Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 265 A resounding victory, all plans succeeded
The commotion around the campfire subsided, and the soldiers, exhausted from a day's work, stretched their limbs and began to snore. Su Wu also drifted off to sleep. The journey was tiring for the horses, but even more tiring for the men.

The next morning, they got up early again, ate breakfast, and set off again.

Hu Sanniang was standing nearby. Su Wu would glance at her from time to time, without saying much. Whenever Sanniang felt his gaze, she would look back at him. They would make eye contact and then look away, continuing on their way at full speed.

If we're talking about any changes last night, it seems like nothing really changed.

How could there be no change if there were no changes?
Anyway, we didn't say anything, the horses just kept going, they didn't stop at noon, they let the horses walk slowly, and when they got hungry they would just eat a few bites on the horse, and then they would stay overnight, inevitably sitting by the campfire again.

Su Wu still had a bowl of hot soup in one hand and a flatbread in the other. The soup also contained smoked bacon. While others might have two or three pieces in their bowls, Su Wu had seven or eight pieces. He was quite generous with the fire.

There were no fancy rules; they would just put the bowl on the ground, pick up the cured meat from the soup, and start eating.

Just as he finished eating, a cloth suddenly appeared in front of Su Wu. Su Wu looked at it and saw that it was handed to him by Hu Sanniang. He took it, wiped his hands, and then picked up the bowl to drink the soup.

Everything seemed ordinary.

The scene remained lively, and the soldiers would occasionally glance over, and they could roughly guess what was going on. The third daughter of the Hu family was probably the third daughter of the Su family.

Some of the soldiers from Hujiazhuang who understood it were overjoyed, inexplicably so, as if they felt a sense of honor.

I couldn't help but take a closer look, waiting for the excitement to die down so that I could see why Third Sister didn't share a tent with her husband.

When dawn broke again, many things were truly different. Whenever the soldiers encountered Third Sister, they would bow with their hands clasped and say with a smile, "Greetings, Third Sister!"

At first, Hu Sanniang was also a little confused, but gradually, as she heard the words of Sanniangzi coming and going, she seemed to understand. She couldn't help but look at Su Wu, who was tying his saddle not far away...

Su Wu didn't seem to notice anything amiss. He fastened the saddle, mounted the horse, and shouted to those around him, "Get everything tied up, let's go!"

The soldiers and their strong horses followed, making way for Third Sister's horse so that she could go further.

As soon as Hu Sanniang reached his side, Su Wu greeted her with a smile, and Hu Sanniang returned the smile. For some reason, Su Wu felt a sweet warmth in his heart. Perhaps it was because Sanniang's smile was so sweet that it even revealed two small dimples. These dimples lacked some of her usual boldness and instead added a touch of cuteness...

Go! The horses are ready to gallop!

Another day has passed, with few words spoken but many more smiles.

The next day, we entered the capital!

Go home first, wash up, change your clothes, and shake off the dust and grime of your journey.

Before the bronze mirror, Hu Sanniang was tying Su Wu's hair into a bun, as if everything was ordinary and natural.

It was truly a matter of Su Wu's own inability to do it properly. This was a technical skill, and Su Wu's skills were really not good. When he was in the army, either Fan Yun or Yue Fei would help him.

Tying the hair into a bun and then putting on the crown is also a skill.

He was dressed in a red robe, which was his official attire, with a jade belt tied around his waist.

Hu Sanniang had never actually seen Su Wu dressed in official robes like this. In Dongping Prefecture, Su Wu almost never wore them, only in the capital.

Once Su Wu had put on his official hat properly, he stood up and held the tablet in his arms, tall and imposing, perfectly upright.

The third sister looked up and down, as if checking for any flaws, or as if she couldn't take her eyes off her.

This red robe is truly eye-catching and beautiful, perfectly matching the aesthetics of this era. This style has not changed much from the Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty.

“I’m going…” Su Wu said, and stood up.

"Hmm, go back soon..." Hu Sanniang said this without thinking, and then felt it was a bit strange. Why did she just blurt it out like that?
Su Wu nodded: "Yes, I'll return after this is done."

With that, Su Wu went out, mounted his horse, and went first to the Privy Council to see Tong Guan, and then together they went to the palace to see the emperor.

