Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The matter of the vanguard has been settled, and the last batch of food, fodder and equipment arrived at the outskirts of the military camp on time. The civilians and young men who did not miss the deadline were excited and thankful. After all, the army was about to go into battle. If something went wrong at this time, they would be in big trouble. At best, they would be fined, but they were afraid of being conscripted into the army.

On the parade ground, the sound of drums and trumpets for the withdrawal of troops back to the barracks rang out amid the shouts of officers and generals. The faces of tens of thousands of people were still flushed with excitement, and they discussed with each other the highlights of this competition from time to time.

Xu Wen reorganized the troops in the Zuo Wuwei and left. The army formation around him had just moved forward a distance when he heard the sound of horse hooves from behind. He turned around and saw Han Shizhong's big face clearly in his pupils.

"Han Po Wu!"

A gnashing sound came out of his mouth, and then Xu Wen's face changed. He shook the reins and was about to run. Han Shizhong's voice came from behind: "Xu Wen, Xu Yanwu, if you dare to run, I will bring people to squat at your door."

The man in front pulled the reins helplessly. The horse under his crotch, which had just started to move its legs, raised its head and neighed in dissatisfaction. He stretched out his hand to comfort it, turned his head and looked at the figure running closer. He first forced a smile and said, "Brother Liangchen, you are joking." Then he patted the horse's neck and said, "This beast is just disobedient."

He looked at his horse and asked, "How come you found a mount so quickly?"

"How can it be that fast?" Han Shizhong snorted, "It's just a temporary way to get around."

Then he came closer and patted Xu Wen's shoulder armor, making a snapping sound. "Don't run away, kid. I have already made an appointment with General Guan Sheng and Lou Shi to drink with you tonight. I will go and tell Wang Zihua (Wang Dezi) and Senior Brother Lu later."

"...You bastard, you think you can take advantage of me, right?" Xu Wen looked a little grim, and made a final struggle: "Besides, drinking is not allowed in the army, this is a clear order from His Majesty."

Su Yi, who was watching the two talking, rode over and asked curiously, "What's going on? What's the matter?"

Han Shizhong chuckled and glanced at Su Yi: "Su boy, come over to drink with me when you are free tonight." Then he patted Xu Wen on the back: "Bullshit, can I disobey military orders? Don't forget that you can take turns to rest during these three nights. I have already discussed this with General Yu and Fatty Wei."

Xu Wen struggled for a while, then said in despair: "I am under the jurisdiction of Li Guanglu."

"Don't be so nice." Han Shizhong looked at him with a strange smile: "Li Guanglu is not with the army this time, and you are discussing the matter with General Yu."

Then he patted his arm and said, "Don't be stingy. You'll have to drink your wine sooner or later. Brother Lu, Wang Zihua and I will also bring some wine. Lou Shi said he will also bring some home-brewed wine. It's not like you're asking for all the money."

Xu Wen glared at him fiercely: "I'm not stingy at all. Do you know how rare the tiger penis wine is?"

Then he said dejectedly: "Forget it, forget it. I wanted to go home and drink with my brother-in-law, but you bastards got the advantage."

"Why don't you just call him, so that he won't blame you later." Han Shizhong said without caring, and then looked at Su Yi and said, "Come over early in the evening."

Then he turned around and ran back to his own team, leaving Xu Wen with his head down, muttering that he had met the wrong person.

It was lively on his side, and the generals on the central army side were also not bad. Du Fu, Bian Xiang, Shi Wengong and Wang De were standing under the platform, touching their arms and rubbing their buttocks. Lu Bu, wearing armor, handed the Fang Tian Huaji to a guard beside him and talked to a few people. He laughed only after confirming that the four of them only had superficial injuries and no bone breaks.

Du Fu rubbed the aching wound and said, "Your Majesty's martial arts... Hey, it's much better than when I first met you. If you had such skills back then, I'm afraid I would have gone back."

Shi Wengong nodded at the side: "So do I."

"You two are important generals after all, stop flattering them." Lu Bu scolded with a smile, then smiled complacently: "I just said that my kung fu has improved recently, and I won't hurt you."

Wang De blinked, looked at Bian Xiang who was trying not to laugh, and leaned over to him: "Is there anything else going on?"

Bian Xiang put his arm around his shoulders and pulled him aside to talk about some things in the past.

At the back, Zhang Lin and Lu Sili, who had squeezed aside the soldiers, hurried over, and Wang Zheng followed slowly behind them with his hands behind his back. The five people who were chatting and laughing were all sharp-eyed and sharp-eared people, and they immediately turned their heads in confusion.

Lu Bu frowned, stepped forward with his boots, and said, "Why don't you stay in the camp? Is there something important going on here?"

Zhang Lin and Lu Sili opened their mouths and looked at each other. They first apologized, and the latter said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't know what's appropriate, but Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, and the safety of the country is at stake. If you take risks lightly, you may lose the hopes of the people. I hope Your Majesty will think carefully to protect the foundation of the world."

