Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 372: Yuncheng Dudutou

After hearing what Liu Hui Niang said, Zhao Zhen and the other two looked at each other in silence.

Zhu Wu said: "It is because of these corrupt officials that they have stolen high positions, and many righteous men in the world have been forced to become bandits. If Song Gongming succeeds, I will have to prepare early. I am afraid that at that time, there will be no shortage of fighting."

Wu Yong said: "Brother Zhu Wu is right. In addition to training the troops, we still need to contact the heroes in the martial arts world to enhance our strength."

"Please ask Lord Liu to write a letter again. He doesn't need to mention the intention of surrendering in the letter, as long as he does not surrender to Song Jiang wholeheartedly." Wu Yong continued.

At that moment, Zhao Zhen wrote a letter, explained the reason in detail, and sent someone to Jingmen Town. He asked Liu Guang to write a letter and asked Liu Qi and Shi Qian, two brothers, to bring five or seven elite soldiers, disguised as merchants, carry the letter, and go to Yuanbi Village to submit the letter.

Let's not talk about Liu Qi and Shi Qian who took the road to Yizhou and went directly to Yuanbi Village. Just say that in Yuncheng County, a neighboring county of Liangshan County, countless people were demoted because of the loss of the birthday gift. Song Jiang was the bailiff of Yuncheng County, and Shi Wenbin, the county magistrate who had just taken office, was also implicated.

Taking this opportunity, Cai Jing recommended his own disciples to take up the post in the county. After taking office, the new county magistrate dismissed Lei Heng and Zhu Tong from their posts as the head of the infantry and the head of the cavalry.

Zhu Tong was born with a red face and long beard, and resembled Guan Yu, a famous general in the Three Kingdoms. He was appointed as a prison officer in the county. Lei Heng was just a blacksmith. In his spare time, he would paint and draw in the county every day, waiting for orders. In busy times, he would just travel between the prefectures and cities, delivering official documents and working as a courier. Not to mention the danger, there was no money to be made. Since he passed Liangshan County last time, Lei Heng saw that Chao Gai, Wu Yong and others were all in important positions. He thought about it again and again and had already moved his mind to go to Liangshan County.

On this day, Lei Heng came back from Dongchang Prefecture, met the county magistrate, replied, and cancelled the official documents. When Lei Heng left the county government office, he ran into Zhao Neng and Zhao De who were just coming back from outside. They smelled of alcohol and seemed to have been treated to a meal outside.

Seeing Lei Heng, Zhao Neng said, "Captain Lei, you are back from an outing. You are really carefree. After going out, you don't have much to do when you come back. Unlike my two brothers, we have no time to rest for a day."

Lei Heng snorted, ignored him, and turned to walk home.

Zhao De sneered: "Why are you pretending to be so high and mighty? Do you really think you are the leader of the infantry?"

Zhao Neng smiled and said, "No matter what he does, in a few days, he might be transferred to work for us as a soldier. Then we can deal with him."

Lei Heng was angry but he didn't dare to make it public. The situation was stronger than him and his identity was awkward. If he really made a fuss, he would be the one to suffer.

Lei Heng suppressed his anger, drank two glasses of wine, went home and visited his mother.

Without waiting for Lei's mother to finish cooking, Lei Heng heated up the wine himself and drank one bowl at a time. When Lei's mother finished cooking, Lei Heng was already lying on the table, drunk.

At night, Lei Heng woke up from his drunken stupor, and his mother asked him, "My son, why are you so unhappy?"

Lei Heng said this, and Lei's mother said, "Even so, it doesn't matter if I don't do this job. Even if I reopen the blacksmith shop, it will be enough to support the two of us."

