Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

At the end of mid-spring, the ground was still frozen hard. In the courtyard of the inn, there were some tender buds hanging on the branches. When the cold wind blew, strands of green light swayed in the air.

Pharmacist Gao was standing in the yard wearing winter clothes. His thin figure had gained some weight. He had been a hostage in Liaoyang Prefecture for some time and could not go anywhere. He could only stay in this city. Out of boredom, he visited several restaurants and hotels in the city, and the flesh slowly grew on his body.

Now he was smiling and looking at the clerk from the Ministry of Rites opposite him.

"Can we really go back now?"

"Who wants to cheat you?" The official looked him up and down and sneered, "Can't I leave you here to compete with the people for food?"

Pharmacist Gao was startled for a moment, then smiled and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go get someone."

In less than a cup of tea, the members of the delegation who were detained in the inn came out one after another with excited looks on their faces. The clerk over there looked impatient and took them out.

Outside, Li Shanqing watched the people coming out and called them over: "You came here to seek an alliance so that we can attack Liao together. This is not our wish. We just consider that the two countries coexist in the world and should treat each other in a friendly manner. Now that Song has neglected our country, the King of Qi feels humiliated. From now on, you must not come again."

He called out to the Qi soldiers in the rear: "Send these Song people out of Liaoyang Prefecture."

At this moment, a group of soldiers came over with swords and spears, and formed two sides, taking Gao Yaoshi and others out of the city. Several Song soldiers looked at each other, feeling as if they were being escorted. However, they were in the territory of Qi State at this time, and the soldiers around them were holding sharp weapons. They did not dare to complain and walked out with their heads down.

I didn't mention going to the port to find a boat to go back.

……

In the afterglow of dusk, intermittent sounds floated in the wind. Outside the military camp, tired soldiers came back with their hands hanging down. After a simple wash, they took their food and went outside to wait for dinner.

Bonfires were lit in the camp, the flames illuminating people's faces. Huge wooden barrels were carried out, and the air around was filled with the aroma of rice mixed with the fishy smell of soil, creating a smell that made people wonder what to think of.

Hua Rong stood on a watchtower not far away with his eyes narrowed. He watched the soldiers walk into the barracks and gather at the back of the barracks. The sounds of talking and chatting were noisy. Some people boasted about their achievements, and some walked forward silently. He was already familiar with these scenes. He needed to relax in a proper way during daily training.

Just thinking about what Lu Bu said two days ago, I still feel hot and worried in my heart.

"General, are you not going to have dinner yet?" Huang Xin was the last one to enter the camp. He felt someone above his head. He looked up and saw Hua Rong. He shouted and asked the soldiers to close the camp gate.

"I'll be right there." Hua Rong replied, and he went down the wooden ladder, walked to Huang Xin's side, and pressed the handle of his knife as he walked into the inner tent. "The soldiers are well trained. It seems that you have worked very hard while I was away."

"It's my duty." Huang Xin was half a body behind and smiled when he heard it. "The king has bestowed the title of the String Shooting Battalion. We can't go to the battlefield and embarrass the king."

Seeing the flags with crossed bows and arrows flying in the Central Army, Hua Rong nodded and said, "That's right. My army is famous for its archery skills. Now that we have been officially granted military flags and numbers, if we fail, I will not be able to appear in front of the king." He paused for a moment and turned his head curiously, "I know that the king's personal soldiers have been renamed Wolf Riders. Have the other troops also been granted military flags and numbers?"

"Not all of them." Huang Xin thought for a moment and shook his head. "The Huanglong Prefecture's troops are led by General Du Fu, who was given the title of Beizhenfu Bing. The Xiliao Prefecture's troops are led by General Xiao Haili, who is called Xiaoqiwei. The troops led by General Xi Sheng are Hubenwei."

The soldiers around looked at the two and quickly stopped to salute and greet them. Huang Xin walked past them and continued, "Then there is our army, and Han Shizhong's side who was given the title of first to enter the camp, plus the existing Xianzhen Camp and Firearm Camp. In addition to the king's personal soldiers, there are only six divisions with military flags in total." "Maybe there will be more this year." Hua Rong said faintly, looking at the dimming light in the sky, and looking away: "I hope so..."

……

Early summer.

The temperature has become comfortable, the grass leaves are turning from light green to dark green, and the ridges in the fields are filled with people tending the land. A horse gallops from the northwest, passing Liaozhou and heading straight for Tokyo Prefecture.

The man had messy hair and black and white streaks on his face, but he was still young, with a well-proportioned body, a pair of frighteningly bright eyes, and an unusually tired face, obviously because he had not rested much due to the long journey. The travelers and caravans passing by looked at him curiously, but since it was none of their business, they did not go up to him to cause trouble.

When the knight galloped all the way to Liaoyang Prefecture, some soldiers went up to stop him. Both the horse and the man were exhausted. When the horse stopped, the man fell off the horse's back and lay on the ground gasping for breath. Several soldiers guarding the gate hurried over and lifted him up. Someone took a water bag from his waist and fed him a few sips, which gave him some strength.

"Hurry... I'm a spy in the army, take me to... the military camp."

The guards at the door looked at each other in bewilderment. The captain on duty jumped up and said, "Quick, carry the man to the government office first." He kicked his stupidly stunned subordinate and said, "What the hell are you doing standing there? Hurry up--"

At that moment, the soldiers woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly carried the people and ran into the city.

At this time, the people around the city gate stopped and looked at them curiously. They saw four soldiers carrying a person and jogging into the city, so they quickly dispersed. A patrolling soldier saw the situation here and walked over. After knowing the situation, he quickly cleared the way and sent the person to the government office while shouting all the way.

Afterwards, a person dressed in ordinary people's clothes merged into the crowd and disappeared.

Not long after, Du Lisan and Tang Erhu rushed over after hearing the news. When they saw this person, they both frowned and asked, "Who are you? Why haven't I seen you before?"

The man sat weakly on the chair and bowed: "Please forgive me, the two commanders. I am Shi Xiu, a subordinate of Master Qiao Lie..."

"Oh!" The two of them suddenly realized: "It turns out to be a brother from Youshi Mansion. I will take you there right away."

But before he could finish his words, a group of people and horses came hurriedly with Qiao Lie. Shi Xiu was sharp-eyed and stood up vigorously. He saluted the Shangguan who came in and said, "Shi Xiu greets you, sir. Last month, there was a change in the Liao court. Yelu Dezhong wrote a letter to attack our Qi State. Now he is gathering troops. Please report to the king. There will be changes later."

Qiao Lie's face suddenly changed. He asked about the details again and asked someone to take him to rest. He turned around and walked out of the government office and quickly went towards Prince Qi's Mansion.

……

Same moment.

Yelu Dezhong walked into the general's tent, looked at the commander who had already arrived and nodded: "Everyone, be calm, generals, the battle is about to begin." (End of this chapter)