Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 435

Chen Xizhen and his party passed by Pingyi, and Guanghui, who was stationed there, saw them and said to Chen Xizhen, "Old sir, the master has issued an order that everyone should come to the village to celebrate on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Old sir, you have come at the right time. Would you like to rest for three to five days and go with me?"

Chen Xizhen shook his head and introduced Liu Tong and Gou Huan first, and Guanghui said goodbye to them.

Chen Xizhen said: "I will introduce the two village chiefs to the great official first and see what the great official has to say."

Guanghui said: "The great official has always admired heroes. You two will definitely be valued by the great official this time."

Chen Xizhen asked, "Commander Guanghui, who will guard Liangshan when you go there?"

Guang Hui smiled and said, "Don't worry, old sir. Song Gongming has asked for peace some time ago. The official roads have been opened recently, and many farmers have entered Xintai from Qingzhou, Laiwu and other places. According to the order of the great official, state tents have been set up along the way, and the farmers who will surrender will be sent to Liangshanzhou. Places like Yanzhou and Yizhou will not be settled. I heard from the military advisor that the Qingzhou bandits are restless on all sides, and they are eager to live in peace with us."

Gou Huan said: "Your Excellency has won victory after victory, and this Qingzhou bandit is so powerful that he actually wants to seek peace in secret."

Liu Tong also nodded in agreement.

Guang Hui heard this and said, "Who would have thought that this Qingzhou bandit is so despicable. However, I heard from the military advisor that this Qingzhou bandit is so humble and I'm afraid he is planning something big. We should all be more careful and not be complacent."

Chen Xizhen listened and said, "The military advisor's words are correct."

That night, Guanghui prepared wine to entertain everyone. On the second day, he found a carriage and horses from the camp, loaded the gifts brought by Gou Huan and Liu Tong, and drove to Liangshan with the carriages and horses.

There was no conversation on the way. When everyone rushed to Liangshan, Zhao Zhen had just returned from the main world a few days ago.

In the hall of Baishi Valley, a brazier had been set up long ago, and coal was burned every day. Although it was very cold outside, the hall was warm as spring.

When Zhao Zhen welcomed them in, Liu Tong sighed, "Sir, it's so comfortable here."

Zhao Zhen said: "There is a coal mine in the county, which has been mined for a long time. Now many families in the county have purchased coal, and it is indeed much warmer in winter."

While they were talking, Zhao Yuanli and several farmhands came up with hot wine. Zhao Zhen personally drank three cups and said, "Brothers, you have worked hard on the journey. Have a drink to warm your body."

After drinking, Zhao Zhen said to Chen Xizhen: "I have invited Brother Gou Huan many times, but Brother Gou Huan refused. It is still my uncle who has the face. In addition to Yuanbi Village, there is also Brother Liu Tong from Zhuhu Mountain [Flying Legs] who came to surrender."

Chen Xizhen smiled and said, "Brother Liu Tong came down the mountain to rob people, and when he heard the title of a good son-in-law, he immediately bowed down. Brother Gou Huan also wanted to join us, but he was afraid that Tong Guan would harm him, so he delayed until now. I went to his stronghold and explained the situation clearly, and the four people on the mountain immediately decided to join us."

"These people have wasted all this time because they want to show their loyalty. Yuanbi Village has captured Qingyun Mountain, Zhuhushan has captured Jieyun Ridge, and Feihu Village and Fu'an Village under the ridge, and killed He Wei, the chief villager who colluded with the bandits and harmed the local people. My dear son-in-law just happened to allocate a few people to take over."

Gou Huan said: "That's right, sir. We were so mean that we were afraid of being murdered by Tong Guan that we could only hide in the mountains. After listening to my uncle's words, I realized that you are not Tong Guan's lackey, so I decided to surrender. We are willing to cooperate with you in your strategy of keeping the enemy alive. I only hope that God will open his eyes and one day the government will wake up and get rid of the traitors in the court. Then, we can show up openly."

