Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 266 Scholar Su, what is the reason for this?

A hundred or so riders headed northwest along the official road to Mutuo Ridge, which wasn't much of a mountain range; it was basically just a small hill...

Ma Jianfang Tao was already there to greet Su Wu. Before Su Wu's horse had even settled down, Ma Jianfang Tao rushed forward to meet him, galloping swiftly, his smile needing no further explanation.

As soon as Su Wu dismounted, Fang Tao personally led the horse to the hitching post. Su Wu frowned slightly, thinking that Fang Tao was not a minor official and that this was unnecessary.

But Su Wu remained silent, waiting for him to turn around before bowing to him and saying, "Supervisor Fang, thank you for your hard work!"

"Oh, what are you saying? Scholar, you've come all this way, it must be tiring!" Fang Tao was truly unlike ordinary officials; he bowed deeply and never straightened up again.

Even high-ranking officials don't need to be so formal before the emperor...

They were just waiting to sit down inside the yamen office when they exchanged a few pleasantries.

Fang Tao also asked, "Did you come here right after meeting with Steward Li, Scholar?"

Su Wu was even more puzzled. How did he know about this?

That's true. Su Wu did meet Li Yan before he came, so they were acquainted. Tong Guan acted as the middleman, so it was like they introduced each other. After all, Li Yan was going to lead troops to the northwest with Su Wu. Generally speaking, a chief eunuch like Li Yan would not be sent to supervise the army. But now there was really no one available.

When they met before, they were naturally very polite, since Tong Guan was the middleman, so they exchanged pleasantries and polite words. Li Yan said that he had entrusted Su Wu with military matters, and so on...

Su Wu also said that he would need Steward Li's continued assistance...

We met just like that...

But how did Fang Tao find out about this in such a short time?

In fact, Su Wu understood these little tricks and rhetoric of officialdom. How could Su Wu not understand them now? Fang Tao's intention was to tell Su Wu that he had someone behind him, namely the eunuch Chief Eunuch Li, who had been chatting happily with you, Scholar Su.

Su Wu chuckled, "Yes, that's right. Fang Jian is certainly well-informed. I only lingered at the Privy Council office for a little over half an hour before rushing here, and I didn't expect you to already know..."

Fang Tao was very humble, even while sitting, he bowed and hunched his shoulders, and said with a smile, "Scholar, you may not know, but Steward Li is my adoptive father. My adoptive father has no children, so I thought of taking care of him in his old age and seeing him off in his final days, that's all..."

Su Wu understood that Fang Tao's demeanor was indeed a result of his long-term habit of serving eunuchs.

Su Wu understood even better: "That's easy. We're all on the same side. Bring me an account book, take a look at the horses, and in a few days I'll send someone to select them one by one. The Emperor himself has ordered the borrowing of eight thousand horses."

Fang Tao nodded: "No problem, no problem..."

But Su Wu looked at Fang Tao and felt that something might be wrong.

Su Wu stood up: "Then let's go check on the horses!"

Fang Tao then stood up and gestured for them to go: "Scholar, this way please. Go up that ridge, and you can see in all directions, with all the horses in sight!"

Although Mu Tuo Ridge is a small hill, it is useful. Once you climb up the hill, even though it is only a few dozen meters higher, you can see all around at a glance.

Fang Tao introduced the horses from all sides, explaining that there weren't many stables needed, as they were all free-range, but there were enclosures, one after another...

They described in great detail how things were here and there, how much was here and how much was there.

Su Wu frowned more and more as he looked at the ledger, and asked, "How many horses are there, young and old, in the ledger?"

“More than 14,000…” Fang Tao replied.

Su Wu was cursing inwardly. In the entire court, no one could discover the discrepancy in the number of horses unless they counted them one by one. In this great Song Dynasty, how many people were truly experienced in estimating a herd of horses? Even among the generals and soldiers, it would be difficult to find many capable individuals.

But Su Wu had this experience; he looked around several times.

He also turned to Li Cheng and asked, "Take a look..."

Li Cheng looked at it from all angles, frowning as well, and said in one breath, "Sir, I'm afraid it's only a little over ten thousand at most, probably less than ten thousand!"

Fang Tao immediately replied, "How could that be? These are horses from the capital, the very place where the Imperial Guards and various government offices allocate their horses. We would never dare to be short!"

How could I possibly be short?

