There are many state capitals on Jingdong East Road, among which the most prosperous place is Quancheng.
Here you can see the city and mountains from a distance, and you can see countless springs up close, with criss-crossing waterways, full of lotus flowers, and beautiful gardens, which attracted countless officials and wealthy families to settle here.
Liu Guang, the current magistrate of Quancheng, is brother-in-law with Chen Xi, a popular figure in front of Emperor Destiny. He has extraordinary skills, can reach heaven, and can make rich people return to their homes. He is in a high position and has great prestige on Jingdong East Road.
The plan to allow some young people from various places to flee to Liangshan was first drawn up by Liu Guang, Shi Wengong and others.
In the past few years, every time Liu Guang thought of this plan, he felt that it was a brilliant plan that could achieve many goals with one stone, which was quite promising.
After many ordinary miners died, the news spread to Bianliang. Some stubborn ministers in the court, such as Li Gang, Zong Ze, etc., repeatedly remonstrated in front of the emperor and criticized Liu Guang and others' actions.
The Emperor of Destiny favored those ministers and refused to replace them easily. In the end, he was so disturbed that he simply retreated to practice.
Liu Guang was very dissatisfied with this and thought to himself: Those who are ministers are meant to share the emperor's worries. Those people who claim to be loyal ministers and talk boastfully only cause trouble to the officials. They are really treacherous ministers and traitors, and they deserve death.
But when the common people in Liangshan were wiped out as bandits, reported to the court, and then divided up the prisoners into mines in various places, even if these rebellious and guilty people were used to death, Li Gang and others would never be able to find them again. It's an excuse to question me.
Liu Guang waited patiently for several rounds of Spring and Autumn. The young men from all over the country who wanted to escape basically gathered in Liangshan. When it was time to close the net, he began to notify the officials of various states and mobilize troops.
"Liangshan is just a bunch of ordinary people, how can it be used with such a big fanfare?"
An eight-foot-tall, majestic man in the study was talking to Liu Guang, "As long as you give me two thousand soldiers and horses, the blade of the sword will destroy everything, and the destruction of Liangshan is just a matter of a few strokes. Let some prisoners near Liangshan Hurry up and the supervisor will accompany you, just waiting to help escort those little thieves."
Liu Guang has two sons and one daughter, Liu Qi, Liu Lin and Liu Huiniang.
This person in the study is the eldest son Liu Qi. He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He has a rough temperament and extraordinary bravery. He is very famous in Quancheng.
"Of course my father knows my son's abilities."
Liu Guang had a smile in his eyes, stroking his beard with his hand, and said, "But you are young after all, and you don't know how to sail a ten-thousand-year-old ship with caution. Besides, I communicated with various places, sent so many people to block Liangshan closely, and mobilized troops and horses. It’s not that we really need to borrow so many soldiers to make things happen, we just want to share some of the credit with those people.”
"This is the rule in the officialdom. We think of them in everything. If we encounter difficulties, they will naturally help us."
Liu Qi thought for a moment and said, "That's fine, but in this battle, I should be the one who calls the shots."
Liu Guang smiled slightly and said: "My son, do you still remember Shi Wengong from Cangshan? When we discussed this matter, we had already decided that he would be the one to take charge of the annihilation of Liangshan. This man is a first-class military general. , we will not suffer any loss if we take this credit to make him return home."
When Liu Qi heard this, he looked a little unhappy, but he had also seen Shi Wengong's martial arts, and he was indeed much better than himself. Having such a general, completely tied to the Liu family, would bring a lot of benefits in the future.
Liu Guang advised again: "Besides Shi Wengong, you are the second person to make the decision in this matter. Besides, my son is still young. Those grassroots people have cut and regenerated. In a few years, when the children grow up, if this happens again, then it will happen again." Then all the credit will be yours.”
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew open the door.
Liu Lin quickly walked into the room, holding several letters in his hand, with a panic face, and shouted: "Father, Zeng Nong from Zengjiazhuang outside Yizhou sent someone to report on flying horses. Shi Wengong from Cangshan Mine was beheaded. , the murderer took away all the miners and left by boat, probably going to Liangshan."
"Another letter came from Yizhou City, saying that brothers Gao Lian and Gao Feng took their flying magic soldiers and went to Lin Lingsu's cemetery. They did not return for many days and no news came back. Officials of all sizes in Yizhou People are being sent out to search everywhere.”
