On September 29, the second year of Qingli in the Song Dynasty, after nearly half a month of trekking, Su Jin, together with four other people including Chaoyang Mahan and two surviving companions, finally crossed the desert and climbed the snow-capped mountains back to the outside of Weizhou City.
The soldiers and civilians of Weizhou who had received the news early went out of the city to greet him. Outside the west gate of Weizhou, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians knelt down to greet him. The scene was extremely spectacular and touching.
A few days later, Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi came to Weizhou to congratulate Su Jin. The two northwest officials had already thought that the battle in Weizhou would be defeated, but unexpectedly Su Jin came to Weizhou and only paid the price of a few people.
They burned the food and fodder of Xia's more than 100,000 troops, forcing Li Yuanhao to retreat in despair.
Although Weizhou suffered a lot of losses in this battle, with most of the more than 50,000 soldiers and civilians defending the city dead or wounded, the Xia army suffered even greater losses. 120,000 people came to attack, and only more than 50,000 people returned. It can be said that their vitality was severely damaged.
More importantly, the strategic significance of this battle is extraordinary. The original secret peace talks between the two countries were all empty talk. When the Xia Kingdom had the upper hand, it was natural that the lion opened its mouth without sincerity. The Song Kingdom was very harsh on the harsh situation.
The two sides would not agree to the conditions, and the two sides argued with each other; but after this battle, the situation of victory and defeat was reversed, and when Yuan Hao was defeated, Fan Zhongyan launched a full-scale attack on Yanyan and Huanqing, and Li Jiqian cooperated with Li Yuanhao's attack
Weizhou held back the 30,000-strong army that was feinting to attack, and pursued and compressed it all the way to the city of Youzhou, recapturing more than a dozen fortresses north of Huanqing and Yanyan, which made Xixia even more uncomfortable.
As a result, the negotiations between the two parties also underwent substantial changes. The Xia envoys began to take the negotiations seriously. On the contrary, for the Song Dynasty, there were two different opinions in the court. One was to use Lu Yi bamboo slips as Du Yanxia's
Three of the main fighting faction, headed by Song, jointly submitted a petition asking Zhao Zhen to issue an order to order all the northwest parties to take advantage of the victory to pursue the attack on Huanglong; while the other faction, including Yan Shu, Ouyang Xiu, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others, advocated drawing up a peace agreement as soon as possible to ensure border peace.
, the four border roads resumed production, and at the same time repaired war preparations, and established a three-dimensional border defense network, which also relieved the tight finances of the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Zhen was not in a hurry to express his position. There was an important person in his heart who had not yet consulted for his opinion, and that was Su Jin. The biggest contributor to this battle was Su Jin. Those who had personally experienced this battle had the most say, and were in a position to support Su Jin.
In order to respect him, we had to ask for his opinion; in addition, Zhao Zhen wanted to personally reward the ministers who had made meritorious service in this battle, so he issued an order to recruit three envoys from the Northwest Fourth Route to Beijing to reward him.
It was nearly October, and Yan Biyun was about to give birth. Even if Zhao Zhen did not summon him, Su Jin planned to return to the capital. So after receiving the order, he handed over the important task of rebuilding Weizhou to Li Chong, Pan Jiang and others.
He and Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others made an appointment to go to Beijing.
Su Jin originally wanted to bring Xia Siling back to the capital, but Xia Siling was afraid that Xia Song would find out that her return to the capital would cause trouble, so she refused to return. So Su Jin only had to leave Xiao Sui'er to take care of her, while she dressed lightly and took Zhao with her.
Two guards, Hu Zhanglong and a hundred imperial guards and horse troops set off back to Beijing.
On October 17, a team of hundreds of people arrived outside the west gate of Bianliang City. To Su Jin and others' surprise, a ten-mile colorful shed had been set up outside the west gate, and various flags and honor guards were lined up. Zhao Zhen once again led the civil and military troops
For Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others, this was an unprecedented first time for hundreds of officials to come out of the city to greet them in person, but for Su Jin, it was already the second time to enjoy such an honor.
