The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

During the few days of rest in Longzhou, the scattered scouts continued to bring back news that the [-] soldiers and horses dispatched from the southern front of the Liao Army had already traveled northward and arrived in the north of Suizhou; I believe that they were destroyed by the Sujin army along the way. Yelu Chongyuan, the leader of the army, was almost out of breath.

On the other hand, the 15 troops from Linhuang Mansion headed straight for Taizhou. The two armies were going to trap Su Jin's army near Longzhou and annihilate them in one fell swoop.

After resting, the army of Su Jin set out, crossed the southern foot of the west mountain in Longzhou, and headed straight east to Taizhou. It seemed that this posture was about to fight the Liao people; after the army of Su Jin set out, Wan Yanhu led his troops to Xinzhou in the south rushed to attack; but Wanyanhu had a good mind, half of the [-] soldiers he brought with him were captured Liao soldiers, and he was not a fool. Leaving half of the property is enough to defend Longzhou, and the goal of the Liao army is not itself, but the large army of the Song army.

Two days later, the army arrived on a vast grassland two hundred miles east of Taizhou, but Su Jin did not order to rush to Taizhou to take the city and defend it before the enemy army, but instead stopped.

That night, the military meeting was held in the big tent. The big battle was imminent. The generals were a little nervous, and the atmosphere in the tent was also a little dull. Su Jinlian said several jokes to ease the atmosphere, and the generals just laughed in response to the situation. But it can't always be stretched. [

Finally, Pan Jiang couldn't bear it and said: "Commander, the battle is imminent. In a few days, we will encounter the enemy's soldiers marching eastward, and then the soldiers going northward will also arrive. How to fight this battle, please give me a strategy from the commander-in-chief."

Su Jin pretended to be surprised and said, "A big fight? Where did the big fight come from?"

Everyone scratched their heads in unison, what time is it, the commander is still in the mood to joke, this battle may be the last battle in the Liao territory, if he wins, the overall situation is settled, if he loses, all the blood will be spilled here.

"The commander-in-chief must have a plan in his mind, but it's good to speak out and brainstorm to make up for the loopholes. The lowly ranks also know it in their hearts. The generals under the account can't stop asking, and I can answer them." Jingtai frowned.

Su Jin glanced at dozens of middle and senior military officers, big and small, and said with a smile: "Jokes in the army, do you think I'm joking?"

The generals were stunned, Pan Jiang said: "Obviously my army is going to encounter the main force of the Liao army, why didn't we fight?"

Su Jindao: "What do you mean, our half-baked cavalry fought against the Liao cavalry on the Taizhou prairie? How many people under your tent can charge on horseback? Most of them are rookies who have just learned how to ride horses, except for the cavalry we brought from China. The [-] cavalrymen who have been trained to charge and assassinate, everyone has a horse along the way, but if you ride a horse, you are a cavalry? Don't be ridiculous."

"However, we have already met head-on. What if we don't fight? At worst, let's capture Taizhou first, and then defend against the enemy." Pan Jiang said.

"What if the enemy army is besieged and does not attack? Then they will be made dumplings until they starve to death?" Su Jin smiled.

"Then what should we do?" All the generals looked at each other and spread their hands.

"The answer is, don't fight." Su Jin said.

"Don't fight? But you have already been hanged by two armies, and you can't escape even if you are being chased? The road to the south has been blocked, and the rank and file of the army is also doing something. What should I do?"

Su Jin pointed to the stacked topographic map and said: "The south is blocked, and the west is blocked, but there is still a way to go to the north. Look at the topographic map. The left side of Taizhou is a large plain, and the north is an unknown continuous mountain range. , if we go north, bypass this mountain range, go east and then south, and suddenly appear in the north of Linhuang Mansion, wouldn’t the Liao people be mad? It’s nothing to worry about, we won the Linhuang Mansion in one fell swoop, and took over Yeluzong’s real palace nest, didn’t we fulfill our original goal?”

Everyone's eyeballs fell to the ground, the commander was so determined that he still had such an idea, it was really whimsical; now that he is being targeted by two armies, how can he escape and go north?

Su Jin seemed to see through everyone's thoughts and said: "In order to achieve such a goal, we need to perform a show. We may have to discard most of the supplies and vehicles, as well as food and grass; in order to perform this play well, I need a Brothers come to be actors, of course, it is also extremely dangerous."

Su Jin's voice echoed in the big tent: "In order to confuse the Liao army, we need to divide tens of thousands of troops to carry luggage, pretend to be the main force to attract the Liao army to follow and pursue, and the rest of the lightly armed forces will go to the north overnight to carry out the plan of raiding Linhuang Mansion; What is worrying is that the task of distracting the Liao people is extremely dangerous. It is necessary to attract the Liao people far enough away, and the sooner the Liao people discover the truth, the better. This will buy a lot of time for the main cavalry. My brother may die, but if successful, the rewards are huge."

