Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 319: Tacit Understanding (600 monthly tickets)

That night, a group of heroes had a banquet.

Outside the hall, the soldiers who came with them were entertained by Zhao Ji, Zhang Qi, and Zhong Lin, who brought the farmhands with them. They just ordered everyone to eat with large plates of wine and meat. The [Chongfengdu] and Yidu Pudao soldiers stationed at the farm, the guards who learned to fight, and the female riders also came up in turn to reward everyone for their contributions in guarding the farm.

The hall was full of righteous men. Zhao Zhen held three cups in his hand and asked them to drink. During the drinking, Lu Fang and Guo Sheng also put aside their thoughts and joined in.

The next day, after breakfast, Zhao Zhen and his wife went their separate ways. Cheng Wan'er went to Xixi Village with Bai Zhi and Jin Cui Lian, some to the silk shop, some to the clinic and the restaurant, while Hu Sanniang, Jin Lebo and Xiu Lebo followed Zhao Zhen to the parade ground.

Hu Sanniang still led the female riders to practice archery around the manor. After Hua Baoyan came, the female riders opened up a new area outside the manor and Hua Baoyan taught everyone how to shoot arrows.

Jin Lebo and Xiu Lebo had just arrived a few days ago and only served Zhao Zhen in the house. They also practiced the set-up in the house every day. Seeing that everyone had something to do and was bored, they heard Zhao Zhen say that Hei Sijie also trained female apprentices in the training ground before noon every day, so they became interested and joined in these days.

After Zhao Zhen had started to exercise, he practiced the boxing, sword, spear, axe and fork techniques he had learned. When the newcomers Yang Xiong, Lu Fang and Guo Sheng saw this, they whispered to Yan Shude beside them, "Brother, why is the martial arts that the master has learned so messy? There is not a single martial art that he has mastered to perfection?"

Yan Shude heard this and replied, "I'm new here, but I don't know how many martial artists there are in Liangshan County now. Not to mention the people like Lin Jiaotou that we met yesterday, there are also four or five garrisons, each with a general in command. There are many heroes with high martial arts skills, such as the world-famous "Flower Monk" Lu Zhishen and "Dragon Slayer" Sun An. Why do we need you to come to the battlefield? He is also a keen martial artist, and he loves spears and sticks. When he has nothing to do, he trains his muscles every day. Since Master Guanghui taught us martial arts, we have also taught you our martial arts. If there are no taboos in the martial arts you have learned, you can also teach you."

The three of them nodded after hearing this. Lu Fang said, "I have also taught this halberd technique to many of my companions. After I became a bandit, I also passed on half of this halberd technique when I trained the soldiers."

As he was talking, Zhao Zhen put down the steel fork in his hand and went to the side to fill a pot of tea. After taking a breath, he drew out his two swords and fought with Hu Sanniang who had returned from outside. The two of them raised four swords at the same time, and a ball of silver light flew up and down.

Yang Xiong asked, "Brother Shude, who is this woman? Her martial arts skills are much better than yours."

Bao Xu, who was standing next to him, heard this and replied, "This is the wife of the great official, Miss Hujiazhuang. She is very skilled in martial arts and has a reputation in the martial arts world. Everyone calls her [Yi Zhang Qing]."

Lu Fang said: "Look at his martial arts, he is not inferior to my brother." After hearing this, Guo Sheng nodded repeatedly.

"This Hu Sanniang is also good at using hidden weapons, which is even more amazing. Other things are fine, iron armor can defend against them, but her skill of using the red cotton lasso is impossible to defend against if you don't know about it." Yan Shude said.

Guo Sheng said: "Brother Bao Xu, I wonder what kind of people are in the family of the great official. If you can tell me, I will not offend you."

Bao Xu said, "There's nothing to hide. If you live here longer, you'll get to know them all. Look over there." Bao Xu turned around and pointed at the men and women learning to fight. "The two wearing tight-fitting short-sleeved shirts with blue floral satin jackets are the master's new concubines. They've been in the mansion for less than a month."

