The Second Volume of Water Margin

  In the sympathetic gaze of Tota Tianwang Chao Gai, Ximen Qing walked out of the main tent and headed towards his own loyalist troops, which was also his first force in this world.

  Ximen Qing believed that under Wu Song's training, this powerful force would quickly make a qualitative leap, astonishing Liangshan Po and Zengtou City. From Wu Song's answer, it can be seen that he must have hidden some past experiences, either having been a soldier or having had a military instructor, which may explain why Wu Song was previously just a troublemaker, but after disappearing for several years, he could kill tigers with his bare hands. Wu Song may have been born with divine power, but he must have received good training to transform and become a completely different person.

  Liu Ren looked at Ximen Qing and nodded slightly, knowing that Chong Tianwang had agreed to let these hundred men become Ximen Qing's personal guards. This was also within expectations, as it was all thanks to Ximen Qing that Chong Tianwang could escape with his life this time, so he wouldn't refuse such a small request.

  Ximen Qing and Wu Song mounted their horses, advancing along the road in a winding manner. "Get your gear ready, let's go!" Liu Renzhong gave the order, and the 100-man phalanx formed into a two-abreast long dragon, following Ximen Qing and Wu Song as they departed.

  "Target: Fahua Temple!" Liu Renzhong walked at the front of the long dragon, raised his hand and gave an order. Although it seemed like just a trivial task, but after all, it was the first time since becoming a member of the Imperial Guard, Liu Renzhong didn't dare to be careless, he did things with precision and attention to detail.

  "It's right here, Fahua Temple!" Shi Wengong pointed to the map on the table with his finger and tapped it twice. Next to the flat map were Vice Teacher Su Ding and the five Zeng brothers. The eldest of the Zeng family, Zeng Nong, sat aside with his eyes closed, lost in thought.

  "This is a wonderful place." Su Ding's eyes lit up, and he gestured on the map: "Originally thought that after Chao Gai was shot by an arrow, he would lead his troops to retreat, but unexpectedly he didn't leave. If we can occupy Fahua Temple, we will be mutually supportive, and even if there are many Liangshan bandits, they can only retreat."

  "But it's strange, who shot that cold arrow?" The speaker was Zeng Tu, the eldest of the five brothers of the Zeng family, in his early thirties. In his childhood, he lived with his father in the extremely cold and harsh northernmost part of the Jin country, hunting, digging ginseng, and training his body to be strong. With a steel spear in hand and a bow and arrow on his back, he could be considered a good fellow.

  Shi Wengong shook his head and sighed, "I don't know what kind of person it is, seeing that I was fighting with the city and Liangshan Po, but instead of helping me, they inserted a stick in the middle. They even reported back to me that everyone in Liangshan Po's camp, from top to bottom, has their spears pointed at me, Shi Mouren. What does it mean?"

  "It's said that the Night Jade Lion Horse given by Old Master to the teacher has caused trouble." Zeng Tong opened his eyes and patted the back of the chair, saying: "I suppose it was Xu Ge who couldn't bear to see it, and actually sent someone to rob us. He really underestimates Zeng Tou Shi!"

  "Father, calm down." The fourth son, Zeng Kui, said: "The Liangshan gang is coming with a strong momentum, with many leaders among them, including some with exceptional martial arts skills. I lost to them in battle a few days ago, so we can't underestimate them. The two teachers have planned well and occupied Fahua Temple, laying an ambush for a surprise attack. If the Liangshan gang attacks Zeng's city again, we can launch the surprise attack, attacking their rear, and when the time is right, we'll strike from both sides, and the bandits will surely be thrown into chaos!"

  Shi Wengong and Su Ding exchanged a glance, nodded in satisfaction: "Very well, Zeng Kui, you take 500 men to occupy Fahua Temple, keep in touch with us at all times, and wait for the Liangshan bandits to attack my Zengtou City!"

  "I'll go with big brother too!" The youngest of the five tigers, Zeng Sheng, called out from the side: "Big brother is alone and weak, it's better if I assist him!"

  Shi Wengong knew that Zeng Sheng was only sixteen or seventeen years old, but his martial arts skills were not bad. He was skilled in using two flying knives and was quite agile on horseback and on foot, making him a young hero. Therefore, he nodded in agreement: "You two be careful, if you encounter the Liangshan bandits on the road, do not fight with them, slowly retreat back to Zengtou City and make further plans!"

  Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng both nodded in agreement, gathered five hundred men, quietly opened the camp gate, and headed towards Fahua Temple.

  "Sister Jinlian, you say Master is always running into the Liangshan Po stronghold and ignoring us sisters. How boring!" In the courtyard of Fahua Temple, Xue'er pouted as she practiced crossbow under the command of Langzi Yanqing, complaining to Pan Jinlian standing beside her: "These days even peach blossoms are annoying, who knows when we can enter Dongjing City."

  "Xu'er, you need to be patient and practice more with the crossbow, so that Master will be pleased." Pan Jinlian slightly furrowed her brow and said: "Don't disappoint Xiao Yige's good intentions."

  "Others practice this stuff just to get praised by the master." Xue'er stomped her foot and said, "I didn't expect that at first he would even bother to take a look, but now he doesn't even give me a glance. What's the point of my practicing?"

