The Second Volume of Water Margin

  When Yan Shun and Liu Tang's two teams arrived, they saw that the main hall of the Central Camp was already wide open. They were all shocked and came to see Shi Wengong who had been tied up with five flowers. They truly admired Ximen Qing for capturing Shi Wengong alive.

  The Liangshan troops marched into the Central Stockade and directly declared the defeat of Zeng's head.

  Whether it's the Zeng family or the five villages that once guarded them, they have all become a thing of the past.

  The people of Zengtou City, who were originally packing their belongings to escape or sit and wait for death, did not see the brutal and evil Liangshan bandits who killed people and set fires, nor did they even see the main forces of Liangshan enter Zengtou City.

  Tongtian Tianwang Chao Ge did not allow the troops to enter Zengtou City, but instead only sent a small team, led by Shen Xing Taibao Dai Zong, who entered the Zeng family's village and searched for gold, silver, and other valuable items.

  The people of Zengtou City only then realized that the small vendor from yesterday was actually the famous Dai Yuanzhang from Liangshan, and they couldn't help but click their tongues in amazement.

  Of course, several stockades' grain and fodder would not be spared, directly moved empty, after all, the Liangshan troops had been out for so long, the consumption was not small.

  The soldiers who surrendered in Zengtou City, who were willing to join Liangshan, were taken away together. Those who were unwilling handed over their weapons and returned to Zengtou City as ordinary civilians.

  Liáng Shān and Zēng Tóu City had a series of fierce battles, which had long been heard by the ears of Língzhōu Prefecture Magistrate. He summoned two team training envoys to discuss the matter. Before long, the two men arrived, paid their respects to the magistrate, and sat down separately. Without needing the magistrate's orders, servants brought tea.

  These two generals were Duan Tinggui, who was skilled in the use of water to drown the enemy and had the nickname "Holy Water General", and Wei Dingguo, who was well-versed in fire attacks and was nicknamed "Divine Fire General". He had 500 firebird soldiers under his command, specializing in using firearms against the enemy, and wherever they went, they were invincible.

  "I don't know what the Magistrate has summoned me for, what is it about?" Duan Tinggui normally wore dark-colored clothes, black robe and black hat, which made his face look even paler.

  Lingzhou Prefectural Governor spoke up: "The Liangshan troops are within the borders of my Lingzhou Prefecture, and they have clashed with the Zengtou City troops. Have you two Tuanlian Envoys heard about this?"

  Unlike He Dinggui, General Wei Dingguo, dressed in a crimson robe, saw the county magistrate and asked, nodding slightly: "The other day, some neighbors who went to Fahua Temple to admire the peach blossoms escaped back, only to learn that the Liangshan bandits and Zengtou City were fighting for Fahua Temple, killing countless people!"

  "I heard that the Liangshan troops have surrounded Zengtou City, what does the prefect mean? Is it to let us two lead the army to rescue?" General Shengshui Single Tianqiao added on the side.

  The prefect of Lingzhou sipped his tea and said, "We were just discussing this matter. The Liangshan bandits entered our territory, and we would have sent troops to exterminate them anyway. But instead of causing trouble under my city walls, they went to find the unlucky star in Zengtou City, which is quite in line with my wishes."

  "Two of them, the Zeng family has always disobeyed my governance in Lingzhou Prefecture, with taxes not being paid on time. The five tigers of the Zeng family are indeed detestable. I originally planned to expend some effort to conquer them, but unexpectedly Liangshan took a step ahead and saved me the trouble."

  "Wei Dingguo's nature is like a fierce fire, he cupped his hands and said: 'Sir, whether it's Zengtou City or Liangshan, they are all bandits. Even if the two join forces, I am not afraid of them! One is also to be eliminated, two is also to be killed. The opportunity is rare, why not let me lead 2,000 soldiers and horses to eliminate them together?'"

  "What about Duan's exercise?" Lingzhou Prefecture knew that Wei Dingguo was hot-tempered, shouting and killing, and asked Duan Tinggui's idea.

