Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Aye!"

Zong Ze was preparing to commit suicide, hoping to use his own blood to tell Ren Yuan that there were still people in the Song Dynasty!

But to his surprise, a chopstick flew over with a "whoosh" and hit his wrist, causing him to cry out in pain and drop the broken pieces of the plate to the ground!

His wrist was visibly red and swollen. Zong Ze covered his wrist and looked at the old man next to Ren Yuan. If he remembered correctly, someone had just said that this was Ren Yuan's master.

"Old man, what do you mean by this?"

"I invited you to dinner, and you act like you're going to die. How unlucky!"

Zhou Dong chewed on some meat while glancing sideways at Zong Ze.

“If you want to die, go out and die. Don’t die on Liangshan. Once you’re out of Liangshan, you can die anywhere. Even if you die at the crossroads, I won’t care.”

"Besides, if you truly have the will to die for the Song Dynasty, why did you come to Liangshan to take the imperial examination? Wouldn't it be better to go to Cai Jing's place and smash your head against the Bianjing Imperial Palace?"

"How old are you? Still trying to cheat just because you're old? You can't argue with a young person and you're ready to die. Have you wasted all those years of your education?"

Zhou Tong's words were rather harsh, causing Zong Ze's old face to turn bright red, but he did indeed stop his suicidal behavior.

"General Wang, you received imperial favor from the late emperor back then, so why are you here now?"

Wang Huan was back in Liangshan for a rest. He had previously gone to Goryeo to guard the area for a while, and now he had just returned.

"The late emperor is the late emperor, and Zhao Ji is Zhao Ji; they are not the same."

Wang Huan looked at Zong Ze and sighed softly.

“I know what you mean, that once a courtier, always a courtier. But I was once a bandit myself. I came down from the mountains to assist the late emperor because he was worthy of my service. Now you want me to return to the court, but who will I serve?”

"At your age, you're still so stubborn. I once held a position in the imperial court. Before Liangshan was established, how many of its people were forced to join the court?"

Zhou Tong continued the conversation.

"The court didn't want them first, and now you're blaming them?"

"Old man, if the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die!"

"Senior Zong, that traitor Zhao Kuangyin was a subject of my family back then. My ancestors also demanded that he die, so why didn't he die?"

Chai Jin picked up his teacup and began to speak as he drank.

"Exactly, you've lived to a ripe old age, yet you've lived it in such a muddled way that it's hard to know what to say."

Zhou Tong said, "If it weren't for my apprentice, I wouldn't bother talking to you at all."

"Senior Zong, if you were the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty today, I might have said a few more words to you if you came to me with these words. But now you don't even have a place in the Song court, which means that the Song Dynasty doesn't like you at all. And you still want to drag me down with you at this time, Senior, that's not very kind of you."

Ren Yuan handed over the final knife with a grin. Zong Ze was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn't commit suicide either, so he could only vent his resentment on his food and started eating voraciously.

"Slow down, slow down, senior, are you trying to choke to death? Let me tell you, what you're doing is wrong, this is faking an accident, you know?"

Ren Yuan looked at Zong Ze's chubby cheeks, which resembled those of a squirrel, and quickly said, "Old man, you should take it easy."

"Brother, what does 'porcelain bumping' mean?" Shi Qian asked.

“Some scoundrels would walk around the bustling streets with fake porcelain, and then, when they had a chance, they would deliberately let a pedestrian or carriage accidentally bump into it, causing the porcelain to fall to the ground and break. Then the scoundrel would pester the person and demand compensation at the price of a genuine piece of porcelain.”

Ren Yuan explained, then looked at Zong Ze:

"My master just said, senior, if you want to die, we won't stop you, but don't die in Liangshan. Once you leave Liangshan, you can die however you want."

"I will not die!"

Zong Ze forcefully swallowed the food in his mouth!

"I will participate in this imperial examination, and I will strive to become the top scholar. Didn't you say that the top scholar can become a prefectural magistrate? I want to see if you will actually use me, a subject of the Great Song Dynasty, if I become the top scholar!"

Zong Ze seemed to be preparing to spite Ren Yuan, and he actually said that he wanted to become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Alright, alright, everyone heard it. Grandpa Zong said he wants to be the top scholar. We will definitely grade the papers fairly, justly, and openly. If the top scholar is not our senior in the end, then our senior will lose face big time."

Ren Yuan didn't hold back either. Although he knew Zong Ze was very strong, there were also geniuses among this year's candidates. With the exam papers anonymous and the handwriting of the candidates basically unknown, it was really hard to say who would be the top scorer.

"Hmph, I really don't believe your imperial examinations can be that difficult. I've finished eating, farewell."

Zong Ze seemed to have found a way to "strike" at Ren Yuan again. He barely ate anything, hurriedly shoveled down a few bites, and then got up to leave.

"Shi Qian, see Elder Zong off."

Ren Yuan gestured for Shi Qian to see the person off.

"No need! I know the way!"

Zong Ze rejected Ren Yuan's proposal and then made another harsh statement:

"Ren Yuan, I admit you are skilled in warfare and I thank you for reclaiming Yan and Yun, but I still believe you are incapable of governing a country. In this imperial examination, I want to see how capable you are in civil administration!"

"Then I wish you all the best in passing the imperial examination and becoming the top scholar, so you can mock me properly! By the way, senior, please don't commit suicide before you become the top scholar!"

Ren Yuan raised his glass high towards Zong Ze, showing no sign of anger.

"Hmph! I know! Farewell!"

Zong Ze turned and left. Shi Qian gestured with his eyes for the people from Tianmu to follow, then sat back down next to Ren Yuan.

"Brother, this old guy is clearly a die-hard loyalist of the Song Dynasty, why are you so patient with him?"

"He and Li Gang were the last pillars of the Song Dynasty. Although they were loyal to the Song Dynasty, I still admire them."

Ren Yuan watched Zong Ze's departing figure, feeling quite emotional.

Although no agreement was reached with Zong Ze, at least this old man no longer has to call for "crossing the river" repeatedly in his life, and he won't have to pass away with regrets, which is enough.

“My brother is still soft-hearted, especially towards the elderly.”

Hsiao Chia-hui said that it was fortunate that it was Ren Yuan; if it had been anyone else, Zong Ze would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago for his stubborn behavior.

"Your Highness, Zong Ze is a very good person, especially regarding this imperial examination..."

Wang Huan opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something for Zong Ze.

"General, rest assured, I will not target him. This imperial examination will be fair, just, and open. I will have Pei Xuan personally supervise the entire grading process. If Senior Zong truly has the talent to govern the world, then what's wrong with giving him the title of top scholar?"

Ren Yuan waved his hand, indicating that Wang Huan didn't need to worry.

Whether he answers or not is his business; whether I give it to him or not is mine.

"Your Highness has a magnanimous heart, which I admire greatly."

Wang Huan nodded repeatedly. Sure enough, this young man was increasingly showing the characteristics of a wise ruler.

"Third brother, is this matter settled?"

Zhou Tong put down his bowl and looked at Ren Yuan.

"Yes, Master."

Ren Yuan said that his master had worked hard these past two days, dealing with two major troublemakers, Qin Hui and Zong Ze.

"Alright, didn't I say at the military headquarters that I'd give you a few more pointers? Come on, let's go to the drill ground now, and I'll give you a few more pointers..."