Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 264 Is he such a hero?

Early the next morning, Su Wu first went to the camp to tinker with his weapons, and then rode around the camp. It seemed to have become a habit that he would ride around the camp every day, even if there was nothing to do, so that many soldiers would see him.

If he had many other things to do, Su Wu would wander around casually and show his face. If he had few other things to do, Su Wu would wander around more, but he wouldn't talk to anyone much. He would just wander around with only one purpose: to let more soldiers see him.

If asked what the significance of this matter was, Su Wu didn't know, but he felt that it must have some meaning.

Just as he finished his stroll and arrived at the camp gate, he saw a government official rushing over, bowing and saying, "Lord Su, Lord Cheng urgently summons you."

Su Wu didn't think much of it and just rode his horse toward the government office.

Cheng Wanli was already waiting for Su Wu in the prison cell. As soon as Su Wu arrived, before Su Wu could even sit down, Cheng Wanli immediately took out a letter and said, "Quickly, go to the capital immediately. The Emperor and the Grand Chancellor urgently summon you to the capital!"

Su Wu looked surprised: "Why is that?"

"Sigh...read the letter first!" Cheng Wanli handed over the letter.

Su Wu unfolded the document and, as he had anticipated, knew what it was about: the assassination attempt on the Song envoy by the Tanguts. But Su Wu had to pretend, and the more he read, the more shocked he became. He couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "So this is what happened?"

Cheng Wanli also looked surprised and puzzled: "Yes, how could such a thing happen? Where would they kill envoys? The Tanguts are really hard to understand!"

The power struggle between the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties had been going on for more than just a year or two, with countless envoys traveling back and forth between them. The idea of ​​killing an envoy was truly unimaginable…

Su Wu nodded: "Then I will immediately lead my men to the capital to meet the Emperor!"

"Alright, alright, go quickly!" How could Cheng Wanli not know the gravity of this matter? The Emperor's summons was urgent; there was no time to lose...

Su Wu turned and left, shouting as he went out, "Send word: have a hundred or so guards prepare, bring five hundred horses, five days' rations, and no need for armor. Get everything ready quickly!"

Su Wu was busy, so he went to the military commander's office to give some instructions.

At home, Cheng Xiaoniang was also going out, with Meng Yulou and Hu Sanniang in the carriage, and some guards, servants, and a few shopkeepers walking outside.

I went out to run errands, and found two houses: one large house for official business, and the other a quiet small house in anticipation of Li Qingzhao coming to stay.

Inside the carriage, three women were seated.

Cheng Xiaoniang gave Meng Yulou a subtle wink, and Meng Yulou then spoke up: "Third Sister..."

"Ok?"

"Your father and your elder brother came a few days ago, presumably both of them were here for your wedding..."

Hu Sanniang nodded; the topic had brought up a worry in her face...

Meng Yulou then continued, "Tell us, what kind of man do you like? You're still searching, and you're not young anymore. Your father and brothers must be getting anxious..."

Hu Sanniang was at a loss for words when asked this question. After thinking for a while, she looked out the window again, not lost in thought, but simply unsure of what to say...

Meng Yulou continued, "It's alright, we're just sisters, just chatting casually. Your family background isn't bad either; you're a powerful family in the village with plenty of money and grain. And now your brother has also made a name for himself; becoming a general is no problem for him in the future. In Dongping Prefecture, or in the two routes of Jingdong, you'd be a perfect match for anyone..."

Cheng Xiao Hongniang then spoke up: "Yes, among us sisters, let's talk about it, it's not serious..."

Hu Sanniang then turned her head back, sighed first, and then spoke: "As you know, Madam and Madam Meng, I haven't learned any needlework skills since I was a child, and I'm afraid I'm not good at being a wife and mother. All I've learned is martial arts, and I'm tall and strong, so the young men from scholarly families naturally don't like someone like me... I, in turn, don't like someone who can't even kill a chicken..."

As she spoke, Hu Sanniang sighed again: "Alas... I dislike those pretentious people, those hypocritical and boring people, and those who speak in roundabout ways..."

