Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Eldest brother! Second brother! Are you willing to die for your country?"

Zhang Shuye didn't look at his son, but asked directly.

“Father! You taught me from a young age that loyalty and filial piety cannot be reconciled. I am unfilial, please forgive me!”

When Zhang Bofen heard his father ask this question, he immediately understood what his father meant.

Although he felt some regret, he accepted the order calmly because he felt it was worthwhile.

Zhang Bofen did not disgrace the Zhang family!

But, barring any unforeseen circumstances, something unexpected is about to happen.

"No! Father! How could you do this!"

Zhang Zhongxiong, as expected, protested loudly!

"Father! I'm still young! I don't want to die!"

Zhang Zhongxiong struggled desperately. He was so young, with a bright future ahead of him. How could he die just because of the words "to die for the country"?

"Second brother! What are you saying?!"

Zhang Bofen was shocked. Although he had some resentment towards himself for knocking himself unconscious, he had always thought that it was just his second brother's delaying tactic to buy time for their father.

Unexpectedly, after meeting his father, the second brother stopped listening to him!

"Brother! Why do we have to die! Didn't Chief Ren say he wouldn't kill us?!"

"Father! Chief Ren came to talk to you today, but you haven't even started the talk yet, and you want my brother and me to die first? Why?!"

Zhang Zhongxiong said he was not convinced!

"You! You! Rebellious son!"

Zhang Shuye was also startled by Zhang Zhongxiong's reaction. Then he looked at Ren Yuan and said through gritted teeth:

"Ren Yuan, what did you do to my second son? How did he become like this?!"

"Heaven and earth bear witness, I did nothing wrong, I swear to Emperor Huizong."

Ren Yuan spread his hands to show his innocence. "Uncle Zhang, your eldest son is indeed very good, but your second son is really a piece of trash. He's the kind of person who can surrender twice in history. His nature is not very good. How can you blame me?"

“Lord Zhang, your two sons are imprisoned together, and they can testify to each other that my elder brother did not do anything to either of them alone. As for what the second son just said... well, that is your own problem, sir.”

Xiao Jiahui waved her feather fan, remaining very calm.

"Which one are you?"

"My name is Xiao Jiasui, and I am currently the strategist of Liangshan."

Xiao Jiahui bowed very politely.

"He is a descendant of the Prince Zhongwu of Shixing in the Southern Liang Dynasty."

Ren Yuan added with a smile.

"you……"

People like Zhang Shuye, who came from prominent families, held their family background in high esteem.

Upon hearing that Xiao Jiasui was also a descendant of the former royal family, Zhang Shuye dared not be presumptuous.

What merit or ability does Liangshan possess to have two descendants of the imperial family?

“Lord Zhang, to be honest, we really didn’t intend to use the two young masters to threaten you, and you didn’t have to ask them to die right away.”

Ren Yuan looked at Zhang Shuye with complete honesty.

"Then what do you intend to use to blackmail me? Magistrate Shi of Yuncheng? Let me tell you, Ren Yuan, you've already committed a grave error by killing Grand Commandant Gao. If you dare to kill another official appointed by the court, you'll be facing certain death!"

"If you release Magistrate Shi now, you can still deceive..."

"Someone, bring Magistrate Shi up here."

Before Uncle Zhang could finish speaking, Ren Yuan had someone bring Shi Wenbin up.

"I've met Mr. Zhang."

Apart from not wearing the magistrate's clothes, Shi Wenbin was perfectly fine and had no problems whatsoever.

"Ren Yuan, what exactly do you want?"

Zhang Shuye was puzzled. He thought Ren Yuan would use his son and Shi Wenbin's life as bargaining chips, but now it seemed that he had no such intention at all.

What is he going to do?

"Didn't I write a letter to the adults? To discuss business."

"What kind of person do you take me for? I have nothing to talk to a traitor like you!"

Uncle Zhang slammed his hand on the table again. This was a stone table; one wonders if Uncle Zhang's slap hurt.

"Alas, Lord Zhang, you'd better think it over carefully before using the word 'traitor'."

Ren Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard the word "traitor".

Uncle Zhang, we've finally been waiting for you to say this!

"Consider it..."

Just as Zhang Shuye was about to continue scolding Ren Yuan, he noticed that Ren Yuan smiled and pointed to Chai Jin beside him. Although Chai Jin maintained a smile on his face, his clenched fists betrayed that he was not at peace inside.

"In this world, there are indeed people who can call Liangshan rebels, but only Zhao Ji and his court cannot say that about me."

"Lord Zhang, you are also a member of the imperial court, so you are no different."

Ren Yuan leaned back tactically, looking completely calm.

"If I am a traitor, then what is Zhao Ji? What is the entire Zhao Song court?"

"Lord Zhang, wouldn't you like to explain this to the master?"

“I remember my brother saying that Lord Zhang is the conscience of the Song Dynasty, right? Well, I’d also like to hear what the conscience of the Song Dynasty has to say.”

Chai Jin remained expressionless and smiled as he offered tea to Zhang Shuye.

Zhang Shuye suddenly fell silent.

He didn't know what to say.

To the Zhao family, Ren Yuan was a traitor.

But to the Chai family, the Zhao family was also a traitor!

"My lord, as you know, times create heroes. Back then, the Chai family was a widow and her son, the emperor was young and the country was in turmoil, and the Great Zhou was surrounded by tigers, leopards, wolves, and jackals, all eyeing it covetously. For the sake of the people, the Great Ancestor..."

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Chai Jin.

"For the sake of the people, he became a rebel?"

"For the Chai family, that is indeed true... but for the entire world, the choice made by the founding emperor was correct. The founding emperor may have wronged the Chai family, but he did not wrong the world. Please, sir, please, sir... understand this clearly."

As Zhang Shuye spoke, his voice lowered, and he lowered his head, not daring to look Chai Jin in the eye.

As the conscience of the Song Dynasty, he naturally had to uphold its dignity, but he couldn't bring himself to speak against his conscience.

"Zhang Shuye, what do you think of the world today, and the court today, compared to back then?"

Chai Jin looked at Zhang Shuye and slowly spoke.

"The world is prosperous and thriving today..."

"Snapped!"

"Tell me the truth!"

Chai Jin suddenly smashed the teacup!

"You said that back then, tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves were eyeing the Great Zhou, right? Then let me ask you! Now, the Liao Kingdom, the Western Xia Kingdom, and Fang La in Jiangnan, aren't they tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves? Aren't they eyeing the Great Song?"

"Raise your head! Look at me! Aren't you the conscience of the Song Dynasty? Look at me and say it!"

"……Have."

Zhang Shuye looked at Chai Jin, remained silent for a while, and then admitted it.

The conscience of the Song Dynasty would certainly not lie.

"You said that in the past, the court was filled with orphans and widows, and the country was in turmoil due to the young emperor. Fine, then tell me, what about the court today? Isn't it rife with treacherous officials and a chaotic mess!"

"……Yes."

Zhang Shuye struggled with the decision for a long time, but in the end he had no choice but to bite the bullet and admit it.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Chai Jin sneered.

"Yeah!"

"Back then, Zhao Kuangyin became a rebel. In your case, all you need to do is say that he wronged the Chai family, but he was true to the people, and that will be enough to get by."

"So, how is the current situation any different from what it was back then?!"

"As everyone knows, we Liangshan people care about the people. Since the Zhao family could be rebels back then, why can't we, Liangshan, be rebels who are sorry to the Zhao family but worthy of the people?!"

"Zhang Shuye! Tell me! We're all traitors! Why is the Zhao family the legitimate heir?"

……