Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Dedede——

The sound of horse hooves could be heard outside. The four generals looked towards the tent curtain with the dinner served. Their long military career had enabled them to distinguish from the sounds that there were five war horses.

The bonfire arranged outside the tent cast the shadow of the approaching person on it. "Whoa--" the big tent was opened, and the night wind drove the fire inside the tent, which then stabilized.

"Generals, we have discovered more than 10,000 Liao cavalrymen to the south of Wugu Mountain. They are heading south of the Luqu River."

The four generals put down their dinners and looked at each other: "Can you find out whose flag it is?"

"The flags are from some of the nine tribes of Dadan." The scout lowered his head in shame and said, "I am incompetent and don't know whose flags these are."

Wang De shook his head: "Alright, the situation at the Northwest Road Recruiting Office has been unclear, and it's not just your fault. Go down first."

The scouts bowed and went out.

Wanyan Loushi took a bite of the roasted lamb, chewed it slowly and swallowed it, then looked at Shi Wengong: "Now the situation is no longer a good time to investigate. My opinion is to wait for His Majesty to arrive and then fight these tribal cavalry."

Shi Wengong frowned.

Wanyan Loushi looked at him and said, "These people left their most familiar pastures, crossed Wugu Mountain and came to Luqu River. They also gave up their own advantages and guarded the two cities without moving. Even if there are millions of people, they have planted the seeds of failure. Why don't we wait for them to gather together, and wait for Your Majesty to lead the wolf cavalry to defeat them in one fell swoop, and then the Zhaotaosi will be defeated overnight."

"That's right." Du Fu's eyes moved and he nodded slowly: "General Wanyan is right. Instead of going to the Zhaotao Division in the future and provoking their will to fight to the death in their tribes, it is better to let them gather here. Their morale is not as good as when they are at home."

Wang De looked at Shi Wengong, and they both nodded slowly.

Wanyan Loushi saw that the other three agreed, and raised his glass with a smile: "Then why don't we send the news to the city and let Niu Duhu know."

"Add more scouts." Du Fu put down his empty cup. "With so many people coming from the opposite side, we must also be on guard against their large-scale invasion."

After thinking for a while, he said, "Send a fast horse to inform His Majesty and ask him to order the nearby counties to reinforce Hedong City."

Shi Wengong interrupted: "I have officers under my command who are quite capable. Let them go to see His Majesty."

The others nodded, sealed the letters one by one and handed them to the guard. Shi Wengong gave him a few instructions and then let him go. The four of them discussed it again and ordered the patrolling cavalry to guard the place strictly before returning to their tents to sleep.

In late summer, the cavalry gathered east of Wugu Mountain expanded to 100,000. The leaders of each tribe were ready to make a move, all wanting to grab another piece of the pie. However, unlike last time, no one was willing to be the vanguard now, and everyone pushed the blame to others. Xiao Yixue frowned at the noisy scene.

But he was helpless. Those who came were herdsmen from various tribes, not soldiers of the Liao army. He could not command them. He simply took the 3,000 cavalry from the Recruiting Office and ran around outside, so as to avoid seeing them and being bothered.

And in the south.

The huge cavalry team marched at a constant speed. Lu Bu in the center of the army sat on a replacement warhorse. Red Hare next to him got some space, but he was not dissatisfied. He walked around Lu Bu with brisk steps, shaking his head.

"These grassland barbarians are no different from those recorded in books thousands of years ago... They all have the same character. Whenever they violate the border, we start with the civilians." Lu Bu's voice rang out on the horse. The march was boring, and no one could stand it without saying something to relieve boredom. As for whether some topics were repeated or not, it didn't matter.

Wang Zheng, who was following him, glanced at Lu Bu, then lay weakly on the back of the warhorse: "Your Majesty is right. Fortunately, the Protectorate was defended this time. It is a blessing in disguise that the war stopped at Hedong City."

After a pause, he said, "But Your Majesty, how do you plan to fight?"

Lu Bu turned his head and looked at him, showing no sign of reaction to his appearance. "First, drive back the barbarians in the Protectorate. If the snow and wind are too heavy in winter, we will return to Linhuang Prefecture. Otherwise, I will lead the army to attack the Recruiting Office."

As they were talking, the sound of horse hooves came from the front. E Quanzhong came to the left and clasped his fists: "Your Majesty, it's the fast horse sent by General Du."

"Send someone over directly."

In the distance, dozens of war horses were galloping over. Lu Bu took a quick look and saw about thirty of them. He then frowned.

So many people coming together to deliver the message means that some changes have taken place in the Protectorate.

As he was thinking, the cavalry came running. Dong the Clown, who had two blue birthmarks on his head, jumped off his horse and knelt on one knee: "General An Dong Shi Wengong's military commander Dong the Clown greets Your Majesty."

