Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Have you heard? The Jiangnan Martial Arts Conference is being held in Suzhou on Laba Festival!"

"Really? Who owns it?"

"Who else could it be? Jiangnan was opened up by Fang La, of course!"

"No, isn't the martial arts ranking of all outlaws on Liangshan Mountain? It was personally compiled by the martial arts legend, Senior Zhou Tong, right?"

"Yes, but it's clear that Fang La is not convinced. This Jiangnan Martial Arts Tournament should be benchmarked against the Liangshan Martial Arts Ranking."

"But Liangshan has the senior Zhou Tong, what does Fang La have?"

"Don't forget, Wang Gong Laofo, one of the Ming Cult's Dharma Kings, was also a bandit of the previous generation and Fang La's teacher."

"Ah... so now if you want to become the overlord of the bandits, you still need a good master?"

Do you have one?

"I do not have."

"So you can't do it."

……

The news that Fang La was going to hold a martial arts conference in Jiangnan spread very quickly and became the most discussed topic among the people recently.

However, the heroes of the Song Dynasty could clearly sense that Fang La's grand meeting was aimed at Ren Yuan.

However, since Liangshan was the first to be ranked on the martial arts list, and Zhou Tong had a great influence, most people still believe that the one from Liangshan is the real one.

However, the Ming Cult had a large number of members, and one or two of them came out to promote themselves, spreading the word among the people all day long. As a result, quite a few people were actually preparing to go and see this grand gathering in Jiangnan.

To demonstrate the strength of the Ming Cult, Fang La specially set up soup kitchens inside and outside Suzhou City, equipped with stoves, so that attendees could stay there temporarily and receive food.

Although the food was just so-so, at least there was a place to shelter from the wind and rain, especially since it was almost December and Suzhou was cold.

"Isn't the Ming Cult currently at war with the imperial court? How could they have the opportunity to hold this martial arts tournament?"

At a large inn by the official road, many guests were resting. As they ate and chatted, some of them naturally started talking about the Jiangnan Martial Arts Tournament.

"You don't know this, do you? I heard that Fang La and the imperial court reached some kind of agreement, so the imperial court will not fight against the Ming Cult during the martial arts tournament this time."

One of the guests seemed to know something. He picked up a teacup from the table, poured himself some tea, and started showing off while drinking it.

"They actually managed to reach an agreement on this?"

"Of course, and I also have inside information! It's just..."

The guest was being mysterious, leaving the audience in suspense until he finished speaking.

"what news?"

"Yes, what news? Tell me!"

……

The other guests who had been listening intently immediately began to jeer.

"Oh dear, this information is top secret, and I finally got my hands on it. You can listen if you want, but you can't just expect me to say it like this."

The guest then took the opportunity to make a request.

"Tch, it's no big deal! Waiter, cut this guy a pound of cooked meat! Put it on my tab!"

"That's right, waiter, bring him a pot of good wine! Put it on my tab!"

……

"Waiter, give him a plate of fennel beans, and put it on his tab!"

"Ok?"

A group of onlookers turned their attention to the man who had mentioned fennel beans, and found that he looked like a scholar, though his clothes were rather worn.

"Why are you all looking at me? Fennel beans are delicious too! Do you know how many ways there are to write the character for fennel in fennel beans? I can tell you, as long as you buy me a drink..."

"cut!"

The crowd laughed at him; clearly, they weren't very interested in how he wrote "fennel bean."

"Brother, the food and drinks are here. Keep talking, what inside information do you have?"

"Don't rush, let me take a bite first."

Everyone kept urging the guest with inside information. The guest looked at the table full of dishes and was very satisfied. He picked up his wine glass with his left hand, picked up a large mouthful of food with his chopsticks with his right hand, and ate it with relish.

"One bite, right? Tell me quickly."

After watching the man take a bite, everyone urged him on again.

This man didn't waste any time; perhaps knowing that keeping everyone hanging on would only get him beaten up, he put down his wine glass and began to speak:

"The imperial court also participated in this Jiangnan martial arts tournament, which is why we did not continue fighting the Ming Cult."

"The imperial court is also participating?"

Everyone was indeed shocked by this news; they never expected that the imperial court would actually send someone!

"Of course, it's Zhang Shuye's top generals. Do you know Zhang Shuye's four generals, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter? They're the ones who went out this time!"

The guests who knew the inside story were quite smug.

"Heavens! Is the imperial court going to challenge Fang La at the martial arts tournament?"

"I've heard of the four generals under General Zhang Shuye, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. They are indeed very powerful."

"But Fang La has many capable men under his command. Can the four of them win?"

"Wait a minute, have you all forgotten that since Fang La's martial arts tournament this time is aimed at breaking Liangshan's martial arts holy land, then the Liangshan people should also be there, right?"

Suddenly, someone raised this question.

The question immediately silenced everyone in the room.

"Liangshan... um... hey, you there, didn't you have inside information? Do you know whether or not the people from Liangshan are going?"

Upon hearing this, the customer who knew the inside story, who was picking up food with his chopsticks, suddenly stopped what he was doing.

"Hmm... well... Liangshan probably won't be coming. After all, this martial arts tournament is called the Jiangnan Martial Arts Tournament, and the Liangshan people are all from Shandong..."

He frowned, as if recalling something, and then answered uncertainly.

"Tch! I thought you knew everything? You've wasted a whole pound of my meat, give it to me!"

"That's right! And my wine too! Bring it over here!"

"I just ordered something too!"

"And mine!"

……

Obviously, this person's answer did not satisfy the onlookers, so everyone rushed forward and took away everything they had just ordered!

In the blink of an eye, the table in front of the guest, which was originally full of food, was reduced to just a plate of fennel beans and the original teacup.

"These fennel beans were ordered by me."

Just as he was about to pick up some fennel beans, the poorly dressed scholar appeared at his table and took the fennel beans away as well.

"Sigh... never mind..."

Seeing that the table was empty, the person didn't want to stay any longer and got up to leave.

"Sir, please wait a moment and settle your payment."

But the waiter suddenly appeared in front of him and stopped him.

"No, I only had a cup of tea, and they treated me to all the other food. Why should I pay?"

The guest who knew the inside story was dumbfounded.

Seriously? You have to pay for tea?

"No, those things were bought by other people for you to eat, and they didn't cost any money."

As the waiter spoke, he pointed to the scholar in tattered clothes.

"But it's different for him! That plate of fennel beans was on your tab!"

……