Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"So, what are you going to do?"

Hu Yanbao looked at Ren Yuan with great interest.

"Dengzhou is the closest to Liangshan and the best outlet to the sea. Moreover, I found a nautical chart on that group of Japanese pirates earlier."

Ren Yuan took out a nautical chart and waved it at Hu Yanbao.

"If the old general is willing, we can share this nautical chart and then look together at which overseas islands can serve as the base for our Liangshan Army and Peace Navy."

"As for the future, I will consider attacking Goryeo first, then going around to the Liao and Jin kingdoms from behind, destroying these two foreign tribes, and then becoming king."

"If the old general is willing, he can conquer the three islands of the Japanese pirates and then establish himself as king. I suppose the old general has been thinking about doing this for a long time."

"After all, the world is so vast, there's no need to focus solely on the Song Dynasty!"

Ren Yuan said to Hu Yanbao.

"The Song Dynasty is our homeland. Can you bear to watch the people of our homeland be oppressed by this tyrannical court? Furthermore, don't you have any intention of replacing this court?"

Hu Yanbao asked again.

"I will save as many people as I can. I will properly settle the people who are willing to follow me to Liangshan and go to sea. As for the people of the Central Plains, that depends on how long the current court can hold on. If it can't hold on, I don't mind sending it on its way quickly."

Ren Yuan was also very frank.

"Good lad! Ambitious! I like it! Much better than those who talk about loyalty but do dirty things behind people's backs!"

“Speaking out your ambitions shows that you are confident in your abilities, and I like that.”

Huyan Bao laughed heartily. He was old and probably wouldn't live to see that day, but the Song Dynasty had such a young man. Well, as long as this kid didn't die young, there was hope.

"General, you flatter me. At this moment, the capabilities of Liangshan are far from reaching that level, so..."

"You don't need to say anything, Grandson."

Hu Yanbao waved his hand to interrupt Ren Yuan and said to Hu Yanqipeng.

"grandfather."

Hu Yanqipeng responded immediately.

"You will take over personally and select your most trusted confidants to be in charge of matters concerning Chief Ren. You can discuss warships, nautical charts, and the deployment of troops after conquering the islands with Chief Ren."

"Then write a letter to your second brother and tell him that from now on, the Liangshan affairs are just for show."

"Yes!"

Hu Yanqipeng had no objections. In his heart, his grandfather's words were the most important. What was the imperial court? It was a group that only appeared when it came to paying military salaries. Moreover, the Pinghai Army's salaries were decreasing year by year. If it weren't for their own land reclamation and secret maritime trade, they probably wouldn't have been able to survive long ago.

Huyan Bao then said to Ren Yuan:

“From now on, Pinghai Army will be an ally of Liangshan. Young man, remember your words: as long as Liangshan stands, Pinghai Army will never perish.”

"You absolutely mustn't let this old man end up with a bad reputation for being blind and failing in his old age."

Ren Yuan stood up and solemnly bowed deeply to Huyan Bao.

"I, Ren Yuan, swear by my master and my own integrity that as long as Ping Haijun does not betray Liangshan, Liangshan will certainly not betray Ping Haijun. We will be brothers and cooperate for mutual benefit! If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and my entire family be exterminated!"

"If the old general trusts this junior, we can immediately sign an alliance treaty and formally become allies!"

"Good! Someone, bring me pen and ink!"

Without further ado, Huyan Bao immediately ordered his trusted quartermaster to bring pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Zhu Wu then took up the pen and wrote the famous "Dengzhou Alliance" treaty between the Liangshan Army and the Pinghai Army right there in the Pinghai Army camp. Two copies were made, and both sides signed and sealed the treaty, each keeping their own copy.

However, while writing, Zhu Wu secretly muttered a comment from Ren Yuan to himself:

"Brother, your entire clan was wiped out? Aren't you the only one left in your family now?"

"Young Ren, you mentioned your sect earlier. Can you tell me who your teacher is?"

