A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 227 What defines elite troops? Exploring Jinan

After the soldiers in red used the boats of various sizes they had captured to transport the first batch of grain and supplies back to Liangshan, Li Ying, who was supposed to stay behind at Liangshan, hurriedly sailed to the military camp on the shore.

He wasn't too surprised that tonight's ambush was a resounding success—because he had already been shocked.

After Guan Luoyang trained eight thousand red-clad soldiers who were no less capable than the elite troops of the Song Dynasty, Li Ying was dumbfounded. It took him half a day to calm down. After that, he felt that he could take anything for granted.

"Master, I heard you captured several thousand prisoners?"

Upon arriving at the military camp, Li Ying and Lin Chong exchanged greetings from afar. Finding Guan Luoyang, Li Ying's first question was, "What are your plans for these prisoners, Daoist Master?"

Guan Luoyang said, "Of course I want to turn them into my own and incorporate them into the Liangshan team. However, it would be best to make some distinctions. If there are any stubborn ones who enjoy bullying the villagers, then... let's arrange for them to do hard labor to reform their minds and bodies."

Li Ying thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Daoist Master, could you perhaps entrust this matter to me?"

Guan Luoyang asked with great interest, "What are you planning to do?"

"Let's count the exact number of people first."

Li Ying replied with a sentence and then directed the Liangshan disciples to count the number of people.

From Guan Luoyang and his men's surprise attack on the camp to their capture of generals and flags, and the subsequent collapse of morale, the process was actually very fast. The Song army had more than 10,000 soldiers, and the number of casualties was not high. However, when their morale collapsed and they fled in disarray, Guan Luoyang and his men were unable to control them due to their large numbers, and many of them escaped.

In the end, only a little over four thousand people were taken prisoner. Guan Luoyang, who had never fought in many battles, was slightly dissatisfied, while Li Ying and the others, who had served as military officers, were overjoyed.

"Nearly half of them were captured overnight. What a great victory, a truly great victory!"

Li Ying said to Guan Luoyang, "These people were transferred from nearby prefectures, and Liangshan also has people from various prefectures. They can hear their native accents in Liangshan, so it is not difficult to subdue them. However, if we want to get them to work for us as quickly as possible, it is best to take them to fight a battle."

Guan Luoyang nodded and said, "If Liangshan wants to gain a firm foothold, winning just this one battle is far from enough. I do want to take the initiative, but I haven't decided where our first target will be yet."

Lin Chong said from the side, "Daoist, I don't know about other things, but Liu Guang, the prefect of Quancheng, is extremely concerned about all matters related to this attack on Liangshan. He must be the mastermind behind this battle."

Li Ying said, "Quancheng is wealthy. Even after this great defeat, there must still be many well-equipped garrison troops in the city. We should not underestimate the importance of attacking there."

Lin Chong cupped his hands and said, "I have a close friend named Li Kaixian. He is well-read, has a strong and meticulous personality, and is well-known in the literary world. He is knowledgeable about Quancheng and the seven prefectures including Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Yizhou. Why don't we wait for him to arrive, listen to his explanation, and then make a decision?"

Guan Luoyang recalled for a moment and confirmed that he had never heard of any Li Kaixian. However, since Lin Chong spoke highly of him, it wouldn't hurt to listen to the opinion of that local.

Li Ying said, "In that case, I will first select the most obedient ones from among the prisoners and escort them to Liangshan. I will assign some men to lead them in their daily tasks, and then ask Mr. Yuanmiao to keep an eye on them."

"The remaining three thousand men should not be sent to Liangshan. They should be settled in this military camp. Their weapons and armor should be taken away and replaced with wooden clubs and shields. They should be dispersed and incorporated into the existing forces of Liangshan. They should be trained for a few days first."

As he spoke, Li Ying then emphasized to Guan Luoyang, "In order to stabilize the situation in this camp and prevent them from having any disloyal thoughts, the Daoist priest should move around in this camp more often."

Lin Chong hesitated for a moment, but seeing his brothers Lei Heng and Zhu Tong constantly giving him meaningful glances, he finally made up his mind, stepped forward, and said, "We might be able to help with the training of the troops."

Li Ying was overjoyed: "That couldn't be better."

After Guan Luoyang agreed to the matter, he went to patrol outside the camp to prevent anyone from secretly escaping.

Lin Chong and the others followed Li Ying.

