Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Cai Jing is gone, but he has left Tong Guan and Wang Qing with a major problem!

To attack Liangshan?

Putting everything else aside, Gao Qiu led a massive force of over 100,000 men, charging forward, only to suffer heavy casualties.

This level of combat power is absolutely incomparable to someone like Tian Hu.

"Wang Qing."

After frowning for a long time, Tong Guan couldn't come up with a good solution, so he could only ask Wang Qing.

"Your son-in-law is here."

"Compared to your former Huai-Xi forces, which is stronger, this Liangshan?"

Tong Guan wanted to know the details of Liangshan.

“Father-in-law, I am ashamed to say that although my Huaixi was as famous as Liangshan back then, there was no large-scale conflict between us.”

"Therefore, I dare not speak recklessly about the fighting strength of Liangshan."

Wang Qing had minor conflicts with Tian Hu and Fang La, but not with Liangshan, because he couldn't see through Liangshan's situation.

He dared not act rashly because the situation was unclear.

"So, were the martial arts skills of those strongmen from Liangshan very high?"

"……Yes."

At this time, Wang Qing did not know that Du Xue and others were also on Liangshan, but he knew very well that if it weren't for Du Xue, he wouldn't have been able to control those people on Liangshan.

"That old dog Cai Jing is indeed up to no good."

After receiving Wang Qing's affirmative answer, Tong Guan understood that Cai Jing had sent him and others to attack Liangshan because he intended for his own men to be lost at Liangshan!

What a brilliant scheme of using someone else to do one's dirty work!

"Wang Qing, tell me the truth, with our current troop strength, what are our chances of winning against Liangshan?"

Tong Guan continued to ask.

"Father-in-law, would you like to hear the truth or a lie?"

This question stunned Wang Qing, and after a long while, he slowly spoke.

"What if it's a lie? What if it's the truth?"

"The lie is that we have a 70% chance of winning against Liangshan."

Wang Qing said with his head down.

"Seventy percent? That's so high? What about the truth?"

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan suddenly found it interesting. If 70% of the story was a lie, then the truth couldn't be too low, could it?

"The truth is, 70% of them belong to Liangshan..."

Wang Qing dared not look at his father-in-law's expression. Although he now had Zan Tongmei under his command, he was not the same as Du Xue from before and could not give Wang Qing the same sense of security.

Tong Guan's expression also darkened. If that was the case, then he absolutely could not go to attack Liangshan so carelessly this time.

"Come with me to the palace in a little while."

Tong Guan gestured for Wang Qing to follow him.

"Father-in-law, may I...?"

Wang Qing was somewhat surprised. Entering the palace to meet the emperor was a privilege that a mere fifth-rank official like himself could not possess.

"Hmph, you've done a great service this time, why can't you have an audience with the Emperor? Besides, if we're going to attack Liangshan, we must do our intelligence work well. You're the person in the entire court who knows Liangshan best. If you don't go and tell us about the situation in Liangshan, how are we supposed to fight?"

Tong Guan patted Wang Qing on the shoulder.

"The fact that you're willing to give Jiaoxiu so much money already proves that your feelings for Jiaoxiu are genuine."

"Although Cai Jing stole these things this time, what goes around comes around! What Cai Jing did to us this time, we'll make him spit it out next time!"

Tong Guan harbored more resentment towards Cai Jing, after all, Cai Jing had stolen the one million strings of cash that belonged to him!

That's a million strings of cash. If he had that much money, how many more talents could Tong Guan have captured from the Western Army?

"I will listen to my father-in-law."

Wang Qing naturally wouldn't undermine his father-in-law, so he simply agreed with whatever Tong Guan said.

Tong Guan was very satisfied with Wang Qing's attitude. If a young man has this kind of attitude, then he is worth giving him pointers.

……

The Imperial Palace, Zhao Ji's study.

"Your humble servant Tong Guan greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Huizong summoned Tong Guan to his study alone, intending to show his favor to Tong Guan.

"Privy Councilor Tong, there's no need for such formalities. You did a great job this time! You wiped out that arrogant and ignorant bandit Tian Hu, enhancing the prestige of our court! I am very pleased!"

When Tong Guan entered, Zhao Ji was practicing calligraphy. However, since Tong Guan was now a meritorious official, Zhao Ji did not make him wait. Instead, he put down his brush and came to greet him.

"Thanks to His Majesty, this war has gone so smoothly."

Tong Guan quickly tried to flatter him.

"What makes you say that? I haven't done anything special."

"Your Majesty doesn't need to do much to protect the army. If Your Majesty does something else, the army will receive even more blessings."

"Prime Minister Tong, how come I never noticed before that you have such a sweet tongue?"

