Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The spring rain nourishes the black soil of Liaodong.

The rain curtain hung between the sky and the earth, the gloomy clouds blocked the daylight behind them, in the distance a knight wearing a straw raincoat was galloping over, the dull sound of horse hooves intertwined with the sound of drizzle, the mud was rolled up in the air under the horse's hooves, and they were galloping towards the misty Liaoyang Prefecture.

Not long after, the war horse rushed to the city gate. The soldiers looked at the red flag behind him and waved their spears hurriedly, driving the pedestrians and vendors queuing in the middle of the road to one side. The horse galloped through the crowd with a peculiar fishy smell of livestock, and the splashing rain caused a few exclamations.

When Lu Bu received the news, he was in the study with Wang Zheng and Qiao Lie. Upon hearing that someone was coming urgently from eight hundred miles away, he quickly sent someone over.

"A letter from Xiao Haili." Rainwater flowed down the eaves, forming a small waterfall. Lu Bu said as he read the intelligence and sat down behind the table: "A total of 50,000 troops from Nanjing Road and Zhongjing Road will meet in Yizhou, and will invade our borders on the first day of midsummer."

He put the letter on the table and said, "The good news is that the Han Chinese commander of Nanjing Road has been persuaded and wants to join us."

"Yelü Dezhong in Shangjing will also invade the border in midsummer. It seems that it has been discussed." Wang Zheng reached out and picked up the letter. "With 10,000 soldiers, if they are used well, the Liao army in Zhongjing and Nanjing will not be a big deal. In this way, we can concentrate all our efforts to deal with Yelü Dezhong's troops."

After reading the information, he passed it to his colleague beside him.

"In addition to the list of names brought back by the spies last time, there have been news coming in over the past two days." Reaching out to take it, Qiao Lie said, "Shangjing has 200,000 soldiers. This time Yelu Dezhong led 80,000 soldiers south, claiming to have 150,000 soldiers. However, many of the soldiers are good at fighting and should not be underestimated."

"Xiao Haili and Xi Sheng only have 60,000 men combined..." Wang Zheng straightened his body. "If the two sides join forces, with an army of 130,000 men pressing forward, it will be difficult to defeat them even if someone wants to surrender."

Lu Bu looked at Wang Zheng and suddenly smiled: "So it is best to withdraw the troops from Nanjing Road and Zhongjing Road first."

"I think so too." Wang Zheng pursed his lips. "Since He Zhongbao has been persuaded, we can break through from his side. As long as we retreat the 50,000 men, we can concentrate our forces to deal with the Shangjing army coming from the west."

He paused and said, "We can also summon General Du Fu and have him contain the troops in Shangjing from the side so that they cannot support Zhongjing. This will greatly reduce the pressure on the front line."

"Then let's do this." Lu Bu thought for a moment and then nodded his head to make a decision. He stood up and took two steps. "Just waiting passively is not a solution. Let Xiao Haili contact the other side and tell them their marching route and where their food and grass are stored. Since they want to fight, we can just rob them of their food and grass to feed our own soldiers."

The two nodded in agreement. Lu Bu thought for a moment and said, "Leave the rear mobilization to Fang Xuedu, Wu Jiao, and Li Zhu. The food and grass have been prepared. We will set out early tomorrow morning. You two will follow the infantry, and I will lead the cavalry to meet up with Xiao Haili first."

"Your Majesty, are you setting off now?" Qiao Lie stood up in surprise.

"Who shall I fight now?" Lu Bu smiled, strode to the table and wrote a letter, then came back and patted him on the shoulder: "Give this letter to Xiao Haili and ask him to give it to He Zhongbao to reassure him. The arrangements for the next two days have been made. You must accompany the princess and the children before you go out. Don't come to me unless it's important."

After saying that, he laughed and walked out. Yu Cheng hurriedly asked someone to hold an umbrella for him and followed him.

