Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Under the red sunset, the birds preparing to return to their nests fly towards the distance facing the red sun.

On the ground, a warhorse fell to its knees with its front hoofs hit by an arrow. The scout from Huanglong Mansion was blown away. His companions beside him had no time to rescue him. They could only look back. An arrow flew from behind and streaked across his cheek. A string of blood splashed in the air, and then a burning pain came from the wound.

Whoosh whoosh—

Arrows kept falling from the sky and piercing the ground. For the scouts, rescuing their companions was not the first thing to do. The right thing to do was to run back alive and report the intelligence. Therefore, the only two remaining cavalrymen did not dare to delay any longer and whipped their horses continuously, just to run faster.

Arrows were continuously fired from the hands of the Xi people and the soldiers of the Yuan army. While running, another man was shot off his horse. He fell to the ground with his whole body lying on the horse's back. Then his leg bones were broken by the enemy cavalry who followed. The body shook for a moment, and then remained motionless.

On the quiet field, the last scout hugged the horse's neck and waved the whip desperately, raising dust that quickly spread on the ground.

The light in the sky became dimmer and dimmer, and birds were flying everywhere, as if the heaven and earth were startled at this moment.

The Liao army pursuers running across the plain raised their arms, patted their panting horses, glanced at the outline of Huanglong Mansion, shouted "Go back!", turned their horses' heads and ran back.

Soon, the alarm bells rang on the city walls.

……

Forty miles away, Wanyan Huonu ran across the military camp road carrying a spear.

On the road to the north, the cattle and sheep were driven back to the animal pens by the herdsmen. After Xiangzhou surrendered, Wanyan Sheng gave up the road north of the city. Wanyan Loushi once sent scouts to investigate. The northeast and four sides of Huanglongfu were flat, and the Jin army was active only near the two southwest gates.

Unfortunately, he did not have many soldiers and horses, so he could not surround the city. He could only watch with regret that Huanglongfu had not been captured until today.

It was getting dark. The Wanyan soldiers, dressed in white on top and yellow on the bottom, were changing shifts. Their numb faces showed fatigue. The continuous fighting over the past year had made the soldiers a little tired. However, since Bojilie, the leader of the tribal alliance, had spoken, they had little influence and could not object.

"Father, something is not right." The young general who entered the tent walked over quickly, leaning his spear on the weapon rack and said, "I am leading people on patrol outside, and the scouts in the west have not returned yet. I sent people to look for them, but there is no news."

The lights were on in the big tent, and Wanyan Loushi's face was reflected in the light. Then he looked towards the northwest thoughtfully: "Yizhou was conquered by the Liao people some time ago. I was wondering where they would attack next. Now it seems that they would choose Huanglongfu."

"That……"

"Pass on my order..." Waving his hand to interrupt his son, Wanyan Loushi looked at the sky filled with night and said, "The army should pay more attention to the movements in all directions and be on guard against the Liao people attacking us from the flank and rear."

Looking at Wanyan Huo Nu, he said, "You go to the East Camp and tell Ci Bushi to reinforce the West Camp..." After a pause, he said, "You will be stationed there in person."

"Yes."

There was a serious look on the young man's face. He picked up his spear and turned to leave the tent. The sound of horse hooves faded away from this side.

On the 1st day of the first lunar month, Xiao Gan, with the resentful army as the vanguard, led the central army to press towards Huanglongfu. Together with Wanyan Loushi, one to the west and the other to the north, they blocked the city gate. Wanyan Sheng was very anxious and sent fast horses to the south to urge the Xinzhou and Qi armies to move north.

On the Yi-Hai day, the Liao army and Wanyan Loushi attacked the city walls successively. Wanyan Zonghan in the city personally went to the battlefield to resist the attack of the resentful army. Guo Yaoshi encountered the Jin soldiers for the first time and retreated to his camp, leaving behind nearly 500 corpses.

Wanyan Loushi bombarded the city for half a day. On Dingchou, the Liao army attacked the city wall again. Guo Yaoshi personally went into battle and killed two Jin army Moukes. He was then driven out of the city by Wanyan Zonghan and returned empty-handed again.

Wanyan Loushi bombarded the city again for half a day.

On Gengchen, the Liao army used catapults to fight against the Jin soldiers in the city. Guo Yaoshi went into battle for the second time and three catapults were smashed. Wanyan Zonghan slashed Zhen Wuchen with a knife in the chaos, but luckily he survived and left behind 300 corpses before returning.

Wanyan Loushi continued to bombard the city for half a day.

It was New Year's Day in midsummer. The sky was gloomy. Yuan Lang, wearing a red face and a white helmet, ran into Weizhou with his cavalry. The wind on the plains blew the battle flags of the Jin army on the city walls. Looking from afar, there were patrolling soldiers, leaning out their bodies, weapons flashing coldly, and the city gates that had been closed early. The line of sight turned, and there was no one on the surrounding plains.

"Tsk..." Teng Xun spat out, "Have these Jin people lost their courage or what? They are flying under the banner of our Qi State, but they are still taking our precautions. Who are they trying to show off to?"

Yuan Lang in front turned around and smiled: "You kid, don't be angry, we are not entering the city, it doesn't matter whether he opens the city gate or closes it."

"General, the city gate is open."

Someone shouted, and Yuan Lang turned around to look. He saw a horseman rushing out from the city gate. The horseman came running over and stopped in front of the army within an arrow's reach. The man on the horse was not wearing armor, but a casual uniform with a left lapel. He jumped off the horse and came over to greet him: "I am Wanyan Xishi, the garrison commander of Weizhou. I am honored to meet this general of Qi."

Teng Kan shouted, "This is General Pingnan of our army. You can just call yourself Yuan Pingnan."

The Jurchen man was not angry either. He bowed as he was told and said, "Yuan Pingnan." Then he turned around and looked at the city. "It's not that I won't let you in. It's just that the war is urgent now. The Liao people and Wanyan Loushi have repeatedly attacked Huanglongfu. Weizhou is close to them, so we dare not open the gate as usual." He looked at the cavalry behind Yuan Lang. "We are very grateful that you can come to help. It's just that the Liao people and Wanyan Loushi are powerful. With so few people..."

shook his head.

"Who are you looking down on? We are a battle-hardened army that is no match for ordinary people." Teng Kan shouted, and his brother nodded, listening to the rough man shouting: "Even if we have half as many people as before, it would be easy for us to defeat the Liao people and Wanyan Loushi."

Teng Xun glanced at him, grinned, raised one eyebrow, tilted his head and said "uh..." with a long sound, and whispered to his brother: "You said that before."

"Ah?" Teng Kan looked at his brother in confusion and leaned over: "Did it pass?"

Teng Xun nodded slowly.

"You are quite cautious." Yuan Lang ignored his brother who was playing tricks beside him. He glanced at Wanyan Xishi and nodded: "Don't worry, I am here to support you. We are not ungrateful and will not do anything to fill in the gaps."

The warhorse moved, and Yuan Lang pulled the reins: "Our army is behind us and will be here soon."

Wanyan Xishi bowed and said, "I am sorry for saying too much." Without waiting for Yuan Lang to speak, he said, "To thank you brothers from the Qi army for coming north to support us, I have specially prepared some food and fodder. I hope you can take it with you."

"That's great." Yuan Lang showed a happy expression: "Then I'll trouble General Wanyan to transport the food and grass out of the city."

He bowed to the other side and rode back on his horse. (End of this chapter)