Lei Heng said, "That being said, I am unwilling to accept it. Those who used to invite me for drinks have now gone elsewhere. Let alone this, even if I reopen the blacksmith shop, I am afraid it will cause trouble." After hesitating for a while, Lei Heng continued, "Mother, I passed by Liangshan County last time. There were two good friends in the county. One was Chao Gai, the head of Dongxi Village, whom you have also met, and the other was a professor in his village. Now, one of them is a general leading troops in Liangshan County, and the other is a military advisor. The county magistrate Zhao Zhen also heard of my name and wanted to recruit me to be a captain leading troops in his county, but I declined because my family business is in Yuncheng County. Now, it is better to sell my family business and find a job in Liangshan County, which is worse than suffering here."

After hearing this, Lei Mu said, "My son, as the saying goes, a tree that is moved dies, but a person who is moved lives. Since Liangshan County wants to use you, what good will it do even if the whole family moves there?"

After hearing what Lei's mother said, Lei Heng made up his mind. The next day, he found someone to sell his yard and fields. Two days later, Zhu Tong heard about it and found Lei Heng and asked, "Brother, I heard that you sold your property everywhere, but you are in trouble. I still have some gold and silver here. Take it for emergency."

Lei Heng shook his head and said, "Brother, it's not a big deal. I'm not trusted by the county magistrate and I'm always at odds with people in the county office. After much thought, I've decided to resign from my position in the county. I'll sell my property and go to Liangshan County to seek refuge with Master Zhao Zhen."

"Brother, you are just a jailer here, why don't you come with me to Liangshan County. County Magistrate Zhao is now recruiting talented people, and brother Chao Gai is already a general commanding thousands of soldiers in Liangshan County. With our martial arts, I dare not say anything else, but I should be able to be a captain commanding a hundred soldiers. It's better than being bullied here."

"Brother, do you recognize [Little Mengchang] Zhao Zhen?" Zhu Tong asked.

"I have met him several times before. When I first met him, he was just a village head. Now he is the magistrate of Liangshan, and has many famous heroes under his command. Brother, with your martial arts skills, why don't you come with me to seek a title for your wife and children?" Lei Heng replied.

Zhu Tong was also moved after hearing this. He looked around and whispered, "I received a letter from Brother Gongming before, inviting me to live in Qingzhou as a bandit. I am from an honest family, so I refused. Although I am now a prisoner with a monthly salary, it is not as good as when I was a captain."

"I have heard the name of Mr. Zhao many times in the past year. There was Brother Gongming before, and Mr. Zhao after. They are both famous heroes in Shandong and Hebei. My dear brother has met Mr. Zhao, but I wonder if he is really as extravagant as the rumors say."

Lei Heng said, "The rumors are true. Do you remember that day when I led the troops to inspect the village, the county magistrate asked me to take the leaves of the red leaf tree in Dongxi Village as evidence? That tree is a spiritual plant. The magistrate has people guarding it and not allowing outsiders to approach. When he heard that I was inspecting the village for a mission, he asked people to pick the leaves. He treated me and other soldiers with wine and meat, and after a night's rest, he personally escorted me out of the village."

As if seeing Zhu Tong's intention, Lei Heng continued, "Brother, you don't have much family, why don't you take this opportunity to build up some achievements so that you can have a wife and children in the future? What are you waiting for? You can't surrender to Brother Gongming and try to recruit him."

After hearing this, Zhu Tong also made up his mind. He quietly sold his property, and within half a month, Zhu Tong also resigned from his position. He and Lei Heng hired a few cars, escorted Lei's mother, and set off for Liangshan County.

When Zhao Zhen heard that the two men were coming to surrender, he was overjoyed.

Yang Zhi of Jingmen Town was promoted to the commander of the cavalry camp, and Sun Li and Zhu Tong were both made duyuhou. Lei Heng stayed in the small camp on the right side of Baishi Manor as the commander of the camp, commanding 200 archers.

The two men thanked Zhao Zhen, got acquainted with Liangshan County, and then took office.

Zhao Zhen was also very happy when he looked at the Tiangang Disha Order in his hand.

(End of this chapter)