Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

The residential area behind Liangshan Mountain.

It's especially lively here today. Not only are there people who just moved in, but also people who have lived here for quite a while, all chatting in small groups.

"Have you heard? Old Li's family has signed up for the sea voyage plan proposed by the village chief."

"I heard that the whole family is going! It seems they're leaving in the next few days."

"Really? So fast?"

"Of course! Have you heard? Commander Yang of the Sixth Army Corps personally led his men and captured that big island! It's said that there aren't many people on that island, and the territory is about the same size as our Liangshan! Plus, it's all good land!"

"Really? Our Liangshan has too much water and mountains, and too little land. Otherwise, we could live here for a lifetime."

"As strategist Wen said, this time when we go out to sea to reclaim wasteland, every family will have their own land, and the mountain stronghold will provide farming tools and we can even borrow oxen!"

"Oh, this is great! I just don't know how the tax will be collected after we get our own land."

"Hey kid, the bandit gang has given you so much, do you think you can just not pay taxes? You're really not being honest."

"Oh dear, we're just scared by this damned government. Of course, our chieftain is different from others; he certainly wouldn't harm anyone like that."

"That's right. I heard it from my neighbor's aunt's nephew's cousin's brother-in-law. For the first two years, families who came to the island didn't pay taxes, so whatever they planted was theirs."

"Really? Two years are all mine?! What about after that?"

"The strategists plan to decide how much to collect after surveying the island's production, but it's said that the chieftain intends to take one-thirtieth of the harvest."

"One-thirtieth tax? My goodness, the chieftain is so benevolent!" (Fun fact: The official agricultural tax rate in the Song Dynasty was one-fifteenth. One-thirtieth tax existed historically during the reigns of Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, and Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, it was either one-thirtieth or one-fortieth, so this tax isn't outrageous. If you think it's outrageous and want to criticize, please do your research. Don't just come here showing off your ignorance. I've not only done my research, but I can confidently say that I have some knowledge of the Song Dynasty economy.)

"I think the chieftain might be missing something. How about we make him a 'Ten Thousand People Umbrella'?"

"The Umbrella for Ten Thousand People can be made anytime. Right now, I just want to sign up again. It's just going to the island, right? I'll go! My whole family will go!"

……

"Dad, have you heard? The chieftain is recruiting people to go to sea."

The Gou Sheng family has now successfully moved into the residential area behind the mountain. However, they have only just moved in, and along the way they have heard people around them discussing the matter of going to sea.

"Going out to sea, isn't that dangerous? Is the situation really good once we're out there?"

Gou Sheng's father, surnamed Wang, was a wine seller. Because he was exploited by officials in his hometown, he led his family to flee to Liangshan.

"Father, should I go and inquire about it later?"

Gou Sheng asked his father.

"Alright, go and take a look now, find out the details. If this sea voyage is really good, then we can go too."

As a wine merchant, Old Wang still had a bit of an adventurous spirit.

For businessmen, fortune favors the bold!

"Okay, Dad!"

Gou Sheng first agreed, then seemed to remember something and scratched his head.

"But Dad, if I go to sea, does that mean I can't join the army?"

"Hey, since that island was captured by the bandits, there must be a bandit army on it. Why can't you join the army?"

Old Wang said to his son:

"Besides, we don't necessarily have to join the army. If the mountain stronghold really gives us land, we can just farm it properly!"

After all, even the Liangshan army would suffer casualties. Since there were other options, Old Man Wang still had his own selfish motives. He didn't want his son to die in vain on the battlefield. If he really had to join the army, he hoped that he wouldn't just be a common soldier.

"Hey, Gousheng, brother! Gousheng, brother!"

The Wang family was chatting when Ma Qiang and Ma Jin arrived with their father to settle in.

The two of them immediately spotted Gou Sheng, who had just rejected them!

The two of them came right over!

"Brothers, you've returned from the chieftain's place so quickly?"

Gou Sheng was quite happy to see the two of them return, since they were acquaintances.

"That's right, Brother Gousheng, let me tell you, the two of us are now the leaders of the 11th Army Corps of Liangshan Infantry! We are infantry leaders just like Wu Dutou. If you want to join the army, come to our corps!"

Ma Jin said very proudly.

"Huh? Really?"

Gou Sheng was also taken aback. He had thought the Ma brothers were just bragging, but he never expected that they could actually become leaders of Liangshan!

So, does that mean these two Brother Mas are indeed capable?

"Wow, Brother Ma, your two sons are really accomplished!"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Wang immediately felt a deep envy for Old Man Ma.

Look at this talent! His two sons have just arrived and they've already become legion leaders. It's truly enviable!

"Not at all, it's all thanks to the chief's favor. These two lads are just lucky that the chief trusts them; otherwise, how could they have such a great opportunity?"

Although Grandpa Ma was very proud, he always appeared very humble to outsiders.

"Oh, my dear brother, if my son Gousheng were as outstanding as your son, I would be content!"

"I think Gousheng is great. He's sensible and filial. Let me tell you, my two rascals are rarely home!"

The two old men started praising each other, while Ma Qiang and Ma Jin grabbed Gou Sheng and wouldn't let him leave.

“Brother, we met on the first day we entered the mountains, that’s fate! We get along well too! Besides, Wu Song’s brother said that his army doesn’t need any more men for the time being, and who knows when they will need more!”

“We’re different. Our legion has just been established and we haven’t even started selecting members yet. If you come here now, we guarantee you a leadership position. How about it?”

Ma Qiang and Ma Jin, for some reason, maybe it's just the damned competitiveness of men, they are now determined to bring Gou Sheng into their army, and they absolutely cannot let him go to Wu Song's side!

Moreover, both Ma Qiang and Ma Jin felt that Gou Sheng, judging by his physique, was a natural-born martial arts student! Most importantly, they got along well! Who wouldn't want a soldier like that under their command?

"My two elder brothers, you have truly been very kind to me."

Gousheng was also flattered. He was just an ordinary farmer, at most a little stronger and a little more agile. He never expected that one day people would be fighting over him!

Especially considering that the Ma brothers are now legitimate legion leaders, they are being so sincere in trying to win over someone as insignificant as me!

Well, working with them doesn't seem so bad!

“Brother, my son is indeed honest and hardworking. It’s fate that our two families met. Otherwise, I would have let him follow your two sons?”

Old Wang also noticed the Ma brothers' recruitment of his son, and as a businessman, he began to make his own plans.

Since we're going to be soldiers in Liangshan anyway, it's definitely better to be in a place where we have connections.

These Ma brothers were, after all, official infantry leaders of Liangshan. My family and their family were practically acquaintances. Having acquaintances makes things easier!

"Hey, what are you saying? Eldest brother, second brother, come here!"

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ma immediately summoned Ma Qiang and Ma Jin.

"How about we hand over your uncle's son to you from now on?"

"Uncle Wang, don't worry, Brother Gousheng will definitely be safe and sound with us!"

Ma Qiang and Ma Jin were delighted to hear this; their father had done them a huge favor!

Hey, Gou Sheng, forget about Wu Du Tou, you're still one of us!

"Xiao Ma, from now on, I'll be entrusting my dog, Gou Sheng, to you two."

Old Wang understood immediately; there was no problem with the other party, so he called Gousheng over.

“Son, from now on, you will serve in the army under your two brothers from the Ma family. That way, your father will feel more at ease.”

Looking at his father's expression and then at the expectant eyes of the Ma brothers, Gousheng thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay, Dad, from now on, I'll work for Brother Ma!"