"Many wealthy families in various parts of Mizhou were looted, and nearly a thousand officers and soldiers were lost in Mizhou city. Several generals were all killed. Judging from the whereabouts of the thieves, they went to Liangshan."
Liu Guang originally wanted to scold his son for being reckless, but after hearing these pieces of news, his face became ashen as iron. He suddenly stood up, took away the letter, and looked at it carefully.
"This this……"
After reading the news, Liu Guang clenched the letter tightly, his eyes rolled around, and he calmed down after taking a long breath. He lowered his voice and said, "The people he mentioned were all wearing Taoist robes, and there were vaguely Lin Lin among them. Lingsu, this demon is not dead?!"
"And Guan Luoyang, he must be an old friend and rescuer of the Demon Dao. What a shame, what on earth do the Gao brothers think? They are also officials of the imperial court after all, and they actually go and dig some grave in person, and dig out such a big trouble. "
Liu Qi hesitated and said: "Since something happened, what happened in Liangshan..."
"Liangshan Caoji is still nothing to worry about, but you must be careful of these demons."
Liu Guang had completely calmed down and said, "Without Shi Wengong, we need to hire a few more generals and experts to keep an eye on those monsters. Qi'er, go to Jiangzhou City and ask for troops to be stationed there." Yan Shude is here to help, Lin'er, go and invite Guo Jing."
The two sons did not dare to neglect and left in a hurry.
Liu Guang paced in the study, walking back and forth a few times. After a while, he looked at the letters in his hand. For fear that he was not thinking carefully enough, he got up and went to the backyard.
In Liu Huiniang's boudoir, there was the sound of a slight cough and the sounds of concern from several maids.
Liu Guang had just arrived outside the boudoir when he heard a soft sound of a mechanism, and the window opened automatically, revealing the scene inside.
There is a large table in the house, placed next to the window. On the table are small sailboats, carriages and horses, all made of wood.
The palm-sized wooden cow, with its trunk inlaid with reddish-brown ore, spread out its four hooves and kept walking on the table.
Liu Huiniang leaned over the table, covering the lower half of her face with a handkerchief, looking out the window, and said, "Father, I hear you are hurriedly walking. Have you encountered any difficulties?"
"It's not a big or small trouble." Liu Guang stood outside the window and handed over the letter, and a maid came to pick it up.
The maid opened the letter and moved next to Liu Huiniang, waiting for her to read the handwriting clearly.
Liu Guang asked casually: "Have you gotten better these days?"
Liu Huiniang was distracted. She read the letter and said with a smile: "A few days ago, my two brothers took me to see the manor. The cows, horses, and snails were all made according to my drawings. After I played around, I felt I feel refreshed and my headache is much relieved.”
Liu Huiniang was injured in her mother's womb. She was smart but frail since she was a child. She could not practice the magic arts of immortality and magic. In addition to studying at home, she only liked to play with small people and animals made of wood.
More than ten years ago, an old monk passed by Liu's house. He was so shocked when he saw these little things that he insisted on begging Liu Huiniang to be a successor. Liu Guang refused, so the old monk stole the children at night.
Liu Guang's first wife missed her daughter so much that she went blind from crying, and she passed away soon after.
It wasn't until last year that Liu Huiniang returned home. She said that she had learned all kinds of magic shields, traps, and tricks from the old monk. The old monk had passed away, so she was able to go down the mountain.
Liu Guang was naturally happy to get his beloved daughter back. Later, he encountered some disturbing things in the officialdom. Liu Huiniang pointed out a clear way for him with just a few words, which made him even more happy.
Just to make his daughter happy, he surrounded a fertile field outside the city, leveled the crops, ordered villagers to build rockeries, and dug streams. He also recruited thousands of craftsmen to build various devices according to Liu Huiniang's drawings.
Those things were made of wood, stone, and iron shells, driven by minerals, and were extremely exquisite. Even if the craftsmen followed the drawings carefully, they still produced mountains of scraps. They wasted countless good ores and materials, and finally created the paradise that Liu Huiniang's family thought of.
"So that's what happened."
After reading the letter, Liu Huiniang coughed and said, "Liangshan now has at least two tiger generals and two top Taoist priests. The actual number of masters may be even more. Although there are no soldiers and horses, we must guard against them. The head of the general will be taken. Father, I must have sent someone to invite Yan Shude and Guo Jing, right?"
Liu Guang nodded.
