Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 268 Obey my orders! Protect me, the supervising officer!

With Cheng Xiaoniang pregnant, this was naturally a matter of great importance. Meng Yulou and Hu Sanniang were both fussing over Cheng Jiyue, and even Cheng's husband would come several times a day...

Unfortunately, the affairs of the world are far more complicated than they seem, and a month or so passed very quickly. Su Wu had to leave; he had no choice but to go.

Even if they rode at full speed, they only took a hundred or so personal guards to travel ahead, while the more than seven thousand light and heavy cavalry, nearly ten thousand auxiliary soldiers, and eight or nine hundred wagons would have to travel slowly...

Su Wu was anxious because he had received a letter from Liu Guangshi. Su Wu had written to Liu Guangshi instructing the troops of Huanqing and Fuyan to begin their actual acts of harassment and even to find an opportunity to capture some cities.

Little did they know that when Su Wu's letter reached the Northwest, things didn't go as planned. This was because someone was opposing Su Wu. Just as Liu Guangshi was preparing to go north to cause trouble, Li Yan, the military supervisor who had already arrived in the Northwest, strictly ordered all the troops not to move rashly.

How could Su Wu not hurry off?
Su Wu was also wondering why Li Yan was acting this way. Firstly, he had offended someone by arranging the warhorses earlier. Although that person couldn't do anything to Su Wu for the time being, they just wanted to annoy him.

Secondly, Li Yan genuinely wanted to stir up some power struggles within the Northwest Army, which inevitably involved vying for credit.

Perhaps it was because Li Yan had never supervised the army, but had always served in the palace, slowly making his way in the ranks. Serving the emperor was one aspect of his career, but he also served by the side of the former chief eunuch Yang Jian until Yang Jian passed away, at which point he became the chief eunuch.

Now, suddenly being sent out of the palace to supervise the army, he suddenly felt the exhilarating feeling of having the power to command thousands of troops, and couldn't help but want to use that power to his advantage...

How many people in this world, when they hold power, can truly refrain from using it at all?
It is said that the power of the military supervisors in the Song Dynasty was unimaginable, and conversely, the low status of the soldiers was also unimaginable...

Let me tell you a story, which is also the origin of a proverb, called "flattery".

It is said that during the reigns of Emperor Shenzong and Emperor Zhezong, there was a military supervisor named Li Xian. Li Xian was actually quite capable and had some achievements in military affairs. He was a good match with Wang Shao and made great contributions to the opening of the Xihe border.

Back in the Northwest, there was a military general named Peng Sun. How far would he go to curry favor with the supervising eunuch Li Xian?

He could even kneel on the ground to wash Li Xian's feet, who was known for his smelly feet. When he took off Li Xian's boots, he would praise, "How fragrant are the Grand Commandant's feet!"
This shows the low status of the soldiers and the immense power of the supervising eunuchs.

To put it bluntly, the power over military merits, promotions and demotions, and the amount of money and provisions in the army was entirely in the hands of the supervising eunuch. Therefore, the soldiers' motives for trying to curry favor with him were understandable...

One more thing: Tong Guan was once a servant of Li Xian and the heir to Li Xian's political legacy. Tong Guan rose to prominence because of Li Xian.

Therefore, now that Li Yan has left the palace to supervise the army in the northwest, his power is immense, needless to say. How can he bear to not act while holding such power?
Su Wu had to hurry. If Li Yan continued to cause trouble like this, wouldn't the Northwest become a mess? The mess wasn't the main issue, Su Wu was afraid that Li Yan would do something shady and demoralize the army.

The morale of the army was hard-won; if it is destroyed, even killing will be difficult to undo.

Su Wu rode his horse at full speed, galloping all the way. How many miles was this journey? It was exactly around 1,600 or 1,700 miles, which is not actually that far.

Within ten days, Su Wu had arrived in Yanzhou, which is also known as Yan'an Prefecture.

Liu Guangshi came out of the city to greet him from afar. He had been waiting for two or three days, truly eagerly anticipating his arrival...

Upon seeing Liu Guangshi, the two embraced with smiles, and Liu Guangshi said, "I've been waiting for you, brother!"

Su Wu also asked, "What injustice have you suffered?"

Liu Guangshi's smile remained, but he shook his head: "Sigh...it's a long story!"

Su Wu smiled and said, "Tell me about it..."

"I don't know where to begin!" Liu Guangshi said, his face full of grievance.