On the way, Zhu Tong whispered to Lin Chong with emotion, "When my brother volunteered just now, I was very nervous. I secretly looked at that Taoist priest Guan's face. He was a man with a bright and clear face, and he didn't have the slightest suspicion or doubt about us."

Lei Heng added, "For a defeated general to gain such trust so quickly must be because of our friendship with Lu Da and Wu Song. Although this Taoist priest is a monk, he is a righteous and chivalrous hero, and we must not let him down."

Lin Chong nodded repeatedly.

These heroes, originally, had unsuccessful careers. Even with military achievements, they were often labeled as incompetent in interpersonal relationships after entering officialdom, leaving them with no opportunity to realize their ambitions.

But when they actually get down to business with great ambition, they are truly efficient.

With Li Ying leading them, it only took one night and half a day to arrange the prisoners' affairs and reorganize them.

The next afternoon, after everyone had eaten about half their fill, they lined up and began their drills.

After observing for a while, Guan Luoyang realized that there was still a gap between the Liangshan disciples and the real elite soldiers in the army.

Although the physical strength that the Liangshan disciples could unleash after being enhanced by the combat life fibers was no less than that of ordinary elite soldiers, they did not have sufficient equipment before, and there was actually no strategy to follow when they fought.

The training methods for truly elite troops are divided into cavalry, infantry, and navy, and further divided into archers, spearmen, swordsmen and shieldmen, artillerymen, and so on.

Once the drills begin, arrows are launched, spears are used to keep the distance, and swordsmen and shieldmen form the first line of defense, advancing slowly with such imposing momentum that the clouds in the sky and the dust on the ground seem to move with their steps.

The great victory the previous night was due to two factors: firstly, Yan Shude and others underestimated the enemy, and secondly, Guan Luoyang's surprise attack and Lin Lingsu's reckless actions. The fighting was so fast that the Song army had no chance to prepare.

Otherwise, if Yan Shude and his group were to find an opportunity to regroup, the people of Liangshan would likely suffer a great loss.

With their spotless, fiery red outfits, the Liangshan heroes were full of energy and high spirits, and they learned very quickly. With Song soldiers mixed among them as benchmarks, they had already mastered the skills in just a few days.

Li Kaixian and his family had already been brought to Liangshan. Guan Luoyang gathered everyone in the camp and, after carefully listening to his explanation, decided to attack Quancheng first.

"Now that the chief has made up his mind, we should send scouts to the city to investigate," Li Kaixian said. "I heard that Dai Zong, the Divine Traveler, is also on the mountain. This important task is best left to him."

Since meeting Guan Luoyang, Li Kaixian had never called him "Daoist Master," but always addressed him as "Big Leader." The heroes didn't find it strange at all, and instead all followed his example in addressing him.

Guan Luoyang sent someone to invite Dai Zong for questioning.

Dai Zong patted his chest and said, "As long as no one with supernatural powers or profound martial arts skills accompanies me, with my superhuman speed, traveling between Jinan and the city will be a piece of cake. I will definitely be able to find out the news without alerting anyone."

Li Kaixian instructed, "After the defeat of those ten thousand troops at Liangshan, Liu Guang must be filled with anxiety and has surely reported to Bianliang and requested reinforcements. Brother Dai, it would be best if you could find out four things on your journey."

"First, who is the commander-in-chief who came to aid Quancheng? Second, who is the head of the accompanying officials? Third, how many troops are there approximately? Fourth, is there a man named Ling Zhen in the army?"

Dai Zong agreed to each of their questions, then asked, "Are you talking about Ling Zhen, the Thunderclap?"

"good."

Li Kaixian said to everyone, "After the Battle of Xia, Chen Xizhen and his gang squeezed out generals such as Guan Sheng, Lin Chong, Lu Junyi, and Li Jun from Bianliang. They either put them in Marshal Han Shizhong's border army or placed them in local government offices to suppress them."

"The only one who doesn't get along with Chen Xizhen and the others is Ling Zhen, but they keep him by their side because of his extraordinary skills, such as making and using cannons."

"Even if those expensive cannons are difficult to manufacture, ordinary cannons, with his slight modifications and personal command, can fire to a range of thirty or forty miles, with terrifying power."

At this point, Li Kaixian took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, "Brother Lin, you should have witnessed these skills with your own eyes."

Lin Chong and Li Ying nodded in agreement, and even Lu Da rubbed his bald head: "I remember him too, but he's been staying in the capital for many years. Why would he come to Jinan?"

