The Second Volume of Water Margin

  "As for gathering at this speed, let alone the Liangshan heroes, even well-trained veteran soldiers may not be able to do it!" Liu Zhangzi himself stood in front of the phalanx and saluted Wu Song with a bow: "Good fellow, name your price! These hundred brothers will follow you on one trip!"

  Ximen Qing suddenly had a feeling of picking up a treasure, this Sunzi if still in the army, just relying on this hand, can get the favor of superiors, may be key to cultivate, did not expect after experiencing the disappointment just now, suddenly saw such a team with great potential, let Ximen Qing see a glimmer of hope.

  Although this team can't see any fighting power now, with good training, it can become the backbone of the Liangshan Po army in the future. The 100 people here, led by Liu Zhangzi, can become individual seeds, scattered and spread out, allowing the Liangshan Po army to have a completely new look, rather than the disappointing "elite" just now.

  With these hundred people, perhaps one's own plan can succeed, and Liangshan Po can become the biggest and last trump card to help Ximen Qing gain a new lease on life in the impending chaotic world, and even settle down in a corner.

  Ximen Qing suddenly closed the contract in his hand and put it away, causing Liu Daizi to furrow his brow, unsure whether Ximen Qing had changed his mind or was just teasing everyone.

  Wu Song didn't notice Ximen Qing's movement in front of him, but looking at the neat square formation was quite moving: "Good! This hundred brothers each get one string! The squad leader gets five strings for each person! Liu Tuizi you add twenty strings!"

  Liu Maozi's furrowed brow finally relaxed, and the other party indeed was a wealthy master, promising 170 yuan in one breath. If this kind of trivial matter could be settled every day, that would be great.

  Liu Zhangzi hadn't moved, and the hundred-man phalanx formation didn't budge either. However, almost everyone's eyes were fixed on his back, making Liu Zhangzi feel a bit embarrassed. Since gathering this "thorn head team", Liu Zhangzi had promised to lead them in making money and living a good life. Although it was said that they wouldn't go hungry at Liangshan Po, the most they could hope for was just enough to fill their bellies - far from being well-off. The idea of eating large chunks of meat and drinking from big bowls was something only three or four dozen leaders could enjoy, and had nothing to do with these small fry.

  This time everyone finally saw hope, no wonder everyone stared at Liu Zhangzi, looking forward to his response. Liu Zhangzi calmed down and was about to raise his hand to pat his chest, take on this small task, and make a few more grand statements when Ximen Qing stepped forward with a smile and said: "Wait."

  Liu Zhuangzi's hand stopped in mid-air, extremely embarrassed: "What does this mean?"

  "My intention is very simple, that is, do you want to make a one-time deal or do you want a long-term meal ticket?" Ximen Qing smiled and looked at Liu Ma Zi, explaining another sentence: "The meaning of a long-term meal ticket is that I will give you a long-term payment, just like the number we discussed earlier, settled every month."

  "What's with this every month?" A person suddenly blurted out, but was immediately shut up by the squad leader beside him.

  Liu's heart suddenly started racing, Ximen Qing's meaning was very clear, that is to spend money to support these one hundred people. Of course, it wasn't the 1 yuan per month that stupid guy said earlier, but rather when there were tasks assigned to these one hundred people, they would receive 1 yuan per day, with monthly settlements.

  "Of course, it won't be every day that something happens. If that were the case, I would have lost big time." Ximen Qing verified Liu Da'er's idea: "If you are willing, I will talk to Chao Tianwang and make you my personal bodyguards."

  "At least one yuan per month, if there's a task, add one yuan per day, and settle at the end of the month. The proportion for you and Liu Zhu Zi is the same as before."

  Ximen Qing's words were light and airy, but they felt like several iron hammers heavily striking Liu Daizhi's heart. As a former soldier, Liu Daizhi knew that the monthly salary for a regular army was around one or two taels of silver, while the imperial guard's monthly salary was around two taels of silver. The price Ximen Qing quoted was simply astronomical.

  As for Liu Daizi, Ximen Qing would give him ten taels every month, which was more than what ordinary small officials received. In addition, if there were special tasks, such as the leg-washing task today, Ximen Qing would also give an extra ten taels. Even if it happened only once a month, Liu Daizi could still get twenty taels.

  To be honest, Liu didn't dare to believe it was true, but the IOU that Ximen casually took out just now, Liu estimated that there were one or two thousand guan, and he could really afford to support these hundred people.

  As for Ximen Qing's offer, Fang Cai had that fool's sudden move, this time no one dared to fart, everyone's eyes were fixed on Liu Zhangzi, if these eyes were really gathered together, Liu Zhangzi would probably be burned to ashes.

  "It's done!" Liu Zhangzi's face twitched with blue veins, suppressing the heart that was about to jump out, like a gambler who had steeled himself and bet his last few copper coins.

  The empty village was echoing with Liu's voice, even the little birds were startled and flew up to the sky.

  "Good!" Ximen Qing nodded and said: "Since you all agree, from today on, you are all the personal bodyguards of Ximen Qing."

