Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 391 Urgent Military Situation!
Su Wu left the palace, but Wu Yong stayed in the imperial city. He still had many things to do. First, he had to investigate all the people in the imperial city and find a way out for them...

Those who were to leave the palace were to leave, while those who wished to remain by Zhao Ji's side were not to be rushed. However, many others were to be temporarily retained, not within the palace, but in matters concerning the emperor's private treasury, the western city's land reclamation office, and the shops and residences—all of which required a handover.

Su Wu had no idea that Li Hang had already arrived in the capital.

He had been waiting for a long time at the gate of Su Wu's house, just waiting for Su Wu to return so he could immediately get out of the carriage and pay his respects...

He then led them into the mansion, where the two sat facing each other.

When the tea was served, Su Wu, who had just returned from the capital, was quite thirsty, so he drank the tea first...

After eating a few bites, Su Wu asked, "Why did you come to the capital?"

Li Hang made no attempt to hide anything: "Indeed, many people from various portals on JD.com came to bother me, so I had no choice but to come to Beijing to see for myself... This way, they can rest assured..."

"It must be difficult for you..." Su Wu understood and said, "How about this, you go back and tell them that I am the most trusted person among the elders of my hometown and the people of Jingdong... but it is not the right time yet, we should wait a while..."

Su Wu didn't reject these things, after all, he had indeed received a lot of help from those portals on JD.com along the way.

Once the Mei Zhan incident is over, Su Wu will be short of manpower, and he will need the people from Jingdong...

Su Wu was not worried at all about any one family becoming too powerful...

He still has others to learn from, and although this is something that hasn't happened yet, they can still be considered ancestors of Su Wu...

There were countless major cases during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, including the Hu Weiyong case, among others...

At a deeper level, these things were all means of resolving the issue of meritorious officials banding together in the early days of the founding of the nation.

The well-established imperial examination system made it impossible for the aristocratic families of the so-called Nine-Rank System era to rise again...

Moreover, Su Wu had also cultivated and prepared a sharp weapon, namely Yan Qing!
Su Wu could handle even the powerful and influential gentry of Tokyo, so how could he not handle the powerful families of Jingdong who were dependent on him?

Su Wu had already changed his mindset and entered the mode of imperial strategy, so at this moment, he welcomed the scions of high-ranking families in Jingdong...

In the future, those who are clever and intelligent will avoid disaster, which is their blessing and ability; those who are not clever and intelligent will bring disaster upon themselves!

During Su Wu's reign, there would be no longer any situation where high-ranking officials were exempt from punishment.

Su Wu had no intention of sharing the world with the scholar-officials; he wanted to share the world with everyone in the world!
Upon hearing Su Wu's words, Li Hang was delighted and immediately nodded, "I will certainly convey Your Majesty's message. I will return to Jingdong immediately..."

"Since you're here, there's no need to go back. The current task awaits you. Go to the palace immediately to find Wu Yong. He's about to take over a large sum of money and property, which you'll be in charge of. In the future, the court will also have a Ministry of Domestic Affairs, which will manage all the country's industries. You'll be in that position too. I imagine you'll be short-staffed. Use whoever you can. If you can't manage everyone, go to the households in the eastern part of the capital. As for what I just said, just send someone or a letter. Find a place for your office in the Three Departments..."

Su Wu spoke slowly, then suddenly remembered something and added, "In that case, if the young men of Jingdong are willing to come to Dongjing first, just let them all come first..."

Some things need to be started first; Li Hang has a lot to do...

There are many more things to come. JD.com has already started to build the framework for money exchange, and this time it will expand even further. The big goal is to provide money exchange services nationwide.

The existence of money shops would greatly promote the development of commercial activities; it was indispensable...

Even in the future, the government will likely rely heavily on banks for investments. There are many intricacies involved, one of which is that it facilitates auditing...

This will also make the investigation easier if something happens...

Su Wu had great ambitions. In this era, the matter of exchanging money with banks across the country was not technically difficult. Modern banks have their methods, and old banks have theirs. The difference lies in efficiency.

The real challenge lies in the equity...

Currency will not be lacking for a long time after Su Wu, so we must get started immediately and work hard.

These are matters in another direction, which Su Wu had already considered, and couldn't help but think about now. As soon as Li Hang left, he immediately took out paper and pen to write down a memo, listing the tasks to be done, their importance, and so on...

