The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Yan Biyun saw that Su Jin was in a low mood, and although he himself was having a hard time, this was definitely not the time to complain and be sad, so he said softly, "You don't have to worry too much, I don't blame you for this matter, who would have thought that the bandits would be so daring, even The food escorted by the two hundred forbidden soldiers dared to snatch it, who would have thought that the two hundred forbidden soldiers of the Song Dynasty would watch the bandits snatch the food from under their noses."

Su Jin gritted his teeth and said: "They didn't resist at all, and they retreated when they encountered bandits. A bunch of cowards made me fall into such a situation."

Yan Biyun frowned deeply, and stopped talking. Su Jin quickly dismissed irrelevant people and asked, "Miss Yan, what do you want to say?"

Yan Biyun said: "Originally, I didn't want to bother you at this time, but what you said just now seems to mean that Longzhen deliberately did not resist and let the bandits grab food. This reminds me of what he did in Luzhou."

Su Jin hurriedly asked, and Yan Biyun told all about how Long Zhen was perfunctory and procrastinated when he arrived in Luzhou, and how he got involved with Zhu Shiyong Chamber of Commerce and others later, and finally said: "According to the investigation sent by the slave family, Long Zhenyun The night before the departure of the food, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a banquet to receive him again. During the banquet, there were several owners of the Luzhou car dealership. Originally, it was difficult for us to hire a large car in Luzhou. I bought [-] carts, and my family was very strange at that time, but transporting food is a big deal, so it’s good to have a cart, so I didn’t think too much about it, but when I thought about it later, it was a bit strange.”

Su Jin frowned and said, "You mean... the chamber of commerce came forward to help Long Zhen fix the car? This seems illogical. The chamber of commerce wished that I couldn't get the food. How could it help Zhang Luo?"

Yan Biyun said: "This is the strange thing. The enthusiasm of the Chamber of Commerce makes people suspicious, and then the grain truck was robbed, and you just said that Long Zhen did not resist. Are there still few doubts in the middle?"

Su Jin thought hard and couldn't figure it out, Yan Biyun said again: "A while ago, the bandits on this mountain were encircled and suppressed several times. , dispatched at this time? And how did they know about the grain transportation? Could it be that their eyeliner has spread all over the Huainan Road? Even if they knew about it, how dare they take action against the convoy guarded by two hundred forbidden troops and horse troops? ? These are suspicious points.”

Su Jin's heartbeat quickened, and he said in a low voice: "Could it be... Could it be that the Chamber of Commerce is collaborating with bandits? It deliberately let the grain trucks go on the road, and then notified the bandits to rob the grain? I'm afraid Long Zhen was listening to him at the few banquets, and wanted to know if he was Determined to handle this job well, yes, Long Zhen must have revealed something at the banquet when he was dissatisfied with me, and then everyone in the chamber of commerce took advantage of this to make a big fuss, perhaps exaggerating the strength of the bandits, just in favor of Long Zhen, Long Zhen simply refused to do anything, pretended not to know anything, and went on the road, waiting for the bandits to rob the food, and then abandoned the car and fled..."

Su Jin's analysis made everyone's hair stand on end, old shopkeeper Zhang's face turned pale as he grabbed his beard, and said, "No way, no matter how bold the chamber of commerce is, it's not like this. This dragon really has any grudge against you. If you want To drive you to death?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "It's not that it's impossible, but it's very possible. This matter is a bit complicated, and it's not appropriate to say too much here. Besides, all of this is speculation and there is no evidence; the biggest thing right now is how to get the food to the public. Take it back."

Yan Biyun said: "Is there anything you can do?"

Su Jin shook his head and said: "There is no good way. Shouzhou and Luzhou are unwilling to send troops. It may be difficult for me to bring more than 1000 people. If it doesn't work, I have to fight hard. The food brought by the soldiers has already been sold. Not much more, I will go to the mountainside to investigate later to see if I can find a good way."

Yan Biyun said: "I'm afraid it's not a good way to fight hard."

Su Jin nodded and said: "I also know, but time waits for no one. In a few days, all the food in Yangzhou City will run out. To tell you the truth, I have opened warehouses to distribute all the military rations in Yangzhou City. If these military rations are supplemented If I don’t go back, my head will be lost.”

