After walking for about five to six miles, they came to a high hill. There was a manor at the foot of the hill. There were a group of cattle and sheep on the hill, and there were flocks of geese and ducks in the pond in front of the courtyard.
The gate of the manor was open, and a vassal happened to walk out. Li Jun went up to him.
"So it's Big Brother Li Jun. What's the matter?”The vassal hurriedly asked.
"Yesterday, I met a great official Xu. He heard that the Mu brothers were very loyal and asked me to introduce them.”Li Jun said.
The vassal looked at Xu Fengwu and the others. Seeing their extraordinary aura, he couldn't help but be speechless. He thought about how Li Jun was a figure, yet he was so polite to these people. His background must be extraordinary.
"Brother Li Jun, please wait a moment. I'll go inform Dalang now!”The vassal said and turned to walk in.
Not long after, two men walked out of the manor. The leader had a round head and thin eyes. His face was like a silver basin and his body was like jade. When he saw Li Jun, he smiled and said,"What brings the Li brothers here?”
Li Jun said,"Brother Mu, don't blame me. I got to know a few good men yesterday. When I heard your name, I asked you to introduce me to them."”
When Mu Hong heard this, he looked at Xu Fengwu and the others. He immediately cupped his fists and said,"I'm Mu Hong. Thanks to my friends in the martial world, I've been honored to be addressed as 'unrestrained'. This is my brother Mu Chun.”
"My surname is Xu, and I came from Jingdong. I've heard of your great name, so I've come to pay my respects."”
Li Jun tugged at Mu Hong's sleeve and said,""Brother Mu, these are all extravagant figures. It's rare to see them. Brother, don't miss them.”
Mu Hong knew Li Jun's personality. If even he said that he was an extravagant figure, these people were definitely not simple. The person in the lead only said that his surname was Xu, but he did not know where he was from.
"Gentlemen, please come in. My manor is a little shabby, please forgive me.”Mu Hong smiled and invited everyone in.
Mu Hong led everyone through the front courtyard and came to a pavilion in the backyard. He then instructed the vassals to prepare wine and dishes before saying to Xu Fengwu,"May I ask the name of this minor official?”
Seeing that there was no one else, Xu Fengwu immediately said,"It's not that we're deliberately hiding it from you, but there were too many people just now, so it's not convenient to tell you your name. I'm Xu Fengwu from Jeju.”
Mu Hong was taken aback. He did not expect that the extravagant figure that Li Jun spoke of was actually so impressive.
Mu Hong quickly cupped his fists and said," I didn't expect it to be the Lord of Mount Liang who is carrying out justice on behalf of the heavens. If Mu Hong has been rude, I hope that Lord Xu will forgive me."”
"Brother Mu, what are you talking about?" Xu Fengwu smiled.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Mu Chun pushing the golden mountain and the jade pillar down. He bowed and said excitedly,"It's actually the famous Chief Xu. I've heard a lot about you!”
To be honest, Xu Fengwu was shocked by Mu Chun's reaction. He quickly helped him up and said,"Brother Mu Chun, what are you doing?”
Mu Chun was so excited that her face turned red. She said,"Brother, you might not know this, but in the past month, all the heroes in the martial arts world have been talking about your deeds. I didn't expect to meet you today and fulfill my wish!”
Xu Fengwu saw that he was only sixteen or seventeen years old. He was clearly a child who yearned for the so-called heroes of Jianghu like a child chasing after stars.
"It's just a small matter," Xu Fengwu said with a smile.”
Mu Hong glared at Mu Chun and said to Xu Fengwu,""Chief Xu is too humble. With the strength of a single stronghold, you defeated thousands of government troops and brought great honor to our Green Forest. Not to mention my brother, even I admire you very much.”
Xu Fengwu smiled and introduced Liang Chengye, Ruan Er, Liu Tang, Yang Lin, and the others to Mu Hong and Mu Chun. The two brothers were surprised and delighted.
Hearing that Li Jun, Tong Wei, and Tong Meng had all entered Liangshan, Mu Chun said eagerly,""Liang Shan Po is doing a big business. Please bring me in. I want to enforce justice on behalf of the heavens like you.”
"Mu Chun, what are you doing?" Mu Hong immediately shouted when he saw this.”