Then Cheng Xiaoniang asked again, "It's all because you don't like it, but what kind of person do you actually like?"

"Hmm..." Hu Sanniang hesitated slightly. If she really wanted to summarize what she liked, she would have to think about the words. But then she heard a group of fast horses walking outside the carriage window. They weren't galloping, since horses couldn't gallop in the city. They were walking at a brisk pace, and the sound of their hooves was very crisp.

Everyone turned to look out the carriage window, and coincidentally, a dozen or so riders came from the direction of the government office. The leader was none other than Su Wu, the Deputy Pacification Commissioner of the Two Routes of Jingdong, the Commander-in-Chief of the Two Routes of Jingdong, the Academician of the Privy Council, and the Duke of Langya.

Scholar Su looked somewhat anxious as he rode past at a brisk pace, seemingly lost in thought. He didn't notice which carriage passed by, nor did he realize that there were three women inside watching him.

Meng Yulou looked at Su Wu and chuckled, "It's my lord..."

Cheng Xiaoniang couldn't help but smile: "Of course, I'm in a hurry to attend to official business..."

Those ten or so riders had already passed by quickly.

Hu Sanniang turned her head and said, "I don't know what kind of person I like, but I do know that it should be a hero and a great man..."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaoniang and Meng Yulou exchanged a glance. They knew there was no doubt about it; this was the last test.

With just a subtle wink from Cheng Xiaoniang, Meng Yulou immediately raised her hand and pointed out the window: "Third Sister, is that the leader behind us such a heroic man?"

"Huh?" Hu Sanniang was immediately stunned.

Meng Yulou stretched her hand out the window and pointed, "That one, that one, look, isn't that the kind of person?"

The dazed and confused Hu Sanniang actually obeyed orders and turned her head to look at that...that...

That man's horse was the tallest, and he himself was also tall. He rode along the street with great majesty, and every passerby who saw him would stop and take a second look.

Even people on the roadside excitedly exclaimed, "That's him! That's Master Su! That's Master Su! Never seen him before, have you? You're lucky to have run into him today!"

Then someone exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, is that Master Su from Dongping Prefecture? He's quite the imposing figure!"

"How can you say that? How can it be Prime Minister Su from Dongping Prefecture? It's Prime Minister Su from both sides of Jingdong!"

"That's that's..."

The carriage was still moving. Inside the carriage, Meng Yulou asked with a playful expression, "Third Sister, is that the heroic man?"

Once Hu Sanniang truly realized what was happening, the usually forthright woman suddenly blushed and lowered her head, unable to lift it up again.

Even so, Hu Sanniang was flustered, her head lowered, but her eyes seemed to be full of guilt. She glanced left and right, then at Cheng Niangzi, then at Meng Yulou, as if she had done something wrong, and even felt a little guilty for no reason...

Meng Yulou hurriedly went to look at Madam Cheng, who immediately spoke up: "Third Sister, we are like sisters. If he really is that great man, I'll share some with you..."

"Madam, what are you saying?" Hu Sanniang was speechless. How could anyone talk like that?
Madam Cheng laughed, "Are you teasing me? This matter is easy to discuss. I've already asked my husband about it, and now I'm just waiting to see what you think. This is a simple matter, so I'll just tell you frankly. If you're willing, then we sisters will never be separated. I haven't had many close friends since I was little. You know, in the capital, although my family is considered an official family, we can't compare to those truly high-ranking officials. We're a scholarly family, and it's difficult for us to associate with ordinary people. It wasn't until I met Third Sister that I finally had a close sister with whom I could talk about anything. Even so, I don't want to be separated from you..."

Meng Yulou couldn't possibly remain silent at this moment: "Yes, Third Sister is a free spirit, riding her horse freely, but she has a deep sense of loyalty and righteousness in her heart. Moving to the government office would mean losing her former carefree spirit. How could you, my lord, not know this loyalty and righteousness... It's just that you've been too busy these past two years to attend to these matters. If you're interested, it's up to you, Third Sister..."