Su Wu understood. He knew what power was like in this era, and he also knew what kind of person a eunuch like Li Yan, who hadn't read many books, hadn't seen much of the world, and had spent his whole life serving others, was.

In this world, no matter what it is, it really needs someone to teach you.

Take the matter of military supervisors, for example. Starting from the reign of Emperor Renzong, there was Shi Zhicong, who brought Li Xian under his command, and Li Xian brought Tong Guan under his command. This kind of work was passed down from generation to generation, and they all did a pretty good job.

Even Tan Zhen was actually teaching and learning. Although Tan Zhen wasn't very good at it, he gradually learned some of the tricks of the trade in the workplace.

Unfortunately, Li Yan knew absolutely nothing about it, yet he held immense power.

Su Wu stopped laughing and said seriously, "Then let's just talk about it..."

Liu Guangshi nodded: "Take this Li Jianjun for example. When he first arrived, he took out the roster of all the armies and ordered the generals of several routes in the Northwest to come and pay their respects to him. We are nearby, but we never imagined that Xihe and Lanhuang were so far away. They traveled 1,400 li to come and pay their respects..."

This also shows that the Northwest is actually very large. Su Wu traveled only 1,600 to 1,700 li from Dongping Prefecture to Yanzhou, and 1,400 li from Lanzhou to Yan'an. This also shows how wide the border between Western Xia and the Song Dynasty was, and how complex the current war situation was.

"They're all here?" Su Wu asked.

"How could I not come? Who would dare not come? Xin Xingzong rode here for more than ten days! Old Master Zhong dared not be negligent either. Although Huanqing is not far, my old bones still have to ride here!" Liu Guangshi smiled bitterly.

Su Wu knew that the power of this authority was truly oppressive, so he asked, "And then?"

"Then he met him once, heard Li Jianjun say a few words, and then rode back on his horse!"

"Not discussing military matters?" Su Wu asked, knowing full well the answer.

"What's the point of talking about military matters?" Liu Guangshi retorted.

"How many generals and soldiers have come?" Su Wu asked, knowing the answer already.

“Dozens of people! Who would dare not come! If they don’t come, the supervising officer will report them to the capital, and they will suffer the consequences.” Liu Guangshi replied.

"In that case, the military supervisor's authority will be sufficient!" Su Wu also remarked.

"Is it not enough? It's far too much!" Liu Guangshi complained frankly to Su Wu, then looked at Su Wu and said, "It's far more imposing than my brother! In the main tent, when military generals come to see him, he's all bossy and arrogant, looking down on everyone. Who dares to raise their voice in front of him? Even Old Master Zhong has to bow and scrape before him, listen to a few words, and then ride back to Huanqing!"

Su Wu added, "That's because you all don't know any better. Just bring a few boxes to see him, and he'll greet you with a smile!"

"Is that so?" Liu Guangshi was somewhat taken aback. It wasn't that he didn't understand or couldn't comprehend it, but there were more than just one or two supervisors from the Northwest. They had their own methods for making money, and they had their own methods for getting money from higher-ups.

The Northwest is so poor. The soldiers have to eat so much yellow dust and sand every day. How can they possibly squeeze money out of their mouths?

Su Wu smiled again: "Just kidding... Let's go into the city and pay our respects to the military supervisor!"

Liu Guangshi nodded: "Brother is not afraid of him. He is a close attendant of the emperor, and brother is also a close minister of the emperor!"

There's actually a sense in these words that Su Wu should be in charge.

Su Wu understood, so he simply waved his hand, mounted his horse, and went into the city. Li Jianjun was also in Yanzhou City, which was also called Fushi City.

Yanzhou, Yan'an, this place was also the "land of the rise of the dragon" in a certain era.

Su Wu was visiting for the first time and was eager to see more of the place. He looked around and saw rivers, fields, mountains, and plains. The ancients had built a city here, so it was a good place, though not as good as the Central Plains or the Jiangnan region. But in this Loess Plateau, it was a rare and wonderful place.

It is also a major transportation hub in the Loess Plateau.

The city was quite large, perhaps housing seventy or eighty thousand people. The city walls were made of rammed earth, without any bricks, yet they were still very tall. Of course, all city walls were actually made of rammed earth; those with bricks were simply covered with a layer of bricks on the outside, but Yanzhou City couldn't afford to cover it with that layer of bricks.

When the wind blows, Su Wu's face is covered in dust on the Loess Plateau. He was not used to this climate; it was dry, cold, and dusty.