Su Wu turned to look at him, absolutely daring not to be lacking. In this Great Song Dynasty, what was there that one dared not to do...?

Su Wu stopped talking about the matter and asked only one question: "But what instructions did Chief Steward Li give you?"

There's something fishy going on right now. Who is Li Yan?
Using the name of public land and the power of the western city of the imperial city, he seized the people's land. In his hands alone, there were as many as 34,000 hectares. What does that mean?

It's roughly 510,000 mu (approximately 34,000 hectares), which is something that has happened in recent years, and it's mostly located around Beijing.

What methods were used? They checked the land deeds, making people produce their family land deeds. If you have a land deed, that's fine, but where did you get the land? You said you bought it, that you bought it yourself, or that your grandfather or father bought it. Then they found the seller and made them produce the old land deed. They asked the seller where the land came from, and if it was also bought, then they found the previous owner.

If any link in the chain fails to find the oldest land deed, then the entire series of land deeds or transactions are invalidated and deemed fake, proving that the land was previously public land and must be handed over to the West City Office.

This operation is so simple. It wasn't invented by Li Yan, but by the previous chief steward, Yang Jian. Li Yan simply popularized and perfected it.

This has led to countless people losing their land in the areas surrounding the capital and even in many other places.

Su Wu was unaware of this matter beforehand, as he knew very little about the capital city of Dongjing. It was Cheng Hao who, upon hearing that Li Yan was going to serve as a military supervisor, told Su Wu about it. Cheng Hao meant that Li Yan was greedy for money but easy to deal with, implying that if Su Wu wanted to make things easier in the army, he should just give the military supervisor money to get rid of him...

But could Su Wu truly be willing?

Su Wu thought to himself, "Damn it, I've never even given money to Tong Guan, but Li Yan is here and I have to give him money?"

Therefore, when Su Wu met Li Yan at Tong Guan's place not long ago, he gave a forced smile and exchanged pleasantries without any sincerity or enthusiasm.

Su Wu had only one thought in his mind: if this spineless eunuch knew his place, then he was wise; if he didn't...

Su Wu is becoming increasingly daring in his killings; he's even killed Cai You. Can't the supervising officer die in battle? Can't the supervising officer's head be chopped off?
Unexpectedly, upon arriving at Mutuo Ridge, they encountered Li Jianjun's adopted son. This adopted son did not seem to be a good person, nor did he obtain his official position through legitimate channels.

When Fang Tao heard Su Wu directly address Steward Li, he smiled and said, "Scholar, your godfather has given some instructions."

"Then tell me..." Su Wu also wanted to see how Li Yan explained it.

Fang Tao nodded: "Reporting to the scholar, my adoptive father told me that Scholar Su is an excellent general, invincible in battle, a pillar of our Great Song Dynasty, and a pillar of strength. This expedition is a matter of great importance to the country and the nation, and it is no easy task. The allocation of horses is for the sake of success in this battle, and it must not be done perfunctorily..."

Li Yanxing may have actually said this, at least Fang Tao's attitude was genuinely good.

Su Wu then said, "Continue!"

Fang Tao chuckled: "My godfather also said that things are not easy here at Mutuo Ridge. Raising horses is a tough and dirty job. Our Great Song Dynasty is short of horses, and it is rare for the capital region to raise these horses to support the entire imperial guards and the court. It is an even more difficult task!"

"So much rambling, and so off-topic," Su Wu simply waved his hand and asked, "What favors does Steward Li need me to do?"

Fang Tao was pleased, realizing his adoptive father indeed had considerable influence. He cut to the chase: "Scholar, it's like this... actually... what that young general said earlier is correct. If we're being honest, at this moment, Mu Tuo Ling only has about 10,120 horses. Many of them are old, weak, or pregnant. There are probably only about 6,000 or 7,000 usable horses. So, even if you ask for 8,000, it's still a bit short. We can't possibly grant you all the usable horses; otherwise, wouldn't the important matters of many officials in the capital be delayed? Please grant me this favor, Scholar. Your adoptive father will be eternally grateful..."

Su Wu was so angry he almost laughed, but he asked first, "Was it borrowed? Sold? Rented? Or is there still some vacancy?"

Fang Tao was embarrassed to laugh, but he looked at Su Wu and thought that since they were family, it wouldn't hurt. He nodded and said, "Not many are lent out, but quite a few are rented out. Many horses in the capital's carriage and horse shops come from here. Very few are sold, and there are absolutely no empty slots. In fact, there are more than the books show..."

