However, he has also heard that people have made rules. As long as you pay the toll, you will be safe, so he has already prepared the money. , not much anyway, he is not a poor man who can't take the blame, he can afford it.

"This pouring rain is so annoying." He pressed his hat to block the drizzle and shouted loudly behind him: "Walk a little further, there is a dense forest ahead, go there to take shelter from the rain."

The marching team moved much faster in an instant. I wanted to stay in Jinxiang for a day and wait for the weather to clear before leaving, but I didn't expect that it was raining and falling for two days in a row. I really couldn't wait any longer, so I set out on the road.

Walking on the muddy official road, a group of people walked forward for no more than a meal. A tall forest stood in front of them. They walked in with a sigh of relief. In an instant, the moisture on their bodies seemed to be much lighter. Only the trees The leaves that couldn't bear the raindrops were drooped from time to time, and a huge drop of water dropped down, making a thumping sound.

"Ah!"

The sound of sneezing attracted everyone's attention. The leader looked at the young man behind him who was rubbing his nose: "Brother Ye, are you okay?"

He and a group of people had to travel across the country. It would not be fun if someone fell ill at this time, especially the most talented one among them. If he fell ill, it would be fatal.

"It's okay, it's just that my nose is a bit healthy." The young man rubbed his nose hard, put down his hand and grinned: "Don't worry, I'm in good health."

"Okay, be careful." The leader didn't know what to say. He just gave an instruction. After thinking about it, he took out a package of things from the package and handed it over: "Eat some ginger lobster first. At least there is ginger in it. Maybe it's It can drive away the cold.”

"Thank you, Brother Wang."

"Thank you, we should help each other when we go out."

The man named Brother Wang smiled, patted the young man named Ye on the shoulder and walked aside to talk to others. He seemed to get along with everyone.The young man glanced at him with some envy, then lowered his head to eat the ginger fermented rice that the man gave him, and heard the sound of everyone talking and laughing in his ears.

"Hey, there are still people on the road in this weather."

"Aren't we also in a hurry?"

"Are these people coming for us?"

"You came to the forest to take shelter from the rain, right? Aren't we the same?"

As words rang out around him, the young man eating also raised his head and looked outside. A group of more than [-] men wearing raincoats were walking on the road outside the forest with simple knives in hand, heading straight towards the woods.

"It seems...something's wrong?" someone murmured.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't say..."

As he spoke, the man holding a knife over there walked in. The thin man in front of him smiled and said, "Excuse me, take shelter from the rain."

"We are all friends when we go out." The leader, Brother Wang, stood up and smiled: "This is not our place. You can do whatever you want."

Then he turned around and winked at everyone: "I've had enough rest, so it's time to leave."

Amidst the sound of rain, the falling raindrops pattered on the bamboo hat, making bursts of sounds. The leading figure looked at the person in front of him and grinned: "Don't worry, this is not your place, but it must be our place." .”

As the words were spoken, the people behind him quickly gathered around. The rain-stained swords in their hands were shining coldly and pointed at the crowd. The men nervously clenched the whistle sticks in their hands, but they couldn't even get the posture right.

"Yes, I know something is wrong. The people from Dalinzi insist on getting together with us..."

"You know it, and I know it too."

The people behind the scenes were talking. Brother Wang, who was in the lead, looked around and said with cupped hands: "We are all shipwrights. I don't know where I have offended all of you heroes. I am here to apologize to you. I hope you will." Raise your noble hand and let us have a way out."

"I'm looking for you!" The grinning man glanced at everyone, turned slightly to one side, and waved the simple knife in his hand outward: "Dear shipwrights, please put down your whistle stick and follow me obediently. I won't embarrass you. .”

With a clang, a timid man couldn't hold the stick and dropped it, attracting the attention of everyone around him. The man hurriedly bent over to pick it up, his lips moved twice and he was speechless.

"This good man, haha..." Brother Wang reached into his arms and took out a money bag, holding it up with his hands, bowing and handing it over: "I don't know the rules when I first come to your place. This is our toll. Why don't you pay me for it?" Please accept it, if there is any shortage, we will make up for it immediately."

The thin man looked at him, curled up the corner of his mouth, hummed in his nose, reached out and took out a money bag from his arms, and put it in the other person's hand. Brother Wang raised his head in shock and opened his mouth: : "I'll give you the money, and you guys come with me."

