Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 541 Recruitment
After seeing off Dai Zong and the other two, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but sigh at Zhang Qing's infatuation.

However, Song Jiang had people clean the government office in Yidu City early in the morning, and it was finally used today.

Many days had passed since Yong'er went to Bianjing. After lobbying, he finally persuaded Gao Qiu. Then he asked Gao Qiu to make amends and persuaded Grand Tutor Cai. He spoke eloquently in the court and praised the benefits of amnesty. Only then did he persuade the emperor to issue an order to recruit him.

As soon as he got the news, Lai Yong'er sent Fei Lian Huangfu Xiong to go ahead and report the news of the amnesty to Song Jiang so that he could make preparations early.

Lai Yong'er, together with Sima Zhao and Wanqi Rong, accompanied the angel and came to recruit the people of Qingzhou.

At the court, Gao Qiu and Cai Jing both recommended Gao Lian as an envoy to come and recruit the emperor. However, the Grand Commandant Su Yuanjing said, "Although Gao Zhizhou persuaded Song Jiang to recruit the emperor, his contribution is not small. However, he is a foreign minister and cannot be an envoy."

The emperor thought it was reasonable, so he selected Chen Zongshan from the palace guards as an envoy, accompanied by Chen Jin, the Right Justice, and Gao Lian, the governor of Gaotang Prefecture, to go and recruit the emperor with imperial wine and imperial edicts. He also urged Song Jiang to organize his army as soon as possible and rush to Huaixi to resist Wang Qing.

Because Yong'er promised Gao Qiu and Cai Jing a lot of gold and silver, the two sent their own people to accompany him. Zhang Gan was in Cai's mansion, and Sun Jing and Li Yan were in Gao's mansion. These people came here to take back the gold and pearls promised by Yong'er, and to see the situation in Song Jiang's army.

On this day, inside and outside Yidu City, drums and music were resounding. Soldiers led the way, ceremonial guards were constantly coming, and strange fragrances lingered in the air. Lai Yonger led Chen Zongshan and his party to dismount in front of the government hall.

The fragrant carriage and dragon pavilion were carried above the main hall. In the middle were three tables, all surrounded by a yellow silk dragon and phoenix table. In the middle was a dragon tablet with the words "Long Live the Dragon". The imperial edict was placed in the middle. The gold and silver tablets bestowed by the emperor were placed on the left, and the red brocade and green satin were placed on the right. The imperial wine was also placed in front.

There was good incense burning in the golden censer. Song Jiang invited Chen Zongshan, Chen Jin, and Lian Su to the hall to sit. Song Jiang, Lai Yonger, Huangfu Xiong, Di Lei, Fa Tong, Zhao Fu, Yin Tai, Wan Qi De, Ruan Zhaoer, etc., all knelt in front of the hall. They listened to Sun Jing's call to pay homage. After paying homage, Chen Jin began to read the imperial edict.

After reading the imperial edict, Song Jiang and others shouted "Long live the emperor" and bowed again to express their gratitude.

Chen Zongshan took the gold and silver plates, red brocade and green satin, and had them distributed according to their names.

Nine people were missing: Ma Yuan, Helian Jinming, Yao Shun, Wanqi Chun, Cui Hao, Kong Ming, Song Qing, Mu Hong, and Mu Chun. Chen Zongshan asked, "Song Xianfeng, why are Ma Yuan, Wanqi Chun, Song Qing, and others not here?"

Song Jiang said, "General, Ma Yuan and other generals are still stationed in Linzi. My brother and Mu Hong and Mu Chun were suddenly infected with the epidemic and died."

Chen Zongshan nodded: "Write a petition later and I will take it back to report."

Having said this, he ordered the imperial wine bottle to be opened, and took out the silver wine vat and poured all the wine into it.

After drinking, Chen Zongshan asked again: "Song Xianfeng, how many soldiers do you have now? Has the military registration been prepared?"

Song Jiang said: "Now my army has 80,000 soldiers, all equipped with complete armor."

"Very good. Now the emperor has appointed you as the vanguard to fight against Wang Qing, and Chen Jin is the military supervisor. After you go to Bianjing to express your gratitude, you will also lead 20,000 troops from the imperial camp to supervise the battle, and bring rewards and silver to reward the officers and soldiers. I wonder how many days it will take you to raise the army?"

