The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

"The method is very simple. I want to ask Zhang Xiangguo to write a letter to the Liao people, telling them that we don't need to fight this battle." Su Jin smiled.

"What? We heard it right, don't fight anymore?" Everyone's heads were full of black lines, wondering what kind of "medicine" Su Jin was selling in the gourd.

"Master Su, don't be joking, it's better to tell the strategy of how to fight the enemy quickly, and don't make a fool of yourself." Zhang Yuan was a little displeased, this Su Jin seemed to be playing a big role in military affairs.

"Zhang Xiang, what I'm talking about is the strategy against the enemy. Please write a letter and send it to the Liao army camp, and say: Xia Liao's army is hostile to the wilderness, the wind and cold are attacking, and the situation is becoming more and more difficult. Both sides A large number of soldiers and horses froze to death. If it continues like this, there will be huge losses if there is no war; in addition, the new year is approaching, heavy snow is severe and cold, and the soldiers are thinking about returning. There are two alternative strategies. First, procrastination is not a long-term solution. It is suggested that the two sides go to war immediately to decide whether to win or lose. Male and female, free from the suffering of soldiers and horses freezing to death and starving to death."

Zhang Yuan said in astonishment: "Lord Su, are you really planning to retreat?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "You can write the letter immediately according to my wishes. It's not up to me whether to stop fighting or not. It needs the cooperation of Liao people to make it happen."

……

At noon, the soldiers looking out in front of the Liao army's camp spotted several enemy soldiers in the snow and immediately blew their horns to warn them; He shouted: "Who is coming? If you don't stop, you will be shot to death with random arrows."

The three people on the opposite side quickly shouted loudly: "Don't shoot arrows, we are here to deliver letters under the order of my coach."

The soldiers of the Liao army looked at each other suspiciously, and looked closely, but saw three cavalrymen of the Xia Kingdom appearing in the wind and snow. As expected, they had no weapons, their hands were empty, and they didn't even have any armor on them, only helmets.

"What kind of letter did you send? Could it be a fraud?" Liao army soldiers shouted.

"Brother, the wind and snow are blowing and the cold is bitter. We also want to warm up in the tent. If you are in the military, who would like to come to drink the northwest wind? Don't shoot arrows. There are indeed letters delivered." One of the Xia soldiers raised his hands high , the letterhead of a yellow envelope in his hand swayed in the wind.

The soldiers of the Liao Army didn't dare to be negligent, so they hurriedly reported to the superiors. The former general gave an order, and dozens of cavalry rushed out of the camp. After a while, they returned to the camp with three unarmed soldiers of the Xia Army. The letter was naturally taken away. When they got down, they were immediately sent to the Chinese army tent six or seven miles behind.

Several pots of charcoal fires were lit in Yelu Zongzhen's big tent. Even so, it was still bitterly cold. All the generals were sheltering from the wind and snow in their barracks, but they were summoned by Yelu Zongzhen to discuss matters in the big tent. After everyone came, Yelu Zongzhen took the case The letter reads: "The Xia people came with a letterhead and gave us two suggestions. One is to fight immediately, so as not to freeze and starve the soldiers and horses to death in the severe wind and snow. It's a fight, do you think this matter is strange?"

All the ministers passed the letters to read, and there was a lot of discussion. Zhang Jian said: "It seems that the Xia people's experience is similar to ours. What kind of conspiracy do people have?"

Nori Shigemoto said nonchalantly: "Why should the Xia people fight and retreat when they say war? My army has come here from thousands of miles, so it is better to fight to the death. Judging by this posture, the Xia people have already lost their morale, so just take advantage of this opportunity. Defeat it in one fell swoop.”

Yeluzong really frowned and said: "It's true that their army's morale is slackened, so how is our army going? Tens of thousands of soldiers suffered from frostbite, and many horses were frozen to death. Every morning, the sword can't be drawn out of its sheath. What are you talking about defeating the enemy in one fell swoop? Now that the wind and snow are blocked, supplies are already quite difficult, and a large amount of food and supplies are blocked at the small pass in the east of Helan. I am really worried."

Yelu Zhongyuan stopped talking, and Xiao Hui stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty Qizuo, even if you withdraw your troops, you must prevent fraud. Maybe the Xia people deliberately used this to test the situation of our army camp. Once you know that our army I am getting more and more troubled, or there may be some unruly plans, so when the emperor replies, please do not teach the Xia people to know the specific situation of our camp, you can respond vaguely, depending on the situation, it is better to teach the enemy to "get" the details."

Yeluzong said, "How do you answer?"

Xiao Hui thought for a while and said: "The emperor only said that my Daliao army has plenty of supplies, and it's okay to consume them. I don't agree with the proposal of withdrawing troops. When the wind and snow gradually subside, the two sides will have a decisive battle on the battlefield, so as to judge the strength of the enemy army. reaction."

Zhang Jian said with a smile: "King Xiao is a good idea. The Xia people must feel that there is a lot of fog. If they have tricks, they will definitely show their feet. If they decide to withdraw, our army will retreat calmly, and the momentum will be great." Do not lose to the opponent."

Yelu Zongzhen nodded and said: "Forget it, I will reply like this."

Yelu Zhongyuan muttered in a low voice, "Deceive yourself."

Zhang Jian said sternly: "Your Highness, this is not self-deception. This is an act that soldiers never tire of deceit. If the enemy army is testing the truth and knowing the current situation of our army, how can they let go of this good opportunity? In such a harsh and cold environment Fighting in the weather, although our army is strong, we cannot guarantee a complete victory, and the Xia people don't have to fight to the death, otherwise what will we do against the Song people in the future?" [

Yelu Zhongyuan gritted his teeth and scolded: "All this is caused by Song Zhu, and we must try to be fair to Song people in the future."