The two were working in tandem, and judging from Hu Sanniang's appearance, she had been keeping her head down earlier, but after listening to their back-and-forth conversation several times, she slightly raised her head, trying to see if what they were saying was true. Her heart was pounding wildly. When this matter was suddenly brought up, she was neither surprised nor happy, but rather extremely flustered...

But then Cheng Xiaoniang continued, "You are different from the two of us. You are skilled in horsemanship and martial arts, and everyone in the vicinity of Dongping Prefecture knows this. I have also gradually heard people say that the Third Sister of Hu Family Village is a heroine among women. Many soldiers in the army say so too. I also think that our men don't spend much time at home. When they go out to lead troops, they are away for months at a time. It would be best if someone could follow them and keep an eye on them, and write home to talk when things are going well..."

Having said that, we've covered the rest. The emotional intelligence of both Cheng Xiaoniang and Meng Niangzi is beyond question.

Looking at Hu Sanniang, her earlier panic gradually subsided. She actually looked up, glancing at the two men on either side, her face still flushed with embarrassment...

At this point, Hu Sanniang was unable to utter a single word...

Cheng Xiaoniang finished speaking: "Third Sister, you are a chivalrous hero of the martial world, a dashing and heroic person. Your temperament is not like mine. You always speak your mind directly. If you are willing, just say 'hmm'..."

Hu Sanniang lowered her head and went to do it, wanting to say "hmm," but hesitated slightly...

Just as Cheng Xiaoniang was about to get up in her haste, she saw Hu Sanniang suddenly look up again, her expression serious, and she nodded earnestly: "I'm willing..."

Cheng Xiaoniang immediately smiled and said, "Very good, very good! That makes things much easier. I will take care of it with you. It will only take a few days. Once the house is settled, I will go to Hujiazhuang to see the old master!"

"So fast?" Hu Sanniang panicked for a moment.

Meng Yulou also laughed: "Soon? That's fine too. Let's just delay it a bit more. Who knows, maybe my husband will go to Qizhou or Qingzhou, or to Daming Prefecture, or even to the capital again..."

Meng Yulou was just teasing her, and she actually managed to catch Hu Sanniang off guard...

But it was Madam Cheng who said, "Hurry up, if we're too slow, who knows how many years will have passed..."

Hu Sanniang nodded: "Then it's entirely up to you, Madam!"

"Let's go and look at the house, and send someone to prepare some wedding dresses and such..." Cheng Xiaoniang was already truly behaving like a mistress, and she was quite capable in doing things.

Meanwhile, they were busy looking at house after house with brokers. It must be said that houses in Dongping Prefecture were getting more and more expensive. There were quite a few good houses, but the prices were really hard to negotiate and they had to haggle. The manager brought by Meng Yulou was in charge of the haggling, while Meng Yulou himself offered advice and Cheng Xiaoniang made the final decision.

Those who want to buy a house are in a hurry, but if they really want to buy, they can't rush it. At least they've seen it today, and they're not sure what to do next. They can go back home...

My husband said that the price is negotiable, but as the head of the household, he must know that firewood, rice, oil, and salt are expensive. To manage a household well, one must be meticulous in budgeting every aspect. If every penny is saved, then the household is well managed.

Just send someone to check on the wedding dress and other similar items...

After a morning of this, the car drove home.

Just as they got off the carriage at their doorstep, they heard the clatter of horses' hooves. They turned around and all of them were all smiles. It was Scholar Su who had returned.

Only one person suddenly lowered her head and left; it was Hu Sanniang.

Just then, Su Wu's horse approached, and he dismounted. As everyone was about to pay their respects, Su Wu waved his hand and strode towards the gate, his steps hurried. He said, "Pack a few clothes. The Emperor has summoned me urgently. I must depart now. The fast horses are ready over there. Hurry, hurry! I don't know if I'll be back soon or stay longer..."

Upon hearing this, the three of them quickly followed Scholar Su home, but their expressions all darkened. Meng Yulou muttered under his breath, "Pah, pah, pah, my jinx..."

They busied themselves with packing, the inside, the middle, and the outside all working together. Su Wu watched from the side, and once the bundle was tied, they picked it up and left.