Even the people here seem to be all earthy yellow, and if you look at their faces, there's a hint of blackish-red mixed with the earthy yellow. The clothes they wear are all covered with a layer of earthy color.

Needless to say, the buildings are mainly made of rammed earth, with little brick and stone. Even further north outside the city, on the hillsides of the plateau, there are scattered cave dwellings for people to live in, as well as the courtyards of a few large families.

The area around Yanzhou city is relatively well-off and not particularly short of water. However, if you go further north, the water supply for daily life becomes very scarce.

The people here have a hard life, especially with war raging on the border. Their resilience goes without saying.

As we walked toward the government office, it didn't seem particularly grand, but it was different from the ones next to it, at least it was made of brick and stone.

Gong Shen, the prefect of Yanzhou, was an old man in his fifties. He wasn't a very capable person, and it was certainly not a lucrative post. He had passed the imperial examination and spent his whole life trying to get to the position of prefect. On the surface, he had great responsibilities, but in reality, he received no real benefits.

A military supervisor arrived in the capital, who was also the chief eunuch. He had to be served, but fortunately, the supervisor was not disrespectful to him, a civil official.

Today, a Privy Council Academician is arriving, and I must attend to him and his companions. I will simply exchange pleasantries, prepare the banquet, and sit and chat with them...

Li Yan, the military supervisor, was also sitting nearby, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats in the main hall. The military supervisor and the scholar naturally sat at the head, while the officials of all ranks sat on the left, and Liu Yanqing, along with his son and a group of warriors, sat on the right.

Strangely enough, this scene often occurred ahead, with most of the warriors opposite looking worried and distressed.

Today, as soon as Scholar Su arrived, the group of warriors opposite him suddenly all beamed with joy.

Gong Shen didn't understand, didn't comprehend, and didn't know anything about it; he just sat there smiling...

Then Scholar Su spoke up: "Now that we have arrived at your place, we will have to rely on the help of you brothers. With everyone working together, we can achieve great things!"

The group of warriors opposite them had all stood up, bowed, and started talking all at once.

This one said, "Rest assured, my lord, we have followed you into battle many times before. This time we are fighting the Tanguts, the enemies of our Northwest people and soldiers, and we must fight with our lives!"

The other one said, "Now that you're here, we feel at ease. Just tell us when the war will start, and we'll be the vanguard, leaving no one behind!"

"My lord, among the sons of Fuyan, if even one fails to fight bravely, we will all commit suicide on the battlefield!"

Su Wu quickly waved his hand: "What are you saying?"

Then everyone laughed, and Liu Yanqing also laughed and said, "Sir, this man is crude and doesn't know how to speak, but you know his sincere heart!"

Su Wu raised his hand to wave at the man: "Sit down, sit down!"

The man scratched his head and sat down, while another man stood up and said, "Sir, that fellow doesn't know how to talk. Let me say a few more words. When it comes to fighting the Dangxiang, we are all willing to die a hundred times. Every one of us is willing to be the vanguard and the first to scale the walls. Anyway, since you are leading us to fight the Dangxiang, how can we not risk our lives?"

That's well said," Su Wu nodded with a smile.

Then I heard another saying: "When fellow villagers fight against the Tanguts, no one is a coward on the battlefield!"

That's not bad either, Su Wu laughed as he listened, but he also noticed that Li Yan, who was sitting next to him, looked rather unpleasant...

He couldn't help but think that when these soldiers saw him, they all had long faces, and when he asked them questions, he couldn't get a single word out.

Upon seeing Su Wu, they were all beaming with joy, vying to speak eloquently...

What does it mean?
Why not treat the military supervisors of the Song Dynasty as officials?
Seeing the lively scene in the hall, with everyone talking, Su Wu spoke up again: "This great battle is about to begin, and there will be many opportunities to risk our lives. Brothers, there's no need to rush. Many things need to be discussed at length. First, settle your affairs at home and train hard. When the time comes to use the troops, we will be as swift as thunder!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded earnestly, indicating that they had listened carefully, understood, and obeyed!

Su Wu waved his hand again: "Alright, everyone disperse..."

Everyone got up and prepared to leave, but a well-meaning person suddenly came up and asked, "Sir, should we send fast horses to various places to recruit generals to pay their respects?"

Su Wu was taken aback upon hearing this, and subconsciously glanced at Li Yan. If Li Yan had just done this once, and he were to do it again, it would truly be treating him like a dog...

