Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The sun was scorching, and the hot wind blew the big banner into the city.

Lu Bu rode on his Red Hare and stepped into the west gate. He was protected by the guards and stopped at one side. The corpses here had not been cleaned up yet. The Qi soldiers in military uniforms stood around with swords, spears, bows and crossbows. The young and strong men from the Huanglong Mansion dragged the corpses to the side of the cart with pale faces, stripped off their clothes and armor, and only the bodies were thrown on the cart in a mess. The blood flowed down the gaps in the cart. When the cart was full, they covered it with straw mats and took it outside for burial.

Glancing at the mule and horse carriages leaving the city, countless hysterical fights and metal collisions were passing through the city and coming towards this side.

Xi Sheng, who entered the city first, had a clear division of labor with the cavalry. Ma Jin controlled the streets in the city and cleared out the remnants of the defeated soldiers, Di Lei assisted the west wall, Ma Xi rushed to the east gate, and Feng Tai, Teng Xun, Teng Kan, and Wanyan Zongbing led the cavalry to surround the imperial palace and wait for reinforcements.

"Not in the city?"

Lu Bu frowned and looked at Feng Tai who came to report the news. He originally wanted to lead his cavalry in to talk to Wanyan Sheng and ask him to surrender quickly, so that it would be easier to surrender the defenders here. However, he didn't expect to get such news.

"Have you sent anyone to look for it?"

"Your Highness, we have sent out cavalry to look for him. There is news that the north gate was opened for no reason. I think he escaped from there. Wanyan Changshui has already chased him. Teng Kan was afraid that he might get hurt, so he also chased him." Feng Tai clasped his fists and said respectfully, "Teng Kan went to the east gate and will not come to the west gate. I just didn't expect the city gate to be opened so soon..."

"Wanyan Sheng abandoned his men and fled, so naturally he drove fast."

At the side, Tang Bin walked over quickly, knelt on one knee and clasped his hands together: "Greetings, Your Majesty." He stood up without any formalities and said: "I just interrogated the Jin soldiers on the city wall. This place was guarded by Wanyan Sheng and his eldest son Wanyan Zongpan. When they saw General Di Lei coming from the south wall, they abandoned the city and fled, and the morale of the army was weakened."

The whip hit his palm, and Lu Bu thought: "There is a military advisor in the north. If he escapes like this, then let him escape. Anyway, he can't make any waves in Liaodong anymore."

He looked at Tang Bin and said, "Organize the soldiers in the Xianzhen Camp who can still fight and take control of the West Gate. Feng Tai, you take the cavalry to help Xi Sheng and Ma Jin clean up the city as soon as possible."

"Yes."

The two men clasped their fists in response, and Tang Bin immediately turned and left. Feng Tai stood there hesitantly, and Lu Bu saw this and knew that he might have something else to report: "Why didn't you leave? Is there anything else?"

Feng Tai hesitated and said, "I have another thing to report to the king. I went to the palace before and found out that Wanyan Zongbing killed several of Wanyan Sheng's sons. I asked the people in the Jin palace and found out that all of Wanyan Sheng's descendants in Huanglongfu have been killed. Now only the eldest son is left by his side."

He glanced at Lu Bu and said, "I have never received the king's military order, and I think he has not received it either, so..."

"I understand." Lu Bu nodded: "You go and do your work first."

Feng Tai then clasped his fists and retreated. Soon, the sound of horse hooves and the footsteps of the Xianzhen Camp infantry roared on the long street. Lu Bu tapped his palms a few times with the whip and let out a breath.

"…You still need to give a dog some meat to eat. Come back and give it a beating."

The only general who stayed here at this time was Yu Cheng. After listening to Lu Bu's mumbling, he said nothing, but just ordered his guards to stand forward.

As for the newly surrendered Jurchen generals such as Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Shitumen, they have been taken to the city wall to persuade the Jin soldiers to surrender. They are all veterans who have fought against the Wanyan tribe for several years, so it is better for them to continue fighting on the battlefield. Thinking silently in his heart, Lu Bu did not choose to go to the palace at this time. Since he chose to let his generals do it this time, he might as well let them do it.

