Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Lin Chong's drinking session lasted quite a long time, so much so that in the end, the other members of the stronghold had to come and check if their leader was missing.

They found Ren Yuan and Lin Chong, already half-drunk, in the lakeside pavilion.

Of course, these people had all heard of Lin Chong's name, but they never expected that Lin Chong would be their chieftain's senior brother.

Moreover, he was an even closer senior brother than Wang Jin.

That evening, everyone crowded around Lin Chong and went up the mountain together. Regardless of Lin Chong's half-drunk state, they immediately held another banquet.

At the banquet, Lin Chong met Wang Jin. Seeing Wang Jin, who had to use crutches because of his leg injury, Lin Chong was filled with emotion.

"Brother, I feel bad for you. It's also my father's fault for showing mercy back then and not killing that inhuman bastard with one blow."

Wang Jin felt that Lin Chong's suffering was entirely undeserved, and that it was only because his father had shown mercy that Gao Qiu, such a scourge, came into being.

“Brother, how can you blame Uncle? It’s all Gao Qiu’s fault, and has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Lin Chong and Wang Jin toasted each other. "Moreover, it was you who suffered the most, brother. My junior brother said that Gao Qiu actually used a hundred top assassins to kill you. Such a ruthless method can only show how ruthless he is!"

"The Black-Clad Guards did surprise me, but Gao Qiu's forces are so powerful that he couldn't have handled them alone."

"Brother means...the Emperor!"

Lin Chong also realized what was happening, and immediately a cold sweat broke out on his back, and he sobered up considerably.

Recently, Wang Jin has not only been recuperating from his injuries, but also reflecting on the overall situation.

He found it very strange. Although Gao Qiu had become Grand Commandant, many of the Black-Clad Guards were former members of the Imperial Guard. Gao Qiu had only been in office for a few years, so how could he possibly know them?

The only explanation is that these people were not loyal to Gao Qiu, but to those above Gao Qiu.

There's only one person left: the current emperor.

"Senior brother, I've also considered your idea."

Ren Yuan also wandered over. Now, with two senior brothers in the village, Ren Yuan felt he had gained a greater sense of belonging.

"These Black-Clad Guards are very likely a force used by the government to handle shady matters, entrusted to Gao Qiu for safekeeping. We in Liangshan need to investigate them and gather more intelligence. I've already instructed Shi Qian to select a group from the scout camp to handle this matter. Let me see just how capable Gao Qiu really is!"

"Oh, by the way, their code name is Shadow. Shi Qian is their leader. If you two senior brothers want to know anything about Gao Qiu and the Black-Clad Guards in the future, just ask them directly."

"You've worked hard, Chief (Junior Brother)."

Wang Jin and Lin Chong toasted Ren Yuan together. To be honest, Ren Yuan was taking a huge risk in saving them. If Gao Qiu found out and wanted to eliminate them completely, it would be difficult for Liangshan to stop him.

"Tch, my two senior brothers, don't worry. Our Liangshan Marsh, spanning eight hundred li, is no joke. If he sends eight hundred or a thousand men, they won't even fill our teeth. If he sends ten or twenty thousand, without enough boats, they won't be able to get in. If he has the ability to send a hundred thousand troops... don't worry, Gao Qiu won't. If he had the ability to mobilize a hundred thousand troops, the first ones to get restless would be Cai Jing and Tong Guan. Those two wouldn't stand by and watch Gao Qiu grow stronger!"

Ren Yuan's analysis was particularly insightful. Among the high-ranking officials in the court whose reputations were not so good, Yang Jian had temporarily stepped down to protect himself, while Cai Jing remained firmly in the top position, not even bothering to look at his subordinates.

As for Tong Guan, he was busy expanding his influence within the Western Army, which had even more big shots, and Tong Guan himself felt overwhelmed.

It was only because Gao Qiu was now a confidant of Emperor Huizong of Song that he had this opportunity to make a fool of himself.

If he goes too far, Cai Jing and Tong Guan will probably confront him in person immediately.

"When dogs fight, they get all messy!"

After hearing this, Lin Chong cursed angrily.

"Instructor Lin, Instructor Lin, come and have a drink!"

