The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

After the morning court the next day, Zhao Zhen met Su Jin in the Chongzheng Palace according to the old rules. To Su Jin's surprise, this time he did not summon alone. Something unusual.

Zhao Zhen ordered someone to set up a small mahogany table in the open space, took a few futons and sat around with a few people, abandoned his superior posture, ordered the waiter to make tea, lighted the cakes, and waved the waiter away.

Su Jin stared at Zhao Zhen intently, muttering in his heart: Being courteous is either adultery or robbery, and he warned himself to control the evil. Ash 猚hongong.

After Zhao Zhen sat down, he beckoned everyone who was standing with their hands down to sit down, pointed to the teacup and said, "Drink tea, you must have never drunk this tea before."

Su Jin saw that the tea leaves were purple in color, but the brewed juice was green, which I had never seen before; Du Yan jokingly said: "The emperor's tea is of course very good, but I don't know what kind of tea it is."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "This is the Changbai red maple tea that my brother Yelu Zongzhen sent for me to taste."

Yan Shu was taken aback and said, "Has the Liao Kingdom come here as an envoy? How come the officials don't know?"

Zhao Zhen said: "It's because I didn't announce it. This is the real private envoy between me and Yeluzong. I only talked about some personal friendship, so you don't know, and I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just that I want to make friends and have some privacy. Yes or no?"

The three of them nodded silently. Zhao Zhen still doesn't know how many secrets are unknown, so don't be too surprised, the emperor naturally has his own way of doing things.

"I summoned you guys this time because Yelu Zong really talked about a major national event in this private letter to me, so I invited you guys to discuss and discuss." Zhao Zhen smiled.

Su Jin said in his heart: It's kind of giving me face. I'm just a magistrate. Could it be...

Zhao Zhen said again: "Before talking about this matter, I have something to ask Su Aiqing for confirmation."

Su Jin said: "My majesty, please."

Zhao Zhen said: "Recently, I heard about the turmoil in Xia Dynasty. Someone told me that it has something to do with Su Aiqing, right?"

Su Jin thought for a while and said, "That's true. The killing of Yuan Hao was planned by the minister alone."

Yan Shu, Du Yan, and Xia Song gasped in unison. If they hadn't heard Su Jin admit it with their own ears, they would never have thought that Su Jin was involved in this incident. But the three of them also had some doubts at the same time. How could Su Jin stir up civil strife in Xia? Probably nine out of ten is bragging.

Su Jin knew very well that Zhao Zhen himself had many eyes and ears. When he asked about this, he must have had conclusive news. At this time, it would be better to admit it readily, anyway, it is not a bad thing.

Zhao Zhen said angrily: "Since you planned it all by yourself, why didn't you report it to the court after you made such a great achievement? The traitor Yuan Hao is someone I always want to get rid of. Tell me, how did you do it?"

Su Jindao: "The reason why I didn't report it is because my original intention was not to get rid of Yuan Hao, but to save a beloved woman. How can such a motive come to the fore?"

"Woman? Interesting, let's hear it." Zhao Zhen squinted and laughed, and the three adults also opened their eyes and listened attentively.

So Su Jin told the story with Yuanhao's daughter Li Ari without any concealment, and confessed that he took the risk because he couldn't save Li Ari and urged Li Ningling to kill Li Yuanhao; Su Jin knew that Li Ari Zhao Zhen may have known his identity a long time ago, and he concealed it as if he had a ghost in his heart, so he simply stretched it out and confessed it all.

"Nonsense!" Yan Shu was angry, this kid is just being playful, and he actually put himself in danger for a woman, how confused should he be: "You are an important member of the Song Dynasty, how could you do such a dangerous trick for a barbarian woman?" ? Just nonsense."

"It's really a joke." Xia Song also glared at Su Jin, cursing in her heart: "You boy, the old man's charming daughter was tricked by you, and now you have a crush on another woman, and you even risk your life to save her. Merry and happy, if you die, Ling'er will become a widow."

Su Jin understands the feelings of these two, her own life and death are not too important, the main reason is that she married the daughter of their two families, but is messing around outside, this is probably the reason for their anger. [

"Haha, I think it's a good story. It's so romantic and romantic to sacrifice your life to save the beauty, and the result is not bad. It messed up Xia Guo by the way. I heard that they are fighting lively. In this way, they still have the leisure to harass me. Northwest?" Zhao Zhen clapped his hands and laughed.

