The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

The court of the Song Dynasty has been arguing endlessly recently. The content of the quarrel is whether to take the initiative to attack after the Liao army has quietly transferred [-] troops from the front line and built fortifications.

It was the first time that Yan Shu and Xia Song really stood on the same front. They urged to launch a counterattack according to the original plan, not only because the situation of the enemy and ourselves has undergone subtle changes, but also because the Liao army has been building fortifications and taking a defensive attitude. It is also because Su Jin's army entered Liao for several months and fought day after day, and the [-] Liao people transferred back were obviously to encircle and suppress them. If there is no counterattack, Su Jin will be in an extremely dangerous situation.

Needless to say, Yan Shu, although he disagreed with Su Jin on many things, Yan Shu knew that Su Jin and himself were on the same front at any time; I didn't mention it, but how could Yan Shu's haggard face and forced smile escape Yan Shu's eyes.

Needless to say, Xia Song, Xia Siling gave birth to a baby boy in early October. According to the agreement, Su Jin would change the baby boy's surname to Xia, so as to continue the incense of the Xia family. Xia Siling was so weak that she didn't have any milk, so she had to find a nanny to nurse her; Xia Song, regardless of her busy military affairs, went back to Beijing to visit many times, and was deeply disappointed that the emperor didn't order the attack.

Of course, the opponents have their reasons. Zhang Yaozuo and other courtiers believe that the time for the counterattack before Su Jin sent troops was to take the Liao capital Shangjing. Wouldn't the counterattack be in the hands of the Liao people?

Zhao Zhen was hesitant. He decided to call Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi back to Beijing to discuss the matter. The two frontline commanders should have judged the situation more accurately.

On the day when Xinzhou was broken, the court discussion of the Great Song Dynasty also officially started.

"Your Majesty, what Prime Minister Yan said is obviously personal. At present, there are still 40 Liao troops in our territory. This is not a small number. If something goes wrong in a rash attack, wouldn't it be self-destructive? The third line of defense is not far from the capital. After two hundred li, if it is broken, the Liao army can come to the city overnight, so is it possible that Prime Minister Yan is disregarding the safety of the capital and the emperor?"

Han Jiang and others repeatedly echoed, saying that the safety of the emperor and the capital is the top priority.

Yan Shu said angrily: "Master Zhang's words are wrong. Back then, the 70 Liao people were not able to attack the capital, but now there are only 40, but you say that the capital is in danger. What is your intention? Now that the southern rebellion has been quelled, General Di led the way to quell the rebellion." The army joined the battlefield, and our Great Song Army had the conditions to counterattack in terms of numbers and morale. In addition, the Su Jin army went deep into the enemy's rear and went down to fifteen cities in the Liao Kingdom. The Liao people were already miserable. At this time If you don’t send troops, why wait until the Liao people mobilize troops and horses to wipe out Su Jin’s army before attacking? It’s a joke.”

Xia Song also said: "What Prime Minister Yan said is very true. The big plan that was set at the beginning was that Master Su would enter the heart of the Liao people. If he attacked the enemy, he had to save them. This would reduce the pressure on the front line. When the Liao army returned to help, Our army is attacking with all its strength, teaching the enemy to be difficult to care about, why is it backtracking now, isn’t this selling Su Jin’s 20 people to the Liao people?”

Zhao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Du Yan and said, "Private Du, what are your plans?"

Du Yan wanted to stay out of the matter, but he didn't have a definite judgment on the current situation. Zhao Zhen asked by name, but he was a bit unable to answer.

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "At this moment, hasn't Shumi Du thought about advancing or retreating?"

Du Yan hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have naturally considered it. The original plan was that the Su Jin army would attack Shangjing and force the Liao army to retreat across the board. However, the current situation is that the Su Jin army did not capture Shangjing. City, captured the Liaoyang Mansion in Tokyo, the results obtained are not cheap, but the Liao people did not return to help all the way, but only deployed 10 troops to guard the capital and encircle Su Jin. Consider."

Yan Shu was so angry that he almost scolded Du Yan, but this person finally fell to Zhang Yaozuo's side, saying that it was difficult to decide, which meant that he was not suitable for sending troops.

Zhao Zhen's mood is very contradictory. On the one hand, he really wants to order an attack to destroy the Liao Kingdom and complete the immortal career. The destructiveness was not as powerful as expected. He knew that Su Jin's situation was very difficult, but once he gave the order to attack, it meant that he would fight with the Liao people. If the army was defeated and collapsed, it would not only annex Liao The dream is shattered, and the city of Bianliang will definitely be lost, because it is too close.