Zhao Ji was somewhat surprised. He thought it was only natural for Cai Jing and Gao Qiu to say nice things, but when did Tong Guan, a military officer, learn to use this trick?

"There's no way around it, this battle has also helped me grow..."

Emperor Huizong was very satisfied with Tong Guan's attitude. He thought it was good that Tong Guan did not become arrogant because of his achievements. Tong Guan was a good person!

"By the way, Privy Councilor Tong, the Grand Tutor came to see me earlier. I originally said I would give your army a grand reward. But the Grand Tutor said that you feel the Emperor's grace is boundless, so you plan to postpone the reward until you finish suppressing the remaining bandits. Is that right?"

Emperor Huizong looked at Tong Guan with a scrutinizing gaze, his expression full of profound meaning.

"Your Majesty, I was unaware of this, but my men are absolutely fearless, so there is no problem in launching another campaign against other bandits."

Tong Guan noticed the glint in Zhao Ji's eyes, quickly bowed his head, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and knelt on one knee.

"We will follow His Majesty's orders completely. Whatever His Majesty tells us to do, we will do it! We will have no disloyalty whatsoever!"

"Very good! Tong Qing is indeed a loyal and righteous person, which is very important."

Emperor Huizong was very satisfied, and then said to Tong Guan:

"Minister Tong, although I know you are thinking of accumulating merits and then rewarding them all together after the next campaign, I am not an ungrateful person and do not want to make everyone wait so long."

"Here's what we'll do. All the soldiers going into battle this time will set up camp outside the city. Each person will receive five taels of silver, a bottle of wine, and two chickens. Rest well for two days. After two days, you will set off immediately to attack... um... attack Liangshan!"

Originally, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) wanted Tong Guan to assist Zhang Shuye, who was still entangled with Fang La in the south.

But later Cai Jing told him that Zhang Shuye was definitely capable of dealing with Fang La, and that sending Tong Guan there would be a waste of talent.

So it would be better to let Tong Guan fight Liangshan! If both sides win, then the bandit problem within the Song Dynasty can be solved in one fell swoop!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji realized that Cai Jing's words made sense! So he immediately summoned Tong Guan to see if he was willing to go again.

Tong Guan remained silent this time.

But this silence aroused Zhao Ji's curiosity:

Why is Tong Qing silent?

Why are you not saying a word?

Tong Guan was cursing inwardly!

That damned old dog Cai Jing, you're ruthless!

Not only do you not give credit, but you also instigate the emperor to give the army only this little bit of stuff as spoils of war. Cai Jing, do you really want to incite a mutiny?

If a mutiny really breaks out, I, Tong Guan, will certainly be held responsible, and you, Cai Jing, will be able to continue to wield power in the court.

Hmph, I won't let you have your way!

"So that Your Majesty may know, I do indeed have some information related to Liangshan. Based on this information, I believe that we should not rush into attacking Liangshan."

"why?"

Zhao Ji was somewhat puzzled.

"This, Your Majesty, is somewhat hesitant to speak, for many reports indicate that Liangshan, Liangshan..."

"Tong Qing, you are the Privy Councilor of the Great Song Dynasty. What kind of behavior is this, so subservient and hesitant? Speak your mind boldly. I am all ears and will pardon you!"

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) originally thought that Tong Guan would get straight to the point, but to his surprise, Tong Guan acted hesitantly and seemed very embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, my son-in-law Wang Qing knows more about Liangshan. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, you can also summon him and let him speak."

Tong Guan did it on purpose; after hearing Zhao Ji's words, he decisively recommended Wang Qing.

"Wang Qing? Wang Qing?...Why does that name sound so familiar?"

After Zhao Ji repeated the name several times, he suddenly felt that he had heard the name somewhere before.

"Your Majesty, my son-in-law went astray before, made friends with a group of scoundrels in the martial arts world, and then became a bandit in Huaixi for a while."

"However, he has now realized his mistake and returned to the right path. Not only has he already surrendered to the emperor, but he has also earned considerable military merit in this battle against Tian Hu!"

Tong Guan offered Wang Qing a brief explanation.

"Oh! It's him! Wang Qing, the notorious bandit from Huaixi, isn't he!"

When Tong Guan mentioned it, Zhao Ji remembered it!

Isn't he just the guy I recruited back then using a fifth-rank official position?

He's actually become the Tong family's son-in-law? That's unbelievable!

"Your Majesty, he was before, but he has changed for the better now. He is now a fine man of the Song Dynasty."

Tong Guan quickly offered an explanation.

"Alright, where is he? Let's bring him here and hear his thoughts on Liangshan."

