Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 540 Fate
Zhu Wu heard this and said, "Sir, are you looking for a scholar or an official?"

Seeing Zhao Zhen nod, Zhu Wu continued, "Sir, as soon as we landed on the island, we forced the prison guard Li Wei and the 300 soldiers on the island to surrender. After interrogation, we learned that there were 532 prisoners on the island. Most of them were officials who were corrupt in money and grain, robbers whose death sentences were commuted, candidates who cheated in the imperial examinations, and doctors who had killed more than ten people."

"There is a food shortage on Shamen Island. The ration is only 300 people. In order to save food, the guards often throw the extra prisoners into the sea. Now there are so many people left, and it is because the guard Li Wei adds rotten sea fish into the porridge to feed them. These people have to work hard, so they are all skinny. I don't have time to tell whether these people are framed or not, so I just allocate food to keep them fed."

"If you want to use the troops to mine, it's a good opportunity to take these people back to the mainland. Let Pei Xuan interrogate them again. Those who have done evil can go to mine. As for those who have been falsely accused, we can find a few who can be used as assistant officials."

Liu Hui Niang said: "It's not bad. Nowadays, there are many corrupt officials. There must be some who have been framed. If there are a few people who can be used, it can alleviate the shortage of officials in the prefectures and counties."

Zhao Zhen nodded, ended the conversation, and then sent Shi Qian to Daoyu Village to pass on the message.

For two consecutive days, Zhao Zhen wrote and drew in the study room of his residence.

That day, after lunch, Zhao Zhen got up and was about to go to the study when he saw the gatekeeper Yu Baosi walking in with Dai Zong, followed by a big man.

After the ceremony, Dai Zong took out Tong Guan's letter, Cheng Wanli and Zhao Zhen each had one. When Cheng Wanli received the letter, Zhao Zhen did not open it and sent it to Yunzhou City. When Zhao Zhen opened the letter, he found that it was mostly words of encouragement and win-win.

After Zhao Zhen finished reading Tong Guan's letter, Dai Zong pointed at the big man and said, "Sir, this is Shan Shiqi, the [Shan Du Jian]. He was originally a general under Tian Hu and was stationed at Huguan. After the pass was breached, Shan Shiqi and his brother escaped. I returned after delivering the letter and happened to see him robbing people on the road. When I mentioned you, Shan Shiqi's brother came to pay me a visit and asked me clearly. He was about to surrender to you, but had no money, so he had to rob people on the road. I saw that he was very strong. He could use a 40-jin iron stick so hard that water could not get in. He was also very skilled in martial arts. So I brought him to see you with me."

After hearing this, Shan Shiqi bowed again and said, "Sir, I was originally a wealthy man in Qinzhou. I was good at using guns and clubs. I accidentally killed someone in a gambling fight. I was afraid of being punished, so I joined Tian Hu's army. I was rewarded for my meritorious service in resisting the enemy and was appointed as the military commander. Now the imperial army has been conquering us and has broken through many strong cities. I was separated from my family in Huguan and have nowhere to go. I heard that you are generous and willing to help me, so I came to seek refuge with you. I hope you will accept me."

world log
Name: Shan Shiqi (Hero)
Nickname: Shandujian
Race: Terran

Reputation: 100 (Guardian of Huguan Pass.)
Occupation: Strong

Secondary occupation: Military commander
Level: Level 5 and Level 1 (Strength 60, Commander 55)

Attributes: Strength 62, Constitution 60, Agility 45, Spirit 29
Skills: Fighting Level 4 (competition in martial arts, Constitution +4), Military Management Level 2 (commanding soldiers, fighting on the battlefield, Spirit +2), Cavalry Combat Level 2 (horse combat, Constitution +2).

Commander Skill: Fighting General Level 3 (Fighting Generals before the battle, if you win, your morale will increase by 3, if you lose, your morale will decrease by 3)

Martial Arts: Spear and Stick (Great Mastery, Use of Stick-type Martial Power +6, -Stage Mountain Splitting Stick Technique, -Stage Five Tiger Spear)
Equipment: Iron Rod (Level 3, made of iron, weighing 2 jin, properties: Blunt Attack +, Sturdiness +)

Phoenix Wing Helmet, Fish Scale Armor (Level 3, Protection +3, Sturdiness +.)
Mount: Green Mane Horse (Level 1)
Zhao Zhen had someone help Shan Shiqi up and asked, "Who else is in your family?"

Shan Shiqi said, "Sir, my mother passed away two years ago. I live alone now."

Zhao Zhen said: "In this case, you can rest for a few days, then go to the army. After I have reorganized and trained the soldiers, how about letting you lead the troops?"

After hearing this, Shan Shiqi quickly said, "Thank you for your support, sir."

Zhao Zhen turned to Dai Zong and said, "Brother Dai Zong, have you found out what happened to Brother Zhang Qing?"

