Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 284 Commander Su, I know I was wrong!

Zhong Shizhong looked around at the crowd and asked, "Have you not heard of what Commander Di did in the past?"

Apart from Zhong Shizhong, most of the people present were from the middle and younger generations. They had heard some things about Commander Di over the past few decades, but they did not know the details. Now that Zhong Shizhong had spoken, they could not help but think about it.

The logic is simple: if someone truly commands such widespread support in the military, then that person... needs no further explanation...

Just now everyone was only in a hurry. After being reminded, when they looked back, how could they not understand the reason?
Su Wu gave a wry smile and waved his hand, saying, "Gentlemen, there's no need for you to read further or submit any petitions. I will handle everything. Even if we need to change commanders in the future, it will simply be Lord Zhong and Chief Steward Liu of Fuyan Road... I will do it this way first, and then the person who succeeds me can continue. As long as this matter succeeds, my personal career and fame are nothing. This is of paramount importance to the nation and to future generations..."

Ugh……

A collective sigh filled the room; it was Su Wu's words that made everyone truly believe something was about to happen...

But the look in her eyes as she gazed at Su Wu held a deeper, more intense sorrow…

Su Wu laughed again: "Perhaps there will really be a change of commander. Besides... as you all know, I am still young and have a long life ahead of me. Once this is settled, who can say what will happen in the future? Ups and downs are the norm in officialdom, aren't they?"

The crowd remained silent; some nodded, others lowered their heads...

Su Wu continued, "Let's get down to business. We'll discuss the capture of Hexi. This time, we'll again use cavalry for a surprise attack, but the infantry must also cooperate. I'm going to see Old Master Zhong. You all still have much to do here. Since we're not going to Xingqing Prefecture, we must take down the cities surrounding the Western Xia border one by one. This is a steady and methodical approach. In the past, border cities were often breached, but after each defeat, they couldn't be held. Why? Because the advance and retreat were both swift. This time is different; we can take our time. Therefore, we must take down all the surrounding border cities. This way, even if we suffer a defeat later, we can secure our current gains..."

If Su Wu wanted to conquer Hexi, he would have to leave this place and head west, to the side of Old Master Zhong, and even further west, going north from Huangzhou.

Zhong Shizhong said, "Commander Su's steady and methodical approach is a departure from the previous strategy of rapid advance. We should give our lives. To the west, we will attack Yanzhou. To the east, Xiazhou is already in our hands, and we are just waiting to take over its defense. We will also attack Shizhou. In this way, the border areas will be connected. Once Commander Su takes Hexi, the Dangxiang will be completely trapped in the Xingqing Prefecture area. Just as Commander Su said, even if the attack on Xingqing Prefecture is not successful in the future, we will still be in a siege and can take it again."

Su Wu's strategy also had a sense of encircling the city from the countryside, and it also conveyed the idea that a skilled strategist achieves victory without making a great show of it.

Just like another strategy, a large army would launch a surprise attack, rushing forward to Xingqing Prefecture, and after a decisive battle, Xingqing Prefecture would be captured, and the Dangxiang would perish. Such a process and story would naturally make people's blood boil.

Compared to Su Wu's approach, that's far too unexciting; even if you were to retell the story, it wouldn't be thrilling.

Yao Pingzhong nodded in agreement: "We must proceed steadily and cautiously, gradually chipping away at our gains. You all must give your all. This time, we will divide our forces into two smaller groups. If we don't go north, we will fight from the east or west. Young Master Zhong and I will each lead one group. Let's see which way Young Master Zhong goes..."

Zhong Shizhong laughed and said, "I will head west myself. That place is closer to Huanqing. Perhaps we can get the Huanqing garrison to launch an attack and coordinate with us. What do you think?"

Yao Pingzhong nodded: "Then I will take over Xia Prefecture and go straight to Shi Prefecture!"

After discussing their plans, the two also came to see Su Wu, who naturally smiled and nodded, "Very good!"

Although Su Wu's strategy was cumbersome and time-consuming, the Song Dynasty had never fielded an army of this scale since Emperor Shenzong's five-pronged attack on the Xia Dynasty. They were determined to seize the opportunity and completely take over these strongholds on the northern edge of the Loess Plateau.