Upon hearing this, Su Wu felt a strange sense of relief. It was a rare relief that there were no vacancies and that there were even more available. This was truly unexpected, and for a moment he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

What the hell does a eunuch need so much money for?
In fact, Su Wu also knew that, just like the land and money that Yang Jian and Li Yan had hoarded in the West City under the imperial city, were the same land and money that Yang Jian and Li Yan had hoarded in their own pockets in the past.

Actually, that's not the case. Not to mention the small profits, the lion's share went to the emperor. It was all public land. The Western City was the emperor's property, the property of his mother, Zhao Ji.

Yang Jian had been praised by the emperor in the past for his work on "land reclamation," so how could Li Yan not do the same now? Did he not like the emperor's praise?

All it takes is a different way of saying it to be credit.

For example, some wealthy and unruly people have seized public land to enrich themselves. Now, the West City has made great efforts to investigate and has found out so much public land that has been encroached upon. How can this not be considered a merit in the eyes of the Emperor?
Does the emperor's artistic and spiritual enjoyment come without money?

Take Mu Tuo Ridge right before us, for example. The imperial horse administration allocates funds, which are for raising horses. Any surplus earned is due to proper and skillful management, and that is also a merit.

The Zhao family emperor has many ways to make money. As mentioned before, he is also the largest landlord in Bianjing (Kaifeng), with tens of thousands of houses and shops for rent in Dongjing. These are all Zhao family properties, passed down from their ancestors!

Those who come to Bianjing to take the exams and become officials must first pay rent to the emperor.

Su Wu wanted eight thousand horses. After deducting the old, weak, pregnant and disabled, there were only six or seven thousand. Even if Su Wu took them all, he would still be more than a thousand horses short.
Did the Emperor really know the details of this skillful management? Xu Zhen didn't know. If he had, he wouldn't have lent Su Wu eight thousand horses. But he didn't skimp on the money.

Su Wu was still looking around, wondering how to handle this matter. According to Li Yan, Su Wu could only take away about four thousand usable horses at most, so wouldn't he have to leave two thousand for the various government offices in the capital?

This is half the amount Su Wu had in mind (eight thousand). That's one point. Su Wu still has to repay it in the future, and he has to repay it according to the eight thousand.

Is this something a human would do?

Seeing that Su Wu had been thinking for a while without speaking, Fang Tao spoke up again: "Scholar, don't worry, just take five thousand bolts with you, and when you return them, you can simply return five thousand. That way, everything will be fine..."

Looking at Fang Tao's smiling face, Su Wu almost said, "You're such a nice guy!"
What the fuck...

Su Wu's face darkened, and he waved his hand, saying, "Five days from now, I will bring a thousand riders to select eight thousand usable horses. If I cannot find any!"

Su Wu paused, looked Fang Tao up and down, and his gaze turned fierce: "If you don't get it, I'll make sure your head is chopped off!"

Damn it, aren't soldiers' lives important? War is a matter of life and death, not something to joke around with like this.

The people of Tokyo really don't know what war is all about!
Fang Tao still had a smile on his face, but his eyes were wide open in shock.

Hey...aren't we family? Didn't we agree on something with Steward Li? How come you've turned on us so suddenly?
Fang Tao quickly explained, "Scholar, you've misunderstood, you've misunderstood! This is all my godfather's intention. Let's talk it over and discuss it. Scholar, you mustn't misunderstand..."

Su Wu said solemnly, "I have no misunderstanding. Go tell Li Yan that in five days, I will send men to drive away the horses. There are eight thousand strong horses, and one is missing. I will first kill you, you scoundrel, and then take the case to the Emperor!"

Fang Tao froze on the spot, his smile vanishing. He saw Su Wu turn and walk away, and hurriedly chased after him, saying, "Scholar, Scholar, five thousand horses! That's far too many! When has the court ever allocated so many horses before? Five thousand horses? That's more than enough!"

This is why the Song Dynasty perished, and this is also why the Song court treated official business. Even Li Yan didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just a matter of mutual respect...

As a high-ranking military supervisor, how could Su Wu possibly refuse to give him even this small amount of face?

