Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The breath of spring has gone away, and the warm and dry wind blows through here. The red tassels on the iron helmets flutter slightly in the wind, and beads of sweat the size of beans flow on people's faces.

On the hill, Wang De rode on his war horse, looking at the rumbling sound of cavalry hooves coming from below. In the whistling wind, the knights took out their bows one by one, and when the arrows were shot, a black rain of arrows followed and shot towards the ridge in front.

humming-

There was a sound of arrows piercing the earth and rocks. Then the cavalry, led by the general in front, turned and continued shooting arrows from the other side around the hill. Soon the hollowed-out mound was filled with arrows. Horns sounded, and well-forged swords were raised in the air with arms. They formed a square formation and ran forward, shouting and rushing past the wooden stakes placed in the middle of the road. The coarse porcelain jars placed on them were chopped by the sharp blades and exploded into pieces.

Wang De looked up at the sky. The bright sunshine made him squint his eyes. "Send the message, take a break for tea, and let Sun Zhong come to see me."

The sound of the horn rang out, and the cavalry below slowly stopped. The 1,500 cavalrymen dismounted from their horses, swung their arms and legs, then took their water bags and sat on the ground to rest.

Sun Zhong, who was wearing fish-scale armor, black shoulder pads, and golden shoulder pads, rode over on horseback, jumped off his horse, clasped his fists and saluted, then grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist: "Captain of Cavalry, you came to me, but is there something wrong with the training method?"

"No, General Sun is experienced, there is nothing wrong." Wang De shook his head, got off his horse, and walked two steps forward to the edge of the hill with his sword hilt in hand. He looked at the resting cavalry and stroked his chin: "It's just that I always feel that this attack method is a bit simple. If two armies are facing each other, two rounds of arrows... maybe three rounds, and then close combat, it will waste some distance."

"Then what the Cavalry Captain meant was..."

"I heard that when the general started out, his cavalrymen were not good at archery. At that time, they all used flying axes and other weapons. When they saw something close, they would..." Wang De made a throwing motion and turned his ugly face around. "But later, with the strict training of the cavalry, more and more people were able to ride and shoot. The axe-throwing people seemed to use it less and less. I want to pick it up for him."

Sun Zhong rubbed the hard stubble on his cheeks and said, "Okay, I have no objection, but what about the axe?"

Wang De blinked and looked back at him: "You practice first." Then he got on the warhorse and pulled the reins: "I'll go find someone to ask for it. Go--"

Whip the horse and go forward.

Soon, the ugly man ran back to Liaoyang Prefecture to talk to Lu Bu about his idea. He took the approval order and ran directly to the armory. Before he even entered the door, he heard someone inside shouting loudly: "What do you mean, there is nothing? Liaoyang Prefecture is the capital of Dongjing Road in Liao after all. You told me there is nothing. Are you making fun of me?"

"Captain Han, I am a man of my word. How could I deceive you? I really don't have an armor-piercing gun."

Hearing the voice of crying out for injustice, Wang De took two steps at a time and walked into the gate. He saw the newly appointed lieutenant Han Shizhong put his arm around Wu Hu's shoulder, shook his fist and said, "Tell him again."

"No, I really don't have it." Wu Hu struggled twice but failed to break free, and immediately became anxious: "I swear on my mother that I don't have this thing."

"I don't know your mother. I only recognize the armor-piercing gun."

"I called you grandpa, really not!"

"..." Wang De stood at the door and watched the two people arguing inside. His lips moved, but he was unable to speak in the end. He did not go in, but just leaned against the door frame and watched the two of them.

After the Liaodong War was over, many people were promoted. Wang Deqian was promoted to Cavalry Commandant, Han Shizhong was promoted to Zhechou Xiaoliu, Han Qinghe was promoted to Pozei Xiaoliu. As for the rest, only Xi Sheng, Du Fu and Xiao Haili were promoted to Zhonglang Jiang. Most of them remained the same, but their titles were raised by one or two levels.

Now, Xi Sheng and the other two have not returned due to defense matters, while Wang De, Han Shizhong and Han Qinghe have been transferred back to Liaoyang Prefecture, where they are training troops and garrisoning here.

"Wait... wait, I can't breathe... I can't breathe anymore." Perhaps Han Shizhong started to strangle Wu Hu's neck, and the blacksmith couldn't help but slap Han Shizhong's arms hard.

The newly appointed lieutenant saw this and felt it was not right to strangle the man to death on the spot, so he let go and patted Wu Hu's back, who was still coughing, with one hand, muttering, "Okay, just pretend that there is nothing in the armory, but just make some for me. I don't want too much, just two thousand first. Can you make it before the end of the month?"

"Ahem, ahem, ahem - you might as well take my... ahem - life will be better." Covering his neck, Wu Hu jumped eight feet high, but he couldn't do anything about the rogue opposite him, so he waved his hand in disdain: "Since you are so troublesome, you can ask the general for the order to forge weapons, and I will give you three hundred."

Han Shizhong shook his head: "No, it's too little, fifteen hundred."

"You... you should ask the general for a warrant first!" Wu Hu said, and could not help but said, "Besides, you only have 2,000 infantrymen, why do you need so many armor-piercing guns? Five hundred!"

