Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 1130 Each Emperor

The sunlight streamed in through the window lattice, illuminating the warm chamber with every detail illuminated by the candlelight burning all around. Several eunuchs serving nearby tried to shrink themselves down, trying to minimize their presence, afraid that the two people talking over there might accidentally remember their figures.

"It is my fault. I misjudged the people, which led to the failure of the Northern Expedition and the loss of all the territory we had previously occupied. I am ashamed to have failed Your Majesty's high expectations and to have failed the people of the world!"

Tong Guan raised his hands high, then fell to the ground, prostrating himself before Zhao Ji.

"Why use Liu Yanqing instead of Zhong Shidao!"

Zhao Ji was furious and kicked Tong Guan: "I've heard that he has fled without a fight several times. How can you appoint such a person as commander time and time again? Do you think my throne is too secure and that he will cause trouble and annoy me?!"

Zhong Shidao has been dismissed from his post and sent back to his hometown by the imperial court...

With unspeakable thoughts swirling in his mind, Tong Guan lay face down, his body trembling from the kicks. The emperor standing there, though a skilled player in Cuju (ancient Chinese football), was also adept at kicking and tackling.

However, over the years, the beauties of the harem had long since drained his body, and he himself had deliberately maintained his physique to show that he was different from ordinary eunuchs, possessing a very robust build. Therefore, these kicks were like tickles, but he still cried out in a dramatic and pitiful voice: "Ah! Your Majesty, spare me! Ugh—"

"You idiot!"

Zhao Ji kicked him a few times, his breathing becoming erratic. He rubbed his lower back, took a few deep breaths, and then looked down at Tong Guan. He kicked him a couple more times, then turned back to his seat, clutching his back. "What are you pretending to be dead for? Get over here!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Tong Guan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this matter was over. He quickly got up from the ground, not daring to pat the footprints on his clothes, and hurriedly went closer.

Zhao Ji remained silent, only panting heavily with his hands on his thighs. After a while, when he had caught his breath, he spoke without lifting his eyelids: "Our army has just suffered a defeat. If the northern bandits are still hungry and turn south, what should we do?"

When Tong Guan saw that he was bringing up the same old topic again, he understood that the emperor of the Song Dynasty was afraid. He looked at him cautiously and rolled his eyes: "Your Majesty, the Qi Kingdom, with its small territory, has swallowed up the Liao Kingdom, which is as big as a lion and tiger. It should be unable to move south in a short time."

"I know without you saying it." Zhao Ji glanced at him irritably: "I ask you, if Qi recovers in the future and wants to march south again, how am I supposed to act!"

Tong Guan lowered his head, first picked up the ginseng tea on the table and handed it to Zhao Ji with both hands. Zhao Ji took it, drank it, and put it heavily on the table before speaking: "Your Majesty, I believe we can buy peace with annual tribute."

"Hmm..." Zhao Ji nodded, then swayed and suddenly turned his head: "Hmm?"

Tong Guan's usually dignified face broke into a fawning smile: "Your Majesty, the Liao Kingdom is gone, and so are the annual tributes we paid them. In that case, why not continue to give these riches to the Northern bandits? Even if Lü Bu comes from a noble family in the north, even if he wears an imperial robe, it doesn't change the fact that he grew up in a bandit's den. How could such a person have any knowledge? He probably hasn't even seen many antiques and artifacts. He will definitely be blinded by gold and silver. If he continues to be arrogant and decadent, he will surely lose his current martial spirit. Wouldn't that be our dynasty's opportunity?"

He paused for a moment, and seeing that Zhao Ji was listening attentively, he continued, "Secondly, since they have accepted the annual tribute, they will be as embarrassed as the Northern Dynasty back then to go back on their word and attack our dynasty."

“Your idea… is quite interesting.” Zhao Ji looked him over carefully, then extended his hand, and Tong Guan quickly bowed.

Zhao Ji patted his head a few times and casually instructed, "Have someone bring this up at the court assembly in a few days."

"I understand."

……

A cold wind blows across the rolling mountains.

Before the sun had risen, the sound of a cow horn drifted from afar.

A brief moment of chaos ensued in the mountains and fields. Exhausted figures emerged from the withered trees, their groans and curses carrying out. Moments later, guards in tattered uniforms mounted their warhorses and assembled. In front of them, equally filthy figures rose from their felt mats.

A chilly morning wind howled past, and the wolf fur of the cloak had stiffened, remaining motionless in the cold wind. Behind them, a general named Yelü Tanggu, with his wounds bandaged, came over: "Your Majesty, let's hurry. The Qi army behind us must have discovered our tracks. If we don't run now, it will be too late."

"Found out again..."

Yelü Yanxi turned his head, and the sight of less than four hundred cavalrymen behind him made his nose sting. He reached out and rubbed it hard, glanced at him sideways, and muttered, "These Qi traitors have such sharp noses. How come they can always find our whereabouts?"

