Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Sir, sir! Please agree to what I just said."

On an unnamed mountain path, a tall and imposing man, carrying a giant axe upside down, followed behind a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, his face beaming with obsequious smile.

"Sigh, don't even think about it. Go back and tell your king that although the Song Dynasty is indeed corrupt in its officialdom, it's not like someone like him can just rebel whenever he wants. His actions are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; he'll only laugh himself to death."

The middle-aged scholar, carrying his satchel, stroked his beard and said earnestly to the burly man:

"You are honest and reliable, so why did you end up with that person? If you ask me, you should leave him as soon as possible, otherwise you won't have a good outcome if you stay with him."

“Sir, there’s no other way.” The big man smiled. “In this day and age, there aren’t many places for outlaws to go. It wouldn’t be good for me to leave and join another place so rashly.”

"There aren't many good bandits these days, but there are some that are much better than yours. I know one, and compared to him, your current king is nothing."

"Let me tell you the truth. Although we can only teach in the countryside, it doesn't mean we'll just go and seek refuge with anyone. We do know how to get to know people! Before you invited me, did you also invite Xu Guanzhong from Daming Prefecture?"

"Huh? You know about this too, sir?"

The giant was somewhat surprised; he truly hadn't expected it.

"Sigh, although we don't enter officialdom for certain reasons, we're not stupid enough to ask you to go to a place where we can tell at a glance that there's no future there."

The middle-aged scholar sighed, "I have no ties, but Guan Zhong has an elderly mother at home, and it's even more impossible for him to go on this dangerous journey with you."

"You're different from others, that's why I'm telling you so much. You're clearly a great general, but you've been sent out as a lobbyist, and you're completely unaware of it? Aren't you stupid?"

"Sir, it is precisely because we lack talents like yours that we have been unable to accomplish anything. If you were to join us, you would undoubtedly be a candidate for Prime Minister. Please guide us!"

"Don't you understand? The problem with you isn't with me, it's with your king. He's ambitious but incompetent, pleasure-seeking, and fickle. I advise you to leave immediately."

"Sir, I was the one who was trying to persuade you, so how come it's become you trying to persuade me?"

The giant man wore a wry smile, dragging his massive axe on the ground, looking rather listless.

In fact, he was not unaware that the middle-aged scholar's words made sense, but the bond of old acquaintance made him hesitate to make a decision.

“Hey, why don’t you come with me first? I’m going to check out a place, and I think you can go and see it too. After that, you won’t feel lost.”

The middle-aged scholar turned his head and saw the burly man's dejected look. He suddenly found the man quite endearing, so he reached out and patted him on the back as a way of comforting him.

"Would you be willing to take me with you, sir?"

The giant was somewhat surprised.

"So what? When Confucius went on his travels, Zilu was with him too."

The Chinese scholar smiled and continued walking.

"Sir, then I'll go with you!"

The giant regained his composure, hoisted the axe onto his shoulder, and eagerly followed in the footsteps of the middle-aged scholar.

After walking for several days, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.

Although the mountain had beautiful scenery, it looked quite treacherous. The two stopped and looked around for a moment. Then the giant man picked up his giant axe and said to the middle-aged scholar, "Sir, there must be a strongman in this mountain. Please stay behind me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than clappers sounded from both sides, and dozens of henchmen emerged from the foot of the mountain, staring at the two of them.

"Who goes there? Why are you spying on my Huangmen Mountain?"

"I am Bian Da from Hebei. This is my husband. He was traveling around lecturing and happened to pass by your esteemed place. He had no intention of disturbing you."

"The lecturer?"

The henchmen looked at the middle-aged scholar's attire and nodded. Hmm, he does look like a lecturer.

But this burly man with the axe... he doesn't look like a servant from an ordinary household at all.

“Men, I don’t want to make things difficult for you, but today, my chieftain is receiving distinguished guests, and the matter is of great importance. We have a mission to fulfill, and we really cannot just let the two of you pass by like this. If you don’t mind, please come with us up the mountain first, and we will let you leave after my chieftain finishes his reception. How about that?”

"Don't worry, my second chieftain is also a former lecturer. He usually warns us not to be violent towards lecturers. But today is a special occasion, and we have to abide by the rules of the martial world. Please don't make things difficult for us."

The bandit's henchmen were quite polite, which surprised both the giant and the middle-aged scholar.

"It's a nice village."

The middle-aged scholar whispered to the giant, "If your king had the ability to train such subordinates, I wouldn't be so disgusted with him."

He then stepped forward and bowed to the henchmen: "Then I'll have to trouble you guys."

The henchmen quickly waved their hands: "No, no, sir, you are a scholar, we cannot accept such courtesy. Please come with us."

The two followed the group of henchmen up the mountain. Along the way, they discovered that the fortifications of the village were built in an exceptionally neat and sturdy manner. Moreover, there were more than a hundred horses in the village, and the atmosphere of the entire village seemed more like that of a military camp.

"Our chieftain came from a military family, which is why our village is like this."

Seemingly noticing their surprise, the team leader's henchman spoke up.

"May I ask your name, young man?"

The middle-aged scholar had a very good impression of this henchman who led the group.

"To inform you, sir, that I am Li Chuan, from Handan, and currently the patrol leader of this mountain stronghold." (A cameo appearance by Han Qin, a fan who loves kudzu root noodles. Thank you very much!)

"You're so clever, you'll definitely become a leader someday. By the way, you just said that your chieftain is entertaining distinguished guests today, may I meet them?"

The middle-aged scholar thought for a moment and then made a request.

"This……"

Li Chuan was in a dilemma, after all, the orders from above were not to be disturbed.

"Just say that you are a recluse from the mountains who happened to be passing by, and have come to pay your respects after hearing of your great reputation. Don't worry, based on your description just now, as long as you say it like this, I deduce that your chieftain will not blame you."

The middle-aged scholar smiled and comforted Li Chuan.

"And what is your name, sir?"

Li Chuan was still somewhat uneasy.

"I'll keep that a secret for now. I'll just say that I teach in Anren Village outside Tokyo."

Upon receiving this message, Li Chuan dared not delay and quickly went to report to his chieftain, thinking that this gentleman must be quite famous in the martial arts world.

"Sir, are you so sure that the chief of this mountain stronghold will come to see you?"

The giant couldn't help but speak at this point.

"The stronghold is very orderly and resembles a military camp. This stronghold chief's methods are already much better than your king's. But even someone like this has to personally receive distinguished guests. Who do you think this person being received is?"

The giant was taken aback. "So, sir, the person you wish to see is that distinguished guest?"

"That's right. In this area, there's only one person with such a great reputation among the bandits. This person is the one I told you about before."

"Is this the gentleman who wants to meet him in person?"

"Yes, that's him."

Just as the two were discussing, six or seven men strode out of the hall of a nearby mountain stronghold, led by Li Chuan, and headed straight for them.

Li Chuan noticed that the distinguished guest at the head of the group was almost as tall as the giant standing next to the middle-aged scholar.

Before I saw the person, I heard his voice first.

"Where is the gentleman from Anren Village outside Tokyo? Ren Yuan of Liangshan greets you!"