Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

In the northwest border, the weather in autumn is still a bit hot. Since Liu Fa's victory, the Song army has had fewer battles with Xixia in Xiting, but there have been frequent frictions. Tong Guan, as the commander-in-chief's strategic and comfort envoy for the six border affairs, You don't need to lead the army in person, you just need to sit back and ensure the supply of food and grass for the soldiers in the front.

Therefore, the mansion of "Eunuch Wu" was built here to be grand and grand. However, this place is a border area, and many of the people who can work in his mansion are the eunuchs who came here with Tong Guan, or Kong. A powerful military bodyguard.

Tong Guan handled several official documents yesterday, and today he received the edict sent by Zhao Ji. He was trembling with his hands as he thought about how to deal with it.

On the Xiting side, Wang Hou and Liu Zhongwu launched the Jingyuan, Fuyan, Huanqing, and Qinfeng divisions to attack Xia Zangdihe City. The battle report has not yet been received, and we don’t know what the outcome will be. If we abandon our side affairs and go back, we will feel unwilling to do so. .

It's only the official affairs that the Sa family should be concerned about, otherwise rootless people like us would be dead in an instant without the support of the emperor.

Damn...

Why is the edict coming now...

The sound of footsteps outside the door came, and Tong Guan frowned immediately. The people running around in his courtyard were all servants brought from the palace. The sound of running was very light, but it could be said that there was no sound, like such heavy footsteps. He's a soldier from outside. Could something happen in the army?
Just as he was thinking about it, a soldier rushed outside and knelt down quickly when he saw Tong Guan: "To appease the envoy, General Wang and General Liu failed to attack the Xia thief Zangdihe City. The army suffered heavy losses. Three generals from Qin Fenglu died in the battle. Everyone is dead, and now the two generals are returning with their troops."

"What do you mean?!"

Shouts of fright and anger were heard in the frontier courtyard. Several eunuchs who were busy outside looked at each other. They didn't know what kind of news made the prime minister so frightened and angry.

……

The night owl flew over the towering rooftops and fell into the old forest in the dark night. Heavy rain fell from the sky. Several fast horses ran into the city despite the heavy rain. The figures in red robes and iron armor handed over the reins of their horses to others. They were all wet. He was carried into the mansion with the word "child" written on it, and knelt down in the main hall. After a while, the carpet under him was soaked.

When Tong Guan arrived, the two men kneeling on the ground were still dripping rain from their brows and hair.

"How dare you two come back!" Tong Guan walked over with vigorous steps and kicked the person on the left down. Unable to understand his hatred, he walked over and slapped the other person in the face: "Since the beginning of the new year, When did Xiting experience such a disastrous defeat? You two smashed this good situation to pieces. You are such good men of the Western Army! How could you be defeated?"

"My Prime Minister... My Prime Minister is generous." The name of the person who was kicked down was Wang Hou. He quickly got up and continued to kneel: "It's not that the two young generals didn't pay attention to fighting. In fact, the Xia thief opposite is cunning. He first defended the city and then took advantage of me while I was waiting. Without checking, they launched a sneak attack at night. The Qinfeng Road military camp was the first to be in chaos and attacked other camps, so..."

"The two of us are responsible for this, please punish me." On the side, Liu Zhongwu, whose face was red, lowered his head and shouted in a deep voice.

"Punishment?" Tong Guan looked at the two of them fiercely: "The Sa family wants to kill you two!" He stretched out his hand and nodded the two of their heads in the air: "Speak for yourself, wait until Datian hears about this defeat. What are the consequences?"

Wang Hou and Liu Zhongwu looked at each other, with fear in their eyes. Wang Hou took a deep breath, clasped his fists and said, "Young general knows that his sins are serious, and he is willing to sacrifice his family wealth to atone for his sins, and I hope that I will allow you."

Liu Zhongwu gritted his teeth, lowered his head and said, "The young general is also average."

Tong Guan's expression changed, the anger in his eyes subsided slightly, and he just snorted coldly: "You two and Liu Yanqing are the people that the Sa family is optimistic about. Such a record is not worthy of the Sa family."

Wang Hou and Liu Zhongwu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly answered: "I owe you my kindness."

"That's all." Tong Guan walked back a few steps with his hands behind his back, and then gradually stopped, with a thoughtful expression on his face: "You two go back and tidy up first, and then go back to Beijing with Sa's family tomorrow." Wang Hou looked at Liu Zhongwu, and both Everyone looked confused and couldn't help but ask: "Why does the unknown Prime Minister bring the two young generals back to the capital?"

"What else?" Tong Guan said with a sneer: "The mess left by Liu Yanqing's guy has caused so much trouble in Liangshan that the officials have become angry and asked the Sa family to go back and destroy it. The three of you will be able to make meritorious deeds."

Wang and Liu just exhaled at this time and quickly clasped their fists: "I will obey the orders of the prime minister."

The next day, a group of people set out from the northwest and headed straight for Bianliang.

……

The weather is getting colder, and all the people on Liangshan Mountain have left.

After the grain and grass, Liangshan's soldiers also embarked on ships to the islands one after another. The ships carrying cargo and pulling people were divided into several roads in the Jishui River and meandered. Scouts were spread on both sides of the river, rushing back and forth to ensure No officers or soldiers will come out to provoke us if they get hot-headed.

The boat swung out of the water, and the protruding oars stirred the river water, creating ripples. The navy soldiers holding crossbows stood on the deck, facing outward and watching the scenery moving backward, even though the speed of the boat was not the same. As soon as they reached the fastest speed, the clothes on these soldiers were still making a sound, and some of them could not help but tremble.

The wind blew across the field, and the dust that was raised dissipated in the air. A large number of cavalry ran across the river. Under the flag of Lu Bu held high, the guards in armor and helmets were guarding their leader. The horses' hooves stirred up some dry soil, and Lu Bu was covered with it. Jin Jia rode the red rabbit at full speed, looking toward the northeast. From time to time, scouts came running from all directions, reporting on the situation in nearby states and counties.

As early as three days ago, the last batch of baggage from Liangshan was transported away. The ruthless leader of Liangshan set fire to the fortifications and houses, and only then did he have the tragic momentum of heading north today.

"What a pity……"

Qiao Lie was riding on his horse, looking back at Liangshan that was no longer visible. He whispered to Lu Bu beside him: "I am not a sentimental person, but it hurts my heart to abandon the stronghold like this."

"Otherwise, it's not enough to strengthen our hearts." After Lu Bu finished reading the message from Youshi Mansion, he closed it and handed it to Qiao Lie: "You and I are now fighting against the odds. Either we win or we die, leaving a stronghold behind." There will always be luck in thinking that this is a way out, and then you will definitely lose.”

Qiao Lie looked back again and sighed: "That's what my brother said."

Lu Bu grinned silently, looked up at the rolling clouds, and said to this person: "Have the arrangements for Youshi Mansion been made?"

"It's done." Qiao Lie nodded: "Those who are willing to follow have already followed the ship, and those who are unwilling to leave have been given a severance package. It's a pity that these years of management..."

The Taoist priest shrugged: "I thought that more than half of the people would follow, but I didn't know that only 30 to 40% would follow."

"It's already a lot." Lu Bu laughed loudly: "Stay and establish a foothold in Liaodong, and come back when the time comes. I believe the situation will be different then."

The people around him nodded, the smoke and dust kept getting farther and farther, and after a few days, it had entered the boundary of Qingzhou. (End of chapter)