Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 1215 Bianliang Changes Hands: Old Grudges
As dawn broke, more and more soldiers entered Bianliang, and the generals shouted to their soldiers to hurry into the city.

Dong Ping and Hu Yanzhuo, following Xi Sheng's orders, ran along the city wall towards the south gate. Above the city wall, Mi Sheng, along with Zhao Li and Jing Chao, were also heading towards the south gate.

Shouts and cries echoed over Bianliang, while footsteps and the sound of horses' hooves resounded through the streets.

“That’s how it is.” Ma Ling looked at Han Shizhong with a somewhat emotional expression: “Actually, even now, I can’t believe that the city gates have been opened like this. It seems that most of the guards on the city walls have lost their morale.”

Han Shizhong looked at the sky over Bianliang with a complicated expression. It was still the same azure blue, with a few clouds drifting by. He then looked at the crimson figure beside him, sighed, and walked over.

As the group of Song prisoners watched him walk over, someone tried to move, but was immediately grabbed by the arm and held down by the person next to him.

Han Shizhong observed this without taking it seriously: "Who are you? Why aren't you resisting today?"

The one being questioned was Chen Xizhen. Hearing this, he bowed slightly and smiled, "This humble one is Chen Xizhen, the commander of the Japanese army, who greets General Shangbang." Feeling that his daughter's grip had loosened, he didn't dare to let go and held her arm, saying, "The brothers fight day and night, and besides being soldiers and getting rations, they are only doing it for the reward money."

Stealing a glance at Han Shizhong, she said, "As you may know, the army's pay is usually insufficient, and many people rely on their bonuses for food. The officials in the court promised to give us money, but they broke their promise. So we can't be blamed."

"Oh, I see!" Ma Ling, who had overheard everything, looked enlightened.

Han Shizhong glanced at Chen Xizhen, who was beaming across the room. Even though he thought Chen's voice was a bit high-pitched, he didn't say anything. His gaze swept over the group of soldiers praising the Japanese army: "You are all good men. If you wish to join the army again in the future, you don't need to worry about money."

He turned around and tilted his head slightly: "Our Great Qi values ​​military merit the most. I initially joined the Western Army, and now I am the General Who Guards the West for the imperial court."

"Really?"

"That's more promising than following the imperial court..."

A cacophony of voices rose among the prisoners, but Han Shizhong didn't ask any further questions. He turned and walked toward his warhorse. A thunderous sound of hooves echoed from the direction of the city gate, and another large contingent of cavalry was galloping in.

……

"father."

Amidst the commotion of the surrendered soldiers around her, Chen Liqing stirred slightly: "That person is gone, you can let me go now."

Only then did the father release her arm.

Chen Liqing rubbed her wrist and looked at him: "Father... why do I feel like you want to serve the Qi Kingdom? Your grudge..."

"What grudge?" Chen Xizhen looked at his daughter with suspicion: "My only concern is that I cannot serve the imperial family and climb to a high position in the court."

Turning his head, he saw a banner bearing the character "Du" appear at the city gate: "Who says the Qi court isn't a court? As long as you give your father a chance, what's another arrow?"

"..."

The woman behind him froze.

……

One by one, the warhorses galloped in.

Under the banner bearing the character "Du," a tall warhorse carrying an eighteen-foot spear slowly entered. A disheveled head was tied around the horse's neck, swaying as the horse moved.

"General Du."

Ma Ling and Han Shizhong came over and looked at the head under his warhorse. The latter tilted his head in confusion: "Where did this head come from? And why is someone rushing towards you?"

"How would I know?" Du Xue was even more puzzled than him: "This group of people ran along the moat from the north gate. I thought they were some kind of suicide squad, so I led my troops to charge over, but they were easily defeated. This seems to be the leader, wearing a Taoist robe. I thought he was someone important, but when he led his troops to charge, they were all scattered."

He kicked the man's head with his combat boots as a gesture: "I saw he was riding a horse and dressed so elegantly, so I just gave him a little slap. Look, that's how it turned out."

Han Shizhong was speechless for a moment upon hearing this.

“Run across the moat…” Ma Ling thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, “Could this be that guy who tried to use magic to resist our army?”

Now it was Du Xue's turn to be confused. He looked at him and asked, "Huh? What's the method?"

"That's it..."

Ma Ling had no choice but to repeat himself. After all, this matter was too bizarre. Not only was Lu Bu unprepared, but none of the soldiers in the army had expected it, so there was no time to inform the other three armies.

After listening, Du Xue looked at Guo Jing's head with a complicated expression: "This guy has made great contributions to our army! Why did he run away? If he hadn't run away, he probably would have been ennobled."

"...Bad luck."

Han Shizhong and Ma Ling shook their heads and sighed as they looked at the head that remained open in death.

The men then stopped arguing and immediately ordered their men to occupy key roads and high ground, while sending soldiers to appease the people in the city.

Before long, all four city gates were opened wide, and the naval forces outside the city, after a moment of surprise, also sailed in through the river.

The roar of the marching troops became the main sound in Bianliang. Many people closed their doors and windows tightly and hid in their houses, peeking out through the cracks in the window frames.

