The new era of chaos begins in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 292 Going deep into Meiling

Wang Huan is a person with a very outstanding personality and charm. He is tall, broad-faced and has an extraordinary temperament. He gives people a trustworthy feeling at the first glance.

As long as such a person's IQ is online, he is born to be a lord or boss. If he can be a little more ambitious, his future achievements will definitely be unlimited.

It's a pity that Wang Huansheng came at the wrong time.

The beginning of his life was the most prosperous moment of the Song Dynasty. The Holy Emperor was in the government, and virtuous ministers were able to emerge in large numbers. This was no ordinary joke.

It should be noted that his grandfather Wang Shao was so talented, but he still had to fight for a little fame and fortune. Wang Huan knew that his talent was far inferior to that of his grandfather, so even though he was quite ambitious, he could only shrink his followers, hide his ambitions, and only cooperate with a romantic man who was devoted to the love of his children.

Fortunately, God gave him a chance. This incident that trapped him could not be said to be exactly what Wang Huan had intended, but it also made him quite agitated.

Of course, Wang Huan is not unconcerned about retrieving He Lianlian. As the saying goes, he who has the same desire will win. Among the leaders, Yang Wen, Mei Zhan, Xu Jing, and Li Congji (Xu Jing's wife is Li Congji's sister) all have this intention. I thought, and some of the little leaders also had similar thoughts. Wang Huan's congratulations to Lian Lian would not only comfort his own heart, but also win the loyalty of his brothers. Why not do this? !

However, compared to those leaders who were eager to find their wives and daughters, Wang Huan was a little more rational. While arranging some leaders to search the Meiling Mountains and forests, he also paid more attention to contacting and uniting other leaders who were not concerned about this. .

For example, Zhang Kai, Han Cunbao, Jing Zhong and others came to Meiling with them mostly out of loyalty, or to stay together for warmth. They had no intention of searching the mountains and seas, and some even had some concerns about it. He complained that tens of thousands of troops were trapped here just to find the whereabouts of a few women, which was simply the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Although the status of women in the Song Dynasty was not reduced to the point where "brothers are like siblings and women are like clothes", their social status did slip a lot compared to the pre-Tang Dynasty.

There is only one most important function of women in this era, and that is to give birth to offspring. It is really rare for men in this era to abandon fame, wealth, and even life and death for women. To be honest, it is really rare.

If Wang Huan only used the excuse of finding his wives and daughters for his brothers and just left his army on this Meiling Mountains without doing any real work, those leaders who had never lost their wives and daughters would definitely have disagreements or even break up with him.

Therefore, in order to maintain the internal stability of the Zhennan Rebel Army, Wang Huan must balance the interests and needs of all parties.

If the leader wanted to find his wife and daughter, Wang Huan would send them to search the mountains and forests; for those leaders who wanted to recruit peace, Wang Huan would make a big deal for them.

Although there is a saying in the world that "people who commit murder and arson are subject to recruitment", not all rebels who commit murder and arson are eligible for recruitment.

First of all, you have to show your strength and let the people in the government understand that eradicating you will require a huge price. Recruitment is the most economical way to deal with it.

Or they cherish your talents and therefore recruit you. The most obvious example in this regard is the future Yang Zaixing.

Yang Zaixing was originally a rogue bandit who followed the great bandit Cao Cheng. When he fought with Yue Fei's tribe representing the official army of the Song Dynasty, he even killed Yue Fei's younger brother Yue Fan with his own hands. Even with such hatred for killing his brother, Yue Fei still could not ignore Yang Zaixing's ability, and finally chose to recruit him.

But those cats and dogs who couldn't even hold up the local patrol soldiers were not qualified to be recruited at all. They only cooperated to suppress bandits on a certain patrol.

Furthermore, you have to show your own political stance. You are against the Song Dynasty but not against the officials, or you are against local officials but not against the Song Dynasty. Your rebellion is just the government forcing the people to rebel, not an ambitious attempt to change the dynasty.

For example, among the four major bandits in the future, Fang La, Wang Qing, and Tian Hu will all become rampant as soon as they get their ambitions. They will proclaim themselves kings and emperors as soon as they set up a pole. They are addicted to being emperors, but they also cut off their own recruitment path. .

Only Song Jiang and his group also rebelled, but they did not claim the throne. Therefore, although they were defeated by Zhang Shuye, they were able to enjoy some benefits.

Of course, after doing the above two things, you are only qualified to be recruited. The next question is what kind of treatment you can get when you are recruited.

Since the Song Dynasty, countless people have been recruited by the government. Some of them can only serve as rural policemen and arresters, while some can serve as patrol inspectors and governors, and some can even become generals.

The difference here is quite telling.

