Chapter 252 Wei Qi's Pride
Because Daqian inherited the Song Dynasty, some official systems were also imitated. Generally speaking, rank is rank, and official position is official position, and they are not necessarily the same.
Just like Lin Ruhai, his current official position is the Imperial Censor of Salt, which is only the seventh rank. But Lin Ruhai is the third rank Lantai Temple Doctor.
The same was true for Wei Qi, whose rank was originally the third rank, and whose previous position as county magistrate was a grant, so he was only the sixth rank. However, because of his outstanding political achievements, he was directly promoted to the fourth rank position of Suzhou prefect.
"Sir, I will go and gather some more strong men to guard the city!" A minor official in a green robe beside Wei Qi said gritting his teeth.
Wei Qi was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Song Qinxia, we have been recruiting civilians in the city for days. How many people can we recruit now? There are still 500 wounded soldiers in the city, so they have some fighting power. Later, open the South Gate, and you protect the civilians out of the city. There are not many rebel troops in the South City, and you still have a chance to escape."
"We can no longer defend Suzhou City!"
"Sir, what about you?" asked the commander.
Wei Qi said calmly, "I, Wei Zizhen, am loyal to the emperor and work for him! As the chief official of Suzhou, how can I abandon the city and flee? Although I am a scholar, I am also a real man! Back then, my apprentice said that a real man should hold a three-foot sword and perform unparalleled merits. I don't have the ability to perform merits, but I have the heart to perish together with the emperor. If the city is captured, I will die!"
"Guan Yu, a Han Dynasty scholar, once said: Jade can be broken into pieces, but its whiteness cannot be changed; bamboo can be burned, but its joints cannot be destroyed. Even if I die, my name can be recorded in history. What is there to fear?"
"I, Wei Zizhen, should emulate his ambitions!"
"Sir!" Qin Xia cried bitterly.
A guard beside Wei Qi winked at the people around him. They were the personal guards sent by Jia Cong, led by Lu Feng. If the city was broken, they could only knock Wei Qi unconscious and take him out.
"Go quickly! If you delay any longer, it may be too late!"
The commander suddenly stood up and said to the captain beside him, "Captain Ran, lead the wounded soldiers in the city to protect the civilians!"
"If you don't retreat, I will fight to the death!" Then he shouted to the soldiers in front, "Follow me if you have the guts!"
Qianxia rushed to the front, but more and more chaotic soldiers came rushing up, and all he could see was blood. He knew that Suzhou City had lost the battle.
However, at this moment, a dull sound of horse hooves suddenly rang out.
Boom, boom, boom!
The earth roared, even drowning out the noise of the battlefield! Whether it was the White Lotus Sect members or the defenders on the city wall, they all changed color. Qianxia opened his eyes wide and looked into the distance, only to see a black mass of cavalry rolling in, with a large flag at the head, on which were written the three words "Champion Marquis".
He just felt his blood boiling again, Suzhou City was saved!
"Kill! Our reinforcements are coming! The Champion Marquis is coming! Sir, the Champion Marquis' reinforcements are coming!"
Wei Qi, who had already lost all hope, was shocked. "Marquis of Champion? My disciple is here?"
Lu Feng hurriedly asked someone to check, and a moment later the guard reported, "My Lord, it is the battle flag of my Lord! We are saved."
"Okay, okay!" Wei Qi shouted loudly, and then laughed towards the sky.
…
People's joys and sorrows are different. Compared with the joy of Wei Qi and others, Yuan Lian's face was full of fear! The imperial reinforcements arrived. Could it be that Jinling City was broken? Jinling had 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers and horses, and his troops were everywhere in Wuxi and other places along the way. Why didn't he send the news in advance?
However, he had no time to think, because Jia Cong had already led his troops and charged directly towards his rear army.
On one side were the powerful cavalry, and on the other side were the exhausted White Lotus sect members. Even though Yuan Lian still had 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers, the difference in strength between the two sides was huge. Yuan Lian's rear army was easily torn apart by the cavalry. Thousands of soldiers formed a huge arrow formation with Jia Cong as the spearhead. Wherever Jia Cong passed, there was no enemy at all.
With Jia Cong's current physical strength and combat power, he could charge in and out of the army seven times, let alone these rioters who were barely able to get enough food.
In just a quarter of an hour, Jia Cong's troops broke through Yuan Lian's rear army and directly attacked his central army.
More than half of the five or six thousand soldiers under his command were deployed in the siege. The central army now had only a thousand people. Facing Jia Cong's three thousand cavalry, they were almost crushed. The unwilling Yuan Lian rushed up with his confidants, but was killed by Jia Cong's spear. Without even causing any waves, he became one of the corpses on the ground.
The sudden change in the rear caused the attacking troops to panic. They had no time to attack the city and fled in all directions to the bottom of the city wall. The defenders on the city wall also took the opportunity to reclaim the wall.
About half an hour later, the battle outside the city was over. Jia Cong ordered his soldiers to clean up the battlefield, and he himself led his soldiers towards the city wall.
Creak! The city gate opened wide!
Wei Qi came out excitedly with some guards.
"Disciple!"
Seeing his master in person, Jia Cong dismounted, took two quick steps forward and knelt on the ground, "Disciple Jia Cong, hello to Master! I am sorry that I am late and made you worried."
"It's not too late, not too late!" Wei Qi stepped forward and helped Jia Cong up. The master and disciple had not seen each other for three years since Jia Cong went to guard the border. Naturally, they were very excited.
Looking at his heroic disciple, Wei Qi was a little dazed. The disciple who used to study diligently in front of him has now become the champion marquis of Daqian.
"Come, come!" Wei Qi took Jia Cong's hand, turned around and said to the officials behind him, "Look, this is my disciple, Champion Marquis Jia Cong!"
Wei Qi's face was filled with pride. This was his disciple, and he was able to protect his master...
"Meet the Champion Marquis!"
Jia Cong said with a smile, "All of you are my master's colleagues. Now we are together defending the city and going through life and death. I admire you! In the future, my master will be an official in Suzhou City. I hope you will protect me. If you need to go to Shenjing for something, please send a message. I will definitely welcome you!"
Wei Qi stroked his short beard and looked at his apprentice, and felt that his life was complete. With such a good apprentice, what else could he ask for?
Afterwards, a group of people surrounded the master and disciple and entered the city of Suzhou.
Jia Cong sent someone to deliver a message to the troops stationed in Songjiang. Now most of the White Lotus sect members on the periphery have been defeated, and only Jinling is left. Even if they cannot take it down in a short period of time, the situation will be settled as long as the army surrounds the city.
"Disciple, what is the current situation in other prefectures, counties and districts?" Wei Qi asked anxiously after returning to the government office.
"Master, rest assured. After I took over the troops of Shandong Camp, I first cleared out the White Lotus Sect members in Yangzhou and Taizhou, and then crossed the river to come here."