With the sound of crows and birds in the tent, Su Jin said quietly: "I don't want you to take risks, so I decided to be the actor myself to distract the enemy army. From now on, the army will be commanded by General Jingtai and assisted by General Panjiang. Take [-] soldiers and horses and [-] captives, and leave with the baggage carts and the looted supplies."

"How is this possible? If we want to go, I will wait to go, how can the commander-in-chief be in danger?" Jingtai, Panjiang Dynasty and others shouted repeatedly.

Su Jin said: "If I go, I have the confidence to survive, and I am confident that I can lead the Liao army by the nose. I am a little worried about you going. This is an extremely risky strategy. How can I let you take risks." [

"What did the commander-in-chief say? You are the commander-in-chief. It is your business to make decisions, and it is my responsibility to execute them. If you take risks yourself, let me wait in the future. How will I gain a foothold in front of others? Who are you going to turn against me?" Pan Jiang said with a blushing face.

"Let me go, I'm more sure than you." Jingtai said forward.

"The end will go."

"Belong."

"Go to a humble job."

There was a lot of shouting and shouting in the big tent.

Su Jin waved his hand to signal everyone to calm down, and said slowly: "Stop arguing, since you won't let me go, then let me choose a candidate. General Jingtai and General Pan Jiang have heavy responsibilities, and the attack on Linhuang Mansion also requires the assistance of the two of you. This time, I will let General Dynasty go. Dynasty has followed me for many years and has gradually grown up. The recent battle command and operations are remarkable, and you can be picky about your resourcefulness and bravery. If you can complete the mission this time, you will become my master. For a famous Song general, if he fails, it is common for him to die, and there is always a price for fighting."

Wang Chao cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, Commander, if you don't succeed, you will be benevolent."

Su Jin shouted: "You are only allowed to be successful, not to be benevolent. If you fail, I will kill myself, because it is my fault."

Chao Chao choked up and said, "Obey."

The generals secretly admired it. Everyone knew that Dynasty was Su Jin's domestic slave and his closest confidant. Such a dangerous task could have been delegated to others, but Su Jin assigned the most dangerous task to Dynasty, which showed the meaning of justice. .

"Do the generals have any questions or additions to this plan? If you have any questions, they will be implemented immediately. The dynasty will stay. I have something to explain, and the rest of the generals can return to the camp."

Everyone retreated one after another, and Wang Chao stayed in the tent to serve him. Su Jin ordered his personal guards to simply prepare a few dishes and bring a pot of wine and put it on the ground.

"Although alcohol is not allowed in the army, we can make an exception today." Su Jin said.

Wang Chao nodded and said, "Thank you, my lord, are you afraid that I won't see Wang Chao in the future?"

Su Jin raised his glass and drank it all down: "You don't blame me for asking you to risk yourself. This operation is really dangerous, and I'm not even sure."

Wang Chao said: "Where did the young master say that, Wang Chao has been with the young master for so many years, has he done few dangerous things? Which one is not a lucky star?"

Su Jin smiled slightly and said: "That's right, every time we seem to be in a catastrophe, but the disaster is auspicious, this time it must be the same; just don't take it lightly, if it really doesn't work, just run away on a light horse, don't be brave .”

Chao Chao nodded and said, "I know, I want to know how to attract them to follow? What if they see through our scheme."

Su Jin said: "I just want to teach you these things. First of all, you will go forward with soldiers and horses tomorrow. After the local scouts detect your whereabouts, you will turn your head and walk away, making a gesture of fear of war. Don’t be stingy about throwing away the luggage, those things are useless now, and the luggage usually follows the main army, once the Liao army sees a lot of luggage discarded, they will definitely regard you as the main force of the Chinese army.”

Wang Chao nodded and said, "Sure enough, I think so too."

Su Jin raised his big finger and said, "I've made a lot of progress, do you know where to take the Liao people?"

Wang Chao said: "If you go north, I will naturally lead them to the south."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Of course the idea is good, but it's not precise enough. You have to go in the southwest direction of Xinzhou, because Wanyanhu's 5 people are in Xinzhou. This will not only increase the possibility of your escape, but also borrow Liao People eat Wanyanhu's 5 people, we can't let him develop too fast, the Jurchens will be a disaster sooner or later, and killing them early is the right way."

Wang Chao was stunned, he would never reach the height of the young master, to be precise, the height of a black belly, when is it, and he did not forget to lure the Liao people to fight with Wanyanhu, this black belly is simply It is unbearable to look directly at.

"Remember what I said? After arriving in Xinzhou, don't worry about how they fight, you take Qingqi and retreat quickly, and chase us all the way north. I will wait for your triumphant return in Shangjing City."

Wang Chao said: "Remember, it's a pity that I can't follow the young master to capture Shangjing."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Be content, this mission is already exciting enough, haven't you seen Ma Han's eyeballs are about to fall out of jealousy?"

The two looked at each other and laughed.