The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

(There are three shifts today, one chapter each in the morning, noon and evening.)

There was thunderous snoring in the camp of officers and soldiers, except for the fifty patrol teams, most of them were tired to death, lying in their tents and sleeping soundly.

Last night, Su Jin ordered the soldiers to light torches and walk into the barracks from a distance, then extinguish the torches, go to a distance in the dark, light the torches, and then enter the barracks disguised as reinforcements. .

The other [-] soldiers were busy setting up tents, expanding the camp, weaving fences, building stoves, and using mats to build empty grain piles, and at the same time making noise, making it very lively.

After a whole night of tossing, everyone's faces were ashen, drowsy and tired, and the cold wind was biting. When Su Jin announced that it was over, the soldiers didn't even have time to eat breakfast, so they quickly got into the tents and fell asleep.

Su Jin watched all this and shook his head secretly. The peace period of the Song Dynasty was too long. The bandits did not dare to take the initiative to attack. If the bandits knew the situation in the Su Jin camp, they might send three to five hundred people to defeat these drowsy officers and soldiers.

In contrast, Li Zhong's team of miscellaneous yamen servants and arresters seemed more energetic. After dawn, not only did they not rest, but they took the initiative to take on the task of patrolling with the Ma Jun who had rested last night.

Su Jin was looking forward to the reaction of the bandits. He looked at the mountain pass several times at night, but he couldn't see anything except a few bonfires at the pass. At dawn, Su Jin looked at the pass again, but he was greatly disappointed.

The bandits on the mountain pass did not seem to have any overreaction. On the arrow tower and the steep slope beside the mountain pass, the bandits still walked around in twos and threes as usual, or nestled in the leeward place facing the sun and basking in the sun. This is called Su Jin. I was very surprised, could it be that these bandits turned a blind eye and turned a blind eye to my pretentious and fanfare performance all night?If this is the case, I am afraid that the situation I have painstakingly involved in has become a big joke.

Just when Su Jin was frustrated, Li Zhong, who was checking with Su Jin, pointed to the pass and said, "Brother Su, look quickly, there is movement on that mountain."

Su Jin was startled, and hurriedly squinted his eyes to take a closer look. He saw dark figures on the small road leading to the village in the distance from the pass. These people ran towards the pass quickly. They're all gangsters with weapons.

"There are about hundreds of people. Could it be that they are going out of the mountain to make a surprise attack? Do you want to wake up the soldiers?" Li Chong asked anxiously.

Su Jin stared at the bandits, stretched out his hand to stop them and said, "No, wait a little longer!"

Seeing Su Jin's confident appearance, Li Chong felt a little more at ease, and only heard Su Jin whisper: "The bait, these are the bandits who reinforce the pass, they are not here to make a surprise attack. Look, they divided into two teams and went up to the two sides of the pass." The mountain ridge is obviously waiting for us to attack, so that we can attack from a condescending position."

Li nodded his head and said, "Sure enough, but the bandits are so brave, I'm afraid your plan is..."

Su Jin laughed and said, "The plan is still the same. The bandits are afraid. If they weren't afraid, why would they send troops to reinforce them? After all, they believed what happened last night."

Li Chong smacked his lips and said, "Then what should we do next?"

Su Jin said: "It's time for me to go out. The longer the time, the more vulnerable it will be. It's not too late. I'll go back here and prepare, and I'll go up the mountain later."

Li Chongdao: "Are you really going? Are you thinking about it? Maybe there are other strategies available."

Su Jin smiled wryly and said: "The mountains and rivers are exhausted, brother Li, you also understand in your heart, do you think I want to take risks?"

Li Chong sighed and followed Su Jin back to the camp.

Su Jin immediately started to prepare, and called Rou Niang to help her change clothes, wash her face, comb her shiny hair, put on a cloak, after finishing everything, she was about to leave, but Rou Niang grabbed her and said: " The young master is going to negotiate with the bandits, and it is inconvenient for the slave family to stop anything, the slave family has no interest in military affairs, but I hope you can return safely, the young master must be careful, the bandits are ferocious, so be careful when you speak."

