Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

The Gao family's main banquet hall.

It's rare for people to dine here normally; it's only open when the Gao family has important guests.

Today, the place has reopened, and it seems the head of the family attaches great importance to this banquet.

According to the Gao family's chef, this sudden banquet has forced them to bring out their best skills!

The singers and musicians of the Gao family also brought out their best skills!

"If you don't serve those three people inside well today, you're all packing your bags and leaving!"

Although the second-in-command, Gao Yongsheng, had thick bandages wrapped around his wrists, it didn't stop him from bossing his servants around.

At this moment in the banquet hall, Ren Yuan and Gao Yongqiang sat together on the high platform at the head of the table, while Lin Chong and Lu Junyi sat at the head of the table below them. On the table in front of them were very exquisite pastries.

"Your Highness, Generals, these are all specialty pastries from Bohai. They are quite rare in the Song Dynasty. Please have a taste."

Gao Yongqiang's attitude perfectly illustrates the saying "whoever feeds me is my mother." Now, he is extremely humble towards Ren Yuan and his two fellow disciples.

"This thing is indeed rare. Even back in Daming Prefecture, only that old man Liang Shijie and a few other business tycoons had it."

Lu Junyi was once the richest man in Daming, and he was very knowledgeable about rare items, so he recognized at a glance that this thing was not cheap.

"This general has a good eye. This is something unique to the north, and not many people in the Song Dynasty can eat it."

Seeing that Lu Junyi knew his stuff, Gao Yongqiang quickly followed up with his own boasting.

Nothing else matters; what matters is that these three will only realize, after they've been killed, that the Gao family has brought out some good things to entertain them!

"Back when Yanyun was still intact, this kind of thing shouldn't have been rare, right?"

Ren Yuan picked up the pastry, smelled it, and thought it looked like a dairy product.

"Your Highness, Yanyun has been in the hands of the Liao people for so many years. We, the common people, think about returning to the Central Plains every moment. But the Song Dynasty has never had any intention of taking Yanyun back. So over time, everyone's hearts have grown cold."

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased somewhat, Gao Yongqiang quickly explained that the entire Yan Yun region was in this situation, not just his Gao family of Bohai.

“A cold heart can be warmed up again, but a broken heart is beyond saving. Patriarch Gao, do you agree?”

Ren Yuan stared at Gao Yongqiang, his gaze carrying a hidden meaning.

"That's right, Your Highness, what you said is so insightful! You've directly cleared up my confusion! Your Highness, rest assured, the hearts of the Gao family are absolutely good!"

Gao Yongqiang also realized that among the three people, although Ren Yuan called the other two "senior brothers", he seemed to be the one who was the backbone.

"Your Gao family has been in the north for so many years, why didn't you produce a Gao Yongchang sooner?"

“Your Highness, what you are saying is true. Of course, there is more than one Gao Yongchang in our Gao family. There were many predecessors like him who were determined to overthrow the Liao people.”

"However, most people are born at the wrong time, or rather, most people want to fight a losing battle, which is obviously impossible. After paying a considerable price, our Gao family has now obtained sufficient intelligence on the Liao Kingdom, so our Gao family is no longer serving the Liao people."

Gao Yongqiang and Ren Yuan explained, and it seemed as if he had been preparing to cause trouble for a long time!

"Oh? You also want to rebel against Liao?"

Ren Yuan looked at this sly fellow with great interest.

"That's right, Your Highness. We haven't had anyone as wise and powerful as you to lead us, so we ordinary people have no choice but to compromise and deal with the Liao dogs in order to protect ourselves."

"Just like the sage families in Shandong, they have been practicing the subjugation of the emperor for generations. Aren't they just trying to survive?"

Gao Yongqiang's words were reasonable and had a friendly quality that made it easy to believe him. Moreover, he cited a famous family of saints as an example, which made his argument even more convincing.

"Then why didn't you agree when your brother wanted to rebel?"

At this point, the Gao family had already started serving the dishes. Ren Yuan didn't stand on ceremony. Anyway, the Gao family was rich, so eating more wouldn't bankrupt them.

“Oh dear, Your Highness, my third brother is ambitious but incompetent. Rebellion is not a one-off event. Bohai is far from the Song Dynasty. Once he rebels, he will inevitably face a fierce attack from the Liao people. With Bohai’s strength, how many times can it withstand the attack?”

"He made a big fuss and started a rebellion, but he couldn't protect the people. What was the point of his rebellion? Was it just to satisfy his own ego?"

Hearing Gao Yongqiang's evaluation of his younger brother Gao Yongchang, Ren Yuan actually thought more highly of him.

Historically, Gao Yongchang's account was indeed no different from Gao Yongqiang's: he established the Great Yuan Dynasty to rebel against the Liao Dynasty, but was repeatedly defeated and could not get any help; he also could not control his subordinates and died a miserable death.

The only benefit of his rebellion was that he became emperor, revised the genealogy of the Bohai Gao family, enjoyed the emperor's harem, and then that was it.

It seems that Gao Yongqiang is indeed quite capable; at least he has a good eye for people.

I'll believe you for now.

Ren Yuan knew, of course, that Gao Yongqiang wasn't entirely as he described, but at least what he said made sense, and the man seemed quite pragmatic at the moment.

As long as a person is pragmatic, everything is negotiable.

"Your Highness, you must believe me! I will definitely dedicate myself to the Great Yi, even unto death. I'll do it!"

Gao Yongqiang immediately pledged his loyalty. Ren Yuan knew that this old fox would be very good at putting on a show, and it would be impossible to find any flaws in his deception.

Since that's the case, we might as well reach an agreement with this old fox first.

After all, Bohai had just been taken over, and having a compliant local strongman would also be beneficial to Dayi.

"Very well, then I will trust you this once."

Ren Yuan also showed his wine bowl to Gao Yongqiang.

"Your Highness, please make yourself at home. Second brother, come quickly and offer Your Highness a toast!"

Gao Yongqiang knew that the crisis was temporarily over.

Lin Chong and Lu Junyi exchanged glances. They knew, of course, that Ren Yuan wouldn't accept the Gao family so easily, but since their junior brother was going to put on a show, they wouldn't expose him.

So the meal was a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

After the banquet, Gao Yongqiang very attentively led the way for Ren Yuan and the other two, saying he would show them the courtyard and gardens of this century-old family.

Ren Yuan did not refuse, and the three of them followed Gao Yongqiang. It must be said that the wealth of the century-old family was indeed astonishing. The courtyard was built in a unique way, and even Lu Junyi, the former richest man in Daming Prefecture, said that he had broadened his horizons.

Just as the group was strolling around, suddenly, the gate of a courtyard was kicked open, and two figures dressed as servants flew out and fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Hmph! You two bad guys, get out of here! If you dare come into my and my mother's yard again, I'll break your legs!"

Then, a childish but very domineering voice rang out from the yard. A boy who looked to be about four years old, with a chubby face, walked out of the yard in a very cool manner, carrying a wooden stick that was much longer than his body, with an expression that said "I'm awesome".

Everyone witnessed this scene. Ren Yuan raised an eyebrow. It seemed that this person was destined to be the number one cheat code in the Southern Song Dynasty!

"Patriarch Gao, this child is interesting. Who is he?"

PS: The first spear of the Southern Song Dynasty has been launched. As for its image, we'll refer to Shi Xiaolong, the kung fu kid in "Shaolin Popeye".