After some greetings, Zhao Zhen ordered the three of them to rest for a day and go to court to discuss matters the next morning. Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan both had houses in the capital and went home to reunite. Su Jin was picked up by his family's car at the gate of the city.
Let's go. Yan Shu, Ouyang Xiu, Fubi and others who were waiting to talk to Su Jin rolled their eyes. This guy hurriedly went home. He must be too homesick. But it's no wonder that a young man who has not yet reached his prime has experienced so much outside.
Naturally, he was very homesick after his death. Moreover, as a newlywed, he went to the northwest to serve as an official. His beloved wife, concubines, and mother all needed comfort, so the three of them were sensible enough not to disturb her.
The car drove to Su Mansion in Nancheng. Su Jin was very excited along the way. Xiao Zhu'er who was driving the car was also very excited. From time to time he turned to talk to Su Jin. Su Jin asked a barrage of questions, but Xiao Zhu'er was just a servant driving the car.
, I don’t know too much, but Su Jin just wanted to ask, and he didn’t care too much about the answer.
When he saw the tall gatehouse and walls of the Su Mansion, the several arrow towers standing in the house and the lush green trees, Su Jin almost burst into tears. At this moment, Su Jin realized that he had almost forgotten about the future life.
parents and friends, and now, this big house and the people in the house are everything to me. I have completely adapted to the new life, as if I was born and grew up in this era, and everything in the future generations, the future generations.
Everything was just a dream I had one night.
A large number of people had gathered at the door. Su Jin immediately saw Mrs. Wang being supported on the left and right by Rou Niang Huan Niang. She immediately jumped out of the carriage without waiting for it to stop, knelt on the ground and said tremblingly:
"The unfilial son Su Jin pays his respects to his mother."
Mrs. Wang's tears had already flowed down into rivers. She quickly stepped forward to hug Su Jin and started crying. Her hands habitually rubbed Su Jin's face back and forth. After a while, Su Jin's face was covered with snot and tears. Su Jin's face was covered with tears.
This time he didn't feel embarrassed. On the contrary, he felt extremely happy.
"Son, my son, you are back. My mother is almost blind with hope. Look at her, oh, she is darker, thinner, and her beard has grown out. But my son is much stronger and more capable, and he is also more mature.
So handsome."
Su Jin smiled and said: "How can the son born by my mother be unattractive? Wouldn't that embarrass my mother?"
Mrs. Wang burst into tears and said with a smile: "Little monkey, you can make your mother happy. If you don't go, your daughters-in-law will go. Since the news of your return to the capital came, they have to go to the official road outside the city every day."
I've watched it several times, and they are really looking forward to your return."
Su Jin laughed and said: "When did you learn how to talk sweetly and actually tease your daughters-in-law?" He turned to look at the faces of Rou Niang and Huan Niang. The two girls had already shed tears, like the water of the Yellow River.
Endless.
There were so many people and so many eyes that Su Jin couldn't make any intimate gestures. He only cast a comforting look and said thank you for your hard work. As soon as he said these words, the two women burst into tears and couldn't stand still.
The crowd gathered around Su Jin and entered the courtyard. The soldiers of the Ma Army were taken to rest, wash and eat. Su Jin looked around and said, "Where is the young lady? Why didn't you go out to greet me?"
Rou Niang said: "I also said that when I knew you were coming back, I felt excited. There was some fetal movement this morning. My mother wouldn't let her get up. Xiao Xian'er was lying with her in the room."
Su Jin hurriedly asked: "Is it in the way? Have you called the doctor?"
Su Jin said to Mrs. Wang, "Mom, please rest for now. I'll talk to you when I come down. I'll go see her."
Mrs. Wang waved her hand and said: "I don't have time to talk to you. I want to go to the Buddhist hall to recite the eighty-one sutras. The Buddha will bless my son for his safe return. How can I not fulfill my promise?"
Su Jin rolled his eyes. The reason why his feelings came back intact was because of Mrs. Wang's intercession in front of the Buddha.
After sending Mrs. Wang back to her room, Su Jin picked up Rou Niang Huan Niang's waist with one hand and walked into the inner hall. The two women couldn't help themselves, but they held Su Jin's arms on the left and right and refused to let go.
