Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Tokyo, the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

After court today, Cai Jing acted out of character. He went straight to his study with a blank expression after entering the mansion and did not come out for a long time.

Normally, after court, he would stroll around his garden for a while, looking at the flowers and feeding the fish; he rarely spent so much time in his study.

"What problem has the master encountered that he cannot solve?"

The servants of the Cai family gathered together and whispered among themselves. Someone tried to start a conversation, but as soon as he finished speaking, he was immediately refuted.

"How could that be? Our master is the pillar of the Song Dynasty. There's nothing he can't handle."

"That's right, that's right. It's always our master who makes things difficult for others. How could anyone dare to mess with our master? Does that person have a death wish?"

No one believed that their master could be stumped by anything. Although the emperor sitting on the throne of the Great Song Dynasty was surnamed Zhao, in the eyes of the people in the Cai family, their master was more powerful than the one on the dragon throne!

Who says the Song Dynasty has to be surnamed Zhao? In the eyes of the servants of the Cai family, the Song Dynasty could very well be surnamed Cai!

"Not necessarily. I heard that Tong Guan has been at odds with the master lately."

Upon hearing this, one of the servants carrying a broom disagreed:

"Tong Guan? That eunuch? Forget it. Our master is only paying attention to him because he's giving him face. He's just a lowly Privy Councilor, how can he compare to our master?"

But as soon as he said that, he suddenly noticed several of the servant brothers, who were also holding brooms, looking at him as if he were a fool.

"You don't know anything. Although Tong Guan is no longer the Privy Councilor, he is acting as the Privy Councilor and is still in charge of the capital's defenses. Do you think he's any worse than before?"

"That's right. I also heard that Tong Guan, that adopted son of the Gao family, and that old scoundrel Zhang Kegong have colluded with each other to make trouble for our master. Think about it. Of these three, Zhang Kegong is just a guy who can only talk. Although the Gao family's son is favored by the officials, he has no real power. So the only one who can make our master feel troubled is Tong Guan."

"Ah? Is that so?"

The man with the broom scratched his head, realizing how terribly wrong he had been.

"Hey, next time you talk, don't hold a broom, okay? I don't want people to think that we broom crew members are ignorant."

The other servants holding brooms said, "Put your broom down right now, we don't know you."

"Cough cough!"

Just as the discussion was getting more and more heated, a very authoritative cough suddenly came from behind.

When everyone turned around, they were shocked and immediately shut their mouths, lowered their heads, and dared not make another sound.

Appearing behind them was Cai Jing's trusted old servant, who had followed Cai Jing for a long time due to his loyalty and had experienced many ups and downs. Cai Jing also bestowed upon him the surname Cai.

“Go on, why did you stop? It’s true what they say, the environment shapes the people! I never imagined that so many brilliant minds and outstanding talents would emerge from among the servants of the Cai family, all of them discussing politics so passionately!”

The old steward looked at the group of servants with disdain:

"What do you know about politics? Don't think you have some unique information just because you've heard some rumors. You're just rambling on and on about our master."

"Who is the master? He is the God of Literature in the heavens, the current Grand Tutor. How could we mortals possibly know the plans in his heart?"

"With your kind of mentality, how dare you even try to guess what the master is thinking? Isn't that ridiculous? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Faced with Steward Cai's words, the group of people didn't dare to utter a sound and stood obediently to be scolded.

"If you're going to be a servant, you need to be diligent with your hands and feet, and tight-lipped. If you can do it, do it well; if you can't, get out of here as soon as possible. That way, you'll save face. Do you understand?"

The servants, thoroughly reprimanded by these words, lowered their heads and whispered:

"Did you hear me clearly..."

"Speak louder! A bunch of young people can't even keep up with an old man like me. Does the Cai family not need your food and drink?"

Butler Cai frowned, indicating his dissatisfaction.

"Listen clearly!"

"Alright! Get lost! Go do what you were supposed to do!"

Butler Cai waved his hand to dismiss everyone. He couldn't help but sigh that he was getting old after all. Otherwise, when he was young, he would have hung up these talkative people and whipped them a few times!

After watching the servants leave, Steward Cai turned his gaze back to Cai Jing's study, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

If the owner of the house stays in the study for that long, it's either because he's painting or practicing calligraphy, or... something big has happened!

Butler Cai didn't say much. He took the initiative to stand at the door of the study and guard the door for Cai Jing, just like when Cai Jing was demoted and the two of them spent the night in an abandoned temple in the mountains.

"Old Cai."

After a while, Cai Jing's voice finally rang out in the study.

"Master's orders."

"Take my calling card and invite Eunuch Liang, Lord Zhu, Lord Wang, and Lord Wu. Oh, and by the way, invite Shijie too."

"Master, Lord Wu retired to his hometown last December due to serious illness. As for Eunuch Liang, there might be some trouble because Eunuch Yang has returned."

Old Cai certainly knew who Cai Jing was referring to, but he promptly revealed some intelligence as well.

"Old Master Dun has gone back..."

Cai Jing's voice rang out from the study, sounding somewhat regretful.

"So be it, it's fate. There's no problem with Eunuch Liang. Just tell him that I can prevent him from being suppressed by Yang Jian and Tong Guan, and he will naturally come."

"Yes!"

The old butler didn't ask any more questions. Since the master had given instructions, he would just do as he was told.

Cai Jing still wields considerable influence in Beijing. Once he issues his invitation, virtually no one dares to disrespect him.

Even this eunuch Liang, after some consideration, chose to meet with Cai Jing.

So that very night, several famous figures appeared at the same time in a beautiful courtyard of the Cai residence!

Liang Shicheng! A famous eunuch, this period was also when his power was rapidly rising. After Yang Jian left, Liang Shicheng originally had a good chance to seize all the power of the eunuchs in his own hands. Who would have thought that Zhao Ji would actually call Yang Jian back and even put him in a superior position to Liang Shijie? This caused Liang Shicheng's rapid development to come to a halt.

Liang Shicheng disliked this feeling very much! So this time, after thinking about it, he decided to come and see Cai Jing's invitation.

Zhu Mian! A disciple of Cai Jing, he was the one who orchestrated the "Flower and Stone Tribute" in the south, amassing wealth through this means. His Zhu family became local tyrants in Jiangnan, with almost every prefect and governor in the region connected to him, controlling various government affairs! If Fang La's Ming Cult was the number one bandit group in Jiangnan, then Zhu Mian's Zhu family was a mini-court in Jiangnan! Similarly, Zhu Mian was also Cai Jing's moneybag!

Wang Hanzhi! A disciple of Cai Jing, but an extremely talented man, skilled in both literature and martial arts. He has held over thirty official positions, including five of the six ministries of the imperial court, deeply favored by Cai Jing. Among Cai Jing's followers, he and Wu Juhou, who retired due to illness, are certainly among the top three in terms of political affairs!

Liang Shijie! Cai Jing's son-in-law... Hmm.

Seeing that everyone was present, Cai Jing smiled slightly and stood up, holding his wine glass.

"Thank you all for your kind invitation to my humble abode today. I am deeply grateful. Please accept this toast..."