As I just said, even if we don't achieve complete success this time, as long as we take down these strongholds blocking the road, the Tanguts will be completely passive in terms of grand strategy. The Song army can then attack whenever it wants, and can go to the southern grasslands whenever it wants...

This completely shattered the Tangut's defense system against the Song Dynasty.

This strategy, still conservative, differs from the previous approach of rushing forward once the road was cleared, which aimed to quickly enter Xingqing Prefecture and solve the problem immediately.

To put it bluntly, changes in grand strategy ultimately boil down to changes in funding, supplies, and logistics.

Su Wu held the front, allowing the generals to proceed slowly.

Su Wu nodded: "In that case, there's nothing else to discuss. Let the soldiers rest a bit, eat and drink well. In two or three days, I will head west to meet with Old Master Zhong first, and then head to Huangzhou to take Hexi. There's one more thing to remind you: if the Dangxiang reinforcements arrive, not just a small force, but if they number in the tens of thousands and bring a large number of cavalry, you must immediately retreat and defend the cities and camps. Under no circumstances should you act rashly!"

Zhong Shizhong and Yao Pingzhong exchanged a glance, then bowed and said, "Yes, sir!"

"Go about your own business..." Su Wu waved his hand.

Everyone rose, bowed, and slowly left the camp to attend to their tasks.

For a fleeting moment, right at this very moment, Su Wu suddenly felt utterly exhausted. Going west again to reclaim Hexi would mean more hardship and torment...

In truth, who likes hardship? Who isn't afraid of difficulties? Who could like a life where you can't eat or sleep well, and you have to keep running and fighting with others?

Even just thinking about it evokes a feeling of unwillingness and reluctance.

But there's no other good way to do it.

It was also a psychological tactic. Every day, bad news was being sent out of Xingqing Prefecture. Today this place was lost, tomorrow that place was lost. How could people in Xingqing Prefecture not be filled with panic?

Furthermore, it is said that first clipping the wings is the best choice when facing a great enemy. When the army arrives at the city of Lingzhou and the decisive moment arrives, the Dangxiang people always have an all-in strategy. How can the troops from all over not come to their aid from all directions?

Let's take out all these reinforcements first, even if it's only three or five hundred, or a thousand or two thousand.

It's like a hand gripping your neck, the tighter it grips, the more it gets.

The problem is that there are too few cavalry. Otherwise, we would have to go to Henan and the area under the Yin Mountains. Because there are too few cavalry, we don't dare to take real risks. If we had a real 30,000 cavalry, what would this small Dangxiang be?
Su Wu stood up, just as Yao Pingzhong entered. Yao Pingzhong looked around and stepped forward, saying, "Commander Su, um... the military supervisor says he wants to see you..."

"He wants to see me?" Su Wu was taken aback.

“He said there was something important, so I came to inquire…” Yao Pingzhong said again.

"What big deal could he possibly have..." Su Wu thought for a while. What big deal could Li Yan possibly have? But he still said, "Then let's go take a look... Lead the way..."

Yao Pingzhong led the way to his Guanzhong army's encampment, a rather large camp that stretched out in a winding path.

Inside, there were many simple beds, with a small earthen mound in the middle of each bed. The mound served as the roof of the dugout, and there was a small opening on one side of the mound, through which Li Yan was imprisoned.

Yao Pingzhong first dismissed the trusted guards who were staying in the military tent, and then walked to the small opening. A foul smell inevitably came from there. Of course, there was a chamber pot inside, which was often taken out and emptied, but no matter how many chamber pots there were, the stench was still overwhelming.

"Commander Su has arrived!" Yao Pingzhong said to the small entrance of the dugout.

A sallow-faced man approached the entrance, his face filled with terror, and cried out, "Commander Su, Commander Su, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!"

Yao Pingzhong turned around and took a small stool, placing it in front of Xiaokou. Su Wu sat down on the stool, looked down at Li Yan, and asked, "What urgent matter do you have?"

"I know that Commander Su has won a great victory. I congratulate Commander Su on his great victory. I know that I was ignorant and naive before, but now I know everything and understand perfectly. From now on, I will definitely follow Commander Su's lead and dare not say another word. Please release me, Commander Su..."