"There's no need for such great courtesy during a march." Lu Bu waved his hand. "What happened?"

Dong Xiaochou took out the bamboo tube from his arms and handed it to Yu Cheng: "Your Majesty, this is the latest military information written by General An Dong and several other generals. In addition, the Liao army has been increasing its troops and is approaching 100,000. They are gathering east of Wugu Mountain and west of the Protectorate.

Several generals dare not act on their own and are waiting for your majesty's decision. Please also summon the troops from Shangjing Road to defend Hedong City."

Lu Bu suddenly understood, and then took the military information presented by Yu Cheng, read it carefully, and then handed it to Wang Zheng: "Wanyan Loushi and Du Fu have good ideas, and I agree with their views."

Dong Xiaochou showed a smile on his face. Lu Bu looked him up and down and said, "You are now a military commander? You have been promoted quite quickly. I am waiting to see you make further progress."

The smile turned into surprise, and Dong Xiaochou asked excitedly: "Your Majesty still remembers me?"

Lu Bu looked at the mole on his head and said: "It's hard to forget someone with a face like yours."

Dong the Clown was not ashamed, but overjoyed: "I will certainly fight bravely and live up to your Majesty's expectations."

"Haha, great! Men of my generation should have ambitions." Lu Bu smiled and said to Yu Cheng, "Tell someone to prepare some food and drinks for them."

Then he turned to Dong the Clown and said, "You guys go to the back and rest first, and then follow the army forward."

"Yes!" Dong the Clown understood that his mission was completed, and next Lu Bu would order others to go to the Northern Frontier Army.

Lu Bu watched him wait, then turned to Wang Zheng and said, "Write a few transfer orders, ordering the troops north of Linhuang Prefecture to go to the Northern Frontier Protectorate."

"Here!"

"Speed ​​up!" Lü Bu turned around and shouted, then raised his whip and lashed at the horse: "Our comrades in the northern border are still waiting for our support."

"drive--"

"drive--"

The sound of urging mounts gradually sounded, the sound of war horses galloping was heard on the ground, and dust filled the air.

At the beginning of the first lunar month, after marching for more than ten days, Lu Bu's army finally entered the area of ​​Hedong City amid everyone's expectation.

……

A galloping horse flew into Xingguo City with the transfer order carrying the emperor's seal.

Cao Mingji, wearing black armor, looked at the military order in his hand with a pale face.

After surrendering to the Qi army, he first worked under Han Shizhong for a while. However, he was not very motivated and applied for a transfer to a local area, fully expecting that he would be able to enjoy a good life in a lucrative county.

Little did he know that he had stayed in Fengzhou in the middle of Liaodong for a year and a half, and after Shangjing Road was taken, he was transferred to Xingguo City as a captain. After being annoyed for a while, he accepted it. Xingguo City was Xingguo City, which was farther away from the place where the war broke out in the south, and it would be safer. But he never expected that he would receive another transfer order to the Former Protectorate today.

"Captain..." Several guards who had been following him came over and looked at the transfer order in his hand: "How about we think of a way out?"

"What are you thinking? Which one can defy the emperor's order?" Cao Mingji slapped the transfer order on the face of the guards: "Tsk - I have to go to the battlefield after dodging here and there. I can't let others bully me in the countryside."

The guard stripped the transfer order from his face and looked at the others helplessly.

"Mobilize the troops." Cao Mingji pinched his waist and said, "Since we can't avoid it, we have no choice but to follow orders. Be smart when the time comes and don't rush forward without any eyes. I still want to live a good life for a few more years."

"Yes." The personal soldier did not pick up his conversation, but just responded and ran out.

"Bad luck!" Cao Mingji went into the house cursing and started packing his things. The transfer order stated a deadline, so if he hurried, he could still arrive within the specified time limit.

……

Da da--

Red Hare stopped riding its strong legs, lowered its head and snorted, then looked into the distance. In its dark eyes, he saw the figures of Niu Gao, Du Fu, Wanyan Loushi and other generals, and a group of carefully selected soldiers lined up in the street.

In the city, people stood on the street, craning their necks to look at the emperor entering the city.

The wolf riders and the rest of the cavalry stayed outside the city. Only the five hundred cavalrymen of Yu Cheng's Zuo Wuwei came in. All of them were wearing iron armor, holding spears, and had bone flowers hanging from their waists. They were tall and strong, wearing black armor, and looked extremely powerful.

Sitting on the warhorse, Lu Bu held the reins and turned around to look around, his eyes sweeping over the dried bloodstains on the outer city wall. The compacted hard soil road surface of the streets in the city still had some potholes. Most of the buildings on both sides were damaged. Several houses were being rebuilt and the outer walls of the houses had been built.