Wang Huan used this as an excuse to persuade the utilitarian leaders to do things according to his instructions. Of course, Wang Huan's pie could fool those leaders who were from humble backgrounds, but it could not sway those who also came from general families or officials' children.

However, Hezhou Kaikai was Wang Huan's diehard loyalist, while Yang Wen, another general disciple, had short ambitions and only wanted to find his wife Leng, which was similar to Wang Huan's appeal.

Among the others, Han Cunbao was the only one who had some troubles. He didn't need to find a wife or daughter, and he had a good family background and knew the inside story of officialdom. Therefore, Wang Huan had always been more concerned about Han Cunbao, fearing that this guy would betray everyone in a coma. .

In particular, there is quite a bit of confusion between Han Cunbao and Liu Zhongwu. He only talks about their hatred of each other. Who knows if it is true or not? What if it is a ploy?

Therefore, Wang Huan has always been very concerned about Han Cunbao's every move, especially when strangers come to visit, such as Ergou.

Not long after the two dogs entered the camp and met Han Cunbao, Wang Huan came uninvited "in a timely manner".

But when he saw the two dogs, Wang Huan smiled and said to Han Cunbao: "Brother Han, you have a friend coming from afar, why don't you introduce him to your brother!"

Then Wang Huan bowed his hands to the two dogs and said, "Brother, don't blame me for being reckless. A certain Wang Huan, named Mingxiu, is from Bianliang, and he and Brother Han are close friends for eight years!"

Ergou smiled slightly, but also held up his hands and said: "Chen Shen from Xiangzhou is an old friend of Han Cunbao. I received a letter from someone a few days ago, saying that he is in some kind of disaster, so I came here to lend him some help."

Han Cunbao said with some excitement: "Brother Wang Huan, I, Brother Chen, are extremely loyal men, very generous with their wealth. When I went to Hezhou to take up my post, due to discord with the elders in my family, I lacked the financial means to go to my post. Brother Chen After knowing about it, he directly gave me thousands of gold and silver as gifts, which solved my huge problem."

Wang Huan said happily: "I didn't expect that there would be a good man like Brother Chen in the world who regards money as dirt. I really admire Wang Huan! How can Wang Huan not celebrate when he sees such a good man! Come here! Prepare a banquet. I want to Entertain the Chen brothers in the big account!"

Ergou wanted to refuse, but Wang Huan was really enthusiastic, so he had to obey him.

Banquets in the military are different from those in ordinary families.

In the big tent in the camp, the soldiers used long tables to form the shape of "ji", but all the leaders in the camp, big and small, came to sit around and participate. The dishes at the banquet were all game, fish and shrimp cooked on the barbecue, as well as some fruits and vegetables unique to the south of the Yangtze River, and jars of Jiangnan rice wine.

However, there were not many leaders left in the camp. In addition to the three main leaders such as Wang Huan, Han Cunbao, and the newly returned Yang Wen, there were also seven or eight minor leaders such as Li Gui.

Under the guidance of Wang Huan, he first met each other and then toasted Ergou frequently to welcome him to join.

During the dinner, Wang Huanxian drank a bottle with Ergou, and then asked with a smile: "Brother Chen is in Xiangzhou, but he doesn't know what he does for a living?"

Ergou was stunned for a moment, and then said a little shyly: "I'm ashamed to say it! I can't do anything in my hometown, so I can't achieve anything big. I have to walk on the white sand as a guide, and occasionally walk through the mountains and forests to hunt to make a living."

In ancient times, smuggling salt was called "traveling sand" by Jianghu people. Some Jianghu people said that I opened a sand pit to sell sand. Don't think that I was really selling river sand, but talking about table salt.

There are two ways to describe Zoubaisha, one refers to officially authorized official salt, and the other refers to extremely high-grade snowflake salt.

When Ergou said he was walking on the white sand, he was naturally referring to his business of refining salt essence, but the leaders in the tent all thought that Ergou was talking about the sale of official salt.

In ancient times, all the families who were qualified to sell official salt were truly wealthy families, and small families simply could not maintain this kind of business.

Therefore, Wang Huan and others all believed that Er Gou was a child of a wealthy family in Xiangzhou, and only Han Cunbao knew Er Gou's true origin.

Yang Wen also knew something about Ergou's deeds, but he chuckled a bit like he was self-deprecating: "Brother Ergou said something inappropriate. If you think you are incompetent in literature and martial arts, then wouldn't we all be as well? Are you a drunkard?!"

Wang Huan smiled and asked with some interest: "Brother Yang Wen, where did this talk come from? Could it be that Brother Chen and Brother Yang are also old acquaintances?! And where did the name 'Two Dogs' come from?"

