Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 711 Some ongoing events
The news of Prince Qi's Palace spread quickly. When Zhang Lin stepped into the gate of the palace, everyone looked delighted. He didn't need to ask around, because Ma Lin, who was serving as an usher in the palace, came over with an oil-paper umbrella and smiled as he handed him a red silk bag. When he opened it, he found that it contained copper coins strung with a red string, as well as some candied fruits and dried fruits.

"This is……"

Zhang Lin raised his eyebrows, with some guesses in his mind.

"The king is pregnant, and the two concubines are pregnant too." Ma Lin pointed at Yang Lin who was distributing red silk bags in the distance with a smile: "Let's let everyone share in the good fortune. The palace will give out rewards later."

"Oh..." Zhang Lin suddenly realized and stuffed the red silk bag into his arms: "This is a great event. Is the king in the backyard now?"

"Yes, if the doctor wants to see the king, he can go there now."

The two exchanged a few words, and Zhang Lin walked towards the backyard. Raindrops kept splashing on the umbrella. After a while, he arrived at the backyard and bowed to the guard at the gate: "Please tell the doctor that the doctor ordered Zhang Lin to see you."

Soon, someone came out and took Zhang Lin to the study. A servant brought hot soup, lit the brazier, and then left.

Zhang Lin stretched out his hand and held the soup bowl. A warmth rose from the palm of his hand. Not long after, footsteps were heard, and then the door creaked open, and Lu Bu walked in with a smile on his face.

"I've met the king."

"No gift!"

With a wave of his hand, the tall figure walked to the table and sat down, looking at Zhang Lin with a smile: "Doctor, is there anything you need to come here at this time?"

Zhang Lin bowed his hands and said, "My subordinates and Doctor Yang were drinking with the Korean envoy. During the meal, we found out that those pirates were probably supported by Korean nobles. According to him, they were the father-in-law of the Korean king, Li Ziqian."

The smile on Lu Bu's face faded: "Is the news accurate?"

"What this drunken man said is somewhat believable." Zhang Lin lowered his eyelids and said calmly, "But whether he said it on purpose... is hard to say. After all, the political situation in Goryeo has been quite complicated in the past two years."

"Oh?" Lu Bu pointed to the seat with his hand and said, "Doctor, tell me in detail."

Zhang Lin thanked him and sat down: "This person is a powerful official from the imperial family..."

Lu Bu couldn't help but frown, then he listened attentively.

"Li Ziqian's second daughter is the current Goryeo king's favorite concubine. In the ninth year of Qiantong, she gave birth to his first son, Wang Gou. As a result, this man rose to prominence and was promoted to Vice-Chancellor, Minister of the Left, and Pillar of the State. He was promoted to Grand Secretary, Minister of the Court, and Minister of the Secretariat. Later, he was promoted to Grand Commandant." Zhang Lin looked up at Lu Bu, paused, lowered his eyelids and continued, "Many civil and military officials in the country were attached to him. This man gradually became the most powerful force in the Goryeo court."

"Yin Yanchun's family is a wealthy family in Goryeo. The third son of the Yin family is close to Li Ziqian, so this person's claim that he is not afraid of pirates may be true. However, when he first entered the government, he was a clerk for the Duke of Dawon in Goryeo. This person's position may not be the same as his brothers."

Lu Bu changed his sitting position and looked at him with deep eyes: "How do you know so much?"

Zhang Lin sighed, his expression somewhat helpless: "Goryeo is a small country, originally a vassal state of Liao Dynasty, not taken seriously, but the king also knows that Jin Kingdom rose in the fourth year of Tianqing. Liao Dynasty repeatedly sent envoys to Goryeo because of the defeat in the war with Jin, hoping that Goryeo would send troops to attack Jin Kingdom, but Goryeo refused every time. Many of the people sent were my friends, and they talked about it during the chat, so I know it."

