Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Inside the Lu residence, there were no carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, or towers.

Only blue bricks, black tiles, bright courtyards, tall houses, and evergreen trees such as pines and cypresses are present, exuding a sense of solemnity everywhere.

At first glance, it doesn't look like a residence; it looks more like a military headquarters.

The second courtyard, the small flower hall.

A simply dressed, unadorned maidservant served tea and then gracefully withdrew. Without a word of pleasantries, Lu Junyi went straight to the point:

"Brother Zhu, you wrote to me before saying you wanted to buy horses?"

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up.

He really liked Lu Junyi's straightforward and decisive way of speaking, and his liking for Lu Junyi instantly increased dramatically.

"Brother Lu, you can just call me Sanlang. I really want to buy a horse."

"Alright, I'll take the liberty of calling you Sanlang."

Lu Junyi smiled and stroked his beard.

"Why did Sanlang buy a horse?"

Zhu Biao stated frankly:

"To be honest, Brother Lu, I previously used my connections with Prefect Murong of Qingzhou and spent five thousand strings of cash to buy a minor official position as a supervisor of local militia."

"There are 800 spots available for local militia, and I intend to form a cavalry detachment."

"Oh?"

Lu Junyi paused slightly as he served the tea.

He raised his eyelids and glanced at him with slight surprise. Yan Qing, who stood behind him like a shadow, also raised his eyebrows.

Zhu Biao is too honest, to the point of being almost insane!

The sale of official positions was an open secret in the Song Dynasty, but no one dared to speak of it so frankly.

Zhu Biao was certainly not crazy; on the contrary, he was quite clear-headed. Since Lu Junyi had managed to become the top border merchant in the north and remained in power for so many years, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the intricacies of officialdom.

Instead of trying to cover things up, it's better to be open and honest.

Sincerity is the ultimate weapon!

Sure enough, after only a moment of stunned silence, Lu Junyi regained his composure.

"Does Sanlang perhaps intend to pursue a career through military merit?"

"No!"

Zhu Biao shook his head.

"My village is located at the strategic pass between Qingzhou and Jizhou. Qingzhou is plagued by mountain bandits, and Jizhou is rife with river pirates. I wish to protect my hometown."

Lu Junyi nodded noncommittally.

"That's all?"

Zhu Biao remained silent for a few moments, then said, word by word:

"I only have this thought now; I will make other plans then."

Ta~

Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi was somewhat lost in thought. He accidentally bumped the teacup beside him. It didn't tip over, but the lid tilted slightly, making a soft sound.

"Hehehe~ Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young!"

He slowly straightened the cup lid and chuckled softly.

"Sanlang is honest. A cavalry squad with dozens of horses, I'll give you a fair price too."

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing looked surprised and puzzled as he looked at Lu Junyi.

Just yesterday, in this very same flower hall, the Commander of the Army and Cavalry also wanted to buy a horse, but was politely refused by his master.

You should know that he was a dignified sixth-rank official, commanding more than two thousand soldiers, and he was a member of the Imperial Guard stationed at the port.

Zhu Biao rose and bowed, solemnly saying:

"Thank you for your help, Brother Lu."

He paused, then changed the subject:

"I have one more request."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Lu Junyi raised his eyebrows, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. This clever, quick-witted, and spirited young man seemed like an old friend.

"I have long admired Brother Lu's unparalleled skill in spear and staff fighting, and I would like to ask Brother Lu for some guidance."

Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi was stunned, and Yan Qing's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in astonishment.

Lu Junyi was the best in the world at spear and staff fighting; this title was not given lightly, but earned through sheer hard work.

In his earlier years, countless masters challenged him, but without exception, they all fell to his spear. In recent years, no one has dared to touch his tiger's whiskers.

"Sanlang, are you looking for a certain gun?"

Lu Junyi slowly straightened up, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and that chilling aura rose up once again.

"No, no!"

Zhu Biao, who had just been as calm as a mountain, suddenly chickened out and frantically waved his hands in explanation.

"Brother, we're not comparing guns, we're learning how to use guns, learning how to use guns!"

He was cowardly but also knew his own limitations. He had been beaten like a dog when he sparred with Lin Chong, and he would be crippled if he didn't die when he competed with Lu Junyi in a gunfight.

The backyard of the Lu family mansion connects directly to the Wei River and has its own wharf.

The several acres of land around the riverbank were all leveled and covered with a thick layer of river sand. Dozens of scarred wooden figures and straw targets were erected on the side.

This is Lu Junyi's training ground; it's obvious that he also practices equestrian skills.

"Sanlang, mounted combat or foot combat?"

On the sidelines, Lu Junyi deftly slipped off his brocade robe, changed into a sharp short-sleeved outfit, cracked his neck, and looked at Zhu Biao with a half-smile.

"Infantry combat."

Zhu Biao replied without hesitation.

"A real gun, or a wooden stick?"

Lu Junyi asked again, his tone becoming increasingly mocking.

"Wooden stick, elder brother, please make sure the tip is wrapped thickly, I'm afraid of getting hurt."

