Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"The true person is unhindered?"

When Master Luo returned to the city on his green ox, Xu Guanzhong and the others immediately surrounded him.

"Of course it's fine. The Liao people have also declined. If this were a few decades ago, it would be hard to say."

Master Luo shook his head. Judging from today's situation, the Liao Kingdom's fate should be nearing its end.

"Did you encounter an old man with three disciples? That old man should have been wearing a pair of boxing gloves."

Guan Sheng suddenly realized something and quickly asked Master Luo.

"An old man? I didn't encounter one. I encountered a wandering ascetic."

Master Luo was somewhat puzzled. What, is there another problem?

"A hermit? That's not right."

Guan Sheng stated that the person he saw was not a Buddhist monk, but an old man.

“Master, the last time I saw him was an old man. He was very strong. Wuyan Guang was captured by him.”

"Oh?"

After hearing Guan Sheng's words, Luo Zhenren became interested. He knew Wuyan Guang, the number one general of Liao, whose martial arts skills had long reached the pinnacle.

"Compared to that Wuyan Guang, who is stronger?"

Master Luo asked Guan Sheng.

"Although we've never fought, if it were one-on-one, he and I would be... evenly matched."

Guan Sheng originally wanted to say that he was sure he could win, but seeing Luo Zhenren's ambiguous smile, Guan Sheng finally told the truth.

"In other words, that old man can also defeat you."

"……Yes."

Although he was very reluctant to admit it, Guan Sheng couldn't lie in front of Master Luo.

"Then you couldn't defeat that ascetic just now either."

Master Luo was just telling the truth.

“Master, how could this be? According to Senior Zhou’s martial arts ranking, Brother Guan is only sixth in the world.”

Suo Chao wondered, "How come so many powerful people have suddenly appeared?"

"You mean that list that old bastard Zhou Tong made?"

Master Luo, of course, knew about Zhou Tong's martial arts rankings. He stroked his beard:

"First, that list only included people from the former Zhao Song territory. Second, it only included martial arts practitioners, not Taoist or Buddhist practitioners. Third, that list was mostly made up of the younger generation; the older generation was not included, so it's normal that some old monsters weren't on the list."

"So, that ranking is inaccurate?"

Suo Chao was just being impulsive; he only realized his mistake after he said it. Could he really just say something like that so casually?!

"Then you're wrong. That old guy Zhou Tong is quite accurate when it comes to martial arts. There's nothing wrong with the list he made."

"Master, there are two dangerous people in the Jin Kingdom right now, and you alone..."

Gongsun Sheng seemed to have thought of something, and asked his master somewhat uncertainly.

"Didn't several people from your Dayi already make a decision? Why is there only Guan Junhou's descendant here? Send a message to your brother asking for help and tell him to bring people over quickly."

"As for your master, this ascetic can't beat me today, and even if the other one is strong, he shouldn't be stronger than me, so you don't need to worry."

Master Luo said that since entering the Northern Territory, he has been casting a divination for himself every day. The divination results for the past few days have all been auspicious, so Master Luo concluded that he would not be in danger.

“Master, please rest first. I have already sent a message to my brother, and I believe he will arrive soon.”

Xu Guanzhong said, "Then everyone should rest for now and wait for the army to arrive." Then he looked up at Guan Sheng.

"Brother Guan Sheng."

"The strategist gave his instructions."

"The Liao people are no longer viable; they are fleeing in droves. I need you to launch an attack in the next few days to pursue them."

Xu Guanzhong thought for a moment and then gave the order.

"Pursue the Liao people?"

Guan Sheng was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. After all, their principle during this period had been to maintain the balance of power between the Liao and Jin dynasties. Now that the Jin had sent several powerful figures, the balance of power between the two countries had been broken. If they were to attack the Liao now, wouldn't that be...

"The Liao people are no longer capable and can no longer help us hold off the Jin people."

Xu Guanzhong stated that the Jurchens now have so much more fighting power that the Liao Dynasty can no longer delay them.

"The Liao Kingdom is finished, let's take over. But to prevent the Liao Kingdom from making its last desperate struggle, Brother Guan Sheng, you need to suppress the remaining Liao forces!"

Xu Guanzhong pointed westward and said to Guan Sheng:

“That is the only remaining sphere of influence of the Liao Kingdom. Brother Guan Sheng, the western front of the entire battlefield is entrusted to you. I have only one request: that there be no fighting on the western front.”

Guan Sheng understood Xu Guanzhong's meaning. He clasped his hands in a fist and made a promise to Xu Guanzhong:

"Guan Sheng understands! Please rest assured, strategist, I will definitely conquer the Western Capital of Liao and bring glory to my Great Yi!"