"Uh... this... I..." The leader who stood up looked at his money bag and looked at the other side, then looked back at his dumbfounded companion. His usually eloquent mouth didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Hurry up, don't make us work hard!"

As they spoke, the people around them all stepped forward, waving their swords in their hands. Amidst the crashing sound, the shipwrights took two steps back in a panic, and serious words rang in their ears: "Don't force us to kill!"

After a while, the whistle stick was thrown to the ground, and two strong men holding hemp ropes walked out from the crowd holding simple knives. They tied the people one by one and lined them up in two rows. The thin figure in front clasped his fists and bowed: "Offended Come on, take it away!”

In the drizzle, the crowd wearing bamboo hats mingled together and headed towards the river behind them. When the sun went west in the afternoon, several boats went upstream towards the [-]-mile water moor.

……

At night, the drizzle stopped, but there was still no light in the night sky covered by dark clouds.

The sailor who lit the torch stood on the bow of the ship and waved the fire quickly, waving it left and right a few times, and the closed water village gate opened with the sound of a winch.

The person who came after hearing the news was Li Bao, who was on duty that day: "But the brother under Military Advisor Qiao? Why did he come back so late?"

"Exactly." Amidst the sound of collision, several boats stopped at the pier. The tall and thin man jumped onto the pier and bowed: "I have seen Commander Li. I invited a group of shipwrights to come here today from Jeju. No, If you dare to delay, I will come at night."

Li Bao raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "The ground is dangerous. What should I do if I get lost in the water at such a dark night?"

"It's all thanks to the help of the navy brothers that I returned home safely." Amidst the laughter, the man straightened up and smiled with emotion: "Commander Qiao has made finding a shipwright his top priority, and I don't dare to neglect it."

"That's all, you did your duty." Li Bao shook his head and looked at the people who got off the boat, a little surprised: "Why are there so many?"

"They should all be shipwrights." The man smiled and didn't explain much. He looked at the people who had almost come down and said with his fists in his hands: "Young ones still have to go and pay the order. I'd like to ask the commander to send some brothers to follow."

"This is what it should be." Li Bao waved his hand and called Shan Jinglong to lead a group of people and horses to follow them up the mountain. The leader bowed his hands and said goodbye, holding up the torch and winding up the mountain. Not long after, the group came to a building In front of the house.

In the hall, the lit brazier is emitting light and heat. At the top, Lu Bu is sitting upright in a suit of brocade. Qiao Lie in Taoist robes and Ma Ling in fancy clothes are standing on both sides. Further back, Yu Cheng He was standing with a group of guards holding the handle of his knife.

"The village master, military advisor, and shipwright are here."

The thin man reported and then stood aside. Behind him, trembling shipwrights walked in one after another. The craftsmen without ropes huddled together and looked around at the people and environment around them, as if this way they would be safe. generally.

The room was very quiet. Brother Wang, the leader, felt his scalp numb as he looked at the strong man who was watching him and others quietly. The sound of the boatman's nervous heavy breathing in his ears made him feel even more irritable, and he had the urge to scream. But he also understood that at this time, if he acted according to his temper, he would probably have to explain it here. He walked to the front and put on a smile: "My lords, have you arrested the wrong person? The little people are just craftsmen who make boats. No, they don't." I don’t dare to offend Guizhai, but I hope the king will understand and be merciful.”

"Shipmaker..."

The tiger's eyes staring at the dozen or so people below narrowed slightly. The man standing in front nodded and bowed quickly, smiling more sincerely.

Lu Bu stood up slowly and walked over slowly. His taller and majestic body made Brother Wang swallow his saliva. The figure opposite raised his arm and patted it on his shoulder. He turned nervously and glanced at the big hand on his shoulder. The leading man couldn't help but smile in a flattering way.

"We found the wrong person, the one we want is the shipwright."

The low voice made everyone's hearts sink, and they saw the tall figure patting Brother Wang on the shoulder. He glanced at everyone. The slightly narrowed eyes seemed to be filled with pressure, causing everyone's heads to hang down. Don't dare to look directly.

Brother Wang boldly said: "Your Majesty, we... don't have any money either."

"Huh?" He looked at me in astonishment, then laughed: "I won't ask you for money. On the contrary, I will give you money."

