Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"If that's what you mean, then we can certainly talk."

Ren Yuan looked at Tong Guan and touched his chin.

Tong Guan, this guy is much better than Gao Qiu.

Moreover, a very crucial point is that this guy, despite not having any sexual relations with his country, never betrayed his country or defected to the enemy throughout his life.

If he could do that, Tong Guan would be far superior to many so-called literati of the late Northern Song Dynasty!

"Tong Guan, after this crushing defeat, can you guarantee you'll remain in the capital?"

"Ren Yuan, what do you mean?"

Tong Guan looked at Ren Yuan.

"You said you wanted to talk, so you have to show some sincerity. If you can't stay in Tokyo this time and go back to the Western Army, then I don't think there's anything to talk about."

Ren Yuan didn't mince words and stated his demands directly.

"You want me to be your spy in the capital?"

Tong Guan wasn't stupid; since Ren Yuan had said so, he naturally understood what Ren Yuan meant.

"Yeah, Lao Tong, are you going to be a spy?"

Seeing that Tong Guan understood his meaning, Ren Yuan spoke frankly.

"Ren Yuan, why should I be your spy in the capital?"

Tong Guan was somewhat confused. He just wanted to talk, so why did Ren Yuan directly appoint him as a spy?

"With my Liangshan, I can turn your Tong Mansion upside down."

Ren Yuan was being unreasonable, essentially telling Tong Guan, "I can use your family to cause trouble, are you not happy about that?"

Tong Guan looked terrible. Ren Yuan's statement left him helpless, because Liangshan really could do it.

"Your ambitions have grown so much now? You're already planning to take action against the capital? With your little banditry?"

Tong Guan stared intently at Ren Yuan, unable to believe that the Song Dynasty would one day be targeted by a bandit!

"Although my marshland is small, it still covers eight hundred li. Moreover, I have successively captured Gao Qiu and you, as well as more than two hundred thousand imperial troops. Are you not satisfied? If you are, let Zhao Ji send more people!"

Negotiations are all about momentum, and Ren Yuan had the upper hand over Tong Guan in terms of momentum.

At this moment, Tong Guan was frantically calculating in his mind.

"Ren Yuan asked me to be his spy in the capital. Does that mean he's planning to attack the capital directly next?"

"I never would have guessed this guy had such big ambitions!"

"How about I listen to his plan? We can play along for now, and then discuss it with the Emperor when we get back to the capital?"

After making up his mind, Tong Guan took the initiative to ask Ren Yuan:

"Ren Yuan, don't think that just because you've won against the imperial court twice by luck, you can keep winning forever."

"Of course, as the victor in this war, you can state your terms."

"Tong Guan, my request is very simple. After you return this time, you must take control of the defense of Bianjing. When my Liangshan army arrives at the city gates in the future, I want you to open the city gates for me!"

"Although this court is incompetent, the people in Bianjing are innocent."

Ren Yuan looked at Tong Guan and said, word by word.

"So you really intend to target the capital!"

Tong Guan had a look on his face that said, "I guessed right," and then he said to Ren Yuan with disdain:

"But do you know that Bianjing is the number one city of our Great Song Dynasty? The capital has twelve city gates and nine water gates, and each city gate is heavily fortified. Do you think your Liangshan army can break in? Do you even know Bianjing? Do you really think that you, a mere bandit, can destroy a dynasty?"

Tong Guan's words revealed his contempt for Liangshan.

"Excuse me, but a dynasty that can be established by a traitor within the family isn't that hard to destroy. Besides, I really do know the gates of Bianjing!"

"It's just that there are more city gates. If I remember correctly, apart from Nanxun Gate, Xinzheng Gate, Xinsong Gate, and Xinfengqiu Gate, which are straight gates with two layers because they are connected to the imperial road, the rest are all three-layered barbicans, so they have to open the gates in a roundabout way! Moreover, each gate is usually guarded by 5,000 troops, all of whom are from the Beijing Garrison."

Ren Yuan was amused when he heard Tong Guan say that he didn't know anything about the gates of Bianjing.

"What Bianjing City is proud of is not only its twelve city gates, but also its nine water gates, right? For example, the East Water Gate of the Bian River. In addition to the iron gate blocking the river itself, there are two fortified cities on both sides. If any enemy tries to break through by the navy, the fortified cities on both sides will release thousands of arrows, turning people into hedgehogs in the water. Am I right?"

"You, you, how did you know?!"

Tong Guan was shocked. The defenses of Bianjing's city gates were formidable, yet Ren Yuan seemed to know them inside and out!

Could it be that he already has spies in the capital?