"What do you care what I do with it? It's my business to use it to hang clothes. Twelve thousand, no less."

"Six hundred at most. You don't need to make other weapons during this period of time. Otherwise, you can do it yourself."

"Okay, six hundred is what you said. If the time comes, I will go to the general to sue you." Han Shizhong nodded, patted Wu Hu hard, took out a piece of official document from his bosom and handed it to him: "Here is the warrant you want, make it quickly."

"You! You have a warrant, why don't you show it out earlier!"

Wu Hu was stunned for a moment, then looked at Han Shizhong with a red face, his teeth clenched, but Han Shizhong seemed not to notice, waved his hand and walked out: "I will come to see you before the end of the month."

He walked to the door, greeted Wang De, and then walked out quickly.

"Damn Han Wu! You can come and kill me with a knife at the end of the month! Where can I go for you?" Wu Hu rushed to the door, stamped his feet and cursed angrily as he watched Han Shizhong walk away. His chest kept heaving. He looked at Wang De who was standing at the door and said unhappily, "What business do you have here, Wang Qidu?"

Wang De blinked, took out the warrant and handed it over: "Please send some flying axes." After thinking for a while, he added: "One thousand five hundred will be enough."

Wu Hu's hand holding the warrant trembled: "Are you two bitches trying to make things difficult for me, Wu Hu?"

Wang De smacked his lips, not knowing how to respond for a moment. This armory commander...

It seems like he was bullied badly.

……

Lu Bu's residence.

Qiongying's petite figure, holding a Fang Tian Hua Ji, was competing with Yang Zaixing, who was holding an iron spear. Relying on her light body, the girl kept circling beside the boy.

The somewhat slender Fang Tian Huaji emitted bursts of cold light and kept slashing and stabbing around the young man. The young man responded calmly, swinging his iron spear up and down, and the whistling sound of the wind could be clearly heard when he whipped it.

Qiongying didn't dare to take it head-on, so she had to dodge first and look for another opportunity while dragging her painted halberd.

“…Qiongying is going to lose.”

At the side of the arena, Lu Bu was sitting next to the Eight Immortals Table. Ma Ling was holding a teapot and serving him. Seeing the two men fighting enthusiastically, he couldn't help but say something.

"Qiongying's strength and endurance are weaker than Zaixing's, and her reaction and speed are only slightly better than his." Lu Bu drank a sip of hot tea and smiled at the two disciples in the field: "But after a while, Zaixing's reaction and speed will be better. By then, Qiongying can catch Zaixing's two shots because this guy is sympathetic to women and is letting her go."

Ma Ling smiled and said, "Master, please don't let Junior Sister hear what you said. She is quite stubborn."

"You and Zaixing are too accommodating to her." Lu Bu shook his head: "This will give Qiongying a false impression."

"Anyway, Master, you won't let her appear on the battlefield." Ma Ling picked up the teapot and refilled the tea: "There are several young ladies at home, so we can't make any mistakes."

"That's good..." Lu Bu smiled as he watched the teacup refill, then said, "Now let me talk about you. Get ready and hand over the scout."

"Master..."

"With your achievements, you are more than qualified to be a lieutenant. Now we are no longer short of manpower like we were in Song." Holding the cup in his hand, he watched Qiongying's painted halberd being knocked away by Yang Zaixing, and his mouth curled up: "It's just that your relationship with me is relatively close, so I can only let you be a Sima of another department first, which is considered a lateral transfer. I will promote you to a higher position after you have made contributions in the future."

"I will do whatever the master says."

Lu Bu glanced at him unhappily and tapped the table twice with his hand: "Have some ideas of your own."

In the martial arts training ground, Qiongying kicked stones in frustration, her eyes a little red. Yang Zaixing, who was holding the iron spear, suddenly panicked and ran to the girl.

"My idea is to follow Master into battle." Ma Ling looked at the boy who didn't know whether to put down his gun or continue holding it and laughed: "Scouts are the eyes of the army, but I also yearn for a decisive battle on the battlefield."

"That's what you want, isn't it? After dinner, you can go to the barracks with the military order."

He reached into his bosom and pulled out an iron plate and threw it over. He watched Ma Ling smile from the corner of his eye, and heard him respond. Lu Bu then looked at Yang Zaixing frantically trying to comfort the sulking Qiongying in the martial arts training ground, and couldn't help but smile: "He's a smart kid, luckily his father isn't here."

"If Governor Yang knew, he would surely be willing."

Lu Bu smiled but said nothing. After a while, the girl in front of him calmed down, walked over and bowed her head and called out, "Master."

"Let's go." The figure who stood up just touched Qiongying's head, turned around and walked towards the courtyard gate: "The kitchen should be ready for lunch, go wash up, so that your aunt won't see you nagging like this."

"Oh……"

Qiu Qiongying's face was covered with sweat. She smiled a little embarrassedly when she heard that, then pulled Yang Zaixing and ran towards the inner courtyard. The young man hurriedly said, "Master, senior brother, I'll go in first," and ran away behind her.

The sky was bright and sunny, and a bird was flying by. (End of this chapter)