Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The early autumn and mid-autumn of the tenth year of Tianqing were disastrous days for Xiao Yixiu. First, he received the emperor's order to gather soldiers in Wugu Dilie and prepared to march south to disrupt the rear of Qi. Then, the Zhazhishi tribe attacked and dragged him into the quagmire-like northern part of Zhongjing Road. Later, the Qi army marched north and inexplicably joined forces with the Zhazhishi troops to wreak havoc in the Una River area.

In a short period of time, five tribes of more than a thousand people were slaughtered among the eight enemy tribes, two of which were medium-sized tribes with as many as five thousand people. Xiao Yixue, who had received the emperor's order, complained bitterly, but he dared not go out of the city to fight. If this happened, he was afraid that he would lose his official position.

For a time, everyone in the Una River Basin was in danger. The small tribes no longer dared to stay here by relying on their affiliation with a large tribe. They packed up their valuables, took their iron pots and porcelain bowls, packed up their tents, and drove their cattle, sheep and livestock to the west.

I hope to find a pasture there where I can graze my cattle in peace.

And since there are tribes that have left, there are also tribes that have not left.

Herds of cattle and sheep lowered their heads to nibble on the grass, then raised their heads, mooed, and baaed, and began to run backwards in a somewhat uneasy manner. The shepherd in single clothes raised the whip in his hand to swing it, but suddenly stopped, feeling a slight vibration on the soles of his feet. His face changed color, he listened attentively, and turned to look in the direction of the roar.

In the field of vision, dozens of cavalrymen in black armor were running in the front, and the cavalrymen following behind formed a black line. The dust they raised flew into the sky, like a surging wave sweeping over.

“Ah…ah…ah…ahhh—”

With a strange cry, the shepherd crawled towards his horse. The cavalry in front of him drew their bows and arrows, but suddenly let go.

Something flew across the sky, followed by a scream.

Someone in the tribe heard the noise and came out to check. Then, more arrows flew into the space and landed on the tents that stretched out in front of them. In an instant, miserable screams were heard.

"Attack—"

"It's a Jurchen!"

"Get on the horse and fight them!"

Shouts rang out in this tribe. The brave and cowardly men were running, calling their wives and sons, or picking up their spears and bows. At this time, the thunderous roar was much closer, and everyone understood.

The Qi cavalry that had been wreaking havoc on the Una River arrived.

Figures riding on war horses galloped across the grassland. The flat grassland was covered with dust, and the dust fell all over the green. Countless iron hooves were flying, stirring up bits of mud.

Under the clear sky and white clouds, the cavalrymen in black armor, riding on war horses of various colors, launched a terrifying charge towards the tribe in front. Under the huge impact, terrified and angry faces were knocked down and drowned under the high-speed hooves, and blood splattered in the shining blades.

Tents were destroyed and flattened in the waves, dust filled the air. A crying child was carried by his father onto a horse and wanted to escape from the tribe, but he was pierced in the back by several stray arrows and fell to the ground with his eyes open. The cavalrymen who were charging at him came over and shot the child on the horse and sent him flying into the air.

A dark-skinned tribal soldier ran out with an iron spear, roaring "Woo-la!", staring at the cavalryman holding a big axe with red eyes, and rushed towards him.

The warhorse exhaled hot air, the armor on its arm made a slight sound of friction, and the axe whirred with the wind. Wanyan Zongbing didn't even look at him, blood splattered on his side face. He glanced at the almost destroyed tribe and said to the messenger beside him: "Hurry up and kill everyone here, we have to meet up with the commander of the central army."

The axe was raised, and the strong man with his head split in half fell to the ground with a bang, and red and white blood flowed all over the ground from the wound.

The view rose to the sky. More than 20 miles north of this tribe, Wanyan Loushi led 2,500 cavalrymen from the central army and 300 knights from the Zhazhishi tribe to launch an offensive against a tribe called Dila. Black figures were raising blood everywhere. Someone lit a torch and threw it on the tent. The flames jumped up violently and the thick smoke covered the screams.

Soon, the entire tribe was engulfed in flames. The burning bodies and naked women being chased were running around, emitting terrifying screams.

Blood, limbs, and flames filled people's eyes at this moment.

Another massacre.

……

The grass was burned black and there were remains of corpses emitting a burnt smell. A crow flew over the head, calling "cackle-cackle", and landed on the ground in the distance, looking at the young man squatting on the ground to check with its red eyes.