The scorching sun was blocked by the city wall. Under the shade, Yu Cheng brought in a table and chairs and put them down. Lu Bu jumped off Red Hare and let the beast relax while he nibbled on the hay and bean cakes prepared by his personal soldiers. He sat down himself and took a rest under the huge shade.

The cavalry were ordered to run back and forth, bringing their respective intelligence to Lu Bu.

The east gate was breached without any incident by Ma Ling, Zeng Tu and Ma Xi, who attacked from both inside and outside. Xi Sheng set up a camp for wounded soldiers in the city, and waves of soldiers with varying degrees of injuries were taken there for treatment. Doctors from Huanglong Mansion were driven by the soldiers from their homes into the barracks to treat the wounded soldiers.

Then, Xu Wen outside the north gate defeated the Jin soldiers who were leaving the city. Han Shizhong killed one Mouke and two Puliyan on the top of the city wall, which greatly reduced the morale of the defenders. The moment Wang Zheng led his troops into the city, they put down their weapons and surrendered.

In this way, the defenders of the four gates were completely wiped out. Wang Zheng and Xi Sheng immediately began to organize the troops at the four gates and gradually check the city. If there were a small group of defeated soldiers entering the houses, they would call their colleagues on the street, first use bows and crossbows to shoot at the houses, and then the soldiers with shields would break down the doors, and screams would be heard from inside the houses.

As it was still wartime, the people in the city could not be taken care of. Fortunately, the Qi army had good discipline and there was no major bullying of men and women. Only some money and goods were robbed and some people were injured during the resistance. It was a blessing in disguise that no one was killed.

However, the wealthy and nobles in the city did not think so. A large number of carriages and horses were scattered on the streets, trying to take advantage of the chaos to leave Huanglong Mansion, but they were all stopped by the invading Qi army. Dense crowds of people and vehicles stayed on the streets, and everyone was dressed in brocade, and their carriages and horses were luxurious.

Trembling in fear under the threat of swords, guns, bows and crossbows.

"Send someone to investigate. Those with good reputations will be released. Those with bad reputations will be released after handing over half of their property. Those who are hated by heaven and man..." Lu Bu threw the information on the table and leaned back. "Behead them and confiscate their property."

"Yes." Lingqi responded, turned around and ran out of the circle of guards, jumped on his horse and went to deliver the order.

The horse's hooves stamped the ground. Looking at a few Jurchens in ordinary clothes and armor walking towards the front, he pulled the reins, let them run away, and the approaching figures looked back, then retracted their gaze, walked to this corner and bowed down.

"Your Highness, Wanyan Huonu (Wanyan Zonghan) and Wanyan Poluhuo (the guilty general) greet His Majesty the King of Qi (the King)."

"No thanks." Lu Bu waved his hand: "The battle is not over yet, so there is no need for so much etiquette."

Wanyan Huonu stood up with a happy face, looked at Wanyan Zonghan who looked calm, and then looked at Wanyan Poluhuo who was pursing his lips and wearing armor, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "It is so easy to break into Huanglong Mansion this time, thanks to the two generals Zonghan and Poluhuo who understand the righteousness."

The two men hurriedly clasped their fists and bowed: "We don't deserve the praise from the king. Wanyan Sheng didn't know the time, didn't pity the people, and was jealous of the talented. His defeat was the will of heaven. The king is punishing us on behalf of the gods. We are all proud to have done our part."

"They are good at talking." Lu Bu shook his head and laughed. Although the Jurchens he met recently spoke Chinese with strange intonations, they were all eloquent. They were much better than the Xianbei and Xiongnu people who could not speak fluently in his impression.

"But you two don't need to be so careful. In our army, merit is the basis. What's yours will not run away, and what's not yours, don't even think about it." The burly tall figure stood up and looked at Wanyan Poluhuo and said, "General Zong Han's position has been agreed before. You can take up the position after this war is over. What about you? Do you want any reward?"

Wanyan Poluhuo clasped his fists tightly, and the armor on his body made a metallic friction sound: "I am guilty of a small merit, and I dare not ask for extravagant rewards. I am willing to be a small soldier in the army." (End of this chapter)