Ergou forced a smile and said: "I was born in a poor family. I only had a nickname at first. My parents and outsiders all called me Chen Ergou. I only made progress in my studies the year before last, so I was given the nickname 'Chen Shen' by my elders." A serious name."

Wang Huan smiled and said, "That's it! I wonder how much Brother Yang knows about Brother Ergou?"

Yang Wen drank a glass of rice wine by himself, but said: "In Yang's opinion! Brother Ergou has the most talented people in the world, and the courage to conquer the world!"

After hearing this, everyone present became very curious. Wang Huan only smiled and asked, "Is there any basis for what Brother Yang said?"

On the other hand, Ergou waved his hands and said: "Brother Yang needs to praise me! How can I, an ordinary person like you, deserve such false praise from you!"

Yang Wen laughed and said: "Chen Ergou, you can't hide in the abyss! Since I started practicing martial arts when I was young, I only admire three people in this world in terms of martial arts! One is the man who has suppressed the capital for decades. Gao Gongji, the first general in the general family, and the other one is the teacher of the imperial boxing hall of the capital, Zhou Tong with iron arms; as for the last one, it is your sharp spear, Chen Ergou! You said I will kill you, but I also say You are too self-effacing and almost hypocritical!"

The reputations of Gao Gongji and Zhou Tong are known to all knowledgeable warriors. Needless to say, Gao Gongji was the Dinghai Shenzhen of Bianliang City.

Zhou Tong was an invincible general on the battlefield when he was young. He later joined the imperial army as a coach and defeated many masters of the imperial army, including Wang Sheng. Even Cao Ping, the top general among the generals today, is even inferior to him in archery skills. Lose a round.

Zhou Tong's biggest regret was that when he was about to compete with Gao Gongji, Gao Gongji suddenly fell ill and died.

But at this time, Yang Wen compared Ergou with those two top figures with unparalleled strength. This could not but make everyone present feel curious and a little unconvinced.

Well-known figures like Gao Gongji and Zhou Tong are fine. How can you, a young man from Xiangzhou, be so praised and praised by Yang Wen? !

Yang Wen said to everyone: "Brothers, you may think that I, Yang Wenman, am talking big words and giving empty praise to Brother Chen. But you don't know it. I fought against Brother Chen five years ago, but I have never been able to defeat him." number, and Brother Chen was only less than fourteen years old at that time."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Everyone knew Yang Wen's ability. In terms of military force, he was only half as weak as Wang Huan and Zhang Kai in the entire Zhennan Rebel Army, and ranked third or fourth with Han Cunbao.

Five years ago, Yang Wen had no great achievements in martial arts, but he couldn't defeat the fourteen-year-old Chen Ergou. This is really unbelievable.

Yang Wen continued to say calmly: "Do you only think that the Ergou brothers have such a record? Just defeating me does not make me regard him as one of the three most admired heroes in the world. It makes me admire him even more. What’s more important is his shocking act in Bianliang City five years ago!”

Then Yang Wen recounted a series of deeds that Ergou had done in Bianliang City, such as destroying Wuyou Cave, harassing the capital, fighting with Gao Gongji, destroying a section of the imperial army in the capital camp, etc., although there were quite a few of them. There were some omissions, but it had already surprised Wang Huan and others to the extreme.

Even Han Cunbao finally understood why Liu Zhongwu thought Ergou could help them deal with the monsters on Meiling.

It's just that this kid doesn't look like much, is he really that powerful? !

Wang Huan suddenly shouted: "When I returned to the capital three years ago, I heard someone say that in the fourth year of Shaosheng's reign, there was a strong man who caused trouble in Bianliang. Could it be Brother Chen?!"

Yang Wen said: "He is the strong man that brother Wang Huan mentioned!"

Wang Huan sighed: "I didn't expect Brother Chen to be so brave when he was young. It's really amazing. Now that many years have passed, brother, your bravery must be even greater than before! I just don't know when I can see your power, Brother Chen, with your own eyes?"

Ergou smiled bitterly and said: "Ashamed! I have been slacking off a lot in recent years, but my martial arts have not improved much!"

Yang Wen said: "Brother wants to see the bravery of the Ergou brothers, but it is easy. This time I went to Meiling to search for the traces of the monster, but I found very little. In the process, I lost many people. If there were Ergou brothers, If you participate in this matter, you should be able to accomplish something. But you have to face the monster head-on, and there is no way that only two brothers can fight against one or two!"

Wang Huan's eyes lit up, but he looked at Ergou expectantly and asked, "What do you think, brother Chen? This inspection of Meiling is a hard job. There are many tigers, leopards and wolves in the mountains and forests. Only those with extraordinary courage cannot do it." also!"

(End of this chapter)