But Lin Chong didn't have a chance to curse anymore, because Mi Sheng and his men came up with large wine jars and gave Lin Chong a warm welcome, making him feel the hospitality of the stronghold.

This enthusiasm lasted from evening until morning.

The next morning, when Lin Chong woke up, he had a slight headache. He looked around at his surroundings. It was a separate room, divided into inner and outer rooms, and fully furnished with furniture and bedding.

Lin Chong walked out of the inner room and saw Ren Yuan fiddling with something at the table in his outer room.

"Senior brother, dinner's ready."

Ren Yuan invited Lin Chong to have breakfast.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

"I drank too much last night and only woke up recently."

Ren Yuan set out bowls and chopsticks for Lin Chong, and then, according to the rules of their sect, waited for his senior brother to start eating first.

"Chief! Chief!"

Just as the two brothers were eating, a scout suddenly ran over again, holding a secret letter in his hand.

"Senior brother is not an outsider, speak."

Ren Yuan was busy eating and didn't want to open the letter, so he had the scout read it directly.

"Yes! We entered the city last night, but there are many more people from Gao Qiu's mansion near Instructor Zhang's house. We can't expose ourselves, so we can only wait for Instructor Zhang to leave the mansion before we can tell Instructor Lin that he is safe. If the stronghold receives reinforcements, please do so as soon as possible."

The scouts read the message delivered by the peregrine falcon yesterday, confirming that the intelligence station outside Tokyo had indeed entered the city last night.

"It seems we can't afford to delay any longer. Reply to them that the reinforcements from the mountain stronghold will arrive in the next couple of days."

Ren Yuan swallowed a bite of steamed bun (Steamed bun: What a familiar scene! I didn't choke this time? That's not right!), and signaled the scout to reply quickly.

"Junior brother, I'll go with you!"

Lin Chong knew that Ren Yuan was going to fetch his family, and he wanted to go too!

"Senior brother, you can't go."

Ren Yuan pointed to Lin Chong's face:

“You still have the gold mark on your face, and Gao Qiu’s men definitely know what you look like. If you go there, it will probably be a den of dragons and tigers.”

"So it's best if you go, junior brother. Senior brother can go to Doctor An and get the gold mark on your face removed first. After your sister-in-law is brought back, make sure she doesn't see the gold mark on your face."

Ren Yuan's words were reasonable, and Lin Chong was persuaded to stop, saying nothing more.

After finishing breakfast, Ren Yuan was about to leave when suddenly another scout rushed over!

"Why are you so alarmed?"

"Report, Chieftain, Zhu Gui reports from the inn: a suspicious person has been spotted at the inn at the foot of the mountain. He is accompanied by a porter and seems to be preparing to cross Liangshan. Moreover, this person has actually let the porter carry the luggage ahead while he follows leisurely behind."

Suspicious person, porter?

It can't be him, right?

Ren Yuan raised an eyebrow. Well, it seems the martial world is truly in chaos. Just one day after Lin Chong arrived, another imperial officer appeared.

"Understood. Instructor Lin and I will go and take a look. Go and prepare two long spears for me."

Ren Yuan gestured for the scouts to take their guns, then turned to Lin Chong and asked:

"Senior brother, I reckon you weren't quite satisfied with yesterday's battle. How about we go practice some more today?"

Lin Chong smiled and said, "I can do anything my junior brother asks me to do."

"It seems that you know this person, Junior Brother?"

"I wouldn't say I know him personally, but he's quite famous. I think you've heard of him, senior."

Ren Yuan took the ordinary spear handed to him by the servant, shook it, and threw one of them to Lin Chong.

"Who is it?"

"Tianbo Mansion, descendants of the old General Ling, formerly the Palace Guard Commander."

Ren Yuan said with a smile.

"Could it be that Blue-Faced Beast Yang Zhi?"

Lin Chong, a veteran of many years in the army, immediately recognized who it was.

"Yes. Senior brother, would you be interested in coming with me to meet this descendant of the Yang family generals?"

Ren Yuan knew that the battle between Lin Chong and Yang Zhi in the original novel was a regret, because Wang Lun was a complete idiot.

"go!"

This time, before Ren Yuan could say anything more, Lin Chong took the spear and left.

That's more like it! A leopard's head versus a blue-faced beast—that's the only way it looks good!