Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Yelu Dashi's worries and complaints were well known to Emperor Yelu Yanxi. The Liao emperor, who was now free from pursuit and pressure from outside, immediately forgot his worries and returned to his old ways.

The sounds of instruments such as the flute, pipe, sheng, pipa, and konghou surrounded the emperor's palace all day long. Occasionally, the sound of drum and wind music and horizontal wind music would make the generals in the army sigh. The good military music became a diversion for the emperor when he was tired of listening to variety shows and songs.

Even when Xiao Zhonggong surrendered to Qi and his family fled to the north, the Liao emperor who had been in power for 20 years just said "I know." and continued to summon dancers and singers to drink and have fun in the palace.

In the hot mid-autumn, a group of envoys from the Southern Song Dynasty entered the area of ​​Tanshan. Yelu Dashi, who received the message first, led a team of cavalry to meet them and escorted the envoys into the area of ​​Tanshan Palace.

Yelu Yanxi, who received the news, reluctantly waved away the dancing girls in the palace, stared at the twin peaks that reached the sky with some reluctance, and looked at Yelu Dashi: "People from the Song Dynasty, what are they doing here?"

"I don't know." Yelu Dashi lowered his head, "It's just that the Song envoys looked unkind and I don't know what they are here for."

"Alright, let them come up and ask." Yelu Yanxi interrupted him, leaning back in his chair, "Our dynasty and Song have always been brothers, and there have been no border conflicts in recent years. It's a waste of energy to guess. Just ask them and we'll know."

Xiao Fengxian smiled and said, "Maybe it's for the annual tribute? This is the only connection we have with the Song people now. As for trade..."

He looked at Yelu Dashi with an expression that was indescribably sarcastic: "Nanjing Dao has always done well. I believe Dashi Lin Ya also knows this."

Yelu Dashi remained silent. Although the imperial court did not prohibit trade with the Song people, there were still material controls. Except for things like war horses, very little flowed out. However, it was no secret in the eyes of some people that things like salt and iron, which were strictly controlled, were exchanged for silver and copper coins.

“…That’s them.”

He couldn't help but blurt out four words, then Yelu Dashi bowed, stood up and stepped aside. Then someone shouted "Xuan Song Envoy——", and the drawn-out tone spread outside. Soon two figures walked slowly into the summer palace from outside.

"Foreign ministers Geng Nanzhong, Deputy Minister of Rites, and Wu Min, Imperial Secretary, have met with the Liao Emperor and wish the Liao Dynasty a long life."

A resounding voice came from the two people who were performing the salute. Yelu Yanxi had already sat up straight when the two of them came in. Hearing this, he waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite."

The people below handed over the letter of credence. Yelu Yanxi flipped through it casually to confirm that it was correct. He looked at the two people with some curiosity: "What are you two here for this time?"

Geng Nanzhong and Wu Min frowned. Somehow, they felt that the Liao emperor had some shadows of their own emperor. After looking at each other, Wu Min, the deputy envoy, stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, we are here to deliver a letter from the emperor of the Song Dynasty."

The envoy at the side took out a letter from his arms, and a eunuch stepped forward to take it. He ran back to Yelu Yanxi in small steps, knelt down and presented it to him. The Liao emperor on the seat handed over the letter.

Wu Min's voice continued to come to my ears: "This time, there is a rebellion in our Song Dynasty. The weapons and armor they use are all standard equipment of the Liao Dynasty. I dare to ask Your Majesty, why do you do this and ignore our hundred-year friendship?"

"At the turn of the century..."

Whispering these four words softly, scenes flashed through the emperor's mind: the shock after Liaodong was occupied, the frustration caused by the heavy defeat of his brother Yelu Dezheng, the embarrassment when the widows of his nobles came to the palace to cry after the death of their soldiers, and even the helplessness of hiding in the cool palace until now. All kinds of feelings surged back and forth in his chest.

Yelu Yanxi felt a surge of anger in his heart. He raised his eyebrows and stood up suddenly. He picked up the letters and letters at hand and threw them over: "You suspect that it was me? You Song people haven't given me an explanation yet. How could the traitor Lu Bu have your Song army's armor and whirlwind cannon? How dare you come here to question me!"

wow-

Papers and silk were flying in the air. The two envoys from Song State knew that those things could not hit them, but they still could not help but take a step back.

"I just took into consideration the diplomatic relations between our two countries that have lasted for more than a hundred years, and did not send anyone to the south to question you." Yelu Yanxi stretched out his hands and trembled, his face flushed: "Do you think that I am a spineless person who is easy to bully, and you came here to mock me?!"

Wu Min couldn't help but take two steps back when he saw Yelu Yanxi's red face. Geng Nanzhong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. There is no misunderstanding here."

