Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

“Back then, when I took in my second son, he wasn’t the only one.”

Zhou Tong stroked his beard, looked at Xiao Jiasui, and began to tell a long-ago story:

Twenty-three years ago.

At that time, Zhou Tong had just left the Imperial Guard Boxing School and was traveling around the Song Dynasty.

One day, when he arrived in Daming Prefecture, Hebei Province, he was warmly received by the local wealthy man, Master Lu (Lu Junyi's father).

“Mr. Zhou, if you’re not too busy, please stay in my Daming Prefecture for a while longer. I may not say anything else, but what I’ve always loved most is making friends with heroes like you!”

"You have no idea, last time I went to war against the Western Xia, I sent a lot of grain and fodder to our Western Army, and then I heard the news of our great victory. You have no idea how happy I was at that time!"

"I've also heard that you fought bravely on the battlefield, killing five enemy generals in succession! Making them tremble with fear!"

"Mr. Zhou, do you know that in my life, I admire heroes like you the most? I dream of going to the battlefield to fight, but unfortunately, I can't do it. I've never learned martial arts, so I can only do business!"

"Even if I am a lowly merchant, I am still patriotic! Long live the Great Song Dynasty! Long live the Great Song Dynasty!"

"Mr. Zhou, you are a hero, I salute you! I'll drink this! Please, do as you please!"

During the warm hospitality of the wealthy Mr. Lu, Zhou Tong sensed the man's fervent patriotism. Feeling somewhat indebted for having enjoyed several lavish meals with him, he said to him:

“Sir, if everyone were like you, how could our Great Song Dynasty not prosper?”

"We warriors should fight to the death on the battlefield, our bodies wrapped in horsehide. This time, our great victory over the Western Xia is inseparable from the support of people like you, sir! I toast you on behalf of my comrades in the army!"

After Zhou Tong finished speaking, he also picked up his wine bowl and drank a bowl of wine in one gulp!

"Mr. Zhou, I... I have a favor to ask, please... please grant my request."

Upon seeing Zhou Tong's performance, Master Lu immediately perked up and hurriedly called out to the door. A child who looked about eight or nine years old walked in somewhat timidly from outside.

“Mr. Zhou, I know that another reason you left the Imperial Guard this time is that your child died on the battlefield. He was a hero! The people of the Song Dynasty will never forget him!”

"This is my son, whose given name is Junyi. I want him to learn martial arts from the master so that he can go to the battlefield in the future and protect our country!"

Old Master Lu pulled Lu Junyi to Zhou Tong's side and said to him.

"War means death. My son is dead. You want your son to learn martial arts? Aren't you afraid that you'll end up like me, an old man burying his young son?"

The first thought that came to Zhou Tong's mind when he saw Lu Junyi was:

"What a handsome child!"

But when he heard that Old Master Lu actually wanted him to practice martial arts and go to the battlefield, Zhou Tong felt a little uneasy.

Because his son had already sacrificed himself.

He was almost fifty years old when he was cut short his son's death.

Coupled with the petty scheming and corruption in officialdom, this finally made him decide to leave the Imperial Guard.

Unexpectedly, not long after I left, someone actually thought of training the child to become a future imperial guard.

"Hehe, don't worry. My Lu family was a successful farming family in my father's generation, and a wealthy merchant family in my generation. I hope that in my child's generation, we can become a great general who conquers battlefields!"

"Even if he dies on the frontier in the future, as long as it is for the sake of the Song Dynasty, what does it matter if I, an old man with white hair, see him off!"

Old Master Lu was particularly excited at that time, perhaps because he had drunk too much, and his face was bright red!

"Have you thought it through? The child is so young, he can go to school and become a civil servant..."

Zhou Tong wanted to try to persuade him again, but he was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

"To hell with civil officials? Mr. Zhou, I hate those damn civil officials the most!"

"Give me a straight answer today: is my son qualified to be your apprentice?"

Zhou Tong looked at the eight or nine-year-old child in front of him and thought, "Hmm, he is indeed a good prospect."

"Good boy, tell me, do you really want to learn martial arts?"

"Will practicing martial arts prevent others from bullying me?"

Little Lu Junyi spoke somewhat timidly.

"can."

Zhou Tong nodded.

"Can martial arts make me a great general and drive away foreign tribes?"

"It's hard to say about the Grand General, but he can fight against the foreign tribes."

Zhou Tong looked at the child and thought, "He wants to be a great general. That's a wonderful dream!"

"Then I will."

Lu Junyi nodded in agreement immediately.

"But you should know that practicing martial arts is very tough."

Looking at Lu Junyi's appearance, Zhou Tong wondered if he could stick with it, given that he was a wealthy young master.

"I'm not afraid of hardship. My dad said that a real man shouldn't be afraid of hardship!"

"Oh?"

Zhou Tong was somewhat surprised. He looked up at Old Master Lu and was surprised that this wealthy man would teach his child in this way.

“Mr. Zhou, my father was a farmer. I’m not one of those fat, bloated businessmen.”

Old Master Lu explained.

"Going to the battlefield means you might die. Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Zhou Tong nodded, then turned to ask Lu Junyi.

"Death, what is death?"

But Lu Junyi was only eight or nine years old at the time, and he couldn't quite understand this concept.

"It means going to a very far away place, where I will never see my parents again."

"Then, if I practice martial arts with you, will I be able to survive?"

Lu Junyi thought for a moment and then asked Zhou Tong in return.

"Hahaha, silly child, how could anyone in this world possibly be immortal?"

Zhou Tong laughed heartily.

"Then, could you let me die a little later?"

Lu Junyi bit his lip and asked again.

"That's possible. As long as you're willing to endure hardship and practice martial arts diligently, you'll die later than others."

Zhou Tong nodded.

"Okay! Then I'm willing to train with you!"

To Zhou Tong's surprise, Lu Junyi agreed immediately after hearing the request.

"Mr. Zhou, please take my son in. I couldn't become a warrior on the battlefield, so let my son fulfill this wish for me!"

Old Master Lu was very happy because his son hadn't backed down!

"it is good."

Zhou Tong, who had been somewhat disheartened, changed his mind after seeing the determination in Lu Junyi's eyes.

Although his own son had died, the Song Dynasty still had countless children!

I cannot lose faith in all the children of the Song Dynasty just because my son died!

"Junyi, very good. From now on, you will be my second disciple. I will teach you all my skills, so you must study hard! When you go to the battlefield, you must be the last one to die!"

"Don't worry, Master! I definitely will!"

A determined light shone in Lu Junyi's eyes!

……

"Wait a minute. Old master, this is the story of Master Lu becoming an apprentice, right?"

Xiao Jiahui suddenly interrupted Zhou Tong.

"correct."

Zhou Tong raised an eyebrow. "I was just getting into the mood when you interrupted me?"

"But what does this story have to do with my brother?"

Xiao Jiahui scratched his head.

"Don't rush, don't interrupt, let me continue..."