Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

"First, let the cities near the Hesuguan tribe be on high alert, and transfer the troops of E Quanzhong to Chenzhou to be ready to respond to possible wars at any time."

Lu Bu pondered for a moment and said, "I remember that the Hesuguan tribe is composed of seven tribes. It is impossible for them to have the same mind. Let people interact with them more and tell them what they need."

Fang Xuedu nodded to indicate that he would take note. Lu Bu didn't look at him, but fixed his gaze on a point in the air. He said, "Order more people to go to the north to investigate. If the Hesuguan tribe is indeed as you said, they must have established contact with the Jurchen country, and there must be some action in the country."

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "The army's reorganization has been speeding up in the past few days. How are those surrendered generals doing?"

Fang Xuedu spoke without hesitation: "Not bad. More than 10,000 Liao soldiers from Nanjing were captured, and 6,000 were escorted to Liaoyang Prefecture. Now, about 4,000 have been persuaded to surrender by Sun Zhong and Zhang Qi. Most of the rest are Khitan and Xi soldiers. I want to ask Brother Xiao Haili to come and persuade them to surrender later, and maybe we can take them all in. As long as they join the army, they will be useful to the general sooner or later."

"Chengzhunahai and Aliyi have recruited all three thousand soldiers from Guide Prefecture." The military official who spoke had a strange smile on his face. "We also have to thank Yelu Yudu for escaping from the battlefield. It was not difficult to persuade their troops to surrender."

"Another nearly ten thousand soldiers..."

Lu Bu's eyes flickered, and he looked at his subordinates standing there: "I remember that various cities are also recruiting soldiers during this period. Is there enough food and grass?"

Fang Xuedu thought for a moment and nodded, "I asked Brother Jiang Jing before. He has asked Hu Cheng, Du Xing and Su Liang to go to Song to buy food. With the food and grass reserves in the city now, if a war breaks out, it will be enough to support us for three months. After March, the newly purchased food will arrive. By the time of the autumn harvest, the food and grass problem will no longer exist."

Lu Bu heaved a sigh of relief, then laughed at himself. Back then, being blocked from food, fodder and military equipment by those people had become a major concern, but things are different today. He shouldn't have to worry about it... right?

"Tell Jiang Jing to store more food and fodder, and follow up on the spring plowing this year to ensure that there is enough food and fodder after the autumn harvest."

As Fang Xuedu nodded, Lu Bu looked at Pei Xuan and said, "Remember, the four surrendered generals can be the military commanders."

The voice in the room slightly raised its volume: "You two have to work harder these two days. Disband these surrendered soldiers and send them to the various armies to replenish the camps. Be careful not to let these people escape and commit treason."

"Yes."

The two men waited for a while, and seeing that Lu Bu had no other instructions, they bowed and said goodbye and left, leaving only the tall and burly figure sitting behind the table, holding a slender pen and writing and drawing.

The skylight gradually moved westward, and a woman walked in leading a little girl. Soon, Lu Bu, holding the little girl, walked out of the room with a smile on his face and a hunched back.

The setting sun fell in the west, shining on two slender figures, one big and one small, stretching on the ground. The figure with a woman's bun in the back was smiling happily.

……

night.

The moon is rising, and its light shines on the brightly lit city below. The lighted lanterns are full of warmth, blocking out the cold light. At this time, night has just fallen, and it is not yet late at night. There are dense pedestrians on the streets, and vendors selling snacks are hawking their wares along the streets. The dry air is filled with the aroma of barbecue. Although there are not as many pedestrians as in the daytime, there are more people who come to sit down and taste the food. They buy some barbecue, order a pot of wine, and brag to their friends. It is extremely comfortable.

Among the few pedestrians, a family of six came over. The combination of one man and five women was very eye-catching in the street market at night. The tall and burly man walked in front, with a little girl sitting on his strong arm, turning around and looking around. A girl in a red pleated skirt followed on the left, and three good-looking women followed behind.

As they walked, the child sitting on her father's arms pointed at various street toys and snacks and uttered in a childish voice, "This... and that." After she passed by, her two little legs kicked around in her arms, making "Um--" sounds of displeasure. Seeing this, Lu Bu had no choice but to turn around, buy the things, and give them to his daughter in his arms, and also buy one for the girl who had a eager look in her eyes.

Wu Qing was watching from behind with a smile on her face, but she was saying something else: "My dear, just spoil Wen'er. If she develops bad habits in the future, I'll see how you can correct them."

"Wen'er is still young, it's okay." Lu Bu turned his head and said with a smile: "Besides, she is a girl. If I don't pamper her, what will happen if she is deceived by some playboy or libertine in the future? Can I kill him with a knife?" His other big hand covered Qiu Qiongying's head who was eating roasted lamb on the side: "Qiongying, if you have a man you like in the future, remember to bring him to me to see."

The girl who was chewing suddenly blushed, and the three women behind her chuckled and said, "What are you talking about, my dear? Let's not talk about fighting and killing today."

"You shouldn't say such frivolous words."

"Qiongying is still young too."

"Hahaha——" Lu Bu laughed while holding Lu Wen. He looked at his red-faced disciple without saying anything. Little Lu Wen in his arms didn't know if he had eaten enough. He handed the barbecue in his hand to his father. The brave warrior who had fought on the battlefield for two lifetimes quickly opened his mouth and took a bite: "Mm, delicious."

The figure who was speaking stopped and looked to the side. A restaurant with the word Cao on its sign was on the side.

"My dear, what are you looking at?" Su Jinniang saw him standing still and took a step forward to look around curiously: "Is there anything special here?"

"Not really." Lu Bu smiled faintly and took a step forward: "In fact, this place is also our family's property, but now the person in charge is not here, so it is inevitable to think of him."

Hu Sanniang also looked at the restaurant. Her eyes stayed on the sign for a while. She turned her head back and didn't know what she was thinking about. She just followed Wu Qing and continued to walk into the distance.

"The one walking down there is probably the General of the Cavalry."

On the second floor of the restaurant, Wang Zheng was leaning against the window railing like a puddle of mud, looking down with a gleam in his eyes.

"Hmm?" Gao Zhen half-knelt up and looked outside. Following Wang Zheng's gaze, he saw a figure passing by. He sat down again and sipped his wine: "From the shape of the figure, it looks like it, but how can I be sure in the dark night?"

Wang Zheng waved his arm that was pressed by his head and said lazily, "Look at the people below. There are people following them from all sides. Each of them has a sword. They can't all be gangsters."

Gao Zhen's expression changed when he heard this. He stuck his head out to take a closer look. Someone below looked back at him. He grinned and shouted, "Barbecue seller, bring up a roasted leg of lamb."

"okay!"

Amid the shouting, the sturdy figure sat back down again. Wang Zheng laughed out loud, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed and annoyed: "What are you laughing at, you guy?"

"Nothing, nothing, hahahaha—come on, drink!"

The two wine bowls collided with each other. (End of this chapter)