"Misunderstanding?!" Yelu Yanxi walked down the stairs, his eyes wide open, bloodshot: "Are you saying that I am blind and can't recognize the weapons and armor of you southerners?"

He turned his head to look, then walked a few steps to the palace guard and pulled out the knife from his waist.

Clang——

The sound of metal vibrated in the hall. Yelu Yanxi pointed at the two Song envoys and said, "Come, the two of you, come and take a closer look. The swords you saw in China are of this shape!"

The sonorous words echoed in the hall.

"what……"

"This……"

The two envoys took a step back as if frightened and looked at each other, not understanding why Yelu Yanxi reacted so strongly.

Geng Nanzhong took the opportunity to glare at Wu Min with some resentment. His words were too harsh and aroused the anger of the Liao emperor. He would definitely...

Pull the prince to report you.

Although he was a member of the Ministry of Rites, he was also the Right Assistant to the Crown Prince, the Secretary of the Crown Prince, and the Direct Scholar of the Huiyou Pavilion. He was an old man in the Eastern Palace. If it weren't for the fact that he had offended someone this time, he would have been pushed by someone to be sent to the Liao Kingdom as an envoy. He would still be accompanying him in the Eastern Palace.
Among the Liao officials nearby, Xiao Fengxian's eyes twitched, and he hurriedly stepped forward to pull Yelu Yanxi, and hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, calm down, Your Majesty, calm down."

Yelu Dashi also stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, why do you have to do this? The two Song envoys may be tired from the journey and speak without thinking. It would be better to let them rest before calling them back to question them."

As he spoke, he winked at the two men. Geng and Wu had already shown signs of fear, and seeing this, they immediately bowed and said, "I am indeed tired. I will see Your Majesty again after I have rested."

Then he ran out without even looking back. Wu Yong, Ma Renwang, Chai Yi and others in the palace also stepped forward to persuade him, and only then did Yelu Yanxi throw down the knife in his hand and pointed outside breathlessly: "The Song people are too bullying. How dare they talk to me like this in the past."

Several ministers looked at him helplessly, but Xiao Fengxian nodded: "Your Majesty is right. The Song people are cunning. They first funded Lu Bu, then framed us for no reason, and have always been eyeing the Yanyun area..."

He stole a glance at the emperor, who looked unhappy, and continued, "Your Majesty, why don't you send an envoy to the State of Song to reprimand them, since..."

"Your Majesty, don't do that!" Yelu Dashi interrupted Xiao Fengxian and took two steps forward to advise: "We are now at war with Qi State, and the situation is not favorable.

Although the Song people have misunderstandings with us, they are not enemies. We only need to send envoys to calm them down and ask them to cut off their ties with Qi based on our century-old alliance. After all, if something unspeakable happens, Qi will march south with a great victory, which is beyond the Song people's ability to resist. I believe the Song people will understand this."

"I second your suggestion. We should now make peace with the Song people and send envoys south."

"This is a statement that will harm the country. If the Song people take this opportunity to demand the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, should we not agree?"

"Nonsense, the two countries have been allies for a hundred years without any trouble, why would they ask Yan Yun to go back now?"

"An old man has little wisdom. You need to know..."

"That's your mother's..."

The people in the hall immediately started arguing, spitting and malicious words were sprayed out with outstretched fingers, noisy and chaotic sounds buzzed, Yelu Yanxi panted, and had withdrawn from the anger just now. He frowned and flicked his sleeves, saying, "Enough, shut up!" The courtiers who were pointing at each other and spitting suddenly shut up and turned to bow to him, saying, "Your Majesty, we have lost our composure. Please punish us."

"Humph--"

With a flick of his wide sleeves, Yelu Yanxi glanced at everyone expressionlessly and said, "Don't mention the matter of the diplomatic mission to Song. The situation is already complicated enough. If the people of Song get involved, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be trouble."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"His Majesty……"

Some people shouted, and some opened their mouths to speak. The Liao emperor raised his hand and said, "Shut up and listen to me."

The restless scene suddenly quieted down. Yelu Yanxi took two steps forward. In his sight, many Khitan nobles looked terrified, but several Han officials looked calm. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let the army prepare to march south to Xijin Prefecture, and order people to recruit soldiers and conscript young and strong men in Nanjing Road."

Xiao Fengxian took a step forward: "But Your Majesty, most of the people in Nanjing Road are Han Chinese, this..."

"They are Han Chinese, and they are also subjects of the Liao Dynasty. They should... must do their part for the Liao Dynasty." Yelu Yanxi waved his arms, glanced at the few royal family generals who were relieved, and frowned even more: "Do as I say."

