Embroidered color and fragrance

Chapter 206
It is difficult to siege a city, this is something that all generals know, let alone a city like Xuzhou.

Marquis Deqing was a little tired. He leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes to rest his mind. The lieutenant came in lightly. He opened his eyes and looked at the other party, and asked, "How about the casualties?"

"Six hundred and one people," the lieutenant general said silently, the number was too large, they just met Shen Zhan for the first battle.

Marquis Deqing nodded slightly and rubbed his forehead. This situation was not much different from what he expected. When he came, he knew that attacking Xuzhou would definitely pay a huge price.

"Shen Zhan is too skilled." The lieutenant said angrily, "I got stuck here as soon as I came up. Why don't we take a detour and go to Luzhou first?"

Detour to Luzhou from Henan, Luzhou is easier than here, but the detour is a bit far.

"This is the gateway to the south of the Yangtze River. If he doesn't seize this place, he will be able to go north with his troops." Deqing Hou said, "Are the soldiers from Chengdu Mansion coming soon?"

Sixty thousand soldiers can almost flatten the Central Plains. As soon as they arrive, the strength of the two sides will be equal, and it will be even more difficult to seize Xuzhou.

"Xu Feng is coming soon." The lieutenant general said, "Our troops are still stronger than theirs."

But the other side is defending the city and has the upper hand, Marquis Deqing squinted his eyes, "We must outsmart him." He paused for a while, and then asked, "Has the imperial decree from Beijing been issued?"

"It should be within these two days." The lieutenant said.

Marquis Deqing nodded slightly, "It doesn't work here in Xuzhou, just change to another place, and you can do it according to the original plan."

The deputy general should go.

The night was only dark. After cleaning up the battlefield and having dinner, everyone was very tired. Some of them didn't even take off their clothes, and fell asleep while leaning against the quilt with their weapons in their arms. Everyone has become accustomed to the smell of wafting.

The barracks became quiet, and the night watchmen went to drink some wine and shake the dice after walking around twice. From time to time, they looked up at the opposite city wall. There were people guarding it, and it was considered safe and sound at night.

After a while, suddenly the people shaking the sieve stood up, their eyes met, and then quickly dispersed, and then the sound of drums and horns sounded in the open four fields.

The sound was loud and the drums were beating impatiently, and the heads of people on the tower were frightened and looked at them vigilantly.

But looking down, it was still pitch black outside the city, there was no neighing of horses, no flickering of flames, and someone scolded: "Turtle son, let no one sleep."

This is a trick, the other party didn't intend to fight at all, they just didn't want them to sleep.

"My lord." Liu Qing and Qiu Rong said, "Go to bed, I'll watch over you."

Qiu Rong waved his hand and said, "Go to sleep, I'll watch over you in the middle of the night."

Liu Qing was no longer polite, and greeted everyone, "Go to sleep, just be alert."

In the second half of the night, the drums rang three times, and everyone slept for a while until dawn, and they lost energy when they got up in the morning, but before they washed and ate, the drums sounded again on the opposite side, and Marquis Deqing launched the first wave of offensive this morning. , fiercely.

"Fortunately, it's Marquis Deqing." Qiu Rong stood on the city gate and said in a deep voice, "It's much better than those counselors in the court."

Liu Qing nodded, hearing the sound of footsteps, Shen Zhan came striding forward, looked at his soldiers looking sluggish, frowned and said: "Have you all had breakfast, let everyone eat in turn."

"Yes." Liu Qing said yes, and heard Su Wanru come up with a group of soldiers, yelling, "Brothers, killing people will not delay eating, and you will have strength when you are full."

Liu Qing looked at Shen Zhan with a smile, "Master, I probably don't need to order you."

"Hot steamed buns." Su Wanru shouted: "Tomorrow, let's make a meal of green vegetables, stewed white meat with vegetables, enough."

Meat is not scarce, and vegetables are the most scarce in this winter.

"Thank you princess."

"Thank you ma'am."

Thank you repeatedly, everyone swallowed breakfast in twos and threes, Su Wanru stood on the tower and looked down, then turned her head and looked at Shen Zhan...

