Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The roaring sound of hooves came from a distance, not densely, but it made the Liao soldiers on the city wall feel the suffocating feeling of dark clouds pressing down on the city.

Square arrays were formed one after another, with flags fluttering in the wind, surrounding the large flags of their respective generals, filling up the open space in front of the inner city of the imperial palace, yet separated by parallel passages for several people.

It would be great if I had a trebuchet, I could definitely hit the target with one strike!

Yelu Daribo thought about it with a smile on her face, but she also knew that it was wishful thinking. If it were true, the Qi army below would have already breached the inner city wall and turned this palace into nothing more than a record of their military exploits.

In the field of vision, the red figure stopped at a safe distance, guarded by generals in iron armor, whose armor shone brightly in the sunlight.

Yelu Daribo suddenly thought of Li He's "Song of the Governor of Yanmen": Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to destroy it; armor shines in the sun, like golden scales...

These two sentences really fit everything in front of us, but when it comes to the situation...

Isn’t my current self a reflection of the last two sentences?

Princess Tianshou on the top of the city wall felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

However, in addition to the soldiers, there were also eunuchs on the city wall who were carrying stones and wooden beams removed from the houses in the palace. Looking at the dark figures below, many eunuchs trembled, and the fishy smell that had been suppressed by the sachets reappeared on the city wall.

Some people looked at each other, then walked down the wall with their backs bent. Some things also needed to be told to others.

……

"I heard that the general on the city wall is a female general..."

The figure sitting on Red Hare looked to the side and said jokingly, "Maybe the other person is a beauty, so you are showing mercy."

"Your Majesty, you are joking." Du Fu scratched his beard, narrowed his eyes and looked at the top of the city wall, thinking about what Lu Bu meant by this, but said: "I dare not overstep my bounds. Without the order of Your Majesty, I dare not break into the city."

"Why are you so presumptuous?" Lu Bu shook his head, looking at the palace wall with his eyes gradually faded. "In marching and fighting, the main thing is to do your best. There is no need to consider this or that. If one day in the future, you miss the opportunity to wipe out the enemy because of waiting for an order, you will be stupid. I don't want you to become fools in the future."

"Your Majesty, forgive me."

Du Fu, Sun An and Yuan Lang, who were closest to the scene, immediately dismounted, knelt down and apologized.

"Excuse me, you are innocent, please get up first."

The three of them stood up with their heads lowered.

"Order!" Lu Bu waved his arm, and the bright red cape behind him trembled. He glanced at the soldiers around him and said, "The cavalry besieging the city retreat, and the infantry advance. Sun An, you will command the siege. Is there any problem?"

"The general will obey the order."

Sun An responded instinctively, then realized something and glanced at Du Fu. General Anbei also had a hint of anxiety in his eyes, but he resisted the urge to look back.

"What are you doing standing still?"

Lu Bu frowned on his horse. Just as he turned around, he heard footsteps behind him and a rough voice: "Your Majesty, one of my men has an old relationship with the defenders in the city. Why don't we try to persuade them to surrender?"

Lu Bu turned around and saw Wang De running over with a middle-aged Khitan man. He looked at the man carefully and a name popped up in his mind. The corners of his mouth curled up strangely: "Shit... Ahem, Yelu Neri?"

The monosyllable sound made Yelu Neri's face darken. He pretended not to hear it and bowed respectfully: "This humble general greets the king."

"I forgot that you were under Wang De's command." On Red Hare, Lu Bu reached out and touched the horse's mane to ease his embarrassment. He remembered that he had casually thrown this man to the Ministry of War before, and did not want to be sent into Wang De's army by Fang Xuedu and others.

After thinking about it, he remembered that there were two annoying people in Liaoyang Prefecture who ran around in the Treasury and the Ministry of War all day long. One of them was Han Shizhong, who was always making trouble and complaining that his troops and weapons were insufficient, which made people complain bitterly. Wu Hu, Fang Xuedu and Wu Jiao were very annoyed by this, so they always let this guy succeed.