If there's anything urgent, then there's no need to say anything. But when it comes to war, the Song Dynasty can't find anyone else besides Su Wu. If a war really breaks out, how could the emperor not summon him and offer some words of encouragement?
When I met Tong Guan at the Privy Council, he was wearing a purple robe embroidered with a majestic and ferocious dragon and python. He was the Prince of Guangyang, and he looked quite different from others.

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, without any pleasantries, Tong Guan began, "You already know the matter. When you go to the palace this time, under no circumstances should you sign any pledges. The Dangxiang are not like the remnants of Liao; the outcome is truly unpredictable. If you really go to the Northwest, whether you win or lose, you must be able to explain yourself in your memorials..."

These are all based on experience; Tong Guan knows the Tangut people better than anyone.

Su Wu nodded: "Prime Minister, please rest assured!"

"Hmm..." Tong Guan nodded, but then frowned slightly, looking at Su Wu again and again, as if there was something on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't say it...

Su Wu then said, "President, please speak freely..."

Tong Guan stood up and waved his hand, "Never mind, never mind, I won't ask anymore..."

Su Wu's heart tightened, but he pretended not to know and simply got up. How could Su Wu not be suspicious?
To say that Su Wu was incredibly audacious might be unknown to others, even to the emperor and Cai Jing, but Tong Guan certainly knew something about it...

Thinking of this, Su Wu didn't bother to think about it anymore; it didn't matter anymore...

Anyway, Tong Guan couldn't possibly be absolutely certain about anything.

They simply followed the path towards the imperial city.

The emperor was present, as were Cai Jing and Wang Fu and others.

In this world, important matters are handled through small meetings, and minor matters through large meetings; this is often the case.

As soon as Su Wu arrived, the emperor, without even waiting for Su Wu to bow, raised his hand and beckoned, "Minister Su, come quickly and take a seat!"

Su Wu still had to bow, so he quickly went over, cupped his hands in a circle, and then sat down.

The Emperor spoke first: "Now that Minister Su has arrived, there is no need to worry about this matter. We must avenge Brother Ju'an!"

On the side, Cai Jing was sighing and lamenting. A white-haired man sending off a black-haired man, regardless of how his son was, how could he not be heartbroken as his own eldest son?
They also hoped that the emperor had always favored Cai You, and that the Cai family's power would remain, generation after generation...

Suddenly, all hope vanished. The other sons were not as favored by the emperor as Cai You. Many things cannot be accomplished by hard work alone; they also depend on fate, on fate with the emperor, on being compatible with the emperor.

At this moment, Cai Jing was truly heartbroken and distressed...

He just mumbled one question: "Why is that?"

He had said this countless times, asking why the Tanguts had suddenly gone mad and committed the act of killing the envoy!

He couldn't understand it, he couldn't figure it out. What was the motive? What benefit would he gain from doing this?
Could it be that the Tanguts were really just trying to vent their anger?

The delegation of over a hundred officials and clerks had all been questioned. His son Cai You's words in Xingqing Prefecture were not enough to warrant beating or killing, especially since Cai You had already been tricked.

Looking back, even if it wasn't the Tanguts who killed him, so many people witnessed it and spoke with absolute certainty that it couldn't be fake!

Besides... Cai Jing looked around and wondered if Wang Fu really had that much ability. If he truly had such ability, he wouldn't be so completely incompetent now.

Tong Guan… Cai Jing had his doubts, after all, Tong Guan wielded considerable influence in the Northwest, but… would Tong Guan gain even the slightest benefit from doing this?
After all these decades, how could Cai Jing not know Tong Guan's character?
He was already the Prince of Guangyang, a title bestowed upon him by Cai Jing. He was nearing the end of his life, and Tong Guan had no children…

Then look at Pai Shih-chung, Chang Pang-chang, Li Pang-yen...

These people seem to have some motive; they're all waiting, patiently enduring, waiting for nothing more than the position of prime minister...

But how could these people possibly have the ability to design such a thing? If this was truly done by people from the Song Dynasty, how complex would it have been, and how many steps would it have required?
Could it be a Jurchen?
They also heard from the officials of the mission that the Tanguts seemed to be planning to send troops to aid Yelü Yanxi, thus inciting conflict between the Song and Xia dynasties... and the Jurchens...