"Go south, northwest, and north!"

Shi Xiu, who was wearing casual clothes, raised his head and jumped on his horse: "The horse hoof prints go that way."

More than 20 riders behind him hurriedly followed, and his advice drifted in the wind: "Don't look indifferent, show some panic, so that you can explain it if you encounter Liao cavalry."

The horse's hooves kicked up the grass and soil on the ground.

Shi Xiu's eyes were steady, and he pretended to be panicked and frightened on his face. He looked at the knight behind him who was trying hard to make faces, making his face look funny, and felt helpless.

This time he went north to do some secret things and to pass on the emperor's edict to Wanyan Loushi and others. However, when he arrived in the north, he found that the war was not as he expected. The army was not near the ancient city of Jumu, but was slaughtering the tribes here. This desperate man didn't know how to evaluate it for a while.

When I was in the underworld, I often heard about looting by government soldiers, and those red-blooded gangsters in Song were no different from mountain bandits.

Maybe I can hang out in the military...

The young man was enjoying his meal with all sorts of thoughts running through his mind and smacking his lips when he suddenly heard the sound of an arrow and then several figures rushed down from the mound in front of him, preparing to draw their bows on their horses.

whoosh-

The arrow flew from the left and stabbed into the soil behind.

Shi Xiu was sharp-eyed. Seeing that he was still drawing arrows, he immediately shouted loudly several times in Jurchen: "I am the envoy of His Majesty, and I have an imperial decree for General Wanyan."

The scout who was rushing over was startled and shouted, "Stop!"

He asked his companion to stop and watched Shi Xiu coming over. Before he could ask any questions, he saw the young man opposite him throwing a sign and listened.

"This is my identity token. Take me to see General Wanyan immediately."

The scout took a closer look and saw that it was a military token. He quickly returned it to Shi Xiu and waved his hand: "The commander is some distance away from here. Please follow me."

"No problem, just lead the way."

Then several scouts pulled the horses off and took Shi Xiu and others to the rear. After walking for an unknown number of miles, Shi Xiu and others felt that the scenery in front of them was no different from the place they had run before. They were wondering where to go when they saw the rising black smoke in front of them.

The war horses were slowing down, the flames were beginning to die out, the remaining flames illuminated people's faces red, the knights were walking with swords and guns in hand, looking for possible living people, many of them were pulling fat cattle and sheep to the side, killing them with knives, bleeding them, and then skinning them for barbecue.

The smell of burning mixed with the smell of blood and rust filled the burning tribal camp. As I looked around, I saw people constantly lifting dead bodies and throwing them into the fire, sparks flying.

The smell of burning kept drilling into his nostrils, but Shi Xiu showed no strange expression on his face. He rode his horse to Wanyan Loushi, dismounted and clasped his fists: "I am Shi Xiu, working in the Ministry of Personnel, and I have been ordered to come here to convey the emperor's order."

As he spoke, he first handed the identity badge to Tushan Hexi who came forward. After he checked it, he took out a rolled-up plain silk from his bosom and said, "This is the order of His Majesty, and it is clearly ordered to be handed over to General Wanyan."

Wanyan Loushi did not dare to be negligent, and hurried forward, took the imperial edict respectfully, stood up straight, opened it and read it, with joy on his face.

"What did your majesty say?"

Generals Zeng Tu, Wanyan Huonu, Wanyan Zongfu and others in the rear came forward curiously, trying to read the contents on the silk.

Seeing this, Wanyan Loushi quickly closed his letter, looked at everyone and said, "Your Majesty is mindful of the hard work of our soldiers at the front, so he specially wrote a letter of commendation and ordered us to act according to our discretion and put the safety of the army first."

He glanced at the expressions on everyone's faces and smiled: "His Majesty has been rewarding the generals in the court. He said that we are all above them. We can take over as soon as the army returns to the court. Those who have made great contributions will be given houses and mansions. Everyone, we should work hard."

Wanyan Huonu and the others showed joy on their faces. Seeing this, Wanyan Loushi said, "Huonu and Erlido, go get two young cows and sheep. The envoys have come from afar, so we should treat them well. Also, let Wulindatai come as well." The two nodded hurriedly and left. Wanyan Loushi watched them go away, and asked his disciple Hexi to take Shi Xiu and the others to rest. Knowing that he might have something private to say, the workaholic did not refuse. He clasped his hands together and walked away with the young guard.

