Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

In the morning of the last month of the twelfth lunar month, the second year of Jianwu.

As the wind blew, the snowflakes dancing in the air kept drilling into the palace walls. The glazed wind-chasing beast squatting on the eaves had a three-inch thick snow hat on its head. When the sun shone on it, it looked like it was wearing a silver thread and pearl crown.

Eight gilded fire tripods were set up in Fengyi Palace of Dading Palace. The red flames burned the icicles on the eaves so hard that water droplets dripped down. The burning firewood made the harem as warm as spring.

Su Jinniang led Lu Lan to cut window paper-cuts in the house. The Su family was from Xuhuai, and the custom of pasting paper-cuts at the end of the year has existed since the Han Dynasty. Now the mother and daughter huddled together and whispered, and the pieces of red paper they had cut in their hands fell on the table and the ground.

The little man held a red paper with a picture of a monster with a tiger head and a fish tail and chased Su Yi around the yard: "Look, little uncle, this is the Liaodong house-guarding beast that Auntie Daribo taught my mother about!"

"No, no, no, no." Su Yi laughed and teased his sister's child: "Wait until you catch up and then look."

"Slow down, don't fall--"

"Don't worry, second sister—"

The answering voice came in. Su Jinniang shook her head as she looked at her brother playing with her daughter. She picked up a piece of paper and continued to cut it. Window paper-cuts and paper-cuts are not only for bringing some joy at the end of the year, but mainly...

Lu Bu likes it.

This reason is enough. Although Su Jinniang holds a gun or a knife more often, she is not a stupid woman with a clumsy mind and hands. She can naturally cut paper into beautiful shapes.

Outside, two figures, one big and one small, were chasing each other and laughing from time to time. The beautiful woman in the house was humming a melodious tune while turning the red paper in her hand. The sound of the scissors clicking was crisp, and the folded paper floated to the ground.

Squeak——

The browned and crispy meat fat residue was scooped out and put aside. The chubby big hand reached out, picked up a piece, put it into his mouth, chewed it, and spit it out.

"It's not very tasty..." He looked at the sheep fat being refined nearby with some hesitation. After a moment of hesitation, he waved to other cooks and said, "Go, use this fat to rub the sheep. Add more spices to make it more flavorful."

He smacked his lips and said, "It's a pity that it can't be used for cooking. It's a bit too fishy..."

Then he shouted loudly: "Where is the man who went to get the oil? He hasn't come back yet. Go and see if he fell into the oil tank."

A servant responded and ran out quickly. The fat man reached out and grabbed a piece of bacon and threw it to the cook who had just finished cutting a pheasant. "Cut it thinner. There are people coming from the south of Song today. Your Majesty wants to make some southern dishes. There will be a banquet for dozens of people at noon. Hurry up, get moving!"

"Oh--"

The imperial chefs in the harem kitchen responded and quickened their movements. For a moment, the sound of blades hitting chopping boards rang out rhythmically and continuously.

Busy figures are coming in and out.

[One and a half hours before noon]

...Squeak——

The door was opened, and a eunuch wearing thick winter clothes and holding a tray walked quickly and carefully, gently placed the steaming soup on the table, then lowered his head and walked out quickly.

The charcoal in the copper stove emitted heat, making the warm room even hotter.

"…Last month, General Du Fu sent me military intelligence that the grasslands west of Shangjing were unstable and several tribes had started fighting. Many cavalrymen, led by their chieftains, wanted to plunder the city of Shangjing, but were defeated by several generals."

Zhang Lin and Fang Xuedu sat on the fur mats, looking at Lü Bu behind the table and saying loudly, "This time, we have done a lot to deal with the nomads who were beating the grass and stabbing people. It seems that after receiving the relief grain from the court, these grassland people have no worries and are beginning to sincerely turn to the court."

Lu Bu nodded without saying anything. He reached out to pick up the soup on the table and took a big sip while it was still hot. He swallowed it slowly and asked, "How are the winter supplies for the soldiers in the border counties? Are there any shortages?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Jiang Jing and Li Ying have already shipped out the supplies. According to General Du's documents, the soldiers in the army are not short of these things."

"Send an order to Wu Hu, asking him to make more copies of the Divine Arm Bow." Lu Bu finished his soup with a slurp, threw the bowl on the table, and wiped his mouth carelessly: "At least arm the troops in Shang and Zhong capitals for me."

Zhang Lin and Fang Xuedu looked at each other and nodded in unison: "Yes."

Lu Bu nodded, picked up a memorial and flipped through it. "Also, ask Liu Min and Jiang Jing to prepare some reward money and supplies to be shipped to the north. We won a victory this year, and they won't be able to come back after the New Year. We can't leave them without even a reward."

Snapped--

He threw the memorial on the table and said, "Although they received it a little late, it is better than nothing. The Ministry of War will send another team of officials to the front line to appease them."

He glanced over and said, "Look for officials who know how to behave. I don't want to hear rumors that officials in the court are abusing their power in the border counties."

"I will carefully screen the candidates."

