Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"What gives you the right to look down on me? You traitorous bastard!"

Fang Xuedu was furious after hearing Bian Xiang's words. He had used such foul language to provoke Bian Xiang into killing him.

"Tsk, you're ruthless. You actually provoked me like this just to prevent me from saying anything about recruiting."

Bian Xiang shook his head helplessly. Fang Xuedu was indeed one of the toughest men under Tian Hu, otherwise he wouldn't have led his men in guerrilla warfare for so long.

"I'm here today on my brother's orders to have a chat with you. If we can talk, we can sit down and discuss it. If not..."

Before Bian Xiang could finish speaking, Fang Xuedu interrupted and answered:

"Does that mean you're going to kill us?"

"Kill you? What heinous things have you done? Did you rob the local people? Or did you kill them?"

Bian Xiang rolled his eyes at Fang Xuedu. He had never seen anyone so eager to die. If you were so eager to die, why didn't you fight to the death with Li Tianxi and Zheng Zhirui when Tian Hu was wiped out?

"You didn't do anything, why should we let you die? What do you take my Dayi for? The underworld? People die all the time?"

"you!"

After being rebuked by Bian Xiang, Fang Xuedu was caught off guard and immediately found himself at a disadvantage!

"Hmph, Lao Fang, what are you pretending for? Others may not know you, but I know you well enough!"

Bian Xiang didn't miss the opportunity and continued speaking:

"Didn't you tell me back then that a real man's life is about making a name for himself and achieving something great, so that he won't have lived in vain?"

"So have you done it now? You always told me that you were a descendant of Fang Xuanling of the Tang Dynasty, and that your original name was Fang Xuandu. You changed your name to Fang Xuedu because you felt that you had not yet achieved the merits of your ancestor and wanted to learn from him. Now that you are like this, how will you explain to your ancestor in the underworld?"

"you……"

Fang Xuedu's face turned bright red. He hadn't expected Bian Xiang to expose his past so soon!

"If your ancestor, Master Fang, knew that you had chosen a master who was ambitious but incompetent and greedy for pleasure, I wonder if he would give you a good scolding in his dreams!"

"Can we not talk about my ancestors?"

Fang Xuedu sighed. Not many of Harada Tora's men knew his background, but Bian Xiang was an exception! The two had indeed had a good relationship back then.

"So now you can speak properly?"

Bian Xiang smiled and then sat down face to face with Fang Xuedu.

"You Liangshan, oh no, it's called Dayi now, don't you have some kind of Big Dipper Seven Stars strategist? You shouldn't lack scholars, so why are you looking for me?"

Fang Xuedu expressed his doubts.

"Yes, Lao Fang, Mr. Wen once told us that learning is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. It's the same with life. Look at you now, always on the run. Haven't you been paying attention to world affairs for a long time?"

“Seven strategists were certainly enough before, but now Liangshan is in dire need of talent, especially someone like you.”

"You talk as if you have such a large territory. It's just eight hundred li of water. Is it so hard for one person to manage less than a hundred li?"

Fang Xuedu expressed his disdain, saying that when Tian Hu started his rebellion, he controlled five prefectures and fifty-six counties, and at his peak, he controlled six prefectures. At that time, they did not have a shortage of strategists.

Liangshan only has such a small territory, yet they still want scholars? Aren't they afraid of choking themselves to death?

"Who told you we only have Liangshan? You're familiar with the more than ten prefectures of Yanyun, aren't you? We just took them back."

When Bian Xiang had to make a living in the martial arts world due to a family tragedy, Fang Xuedu did help him a lot. That's why Bian Xiang is speaking to him so politely now. Otherwise, would he really think that being ranked fifth in the world is just a boast?

Are you making fun of me? You've taken back Yan Yun?

Upon hearing the name Yan Yun, Fang Xuedu immediately perked up.

At that time, Tian Hu was in a critical situation and considered going to the Liao people to borrow troops. The Liao people were so fierce that Tian Hu didn't dare to provoke them. Now Bian Xiang actually said that they had taken back Yan and Yun? Are you kidding me?