Having said this, he stood up and bowed.

world log
Name: Gou Huan (Hero, the incarnation of the True Lord of the Retribution Division of Shengyuan Lei Mansion)

Word: Wu Bo
Nickname: Mountain Leopard
Race: Terran

Reputation: 100 (Chief of Yuanbi Village)
Occupation: Yanei (the eldest son of Gou Bangda, the former chief of the imperial guards)

Sub-professional: Mountain King

Level: Level 4 and Level 7 (Strength 50, Commander 40)

Attributes: Strength 45, Constitution 50, Agility 50, Spirit 30
Skills: Highway robbery level 3 (highway robbery, Agility +3), Fighting level 2 (competition of martial arts, Constitution +2), Stealth level 2 (active at night and hiding during the day, Agility +2), Cavalry combat level 1 (horse combat, Constitution +1).

Commander Skill: Ambush Level 2 (take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness, wait for the enemy to come, morale +2)

Martial Arts: Sword (Minor Achievement, use sword weapons with force +5, Eighteen Postures Mountain Sword)

Equipment: Fish Scale Purple Gold Knife (Level 2)
Monthly salary: 15 dollars

Zhao Zhen hurriedly stepped forward to help Gou Huan up, saying, "Brother, I have a good intention, I will not hide it from you. Now the court has asked me to help you wipe out the Qingzhou bandits, so I am quite lenient here, and many of my brothers' crimes have been forgiven. When my grandfather wanted to go to Yuanbi Village, I was not sure, so I could only let you act in secret. Now, do you want to reveal your identity?"

Gou Huan shook his head and said, "Sir, I am different from others. How can the old thief Tong Guan rest in peace for avenging the murder of my father? I am willing to cooperate with you as a bandit."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "Brother, I have the will. One day, I will help you clear your name."

Gou Huan thanked him again and again. He said, "Sir, we have lived in Yuanbi Village and have punished many tyrants who oppressed the good and the rich who were unkind. We have accumulated a lot of wealth in the mountains. My brothers and I have collected ten loads of wealth and goods and will offer them to help you."

Just as Zhao Zhen was about to decline, Liu Tong said, "I am from Zhuhu Mountain, where there are few people. I have accumulated some wealth over the years. I have also collected two stones to offer."

Zhao Zhen said: "How can I let you wait and spend money, the state..."

Gou Heng interrupted Zhao Zhen without waiting for him to finish, saying: "Your Excellency is a wealthy man, so he certainly doesn't need these treasures from us. Although the things are few, they are truly the sincere gifts of our brothers. I hope you will accept them." Chen Xizhen also came to persuade him, and Zhao Zhen had to accept them when he saw that he could not refuse.

Liu Tongdao said: "Sir, I am the only one there. Please send two brothers to lead the two mountains and the surrounding villages."

Zhao Zhen listened and nodded, saying, "On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, I will host a banquet for all the brothers in the state. At that time, I will choose one or two brothers to go with you to take charge of Zhuhu Mountain and Jieyun Ridge."

After hearing this, Liu Tong naturally knew that Zhao Zhen also accepted him, and he happily agreed.

world log
Name: Liu Tong (Hero)

Nickname: Scud
Race: Terran

Reputation: 50 (Big Leader of Zhuhu Mountain)
Occupation: Courier

Sub-professional: Mountain King

Level: Level 3 and Level 4 (Strength 40, Commander 15)

Attributes: Strength 32, Constitution 33, Agility 45, Spirit 15
Skills: Eavesdropping 2 levels (good at chatting, asking for information, spirit +2), First Move 1 level (those with long legs are good at walking, can walk 2 miles a day, agility +1), Ambush 1 level (take advantage of others when they are not prepared, agility +)

Commander skill: Charge level 1 (lead the troops, morale +1)

Martial arts: fists and feet (proficient, using fists and feet force +3, thirty-six postures six-in-one fist), broadsword (proficient, using sword weapons force +3, six-in-one sword)

Equipment: Hundred-Refined Yanling Knife (Level 1)
Monthly salary: 15 dollars

Zhao Zhen asked, "Brother, you just accidentally killed someone, and no one paid attention to you. I will issue an official document, and from now on you will be the general of Liangshan Prefecture."