Isn't this just a matter of a few words?
Besides, who was Li Yan working for? Wasn't he serving His Majesty?
Su Wu was too lazy to answer and quickened his pace, finding it too irritating to stay there.

Fang Tao rushed to Su Wu's side and said, "Scholar, how can I explain this to my godfather?"

Fang Tao was also getting anxious, and his words were undoubtedly a hint that Su Wu should calm down and think things through...

Perhaps that wasn't what he meant, but Su Wu interpreted it that way.

Su Wu simply reached out and shoved Fang Tao aside, causing him to stumble. Su Wu then took two steps forward, but suddenly stopped, turned around, and pondered for a moment.

He opened his mouth: "Strike! Whip him! If I don't give him a good beating, he'll think I'm joking and that there's still room for negotiation. Five days later, no horse has arrived, dragging on and wasting my time..."

Li Cheng had already raised his whip to strike, and it wasn't just Li Cheng; Yue Fei also joined in, as did Fan Yun and a group of soldiers. They truly surrounded each other and began to whip, as military orders were as solid as mountains.

There were quite a few officials nearby, and some of them actually came forward to try and stop them.

But then the soldiers on either side gripped their swords at their waists and glared angrily: "Get lost!"

Fang Tao had already raised his hand to protect his face, dodging left and right, but he was also whipped and cried out in pain. He was still a little dazed and wondered what was going on.

But then Su Wu gritted his teeth in anger: "Strike them to death, beat them mercilessly, and in five days I will see eight thousand strong horses!"

If we don't get serious, these people won't realize there's no room for negotiation, they won't actually do it, and they'll still think it's something that hasn't been discussed properly by the higher-ups and is still waiting for them to discuss it...

Fang Tao was screaming and rolling on the ground, repeatedly crying out, "Scholar Su, Scholar Su, please stop! I know I was wrong! In five days, just five days... Scholar Su, please forgive me this time..."

It's not that Fang Tao is the problem, it's that Su Wu is the problem. He's out of step with the Song Dynasty. Why would he not even give the chief eunuch face over such a small matter? Why did he have to make such a big fuss?

This Privy Council scholar seems incapable of holding office, or rather... he's arrogant, disdainful of others, and extremely presumptuous...

Fang Tao, the one who did the work, suffered the most. He was beaten badly, and although it was all superficial wounds, there wasn't a single unscathed spot on his body.

He was angry, but he couldn't vent it. Only after the whip stopped did he get up and ask with a pained expression, "Scholar Su, what's the matter?"

Scholar Su didn't bother with him and just kept riding his horse. He got off the small mound, mounted his horse, and the swift steed galloped away.

Fang Tao's expression changed, and he spat out a mouthful of saliva: "Your grandfather beat you up, ptooey! You still look down on me? Didn't you also have a spineless man as your godfather?"

Of course, they didn't dare to say this aloud, and even mumbled it under their breath.

Those around him, whether they could hear clearly or not, said nothing more, only asking the supervisor how he was, whether he was injured, whether he was in pain, and requesting a doctor...

Fang Tao didn't have time to wait for the doctor, so he hurried into the city to see his godfather.

He agreed immediately just now to avoid being beaten, but where is he going to get three thousand strong horses? Unless his adoptive father agrees, he can quickly go to the city to gather them, and take them back from any caravan and horse dealership that has rented them.

But doing that would be infuriating. It would be best not to give it to him at all, and to let Su Wu suffer a bit, that would be the only way to vent my anger.

Of course, this matter should be decided by my godfather, so hurry up and go.

Once they find their adoptive father's house, they can embellish the story and then, seeing the wounds all over his body and his face not even properly covered, they can put on a pitiful, tearful act, stare at their adoptive father, and kneel down.

Li Yan also frowned. He didn't understand this matter either. Logically speaking, how could someone who was a disciple of the senior Tong Shuxiang be so ignorant of reason?
What's the big deal? The two of you will be leading troops together in the future, long-term colleagues, seeing each other all the time. You were all polite and friendly in front of each other, how did things turn out like this in the blink of an eye?

"Godfather..." Fang Tao could only pity and complain.

The godfather was also furious: "You're completely useless, all you do is cry. You have plenty of bailiffs and grooms in your office, yet you let someone beat you up like this..."