Fang Xuedu responded to the two of them, and a lot of faces flashed through his mind. He felt a little worried. He didn't communicate with his subordinates very often, so he didn't know them well...

Never mind. At worst I can ask Li Zhu and Qiao Lie who is more suitable.

The scent of sandalwood in the room had become a little lighter, and a eunuch wanted to add some more scent, but Lu Bu stretched out his hand and waved, and the eunuch immediately walked to the wall and stood with his head down, trying to reduce his presence.

Zhang Lin stole a glance at Lu Bu and thought for a moment: "Your Majesty, now that the New Year is approaching, how should we arrange for the people in the inn?"

"...Inn?" Lu Bu adjusted his sitting position, thought for a moment and suddenly realized: "The Korean and Xiao Qi are brothers, right?"

He joked, "I have already sent people to invite them to the banquet, but I have been too busy with government affairs to take care of them. After all, they have come to seek refuge, so just treat them as if they have entered the court, so that Xiaoqi won't complain about me treating them as outsiders in the future."

Fang Xuedu stroked his beard and smiled: "How dare that living devil?"

"I have been a little busy recently, but it's not too late. Today, the civil and military officials in the capital come to the court to celebrate the New Year together. With Xiaoqi accompanying them, the brothers can be considered to be reunited."

Lu Bu looked across and slowly put away his smile: "As for the Koreans... ask Yang Pu to tell them that they will be summoned after the New Year."

He paused and said, "I don't know what it is. They came here once when their king died. I remember someone from the Ministry of Rites went there to offer condolences. Now they are here again."

"Maybe another one died."

Zhang Lin and Fang Xuedu were also at a loss, so they just said something at random. Lu Bu laughed and said, "It's miserable to be the King of Goryeo." He waved his sleeves and said, "Okay, you guys can go down if you have nothing to do. You don't have to leave the palace. The banquet will start at noon and will last until the evening. Have a few more drinks then."

"Well, I will take my leave."

The two men stood up and walked out. The eunuch brought their coats and cloaks to them. They all lived under the same sky, so how could the palace be the only warm one? They still had to wear thick winter clothes when they went out.

A cold wind blew over them, and the two men tightened their cloaks and walked towards the lounge prepared for court officials in the palace while chatting casually.

"Now that all departments have cut their spending, it seems that the locusts in the border counties in the past two months have also put some pressure on the court..."

"This is a sign of a locust plague. I experienced it once when I was in Song. The overwhelming sight... Tsk, it's scary."

"Locust plague..." Zhang Lin seemed to be thinking: "Shangshu Ling Yang came to see me a while ago. Well... I roughly know what's going on. It seems that the financial situation will be relieved next year."

Fang Xuedu frowned and said, "What did Mr. Zhang know? Can you tell me? I am still confused."

Zhang Lin hesitated for a moment and shook his head: "...I'm not keeping you in suspense, but it seems that Li Guanglu and Minister Qiao are in charge of this matter..."

"Okay, no need to say more." Fang Xuedu stopped talking and exhaled: "I'll wait and see the result."

As he was talking, he saw a short figure in the distance running over amid the shouts of "Slow down, Your Highness, slow down!" He looked carefully and hurriedly saluted: "I greet the princes." "No need for formalities." The approaching little figure imitated Lu Bu's gesture and waved. He looked at the direction the two men came from, and a gleam of light flashed in his little eyes: "Uh... Is my father busy now?"

"Your Majesty is not very busy today, Your Highness can go by yourself."

The young Lu Qun nodded excitedly, spread his short legs, and ran back quickly. The four eunuchs saluted Zhang and Fang and hurriedly followed.

The two important officials in the court looked at Lu Qun's back as he ran away, turned around to look at each other, and then continued walking away while talking.

After the two men left, Lu Bu sat quietly for a while, then picked up the memorial and looked at it. However, he seemed unable to concentrate well today, and threw it down after only two glances.

bang——

The door was pushed open, and then Lu Qun ran in, opened the door without closing it, ran to Lu Bu and threw himself into his arms: "Dad, you promised to teach me how to ride a horse."

A eunuch went to close the door in front. Lu Bu looked down and touched his son's soft hair. He did not refuse: "Today, your father wants to host a banquet for the civil and military officials of the court. Hmm... tomorrow, call your mother and a few concubines, and we will go to the ranch outside to race horses."

The little boy cheered, stood up and jumped. Lu Bu reached out and rubbed his head: "Okay, go find your mother and tell her that Dad still has some things to deal with."

Lu Qun responded and ran out with his short legs. Lu Bu, who was in the warm room, couldn't help laughing when he heard the eunuchs outside shouting "Your Highness, slow down!" He couldn't concentrate on reading any memorials today, so he decided to relax for a while.

[One hour before noon]

"Let us attend the banquet in the court?"

In the room, Wang Yin, Shi Bao and others stood up suddenly. Li Shanqing, who came to inform them, smiled politely and said, "Yes, today is the end of the year. His Majesty has prepared a lunch banquet for the court officials. Please come over. We will be colleagues later."

