Zhao Gou was already ready and waiting for everyone to come. Song Huizong asked him to bring a thousand imperial forest troops, and Zhao Gou also gathered all these people in front of the east gate, Yue Fei, Tang Huai and others came first, and then Liu Qi, Yang Yizhong, and Wu Lan also came one after another, forming a Zhao'an mission, and the youngest and highest official was Zhao Gou.

At a glance, even if there are thousands of Royal Forest Army, the average age is only twenty. Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, the youngest privy envoy and the youngest second-class member of the dynasty have also become a glorious stroke in the annals of history. Song Huizong selected all the people who were athletic and about twenty years old, and did not send older and more experienced ones, and everything was handed over to Zhao Gou alone, so as not to affect Zhao Gou's authority, and also made this mission completely under Zhao Gou's dictatorship.

From Bianjing to Jinan, it takes seven days by land. Along the way, Zhao Gou and others could see the people fleeing from Jinan Mansion, just because of the war. Through inquiry, Zhao Gou learned that half of Jinan Mansion had been occupied by Song Jiang and others. So, Zhao Gou adjusted his route and did not prepare to go to Jinan Mansion, but went all the way to the east and directly arrived at the Tai'an Army.

Tai'an is located in the central part of Shandong Province, is the location of Mount Tai, and belongs to Yanzhou Qingfu, Tai'an Army is under the East and West Road Army. Song Jiang and others had already fought with the Jingdong East Road army, and the Jingdong East Road army was defeated, and led the army to attack the Jingdong West Road army.

At this time, the army of Jingxi Road was Tianzhang Pavilion to be systematized, Shezhou Zhizhou Zeng Xiaoyun, born in Jinjiang Zeng. Father Zeng Gongliang is Renzong Tiansheng two years of Jinshi, Shi Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong three dynasties, successive officials of the county, Zhizhou, prefect, Zhizhi, Hanlin Bachelor, Duanming Hall Bachelor, Governor of the Governor's Affairs, Privy Envoy and Tongzhongshu Men under the Ping Zhang, etc., crowned Yanguo Gong, Lu Guogong, died as a Taishi, Zhongshu Order, with the Yingzong Temple Court, given Xuanjing, one of the 24 meritorious heroes of Zhaoxun Pavilion.

In addition, Zeng Gongliang was also one of the compilers of the first officially compiled encyclopedia of military science in ancient China, and the "General Essentials of the Martial Classics". Therefore, Zeng Xiaoyun was born in a famous family. The combat effectiveness of the Great Song army is not bad, but the fault is that the generals of the army have no real power, and everything is controlled by civilian officials.

Zhao Gou and others entered the Tai'an army, and Zeng Xiaoyun personally greeted them. Zhao Gou also knew that Zeng Xiaoyun was a loyal minister, and it was also a return gift with a smiling face. When Zhao Gou entered the tent, everyone sat down, and said straight to the point: "Lord Zeng, I came here to think you have received the holy decree, I don't know what Lord Zeng thinks?" ”

Zeng Xiaoyun is loyal and honest, quite like his father, but he is not the eldest son, he did not inherit the title, and he is just a governor. However, Zhao Gou didn't have any shelf, let alone show off his official authority, which made him a little stunned, and hurriedly said: "Lord Hui, according to the opinion of the lower officials, Song Jiang and others may not accept the imperial court's recruitment." ”

Zhao Gou asked, "Please also ask the adults to give me advice!" ”

"According to the information found by the spies, there are thirty-six rebels in Liangshan, and in addition to Song Jiang, who everyone knows, there are another thirty-five. As for their names, they are all recorded. Zeng Xiaoyun took out a roster, respectfully handed it over to Zhao Gou, took it, and continued: "Among the thirty-six people, there are names and surnames, and there are only a dozen people, and the others are some external names, and there are also names, there is no detailed record, and the time is tight and nothing can be found. ”

"Hu Baoyi Song Jiang, Zhiduoxing Wu Yong, Jade Qilin Lu Junyi, Dadao Guan Sheng, Living Yan Luo Ruan Xiaoqi, Red-haired Ghost Liu Tang, Feather Arrow Zhang Qing, Prodigal Son Yan Qing, Sick Lieutenant Chi Sun Li, Langli Baitiao Zhang Shun, Boat Huo'er Zhang Heng, Lidi Tai Sui Ruan Xiaoer, Flower Monk Lu Zhishen, Walker Wu Song, Iron Whip Hu Yanxuan, Mixed River Dragon Li Jun, Nine Pattern Dragon Shi Jin, Xiao Li Guanghuarong, Thunderbolt Fire Qin Ming, Black Whirlwind Li Kui, Little Whirlwind Chai Jin, Winged Tiger Lei Heng, Shenxing Taibao Dai Zong, Urgent Pioneer Suo Chao, Short-lived Erlang Ruan Xiaowu, Blue-faced Beast Yang Zhi, Saiguan Suo Yang Xiong, has been hitting Dong Ping, two-headed snake Xie Zhen, beautiful bearded man Zhu Tong, did not block Mu Heng, san Lang Shi Xiu, two-tailed scorpion Xie Bao, Iron King Chao Gai, Golden Gun Class Xu Ning, Fighting Eagle Li Ying. ”

Zhao Gou looked intently at the list of thirty-six people in his hand, and saw some characters who had appeared in "Water Margin", he couldn't help but be a little puzzled, and secretly thought: "What is recorded in "Water Margin" is one hundred and eight generals, divided into thirty-six stars of Tiangang and seventy-two earthly demons, this is a well-known thing, why are only thirty-six people on the list. ”

"Lord Zeng, are there really only thirty-six people? Is there anything we haven't found out? Zhao Gou couldn't help asking.