Li Kaixian smiled slightly: "Chen Xizhen is Liu Guang's brother-in-law. Although both of their wives died young, and the cause of death of the Chen family's wife was rather... humph! However, the relationship between Chen and Liu is truly as close as brothers. Chen Xizhen has to accompany the emperor in his cultivation and cannot easily leave the capital. Liu Guang most likely asked him to lend Ling Zhen."

Guan Luoyang's eyes lit up: "If such a talent were within our reach, how could Liangshan let him go?"

Wu Song said, "Why don't I accompany Brother Dai Zong on this trip? If Ling Paoshou is willing to come, fine. If not, then take a hit from the back of my knife and tie him up."

Gongsun Sheng stroked his beard and shook his head: "That's not advisable. If you fight, the foul air will spread, and Brother Dai Zong's divine speed technique will be affected. I'd rather go with him and try it out."

Guan Luoyang laughed loudly: "What are you arguing about? Do you think you can be more stable than me? Of course, it's me..."

Li Kaixian resolutely said, "Absolutely not. Liangshan has only recently become a force to be reckoned with, thanks entirely to the efforts of our chief. If you enter the city alone, let alone whether you suffer any mishaps, even if it just delays us for a few more days, the people of Liangshan will probably be filled with anxiety."

Gongsun Sheng, Lu Da, and Lin Chong all spoke up to persuade him, their attitudes remarkably consistent and earnest.

Guan Luoyang thought about it and agreed. The Liangshan disciples had won their first victory and declared their complete opposition to the government troops. Their emotions were easily volatile at that time. If he wanted to go out and act alone for a period of time without any worries, he would have to wait until the Liangshan people had developed enough confidence.

"That……"

After a moment's thought, Guan Luoyang stretched out his palm, and above his palm, black and white light intertwined to form an ancient and simple Dao sword.

He gripped the sword hilt, channeled his vast inner energy into it, and after a moment, casually cut a strip of wood from the table to use as a scabbard, inserted the blade into it, and handed it to Dai Zong.

"This sword is called the Sword of Non-Action. It gathers Qi to achieve gentleness and is meticulous in every detail. If you carry it with you, it will not affect your Divine Speed ​​Technique."

"If you find Ling Zhen and try to take him away, and encounter obstacles, draw this sword; it can buy you time. If things still don't work out, come back alone; your safety is the most important thing."

Hearing this, Dai Zong was deeply moved. He carefully took the sword, wrapped it with a piece of cloth, carried it on his back, and then bid farewell to everyone.

Guan Luoyang led his men out of the tent and saw him off.

Dai Zong tied the armor to his legs, silently recited the method of divine movement, and suddenly leaped away, disappearing into thin air.

Guan Luoyang's golden pupils flashed with fire, and he found Dai Zong's figure again on a distant hill.

"They've gone this far in such a short time?"

He was somewhat surprised and thought to himself, "No wonder Dai Zong has such a problem with Lin Lingsu. If it weren't for Lin Lingsu dragging him down, even twenty Gao Lian and Gao Feng combined wouldn't have been able to track him down."

Having witnessed Dai Zong's true abilities, Guan Luoyang was relieved.

A moment later, Dai Zong had already entered Jinan.

At this hour, the sun was high in the sky, and smoke was rising from every household in the city. He walked across the city walls as if on flat ground, and could step over them with ease. However, he became more cautious after entering the city.

After spending about half an hour walking through all the streets in the city, Dai Zong quietly approached the prefect's office.

The security at the government office was not tight, and Liu Guang was not there at all, so Dai Zong went to Liu's residence instead.

Before he even climbed over the outermost high wall of the Liu residence, he could already feel the awe-inspiring and imposing atmosphere.

Dai Zong glanced at it a few more times and felt that the air above that mansion was slightly distorted, like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling, extremely awe-inspiring.

He mustered his courage and slipped inside.

It is clearly a luxurious mansion, with gardens and scenery that showcase the ingenuity of craftsmen. However, the deeper you go, the easier it is to get the illusion that this place has long since become a military camp with bones scattered everywhere and soldiers ready to fight.

"This is not merely the effect of demonic cultivation, but a manifestation of the imperial dynasty's destiny and power. There must be a high-ranking general here, someone capable of directly confronting the emperor."

In the backyard of the Liu residence, there is a small lake that has been dug by hand. The lake is paved with fine wood, forming winding paths that all lead to the center of the lake.

In the middle of the lake stands a pavilion, on which a smooth, finely textured stone table is laid out delicacies from land and sea, as well as fine wines.