After signing the alliance agreement, they were now on his own. Hu Yanbao found Ren Yuan increasingly pleasing to the eye.

"Reporting to the old general, my master was Zhou Tong, the Iron-Armed Boxer, who was once a top-ranking boxer at the Imperial Boxing Academy. I am the third in my family, and Lin Chong is my eldest brother."

Ren Yuan and Lin Chong exchanged a glance and stood up at the same time.

"Oh, it's Xiao Zhou."

In terms of age, the old general was indeed almost ten years older than his master, so it was perfectly fine for him to call him "Little Zhou".

"You're doing so well at Liangshan now, have you gone back to see your master yet?"

Hu Yanbao looked at Ren Yuan and said.

“I haven’t sent anything in the last year or two, but I’ve sent gifts to my master during holidays and festivals, and he has accepted them.”

Ren Yuan honestly admitted that after completing his apprenticeship, he devoted himself entirely to Liangshan and did not go back to see his master.

However, he never forgot his master and junior brother Yue Fei, and sent them many things. His master did not refuse them, which probably means he had no objection to him... right?

"Well, at least you still have a conscience. As for Lin boy... your father died for his country in Xixia back then, so you can't blame your master."

Hu Yanbao recalled for a moment, then asked Lin Chong, since Zhou Tong had briefly served under him when he was in the Imperial Guard.

But he was later transferred. After all, most generals in the Song Dynasty were rotated from time to time. This frequent transfer led to the awkward situation where soldiers did not know their generals and generals did not know their soldiers.

"General, you are overthinking it. After my father passed away, my master taught me martial arts on my father's behalf and acted as my matchmaker. I am so grateful that I have no time to express my gratitude. However, my master never made me formally become his disciple and kowtow."

Lin Chong felt grateful to Zhou Tong; without Zhou Tong, he wouldn't have acquired such martial arts skills.

"This young Zhou, how old is he, still can't see through these things."

Huyan Bao shook his head, then said to Ren Yuan:

"What did you just say you were, who was it again?"

“My esteemed teacher, please sit down. You are the third in your family.”

Ren Yuan answered honestly.

"Then you really don't know some things."

Hu Yanbao sighed.

"Before your master took you in, he should have had two other disciples and a son. It's just that some things happened later that allowed you to get the better deal."

"Hey, isn't my second senior brother Lu Junyi, the Jade Kirin of Hebei? Does the old general know anything about him?"

Ren Yuan raised an eyebrow. He knew there were some things his master hadn't told him, but he didn't know the specifics of what had happened.

We can only speculate, through later storytelling, that it was related to Shi Wengong.

"If your master doesn't say, I can't say either. To put it simply, we've produced an ungrateful wretch."

Hu Yanbao didn't say much. It was their sect's business, and he wouldn't interfere if they didn't want to talk about it.

"Is that person surnamed Shi?"

Ren Yuan's expression changed immediately. If what the old general said was true, then Shi Wengong would be his enemy.

"Go back and ask your master. I won't say more."

Hu Yanbao kept everyone in suspense for a moment, then said to Ren Yuan:

"By the way, I haven't asked yet, what did you learn from your master?"

"They learned the three-pointed double-edged sword, as well as boxing and archery."

Ren Yuan had no choice but to put aside his doubts and tell the truth.

"Come on, come on, play a game with me."

Hu Yanbao immediately became interested. He picked up the black bronze hammer with a human face and led the way out of the military camp.

Young man, even though we've partnered, as an old man, I can still teach you a lesson!

"Uh, General, I didn't bring my three-pointed dagger, and besides, you're getting on in years..."

Ren Yuan shrugged. As a long weapon, the three-pointed sword was indeed inconvenient to carry around.

"What are you afraid of? There are plenty of weapons in the barracks. As for being old, what, are you afraid of hurting me? Lin, you come along too!"

"Hurry up, don't think that just because I'm old I can't discipline you two!"