Old shopkeeper Zhang was shocked and said, "You moved the rations? Why are you so confused? If the rations have been moved, even if you make up for it afterwards, it's a serious crime. It's over... now it's over."

Su Jin spread his hands and said: "I can't help it. You haven't seen the situation in Yangzhou City. There are riots and chaos everywhere. The black market sells rice at high prices. Many people who can't afford it freeze to death and starve to death. I am really sorry." Could not bear."

Yan Biyun said: "Old shopkeeper, don't blame him. Although the slave family is a woman, I think what Su Jin did this time is not wrong. The most urgent thing is to replenish the general's grain, and then ask my uncle to deal with it. Maybe there will be no big punishment. .”

Old shopkeeper Zhang shook his head and said: "Where do you know the power of it? Opening the army granary privately is the same crime as privately transferring soldiers and horses. It is the most taboo thing in the imperial court. Who dares to speak for you? Isn't this a fire? That's all. Now that the matter has reached such a point, this military warehouse must be replenished, and doing a few meritorious deeds may turn things around."

Su Jin cupped his hands and said, "Old shopkeeper, I'm worrying you."

The old shopkeeper Zhang waved his hand and said: "Don't talk about this now, my Zhang family has been used by your Su family for generations, the honor and disgrace of the Su family is the honor and disgrace of my Zhang family, and they have already been integrated into one. The people I brought, please make it into the big boss." In the army, if we want to attack by force, I, Zhang Rongqin, will take the lead."

Su Jin has nothing to say. At this point, words of gratitude are already superfluous, but he doesn't want these people to die. Everyone in the family is dead, so what's the point of grabbing the food back.

Everyone was speechless for a moment, the tent suddenly fell silent, and someone outside shouted: "Report to the Special Envoy, there is a sentry from the east, I don't know if it is an enemy or a friend."

Su Jin got out of the tent in a hurry, climbed up and looked far away, and saw a team of hundreds of people coming here on the road to the east. A soldier had already shouted from a distance: "Who is coming, stop quickly, your order Master Su, the special envoy for grain affairs, is stationed here, so make a quick detour."

The opposite team not only didn't stop, but trotted towards this side at a faster speed, someone shouted loudly: "Brother Su is there? I'm Li Zhaoting, and I'll lead someone to help you."

Su Jin and Yan Biyun looked at each other, overjoyed, it was actually Li Chong who arrived, I don't know how he got the news, he didn't know where he came from, and brought many people over.

Su Jin waved his hands and shouted: "Brother Zhao Ting, Su Jin is here!" He ran out of the camp to meet him, and a person in the front of the team, wearing a green official robe, was sitting on a little donkey and "tapping and kicking" towards this place. While trotting, he looked at his dark complexion, thick lips and thick eyebrows, who is it if it's not Li Chong?

Su Jin laughed and rushed over, hugging the man and the donkey tightly, and said with a smile: "Brother Zhao Ting, it's rare that you still remember me."

Li Chong bared his teeth and yelled, Su Jin hurriedly let go of his hands and said, "What's wrong?"

A man dressed as a yamen servant next to him said: "My lord is in a hurry, he was sprained in a ditch on the road, and sprained his foot."

Su Jin was moved, and almost cried for the second time today, what is a friend, this is what a friend is, he is always by your side in times of crisis, supporting you for no reason.

Looking at the people brought by Li Chong again, Su Jin couldn't help it even more, and tears finally fell down. Some of these people were dressed as handymen, some were yamen servants, some were errands, and even some old servants from the Li family smashed up. Li Chong came here to bring all the people he could use. Tianchang is a small county, and there is no garrison at all, only patrols and government officials to maintain law and order. Now Li Chong took the risk to bring everyone here.

Li Chong patted Su Jin on the shoulder with a smile and said, "What's the matter? Are you still crying after becoming a high-ranking official? I'm telling you, this time the mistake has gone to the sky."

Su Jin burst into tears and said with a smile: "You take it as I want, the year is not good, this year has been a year, I didn't expect it to be near the end of the year, but this fucking thing happened."

Li Chong laughed and said, "Don't worry, I believe you will be auspicious, help me lead the donkey into the camp, I'm dying of thirst."

Su Jin hurriedly confessed his guilt, and personally helped Li Chong pull the reins of the donkey, and brought a group of more than a hundred people into the camp.