Yelü Tanggu touched his injured forearm and quickly said, "Your Majesty, the remaining people are all loyal and righteous, and there is absolutely no one who would betray their master for personal gain. I hope Your Majesty will see the truth."

Yelü Yanxi remained silent for a moment, then exhaled a breath of stale air: "Forget it, let's go first and talk about it when we get to the depths of the northern desert."

The standing general nodded silently, helped Yelü Yanxi onto his horse, and then leaped onto his own: "Let's go, first to the southwest, then shake off the Qi bandits in the mountains before turning north, giddy up—"

Warhorses kicked up dust across the open field, and with a roar, cavalrymen in black armor appeared on the hill and then galloped over.

Wanyan Zonghan pulled on the reins, jumped off his warhorse, looked down for a moment, and when he looked up, the cavalrymen who were coming up behind him also reined in their horses.

"Ha, so you've come looking for me too."

Wanyan Zonghan looked at Yelü Yudu at the front, pulled on the saddle and mounted the horse. The Khitan on the horse curled his lips: "Tracking and finding the enemy is not something only you can do. We are just as good at it."

The ugly monk behind him suddenly puffed out his chest, looking smug.

"They're still a step behind us." Wanyan Zonghan curled his lip and flicked the reins: "Let's go, the enemy is heading west, let's catch up."

Warhorses surged forth, Jurchen soldiers shouted as they rode past, horns blared, and Wanyan Loushi's more than two thousand troops followed behind.

Xie Jianu rode up to Yelü Yudu's side: "General, let's..."

"Follow them." Yelü Yudu said expressionlessly, his serious gaze sweeping over them: "In this pursuit and slaughter, we have wiped out tribes and clans along the way. Our contribution is not as great as that of the Jurchens. We should keep the lion's share of the spoils."

He clenched his outstretched fingers into a fist: "Yelü Yanxi will absolutely not give it to them."

"Here."

The officers and soldiers beside him bowed their heads in agreement.

Yelü Yudu spurred his horse and led his less than 800 cavalrymen at full speed.

Moments later, the cavalry from the Jurchen and former Liao army who had surrendered roared away. After galloping out of the mountains and fields, the view became wide and bright, the cloudless sky showed a clear blue, and the black-armored cavalry stretched out across the plains, bringing a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere.

Yelü Yanxi kept turning his head to look back. Many of his soldiers were wounded and were exhausted. Warhorses kept collapsing and dying along the way.

After escaping from Xijin Prefecture, he fled to the area north of Datong Prefecture in Xijing Road, where there were still remnants of Liao troops who had not yet moved. After joining forces with them, he was able to protect himself.

At first, things went smoothly, but unexpectedly, the Qi army attacked with Wanyan Loushi and Yelü Yudu as generals. The tens of thousands of troops he had gathered were defeated one after another, and within a few months, only a few hundred of his originally considerable army remained to follow him.

How could this be...?

Why is my life so miserable!

Yelü Yanxi felt a bitter taste in his mouth. The Jurchens were one thing, these barbarians were also very fierce in Liaodong. What was strange was that Yelü Yudu's troops had become so capable.
The scenery on both sides rushed past rapidly, and the warhorses beneath him panted heavily; the continuous running had exhausted these beasts.

The sound of the cornet echoed across the plains. As the daylight faded and the sun reached the western mountain peaks, a dark line spread into view. Beneath scattered banners, a vast, advancing black-clad figure emerged. "...They've caught up." Yelü Yanxi murmured, somewhat dazed. He unconsciously rose from his horse, only to sit back down due to the horse's jolting, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

Behind him, the sound of hooves drew near. Yelü Tanggu's eyes remained calm as he shouted, "Your Majesty, the Qi bandits are pursuing us. Please continue forward. My personal guards know the route and will lead Your Majesty through the forests and mountains before turning into the northern desert."

Yelü Yanxi turned his head, his lips moved, his eyes flashed fiercely for a moment, then flickered again: "Alright, Xiangwen, take care of your own safety. I'll be waiting for you to come back."

Yelü Tanggu clasped his hands in a gesture of respect from his horse, then turned his mount around: "Khitan sons, follow me and we will fend off these rebellious traitors for His Majesty!"

"Hurry up—"

More than three hundred cavalrymen shouted with all their might, then turned their horses around, drew an arc, and launched a final charge towards the pursuing cavalry.

Yelü Yanxi spurred his horse forward repeatedly. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the sounds of fighting and shouting came from behind. The Liao emperor on horseback closed his eyes briefly, and then rode away under the protection of dozens of guards.

...The entire world was filled only with the sounds of fighting and the continued thunder of horses' hooves.

In just three days, Wanyan Loushi and Yelü Yudu caught up with the small group of deserters and returned victorious.

……

The coldest time has passed, and there is a hint of early spring. Although it is still cold, the atmosphere in the former Nanjing Road, now Jizhou, is warm and lively.