"I was just about to tell you, my lord, that this [Qiong Arrow] is now in Zhaode. After Liu Guangshi, deputy commander of the Fuyan Road cavalry and infantry, broke through Huguan, he drove his army and besieged Zhaode. Tian Hu sent Wu Li to rescue, and Qiongying was the vanguard. Under the city of Zhaode, he defeated Wang Weizhong and twelve other generals in one day. Liu Shiguang was holding off with him, and Zhaode was under martial law, so he couldn't enter the city to engage him."

Shan Shiqi heard this and said, "Brother, do you want to see Wu Li?"

"What Wu Li? I want to send a letter to Qiongying." Dai Zong said.

Zhao Zhen said to Yu Baosi, "Go and invite the two brothers Xuejiu and Zhang Qing." Soon, Wu Yong and Zhang Qing also came into the hall. After the greetings, Zhao Zhen asked Dai Zong to tell him again what he had seen and heard.

Zhang Qing heard this and said, "What should we do?"

Wu Xuejiu also frowned and said, "If we can't make contact, how can we lure her to Liangshan?"

Shan Shiqi understood everything from the side and said, "Sir, if you want to contact Qiongying in Zhaode City, I might be able to do it."

Zhao Zhen heard this and frowned, "Since you have left the place of trouble, why bother going there again?"

Shan Shi was surprised and said, "Sir, I surrendered here without any merit, yet you appointed me as a militia commander. Sir, you are in trouble, how can I not share your worries? I also heard clearly that Princess Qiongying and Tian Hu killed her father, and she wanted to take revenge, but she didn't know how to do it."

"If we can get this General Zhang to go with us, pretending to surrender to Wu Li and make an agreement with Liu Shiguang, we can definitely defeat Zhaode with our internal and external forces. In this way, Tian Hu can lend a helping hand, the princess will have a chance to take revenge, General Zhang can renew his marriage, and I can cleanse myself of my sins."

Zhao Zhen looked at Wu Yong and asked, "What do you think, scholar?"

Wu Yong waved the feather fan in his hand and asked, "Sir, has Secretary Tong replied?"

Zhao Zhen handed the letter to Wu Yong. After reading it carefully, Wu Yong smiled and said, "Sir, it seems that General Zhang is indeed destined to be with you in this life. With this letter and the guidance of the Shanshiqi brothers, this matter will be much easier. But I will have to ask you to take another concubine."

As he spoke, Wu Yong pointed out to Zhao Zhen the sentence in the letter in which Tong Guan vaguely mentioned how beautiful his adopted daughter was.

Zhao Zhen looked at it and asked, "What does the scholar mean?"

Wu Yong said, "This is Secretary Tong trying to win over you. Although there is only one sentence in the letter, it is a test for you."

"Sir, you can ask Brother Dai Zong to go to Tong Guan's camp again and tell him that you heard that the daughter of the Privy Councilor is beautiful and you want her to be your concubine. You heard that the eastern route was trapped in Zhaode and could not make any progress. There is a stone-cutter under your command who is here to help the government army break Zhaode. You can use this as a marriage proposal. Privy Councilor Tong will definitely agree. In this way, General Zhang will change his name and be introduced to Wu Li by the Shan Shiqi brothers. He will cooperate with Qiongying and Liu Shiguang outside the city to break Zhaode."

Chen Liqing heard this and hurriedly said, "Military Advisor, this daughter of Tong Guan is not Tong Jiaoxiu, right? That's impossible. I have heard a lot about her in Bianjing. Although she is beautiful, she is not virtuous. If you marry her, I'm afraid your family will be in turmoil. If you don't believe me, you can write to Sister Wen Wan'er."

Wu Yong heard this and said quickly, "Don't worry, Madam. Taking a concubine is just an excuse. I just want to use this as an excuse to send General Zhang to Zhaode, so that General Zhang can have a happy marriage."

Zhang Qing said: "This..., if this is the case, it will ruin your reputation."

Wu Yong said, "Don't worry, General Zhang. By the time Tong Guan has pacified Tian Hu, Song Jiang will have already surrendered. By then, you will be in control of the whole place, and the court will certainly be suspicious of you. How can Tong Guan dare to marry his daughter here? Isn't he afraid that the government will be suspicious of him?"

At that moment, Wu Yong wrote another reply letter on behalf of Dai Zong, who sent it overnight.

It only took Dai Zong three days to complete the round trip.

As expected by Wu Yong, Tong Guan was delighted at Zhao Zhen's enthusiasm in sending people to defeat the enemy after seeing Zhao Zhen's letter. He asked Dai Zong to come back to fetch the people, and ordered Liu Shiguang to cooperate.

After packing up, Zhang Qing and Shan Shiqi followed Dai Zong to the outskirts of Zhaode City, ready to act as the opportunity arises.

(End of this chapter)