So Su Wu quickly waved his hand and said, "That's not necessary. Just send letters to the various prefectures and ask them to report the number of troops they have available. They can then prepare to mobilize and gather troops. Just wait for my military orders before going to the garrison. They can then gather at the designated location on schedule!"

“I’ll take care of this!” Liu Yanqing chimed in.

"Alright, let's disperse!" Su Wu waved his hand again, but saw that many soldiers and generals seemed to still be enjoying themselves. Although they were walking away, they kept turning back to look, as if they were reluctant to leave.

After everyone had left, Su Wu seemed to have forgotten something. He didn't let the military supervisor speak, and just kept talking happily until everyone dispersed.

The military supervisor was still sitting to the side, perhaps waiting to say a few words of encouragement. But now that Su Wu had truly dismissed him, his expression darkened considerably.

But Su Wu did not leave. Liu Yanqing and Liu Guangshi were also there. Su Wu had something to say: "Chief Steward Li, this is the time for you to make a name for yourself in battle. Just focus on winning merits on the battlefield. When you return to the capital, you will be just like the Grand Chancellor. The Emperor may even grant you the title of Prince!"

Just moments ago, Li Yan had a sullen face, but upon hearing this, a smile seemed to appear on his face. Perhaps he was genuinely thinking about it. Tong Guan had gained the title of Prince of Guangyang by conquering Yan and Yun. If he were to destroy the Dangxiang, wouldn't he also be a prince?
Of course, that was what he was thinking when he came. He was willing to come because the emperor had said some encouraging words. Why leave the good capital of Tokyo and come to this poor and desolate place? How could he come for nothing?

Li Yan replied, "Your Majesty's might extends throughout the land, and the Song army is unstoppable. This campaign against the Dangxiang will surely be a resounding success!"

This is probably because someone in Tokyo gave him a pep talk, and even the emperor gave him a pep talk.

That's how it should be thought. If it weren't for this understanding, would Li Yan have come so easily?

If one truly does not wish to come, there are plenty of ways. For instance, one might be eager to repay the Emperor's kindness but suddenly fall ill, or accidentally injure one's leg...

Su Wu had also heard this, and looked Li Yan up and down. Compared to Tong Guan, Li Yan was no match. Tong Guan was tall, strong, and had a beard...

Li Yan, standing before me, truly resembled a eunuch, with fair skin, a slender build, and a clean-cut appearance from a young age.

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Someone, bring Chief Steward Li a set of armor that fits him well. How majestic was the former Grand Chancellor when he rode into battle! I think Chief Steward Li is no less impressive than the former Grand Chancellor!"

Li Yan was taken aback by this, looked around, and asked, "Huh? What do I need armor for?"

Su Wu then replied: "The supervisor's duty is to oversee the various armies in battle. When they go into battle, they must monitor which unit is making poor decisions in its advance and retreat, which unit is not brave enough in its advance, and which unit is not fighting effectively. This is because there are stray arrows flying back and forth on the battlefield, and countless Dangxiang cavalrymen coming and going, often charging into the central army. Therefore, we must be prepared even if there is a chance of something going wrong. The commander-in-chief should be fully armored and absolutely cannot afford any such mishap. If something were to happen to the supervisor, wouldn't the morale of the army collapse?"

Li Yan was even more stunned upon hearing this. He looked around at everyone and saw that Prefect Gong Shen's expression was normal, and Liu Yanqing and Liu Guangshi also looked serious. He knew that Su Wu's words were not false.

Tong Guan's role as military supervisor in the Northwest wasn't a long time ago. Six or seven years ago, Tong Guan still held supreme command of the army in the Northwest. When Tong Guan was supervising the army, things were naturally like this; he was truly on the front lines...

Even when Tong Guan was the first to supervise the troops, he was so afraid that his legs trembled, but he never actually went!

But then Li Yan asked, "Did Prime Minister Tong, who used to supervise the army here, also go into battle?"

After asking his question, Li Yan looked at the crowd instead of Su Wu. The crowd nodded in agreement, and Su Wu said, "That's how a military supervisor is: to oversee, supervise, and discipline the soldiers so that they can advance bravely and not slacken or retreat!"

Li Yan sighed and looked around again: "Then let's get a set of iron armor..."

"Yes, it has to fit perfectly!" Su Wu nodded seriously.

Liu Guangshi hurriedly went out the door and returned a moment later, carrying a set of iron armor in his arms, which was quite heavy.

Su Wu didn't care about that. He stood up and waved his hand, "Come, help Steward Li put on the armor. Try it on, and make sure it fits well."

