Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 331 Competition
At three o'clock in the morning, the banquet was over. The farmhands escorted everyone back to their residences, and Zhao Zhen and his wife also returned to their residence on the mountain.

Liu Guang and his party returned to the house. Madam Liu was still waiting in the hall. When she saw Liu Guang, she said, "Master, mother-in-law has a stomachache again today. Madam Baizhi prescribed medicine to relieve the pain. She has fallen asleep now. Would you like some sobering soup, Master?"

Liu Guang waved his hands, cheered himself up, and said, "I've already drunk. Madam, have you heard about any incidents in Jingyang Town?"

Madam Liu nodded and told Liu Guang the news she had heard at the banquet. She then turned to ask Liu Hui Niang, "Did you have any other news after I left?"

Liu Hui Niang's face turned red and her eyes were blurred. After hearing this, she shook her head.

"Child, why did you drink so much today? Go down and have a rest. We'll talk tomorrow." As he said this, he asked the nanny to send Liu Hui Niang back to the house to rest.

Liu Guang said: "Hey, no wonder there have been fewer letters recently. I thought that Brother Yun Tianbiao had heard that my family was in trouble and had no intention of marrying me."

Madam Liu asked, "Master, should we go to Qingzhou to seek refuge with Brother Yun Tianbiao?"

Liu Guang shook his head. "If we go to him with our whole family, he will look down on us. When Hui Niang marries him in the future, she will be inferior to him. Let's settle down here. At the banquet today, the brothers Liu Qi and Liu Lin got along well with Lu Fang and Guo Sheng. It would be best if we could get them a job."

Mrs. Liu listened and nodded. Seeing that Liu Guang was tired, Mrs. Liu took a handkerchief, dipped it in water, wiped Liu Guang's face, and waited for him to rest.

In the small courtyard nearby, the couples Liu Qi and Liu Lin also told each other the news they had heard today. After they sighed a little, they went to bed to rest with the help of their maids.

The next day, Liu Guang's family packed up amidst the sound of cheers and cheers. Perhaps because they had gone to bed late and drunk a lot of wine, Liu's mother and other female relatives were still sleeping.

After Liu Guang and his two companions had eaten the breakfast sent by Zhao Yuanli, they went out to see what was going on. They saw that on the training ground not far away, the soldiers and farmhands were practicing separately, and the heroes who had accompanied them yesterday were also practicing martial arts on the ground.

Liu Qi said: "Brother, the two of us will go and practice as well."

Seeing that his father Liu Guang did not speak, Liu Lin said, "I'll go get the mace."

The two young generals took their weapons and arrived at the training ground, where they saw heroes practicing martial arts everywhere. The hero Bao Xu, the God of Death, whom they had met at the banquet yesterday, was wielding a black gold sword, and Yan Shude, the Sai Mengben, next to him was also holding a large iron machete. Just one look at them, and you could tell that the two men were extremely powerful. They wielded the two heavy weapons effortlessly, and the wheels of the car seemed to be a scene of swords and sabers, with a constant "woohoo" sound.

Liu Qi and Liu Lin were stunned. When Bao Xu and Yan Shude stopped, Liu Guang, who had been watching for a long time, shouted, "You two are both very good at martial arts."

Bao Xu laughed and said, "General Liu, you are too kind. Since you have brought weapons, why don't you show off your skills?"

Liu Guang shook his head and said, "Yesterday, I made an appointment with Lü Fang and Guo Sheng to compete in martial arts today. Why are the two captains not here?"

Bao Xu said: "They are not here, but usually in the small training ground outside the village. They will come here naturally after the cool weather and the soldiers' training. The two young generals can stretch their hands and feet first, so that we can see the fighting on horseback today."

Liu Qi and Liu Lin responded, and after some exercises, one holding a three-pointed, double-edged sword and the other holding a pair of maces, they practiced with their weapons on the training ground.

After more than half an hour, the weather was getting hotter, and the farmhands left first, followed by the soldiers stationed in the village and returning to the barracks. Only a few brave men were still practicing martial arts on the training ground. They heard horses neighing outside the village, and soon, Guo Sheng and Lu Fang rode in.

After seeing everyone, Lü Fang and Guo Sheng dismounted, and Liu Qi stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Brother, shall we compete here today?"

Guo Sheng said: "Of course we have to compete. Why is the master not at the training ground today?"

Jiao Ting said, "The great official used a spear and a stick, and then he entered the hall with military advisor Wu Yong and Mr. Gongsun Sheng. I will go and ask the great official to come and see."

In the hall, Zhao Zhen sent all the farmhands away. Zhao Zhen and the other two were sitting in the hall. Wu Yong was informing Zhao Zhen and Gongsun Sheng of the new news.

Duan Jingzhu came back late last night, told Wu Yong about the progress, and left in a hurry early in the morning.

At the latest, the day after tomorrow, the open group of people will pass by Huangnigang. If nothing unexpected happens, the group disguised as merchants will also pass by one day later. The two groups of people are only one day apart, with the front exploring the way and the back following. If something happens, they can still take care of one or two.