Bianjing wasn't far, only five or six hundred li away. Several fast horses could take turns to get there, which would take three or four days. It was just that people suffered, but Su Wu was used to it by now. The tender flesh on Su Wu's buttocks and the sides of his thighs had long since formed calluses, as had all the knights in the army.

The three of them, while collecting the clothes, also glanced at Su Wu; this whole affair had caused quite a stir…

Seeing that the bundle was ready, Su Wu stepped forward, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to leave. He said that the bundle would be tied to the horse's back shortly before they set off...

“Husband…” Cheng Xiaoniang called out.

Su Wu stopped in his tracks: "What's wrong?"

Cheng Xiaoniang looked at Hu Sanniang and said earnestly, "This time when we go to the capital, shall Sanniang come with us?"

Su Wu then went to see Hu Sanniang. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "Alright, Sanniang, hurry up and collect your clothes. I'll go to the yamen first and come back on horseback as soon as possible!"

Su Wu stepped forward and shouted, "Li Cheng, let's go!"

In the front yard, Li Cheng was also collecting clothes. Su Wu had just stepped into the front yard when he heard Dong Huan complaining, "Why did you leave again?"

"On official business!" Li Chengzheng also came out with his bag hanging on his back.

"Sigh..." Dong Huan looked at Li Cheng with a resentful expression, her eyes round and watery, her mouth pouting.

Li Cheng then said, "I'll be back soon. Just take good care of yourself at home..." "I know. Take care of yourself too, eat well, dress warmly, and get plenty of sleep..."

"Yes, I know, I know..." Li Cheng nodded repeatedly, knowing that his husband had already arrived, and quickly followed.

But just as she stepped out the door and mounted her horse, her husband inexplicably asked, "At home, does Donghuan listen to you or do you listen to Donghuan?"

"Huh?" Li Cheng was taken aback, then said, "Husband, of course he'll listen to me..."

"I think otherwise!" Su Wu chuckled.

Li Cheng panicked, his face instantly turning red. He grabbed the reins with one hand and patted his chest with the other, saying, "My lord, I, Li Cheng, am a man of honor. I started killing people with you when I was sixteen, and now I kill without blinking an eye. Who wouldn't be afraid of me if I just raised my eyebrows? Who wouldn't I hit with my crossbow?"

"Haha..." Su Wu laughed heartily.

"What, my lord, don't you believe me?" Li Cheng asked even more anxiously.

"I believe you? How could I not believe you're a ruthless killer?"

“My husband still doesn’t believe me. He’s just waiting for me to come back. When I come back, I…” Li Cheng was speechless for a moment.

"What are you going to do when you come back?" Su Wu asked.

"Come back, I..." Li Cheng was also wondering, how could he prove it? Was he supposed to come back and get slapped twice? That...that was too much to bear...

“Husband, Donghuan is a good woman, she’s really good. Sometimes we don’t argue with her, and she doesn’t cause trouble. But if she… if she does cause trouble, husband, you see me… I…” Li Cheng kept talking, but he couldn’t explain himself clearly.

Su Wu's smile faded: "Yes, a good woman deserves to be cherished. I was just teasing you, just kidding..."

"Oh, I thought you looked down on me! You were just joking... Donghuan is so good to me, I love her so much, I can't bear to do anything to her..." Li Cheng suddenly became serious.

"That's good!" Su Wu nodded seriously. This marriage was truly excellent. This was the first time Su Wu had inquired about this matter; he had never really paid attention to it before.

Once you get to the yamen, give a few more instructions and reminders, then go out again. A hundred or so riders are already there. Just mount your horse, and look back one last time...

Hu Sanniang indeed arrived on horseback, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with twin swords at her waist and a long spear in her Victory Hook. From a distance, she looked like a knight and it was impossible to tell that she was a woman.

Only when they got closer and saw her face and figure did they realize that she was a woman.

The riders also turned to look, and many of them recognized her. She was the third daughter of the Hu family village in Dulonggang outside the city, the younger sister of Commander Hu Cheng, and a woman with excellent martial arts skills.