He looked up at Lu Bu with a serious look: "Your Majesty, you should also worry about them going north to bite us. Nine years ago, Goryeo sent a large army to invade Helan Dian, expanded the territory by 300 miles, and built nine cities. Naturally..." He took a breath and said, "Goryeo failed to defend the nine cities and returned them to the Jurchens. However, its internal military has been trying to retake the place. Now my Qi State is fighting with Jin and Liao. Although we have won, it is hard to guarantee that Goryeo has no other ideas. After all, it is not easy for us to fight on three fronts. Moreover, I think that the most urgent task is to consolidate our own internal affairs in order to plan for the Jin State in the north and the Jurchen tribes in the east. Only when Liaodong is made into an iron barrel can we talk about other things." "I have already sent a letter to the south." Lu Bu looked at him, with a slight smile on his lips: "Let Wang De and others look after Baozhou and other places on the border."

He stood up, walked a few steps and looked at the geomancy map for a while, then turned back and said, "Go and explain the internal situation of Goryeo to Yang Pu, and let him go to Goryeo to contact the dignitaries there, and let him act according to the circumstances." After thinking for a while, he said, "Wait, give Yang Pu a letter and tell him that the letter can only be given to Li Ziqian."

As he spoke, he picked up a pen and wrote something, sealed the envelope and handed it to Zhang Lin: "Go."

"Yes."

Zhang Lin agreed and then turned around and left, leaving Lu Bu alone in the room. He looked at the feng shui map for a while and slammed the table fiercely: "Gao Li... someone come!"

Yu Cheng pushed the door open and came in: "Your Majesty."

"Find someone to tell Wei Zhaode, Li Bao and other naval commanders that the pirates are from Goryeo and ask them to blockade that area. If there is a chance, let Wei Zhaode resume his old job and don't reveal his identity." He glanced at the geomancy map and said, "It's impolite not to reciprocate. It will also cause headaches for the Goryeo people."

"Yes."

……

On a rainy day in the afternoon, fast horses carrying the order of King Qi rushed out of the city gate and headed south along the official road. Not long after, another dozen fast horses galloped to the north, passing through mountains and rivers and entering Tongzhou.

During this time, Liaoyang Prefecture gradually became restless. Old men from the Liangshan period came to the Prince Qi's Mansion from time to time, bringing large quantities of gifts and medicinal materials. Hu Cheng and Su Liang even took the opportunity of going out to buy to send home pregnancy-preserving medicine of sufficient age, and asked their old father to deliver it to the prince's mansion. As a result, the two old men would meet each other from time to time, and show off what precious things their sons had sent back.

Deng Fei, who had difficulty walking, came over every now and then to stay for a few days, which made Yang Lin very happy. After all, he was a disciple of the palace, and it was a pleasure to chat with his old friend while on duty every day.

It was also in this lively atmosphere that Yang Pu, with 200 elite soldiers, went south by sea to Goryeo together with Yin Yanchun and other Goryeo envoys.

In the middle of autumn, Wang Ling entered Tongzhou on a fast horse. Du Fu, Yuan Lang, Xi Sheng and others who received the order did not dare to delay and quickly mobilized food and supplies. A large number of soldiers, war horses and equipment entered the military camp, and the livestock that could run were already on the way.

Zeng Tu ran all the way back to the military camp from the parade ground and went straight to the central military tent. When he dismounted from his horse, the patrolling and duty soldiers saluted and greeted him one after another, which made the eldest son of the Zeng family involuntarily straighten his chest and enter the tent with a smug look on his face.

"Meet some generals!"

One after another, they looked back and said, "General Zeng is here." Then Du Fu and Xi Sheng pointed to the seats with a smile, "Sit down."

Zeng Tu clasped his fists, bowed, and walked over to sit down next to him.

Du Fu took two steps forward and said, "Today, I received an order from the king, asking us to weaken the Jurchen tribes and allow us to attack their tribes, especially the Wanyan family."

Looking around, the big tent was quiet.

(End of this chapter)