Li Yan really stood up too. After looking around, how could Liu Guangshi not serve him?
Wear it...

Liu Guangshi was actually suppressing a laugh. He didn't understand before, but how could he not understand now? His own brother was standing up for him!
That's a brilliant tactic!
She thought that only her own brother could come up with such a brilliant idea.

Just look at this eunuch's small frame and that suit of armor, hehe...

Put it on, put it on properly, put it on tight, and tighten it a bit more, while saying: "General, please forgive me, but this armor must be worn tightly, and the joints must fit together perfectly, so that there are no gaps and no stray arrows can penetrate it!"

"Hmm..." Li Yan nodded, but his body was being "pulled" by Liu Guangshi, causing him to sway left and right.

After dressing him, Liu Guangshi sighed, "He's too big!"

Su Wu waved his hand dismissively: "No problem, have the craftsmen come and fix it!"

"I'll go right away!" How could Liu Guangshi not serve him well? He quickly removed his armor again.

Li Yan was manipulated for a while, but it wasn't too bad. He felt the weight of the situation, but it wasn't unbearable.

But then Su Wu came and asked, "Is Steward Li skilled in horsemanship?"

Li Yan replied, "I have been doing that all the way here." "Excellent! The Emperor has a discerning eye. Tomorrow, I intend to patrol the border of Yanzhou to check for any oversights in their defenses. This is the duty of a military supervisor, and since it is Chief Steward Li's first time supervising a military operation, I will show him around to familiarize himself with the situation!"

Su Wu's words were clearly intended to make Li Yan suffer.

The deeper meaning was to make Li Yan realize the difficulty and back down, to understand that fighting is an extremely arduous task, and that he should just stay in the city from now on, and not treat the generals like dogs, let alone interfere with their work...

This is probably a strategy of first offering politeness and then resorting to force; it all depends on whether Li Yan is perceptive enough...

If Li Yan were unaware of the situation, there were certain things Su Wu wouldn't have wanted to do. After all, such actions were always risky and troublesome. To ensure Li Yan's death was entirely justified, it would inevitably require using the Tanguts, and perhaps even doing it on the battlefield. It was a difficult situation...

If there's a better way to handle this, there's no need to create unnecessary complications...

But when forced to do something, Su Wu was not one to hesitate or be soft-hearted...

Let's see what Li Yan chooses.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Very well, we've been here for many days, but we haven't really gone to see the border fortress yet!"

"Then Steward Li should get up very early tomorrow, and the armor should be altered to fit tonight!" Su Wu was truly concerned.

"Yes!" Liu Guangshi replied in agreement.

So, if they disperse again, and Su Wu has business outside the city, and the army is coming from behind, they should find a place to encamp. The land should be large enough to easily graze the horses, and preferably along a river for easy access to water.

Liu Yanqing personally accompanied Su Wu on the search, acting as his guide. Several alternative locations were also provided for Su Wu to visit.

The supervising officer had nothing to do. He had been there for many days, and apart from exercising his power and tormenting the generals, he really had nothing to do and didn't know what to do. But he knew that the 300,000-strong army that had come to attack the Dangxiang had returned victorious, and the merit of that achievement was unimaginable.

They also knew that the entire Tangut nation couldn't muster 100,000 soldiers. With 300,000 against 100,000, the might of the Song Dynasty meant they could win however they pleased!
Everyone in the capital city of Tokyo said so, even the emperor said so.

The next day, very early in the morning, they rose with six or seven hundred cavalry, led by General Liu Guangshi.

Heading north, the armor had been modified, but instead of wearing it, it was tied to the horse's back, and they continued north.

Su Wu was really going to patrol the border. He wasn't joking; he clearly had never seen the Loess Plateau before and needed to see for himself what kind of place it was.

River valleys and ravines, mountains and hills, one after another bare mounds of earth...

If an army of 300,000 were to arrive, Su Wu wouldn't know how to deploy them. Even if it were only 50,000, the valley would probably be overflowing with people...

Fighting in this place requires a completely different approach. How can you win if you don't actually travel around and only look at maps?
Along the way, one fortress after another appeared: Jinming Village, Long'an Village, Anse Fortress...

The supervising officer, Li Yan, who had frowned and complained countless times, spoke again: "This place is nothing compared to Tokyo, sigh... it's really awful..."

Su Wu also said, "This battle will probably be difficult..."

“In such a godforsaken place, the Tanguts have been attacking it year after year…” Li Yan didn’t finish his sentence, but what he meant was, why would the Tanguts come to attack such a godforsaken place?
How much grain can be produced? What kind of oil can be extracted from it?