As soon as Third Sister approached, Su Wu said nothing more: "Let's go!"

The horses galloped off, clattering as they left the city. Five hundred horses in the city were quite a sight, and passersby stopped to watch. The people of Dongping Prefecture, however, had seen many such scenes since they had grown up in the world.

The group just kept riding their horses and hurrying on their way. It was actually quite boring. If they weren't in a hurry, they could chat and laugh. But once they were on the road, they didn't speak except for business. They just kept their heads down and rode as fast as they could, and the official road was naturally covered in dust.

It takes half a day to travel sixty or seventy li, and Yanggu County is not far away. We don't go into the city, but set up camp in the wild.

They set up camp, cooked meals, lit bonfires, and patrolled on horseback, with both visible and hidden sentries present.

Only then did the soldiers begin to rest, chat, laugh, and joke. On a whim, they even wrestled around the campfire for a few rounds. Life in the army was really boring, so they always had to find some fun for themselves, otherwise, the days would be unbearable.

One person goes up to sumo wrestle, another goes up, someone on one side provokes, someone on the other responds, one person bursts into laughter, while another on the other side is dissatisfied and resentful...

Su Wu was eating hot soup and flatbread, watching and smiling.

Hu Sanniang was sitting to the side. Since she was there, she could only sit close to Su Wu, but she didn't say anything.

That's strange, because Hu Sanniang used to be the most talkative person.

Su Wu turned around and asked, "Third Sister, why don't you go and give it a try?"

Unexpectedly, Third Sister actually got up, walked to the campfire, and asked, "Who wants to try their skills with me?"

To be honest, San Niang's sumo skills have improved a lot since then. When they first met, Su Wu had performed a sumo wrestling technique. After seeing it, San Niang really learned and practiced it herself. I don't know where she got the motivation.

Xu was still thinking about Su Wu's promise. Su Wu had promised Hu Sanniang that he would allow her to come to the army to cause trouble. However, Hu Sanniang went there several times, but she never managed to run into Su Wu.

Hu Sanniang never had the chance to showcase her hard-earned sumo wrestling skills again.

Today is perfect!
Su Wu simply ate his hot soup and flatbread, and when he looked around, he saw that no one was coming forward; everyone was looking at him.

Su Wu simply said, "What are you all afraid of? Charge!"

Su Wu's words prompted a discussion, among whom were many skilled sumo wrestlers in the army. One of them said, "Sir, with my strength, I could twist a person's head off, but I'm afraid..."

Everyone had heard that Hu Sanniang was extremely skilled in martial arts, but few had actually seen her in person.

But then Hu Sanniang said, "You, come up here!"

The man looked at Su Wu again, who smiled and said, "You've challenged me, why aren't you going up?"

The man also stood up, first tucking his shirt into his belt, then rolling up his sleeves. He was about to bow, looking embarrassed, when he said, "Third Miss, please forgive me!"

Ultimately, the person opposite her was a woman. Although there wasn't a strict separation between men and women in this era, it was still quite awkward. But since her husband had already spoken, she didn't say anything more. Besides, there were quite a few fierce sumo wrestlers in this Song Dynasty...

She was just waiting to offend him before she spoke, when she saw Hu Sanniang take a step forward with her long legs and grab the man's arm.

The man remained calm, trying to gauge the woman's strength. He didn't want to actually hit her, so...

"Oh dear!"

The man cried out in surprise, and the world spun around him. How could he not know that he had been thrown out with an over-the-shoulder throw?

Then, the whole audience burst into laughter, doubled over with joy!

Su Xianggong laughed so hard he was practically croaking...

The soldier immediately stood up, not even looking left or right, but only looking at the Third Sister, who had come again.

Someone else was laughing and shouting, "Shuanzhuzi, the Third Sister of Hujiazhuang is not someone to be trifled with!"

Clearly, the soldier who spoke was from Hujiazhuang.

No sooner said than done, Third Sister appeared again, seemingly having changed her tactics. Clearly, she was going to have a contest of strength. She was no match for this rough, seasoned soldier, but the soldier was short, half a head shorter than the long-limbed Third Sister.