Zhang Lin also nodded: "Your Majesty is an expert in martial arts and the bravest of the three armies, but there are unpredictable changes in the world and accidents happen all the time. As the foundation of the country, you must not take risks lightly. I hope Your Majesty will put the world first, be cautious and make safe plans."

Lu Bu frowned and looked at the two men. Although he was impatient, he knew that what they were thinking was not the reason, so he had to patiently explain: "I know very well what you two said. The military exercises are meant to promote military power. Normally, we would not do this easily. Besides, I have read history and classics and know about the assassination of the Sun family's child in the past."

Zhang Lin and Lu Sili looked at each other. They were both officials and knew when to stop. Although they didn't know whether Lu Bu's words were sincere, they didn't want to ask any more questions. They just bowed and said, "I am rude."

"Forget it, you guys are kind-hearted." Lü Bu felt helpless. Looking at Wang Zheng who was walking slowly towards him, he frowned again: "Military Advisor, why are you here..."

"I followed Zhang Sheren and Lu Weiwei here." Wang Zheng grinned and gave a thumbs up: "I just arrived and saw that your majesty is more powerful than before. It really opened my eyes."

Only then did Lu Bu smile and look around: "It's all because of you, the generals, that we are giving way to you."

"Then next time, Your Majesty, please let me go." Du Fu joked, "It's best not to let me fall from my horse, just take off my weapon."

Wang De and Bian Xiang were laughing beside them, and even Shi Wengong couldn't help but smile.

Lu Bu looked around and saw that the troops in the surrounding formations were all marching out one after another. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop standing here in the wind. We have been fighting for most of the day and I am a little hungry. Let's go back to the camp and have a meal."

He immediately turned around and mounted Red Hare. The others bowed in response and also mounted their war horses and followed behind. The sound of their loud conversation continued into the military camp.

The dark army evacuated this place, and craftsmen came and began to dismantle the platform and wooden ladders here. They were all made of high-quality wood. Even if they could not be used anymore, they could be used for other purposes.

Soon, a military order was issued from the central army tent to the Jurchen and Xiandeng camps.

The wind and clouds changed rapidly, and the clouds in the sky were dyed with a leaden color in the afternoon, and drizzles of spring rain fell from the sky.

The military camp was hung with various flags, patrolling cavalrymen were coming in and out, and soldiers wearing straw raincoats and holding long spears and swords on their waists were patrolling between the tents. The rain had not yet formed puddles on the ground, but the soft mud stuck to the soles of the boots, and after a few steps, the boots were covered with mud.

In such weather, the camp was a little restless. The cold water drops could not extinguish the fiery emotions in people's hearts. The generals, who had changed into regular clothes, showed their tokens and ran from the army to the nearby Yong'an City.

It was nearly dusk, and the gates of Yong'an were filled with Qi soldiers who had come into the city to have fun. The day of the expedition had been set, and after heading south, the battlefield would be filled with swords and guns, and no one knew how many of them would be able to return. This final rest time allowed them to indulge themselves for a night.

The restaurant with a sign was also packed today. In the past few days, with the gathering of the army, many soldiers came here. Those who wanted to have fun went to the brothel, and those who wanted to drink went to the tavern. However, the people in the restaurant had never expected that one day would be like tonight, with soldiers standing up and saluting the people who came here continuously.

"Greetings to General Han and General Xu. Who is that young man in the back?"

"It's General Guan..." "General Wanyan..."

"General Wang and General Lu are here too."

Each and every title made the hotel waiter's scalp tingle. No matter in the north or the south, although there are entertainments in the market, the ones who attract attention are the officials in the government. In the north, a country that values ​​military merit, more attention is paid to the famous generals in the army. Many people who practice martial arts or are interested in military careers often talk about it in restaurants, so these waiters have heard a lot.

Although it was just a title, all the guests in the hotel stood up to greet him. This kind of treatment is not available to everyone. Most of the people who can work as waiters in the hotel are smart and can guess a lot of the truth from just a few words.

He suppressed his emotions and trembled as he served tea and water to the generals he had heard from others. Although these people sounded kind, it was all hearsay. Who knew if it was true? What if he ran into a moody and murderous person who killed him...

Even if there is punishment by law afterwards, what use will it be?

"Alright, alright, I don't need you to serve me here." Han Shizhong looked at the cautious hotel waiter and laughed, "We don't eat humans, so we're not afraid of birds. Go pick up your hot dishes and serve them to the table, with lots of meat, and wine... and two jars of stronger drinks."

He glanced at Xu Wen, who had a sullen look on his face, and glanced at the wine jars scattered on the ground, and said with a strange smile: "I won't go home until I'm drunk today."

After saying that, he reached out and took out a handful of copper coins and handed it over.

The waiter was eager to leave. He took the tip money and said thank you without a word. He didn't dare to say anything about not being able to bring alcohol into the hotel. He just walked out with his body hunched.

