Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 717 Untitled
The charcoal in the brazier flickered with a red light, and waves of warmth spread out, making the study room not so cold. Lu Bu sat at the table holding the stove, looking at the military intelligence that had just been passed back, his eyes full of praise.

Tread-tap-

Lazy footsteps were heard. Lu Bu raised his head and the gates opened to the left and right. Wang Zheng's lazy face appeared at the door. It was a cold day and he wrapped himself tightly in a sable cloak with a newly-received official uniform underneath. The uniform was black with complicated cloud patterns. He wore brocade ribbons and jade pendants on his body and deerskin boots on his feet.

"I've met the king."

"Don't be polite in the study."

Lu Bu spoke in a relaxed voice. The young man who came in shook his head, with a lazy expression of helplessness: "No, my king, your behavior is too frivolous. When Doctor Yang comes back from his mission to Goryeo, he can talk to me about etiquette all night..." He rubbed his forehead and said, "Last time he stipulated the etiquette, I just said the word "I", and he kept talking to me about etiquette all night. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. It's better not to abolish etiquette."

"You are afraid sometimes." Lu Bu couldn't help but smile and pointed at the seat: "Look, according to your request, the cavalry from the border entered the Wanyan tribe, provoked the anger of both sides, and even fought to the death in such cold weather."

Wang Zheng was more spirited, and a smile appeared on his sleepy face. He picked up the military intelligence and read it carefully. After a while, he said with a gloating look, "It's better than I thought. He even involved the stubborn donkey of Yidian. Now Wanyan Sheng can't have a peaceful time." He looked up at Lu Bu and said, "My king, we should reward the soldiers who are going to the expedition. It's hard for them to come in such a cold weather."

"The rewards have been issued." Lu Bu leaned back, still smiling, "Du Fu, Yuan Lang and others can't be promoted anymore, they can only get some rewards. Fortunately, there are not many cavalrymen going into battle this time. Of the three thousand, only about two thousand five hundred will return, so they can still get rewards."

"Your Majesty is so generous." Wang Zheng gave a thumbs up: "If you go to war like this, the soldiers will surely fight to the death." He put down the official document in his hand: "In this case, Zheng should also make some preparations, and the people in the prison can also be seen."

Seeing Lu Bu nod, the military advisor suddenly remembered something: "My lord, how is the pirate situation going?"

"Each side won and lost." The figure leaning against the back of the chair waved his hand, stood up, picked up another document on the table and threw it over, then leaned back: "The pirates came twice last month and successfully attacked two villages. Later, Li Bao caught them and attacked them from both sides with Hu Yanqing, sinking two pirate ships."

"Wei Zhaode and Generals Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi attacked the coastal villages of Goryeo and captured more than 200 people. Hmm..." With the sound of rustling papers, Wang Zheng read through the intelligence at a glance, slowly put it down, and pondered for a moment: "Doctor Yang's trip may be much smoother."

After thinking for a while, Lu Bu's eyes became more focused. "I have given him the power. How to negotiate is his business. If he needs support, there are troops nearby on both land and sea, and they will help him."

"Then I am relieved." Wang Zheng stood up and stepped back: "I will take my leave."

Inside the house, Lu Bu sat in his seat and watched people leave. He just responded faintly, tapping the table with one hand, thinking about something.

In the courtyard outside, Qiongying was kicking the tree trunk mischievously, and the accumulated snow was falling from the branches. Under the eaves of the kitchen, Zhou Darong poured the cooked medicine into a bowl, and a maid came forward to put it in a food box and took it to her wife's room. There was also a small stove next to the bedroom. A plump figure came out with a clay pot and a food box, and walked all the way to the study.

squeak-

The door opened again, and the thoughtful man was awakened by the sound. He looked up at the door and asked in surprise: "Why are you here today?"

Wu Qing smiled, walked forward and took out the porcelain bowl and spoon from the box, leaned over slightly and poured the soup from the clay pot into it, saying, "I just made soup for Wen'er, she asked Daddy if he had eaten, I coaxed her and said I would bring it to you later." She handed the bowl of soup to the man, "You've finished eating and urged me to come over."

"Thank you."

Lu Bu sat up straight and said to her with a smile. He was indeed in a good mood. The little girl was well-educated. Even though he, as a father, was often away on the battlefield, he was never forgotten by his daughter. In the past...

It seems to be the case.

As I was thinking in a trance, my nose suddenly felt a little sour. I reached out to pick up the bowl and calmed down while drinking the soup.

There was a voice outside the door. When he looked up, the man with a normal expression smiled apologetically. Wu Qing nodded in understanding, put the earthenware jar on the brazier, and said, "Remember to finish it." Then he packed up his things, turned around, nodded to Li Zhu and Qiao Lie who came in, and walked out slowly.

There was a faint sound of talking in the house.

……

The prison in Liaoyang Prefecture was still damp and cold in this cold winter. All kinds of fishy smells filled the air, and voices could be heard from time to time in the prison.

"You Jurchens are like hyenas that can never be tamed. You try to get something for yourself, but then turn around and bite others."

"Bullshit! It's all because of you Khitan nobles who are asking for too much! If you didn't even give us a chance to live, who would be willing to go to the battlefield with their heads on their shoulders! Everything that happened today was caused by you in the past, and you should bear all the bitter consequences yourself."

"Now it seems that the Liao Dynasty has not yet tasted the bitter fruit, but your Jin Dynasty is almost gone."

"Bah - if it wasn't for this King Qi's sneak attack, how could we lose? I didn't expect that a dung king like you could go to the battlefield. The Liao Kingdom really has no great generals. What are you going to do? Spraying dung on the battlefield?"

"You are looking for death! If you have the guts, come here and I will kill you."

"I'm afraid you'll spray me with shit!"

Dangdangdang——

The stick hit the metal railing.

"What are you arguing about? What are you arguing about? Be quiet! Damn it, you are a bunch of damned bastards!"

The noisy voices died down. The jailer came back, threw down his stick, sat down, and drank from his glass: "It's really annoying. I am eating and drinking and listening to them say these dirty words. It's so disgusting! Your Majesty, can't you just chop off these criminals and be done with it?"

"I heard that it was some powerful figure of the Wanyan tribe and some great king of the Liao Kingdom." Another one threw a dried fruit into his mouth and sipped his wine: "How can such a noble be like you, who can be killed at will."

"Whether to chop it down or not is a matter for the king and the gentlemen to consider. You and I just need to listen here." The squad leader said, picking up the wine glass: "Come on, come on, drink."

(End of this chapter)