Zhang Shixun looked at Song Jiang carefully. He vaguely remembered the description of Song Jiang in "Water Margin": he was about thirty years old, six feet tall, with eyes like red phoenixes and eyebrows like sleeping silkworms. He had a broad forehead and a flat top, and his skin and flesh were full.
But the Song Jiang in front of him was not good-looking. Apart from his strong physique, everything else was very different from the description in the novel. It could be said that they were completely unrelated.
At least there is nothing unusual about it from the outside.
"Nephew Zhang... Oh! We both have the surname Zhang. We were one family five hundred years ago. Is it okay for me to call you nephew?"
Zhang Shixun bowed and said, "You, old man, calling me your nephew is really too much. What's wrong with that?"
Although he was being polite, he was actually worried in his heart that the old man was obviously trying to get close to him.
"I've long heard that my nephew possesses immense powers, the ability to rule the universe. Now that I've met him, I can see that he's truly handsome and a true genius! If I'm not mistaken, you're only in your early twenties, right?"
"Twenty-three years old."
When Zhang Shixun heard his praise, he couldn't help but become secretly alert.
"It's a bit funny that I was recruited to the capital this time," Zhang Shuye said, pointing at Song Jiang. "Song Jiang started from the 800-li Liangshan Marsh. Later, he led 36 people to travel across Qi and Wei, and conquered ten counties. No government army dared to stop him..."
Song Jiang stood beside Zhang Shuye with his hands behind his back, his eyes looking at his nose and his nose looking at his heart, as if Zhang Shuye was not talking about him, but someone else.
"Song Jiang was later defeated by me, and I recruited him. He later joined me in the campaign against Fang La, and made considerable contributions."
Zhang Shixun couldn't help but ask, "Among his thirty-six men, is there anyone called Shi Qian, the Flea on the Drum?"
Zhang Shuye smiled and turned to Song Jiang, "You should answer it."
"Replying to Master Zhang, I have never had a man like Shi Qian under my command."
"Then...what about the Flower Monk Lu Zhishen and the Black Whirlwind Li Kui?"
Song Jiang shook his head, "No."
Zhang Shixun pretended to ponder, then said, "So, the claim that Shi Qian, Lu Zhishen, and Li Kui were the heroes of Liangshan is clearly a lie."
Song Jiang shook his head and said, "Liangshan Lake is eight hundred miles long and wide, and there are many bandits. Maybe they really are from Liangshan."
"Haha! These three are quite capable. They've wreaked havoc in Tokyo twice, each time targeting the royal family... Oh! I heard they slaughtered all the Jin envoys this time, but I wonder if that's true."
Zhang Shuye said, "You heard correctly. Lu Zhishen and Li Kui killed more than ten Jin envoys and even left their names on the gate of the post station."
Zhang Shixun said calmly: "Well done!"
Zhang Shuye smiled and said, "Although the Song court didn't kill the Jin envoy, as the host nation, we have a responsibility to protect envoys from all other countries... It's foreseeable that the Jin will definitely hold the Song court accountable for this matter, which may trigger another war between the two countries."
"Barbarians, do they need excuses for their evil deeds?" Zhang Shixun sneered. "Even if this incident hadn't happened, the Jurchens would have invaded again."
"Your guess coincides with mine. I think so too."
Zhang Shuye sighed, "I didn't finish what I was saying just now. I was summoned to the capital this time just to capture Shi Qian and the others."
Zhang Shixun said sympathetically, "You've got a tough job. These three guys aren't that easy to catch."
"That's why I came to ask for your advice."
Zhang Shixun quickly waved his hand, "Mr. Zhang, you are too polite. I am a man of no virtue and no ability, so why would I ask for your advice?"
"Haha! Nephew, there's no need to be so modest. You are a person with all-knowing abilities. You hold a heavenly book in your possession, and you can bring the fairyland down to earth and even summon heavenly thunder. How many people in this world possess such abilities?"
"Those are just rumors, don't take them seriously." Zhang Shixun waved his hands repeatedly. "Even if the boy has some ability, he's just relying on his special skills to deceive people."
"Ever since I learned to read, I've read the books of Confucius and Mencius. I believe in Confucianism and respect ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance. Whether you are a god or a ghost has nothing to do with me. In my eyes, you are just an ordinary person, no different from me."
Zhang Shixun was not angry when he heard this. Instead, he took his hand and laughed, "The one who understands me is Mr. Zhang Fuzun."
Zhang Shuye was stunned when he heard this and thought to himself: What do I know about you?
Zhang Shixun didn't give him time to think and asked, "Regarding Shi Qian and the others, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will tell you everything I know."
"You were there when Fanlou assassinated the emperor, right?"
"Yes, I was there from beginning to end, and I had a fierce battle with Lu Zhishen and Li Kui."
"How are these two people's martial arts?"
"They're both very powerful. They both have their own unique weapons. Lu Zhishen's is a Zen staff, and Li Kui's is a pair of axes. They whiz like the wind when they wield them."
Song Jiang interjected, "Did you fight them both alone?"
Zhang Shixun nodded. "Lu Zhishen and Li Kui sneaked into Fanlou and suddenly attacked, killing almost all the guards. Then they broke into the private room where the retired emperor was staying. I was sitting below him at the time. When I saw them rushing in, I had no choice but to grab a chair and bravely face them."
Song Jiang pressed on, "Don't you know how to summon thunder? Why don't you use it to strike them?"
Zhang Shixun shook his head and said casually, "Heavenly thunder cannot be summoned at any time. It depends on the weather."
Song Jiang stopped asking.
Zhang Shuye said, "As far as I know, you chased Lu Zhishen and Li Kui away."
"Yes, these two were very good at escaping. I chased them for a while, but they still managed to get away."
"I'm afraid you're still worried about the Emperor's safety and don't dare to chase too far?"
"Mr. Zhang, it is indeed so."
Zhang Shuye picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and then asked, "When did Shi Qian kidnap the emperor?"
"While I was chasing Lu Zhishen and the others, Shi Qian took advantage of the opportunity and swooped in."
"I heard from the constables in Kaifeng Prefecture that Shi Qian climbed in through the window at the back?"
"Yes."
Zhang Shuye nodded slightly. "I've checked Fanlou. The second floor is several feet above the ground. It's almost impossible for ordinary people to climb up."
"Shrimps have their own ways, crabs have their own ways. There must be a reason why Shi Qian added the nickname 'Drum Flea' to his name."
"Well! Facts have proven that his light-weight martial arts skills have reached a superb level. This time, he broke into the palace and jumped over roofs as if it were flat ground."
Zhang Shixun sighed pretentiously and said, "I really want to meet a man like him."
As soon as he said it, he regretted it.
Zhang Shuye seemed to be waiting for this, and hurriedly said, "Since my nephew is so willing, why not help me capture Shi Qian?"
Zhang Shixun wanted to slap himself in the face.
What a rude guy! He knew that the old man came to ask for his help, but now he has dug a hole for himself.
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