It's working now, almost working...

Those around him were simply comforting Cai Jing, telling him to accept the situation and that they would take revenge.

Cai Jing suddenly said, "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that this matter is most likely not the work of the Tanguts, but rather the work of the Jurchens!"

Su Wu was taken aback, and immediately began to ponder it. As he thought about it, he realized that the logic made sense!
Everyone couldn't help but think about it carefully, and this logic clearly made some sense...

The first element in solving a case is determining who benefits from its outcome. Wouldn't it benefit the Jin people, who are currently engaged in fierce combat? Only after you've grasped this line of thinking should you consider other approaches…

As for why Cai Jing didn't suspect Su Wu?

The reason is actually quite simple: Su Wu is not a big shot among this group of people.

Secondly, those present were not familiar with military affairs, especially the details of military matters, and had no understanding of them at all.

Su Wu of JD.com, at first glance, could not possibly have this ability. There is no need to even think about it. Su Wu himself has only risen to prominence in a short period of time. The Northwest territory is hundreds of thousands of miles away. Su Wu cannot do it, much less do it so seamlessly.

In fact, Cai Jing never even considered Su Wu, because it was too impossible. Tong Guan was a bit more likely, but what was Su Wu?
As everyone pondered this, Wang Fulai spoke up: "Grand Tutor Cai is brilliant. Perhaps it really was the work of the Jurchens. If it was indeed the work of the Jurchens... it's just a pity that we can't find out anything!"

But then Zhang Bangchang said, "Well... in any case, they're either Tanguts or Jurchens!"

The Emperor frowned, knowing there was truth in these words, but he had summoned Su Wu to the capital today to discuss the war, so he said simply: "Gentlemen, this matter is of paramount importance. An imperial envoy died in Tangut territory, and we must seek justice from the Tanguts no matter what. Even if it was the work of the Jurchens, the Tanguts must testify. If they cannot provide an explanation, we will raise an army, uphold the King, expel the barbarians, and punish the disobedient. Even if this did not happen, we will still seek justice from the Tanguts. With the death of General Liu Fa and the injustice done to Brother Ju'an, the people and soldiers of our Great Song are united in hatred against the enemy, and we will destroy this country!"

Su Wu knew that the emperor's confidence was now inflated beyond measure. With the Yan and Yun regions under his control and his military might at its peak, he was destined to become a great emperor for all time. How could he not pursue this goal?
Wang Fu replied quickly: "Yes, Your Majesty is right. We must punish the Dangxiang. First, to punish the disobedient; second, to avenge our grievances; and third, to unite the Hetao region and open up the Hexi Corridor!"

Looking at Cai Jing again, he nodded: "Then let's issue a proclamation, listing all the crimes of the Tanguts, and demanding that they give an explanation for what happened to my son!"

If it was the Tanguts who did it, how could we not fight them?
If it was the work of the Jurchens, then the Jurchens would have come and gone in the grasslands and deserts, how could they not have left clues and flaws? In any case, the Tanguts deserve an explanation!

With their thoughts now aligned, the Emperor then sent another message: "On this trip, Minister Su..."

"Your subject is here!" Su Wu replied naturally.

"Go to the northwest and lead the troops!" the emperor declared.

“Your Majesty…” Su Wu hesitated slightly, deliberately.

"What's wrong? Is there something troubling you, Minister Su?" the Emperor asked with a frown. He continued, "Minister Su may not know, but in the past, it was you who said to me that you would revive the Han and Tang dynasties, even to the death. After I acquired Yan and Yun, I often thought of those words. The Han and Tang dynasties are already right before my eyes, so why are you hesitating, Minister Su?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am not hesitant about the war, but about something else..." Su Wu knew what to do at this moment.

"Then tell me..." The emperor was somewhat displeased. He was at the height of his ambition, how could he bear to see others hesitating?
Su Wu then said, “Your Majesty, I am only speaking from the perspective of a general and discussing the war. The Grand Councilor is also here, so I will venture to offer my opinion. In this campaign against the Dangxiang, the Dangxiang army is not a weak force. If we truly enter the heart of the Dangxiang territory, there are few cities, mostly open fields. Those Dangxiang Iron Falcons are swift and unpredictable, and should not be underestimated!”

