Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The first year of Jianwu in Qi, the third year of Xuanhe in Song, the first year of Baoda in Liao, the beginning of summer.

The weather is warming up, and green leaves are hanging on the branches again. With the arrival of spring, the city of Linhuang is filled with a restless atmosphere. Scholars wearing colorful loose-fitting clothes with large sleeves are walking in a hurry, and the buzzing sound of reading continues in hotel rooms, homestay courtyards and even in the secluded suburbs.

As the time of the imperial examination announced by Qi State drew closer, the consumption of paper in the city increased exponentially. Although it did not reach the legendary high price of paper in Luoyang, it made the paper merchants happy all day long, as if they had picked up money.

Those who were busier than the candidates taking the imperial examinations were naturally the king and ministers of Qi State who were holding the imperial examinations for the first time.

"Your Majesty, the examination hall in South City has been built and will be put into use next month. Your Majesty, please send someone to inspect it."

Yang Pu respectfully handed the memorial to the eunuch beside him, who presented it to Lu Bu.

On the dragon table, books and memorials were piled up. The eunuch placed Yang Pu's memorial on an empty spot on the table, then bowed and stepped back. Lu Bu reached out and picked it up. There was a hint of novelty in his scrutiny, and he said, "Minister Yang is cautious in his work. I naturally trust him. But I heard that there are many scholars coming this time. Are there enough rooms for the examination?"

"I have prepared two examination halls. The main one is in the south city, which can accommodate 800 people." Yang Pu straightened his back and replied respectfully, "There is another one outside the city that has been converted into a backup, which can accommodate 2,000 people at the same time. If it is urgent, we can transfer people to expand it."

The voice paused and said, "If this is still too little, I will accept your punishment."

"The Minister should know the situation. Although I hope to punish him, it seems that I don't have the chance." Lu Bu nodded, put aside the memorial he had read, and smiled: "The number of people coming from the city should not be enough for the main examination hall. Even if they come again in the future, they will only be within this number."

“It’s these people’s loss if they don’t come.”

Yang Pu's brows twitched, thinking to himself that most of the people coming here might be under His Majesty's surveillance. But then he thought it was normal. Everything is difficult at the beginning, and the first time will always be taken seriously. After this time, he might not be so worried anymore.

"Are all the examiners ready?" Lu Bu patted the memorial on the table with his hand. "I read the history books a few years ago and remember a person clearly. His name is Wen Tingyun. He cheated for eight people in the examination room. You should not cause such a big scandal."

"Your Majesty, please don't joke." Yang Pu put on a bitter smile and begged for mercy with his hands: "If a person like Assistant Teacher Wen appeared, how could we, the mortals, take him down? We would only be laughed at by the world."

Lu Bu laughed loudly and stood up, his bear-like body walking out from behind the dragon case: "Then I will wait for the big exam to see your talent again."

A bird landed on the branch outside the window, chirped twice, then flapped its wings and flew away.

The shadows in the room swayed slightly, and Yang Pu bowed earnestly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my best to ensure that there will be no problems in this exam."

Lu Bu watched him move his lips, then pursed them again: "That's great, just focus on preparing for the imperial examination, and don't worry about anything else."

Yang Pu looked at the majestic emperor in some surprise, nodded respectfully, then took his leave and left. When he was about to step out of the threshold, Lu Bu's voice came into his ears from behind.

"If anything strange happens during the imperial examination, don't panic."

The footsteps in the official boots paused. "I understand," Yang Pu responded and continued to move forward, but his brows were tightly furrowed and strange thoughts were running through his mind.

Lu Bu turned his head to look at the memorials placed on the table, walked over with a playful expression, picked up one and flipped through it, then closed it, walked out of the room and threw it to Yu Cheng beside him: "Burn it."

The tall guard held the sword accurately in his hand, without saying a word, but bowed his head respectfully, and then gave a signal. Wei He, holding the sword, followed closely with his personal guards.

Leaving the palace, Lu Bu walked quickly. The guards around him looked solemn and no one spoke. Soon, he came to the harem. A maid saw him from afar and hurried back to report to the imperial concubine in the house.

"Your Majesty returned very early today."

As I walked into the room, a light floral scent wafted into my nose, followed by the energetic voice of Hu Sanniang.

"It's not early at all. It's almost noon. I felt hungry so I came back first." Lü Bu smiled and looked at the branches of flowers on the table in the front hall. Wu Qing and Su Jinniang were trimming and arranging flowers. He walked over and sat down: "Why are you in such a good mood? You're starting to tend to the flowers and plants."

Hu Sanniang stood up and told the maid to prepare lunch.

Wu Qing used scissors to cut off the extra branches, saying, "I didn't have much to do, so I thought of learning from the female officials who were used to this. I just wanted to kill time, but it unexpectedly helped me calm down."

She gave Lu Bu a charming look and said, "You'd better not be pissed off by your husband's daughter and die in this room."

Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "What did Wen'er do to make you so angry?"

Wu Qing grunted twice, and the "clicking" sound of the scissors became louder. It was obvious that he was in a bad mood, and he used more force.