All the ministers immediately bowed and accepted the order. Yelu Yanxi then walked out. His voice came from the front: "Pass on my order. The army will set off in ten days. In addition... send the two Song envoys out of the country."

Some opponents, such as Ma Renwang and Yelu Dashi, looked up to persuade him, but the emperor walked forward without even turning his head.

Soon, the army began to pack up their things, and some of the pioneers went south ahead of time to pave the way for the emperor in the rear.

Many military generals breathed a sigh of relief. It was very boring to stay in Tanshan all day, and finally further action was taken.

……

Wheels and wheels——

The carriage moved forward on the somewhat rugged road. The two people sat opposite each other, swaying their bodies. As they looked at each other, one of them lowered his head in shame.

"Minister Wu is too impatient. We have not completed the task entrusted by the emperor. It will be embarrassing for you and me when we go back."

"This... I didn't expect the Liao emperor to have such a temperament. He got so angry just because I asked a question..." Wu Min tilted his head: "How did he sit on the throne for more than 20 years with such a hot temper? Before I came here, I asked many colleagues, and they only said that he was not like a monarch, but they didn't say he had such a temperament!"

"...Maybe it has something to do with the Qi State in the north." Geng Nanzhong was silent for a moment before shaking his head: "Forget it, now that things have come to this, I will go back and report to the emperor."

He gently stretched out his hand to open the car window a crack, and the sound of galloping horses outside suddenly roared. Then he closed the window and listened to the noise becoming quieter. Then he sighed: "It's a pity that the Liao people are strict about war horses, otherwise it would be nice to buy some war horses."

Wu Min didn't say anything, just stared at the roof in a daze.

Autumn season.

Yelu Yanshi entered Nanjing and subsequently recruited 30,000 Han soldiers. He did not appoint a clan general as his chief commander, but, contrary to his usual practice, he appointed several Han officials to be the generals of the new army. He then appointed Ji Anbang, the previous top scorer in the military examination, as the chief commander, gave them more weapons and armor, and intensified their training, intending to use the Han soldiers to resist the Qi army.

……

The North at this time.

Lu Bu wiped off his sweat and came out of the martial arts training room. He stayed in the imperial study for a while. Then someone ran into the palace quickly and found Yu Cheng standing outside the door and said a few words. Yu Cheng knocked on the door and said, "Your Majesty, Ling Xianggong said that he has improved the firearms. Please go and see it."

"I'll be right there."

Lu Bu, who was sitting behind the table, raised his eyebrows, threw down the book he was reading, stood up and walked towards the door.

The court has been investing in those weapons for several years in a row, and even cut palace expenses for a time, so no one knows what they have produced now.

After changing clothes and riding a horse, Red Hare rushed out of the imperial city like a whirlwind. Protected by two generals of the Left Guard, Yu Cheng and Wei He, he galloped all the way to the northern suburbs.

Soon, more than a hundred soldiers wearing black armor and round iron helmets on the mound tightly protected the tall figure. They watched the soldiers in black military uniforms below running to an earth wall with iron balls as big as human heads, lighting the iron lumps in their arms, putting them down and running backwards.

Boom boom boom——

There were several loud noises in succession.

There was fire, smoke, and explosion. The earth wall suddenly collapsed in half, and a pungent black smoke rose up. When the smoke dissipated, several pieces of black iron sheets were inserted into the ground, with only half of them exposed.

Wearing a dark red-edged imperial robe and a cloak, Lu Bu frowned and looked at Ling Zhen who was a little excited beside him: "Is this the improved Thunderbolt Fireball?"

Ling Zhen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I feel that the power can be even greater."

"It's a bit too big. If it can be shrunk, it can be used on the battlefield. It's quite laborious for soldiers to carry such a large one..." Lu Bu was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "It may be used for catapults."

"Yes, I have tried it. It is just like a stone bullet, but it may go out when it hits the ground."

“Possible improvements?”

"I will do my best and prepare more powerful gunpowder."

Lu Bu nodded: "I remember that Kou Qing used amazing fire before. Maybe it can be combined with firearms and used on the battlefield?"

Ling Zhen on the other side slowly shook his head: "I originally wanted to use it to spit fire, but it burns too fast, and I haven't found an object that can be used to spray fire."

"We can't let him go there and spit fire all day long." Lu Bu said, and then patted Ling Zhen on the shoulder: "Get the cannon ready as soon as possible. I'm still waiting to see him shine on the battlefield."

He paused for a moment and then withdrew his hand. "That's all for today. You can save... That's all. I will try to get as many things as possible to make gunpowder. You just need to make the things as I said before."

Ling Zhen bowed in response.

Lu Bu took a few more glances, then left with his cavalry. (End of this chapter)