"Hmm... After this incident, I read several more reports from the Northwest. In Fuyan, the number of Dangxiang cavalry is indeed increasing, and it seems the Dangxiang people have been preparing for war for a long time..."

The emperor nodded and looked to his left and right.

Tong Guan immediately chimed in, "Indeed, in the past when I was in the Northwest, it was rare to see thousands of Dangxiang cavalry coming and going like this. But recently, I've seen them frequently, even several times a day in different places..."

Su Wu praised Liu Guangshi in his heart and continued aloud: "Just like General Liu, the last time he attacked the Dangxiang, he had already penetrated deep into their territory, but he still retreated in defeat. Why? It was because the Dangxiang's light and heavy cavalry could move freely, and because the Dangxiang had many horses! I do have some knights under my command, but unfortunately there are too few... If we had a better chance of winning, I would like to make a request!"

Emperor Huizong had already thought of it, and asked, "Is it a horse?"

"Your Majesty is wise, and the horses are indeed a blessing. The horse-breeding grounds in the capital region are located at Mutuo Ridge, northwest of Dongjing City. There are approximately ten thousand usable horses there. I dare to request Your Majesty to bestow some horses upon us, so that our chances of success in joining the Dangxiang army will be greatly increased! As a military officer, I dare not make boastful claims lightly. When discussing matters with Your Majesty, I must act out of loyalty and righteousness, and dare not speak recklessly." Su Wu spoke with utmost sincerity.

Zhao Ji nodded and asked, "How many horses do you want to transfer from Mutuo Ridge?"

"Your Majesty, the more the better. This battle concerns Your Majesty's ambition and great cause, as well as our ability to leave our mark on history. It is also of paramount importance to the stability of the nation. We must win this battle decisively and leave no future troubles!"

Zhao Ji frowned in thought, glancing at those around him. At this moment, someone spoke up; Cai Jing said, "The horses in the capital region are used by the imperial guards and many government offices. If too many are given to them, it will cause many official problems to be delayed..."

That's true. The capital region is not suitable for raising horses. The fact that so much effort is being put into raising these horses in the capital region is because there is really no other way. The court can't really rely on people to run the messengers for information.

The Imperial Guards of the capital region, on the surface, were the most elite troops of the Song Dynasty; they still had to maintain appearances...

Historically, these horses ultimately became spoils of war for the Jurchens, serving no practical purpose whatsoever.

Su Wu immediately spoke up: "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor, this is merely a loan; it will be returned once the war is over..."

As for whether or not the horses will be returned after the war, that depends on how many horses Su Wu acquires and whether the source of those horses can be guaranteed. If Su Wu has many horses after the war, then he will return them.

If Su Wu's horses still cannot be guaranteed after the battle, then they will not be returned. There are plenty of excuses; how can horses not die in battle? They might die in battle or from disease, or be eaten when the army's rations run out...

As soon as Su Wu uttered those words, the emperor nodded in agreement: "Then I grant you... six thousand bolts, how about that?"

Su Wu frowned. In his mind, what did the Imperial Guards in the capital need horses for? Horses were enough for the government offices to use, and one horse was more than enough for the Imperial Guards in the capital to make a show of themselves.

Su Wu spoke up: "Your Majesty, may I be granted eight thousand bolts of silk?"

“This…” Zhao Ji hesitated.

Su Wu immediately added, "An extra horse means an extra chance of victory!"

The emperor sighed and said, "Fine, fine... you can pay me back later."

Su Wu now has a knack for manipulating the emperor! He's got his hands on the emperor's unique naiveté.

With this matter settled, Su Wu was overjoyed and had nothing more to worry about. Everything was developing according to his plan.

However, there was another matter to discuss, and Cai Jing spoke up: "Your Majesty, the selection of the military supervisor..."

Su Wu almost forgot about this point: how could the Song Dynasty fight a war without a military supervisor?

In the past, I always fought alongside Tong Guan, and I almost forgot that Tong Guan was actually a supervising eunuch.

Su Wu then went to see Tong Guan...