  Snow was panting and put down her slightly sore arm, handing the crossbow to Langzi Yanqing: "Let's stop practicing for today, let's just end it here."

  Yan Qing shook his head helplessly. Since he had acknowledged Ximen Qing as his master in his heart, Snowy and Pan Jinlian could also be considered half-masters to him. Yan Qing naturally didn't want to lose face by scolding them. Just as he put away the crossbow, Snowy's eyes sparkled with an idea, and she pulled at Yan Qing, saying: "Little Brother Yi, you play the sheng so well every night, we've all heard it. Now that there's nothing else going on, why not play a tune for us to listen?"

  Yan Qing was speechless, Lu Junyi had already passed away, but he still missed him from time to time. Sometimes when lying in bed, he would inexplicably recall the words Jia said to him and couldn't sleep, so he would get up and blow on the roof for a while until his mood calmed down before going back to sleep. Unexpectedly, this secret was also discovered by Xue Er, that little demon, so he had no choice but to plead: "Xiao Yi just blew it in jest, don't take it seriously, I'm afraid it has polluted your ears, wait for Brother Xi Men to come back and scold me."

  Xue'er wouldn't let it go, and went back to pull Pan Jinlian together, forcing Yan Qing to play a tune: "With Sister Jinlian here, even if the old master were present, he wouldn't blame us. Don't be afraid, Little Brother Yi, just keep playing!"

  The rogue Yan Qing had to go and get that pipe flute, preparing to play a tune. "Whoosh" - with a sound, he rolled down from the rooftop and said to Yan Qing: "Luckily Little Yi Ge has such a good mood to play the flute, but outside the horse is about to rush in!

  Yan Qing thought he was just trying to scare him, and holding his flute, laughed: "Third Master, don't try to scare me. In broad daylight, outside Fahua Temple, who would dare to break in? Even if it were the Liangshan men, they wouldn't indiscriminately attack without distinguishing between friend and foe."

  Xue Er also said on the side: "Don't believe him, he's always talking nonsense, not walking on the right path but only on rooftops, don't delay us from listening to the Xiao."

  "Oh my goodness!" Shi Qian exclaimed, seeing that no one believed him. He was getting anxious and his forehead was sweating: "If you don't believe me, follow me to the rooftop and take a look, from Zengtou city that way, a large group of people is rushing towards Fahua Temple, there are hundreds of them!"

  Xue Er, where can you climb up to the rooftop? Langzi Yanqing climbed up to the rooftop with the drum and looked around in all directions. Although there was a group of people rushing over from afar, they were only three to five miles away from Fahua Temple. He quickly came down and told Xue Er and Pan Jinlian about it.

  "Old Master hasn't returned yet, now we can only rely on the few of us." Xue Er heard that it was true and was very afraid. However, Pan Jinlian was extremely calm: "Third Master, go call Tan Long's brothers; Xiao Yige, go gather all the servants and maids in the house to this courtyard, find some tools for taking action, and after everyone is here, block the courtyard gate!"

  Shi Qian nodded his head and gave a thumbs up: "Alright, let's do it as Jin Lian said."

  Yan Qing and Shi Qian went into action separately, looking at Xue Er's frightened appearance, Pan Jinlian comforted: "It's okay, after the courtyard gate is sealed, let San Ye go find Master to come back, we'll all be quiet in this courtyard and not make a sound, naturally nothing will happen."

  Before long, the rogue Yan Qing had found everyone and brought them over. Shi Qian also dragged Jin Qian Baozi Tang Long over and explained the situation. Shu Tong'er and Hua Tong'er huddled together in fear, but Xiao Tianqing took out that iron shield and patted his chest, saying he would protect everyone.

  "No, we have to seal the gate now. No one is allowed to come out or make any noise." Pan Jinlian said to everyone: "Third Master, you still have to go out and find the master, tell him what happened, and get someone to rescue us."

  "If we're going to block the gate, these are useless." Jin Money Leopard Tang Long stopped the crowd from moving tables and chairs to block the hospital gate, rubbed his head and surveyed the courtyard, then pointed with his hand: "We need to use these!"

  Everyone followed Tang Long's direction and looked over, there was a large pile of mud, presumably the temple was preparing to build a new house or repairing the roof, with some iron hoes and bamboo baskets and other tools on the side.

  "Don't underestimate this mud, piled up it's more solid than tables and chairs, and can't be knocked open." Jin Money Leopard Tang Long explained: "I heard my old man say before, when fighting to defend a place, they would use mud to seal the city gate tightly, and the enemy couldn't get in no matter what."

  Pan Jinlian nodded, and everyone worked together to start moving the soil in bamboo baskets towards the gate of the courtyard. As they were busy, even the fleas on the drums moved to the top of the house and went far away.

  United we stand, in a short while, the tightly closed gate was piled up with earth, and Langzi Yanqing also climbed onto the roof with his crossbow, quietly hiding down, one to monitor, two is also to prevent any unexpected situation, can lure the enemy away.

  "Fourth brother, look! The Fahua Temple is just ahead!" Zeng Sheng pointed with the whip in his hand, and the fragrance of peach blossoms had already wafted over on the gentle breeze.