Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The sunlight from the sky carries a little warmth, while the wind that begins winter carries a little chill.

In Huairou City, there were fewer men. Women of all ages were walking on the streets, buying food and supplies for their families. However, everyone had a sad look on their face and walked in a hurry.

Zhen Wuchen led the way and took Guo Yaoshi all the way to the largest hotel in the city. When they entered, the commander of the resentful army glanced around. There were men with vigilant expressions standing in several important locations. They were all Zhen Wuchen's personal guards and generals.

"This way."

As Zhen Wuchen was talking, he led the way, turning left and right. Along the way, there were soldiers from the resentful army guarding the hotels in casual clothes. Their combat boots stepped on the wooden floor, and the loud footsteps brought them to a door. The general leading the way stretched out his hand and pushed it.

creak-

"General Zhen."

A gentle voice came from inside. Zhen Wuchen walked in first and made way for the door: "Brother Zhang, this is the commander of our resentful army."

Pharmacist Guo watched the figure in front of him move aside, making way for a nondescript man who walked in.

"I am Zhang Qing, nice to meet General Guo." The man stood up and bowed, "The general is still as elegant as ever."

Pharmacist Guo walked over and slowly sat down, looking him up and down: "This person looks a little unfamiliar."

"I have only seen the general once from a distance before." Zhang Qing smiled and said, "My status is low and I am not worthy of your attention."

Pharmacist Guo frowned and looked at Zhen Wuchen. The man shook his head, groaned, and said simply: "Which one are you holding?"

Zhen Wuchen looked at the man and narrowed his eyes.

Zhang Qing bowed and said, "I am from the family of the former Deputy Envoy of Liaoxing Army."

"…Former Deputy Envoy of Liaoxing Army."

Pharmacist Guo repeated a sentence, and Zhen Wuchen murmured, "Who?"

"So it's Zhang Jue's."

Zhen Wuchen suddenly realized.

Pharmacist Guo glanced at his confidants. These guys only knew how to fight to the death. Except for a few commanders who had good relations with the resentful army, none of them had the slightest intention of inquiring about the imperial court. Damn, how could they have such a group of people...

It was hard to tell what he felt in his heart. He just looked at the young man opposite him with a lack of interest: "Didn't Zhang Jue surrender to Qi? Are you here to lobby for Qi?"

Zhang Qing lowered his eyes: "Yes and no."

"What do you mean?" Pharmacist Guo frowned, not understanding what the young man opposite him meant.

Zhang Qing looked at the two of them seriously: "My husband did surrender to Qi, but he did not come to Qi to lobby for it."

Zhen Wuchen felt an itch on his head, so he scratched it. Then he lowered his head and gave up thinking, waiting for his commander to make a decision.

Pharmacist Guo stared at Zhang Qing for a long while, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and suddenly asked: "Is it from the south?"

"General Guo is indeed very thoughtful." Zhang Qing turned around and took out a letter from the package on the bed, and handed it over: "My dear, if the general guesses it, he will give this letter to you."

Zhen Wuchen stepped forward to take the letter for Pharmacist Guo, tore open the seal and took out the letter. Pharmacist Guo blocked it with his hand and didn't take it. He just squinted at Zhang Qing and said, "What if I didn't guess it?"

Zhang Qing lowered his eyes and said, "Based on what you said, I have another story to tell."

"Oh... let me guess." Pharmacist Guo slowly stretched out his raised hand and pinched the paper: "But Zhang Jue asked me to take him as my leader after I surrender, and let him contact the Song people to give me benefits?"

Zhang Qing cupped his hands and said with a sincere expression, "General, you are wise."

"Heh..." Pharmacist Guo smiled with an ambiguous meaning, and stretched out his hand to open the letter. He first carefully checked Zhang Jue's seal, then read it carefully from top to bottom, and then handed it to Zhen Wuchen: "Inspector of the Junior Guard, granted a house in the capital, control of the four armies in Hebei, and even the power to collect taxes in the market, it seems quite tempting..."

After a pause, he looked at Zhang Qing and asked, "Why did your husband rebel again after surrendering to Qi?"

"My husband had no intention of surrendering to Qi. However, Pingzhou had no reinforcements outside and was short of soldiers inside. The Qi navy attacked very fiercely, so he had to surrender to Qi. His intention was not sincere at all." After Zhang Qing finished speaking, he looked at Pharmacist Guo and did not say anything else.

Pharmacist Guo frowned, looked Zhang Qing up and down for a long time, and suddenly said: "I heard that Qi was sorting out the occupied cities before. Your husband is not afraid of losing power now, right?"