Having held a high position for many years, Li Yan might now be recalling his early days serving others in the palace, and how to ingratiate himself with someone...

"Is that all?" Su Wu frowned. He knew this guy couldn't possibly have anything important to say... Turns out, damn it, there really wasn't anything important.

As for releasing this guy, things have already come to this point, so we absolutely cannot let him out.

There's a saying that goes something like this: He didn't know he was wrong; he knew he was going to die.

As Su Wu spoke, he also stood up, preparing to leave...

"Commander Su, something terrible has happened!" came an urgent shout from inside the dugout.

"Then you tell me..." Su Wu's buttocks were about to leave the stool, but he had to sit down again.

"It was the Grand Tutor, it was Grand Tutor Cai. He summoned me that day and told me to keep in touch with him frequently after I arrived at the army. He was the one who asked me to keep an eye on you. He was the one who said that Commander Su might have some problems... It was him, it was all him... He was also the one who said that if I did well, I would surely be appointed to the Privy Council in the future, and matters of dukedom and even princeship would be a piece of cake..."

Li Yan was in a hurry, and although his words were somewhat incoherent, he did make the matter clear.

This also inevitably conveyed another message: that Li Yan had not corresponded with the Grand Tutor for a long time, and this matter could not be kept secret for long...

He still wanted to save his life, and Li Yan wasn't stupid; in this situation, his life hung by a thread.

Su Wu understood everything, but he still wondered why all these eunuchs were thinking about becoming dukes, marquises, and princes.
Su Wu then said, "Is there anything else important? Tell me something I don't know..."

Su Wu said this intentionally, but how could he really know everything? Li Yan's words just now included things Su Wu didn't know, such as Li Yan's agreement with Cai Jing to communicate frequently…

As for who Li Yan was helping Cai Jing keep an eye on, that's no real secret, and it's not important.

Of course, now that Su Wu knows that Li Yan is going to correspond with Cai Jing, that's fine too; it's just a matter of writing one more letter...

As for handwriting and such, that's a minor matter.

Seeing that Su Wu outside remained unmoved, as if he truly knew all this beforehand, Li Yan became anxious again: "There's more...there's more..."

"Then say it!" Yao Pingzhong, who was standing to the side, suddenly squatted down and shouted at them.

"Yes! His Majesty also gave instructions..." came the urgent voice from the dugout.

Upon hearing this, Su Wu straightened up. Could it be that the emperor also harbored suspicions about him? Su Wu then asked, "What did the emperor instruct me to do?"

"The Emperor instructed that if we enter Xingqing Prefecture, we must treat the Western Xia royal family with courtesy and bring the Western Xia ruler to Tokyo to receive his title..." Li Yan said.

This... is in line with Zhao Ji's character. Doing so is actually the right thing to do, since the Tangut population is actually quite large, and it's impossible to kill them all.

Leaving an emperor in Tokyo can indeed prevent many things from happening in the grand scheme of things, such as someone else using his position as a figurehead to ascend the throne and then rebel.

If we simply re-appoint Li Qianshun as the King of Xia and have him reside in Tokyo, and then select some hostages from the homes of the leaders of various tribes to study in Tokyo, then ruling will be much easier.

Su Wu asked, "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

In fact, Su Wu knew that this fellow was deliberately keeping quiet, waiting for the army to enter Xingqing Prefecture. Su Wu killed some members of the Dangxiang royal family, and preferably even the Dangxiang king. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, he would be in deep trouble after returning to the capital.

Why bother saying anything? It would be better to teach Su Wu a lesson. Su Wu relies on the emperor's favor, so the emperor should be made to have a problem with him...

Why say it now?
There's really nothing important to say here; Li Yan is just looking for a way to survive.

When Li Yan was first imprisoned, he still cursed loudly and even acted arrogantly, threatening this person and intimidating that person...

After living here for so long, all my health problems have finally been cured. I'm scared now...

"Commander Su, my lord Su, I know I was wrong. As long as you release me, whether I am in the army or in the capital, I will follow your lead and listen to your every word..." Li Yan cried.

Su Wu, however, had a sudden inspiration: "You should reflect on your actions here. I have to go on a campaign now. I'll come back to see you after I leave. If you've reflected well, I'll release you..."

