The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

() Su Jin turned his head and looked at the brilliant galaxy coming out of the wooden window and sighed: "This trip came to Huizhou to burn the enemy's food and grass. Seven brothers died here, I brought them here, but I couldn't take them back safely, I feel very regretful."

Wang Chao said: "My lord, how can we do such a great thing without injury? We are not gods, and our manpower will be exhausted."

Su Jin smiled and said: "It's best if you think so, but I thought I could get out of trouble safely, but I still made a mistake. Yan Sansi was right, strength is the guarantee of success, and I took the chance again Heart, it’s just that this time God might not favor me again, if I hadn’t been seriously injured, I was confident that I could escape the city with you, but it’s impossible now; so I decided not to drag you down , the four of you are highly skilled in martial arts, and if you are not dragged down, there is a great possibility of escaping from the city, I order you to prepare to break out immediately, and bring back the good news that the state's grain and grass have been burned back to Weizhou."

"Master, how can you say that?" . .

"I won't abandon you even when my brother dies, so are we still human?"

"Yes, we want to be together forever. We don't want to be born in the same year, but we want to die in the same year."

Wang Chao, Ma Han and others said repeatedly, and they made up their minds that no matter what, they would not leave Su Jin and flee for their lives.

Su Jin smiled and said: "Stupid words, what's the good of dying together? You only have one life, and when you die, you lose everything. That's why it's so precious, and we all have to cherish it; if you can live, you have to be together." Wouldn't death be a disappointment to the life bestowed by God?"

Wang Chao said with tears in his eyes, "Did the young master say this to doubt our loyalty to the young master?"

Su Jin raised his hand and patted Chao Chao's shoulder with difficulty and said: "Several brothers have a destiny with me, Su Jin. We have lived and died together several times, and the affection between brothers has long been deeper than that between brothers; although we are called masters and servants, but in I have never regarded you as servants in my heart. I thought in my heart, if I, Su Jin, can do more, the four of you will follow me to be promoted to honor your ancestors. .”

The dynasty opened his mouth, Su Jin waved his hand to stop him, and continued: "Listen, after you break through, help me send a message to the young lady Rou Niang Huan Niang and others... and...Miss Xia, just say I am Su Jin right? Staying with them has failed their love, and if there is an afterlife, I will try to repay them. If you are willing to stay in the Su family, you can stay. If you don’t, the young lady will definitely give you a generous gift. If you have time in the future, take care of them My old mother, and the child who is about to be born are enough; my words are from the heart, and they are not false. It's your young master's words, so do as I say, if it's too late, it's too late."

Seeing Su Jin's resolute words, Wang Chao Ma Han and others seemed to be hard to persuade, but how could they leave? Wang Chao's thick eyebrows were furrowed, and suddenly he stretched out his hand to greet Wang Chao, Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and others to go aside and whispered: "Several Brother, the young master is determined to drive us away, what do you think we should do?"

Ma Han said: "I'm not leaving, we just die together, I never thought about betraying my son, anyway, I've finished what I should do, so I can do whatever I like."

Zhao Hu also said: "I'm not leaving either, this time I'm going to disobey my lord's wishes."

Wang Chao said: "Since everyone thinks so, I have an idea, but it may cost my life, but it may also save my son's life."

Ma Han said: "Then you didn't say it earlier?"

Wang Chao said: "The officers and soldiers are conducting an intensive search now. We will all be found at dawn, and none of us will be able to escape; I just remembered that there are two princesses of the Xixia royal family in the inn we are staying in. They are in our hands. , the young master will definitely be able to get out of trouble safely, but the difficulty at the moment is how to get back to the inn; so I think..."

Ma Han said: "Boss Wang, I'm so anxious, please speak up."

Wang Chao gritted his teeth and said, "I'm afraid the four of us will have to sacrifice three of our lives to cover the young master back to the inn. I want two of you to go out and confront Xia Jun head-on, and lure them out of here. I must be responsible for protecting the young master back to the inn, which one of you will go with me? Let me tell you, going here is a narrow escape, and it is very likely that you will die here, you should think carefully about it."

Ma Han raised his hand and said, "Then it is my duty."

Zhao Hu said: "I'm going too, I'm not afraid of death."

Zhang Long said in amazement: "You mean you want me, a one-armed man, to escort the young master back to the inn? To be honest, I will do my best with the bandits, and the responsibility of escorting the young master is too great for me."

Everyone thought about it, Zhang Long himself was injured and only had one arm to use, how could he escape with Su Jin on his back?Wang Chao thought for a while, looked at Ma Han and said, "Brother Ma Han, you should stay and escort the young master, and the three of us will go out to lure the enemy."

Ma Han shook his head like a rattle and said: "No, no, I don't have as many ideas as you, and I don't think as thoroughly as you. Brother Zhang Long is right. The responsibility of escorting the young master is heavy. I think it's best for you to stay."

Both Zhao Hu and Zhang Long nodded and said, "Yes, it's best for Boss Wang to stay."

Chao Chao shook his head and refused, and the few people couldn't stop arguing. He heard the sound of killing outside gradually approaching, and he could already clearly hear Xia Jun's shouting and ordering under the tower.

Ma Han yelled: "Boss Wang, if you're rambling, we're all going to be dumped. That's it. If your son is caught by the thieves, you're a sinner."

Chao Chao was helpless, stepped forward to give them a bear hug, and said: "Remember, don't go all out unless you have to, just lure the enemy away. If you and my brothers are lucky enough to escape, you can do it near the restaurant outside the south gate. Leave a stone mark in the woods, and we will meet by the mark when the time comes."