Zeng Xiaoyun was a little puzzled, but he still bowed down and replied: "Lord Hui, Xia Guan has fought dozens of times with Song Jiang and others, and he has also met with these generals. After the names reported by the spies, there are only these thirty-six people, and there are basically no people who can really be useful. Only these thirty-six people are strong in martial arts, and they have injured several fierce generals under my command. ”

"There are only thirty-six of them, and each of them is a general who can fight well, even if it is the army under the control of the lower officials, they can't really compete with them. At most, it is only a moment of support and then it will be defeated. Moreover, according to the knowledge of the lower officials, among the thirty-six people, the top ten martial arts are all generals with one enemy and ten generals, charging into battle, and no one can beat the right. ”

"Therefore, the lower officials will play the Ming court, hoping to send generals to come. If it weren't for the generals, it would be a little difficult to get a bargain from them. In addition, these people never show mercy. Many people in Jinan Prefecture and Tai'an have also joined, and some people from the rivers and lakes have also joined in, making the momentum huge. If it is not dealt with in time, the situation of the rebellion of the Great Song Dynasty will become more and more unfavorable. ”

"The recitals played by the lower officials, without exception, all fell into the sea, and there was no heard-of. Not only that, but even the concerts of several other adults did not reply to the message, and they did not dare to dispatch the army privately, so they could only retreat here and wait for the battle. If there is no news from the imperial court, I am afraid that the army of Jingxi Road will suffer heavy losses! ”

"A few days ago, the imperial court sent someone to come, and we waited here, not daring to take any action, only waiting for the adults to come, and then discussing! Xia Guan thought that these bandits should give them a hard blow, so that they could see the strength of the Great Song army. ”

When Zhao Gou heard this, he was silent and sighed deeply. He knew that the army marshals of the Great Song Dynasty needed to obey the civil officials, and if the civil officials worked together with him, it would be fine, but he was afraid that the two would not get along and delay the fighters, which would not only cause heavy losses to the army, but also suffer from the people. Moreover, the Great Song army did not get the order of the imperial court, so it could only retreat, and was not allowed to mobilize a large army to attack, and privately dispatched soldiers, which was punished by capital punishment for treason.

"Lord Zeng, if it weren't for you guarding Tai'an, they must have captured the city. This merit should be recorded as the first merit, I will record it truthfully, and when I return to the capital, I will definitely ask for credit for the adults!! Zhao Gou said solemnly with sincere gratitude.

Zeng Xiaoyun bowed and replied: "The lower officials don't dare to take credit, this is the merit of the Tai'an generals. Xia Guan is just giving advice, they are the ones who really fight, if they don't have them to resist the Liangshan rebels, how can Xia Guan have the opportunity to talk with the adults again! ”

"In that case, then I will report to the court truthfully!" Seeing that Zeng Xiaoyun did not take credit, Zhao Gou couldn't help but admire him, gave him a promise, and asked, "At this time, where are the rebels in Liangshan?" Where do Song Jiang and others occupy? This time, I came to greet him by holy decree! ”

Zeng Xiaoyun said in a deep voice: "As far as the lower officials know, the Liangshan rebels led by Song Jiang and others have captured Heshuo, and attacked the Jingdong East Road army, attacked Jinan Mansion at this time, occupied Qingzhou, and did not camp in Shuibo Liangshan. If you want to find him, you can go to Qingzhou. ”

"Qingzhou?"

Zhao Gou lowered his head and pondered, he knew that Qingzhou was very close to Jinan Mansion, and this trip was originally to Jinan Mansion, but later changed the route, where the war spread, the people's lives were down, some people also joined the Liangshan rebels, and some people fled. Since Song Jiang and the others were in Qingzhou, Zhao Gou was not willing to wait here and prepared to go to Jinan Mansion.

"My lord, the lower officials think that you can stay in Tai'an, and you don't have to go to Jinan Mansion." Zeng Xiaoyun couldn't help but be startled when he saw that Zhao wanted to go to Jinan Mansion, and hurriedly advised: "There are frequent wars in Jinan Mansion, and I don't know the current situation, so I still stay here." The lower officials inquired that Song Jiang and others were preparing to send troops south, and waiting here was the best choice. ”

Zeng Xiaoyun's words are not unreasonable, Tai'an has the Tai'an army, and there is the army of Jingxi Road as a barrier, as well as Mount Tai, which can be defended and attacked, and is located in the middle. Whether it is to transmit information or scheduling, it is more convenient.

Zhao thought about it, and felt that what he said was right, so he dispelled the idea of going to Jinan Mansion, and remembered the task assigned by Song Huizong, and asked: "I personally repair a copy of the book and send it to Qingzhou, I don't know which general is willing to go?" ”

Yue Fei, Liu Qi and others all stepped forward and shouted, "The lower officials are willing to go!" ”

Seeing this, Zeng Xiaoyun couldn't help frowning, all of them were young people. He didn't know that Yue Fei, Liu Qi and others were all candidates who passed the martial arts exam, let alone that the top three were all here, and they were still so young, so he thought worriedly: "They are all fledglings, and they may not be able to handle this matter well!" If there is any difference, it is a big war! ……”