Having only seen the vast plains of the Central Plains, this place truly seems like a "ghost town" in comparison.

Su Wu feigned an explanation: "The general also comes from Guanzhong. Guanzhong, like the Central Plains, is a land of fertile plains. This place is the shield of Guanzhong. What the Dangxiang people want is to cross this place and take the land of Jingzhao Prefecture in Guanzhong!"

Li Yan suddenly realized and nodded: "The Tanguts are truly treacherous and ambitious."

Even Li Yan, serving alongside an emperor like Zhao Ji, could hardly know much about the affairs of the realm. Moreover, those around him were inevitably eunuchs, and the officials he dealt with were mostly sycophants...

The Song Dynasty was too divided, with the prosperity and wealth of Bianjing (Kaifeng) on ​​one side and the poverty and bloodshed of the Loess Plateau on the other...

The people of Tokyo have no idea of ​​the hardships in the Northwest. And the bumpkins of the Northwest have no idea just how decadent and extravagant Tokyo truly is…

This is also a dividing line in Chinese history. Before the Song Dynasty, the center of China was always in the west, or more precisely, in the Guanzhong Plain south of the Loess Plateau, which was Chang'an.

After the Song Dynasty, the center of China was no longer in the west.

It is also said that the environmental damage in Chang'an, the capital of Jingzhao Prefecture, from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty was unimaginable. Historical records show that in the later Tang Dynasty, it was impossible to find a single well with sweet water; the groundwater was all salty and smelly...

The area around Guanzhong was so barren that even logging was impossible, let alone building timber; even firewood was scarce.

Why? The price of being a center for millennia: with a large population, continuous land reclamation and deforestation, and with hundreds of thousands of people living in Chang'an, garbage and sewage accumulated over thousands of years...

It is even said that the Yellow River used to be a clear river, but due to climate change and agricultural reclamation and deforestation...

The decline of the Northwest and the decline of Chang'an today have many reasons, but one more must be added: the Silk Road is no longer open.

The Tanguts had to do it no matter what; if they did, the Silk Road would be reopened.

If Su Wu continued north, he would reach Pingrong Village, and in front of it would be Baiyu Mountain, also known as Hengshan or Baiyu Mountain.

Pingrong Village guards this mountain pass. Going north, past the mountain, lies Hongzhou of the Dangxiang people. Hongzhou City also guards this mountain pass.

Thus, the two armies faced off, and this was also the place where Cai You lost his life.

After surveying Pingrong Village and spending the night there, Su Wu rode his horse north again the next day.

Li Yan followed along, but as they walked, he realized something was wrong. Why were they still heading north?

Li Yan immediately asked, "Scholar Su, why are we still heading north? If we go any further north, we'll be facing the Tanguts!"

Su Wu simply replied, "Of course we still need to go north. As for patrolling the border, we should go and see the frontier!"

Li Yan was taken aback again upon hearing this: "What if we encounter the Tanguts? We only brought six or seven hundred men, but we've heard that the Tanguts often come and go with thousands of cavalry!"

This is fear...

Su Wu said, "Don't worry, General. We've brought plenty of horses. If we see several thousand Tangut cavalry in the distance, we'll simply turn back..."

Now that we're here, we should give Li Yan a good scare. Otherwise, this trip would have been a waste.

Su Wu knew perfectly well that the Tanguts had no idea how they could count money on horseback.

Of course, Su Wu also knew that the Tangut cavalry had increased significantly recently, and with Cai You's boastful display, how could the Tanguts not be on guard?

The more scouts there are, the better. This trip is to encounter the scouts, and we should also go down to Hongzhou City to take a look.

Damn it, Su Wu's military orders came a long time ago, to start the harassment, and even to find an opportunity to attack the city first.

Li Yan actually gave an order forbidding any rash actions.

Very well, isn't that why Su Wu brought Li Yan here in person? He's come personally to cause trouble and to make a rash move.

Li Yan looked at Su Wu, then at the people around him. Seeing that Su Wu was serious and that no one was objecting, he went to Liu Guangshi and said, "General Liu, isn't this risky? Our army hasn't even assembled yet. How can the two commanders stand under a dangerous wall like this?"

They certainly know how to say nice things.

But now that they were here, Liu Guangshi looked at Su Wu and said, "This humble general will obey the orders of the two commanders!"

Li Yan quickly looked at Su Wu again: "Scholar Su, we mustn't take the risk!"