The other one is Wang De, but I heard that this man is different from the former. He just sits in the yamen every day and forces others to look at him. Often others cannot adapt to his ugly face and agree to his request. The Ministry of War simply uses this surrendered general to shut him up and prevent him from being an eyesore all day long.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Lu Bu looked down: "Are you sure you can persuade the people on the top of the city to surrender?"

The Khitan palace was already trapped, so he naturally didn't want to lose soldiers here.

"I am willing to give it a try."

Yelu Neri didn't dare to make a guarantee. He had surrendered for a long time and was not sure whether the people in the palace would accept his mediation. He had thought of being killed with a knife.

However, wealth and honor must be sought in danger. Now the generals in the army obviously have some plans. Whether they can take advantage of this opportunity depends on whether they can make the people on the wall come down and surrender.

Life or death has never been a problem for him. He just wants to be as rich as before.

"Okay, then you go up and talk to them. I'll give you one hour. If they don't surrender within one hour..." The figure on the Red Hare turned to the other side and said, "Sun An!"

"I will let Your Majesty stay overnight in the palace!" Sun An took two steps forward and clasped his hands together.

"Just get ready and go up." Lu Bu smiled with satisfaction and looked at Yelu Neri: "As long as you surrender, I will not harm your life, and I will also ensure that no one will embarrass the Liao emperor's concubines. I will even let them go back later." He paused and said: "I don't like to embarrass women."

"Your Majesty has a broad mind, no one can match you!" The surrendered Khitan general clasped his fists in praise, then bowed his head and retreated.

Lu Bu flew down from Red Hare and said, "Come here, bring a chair. I will wait here."

Immediately, the personal soldiers ran out and soon came back with wooden chairs and a long table. Lu Bu waved his cloak behind him, and he sat down while the scarlet cloth fluttered in the air. Yu Cheng and another personal guard placed the wine in front of him, and the sitting figure took a sip slowly.

At the side, Du Fu saw that Lu Bu had no more orders, so he stepped back a few steps, walked outside the circle, and waved to Wang De over there.

Wang De saw this and walked over from among the generals and said, "General Du, what do you want from me?"

"Your Majesty said before that the female general on the top of the city wall is a beauty." Du Fu looked at the Liao people's flags flying on the top of the city wall and smiled at Wang De: "I think Your Majesty should be a little curious about her. You can talk to Yelu Neri about it."

Wang De was stunned for a moment, and rubbed his beard, making a rustling sound: "I have never heard that the king is lustful..."

"Maybe ordinary women are not in the king's eyes." Du Fu remained calm and patted Wang De on the shoulder: "The girl on the top of the city is a princess of a country after all, she is qualified to enter the king's harem."

"I understand." Wang De nodded, turned around and took two steps: "I'll go and tell Yelu Neri now."

He thought for a moment and stopped, then turned around and said, "If this woman doesn't surrender..."

"That's General Sun An's business." Du Fu walked forward and turned to look at him: "Just do your best."

Wang De agreed immediately, and hurried over to his general and whispered in his ear.

Under the daylight, Yelu Nieli licked his lips as he listened to his general's words, glanced at the top of the city wall, and nodded fiercely: "I understand, General, don't worry, I will do my best in this matter."

He took a deep breath, carrying only a long sword on his body, then took off his iron helmet, picked up a small white flag and walked to the open space in front of the city wall. The general raised the white flag high within an arrow's reach and shouted loudly.

"Yelü Neri, the King of Jin in the Former Qin Dynasty, wants to see Princess Tianshou in the city!"

……

Time turns to the time when the army is standing.

On the top of the city wall, many guards were sweating as they looked at the neat array of soldiers below the city. Black figures filled the open space in front. In their field of vision, the weapons reflecting the sunlight made many people lower their heads and couldn't help but look back at the princess standing over there.

The burly female soldier in silver leather armor in the back was also a little agitated, but was stopped by a few female generals. "Princess..." a personal female guard called out.

The pretty figure standing in front turned her head, and the female guard quickly pointed back: "All the nobles in the city have come out."

