Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

At the beginning of summer, Wanyan Gao died, and the news of the change of flag in Huntong City spread in all directions. Everyone was preparing for the upcoming changes.

To the south of Huntong City, Xi Sheng heard the military intelligence in the city and immediately divided the army into two parts. One part, Wang Zheng, Han Shizhong, Ma Ling, Niu Gao and others would return to Xiangzhou and station in Huanglongfu in the south; he would take the remaining troops to Binzhou to watch the direction of Jingyuan City.

As for Lu Bu in Ningjiang Prefecture, he sent out fast horses, asking Yi Dian's troops to wipe out the remaining stubborn forces of the Wanyan tribe, and at the same time notifying the garrison in the south to advance northward and approach Huanglongfu of the Jin Kingdom in the north. Except for Yuan Lang who stayed in Huntong City, the remaining 6,000 cavalrymen under his command, with Wulin Datai as the vanguard, began to advance westward towards Darugu City.

Wanyan Sheng, who was sitting in the Huanglongfu Palace, did not know all of Qi's arrangements, but he felt a sense of urgency as a storm was about to come.

Last month, Wanyan Zonghan was defeated by Wanyan Loushi in a surprise attack and returned to the city. Nearly six out of ten of the 10,000-man army he had assembled were wiped out, which made his successor financial master furious. However, he knew that he could not blame Wanyan Zonghan, not to mention that his men could not find a replacement for the time being. He had to swallow his anger and accept the fact of defeat. He also tried to comfort Wanyan Zonghan, the general, with kind words, but turned around and arranged his son to join the army as the commander to guard the city gate.

"Father, father." The tall man who rushed in from outside the door was Wanyan Sheng's eldest son, named Wanyan Zongpan. He had retreated with Wanyan Sheng when the Jin invaded the south. It was this man that Wanyan Sheng sent into the army to guard the city gate. "Something big is going to happen."

"Puluhu." Wanyan Sheng threw down the document in his hand and drank a sip of water to moisten his dry throat: "Why are you so panicked? Is Wanyan Loushi going crazy and attacking? Then we should let Nianhan go to the battle."

There was teasing and sarcasm in his voice, but he also knew that Wanyan Loushi's focus now was not on Huanglong Mansion.

“No.” Wanyan Zongpan had sweat on his face and wiped it with the back of his hand: “It’s Xieye… Xieye’s uncle was wanted to be killed by Wulin Datai. I heard that the Qi army has occupied Ningjiang Prefecture now.”

"What?!"

Wanyan Sheng stood up suddenly, and the heavy nanmu chair behind him was knocked back with a loud noise, and fell to the ground with a clang. The sponsor didn't care, and took two steps to his son: "Is Xie dead too?"

"Dead." Wanyan Zongpan nodded repeatedly. "A spy came back with news that Wulin Datai wanted to trick the city gate open with the Yidian and Pulumaoduo tribes. The three tribes joined forces to capture the Emperor's Camp, and Uncle Xieye committed suicide."

Wanyan Sheng's eyes widened: "What about Ningjiangzhou?"

"Also surrendered to the Qi army."

"hiss--"

Wanyan Sheng took a breath, took two steps back and leaned on the table, his eyes dull for a moment: "How could it be so fast? It's only been a short time..."

"Father, what should we do now?" Wanyan Zongpan also looked panicked: "Will the King of Qi suddenly attack us when he returns and kill us..."

Before he finished speaking, Wanyan Sheng also knew what his son meant. He shook his head and then hesitated and said, "It should be... No, after all, our two countries have an alliance."

Wanyan Zongpan scratched his beard and said, "What if the King of Qi goes back on his word? Father, we must be prepared!"

Wanyan Sheng took two steps, then stopped, put his hands behind his back and moved again, then stopped again, looking up to the sky and sighing: "What you said is not without reason, but it's a pity that Nianhan killed most of the defenders. Now we have lost too many soldiers."

"Maybe we can recruit young and strong men into the army."

"Not right." Wanyan Sheng shook his hand. "We have never stopped fighting since we went south to fight against Qi. The number of young and strong men this year is less than half of what it used to be. This is especially true in the villages and towns around Huanglongfu." Wanyan Zongpan also took a breath with a toothache, his eyes rolled around a few times, and he said hesitantly, "Father, I have another plan, which may increase our garrison troops, but it is a bit disrespectful to General Nianhan."

"Disrespect? Humph..." Wanyan Sheng first curled his lips in disdain: "If this guy has any shame, he should ask for punishment. If it weren't for the lack of talent in the army now... Humph!" He looked at his eldest son: "If you have any ideas, just say it."

"Father, Wanyan Loushi is in Jingyuan City. He has lost his retreat and has no food supply. He must be in a state of panic now. We might as well recruit him. In this way, not only can his soldiers and generals be used by us, but the Jin Kingdom can also gain another great general."

Wanyan Sheng was a little moved when he heard this. He scratched his beard and thought, "What if Lou Shi refuses?"

"They are all descendants of the Wanyan tribe. He has fought several battles with the Qi army. Now that he has no logistical supplies, who else can he turn to if not his father?" Wanyan Zongpan spoke in a deep voice and paused: "Could he turn to the Liao people?"

"That won't happen." Wanyan Sheng waved his hands and said, "Lousi and the Liao people hate each other so much, how can we let them humiliate us?" Finally, he said with a firm look, "Okay, I will send someone to discuss this with Loushi right away."

He looked at his eldest son and said, "Go and get your brother Hulu."

"Yes."

Wanyan Zonghan responded and then hurried out to find his brother. The three of them discussed in the room for a long time before leaving.

The eldest son went back to guard the city gate, while the second son, Wanyan Zonggu, packed his bags. At dawn the next day, he selected a dozen brave knights and rode all the way to Jingyuan City.

……

On the Xinyou day, thunder rolled in the sky.

The Qi cavalry arrived at the foot of Darugu City with a roar that echoed the thunder in the sky. Wulin Datai and his deputy general Chulidi came out with Wanyan Gao's head. After a few shouts, the defenders abandoned their weapons and walked out of the city to surrender in a thunderstorm.

Lu Bu comforted the surrendered general with kind words, and when the rain stopped a little, he ordered Feng Tai to lead 500 soldiers to guard the place, and he himself led more than 5,000 cavalry to continue on their journey. In less than half a day, they arrived at the bank of Hunhe River and could see Jingyuan City across the river.

"The city ahead is Jingyuan City of Yizhou." Wulindatai pointed to the city on the other side of the river and said in a deep voice: "This city is not big. In the past, there were no more than 2,000 soldiers guarding the city. The moat outside the city is only ten feet wide and one person high."

The river breeze blew over, and the large banner above Lü Bu's head rustled. He reached out and stroked Red Hare's wet neck. Lü Bu looked at the white tents beside the city and pointed with his whip: "But now it seems that I don't know how many troops are here."

He paused and thought for a moment: "Before Xi Sheng fought with Wanyan Loushi in Binzhou, he said that there were 10,000 to 20,000 people inside and outside the city. After their battle, I'm afraid there are still more than 10,000 people at this time."

Du Fu stroked his beard and said, "It's also thanks to General Xi that these people are in Yizhou and cannot be moved, otherwise the Wanyan tribe would not be so easy to take down."

"Oh, who said it wasn't?" Lu Bu squinted his eyes and looked at the city. Suddenly he said, "Send someone to ask Wanyan Loushi if he is willing to surrender." (End of this chapter)