How could the emperor not also look after Tong Guan?
Tong Guan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister is sixty-eight years old, and my health is truly failing me. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

That's true; Tong Guan is now even struggling to ride a horse, he truly has the will but not the strength. Furthermore, Tong Guan's spirit has been broken...

Cai Jing seemed to have been waiting for these words, and said, "Your Majesty, even if Chancellor Tong is truly in a difficult position, it would be very difficult for him to go to the arid and cold northwest again..."

That's true, who can say for sure? In this generation, it's rare for people to live to seventy, and those who live to be seventy are extremely rare.

Sixty years old is extremely rare. At that age, if one falls ill, whether it is a major or minor illness, it is almost certain death.

The worst fear is that Tong Guan might go but not return, and the worst fear is that the war is in full swing and Tong Guan might die of illness, which would ruin everything.
The emperor also asked, "Tan Zhen is tied up in Yan and Yun, so who else is there?"

Cai Jing immediately remarked, "Your Majesty, Chief Eunuch Li Yan is indeed in good health!"

"Li Yan?" The Emperor thought for a moment and nodded: "That's fine. He's just a military supervisor. With Su Wu in charge of the battle, I don't have many worries. Let Li Yan go then!"

Su Wu was also thinking to himself that he was not familiar with the chief eunuch Li Yan, but he was familiar with Liang Shicheng. However, Liang Shicheng was also old, and what kind of person was Liang Shicheng now? Why would he be willing to travel thousands of miles to a dry and cold place?

It seems it really is Li Yan...

This fellow... doesn't seem to be a good guy either; he's the last of the Six Traitors of the Northern Song Dynasty.

trouble……

He couldn't refuse. Just now Su Wu was happy, happy about "a great victory and the success of everything". Now he couldn't help but worry. If this fellow went to the Northwest and really sat there peacefully, that would be fine.

If this guy goes to the Northwest, he'll be a real problem, pointing fingers and giving orders.

This Song Dynasty is truly a source of great distress.

Su Wu also went to see Tong Guan, and was still thinking... Oh well, there's nothing he can do. Just look at Tong Guan's silver and purple dragon and python robe, he's the most presentable of all the ministers... Once a person's spirit is broken, there's nothing that can be done.

You can't force anything on an old man.

Tong Guan had long been very confident in Su Wu's abilities in military affairs, so whether or not he went to supervise the army was irrelevant.

After the discussion on the matter of supervising the army was concluded, there were still other matters to attend to. The emperor asked, "Gentlemen, how long will it take to gather troops and procure provisions?"

Su Wu quickly replied, "The matter of provisions is naturally handled by you gentlemen. As for the matter of gathering troops, it will take two months in Jingdong. We need to levy troops continuously. Otherwise, I'm afraid the soldiers will be unhappy and their fighting spirit will be low."

The real reason is that no matter how fast you go, a basic cavalry drill will take at least two or three months. That's just the basics: being able to ride a horse at full speed, keep up with the battle formation, and follow commands without getting confused.

Upon arriving in the Northwest, Su Wu should not be in a rush. He should continue to train diligently and use a combination of veteran and new recruits. Only then can Su Wu feel more at ease.

The Emperor nodded: "Then let's set a two-month limit. How many troops should JD.com levy?"

Su Wu replied, "Twenty thousand!"

Su Wu still wouldn't lead infantry. This time, he would bring back 8,000 horses. By any calculation, there should be around 7,000 to 8,000 light and heavy cavalry. Add to that each person with a dedicated auxiliary soldier, and then add people to manage the horses and other miscellaneous tasks, and the total number would be 20,000.

The emperor was merely asking a question, saying, "You understand the war situation. Go and take command of the various tribes in the northwest, and then transfer troops from nearby areas to the Privy Council. Gather 300,000 men, which can be called a million, and you will surely annihilate the Dangxiang!"

"Understood!" Su Wu bowed respectfully, but then looked at Tong Guan. Three hundred thousand troops... What was the Emperor thinking? Where could the Song Dynasty possibly mobilize three hundred thousand troops?
This matter needs to be discussed privately between Su Wu and Tong Guan.

The emperor looked around again.