In fact, Su Wu was very tired, utterly exhausted...

But if we want to push this country in a prosperous direction, we must do everything in a meticulous, orderly, and methodical manner, step by step.

For who knows how many years to come, Su Wu will be an extremely hardworking machine.

Li Hang couldn't leave, but he had no complaints and wouldn't say anything to refuse. It was just that before he came to the capital, he had told his sister that he had come to the capital for petty scheming...

Although it was self-deprecating, I was mentally prepared.

So he simply cupped his hands and said, "As Your Majesty commands, I will enter the palace shortly..."

After saying that, he looked at Su Wu and added, "Your Majesty, my elder sister has also arrived in the capital..."

"What is she doing here?" This was Su Wu's subconscious question.

She felt she shouldn't have come. When the man came and saw the carnage, with every household slaughtered and blood flowing like mountains, it was a shock, a profound lesson, and a terrifying experience...

It is to make all these people understand one thing: those who hold high positions and govern the country, if they do not treat the people and soldiers as human beings, will one day be judged by the people and soldiers, and when the judgment comes, it will be a catastrophic disaster.

The Tang Dynasty had one instance, and now the Song Dynasty has another, each time leaving future generations with a little bit of psychological burden...

If a woman came and saw this, she would probably be terrified, especially someone like Li Qingzhao. What if she really got scared and something went wrong...?

Li Hang was taken aback upon hearing this, as if the Prince of Yan was displeased.

Li Hang replied, "Actually, most of that noisy talk was meant for my elder sister, but she's not good at these official matters, so I came instead..."

Su Wu understood. Now, Yi'an Jushi was the face of the elite families of Jingdong. How could she not come?
Li Qingzhao's visit also represents a basic consensus among the prominent families of Jingdong regarding the matter of dynastic change...

"Where is he?" Su Wu asked.

“At the Jingdong Guild Hall Inn,” Li Hang replied.

“I have something to do and can’t go out. Go and pick her up so I can meet with her…” Now, Su Wu has the self-discipline of a work machine. He will immediately start writing about anything of paramount importance.

Only through written communication can work be organized in an orderly manner. In the midst of immense complexity, if you think of something but don't write it down or record it, it's as if you haven't thought of it at all.

"Alright, Your Majesty, please wait a moment..." Li Hang immediately bowed and went out.

Su Wu went to the desk, picked up his pen, and began to write: the basic framework and operating model of the domestic bureau (ranked as Class A, Level 1) and the development plan for the money shop (Class A, Level 2)...

There are also A3 and A4... B1 and B2...

With his head bowed, Su Wu became completely absorbed in his writing, unaware of the time. Li Qingzhao had already arrived at the door. Someone was about to announce his arrival when Li Qingzhao saw Su Wu engrossed in his work and waved her hand. She then quietly went inside and sat down in the last seat at the lower end of the table…

Su Wu was completely unaware of what was happening, his brows furrowed in thought, sometimes lost in contemplation, sometimes writing furiously.

After waiting for a while, Sister Li probably got bored and got up to walk away. Her steps were light, and she was already about to reach Su Wu from behind...

The armored soldier outside had been watching the room closely. Upon seeing this, he immediately rushed inside and shouted, "What are you doing?"

This startled Su Wu, who looked up and asked the soldier, "What are you doing...?"

The soldier didn't answer, but just looked at Li Qingzhao, who was about to go behind Su Wu.

Li Qingzhao suddenly realized what was happening, and in a panic, she took several steps back...

Su Wu then noticed Li Qingzhao not far from him. After looking around, he understood what was going on and waved his hand, saying, "Go out, it's alright... This is Yi'an Jushi..."

The soldiers nodded and went out. Their thinking was simple: as long as the king discovered someone, there would be no danger...

I'm afraid the king is truly unaware of this, but what if this woman...?
If the king has noticed, then there is no chance of anything going wrong, and that is enough.

The soldiers went out, and Su Wu smiled and said to Li Qingzhao, "Please don't be offended, Yi'an Jushi; they were just doing their duty..."

Sister Li nodded: "Being loyal to one's duty is truly commendable..."

"Come sit closer..." Su Wu gestured for him to sit.

Li Qingzhao sat down next to him and said, "I never realized how tiring it is to be done with official documents before, but seeing you today, I understand the hardship. Your Majesty is truly focused on your duties, I admire you..."