"As for the wife that the great official married, she is the apple of the eye of the governor of Dongping Prefecture. The first one to get on the carriage we saw in the parade ground today was Miss Baizhi. The one in the middle is Miss Baizhi, who is famous in the county for her family's medical skills. The one at the back is Miss Jin, who teaches singing in the restaurant."

"Thank you for pointing it out, brother. Speaking of the carriage, how come the horse pulling it is so majestic? Compared to it, my Dayuan horse is so much inferior in size alone."

Bao Xu waved his hand and told him about Sharma's character. Lü Fang and Guo Sheng heard it and said it was a pity. As they were talking, Zhao Zhen's double swords were knocked away by Hu Sanniang. Zhao Zhen jumped away and said with a smile: "My lady, today you only used the mandarin duck double sword technique. It took you thirty rounds to knock my sword away. Have I made any progress, sir?"

Hu Sanniang also put down her two swords, walked up to Zhao Zhen, took out a handkerchief to wipe Zhao Zhen's sweat, and said, "Your martial arts will surely improve if you fight with the heroes in the village every day."

Zhao Zhen laughed twice after hearing this, and took two sips of herbal tea. Seeing Bao Xu and his group of heroes standing on the sidelines watching, Zhao Zhen walked over with a smile and said to Yang Xiong and the other two, "Brothers, please don't be surprised. If there is nothing important here, I will practice martial arts every day. You three should follow Zhao Ji to look around and recognize the heroes in the county. You don't have to wait here for a few days."

Guo Sheng said, "Today, the soldiers that my brother Lu Fang and I brought have all sailed to the Wanzi City camp. Seeing how lively the training ground is today, we couldn't help but practice martial arts here as well."

Lu Fang continued, "Yesterday we brought over 20 to 30 large carts. Apart from food and fodder, they were filled with gold, silver, and silk looted from the mountain strongholds. We will send them all as a tribute to you, the great official."

Zhao Zhen shook his head: "How can I do that? Since it is my brother's property, I will just keep it."

Lu Fang also shook his head: "These are all the wealth of the mountain stronghold. How can I monopolize them? If all the gang members come to surrender, the wealth will naturally belong to the public. It will be used to pay the salaries of the soldiers in the future."

Zhao Zhen declined again, but seeing that Lu Fang was sincere, he let Zhao Yuanli count the goods and put them into the warehouse.

Seeing that Zhao Zhen accepted it, Lu Fang packed up with Guo Sheng and Yang Xiong and followed Zhao Ji to Erlong Mountain to visit Lu Zhishen, Guanghui and others.

After three or four days, the three finally recognized all the heroes. Zhao Zhen originally thought that the three would go to Wanzi City to select soldiers, but the three stayed in Baishi Manor and followed Zhao Zhen every day to strengthen their muscles and hone their martial arts.

One day, after lunch, Lü Fang and Guo Sheng followed Zhao Zhen to the South Camp. Seeing Zhao Zhen practicing horse fighting under Lin Chong's instruction, they also asked to go up and compete. The two men held their halberds in their hands, sat on their horses, and fought back and forth for more than thirty rounds without a clear winner.

In the shadow of the crimson clouds, there were a few flying clouds brushing the ground. In the light of the white snow, there were a few balls of raging fire. Zhao Zhen couldn't help but cheer when he saw it. Lin Chong, Tang Bin, and Wang Tianba also praised his martial arts.

The two fought for fifty rounds, then stopped. He rode up to Zhao Zhen and said, "Sir, do you think our halberd skills are good enough?"

Zhao Zhen praised: "It is a really good halberd. All of you brothers are impressed."

Lu Fang said: "We have learned the halberd technique, but our boxing technique is not very advanced. We have not learned the true teachings. We are willing to exchange this halberd technique for a set of boxing techniques from you, the great official."

Zhao Zhen naturally knew what the two meant, and thanked them repeatedly. He used the [Bright Fist] he got from Liantai Temple in exchange, and learned the halberd techniques of the two and Yang Xiong's [Eight Cut Whirlwind Blade].

(End of this chapter)