Su Jin thought for a while and said: "I have to bear it even if I can't bear it. The court trusts me so much that I can only bite the bullet."
Han Qi thought deeply: "Be prepared for the worst. From now on, I will order people to dismantle all the bridges on the Longshui River and set up defenses along the river bank. Even if Weizhou is not protected, we will still defend the Longshui River and wait for Fan.
The handsome army arrived and launched a counterattack."
Su Jin shook his head and said: "Han Shuai, I have made it very clear. If Weizhou is not protected, at least half of his 100,000 troops will be consumed. By then, the Western thieves may have no choice but to retreat; what I am worried about is
What will happen to the people after the city is broken? There are nearly 100,000 people in the city. Whether they are killed or plundered, it is our loss to the Song Dynasty. I want to send the people to various states first, and Yuanzhou and Jingzhou can settle some of them.
But the number is too large, and most of them will probably require Han Shuai’s help.”
Han Qi nodded and said: "That's fine, we can evacuate the people first so that we can face the enemy with all our strength without any worries. At least 50,000 or 60,000 people can be settled in the prefectures on Qinfeng Road. I will take care of this. You can issue an official document and order people to organize the people to evacuate to Qinfeng Road."
, I just accept it all.”
Su Jin was overjoyed and thanked Han Qi with a long bow. Fan Zhongyan still felt uneasy. He hesitated and finally said: "Master Su, actually on the way here, Han Shuai and I discussed how to defend the city. Han Shuai is willing to come."
What do you think of assisting Mr. Su in guarding Weizhou?"
Su Jin looked at Fan Zhongyan and said: "Master Fan still doesn't believe in my ability, Su Jin. In fact, I also want to let Han Shuai or Fan Shuai help me defend the city, but then what will happen to me? The imperial edict has just been issued.
The Emperor has entrusted Jingyuan Road into my hands. If I can only hold it with the help of others, then why should I be an official? Wouldn't I tell the world that I, Su Jin, am incompetent?"
Fan Zhongyan had known about this embarrassment. If it were him, if someone from the enemy suggested inviting others to defend the city, he would definitely be unhappy. If the safety of Jingyuan Road was not at stake, Fan Zhongyan would never say such a thing.
.
Now Su Jin's reaction was really fierce. Fan Zhongyan knew it and stopped trying to persuade him. He only smiled and said: "Master Su, don't mind the old words. I am also afraid that Master Su will not know much about the Western thieves when he first came to the northwest. Han Shuai will help him."
The odds of winning are better, and I don’t mean to look down upon Mr. Su; Mr. Su just treats it as an old man’s fart, and you can just turn a deaf ear to it.”
Su Jin said: "I accept the kindness, but I cannot agree to it. I hope you two adults will understand. You two adults should not think that I disregard the safety of Weizhou for the sake of face. In fact, I am still confident in this battle."
Fan Zhongyan said: "It's good to have confidence. I'm too talkative. If you have other requests, you can discuss them together. If you have any difficulties, it's better to solve them as early as possible in advance, so as not to be rushed when things happen."
Su Jin thought for a while and said: "I would like to ask the two adults to give me some supplies. The supplies in the city are slightly insufficient. I need weapons, bows, arrows, armor, and food. It is best to give me some kerosene. These are the things that are guarding the city."
It can make a big difference every time.”
Han Qi said: "Okay, tomorrow I will order someone to send 300,000 arrows. I don't have many bows, but I can send 3,000. I also have a lot of food and grass in Qinzhou. Since I have sent 15,000,
Thousands of soldiers are coming to fight, so naturally they have to bring more food and grass."
Su Jin held up his hands and thanked him. What he was most worried about was the lack of supplies in the city. Li Zhihe and the others had troubled him. Now he was short of food, weapons, bows and arrows. He didn't know if Li Zhihe had used these supplies to exchange for money.
It was very lacking in the first place.
Fan Zhongyan also said: "After I go back, I will also order someone to escort a batch of supplies. If the soldiers cannot come, the supplies must be guaranteed. This time it depends on you."
Su Jin thanked him again and felt relieved. He defended the fortified city. Although thirty-five thousand to one hundred thousand were at a disadvantage, even if they fought to the death, they would never let the Xixia army gain favor;
Even if you lose the troops and horses at hand, you have to kill at least half of the opponent's troops, leaving the Xixia army unable to advance forward. If you can do this, even losing Weizhou is worth it from a strategic point of view.
The three of them studied some more details. At the end of the day, when the heat of the sun was a little lighter, Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan said goodbye and left. Su Jin sent the two of them back to the government office, and followed the returning Dynasty to hand in two
There were letters, one was from Yan Shu and the other was from Yan Biyun. Su Jin quickly returned to the inner hall to open the letters and read them.
In Yan Shu's letter, he was very pleased that Su Jin had made great achievements since he came to the northwest. At the same time, he also told the story of how he fought for Su Jin to be appointed as a road envoy. As expected by Su Jin, Du Yan and others did so.
Zhao Zhen prevented Zhao Zhen from appointing himself as the Jingyuan Road Appeasement and Recruitment Envoy on the grounds that he was still junior. However, to Su Jin's surprise, the method of saving the country through curves was not proposed by Yan Shu, but by Yan Shu.
The person turned out to be Ouyang Xiu.
