Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 140: Prime Minister Bai Knows He Still Holds His Sword (Part )
The reason why Xin Qiji came to lead the army to advance was very simple.

Because Geng Jing's confidants, led by Zhang Anguo, did not dare to let him stay in the camp any longer.

Power has always been from the bottom up, not from the top down.

Geng Jing was not born the leader of the Tianping Army, but he became the leader because all the generals of the Tianping Army recognized him.

Although it was Liu Huai who instigated the attack last night and even personally went out to fight in the camp and withstood the most fatal wave, Liu Dalang was still an outsider after all, not to mention that he had an aloof and power-averse attitude.

Therefore, the person who made the greatest contribution in the Tianping Army last night was naturally Xin Qiji.

Although Xin Qiji was also Geng Jing's confidant, how could Zhang Anguo, who considered himself a greater confidant, dare to let him gather and reorganize the entire army?
What if Xin Qiji took the opportunity to increase his authority? Although Zhang Anguo thought he was quite capable, he didn't have the confidence to stop this big blue rhinoceros!

If Geng Jing couldn't come back for five or six days, it would be hard to say what Xin Qiji could do, or even what the Tianping Army would be called by then.

The Tianping Army was originally a group that was just getting by, but now they want to unite. Whoever does this will naturally have the greatest prestige.

Although Xin Qiji believed that he would not betray Geng Jing, Li Tieqiang did not believe it, and even Zhang Anguo felt that the possibility of this happening was very small.

But politics is like this. It’s never about whether you want to or not, but whether you can or cannot.

It would be a huge mistake if you have this ability.

Therefore, at Zhang Anguo's suggestion and with Li Tieqiang's tacit approval, everyone agreed to let Xin Qiji be the vanguard general to attack Fei County.

And the reason was also very reasonable. The Tianping Army only had three troops that could fight hard battles. Among them, the Tianwang Army had been defeated, and the Rulin Army had already fought a battle in the morning. Only a part of the Xin Army had rested well last night and still had the strength. If you don't go, who will go?
As for Yelu Xingge leading the cavalry into battle, although it was unexpected, it was also reasonable.

His tribe suffered heavy casualties last night. If he didn't fight the Jin bandits, he would not be able to explain to his people and his position as tribal leader would be unstable.

After Liu Huai figured out the whole thing, he couldn't help but sigh: It has become like this, and they are still scheming against each other. I can only say that the small Tianping Army is ridiculous.

But think about your own loyal army. Although it is still in its rising stage and is determined to fight against the Jin, the two emotions of loyalty to the Song Dynasty and the desire for independence are also undercurrents, and sooner or later they will cause trouble.

If we also take into account Zhang Rong who was also on the Northern Expedition at the same time and Li Bao who would sooner or later come to attack Shandong, the situation would be even more chaotic.

Liu Huai was only slightly worried, but he quickly reconciled with himself.

Internal strife is human nature.

Besides, if there is internal strife on our side, can the Jin army work together and be harmonious?

Stop dreaming!

At this time, He Boqiu was still leading the farmers to march on the west bank of the Anzi River. He had just left the team and was about to choose the direction to set up camp when he was shocked by the news from the Jurchen cavalry brigade on the other side of the river.

"What do you mean the cavalry won't set up camp today and will return overnight?"

Under He Boqiu's gaze, the messenger who came to convey the military order was sweating profusely.

He Boqiu dismissed his guards and approached the messenger, whose clothes were still dripping with water. "I remember you. You're a minor official at the Linyi County Office. Your name is Zhou Cai. You're the seventh child in your family. You've done some good deeds, and you've earned the nickname 'Dry Well Water.' Is that true?"

Zhou Cai, the clerk acting as a messenger, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a forced smile, "Mr. He San has a good memory and good eyesight."

He Boqiu stepped forward and took the man's arm. "Zhou Qilang, since we've known each other before and are generally friendly, could you tell me why the Jurchen cavalry on the other side abandoned everything and retreated so quickly? Was this an order from the prefect, or did those two Jurchens act on their own, and even the prefect couldn't subdue them?"

Zhou Cai first glanced cautiously across the river, then lowered his head and whispered quickly, "After Zhangjiazhuang fell yesterday evening, Wu Yanlie's manor collapsed, and the Han people contacted the Song army to open the gates. Inspired by this, the Han people in General Jiagu and General Shuhu's manors all rebelled at night.

Their village was so empty that it fell almost simultaneously. Outside the tent, I heard the messenger weeping miserably. It seemed as if all the Jurchens in the village were nearly wiped out. In the end, it was the Song army that intervened and stopped the chaos.

Zhou Cai spoke faster and faster, his voice getting slightly louder, and at the end he looked at He Boqiu with hope in his eyes.

He almost said to He Boqiu directly: Master He San, lead us in the rebellion!

He Boqiu naturally knew what Zhou Cai's eyes meant, but he did not agree or scold him. Instead, he turned his head and avoided the other person's gaze.