She came down from the city gate, took August for a walk on the street, and went to the government office. The magistrate was replaced by the surrendered magistrate. His surname was Zhou. As soon as they entered the city, he found them and voluntarily surrendered.

"Princess, please sit down." Lord Zhou ordered tea to be served, and looked at her with a smile, "I heard what you said at the city gate yesterday. It was really exciting and my blood boiled."

Su Wanru smiled, and let August go down to the ground, but August didn't leave, Zhizhi Creak dragged a stick over, climbed up to sit and listen to what they had to say.

"I plan to run a school." Su Wanru said: "But you are the parent officer here, I'm afraid you need to come forward."

This is a favor for him, Mr. Zhou's eyes lit up, and he said: "It's okay to run a school. There used to be a Town God's Temple on the edge of the southern city, which was dedicated to the Goddess of Songzi. After it was burned a few years ago, it has been abandoned and left unused. That place is good and secluded, and it can be used as long as it is repaired."

"That's good." Su Wanru said appreciatively, "It's really the right thing to come to you for this matter."

Mr. Zhou cupped his hands and said: "Princess, you must do what you say, and I will definitely assist you with all my strength." He also said: "If the princess thinks it is feasible, I will find someone to repair it. If there are many people, it can be repaired in a day or two."

It was originally repaired, and it is easy to say and easy to use.

"Master Zhou is decisive." She just wants to be quick. A school has only opened for half a year. How can she convince the people, "I have already asked my cousin to find someone for Mr. Teaching. The other party is in Jiangnan. There will be news in a few days."

"Okay, okay." Lord Zhou nodded and said: "There are also a few masters in the government office who are also Juren from the previous court. I dare not say how good they are in learning, but they still have the ability to enlighten young children."

That's it, Su Wanru cupped her hands, "Then start the construction immediately and invite the people in the city so that everyone can contribute their strength." He also said: "Put up a notice at the gate of the city, anyone who wants to go can go, but two people are required to bring it." Set up a square table and bring your own stools. We will distribute pens, inks, papers and inkstones in a unified way.”

Pen, ink, paper and inkstone are important things, especially books and paper, which are difficult for ordinary people to afford.

"Okay." Lord Zhou said to do it, and Su Wanru took August to the City God's Temple to have a look, the venue is really big enough.

She stood in front of the temple, looked down at August, and said with a smile, "Do you want to study in August?"

August nodded.

"Then come and study with your brothers and sisters in a few days, okay?" Su Wanru said.

August nodded her head, her big eyes were bright, she pointed at the door and babbled, Su Wanru laughed and asked, "That's right, we are still smart in August, how can there be no plaque in the school?"

As she spoke, she led August and turned to leave. As she walked, she said, "Let's go find a carpenter to paint a plaque and make sure the school opens for teaching within three days."

She wants the people in Xuzhou to see, and the people all over the world to see that people in the Later Song Dynasty will definitely keep their words.

"Princess," when I turned the corner, I saw many people coming towards me. Someone came over excitedly and asked, "You...do you really want to run a school? Can our children go to school?"

Su Wanru nodded, and said: "Yes, of course we must do what we promised. From today on, we will open schools in every city we visit. This is just the beginning, and we will get better and better."

"Then do we have to pay?" Someone asked, "How about Mr. Shu Xiu?"

Su Wanru said: "Mr. Shuxiu is issued by the imperial court. You can also be regarded as a teacher in the establishment. Go back and ask if there is a gentleman who can teach piano, chess, calligraphy and painting at home. Invite him to come, and we can talk about Shuxiu in detail."

"If we really want to do it, it's really great that we don't have to hand over the repair."

"Yeah, this saves a lot of money. A better school, Mr. Shuxiu, costs a few taels a year. How can I afford it? Now I save Shuxiu and just buy banknotes... I will go home and talk to my children and him." Dad said go."

"Princess, my uncle has no fame, but he is very good at painting and calligraphy. Everyone in Xuzhou City knows it." The man said excitedly, "Can he come to be a teacher? Can he also be regarded as a teacher in the establishment?"

Su Wanru replied: "Please ask uncle to bring the painting, let's take a look." Then she said to everyone: "The important thing is, since it is to teach the children, of course the main thing is the ability, and the fame is not important. In short, we can't delay the children. Just do it."

