Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 1019 Plunder
At daybreak, Hedong City, which had been quiet all night, woke up again. Hundreds of conscripted herdsmen rode on horses and threw dead branches and hay onto the ground full of insect shadows.

Dense swarms of locusts jumped up and down in all directions, and the crickets began to chirp hysterically.

The horse's hooves rose and fell, green insect juice splashed up, and the locust's thighs, which were trampled into mud, trembled slightly, and were then covered by their companions who came later.

Pong bang——

The cans filled with tung oil hit the ground, and the splashing liquid splashed onto the ground, soil, hay, and insects. As hundreds of herdsmen ran at a constant speed, an isolated oil belt gradually formed in the area.

tumultuous--

The tinder was placed on the kindling, and torches were lit. The herdsmen on horseback looked at the "sea" of insects in front of them with disgust, raised their arms, and the torches fell in circles.

boom--

The flames rose up and, with the help of tung oil, burned rapidly in all directions. Black smoke columns rose up like a dragon soaring into the sky.

The scorching air with a burnt odor blew in the face. The herdsmen had already reined in their horses, whistled, and turned back the way they came. The sound of horses' hooves pounded the ground. The herdsmen who gradually gathered on their horses greeted each other in twos and threes, sighing from time to time, lamenting the misfortunes of this year.

There were other herdsmen and women on the road, digging insect eggs with shovels. From time to time, you could see them stomping their feet, with gnashing teeth in hatred.

This was the preparation made by Protector General Niu Gao and Deputy Protector General Wang Jun to deal with the locust plague. The oil, firewood, and hay were all secretly transported along with the military pay earlier. Although the locusts cannot be completely killed, some efforts can be made to contain them so that the plague will not be as severe as the grasslands in the west, covering the sky and the sun, and leaving no intact land wherever it passes.

Putting aside the preparations for the insect plague, the imperial court's disaster relief grain arrived in the northern border as scheduled, promptly comforting the frightened people of the Protectorate. Many herdsmen from the surrounding remnants of the Ugundilie tribe even felt grateful to the Qi court.

After all, a great disaster is not only a devastating blow to ordinary people, but also a serious blow to the leaders. The court's quick relief is what they have been longing for.

Linhuang Prefecture in the south did not just transport relief supplies once, but continued to transport life-saving food and rations for livestock. Although it was impossible to keep all the livestock alive, they would not be completely destroyed. By keeping some breeding sheep and cattle, who knows, they might be able to make a comeback next year.

Such a situation made Niu Gao, who knew the inside story, quite embarrassed. On the contrary, Wang Jun always greeted the herdsmen leaders with a smile, expressing the court's care for them, and there was no sign that he had received orders from the court in advance.

The entire regional Daozazhici tribe of the former Ugurdilie Military Command is confident that they can overcome this difficulty.

However, there are unforeseen circumstances, and people have misfortunes and misfortunes.

On a late midsummer afternoon, the sun was pushed back by dark clouds. Blue-gray clouds rolled in from the end of sight, and the birds flying in the sky flapped their wings rapidly to return to their nests.

To the west of Wugu Mountain, countless footsteps and horse hooves were crossing mountains and ridges. Herdsmen wearing simple leather armor and leather hats, carrying bows and swords, and leading war horses in their hands, followed a group of elite Khitan cavalry across the plains.

A team of scouts from the Protectorate who were patrolling the surrounding areas noticed the abnormality at the first time and quickly shot flares into the sky. They were then chased and killed by the rushing cavalry. Several elite soldiers were caught up and killed, and only one person was left with several arrows in his body. He fell on his horse and ran away, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead.

Leading the way was Kundu, the first warrior of the Ulia tribe. He looked at the dead soldiers of the Protectorate on the ground, licked the blood remaining on the knife with his tongue, and spat on the ground.

He put down his hand, turned around and looked at the tribal knights who came over to rein in their horses. He lowered his head to pick up a crossbow and looked at it for a while, and said in Khitan, the common language of Liao: "These Qi people are indeed well-equipped... I will tell the tribe leader later not to rush in front and be the first horse, as it is easy for skilled riders to capture them."

His voice was quite loud, and several of the looting tribal soldiers looked up at him, then continued with their own work.

The cavalry was gathering. Xiao Yixue rode over to see the Qi scout lying in a pool of blood. He waved his arm, and the next moment, a horn sounded. More grassland cavalry stepped over the corpses on the ground and spread towards the direction of the Protectorate.

When they met some herdsmen on the way, they did not say a word but just rode their horses and charged forward, creating a wave of blood. They then took away all the valuables and killed the seriously injured horses, skinned them, removed their bones and took out their meat. They then abandoned the bloody killing scene and caught up with the large group of people and horses running ahead and continued on their way.

