Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

A night wind swept across the fields, rustling the leaves and branches. Fallen leaves landed on people's heads. A burly figure reached up and brushed them off, smoothing his hair. "Damn it, if Father hadn't told us not to move, I really would have..."

"Shut up, Erlang." Zhang Bofen turned his head and scolded, raising his hand and slapping it on the face, flicking away some kind of flying insect. He then turned to look at his brother: "Father must have had his own considerations at the time. You and I just need to obey the general's orders."

Zhang Zhongxiong touched his head, sighed and nodded. In the dark surroundings, he could vaguely see many figures squatting or lying down.

rustling --

Footsteps came from behind, and a figure crouching low approached: "General, torches are moving in the distance; it must be the returning Northern bandits."

Zhang Bofen turned around and looked at the scout who had come to report: "How many people are there?"

"It was pitch black and we couldn't see anything clearly. Judging from the number of torches and the distance between them, there were probably twenty or thirty thousand people. There were also quite a few prisoners that we could see."

"Twenty thousand or thirty thousand?" Zhang Zhongxiong glared at the man, his tone unfriendly: "It's not just two or three hundred, if it's ten thousand short, you come and kill me?"

The scout looked embarrassed, his lips moved slightly, and he lowered his head, saying, "I am incompetent."

"What a piece of trash!" Zhang Zhongxiong scolded.

"Never mind, never mind." The older brother waved his hand and said to the scout, "Go to Generals Yan Shude and Dongfang Da and tell them to carry out the planned attack. If they encounter any prisoners, release them in the chaos and let them disrupt the battlefield. Go—"

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, the scout felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute and led his men away.

Zhang Zhongxiong spat as he watched him run away: "What a useless piece of trash, he can't even get any information."

"Prepare for battle; the northern bandits will be here soon."

……

"Speed ​​up! Send someone to urge the prisoners behind you to hurry up!"

As the night grew darker, the long torches illuminated the fields they had galloped across, and the thunderous sound of hooves carried far and wide along with Wang De's voice.

In the dim light, the man who looked like a demon had a calm expression. He had already anticipated what might happen next, so he wasn't too nervous. His troops had also been warned that although they looked loose, they were ready for battle.

The surroundings were quiet. Wang De adjusted his posture on his horse and gripped the hilt of his sword. Although it was autumn, the night should not be completely silent. After a moment's thought, he rode his horse closer to the guard beside him.

"Go back and inform the rear that it's too quiet here, or that we're not far from where the ambush is."

"Here!"

The guards turned their horses around and rode away. Wang De, holding his broadsword upside down, shouted, "Hurry up! We can still get some sleep before dawn. Don't let us be late and end up only dreaming."

Some of the witty remarks made the surrounding cavalry laugh out loud. They rode forward in twos and threes, and many veterans tightened their grip on their rifles, talking quietly to their comrades who had joined the army later.

As the general himself knows, Wang De is not one to joke around. His sudden outburst at this moment suggests that something unexpected is about to happen.

……

Boom boom boom——

Countless hooves and footsteps trod across the plains, dust swirling in the darkness, barely visible. In the depths of the night, the distant forests swayed in the wind, rustling loudly.

Holding torches, the prisoners, who had been winding their way from the south bank of the river, looked up at the dark sky and complained that they wanted to rest. However, they were whipped a few times by several surrendered soldiers who could be called "traitors to the Song Dynasty."

"Lazybones, hurry up and move!"

"If you keep dawdling, I'll break your legs!"

"Hey~ You dare glare at me! I'll beat you to a pulp, you bastard!"

The prisoners, linked together by ropes, were arranged on the outer perimeter, while cavalrymen walked slowly in the inner circle. Many soldiers on horseback closed their eyes to rest, their bodies swaying slightly with their warhorses.

The flickering firelight reflected the Hundred Flowers Robe fluttering in the night wind, and the majestic figure rose and fell on horseback. The golden chainmail on his chest gleamed in the firelight. Lü Bu took a sip of water from the saddlebag and said, "Wang De has already discovered a problem ahead. Order the entire army to be on high alert."

"Yes, sir." The rider responded, turned his horse around, and galloped away.

Yu Cheng leaned closer: "Your Majesty, those surrendered soldiers on the outskirts..."

"Let them hold them off for now." Lu Bu said expressionlessly, glancing at him slightly. "It's a good way to make the best use of them."

Yu Cheng scratched his head: "No, what I mean is, aren't they getting in the way by standing on both sides?"

"Why don't you shoot them first to clear the way before charging?" Lu Bu said helplessly, "I brought you with me to train you to lead troops in battle, but over the years you've become more and more like a bodyguard."

Yu Cheng chuckled but remained silent.

