Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 426 An unexpected surprise
Seeing Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun sitting together without talking, Zhao Zhen said, "There are many harbors and rivers here, and there are many good watermen. I heard from brothers Tong Wei and Tong Meng about your skills in the water, so I rashly sent someone to invite you. How about you two brothers come here and lead a battalion of navy?"

Zhang Heng heard this and said, "Sir, if we talk about ability in the water, my brother and I believe we can conquer the world. But I'm afraid we two brothers are not capable of commanding the navy."

"I am just a private merchant on the Xunyang River. My brother is a fisherman in Jiangzhou. I am good at fighting underwater and on boats, but I have never led a navy."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Brother Zhang Heng, no one is born to lead soldiers. I now have five battalions of naval forces. The three Ruan brothers, Ouyang Shoutong, Liu Lin and the deputy generals Tong Wei and Tong Meng are not naval officers. If you practice fighting more, you will naturally get it. In addition, there are many strategists in the state who are good at making plans and making decisions. Brothers, if you dare to fight to the death, there is no way you can't do it."

Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun stood up and bowed to the ground, saying, "From now on, our lives will be sold to you, sir."

world log
Name: Zhang Heng (hero, corresponding to the Libra star)

Nickname: Shipfire
Race: Terran

Reputation: 70 (One of the three tyrants in Jieyang)

Occupation: Water bandit

Secondary occupation: boatman, private businessman

Level: Level 4 and Level 4 (Strength 48, Commander 20)

Attributes: Strength 51, Constitution 49, Agility 30, Spirit 23
Skills: Naval Combat Level 3 (Underwater Combat, Strength +3), Boat Driving Level 4 (Driving large and small boats, all with ease, Strength +4), Fishing Level 2 (Netting, hooking, hand catching, proficient in everything, Constitution +2), Disguise Level 1 (Changing clothes, Spirit +1)

Commander Skills: Ambush Level 2 (Hide well in the water, wait for the rabbit, morale +2), Bravery Level 2 (Strive to be the first, morale +2)

Martial arts: Fists and feet (minor success, using fists and feet to increase force +5, twenty-eight-style boat fist) Spear (minor success, using spear-like weapons to increase force +5, three-way blocking spear)

Equipment: Iron spear, board knife
Monthly salary: 15 dollars

The younger brother Zhang Shun is nicknamed "White Shark in the Waves". He has a secondary job called "Fish Teeth". His level is two levels higher than his brother Zhang Heng. He is good at using the five-pronged fork and short knife. He also has a skill called "Diving Level 4" (holding breath underwater, lurking and fighting, strength +4). He also has a skill called "Patrol Level 3" (surface patrol, morale +3).

Zhao Zhen laughed and helped the two men up, saying, "With the help of the two brothers, the Liangshan navy will be even stronger. It's cold today, and the water is frozen and it's hard to sail. You two should go to Ruan Xiaoer's fleet temporarily, learn the gongs, drums and flags, recruit soldiers, and wait until next spring to patrol the Liangshan waters and get familiar with the methods of naval warfare."

"As for Brother Dai Zong, I heard that you have the ability to travel by air. Why don't you come to the army and be a leader in charge of sending secret messages, with the same position as the training officer?"

Dai Zong said: "I am just a clerk in Jiangzhou. How can I refuse to become an official?"

As he said this, he also thanked Zhao Zhen.

world log
Name: Dai Zong (Hero, Super Speed ​​Star)

Nickname: The Speedy Walker (800 miles a day)
Race: Terran

Reputation: 50 (Jiangzhou Two Courts Prison Guard Level)
Occupation: Taoist priest

Secondary occupation: Clerk
Level: Level 4 and Level 1 (Strength 30, Commander 30)

Attributes: Strength 28, Constitution 30, Agility 55, Spirit 45
Skills: Intimidation level 3 (shouting loudly, force +3), Intimidation level 2 (bullying, spirit +2), Welcoming and seeing off level 2 (serving guests with wine, socializing, agility +2)

Commander Skill: Leadership Level 2 (Command soldiers, morale +2)

Martial Arts: Sword (proficient, using sword weapons with force +3, thirty-six-stroke swift sword technique)
Spell: Armor Horsemanship 4th level (4 miles, go out in the morning and return in the evening, Spirit +)

Equipment: Gale Sword (first level, sharpness +2, speed +2), Godly Horse (fourth level, recite the godly horse spell, it is like riding on the mist, like flying in the clouds, and can travel miles a day).

Monthly salary: 15 dollars

After hearing this, Li Kui shouted, "Sir, they are all military officers, why don't you give Tie Niu an official title as well?"

Zhao Zhen asked: "What kind of official do you want to be?"

Li Kui pointed at Bao Xu and said, "Just be like this ugly guy."

Bao Xu said: "It depends on your martial arts skills. Do you dare to compete with me?"

Li Kui pointed at Jiao Ting and shouted, "Even if this big guy is added, I am not afraid."

After hearing this, Jiao Ting said, "Come, let me fight you. If I lose, I will go and ask the great official to give you the position of the regiment commander."