When a total of 50,000 cavalrymen appeared to the west of the Protectorate, the rangers along the way notified the sentries by sending whistling arrows. Even though they were frightened by the sudden attack from the west by the grassland people, they still quickly lit the beacon fire and then rode towards the Protectorate.

The huge cavalry group was advancing, and they were still on the fields suitable for war horses to gallop. The tribal herdsmen who saw the warning signals were scared out of their wits. Those who were able to make prompt decisions and abandon their property and escape alone saved their lives, while those who hesitated for a moment were directly overwhelmed by the enemy's troops, and their children and property all became the property of the coalition forces.

The news that the Liao army was coming spread as fast as wings, but it was still a little late.

The people and herdsmen of Talan Main City and Pibei River City were searching for locust eggs outside the city. They ran away the moment they heard the sound of horse hooves, but it was too late.

He was caught up from behind and hacked to death by the Liao cavalry, who then jumped off their horses and searched for the spoils. The women, children and common people who had no horses were running away.

The flying dust on the ground rolled and spread in the tracks of galloping war horses. The man, who had half of his body sticking out of the war horse, stretched out his arm, laughed wildly, grabbed the woman onto the horse, put her on the horse's back, and rode away.

The war horses were neighing, and the city gate was captured without any preparation. Some of the surrendered soldiers of the Liao army clamored to surrender again. Xiao Yixue accepted everyone and asked them in detail. At a command, the soldiers and horses set off again, heading towards Donghe City, which was renamed Chengdu Hufu.

The smoke of war lingered in the air for a long time.

When Niu Gao and Wang Jun got the accurate information, the Liao army was already galloping along the river. Niu Gao was fully armed, put two iron maces on the saddle, raised an iron spear and said to Wang Jun: "The defense of the city is in the hands of General Wang."

"It's my job." Wang Jun was also in full armor, with one hand pressing the sword at his waist: "Don't worry, Protector."

"Du Lisan, take a team of scouts and quickly head south to report the enemy situation. Even though we have lit beacons, the news will not float back with the smoke."

"Leave it to me!" The thin man turned around and ran out without hesitation.

"Niu Tong, you go too." The general on horseback looked at his son and said, "Your martial arts skills are not bad. You must protect Du Changshi on the road."

"Understood." Niu Tong didn't say anything about following him to fight. They were all people hanging around in the army, so they would naturally obey the orders from above.

Niu Gao took a breath and pulled the reins: "Cavalry, follow me!"

There were two thousand cavalrymen in the Protectorate, some of whom were veterans of the Qi army, and more than half were tribal soldiers from the Zhazhishi tribe. When the general Sima Tuo gave a shout, fifteen hundred cavalrymen followed him and galloped out. At this time, the city gate was still open, and a large number of herdsmen, civilians, and soldiers outside were fleeing in panic.

"Why are you panicking? The enemy is nowhere to be seen!"

With a roar, Niu Gao looked at the infantry soldiers who slowed down their pace and said, "Maintain order, don't panic!"

Seeing that a few infantrymen had barely calmed down, Niu Gao shook the reins and said, "Go!" More than 1,500 cavalrymen rushed out of the small city. Along the way, they saw many fleeing figures. Dozens of feet away, a team of Liao army scouts reined in their horses and stopped, watching the Qi army running out of the city from a distance. Then a whistle was faintly heard in the air, and the figures over there turned their horses' heads and ran away.

"Chase!" A hint of ferocity flashed across Niu Gao's dark face: "There must be enemy vanguards following them, kill them!"

The cavalry behind him accelerated at the same time and rushed forward rapidly following the protector in front.

In the city, Wang Jun issued an order to requisition some of the people's houses. The houses next to the city wall were demolished one after another, and stones and wooden beams were transported to the city and stored as rolling logs and stones for defending the city.

Many people from the Zhazhici tribe and residents in the city also participated. Some herdsmen who considered themselves brave took bows and arrows and sticks and spontaneously formed patrol teams to calm the emotions of the people in the city and at the same time capture the criminals and take them to the government office.

In the last month of summer, on the day of Guihai, the 3,000 tribal cavalrymen of the Liao army's vanguard encountered 1,500 troops led by Niu Gao. During the conflict, the vanguard general was stabbed to death by Niu Gao, and nearly 400 of his 3,000 cavalrymen were killed in the pursuit. Afterwards, the Qi army returned to the Northern Frontier Protectorate.

On Bingyin day, after two days of rest, the Liao cavalry finally decided to launch an attack. However, the grassland people, who usually rode on horseback, felt awkward during the siege. Xiao Yixiu kept using the unarmored herdsmen to consume the arrows of Hedong City.

