Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 387

On the second day, after breakfast, Zhao Zhen and Wu Yong invited brothers Tong Wei and Tong Meng, as well as Fan Rui, Li Gun, and Xiang Chong. After greeting each other, Zhao Zhen said, "Yesterday, the Tong brothers decided to send brothers Ruan Xiaowu and Ouyang Shoutong to the army as Du Yuhou. Today, I called brother Fan Rui here to decide on a position. Do you have any ideas?"

Fan Rui said: "We sincerely come to you, sir, please make arrangements."

Zhao Zhen said, "Brother Fan Rui, you are a man of Taoism. There are two heroes in the county, one is called [Dragon into the Clouds] Gongsun Sheng, and the other is [Phantom Demon Lord] Qiao Daoqing. They are both practicing Taoism in Tianqi Temple in Liangshan. They usually make elixirs and practice Taoism, and only in critical moments, they accompany the army to assist in military affairs. I wonder if you want to practice Taoism in Tianqi Temple or be a battalion commander in the army?"

Fan Rui asked, "But is it Mr. Yiqing?"

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Fan Rui said: "I also went to Zixu Temple in Erxian Mountain to study Taoism, but unfortunately, Master Luo refused to see me because my earthly ties were not over. Now it would be best if I could ask Master Yiqing for advice."

Zhao Zhen said, "If that's the case, I'm going to ask the five brothers to go to various places in Liangshan today. I'll send someone to tell my senior brother Gongsun Sheng first so that he can make preparations."

Fan Rui said: "From the tone of the official, could it be that he also has Taoism?"

"Brother Gongsun saw that I had some Taoist talent, so he taught me some techniques. I reported this to Master Luo a few days ago, and now I am considered Master Luo's registered disciple. Brother Yiqing will teach me on my behalf." Zhao Zhen said. As he spoke, Zhao Zhen looked at Li Gun and Xiang Chong.

Li Gun and Xiang Chong looked at each other and said, "Sir, at the banquet yesterday, we had a very pleasant conversation with Bao Xu and Yan Shude. We would like to serve as lieutenants in their army."

Zhao Zhen shook his head and said, "I see that there are many strong men among your former subordinates, especially the 500 swordmen and 500 group cardmen. It's a pity that they are scattered. I have discussed with the military advisor and decided to keep all the 300 soldiers and combine them with the original 200 swordmen and [heavy front troops] into one army. Jiao Ting will be the commander, Bao Xu and Yan Shude will be the du yu hou, and you two will be the battalion commanders. As for the remaining soldiers, they will also be distributed in various places. The families who came with them will be sent to Shanglaozhuang Township. The population here is sparse and it can be settled. What do you think, three brothers?"

Fan Rui, Li Gun and Xiang Chong were all delighted after hearing this.

world log
Name: Fan Rui (Hero, Earthly Star)

Nickname: The Devil of Chaos (in his early years, he was a Quanzhen master, and learned all kinds of magic. He could call the wind and rain, wield a meteor hammer, and appear and disappear mysteriously)

Race: Terran

Reputation: 80 (a strong man from Mangdang Mountain, famous in Pei County)

Occupation: Taoist priest

Sub-professional: Strongman
Level: Level 3 and Level 9 (Strength 49, Commander 40)

Attributes: Strength 33, Constitution 35, Agility 30, Spirit 49
Skills: Cultivation Level 3 (guiding and training qi to achieve longevity, strength +3), Fasting Ceremony Level 1 (building altars and casting spells, exorcising evil spirits, praying for disaster relief, spirit +1)

Spell: Flying Sand and Rocks Level 3 (Strong winds blow, the sky is dark, the sun and moon are dark, spirit +3)

Command skill: Advocacy level 2 (moving people's hearts with words, attracting attention, morale +2)

Martial arts: meteor hammer (proficient, using meteor hammer type weapons force +4, thirty-fourth posture Wangmu bending line meteor hammer), sword (proficient, using sword type weapons force +3, seventy-fourth posture Taiyi Xuanmen sword.)
Equipment: Meteor Copper Hammer