"What nonsense! You lost, how can you beg for help?"

As he spoke, Li Kui walked out of the hall first and came to the training ground.

When everyone saw this, they did not stop them. They walked out of the hall to watch the three men compete in martial arts.

Jiao Ting blamed Li Kui for looking down on him, so he stepped forward and shouted, "Come, come."

Li Kui did not answer, but with a strange cry, rushed in. Jiao Ting had seen it long ago, and with a punch, he knocked Li Kui to the ground. Li Kui was furious, and was about to jump up, but Jiao Ting chased him and kicked him again.

Li Kui said, "Brother, I can't beat you with fists and feet, but do you dare to fight with weapons?"

Bao Xu shouted, "Wait a minute, you said you were going to compete with me."

As he spoke, he took his own sword from the farmhand and handed over Li Kui's pair of axes.

The two men prepared to fight.

All I heard was a voice saying, "Iron Ox, my son."

Li Kui turned around and saw Li Da walking over with his mother. Li Kui put down his two axes and snatched them away: "Mom, Tie Niu is back to see you."

Li Da's mother stretched out her hand and pulled Li Kui's ear and said, "Why do you want to fight with others just after arriving at the official's house?"

"Mom, we are competing in martial arts and we haven't done anything wrong." Li Kui shouted hurriedly.

Li Da's mother let go of her hand and said to Zhao Zhen, "Sir, Tie Niu has a rude temper, but he has made you angry. I will give him a lesson with a stick."

Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "Madam, these are all heroes competing in martial arts. We should also assign a position to Tie Niu. He will be an official in the future."

When Li Da's mother heard this, she immediately smiled happily, thinking that Tie Niu had a promising future.

Zhao Zhen said to Li Kui, "Brother Tie Niu, how about you serve as a battalion commander under brother Jiao Ting and lead 500 soldiers?"

After hearing this, Li Kui fell to the ground and said, "You are the master who understands me. Tie Niu will obey you from now on."
Name: Li Kui (Hero, born to kill, no regard for good or evil.)
Nickname: Black Whirlwind (has a bad temper, is fiery, is dark and strong, and has extraordinary arm strength.)
Race: Terran

Reputation: 60
Occupation: Tiger Subduing Warrior

Secondary occupation: jailer, gambler

Level: Level 4 and Level 8 (Strength 56, Commander 15)

Attributes: Strength 59, Constitution 54, Agility 35, Spirit 15
Skills: Giant Strength Level 6 (Infinite Strength, Strength +6), Thick Skin Level 4 (Born to Take a Fight, Constitution +4), Intimidation Level 3 (A loud shout, Force +3), Guarding Level 1 (Guarding the prison camp,)
Commander Skills: Charge 4 (lead the troops, morale +4), Kill Soldiers 3 (raise an axe, kill people, clean and tidy, morale +3)

Martial arts: Fists and kicks (minor success, using fists and kicks gives +5 force, 7-style Vajra Earthly Fist, Golden Bell Cover), Axe (transcendence, using double axes gives +3 force, -style Whirlwind Axe Technique), Sword (proficient, using Pudao gives + force, -style Water and Land Pudao Technique).
Equipment: Fine Iron Axe

Monthly salary: 20 dollars

Zhao Zhen said: "Brothers, you have worked hard on the journey. Go down and rest. I will hold a banquet tonight to welcome you brothers."

As he said this, Zhao Zhen asked Zhao Ji to lead the four people to their residence.

The heroes on the farm also dispersed. Zhao Zhen called Li San and Wang Dingliu to his side and asked, "Brothers, did anything happen along the way?"

Li San heard this and said, "Sir, there is nothing else to say, except for one thing. When we went to Jieyang Town to visit the two brothers Mu Hong and Mu Chun, they were quite enthusiastic about us at first, but later when they asked us to come to Liangshan to serve as officials, they refused to accept the offer."

"Li Jun, the Dragon of the River, and Li Li, the Judge of Death, are also like this. Zhang Heng followed Zhang Shun because he saw him joining the gang. We have secretly inquired about it, and it seems that Mu Hong's family is also sorting out their finances. We don't know anything else. Maybe Zhang Heng, the Boatman, knows something or other."

Zhao Zhen frowned and whispered, "I'm afraid someone will get there before me."

Zhao Zhen didn't care about this. After all, this person didn't have to vote for him, he just sounded a little unhappy.

Seeing that the two men were covered in dust and looked exhausted, Zhao Zhen asked someone to bring ten dried apricots from the Han Dynasty and asked the two men to eat them.

Zhao Zhen learned how to make dried apricots from Gao Hu. Although spiritual objects are easier to store, they are not immune to decay. For spiritual objects like this, which can only be enhanced by taking a large amount, the effect will not be reduced after processing.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen ordered people to make the large amount of uneaten Han emperor's apricots into dried apricots. The same was true for the Liangshan silverfish that died when they came out of the water. They were all dried in the sun.

There is another advantage of taking them separately. Although they cannot enhance properties, they can use their characteristics to restore physical strength or spirit, each of which is useful.

