Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

In the middle of autumn, on the day of Yimao, the army returned to Liaoyang Prefecture. The long snake-like team walked into the military camp. The dust was slowly dissipating. Lu Bu, riding on his horse, looked at the soldiers passing by. The long battle made everyone a little tired. He glanced at Han Shizhong, Wanyan Zongbing, Wanyan Zonghan and other generals beside him, and they also had varying degrees of fatigue on their faces.

"The army will have a three-day rest." A loud voice sounded in front of the military camp. Many soldiers looked over in surprise. On Red Hare, Lu Bu smiled and said, "Why are you all looking at me like this? We won the battle and got the reward, so of course I have to let you relax for a while. After three days, the commanders of each army will practice martial arts again. Those with serious casualties should report to the Ministry of War and replenish them in time!"

"Yes!"

Several generals in command hurriedly bowed, then hurried over to arrange for the replacement of those who stayed behind. Although it was a day off, the army had to be on duty, otherwise it would be an empty shell, and if something bad happened, it would be more than enough to pay with their lives.

Lu Bu pulled the reins and looked at the surrendered generals such as Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Zonghan who were waiting in the rear. He pointed his whip at the city and said, "You can also follow me. There are some empty houses in the city. I was going to reward meritorious people. Now that you are waiting here, I will give them to you."

Wanyan Loushi and Zong Han looked at each other and bowed their heads at the same time: "I have not done anything, so I dare not accept this reward."

"That's enough." Lu Bu gave Red Hare a light kick, and the beast took a light step forward, saying, "I don't like false excuses. If I give it to you, take it. If you say you don't want it..." He turned around and looked at the two of them, "I will really take it back."

The two of them didn't hesitate and immediately dismounted and knelt on the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"

Seeing this, Wanyan Huonu, who was behind, also dismounted and knelt down.

"Follow."

The red warhorse moved slowly, and Lu Bu's voice floated into their ears: "Come back with me, and I will have someone take you there so that you don't get lost in the way."

Wanyan Loushi and Zong Han looked at each other and saw that Lu Bu's attitude was still the same as in Huanglong Mansion. They both breathed a sigh of relief, thanked him and stood up. Wanyan Huonu stood up at the back as well. The three of them mounted their horses and watched Yu Cheng protect Wang Zheng and lead five hundred personal guards to surround the fiery figure.

Wanyan Zonghan pulled the reins and said, "I'm going to inform my wife, are you coming?"

The army returned from Huanglongfu, and the families of several people followed in the rear army. Wanyan Zonghan's wife and second son both followed in the army. This time they made a long journey from Huanglongfu and were ready to live here for a long time.

Wanyan Loushi turned to look at Wanyan Huonu and said, "Huonu, go to the back and bring your mother here." Then he looked at Wanyan Zonghan and said, "I will walk slowly and follow behind the king's personal army. You just wait and come over quickly."

Wanyan Zonghan reined in his horse and nodded, then he and Wanyan Huonu rode their horses to the back.

The dry yellow soil was rolled up by the horses' hooves, and the black military uniforms were covered with dust, making them look a little gray. Liaoyang Prefecture received the news of the King of Qi's return early in the morning. Li Zu, Qiao Lie and others who stayed behind sent people to pave the road with yellow soil and sprinkle clean water on the streets before dawn, making sure that no dust was raised.

The curious people stood on both sides separated by the yamen runners and soldiers, watching the royal guards riding tall horses into the city. The moment they saw the fiery figure enter, a buzz of discussion broke out.

Officials such as Li Zu and Qiao Lie who were waiting in front hurriedly stepped forward and knelt, shouting loudly.

"Welcome the king back victoriously, and long live the Qi Kingdom!"

The common people whose families had joined the army suddenly shouted: "Long live Qi!"

"Get up."

On his warhorse, Lu Bu raised his hand in the air, and all the officials shouted "Thank you, Your Majesty!", then stood up and waited for the fiery figure to pass by before following.

Lu Bu looked straight ahead, but he was sighing in his heart. The State of Qi was newly established not long ago. If it had been the time when the Han Dynasty had the merit of destroying the state, countless people would have shouted "Long live the Han Dynasty". Now there are only a few sporadic voices that cannot form a whole wave. There is really no telling how much difference there is.