Lu Bu shook his head: "Never mind, you should stay with me."

Everyone has their own ambitions, and he couldn't force the people around him to live according to his wishes. Besides, over the years, his own Left Martial Guard General really had no talent for leading troops. Forcing him to go into battle would only exhaust the entire army and be counterproductive.

After putting down the water pouches, the warhorses slowed down even further. They walked very slowly as they circled back to relieve their fatigue. The soldiers had also eaten their rations on horseback, and their strength had recovered considerably. If they were attacked now, they would be able to go back into battle to fight the enemy, and their warhorses would still be able to run.

This must be the last battle of the day.

Lu Bu exhaled, then pointed to the receding fire: "There must be a problem here... If it were me, I would have made my move about three miles ahead."

……

There was wind at Hai hour (9-11 PM).

The leaves swayed, finally exhausted, and leaped down from the branches.

A cavalry unit passed by among the prisoners in the distance. Under the torchlight, the flag bearing the character "Zeng" fluttered. Someone pursed their lips and imitated a bird's call. Zhang Zhongxiong suddenly perked up: "The Northern bandits are here!"

“I’ve never heard of this banner before.” Zhang Bofeng frowned, his hand gripping the hilt of his knife loosening and then tightening again: “Don’t act rashly.”

"Brother, don't hesitate, kill one first. Wouldn't this nameless underling be perfect for demoralizing the Northern bandits?"

Zhang Bofen's expression shifted uncertainly, but finally his face hardened. He put down his knife, slowly picked up the powerful bow, and drew an arrow.

……

At the same moment, Zeng Tu, standing in the middle, glanced around the dark forest. A junior officer from the Jurchen tribe, holding a torch to illuminate the staggering prisoners around him, said, "General, something feels wrong."

Zeng Tu didn't speak, but tilted his body slightly: "Tell the young men to be vigilant, not to be careless, and to trust their intuition."

The junior officer, who had known him for a long time, chuckled upon hearing this: "General, you're so lucky, surely nothing unexpected will happen. Perhaps we can go far away without any problems."

“I also think I’m lucky.” Zeng Tu sat up straight and laughed heartily, waving his hand: “But we should still be more careful, you guys don’t have my luck.”

As they were talking, whether it was because he was truly lucky today or because the item was old and worn out, the protective sword hanging at his waist suddenly fell off.

"Father?"

……

"kill--"

A roar suddenly exploded in the night. Zhang Bofeng sprang to his feet, pulling the bowstring taut to its maximum in an instant. *Whoosh—*

……

Zeng Tu leaned over and looked down.

whoosh-

The long arrow flew past the spot where the neck had been, bringing with it a gust of cold wind.

puff--

The arrow, its momentum undiminished, pierced the forearm of the guard on the side. The man cried out in pain, and the figure who had launched the sneak attack, now protected by armor, shouted, "Enemy attack—"

……

"kill--"

One after another, figures burst forth from the darkness, their bows and arrows shooting out in rapid succession.

In the darkness, within the firelight, black arrows could be seen flying past from time to time. The outermost prisoners were the first to be hit, and arrows kept falling. Many figures bound by ropes fell to the ground, knocking over a group of people, and panicked screams rose up everywhere.

"Damn it!!"

Zhang Bofen slammed his bow to the ground, picked up his sword, drew it with a whoosh, and pointed it forward: "The enemy is right in front of us, kill them!"

……

"Damn it!"

Zeng Tu stood up in a cold sweat, glanced at his personal guard whose arm armor was pierced by an arrow, and couldn't help but mutter, "Damn, he's really lucky."

Then, enraged, he brandished his spear and shouted, "Kill them all! Let these barbarians know what war is all about!"

A guard sounded the horn, its mournful sound shaking the night sky, and countless figures began to move.

The Jurchen soldiers who had served under Zeng Tu the longest and reacted the fastest, all raised their spears and, regardless of the battlefield situation, simply turned their reins and, led by the army commander, rode their horses to the right.

Zeng Tu also donned a long spear, spurred his horse on, and roared, "A bunch of bastards, these things!" He then led his troops to charge forward.

Warhorses rammed through the prisoners blocking their path, the sound of bones breaking echoing in the darkness, filled with screams and the lingering smell of blood. The first cavalryman to charge forward thrust his spear down.

Countless blades clashed, the carnage began, and blood and severed limbs flew into the sky.

As the bugle sounded, the cavalry at the front and rear shouted in unison, and their warhorses galloped off.

"kill--"

Yan Shude and Tie Fangliang charged out from Zeng Tu's left flank. Seeing the Qi general recklessly leading his entire army to attack the Zhang brothers on the right, they gritted their teeth in hatred. Usually, in such situations, the ambushed troops would be at a loss and caught in a dilemma.