Who can argue with that? If they really went to Mutuo Ridge, they could easily gather a thousand or eight hundred people.
"Godfather..." Fang Tao cried out before he could finish, then continued, "Who knew those bandit soldiers were so vicious? We were caught off guard..." "Alright, you can go back now..." Li Yan waved his hand dismissively. This matter still had to be handled by him, as for Su Wu...

To be honest, the current emperor trusts him a lot, so this matter is really not easy to handle. I have also heard that Su Wu has a tough temper and is used to clashing with those bookish idiots, but he is also close to those upright people.

So, about this matter...

Fang Tao was relieved. This matter was easy to resolve with his adoptive father. Otherwise, where would he get another three thousand strong horses for him?

Did they really intend to offend every high-ranking official in the capital? Go and collect money from them one by one? Collecting money was secondary; wouldn't they still have to return the money? Once it was in the emperor's pocket, it was impossible to get it back; wouldn't they have to pay out of their own pockets?

Fang Tao said, "Go ahead and don't worry."

Li Yan also went out to pay his respects to the Prince of Guangyang.

The Prince of Guangyang is now living a very carefree life. I heard he rarely goes to work anymore and spends all his time at home. There are dances and music playing at home, and one troupe of actors after another performs...

Sure enough, the family opera troupe started performing again, and Li Yanlai joined them, drinking tea and watching and listening...

All that was left was for Prince Tong to tap out a question as he struck a beat: "What can I do for you?"

Li Yancai spoke slowly, explaining that it was all a misunderstanding, with a smile on his face.

Tong Guan didn't take it seriously and simply raised his hand, saying, "Just do as he says, won't you?"

Li Yan sighed and said, "As Your Highness knows, I am in a very difficult situation..."

Tong Guan sighed, sat up straight, waved his hand to signal the opera troupe to stop and leave, and then spoke: "You don't know the hardships of war. You'll understand when you go to Fuyan and Huanqing. This is the Emperor's word. Are you really going to make a scene with him in front of the officials? What good will that do you? This little matter is your business anyway. If you won't get anything out of it, why bother?"

“Well… I’m just doing my job for the government…” Li Yan’s words still carried a hint of displeasure.

Wasn't that what Tong Guan said earlier? The two of them went to lead troops together, and he wished them to do their jobs well. But in the blink of an eye, Su Wu stopped being on good terms with him.

Tong Guan looked at Li Yan and thought about Su Wu. How could he not know where the crux of the matter lay?

Who was Su Wu? Could he easily back down from something he had already decided on? In fact… there are many things he simply didn't want to think about, didn't want to guess…

Even Tong Guan sometimes couldn't help but wonder whether all of this was good or bad.
Wearing this dragon and python robe, he was quite happy...

Su Wu was indeed incompetent in battle. It was Tong Guan's good judgment in recognizing talent that proved him right. Once a person becomes too domineering, he will inevitably be domineering in every way, and his nature will be even more domineering...

This fellow has been in Tokyo for too long, spoiled by the emperor, and has probably long forgotten what it means to suffer a loss...

Tong Guan said earnestly, "Steward Li..."

"Hey, I'm here!" Li Yan still maintained his composure; as a prince, how could he not be a role model for his peers?
"Just listen to him..." Tong Guan said seriously, knowing that the person in front of him was not on the same level as Su Wu.

Why did Su Wu dare to act this way? To beat someone so readily? Was Su Wu truly a crude and uncouth brute in the army? Could a brute have achieved such a state?
"Prime Minister, this...this is really impossible. Five thousand horses is already the most we can manage. How about we have him take the old and weak horses with him?"

Li Yan wanted to compromise, but he also felt that he had made countless contributions and achieved great merits in front of the emperor, and that the emperor praised him even more than Su Wu.

Tong Guan was at a loss for words. He had tried everything to reason with him, but the man wouldn't listen. Now a retired old man, he still had to say it again: "You wait and see, keep making trouble. Keep making trouble with those soldiers..."

Li Yan then said, "I would appreciate it if the Grand Councilor could put in a good word for me..."

Tong Guan smiled wryly and waved his hand: "He doesn't listen to me either..."

"Huh?" Li Yan was stunned on the spot. These words...

Is this the truth? Or is this Prince Tong simply biased towards Su Wu? Is he protecting his own? If so, then there's no need to say more…

"Very well, Your Highness. Please look me up and down. Why do you have to do this?"

It used to be a friendly relationship, but things have changed now that you've become a prince? This is blatant bullying!