"What do you mean by 'promise'?" Su Wu asked, though he was somewhat distracted, glancing down every now and then to check if there were any omissions or errors in what he had just written...

“Perhaps…the future will be a blessing for the whole world…” Li Qingzhao said.

Upon hearing this, Su Wu laughed: "So, even Yi'an Jushi is capable of uttering such flattering words?"

Li Qingzhao remained composed: "This is not flattery, but rather I witnessed it with my own eyes..."

"Oh... Lady Yi'an, you must have met the Emperor in the past, right?" Su Wu asked, secretly pleased, for Li Qingzhao was not one to flatter...

How could one not be pleased by the praise uttered by such a person?

“I have met him, but not the one who is the emperor; I have only met the one who was still the Prince of Duan…” Li Qingzhao replied.

"Hmm?" Su Wu looked up... expectantly...

Li Qingzhao truly said: "In the past, Prince Duan's frivolous behavior was obvious to all... Who would have thought that more than twenty years later, he would actually bring about the downfall of the country..."

"More than twenty years ago, how old was Li Qingzhao? Was she around sixteen or seventeen years old?"

Su Wu asked casually, his pen adding words between the lines.

"At the age of marriage..." Li Qingzhao answered immediately, and for some reason, her cheeks flushed. How could she not think of the beautiful youth of that time?
Looking back, it seems like more than twenty years have passed in vain...

My sentimental heart couldn't help but feel a little sad again...

Su Wu didn't realize that after adding a few more words to the last few characters, he put down his pen, let out a long sigh, and felt his energy dissipate. He felt as if his body had been hollowed out, a kind of exhaustion that was hard to describe...

Looking up at Li Qingzhao, he apologized, "Please forgive me, Yi'an Jushi. Public affairs are truly important, and I dare not delay or neglect them..."

“It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright. A real man should act like this. If he doesn’t, how can he be a man?” Li Qingzhao had her own values.

Su Wu asked, "Does the layman have any new poems?"

"Yes!" Li Qingzhao replied.

"Please!" Su Wu rose from the chair behind the desk, gesturing with his hand on the desk, indicating that Li Qingzhao should write...

But Li Qingzhao waved her hand and said, "No need, bring the zither!"

"Huh?" Su Wu was taken aback and didn't understand for a moment.

Li Qingzhao smiled slightly and went to the door, saying, "Please ask the person outside to bring a zither..."

The soldiers outside looked at Su Wu, and seeing that Su Wu nodded, they quickly went to investigate.

Su Wu wondered if Li An Jushi (Li Yi'an) was going to play the zither and sing herself.
This...this...this isn't appropriate, is it? Sure enough, the zither arrived quickly. A small table was set up, and the zither was placed in front of Yi'an Jushi. Yi'an Jushi's slender fingers touched it, and notes began to play...

Yet she added: “When I was young, I loved to learn and sing, and the elders loved to listen. But after I came of age, I never sang for others again. Perhaps it was because in all sorts of occasions, I was always seated at the main banquet, so there was no need for me to sing… My family also had a troupe of female musicians, whom I could summon at any time… Later, I stopped singing altogether, but I was mindful of my status and didn’t conform to others. I was respected by some, and I felt it was only right. I thought that in the literary world, women are just as capable as men. What they do, I do too. What they dare not say, I dare to say. In all sorts of occasions, I am the only woman who can sit at the main banquet, and I can’t help but feel a little proud of myself… I would never do anything that would lower my status, thinking it was part of the elegance of my character…”

"Well..." Su Wu felt embarrassed upon hearing this, and said, "Then let's leave it at that for today, no need..."

Sister Li fell silent, then the zither strings resonated once more, and she uttered: "Warm rain and gentle breeze first break the ice..."

Su Wu quickly sat up straight, adjusting his posture to sit properly with his back straight.

I'm somewhat flattered...

It's not that Su Wu belittled himself, but rather that when someone respects you, you must reciprocate with respect...

And then another line: "With willow-like eyes and plum-like cheeks, she already feels the stirrings of spring..."

That single line, as melodious as a nightingale's song, sent a shiver down Su Wu's spine. She could sing, she truly could sing! And the lyrics were filled with Sister Li's own thoughts and feelings, which moved him deeply...