Su Wu said, "This is not about taking risks, but as the commander-in-chief, I should personally inspect the terrain so that I will have a clear understanding of it when we go out to fight in the future!"

"Hey, Scholar Su, if we go any further, we'll really run into the Tanguts!" Li Yan panicked.

Su Wu was no joke. Was being a military supervisor so easy? He replied, "The Emperor's grace is something I could never repay even with my life. Inspecting the terrain is merely the duty of a general."

With that, Su Wu spurred his horse forward, deliberately increasing its speed, and said, "If Chief Steward Li is unwilling to go, he may return first! This battle is of great importance, and we dare not slacken in the slightest. I must go forward and take another look before I can feel at ease!"

All the riders followed Su Wu forward, leaving Li Yan in a dilemma.

He understood. He wasn't stupid; he realized that Su Wu was deliberately trying to embarrass him. This trip might not be about border patrol; he was just waiting for Li Yan here...

Li Yan was a shrewd person, the kind of person who was good at fighting with others. He came from the palace, so how could he not have become one through fighting this and that?
Just like a power struggle within the palace, wasn't Su Wu just waiting for Li Yan to make a fool of himself so he could quickly report it to the emperor in Tokyo?

It's undeniable that Li Yan was cowardly, afraid of death, and afraid of the Tanguts. He even failed to personally survey the terrain, which was a dereliction of duty...

All kinds of things...

Isn't this the method of fighting against people?

This time it seems they really messed up; they truly didn't understand military affairs and genuinely thought they were there to inspect and supervise the border...

No problem, aren't we heading north? Then let's go.

I don't believe it. Does Su Wu really dare to lead five or six hundred cavalry to watch the thousands of Tangut cavalry come and go? Isn't he afraid?
It was just a way of intimidating him, Li Yan, for not understanding military affairs...

go with!
This is just one incident; let's see what other tricks Su Wu has up his sleeve in the future!
Once this is over, we'll teach Su Wu a lesson!
He saw Li Yan following behind him, but Su Wu didn't look at him much. He just headed north with a slight smile on his face.

Li Yan paused for a moment to think. At this time, they were still behind. Liu Guangshi, who was next to him, smiled and whispered to Su Wu, "That fellow really came along!"

"That's exactly what we need to do on our way to Hongzhou!" Su Wu nodded and said.

"Excellent, excellent, hehe... Brother is truly resourceful!" Liu Guangshi laughed happily, but without a sound, and continued, "Brother, head east after entering the mountain pass. Last night, the scouts from Pingrong Village reported that there are more groups to the east..."

"Hmm, very good!" Su Wu nodded. If there's any trouble to be had, then we need to find someone to cause trouble.

Su Wu had never fought the Tanguts before, so he decided to test the waters first. He would kill a few and see if he could kill them with a single spear thrust, since he had never seen anything like it before...

As Li Yan approached, Su Wu turned and remarked, "The General Manager truly has the air of a former prime minister!"

Li Yan looked unwell and said only, "How could I dare to fail the Emperor's grace!"

How could he be intimidated by a mere twenty-something? When Li Yan was fighting, Su Wu wasn't even wearing open-crotch pants yet...

He was almost intimidated, but fortunately, Li Yan was experienced in combat.

Let's go then, continue north. This Baiyu Mountain is actually extremely rich in coal resources, and it will inevitably be mined here in the future. Of course, that's a long time from now.

As they continued forward, it took a whole day to walk. Li Yan became increasingly alarmed as he went, but he kept reassuring himself that it was just a bluff. He wondered how long Su Wu could keep up the bluff. He really didn't believe that Su Wu would dare to confront the thousands of Tangut cavalrymen once they left the mountain pass.

Li Yan was certain that Su Wu would be riding back early the next morning.

But I dared not sleep soundly at night. Although I had never led troops into battle, I had seen plays and heard stories about enemies raiding camps at night...

At this moment, the Tanguts were already within arm's reach, and I dared not sleep any longer. If it were a night attack by the enemy, I would have to get up and ride away immediately.

Seeing that Su Wu was arranging overnight sentries and that many scouts had been dispatched, I felt a little more at ease.

But he didn’t dare to actually sleep. He was getting uncomfortable as he stayed up. He couldn’t help but think that Su Wu was probably also staying up. He had brought six or seven hundred cavalrymen here. How could he possibly sleep soundly?
They waited until dawn, ate something, and saw everyone saddled their horses, preparing to set off again. Finally, the ordeal was over, and it was time to turn back. Once back, they could also find a way to teach Su Wu a lesson...