Hu Sanniang came back and laughed secretly, "Sister thought Wen'er was not like a girl because she was wielding swords all day, so she asked her to learn needlework. But she showed no interest at all and cut up sister's favorite dress with scissors. Now she is doing horse stance in the backyard as punishment."

Lu Bu opened his mouth slightly and smiled widely.

"What are you talking about!" Wu Qing glared at Hu Sanniang angrily: "You are the one who taught her martial arts." Then he glared at Lu Bu: "My dear, what are you laughing at? Do you also want Wen'er to be like Qiongying, chopping with weapons all day long?"

"No, no." Lu Bu quickly stopped laughing and shook his head: "I just think you are right. Girls should not be accompanied by weapons every day."

"My dear, you are right. After all, you really don't like women going to the battlefield." Su Jinniang collected the scattered petals and put them into a porcelain plate, not knowing what she was going to do with them.

Lu Bu pursed his lips when he heard the thorn in her words. Before he could say anything, Wu Qing turned around and glared at Su Jinniang: "You also played a role in teaching her martial arts. Don't think I forgot."

Su Jinniang chuckled and quickly tried to appease the angry Wu Zhaoyi. Seeing that he was in trouble, Lu Bu quickly stood up and said, "I'll go to the back to see how Wen'er is doing."

"My dear!" Wu Qing raised her voice and called out, "There are still two sticks of incense before she can move. My dear, please don't let her go easily, or I will never let you go."

"I know, I know. I will definitely not let her get up."

Lu Bu agreed and walked quickly to the backyard. Wu Qing heard his promise, hummed softly and continued to cut the branches at hand.

The flowers in the backyard were in full bloom. People walking among them could smell the fragrance of various flowers and occasionally see bees flying among them. Lu Bu glanced at the flowers and plants, and in the blink of an eye he saw his daughter doing horse stance among the flowers, her little face drooping and tears hanging from the corners of her eyes, as if she had just cried.

Shaking his head and laughing, Lu Bu walked over. This kid should be easier to coax...

Right?
The spring breeze blows the flowers in the back garden again, and the soft words coax the little baby.

She thought she had the strength to stop crying, but her voice became even louder as she went up the stairs.

……

Compared to Lü Bu's happy worries in Linhuang Prefecture, the Liao emperor, who was also walking among the flowers and grass, had put aside his worries about the reaction of the Qi army and was in a good mood to walk on the grass. The surrounding cavalry surrounded this place from a distance and moved forward. A Khitan noble who led the army kept shouting at the soldiers to explore the distance. The rumbling sound of horse hooves rang out, rolling up the wet black soil and grass leaves.

"It seems that Qi is a group of incompetent rebels who enjoy themselves as soon as they gain the upper hand. They made me worry for so long in vain." Yelu Yanxi put his hands on his waist and straightened his chest, taking a deep breath: "There is no movement at this time, it seems that they really have no move."

"This is all a blessing for your majesty." Xiao Fengxian followed behind him with his head lowered and his eyes lowered: "This way, your majesty will have more time to mobilize the army."

"Hmm..." Yelu Yanxi nodded without comment, looked at the unknown wild flowers in front of his feet and stepped on them, then stopped and stood there looking back: "The people we sent out should have arrived, right?"

"It's about time." Xiao Fengxian cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Majesty still has many ideas. This time, we will be able to deal a heavy blow to the reputation of Qi."

"Alas..." Yelu Yanxi sighed. The sound of horse hooves around him weakened. When the escorting cavalry saw the emperor stop, they also slowed down their pace. The army behind had already stopped at the shouts of their generals.

The wind blew across the fields, and the steed-like smell of grass trampled by the war horses drifted over. The yellow robe on Yelu Yanxi made a slight rustling sound. He slowly turned his head, raised his thick black eyebrows, and shook his head with his hands behind his back: "This is not something to be praised. I was forced to do this..."

He sighed again: "If only the civil and military officials in the court could share my worries, why would I resort to such a bad strategy?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fengxian knelt down quickly, and the court officials who followed him also immediately lowered themselves when they realized what was going on.

"I am incompetent and have failed to help your majesty. Please punish me."

"Alright, alright, if you want to punish me, you should have done it long ago. What's the point of just kneeling down day after day?"

"I am incompetent." Xiao Fengxian still knelt there and shouted, looking up at Yelu Yanxi's face full of impatience and irritation, then he quickly stood up, rolled his eyes, and slightly bowed: "Your Majesty, we are now heading to Nanjing Road, why not go to Tanshan in the summer."

"Tanshan?" Yelu Yanxi's expression slightly changed. He glanced at his confidant and said hesitantly: "I need to prepare for war right now. How can I go to the Liang Palace to play?"

He slowly turned around and continued walking forward, and the figure behind him hurriedly caught up.

"Your Majesty, how can this be considered a trip?" Xiao Fengxian leaned closer and whispered, "Think about it this way, you have already ordered the Dashi Jiedushi to come to welcome you, the troops he brings must be elite, and the troops accompanying you are also carefully selected, and if we bring them together to Tanshan, there is an open space there, so we can train them.