Su Wu looked up and heard: "With whom can I share this wine and poetic sentiment..."

This inevitably reminded Su Wu of the past... his exchanges of poems with Li Qingzhao, which infuriated her greatly...

Looking at Li Qingzhao again, although fine lines appear at the corners of her eyes, her phoenix eyes and willow eyebrows are full of emotion, her nose is slender and slightly upturned, her face is oval, and her neck is smooth and lustrous...

A voice rang out: "Tears melt away the remaining powder, the flower hairpin hangs heavy..."

An unspeakable sorrow fills my heart...

What season were we singing about? Springtime, I guess...

Spring has arrived. Where is it? It is precisely after defeating the Tanguts that the army has entered Yan and Yun, where they are blocked by 50,000 elite Jurchen cavalry. The Jurchens are chasing him all the way from Zhangjiakou to Datong, chasing him so hard that Su Wu is breathless...

Later, as the weather got hotter, the Jurchens returned to the area beyond the Great Wall to farm. Then, Su Wu prepared to send a large army out of the grasslands...

For the past year, it seems like nothing else has happened but war and constant movement...

It turns out that back then, Sister Li wrote this piece...

After a melody is played, the second stanza begins: "I tried on my lined jacket with its gold thread stitching, leaning against the mountain-shaped pillow, the phoenix hairpin on the pillow is broken..."

This Li Jie (Sister Li) really knows how to write...

It's nothing. I'm all dressed up at home by myself, but I feel bored. I don't know who to show it to. I lie down... My mind is full of thoughts, and without realizing it, all my headdress is ruined by the pillow...

The scene appeared directly in my mind, as if I had witnessed it with my own eyes. At one moment I wanted to laugh, and at the other moment a sense of melancholy welled up within me...

But there's another line: "Alone, I embrace deep sorrow, unable to dream sweet dreams; late at night, I still trim the lamplight..."

The words are gone, but the melody lingers, its final, mournful note fading into a soft, resonant whisper...

But Sister Li looked up and saw that, without missing a beat, her resentment returned...

Su Wu lowered his head, not daring to look any longer...

Sister Li, however, was much more generous than Su Wu at this moment, and asked in one sentence: "How is this piece? Is it a decadent and pretentious tune?"

Su Wu was also embarrassed and replied, "In the past, I was... presumptuous. Please forgive me, Yi'an Jushi. This song is wonderful."

Su Wu should back down to avoid future trouble...

"What's so special about it?" Sister Li asked again.

Su Wu immediately began to think... When it comes to truly good writing, what is its brilliance? In fact, many times it is ineffable. Just like those few lines from before, they directly implanted a scene and a mood into the minds of others...

But Sister Li insisted on asking what was so wonderful about it, so Su Wu made up a story: "It's just like that line 'Alone, I embrace my deep sorrow.' I never thought before that sorrow could be held in one's arms and carried into one's dreams... It's the pinnacle of writing!"

"Hmph..." Sister Li chuckled softly...

I don't know what it means...

Su Wu laughed awkwardly...

Suddenly, Sister Li said, "Your Majesty, why don't you... play a tune..."

"This..." Su Wu only uttered half a sentence, the rest being: I don't know how...

"So difficult?" Sister Li's gaze sharpened instantly, a stark contrast to her previous gentle demeanor.

“I’ll try…I…” Su Wu nodded. In the past, the two of them would exchange papers, but today, sitting face to face, it seemed as if they were really about to fight.

Suddenly, a voice urgently came from the doorway: "Reporting to the King, there is an urgent military situation beyond the Great Wall!"

They've arrived, just in time! Let's get this over with, it's about to begin.

The reason I'm only arriving now is because creating a convincing fake military intelligence report takes time, and I had to ride here at top speed from outside the city to make the whole thing a success...

Another point is that arriving at this time, after nightfall, makes the military intelligence seem even more authentic.

Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Come in!"

The soldier entered and immediately reported, "Your Majesty, the Jurchens have invaded Yanyun and Yanshan City. There are reports of enemy activity from six different locations!"

Su Wu immediately stood up: "Let's go, to the Privy Council!"

Su Wu continued walking and had already reached the door, adding, "Someone, quickly escort Yi'an Jushi back!"

Then he said, "Please forgive me, layman, the military situation is urgent!"

Sister Li stood up and nodded: "The nation and its people are of utmost importance, Your Majesty, please depart..."