"He entered the palace with me just now, and he should still be waiting outside the hall."

"Xuan!"

Now that Wang Qing is here, let's hear what he has to say.

After Zhao Ji gave the order, royal guards immediately went out, and soon they brought Wang Qing in.

"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty..."

After Wang Qing entered, he originally planned to use other words to get closer to Zhao Ji.

But before he could finish his rambling, Zhao Ji interrupted him.

"No need for formalities. Wang Qing, is that right? Your father-in-law just said that you know a lot about Liangshan. Now, can you tell me what's going on with Liangshan?"

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) had no interest in listening to Wang Qing talk about anything else. If it weren't for the fact that Wang Qing was one of the four great bandits of the Green Forest, Emperor Huizong wouldn't have been interested in him at all!

Wang Qing glanced at Tong Guan and saw him nod slightly, so Wang Qing knew what was going on.

"Your Majesty, Liangshan is indeed different from ordinary mountain strongholds. They are like this..."

At first, Zhao Ji was just listening to it as a joke, but as Wang Qing talked more and more, the expression on Zhao Ji's face became more and more serious.

The main problem is that Wang Qing exaggerated his understanding of Liangshan. In Wang Qing's words, Liangshan is now a dangerous place where people are devoured without spitting out their bones!

"Damn it! How could Ren Yuan be so despicable?!"

After hearing Wang Qing's words, Zhao Ji was furious!

"What right does he have to relocate the people of my Great Song Dynasty to Liangshan Mountain? Who does he think he is! Weren't all those people forced to go up the mountain robbed by him?!"

"A mere bandit dares to boast about acting on behalf of Heaven? I am the Emperor! Everything I do is in accordance with the will of Heaven! If they want to act on behalf of Heaven, do they want to depose me? Or kill me?"

"Ren Yuan, Ren Yuan! After the Gao family suffered losses at your hands last time, I didn't immediately seek revenge, not because I was afraid of you! But because I had other things to do. Now you're pushing your luck!"

"Minister Tong! I order you to immediately assemble the troops and launch a swift attack on Liangshan!"

Zhao Ji's roar echoed throughout the study.

But it was no use, because Tong Guan did not answer him.

"Tong Qing, why are you silent again?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm unwilling, but as Wang Qing just said, Liangshan is now easy to defend and difficult to attack. Without large ships, it's impossible to cross the 800-li stretch of water!"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to attack Liangshan, but I implore Your Majesty to grant me more support!"

Tong Guan finally made his position clear.

To attack Liangshan?

Yes, it's possible!

But you'll have to pay extra!

Especially the money that Cai Jing stole from me, I have to get it back!

What kind of support do you need?

Zhao Ji asked.

"Your Majesty, my request is very simple."

Tong Guan knelt down before Zhao Ji, and Wang Qing quickly followed suit.

In short, we'll provide whatever you need: money, manpower, and food!

"Alright! Tong Qing, obey my command!"

"Chen is here!"

"From this day forward, you can choose any elite troops from the various units of the Imperial Guards in the capital! The armory is also under your control!"

"I only need you to make sure of one thing: that you flatten that damned Liangshan as soon as possible!"

"My lord, take the order!"

This time, Tong Guan did not remain silent. He decisively accepted Zhao Ji's order, but he also made his own demands:

"Your Majesty, it's not just the armory and the elite troops of the Imperial Guards; I also need warships, a large number of warships!"

"There is no navy stationed near Tokyo, so I cannot provide you with warships."

Although Tong Guan's request for the boat was reasonable, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) really couldn't give it to him.

The main problem is that we don't have any. If we don't have any, how can we give them to us?

"Your Majesty, I remember that General Huyan in Dengzhou seems to have a Pinghai Navy. The Pinghai Navy should have warships, right? Or perhaps we should transfer the Jingzhou Navy or the Bashu Navy?"

Tong Guan recalled that, indeed, after Gao Qiu had wiped out the Jinling navy, the Song Dynasty no longer had many naval forces openly located near the capital.

"Forget about Pinghai Army. General Huyan's temper is not something an ordinary person can handle."

Upon hearing the name of the Huyan family of Pinghai Army, Zhao Ji decisively shook his head.

The Huyan family was a family of meritorious officials, and although Zhao Ji was an official, his relationship with them was not that good.

Moreover, the Huyan family had suffered an injustice several generations ago and was almost wiped out. After their exoneration, the Pinghai Army became the Zhao family's compensation to the Huyan family.

"I can transfer the Jingzhou navy and the Bashu navy to you!"

"But remember this: I have given you so much support; in this battle, you must win, you cannot afford to lose!"

"Your subject, Tong Guan, obeys the decree!"