Liver in Water Margin, outlaw madman

While Zhang Shan was pondering how to find Shi Xiu and the Song-Liao trade route,

Deng Fei and Meng Kang could no longer hold back.

The three of them stared at Zhang Shan and asked nervously, "Brother Tiangong, is Liangshan Marsh short of manpower? We are willing to join your stronghold."

Zhang Shan was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected these three to be willing to follow him so readily. He asked in confusion, "Of course, no problem."

The three were overjoyed upon hearing this.

"However, why would you brothers be willing to go to Liangshan when you're enjoying yourselves here? What if the government finds out one day and launches a large-scale attack?" Zhang Shan said truthfully.

He didn't want to take the path of coercion, nor did he want to rely on sheer numbers.

If going up the mountain is too easy, going down will likely be just as easy.

Pei Xuan, as the leader of the stronghold, coughed lightly and said slowly, "To be honest, the stronghold has two or three hundred men. We have the advantage of terrain and popular support, so the government usually doesn't dare to come and harass us."

He sounded somewhat confident at first, but then his spirits began to wane: "These days, there are fewer and fewer travelers, the mountain stronghold has lost its income, and the brothers are about to run out of food."

After hearing this, Zhang Shan suddenly realized that becoming an outlaw seemed to mean he was now free.

But you also need to take responsibility for yourself.

They are responsible for their own profits and losses.

Those who become outlaws mostly rob passersby and merchants, and raid surrounding villages.

There's no problem in the short term, but over time, pedestrians will either stop walking, form groups, or take detours, and this part of the income will disappear.

The same applies to the surrounding villages; accumulating wealth is very difficult, and after one or two robberies, they are basically penniless.

It is unsustainable to rely solely on plunder without engaging in production.

This is why Zhangshan wanted to cultivate land, establish liquor distribution channels, and build a commercial center.

Seeing that Zhang Shan was listening attentively, Pei Xuan continued, "As for the matter of the government's encirclement and suppression mentioned by the chieftain, with Instructor Lin and General Zhong under his command, plus Meng Kang's shipbuilding skills, we are not afraid of ordinary government officials."

"Brother Tiangong, don't worry. Even if the government comes, we'll fight them to the death," Deng Fei said with red eyes. Since he dared to go up the mountain, he wasn't afraid of death.

"Brother, don't worry. From the moment we killed the official, we are not afraid of the government. At worst, we will just die," Meng Kang added.

Zhang Shan suddenly burst into laughter: "Brothers, you're right! Let's go to Liangshan together. I promise you won't let us go hungry."

Meng Kang and the other two relaxed and burst into laughter.

Most bandits joined the outlaws either to evade the government or to avoid starvation.

The group continued drinking, but they got drunk very quickly.

When you first try baijiu (Chinese liquor), it's easy to get drunk because your body can't handle it.

Zhang Shan remained somewhat conscious as he lay in bed, his mind racing.

Yinmachuan is strategically located on the border between the Song and Liao dynasties, so it would be a pity to abandon it. It could serve as a stronghold.

The second time, Pei Xuan got up early to wait for Zhang Shan.

Since they've decided to join Liangshan, they definitely need to make a show of it.

"Brother, how did you rest yesterday?" Pei Xuan asked as he saw Zhang Shan get up.

Zhang Shan rubbed his eyes. He had slept well last night and fell asleep while thinking about it.

"Sleeping in our own mountain village all night is much more comfortable than braving the elements outside," Zhang Shan said, stretching.

Seeing this, Pei Xuan continued, "Yesterday, my brother said he was going to Jizhou and the Song-Liao border market. I've asked a few familiar brothers to come with him, how about Deng Fei?"

"Alright, even if you don't bring it up, I'll still bring it up." Zhang Shan didn't refuse; that was his purpose in coming: "Also, Brother Pei Xuan, if this trip goes smoothly, we'll probably have to visit each other frequently in the future. We can't afford to lose Yinmachuan right now."

Pei Xuan was taken aback. He had originally intended to say that he and the others were all preparing to pack up and go to Liangshan together.

Zhang Shan saw the surprise in Pei Xuan's expression and laughed.

"Brother, the stronghold and Liangshan are one entity. It's not just Yinmachuan; in the future, Liangshan will establish strongholds in various places."

Zhang Shan was worried that Pei Xuan might have ulterior motives; people with a strong sense of justice are most afraid of being deceived.

Once we talked things out, everyone was fine.

"This place has a strategic location and can house thousands of soldiers; it's truly an ideal place."

"To be honest, brothers, Liangshan's future development will be based on Liangshan, and we will continue to build branch strongholds in strategic locations around the world."

Pei Xuan didn't quite understand. He used to be just a clerk, and he was quite familiar with the laws of the Song Dynasty, but once it went beyond his area of ​​expertise, he couldn't do it.

"Brother, can't all the brothers stay at Liangshan?"

Zhang Shan gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "A few hundred, a few thousand men are no problem, even ten or twenty thousand men are no problem."

"But once the number of people is too large, the difficulty of various logistical support will increase significantly, which will seriously affect its own development."

"Furthermore, dispersing manpower also helps to share the risks and avoid attracting the attention of the imperial court."

After saying that, Zhang Shan asked in return, "Brother Pei Xuan, what do you think of the Song Dynasty now?"

Pei Xuan said earnestly, "The Great Song Dynasty is bordered by the Liao Dynasty to the north and the Western Xia Dynasty to the west. Although the emperor is incompetent and the court is corrupt, the dynasty is far from its end."

He handled so many cases, most of which were ordinary cases. There were also cases of rebellion, but they were mostly bandits and outlaws, at most a few hundred men like them.

What kind of impact can it have?

However, Pei Xuan didn't quite understand why it was necessary to consider things so far ahead, especially regarding Liangshan.

Seeing the lingering doubt in Pei Xuan's eyes, Zhang Shan couldn't offer much explanation.

You can't exactly say that you know history and that you knew the Song Dynasty would collapse, can you?

Such a thing, which could happen in real life, would never be written in any novel.

I'll get scolded if I write it down.

Who could have imagined that such a vast country as the Northern Song Dynasty would be directly attacked at its doorstep!

Twice!

That's all.

If one doesn't make mistakes while defending a city, or rather...

If Emperor Huizong and Emperor Huan had possessed even a shred of courage and hadn't just been thinking about surviving, the Song Dynasty wouldn't have fallen.

Or rather, they won't die that quickly!

"Brother Heaven, we've found the person. When do we set off?" Deng Fei walked over from the side at this moment.

Meng Kang chimed in, "Brother, would you like me to come along?"

"No need," Zhang Shan said. "Brother Meng Kang, pack up at the stronghold and wait for me to return. We'll go back to Liangshan together."

Meng Kang didn't think much of it at first and didn't pay much attention.

Just then, Pei Xuan said from the side, "Brother, I'll stay here for now and wait for your orders!"

Although Zhang Shan didn't say it, he knew that the mountain village couldn't function without people these days.

Meng Kang will definitely go shipbuilding.

Deng Fei followed Zhang Shan to Jizhou.

Only I can stay behind.

Zhang Shan nodded: "Brother, you've worked hard. We'll talk more when I get back."

He wasn't entirely confident either. If the liquor business didn't work out, he would have to change his development strategy; at worst, he could move south.

He hid behind Fang La's base, and then watched from the sidelines as the tigers fought.

It's not impossible!