  Shan Tinggui was different from Wei Dingguo, his thoughts were more delicate. After thinking for a moment, he replied: "Two tigers fighting each other must have one injured! At present, the people of Liangshan and Zengtou City are in a fierce battle, with no clear winner or loser. We can't rashly send troops. Why not send some men to gather information first, and wait until they are seriously injured before sending troops? That would be the best strategy!"

  "Magistrate Ling is absolutely right!" The county magistrate of Lingzhou, seeing that Single Tinggui's words were in line with his own thoughts, nodded repeatedly and said: "You two team leaders can send more troops to investigate clearly, wait for the right moment to deploy troops!"

  "Wait, wait, wait, waiting until there's no fight to be had, how boring..." Wei Dingguo muttered to himself, but also nodded in agreement.

  Lingzhou Prefecture sent people to investigate, but on this side, the Liangshan troops returned to the camp, and Shi Wengong was pressed into the account. The faces of the leaders were all joyful, only Zhidao Xing Wu Yue shook his goose feather fan and thought about something.

  According to Tu Ta Tian Wang's idea, no matter which arrow was shot by Shi Wengong or not, since the person has been caught, next wait for Shi Wengong's poison to wear off and interrogate him thoroughly. If it was indeed shot by Shi Wengong, then push him out of the account and kill him; if not, then there is a big problem.

  The various leaders all came up to offer their congratulations, and Chao Gai instructed Wu Yong: "Everyone has made contributions, the military advisor can record them one by one, and when we return to Liangshan, we will reward them according to their merits."

  Wu Yong ordered someone to bring over the four treasures of the study, the merit book, and took up a wolf hair brush, asking: "Heavenly King brother, I wonder who is the leader with the first achievement?"

  "Ximen's younger brother captured Shi Wengong alive, that is the first achievement!" Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chao Gai said without hesitation.

  When these words came out, Ximen Qing pushed back and said: "Brother Tianwang, I am not the leader of the mountain, this first merit is willing to be given to others."

  Wu Song saw Ximen Qing being humble and became even more delighted, saying repeatedly: "Brother, if you don't deserve this first merit, who else can?"

  Liu Tang echoed below: "The wonderful hand of Ximen saved his brother's life and captured Shi Wengong alive, he should be the first to be rewarded!"

  Beside him, Sun Li stood up and said: "Just now on the battlefield, if it weren't for the Ximen brothers, Sun Li's life would probably have been gone by now. This first merit naturally belongs to the Ximen brothers."

  As soon as this was said, the other leaders also echoed in agreement, all of them praising without end. Wu Song, Shi Qian, Yan Qing, Tang Long and others standing aside also nodded in agreement.

  Wu Yong's face turned even more unsightly as he saw everyone wanting to let Ximen Qing take the first credit, and just as he was about to speak up in agreement, someone suddenly spoke out in opposition from within the crowd.

  "The first prize is definitely mine!"

  Everyone turned their heads to look, but only Ximen Qing was very familiar with this voice, and just smiled.

  Wu Yong's heart was filled with joy: "Could it be that there are still people in the army who oppose Ximen Qing?"

  As he looked around in the crowd for the owner of the voice, it spoke again: "The arrow was shot by me, and the credit is naturally mine!"

  As the sound faded away, Xue Er, still dressed as a man, took down his bow and arrow and said solemnly: "Look, everyone look, without my poisonous arrows shot from this bow, could you have captured Shi Wengong?"

  All the leaders were silent and embarrassed, what a strange thing this year is, even their own wives came out to take credit.

  Wu Yong's face was gloomy, as if water was about to drip from it. Originally, he thought someone was dissatisfied with Ximen Qing taking the first merit, but unexpectedly, it was Ximen Qing's concubine, Snowy. Isn't this deliberately making fun of himself?