Just as Xu Guanzhong was making arrangements, a scout rushed over with the latest intelligence:

"Report! Strategist! The Prince has sent a letter. The Northern Expeditionary Army will arrive in two days. We must hold the border during these two days. If the Liao Kingdom is no match for the Jin Kingdom, then abandon them. From now on, the Jin Kingdom is our greatest enemy."

"That's exactly what the strategist said!"

When the generals heard that Ren Yuan's handling of the Liao Kingdom was exactly the same as what Xu Guanzhong had just said, they all sighed. No wonder the military advisor Xu was entrusted with such an important task, guarding the border alone and dealing with the two countries. He truly understood his brother's heart!

"Very good! Go and be on guard! Master, you have come a long way and must be tired. Your lodging has been arranged in the city. Please come with me."

"Brother Guan Sheng, your troops should not pursue the Liao army for the next two days. All the firearms of the Shenji Army in the city are at your disposal to slow down the Jin army's pursuit!"

……

Two days actually go by very quickly.

In the past two days, the Liao army has completely abandoned this battlefield. They have all withdrawn and fled towards Xijing.

The Jurchens, of course, did not want to miss this opportunity to kick a man when he was down. They attempted to pursue the Liao army all the way to Xijing and destroy the Liao state.

However, Guan Sheng's appearance forced them to postpone their plans.

For the past two days, Guan Sheng has been leading his soldiers in hit-and-run tactics against the Jurchens. He knows that it is unlikely that he can stop all the pursuers, and he also does not want to stop the Jurchens for the Liao people.

Therefore, he only carried out harassment warfare. He used all the remaining firearms of the Shenji Army to harass the Jin army. In particular, he liked to let a group of Jin soldiers pass through his defense line and then attack the rear guard with all his might to create chaos and slow down the Jin army's advance. On one or two occasions, the cannons even hit the Jin army's supply train.

The Jurchens were initially surprised by the sudden appearance of a third-party army, but then dismissed it as nothing more than a group of Han Chinese, not worth fearing. After all, in their view, the Liao people were stronger than the Han people, and the Jurchens were stronger than the Liao people; by this logic, the Jurchens were naturally stronger than the Han people as well.

In the past two days, Pufeng once again led his troops into battle, but he once again faced Luo Zhenren. This time, Pufeng held on for a longer time. The two fought for about fifty or sixty rounds before Pufeng was defeated and fled. Before leaving, he pointed at Luo Zhenren and said, "If I can't deal with you, someone else will!"

Therefore, the Jin army split into two parts. One part, led by Wanyan Loushi, continued to pursue the Liao people, while the other part stayed behind, led by Wanyan Wugumai, to prepare to fight against the Han people.

Wanyan Wuqimai even joked with Wanyan Loushi, saying that this time, it would be a test between the two of them to see who could first achieve the merit of destroying a country!

Xu Guanzhong made a decisive decision to order Guan Sheng to lead his troops back to the city to defend it. He would certainly fight back if the Jin army wanted to, but he would not fight them when their morale was at its highest!

Moreover, Ren Yuan's Northern Expeditionary Army was about to arrive!

This Northern Expeditionary Army not only mobilized Master Zhou Tong, but also his three fellow disciples Lin Chong, Lu Junyi, and Ren Yuan, along with many cavalry and infantry generals such as Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Yuan Lang, Hua Rong, Huyan Zhuo, and Deng Yuanjue.

Among these people, Yuan Lang deserves special mention. This former Liangshan veteran infantry general has quietly become a near-peerless master, and like Qin Ming, continues to serve as the gatekeeper for the cavalry and infantry generals.

Moreover, Yuan Lang was extremely low-key. He never mentioned that his martial arts had improved. It was only after Qin Ming, who had recently broken through to a higher level, returned to the mountain and challenged him to a duel, that the two fought for two hundred and fifty rounds in the arena to a draw. That's when everyone learned that Yuan Lang had also improved.

"Master, I have a question."

Just as they were about to enter the city, Ren Yuan suddenly asked Zhou Tong a question.

"You said."

Zhou Tong rode on his horse, eyes closed, as if he were out for a spring outing.

"Compared to you, who is stronger, the Gongsun brothers' master, Master Luo?"

"good question."

Zhou Tong opened one eye, glanced at Ren Yuan, and then closed it again.

"The last time they sparred was decades ago. He was just a minor Taoist priest from Erxian Mountain. As for now..."

……

"what?"

On the border city wall, Master Luo was meditating when he suddenly had a premonition and cast a divination for himself.

"It's not auspicious, but somewhere between auspicious and inauspicious?"

……