Su Jin secretly smiled. Ouyang Xiu was old and cunning. As expected, Du Yan and others could not object as soon as he made a move. The post of acting road envoy was not a real appointment. Moreover, Jingyuan Road was an important border area and there was no vacancy for the chief officer. Du Yan and others proposed the candidate.
Zhao Zhen vetoed several of them, and finally had to agree to temporarily appoint Su Jin as his replacement. The two governments slowly discussed suitable candidates and would replace them when there was a suitable candidate.
Su Jin understood what Ouyang Xiu meant. As long as he didn't make mistakes, even if it was in vain, the envoy would eventually become a formal one. As time went by, it would be impossible to talk about the qualifications, as long as Zhao Zhen rejected a few more candidates.
, the two governments also had to admit this fact.
After reading Yan Shu's letter, Su Jin lit a fire and burned the letter. He reached out to twist Yan Biyun's letter on the case. There were only a few words written on the square letter: Your husband personally seals it. Su Jin felt warm in his heart and picked up the envelope.
He sniffed it gently under his nose, and a light fragrance penetrated into his nose. It was the smell of the spices Yan Biyun usually used. Su Jin took out the white silk inside and slowly unfolded it, and began to read slowly.
"My husband, Su Jin, I see you are safe and sound, and I have sent you my regards from my concubine Biyun. Recently, the emperor came back and brought a letter from your husband with the news about Weizhou. The whole family was overjoyed, and I couldn't help but be overjoyed."
"When I read the words in your letter, it's like you are standing in front of me, and I can't help but shed tears."
"I miss you and I have known each other for more than a year. Since the day we met, we have only been thousands of miles apart twice. One time was when the husband misunderstood that my concubine was indifferent and angered me, and the other time was when we were separated by mountains.
I'm thousands of miles away. I'm not a pretentious person, and I should speak my mind when I have something to say. Even though I've been separated for half a month, I'm already so lovesick that every time I dream about my husband's return at midnight, I wake up with my heart broken."
Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief and continued reading.
"I know that your husband went to the bitter cold land in the northwest for the sake of the Su family. A good man should build a career for his family all over the world. My intention is not to hold you back, but because of my true feelings. I will never act like a concubine in front of others.
It’s revealed; Rou Niang Huan Niang Xian’er and others also miss her dearly, but they don’t show it in front of the slave family. They are all good women who are sincere and understanding of etiquette and propriety. Your husband is so lucky.”
"I don't know what the situation is like in the northwest. The Dynasty only said that everything went well and didn't say a word about the rest. But the slave family knew that what he said was definitely not an understatement. The Dynasty returned to Beijing to escort several prisoners. The slave family inquired privately and found out
It was Weizhou officials who were taken to the capital. I think it must have been done by my husband. Naturally, it is not convenient for me to ask questions about important military and state affairs. I just reminded my husband to be careful and not to be rash. Even if he does not make trouble for me and others, he must also do it for my mother-in-law.
For my own sake, I also need to think about the child in my belly. Now that you are a father, you must think twice and be cautious when you act, and you should take care of yourself for the sake of the whole family."
Su Jin seemed to see Yan Biyun standing in front of him, gently poking his forehead to teach him a lesson. A strange sense of happiness filled his heart. Being cared about was undoubtedly a kind of happiness.
"Speaking of the baby, there are still four months until the birth. Doctor Meng said that November is when the baby is due. Husbands should remember the date and never forget to return. No matter whether they are boys or girls, they will always be the eldest son and daughter of Su.
My mother-in-law asked me to tell the slave family. If you miss it, I will drive you out of the Su family with a big cane and not let you in. This is my mother-in-law's word, not the slave's words. If you want to blame me, please don't blame me."
The corner of Su Jin's mouth raised, and he continued reading with a smile: "My mother-in-law has already given me several nicknames for the child, but the big one needs his father to pick it up. In your spare time, you can come up with a resounding name for his father."
"The name means splendid mountains and rivers, and contains the connotation of wealth and prosperity. A child cannot be worse than his father. My husband must not forget it."
Su Jin was stunned for a moment. It turned out that he was going to be a father, but he was not used to it.
"All the specialties from the northwest brought back by my husband through the dynasty have been collected, and the business at home is going as usual. After you left, Rou Niang and Huan Niang helped the slave family a lot. Their sisters are good at doing business. Shopkeeper Zhang of Luzhou also wrote a letter.
Everything is fine, husband, don't worry about her; you must take care of yourself when you go out, and you must also take care of the people around you. Miss Xia is a delicate person, and your husband must not say bad words to her. She is also a miserable person."
"I have talked a lot here. I am not a talkative person, but now I have become nagging. My husband must be tired of reading it. My husband is busy with government affairs, so I should pay more attention to it. If I miss my family, I can write it every month.
When I return my letters from home, I will also send my monthly replies to inform them of the situation at home. From now on, every night when there is moonlight, I will wish my husband good health. My husband's words are very good: I hope that we will live forever, and we will share the beauty of the moon thousands of miles apart.
Will my husband be like my slave, sharing a bright moon and missing each other for thousands of miles? I wish you all the best, Biyun. May everything go well for you."
Su Jin kept silent, feeling sad in her heart and feeling a little wet on her face. She stretched out her hand to touch it, and she didn't know when tears started to fall from the corners of her eyes.