Su Jin couldn't help but laugh, how to negotiate with the bandits is still up to you to teach?But looking at the sincerity and worry on the girl's face, Su Jin understands that this time is actually the same as Ying Tianfu, several people are worried about him, speaking of it, it is true that a man makes the women around him fearful. Not so.

Su Jin reached out to hug her, pecked her red lips twice, and said softly: "Don't worry about me, have confidence in me, our good life has just begun, I won't do unnecessary things sacrifice."

Rou Niang looked up at Su Jin, with mist in her eyes, she nodded and said: "The slave family has never lost confidence in the young master, but this time... the bandits are all murderers, and their temperament may be difficult to control. The servants are afraid of what happens."

Su Jin stretched out his hand to gently rub her smooth and tender face, and said with a smile, "It's hard to grasp the temperament of bandits. Is Teng Wang and his ilk a modest gentleman? Those people are several times more sinister and tricky than bandits in their bones, but you Just don’t realize it, don’t worry, Chao Mahan will go with me, and he can get away if something happens.”

Rou Niang opened her mouth, but she didn't say anything, she thought to herself: "In the bandit's lair, don't say that Wang Chao and Ma Han are with you, even if you bring hundreds of people, you may not be able to escape safely. You are a slave." Is it a fool?"

But the matter has come to this point, Rou Niang didn't say anything anymore, she stretched out her hand to tie Su Jin's cloak string again, gave a sweet kiss on tiptoe, and then bowed her head and walked aside.

Su Jin laughed, opened the curtain and went out of his tent, stretched out his hand and shouted, "Where is Dynasty Mahan?"

Chao Mahan, who was sitting on the side and basking in the sun with a group of soldiers, quickly jumped out. Su Jin couldn't help laughing when he saw their outfits. With a bow and arrow on his back and a simple knife hanging from his waist, he looks like he is facing a big enemy.

Su Jin pointed at them and said, "Why do you bring all these weapons? To kill people or to steal goods?"

Chao Chao scratched his head and said, "Didn't you go to break into the bandit's lair with the young master? Of course you have to take these guys with you."

Su Jin waved his hand and said, "You don't need to bring anything, not even a single weapon. Do you think the three of us are going to single out hundreds of bandits? Leave it all behind."

Ma Han hesitated, "Then what should we do if we turn our backs?"

Su Jin shook his head and said: "It's a shame, do you think the three of us will block it? What's the difference between wearing a weapon and not wearing a weapon?" Su Jin thought, "Unless each of you has a crooked hand, it's pretty much the same.

Chao Mahan had no choice but to let go of his affairs and put them aside. Su Jin waved his hand and said, "Get on the horse and follow me to the bandit's lair."

The three got on their horses, and Li Chong, Pan Jiang, Zhao, Fang and other generals came to see them off one after another after hearing the news, and some people murmured in their hearts: This envoy is too young, so young, that bandit Is the nest randomly broken into?I'm afraid this trip will be more or less auspicious, it seems that we have to make a good plan to retreat.

There are also people who admire Su Jin's courage. If I were myself, I would never dare to go deep into the tiger's lair alone. Among other things, this courage alone is enough to look down upon the world.

Li Chong took the reins of Su Jin's horse, sent him to the gate of the camp, turned his head and said, "Brother Su, do you have anything to explain?"

Su Jin laughed and said, "Do you want me to leave a last message?"

Li Chong hurriedly waved his hand and said: "No, I wanted to go with you, but I know you will definitely not agree, I just asked if I can help you better handle the errand, I still have [-]% confidence in you of."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Thank you Li Chong for trusting me, but you must have [-]% confidence in me. You can control the army at the foot of the mountain. It is best to have some good shows with Pan Jiang and others to cooperate with my actions on the mountain." , The specifics are up to you to decide for yourself, there is only one thing to keep in mind, you must not show off your feet, but show your strength."

Li nodded and said: "Brother Yu understands."

Su Jin drew back the reins, urged the horses, and the three of them rode out of the camp and headed straight down the mountain; at the height of the camp, Yan Biyun and Xiao Xianer Rou Niang stood quietly, watching Su Jin's master and servant His figure gradually faded away, and he shed tears unknowingly.