Wu Yong came here today to discuss the allocation of personnel from Liangshan County to go and support the three tea shops and rob the birthday gift for the second time.

After some discussion, they decided that Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng would be the leaders, and that Lin Chong, Luan Tingfang, Tang Bin, Wen Zhongrong, Cui Ye, Wang Tianba, and Mie Gong would be the cooperators, and Shi Qian and Duan Jingzhu would lead the way. Eleven heroes would ride fast horses and travel light tonight. They also set the principle that not revealing their identities was the first priority. When Jiao Ting came in, the three had just finished talking. After listening to Jiao Ting's words, Zhao Zhen said, "I just want to see the martial arts of the two Liu brothers."

Wu Yong also said, "Let's go together, let's go together."

At the parade ground, as soon as the drums stopped beating, Guo Sheng and Liu Qi rode out on their horses. Their horses met and they raised their two weapons at the same time.

Guo Sheng braced himself, swung the Cold Dragon Silver Iron Halberd in his hand, and rode to fight Liu Qi. Liu Qi showed off his might, holding up the three-pointed double-edged sword in his hand, and came to meet Guo Sheng. In the middle of the training ground, the two generals met, each showing off their life's skills. Back and forth, four arms stretched out, eight horses' hooves stirred up chaos.

The two were perfect opponents. When the halberds came and the sabers went, there was a flowery mass; when the sabers went and the halberds came, there was a cluster of brocade. The two fought for more than thirty rounds, but neither could be determined.

On the edge of the parade ground, unemployed farmhands and military advisors gathered in a circle and cheered when they saw the fight.

At the edge of the training ground, Wu Yong said, "You are a good fighter. The young general is worthy of being a son of a general."

Liu Guang said: "The people under your command are indeed heroes. Captain Guo's ability is even better than that of Dalang."

After more than forty rounds, the two men were already exhausted. Zhao Zhen saw this and hurriedly ordered someone to ring the gong to separate the two men.

When the two heard the gong, they put away their weapons, got off their horses, ran to Zhao Zhen, and got off their horses. They looked at each other and laughed. Guo Sheng said, "It's so enjoyable."

Liu Qi also said: "Thank you brother for holding back."

Zhao Zhen said: "This is a good fight. With Dalang's martial arts skills, he should not pass the martial arts examination. I wonder how strong the martial arts of this year's martial arts candidates are."

Liu Lin said, "My brother and I are not inferior to others in horseback archery, bow archery, sword and spear wielding, and crossbow stomping. Unfortunately, before the palace examination, we were dismissed because we were young and ignorant of etiquette. Please take a look at my skills, sir."

After that, he mounted his horse and challenged Lü Fang to a duel. The two fought for more than forty rounds, and Lü Fang saw a weakness in Liu Lin's hand, raised his halberd, and knocked down one of Liu Lin's golden maces.

The two men turned their horses around, and Zhao Zhen said with a smile, "Today's two fights were worth watching under the scorching sun for a long time. The four brothers are indeed very skilled in martial arts."

As he said this, he asked Zhao Yuanli to get eight rolls of water cotton cloth, and asked the four people to take two rolls each.

Zhao Zhen said, "In this weather, the four brothers should go change their clothes and come to the hall to talk." After saying that, Zhao Zhen returned to the hall first.

After hearing this, Liu Guang and his son bowed and said goodbye. The three returned to their residence. Liu Qi and Liu Lin put the cotton cloth in their hands on the table and went to change their clothes first.

The two returned to the hall and saw their father Liu Guang frowning in deep thought. Their grandmother, mother and younger sister Hui Niang were talking around the cloth on the table.

The two of them came forward to greet her. Liu Qi said, "Grandma, I heard from my wife yesterday that her stomachache came back again. Is she feeling better today?"

Mother Liu said, "Thanks to Madam Baizhi, you are a great doctor. After taking a dose of medicine, the pain has stopped. Today, you also sent me some milk. After drinking it, I feel much better. Grandson, what kind of cloth is this? It feels so cool. I have never seen it before in my life."

Liu Qi said, "Today I had a duel with Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. The four rolls of cloth given by the great official are called water cotton cloth. I saw that the heroes in the village all wore this cloth, but the patterns and styles were different. I guess it must be produced in the village and has never been seen outside."

After hearing this, Liu Qi and Liu Lin's wives also stepped forward to touch the cloth. Liu Lin's wife Zhong Ling said, "This cloth can be used to make clothes. It will be much better in this hot weather. Four pieces of cloth can make eight or nine sets of clothes each. Let's start by making one for grandma and mother-in-law."

Madam Liu said, "We just got this piece of cloth and made it into clothes. It makes my family look so ignorant."

Liu Guang frowned and waved his hands after hearing this, saying, "What are you talking about? The clothes that all the heroes in the village wear must have been given by the great master. Since they are cool, just cut them up and make them into clothes to wear."

Mrs. Liu responded.

(End of this chapter)