"So my dear said that the general is very thoughtful." Zhang Qing cupped his hands and said with a smile: "That's right. Anxi and Guangning have been replaced by people from Qi. Although they haven't come to my dear yet, but..."

Zhang Qing shrugged and didn't say anything else. Pharmacist Guo also understood that Zhang Jue was probably worried that he would be transferred away from Pingzhou, where he would have no power and would be abandoned by the other side.

Exhaling, Pharmacist Guo shook his head, watched Zhen Wuchen finish reading the letter, and said calmly: "The Southern Dynasty's army can't even defeat the army led by Dashi Linya, so what can it use to fight against Qi?"

"My lord," Zhang Qing continued, "General, you should have seen that Song has allied with Qi, and the two armies have agreed that whoever occupies the land will own it, so you don't have to worry about fighting the Qi army again in the future."

He paused and said, "So the two sides will not fight to the death. Moreover, if the general surrenders to Qi, he is just a speck of dust among thousands of generals. If he surrenders to Song..."

He pointed at the letter paper with his eyes and said, "These are the most basic rewards."

Zhen Wuchen was moved: "Command the army..."

Raising his big hand to stop him from speaking, Pharmacist Guo looked at Zhang Qing seriously and said, "Please report this to your husband. This matter is of great importance. I don't know whether it is true or not. Unless there is a reward letter from the Southern Dynasty, I will not consider this matter."

Zhang Qing thought for a moment and nodded: "It's the right thing to do."

"Also, I will also observe Nanchao's actions. If they can't even reach the gate of Xijin Prefecture, then don't blame me. I can only assume that you have never been here."

Zhang Qing agreed, and Pharmacist Guo nodded: "This matter is urgent, I will not write to you, you can pass on this message, if Zhang Jue is interested, he will know what to do."

"Yes."

After a few more words, Pharmacist Guo and Zhen Wuchen walked out. The two returned to the mansion in silence. Zhen Wuchen saw Pharmacist Guo dismiss the servants before he spoke: "General, do you agree to Zhang Jue's request?"

"Why would I agree to do that to him?" Pharmacist Guo snorted, "Zhang Jue is just a bridge. He has always been talking about the south."

Zhen Wuchen thought about it, nodded, and said, "But we really don't want to go to Qi?"

Pharmacist Guo didn't even raise his head: "Is Qi short of generals or soldiers?"

Zhen Wuchen thought for a moment and said seriously: "Little soldier."

"..." Pharmacist Guo glared at him helplessly and pinched his nose: "You should use your brain sometimes. Once Qi occupies most of the imperial court's land, in a year or two, there will be no need to worry about a shortage of troops."

Then he snorted coldly: "What Zhang Qing said just now is right. Qi has many generals. If our resentful army goes there, it will be like water entering a lake or sea. It will not show you or me. But the Southern Dynasty is different." He stretched out his hand and slapped the table: "The southerners are weak and lack military strength. If our resentful army goes there, it will at least be as strong as a bear or a tiger, even if it is not unique."

"That's why the commander-in-chief didn't want to go to Qi." Zhen Wuchen suddenly realized, and then thought: "If Qi and Song really have an agreement, we don't have to worry about them turning against each other later. We can get the most benefit from it."

"That's right." Pharmacist Guo stood up and took two steps. "But we have to wait and see if the Song people are sincere, and then see if they can get to the gate of Xijin Prefecture. If not, we will surrender to Qi, and send Zhang Jue to Qi. In this way, we can be considered to have made contributions, and it won't be too bad anyway."

Zhen Wuchen finally understood his thoughts: "You are a good commander, I admire you."

Pharmacist Guo looked at him helplessly and said, "Read more books on weekdays. You guys are good at fighting, but none of you can help me with advice at this time."

"Hahaha." Zhen Wuchen laughed: "With the commander-in-chief here, there is no need for us to think about these things. We just need to follow the commander-in-chief."

Pharmacist Guo shook his head helplessly.

……

The setting sun shines on the clouds, and the red color brings a touch of blood to the late autumn.

A few birds flew across the sky and landed on the treetops under the gaze of people. Liu Yanqing withdrew his gaze from above, turned his head to look at the figure of a horse galloping in, and watched his son on the horse dismount and walk over nimbly.

"Father, my son is back."

"What did Wang Ludao say?" Liu Yanqing's face lit up with joy, and he quickly pulled his arm and walked into the central military tent.

"Wang Jiedushi said so." Liu Guangshi didn't care about his dry mouth: "The army has not yet assembled, let's wait patiently. He is also in contact with the people in the center of Yanyun who are willing to help us."

Liu Yanqing's smile froze: "Wang Anzhong, this fellow, procrastinates today and blocks tomorrow. Hasn't he heard that speed is of the essence in war? What can he accomplish by dithering like this?"