Song Jiang said, "En Xiangrong: Although I am well prepared, I am afraid of making mistakes in a hurry. Since we started the army, we have disturbed the villages and nearby residents. I am foolish, but it will take ten days to prepare the military register and calm the people. After we have sorted it out, we will all go to the capital. How dare we delay? I also hope that the general will report this foolish opinion to the emperor and give him more time."

Chen Zongshan agreed, left Chen Jin and Gao Lian behind, said goodbye to everyone, took Kaizhao and his men, and went to Bianjing. Song Jiang could not help but hold a plate of gold and pearls in his hand and bowed to offer them. Each of the men had something to gain. After sending Chen Zongshan away, Song Jiang opened the treasury and asked Zhang Ganban of the house of Grand Tutor Cai and Li Yuhou of the house of Marshal Gao Dian to take a look. He then asked the soldiers to send them to Gao Lian, who then handed them over to Gao Qiu and Cai Jing.

In Gao Lian's room, Gao Lian, Chen Jin, and Sun Jing sat opposite each other. Gao Lian said, "Chen Zhengyan, are you going to hand over Qingzhou Prefecture to Liangshan Zhao Ze just like that?"

Chen Jin said, "You know, the prefect also knows that there was a debate in the court at the beginning. The Grand Commandant did not want Zhao Zhaotaoshi of Liangshan to intervene, and wanted to appoint someone to serve here. Unfortunately, some people in the court were worried that Zhao Zhaotaoshi would be disappointed, so they gave up. When I came here, I saw that the military camp outside the city was well organized. This Zhao Zhaotaoshi really has a way to command troops."

"After General Chen returns to report, the angel who was to be appointed as Zhao's Recruiting Envoy will also depart. I heard that he will be appointed as the Pacification Envoy."

Gao Lian couldn't help but feel unsatisfied after hearing this: "This fellow is indeed lucky."

However, after Zhao Zhen received the news that the angel had entered Yidu City, he waited at home for Song Jiang to send someone.

The next day, Lai Yong'er went to Linqu to pay a visit to Zhao Zhen.

After greeting, Zhao Zhen asked, "Military Advisor, I wonder what reward the court has given you?"

Lai Yonger smiled bitterly and said to Zhao Zhen, "Sir, we are begging the court to recruit us. How can we get high positions and generous salaries? Brother Gongming was appointed as the governor of Fangzhou and was the vanguard of Wang Qing's suppression of bandits. We are all generals under his command. We will be rewarded only after we have made contributions."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said, "It seems that your expedition against Wang Qing is a foregone conclusion."

Lai Yonger said, "That's right. I came to visit you today to ask you to release the captured Qingzhou soldiers. We will pack up and go to Bianjing to meet the emperor, and then move to Huaixi. Brother Gongming asked me to send a box of gold beads to cover the food and fodder for these days."

Zhao Zhen listened and nodded, saying, "The ransom has already been paid, so I can't force you to stay any longer. Military advisor, please go back. I will have people release the people in batches. When will you set off?"

Lai Yong'er said, "We will set out in ten days."

"Military advisor, please give a message to Song Gongming. You are not allowed to take people away from Yidu City like what happened in Yiyuan. Except for the original soldiers, the rest of the able-bodied men, women and children are not allowed to be plundered. If I find out, I will be embarrassed." Zhao Zhen said.

Lai Yong'er said, "Don't worry, sir. There are two deputy envoys in the city. We will never cause trouble."

After sending Lai Yong'er away, Zhao Zhen immediately ordered that Ma Yuan and his gang be released in batches. He also ordered Hu Yanzhuo and others to strengthen their vigilance, waiting for Song Gongming to leave the city, and then sending one cavalry to monitor his departure from Qingzhou, while another cavalry would immediately enter the city to maintain order and appease the people.

Song Gongming also did not want to get into trouble with Zhao Zhen, so ten days later, he escorted the carriage out of the city and headed straight for the Zibo River, then directly entered Zibo Prefecture, detoured to Qizhou, entered Daming Prefecture, and then went south to Bianliang.

Liu Guang, who had been waiting for many days, entered Yidu under the escort of soldiers and posted a notice to reassure the people.

After Song Jiang entered Zibo Prefecture, Linzi and other places also changed their flags to Liangshan. Gao Lian, who visited them from time to time, saw this and felt more and more depressed.

(End of this chapter)