The group mounted their horses and formed a line. No one spoke. Su Wu led the way, and Li Yan also rode his horse to the front.

Set off……

out……

Why are we heading north?

Li Yan glanced at Su Wu, who, on horseback, shook his head and headed north!
Still trying to bluff me? Do you want me to utter those words of turning back? So you can tell the Emperor that I, Li Yan, am a coward?
Then let's keep going. How much longer can we go?

Then look at Su Wu. Su Wu was walking, and as he walked, he suddenly stopped his horse.

Li Yan chuckled inwardly. Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore? Was he about to turn around?

But then Su Wu said, "Dismount, put on your armor, and prepare for battle!"

All the soldiers dismounted and went to another horse to take off their armor and put it on.

Li Yan was taken aback for a moment, then thought to himself that he had exhausted all his tricks and this was his last resort. He figured that if this trick couldn't fool anyone, then he would turn back. Once he got out of the mountain pass, he would surely face the thousands of Tangut cavalry coming and going, and he would die without a burial place!
Preparing for war? What kind of war are we preparing for?

It's laughable. No matter how many tricks you, Su Wu, have used, what can you do now?

Li Yan, unperturbed, dismounted as well. He also had armor, so he went to get it himself, with soldiers serving him on either side to help him.

The group donned their armor and mounted their horses.

Heading north again...

Li Yan also looked at the crowd, and these soldiers did not seem to be flustered at all!
How can they go to their deaths without panicking? Are these soldiers really that stupid? Six or seven hundred men, do they really dare to go to Tangut territory?
Something seems off...

Just look up and you'll see the mountains on both sides slowly widening out to the left and right, as if you're really about to emerge from the mountain pass!
Li Yan asked instinctively, "Where is Scholar Su heading?"

Su Wu laughed and said, "Let's go see the Tanguts. I've never seen what the Tanguts look like in my life, and I imagine Chief Steward Li hasn't either. How can we not see them?"

Upon hearing Su Wu's words, Li Yan felt inexplicably relieved. Who was he trying to fool? A battle fought by an army of 300,000, with only 600 or 700 men? The ferocity of the Tanguts had been known to all for the past eighty years. Not long ago, the veteran general Liu Fa had his head cut off by the Tanguts, and when the news reached Dongjing (Kaifeng), even the emperor was shocked…

Let's go... and see what kind of person you, Su Wu, will become if you don't have a moment's rest!
Before long, six or seven riders came galloping from afar at great speed. Li Yan's heart tightened. Could it be that they had really run into the Dangxiang?

Sure enough, when the scout returned, he immediately reported: "Sir, about six or seven li to the east, the Dangxiang scouts are resting and watering their horses at the ditch!"

Li Yan felt a jolt run through his body instantly.

But then Su Wu came and asked, "How many people?"

"About a hundred men!" the scouts replied.

"Go!" Su Wu waved his hand, spurred his horse on, and rode off.

Without even thinking, Li Yan blurted out, "Scholar Su, what are you doing here?"

Su Wu turned back and replied, "A hundred or so riders, we'll go and kill them all!"

Li Yan immediately exclaimed, "Those are just scouts! There must be a large Tangut army nearby. We must not take the risk!"

"Chief Steward Li, don't be afraid, let's kill a bunch of them first!" Su Wu's horse had already gone far away.

Numerous cavalrymen galloped after him, but Li Yan remained motionless. Suddenly realizing that these men had truly gone mad, he hurriedly shouted to those around him, "Don't run! Protect me! Protect me!"

No one paid any attention to the riders on the left and right. Lord Su had given the order to kill the enemy. They just kept their horses galloping at full speed, roaring incessantly, afraid that if they were too slow, the Dangxiang people would realize what was happening and run away!
"This is reckless! This is reckless!" Li Yan was extremely anxious. He shouted again to his men, "Listen to my orders! Protect me, the supervising officer!"

In an instant, all that remained was dust and the faint outline of horse hindquarters!

"This...this..." Li Yan was looking both ways, but he couldn't go forward. Going back, alone on horseback, meant facing a long and winding mountain path. If he bumped into a Tangut, he would be dead...

This is how to do?
So Su Wu... was Su Wu just bluffing? Was this his last resort after running out of tricks?
(Brothers, I was too exhausted to write last night, so I finished it early this morning! It's still 10,000 words!)

(End of this chapter)