Features: Blunt attack +1, sneak attack +2
The Sword of the Devil King of Chaos (Level 3, made of heavy iron and profound essence, worshiped for over a hundred years.)
Features: Sharpness +4, Killing Ghosts +2, Warding Evil +2
Hanxiao Chain Armor (Level 3, made of refined iron mixed with black iron. Protection +3, Sturdiness +)

treasure:

Velvet embroidered black robe (first level, with green hemp as the cloth and wool embroidered into the shape of the Eight Diagrams.)
Effect 2: Coolness +2, Defense +.

Effect 3: Gathering Energy +.

Mount: Tall curly black horse (level 1)
Name: Li Gun (Hero, Earth-moving Star)

Nickname: The Monkey King

Race: Terran

Reputation: 40 (occupy the mountain to be the king, slightly less famous)

Occupation: Xiangyong

Sub-professional: Mountain King

Level: Level 3 and Level 7 (Strength 41, Commander 20)

Attributes: Strength 46, Constitution 43, Agility 28, Spirit 15
Skills: Fierceness level 3 (ugly, evil-looking, strength +3), Plunder level 3 (evil deeds, agility +3) Commander skill: Bravery level 2 (leading by example, morale +2)

Martial arts: Sword (proficient, using sword weapon force +4, twenty-one-style Autumn Wind Sword), Group Card (minor success, using group card force +5, rolling shield method), Javelin (minor success, using javelin weapon force +5, thallium throwing method)
Equipment: Fine steel sword (sharpness +1), southern barbarian vine shield (protection +2), fallen leaf javelin (sharpness +1)

Xiang Chong also had average attributes, but he learned the art of flying knives and using a single-handed medium-level spear. He used a fine iron shield, a fire-tipped spear, and twenty-four red silk flying knives, which were all low-level weapons.

Zhao Zhen said, "I will give any brave warriors here a spiritual fish, some money to settle down, and a set of weapons tailor-made for each of them. This is my token of my appreciation. I will call five brothers to come here today. Let's go to the Military Equipment Bureau first. The Golden Leopard Tang Long I met yesterday has been waiting for a long time."

As they spoke, they all went to the military supervisor and stated their requirements. When Li Gun and Xiang Chong mentioned their shields, Zhao Zhen said, "Brothers, I have a few first-class shields here. Can you two take a look and see if they are suitable?"

As he spoke, Zhao Zhen took the two [Soul-Catching Snake Bone Shields] from the farmhand and handed them over. Li Gun and the other man picked up the shields and waved them around. They said happily, "Sir, these shields are polished very carefully and are very comfortable to use. They look like they are made of animal bones?"

Zhao Zhen recounted the story of how they had exterminated the green water python. After hearing it, the two became even more fond of the bone shields in their hands.

After deciding on their respective weapons, Zhao Zhen asked Zhao Ji to lead the five people to look around. The soldiers and their families who came with them were also settled today.

After seeing the five people off, Zhao Zhen and Wu Yong returned to Baishi Manor, took Jiao Ting, Yu Baosi, and Hu Qidu with them, went to the northern water fort to board the warship led by Liu Lin, and sped all the way towards Shijie Village.

Although Zhu Wu sent a pigeon letter from Shijie Lake yesterday to inform Zhao Zhen that the 2000 soldiers from Jeju who had explored the area had entered the neighboring Wangtai Township under the command of Zhang Yong, the military commander. They had gathered the local ships, and one group was led by He Tao, the local arrest envoy, to enter Shijie Lake from Qinghe, while the other group was led by Zhang Yong himself to take Shijie Village by land. After the deployment was completed, they came in two groups.

Zhao Zhen was busy entertaining Tong Wei and the other four yesterday. After he had settled them today, he was worried about them, so he arranged Liu Lin's navy early. They rowed together and finally arrived at Ruan Xiaowu's water camp in Shijie Lake at Shenpai time.

