Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

At dusk, the sun sets, and a dark blue sky hangs over the horizon. In the cold wind, lanterns are hung in the shops and restaurants on both sides of the street. The dots of light merge into a huge light source, illuminating the surroundings, and there is no sign that it is about to get dark.

Although the weather was cold, the streets were still bustling with people. Officials and young ladies in luxurious fur coats were walking on the streets, wrapped in cloaks and coats, walking hurriedly with their heads down. The moment they entered the restaurant, they took off their coats and smiled, as if they were not bothered by the cold at all.

The night gradually covered the last ray of skylight, but the pedestrians in Bianliang seemed unaware of it. They moved forward in the hustle and bustle, contributing their voices to this lively scene.

Hua Rong walked along the way, with a look of curiosity in his eyes. It was his first time to travel at night in Tokyo. He had heard that this was a city that never sleeps, but had never been able to see it. Now, hearing the peddlers' hawking voices and seeing people with different expressions passing by, he couldn't help but feel even more fresh.

Walking and stopping, Little Li Guang, who was famous for his archery skills, would occasionally go to the side of the stalls to observe the route he had just walked. After several attempts without finding anything, he finally came to a restaurant.

"Zhu Ji..." White breath floated out from his opening and closing lips. Hua Rong rubbed his face, pushed the door open and walked in, and the thick door curtain parted.

boom--

The noise of people and the clash of wine bowls, cups and plates suddenly flooded into my ears. A figure was running around in front of me, dragging a wooden tray with steam rising from the food inside. The aroma of the wine and food rushed into my nose, making me swallow my saliva.

"Oh - here come the customers." A shop assistant named Liao Saner ran over.

"Are there any empty seats?"

“Yes, yes, yes.” Liao Saner nodded hurriedly: “Come with me, there happens to be one empty table left.”

Hua Rong smiled and followed the waiter in front of him. As he walked, he glanced at the counter next to him. The shopkeeper was busy calculating the bills and didn't look up. Little Li Guang's eyes flashed for a moment, but he said nothing.

"Guest, how is it here?"

Liao Saner took him to the corner. Hua Rong looked at it. There was only one table placed against the corner with two chairs on both sides. Seeing that he didn't say anything, the waiter nodded and smiled: "Don't look at the wall here, but it's quiet and few people walk here. It's the best place for single diners." Then he asked carefully: "Are you alone?"

Hua Rong looked at him and smiled: "There is one, that's it."

"okay!"

Liao Saner was overjoyed. He wiped the table with a rag and watched Hua Rong sit down. "What would you like, sir?"

"I heard that your river fish is famous here, so bring more, two more stir-fried dishes, a roasted duck, and five pancakes." Hua Rong glanced at the waiter and then snapped his fingers: "I heard that the shopkeeper is from Jingdong?"

“Yes, I’m from Shandong.”

"It just so happens that I also came from Yunzhou. Do you have Shanliang wine? I want to taste the flavor of my hometown." Hua Rong raised his head slightly.

Liao Saner's smile froze, and he was speechless for a long time: "What kind of wine are you talking about?"

Hua Rong retracted his gaze and nodded towards the counter: "If you don't know, go ask if they have Shanliang wine."

Liao Saner opened his mouth, then nodded and smiled again: "Please wait a moment, sir."

He turned and ran to the counter, and seeing the figure still looking down at the account book, he called out twice in a low voice: "Boss, Boss?"

"What are you doing?" The fair-skinned shopkeeper raised his head. It was none other than Zhu Gui, the Smiling Tiger. He glanced at Liao San'er and said, "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? What strange guest have you met again?"

"I didn't see a ghost, I was just fooled by the customer and I don't know what to say."

"Heh..." Zhu Gui lowered his head, counted quickly on his abacus, and wrote down the numbers with a pen, saying, "You grew up in Bianliang, too, so you should know that people here have some quirks. As long as they don't cause trouble, they can do whatever they want. You can handle it." "It's not that I won't handle it." Liao Saner smiled bitterly, blocking his way with his body, and pointed his hand backwards: "There's a single guest over there who said he came from Yunzhou and wants to drink Shanliang wine from his hometown. I've never heard of it."

