Chapter 319 Loyalty and patriotism are two different things
Xiao Tang expected Fan Rui's reaction. Although his current reputation in the green forest is far better than that of Shi Yu Songjiang, who was still serving as a minor official in Yuncheng County Yamen, Xiao Tang did not expect that Fan Rui would hear him.
At the sight of his name, all the men trembled, and all the women trembled. The heroes here hurriedly bowed to each other, and the beauties there rushed to throw themselves into their arms...
People in the world have different temperaments. Now Fan Ruixiao has gathered in Mangdang Mountain on a large scale, and he also has Xiang Chong. Li Gun, two heroes who are good at commanding barbarian soldiers, is a special force. If Xiao Tang can use his words to buy them off,
If it can make him return to his service, then this Fan Rui is not the only one among the one hundred and eight generals in Liangshan who openly provokes Song Jiang, Chao Gai and other Liangshan leaders as the leader of Green Forest Village.
However, everyone has their own needs and principles of doing things, and the same goes for Fan Rui, Xiang Chong, and Li Gun, the three strong leaders of Mangdang Mountain. Xiang and Li seemed to follow Fan Ruima, but in fact they were more unruly and unruly.
Looking at the reactions of Xiang Chong and Li Gun, they were obviously more deeply affected by Xiao Tang's reputation in the world. In the original work, after the two of them were captured by Liangshan, they said to Song Jiang, "If Fan Rui refuses to surrender,
, I will capture him and offer him to the leader’s subordinates” illustrates this point very well.
Later, when the heroes of Liangshan decided on their duties, Xiang Chong and Li Gun, two heroes who were good at using barbarian cards, together with Li Kui and Bao Xu, formed the Liangshan Infantry Minced Four.
The leader of the village, Fan Rui, was also ranked as an infantry general along with his brothers, and even Shi Yong, Mu Chun, Shi En and other idle men, bad boys, and petty officials whose abilities and background were far inferior to his. Although later,
Occasionally during the battle, he fought side by side with Xiang Chong and Li Gun, who had become sworn friends in Mangdang Mountain in the past. However, Fan Rui was more of a deputy to other Liangshan infantry generals. Compared with those years ago, he had a spirit that even the King of Heaven would not accept. In the later period,
Fan Rui not only kept a low profile, but his brothers Xiang Chong and Li Gun seemed to be more in tune with Li Kui, Bao Xu and others after they went to Liangshan.
What's more, although Fan Rui is unruly, he is not a fool who doesn't have enough money for food, rice, oil and salt. Although Xiao Tang's power and reputation are not enough to make him respect him, they are also the best bargaining chip when negotiating with the three leaders of Mangdang Mountain.
"It's not so much a drive, but rather a cooperation between you and me." Xiao Tang smiled faintly, and then said to Fan Rui: "I am willing to fund your village's grain, grass and armor. This is not just a matter of one day. If the master accepts me,
I am also willing to continue to support Guizhai in the future. Not to mention that the big tree attracts wind. Guizhai has offended Gao Qiu this time. The green forest heroes who have reunited with me are also willing to make a life-and-death vow with Guizhai. We are of one mind and heart. However, if there is good or bad luck, we will help each other.
.So, what I ask of the leader is just a condition for negotiation with Guizhai, and it is not intended to be a coercion or inducement at all."
Fan Rui fell into silence for a while. Seeing this, Xiang Chong beside him couldn't help but persuade him: "Brother, this matter will be of great benefit to our village and will not harm us at all. It is only beneficial for us to agree to it. In my opinion, I will definitely comply."
have to!"
Next to him, Li Gun also echoed: "Look! Brother, as the saying goes, many friends lead to many roads, many enemies lead to many walls. Xiao Renxia informed us of such an important matter, which shows his sincerity. We welcome Xiao Renxia
We can still fight against the government for funding, but we are not allowed to touch those merchants and people. Let me tell you, in the past, we looted and borrowed food just to fill the bellies of our brothers. Now that we no longer have such worries, why should we?
