Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

"Very good, go to the Ministry of Defense and find Doctor Zeng Nong." Lu Bu slapped the table and said, "Go there first and let him see what you can do. If you do well, you can work there."

"Thank you, King Qi." Duan Jingzhu was overjoyed and kowtowed three times in a row.

"Okay, I know how you feel. Get up and go to the Ministry of Transportation before it gets dark."

Laughing for a moment, Lu Bu looked at the golden retriever and shook his head, then turned to the Wanyan family and said, "You guys can go down too."

He then called the guards and asked them to escort the two adults and one child to Wanyan Zongbing.

Not long after, he took Shi Qian aside to talk for a while, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Du Lisan and Tang Erhu were fine but would return later. Seeing that the drummer looked tired, he let him go down to rest.

"Your Majesty, it takes a lot of effort to raise these hawks and dogs." Zhang Lin joked when he saw everyone leaving.

"Eagles need to be fed and dogs need to be trained." Lu Bu stretched out his hand to pour himself a glass of wine: "Besides, it would be better if it were a young one. As for the adults..." He chuckled and picked up the glass to drink it all.

"Since Your Majesty has made up his mind, I will not say more." Zhang Lin pondered for a moment, "But we must always make the best use of everything. We can perhaps send Wanyan Zongbing and his brother to the north to recruit some soldiers from the Wanyan tribe and the Jin Kingdom. If they are weakened by one point, our army will be strengthened by ten points. With this combination of strength and weakness, it will be more beneficial to send troops to the north in the future."

"If we let them go, they may be out of control." Lu Bu tapped the table and squinted his eyes as he thought, "Why not let them go north after the spring plowing next year... No, let them go north in the summer. By then, the new troops from Du Fu and Xi Sheng will be able to be considered as combat power, and they can provide support if anything happens."

"Then you must hold the rope tightly, my lord, and don't let the dog escape from your control."

Lu Bu looked up at the darkening sky outside and smiled at Zhang Lin: "A dog with a collar is not so easy to escape from its owner."

"Haha..." Zhang Lin laughed and stood up, not continuing the topic: "Your Majesty has just received a thousand-mile horse, I wonder if I would have the honor to meet him?"

"Okay." Lu Bu stood up with great interest. He was a man of high spirits and would not refuse. He waved his hand and said, "I also want to see the good horse praised by General Du. The doctor ordered me to go with you."

At that moment, Yu handed over the cloak, and after Lu Bu and Zhang Lin put it on, he led the guards to clear the way in front, and soon they saw the snow-white Zhaoye Jade Lion.

Torches were lit all around, and a tall figure rode up. The sound of horses neighing and the sound of horses' hooves rang out in the yard. After running two or three laps at lightning speed, Lu Bu pulled the reins, jumped off the warhorse, and handed it to Yu Cheng: "It's a good horse, but compared with my Red Hare, it's still a bit behind."

"This is a rare and fine horse." Zhang Lin looked it up and down and said, "I've often heard people say that the Jurchens are good at taming horses. This must be a precious horse they bred."

Lu Bu waved his hand and said: "If the doctor likes her, why not take her back?"

"Forget it." Zhang Lin smiled and shook his head: "There are so many generals in the army who don't have a good horse. If I take it all for myself, I'm afraid I will be hated to death."

“Hahahaha——” Patting Zhang Lin on the shoulder, causing the middle-aged man’s legs to bend involuntarily, Lu Bu nodded: “Lawyer is right about what you are worried about.”

Turning around and looking at Yu Cheng pulling the horse, he said with a smile: "In addition to this Zhaoye Jade Lion, there is also a mount of Wanyan Aguda that is also very handsome. Whoever can capture Huanglong Mansion in the future will be rewarded with these two horses."

"That'll take some time." Zhang Lin smiled jokingly.

"That's not my business." Lu Bu also smiled and looked up at the darkening sky. "Let's go. The mansion should have prepared dinner. It won't be too late to leave after the doctor has finished eating."

"I'll just stay at the palace today." Zhang Lin said with a smile, "It's the end of the year tomorrow, so I don't have to travel so far to come here again."

"So best."

Lu Bu laughed, and several people turned and left.

……

The night darkened the sky, and the moon shone with a cool light.

Green smoke was curling above the copper basin of burning charcoal. When the sounds of voices and footsteps came in, Wanyan Zongbing, Wanyan Zongfu and Wanyan Bendu were having dinner. Upon hearing the sound, they immediately put down the food in their hands, wiped their hands with wet towels and opened the door.

The guards led the three members of the Wanyan family over.

"Eluguan, Alubu!"

Wanyan Zongfu, who walked out first, smiled. Wanyan Zongbi, who was behind him, heard this and hurried out with a look of joy on his face: "God bless you two, you are still alive."

"Shiro (Fourth Brother)!"

Wanyan Zongjun and Zongmin also showed joy on their faces. They stepped forward, grabbed the arms of their two brothers, patted them hard, and laughed.

"The person has been sent to us. We'll take our leave now." Seeing that it was getting late, the guards bowed and said goodbye.