Yelu Dalibo was stunned: "What's going on?" He took two steps and looked down from the top of the city wall. He saw many women being supported by maids standing on the stone path below. The first one was wearing luxurious clothes and a golden hairpin on her head. His face suddenly changed: "Why are they all here?"

She turned her eyes and looked at the eunuchs who were bending over and carrying things, and frowned: "These troublemakers."

A eunuch trotted over and bowed before her: "Princess, Zhao Zhaorong has something to ask."

giggle-

The princess clenched her bare hands into fists, and there was a sound of cracking joints coming from her hands. Zhao Zhaorong was a Han Chinese who entered the palace and gave birth to Prince Zhao Xinilie, who was her father's fourth son and the eldest son of a concubine. That was not all, but as the governor of Xijing, he also had supporters in the court, and all his power was not comparable to that of a princess like herself.

Although I am now surrounded by the Qi army and probably can't get out, I can ignore the other party's face, but...

She never gave me a cold shoulder before, and she even supported the Qi army's siege of the imperial city. I should go and listen to what she has to say.

His face changed color for a while, and Yelu Dalibo let go of his hand and glared at the eunuch: "What good things you have done, why disturb Zhaorong?"

The eunuch immediately apologized and bowed.

He glanced at the top of the city wall and said to the imperial guard and his female soldiers, "I'm going to go see Zhaorong for a while. You wait here and I'll be back soon."

The two of them responded immediately. Yelu Daribo took a deep breath, then walked down the stone steps and walked quickly to the women's side: "Daribo greets Zhao Zhaorong. May Zhaorong live long and happy."

The pretty woman with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smiled, stepped forward and took Yelu Dalibo's arm, feeling the coldness of the silver arm armor, and said with some emotion: "Thank you for guarding the city for the past few days."

"Princess, what's going on outside?"

"Yes, I heard shouting in the city just now, but what actions did the Qi army take?"

"Princess……"

"Princess……"

Several noble ladies at the back came forward and asked questions at once. Yelu Daribo's ears were buzzing from the noise. He looked at one and then the other, and for a moment he didn't know which one to answer first.

"That's enough! Shut up!"

Zhao Zhaorong frowned and shouted, "I don't know that the princess has many defense matters to deal with, and she is tired at this time. What are you talking about? What about the royal dignity you are waiting for?"

All the women bowed their heads at once, their faces looking very respectful.

Zhao Zhaorong didn't care whether they were respectful or not. She just turned around and looked at Yelu Daribo who looked a little relieved: "Daribo, are there reinforcements from the Qi army outside?"

"...Zhao Rong." Yelu Daribo opened his mouth, but in the end he did not make up a lie. He nodded and said, "King Lu Bu of Qi is here in person. The enemy has surrounded the imperial city tightly. It's not possible to get out..." He smiled bitterly and said, "They are about to attack."

"That's it..."

Zhao Zhaorong, who was a bit old but still maintained a graceful demeanor, looked up at the large flag with the word "Liao" fluttering above her and said with red rouge on her face, "Princess, go ahead and do it. Your Majesty, the Queen, and the Imperial Concubine are not in the palace now. I will not allow anything that would damage the dignity of the royal family to happen."

Yelu Daribo moved his lips, wanting to ask something, but Zhaorong opposite did not give her a chance. She turned around, looked at the women behind her and said, "Let's go back. Don't disturb the princess guarding the city wall."

The women at the back looked at each other, not understanding what she meant, and responded in unison, "Yes."

Just follow Zhao Zhaorong.

Yelu Daribo stood there looking at their backs, stomped his embroidered golden boots on the ground, turned around and ran quickly up the city wall. In just half an incense stick of time, he heard Yelu Neri's shouting from below.

“Yelü Neri…” Her red lips parted slightly, and a hint of hostility flashed across her pretty face: “This kind of traitor! Someone, bring him to me…”

"Princess, wait a minute!" The guards beside her were startled when they heard her speak, and interrupted her quickly: "When two countries are at war, envoys are not killed. Princess, why don't you listen to what he has to say? If it doesn't suit your taste, you can kill him later."