Are you going to embarrass ordinary people again?"
That's easy to say! What Xiao Tang said sounded nice, but if we really agreed to his request, wouldn't our Mangdang Mountain have to be constrained by him in the future!? Fan Rui cursed in his heart, but when he saw Xiang Chong, Li
At this time, Gun seemed to be leaning towards Xiao Tang's proposal. When he looked at Xiao Tang's confident look, Fan Rui suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart: Although Xiao Tang was now in his territory, he was trapped by three thousand people under his command.
Among the strong men, as the negotiations progressed, it was Xiao Tang, the outsider, who gradually took the initiative, and not him, the leader of the village in Mangdang Mountain.
"You are indeed Xiao Renxia, who is praised by heroes in the world, and you are truly worthy of your name!" Fan Rui squeezed out a smile on his face and said: "But the matter is serious, Xiao Renxia must allow me to be careful.
Let's weigh it carefully. We are guests. Since Xiao Renxia, Mei Dalang and other heroes are coming to our village, we should treat them well."
"It turns out that you, Xiao Tang, actually have such a plan!"
At this moment, Hu Chun, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly laughed miserably and said: "Since Xiao Renxia asked me to hear such a rebellious act of yours, I am afraid that I, Hu Chun, have been regarded as a person who must die."
Got it!"
"Isn't it treacherous..." Xiao Tang was not annoyed, he said calmly: "Since you secretly persecuted Zhongliang on behalf of Gao Qiu, this fate is not unjust to you. You also know that Gao Qiu and others
A treacherous traitor is bringing trouble to the government, and if you help him act as an aide, is that what you call correcting the right path and failing?"
Hu Chunqing knew that he was going to die, so he spat and cursed: "No matter what dynasty or generation the court official is, who the hell is a sage gentleman who has never done anything wrong? No matter how ruthless Gao Taiwei's methods are, he still can't
You are loyal to the official family! You are depriving the country of your salary but colluding with thieves to cause chaos. Have you ever had the slightest bit of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism!?"
Xiao Tang didn't worry, he sighed slightly and said: "It's not wrong for you to say that I am not loyal to the emperor, because I am loyal to the world and love the country. You keep saying that Gao Qiu is not loyal to the official family.
But can officials really take the people of the world into their hearts? If the king regards his ministers as his brothers and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his heart and soul; if the king regards his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as his fellow countrymen; and his ministers will regard him as earth.
Mustard, then the minister will treat you as a bandit. Gao Qiu is loyal to the official family because the official family has made him a rogue rise to the top. You are loyal to Gao Qiu just because Gao Qiu can give you glory and wealth. For you, it is for you.
To try your best to please your master is loyalty, but for me, I would rather be disloyal!"
Xiang Chong and Li Gun over there were impatient after hearing this. They all stood up and said to Xiao Tang with swords in their hands: "Xiao Renxia, why do you need to talk to this thief? This guy is willing to be a slave of the powerful. He should have done it long ago.
Cut it into pieces! Then you can pay for the life of my brother who was broken into the hands of this guy in my cottage!"
After hearing this, the corner of Hu Chun's mouth suddenly twitched, and his whole body trembled again. After a moment, he suddenly laughed crazily and said: "Hahaha! Okay! You are all green forest heroes! But I am a spineless slave!?
Xiao Tang, Xiao Tang, what do you do when people praise you?
Is it half wrong!?
Apart from me, how many imperial officers and generals are willing to be driven by Gao Qiu? This is what officialdom is like! This is how this world is! You are a hero of chivalry, and you are respected by all the heroes in the world, but how do you know how many people are not?
If you are so lucky, you will be trampled under your feet. If you want to get ahead, you can only seek refuge with people like Gao Qiu! I am in your hands, and now I have no choice but to accept my fate. But if you still claim to be a chivalrous hero,
Then tell me to die more happily, and stop torturing me, a mortal person!"