There are some things I don't want to think about... I shouldn't think about, but I also want to ask: Your Highness, how many more years do you have left to live? Why do you have to do this?
Li Yan stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Thank you, Grand Councilor!"

How could Tong Guan not understand? He looked at Li Yan. Sometimes, no matter how much you say, people just won't listen.

Enough already, let them make a scene. You can't reason with a damned devil!

You can't exactly tell Li Yan that Su Wu is someone you can't afford to offend, that you can't compare to him in terms of skill or intelligence... Su Wu is ruthless, just like on the battlefield, always fierce and brave...

Li Yan left, and Tong Guan sighed, "Su Wu, oh Su Wu..."

That's enough. I don't have much time left to live. I'm sixty-eight. I can die anytime soon. I haven't accomplished much in this life. It's been worth it!

Li Yan went out with a dark expression. How many years has it been since he last saw such a way of doing things?

This matter...

Su Wu seemed to be wielding a chicken feather as an imperial edict, completely taking advantage of people.

They really were determined to make a scene, and even if they took this matter to the authorities, while the authorities wouldn't necessarily blame or punish them, it would still be seen as a sign of Fang Tao's incompetence...

Thinking about this only made me angrier.

As they got into the carriage, they glanced back at Tong Guan's enormous mansion. The old prince was getting more and more senile.

Alright, then give it to him. But we need to have an explanation. It's not that we intend to take the horse back. It's just that Scholar Su is so aggressive that we can't do without him. He won't accept losing even one of your horses!
Even business dealings within the imperial family are forbidden!

As for Fang Tao, a few words of comfort will suffice. As the saying goes, fortunes change, and in officialdom, if I offend you today, you may offend me tomorrow...

Today, we'll host a grand banquet in this tall building. When it collapses in the future, the sight will be quite amusing. And when the pillars are gone, trying to prop it up again will inevitably involve pleading with everyone we meet. The process of pleading will certainly be interesting, and if they refuse our requests, that will be even more amusing...

What was Su Wu thinking? He was thinking, five days is five days. What in the army isn't urgent?
By this time, the military orders for selecting cavalry had been sent back, and the Dongping Prefecture was already handling the matter. If things were to be done slowly here, it would take five days, and then another five days... How many important matters would be delayed?

Is it true that he really wanted to kill someone? For Su Wu, the matter at hand was of paramount importance. If Fang Tao didn't deliver the horses within five days, he could be killed without hesitation, jeopardizing the battle and military operations. He wasn't some scholar, so killing him was even more justifiable!
This lawsuit is one we can't lose!
Li Yan knew Su Wu's attitude, and he should just get things done. Nothing else mattered, as long as the matter was settled.

Five days later, more than a thousand riders from Dongping Prefecture will arrive, and then we will go to pick up the horses.

Eight thousand horses—that's quite a lot. Fang Tao's smile vanished, and he didn't even exchange many words with Su Wu, instead sending his subordinates to handle the matter...

After sorting through the horses and counting them, Su Wu still had to go find Fang Tao. He couldn't help but say, "There are about eight hundred horses that are unusable. I'll give you one day. Tomorrow morning, you can deliver them to the camp over there!"

Fang Tao was furious and asked, "What do you mean that eight hundred bolts of silk are unusable? I think they are all usable!"

Su Wu's eyes narrowed. Was this guy really not afraid? Su Wu said calmly, "Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, the cavalry of Jingdong will set off. If you're short eight hundred horses, this time we won't kill you, we'll just break both your legs!"

Su Wu said that much, then left for the nearby camp. He needed to oversee this personally: how to manage the horses, how to depart tomorrow, how to roam the area, and even how to feed and manage them along the way…

These were Su Wu's precious possessions; he couldn't bear to let even one of them go to waste.

The next day, after Su Wu returned to Jingdong, he left as well.

Su Wu had gone out, so how could Fang Tao not spit in disgust? Being beaten and humiliated was only one aspect; he also had to spend money to make up for it. Who knew how many years it would take to earn that back? He couldn't possibly take money from the emperor's pocket, nor could he take money from his adoptive father's pocket...

This is absolutely terrible!

Don't be angry, don't be angry. As my godfather said, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river." You also have a godfather, and so do I. Your godfather is sixty-eight years old, while my godfather is still young!
You beat me up a few days ago, I'll beat you up ten times tomorrow! I'll beat you until you cry and beg for mercy, but that won't do you any good!
Thinking about it that way makes me feel much better, but I can't afford to get beaten up tomorrow, so I'd better go and get it done...

