Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Can't figure it out? Never mind then, I'll just have Xiao Li take action."

Seeing the expression on Old Buddha Wang's face, as if he were having trouble using the toilet, Zhou Tong decided he didn't want to hear anything more.

You shouldn't have consulted fortune tellers. What's the point of all that? It's just about Li Yijian. Why make such a fuss?

“Brother Zhou, although this person’s fate is strange, it’s definitely impossible for him to harm your disciple again. Besides, he and your disciple still have an unresolved karmic entanglement, so we should give them a break. Moreover, resolving this karmic entanglement will only benefit your disciple.”

"Old Buddha Wang continued," he said.

"Didn't you say you couldn't see it before? How come you can see the ill-fated relationship now? Are you making fun of me?"

Zhou Tong rolled his eyes at Old Buddha Wang, "You old codger, you're just asking for a beating. If it weren't for the fact that you've lost your martial arts skills, I'd like to have a little spar with you."

"Well, Brother Zhou, it's just that we didn't have enough time earlier. You know that fortune telling takes time..."

Old Buddha Wang chuckled and then continued:

“Brother Zhou, please don’t make things difficult for me. When I read your third apprentice’s fortune last time, I felt that he had lost at least two or three years of his lifespan. We can’t do things that reveal heavenly secrets too often. I still want to live a few more years.”

"Hmph, back then, whoever was so desperate to have their martial arts skills abolished, and now they actually think they can live a few more years?"

"Brother Zhou, can we not talk about this?"

Old Buddha Wang blushed. He had initially thought he should be tough and die early, but Zhou Tong spared his life. However, after living freely in the mountains for a while, he regretted it. Without the power he had accumulated over those decades, Old Buddha Wang knew he wouldn't live much longer. But his life was getting better every day, which made him hope to live a few more years and experience more.

"Alright, with your meditative lifestyle of sitting in meditation every day, you'll live another ten years without a problem. Let's go. Since this person doesn't have any mysterious destiny, let's keep him around."

Zhou Tong ignored Qin Hui. In his opinion, if it weren't for the fact that it concerned his disciple, this man wouldn't even deserve a second glance from him.

Qin Hui had no idea that he had just narrowly escaped death. Lately, he had been enjoying talking to people in various places in the mountains. He wanted to make two preparations and figure out which positions in the Liangshan headquarters would be suitable if he didn't become a county magistrate.

After all, Liangshan is essentially the capital of Dayi, the most central place. Yan Yun is just an outpost, how can it be as good as serving in the capital?

It must be said that Qin Hui was born to be an official; even in terms of his political acumen, he was no less capable than those seasoned veterans.

What he didn't know was that he was currently the only one whose place had already been decided. No matter what rank he achieved in the exam, he would eventually serve under Yue Fei.

After all, Qin Hui, now in his early twenties, is still a passionate young man, so enlisting him in the army wouldn't be a problem. The only question is whether he'll resort to the "fabricated charges" tactic again. But even if he does, it'll probably be ineffective.

……

After Qin Hui's matter was largely resolved, Ren Yuan still needed to deal with another person. Unlike Qin Hui, this person earned Ren Yuan's heartfelt admiration.

That's right, Grandpa Zong, I'm talking about you!

To deal with him, Ren Yuan could only bring Xiao Jiasui, Chai Jin, and Wang Huan, and once again called upon his master.

“Master, Zong Ze is not the same as Qin Hui. Don’t say anything about taking action, or he will definitely rush to commit suicide.”

Ren Yuan said to his master.

"Go away, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhou Tong rolled his eyes at Ren Yuan. Did this silly apprentice think everyone was like him?

"I've heard of Zong Ze. He's a bit of a disappointment, but he's a good person, just a little stubborn. You brought Old Wang, the Chai family boy, and the Xiao family boy along this time, so there shouldn't be any problem. What do you want from me?"

“Master, I’m just worried that Old Master Wang won’t say much during the performance. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. I need you to help me keep things under control in this performance.”

Ren Yuan said with a grin that although Wang Huan was also a senior, he was getting old and a bit clumsy with words. Ren Yuan was worried that the old man Wang would not be able to beat Zong Ze in a verbal battle, so he still had to use his own trump card.

"Although I know you're trying to provoke me, you're right, Old Wang's verbal skills aren't what they used to be. If that old codger Huyan Bao were here, it would be appropriate to invite him along."

After Zhou Tong agreed, Ren Yuan was relieved. He asked Shi Qian to personally go to the inn and invite Zong Ze to the back mountain, while he waited in a courtyard on the back mountain.

"Senior Zong, my brother invites you."

Shi Qian was efficient; while Zong Ze and his old servant were taking a walk together, Shi Qian went up and invited him.

“I’ve been thinking these past few days about when Chief Ren will invite me over, but it seems it’s not too late yet.”

Zong Ze was not surprised to be found. This time he did not use an alias and registered his identity under his real name, so it would be easy for anyone with the intention to find him.

Ren Yuan was delayed for a few days.

Of course, Zong Ze didn't forget to subtly criticize Ren Yuan in his words. He still referred to Ren Yuan as "chieftain," making it clear that Da Yi was irrelevant and that Ren Yuan was just a strongman leader.

Shi Qian understood Zong Ze's meaning, but he didn't directly refute him. Instead, he smiled and said:

"Senior is too kind. Ever since my brother reclaimed the lands of Yanyun, Liao, and Goryeo, he has devoted himself to the people of Dayi. We wish we could help him share some of his burdens, but even after he became a prince, he always puts the people first."

"The reason I invited you today is because my brother said that you were a good official who cared for the people and was a pillar of the Song Dynasty. Coincidentally, my brother also loves the people and is also known as a pillar of the Song Dynasty, so he asked me to invite you."

"After all, although you have a lot of talent, you have nowhere to use it, so you have a lot of free time. But if you ask me, someone like you who has talent but can't use it is really just a so-called title, right? After all, if you don't use it, no one knows if you're really capable, right?"

Shi Qian didn't have many other feelings towards Zong Ze. As his brother's confidant, he would scold anyone who dared to speak ill of his brother.

Although you, Zong Ze, have some ability, you didn't achieve anything like that in the Song Dynasty. My brother told me about your abilities, so what are you so proud of?

"You arrogant brat! My master was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) back in the day..."

When Zongze's old servant saw that his master had been insulted by a bandit leader, he naturally jumped out to refute him, as the saying goes, "a subject dies for his master's dishonor."

"So what if you're a Tongjinshi? Are Tongjinshi rare?"

Shi Qian interrupted the old servant with disdain:

“Our strategist Xu is the top scholar in the imperial examination, while your master is just a junior scholar. Is that so great?”

"Come on, fellow Jinshi senior, you dared to come here, are you afraid to have a meal with my brother?"

……