When Zhao Zhen arrived, the water fort was empty except for thirty or fifty young men from Shijie village guarding it. After Zhao Zhen asked around, he learned that Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoer had led the fleet to set off early that morning. If they had not seen the big flag on Zhao Zhen's boat, they would have lit the signal long ago.

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen did not stop but sent two fast boats to Shijie Village to inquire about the news, and Zhao Zhen and others followed.

When Zhao Zhen arrived, he saw the whole Shijie Village was in a commotion. When Zhao Zhen looked around, he saw Lin Chong and others escorting the captives back on the shore, and the villagers of Shijie Village were gathering there and pointing and talking.

When Zhao Zhen landed, Zhu Wu, Lin Chong, Wang Tianba, and Qin Ming came to greet him. Without waiting for Zhao Zhen to ask, Zhu Wu said, "Sir, early this morning, we ambushed at the border of the mist and waited for Zhang Yong to come out of Wangtai Township. We took advantage of his unpreparedness and led the Right Guard led by Wang Tianba and his brothers as the vanguard. Three battalions of cavalry charged into the battle formation and defeated the Jeju troops in one battle."

Zhao Zhen laughed and said, "Has Zhang Yong been captured?"

Qin Ming said: "It's a pity that this guy is not a warrior. When he saw so many cavalry, he actually abandoned his troops and turned around and ran away."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "Isn't it said that this guy is very skilled in martial arts? Why is he so cowardly?"

Zhu Wu said: "Among the captured soldiers, there are two who are his confidants brought from Xuzhou. I have asked them about it. Although he has some martial arts skills, he is not very capable. He just has some connections in Tokyo, so he came here to become a military commander."

"How are the Ruan brothers doing on the water?" Zhao Zhen asked.

Zhu Wu said, "Don't worry, sir. The Ruan brothers have known each other since they were young. He Tao is just forcing the fishermen to sail their boats to fight. How can he be a match for the Ruan brothers in the water? Why not ask the head of Ruandian Village to send two guides and two boats to explore."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen sent someone to call Ruan Dian and arranged for someone to go and investigate.

In Shijie Village, farmers were helping to count and carry the captured supplies. Many pieces of armor were covered in blood. These were newly taken off the corpses, and all had to be separated, both the damaged and intact ones.

Zhao Zhen waited in the village for about two incense sticks, and then Ruan Dian came in with a few people.

A soldier in front of him bowed to Zhao Zhen and said, "Sir, we have won a great victory in the naval battle."

Zhao Zhen said, "You are from Ruan Xiaoer's camp. I remember your name is Guifu, right?"

After hearing what Zhao Zhen said, Guifu said excitedly: "I am Guifu. I didn't expect that the master still remembered me."

Zhao Zhen said, "Among the navy, the eight of you are the most outstanding. You are all proficient in water tactics and martial arts. Although I have only met you three or five times, I know you well. Guifu, Shelu, Yushou, Bixi, Luofu, Penggui, Qiuan, and Shankang are known as the Eight Great Crabs, right?"

Guifu said, "That's right. She Lu and I were in the water camp under Commander Ruan Xiaoer. Today, we fought against the group of people from Jeju. Commander Ruan Xiaowu led a few soldiers like me who were good at swimming, and with the help of water-blocking rafts, we sank more than ten large fishing boats behind us, blocking the Jeju soldiers on the boats in Shijie Lake. Including the boatmen and fishermen who were recruited, there were more than 800 people, and none of them were let go. Now, Commander Ruan is escorting the prisoners here, so I came here first to report the news."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen said to Zhu Wu: "Brother, you are right. The Ruan brothers will definitely capture this fleet in one fell swoop."

Then he asked, "Is He Tao dead or alive?"

Guifu said: "When he saw that the situation was not favorable, he took off his armor, jumped off the boat and swam to the shore. He was grabbed by the hair and brought aboard by Commander Ruan Xiaowu. He is now being held in custody in the cabin."

(End of this chapter)