"Okay, I'll go back and talk to my uncle," the person who spoke went back happily.

"Princess, does the Town God's Temple need to be repaired? Well, let's help to repair it together. With so many of us, we will definitely be able to repair it." Those people said.

Su Wanru nodded, "Then I'll trouble everyone, everyone pay attention to safety and don't get hurt."

The books transcribed by the husband were sent to the bookstore, and it took two days to print a hundred sets of enlightenment books, which were hung in the air at the door of the bookstore, where people passing by could see it, and the scene was very lively.

Torches are lit at the Town God's Temple at night, and men who can work go up to the roof and go down to the basement, working in full swing.

"Wanwan." Lin Zhengping rushed back in a dusty suit, and Su Wanru hurriedly handed him the handkerchief, "Thank you, cousin. I could have replaced someone else, but you are both scholars, and you can always have more common topics when talking and chatting." .”

"Fortunately." Lin Zhengping smiled and pointed behind him. Su Wanru followed her gaze and saw two carriages coming up behind them. The carriage stopped and two people got out of the carriage, a man and a woman. She froze in place.

"A Jin?" the woman shouted, Su Wanru smiled and cupped her hands, "Sister Wu, Mr. Yang."

Wu Ping stared blankly at Su Wanru, then looked sideways at Yang Changgong, then Yang Changgong cupped his hands and said, "Aunt Su, long time no see."

"Long time no see." Su Wanru said with a smile: "I want to set up a school here, and the first thing I think of is you. I wonder if you are free."

Yang Changgong is still a Juren, he did not live in Chunwei last year, and now he is studying at home and living by Wu Ping's embroidery.

When Lin Zhengping took Su Wanru's letter to look for him, he was startled, but he didn't think much about it, so he brought his wife and children here.

"It's free." Yang Changgong said: "As long as Aunt Su is willing to be here, I will be less learned."

Su Wanru smiled, and said: "Mr. Yang is modest." After saying that, Yang Changgong called out to the back again, and then two young men got out of the car behind them, dressed as scholars, with fine skin, tender flesh and delicate features.

"This is Zhang Xiucai, and this is Bao Xiucai." Yang Changgong introduced: "They are all my classmates in Yingtian. This time I heard that Aunt Su is going to run a school in Xuzhou, so they came with me."

This is a passionate young man who wants to do something for the people of the world. Su Wanru cupped her hands and thanked him.

"A Jin." Wu Ping took her son out of the carriage. Her four-year-old child stood beside the carriage and stared at August with a smile. Su Wanru said, "Sister Wu looks even more beautiful than before."

Wu Ping blushed, but he didn't dare to come up, a little shy, and asked in a low voice: "They said... that you are a princess of the Later Song Dynasty, is it true?"

"Yes." Su Wanru said, "Scared you?"

Wu Ping turned pale and went to look at Yang Changgong. Yang Changgong smiled and replied for his wife: "No wonder my aunt has a different temperament. We are lucky to meet you. It is really a blessing for three lives."

"Sir, you are too polite." Su Wanru said with a smile, "There is no house for now, you are staying in the inn for the time being, Master Zhou and I will discuss it again, and we will settle down the residence for you as soon as possible."

Everyone should be, Su Wanru accompanied them to the inn to settle down, and then told Wu Ping what happened after they left Jinxiufang.

"Princess." Lu Cheng was waiting outside the inn, seeing Su Wanru leading August out, he said in a low voice: "Zhao Zhiang issued an imperial decree to punish our lord, paying for ten crimes."

Su Wanru raised her eyebrows, and walked with him and said, "What crimes are listed?"

"It's just infidelity, treachery, and the like." Lu Cheng curled his lips, "The imperial decree has a lot of repercussions, and I'm afraid it will affect Jiangnan again."

Su Wanru pursed her lips, paused and said: "Got it." She went to look for Shen Zhan, who had just come down from the tower, and the husband and wife returned to the military tent with their son.

"How is it?" Su Wanru and Shen Zhan asked, "Are you leaving?"

Shen Zhan nodded, "Let's go."

"The momentum must be loud." Su Wanru said in a low voice: "What's the use of issuing an imperial decree? If you want the people to resist you, you have to sit at home and enjoy the leisure."