The war in the north came to an end with the defeat of the Song army. The cities that had been occupied by the Song people were all returned to the Qi state and incorporated into the territory of Jizhou. Even Xijin Prefecture was officially renamed Yanjing, although the common people had been calling it that for many years.

As Ji Province calmed down, the army returned to its original garrison. The court naturally supported this, especially Jiang Jing and Li Ying, who even cheered. The military and political officials worked day and night to check the merits and prepare pensions and rewards of land, houses and money.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, merchants who had long since ceased their business embarked on the official road, transporting goods from all corners of the country to other counties.

For a time, one could often see caravans following behind the army on the road. Many soldiers with surplus money would run to the rear to buy their favorite items after leaving camp, while others would sell their spoils at bargain prices, making the merchants who followed very happy. It was as if there was a sense of close ties between the army and the people.

Aside from the troops returning to various places, the emperor's army marching towards Yanjing was the most eye-catching.

Warhorses galloped along the road, with a wolf riding at the very back, its rider bound by a long rope. A mutilated corpse dragged along the uneven ground, occasionally trembling from the stones.

"...Who is that? They look so miserable."

"He might be a general from the Song Dynasty..."

"What deep-seated hatred could have dragged this all the way here? Tsk, really..."

"Silence! There must be a reason for dragging the corpse."

The pedestrians who had been huddled on the side of the road only moved to the middle of the road after the cavalrymen who had been blocking them had gone far away. They craned their necks to watch the departing figures, whispered to each other, tightened their bundles, and continued on their way to Yanjing.

A man carrying a bundle walked by and overheard their conversation: "Didn't you ask?"

"what?"

The sudden sound made the group stop in their tracks, looking at the approaching person with puzzled expressions: "What are you asking?"

"That corpse." The traveler pointed behind him: "I just asked those men in black, and the one they were dragging was Zhang Jue from Pingzhou, the former military governor of Liaoxing Army. He surrendered and then rebelled, and was finally sent back to us by the Song people themselves. His Majesty said he wanted to be dragged to death in the wilderness, so they brought him back all the way here. Tsk tsk, what a waste of effort to carry him."

"It's him."

"No wonder."

"Hey, if you ask me, the people of the Southern Dynasty were really spineless..."

The speaker looked enlightened, stood in the middle of the road and boasted a few more times before parting ways, satisfied.

As for their conversation, Lü Bu, who was on his way back to Yanjing, was unaware of the discussions among the people along the official road. He had been away for quite some time and missed his wife and children dearly, having not seen them for many days.

As the troops entered the city, countless ordinary citizens of Yanjing lined both sides of the street, dressed in their finest attire. Officials and constables, armed with iron rulers, stood in front of them and used long ropes to keep them at a distance.

As the banner bearing the character "吕" approached and the golden-armored figure rode atop a fiery red warhorse, cheers of "Victory!" erupted from somewhere within the crowd, prompting the surrounding populace to join in the shouts.

Lu Bu, seated on his warhorse, glanced at the surrounding people, thought for a moment, then smiled, occasionally raising his hand to wave at the crowd, eliciting an even louder roar.

The victorious figure finally reached his destination. Upon seeing the imperial city, Lü Bu exhaled on Red Hare, rubbed his stiff cheeks from smiling, and spurred his horse to increase his speed.

The scenery along the streets of Yanjing flashed by, and suddenly, a face dressed in a black and red court robe came into view.

Lu Bu approached, surrounded by his cavalry guards. The civil and military officials standing on either side bowed, saying, "Congratulations on Your Majesty's victorious return! May Great Qi be victorious!"

The figure on Red Hare smiled and waved: "Get up. The army's victorious return is also thanks to the cooperation of you all."

"Thank you, Your Majesty——"

With a smile on his face, Wenwu stood up. As Lü Bu glanced at him, his smile suddenly froze, and he asked with some doubt, "Where is Xiao Haili?"

"Your Majesty." Among the civil officials, Qiao Lie stepped forward and bowed: "General Xiao has caught a cold and is still resting in his residence. We have already had the imperial physician examine him, and he is fine. He just needs to take some medicine and rest for a few days."

"That old fellow has actually fallen ill. I'll go see him tomorrow and give him a good laugh."

Lu Bu chuckled and said, glancing at Yu Cheng behind him, "Have the treasury send some supplies over later."

"Here!"

His gaze swept over the faces of the civil and military officials on either side of him again. Lü Bu reached out and touched his chin: "Alright, you've all had a hard time fighting these past few days. I don't want to drink and chat with you all today. Go back now. We can talk about it tomorrow."

The ministers exchanged glances, then smiled and bowed to their emperor before taking their leave.

Lu Bu kicked Red Hare, and the beast immediately darted into the palace, its hooves making a series of sounds on the bluestone bricks until it reached the gate of the inner palace.

There, four neatly dressed women, accompanied by four little children, were smiling at him.

"So-and-so is back!"

(End of this chapter)