"It's not safe enough." Liu Huiniang thought for a moment, "Father sent someone to prepare gold silk, BMW and fragrant inkstones, and go and invite Lin Chong."
Liu Guang looked unhappy: "Lin Chong? This guy also made some meritorious deeds when he conquered Xixia, but he was also a guy who didn't know how to advance or retreat. He criticized many of his father's friends in Bianliang and was disgusted by the officials, so he was demoted here. In recent years, my father has suppressed him a lot."
Liu Huiniang smiled: "After all, he still has an official status and is excellent in martial arts. Father, you just made him a little poorer, and you didn't dare to actually use the knife on him. It's not a big mistake."
Liu Guang snorted coldly: "Many barefoot clerks from Jingdong East Road, rough bandits in the green forest, because they joined the army together and did not know how to be an official, they still have some contact with Lin Chong after returning home. I want to Even if I really want to kill him, it’s not worth it..."
Halfway through his words, he realized, "Huiniang, what you mean is that as long as I invite Lin Chong, Lei Heng, Zhu Dian, Du Qian, Shi Xiu and others will also have to work for us this time?"
Liu Huiniang nodded and said: "This group of people are not suitable for the court, and they have official status. They can no longer associate with the common people. In fact, they inevitably feel lonely, so they keep in touch. Father, as long as you give them enough face, even in their hearts Even if I don’t want to share the same path with you, I will always be willing to do my best for you.”
Liu Guangxin said: "Besides, I can still ask the imperial court for orders, so I can't help but refuse."
Liu Huiniang said: "Giving kindness and power at the same time is naturally the best."
Liu Guang felt relieved, stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Turn the enemy into a pawn and serve as my vanguard. Even my father was not so broad-minded and failed to think of them in time. My Huiniang is the real daughter of Zhuge."
After Liu Guang left, Liu Huiniang looked out the window and saw the bright sky. She swallowed pills, suppressed her cough, and ordered her servants to get off the carriage and go to the government manor to play.
The manor is outside the city, and the carriage has to go out of the city.
Liu Huiniang originally raised the curtains of her carriage to take in the sights of the city, but when she was about to leave the city gate, there were more beggars on the road.
Under the corner outside the city wall, there are many naked people with sallow faces and thin muscles squatting.
Just taking a look from a distance, Liu Huiniang seemed to have smelled the stench on their bodies. She covered her nose and said, "Are there more beggars here?"
The coachman said: "I heard that some tenants outside the city had their fields sold to the prefect to build manors, and they became beggars."
Liu Huiniang shook her head and said: "It is so prosperous under my father's rule. If you can't farm, you can also do other jobs. If it doesn't work, you can be a boatman and help unload the goods."
The maid smiled and said: "They are all old, young, women and children, how can they have such strength?"
Liu Huiniang said: "You girl is really stupid. There are many people in the city who look about the same age as them. They have white hair and can sleep in brothels at night. In fact, they are not old at this age. If you look at them, they still have strength. "Begging from passers-by shows that you are really old and weak, but you are just indolent and indolent."
After all, she was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to look any further, so she lowered the curtains and waited wholeheartedly to play in the manor.
The carriage rumbled across the road.
Half an hour later, several carriages stopped in front of Lin Chong's house.
Liu Guang sent people to move the treasures in the carriage into Lin Chong's home one by one, stayed there for three-quarters of an hour, and talked patiently before leaving.
Lin Chong was dressed in a plain green round-neck robe and a green scarf on his head. He looked very elegant. After sending the person away, he sat at home with a frown on his face.
A thin man walked in from outside the door, raised his hands and congratulated: "Congratulations to Brother Lin, congratulations to Brother Lin. I saw the emblem of the Liu Zhifu family on the carriage. I have given you so many treasures. I think Brother Lin will be used in important ways again. In the future, As you flourish, never forget your little brother."
Lin Chong said angrily: "Li Kaixian, why do you think of me like this? I forgive Lin Chong for being a vulgar person and not worthy of talking to you. You can go back to your home."
Li Kaixian hurriedly stepped forward and patted Lin Chong on the back, begging for mercy: "I was just joking. If Brother Lin is not angry, why not punch me and treat it as atonement."
Lin Chong clenched his fists and looked at him, fearing that if he blew too hard, he could blow him to death, so he finally endured it and told Liu Guang about his invitation in a depressed tone.
"Attack Liangshan?"