Thinking back to himself, although he was the Privy Councilor, he had always been with the Western Army. The fact that Ren Yuan didn't inquire about the Western Army's situation meant…

"Well done, well done, Ren Yuan of Liangshan! You actually planted spies in both the Western Army and the capital without anyone noticing! What a brilliant tactic! Truly brilliant!"

Tong Guan pointed at Ren Yuan and said.

"How to say?"

Ren Yuan looked at Tong Guan. Although he wasn't entirely right, he was close to the truth. Tong Guan was indeed not a fool.

"Hmph, everyone knows that my base, Tong Guan's, is in the Western Army, yet you don't mention it at all. It seems you already have people in the Western Army!"

"And you just talked on and on about so much news about the gates of Bianjing, you must have bribed one of the high-ranking officials in the court!"

"Hmm, would you believe me if I told you that Cai Jing told me all this?"

Ren Yuan interrupted Tong Guan's performance, leaving Tong Guan momentarily breathless.

Cai Jing? Would Cai Jing tell you about this?

"It seems you don't believe me. Then let's change it to someone else. Gao Qiu, do you believe him? He's not even a believer. So let's have Yang Jian, your senior."

"Ren Yuan, are you making fun of me?"

The veins on Tong Guan's temples bulged.

Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm stupid?

Will any of these people tell you news from Bianjing?

"Alright then, I'll lay my cards on the table. All this information about the capital city was given to me by Privy Councilor Tong. I will make sure that the entire Song Dynasty, both the legitimate and illegitimate, knows about this..."

"Ren Yuan! How dare you!"

Tong Guan couldn't stand it when Ren Yuan openly and honestly smeared him!

"Why wouldn't I dare? Guards!"

Ren Yuan clapped his hands, and then four people walked out from the surrounding small school, each holding a paintbrush and a piece of cardboard.

"Come, let Privy Councilor Tong take a look."

Ren Yuan gestured for the four men to show the painting to Tong Guan. Upon seeing it, Tong Guan's scalp tingled with fear!

These four paintings depicted the very scene of Tong Guan and Ren Yuan's conversation, and they were incredibly vivid! The expressions of both men were remarkably lifelike, the only difference being that the man in the painting had a fawning expression on his face.

“Tong Shumi, what do you think? If these paintings were to circulate to every corner of the Song Dynasty, wouldn’t everyone think that Tong Shumi is one of my Liangshan people?”

Ren Yuan asked with a smile.

"Ren Yuan, you're framing me!"

Tong Guan glared at Ren Yuan, gritting his teeth.

"The Emperor won't believe it!"

"What about plus this?"

The schoolboys then brought out a tray with a piece of paper covered in writing and some inkpad.

Before Tong Guan could even see what was written on the paper, Ren Yuan suddenly jumped down from his seat, grabbed Tong Guan's hand with lightning speed, pressed the inkpad into it, and then pressed it onto the paper!

Only then did Tong Guan realize that the title of the paper was "Surrender Document".

"Privy Councilor Tong, this letter of surrender has your fingerprint on it. Do you think that when Emperor Huizong sees it, he will think that you have surrendered to Liangshan?"

Ren Yuan leaned close to Tong Guan's ear and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Is this all you can do? These are the despicable methods you've ever used! That's not even my handwriting!"

With Tong Guan's hand captured, and the imposing aura emanating from Ren Yuan preventing him from resisting, Tong Guan could only resort to provocation.

"Privy Councilor Tong, you've always been ruthless when you're leading troops, so why can't you stand it when I'm ruthless towards you? How about it, can you become my spy?"

As Ren Yuan spoke, he put his arm around Ren Yuan's shoulder.

"As for your handwriting, don't worry, I'll forge it properly."

"Damn it! The Emperor won't believe you! You're just delusional!"

Tong Guan tried to struggle a little longer, but suddenly, an incredulous voice came from outside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness:

"General, what, what are you all doing..."

Tong Guan looked in the direction of the sound and found Feng Mei and Bi Sheng standing at the entrance of the Hall of Righteousness, bound hand and foot, staring blankly at him.

And right now, Ren Yuan was putting his arm around her shoulder! Ren Yuan even raised the hand that was on her shoulder and waved it at Feng Mei and Bi Sheng!

"Take them away!"

"General! General... um..."

Feng Mei and Bi Sheng were clearly anxious. They wanted to say something, but their mouths were gagged, and they were forcibly dragged away!

"A painting, a letter of surrender, and two eyewitnesses of considerable standing—the evidence is complete."

Ren Yuan released Tong Guan, took two steps back, and stared at him intently.

"So? Now, do you think Zhao Ji will believe it?"

"Or rather, do you think Cai Jing would believe it?"

"Think it through and tell me, are you willing to open the gates of Bianjing for my Liangshan!"