Was Su Wu lying?
No, not really... The person still needs to be released, and it has to be in the most lively and grand occasion, in front of many witnesses, so that everyone can see him...

"Alright, alright, my husband, don't worry. I'll stay here properly. I'll stay here while you're away on campaign, and I'll only come out when you return and are at ease..."

Li Yan nodded repeatedly, thinking that Su Wu was worried and would only let him out when he was personally present. That was fine too, as long as he didn't die and could return to the capital, anything was fine!
"Okay, that's settled..." Su Wu got up, turned around, and went out the door.

There were shouts from behind: "My lord, I will definitely wait for you to return..."

Su Wu went out, shaking his head. Yao Pingzhong followed behind, and after walking a little further away, he said, "This fellow really has no backbone. We haven't even beaten him, we haven't let him go hungry, we've fed and drunk him well, and we've never put him in any torture devices..."

"In this world, where are there so many fearless people?" Su Wu said.

Yao Pingzhong then remarked, "The people I've encountered are all fearless and undaunted!"

Su Wu smiled and first went to the main tent to instruct Wu Yong on some matters, namely, to reply to Cai Jing in the tone of the military supervisor Li Yan. He was confident that Wu Yong could handle this matter properly, as he had the manpower and could also imitate the letters and official documents found from Li Yan, including the handwriting, tone, and word choice...

There were also reports of victory to be written; once a battle was won, it was time to report the victory.

Su Wu then returned to his tent to rest. He really needed to rest, to sleep well, and to catch up on his sleep. He would lie down whenever possible rather than stand.

In the past, when people said that certain things would deplete one's vital energy, Su Wu was puzzled, did not understand, and did not believe such words.

Only now did Su Wu realize that this trip had truly depleted his vital energy, and he needed to recover.

The soldiers who went with them were the same; some ate and drank, and afterwards they inevitably lay down and fell fast asleep, wanting to sleep more and more as they slept.

Set off……

They marched towards Weizhou City, the Jingse Military Command of Western Xia, with 15,000 cavalry, 10,000 of whom were genuine cavalry, and left 3,000 to 4,000 cavalry for Zhong Yao and his companion.

There were also 5,000 cavalrymen, who were temporarily recruited from various tribes. They were people who could ride horses, regardless of their skill in mounted combat. Riding horses meant mobility. The destination was the four prefectures of Hexi, the Tangut land farthest from the Song Dynasty, and also the weakest point in the defense of Western Xia at that time.

As long as they can keep up with the locals, even if they dismount and form ranks for foot combat, it will be a great help.

Jingdong, Dongping Prefecture.

There was a grand event, and Yi'an Jushi had been temporarily residing in Dongping Prefecture for some time now. How could the literary scholars of Dongping Prefecture, and even those of the surrounding prefectures, not express their gratitude?
It's not necessarily all because of Li Qingzhao's talent and fame. While her widespread renown is one factor and a contributing factor, the most important reason is that the Li family's political power is likely to rise again...

The same applies to the circle of intellectuals; if you don't curry favor with them, you'll fall behind.

Sure enough, Madam Su was also present, which speaks volumes. Today's gathering was unprecedented, and Meng Niang's shop, both inside and out, as well as the newly renovated inner courtyard, were packed with people.

Madam Meng's business is now thriving. Why is that? Not only has she specially renovated the elegant garden, but I also heard that she hired a music troupe from Hangzhou. The female singers were bought from Daming Prefecture and Tokyo, which cost a lot of money.

When the stall was set up, even the Pacification Commissioner Cheng came to sit down and praised it, saying that in the past, the sounds in Dongping Prefecture were harsh and unpleasant to listen to, but now it was different, and finally there were a few beautiful sounds.

It is said that Dongping Prefecture has been getting more and more lively lately. Old houses are being demolished and new houses are being built everywhere in the city, and even houses are being built outside the city. There is really not enough land in the city.

Firstly, the people in Dongping Prefecture have become increasingly wealthy recently. With wealth comes the desire to spend it, which in turn leads to more people earning money, thus making economic activity more active and increasing the demand for goods and industries.

That would attract more merchants to do business here.