"Hmm?" Zhu Gui stopped abruptly while he was working on the abacus. He put down his pen and said, "He is a guest from Shandong. I know. Go to the back and get two plates of cold dishes. I will take care of the wine."

"Okay." Liao Saner didn't ask why. The shop was owned by a shop owner, so he could give away whatever gifts they wanted. As a clerk, he was too lazy to say anything more.

Zhu Gui glanced at the corner of the wall, thought for a moment, turned around, opened the small compartment under the cupboard at the back, took out a small wine jar, told the waiter to bring a small brazier, walked to Hua Rong's table, opened the wine jar, put it on the brazier, and sat down: "I heard that the guest is also from Jingdong, why not have a drink together, the wine will be on my bill."

"Thank you, shopkeeper."

Seeing that the shopkeeper wanted to chat with someone, the waiter did not interrupt and turned around to leave. Zhu Gui then leaned over and lowered his voice: "Brother Hua, long time no see, why are you in the capital?"

"I came with the diplomatic corps, so I am considered a guard." Hua Rong chuckled, picked up a piece of fish with chopsticks and put it in his mouth to chew.

"I haven't heard of that." Zhu Gui looked at the customers in the store and said, "Why did the king send an envoy here? What's the matter?"

"It was the Song Kingdom that sent people to Liaodong first, and then we came here."

Noisy sounds echoed in the ears of the two men. Many drunk men were talking loudly, but the two men were far away and could not hear what they were saying.

"They actually went there?" Zhu Gui was surprised. He reached out and poured out the wine through the cloth and clinked it with Hua Rong. "It's a good secret. I didn't hear any rumors before. I only knew that they were arguing about whether to ally with Qi. Recently, Deng Xunwu, the head of the Privy Council, was opposing it. I didn't expect that an envoy had already gone to Liaodong."

"The other party must have gone there secretly. It's normal that you don't know. Such secret activities usually don't get any news in the court." Hua Rong drank the wine and exhaled: "The king is very concerned about the brothers. He asked me to ask whether we should go back. After all, we have moved to Liaodong and can't take care of Bianliang in the short term."

"No." Zhu Gui shook his head: "Brother Dong Kai and I have discussed that with our abilities, we would be a burden if we go back. It is better for us to stay here and do nothing. Who knows, the king may need us in the future." He glanced at Hua Rong: "We bet that the king's ambition is not limited to Liaodong."

He reached out and poured another glass of wine, grinning, "Besides... we are not without any benefit here. There is a professor named Wen Huanzhang in the village outside the city where Dong Kai lives. He is said to be a man of great ability. If you have time, you might as well go and invite him. Who knows, we might be able to invite a great sage for Qi State."

"Your Majesty is worried that there are not enough talents in the country." Hua Rong's eyes flashed and he looked at Zhu Gui: "Where is Wen Huanzhang?"

"The day after tomorrow Dong Kai will come to deliver the fish. Send someone to lead them to find the way."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, brothers."

Hua Rong raised his wine bowl and clinked it with Zhu Gui's, then drank it down. The two chatted casually, and whenever they were happy, they drank to liven up the atmosphere. Gradually, some guests began to pay their bills and leave, or made appointments to go to the next place to continue drinking.

The night in Bianliang is even more lively.

……

Royal study room.

The lights illuminated the luxurious room, and Zhao Ji looked at Ma Zheng who had returned from Liaodong with a happy face: "My dear Ma, did you gain anything from this trip to Liaodong?"

"Your Majesty." Ma Zheng bowed and said, "I have been discussing with the Qi people in Liaodong for many days. The Qi people also want to form an alliance, but they have put forward some conditions. I dare not take the initiative."

"Oh? Tell me about it." (End of this chapter)