Shen Zhan touched her head, and was about to speak, when August also squeezed in, with a small head in front of his eyes, he asked in a daze, "What are you doing?"

"Motou," August said, "Father, Motou."

Su Wanru couldn't help but smile bitterly, Shen Zhan raised his hand and slapped him on the head, "Go play while I talk to your mother."

August hugged Su Wanru's leg, climbed up and sat up like a monkey, stared at Shen Zhan, as if I'll give you face, if you don't want it, I'm going to confront you now.

"What bastard." Shen Zhan stared, "You're such an adult, sitting on your mother's lap, you're not ashamed."

August shook her head and touched her face, smiled, "Father, old!"

"Little bastard." Shen Zhan pointed at him, "You actually said I was old."

Su Wanru didn't hold back her laughter, pinched her son's face, and said, "Don't talk about your father, and apologize to him."

"Hmph." August turned her head and buried her face in Su Wanru's arms, Shen Zhan pointed at her son, and said through gritted teeth, "I don't like it!" As long as he sleeps, he will be among them, and sometimes he wants to take him away in the middle of the night , but he woke up as soon as he moved.

For several days in a row, drums were beating crazily outside the city in the middle of the night, and their people couldn't sleep well after arguing for five or six days. Shen Zhan didn't rest in the military tent, so they didn't bother him.

"Father is fierce." August secretly looked at Shen Zhan from the corner of his eyes, "Bad!"

The corners of Shen Zhan's mouth trembled, and he muttered, "It's not about you, but who."

"Myna, myna." Zhu Xun ran in and shouted, "Go over and see if Xu Feng is here."

Su Wanru's face darkened, and said: "How many people can Xu Feng bring here?" There is no news from Zhou Chao yet, maybe after a while, Zhao Zhiang will take pictures of Zhou Chao.

"There must be 2 people." Zhu Xun said, "In this way, there will be more of them. When will our soldiers arrive?"

Shen Zhan said: "I asked my father to take people to Kaifeng." Then said: "There are too many people here, we can't squeeze in!"

"Is this okay? There are so many of them, if we launch a general attack, we might not be able to stop it." Zhu Xun hesitated, and Su Wanru waved his hands, "You guys go up and have a look, we will have a meeting to discuss other things at night."

Shen Zhan went to the city tower, Su Wanru coaxed August to take a nap, left someone to watch over, and then went to the Temple of the City God. Everyone along the way was extremely festive, and everyone laughed and said, "It's only a few days before this year ago." Class, the teacher and the books are all ready, just wait for the students to arrive."

"The princess is really fast." Everyone laughed and talked, and someone shouted, "The princess is here."

Everyone rushed over, surrounding Su Wanru in a hurry.

"Princess, I have a lot of rice in my store. If you want it, I'll sell it to you at half price,"

Su Wanru smiled and said: "Okay, we still have enough food and grass, you keep it first, and then you can pay whatever price you want. I can't let you suffer."

The man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he was thinking too much. The other party never thought of robbing him of his food, not only did he not rob him, but he even bought it at a regular price.

On the contrary, he is a villain, guarding against others all day long.

"You come to my house for Chinese New Year, my house killed a pig." Someone said beside him.

Su Wanru nodded with a smile, and said, "Okay, I'll go to your house to enjoy the autumn breeze during the Chinese New Year."

The discussion here is in full swing, and Deqinghou outside the city is also very happy. Xu Feng brought 2 people here, and he still brought his own food and grass. He patted Xu Feng on the shoulder and said: "You guys rest for one night, tomorrow We launch a general attack."

"Yes." Xu Feng asked, "Master Hou, how many people are in the city?"

Marquis Deqing replied: "Including their rebel army, I estimate there are about 4000 people."

There were only 4000 people, and it took so long, Xu Feng frowned, and said, "Besides the general attack, is there any other way, Lord Hou?"

"Yes, there will be news within two days." Marquis Deqing said, "Food and grass are in short supply, we need to fight quickly."

The two talked, served food and wine and sat opposite each other, drinking and eating until late at night.

In a small town [-] miles away, because the flames of war did not spread here, it became quiet after nightfall. The city gates were locked and even the gatekeeper dogs began to doze off in the straw pile.