The soldiers of the Protectorate on both sides were wearing mottled armor, and many of them were wrapped in white scarves. All the soldiers and civilians had sad expressions on their faces, and the Han residents were holding spirit tablets in their hands.

hiss--

Taking a deep breath, Lu Bu raised his hand and waved it beside his ear. Yu Cheng and Wei He understood what he meant and quickly asked the guards around them to move away.

Niu Gao, Du Fu and others who were welcoming them in front looked at each other, then made way for them. The fiery red warhorse moved forward slowly and passed through the position made by everyone.

stop.

The wind blew, and the flags erected in the air made a rustling sound. Lu Bu, wearing a mighty armor, drew out the long sword at his waist with a "clang" and said: "You all carry your spears and weapons and fight on the battlefield. The solidity of our country is not built with bricks and stones, but with your loyalty and courage.

Although the bloodstains on the city walls have dried, looting outside the city is still going on. I can see clearly the suffering of the soldiers and civilians.

Since the jackals dare to tear apart our territory, we must cut off their claws and fangs. We will wait until late autumn when the horses are fat. We will use the enemy chief's skull as a cup, fill it with snow water from Mount Yanran, and drink it together with you gentlemen!

The sun and the moon are bright, and the mountains and rivers are witnesses!"

Many people on the street were stunned. Many of them covered their mouths and sobbed again when they thought of their deceased relatives. There was also a man holding the spirit tablet who bent his legs and knelt on the ground, holding the tablet with tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, avenge my father!"

"Your Majesty, my wife is gone, revenge!"

Figures on the street kept kneeling down, crying with red eyes: "Your Majesty, revenge!"

In the farther direction, many Han and Fan people were rushing over. Tall figures knelt on the ground one after another. Looking from the horse, it was a huge crowd. Many of them kept bowing their heads and shouting the same words as the people in front of them.

"Your Majesty, revenge!"

The sound was like a tsunami, countless voices mixed together, and the emotions of sadness and anger made the generals in the city grit their teeth.

Lu Bu sat on his horse, the blood had faded from the knuckles of his fingers that were gripping the hilt of the sword, and his face was gloomy, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Niu Gao walked forward a few steps from the back and said, "Your Majesty, almost every household in the Protectorate, whether Han or Fan, has someone killed by the various tribes in the northwest."

Lu Bu gritted his teeth and raised his sword again on his horse: "I am here to avenge this deep hatred. This time, we will solve the troubles in the northwest with one battle, so that the descendants of the Protectorate will no longer be in danger of war!"

Then, Chitu kicked his feet lightly, neighed, and walked inside: "Since they like to plunder others so much and cause many people to die, we will retaliate in the same way this time. Their property will be ours, and their pasture will be our pasture."

Lu Bu spoke each word with great emphasis, shouting out with his sword: "Blood debt must be paid with blood!"

The kneeling figure looked up at the figure on the fiery red warhorse. Someone screamed, his voice was hoarse and sad.

"Blood debt must be paid with blood—"

"Blood debt must be paid with blood—"

Many people repeated subconsciously, then shouted at the top of their lungs: "Blood debt - blood to pay -"

As the voices echoed, the generals behind also mounted their horses, and one after another followed the footsteps of the fiery red horses in front, heading towards the distant Protectorate.

……

The skylight gradually tilted toward the west, and the clouds turned red in the scorching heat.

Lu Bu walked into the hall of the Protectorate and turned around to sit down. The generals and officials who came in were seated one by one according to their military rank, regardless of whether they were civil or military.

"Generals, have you heard the people's cry?"

"Yes!" Du Fu, Shi Wengong, Wang De, Wang Zheng and others all bowed with solemn expressions.

"I won't waste any more time. The army will rest for two days and sharpen your swords. Two days later..." Tiger's eyes swept over the generals below, and his white teeth slightly opened: "A sudden attack on the enemy tribe."

"This……"

The generals below were slightly shocked. Wang De, Wanyan Loushi, and Shi Wengong's eyes lit up. Without thinking too much, they stood up, clasped their fists and bowed: "I will be the vanguard."

Lu Bu stretched out his hand and pressed in the air, watching the three people sit down, then turned to look at the others: "Do you have any opinions?"

Niu Gao and Wang Jun looked at each other, and the former clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the enemy is now powerful. If we attack them by surprise and they split up their forces, then our defensive forces will be insufficient."

Lu Bu waved his hand and said, "I have ordered the counties and prefectures north of Linhuang Prefecture to send troops to support us. They will arrive here soon. Don't worry."

Niu Gao breathed a sigh of relief: "I will be fine now."

Lu Bu looked around again and saw that no one stood up, so he nodded and said, "Everyone, get ready." (End of this chapter)