Liu Tongdao said: "I am willing. When I went to Feihu Village this time, the birdmen guarding the village insisted on seeing me in person. I will see what they have to say when I go back this time."

Chen Xizhen said: "My dear son-in-law, I'm afraid it's not appropriate."

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Chen Xizhen explained, "Yizhou is not the fiefdom of a virtuous son-in-law. If you do it so blatantly, I'm afraid the court will be suspicious. It's better to maintain the status quo for now. As for Feihu Village and Fu'an Village, they are small places, no one pays attention to them, and with the threat of Liu Tong brothers, they won't cause much trouble."

"Wait for Gou Huan and others to make some more noise and attract the attention of the court. If you station troops in Pingyi, Tong Guan will definitely ask you to send troops. In this way, we can take advantage of the situation to recapture Zhuhu Mountain, Jieyun Ridge and other places, and it will be legitimate."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "In this case, Brother Liu Tong will have to endure this for a while longer."

Liu Tongdao: "It's just a little later, it doesn't matter."

"The situation in Yizhou is unstable, so I have reason to postpone sending troops, which is actually a good thing." Zhao Zhen said.

After saying that, Zhao Zhen turned to Chen Xizhen and said, "Father-in-law, during the time you were at Yuanbi Village, Sister Liqing has already recruited a whole army of Red Banner Daughters. It just so happens that Pang Qiuxia, the younger sister of Pang Wanchun from Jiangnan, is good at archery and martial arts. With her assistance, the other four, including Rose and Buddha's Hand, are now in good shape."

Chen Xizhen said, "This girl has been restless since she was young. Now that you are so indulgent, I don't know how much trouble she will cause in the future. When I went to Yuanbi Village, I found an old and steady woman named Aunt Yuchi. She has a thousand pounds of strength and a big body. I was just about to let her go to the army to look after Li Qing. I didn't expect that my son-in-law had already made arrangements."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said with a smile, "Why not let her come to the hall as well? The Green Banner Willow Leaf Army led by Sanniang also has two deputy generals, plus the original group of women who are used to fighting, the fighting power is not bad. Now with this Aunt Yuchi, the Red Banner Women's Army led by Liqing is not much inferior."

As he spoke, Zhao Zhen sent someone to call over Aunt Yuchi and her husband Wang Jun. After greeting them, Zhao Zhen looked them over and asked, "Aunt Yuchi, has your father-in-law ever told you that he wants you to join the army?"

Aunt Yuchi said, "Sir, Mr. Chen has already informed me."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said to Wang Jun, "Captain Wang, from now on you two will be the official army of Liangshan Prefecture. I wonder what your plans are for your wife to join the army."

Wang Jun heard this and said quickly, "Sir, I only know a few boxing skills, and my martial arts skills are only average. I can't beat my wife in a fight. Now that my wife has joined the army, I would like to return to being a good citizen."

Zhao Zhen asked: "Have you read books?"

"When I was in Bianjing, I also studied in a private school for a few years and can write and calculate."

Zhao Zhen was delighted and said, "In that case, you can go to Liangshan County and work as a public servant or clerk. Firstly, you will have a job, and secondly, you and your wife will not have to see each other."

After hearing this, Wang Jun and Aunt Yuchi hurriedly thanked Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen said to Zhao Yuanli who was standing beside him, "Yuanli, take Aunt Yuchi and the other two to see Li Qing first."

Zhao Yuanli responded, then took Aunt Yuchi and her husband to express their gratitude and left.

(End of this chapter)