Li Kai first put his hands behind his waist, took two steps, and said, "Brother Lin may have to go for this matter."
Lin Chong said: "I understand that Liangshanshuibo is nothing more than grassroots bandits at most. Liu Guang really wants to attack, and it will be effortless. Why does he have to involve our brothers in it? I am really worried that there is some conspiracy in it."
Li Kaixian laughed loudly: "Grass bandits? Does Brother Lin really think they are bandits?"
"Eight hundred miles of water, no swords, no swords, and the surrounding area has long been sparsely populated. Who can they rob? Brother Lin, in the past few years, have you ever heard of any villages or towns being plundered by Liangshan?"
"Those are just common people who were deliberately forced to go to Liangshan."
Lin Chong's expression suddenly changed.
His good friend Li Kaixian was a Jinshi from Quancheng all the way to Bianliang. He was outstanding in learning, extraordinary in wisdom, and even more fierce.
At first, Li Kaixian wanted to see the emperor and explained the pros and cons, but he failed to do so. Instead, he was reprimanded. The next day, he brought a sword to the imperial city.
When Lin Chong met him, he was about to slit his wrists and pour blood on his words. Lin Chong heard the whole story and was ready to help him, but in the end they were driven out of Bianliang together, and they became sworn friends from then on.
Li Kaixian's words were never without purpose. Now that he said so, things in Liangshan must be even more fishy.
Lin Chong asked carefully, and the more he listened, the more shocked he became. Looking at the boxes of gold and satin, his eyes filled with anger, he said: "This old thief is so vicious! If my brother hadn't told me, Zhu Tong and I would have It’s really inevitable that we’ll have to go through this once, and when the time comes, we’ll regret it forever if we make a mistake…”
He gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.
Li Kaixian had quick eyes and quick hands, and grabbed his wrist, causing the whole person he brought to float sideways.
Lin Chong was startled and stopped hurriedly. Li Kaixian was able to land and asked in shock: "Brother Lin, where are you going?"
"I……"
Lin Chong was full of murderous intentions and just wanted to rush into Liu's house and kill Liu Guang, the old thief. However, when he thought that Liu Guang was a high official in the court after all and no solid evidence of crime had been caught, he suddenly felt at a loss.
He pointed at the box, "I, I will smash these things into Liu's house."
Li Kaixian shook his head repeatedly and said: "Brother Lin, you know that I wanted to seek death at first, but why didn't I mention it later?"
Lin Chong didn't know how to answer.
Li Kaixian said: "I just understand that our temporary anger is worthless. Only by being able to endure it can we find the opportunity to do something useful."
Lin Chong's face was dark, and after a while, he said, "Brother, tell me, what should we do?"
Li Kaixian said: "Just pretend that you have been invited by Liu Guang and set out with them to call Shi Xiu and the others. I predict that after these people capture Liangshan, they will kill people randomly and treat them as military exploits. When the time comes, they can save How many people do you need to show your abilities, Brother Lin?"
"But Liu Guang wants to attack Liangshan. He can do it on his own. If he comes to invite you, there must be something unexpected. When the time comes, you need to be more careful in the battle formation."
Lin Chong was persuaded by him.
Li Kaixian asked him, Shi Xiu and others to leave their families to him to take care of, and to quietly leave the city tonight and hide until the Liangshan incident was resolved.
It's daytime the next day.
Lin Chong, Shi Xiu and others rushed to the army and set out with Liu Qi and Liu Lin.
When we arrived at the open waterway, there were already three large ships and two to three hundred small boats on the river, waiting quietly there.
After everyone got on the boat, the big sail was raised and filled with wind power, and some navy ships gradually gathered on the road.
Thousands of sails raced to the watery Liangshan Mountains.
The Golden Crow tilted to the west. After sailing for a long time, Lin Chong looked at the past from the bow of the ship. Liangshan Mountain was already in the distance.
Everyone stopped the boat to prepare for the night. Infantrymen had already set up camp on the shore and put up a large flag with Chinese characters and another strange flag embroidered with the image of the King of Heaven.
The swords and guns in the army are neatly arranged, the voices of people and horses are heard, and there are traces of people everywhere. Some people are checking the bow strings, and some are wiping the heads of guns.
When Lin Chong and the others saw Yan Shude and Guo Jingzhi waiting outside the tent...
Guan Luoyang also saw them on Liangshan Mountain.
