Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"To be a pioneer?"

"Fighting overseas?"

Working for Ren Yuan?

Hmm... what Chao Gai said was quite unexpected.

After he finished speaking, Qingfeng Mountain fell silent.

No one knew what to say, mainly because the news was too shocking.

After they realized what was happening, everyone started discussing it.

"Your Majesty, although your idea is excellent, there is a risk: whether Liangshan will use us is really hard to say."

"That's right, Your Majesty. Although we don't have any particular grudge against Liangshan, we certainly don't owe them any special favors either. Why should Liangshan give us the credit for expanding our territory, as you mentioned? Do they think they deserve too much credit?"

"Exactly, what if we're being so eager and they don't appreciate it? Or even refuse to make arrangements for us? Wouldn't that put us in an awkward position?"

"Sigh, I was thinking that if Tie Niu had left a little later, he might have been very interested in this job..."

"Hey, do you think a lot of people will die in an expedition of this scale?"

……

The gathering hall at Qingfeng Mountain suddenly became very lively, with everyone talking at once and discussing it enthusiastically, making it very difficult for Chao Gai and Wu Yong to get a word in edgewise.

This is the downside of a lack of discipline. If someone dared to speak so noisily in the Liangshan Hall of Righteousness, Pei Xuan would definitely teach them a lesson about the dignity of the law!

If you don't get fined until your wallet is empty, then Pei Xuan's name will be read backwards!

"Quiet! Everyone be quiet!"

Wu Yong finally managed to quiet everyone down and get them to listen to Chao Gai speak.

"What's wrong? You're all usually so good at bragging, saying how great you are, but now that we're sending you to fight against alien races, why are you all so scared?"

Chao Gai's expression was not good. He hadn't expected that his leader would have such a fear of death!

“My mind is made up, so if any brothers don’t want to go, they don’t have to go.”

When Chao Gai was the leader, he rarely acted so arbitrarily; most of the time he consulted with others.

The last time I made such a resolute announcement was when I was going to rescue Song Jiang.

"We're going this time, so we won't be going to Qingfeng Mountain village. If anyone doesn't want to go, they can stay."

Chao Gai had made preparations; after this expedition, he would never return to Qingfeng Mountain!

If he succeeds, he will be remembered in history!

Even if it doesn't work out, dying on the way to war is better than dying of old age in Qingfeng Mountain!

"Your Majesty, this is a matter of great importance, and we need to consider it."

Yan Shun didn't want to go, but then he thought, if Chao Gai and the others left, wouldn't that mean that Qingfeng Mountain could be returned to his hands?

Wow, that's great!

Although Yan Shun was happy inside, he didn't show it at all on the surface.

"Second Master, if you don't want to go, we won't force you."

Wu Yong was good at judging people; he could tell that Yan Shun had absolutely no interest in going on this expedition.

"Strategist, what you're saying is... I just want to think about it some more."

Yan Shun said that he really didn't want to go, but Wu Yong couldn't say that.

"Then the second-in-command should think it over carefully."

Wu Yong ignored Yan Shun and looked at Liu Tang:

"Brother Liu Tang, what are your thoughts?"

"Brother, scholar, tell me, when are you leaving?"

There was a fire burning in Liu Tang's eyes. To be honest, Liu Tang was not bad, but he had always stayed by Chao Gai's side and had not experienced many battles.

"Where is Brother Lei Heng?"

"Brother, as long as my mother is safe, I can leave anytime."

Lei Heng was actually quite grateful to Liangshan for saving him, allowing him to spend more time with his elderly mother. Furthermore, he also harbored ambitions to achieve great things, so Lei Heng assured them he was ready.

"it is good!"

Wu Yong was very pleased. In fact, among all the people in their stronghold, besides Chao Gai, the two most important fighting forces were Liu Tang and Lei Heng.

As for the others, their skill level is... average, to put it bluntly.

So as long as Liu Tang and Lei Heng are fine, then Qingfeng Mountain will be fine.

"Alright, then the other brothers go back and think about it, see if they want to go or not, and talk to all the brothers in the village about it. Everyone needs to make a decision within two days!"

Chao Gai set a deadline for everyone and then left, with Wu Yong following him.

"Guardian, shouldn't we try to communicate with Liangshan first?"

After leaving the Hall of Righteous Gathering, Wu Yong asked Chao Gai a question, because Chao Gai had given him very little time.

“Scholar, as you can see, apart from our old brothers, the others are not enthusiastic about this. Since that’s the case, I don’t want to force them.”

"Bring as many people as you can. Those who don't want to go can leave the village to them and let them stay here."

Chao Gai made his decision very firmly this time.

“By the time our group reaches Liangshan, we can’t be driven away. After all, Brother Ren Yuan saved my life, so I’m here to repay his kindness.”

……

The mobilization meeting at Qingfeng Mountain was very quick; under Chao Gai's urging, everyone was mobilized within two days.

"Brother, there are about 1,200 people who are willing to go, but the remaining 800 or 900 people don't want to go."

Wu Yong reported the results to Chao Gai.

"Not bad, more than half."

Chao Gai was still satisfied; having won more than half the votes meant that he, Chao Gai, was quite well-regarded, right?

"Where's the leader?"

"Besides the two of us, six brothers, Liu Tang, Lei Heng, Hong Li, Dai Zong, Li Zhong, and Zhou Tong, are also willing to go."

"Isn't Han Bolong going?"

Chao Gai was somewhat surprised that Han Bolong hadn't chosen to leave with him.

"Yes, because Yan Shun approached him privately and told him he could become the new second-in-command of Qingfeng Mountain, so..."

Wu Yong was also somewhat helpless. Han Bolong had indeed been insignificant for a long time and was easily forgotten.

"Alright, everyone has their own ambitions, I won't force you."

Chao Gai nodded. To be honest, he was quite satisfied because the people he left behind were indeed quite ordinary. Yan Shun, Han Bolong, Li Li, and Deng Long, when put together, were barely at the level of the old Qingfeng Mountain group that Yan Shun, Wang Qing, and Zheng Tianshou used to be.

“Scholar, you and Yanshun should make the handover. This time, we’ll take half of the grain and money with us, and leave the other half for them as capital to continue their stay here.”

"Chief, logically speaking, we outnumber you, so we should get the lion's share..."

Wu Yong gently shook his head.

“But you have a kind heart, so I’ll listen to you this time.”

And so, Qingfeng Mountain came full circle and returned to Yan Shun's hands!

Chao Gai and Wu Yong, with their 1,200-plus men, set off for Liangshan without giving any prior notice!

Liangshan.

Hsu Kuan-chung is playing Go with Jen Yuan and chatting along the way.

"Brother, if people from other villages are willing to come and join us as our vanguard during this Northern Expedition, would you be willing to accept them?"

"To be honest, I don't want to."

Ren Yuan frowned, then secretly flicked his little finger, changing the position of a chess piece.

"This Northern Expedition is no child's play. The slightest mistake could lead to annihilation. Even our own troops must be extremely cautious. What can those small village people do as vanguards besides serving as cannon fodder?"

"Brother, what you said makes sense, but could you please stop what you're doing with your fingers first..."

P.S.: Happy National Day everyone!! It's been so long since I've taken a sleeper train; it brought back memories of my first long trip to university.