  "You followed me because of the money, but I, Ximen Qing, am a businessman after all. One hand takes the money and the other hand delivers the goods - what's more straightforward than that?"

  "Of course, your current demeanor is still not up to standard. From tomorrow on, this Wu Song will take over as the instructor and help everyone improve."

  Ximen Qing finished speaking and took out a 500-coin IOU from his bosom, grasped it in his hand and shouted: "Liu the Third, do you have a big name?!"

  "Present!" Liu Zhui's whole body shook, and he stepped forward: "My surname is Liu, and my name is Renzhong!"

  "Good!" Ximen Qing stuffed the silver ingots into Liu Er's hands: "Since you're the leader, then you'll be Captain of my personal troops! Here are 500 taels of silver, take care of them."

  "Ximen Head, I don't quite understand what you mean?" Liu Renzhong suddenly felt that the stack of silver ingots in his hand, which had seemed almost weightless, was now as heavy as Mount Tai. Ximen Qing not only handed over 500 taels to him, but also entrusted him with a responsibility. However, this job was worth only 130 taels, and even if he added his monthly salary, it would be no more than 260 taels.

  When Liu Ren heard himself being called the leader, Xi Menqing laughed and said: "You are the captain of my personal guard team, so it's only natural that you should be in charge of disbursing the expenses for these hundred men. Whenever the money runs out, you can come to me again. I originally had an accountant, but he is not by my side at present, so I have to take care of it myself."

  Ximen Qing wanted to show Liu Renzhong a sense of trust, and Liu Renzhong deeply felt this, his eyes suddenly becoming slightly sour. Since joining the army, and then turning to banditry, no superior had ever shown him trust, not even Thunderfire Qin Ming, who only treated him as a personal soldier to order around, never entrusting him with important tasks.

  Liu Renzhong's heart was filled with excitement, and he grasped the letter tightly, bowing his head to express his gratitude: "Since General Ximen trusts me, I will take on this responsibility, do my best, and be willing to die for it!"

  "It's getting serious." Ximen Qing smiled and stepped forward to help Liu Renzhong up: "I hope this deal will last a bit longer, if you die on the first day, where can I find another Liu Renzhong?"

  Liu Renzhong was speechless, turned around and raised his fist to swing it once, in response were the ninety-nine other people raising their fists. Everyone didn't say a word, their eyes filled with trust, letting Liu Renzhong see his responsibility.

  "It's quite interesting." Wu Song said in a low voice to Ximen Qing: "Brother, this move is brilliant. These hundred people are well-trained, and I'm afraid they're the only ones on Liangshan who can do it. Brother, you've found the right person for your personal army. Liu Gao's deep trust in others will make these hundred men unite like a fist, and even in the midst of thousands of soldiers, they'll be able to clear a bloody path for brother."

  "Then the second brother will have to worry more." Ximen Qing also replied in a low voice: "These people are money-oriented, I'll use money to win them over, isn't it just a business deal? I want to turn them into the world's first mercenary guard who is money-oriented!"

  "Elite troops?" Tota Tianwang Chao Ge heard Ximen Qing's request, his face full of surprise: "What elite troops did Wu Junshi give you, younger brother, that you actually want to be an elite guard?"

  "It's just a bunch of scattered people." Ximen Qing said lightly: "The leader is a man named Liu Renzhong."

  "Who is Liu Renzhong?" Chao Gai was even more bewildered: "There is no leader by that name in Liangshan Marsh."

  "Oh, right, this guy usually has a hunchback and is nicknamed Liu Hunchback." Ximen Qing added.

  "Liu Zhangzi?" Chao Gai seemed to recall something and took a deep breath: "Scarface Tiger Liu Zhangzi?"

  "Scarface Tiger?" Ximen Qing did not expect Liu Renzhong to have such a ferocious nickname, and even Chao Gai had heard of it.

  Chai Ge smiled awkwardly for a moment, thinking to himself that Zhuge Liang had sent Wu Yong, the scar-faced tiger, who was the most troublesome of all, to do this kind of task. Needless to say, the remaining people were also definitely under Wu Yong's command.

  These lazy rascals, whether in the mountain stronghold or in the army, are the most idle goods. Fortunately, they didn't do anything bad when they didn't do anything. Even Marshal Tianyang wouldn't dare to drive them out of the team. Now that Ximen Qing is willing to take these goods as his personal bodyguards, Tianyang can't wait to welcome them with open arms.

  "Brother Xian, this... as long as you like it, just take it and use it." After understanding Ximen Qing's request, Chao Gai readily agreed: "If these people do things... Brother Xian doesn't like it, even if they are beaten or scolded... they can be driven out."

  "Then thank you." Ximen Qing suppressed a smile and replied: "I plan to train them, maybe they can be used when we attack Zeng's head city."

  "Ah?" Totahime's eyes, which had initially gleamed with schadenfreude, turned into deep sympathy. These goods who shrank back at the sound of war drums, can they even fight?