Liver in Water Margin, outlaw madman

Zhang Shan has his own standards of judgment.

Shi Qian was a thief, and he also loved to steal chickens and dogs.

It's not a big problem.

Stealing chickens and dogs may damage a hero's reputation, but what makes a hero?

A hero is someone who is highly skilled in martial arts, dares to kill, and is willing to risk his life.

But a mountain stronghold can't be built with just heroes.

A large organization needs all kinds of talent.

Some people charge into battle, some provide logistical support, and some have to do the shady things.

A person like Shi Qian would be a burden elsewhere, but in Zhang Shan's hands, he's a sharp knife.

"My elder brother is the leader of Liangshan, known in the martial arts world as 'Little Heavenly Duke,' Zhang Shan," Du Qian introduced from the side.

He was in charge of introducing the chieftain along the way, and he was already very familiar with the process.

After saying this, he habitually cleared his throat, preparing to bring up Lin Chong's name as well, to add a bit more prestige to the chieftain.

Before he could even speak, Shi Qian had already knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Shi Qian lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the yellow earth, and said in a loud and clear voice, "Brother, I am Shi Qian. I have been wandering and destitute since childhood. Now that I have met you, I wish to serve as your humble soldier. Please take me in!"

Zhang Shan was stunned for a moment.

The others were also stunned.

Du Qian's mouth was open, the words "Instructor Lin" stuck in his throat, unable to come up or down.

Deng Fei looked at Shi Qian with red eyes, his disdain undisguised. How dare a petty thief who steals chickens and dogs call him "brother"?

Jiao Ting remained expressionless; his duty was simply to perform his guard duties, and he cared nothing for anything else.

Only Wu Song remained calm, standing there with his gaze fixed on Shi Qian, seemingly lost in thought.

Although he didn't know how good he was, he was certain that he had never lost a fight since he was a child.

When he captured Shi Qian earlier, he observed him closely. This man walked silently and was as agile as a raccoon. If he hadn't been slightly drunk and made some noise, he probably wouldn't have noticed him.

Zhang Shan tilted his head back and burst into laughter.

Laughter echoed along the mountain path.

He was genuinely happy.

How long?

How long has it been?

When traveling, he would mention Lin Chong's name to everyone he met.

Coach Lin is much more effective than any "Little Heavenly Emperor."

But this time, before Lin Chong had even raised his banner, some people had already bowed down in worship.

He stepped forward, bent down, and helped Shi Qian up from the ground. Holding his arms with both hands, he said with a smile, "Good brother! When we get to Liangshan, we'll eat meat and drink wine to our hearts' content!"

Shi Qian's tears streamed down his face instantly.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, dripping into the corners of my mouth; they tasted salty.

He bit his lip, trying desperately to hold back, but he just couldn't.

No one had ever said such a thing to him before.

Everywhere I go, I get scornful looks, ridicule, and am labeled a "petty thief."

He simply gave up and let people call him whatever they wanted, since that's just who he is.

"Brother, don't worry," Shi Qian wiped away his tears, gritted his teeth, and said, word by word, "I will never steal chickens or dogs again!"

He had made up his mind.

From now on, I will turn over a new leaf and be a better person.

Zhang Shan nodded, then shook his head, released Shi Qian's arm, and said seriously, "Brother, it's such a waste to use all your skills on petty theft."

He paused, his gaze falling on Shi Qian's face, his expression solemn. "Our Liangshan is still lacking an intelligence chief. Brother, are you willing to take on this important task?"

Shi Qian stood there, stunned.

His bright eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, his face filled with disbelief.

Intelligence chief?

he?

A petty thief who steals chickens and dogs?

"Brother," Shi Qian's voice trembled slightly, "how can I, your younger brother, shoulder such a great responsibility?"

"Whether you can take on the responsibility or not isn't up to me, it's up to you." Zhang Shan patted him on the shoulder. "You have to prove yourself with your abilities."

Shi Qian saw the expectant look in Zhang Shan's eyes, eager and sincere, without a trace of falsehood.

He wanted to say "I can't," to decline, to back down, but the words of refusal circled on his lips several times, and he just couldn't bring himself to say them.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, straightened his back, and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, saying, "Brother, what is it? Please tell me!"

He didn't have a choice before.

Whether it's stealing or groping, I'll just take it one day at a time.

Now, he wants to be an upright person.

Zhang Shan also stopped smiling and lowered his voice, saying, "I'm planning to go to the Liao border to do some business. I'd appreciate it if you could ask around first, brother."

Shi Qian, quick-witted, darted his eyes and immediately guessed: "Brother, is it these fine wines?"

"Yes, these are the wines."

Shi Qian's eyes lit up, and his voice rose several decibels with excitement: "Brother, we've found the right path! I've been to the Liao Kingdom a few times; the people there love to drink. This kind of strong liquor is a rare commodity in the Liao Kingdom. Those Khitan nobles would probably fight tooth and nail for it!"

The last bit of uncertainty in Zhang Shan's heart also disappeared at this moment.

Lu Zhishen said that people in the north love to drink strong liquor, Pei Xuan said that the Western Xia also do, and now Shi Qian has personally mentioned the Liao Kingdom. All three of their statements match up.

This path is feasible.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I intend to sell this wine to high-ranking officials and nobles in the Liao Kingdom. Its production is limited, so it can't be sold to ordinary people. My main purpose is to exchange it for good horses and silver."

After a moment's thought, Shi Qian's plan became clear.

He leaned closer to Zhang Shan and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother, it's best not to go through the border market in Xiong Prefecture. We should bypass the Song Dynasty's checkpoints and secretly contact the Liao Dynasty."

At this point, he sneered, his tone full of disdain, "Otherwise, those corrupt officials in the Song Dynasty could have stripped the goods bare, leaving not even bones behind."

Zhang Shan nodded: "Yes, that's what I think too."

He not only wanted to sell alcohol, but also to do other things.

He's been refining his ideas while on the road these past few days.

On the Song Dynasty side, it's best to keep a low profile and avoid attracting attention.

The conflict between the Liao and Jin dynasties presents an opportunity amidst the chaos, a chance to profit from the chaos.

First, contact the Liao Kingdom to open up sales channels for the wine and exchange it for the horses.

Then try to go further north, make contact with the Jin Kingdom, and see if there's anything we can do there.

Zhang Shan raised his head and glanced at the northern sky.

Thick, gray clouds piled up on the horizon.

Shi Qian followed his gaze, said nothing, but clenched his fists.

The wind blew in from the north, carrying a dry, cold chill, making the yellowed, withered grass by the roadside rustle.

Zhang Shan mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and the horse's hooves kicked up a trail of dust.

"Brothers, let's go."

The mood was pleasant, and the horse was happy.

There were a few minor hiccups along the way, but overall it went smoothly, and we'll be arriving in Jizhou soon.

I just don't know if Shi Xiu is in Jizhou now.