Then raise that long leg and launch a flying kick, that's how you control the distance.

It made a loud bang.

Although the soldier wasn't hit hard, he was still forced to retreat repeatedly, complaining, "Oh dear, Third Sister is truly formidable!"

What can I do?

Then I'll have to get close and hug and throw him. Even if I get hit by a few punches and kicks, I'll still have to go forward and hug him, otherwise I'll lose face today.

How could the Third Sister be easily captured? She dodged and weaved, and since there were no ropes or nets to hinder her, she could retreat or advance as she pleased. Her long legs seemed to be equipped with springs, with astonishing explosive power. She was fast in front of people and even more agile in leaps. She also frequently threw punches and kicks at people.

Hu Sanniang has practiced martial arts since childhood, which is no joke.

Su Wu, watching from the side, was also astonished. He had never known that Hu Sanniang was so skilled in martial arts. How could he not be surprised to see it today? He held a half-eaten piece of bread in his hand, which he hadn't taken a bite of in a long time, and stared at it intently.

The soldier was getting anxious. If he were fighting a man, he would start with verbal attacks. What kind of hero would dodge and weave?
But since it's Third Sister, this verbal attack is inappropriate.

Despite taking a few more blows, the soldier, who was indeed strong and resilient, suddenly stopped and said, "That's enough, that's enough. I was too talkative just now, it was my fault for being too talkative!"

With that, the soldier turned and left, returning to his seat and ending the fight.

The whole room burst into laughter. It wasn't that it was particularly funny, but in the military, even the smallest things can be a source of amusement.

Hu Sanniang bowed and said, "You flatter me!"

"I didn't let you win! It's just that your long legs are fast! My short legs can't keep up. In a one-on-one fight, that's my disadvantage. But it's different on the battlefield!" The soldier was quite straightforward!

Su Wu chuckled and actually went to look at Hu Sanniang's long legs...

As soon as Hu Sanniang came over and sat down, Su Wu asked, "When did you learn martial arts and wrestling techniques, Sanniang?"

Third Sister replied, "I was always thinking about showing off in the army..."

Su Wu understood immediately; it was his army's best sumo wrestler!
Feeling a pang of emotion, he turned to look at the Third Sister. She was also looking at him, but after their eyes met, she quickly looked away. No matter how dashing she was, she was still a girl, not as thick-skinned as Su Wu.

Su Wu just kept watching. His face was long and narrow, not full, but with distinct features and a high nose. After the fight, his face was flushed, a healthy red, with a few beads of sweat on it. His eyelashes fluttered, revealing a hint of nervousness in his mind. His large eyes pretended to be calm, but he couldn't help but glance at him from the side...

Su Wu suddenly remarked, "Washing and rinsing are probably inconvenient in the army..."

"Hmm, it's alright, we can endure it for a few days..." Hu Sanniang replied, pretending to watch the scene. There were soldiers coming up again, wrestling directly, their shoulders pushing against each other, shouting and exerting their strength.

"Third Sister..."

"Ok?"

"Are you really willing?" Su Wu suddenly asked again. It was because Cheng Xiaoniang had told Su Wu about Hu Sanniang's feelings that he asked this question. At this moment, there was no need to be coy.

"what?"

"Well...it's nothing..." Su Wu suddenly realized that he might have been tricked by Cheng Xiaoniang.

"I do..."

"Huh?" Su Wu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly added, "If you're willing, that's good..."

Actually, it was Su Wu who felt awkward.

Unexpectedly, Hu Sanniang suddenly turned around and asked with a serious expression, "Is it because my husband is unwilling?"

"I'm willing!" Su Wu quickly sat up straight, trying to cover up the embarrassment he had created himself.

With that, Su Wu stood up abruptly: "You sit here and watch, I'll take the bowl back to the stove first..."

As he spoke, Su Wu strode away, glancing back to see Hu Sanniang chuckling...

(Guys, I'm going out of town tomorrow and might have to take the day off, but I'll try my best to keep going! If I do have to take the day off, I apologize in advance, it's been a long time since I've taken a day off...)
(End of this chapter)