Wang Zheng and Qiao Lie looked at each other, and the former suddenly smiled widely: "Zheng has no one to send a message, so I'll have to trouble Doctor Qiao to take care of these matters."

"...I should send a message to Generals Xiao Haili and Du Fu." Qiao Lie drooped his eyelids and looked at the smiling face opposite him: "But what is the military advisor going to do?"

"I'm about to go to war, and I've given all the advice I need." Wang Zheng looked at the open door with a worried look on his face, and walked out: "I feel a little pain in my heart when I think that I won't be able to meet the girls in the brothel for at least a few months. I'm going to find some good medicine to heal myself."

As soon as the word "身" comes out, the person has already stepped out of the door and floats away in the drizzle.

Qiao Lie stood there for a long time, and finally managed to say something through his teeth: "Damn it, going to a brothel is crazy. I haven't preached to those girls for a long time, so where can I go to reason with them?"

However, he had no choice. He was the only one among the three people in the room who couldn't take a break, so he had to walk into the rain with a gloomy face.

Soon, fast horses rushed out from Liaoyang Prefecture.

……

Raindrops flowed down from the window lattice outside, gradually forming a stream that dripped from the windowsill onto the bricks and stones in the courtyard below. The sound of the water drops echoed with the girl's sweet laughter. The little figure ran through the corridor, and ran straight past the maid who was blocking the way. The maid hurriedly made way for him. Along the long corridor, the little figure ran to the door and stopped, and pushed the door open with a bang. In the room, Lu Bu was sitting in his seat and talking to his concubine.

"Father!" Lu Wen's face flushed. She lifted her leg and stepped over the threshold. She ran over with a smile and threw herself into Lu Bu's arms. "Why are you back so early today?"

"I'll be back soon after the meeting." Lu Bu touched his eldest daughter. The little girl, who was almost six years old, was sensible and clung to him more and more. He looked at the pair of children held by the wet nurse and stroked his daughter's hair. "It's so wet. Did you play in the rain? You're not afraid of getting a cold."

"Just take a bath in a while." The little guy chuckled and didn't take it seriously, but he quickly remembered something: "Is my father going to war?"

"Hmm? How did you know?"

"My eldest sister told me." Lu Wen blinked, "She said that brother Zaixing will also go with you. Father, can I go?"

"This young lady Qiongying is becoming more and more outspoken." Wu Qing shook her head: "Why are you spreading all kinds of news?"

"Forget it, I'll have to tell Wen'er sooner or later." Lu Bu wiped his daughter's face with his hand: "You are still young, stay at home and accompany your mother obediently."

"Oh……"

The little guy responded somewhat unhappily, and talked to his parents for a while. After all, he was active by nature, so he ran out to find someone to play with.

Wu Qing only had time to shout behind him, "Be careful," before the little figure disappeared.

"You can go down too." Lu Bu turned around and looked at the two wet nurses. He waved his hand, and the women holding the two children, Lu Qun and Lu Lan, bowed and went down quickly, closing the door.

Lu Bu then stood up and hugged Wu Qing into his arms: "Finally no one is disturbing us."

"Wen'er will be back soon..."

Wu Qing's heart beat faster and his breathing became rapid.

"It will be dark by the time she gets back."

Lu Bu knew his daughter's temper, so he picked her up and carried her into the inner room.

"Evening... Evening is good?"

The majestic figure didn't even reply and just let the curtain fall.

In the rain, a voice that made people blush was soon heard. Two tall figures carrying meals stood outside the door and looked at each other, their cheeks gradually getting hot.

……

As time passed into the evening, lanterns were hung in the palace.

The three women, who looked in very good spirits, got down from the bed reluctantly, dressed themselves up, and went to the outer room. They looked at the man teasing the three children with lustful eyes.

"Wen'er, come here, wash your hands, and prepare for dinner."

The little man looked at his mother and went to wash his hands obediently. The three of them came over and sat down. Soon, wine and food were served. The three of them raised their cups and said, "I wish the king a successful return and a triumphant victory!" (End of this chapter)