"Why would I need to make fun of you? It's just that you guys don't go out much in these mountains, so you have no idea what's going on."

Bian Xiang snorted disdainfully. This old house is now far from what it used to be!

"We not only reclaimed Yan and Yun, but also captured three of the five capitals of the Liao Kingdom! We routed the Liao people, leaving them in disarray and utterly defeated! Old Fang, did Tian Hu dare to claim he had this ability at his peak?"

Fang Xuedu really wanted to jump up and point his finger at Bian Xiang, yelling at him for lying, but he quickly suppressed his impulse.

Based on his understanding of Bian Xiang, he knew that the big man would never lie. If Bian Xiang had been more persuasive when he was acting as a lobbyist, he might have recruited even more people!

Now that he is so calm and composed, Fang Xuedu is more inclined to believe that he is not faking it. Otherwise, it can only mean that after so many years apart, Bian Xiang may have improved in other skills, but his tricks of deceiving people have become even more refined!

"Being able to reclaim Yanyun can be considered as fulfilling the dreams of all the brothers and getting justice for the people. Congratulations."

After believing this, Fang Xuedu solemnly bowed to Bian Xiang.

"You've accomplished something that so many people have always wanted to do but haven't been able to. Please thank Ren Yuan for me."

Fang Xuedu stated that, from the perspective of the Han people as a whole, Ren Yuan deserves any praise he may bestow. However, he would never personally praise Ren Yuan, absolutely not…

"Why should I stand up for you? Is there anything you're afraid to say to my brother face to face?"

Bian Xiang leaned the axe handle against his shoulder and went straight to the core issue:

"In the end, it's just that they don't want to admit that they made a mistake back then, that they chose the wrong person, and that they're unwilling to admit that it was their fault!"

"Now that you see my brother getting better and better, and my Dayi business becoming more and more successful, your pride is getting in the way, and you're unwilling to face reality!"

"You, you, I, I've thought about it for a long time..." Fang Xuedu had just calmed down when his shortcomings were exposed again, which made him anxious!

This time, however, Bian Xiang interrupted him.

"After much deliberation, you finally chose Tian Hu. Old Fang, you should admit that you made a mistake in your judgment back then."

Fang Xuedu's already flushed face turned even redder, the veins on his forehead bulged, and his temples throbbed. He argued, "Deliberation can't be considered wrong... Deliberation... Deliberation will definitely not be right sometimes, can it be considered wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Bian Xiang burst into laughter. His laughter was so infectious that it seemed to instantly lift the spirits of the surrounding air!

"Old Fang, don't be so stubborn! Aren't you just afraid of being treated unfairly? Let me tell you, don't worry, Brother Pei Xuan is the most fair and just person! Such a thing will never happen in my Dayi!"

After laughing, Bian Xiang looked at Fang Xuedu, who was almost unable to control his expression, and said in a serious tone.

"Moreover, my Dayi is really short-staffed right now. My brother said that if you're willing, you can come and assist in military affairs anytime. I won't let you start from scratch!"

“Tian Hu’s defection to Liao has nothing to do with you. You would rather lead people into the mountains to eat tree bark and grass roots than surrender to the Liao people. That’s enough.”

"Come on, you recommended me to Tian Hu back then, now I'm recommending you to my brother. What goes around comes around, what are you still hesitating about?"

With a few words, Bian Xiang both calmed him down and challenged him, even going so far as to pat Fang Xuedu on the shoulder to soothe him.

After all that, Fang Xuedu gradually lost his anxious look.

"...That Ren Yuan, won't he blame me someday? And will he even make me participate in military secrets?"

Fang Xuedu asked one last question.

"Old Fang, whether it is or not, you can see for yourself. Back then, you dared to rebel with Tian Hu. Are you getting bolder and bolder now?"

"I'll just ask you one question: Are you a man? Do you have the guts to come to Dayi?"

Fang Xuedu was so provoked by Bian Xiang's last question that he jumped up!

"Bian Xiang, you... I can even use that thing in medicine, tell me, do you think I'm impotent?!"

"It's just going to Dayi, I'll go!"