Su Wu returned to camp, inwardly complaining. A simple handover, a simple official business, had to be made into this mess, and Li Yan had to be offended in order to get it done in such a tight timeframe!
If Su Wu's case was like this, then there's no need to even think about other matters concerning the Song Dynasty. How could the court not perish?

The next morning, eight hundred horses arrived on their own. Su Wu didn't say much, took the horses, signed the warrant, and left without going back into the city.

They walked briskly every day, always staying overnight in the wilderness. When passing through a city, they would send people to buy some fine feed such as soybeans, and bring along hay.

Hu Sanniang accompanied him on the journey, but they would never share a tent while in the army. This was Su Wu's intention; whenever they lived with the soldiers, they would never sleep in the same tent. The soldiers could see this, so he wanted them to know.

Upon returning to Dongping Prefecture, the military situation became even more urgent. Of the seven thousand cavalry, half were new recruits who had already begun training, with one veteran leading one new recruit to learn various horsemanship techniques.

Of course, the recruits were not truly new; they were selected from veteran infantry soldiers.

While he focused on training, Su Wu kept a close eye on things every day, looking around and buying grass from the wetlands and meadows of Cangzhou. He would then transport the grass, cartload by cart, from Qizhou to Dongping Prefecture. This was a big business, but Su Wu handed it over directly to Li Hang. This was a long-term business, and he didn't want to rely on anyone else.

Recently, Lu Junyi also came from Daming Prefecture. Su Wu invited him to discuss the foundation, specifically asking Lu Junyi to invest. Lu Junyi's contribution was extraordinary, amounting to 400,000 strings of cash. Su Wu also assigned more managers and accountants to do more work.

Li Hang's foundation office was also established, though it couldn't really be considered an office.

Li Hang was so busy every day that he didn't even go home, but his home was still quite lively.

Not to mention Cheng Xiaoniang, which literate woman or girl in Dongping Prefecture wouldn't bring large bags and small packages to pay their respects? Even the wealthy families in Daming Prefecture of Beijing would travel a hundred or two miles to visit her.

That's not all. Whether it's the local school or the state school, how could those scholars not flock to it?
It's not necessarily all about so-called refined tastes and hobbies; it can also be a path to advancement through reading. If Li Qingzhao were willing to write a letter of recommendation, then in Shandong, which great Confucian scholar couldn't be sent to her school?

Even if you go to Tokyo, with just this letter, you can easily get through any threshold. Not to mention, the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Rites, the Censorate, and the Censorate are all places that can be reached!

It is said that Qin Hui has recently been promoted. I don't know how he managed to rise from the position of Academician of the Imperial Academy to the position of Palace Attendant Censor of the Censorate. Although his rank is not high, he can easily meet the emperor and the officials of the court.

Although Su Wu didn't know how he operated, he knew that Su Wu must have played a part in it. The Censorate, in theory, was a place where upright officials gathered. Li Gang came from the Censorate and was a prominent figure there.

Qin Hui was also a scheming person, and the Wang family were even more adept at it. Many things didn't need to be done through Su Wu, but Su Wu had already done his part.

Qin Hui had long wanted to leave the Imperial Academy, but he couldn't find a way out. This time, however, things went very smoothly.

The Palace Attendant Censor was the same official Li Gang held before his demotion. Coupled with the incident of students kneeling at the palace gates at the Imperial Academy, and Su Wu's support for Li Gang, everything became much easier to accomplish.

Qin Hui, of course, suddenly became a figure of integrity!
At this moment, Qin Hui must have been in high spirits.

It is also said that Qin Hui's wife and cousin, Yi An Jushi, was always busy at her door. Although she was a newcomer, she would not refuse to see people and still showed basic courtesy. She was also very busy.

Speaking of Cheng Xiaoniang, how could she not go to her door immediately? She even chose the house where Li Qingzhao lived, and personally took Yi'an Jushi (Li Qingzhao's pen name) on a tour of the house, introducing everything about it.

The two naturally became acquainted, and how could Li Yi'an not like Cheng Xiaoniang? Not to mention that Cheng Xiaoniang was a well-read person, just the fact that she was Su Wu's wife made Li Yi'an greet her with a smile.