Wanyan Loushi then approached Zeng Tu and said, "Your Majesty said that if you want to set up a Protectorate in the north, you have to beat them hard and make them subdue first."

Zeng Tu looked around at the desolate scene and thought for a moment: "Aren't we doing the same thing? Why didn't the general tell the other generals?"

"It was just a fluke that the will of Your Majesty was the same." Wanyan Loushi nodded and rubbed his messy beard with his fingers: "If such a thing gets out, it will damage Your Majesty's reputation. It is not a smart thing to do."

He paused for a moment, and looked at Zeng Tu with a meaningful look in his eyes: "General Zeng is an old friend of your majesty when you were in Qianlong. I just told you."

"...I never thought that General Loushi was so good at understanding people's minds." Zeng Tu teased and looked at Wanyan Loushi: "I heard before that the general rarely communicates with others."

"It's not that I can't, it's that I don't want to." Wanyan Loushi looked back at him, and they both laughed, looking at each other with unspeakable meaning.

Then they went to the resting area at the back, where Shi Xiu was drinking kumis with his attendants to quench their thirst. Wanyan Loushi's eyes fell on the iron cage hanging on their war horses, and then moved away.

He and others should also have their own tasks, but these have nothing to do with Wanyan Loushi. He should first turn Ugundilie upside down.

While he was thinking, his son Wanyan Huonu came over leading a lamb.

……

The time goes back to the middle of early autumn.

More than half a month has passed since the founding of the State of Qi.

The plains, villages and fields near and far were immersed in the colorful sea of ​​summer flowers. In Linhuang Prefecture, the streets were bustling with people, many of whom were merchants coming here from Liaoyang Prefecture.

Some of them were from the Bohai, Jurchen and other big clans. They were all business savvy people. Everyone knew that the most profitable place was under the imperial city, so they were willing to flock here. As for the capital, they denied that it was here...

Who cares? It’s good even if we don’t expand a business here. For these wealthy people who can come here, the cost is not too much.

A dozen Jurchen merchants brought livestock and rare items such as pearls and falcons into Shangjing two days ago. However, they did not expect that the pearls and falcons favored by the Khitan nobles were not sold, but the livestock they brought were sold out within three days. The merchants from various tribes were so happy that they thanked the gods again and again.

Over the years, the Jurchens had traded with Qi in the market and had some money in their pockets. They would go in groups of three or five to buy some popular things in the capital, and they would even have some extra money to buy some rouge and powder for their wives.

But most of them were supplies for the winter, such as food, cloth and linen.

Leaving the street and entering the city, there were many more pedestrians and civilians than when the Qi army first entered the city. Many people who had been hiding in the surrounding villages had returned after seeing that the city was safe.

Some scholars in long robes with wide sleeves walked into the study and asked about books such as classics and history. They bought a few of the ones they liked. Some people got nothing and walked out of the shop shaking their heads, hurried to the next shop.

After the King of Qi ascended the throne, rumors about opening the imperial examination had already spread. Until the court released the official bulletin in the past two days, the literati in the city were ecstatic. In a subtle way, the new emperor became a wise ruler in the mouths of these people who were good at writing.

It is rumored that a person who had failed the imperial examination in the Liao Dynasty made a bold statement that he would definitely strive to make a name for himself in the new dynasty.

Compared with the lives of ordinary people, the officials of various departments of Qi State were also very busy.

Tao Zongwang ran around Linhuang Prefecture almost every day. Many mansions of Khitan nobles were nationalized. He wanted to convert them into the style of Han houses according to Lu Bu's requirements. These were to be rewarded to the generals and officials who were to be awarded.

Some adjustments also needed to be made in the imperial city. The Kaihuang Hall, Tianxiong Temple and other palaces and temples needed to be rebuilt, and the tablets and portraits of the founding emperor of the Liao Dynasty and even ancestors needed to be removed. However, Lu Bu did not want to build a large-scale project, so he only ordered Tao Zongwang to make the interior into the style of a Han Palace on the original basis. As for the Tianxiong Temple, which was difficult to change, he could only demolish it and rebuild it.