Mu Chun could not help but shiver when Mu Hong shouted at her.
Xu Fengwu smiled and said," Mu Chun's temperament is still uncertain. He was just joking. Brother Mu Hong, don't take it seriously."”
Mu Hong nodded and said,"The heroes of Liangshan will enforce justice for the heavens. Who in our generation doesn't yearn for it?" However, he still had his old father at home, so he probably couldn't leave his hometown!”
"You're right. The old great grandfather is still here, so we can't act rashly!”
Xu Fengwu was not surprised. It would take another year or two for Song Jiang to be married off. Perhaps the Mu family could still survive at this time, but when Song Jiang was married off, the Mu family would probably not be able to do so.
Otherwise, Mu Hong would not have gone to Liangshan and become a bandit without any hesitation.
One had to know that the Mu family was a big family in Jieyang Town. They had a lot of land and property. If they did not abandon their family property and become bandits, if it was not because Hua Shigang was too ruthless, then there was a hole in their brains.
After a while, the dishes were served on the table. Everyone toasted and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
During their conversation, Xu Fengwu realized that Mu Hong had a good character and was no different from ordinary Jianghu men. Mu Chun was also a young man who had yet to form a sense of right and wrong.
Moreover, Mu Chun's martial arts were mediocre. The brothers were able to become the tyrants of Jieyang Town all because of their brother, Mu Hong.
Xu Fengwu spoke of the Flower Stone Gang and said," When I was in Jingdong, I heard about the Flower Stone Gang. Many families in Jiangnan were destroyed because of it. I'm afraid that the monthly money you collect from the merchants is not enough."”
"In recent years, the number of ships transporting the Flower Stone Gang on the Xunyang River has increased by the day. Every few days, money, food, and servants would be sent down.”
"The merchants in the town only collect a hundred strings of money a month. Originally, there were a few big families in the town to share the burden, but after a long time, everyone could not take it anymore. A few families had already moved away, and the burden of staying here was even heavier.”
"Look at the cattle and sheep raised on my hill. They are all prepared to entertain the officials who escorted Hua Shigang, just so that they can share less money, food, and servants.”
" I see that there are many commoners in the town," Xu Fengwu asked." Why did you only tell the merchants your cards and not ask the commoners for money?"”
Mu Hong said,"Brother, you might not know this, but this Flower Stone Gang not only apportions money and food, but it also apportions servants." The servants did not return. Basically, they were all commoners. The rich merchants did not want to die, so they naturally had to show their money and food.”
To put it simply, those who had the money had to pay, and those who didn't had to pay had to pay.
Mu Chun also nodded." The stones from Taihu Lake can be as little as a few hundred catties, and as much as thousands of catties. When they meet a road with inconvenient traffic, they have to be carried by manpower. No matter if it's hot or hot, rain or snow, they have to grit their teeth and endure it. If there's any disagreement, they will be beaten up by the officials.”
"Moreover, the commoners can only stay in the wilderness. They are exposed to the sun during the day and the wind and frost at night. Most of the able-bodied men who went to serve died on the way, so people avoided them like snakes and scorpions.”
When the second son heard this, he shouted," You are all cowards. When your cattle and sheep are slaughtered and your money is exhausted, what will you use to entertain the officials?”
Yang Lin also said,"After we finish slaughtering the cows and sheep and spend all our money, you brothers should go and move the Flower Stone Gang."”
Mu Hong sighed and said," During the Chongning years, Suzhou set up the Fengfeng Bureau, and then there was the Flower Stone Gang. It has been almost ten years since then. I think the emperor wanted to build a palace, so it should have been completed after so many years. Who knew that the battle would get bigger and bigger? My wealth is about to be exhausted. I really don't know when I can stop.”
"According to my estimation, it'll probably take another ten years!"”
"Why do you say that, Brother?" Mu Hong was shocked.”
Ruan Second said," A while ago, there was a brother called Tang Long in our village. He was ordered by his brother to go to Tokyo to handle some matters. When he asked about the Longevity Mountain, he actually said that it hasn't been officially built yet. How long do you think it will take?"”
As soon as he said this, not only Mu Hong and Mu Chun, even Li Jun, the Tong brothers, and even Liang Chengye revealed shocked expressions.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。