Having lived two lives, Zhu Biao knows when to back down and never stubbornly resists. He understands that pretending to be cool only leads to a miserable end.

"Ha! Xiao Yi, go get two sticks."

Lu Junyi smiled, and a smile also appeared in Yan Qing's eyes.

He was starting to like this clever, cunning little trainee; his master hadn't been this happy in a long time.

On the other side, Zhu Biao also took off his fur robe, tightened his belt, and even removed the hidden arrow from his wrist. Zhu Wu took it and said softly:

"Young master, please be very careful."

Seeing him clumsily crumple the satin robe into a ball, Zhu Biao sighed helplessly. When it comes to meticulousness, Ruyi is the best.

However, women were not allowed to enter or leave the martial arts training ground of the Lu family mansion. Not to mention Ruyi, an outsider, even the mistress of the house, Jia, was not allowed to enter.

At this moment, Ruyi was in the side hall, drinking tea and having snacks with her maid.

"Come!"

With the long staff in hand, Lu Junyi's demeanor suddenly changed. With a casual thrust forward, the staff was already poking Zhu Biao in front of him.

Zhu Biao dared not fight back, so he twisted the long stick and bit at Zhu Biao's hand.

"good!"

Lu Junyi chuckled, and with a slight press and twist of his wrist, the long staff coiled around him like a snake.

Zhu Biao stepped back and withdrew his staff, but Lu Junyi's long staff followed like a shadow. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and parry.

Snapped!

In an instant, a tremendous force came, and he felt his tiger's mouth burning, and the long stick almost slipped from his hand.

However, without any chance to catch his breath, Lu Junyi rubbed his hands together sharply, and the long stick suddenly swung back, breaking into Zhu Biao's center.

Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed, and instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting the blow aimed at Lu Junyi's chest with a fierce thrust towards Lu Junyi's throat.

It turned out to be the most ruthless, mutually destructive fighting style.

"what?"

Lu Junyi raised his eyebrows slightly, turned his body slightly, and deftly deflected the stick in his hand outward.

Snapped!

As the two sticks clashed, Zhu Biao's long stick slipped from his hand instantly, and his body staggered forward. Just as he was about to fall, the sheepskin-covered end of the stick gently pressed against his throat.

"Brother, your skill in spear and staff techniques has reached a state of perfection, far surpassing my own. I hope you can offer some guidance."

Zhu Biao steadied himself, his face showing no sign of dejection, and earnestly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"His marksmanship is passable."

Lu Junyi casually tossed the long stick to Yan Qing, took two steps forward, and put his arm around Zhu Biao's shoulder, giving him a squeeze.

"If your strength is weak, your spear will be slow. Sanlang, you are only seventeen years old. Don't try to improve your skills in the short term. It is the right way to hone your strength."

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, elder brother. From now on, I will eat and sleep more, avoid depleting my vital energy, and lift the stone weight every day."

Lu Junyi hit the nail on the head. Zhu Biao was also aware of his shortcomings. If he were a few years older and stronger, he could have blocked a few more attacks.

However, the harvest he had just received was already astonishing.

"Tsk, tsk, 20 points of proficiency, no wonder he's a top-tier expert, even 5 points higher than Lin Chong."

Lu Junyi was amused by him and even affectionately patted him on the head.

"Where did you hear that heretical nonsense? How can you continue the family line if you don't release your virginity? If your father hears this, he'll beat you to death!"

Zhu Biao rubbed his head and said casually:

"It's alright! I have two older brothers, and now I have several nephews and nieces. I wish my family will prosper."

Upon hearing this, Lu Junyi's smile faltered slightly, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, and Yan Qing, who had been smiling all along, also suddenly changed his expression.

Zhu Biao said it on purpose; he still had a huge doubt about Lu Junyi.

Lu Junyi is now thirty-four years old, but he has no children and only one wife, Jia, and no concubines.

Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is the lack of filial piety. This is especially unbelievable for a wealthy and powerful businessman like him.

Based on Zhu Biao's speculation, either he had homosexual tendencies, or he had a mistress, or he had a hidden illness—the last possibility being the only one.

Unable to handle personnel matters.

Based on the conclusion that Jia had an affair, Zhu Biao is more inclined to the last guess.

"Sir, the food and wine are ready."

At this moment, a young man who looked like a butler walked slowly over and bowed to Lu Junyi.

He wore a dark blue straight robe and a soft-brimmed turban. When he bowed, he first shook his sleeves, then clasped his hands together and raised them in front of him from bottom to top.

This is a standard scholar's bow.

When she looked up, she revealed a fair, delicate face, with a shrewdness in her eyes and brows.

"Oh, Li Gu, are the women of Sanlang properly arranged?"

Lu Junyi had already regained his composure, though his tone carried a subtle hint of resentment.

Li Gu! Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed. It was this guy who cuckolded Lu Junyi and made him suffer terribly.

"Reporting to Master, Miss Ruyi has also prepared a feast. Madam has already gone to greet her, and Taozhi is currently having the meal with her."

He was thorough in every aspect; that was Zhu Biao's first impression of him.