At night, Zhao Zhen hosted a banquet for the four men. There was a lot of drinking and chatting at the table. It is said that Li Kui, who had lost the fight in the daytime, came to challenge again under the influence of alcohol.

Bao Xu stood up first. Both of them were drunk. They fought without any rules, relying solely on their strength. Neither of them dodged and the blows made a loud bang.

The two men staggered and fought for more than twenty rounds. Bao Xu threw a punch that grazed Li Kui's left shoulder. Li Kui had used up all his strength and could not hold on. He fell to the ground and struggled for a while, but could not get up.

When Li Kui saw this, he burst into laughter and said, "Even after receiving your punch, I am the winner." After saying that, he also fell to the ground. Everyone rushed forward, only to see that Li Kui was snoring and had fallen asleep.

Zhao Zhen and his men burst into laughter and asked someone to help the two men down.

They drank until midnight and then everyone dispersed.

On the second day, Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun came up and wanted to go to the navy for training.

Seeing how dedicated the two were, Zhao Zhen ordered Zhao Ji to send them to Ruan Xiaoer's water stronghold at the north gate. From then on, the two lived in the naval camp.

Just after sending the two away, Ding An came in with a pigeon letter. Zhao Zhen opened it and saw that it was indeed from Wang Lun of Fan County. Yang Lin and Le He, who had gone to Tokyo to buy fireworks, medicine and other materials, had returned. They were accompanied by a eunuch and a team of imperial guards. There were two elephants in the team, which were very conspicuous.

Zhao Zhen looked at it and smiled.

It seems that Hou Meng is still reliable. We can make friends with him in the future.

Three days later, at the parade ground of Baishi Manor, the eunuch brought the imperial edict into the manor and set up the Longting incense table. Zhao Zhen was once again conferred an imperial title at Baishi Manor.

The imperial edict highly praised the soldiers under Zhao Zhen's command for capturing Zhang Da Neng. In return for Zhao Zhen's tribute, the court gave him two Siamese elephants, a box of ivory and elephant bones, and an elephant slave.

Zhao Zhen thanked him, and Zhao Yuanli presented him with a plate of gold and silver.

When the eunuch saw this, he was overjoyed and kept saying good things.

After entertaining the eunuch and his group, the eunuch said goodbye and left.

Zhao Zhen sent someone to escort him out of the country, and then he was going to see the elephants. Then Yang Lin said, "Sir, there is someone who introduced me and Brother Lehe."

Zhao Zhen stopped and asked, "Who do you two brothers want to recommend?"

Le He said, "Sir, my brother Yang Lin and I were in Tokyo to buy medicine and we only stayed in a restaurant. This man's surname was Xuan and his name was Zan. We often went to the restaurant to drink and that's how we got to know him. After asking him around, I learned that he was the Defense and Righteousness Envoy, in charge of the troops. Because he defeated the foreign general with a string of arrows, the prince loved his martial arts and wanted to make him his son-in-law. But the princess disliked his ugliness and died with hatred, so he was not used."

"This man is eight feet tall, wields a steel sword, and is an excellent martial artist. He was once a county horse in the palace, and people called him the Ugly County Horse."

"Because he knew we were from Liangshan Prefecture, he asked us about the Qingzhou thief Song Jiang. It happened that the angel Hou Meng was escorting the captives to the capital, and this man was interested in working under the great official and making achievements, so the two of us brought him here."

Yang Lin continued, "I was able to purchase the medicinal materials thanks to this brother's introduction. Brother Xuan Zan and I have also competed in spear and stick martial arts. Brother Xuan Zan's horsemanship is really good. I lost one move in the forty rounds and was defeated by Brother Xuan Zan."

Zhao Zhen heard this and asked, "I didn't expect you two to go to Bian Jing and have an unexpected surprise. I wonder where this person is now?"

Yang Lin said: "Brother Xuan Zan doesn't want others to know, so he is waiting outside disguised as a guard."

"Quick, please invite this brother in to meet us." Zhao Zhen said.

After hearing this, Le He turned around and left the village. After a while, he led a big man in.

When Zhao Zhen looked at him, he saw that the man had a face like the bottom of a pot, his nose pointed upward, curly hair and red beard. In terms of appearance, the nickname "Ugly County Horse" was really not wrong.

After the greeting, Zhao Zhen asked, "Brother Xuanzan, how did you make up your mind to leave Bianjing?"

Xuan Zan said, "I report to the great lord that due to the death of the princess, my future is cut off and I cannot be promoted. I have been practicing martial arts since I was young and I am unwilling to waste my time. I heard that Song Jiang in Qingzhou is rampant and the government army cannot eliminate him. The great lord has defeated Song Jiang many times. Therefore, I am willing to join his army, follow Song Jiang to fight and make achievements."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "Brother Xuanzan, although this is just a remote state, we value heroes the most. Since you can defeat the foreign generals, your martial arts must be good. When we fight against Song Jiang next year, you will follow the army and show your strengths."

Xuan Zan was naturally delighted when he heard this. He patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, my dear sir. I will watch my young general compete on the battlefield next year. I guarantee that he will not disappoint you."

(End of this chapter)