Now, their conversations have become more intimate and casual. By the pond and in the pavilion, Cheng Xiaoniang said, "In a few days, there will be a happy occasion in my family, and I would like to invite you to come over for a visit and a drink!"

"What happy event is it?" asked Yi'an Jushi.

"Well... it's just that my husband wants to take a concubine. I'm not worried, so there aren't many guests and it's not noisy. Just now, I asked my husband about it. He's busy in the army every day and only stays home a few days a week. Otherwise... I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, but he... hasn't come home to sleep for several days. He's been staying in the military camp outside the city..."

Cheng Xiaoniang often said this in her spare time.

Sister Li laughed, "How could you marry such a person..."

Cheng Xiaoniang knew it was a joke, and Yi'an Jushi, who was the most witty and loved to joke, couldn't help but chime in: "Yes, isn't this just regretting teaching her husband to seek fame and fortune?"

Sister Li suddenly frowned as well: "I've heard people say the war is urgent lately, and my brother is busy buying all sorts of things, saying he's going to fight in the Northwest... Sigh... one war after another, each one a battle, I don't know when this war will end..."

How could Cheng Xiaoniang not be saddened? She said, "Perhaps... after this battle against the Dangxiang, the world will be unified, and there will be no more wars. I only hope that my journey to the Dangxiang will be peaceful and that everything will go smoothly!"

Sister Li nodded in agreement: "Yes, they're on the frontier every day. My sister can't sleep at night thinking about it. It's tough for men on the frontier, but isn't it tough for women too!"

"What you're saying makes me want to cry..." Indeed, Cheng Xiaoniang was wiping her eyes.

"It's not good to marry someone who stays at home all day, nor is it good to marry someone who's always away. I don't know if it's just that life has always been difficult to have both, or if this is just how girls are born..."

Sister Li seemed to be thinking about her own things as well.

The two women found themselves resonating with each other, likely because they were both well-read and shared a similar sentimentality.

A moment of gloom passed, and Sister Li came to ask, "Your husband has taken a concubine, yet you don't seem to have any displeasure? That's strange..."

Cheng Xiaoniang opened her heart and said, "Firstly, Third Sister and I have a very deep bond. Back when bandits rose up in Jingdong and Dongping Prefecture was rife with thieves, my husband invited Third Sister to protect me. She is a woman of the Jianghu, skilled in martial arts, and spends her days with me. I naturally like her and we talk about everything. Secondly, a weak woman like me can't be of much help in the army. If Third Sister goes with the army, it will be convenient for her. Thirdly, my husband is busy now, but if the war ends and he has some free time, it's better to have someone like me, someone he knows well and who is like a sister to him, than someone like me who is so close to him. In the end, our family will be peaceful..."

Upon hearing these words, Yi'an Jushi looked Cheng Xiaoniang up and down, and said in one sentence, "No wonder he is fond of you and wants to marry you!"

"Hmm?" Cheng Xiaoniang said softly.

Yi'an Jushi laughed and said, "You are virtuous and a good match, a perfect couple. Your husband is very fortunate."

"This lay Buddhist is shy..." Cheng Xiaoniang actually became a little shy.

“Actually… such a good match is a blessing in life. You are blessed, and he is blessed!” Yi’an Jushi couldn’t help but feel sorry for herself, feeling lonely and isolated.

Cheng Xiaoniang also felt this way, and went to see her idol, saying, "Perhaps the layman will also have a good match in the future!"

Sister Li smiled and said, "When? I'll bring my gift and come over. We'll drink a few more cups and not leave until we're drunk."

"Excellent, absolutely perfect! I'm here to drink with you, layman, let's get thoroughly drunk!" Cheng Xiaoniang had heard countless poems by Sister Li, all about being drunk, intoxicated, drinking, on the way to drink, or on the way home after drinking. How could she not treat her well?
But he added, "I'll send someone and a car in four days!"

“Good!” Yi’an Jushi nodded, turned around, sat down at the table in the pavilion, and reached out for a cup.

Perhaps it is inevitable that one will also experience that searching and yearning, loneliness and desolation, and utter misery...

Unable to understand what he was saying, he continued drinking. Then, Cheng Xiaoniang laughed and said, "I'll drink with you, sir."

(Brothers, Riwan is here again. Sorry I'm two minutes late today!)

(End of this chapter)