  "Hahaha." Totahwang burst into laughter, breaking the silence: "Younger sister, you and my younger brother are family, no need to speak of two households, why jump out to steal credit? Younger brother, you see..."

  Ximen Qing smiled and walked forward, patted Xue'er's shoulder: "The husband and wife team up, Xue'er you shot well, naturally have merit, tonight the husband will reward you well."

  Xue'er curled up her mouth and gave Xi Menqing a sideways glance: "Who cares about your hospitality, I slept well with Sister Jinlian..."

  As soon as the words came out, all the leaders in the account burst into laughter. Ximen Qing chuckled and snatched the brush from Wu Yong's dark face, personally writing Snow's name on the merit book, laughing: "Forget it, this first merit is yours."

  Xue Er smiled and said: "This is right, this achievement was mine all along."

  "Sighing again: 'This place is really boring, I'm going out to play with Jinlian sister.'"

  Ximen Qing suppressed a smile and tossed the brush back to Wu Yong, saying: "Go on, go on."

  With Snow's stirring, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became lively. The crowd of leaders didn't seem to have any fatigue from just coming down from the sandy field, and they all burst out laughing. Only Wu Yong had a dark face, took back his brush and asked: "Heavenly King brother, is this suitable?"

  Tuo Tuo Tian Wang chuckled and replied, "I don't see anything wrong with it. Let's just record Xue Er's name as the first achievement. After all, we're one family with my younger brother, haha."

  Wu Yong looked at the crooked names on the merit book, gritted his teeth and said: "This second merit..."

  "The Battle of Fahua Temple, Ximen's younger brother led a hundred men against the five hundred soldiers of Zengtou City, and not one person was lost. The second merit is still Ximen's younger brother!"

  As soon as Totahenwang said this, everyone in the big account was convinced.

  Ximen Qing pointed with his hand: "Brother Tianwang, if it weren't for the help of these brothers, how could we have achieved this merit? Please trouble Military Advisor to take note of their names."

  Wu Yong held his pen in hand and saw that Chao Gai nodded slightly, so he reluctantly wrote down the names of Wu Song, Shi Qian, Yan Qing and others.

  "General Yuchi Sun Li and his brothers drove off the bandits at Zengtoushi, defeated their troops and horses, shot Zeng Mi with an arrow, and whipped Zeng Tu, another great achievement!"

  As soon as Xiong Hai's voice fell, Sun Li's expression changed slightly, and he cupped his hands in thanks.

  "Yan Shun, Deng Fei and Ou Peng, three brothers, broke through the left stronghold of Zengtou City, a great achievement!"

  "Liu Tang and Ruan Shi's three brothers broke through Zengtou City's right stronghold, a great achievement!"

  "Brother Dai Zong has gathered intelligence and understood the situation, a great achievement!"

  Chao Gai slowly spoke, almost covering all the leaders, and everyone was delighted to take credit. Wu Yong wrote quickly, recording every item.

  Finally, Chai Ge said with some regret: "Zengtou City has been broken, the only regret is that the Night Jade Lion Horse cannot be brought back to Gongming Xiongdi."

  That Night Jade Lion horse had both front legs broken, and Chong E had already ordered someone to put it out of its misery to avoid suffering.

  The merits were recorded, and Wu Zetian's thoughts were completely focused on Duan Jingzhen, the Golden Retriever, and Shi Wenguang.

  It's time for these two key figures to disappear!

  Wu Yong stood up with a smile and announced: "Brothers, the celebration feast is ready, let's go outside to drink from large bowls and eat big chunks of meat!"

  Chuang Ge sighed and said: "My body is not well yet, I can't drink wine, you guys should accompany Ximen Xian more for me!"

  Red-haired ghost Liu Tang shouted loudly: "Brother's order, we all remember! Willing to sign a life-and-death contract, not letting the wonderful hand of Ximen be overturned, willing to accept punishment!"

  The crowd of leaders burst out laughing, Ximen Qing coughed and said, "This...I'm not used to drinking yellow wine!"