For a moment, he did not realize that the other side was on guard. He only thought that Zeng Tu was angry with Zhang Bofen for shooting him with an arrow and that was why he sent his troops to attack. Fearing that the two of them might be lost, he hurriedly led his troops to rush over.

Countless rushing figures, though not flying, still collided rapidly with the enemy on the right. Weapons clashed wildly, producing screams that sent chills down one's spine. The surrendered soldiers on the perimeter were suddenly attacked, felled by arrows, and then swiftly cut down by the advancing cavalry. Their mangled corpses, stained with blood, lay where the ropes extended.

Yan Shude and Tie Fangliang's troops, who had rushed out, sent out a large number of men to liberate the prisoners closest to them, and the scene became increasingly chaotic.

Lu Bu did not wait in the central army. The moment the horn sounded, Red Hare suddenly darted out, and the deep voice of "Attack!" echoed in the night.

The crimson warhorse galloped up, constantly searching for gaps in the crowd and herd of horses to gallop forward. Many of the figures riding horses only felt a gust of wind rush past them, and suddenly a bright red cloak appeared in front of them, fluttering in the air.

"It's your Majesty!"

"Follow him and fight alongside His Majesty!"

The torches flickered as they raced along, and the shouter's eyes gleamed against his ever-changing face.

Red Hare gradually accelerated, almost leaving the guards following behind. Yu Cheng and Wei He were extremely anxious, shouting "Your Majesty, wait!" while yelling at the generals they encountered, "Quickly go and protect His Majesty!"

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the ranks, two figures darted through the crowd, their eyes fixed on the approaching mounted general. In the instant they drew their bows, nocked arrows, and leaned back—

The arrow whistled past the side of a Song soldier's face, shooting straight at his face with a sharp whistling sound.

Zeng Tu tilted his head and thrust his spear to kill the approaching Song soldier. A flying arrow tore off a piece of flesh from his cheek, and blood splattered out. A burning pain spread across his face.

"hiss--"

On horseback, the muscular figure gasped for breath. Looking up, he saw a Song general wield his sword and sever a soldier's calf. Taking advantage of the soldier's scream, he leaped onto his horse.

"You traitorous general, prepare to die!"

Zhang Bofen brandished his knife and roared as he charged towards Zeng Tu.

Zhang Zhongxiong, who had fallen to the ground, quickly got up and drew his longbow.

"Two dead eights!"

Enraged, Zeng Tu brandished his spear, blocking an incoming general's blade, when an arrow struck from the side, piercing his shoulder and causing his strength to dissipate.

"Die!"

With his brother's help, Zhang Bofen glared angrily and slashed down with his sword. Zeng Tu held his spear with one hand, blocking left and right, but in just a moment he had three more sword wounds, and then an arrow from Zhang Zhongxiong struck his shoulder blade.

"General, let's go!"

Seeing that he could not be stopped, the guards in the midst of the battle roared and charged forward. The Song infantry around him also rushed forward desperately, each with a ferocious expression and brandishing their swords.

Zeng Tu didn't say a word. Taking advantage of his own cavalry charging over, he quickly reined in his horse and ran back.

From behind came shouts of "Halt!" and "Cowardly scoundrel!" followed by a distant cry: "General Wang De is here!"

Screams, sounds of fighting, and the screech of blades piercing flesh blended together. Zeng Tu cursed his bad luck under his breath and retreated in silence.

Zhang Bofen spurred his horse to chase after Zeng Tu, then turned and roared, "Second Brother, form ranks and attack the enemy!"

Enemies lying in ambush kept running out from the woods on both sides, brandishing their swords and killing the unarmed prisoners, while also closing in on the cavalry on horseback. Zhang Zhongxiong roared and ordered his soldiers to begin forming ranks.

"Form a defensive formation and surround them! We have more soldiers. Lead the cavalry from the rear into the formation. Order Yan Shude and Dongfang Da to attack from the rear!"

Amidst the roars, the Zengtu cavalrymen who were still fighting around them also retreated.

Axes and spears were thrown, and the pursuing Song soldiers were caught off guard and were stabbed. The cavalrymen who had switched to swords flew past the surviving Song soldiers, swung their swords down, and separated the bodies, with blood splattering out.

General Wang, be careful!

Arrows flew overhead. Wang De, carrying a broadsword, had just seen an arrow graze his iron helmet. His ugly face remained expressionless. As his vision blurred, the ambush troops wielding weapons surged forward, their ferocious killing intent accumulating in his chest.

His gaze nearly exploded when it landed on the Song army commander charging towards them. (End of Chapter)