, the three of them quickly walked through the second entrance and entered the inner hall. Before entering the small building, Su Jin shouted at the top of his voice: "I'm back."
The bamboo curtain in the small hall on the left was opened, and the long-legged beauty Xiao Xian'er showed a pretty face with infinite resentment. Su Jin stepped forward and hugged her, and directly kissed her, causing Xiao Xian'er to quickly retreat.
; Entering the room, Su Jin saw a soft chair at a glance. Yan Biyun, with her hair high and her hair tied high, was sitting on a soft chair and looking at him with a smile.
"Husband, you're back? I can't greet you from afar, I can't stand up to salute, I'm being rude." Yan Biyun smiled with a layer of mist in her eyes.
Su Jin quickly stepped forward and knelt beside the chair, hugged Yan Biyun's head, and kissed her red petal-like lips. The girls did not feel any embarrassment at all. Instead, they wiped their tears and looked on with smiles.
This kiss almost made Yan Biyun die. If Yan Biyun hadn't pushed Su Jin's head away for fear of the baby in her belly, there's no telling how long Su Jin would have tasted it.
Su Jin carefully uncovered the cotton blanket covering Yan Biyun's abdomen and lifted the hem of the loose clothes. Yan Biyun's snow-white belly bulged high, like a super big steamed bun.
Su Jin carefully touched the bulge with his hand, not daring to use force for fear of breaking it. Yan Biyun stretched out his hand and poked Su Jin's forehead and said, "Why are you so careful? It can't be damaged by touching it."
Su Jin leaned over and listened carefully, then raised his eyes after a while and said, "Why are you gurgling?"
Yan Biyun smiled and spat: "That's the sound of my stomach and intestines. Where did you hear it? Go down a little bit."
Su Jin leaned over again, and this time heard the thumping heartbeat, which was the heartbeat of the fetus in her belly.
"It's so amazing. This little life is the flesh and blood of my Su family." Su Jin was quite proud.
Yan Biyun said: "Yes, you are going to be a father."
Su Jin frowned and said, "I'm going to be a father so soon, and I'm still a child myself."
Yan Biyun smiled and said: "Are you still a child? You are already a famous northwest general in the Song Dynasty, do you still regard yourself as a child?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "As soon as I get home, I want to be a child. When is the due date of labor?"
Rou Niang said: "You are pregnant in ten months, don't you even know? When did you and Sister Yan plant the seeds and when did they harvest? It's up to people to be fathers."
The girls laughed together. Su Jin sat on a stool next to him, looked at Rou Niang sideways and said: "According to what you said, the two of us planted the seeds in Luzhou, and we planted them once a day, why haven't they been confiscated yet?"
become?"
Rou Niang blushed and spat: "Don't say it, it's embarrassing."
Yan Biyun rolled her eyes at Su Jin and said: "If they hadn't seen you not getting married, they were afraid of giving birth to children to make people gossip, so they cleaned them up afterwards, otherwise you would have a lot of children; now it's fine, you will just come back
Their affairs have been taken care of, and from now on they can sow and reap whatever they please."
Su Jin was dumbfounded and said: "I've only been gone for a few months, how come you all have become so arrogant? Sister Yan is the goddess in my heart. How can you say such things? It's really strange." Already."
Huan Niang suddenly said: "Those who are close to black are black!"
Yan Biyun smiled and said: "That's a good answer. It's all your husband's fault."
Su Jin rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth and said: "Failed, my husband is not a good man, my dear Huan Niang Xiao Xian'er, prepare a large bathtub and fill it with hot water."
Xiao Xian'er said in astonishment: "What?"
Su Jin laughed ferociously and said, "What are you doing? The three of you are waiting for your husband to take a bath together, and you are not allowed to wear a single piece of clothing."
The four girls spat in unison, feeling ashamed and happy at the same time. Although they knew that Su Jin could not profess prostitution in the daytime, when they thought that tonight was bound to be a night of carnival, they all felt anxious and couldn't help but feel happy.