Suddenly, in the silent night, there was a sound of horseshoes. The old man Zhang who lived at the intersection got up, put on his clothes and went to the gate of the courtyard. His son was also startled, and ran out shirtless, shouting softly: , what sound, how did I hear the sound of horseshoes?"

"It's the sound of horseshoes. I don't know who it is." Old man Zhang said in a low voice, "Bring a chair to block the door."

The father and son pressed the door to death in the middle of the night, but they dared not sleep. After a while, they heard bursts of crying. The two ran out and saw the flames not far away. Some were crying and others were shouting. , "It's only natural for me to collect food, and I will hand it over to me."

"Snatching food?" Old man Zhang trembled in fear, "Hurry up, collect all the food at home."

The father and son hid the only two bags of rice under the pile of firewood, and the son asked, "Who came to grab this? Could it be the rebels in Xuzhou City?"

"I don't know." Old man Zhang said hesitantly, "I'll definitely know tomorrow."

After finally surviving the night, the old man Zhang’s family passed safely, but when they opened the door in the morning, they found that all the rice and grain shops on the whole street had been robbed. Although there were not many rice noodles robbed, the posture last night was really scary up.

"I snatched a bag of rice." The owner of the rice shop cried, "but their knife was on my neck, and I almost passed out from fright."

"So did we. We robbed a bag of rice and said it was confiscated by the imperial court. They had no rice to eat during the war, so let us give it to them."

"Is it Xuzhou's rebels or Marquis Deqing?" someone asked.

"It's too dark to see clearly, but it doesn't look like rebels. They keep saying it's the imperial court." He said again: "I heard that the princess of the Later Song Dynasty has a lot of money and has the Chengdu Mansion as her backing. Her soldiers are not short of food. , there is no need to run six hundred miles to Kaifeng at night to grab food."

"Yes." Everyone chirped.

This is not the case. For three days in a row, a group of people appeared in seven or eight villages and towns to grab rice. They came in the middle of the night, and they didn't kill people. They only wanted food.

The common people closed their doors at night and scolded Marquis Deqing by smashing the soles of their shoes at home.

Outside Xuzhou city, after listening to the report, Marquis Deqing turned pale with anger, "It's really shameful to use such a child's play."

"Now there is no military ration at all." His lieutenant general said: "The people complained a lot, and they didn't listen to the explanations. They also said that Xuzhou city lived and worked in peace and contentment, even schools were opened, and every household had meat to eat. It was impossible for them to come out to grab food. .”

"Issue a notice to announce to the world that it is not my Zhou army who robbed the food!" Marquis Deqing was so angry that he asked, "How is the matter going?"

The deputy general replied: "It's done."

Hou Deqing's climate became smoother.

Su Wanru laughed loudly, and said to Yan Chong: "You guys are too capable in individual combat. Tonight, find a way to spare them and burn their food and grass. Starve them to death."

"Yes," Yan Chong said with a smile: "This subordinate will go tonight and make sure to do well."

Su Wanru covered her face and smiled, patted August's head, went out to have a look, and it started snowing outside again, today is the new year, "August, this year we will celebrate the New Year here.

"Okay." August said with a smile.

Su Wanru laughed, "Bring grandpa here. I haven't seen you for so long, grandpa and uncle must miss you very much."

August nodded and clapped her little hands.

"Cold." August retracted her small arms, and suddenly pulled Su Wanru back, she turned around and saw Shen Zhan, and said with a smile, "Are you still angry with dad?"

August held her mouth shut and did not speak.

"Father must have something to do when he comes back." Su Wanru looked at Shen Zhan and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Zhan said: "An accident happened in Fengyang. Those rebels killed Ding Guogong, robbed many merchants, and burned almost half of the city."

"The rebels did it? Isn't Min Wang in Fengyang?" Su Wanru said angrily.

Shen Zhan nodded, and said: "Someone should have incited it, your second brother rushed over."

"He wants to guard Luzhou. If he leaves alone, maybe Xu Feng will take people around. You send someone to tell the second brother that I'm going to Fengyang." She paused and said, "I'll take Lu Cheng and Yan Go ahead, don't worry."

"Alright." Shen Zhan nodded, "It's too late today, let's go tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)