Cai Jing fell silent at this point, ready to get to work. He waited for Wang Fu to speak. Although Wang Fu was inwardly distressed, knowing that the provisions for 300,000 troops were a matter of life and death, he still said, "Your Majesty, Scholar Su's conscription will begin in two months, so the provisions will take about three months to gather. I will certainly handle this task well."

The emperor is now full of ambition, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Wang Fu, the prime minister, to be in his position. It is no longer the time when he could win the emperor's favor by disguising himself as a merchant or beggar in the imperial city.

Being a prime minister is no job for an ordinary person...

This emperor, too, did not have a true understanding of his country and his realm.

The small assembly gradually came to an end.

Su Wu left the palace, thinking of returning home as soon as possible. He planned to see Tong Guan the next day, and perhaps also see the chief eunuch Li Yan, before heading to Mutuo Ridge to select a horse.

Selecting horses was a huge undertaking. We had to send fast riders back to Jingdong, bringing back at least a thousand or eight hundred riders. Selecting horses was only one part of the task. Getting so many horses safely back to Jingdong was also a troublesome matter. The horses needed to be looked after and fed...

No matter how troublesome it was, Su Wu was overjoyed. This trip to the capital had been very fruitful, even more so than he had anticipated.

Upon returning home, the first thing I did was remove my headdress and change into a set of casual clothes.

It was Hu Sanniang who came to help remove the headdress and re-arrange the hair bun...

During casual conversation, Su Wu said, "This time, I'll have to stay a while longer, perhaps ten days or more..."

“My husband has really suffered. He has to travel so many miles every year. It’s really not easy to be an official. I wonder when I can be like these gentlemen in the capital and live here. That would be great!” Hu Sanniang had never traveled far before, but she realized how hard it was to do so after coming with him.

Su Wu thought that if that were really the case, these high-ranking families in the capital would probably not be able to enjoy their good days for long, and hell would come soon.

But then Hu Sanniang continued, "Before leaving, Madam Meng reminded me and my husband to shave our faces..."

"Then let's fix it..." Su Wu looked at the bronze mirror. It really needed fixing. Meng Yulou hadn't had time to do it, so the task was handed over to Hu Sanniang.

"only……"

"how?"

"Husband, I have never had my face shaved before..." Hu Sanniang was very worried, she really had never done it.

"Practice makes perfect, at most you'll get a few scratches. I've had a few arrows stuck in my body, it's nothing..." Su Wu comforted him.

Hu Sanniang had already picked up the razor for shaving her face. Hearing Su Wu's words, she became even more worried. If the razor was used on her face and she made a mistake, it would only cut some skin. The razor would also be used on her chin, which meant her neck...

"First, get a hot towel to apply for a while..." Su Wu even gave instructions.

The work was underway, and once the dressing was applied, it was time to start the surgery. Su Wu urged, "Hurry up and do it. It's easier to fix it now that it's soft, but it will be harder to fix it once it hardens."

Hu Sanniang rushed forward, pressing Su Wu's face with one hand and using her other hand to cut him.

The clicking sound made Hu Sanniang truly nervous; she had never done anything meticulous before...

After a few exchanges on the face, when it was almost done, the knife was lowered towards the chin. Seeing the veins bulging on Su Wu's neck, Hu Sanniang took a deep breath and moved very carefully, with minimal movement. How could she dare to be careless in the slightest?
Su Wu felt as if he were being shaved hair by hair, and he dared not speak, for fear that if he opened his mouth, blood would gush out.

Then just bear with it...

After what seemed like an eternity, as if the last one was finally repaired, Hu Sanniang let out a deep breath, quickly moved the knife aside, and turned to put it away…

"Ugh! Tsk..."

Suddenly hearing two syllables from Su Xiangong behind her, as if something had gone wrong, Hu Sanniang instinctively thought she had made a mistake and hurriedly turned around...

The turn was abrupt, and his waist bumped into Su Wu's shoulder. He lost his balance and tried to regain his footing, but his foot bumped into Su Wu's knee. He fell onto Su Wu's knees...

The two looked at each other in surprise...

Su Wu spoke first: "My neck is stiff."

"Oh..." Hu Sanniang hurriedly tried to get up.

But it was a pair of large hands that wrapped around her...

He was then unable to get up...

(Brothers, we're here...)
(End of this chapter)