Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The weather began to heat up in midsummer, and teams of soldiers walked out of their tents and found a shady place to cool off.

In Jingyuan City, soldiers wearing Wanyan military uniforms could be seen everywhere putting down their swords and spears, packing their luggage with happy looks on their faces. After years of fighting, it was finally time for them to go home.

The King of Qi is merciful! We don't need to fight on the battlefield.

The Wanyan soldiers thinking this walked to the outside of the city gate in groups of three or five. The Qi army had already taken over the city defense, and even the military camps had Qi infantry stationed there. They only needed to put down their weapons and follow their fellow villagers back to the tribe.

If someone stood on a high place and looked at it at this moment, they would see that more than 10,000 people were gathering around the city, and soldiers in black uniforms were patrolling around them.

Compared with these ordinary soldiers who are about to go home, the original generals still need to fulfill their duties and serve the new monarch. However, this is also what they hope for. Having tasted the power, few people will give it up again and return to a normal life. They tidied their clothes and armor, groomed their hair and beards, shaved off some stubble with a sharp razor, and walked to the provincial government.

The city was full of traces of soldiers' lives. After several wars, Jingyuan City was like a deserted street with few civilians.

The gate of the provincial government office was wide open, and the group walked in after announcing something. The meeting hall of the government office was open, and a breeze occasionally blew in, causing the hanging feng shui map to sway slightly. Several figures were already standing in front of the map, seemingly saying something.

Seeing this, Wanyan Loushi and others walked over quickly and bowed: "Your Highness, I greet your Highness the Prince of Qi."

The Chinese language with a strange accent made the person who was speaking stop talking. The person blocking the front made way, revealing Lu Bu's figure: "Everyone, get up."

Lu Bu looked at the foreign generals with an expressionless face: "Come and have a look. I was just discussing with Xi Annan and Du Anbei about the capture of Huanglong Mansion. You have all been there before, so I think you can teach me something."

"Your Majesty is too modest. I dare not teach you."

Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Shitumen stood up and lowered their heads quickly. Wanyan Huonu, Wanyan Xishi and others behind them followed suit and lowered their heads together.

Lu Bu raised his eyebrows, looked at the two people in front of him with some surprise, raised the corners of his mouth, and waved his arms: "There is no need to be so polite to our own people. Come forward first and tell us how to take this place."

Most of the foreigners were crude and experienced fighters on the battlefield, so it was really surprising to see them say such words out of the blue. However, this was not the time to delve into such trivial matters.

Wanyan Loushi and a few others came forward to look at the geomancy map. The terrain, villages, and road markings around Huanglongfu were very detailed, and it was obvious that they were not drawn casually.

How long did it take to make this picture?

After staring at the geomancy map meaningfully, Wanyan Loushi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have lived in Huanglongfu and led the army to besiege it for a long time. Based on my understanding of it, Huanglongfu has high walls and wide walls, sufficient defense equipment and abundant food reserves. In addition, Nianhan is also a brave and good fighter. With sufficient soldiers defending the city, a strong attack is a bad idea."

Wanyan Shitumen, who was standing aside, stroked his beard and nodded, agreeing with it deeply.

"So, we can only surround this place but not attack it?"

Du Fu frowned. Qi was newly established, and every place needed money and food. Although the situation had improved a little after a year of recuperation, it was still difficult. This trip to the north was made possible by Li Ying, Jiang Jing and others who emptied their pockets. If they wasted too much time...

"What I said is true. It will be very difficult to attack by force." Wanyan Loushi looked at Du Fu with a strange look in his bright eyes. He paused and turned to Lu Bu and said, "But the current situation does not require a strong attack on Huanglongfu. Both the north and south are occupied by the king. I and others also have many acquaintances among them. It should not be difficult to persuade them to surrender with words."

"Very good." Lu Bu said calmly: "I have thought so before. Wanyan Zonghan still has a son living well in Liaoyang Prefecture. If he is willing to surrender, I will also be willing to serve as a general and allow the father and son to reunite." Wanyan Loushi was stunned, but did not ask why Wanyan Zonghan had a son in Liaoyang Prefecture. He just bowed and said: "This way, I will be more confident in persuading him to surrender."

"Okay." Lu Bu turned around and patted the hanging geomancy map: "Then everyone, take a day off today. Tomorrow morning, the army will set off for Huanglongfu."

"Yes!"

The generals bowed and walked out. Du Fu and Xi Sheng stood still and watched the others walk away. Xi Sheng's eyes shifted slightly and said, "Your Highness, what if Wanyan Sheng surrenders as well?"

Lu Bu did not speak. He turned his head and looked at the three black characters of Huanglongfu on the hanging map. He stretched out his index finger and pointed at two points. His eyes seemed to be fixed on those places, but also seemed not to be looking at those places. After a while, he said: "I am not so intolerant of a surrenderer. If he surrenders, I will spare his life."

Du Fu and Xi Sheng looked at each other, then bowed and said, "I obey your command," then turned and walked out.

The standing figure stopped where he was for a while, snorted, and turned away.

……

The sunlight became brighter and it was almost noon. The Wanyan soldiers picked up their bags and headed off into the distance. Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Huonu stood in the field, watching the groups of soldiers go away. Their footsteps raised a little dust. Someone sang a ballad loudly, attracting the support of his fellow tribesmen, and then men from other tribes also started singing.

Intermittent singing was heard, and the young Jurchen man stretched lazily: "Watching them go back, I feel like the war is over."

"It's over." Wanyan Loushi looked at his son, put his hands behind his back and took a deep breath: "The fight in Huanglongfu can't start anymore. It depends on whether Wuqimai wants to live."

"Ah? What do you mean?" Wanyan Huonu looked at her father in confusion: "At this point, is Wuqimai still going to resist?"

Wanyan Loushi laughed, turned around and walked towards the city, and his son followed behind him: "Dad, what do you mean?"

"See for yourself." Wanyan Loushi turned his head and looked at him: "Some things are better seen with your own eyes than listening to me."

"What's so good about this..."

……

The Gengwu month of summer.

The Qi army, which had stayed in Jingyuan City for some time, marched south again. They marched past the Jin army scouts in a mighty procession. The presence of several familiar general flags among the flags raised made the scouts very panicked.

During the year of Renshen, a scout who had returned from the Qi army entered the palace and informed Wanyan Sheng of Qi's movements. The already nervous Jin Lord felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave when he heard this, and he hurriedly summoned civil and military officials to discuss the matter, but most of them kept their mouths shut and did not speak, and the meeting ended in unpleasantness.

On Jiaxu, the Qi army appeared in the sight of the defenders on the top of the city, with the Qi banner held high and fluttering in the northwest. Wang Zheng, who received the military order from Xiangzhou, also led his troops out of the city. For a time, the land north of Huanglongfu was filled with Qi troops. (End of this chapter)