Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 56: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Then Su Wu asked, "Brother, can you get a promotion when you return this time?"

Suo Chao nodded: "Bring Yun Liwan back with you to put down the rebellion of the generals. This will be a great achievement. Above me is the Chief Supervisor Wen Da and another Deputy Chief Supervisor Li Cheng. This time, perhaps I will also be the Deputy Chief Supervisor."

"That couldn't be better." Su Wu was genuinely happy. Given their current relationship, it would be best if Suo Chao held a higher position.

Suo Chao also nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, in this way, the army's food and wages should have more power to spend."

Suo Chao thought about it over and over again and was still thinking about this matter. It can be seen that Suo Chao is really an extremely good military commander.

"Don't worry, don't worry. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. It won't be difficult for us brothers to get promoted." Su Wu also knew that these words would touch Suo Chao's heart.

"Then I'll have to rely on you, brother." Suo Chao wasn't a cunning man, but he was very straightforward. However, Suo Chao suddenly asked, "I'm afraid that Dong Ping will take the opportunity to take revenge if I leave these few days. Brother, I don't have any relatives to rely on in Dongping Prefecture, so we should be prepared early."

Obviously, Suo Chao was also concerned about Su Wu.

Su Wu frowned and answered: "I have thought a lot. Dong Ping is a bandit from Liangshan who joined the gang. If he wants revenge, it's nothing to do on the surface, but we must be on guard against him in secret. I am alone and have no worries. When I go out, there are people accompanying me. If he comes with a few people, I will not be afraid of him, so this matter..."

Suo Chao had already answered: "I'm afraid this matter is not up to my brother. Is there anyone in Yanggu County who can control my brother?"

Su Wu shook his head: "They are not in Yanggu County. They are big thieves who acted after careful planning and risked being caught by local authorities. What can they retaliate against? What can they do to me? They won't get any benefit. The magistrate of Yanggu County is an old man who has never offended anyone. It doesn't seem to matter to me to arrest him..."

When Su Wu said this, it was also the view of others that this was the truth. Liang Shan and Dong Ping went out to take risks. When it comes to revenge, they must do it on the right spot. If it is not painful, how can they feel relieved?
Suo Chao frowned and thought, then asked, "That's Dongping Prefecture. Recently, the prefectural government office must be guarded more strictly, and the prefect should not go out too much."

Su Wu nodded: "I have expected this a long time ago. I have been living in the government office these days, but I also thought a little more. Guarding against thieves for a thousand days is not a solution. We should lure the snake out of its hole, so that they will suffer a great loss and know how powerful we are. Then they will not dare to act rashly in the future."

Suo Chao nodded repeatedly: "That's right, brother is resourceful and can think of a solution."

Su Wu said, "If we really think about the Liangshan bandits, Chao Gai has a reputation for being righteous, and Dong Ping is even more hated by Dongping Prefecture, the prefect and me. I think the revenge must be here. One is to save Liu Tang, and the other is to avenge me and the prefect..."

At this point, Su Wu suddenly figured something out, and a flash of inspiration came into his mind.

Suo Chao heard this and said, "Brother, Liu Tang is detained in Daming Prefecture. I will write to the Minister of the Central Secretariat to strengthen the guard. They will definitely not succeed!"

That's exactly the reason. Going to Daming Prefecture Prison to kidnap people is absolutely impossible given the current situation in Liangshan.

Su Wu just nodded: "I understand. If the thief wants to take revenge and save people, his only target is... the prefect. If I stay in the yamen every day and add Dong Ping among the thieves... haha..."

Su Wu laughed, as if he had really figured something out.

Suo Chao only asked: "Brother, have you made a plan?"

Su Wu nodded: "To lure the snake out of its hole is to catch the turtle in the jar."

"Do you need my help?" Suo Chao asked again.

Su Wu was about to nod, but suddenly thought and shook his head: "If you keep the army here, the bandits will be afraid to act rashly. You can take the army back first, leaving only... Zhou Jin and 20 to 30 elite men. I also have other people available. The bandits here are no more than a dozen people."

"Okay! After we search this place, I will come back to recruit the soldiers and be back tomorrow morning. I will leave 30 elite soldiers with my brother, and they must be strong and fearless." Suo Chao was very confident in Su Wu.

"Thank you!"

"Brother, you are so polite. How can I take these five thousand coins?"

"Then you're welcome."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Luan Tingyu, who was standing by and heard everything, seemed to have the same feeling in his heart that such an important matter was being discussed without avoiding him.

Su Wu turned around and said, "Master Luan, I will have to rely on you a lot this time."

Luan Tingyu simply replied, "It has been a while since I have fought with anyone, so my skills are probably not very good anymore. It is a good opportunity to practice."

Just look at the yard, it has been completely emptied, even the chairs and screens have been moved out.

Suo Chao said, "Brother, I will take these things to sell. I have many people and many cars, so it's easy to carry them, and they can also be sold in Daming Prefecture. This way, it will save you a lot of trouble."

That's really thoughtful.

Su Wu didn't act pretentiously: "Okay."

"Let's go back to the camp. Brother, please go back to the camp to inspect the soldiers. I will also help you to strengthen your army." Suo Chao really became more careful and attentive.

Everyone returned to the military camp.

The military camp was clearly divided, and the soldiers under Suo Chao's command were all heroic and brave.

As for the soldiers in Dongping Prefecture, they were still in a state of fear and even surrendered their weapons and armor, and were naturally under custody.