Lou Minzhong was overjoyed and came out: "Then what clothes should we wear?"

"Just be decent." Li Shanqing glanced at them, still smiling, "Your clothes are not bad. Your Majesty doesn't care much about clothes. As long as they are clean and don't have too many odds and ends, it's fine."

Bai Yanshou stood aside and suddenly asked, "Are there any other people attending the banquet?"

Li Shanqing was stunned for a moment and shook his head: "No, today we are only attending the civil and military affairs in the court."

The men from the southeast looked at each other with smiles on their faces. They had been waiting here for more than half a month. Although they could understand that there were many things to do at the end of the year and the other party could not spare time as the emperor, they still had some complaints in their hearts.

Now, from what he meant, he knew that he was treating himself and others as his subjects, which was enough to quell the few complaints. Otherwise, what would it mean to invite officials from the court to a banquet and include himself and others?
[Half an hour before noon]

The cold wind blew the snow on the eaves.

As the young man walked into the palace, white mist occasionally floated out of his mouth and nose. He tightened his white cloak. The temperature here was much colder than in his hometown...

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law."

The young man turned around when he heard the call and saw Xu Wen running towards him with a smile on his face. "I went to your house to look for you, but your sister-in-law said you had left early. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"..." Hua Rong rubbed his forehead: "You are not on duty today?"

"The Right Guard is on duty today." Xu Wen came over with a smile, his black mink coat fluttering as he walked. "Su Yi came into the palace early this morning. He must have gone to look for the imperial concubine."

Hua Rong nodded and glanced at his brother-in-law: "I heard that my sister is pregnant?"

Xu Wen paused for a moment, and looked at his brother-in-law with a subtle look in his eyes. This brother-in-law was different from his own emperor. He had never liked him very much, but he let them get married only because his wife was moved by his tricks and Lu Bu agreed. This problem...

I should say yes.
Or not?

After a brief moment of thinking, Xu Wen gritted his teeth and nodded: "Yes, I am already two months pregnant, and I am taking the medicine given by the doctor to stabilize the pregnancy and nourish the spirit."

"Yes." Hua Rong looked ahead and walked: "When you have time, let my little sister go home more often. Her sister-in-law has experience and can help a little."

"okay."

Xu Wen quickly agreed and breathed a sigh of relief, saying that his brother-in-law was not such a petty person and had such a broad mind and magnanimity, wow!

【A quarter before noon】

"Minister Yang, long time no see."

"Taifu Zeng, you seem to be in good health. You should drink a few more glasses at the banquet today."

"Of course, of course, hahahaha——"

A hearty laugh came out of the mouths of the two middle-aged men. The civil officials around them were all silent. The burly Gao Zhen looked left and right at the two drunkards, his face changing color. He looked at the military generals on the opposite side who were shouting and yelling, and in an instant he was filled with

I shouldn't be sitting here with my physique. I should sit opposite.

As he was hesitating over this thought, the palace door opened and several unfamiliar figures walked in. The voices paused, and the civil and military officials in the court frowned at the newcomers.

"Second brother, third brother, this way, this way!"

Among the generals, Ruan Xiaoqi jumped up, walked to the big men from the southeast in two or three steps, and pulled Shi Bao and Li Tianrun's arms: "Come quickly, I'll introduce a few people to you. Brother Pang, Brother Wang, Brother Bai, come along too."

Just as Lou Minzhong was about to follow him, he saw the living devil who was pulling people stop and point to the civil official: "Brother Lou, you are over there."

"Ah? Oh..."

Lou Minzhong looked back and immediately realized that this was the place where the civil and military officials should sit separately. He turned around and walked over there, glancing at Gao Zhen several times, wondering if this guy was sitting in the wrong place.

But he didn't know where to sit, and was a little hesitant for a moment. Just when he was thinking of asking a eunuch, Yang Bangyi and Zeng Nong, who were talking over there, came over and stroked their beards and said, "Excuse me, sir, I don't know who you are..."

"Ah." Lou Minzhong saluted quickly and said, "I am Lou Minzhong. I came from the south with General Ruan Xiaoqi. I am here because of the grace of the emperor to grant me a banquet."

"Oh……"

Yang Bangyi and Zeng Nong suddenly realized: "So they are from Song. To be honest, we are also from Song."

"Really?" Lou Minzhong was overjoyed and immediately cupped his hands: "It turns out that we have such a fate."

"It is fate indeed. Come on, let's have a drink together later."

Yang Bangyi and Zeng Nong also had smiles on their faces and pulled Lou Minzhong to their seats.

"This... I don't know where I am..."

Zeng Nong waved his hand: "Hey, our place is different from other places, sit anywhere you want, hahaha——"

"Oh..." Lou Minzhong didn't know what to say. He followed the two people and sat down. However, he didn't see them. The people nearby looked at him with pity.

Time passed slowly in the noise, and at one point, a eunuch shouted, "Your Majesty has arrived—"

A figure with the gait of a dragon and a tiger walked in from outside. (End of this chapter)