Secondly, Dongping Prefecture has become the center of the two routes of Jingdong. Officials and yamen affairs from all over the two prefectures of Jingdong are concentrated here. There are countless officials and prominent figures coming and going, which requires various expenses, social interactions, and networking.

Thirdly, there's that fund, which most people don't understand, but they do know that all the wealthy and powerful families in the two routes of Jingdong are vying to come to Dongping Prefecture. They send many people to do errands, and many even buy property in Dongping Prefecture for convenience.

Recently, I heard that the Pacification Commissioner is planning to expand the city, but I don't know if it's true or not.

But some clever people know that it might be true, because that fund seems to be spending money to buy land, land outside the city, and the price of land outside the city is also starting to rise.

That might really be a plan to expand the city. In fact... nothing new has happened in a thousand years. It's all about real estate. How can it not make money?
This city isn't making money, so why are we spending money to expand it?
Could Master Cheng be the kind of person who does business at a loss? If Master Cheng is now the kind of person who has to stretch every penny in half to spend, how could he possibly do charity?

That's a misjudgment of Master Cheng; wasn't it Master Su's idea?
The Xuanfu Shi Si Yamen (military commissioner's office) did not move out; it operated in Dongping Prefecture, and its funds were also placed in Dongping Prefecture. Su Wu's Jingdong Lianglu Bingma Yamen (military offices of the two routes in Jingdong) was also in Dongping Prefecture. All of this seemed to be the will of that Minister Su.

Suddenly, Dongping Prefecture is to be transformed into the new center of Jingdong!
They make their money from this land!
This kept Master Cheng so busy that he wandered around outside the city every day...

Madam Cheng was originally unwilling to attend today's grand gathering, but it was Yi'an Jushi who came and said that you should show some face.

Only then did Madam Cheng realize that she had to show her face in public. Since she had married this man, this was her job, and only in this way could the family business prosper.

When Master Su was at home, there was nothing wrong, but when he wasn't home, Madam Cheng represented him.

Only when you meet the person in question can they feel at ease, realize that they have truly latched onto a powerful figure, and become more willing to serve them wholeheartedly.

If you don't meet someone, they'll think they haven't found their way yet. Impatience is one thing, but unsettled hearts are another. What's more, some people might feel envy, jealousy, and even hatred, which is a manifestation of unsettled hearts.

If you want someone to go out and say that they are treated with great courtesy by the mistress, and even deeply loved by her, which mistress could it be?
Madam Cheng of the Su family! The beloved daughter of Cheng, the Pacification Commissioner of the Two Routes of Jingdong, and the wife of Su, the Academician of the Privy Council.

This is their face, and it's also the motivation for them to serve others wholeheartedly, even to the point of being willing to contribute more money and effort, and to feel honored to do so.

Inside Meng Niang's shop, she was extremely busy.

Li Qingzhao and his wife sat in a private room in the elegant garden. People came to pay their respects from time to time, some with poems, others with essays.

On one hand, she gained fame for her talent by receiving praise from Li Qingzhao, and on the other hand, she became acquainted with Madam Cheng of the Su family. It was truly a match made in heaven.

Some people even brought their families, introducing their wives to the two of them and mentioning that the Yang family's cloth shop had recently received a batch of fine brocade from Jiangnan, which was excellent. They suggested that they arrange a time to go and take a look together...

And speaking of which, a few more merchants from Yan and Yun have arrived. These days, more and more merchants from Yan and Yun are coming, and the pearls they bring are truly excellent! We should buy more…

Madam Cheng also thought, if others might not know, wouldn't she know?

Those pearls, produced in the land beyond the Great Wall, were a gift from the Jurchens to her husband, Su Lang. There were quite a few of them. Su Lang gave them to Li Hang, who, in order to make more money, arranged for people from Yan and Yun to sell them...

And who else could it be but the Yang family cloth shop? It's a family business run by young Yang Zongtie, and now it's also invested in a fund. The goods are sourced from ships shipped from Hangzhou by Du Xing.

Yi'an Jushi and Madam Cheng exchanged a smile and laughed. "Come on, let's buy! Let's go buy some more!"

Not buying this isn't the mark of a JD.com customer!
It is said that Yang Zongtie was no longer a child; he was twelve or thirteen years old, a time when he was growing rapidly. He was reading books and practicing martial arts.