Zhang Jian patted him on the shoulder and said, "Yes, but it's better to settle the matter at the moment. If it continues like this, there will be no need to fight, and the tens of thousands of people will have to confess here."

……

In Xia Jun's camp, Su Jin was holding Liao Xingzong's reply letter and was reciting loudly: "...Our Daliao Iron Cavalry has been gearing up for a long time. The army has sufficient food, grass, firewood, firewood, and high morale. The Daliao Iron Cavalry is the enemy. The army of the world, not fighting against each other is thinking of the old friendship between the two countries; now the two proposals put forward by your army are quite intimidating, and our soldiers in Daliao unanimously decided to choose the first one, wait for the wind and snow to stop for a while, and choose another day to start the war ...... I didn't want to be the enemy of life and death with the Xia Kingdom, but your country hates my Daliao very much. Your country's army is gathered, and it is quite likely to fight to the death... I, Huanghuang Daliao, have never been timid. Pass?"

The generals in the camp were stunned. The Liao people seemed to be determined and never thought of withdrawing their troops. Su Jin wished to get rid of the situation in front of him. He threw out any proposals to withdraw the troops, which seemed very naive and ridiculous. The slap came back, but it was a total loss of face.

After reading Yeluzong's reply letter, Su Jin burst out laughing; it's a pity that the generals couldn't make fun of it, so someone came to ask: Why is the general laughing?

Su Jin smiled, stretched out his hand and threw Liao Xingzong's letter on the case, looked at the generals who were arguing, and said: "The people of Liao have a way of bragging, and they have enough food and firewood. The three brothers who delivered the letter came back and said, The military tents of the Liao Army were as cold as an ice cellar, and the ashes of the charcoal fire had turned into ashes. I don’t know how many days the charcoal fire had been cut off. The inside of the Liao army’s armor was very thin, unlike our soldiers, at least they had cotton and linen Lining, it can be seen that their crimes are worse than ours, and they even swollen their faces to make them fat; no matter, I will give them a heavy hammer, so that their cowhide will not break through."

Dressed neatly, Su Jin stepped out of the big tent, whispered a few words to Chao Mahan, and then ordered three soldiers who delivered letters from the Liao army to be called into the big tent; With a bad face, he entered the big tent and looked embarrassed under the gaze of the generals.

Su Jin smiled and said: "You three have worked hard. It's not easy to send letters back and forth in the wind and snow. My reply will have to trouble the three of you to bring it back to your army's camp and hand it over to your emperor."

The three said in unison: "It should be, it should be."

Su Jin smiled and said: "In addition, I have some gifts, please take them back to the emperor of your country. The weather is very cold, and there is nothing better than giving warm things. I have prepared a wolf fur cloak, and I also have some gifts from my camp. Please pass on the three buckets of warming fire to the emperor of your country, and he said that the gift is light and the affection is heavy. Although the war is inevitable, the gift is still for the subordinates, a little respect."

The three quickly agreed, and Su Jin shouted loudly: "Come here, take the three brothers to warm up and eat, bring them gifts, and escort them out of the camp."

Chao Mahan entered the tent and led the three of them out. When they got out of the big tent, they turned left and right and passed dozens of tents. Looking around, the three of them could vaguely see bright fires shining from these tents, and they could still smell the aroma of wine and meat when they passed the tent door. , The three of them swallowed greedily.

Wang Chao saw it, turned around and said with a smile: "These guys are like this every day. They are all scruples about drinking and eating meat. They are also sympathetic to the hardships of the severe cold weather. No, a large amount of beef, mutton, wine and meat were brought over from Ketun City the day before yesterday. It was very cold. In the weather, drinking some wine can also keep out the cold."

The three of them were secretly shocked. Xia Jun lived so carefree. Compared with his own camp, eating dry food on this ice and snow every day, he was living in hell, and his heart was full of displeasure.

Dynasty Ma Han led three people into an empty tent, a pot of stewed meat was boiling on a table inside, and there was a jug of wine beside it, Ma Han greeted: "Three brothers, please take a seat, so that you can eat and drink, and wait a while." Later, the general will send you a letter, and you can leave with gifts.”

The three of them were already salivating, and they were not polite. They sat down and ate and drank. A soldier became very interested in the blue flames rising from a brazier next to him. Seeing that there was nothing in the brazier, it was just a Wang Qingshui, but the flames were burning hot, and the whole tent was warmed like spring by the pot of fire. He couldn't help asking in amazement: "You two generals, what is this thing? Can something like water be burned? "

Wang Chao was surprised and said: "The three of you don't even know this, right? This is kerosene. Our army relies on this thing to light fires and keep warm. There is no vegetation on the Gobi Desert. How can we survive such a cold day? Are there no braziers in your camp?"

"Great... Natural brazier, but..." Before the soldier finished speaking, he was elbowed by another soldier beside him, and quickly changed his words: "We also use kerosene, I just asked casually, Just a question."

Wang Chao laughed loudly and said: "This brother of feelings is the one who tested us. What is there to talk about such commonplace things? Hurry up and eat, the sky is getting dark, and there are still several miles between the two armies. , it’s difficult to travel on the road when it’s dark, and there are heavy gifts to bring, so don’t delay.”

The three hurriedly buried their heads in eating and drinking. Half an hour later, the three of them came out of the tent belching drunkenly. Their horses had already been led by someone, and the presents had already been packed and hung beside the horses, but there were three big wooden barrels rattling inside. Dang's water sounded chaotically; under the escort of Wang Chao and others, the three of them were sent out of the camp.

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