Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

In the sixth year of Tianqing, the territory of Liaodong was the central part of the Songliao Plain.

On the official roads connecting mountains and rivers, people from tribes and villages loaded their belongings onto carts and set off in opposite directions with their families, migrating towards the north and south, in a mighty procession that stretched far away. Many people who made a living by herding drove cattle, sheep and horses, loaded tents and valuables on carts, and rode horses with their families among the herds of cattle and sheep. At this time, no one disliked the strong smell of livestock. Instead, many villagers deliberately approached these herdsmen so that they could lean against the livestock to warm up at night. You know, the nights in Liaodong are still quite cold.

This kind of moving and migration scene can be seen at every fork in the official road, which also indirectly shows that the smell of war is becoming stronger and stronger.

As the Liao army was completely defeated here, even some people in the market were saying that there would be a battle between the Jin Kingdom and the General of Cavalry in the south sooner or later. Especially when several forts appeared outside the cities of Yin and Liao states, it was an obvious sign of war.

However, compared with the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty who had been deeply rooted in this land for a long time, Lu Bu could not compare in this respect. Fortunately, the implementation of the military merit system made the officials who had tasted the sweetness of the title relatively loyal, and the coming of war was exactly what the soldiers who were about to go to the battlefield had been looking forward to. Without fighting, there would be no money and land.

So after arranging some things, Lu Bu, who could not sit still, simply took hundreds of personal guards to the three counties of Yinzhou, personally inspected the city defense, and then summoned the generals in the army.

"I know that you are stationed in Yinzhou and will inevitably have to deal with the Jurchens in the north. Have you ever had any conflicts?"

In the big tent, Lu Bu sat in the commander's seat, his eyes swept over all the generals in the army, including Du Fu, the newly promoted General of Huben, and Sun An, the yet-to-be-promoted Captain of Wufen, the military Sima Feng Tai, Niu Gao, Jing Chao, Shangguan Yi, and Wang Jun. Guan Sheng and Pan Zhong had not yet recovered from their injuries and had not come to Yinzhou. Sima Xie Ning of another department and the surrendered general Cao Mingji were also transferred here at the beginning of the month and were now sitting in the tent. Generally speaking, although Yinzhou cannot be said to be impregnable, it would be difficult to defeat it.

"...General, the Jurchen army in the Xianzhou area is very restrained. I have also sent someone to ask Xi Sheng about this. The Jin army in the Anzhou area is also the same. However, the people in the state have been migrating, so I think they will take action soon."

Du Fu replied with a cupped hand. The situation has been tense in recent days, and there is even some indescribable instability. He lowered his arm and said in a strong voice: "I have sent scouts to investigate the other side. Food and grass are transported to the city every day. However, considering that the surrounding tribes of the Jin Kingdom will participate in the war, they may bring cattle and sheep with them. Food and grass cannot be used as the main food for their army."

Looking at the other party with tiger eyes, Lu Bu pursed his lips and waved his hands behind the long table: "We have been in Liaodong for a short time, and we have not yet been able to have spies everywhere like we did in Jingdong Road. However, we are not unaware of the other party's dispatch of troops. There was news a few days ago that Jin soldiers gathered in the Huanglongfu area. Tieli, Shiwei and other tribes have sent troops. It can be seen that Jin also wants to complete the victory in one battle."

He tapped his fingers on the table twice, his eyes showed a fierce look, and his voice suddenly rose: "It just so happens that I think so. Food and grass will be transported to Shenzhou soon. By then, there will be navy to transport them. From today on, the rest of us don't need to guard against the Liaohe River anymore. I have ordered Li Bao and Wei Zhaode to come by water to prevent the Jin navy from going south from Xianzhou. Then... instead of guarding against the Jin people everywhere, it is better for our army to press forward... Du Fu, from today on, send troops to the fort ahead to station to resist the Jin soldiers."

The generals in the tent shouted happily. Soon, figures walked out of the tent curtain carrying military orders. Lu Bu walked out of the tent accompanied by Du Fu and Yu Cheng. Looking at the clouds of various shapes in the vast sky and the cool breeze blowing on his body, he seemed to have returned to the border of Wuyuan County.

"It's great..." he murmured softly.

"General, what did you say?" Du Fu didn't hear clearly and took half a step forward.

"Nothing, I just want to say... I hope everything goes well for Military Advisor Wang Zheng."

……

Chenzhou.

Several fast horses ran into the military camp outside the city. The dusty knights dismounted and walked into the general's tent. There were a few soft sounds of wooden boards, and the figures stopped.

"Greetings, military advisor." E Quanzhong, wearing armor and a white cape, bowed to Wang Zheng who walked into the tent. "General E." Wang Zheng looked tired and returned the greeting: "Zheng is ordered by the general to go to Hesuguan to negotiate. Thank you for sending a team of people to escort me. Thank you."

"This is official business, why thank me?" E Quanzhong had some good feelings towards this young man, who was a polite person.

"General, please find a tent for me." Wang Zheng pounded his lower waist, a little embarrassed, "I have been traveling non-stop these days, and my small body can't stand it. I want to rest for an hour."

"Ahaha, it's my duty. Thank you for your hard work, Military Advisor." E Quanzhong smiled and called out to the outside: "Someone, take the Military Advisor to rest for a while."

A soldier came in and asked for permission. Wang Zheng hurriedly bowed and thanked him. Before leaving the tent, he turned back and said, "I hope General E will hurry up and gather all the people. I will lead them out as soon as I wake up."

"I understand, Military Advisor, don't worry."

E Quanzhong bowed and watched the people leave. Then he ordered some food to be prepared so that Wang Zheng could eat something to fill his stomach when he got up.

The sound of footsteps was heard outside the big tent, and the armored captain Yu Yulin and the "charming" An Renmei walked in one after another.

"Brother E, I heard that the new military advisor has arrived?" Yu Yulin entered the big tent and looked around but didn't see anyone. He felt a little surprised.

E Quanzhong smiled and said, "I am here, but I am tired from the journey and I went to sleep. I may see you in an hour or so."

"Hey..." Yu Yulin found a seat and sat down, saying, "These scholars are so weak."

An Renmei also found a place to sit down: "It seems that we won't be able to see each other for a while. Thank you for your hard work in coming to the military camp."

Yu Yulin shook his head: "Anyway, there is nothing to do in the city today. I thought the military advisor would come today, so I made this trip to avoid not recognizing him when we meet in the future." He spread his hands: "That would be so embarrassing."

"That's not embarrassing." E Quanzhong smiled, then said, "But it's good that you two are here. The military advisor has received an order to go to the Hesuguan Department, and he hopes that a team of soldiers will follow him later. I think it's a good opportunity for Brother An to escort him."

"It just so happens that I'm tired of staying in the camp, so it's good to go out for a walk." An Renmei smiled when she heard this: "I just wonder how many people will be accompanying you this time? What do you need to do?"

Yu Yulin was stunned when he saw him smile, and then turned away with an unnatural look. However, E Quanzhong said without any reaction: "I will give you 200 men. You don't need to do anything. Just listen to the military advisor."

An Renmei nodded slowly, unaware that someone beside her was taking deep breaths to adjust her mindset.

Soon, Wang Zheng woke up. (End of this chapter)