"Why bother Xiao Renxia if I want to kill you..." Mei Zhan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stood up and said in deep thought: "Dozens of my brothers were also killed by you. Today
If I don't ask you to pay with your life, how can I ask my brothers to die in peace?"
After Mei Zhan said this, he turned around and hugged Fan Rui, bowed and said: "The people who were killed by this guy's order to fire the crossbow, Mr. Fan, were probably my confidants who lived and died together for decades. Although Mr. Fan's subordinates also
I have killed some brothers, and I hope that the head of the Fan family will allow me to personally kill this person, so as to comfort the souls of my confidants and brothers in Guizhai."
"Who's killing is not killing? Why isn't it death in any way?" Fan Rui raised the corner of his mouth, nodded slightly towards Mei Zhan, and said: "At any rate, you are also a famous figure in the world at that time. We, the younger generation of the green forest, will never die."
We must sell the face of senior Yu Xun."
Mei Zhan cupped his hands and thanked him again, then pulled out the steel knife from his waist, walked straight to Hu Chun, and stabbed the knife straight into his heart!
Hu Chun's whole body twitched violently, and red blood gradually overflowed from his mouth. His body gradually collapsed forward, but he still said vaguely: "Thank you... Mei Jiedu... for Chengquan...
..”
Before he could finish his words, Mei Zhan, who still had a look of pain and sorrow on his face, swung the knife sharply. Hu Chun's body immediately fell forward and fell to the ground, slumped into a ball like a dead dog, and there was no more sound.
Fan Rui waved his hand lazily and ordered his men to drag Hu Chun's body out. He immediately said to Xiao Tang, Mei Zhan and Hua Rong: "Now that we have settled a grudge, I, Mangdang Mountain, have never had any
Distinguished guests like Xiao Renxia and Mei Dalang are here. It would be better to meet by chance than to invite them now, so we should treat them well."
.....................
Fan Rui then ordered his men to buy food and wine, kill sheep and pigs, and organize a banquet. Xiao Tang, Hua Rong, Mei Zhan and others had wine with the three leaders of Mangdang Mountain until three quarters of the hour. That night, Fan Rui invited Xiao Tang and others
Xiao Tang stayed in a guest room in the cottage. Xiao Tang undressed and lay in bed. For a moment, he tossed and turned because he thought about his close brothers rescuing Xu Ning, hearing about the situation there with Huanzhang, and thinking about future cooperation with the three leaders of Mangdang Mountain.
At that time, there was a knock on the door, and someone outside the door said, "May I ask if Xiao Renxia has rested?"
Hearing that the visitor's voice was that of Mei Zhan, Xiao Tang stood up. He put on some clothes and went to open the door. He saw that Mei Zhan's face was still neither happy nor angry, but full of vicissitudes of life, quietly.
The ground stood outside the door. Xiao Tang hugged Mei Zhan and said, "I haven't gone to bed yet. I wonder if Mei Jiedu can give me any advice?"
"I have resigned a long time ago and am no longer a military governor. Xiao Renxia just calls me Mei Dalang." Mei Zhan's face was still calm, and he added: "I was saved by Xiao Renxia, but I haven't called me yet."
Xiao Renxia thanks you for saving your life, and also wishes Haihan." As he said this, Mei Zhan bowed to Xiao Tang.
Xiao Tang hurriedly stepped forward to hold Mei Zhan's arms and said: "Senior, why do you need to be so polite? My brothers Lin Chong and Yang Zhi were also persecuted by Gao Qiu. The younger generation heard about it and Gao Qiu also wanted to secretly tell the senior
Even if you have a poisonous hand, you should help me."
"Is it just a coincidence..." Mei Zhan sighed slightly, and then said: "I know that Xiao Renxia is a man of old ways and a warm heart. No matter whether I, a has-been, can be of great use, I will still take action.
But after hearing Xiao Renxia’s plot in the green forest, don’t you have any intention of colluding with me, Mei Dalang?”