"...My sons, such filial children, were utterly loyal to the court, as clear as day and night. It's a pity they died at the hands of a heretic."

Liu Guang, his eyes red and swollen, sat to one side, gulping down cup after cup of wine, and lamented, "I, a dignified seven-foot man, governing an entire prefecture, know nothing of how to avenge my beloved son. I can only weep day and night, utterly ashamed of this old man!"

The man sitting opposite the stone table spoke with great sorrow: "My two nephews have tragically died young. I, Yun, will surely avenge them. Brother Liu, please wait a couple more days. Once I have trained my troops and swept away their defeated and demoralized spirit, and then have Ling Zhen improve the cannons, we will surely raze the Liangshan bandit stronghold to the ground, leaving no one alive!"

Liu Guang paused. Although his old eyes were indeed swollen from crying for his son, he couldn't help but think about his own career. He said, "General, I've heard that there are tens of thousands of bandits in Liangshan, but most of them are just petty thieves. Your Majesty is wise and resourceful. The mines need manpower. Let's send those petty thieves to work in the mines."

The man opposite sighed, "Brother Liu, in such a predicament, you still consider the court's interests so thoroughly. You are truly a rare and worthy minister throughout history. Very well, I, Yun, will follow your advice. After we take Liangshan, we will only execute those ringleaders by slow slicing."

Liu Guang couldn't help but shed tears. He got up and walked to the man's side, grasped one of his hands tightly, and said, "I entrust everything to the general."

The man offered a few more words of comfort, telling Liu Guang to rest early and take care of himself, before getting up and leaving the pavilion.

From afar, Dai Zong saw that the man had a face like a red date, silkworm eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and a long, glossy black beard. He wore a golden fish-scale inner armor, a green brocade battle robe, and a green turban. He looked exactly like the reincarnation of Guan Yu, the God of War, or the Demon-Subduing Emperor.

"So it was him!"

Dai Zong recognized him at a glance; this man was none other than Yun Tianbiao, Chen Xizhen's close friend and the current Grand Commandant of the Imperial Guard of the Great Song Dynasty.

This Yun Tianbiao also comes from a family that has passed down military and martial arts in the Jianghu. He was born with a red face when he was a child. After reading history books and learning about Guan Yu, he was overjoyed and tried to imitate him in every way. He drew his eyebrows like eyebrows, trimmed his beard into a beautiful beard, often wore a full green brocade, and even his weapon was a carefully crafted Spring and Autumn Period broadsword.

In the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, he was said to be the reincarnation of Guan Yu.

Back when they were defeating the Western Xia, Guan Yu's descendant Guan Sheng was also in the army. He was very resentful about this and often challenged him. Unfortunately, Guan Sheng was later transferred to the border army and never had the chance to enter Bianliang to compete with him again.

Over the years, Yun Tianbiao has been stationed in Bianliang City, enjoying inexhaustible precious mineral resources. He has also learned the imperial fortune method. Relying on his high official position, his strength has been greatly enhanced, and he no longer takes Guan Sheng seriously.

It is said that even Han Shizhong, who guards the frontier, has been criticized by Yun Tianbiao several times in secret gatherings with his friends.

Dai Zong dared not approach, keeping a great distance, and intermittently tracked Yun Tianbiao's movements. He saw that after leaving Liu's residence, Yun Tianbiao went to the military encampment.

The military there was disciplined and orderly; no one dared to utter a sound of laughter or chatter as they all diligently trained.

After inspecting the area several times, Yun Tianbiao went to the open space to the side of the tent, where several hundred craftsmen, gathered from the army and from Quancheng, were modifying cannons.

Ling Zhen had rough skin, many small scars on his face, a stubble beard, and a black cloth wrapped around his forehead. He was walking around pointing things out.

Dai Zong secretly watched and memorized Ling Zhen's address.

At night, he sneaked into the military camp again, using his superhuman speed to move like a shadow and enter Ling Zhen's tent.

The large table inside the tent was covered with blueprints, and eight oil lamps provided illumination.

Ling Zhen was engrossed in looking at the blueprints when he suddenly sensed something was amiss and looked up alertly.

Dai Zong was about to act directly, but seeing him looking at him, he felt embarrassed. However, his face was full of enthusiasm, and he called out in a low voice with deep affection, "Gunner Ling, Brother Ling, do you still remember Dai Zong who used to chase after shells for you when you were testing new cannons?"

(End of this chapter)