"What is the king thinking about?"

Wang Zheng, who was following from the side, saw that Lu Bu had a smile on his face and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I was thinking, when I return victorious, it would be great if the people would cheer for me spontaneously."

Amid the noisy voices around, the young man following behind had a thoughtful look on his face. After thinking for a while, he said, "About... when their benefits are tied together with the King's benefits, it will be fine."

Lu Bu turned around suddenly and stared at him.

Wang Zheng looked at the collar of his shirt and asked, "Why do you look at me like that, Your Majesty?"

"Haha." Lu Bu laughed up to the sky: "Nothing much, I just thought that the military advisor would say something about being more benevolent and caring for the people, I never expected you to think so." Wang Zheng disagreed: "A benevolent monarch is good, but it does not match our ambitions. Your Majesty did not establish the State of Qi to humble yourself to others, so how can you win the hearts of the people with just benevolent governance?" He paused, asked the horse to walk two steps faster, and looked at the civilians around him: "I heard that Emperor Renzong of Song ruled the world with benevolence and righteousness. When he passed away, not only the people of Song were sad, but even many officials and people in Liao felt sorry for him. Do you want to do the same?"

"Of course not." Lu Bu said without even turning his head: "I admire the achievements of the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor. What does it have to do with the Emperor of the Song Dynasty?"

"So I'm saying..." Wang Zheng spread his hands, "We should let the king's benefit become the people's benefit. If we are united, we will be successful in everything."

Lu Bu didn't say anything, but nodded slowly as if thinking about something.

Soon, the Prince of Qi's palace was in sight.

……

The walls are low and the corridors are straight.

Lu Bu was thinking all the way. When he stopped, he saw three women with their children standing at the bottom of the stairs looking at him. He turned around and said to the person behind him, "Rest first tonight, and come to the study to find me the day after tomorrow morning."

Then Chitu came down and said, "Why are you waiting outside? It's not like you won't come home."

"When the king returns victorious, we must come to greet him."

Wu Qing said this, walked up to him, and used pomelo leaves dipped in clean water to sweep over his body, then turned around and bowed to Hu Sanniang and Su Jinniang: "Welcome the king back home victoriously, may the king live forever."

Seeing her mother bowing, Lv Wen imitated her and said in a baby voice, "Welcome the king back home victoriously. May the king live forever."

The three girls were stunned when they saw this, and then they covered their mouths and laughed.

"You should call me daddy." Lu Bu laughed and picked up the little guy: "Let's go into the mansion."

"You should call me father."

Wu Qing corrected him from behind. Seeing that he was walking so fast, she couldn't help but nag him, "Slow down, my king. Don't walk so fast."

Seeing little Lu Wen giggling on his arm, Lu Bu pretended not to hear the shouting behind him and simply grabbed his daughter and let her ride on his neck, causing a burst of childish screams.

At the back, Yu Cheng watched Lu Bu and the three concubines walk into the gate, then he shouted, asking the guards on duty to enter the mansion, and the rest to go to the houses on both sides to rest.

Just as he was about to enter the mansion with Red Hare on his back, a large hand reached out from behind and grabbed him: "Yu Cheng, wait a minute!"

Yu Cheng turned around and saluted quickly: "Doctor Li, Doctor Qiao."

"Don't rush to greet him." Wang Zheng jumped off his horse, stretched his legs, walked forward, hooked Yu Cheng's neck, and pulled him to bend over: "I want to ask you, who did the king call when he went to the imperial study the day after tomorrow?"

Yu Cheng opened his eyes wide, looked at Wang Zheng, then at Li Zhu and Qiao Lie: "The king didn't say anything?"

"I didn't say it."

The three of them shook their heads.

"Oh……"

Yu Cheng nodded and straightened up. Wang Zheng felt his movements and loosened his hand. Unexpectedly, the man grabbed Red Hare and ran away, leaving a sentence in the air: "How would I know? Ask the king!"

“This bastard…”

"Mr. Yu, just wait!" (End of this chapter)