Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The sun was shining brightly in the sky and the temperature was beginning to rise as summer approached. Under the lush trees, cicadas had just broken out of the ground and were lying on the trees, making bursts of noises. The sun shone through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the snow-white top of the tent.

Flags were flying over Shuangzhou City. Bian Xiang and his personal guards walked on the city wall, with one foot on the parapet, looking at the countless tents in the distance outside the city.

"Wanyan Sheng, the fourth brother of the Jin emperor..." The sturdy man wearing a horn helmet stroked his beard with his thick fingers: "I heard that he is also a great general. Are all the people of the Wanyan tribe so brave?"

"The Wanyan tribe was once a loyal tribe of the Liao Kingdom, and was even once appointed as a military governor." Xiao Haili's voice sounded from behind, and he strode over in military uniform: "Don't underestimate Wanyan Sheng just because he is a member of the royal family. To be sent here, he must be a man of some means."

"...If you say so, I don't have a reference." Bian Xiang took off his helmet, scratched his scalp, and turned to look outside.

"I was defeated by Wanyan Yingge of the Wanyan tribe back then." Xiao Haili's expression was frank, but the corner of his mouth curled to one side: "That old Wangba was Wanyan Sheng's uncle, and later became his adoptive father."

"...That's really a good fighter."

Bian Xiang's face became more serious as he looked at the white military camps outside the city with a thoughtful look. Soon, figures began to move in his field of vision. Jin soldiers in earth-colored uniforms and warriors from various tribes in tribal costumes were gathering, and desolate ox horns were blown in the distance.

"Finally here..." Xiao Haili's eyes flickered, and he patted Bian Xiang's shoulder: "Get ready for battle. I wonder if we will be the first to start a battle."

Bian Xiang looked away and gave orders in a hurry. The bells on the city walls rang to warn people. A series of footsteps sounded on the streets. One by one, the infantrymen of Lu Bu's army ran through the long streets. Amid the roar of footsteps, they climbed up the city walls. The military commander standing in Wengcheng held down the butt of his sword and kept urging them: "Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Wuwuwu——

War horns sounded in the wild, and figures walking on the green field were connected into one. The strong men pushing siege equipment shouted slogans, beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, and black lines stretched into a straight line, bringing up the yellow sand all over the sky and pressing towards this side. The huge Saker Falcon flag fluttered in the wind, making fluttering sounds from time to time. Twenty thousand soldiers walked slowly across the mud and grass, and a solemn atmosphere was in the air.

On the top of the city wall, large shields were erected on the parapet. The soldiers of Lu Bu's army were still wearing black military uniforms with half leather armor on their upper bodies. At this moment, they were looking calmly outside the city. The black crowd was moving over from several miles away, spanning three or four miles, filling people's vision. These were part of the Jin soldiers.

Most of the defenders here are battle-hardened. They have fought against the imperial guards in Song Dynasty, plundered military states, fought hard battles in Liao Dynasty, and conquered cities with Lu Bu. Now half of Liaodong belongs to them. Naturally, they are not nervous. Instead, because of the stimulation of military exploits, many of them have red eyes and their bodies tremble slightly.

That's the feeling of excitement.

"Stand up the shield! Don't get excited, deal with it calmly!" The generals in various sections of the city shouted from the top of the city.

This was not the first time that Lu Zhishen led troops. He was one of the two military commanders who followed Bian Xiang north this time. The other was Qin Ming, an old acquaintance from Qingzhou. The two of them were in charge of this section of the city wall.

He didn't know what Qin Ming was feeling over there, but he himself was a little excited. After all, he was just a deputy officer in charge of local public security in the Song territory, but now he was making great achievements in the land of Liao. If someone had said this to him a few years ago, he would have been slapped a few times to tell him not to have fun with himself. But now he was commanding thousands of soldiers and standing on the top of the city, which made people feel like they were in a dream.

But the crowds of people surging outside the city reminded him that this was reality and an opportunity to prove himself.

The soldiers, military commanders, and captains on the city walls kept issuing orders and constantly mobilizing young and strong men to move defense supplies onto the city walls. Someone shouted, "Cavalry below the city, avoid the flying arrows!" The archers on the parapet immediately pulled the bowstrings, and the swordsmen and shieldmen protected the front. At the same time, a black rain of arrows flew into the sky and poured down on the tribal cavalry rushing towards the city.

“Hoo-hoo!”

There were shouts from below, and the cavalry of the Wuer tribe who were charging on war horses made strange cries. When the rain of arrows fell, many people on their horses swayed to avoid it, some hid on the side of the horses and dodged, while others were unlucky and were shot off their horses by an arrow. After a cloud of dust, only a dead body was left.

"Pay attention to these cavalrymen." Bian Xiang stood behind the shield with his personal guards, watching these cavalrymen shoot an arrow and then run away in an arc, frowning slightly. Lü Bu had used cavalrymen to support infantrymen in seizing cities, so these generals in the army were naturally familiar with it. They called the messenger and said, "Tell the commanders of each city section that the cavalrymen are testing the weak points of the defense. Tell them to wait and only stand with shields and shoot, and not to leave the city to fight."

He gave the order, watched the messenger run out, and then raised his voice: "Load the Sanniu crossbow and wait for my order to fire."

He did not dare to delay for a moment and urged Qin Ming and Lu Zhishen to arrange the defense. Soldiers were running all around him, with calm and composed faces. On the stairs on both sides of the tower, a large number of young and strong men were carrying battering rams and arrows up. Someone brought over the special crossbow used for the bed crossbow and placed them in bundles on the side.

At the busy stall, dull footsteps were heard from outside the city. In the distance, the Jin soldiers were moving forward in orderly steps.

"It's time to attack the city..." Bian Xiang narrowed his eyes.

Woohoo——

Wuwuwu——

The desolate ox-horn sound echoed in the sky with a unique rhythm. The Jin soldiers were not arranged too far apart. At first glance, the attacking army was very close. The shield bearers in front were holding iron shields and heading towards the sturdy city wall opposite.

The soldiers carrying the message ran back and forth among the approaching army formations outside the city. Soon someone waved a flag, the Jurchen language echoed in the sky, and the formation in front changed.

Soldiers walked forward with heavy steps one by one, moving forward in the passages that moved left and right in front of them. From time to time, they bumped into shields, swords and guns, making slight collision sounds. A large number of wooden ladders were carried by the soldiers in the middle.

The great banner fluttered in the wind.

Wanyan Sheng, who was riding a black warhorse and wearing golden armor, looked at the outline of the city wall in front of him: "The front is where the generals of Lu Bu's army are stationed. I don't know if they are capable... But Du Bojilie is right. The Jurchens' progress should not be stopped."

Instantly, he issued an order: "Pass the order, Wanyan Yinshu can lead the troops to give it a try."

Ling Qi galloped out.

Soon, a vehicle with a war drum on it was pushed up, and the mighty Jurchen men waved their arms, making a surging sound that shook the heavens and the earth. (End of this chapter)