He was also wandering around the elegant garden at this time, joining in the fun.

People came and went, and now they entered the private room, bowing respectfully to pay their respects.

After Madam Cheng introduced herself to Layman Yi'an, Yang Zongtie bowed to Layman Yi'an again.

When Yi'an Jushi learned that this young man was now being raised by Su Wu, she asked, "Have you taken a master as your teacher?"

Yang Zongtie respectfully replied, "Replying to Layman Yi'an, I have never paid homage to my teacher!"

Yi'an Jushi nodded: "How about this, you take my letter, go to Qingzhou, and study under the prefect of Qingzhou, what do you think?"

Who was the Prefect of Qingzhou? He was Zhao Cuncheng, the eldest son of the former Prime Minister Zhao Tingzhi. He was a descendant of Su Shi, a scholar of the Su School, and his family had a profound learning background.

Once you pay homage to this master, with just that title, even if you go to Tokyo, you can sit in a prominent position among the literary circles and scholars.

Yang Zongtie was stunned for a moment, but Madam Cheng immediately smiled and said, "Why don't you quickly thank the layman for his kindness?"

Yang Zongtie quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Yi'an!"

"Alright, come to my house tomorrow to pick up the letter. When you go out to study, you must endure hardship and be diligent. Do not fail my teachings!" Yi'an Jushi had to give her several more instructions.

"Yes, I will remember it!" Yang Zongtie bowed again.

"Go ahead, go ahead..." Li Yi'an smiled kindly; for her, it was just a small favor.

For Yang Zongtie, that was a turning point in his life.

However, a thousand miles away, beneath the city of Weizhou, Su Wu sat firmly on the command platform, with Zhong Shidao sitting beside him. The army was attacking the city, and mountains of corpses and seas of blood were being slaughtered!

Su Wu arrived at just the right time; this was the very thing. Zhong Shidao had been preparing for the siege for a long time. The situation here was much more difficult than Zhong Shizhong's. It was even more barren than Fuyan and Huanqing, and there was much less manpower and resources available.

Therefore, the preparation was relatively slow.

But it doesn't matter, everything will be ready eventually.

All kinds of weapons and equipment were available, and the soldiers of the Hehuang region were brave and fierce on the way.

Su Wu said, "Old Prime Minister Zhong, this time we need to leave Huangzhou for Hexi, so we must first break through Jingzhou to open up the route. Once this city is captured, the army will also need to move west, and we will have to rely on you, Old Prime Minister, to guard our retreat!"

Zhong Shidao's expression was solemn: "Such a grand plan, a strategy to destroy the country, how could I not do my utmost to support it?"

Su Wu recalled something he had only recently learned, and asked, "What about the garrison commander of Jingzhou...?"

Zhong Shidao nodded: "Indeed, we all know him. He was our colleague, named Ren Dejing. The land of Jingzhou in Xixia was originally Xi'an Prefecture of our Great Song Dynasty. It was seized by the Dangxiang and renamed Jingzhou. Ren Dejing was originally the Tongpan of Xi'an Prefecture of our Great Song Dynasty. He defected to the enemy, yet the Dangxiang still allowed him to garrison this city..."

Su Wu frowned. Such things in the Song Dynasty were truly hard to say. In the past, during the reign of Emperor Renzong, there was a man named Zhang Yuan, who was originally a failed scholar in the Song Dynasty. He went to the Dangxiang and became the prime minister. It was said that he defeated Han Qi.

How can such a thing still happen nowadays?
It is also said that Ren Dejing is still stationed in that city, which shows that the Tangut people trust him completely and have no doubts about him...

This also shows that Ren Dejing truly deserves this trust, as he is absolutely loyal to the Tanguts...

"Is this city difficult to conquer?" Su Wu asked.

Zhong Shidao nodded: "It won't be easy to fight..."

"Let's meet him!" Su Wu exclaimed.

(Brothers, that's the end of the over-the-top stuff. I think I had a nightmare the day before yesterday; I got the date wrong and thought yesterday was the Dragon Boat Festival. How embarrassing! Writing is such a lonely job...)
(End of this chapter)