"Thank you very much, and take care!" The Wanyan family members immediately thanked them and watched them leave. Before they could smile again, they heard a voice saying, "Uncle Wushu, Uncle Erliduo, why are you two here too?"

"Ok?"

Wanyan Zongbi and Zongfu lowered their heads to look in the direction of the sound. Wanyan Bendu, who came up from behind, was also curious: "Who... who is this child?"

In the three pairs of eyes, Wanyan Zongjun smiled and said, "This is Nianhan's child, nicknamed Danzi."

"What?" Wanyan Zongbing glared and looked at the young boy ferociously.

Wanyan Zongjun and Zongmin saw this and knew that the rumor was probably true. Wanyan Zongjun walked over with a laugh, hugged him, turned his back to Danzi, and whispered in his ear: "Don't worry, Silang, isn't it better to have him in your hands?"

Wanyan Zongbing glanced at him and whispered, "What's going on?"

Wanyan Zongjun patted him on the shoulder and said, "I'll tell you later." Then he turned to look at the boy and waved, "Come on, Danzi, eat something today. Tomorrow your uncle will take you around the city."

"Oh." The boy nodded, walked over, and then looked up at him with some doubt: "But we came here, you won't blame me?"

"So you're afraid of marbles?" Wanyan Zongjun looked down at him with a smile.

"Who said I was afraid? I just don't want to worry."

The adult and the child walked into the house while talking. The others looked at Wanyan Zongbing who seemed to be thinking about something. The sturdy Jurchen man waved his hand and said, "Go in, we'll talk later."

The house slowly closed.

Only Yelu Neri, who was living in a nearby house, turned his head in surprise: "Why are the Jurchens over there so noisy today? Tsk... they are really barbarians."

There was no words to say that night.

……

Oh, oh, oh——

The crowing of cocks rang out, and the Qi Palace, which had been asleep all night, became full of vitality again. Zhou Darong, wearing brocade clothes and an apron, walked into the kitchen, counting the ingredients prepared for the last day of the year. Soon he stood in front of the water tank, looked at the frozen surface and used a stick to chisel open it. A huge black fish showed its head, its mouth opening and closing constantly, and then he nodded with satisfaction.

"Everyone, be alert. Today is New Year's Eve. Don't let the king have a bad New Year."

As the people below responded, the fat cook said, "Hurry up and prepare all kinds of fine fruits, seasonal fruits, fried honey and sugar. Many generals and officials may come to visit us during the day, and we can't let people say that our palace has no preparations. Ten kinds of sugar, Chengsha balls, rhyme fruits, honey ginger and fermented black beans, soap cakes, honey crisps, market cakes, five-color beans, ginkgo and other products should also be prepared. The three princesses love to eat these, and the princess likes sweets. The princess usually keeps a strict control, but today we must satisfy the princess's appetite."

The people in the dining room responded and hurriedly dispersed, some busying themselves with kneading dough, heating the pot, and taking the frozen pears out of the snow.

Zhou Darong led people to prepare breakfast. Soon they had prepared golden jade soup, camel hoof, spring pancakes, and he also boiled a few pheasant eggs and served them out.

The sky gradually brightened. Hua Rong, who stayed behind in Liaoyang Prefecture, put on a black official uniform and a fur hat. His fair and handsome face looked three times paler. He took Hua Xiaomei and had his servants carry the gift box and went out the door.

Under the daylight, the cold is still oppressive, but it cannot stop people's enthusiasm for celebrating the New Year. The streets, which should be sparsely populated in winter, are now full of joyful figures.

Hua Rong smiled as he saw the festive atmosphere. He walked and talked with Hua Xiaomei. When they turned around an alley, they heard a strange wheel noise. When they turned around, they saw a few women pushing Deng Fei slowly towards them. The Fire Eyed Suanni who was sitting on the ground had a ruddy face and looked at Hua Rong with a look of joy. He bowed and said, "Brother Hua, long time no see."

"Brother Deng Fei."

When Hua Rong and his sister saw him, they bowed deeply. Little Li Guang walked over and said something to the lady who was pushing Deng Fei. Then he took the handle and pushed forward: "Brother Deng Fei, this four-wheeled cart is exquisitely made. There is no lag when pushing it."

"It's a reward from the king." Deng Fei smiled and watched the white mist dissipate in the air. He let Hua Rong push him and walk: "Otherwise, I would only be lying in bed, and I wouldn't be able to walk around like I am now."

Hua Rong smiled, and the three of them entered the palace while chatting and laughing.

It was past noon and the streets were bustling with people. From time to time, soldiers in military uniforms came with baskets on their shoulders. These were gifts sent by the garrisons from various places. Li Yu, who was in charge of recording, was so busy that he wished he could grow four hands to write at the same time, but after all, he did not have Nezha's ability to transform, so he could only record word by word honestly.

The sounds of music rang out from the courtyard of the palace. Lu Fang directed several of his former subordinates to play a festive tune, which brought smiles to the faces of many officials and generals who entered the palace.

Zhou Darong was so busy that he had no time to rest. Dishes for the banquet were served one after another.

Soon, Lü Bu, the King of Qi, walked out and entered the hall. The people he brought with him all bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The black robe sleeve waved: "Let's start the banquet." (End of this chapter)