Liu Guangshi took off his helmet, scratched his scalp, rolled his eyes, and spoke carefully: "Father, is the old lady urging you to march?"

Liu Yanqing glanced at him and said nothing.

The son was immediately certain and could only sigh before speaking, "Father, please be patient. It's not that Lord Wang is not planning to send troops, but he said that there was news from the northern border that a Liao army leader was willing to surrender. He wants to settle the matter with the court first. This way, it won't discourage others and can also help us increase our military strength."

"I hope so..." Liu Yanqing said reluctantly, then looked at the military camp in the distance with an ambiguous look, turned around and walked behind the desk, writing furiously: "Send this letter to the Grand Tutor later, and tell him that it's not that I don't want to send troops, but that the court has some calculations. Please be patient."

"I know, and I will definitely pass on the message."

……

Under the same sky.

Wen Huanzhang, dressed in a scholar's robe, sat in the military camp, glancing outside while arranging the army's documents neatly.

After doing all this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this point in the war against the Liao State, everyone in the army knew that they had won, but there was a lack of people to take care of the captured cities. The Qi court continued to employ officials who surrendered, while at the same time dispatching those who remained to help handle government affairs. Many professors of Chinese studies like him were able to enter the military camp to help.

But compared with those professors who had left the army due to disabilities, he, a healthy man, had a heavier task.

However, it can be considered a blessing in disguise...

Looking at those documents, Wen Huanzhang narrowed his eyes. These documents could touch upon some of the Qi army's secrets, and then he just had to find a way to pass them out.

"Professor Wen, Professor Wen, are you here?"

Wen Huanzhang frowned when he heard the shouting, then replied calmly, "I'm here."

Outside, Wanyan Chanchun, dressed in a black military uniform, ran in and looked at Wen Huanzhang breathlessly: "Professor, good news."

Wen Huanzhang made a gesture to stop them, walked to the door and looked out. He saw a patrol team passing by about ten feet away, then he turned around and frowned, "Didn't you tell me not to come looking for me casually? Why are you running over here now?"

Wanyan Chanchun paused for a moment, then smiled: "Professor, don't worry. I have too much territory now. I can go out to govern a place with my merits."

Wen Huanzhang's eyes flashed: "Where?"

"Pingzhou, Shicheng."

Wanyan Chanchun walked over and sat down. Wen Huanzhang's eyes lit up and he walked over and sat down next to him. "Although this is not a very good place, at least the Qi court has no doubts about you. Did you do as I told you?"

"Yes." Wanyan Chanchun was a little depressed: "Why didn't the professor let me take you to Pingzhou for assistance?"

Wen Huanzhang sneered: "There are so many people watching me, you are courting death if you bring it up."

Wanyan Chanchu curled his lips: "The professor is too careful. It's been so many years."

Wen Huanzhang glanced at him and said, "It is better to be safe than sorry."

Then he turned his back to the entrance of the military tent and took out a folded piece of plain silk from his waist: "Take this and go out. Find a trusted person to send it to the south."

Wanyan Chanchun took it and looked at Wen Huanzhang who was staring at him with sharp eyes. He knew what he meant, so he took off his shoes helplessly and stuffed them into the bag. His nose twitched and there was something strange in his eyes.

Wen Huanzhang kept looking outside, turned back to see him put it away, and then nodded with satisfaction: "From now on, I can't make any plans for you. You can only rely on yourself to judge the situation. Remember, don't show your hostility towards the Qi court before the time comes."

Wanyan Chanchun nodded: "Don't worry, Professor. I always remember your instructions and do my best to do my job."

"Okay." Wen Huanzhang was delighted: "As long as things turn out well later, I will recommend you to the ministers in the court."

Wanyan Chanchun waved his hand without paying any attention: "I just don't want to do anything for the surname Lu..."

"Shut up." Wen Huanzhang called out softly, turned around to look outside, then came back and glared at the embarrassed Jurchen: "If you continue to be so ignorant, you and I will die sooner or later without a burial place."

Then he took a breath and said, "You have taken the things. Go quickly and remember to give them to Zhang Jue when the time comes."

Wanyan Chanchun nodded and then ran out quickly.

Wen Huanzhang breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him running away. As his tension subsided, he felt a little tired and sat down where Wanyan Chanchun had just sat. He had been nervous because of the Jurchen woman and had been paying attention to the outside world. Now he felt that everything had returned to normal.

A strange smell rushed into his nose, stimulating him so much that he couldn't help but stand up.

He took two steps back with a strange look on his face, turned his head to look outside, and murmured, "I hope Zhang Jue's nose is not too sensitive." (End of this chapter)