Chapter 395: You Must Learn to Be a Qualified Charlatan

Liangshan, Qiongdou.

Which is to say, the Xichang of later generations.

Since ancient times, it has been praised as such: "Pine, Wind, Water, Moon"!

That is, the pines of Lushan, the wind of the Anning River, the water of Qionghai, and the moon of Qiongdou.

In the Liangshan region, Qiongdou is the capital, located in the hinterland of the Anning River Plain on the Western Sichuan Plateau. This place is not only the political, economic, cultural, and transportation center of the Panxi region, but also an important city at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan.

At this moment.

Qiongdou Prefecture.

A sturdy man wearing standard Yi attire and sporting a "Heavenly Bodhisattva" hairstyle looked at the document in his hand, falling into cold contemplation.

"Headman, why would this Longyan Dynasty suddenly come to station troops?"

"That's right, didn't they say that once we acknowledged their investiture, they wouldn't interfere with us?"

"These Longyan people are too hypocritical!"

A group of people nearby appeared filled with righteous indignation.

This man in his forties was the headman of the current number one family branch in Qiongdou, the Shama Clan, Shama Zhuoyi! The Shama Clan was once the primary house-general under the Zimo Alu Clan in the Liangshan region; later, their power grew immense, and they overthrew the Zimo rule, driving the Zimo family out of Liangshan. This Shama Clan then successfully seized Qiongdou.

It must be mentioned here.

Among the Yi in Liangshan, besides the hierarchical distinctions of Black Nobles, White Nobles, House Slaves, and Public Slaves.

There are also ethnic group distinctions.

Ethnic distinctions are divided by region into the Suodi People, the Shizha People, and the Inuo People. Usually, they simply refer to themselves as "Big Trouser-legs," "Medium Trouser-legs," and "Small Trouser-legs," named after the width of the men's trouser cuffs—simple and direct. The people of these three groups also have different temperaments.

The Big Trouser-leg Suodi People are conservative and slow, weak in ambition, unskilled in crafts, and often let good opportunities slip by. The Medium Trouser-leg Shizha People have more contact with the outside world; they are cunning and opportunistic, frivolous and competitive, and skilled at "holding onto old virtues to welcome new wisdom," having learned the Han people's habits of disunity and lack of credibility. The Small Trouser-leg Inuo People, however, are united, skilled in battle, value their word, are self-respecting, observe traditional values, and are adept at crafts involving iron, wood, copper, and silver.

Nowadays.

The chaotic situation in Liangshan is, in reality, the struggle between these three "trouser-legs." Although there are many tribes, there are only these three camps.

And this Shama Clan is the representative family branch of the Medium Trouser-legs!

Shama Zhuoyi is also a rare talent of an overlord in the Liangshan region, having destroyed the ruling status of the Zimo with his own strength.

"Stationing troops? And bringing an Alu descendant along?"

A flash of killing intent crossed Shama Zhuoyi's dark face: "A mere fifty thousand people, and they dare to come and station troops? Do these Han people look down on us Yi people so much?"

One must know that the entire Liangshan region has a population of three million.

His Shama Clan alone has a full four hundred thousand people, with one hundred thousand young and able-bodied men, all of whom can serve as soldiers!

Others laughed out loud: "Headman, shall we let them in first, and then beat the dogs?"

Someone else said from the side: "I'm just afraid those Small Trouser-leg fellows will play both sides again!"

Shama Zhuoyi chuckled: "Huobu Quli of the Small Trouser-legs has indeed been thinking about the Alu Clan returning to Liangshan. But a few days ago, they also pushed out a new Great Bimo. Now that these Han people have come, how will they explain themselves?"

The crowd followed with loud laughter.

Recently, eight Great Bimos have popped up across the entire Liangshan region.

The Huobu Clan, as a powerful group of the Small Trouser-legs, had always been loyal house-generals to the Zimo Clan. But this time, hindered by the influence of Bimo culture, they had no choice but to push out their own Great Bimo to represent their legitimate status in ruling a territory.

"Headman, eight Great Bimos—it's getting quite lively... Fortunately, the Torch Festival is almost here. When the time comes, these eight Great Bimos can compete against each other..."

"Once they have all arrived in Qiongdou, hehehe... wouldn't they just be ours to manipulate?"

"Since these Han people insist on joining the fun, why not finish them off together when the time comes!"

Shama Zhuoyi frowned: "What does the Old Immortal on the mountain say?"

"Headman, the Old Immortal says, it is permitted!"

Everyone raised their glasses simultaneously, filled with joy and laughter.

Wangbei Academy.

On a pine tree, two old men sat at either end.

Below the tree was that massive chessboard made of white marble.

The two of them drank tea while observing the match on the square's chessboard.

"They've come, and they brought fifty thousand troops?"

"There is also a boy from the Alu Clan."

The two smiled at the same time.

"There are three hundred thousand young and able-bodied men in Liangshan; let's see how he gets past them."

"Is Wangbei Academy really so easy to ascend?"

"What if he does come?"

One of them asked.

The other laughed out loud: "If he comes, this game of chess will only get more interesting..."

He gave a light flick with his hand.

The black and white pieces on the white marble square chessboard began to tremble rapidly, colliding back and forth.

The people of Wangbei Academy were all invigorated.

They looked up.

An intruder!

The killing momentum of this game of chess at Wangbei Academy was slowly pushing toward the southwest. For a time, the sounds of weapons and the clashing of blades filled the air, and a kingly, overbearing aura emerged that no one could stop anymore.

Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers!

Everyone's expression changed slightly.

This intruder actually possesses the stature of Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers?

The other old man was left speechless.

"Indeed, if he has fifty thousand troops, he could come to the Academy..."

"Then he truly has the power to shake the Academy."

"Strange, how strange..."

Meigu.

This is a place name in Liangshan full of romanticism, and it is also the junction between the Liangshan region and the Chuan Shu region.

Just like its name, Meigu has been a place that produces beautiful women since ancient times. Upon entering the territory of Meigu, one can see beautiful mountains and rivers, melodious folk songs, beautiful women washing clothes by the river, and a rich, exotic atmosphere everywhere.

It was not just Liu Zheng.

These fifty thousand soldiers of the Liangzhou Army also felt refreshed and relaxed.

The messenger sent by Xie Zhen, the envoy, told Liu Zheng that Meigu happened to be under the rule of the Xiaokujiao and the Huobu Clan. Therefore, they had sent a document early on. This Huobu Clan was loyal to the Alu Clan, so upon hearing that Aluba had arrived, the other side was very grand. After confirming the identity of the visitors, they went back to prepare the honor guard.

"Have you learned what I taught you?"

While Liu Zheng and the others were waiting there, he could not help but ask Aluba.

Xiao Heitan fidgeted and whispered, "Uncle, do you really want me to go and pretend to be that..."

Liu Zheng coughed, looked around, and said with a serious face, "What do you mean pretend? It is! Do you want to be a chieftain? Do you want to take back the glory of the Alu family?"

Xiao Heitan puffed out his chest, his eyes sharp.

Only then did Liu Zheng nod with satisfaction: "Xiao Hei... no, Aluba, you are already a big boy, you should learn to become a qualified charlatan yourself, understand?"

Qin Zhangfeng and Pei Yanran listened from the side with twitching faces, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Heitan nodded blankly.

Liu Zheng also took a deep breath.

Isn't it just pretending to be a charlatan?

Come on.

He has plenty of skills.

This Meigu is the first stop for Xiao Heitan to become a charlatan!