Yelu Dalibo glanced at him, her beautiful eyes turned, and the guards on the top of the city were looking at her with a longing expression. Only then did she suppress the evil thoughts in her heart: "Put down a basket and hang him up!"

The guards immediately lowered the long rope, and several people worked hard with their hands alternately. Soon, they pulled the Khitan man up, and he crawled out of the blue room. Yelu Neri looked around and saw some familiar faces. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness Yelu Neri, I greet Princess Tianshou."

"... a foreign minister." With her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, Yelu Dalibo took two steps forward and looked at the middle-aged man who was bowing with his hands crossed. "I didn't know there was a foreign minister among the royal family. It's really interesting."

Yelu Neri raised his head, his face showing no guilt. "Sun Xiu and Sun Kai are clan members with high positions and power, and they were able to surrender to the Jin Dynasty while guarding the border. I am just an ordinary general. I was defeated in the battle and was spared from death by the king. It is normal for me to surrender out of gratitude."

Tianshou raised his eyebrows: "You..."

"Princess!" Yelu Neri cupped his hands and said, "I am not here to argue with you, but to save the nobles in the palace."

"Ha..." Yelu Daribo sneered, thinking of Zhao Zhaorong whom he had just met, and resisted the urge to stab him with his spear: "Tell me about it."

"The King of Qi's request is very simple." Yelu Neri bowed and stared at the princess opposite him: "Everyone, put down your weapons. The King will not embarrass the concubines in the palace and will even let them leave."

He turned his gaze to the guards who were a little agitated by the conversation and said, "I won't make things difficult for you."

"Are you serious?" Yelu Daribo looked at him doubtfully, with a look of disbelief on his face.

Yelu Neri glanced at the guards and female soldiers, and saw that some were excited, while others were half-believing and half-doubting. Then he looked at Princess Tianshou and said, "Isn't the fact that I'm still alive the best proof? You know, the last time I led the army to invade Liaodong, I was captured by the king. Even if you chopped me off at that time, no one would say anything."

"You are alive because you are afraid of death!" Yelu Daribo sneered, but his heart moved: "What you said, this princess needs to discuss it with the nobles in the palace."

Yelu Neri pondered for a moment, then bowed his hands and said, "Who is the noble lady in the palace? Can you allow me to pay my respects to her, so that she can feel at ease?"

The wind blew past, and the flags beside him made a rustling sound. Yelu Daribo stared at him and pondered for a long time before speaking: "Now that Zhao Zhaorong is here, you come with me. Who knows, Zhaorong will ask you something."

Yelu Neri nodded quickly and said, "Princess, please hurry up. The king has only given us one hour. We will attack the city in one hour."

"I know." The princess on the other side pursed her lips, but still couldn't help but glared at him: "Why didn't you tell me such an important thing earlier!"

At that moment, Yelu Daribo asked a team of female soldiers to watch Yelu Neri, and he himself led everyone down the city wall and ran all the way to the palace.

The palace had not yet experienced war, and it was midsummer. All kinds of flowers were in full bloom, colorful and vying for beauty. However, the figure running by had no mood to stop. After passing several palaces, the palace maids and eunuchs saw her and her group with strange expressions and saluted.

With hurried footsteps, several people near Zhao Zhaorong's courtyard suddenly smelled a bloody scent. Yelu Daribo and Yelu Neri's faces changed, and they ran over at a quickened pace. The moment they ran into the courtyard, they stopped immediately.

In the courtyard full of blooming flowers, the woman who gave birth to the emperor's eldest son stood with her back to the gate, holding a bloody sword in her hand. The corpses around her were those of her father's concubines whom she had just met, bleeding profusely.

The eunuchs and palace maids were dragging the corpse to the side with expressionless faces.

"hiss……"

Tianshou and his group gasped and slowed down their pace, some of them not knowing whether to advance or retreat.

In the courtyard, a figure with his back to the crowd seemed to have heard something, and slowly turned around. His gentle face was splattered with blood, and he smiled as he looked at Yelu Daribo: "What's the matter, Princess?" (End of this chapter)