Su Wu hurried away, but after a few steps, he added, "Send a message to Master Li, tell him to send Yi'an Jushi back to Jingdong tomorrow..."

Li Qingzhao heard this, but before she could ask why, she saw Su Wu's back quickly running towards the courtyard gate.

If you really want to know the reason...

This is something men often think about: why do men fight?
This is so that the nation can have more living space and greater survival security.

So that women in this country can live with greater peace of mind and children can grow up healthier.

It was precisely to prevent a tragedy like the Jingkang Incident from happening in their own country.

Men need not be subservient, and women need not be subjected to humiliation...

Soon, the bloodshed in the capital will be so intense that the streets of Xuzhuque will be lined with corpses...

Why should a woman really look at it?
Many of them might even be old friends of Sister Li... so there's no need to look further...

There are things that many people probably never imagined: one day, a woman would say that men fight wars for their own power and profit, and that it has nothing to do with women…

But no woman in this era would think that way, so they deserve to be protected.

The storms are for men, but food and warmth are for women...

Sometimes, what's wrong with this kind of "male chauvinism"?

Su Wu rushed to the Privy Council, where he naturally summoned all the officials from various places...

The military intelligence is accurate...

Su Wu said, "I entrust the affairs of Dongjing to you all. I should quickly raise a large army and head to Yanyun. The Jurchens are extremely powerful, and only my army can defeat them!"

Qian Chen asked anxiously, "How many troops has the King left in the capital?"

He was worried about many things, fearing that once Su Wu's army left, the world would change again and chaos would ensue.

Su Wu simply said, "Our elite force is only a few tens of thousands of men. When fighting the Jurchens, we can't hold back. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. This may be the time for a decisive battle. We will definitely go all out. Only when the Jurchens are destroyed will the world truly be at peace!"

Qian Chen was extremely anxious: "Then Your Majesty should... send that branch of troops to the capital again... that would be the safest course of action..."

"Yes, don't worry, I'll set off early tomorrow morning, and there will be arrangements later..." Su Wu nodded, his face full of anxiety.

"So urgent?" Qian Chen was worried because Su Wu had already left, and the troops arranged to follow hadn't arrived yet. He feared that this gap... might lead to chaos...

"We must never allow the Jurchen cavalry to break into Yanyun. If that happens, there will be no more barriers from Yanyun to Hebei and Beijing. The Jurchen cavalry will be able to roam freely and wreak havoc on the Central Plains. It's unimaginable. I even fear that one day we will see a repeat of the Jurchen siege of Tokyo. We must never allow such a thing to happen again..."

Su Wu was only concerned with the public good.

To outsiders, it might seem that Su Wu was worried about damaging his reputation...

Qian Chen was truly helpless and said nothing more.

Just by turning his head to look at the crowd, Qian Chen knew that countless people among them were secretly delighted...

With Su Wu leaving, wouldn't this really create a power vacuum?
Wouldn't that really give us a lot more room to maneuver?
Some people have even been exchanging glances with each other in private...

Su Wu, oblivious to the danger, was preoccupied with the war: "Quickly send messengers to the various military camps outside the city to inform them that we are to set off tomorrow. Preparations must be made overnight to prevent any delays. The same applies to the military camps inside the city... And to Jingdong, send swift cavalry immediately. We cannot rely on the imperial court for provisions and supplies; we must make things even harder for the people of Jingdong!"

Wu Yong nodded repeatedly: "This humble official will take care of it immediately..."

Su Wu added, "I want to warn you generals that it is far from the time to sit back and enjoy wealth and honor. This world is only gained by winning battles; if you don't win battles, you will have nothing!"

"Yes, sir!" Wu Yong bowed again.

Thus, Su Wu waved his hand and said, "Gentlemen, disperse. I will fight to the death against the Jurchens. You should all safeguard the affairs of the court and await my return!"

Everyone stood up to greet them, and there was a constant stream of conversation...

A successful start means the King of Yan will surely win... and so on...

Afterwards, the crowd dispersed, their steps lighter as they left...

A mountain had been pressing down on everyone, but suddenly it moved away on its own—how could they not feel relieved? Tokyo without the Prince of Yan is the best Tokyo, the comfort zone for everyone…

This Prince of Yan is truly difficult to deal with... It's exhausting...

(End of this chapter)