The Cool Palace can be used to gather civil and military officials from the court to escape the heat and discuss state affairs.

Besides, there is Yangcheng in the north of the mountain, which is a place for trade. You can also buy some food, rice, wine and meat to reward the soldiers and the generals, so that both military and political affairs will not be delayed. "

The emperor in front walked a beat slower. Xiao Fengxian had followed him for a long time, so he naturally knew that he was moved. Looking back, he saw that several court officials following him immediately slowed down their pace and kept a distance from him.

The man hurriedly took two steps forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, holding court meetings and training the army are not easy tasks, and it is inevitable that you will be exhausted both physically and mentally. If you go out hunting now, wouldn't it be a good opportunity to relax?

We must know that we should not do things in extremes. If we are too busy with government affairs and ruin our health, how can our Great Liao defeat the State of Qi?
Besides, Your Majesty goes there every year, but you don't go this year. Wouldn't that make people feel anxious?"

"That's right. I can't let the world think that I'm afraid of the Qi State." Muttering to himself, Yelu Yanxi took a step hesitantly and turned to look at Xiao Fengxian: "Then... go to Tanshan?"

Xiao Fengxian nodded his head: "Let's go to Tanshan!"

Yelu Yanxi smiled, flicked the sleeves of his yellow robe, and strode forward. His back seemed to be lighter.

Before long, the sound of a large number of cavalry marching could be heard throughout the world.

……

"Speed ​​up! Let the team behind catch up!"

The flags swayed slightly in the spring breeze. Fang Qifo was conveying his orders anxiously. The soldiers who delivered the orders rode their inferior horses and galloped back and forth. Waves of roars from the generals, big and small, came from the team, and then the rumbling footsteps quickened by three times.

"Why are you so anxious, General? If we march so quickly, we won't be able to fight the Song army when we reach Muzhou."

In the queue at the rear, horses trampled the ground, blowing up slightly moist soil into the air. Qian Zhenpeng held a big knife in one hand and turned to look at Bai Yanshou beside him.

"How should I know?" Qu Shuai, who was born in Qixian Village, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I am not a worm in the general's stomach. I understand everything without him saying anything."

Everyone knew that they were going to rescue the Archbishop, and even though they were a little afraid of the Western Army, the addition of two thousand soldiers gave them a little courage.

This time, as long as they don't encounter the main force of the Song army, even if they don't win, they won't be defeated as badly as last time. If they can tie up a part of the troops to reduce the threat to the army under the command of the Holy Duke, it will be their victory this time.

The winding team was moving forward rapidly. The soldiers who were running on their own two legs were gasping for breath. From time to time, the sound of spitting could be heard. In sight, the central army raised a flag indicating that the march should stop.

"Stop! Stop! The general has ordered the entire army to stop advancing and lead the general to the central army—"

The horses' hooves were galloping, and another messenger ran past in the dust. Bai Yanshou shouted "Stop" reflexively, then got off his horse and looked at Qian Zhenpeng beside him.

The order to march quickly was issued only half an hour ago. It was rare to change the order so quickly, not to mention that the commander had to go to the central army.

"…something happened." Bai Yanshou and Qian Zhenpeng stared at each other for a while, then he immediately pulled the reins, and as his horse turned around, he left an order: "You stay here to restrain the troops, I will go up and ask what happened."

Qian Zhenpeng nodded nervously, then turned around and ordered: "Stay on guard and wait for further orders."

Soldiers all around hurriedly ran and looked outside vigilantly. The generals who stayed behind stretched their heads and looked into the distance: "What happened?"

The sound of horse hooves gradually slowed down. Bai Yanshou ran to the center of the army and saw Du Wei, Gao Keli, Zhang Jinren and other generals. He quickly jumped off his horse and clasped his fists, "General, what happened?"

Fang Qifo's face turned pale. He glanced at the commanders in front of him and nodded, "They are all here." He turned to look at the tired-looking soldiers beside him and said, "Say what you just said again."

"Yes." The soldier bowed and turned to the crowd. His blood stains were particularly conspicuous. He clasped his fists and said, "I am serving in the army of the Great Saint Son of Wuzhou.

The Holy Lord was surrounded, and the two Holy Sons were very anxious. Our troops from Wuzhou and Quzhou went north to Muzhou to support the Holy Lord, but were ambushed by the Song bandits on the way. The second Holy Son Fang Bo was killed by Xin Xingzong, and the eldest Holy Son was defeated by Wang Yuan and Yao Pingzhong. He retreated to Dongyang with serious injuries and ordered the younger one to come to ask for help. "

He turned around and knelt on the ground with a plop: "General, the Holy Archbishop is in danger, and the two Holy Sons are unable to help. Everything is in your hands."

The spring breeze blew gently, and the cool air blew on the bodies, making the hearts of everyone present even colder. Several channel commanders looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment, and they all looked at Fang Qifo with complicated expressions.

After a long while, the commander, who was frozen on his horse, waved his hand and ordered: "Keep going!" (End of this chapter)