Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

"My lord, please let me go."

Wulin Datai was about to clasp his fists on the horse. Although his face was expressionless, his eyes were bright: "Wanyan Loushi and I have met before. We are acquaintances and should be able to talk to each other."

"It would be best if Wulin Da Mingyi is willing to go." Lu Bu turned his head and looked back at him. He nodded, but before he could speak, another person stepped forward and said, "Why don't I go? I know Lou Shi better."

The two turned around and saw the young Wanyan Bendu. The young man spoke in a deep voice, "When I was in Huanglong Mansion, Lou Shi often met with Dubojilie and others. I learned the Balisu method from him."

"...Balisu?" Lu Bu looked at the young Jurchen man opposite him in confusion.

Wulindatai thought for a moment and said, "It's the wrestling method of the Khitan people."

Lu Bu suddenly realized, and looked at Wanyan Ben and said: "I didn't realize that he is an expert in wrestling."

Wanyan Bendu lowered his head slightly.

"Well, since you said you often meet Wanyan Loushi, then you can go." He turned to look at Wulinda Taiyu and said, "General Mingyi has made great contributions along the way. Let's leave some of the credit to others."

Wulindatai showed a rare smile and bowed: "I will obey the king's order."

"In this case, we can't just let Wanyan Sima go alone." Lu Bu turned his gaze and looked at the honest man behind Wulinda Taiyu: "Let Wulindahe and Chulidi accompany them, and you three can take 30 elite soldiers with you. Rest for an hour before setting off."

"Yes, I will go down and prepare first." Wanyan Bendu responded with his head down, then retreated.

"Yu Cheng." Lu Bu raised his hand and pointed to the southeast. "Send someone across the river to find Xi Sheng and ask him to lead the troops to push forward. Just don't pull the strings too tight."

The tall young man immediately took the order and called over the scouts and spies in the army. Soon, more than ten riders rode out on horseback and crossed the river to the other side from somewhere unknown.

The sky moved to the west. In the strong river breeze, Lu Bu stretched out his arms, and his scarlet cloak fluttered. "All soldiers, dismount and rest. Make sentry arrangements. Let the men below take turns to eat."

In the dimming sky, knights in black uniforms dismounted from their horses. The horses neighed as the knights beside them stroked them. People who had nothing to do took out bean cakes and other feed to feed the horses. A buzzing whisper echoed in the sky.
Someone lit a bonfire, and the aroma of the meat porridge gradually overwhelmed the smell of burning firewood.

……

Jingyuan City.

Some tattered flags on the city walls were unfurled from time to time. Since Wanyan Loushi entered the city, he had not made any extra moves, except for sending people to report military intelligence to the Wanyan tribe through Darugu City, and patrolling the city walls with a big knife. The news that Xisheng had divided his troops and headed for Xiangzhou some time ago made this man keenly aware that something had changed.

Just like his son, he thought that there were two differences between the Qi army and the Jin Kingdom. He was more concerned about what was happening in Ningjiang Prefecture in the east.

"My two brothers, Wu Dubu and Xie, are dead, and we have no backup..."

On the not-so-high city wall, soldiers in leather armor stood upright, not moving despite the wind blowing from the river. Wanyan Loushi walked and whispered to his son, "It looks like the Qi army is coming faster than I thought." In his sight, the black cavalry of the Qi army gathered at the end of the field of vision. Although the swaying figures over there could not be seen clearly, the black armor was very eye-catching. It was clear whose army it was.

"Dad, what should we do? Should we cross the river and fight them?"

"Why cross the river?" Wanyan Loushi said, "Such a wide river, anyone with eyes can see it. Wouldn't it give people a chance to attack them halfway across the river? Besides, the enemy is all cavalry..." "Then let them show off their might?"

Standing there and watching the flags fluttering on the other side for a while, Wanyan Loushi remained calm: "Based on the strength of the enemy, they will definitely choose to encircle us from both sides, and then just wait for me to run out of food and collapse." He laughed at himself: "Anyway, there is no way to retreat now, and I am afraid there are disloyal people in the army."

The son beside him thought for a moment and sighed. Jingyuan City was originally small and had been ravaged by the Liao people. If it weren't for the fact that Wanyan Zonghan's military rations had been robbed before, and Wanyan Loushi was quite prestigious, there would have been deserters by now. Even so, there were some bad signs now, no, it should be said that there were always different voices.

Wanyan Loushi, who was walking in front of him, said, "What we can do now is to protect our own safety and find a way to get out of here."

Wanyan Huonu's cheek muscles twitched, and she tilted her head to look across the river. There were bonfires and smoke rising up. "Dad, where can we go?"

"..."

Wanyan Loushi looked back at him without saying anything. He just turned his head and looked at the river in deep thought. After a while, he said, "Go back. If you are lucky..." Then he lowered his voice and said, "Maybe we don't have to fight anymore."

"Hmm? Dad, what did you say?"

The voice was too soft and Wanyan Huonu didn't hear it clearly for a moment. The father in front didn't say much, but just walked forward in silence. The former looked at her father's thoughtful expression from behind and could only shut her mouth and follow.

After walking for a while, a figure in front of them trotted forward. Seeing Wanyan Loushi and his son, he hurriedly ran over. The torches were lit by the soldiers, and Wanyan Huonu saw the other person's face clearly in the light. It was Wanyan Loushi's bodyguard Tushan Hexi. He was only thirteen or fourteen years old, and his young face was filled with sorrow. "General, Hulu brought people to see you, saying that Wuqimai Bojilie has something to say to you."

"Wuqimai?" Wanyan Loushi's mind was moved: "Come at this time?"

"Dad... do you want us to surrender?" Wanyan Huonu was not stupid. She frowned and looked at her father: "At this critical moment, how could he receive the news so quickly?"

"He has spies in the Emperor's Village, right?" Wanyan Loushi said calmly, "It's a very common thing, just like we have spies in Huanglong Mansion."

Tushan Hexi did not say anything, but stood respectfully aside. Wanyan Loushi strode up the steps of the city wall and said, "Let's go and meet him first."

……

The sky darkened, and the color of the azure sky spread across the horizon. Fires lit up in Jingyuan City. Generals in armor walked onto the street. They frowned at Wanyan Zonggu who came in and said, "Wuqimai sent someone here at this time. I'm afraid he wants to win us over."

"Marshal, please don't be so foolish as to agree to his request..."

"Why don't you agree? He is also from our Wanyan tribe."

"Then don't you see that Qi is watching closely?"

The sound of discussion arose among the crowd, and more people looked at the incoming team indifferently, with their arms folded across their chests as they looked at the young man in front of them who was dressed in luxurious clothes. After a while, they left the city and walked towards the military camp outside.

Night falls in this hustle and bustle. (End of this chapter)