When Zhang Yaozuo and others raised their concerns, they hit the weakness in his heart. After several times of introspection, he finally felt that he could not be radical. Before he was sure, he was more inclined to be conservative.

But in this way, the courtiers who advocated the attack gave the illusion that they did not abide by the strategy set before the war and ignored Su Jin's life and death; I care, because in the final analysis, Su Jin is important, but if you choose between him and your country, the answer is self-evident.

"Fan Aiqing, Han Aiqing, what's your opinion?"

Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi stood in the queue without saying a word. They were able to be reactivated thanks to Su Jin's recommendation, but they also knew that the emperor still had a grudge against them, and keeping a low profile was the best choice.

"Your Majesty, as far as the current situation is concerned, I think you can attack or not." Fan Zhongyan said.

"What are you talking about? When did Fan Aiqing become so sophisticated? It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, what kind of medicine is necessary?" Zhao Zhen said displeased.

"Your Majesty, please listen to my ministers. The situation between the enemy and us has changed a lot. The period of the Liao people's dominance is over. Now they have to return to encircle Lord Su's army. Now is a good time to attack, and I can guarantee that even if If the attack fails, it won't mean that you can't even defend the capital, Master Zhang is a bit unfounded to worry about this."

"Oh? Does that mean you agree to attack now?"

Fan Zhongyan said: "Your Majesty, although the attack at this time can relieve Lord Su's pressure and will not cause a catastrophe, it is not the best time purely from a military point of view; the cold winter has come, and the first heavy snow this winter is about to come. When it comes, if they attack after the snow, the advantage of the Liao cavalry will be greatly reduced, and the chances of winning will be even greater. Moreover, Mr. Su has been in the belly of the Liao people for several months. After the snow, the problem is even more serious. The longer the delay, the less interested the Liao people will be in fighting, and the greater the chance of winning; but the longer the time, the less hope Master Su and the others can come back alive. I can't make a choice. Seek the emperor's sanctification."

Zhao Zhen rolled his eyes, his teeth itching with hatred, Fan Zhongyan put a multiple-choice question in front of himself, pointed to his nose in front of the officials and asked him, do you want Su Jin's death in exchange for victory, or do you want Su Jin to win? Live, take a risk; how do you choose?Although I really want to choose the latter safe method, if I ignore Su Jin's life and death, I am afraid that the signboard of myself as a benevolent monarch will be smashed to pieces, and the courtiers in the court will probably be chilled. Song and Su Jin are now relatives, and Su Jin himself is also a well-known figure in Song Dynasty, the consequences of doing so are unimaginable.

Zhao Zhen frowned and thought, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon chair.

"Your Majesty, do you still need to think about it?" Someone said in a deep voice, and everyone looked, it was Bao Zheng, Yushi Zhongcheng.

"Master Su is a treasure-like character of our Great Song Dynasty. From the time when our Great Song Dynasty fell into the danger of being coveted by Liaoxia to now surpassing the two countries in strength, Master Su's contribution is obvious to all. Without Master Su's painstaking design, how could the Great Song Dynasty have come true? Today's weather? Today's war against Liao, if Master Su had not risked his life and led his troops deep into the hinterland of the Liao people to contain them, dare I ask if I can survive the border until today? The 70 Liao army may have driven straight in; some people say that Master Su restrained them If you are not effective, I would like to ask, all of you have plausible words, why didn’t you volunteer to lead troops into the Liao Kingdom at the beginning? It can also teach us how you can contain it effectively; the Liao Kingdom has a vast territory and has been in business for a long time. Is it as easy as you think? Master Su must have judged the situation before choosing the next fifteen cities to harass. Dare to ask, if there are heavy troops in the upper capital, would Master Su still be able to fight the enemy to win the capital? What an absurd remark .”

Everyone was silent, and no one refuted it. Everyone felt that it was better to avoid Bao Zheng. This man never showed mercy when he spoke. Bao Zheng would never show mercy when arguing at this time. Besides, what Bao Zheng said was indeed reasonable .

"I thought that Su Jin alone could be worth a million soldiers. If Su Jin was killed by the Liao people this time, it would be a great loss to our Great Song Dynasty, and...and don't blame the minister for speaking bluntly. If you don't save Su Jin's army, the world will be ruined." The common people and the officials in the court will also be extremely chilled, and the ministers may wish to reveal their feelings. It is indeed the righteousness of the ministers to sacrifice their lives for the country, but if they are abandoned by the country, I am afraid that they will die in peace. If that is the case, Bao Zheng asks to resign and go into seclusion , don’t take half a step in your official career.”