The two groups of soldiers gathered in the parade ground and lined up. Su Wu walked up to the platform and looked around.

Su Wu said, "I think you have heard a lot. Dong Ping secretly communicated with the Liangshan bandits and was one of the accomplices who robbed the birthday gift. Now he has fled to Liangshan and become a bandit."

At this point, Su Wu paused and looked at the thousands of people in Dongping Prefecture, many of whom were already whispering to each other, with a buzz of small conversations.

Su Wu did not stop them, and let them whisper to each other for a while before speaking: "In the past, some of you were valued by Dong Ping, and some were not. I also know that Dong Ping would not conspire with you on these confidential matters. Dong Ping has always despised the court and has long had the intention of rebellion. You are definitely not the kind of people who would follow him. I have already reported this to the Minister of the Central Secretariat and the Minister of the Prefect. Considering that you were deceived and coerced this time, you surrendered quickly at the critical moment, so I will forgive you for the past."

Looking at the thousand people again, they were whispering to each other again. There was one thing that Su Wu said so accurately.

Many people have seen Dong Ping's contempt for the court. For example, Dong Ping insulted his superiors in private, and even insulted some high-ranking officials in the court. Among them, the ones he insulted the most were Cheng Wanli and Cheng Wanli's benefactor Tong Guan.

What is the imperial court? For the lower class, the superiors are the imperial court...

At this time, Su Wu looked around, his eyes scanning here and there, he was waiting for someone.

The wait came immediately, and someone in the crowd was the first to speak up: "Thank you, Supervisor Su, for speaking for us! We are definitely not Dong Ping's accomplices."

It's him!

Su Wu immediately asked: "What is your name? What is your official position?"

"I am the deputy commander of the infantry army, my name is He Chong."

"Well, He Chong, that's great. Who is your boss?" Su Wu asked again.

"Hmm..." He Chong was a little embarrassed.

Got it, dead.

Su Wu said nothing more, only saying: "I will promote you to temporary command of the two camps. First, you should take good care of these thousand men, and also make arrangements for the daily defense of the city gates."

He Chong was surprised and looked around. He had many superiors right there.

Everyone looked at him, and some people thought that He Chong was really good at scheming. With just one sentence, his official rank was promoted several levels...

Su Wu then asked, "Why? Who is unhappy about what I said?"

No matter how happy or unhappy everyone is, how can they express it in front of their new boss?
Only He Chong himself said: "Captain, I am afraid... "

Su Wu said sternly: "It's you. If the city defense is compromised, you will be held responsible. My military staff cannot recognize anyone."

It was also a helpless method. Nothing could be distinguished at this time. In fact, there was a basic trust. Su Wu believed that most people here, or even everyone, would not dare to have anything to do with Dong Ping after knowing that Dong Ping was a traitor.

The Song Dynasty was still a peaceful time, and these soldiers were also peaceful soldiers. How many of them would really have the intention of rebellion?
But true trust requires a process. Temporarily pulling one person out to do the work is to prevent more than a thousand soldiers from making trouble at work.

Secondly, it was just a target to be set first, so that we could slowly identify it later. If He Chong really did a good job, then he should be lucky.

Anyway, Su Wu didn't expect these people to be of real use.

After Su Wu's stern voice, He Chong did not dare to say anything more. He just listened to Su Wu's words: "Everyone return to the camp, take back your weapons, but do not send out your armor. Everything else will be the same as before. Go on duty first. Disperse..."

Su Wu waved his hand and walked down the platform. Suo Chao followed him: "Brother, I'm afraid it will take some effort..."

Su Wu shook his head: "I am too lazy to bother myself, so I will just recruit new soldiers."

"That's a solution. You should use your own soldiers, train them and lead them yourself. Only then can you use them." Suo Chao nodded and said, "But it will cost a lot."

"Take your time to think of a solution." Su Wu also frowned.

(In the military system of the Song Dynasty, three people formed a squad, nine people formed a squadron, and five squadrons formed a battalion. The battalion had a captain as the leader, and an escort officer as the assistant. Below them were the captain, the deputy captain, and five flag bearers. A battalion had about fifty people.

There will also be military academies, which are the supervisory teams, and the battalions are the basic combat units.

Two battalions form a du, with a dutou as the chief and a deputy dutou as his assistant, consisting of about 100 people.

Wudu is a battalion with about 500 people. In this organization, there are more officers. The chief officer is the battalion commander, and under him is the deputy commander, Du Yuhou.

Five battalions make up an army, with about 2,500 people, and the army commander is the chief officer.

There is also the organization of wing above, with each wing having 12,500 people, but this organization is rarely seen in other places except the Tokyo Imperial Guards.

Going further up, there are famous troops, such as the Bonari Army and the Tenmu Army. These are the so-called elite imperial guards stationed in Tokyo, each with two wings under them.

At the local level, the basic unit was a battalion, which consisted of 500 people, and was managed by a military commander like Su Wu.

In the official system of the Song Dynasty, it was actually called the state and prefecture military general manager, or even the military general manager of a route. There was also the title of the general manager. The difference between the two was not big, but there were differences. Those who had serious military affairs, that is, places where there might be war, were mostly general managers, and there were even military units such as the general manager's office. The general manager's office was mostly in places where it was unlikely to fight, and sometimes it was not certain, which was quite confusing.)
I added some extra content at the last minute, so it's a little late, sorry.

(End of this chapter)