Niu Gao and Wang Jun personally commanded the battle from the top of the city wall, and the small city became a vortex that swallowed up lives.

On Wuchen, the villages and towns around the Protectorate were swept away by the Liao cavalry. The grain transport team coming from the ancient city of Jumu and the city of Jingbian was caught up by a large number of cavalry. The grain and supplies were seized, and only a small number of escorting cavalry escaped.

On Gengwu, the two armies in the north and south of the city launched another siege. Niu Gao repelled a wave of soldiers from the Zubu tribe who climbed onto the top of the city. At the same time, he heard that the crisis on Wang Jun's side was resolved, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Yixue, who was outside the city, estimated that the defenders on the city walls were tired, so he went to the battlefield to command the attack. The large and powerful Liao army made the soldiers in the city exhausted, and they almost gained a foothold on the city wall several times.

At this moment, it is difficult to send out messages asking for help.

The news of the attack on the Northern Frontier Protectorate had already been transmitted to the counties in the south through beacon fires. The first to receive the news were the Jurchens north of Ningzhou. Wanyan Loushi, who was in charge, ordered the city gates to be opened and rushed into the military camp outside the city with his personal soldiers. He immediately assembled 6,000 troops in the north to guard against the grassland cavalry and rushed to the north for reinforcement.

Meanwhile, the news was also reaching Du Fu, Shi Wengong, Wang De and other troops who were also on the northern frontier.

On the day of Renshen, an express horse rushed into Dading Prefecture at a speed of 800 li.

……

"Brother Ma, when will your country's officials receive me?"

"Brother Li, please help me put forward some more suggestions. I am almost sick from waiting for an audience all day long."

"Brother Wang..."

Zhao Liangsi, who was in Dading Prefecture, was also active. The news of his diplomatic mission had been reported to the officials of Qi's Ministry of Rites. According to etiquette, they were also arranged to stay in the inn.

The Song envoys, who had hoped that Lu Bu would summon them soon, became increasingly annoyed as they waited in vain. Zhao Liangsi, the chief envoy, had no choice but to frequently go in and out of the inns to look for old acquaintances to help pass on his messages. However, the replies he received were all the same.

"Brother Zhao, the official is the name of the people of Song. Here we call him Your Majesty. Please wait a little longer. These few days are not a good time."

"Ma...Oh, Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to help you, but His Majesty has been busy these past two days and has no time to see you."

"Wait two more days, wait two more days, Brother Zhao, please be patient."

After more than 20 days in Dading Prefecture, Zhao Liangsi kept hearing excuses like these. Gradually, blisters appeared at the corners of his mouth. When he was alone in his room, he would curse these old friends from time to time.

"Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao..." A voice called out from outside. Zhao Liangsi hurried to the front of the room and opened the door. He looked at the companion who came over with a happy expression on his face: "But the Emperor of Qi is willing to see us?"

"No... no." The visitor shook his head violently, panting: "Just now I was idle outside... looking around!" His voice suddenly rose by two points, and then slowed down: "While looking around, I saw an urgent messenger running in from 800 miles away. It seems that something happened in Qi State."

The happy expression on Zhao Liangsi's face froze for a moment, then he frowned and asked, "What happened?"

Seeing the man's ignorant expression, he knew he couldn't ask him anything, so he just waved his hand and asked him to leave. He leaned against the door frame, thought for a while, and hurried out again.

……

The weather in late summer has already had some summer warmth.

News of the destruction of Buddhist temples in various counties and prefectures of Qi continued to arrive. Also included in the news was the estimate and prevention of the locust plague in the north. Lu Bu was still somewhat cautious about those insects that were out of human control.

But only he knew that he would rather turn those locusts into humans and then chop them up one by one.

"Your Majesty." Yu Cheng, who was guarding outside the door, pushed the closed door open suddenly. Lu Bu looked up and saw Wei He beside him supporting a figure.

"Eight hundred miles urgent."

Lu Bu suddenly stood up and waved his hand: "Give it here." He also turned around and walked over to take the bamboo tube that Yu Cheng handed over, twisted it with both hands, and poured out the military information inside.

"Your Majesty, the Northern Frontier Protectorate is in urgent need of help."

The man supported by Wei He spoke in a weak voice. Lu Bu finished reading the military situation with a serious face, looked at him, and patted him on the shoulder: "You ran all the way back, good job."

He ordered Yu Cheng, "Send him to the side hall to let him rest. Also, order the imperial kitchen to prepare some food for him, and then send the imperial physician to check on him."

Yu Cheng immediately accepted the order, asked the guard to take the person from Wei He and left.

Lu Bu stood there and took a breath: "Pass it on to Fang Xuedu and Wang Zheng."

(End of this chapter)