Two blood-red banners fluttered in the wind, and infantrymen in full heavy armor walked down the street carrying large axes and iron spears. The cold glint of their armor made the people in the house jump with fear. They hurriedly moved some heavy objects to block the door, and then wiped the sweat from their foreheads and hid behind the cupboard, trembling.

The armor plates occasionally clinked together, making a soft sound. Lin Chong walked silently, frequently glancing in one direction. At one moment, he suddenly gritted his teeth and stopped.

boom--

The soldiers of the Trapped Camp at the rear reacted very quickly, stopping their advance.

"Brother Lin, what's wrong?"

Tang Bin looked at his taciturn companion with some doubt. The two had led the army for more than ten years, and this man had been like a puppet, obeying orders and rarely having his own thoughts.

Today, their military orders were to blockade the government offices in the area ahead. Normally, he would have gone there and carried out the orders, but now he suddenly stopped on his own, which is quite unusual.

"Over there..." Lin Chong hesitated before uttering two words, then fell silent.

"What's going on over there?" Tang Bin frowned, feeling somewhat impatient.

Although this person doesn't fuss over words and actions, he's never very straightforward. Even though he's been away from the world of fame and fortune for a long time, he still can't change his ways. If it weren't for the fact that he's a skilled fighter on the battlefield, I really wouldn't want to bother with him.

"...There are enemies over there." After a moment of silence, Lin Chong continued, "I...I want to go and take a look."

So that's what it was about!

The old men on the mountain all know how Leopard Head left the capital over the years, and Tang Bin is no exception. At this moment, his brows relaxed: "Then Brother Lin can go."

“But…” Lin Chong hesitated again, looking back at him with a hesitant expression on his leopard-headed, round-eyed face: “Our military orders are to go to the government office…”

"Tsk—I'll take care of things here, don't worry about it." Tang Bin's irritation returned, and he waved his hand repeatedly: "Take two hundred soldiers and go on your own. His Majesty won't punish you for such a thing."

"Thank you, Brother Tang." Lin Chong bowed in thanks, then turned and shouted, "Two hundred men!" The soldiers, their voices ringing out, marched off into the distance.

Tang Bin shook his head, saw some cavalrymen coming over, thought for a moment and waved his hand: "Go and report to General Xi Sheng that General Lin discovered that Song troops were gathering at Gao Qiu's house and preparing to rebel. Go to Gao's residence to investigate and have him send troops to block the main road."

The cavalryman acknowledged and turned to gallop away.

"move on."

Tang Bin waved his hand, the blood-red flag swayed, and gradually disappeared into the distance amidst heavy footsteps.

……

A gentle breeze swept through the Gao family's courtyard.

Wearing a floral robe, Gao Jian sat alone in the room, one foot on a stool, tearing at a roasted duck with the other. Occasionally, he would choke on the duck meat, then pick up a wine pot and take a sip. His face and hands were covered in grease, and the table was a mess.

In the past two years, Emperor Huizong of Tang (Zhao Ji) has abdicated and become the Retired Emperor. Although Gao Qiu has not fallen out of favor, he is not as assertive as before. In addition, the recent protests by the students of the Imperial Academy against killing the Six Traitors have made the court officials on the side of the Retired Emperor less upright than before, and they all shrink back and dare not be the first to speak out.

Under such circumstances, he, the notorious playboy of the capital, naturally had to keep his distance. It wasn't that he was afraid, but mainly that Gao Qiu forbade him from causing trouble outside by using his name, otherwise he would have all three legs broken.

*Thud*—The duck bone was thrown onto the plate, and the splattered sauce added even more oil stains to the table.

"Damn it, when will this end? It's really frustrating not having any young ladies to play with!"

He muttered a couple of things under his breath, then looked at his filthy, greasy hands: "Where is he? Where did he go to die?"

The courtyard was quiet; not a single person uttered a sound.

"Tsk—" Gao Yanei kicked over a chair, raised his hands halfway, and walked out, spitting as he went: "Are they all fucking dead? Can't you hear me?!"

bang——

"Ouch—"

As soon as the words were spoken, a dull thud was heard, and a figure flew out of the archway and crashed heavily to the ground.

Gao Yanei immediately stopped, looking at the person writhing on the ground, clutching their chest and buttocks with some confusion: "How did you fly? Hey, why are you touching your chest and buttocks? Don't you know I don't like men?"

"Ouch..." the servant lying down groaned, looking painfully at the oily face that was bending over him: "Young master... Young master, quick, run!"

"Run? Why?" Gao Kan squatted down, wiping his greasy hands on the servant's coarse cloth clothes. "Although my father isn't the most powerful person in Bianliang City, no one can make this young master run away..." He suddenly realized, "The Qi army..."

Footsteps could be heard coming from the other end of the archway.

Gao Yanei squatted down and tilted his head to look. A figure dressed in black iron armor walked over step by step, holding a spear upside down, still unconsciously muttering, "They...have...broken in?!"

A burly, black figure walked through the archway, his piercing eyes fixed intently on him.