The people in the room were not in a hurry to discuss business, but just chatted casually. The hotel also cared about the people in this room, and the dishes were quickly brought in. When the people in the room saw that the dishes were all served, Lu Zhishen looked at Han Shizhong and said, "Han Powu, you gathered everyone here, don't say it's really for drinking."

Wanyan Loushi paused while eating meat, looked at Lu Zhishen who was talking, then looked at Han Shizhong who was laughing, and scanned the area to see that no one was surprised. He put down the chicken drumstick in his hand, looking a little unhappy: "It turns out that General Han didn't really invite me to drink with others. I'll take my leave first."

The body moved together and the chair slid backwards with a "creak".

Han Shizhong on the other side hurriedly comforted him: "Don't worry, don't worry, it's true that he drank with others, and it's also true that he used alcohol to talk about things."

Lu Zhishen laughed and patted Wanyan Loushi: "Don't worry, sit down and drink. No one wants to hurt you. There's nothing to be afraid of. You are the only one who lives a careful life!"

Wanyan Loushi was silent for a while, then sat down and smiled bitterly: "I have been in the army for a long time, and the reason I can survive until now is because of the word "carefulness".

Wang De blinked and said, "It seems that you Jurchens also had disputes among yourselves back then."

Wanyan Loushi lowered his eyes and said, "I only ask about military affairs, not government affairs."

Han Shizhong slapped the table and pointed at Wanyan Loushi: "This is the style of a soldier." With a hint of sarcasm on his face, he said: "It's a pity that we who come from the south have to think more."

He patted the table and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. I invited all the generals to come here today for a small gathering before the war."

Xu Wen couldn't help but mutter beside him: "Use my wine to make a raft."

Han Shizhong turned a deaf ear and continued, "Today's battle will go to two families." He pointed at Wanyan Loushi and then at himself, looking at him and said, "Brother Loushi must have received the military order as well."

The Jurchen general nodded: "Yes, you are allowed to select 5,000 soldiers to help us attack Enzhou from the south." He paused and looked thoughtful: "I will bring soldiers I am familiar with. It seems that Brother Han has found someone to help him."

"I will attack Huizhou." Han Shizhong said to the others, picking up the golden goose leg roasted beside him: "Brother Lou is right. Although my Xiandeng camp is strong, but..."

Snapped--

A large hand landed on Xu Wen's shoulder, causing the young man to grimace and glare, ready to explode.

"A group of veterans were given to this fellow as the backbone of the Right Guard. Now there are less than a thousand elite soldiers in the army, and the rest are all useless new recruits."

Over there, Xu Wen's eyes narrowed, and with a calm expression he reached out to pick up the wine jar on the ground and filled it up for Han Shizhong.

Han Shizhong shrugged: "Well, I'm going to ask for help from you elder brothers." He stood up and bowed while holding the goose leg: "I'm going to ask for your help, Senior Brother, Guan Brother, and Zihua Brother..."

Then he sat down and bit off most of the leg meat in one bite.

"You're begging like this?" Lu Zhishen and Wang De looked at him with amusement, pointing with their thick fingers: "You don't have any sincerity at all."

Su Yi looked left and right, thought that he had nothing to do, and ate and drank in silence with his head down.

Guan Sheng stroked his long beard, thought for a moment, and drank the wine in one gulp: "Okay, but after streamlining my troops, there are only more than 750 people. Brother Liangchen still needs to find more people."

Han Shizhong looked at Lu Zhishen and Wang De.

The ugly man from the northwest waved his hand and said, "Don't look at me. General Shi Wengong and I have other orders. I can't help you."

A pitiful look appeared on Lu Zhishen's face.

"Tsk... don't look at me like that, it's disgusting." Lu Zhishen rolled his eyes in annoyance, and then he couldn't help but slam the table: "Okay, okay, I'm afraid of you, you bastard, take me in, otherwise, no matter what you say, don't expect me to follow you."

Han Shizhong was overjoyed and quickly picked up the wine bowl to toast Lu Zhishen: "I knew that you are the most loyal brother, let me drink first to show my respect."

Seeing him like that, Lu Zhishen couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Damn it, no wonder everyone calls you Han Powu, the bird nickname is really right."

"Although I am a nobody, I still remember favors." Han Shizhong laughed and patted his chest: "Today I owe you two a favor. If you need my help in the future, just let me know."

The people in the room saw that he was like this, and knew that they had finished their business. Then they toasted each other and ate and drank. In a moment, the wine jars were emptied at a very fast speed.

"Brother Liangchen..." Wanyan Loushi looked at the people eating and drinking, wiped his mouth, and pondered for a while: "When you called us here before, did you expect to receive the military order from His Majesty?"

Han Shizhong's face turned red from drinking. He glanced at him, patted his arm, and chuckled, "I'm not Zhuge Liang, so how can I predict the future? To be honest, at the beginning..."

Pointing at Xu Wen, he said, "Just to blackmail him into drinking!"

"Han Powu!" (End of this chapter)