Therefore, the Nine-tailed Turtle was busy all day long. He was either directing the construction site or running to Jiang Jing to ask him for help in looking up Han Dynasty classics. He himself could not understand those things at all. After all, this was the first time in his life that he had started construction in the imperial palace, so he could not be careless at all.

On the other side, Li Zhu and Qiao Lie knocked on the door of Yang Bangyi's temporary residence with a smile on their faces.

"Brother Yang, long time no see."

Yang Bangyi was stunned for a moment: "Didn't we meet at the court meeting a few days ago?"

Li Zhu and Qiao Lie looked at each other, raised their heads and laughed: "Brother, you really know how to joke."

Yang Bangyi didn't say anything, but just looked at the two of them expressionlessly.

Looking at the serious-looking middle-aged man, the two officials from the Ministry of Personnel looked at each other helplessly: "Well, we two came here specially..."

"I was just kidding." Before he could finish his sentence, Yang Bangyi interrupted him. The smiling middle-aged man leaned to the side and said, "Please come in, two doctors. I've been bored lately, so I wanted to play a prank on you. Please forgive me."

"You guys..."

Li Zhu and Qiao Lie shook their heads and smiled bitterly. With long swords hanging from their waists, they walked into the house and sat down. They sighed, "No wonder they say that honest people are the most deadly when they lie to others. Brother Yang's behavior just now made us two unable to see through it."

Yang Bangyi closed the door and brought some cold water to the two of them: "We are not at home, so please make do with it."

Sitting aside, with a smile on his face, he said, "I just happened to have some questions for you two. It's a coincidence that I came here this way."

Li Zhu took a sip of water and said, "We are here on the orders of the Emperor. But that's fine. If you have anything to say, Brother Yang, please tell me first."

Yang Bangyi did not refuse and stroked his neatly trimmed beard: "You two, I wonder when His Majesty wants me to go back? You can't wait until my son gets married before letting me return to Liaoyang Prefecture, right?"

Qiao Lie and Li Zhu looked at each other and smiled. "I was just about to tell Brother Yang that His Majesty has issued an order to appoint your cousin Yang Min as the governor of Liaoyang Prefecture. Brother Yang has other arrangements."

The man stroking his beard raised his eyebrows. Qiao Lie thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Qi does not have much territory now, and officials are not all there, so we cannot divide duties as carefully as Liao and Song did. We can only ask the capable to work harder. Brother Yang has been conscientious and diligent in his work in Liaoyang Prefecture. He has handled government affairs properly, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and made people's lives more stable. He is also sympathetic to the people, sharing their worries and solving their problems. He is truly a pillar of the country."

He glanced at the other party and said, "Your Majesty wants to entrust the affairs of the Secretariat to him. What do you think, Brother Yang?"

The sound of summer cicadas chirping came from the window. The middle-aged man sitting at the table paused as he spoke, his eyebrows slightly fluctuated, and he slowly stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty does not think that Yang is shallow in talent and knowledge, and wants to entrust me with an important task. Yang dare not refuse. However, the Ministry of Personnel is a key place in the country. I am afraid that I am not capable enough and cannot live up to your expectations. I am willing to die and do my best to share your worries."

Qiao Lie and Li Zhu smiled and stood up: "In that case, Brother Yang, please come with me to the palace to see the emperor."

Yang Bangyi nodded: "Of course, I should go to the palace to express my gratitude."

He paused for a moment and looked at the two of them in surprise: "Then why did His Majesty ask you two to come here to ask questions?"

The two men stood up, looked Yang Bangyi up and down, and sighed: "The two of us came here mainly to ask when you will pay the betrothal gift. After all, it has been some time, and Brother Yang should also express his feelings."

"It is my fault that Your Majesty is worried." Yang Bangyi suddenly realized and said with difficulty: "However, Yang has not yet asked the gods and Buddhas for an auspicious date. What should I do?"

Li Zhu and Qiao Lie looked at each other, stretched out their fingers, and pointed at themselves: "Brother Yang, you are not looking for fish in a tree. Ask us. We have already prepared it for you."

The people on the other side were stunned. The two officials of the Ministry of Personnel smiled bitterly and said, "The Princess of Pingnan County blocked the two of us and Your Majesty in the Imperial Study yesterday. We had no choice but to listen."

Yang Bangyi shook his head and laughed.

Amid the cicadas' chirping, the three of them talked for a while before leaving for the palace. (End of this chapter)