Gao Jian's eyes widened as he tried to get up, but his legs gave way and he sat back down on the ground, retreating on all fours: "You...who are you! Do you know who my father is! Don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I...I...I'll call the authorities!"

"Young Master Gao!" The figure opposite him said, enunciating each word clearly, "Do you still remember Lin Chong?"

"Lin Chong? Who?" Gao Kan was taken aback. Looking at the approaching figure, he waved his hand repeatedly: "Wait, hold on, give this young master some time to think."

Lin Chong's sun-baked face was slightly purplish, his teeth were grinding, and the back of his hand holding the spear was white, but he was still staring intently at the figure sitting on the ground.

Behind them, the soldiers of the Trapped Camp who had come along walked through the archway, silently leaning on their iron spears and watching them.

The servant was in great pain. He looked left and right, shut his mouth, curled up into a ball, and stayed there.

Gao Yanei's eyes darted around, his face contorted with worry as he watched the soldiers of the Trapped Camp gradually closing in. He looked up at Lin Chong, whose eyes were practically spitting fire, and his features contorted in pain. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "This... this... how about you give me, oh no, give this humble servant some hints?"

sand--

With a slight shift in his footing, Lin Chong spoke in a chilling voice: "The instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards, my wife Zhang Zhenniang, and the White Tiger Hall!"

"Oh, oh..." Gao Yanei responded, muttering a few words under his breath, then said with a mournful face, "I don't remember... what... what did I do to you?"

"Ha ha—"

Lin Chong let out a strange laugh, but his face remained completely expressionless as he glared at him: "You scoundrel, you've actually forgotten?! You harassed my wife, causing my exile, and you've already forgotten?!"

"Ah?! This..." Gao Yanei looked back at Lin Chong, his expression cautious: "Should I remember?"

"you!"

Enraged, Lin Chong kicked him.

"Uh!"

Gao Yanei was kicked three feet away, and "Pfft—" he spat out a mouthful of undigested food: "Cough cough cough..."

Lin Chong, his face grim, raised his spear and stepped forward.

Gao Yanei quickly braced himself with one hand and retreated, waving the other at Lin Chong: "Hero, cough, no, General! This General, wait a minute."

Lin Chong took two steps closer.

"My father... my father is Gao Qiu, you killed me, he..."

The spear flashed out.

puff--

Inserted into the chest.

"Uh...he won't..."

A mouthful of blood rushed up his throat, and dark red, viscous blood gushed from his mouth. Gao Yanei stretched out his waving hand to grab the spear shaft, but it gradually fell limply to the ground.

"Humph--"

Lin Chong suddenly drew his spear, still not satisfied with the sight of the corpse on the ground. He walked forward, gripped the spear shaft with both hands, and plunged it in hard. He pulled it out, then plunged it in again, and rose again.

Puff puff--

Blood splattered from the corpse onto the ground.

Several soldiers from the nearby Trapped Camp, fearing he had gone mad, rushed forward and grabbed his arms, crying, "General, General, he's dead, dead!"

As the spear pierced the ground, Lin Chong gasped for breath a few times, then strained his arm outwards, shouting, "Let me go!"

The soldiers looked at each other and slowly released their grip.

Lin Chong pulled out the spear with one hand, his eyes blazing with anger as he looked outside: "Let's go find Gao Qiu!"

Seeing this, the soldiers of the Trapped Camp were relieved and quickly replied, "Yes, sir!" and followed him outside.

Lin Chong took a few steps and then stopped, looking down at the servant boy curled up on the ground.

The servant had intended to feign death and wait for them to leave, but when he heard the footsteps stop and a shadow loom over him, he couldn't help but open his eyes and tilt his head slightly to look. What he saw was a pair of battle boots stained with blood.

His gaze moved upwards, sweeping over the blood-dripping leg armor and the heaving breastplate, until a gloomy black face came into view. He quickly put on a smile: "Sir, if you are looking for Gao Qiu, he is with the Emperor Emeritus at Wansui Mountain. His household consists of servants like us and his son. If you are looking for his other family members, his wife and two children were sent to the south last year when the general and others withdrew their troops."

Lin Chong nodded: "Thank you for informing me."

The servant's smile became even more sincere: "You won't kill me..."

puff--

The spear pierced his chest. Lin Chong looked at the servant who stared at him in disbelief without joy or sorrow, and slowly said, "Anyone who betrays their master and actively sells out their master deserves to die!"

The spear was pulled out, and blood flowed from the corpse.

Lin Chong didn't even look at them, and strode past them: "Kill everyone here. They all work for Gao Qiu and his son, not a single one of them is any good."

"Here!"

Under the daylight, the screams lasted for a short while before the figure in black armor left the Gao residence and headed towards the imperial city.

……

The birds flew across the sky and disappeared into the imperial city, never to be seen again.

A long line of people came over here, and after a while, they stopped in front of the imperial city. Figures moved about on the not-so-high imperial city wall.

The fiery red warhorse took a few steps forward, and the central army banner followed and stopped. Lü Bu looked at the figures in the distance and pointed: "Shout out to them!"

(End of this chapter)