Ma Han said: "Brothers, don't worry, you have to protect the son and return to the inn safely, and the safety of the son will be entrusted to you."

Wang Chao nodded silently, and watched the three of them get off the pagoda and disappear into the darkness.

Dynasty came to Su Jin's side, Su Jin didn't know what the four of them were muttering, and said in a low voice: "Go quickly, don't delay any longer."

Wang Chao said: "We have already made a plan to divert the tiger away from the mountain. Ma Han took Zhao Hu and Zhang Long to lure the enemy, and his subordinates were responsible for escorting the young master to the Inn."

Su Jin said in surprise: "What? Don't you want the three of them to die? You are too bold, you are such a jerk."

Wang Chao bowed his hands and saluted, "My lord, I've offended you."

After finishing speaking, he took a step forward, stretched out his hand and slashed Su Jin's neck lightly, and Su Jin fell into a coma. Chao Chao quickly carried Su Jin on his back, and tied Su Jin firmly by tearing his clothes into strips. Listen to the movement under the tower.

But suddenly there was a loud cry of killing from under the tower, and the sound of swords and swords clanging like iron, someone shouted: "Xizuo is here, surround them." At the same time, the flame signal went straight into the sky.

The soldiers and horses searching everywhere received the signal and hurried to the place where the fight was fought. Ma Han and other three people chopped down a dozen people and fled eastward holding torches. All the way to the east, farther and farther away from the pagoda.

Wang Chao quickly left the pagoda, carried Su Jin on his back all the way south, passed through the dilapidated temple hall and front yard, and disappeared without a trace in the dim eyes of the old temple monk who heard the sound and checked.

……

Wang Chao rushed all the way, and almost ran into several teams of Xixia patrols who went to the North City to assist in the search. Fortunately, Wang Chao was smart, went through the alleys to the roof, tried his best, and finally returned to the inn; Su Jin will be placed in the inn room On the bed, Wang Chao was drenched in sweat and almost exhausted.

The two guarding brothers hurriedly brought tea to restore Wang Chao's strength. Wang Chao took a breather and then asked, "Are those two girls still honest?"

A brother said: "There was a commotion in the city. They asked several times to see the young master, but we just lied that the young master had fallen asleep and didn't let them go out."

Chao Chao nodded and said: "Very well, invite them here, and say that the young master invited them and has something to say to them."

After a while, Yeli Duanyun and Li Ali came to Su Jin's room neatly dressed. Su Jin and Wang Chao's face was covered in blood and charcoal. The two women were shocked, and even more so. Seeing Su Jin's unconscious appearance, he covered his mouth and screamed in shock.

Wang Chao said: "You two girls, don't be afraid, please sit down."

Ye Li Duanyun stared and said, "What happened to him? What happened outside?"

Wang Chao said: "My lord is fine, but he bled too much and passed out; your military grain depot in Huizhou caught fire and burned, so the whole city shook."

Ye Li Duanyun suddenly covered his mouth and pointed at Wang Chao: "You...you...did you do it?"

Wang Chao said: "I don't have time to explain the details to the two of you now. My son will continue his treatment. I would like to ask the two girls to escort my son to find a doctor. I will keep my words in mind. If my son is born, you two will give birth. If my son dead, the two of you can only go to be buried with him."

Ye Li Duanyun said angrily: "Bah, how could Gu Nainai be buried with this Song pig? Besides, you still work carefully. You are so bold. You dared to sneak into my Daxia and burn the army rations. I knew something was wrong with you."

Wang Chao stood up slowly, held the handle of the knife and said, "It's up to you to decide whether to be buried with him. If you keep talking, don't blame me for being rude to you."

Ye Li was trembling angrily, but Li Ali said anxiously: "Cousin, stop arguing, this young master seems to be seriously injured, he needs to be treated quickly, we have to find a way."

Yeli Duanyun sneered and said: "What can I do? We are their hostages now, we don't even have freedom, how can we help them? Hmph, the whole city will be searched at dawn, I think they are dead gone."

Wang Chao said angrily: "We are dead, and neither of you can survive."

Li Ali said: "Cousin, don't talk about it, save him quickly, and we will talk about it later."

Ye Li Duanyun said: "You are a good person, they are the traitors of the Song Dynasty, they burned the food and grass of your father's [-] troops, you still have to save him."

Li Ahli said: "I can't control the affairs of the military and the country, but I can't see death and refuse to save him. Besides, saving him is also saving ourselves, otherwise we won't survive."

Yeli Duanyun sighed and said: "Cousin, you don't know my temper. If it wasn't for your consideration, I would definitely not deal with these Song pigs. Well, let me figure out a way."

Li Ali said happily: "Thank you, cousin."

Ye Li Duanyun rolled his eyes at Li Ali and said: "You are very strange, you actually came to thank me for this person, are you stupid?"

Li Ali blushed and said: "Don't talk nonsense, save people quickly."

Ye Li Duanyun was speechless, turned around and walked out, Wang Chao stopped him and said, "Where are you going?"

Yeli Duanyun sneered and said: "Naturally, I will try to find a way to save your young master. If you are worried about Gu Nainai, just stay here and watch him die."

Wang Chao thought for a while, anyway, Li Ali is in his hands, so there is no need to worry, this wild benefit is just an incidental gift, and he retracts his arm now and will not stop it.

Ye Li Duanyun picked up the lantern in the corridor and went downstairs, his footsteps were lightly clattering and gradually became silent.