Yu Cheng and other guards immediately turned around, lifted up the wooden box behind him, walked to the front and put it down. The moment he opened the lid, the unique light of the silver pattern was dazzling in the firelight. A row of ten boxes of silver looked majestic and majestic, and everyone was immediately stunned. The men couldn't take their eyes away, and stretched their necks one by one to look forward, as if they had forgotten the fear of being tied up.

Lu Bu glanced at everyone, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Which one of you can design a ship?"

No one spoke, but almost all the shipwrights looked at the young man named Ye. The young man suddenly felt a little at a loss, but he still came out and clasped his fists, "Young man... I have some experience with this."

"Oh?" Lu Bu looked him up and down. Seeing the honest and courteous look on this man's face, he leaned back and said, "Very good. I don't know what to call this great craftsman?"

"I don't dare to be called a great craftsman, but the villain Ye Chun has met the leader of Liangshan Village."

Lu Bu raised his eyebrows, raised his hand and placed it on the table, tapping it gently: "I want a ship that can cross the ocean. Is it possible?"

"This..." A trace of struggle flashed across Ye Chun's face: "What can I say and what can't I say?"

"Yes, this money is yours. If you do well, there will be more." The figure at the top looked at the young man opposite with a half-smile but not a smile: "No..."

He glanced at everyone meaningfully: "I have to ask you to put your heads somewhere else."

"Yes, yes, yes! It certainly can, right Brother Ye!"

"It's definitely possible. Even the officials from the Municipal Shipping Department said Brother Ye's ship was good."

"That's right, that's right, otherwise we wouldn't think of going to Laizhou to find work in a shipyard. Brother Ye, keep talking!"

There were a lot of chatter, and all the men looked at Ye Chun. Someone who was familiar with him poked him with his hand, signaling the young man to express his position quickly.

Ye Chun opened his mouth and smiled bitterly: "Yes, the villain has his own plan to make a loach boat, but he also needs the shipbuilding materials and the cooperation of a skilled carpenter."

Lu Bu glanced at Qiao Lie. The man stepped forward and said with a smile, "Don't worry about this. The village will prepare everything you need."

Ye Chun lowered his head and thought: "This can be done!"

"Okay! A certain ship is waiting for you!"

He stood up to block the light, stepped forward, and kicked a box of silver forward.

The moment the rough sound of the wooden box rubbing against the ground stopped, a box full of grain silver stopped right in front of everyone, and a deep voice rang in their ears: "These are for you, build the boat as soon as possible, otherwise, I will be able to calm down." I can talk to you and others, and I can also communicate with you and others with a knife."

He turned to Ma Ling and said, "Take them down."

The magic colt nodded, stepped forward and made a gesture: "Everyone, please follow me."

"Natural, natural." The leader, Brother Wang, suddenly looked at Yinzi with bright eyes, and quickly pulled his companion beside him forward to lift the wooden box with difficulty.

"Don't worry, village leader, we will do our best!"

"Our craftsmanship has nothing to do with it, we will certainly live up to your expectations."

"Have a good rest, Mr. Xie, we will go down now."

The rest of the people were chattering away, reluctantly looking at the wooden box next to Lu Bu, and then turned around and followed Ma Ling out with grins on their lips.

Qiao Lie and others walked away and walked to Lu Bu: "Brother, do you really believe them?"

The tall figure turned his head slightly, glanced at the Taoist and then looked outside: "Believe? Just give it a try. It's good if you can do it. If you can't do it, he won't be able to escape."

After a pause, he patted Qiao Lie's shoulder: "Find someone to keep an eye on them. If there is someone with real talent, let the craftsmen in the village learn from it. Then you can bring him and his family members over. If they are just some swindlers... "

He patted the Taoist on the shoulder and turned around and walked out: "Don't stop looking for the boatman, keep looking."

Behind him, Qiao Lie bowed: "Brother, don't worry, I know."

He turned to look at the thin man behind him and said, "I will mark your merits this time. I will go down and receive the reward myself. I will go to Raid Qing Mansion later and you will be the consul along the way."

The man was overjoyed and immediately bowed down and said, "Thank you so much, military advisor. I am willing to go through fire and water for the stronghold."

He kowtowed, turned around and walked out. Qiao Lie looked outside for a long time, waved his sleeves and went back to the house. (End of chapter)