Su Jin whispered: "Ashamed, ashamed, it's just a willow in my heart."

Zhao Zhendao: "That's why I'm going to tell you the true secret letter of Yelu Zong today because Xia Guo is in danger now. Do you know what Yelu Zong really said in the letter?"

Without waiting for everyone to answer, Zhao Zhen said: "He is here to invite me to send troops to destroy Xia Guo together. Haha, this timing is quite appropriate."

Everyone was shocked, Su Jin frowned and asked, "What's your majesty's opinion on this matter?"

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "I think it's feasible. Now that Xia's country is in turmoil and the national power is weak, it's a good time to destroy them; Yeluzong's proposal is really mentioned in my heart."

Du Yan also said excitedly: "That's true. The two countries will send troops together, which will be devastating. Xia Guo will definitely fight back. Finally, he can vent his anger. The western thieves have harassed us for so many years. This time Yuan Hao is dead. , let’s destroy their country again, and let the Dangxiang clan disappear forever.”

Zhao Zhen looked at Yan Shu and Xia Song and said, "Does Yan Xiang and Xia Aiqing think the timing is right?"

Xia Song said: "The timing is absolutely right. If we can join forces, the Xia Kingdom will surely be destroyed."

Yan Shu said: "But Di Qing is leading an army of 15 to attack Nong Zhigao. Is it appropriate to send troops at this time?"

Zhao Zhen chuckled and said, "Because of my concerns about the south, I feel that it is the best policy to join forces to send troops. If we don't use troops in two places, why should we join forces with the Liao people?"

Yan Shu nodded and said: "That's right, but the matter of sending troops is not casual. You should ask Master Su, the envoy of the Northwest Road, for his opinion on these matters. What is the current situation of the soldiers in the Northwest? right."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "This is one of the reasons why I called Su Aiqing back to discuss, and you all know the other reason."

Yan Shu looked at Su Jin with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Su. The emperor called you back to Beijing this time to give you a promotion. More than ten days ago, the emperor mentioned this matter to the old man Du Shumi, Mr. Xia. The three of us also strongly support it." , the emperor wants to appoint you as the deputy privy envoy and the secretary of the household department, and let you take care of the Northwest Road, the emperor and all the adults are very kind to you."

Su Jin was stunned, Zhao Zhen promoted himself again, every time he was promoted, it was accompanied by an exploitation by Zhao Zhen, this time he was promoted to deputy privy envoy, and he was given a secretary of the household department, I don't know how much blood he would have to bleed up.

"Master Su, don't you want to thank you?" Xia Song smiled, how could Su Jin be her son-in-law? I am really grateful, the little tail is pinched in Su Jin's hands, Su Jin still let him go, this is because he is his father-in-law, although Xia Song still doesn't like Su Jin, but she will never be like him again As before, it would be too soon, because after Xia Siling returned to Beijing yesterday, when she went home to visit Xia Song, Xia Song had already learned that Xia Siling was four months pregnant, the rice was cooked, the wood was ready, naturally It cannot be the same as before.

Su Jin smacked his lips and said: "This, the emperor's grace is favored, but I feel that it is difficult to do it. I am already busy with the affairs of the Northwest Fourth Road, let alone the affairs of the deputy envoy of the Privy Council. I accept it, but I can't be promoted anymore."

Zhao Zhen said in astonishment: "Is Su Aiqing afraid that others will gossip? It is true that your official position has risen a bit faster, but you deserve it. With your merits, who will gossip?"

Yan Shu also said: "Yes, whoever is not convinced, tell him not to provide relief from the court for three years, and then speak after feeding millions of people in the four northwest roads."

Xia Song also said: "What's more, although the matter of the Xia Kingdom is heart-wrenching, the result is that Li Yuanhao, the mortal enemy of the Song Dynasty, gave the head, and now we have the opportunity to wipe out all the western thieves. Who can build such a great achievement?"

Su Jin sighed and said: "Master Xia said so, I feel that I can't accept the official position, because my opinion is exactly the opposite of the emperor and your lords on the matter of the Liao Kingdom's invitation to send troops to destroy Xia. Impossible."

Zhao Zhen and the other three were surprised that at such a good time, Su Jin came to sing the opposite tune again, but they didn't know what he had to say. [