Zhou Cai's eyes dimmed as he continued, "The governor and the two generals had an argument, some shouting and cursing, but the two generals made it clear that their presence would keep the Jurchen cavalry together, but if they died, the Jurchen cavalry would scatter."

He Boqiu smiled and said, "That's true. The ones who have the final say now are no longer the prefects or generals, but the ordinary cavalrymen." After a pause, He Boqiu asked, "Besides sending you to inform me that the Jurchens are leaving, what else did the governor say?"

"Nothing."

He Boqiu sighed again. Seeing a cloud of dust billowing from the east bank, it was obvious that a large group of Jin cavalry, despite their fatigue, were forcing their way forward again. He couldn't help but sigh, "I worked so hard for Governor Pushan, maintaining order, and in the end, this is the result? He ultimately chose the Jurchens and abandoned us Han people."

"Zhou Qilang, don't go back. Find a place in my army."

Zhou Cai quickly wiped the sweat from his face and nodded repeatedly.

At this time, the movement on the other side of the river could no longer be concealed. Even the ordinary soldiers of the He family army stopped marching and turned to look.

A sense of panic spread among the queue.

Even ordinary soldiers knew that it was not a good idea for the two armies to march along the Anzi River so that they could take care of each other if there was any danger.

But now the Jurchens have actually run away first. Doesn’t this mean that the situation has become critical to a certain extent?

He Lai also hurried to suppress the rebellion. Thanks to the fact that the soldiers of the He family army were basically farmers around Hejiazhuang, the officers even knew each other, so the team soon started marching again.

However, when He Lai arrived beside He Boqiu, he asked in a panic, "Why did the Jurchen cavalry leave? Why did they leave? Did they leave us alone?"

He Boqiu frowned, "Why are you panicking? A man's life and death are his own, how can we entrust it to others? The Jurchens have abandoned us, but are the more than 2,000 brave men of Hejiazhuang all going to cry and act like children?"

After a round of scolding, several officers, including He Laiye, calmed down at the same time, but someone still asked: "Master, what happened?"

He Boqiu was silent for a moment. "It's okay to tell you, but the Han people in those Jurchen villages have all rebelled. Most of the people who stayed behind were killed. The Loyalty Army has already entered those two Jurchen villages."

As soon as these words were spoken, someone immediately shouted, "Well, these Jurchens deserve to live. They are a bunch of beasts. It would be better if they all died!"

But more people were shocked: "If that's the case, then Hejiazhuang is surrounded from the east, west and north? We have to go back quickly, otherwise Hejiazhuang will be gone!"

Someone else scoffed, "What are you afraid of? The Loyal Army has the decency and discipline to allow young and old men to harvest the grain. Even if they capture the village, what's the big deal? Are you still afraid that they will do something as despicable as the Jurchens?"

At this point, the man seemed to sense something was amiss with the conversation, and quickly added, "Of course, our village is naturally different from the Jurchen village. They treat the Han people like pigs and dogs, causing the Hu and Han to regard each other as enemies. The people of Hejia Village are united, and the village defenses are strong. Why should we be afraid of the Loyal Army?"

He Boqiu waved his hand, signaling the other party to stop talking nonsense. "Sha Laosi is used to talking nonsense, but he's right about one thing. Wei Dadao of the Loyal Army is not a cruel man. Even if he breaks through Zhuangzi, he will only enforce military discipline and will never engage in massacres. Therefore, we can return to the army in peace and not be troubled by those desperate Jurchens. Do you understand?"

The people who gathered around nodded, then dispersed and returned to their groups.

Only He Lai could hear what was hidden in He Boqiu's words.

Even if the He family army returns to Hejiazhuang safely, what then?
And then surrender?
Or maybe fight with the Loyal Army?

If he surrenders, wouldn't He Boqiu's struggles over the past few days become a joke?

If they were to fight the Loyal Army, regardless of their morale, why would they risk their lives for the Jurchens who had abandoned them? Do they truly consider themselves loyal subjects and filial sons of the Jin Empire? Is your last name Wanyan or Pushan?
The saying goes, if you can fight, then fight; if you can't fight, then defend; if you can't defend, then flee; if you can't flee, then surrender; if you can't surrender, then die.

It seems that He Boqiu doesn't want to choose any of these paths, but can he still say to Wei Sheng: Let's each withdraw our troops and keep out of each other's way from now on. You go to the Northern Expedition, and I will live my own life.

Even if Wei Sheng could agree to it, the generals under his command would not agree to it!

"Alang, do you want to let Erlangjun and Sanlangjun take people back to the village first?" He Lai also asked in a low voice.

Erlangjun and Sanlangjun are the second and third sons of He Boqiu. At this time, they both serve as generals of a hundred men in the He family army.

He Lai also suggested that the two men go back. On the one hand, he felt that the situation was indeed dangerous. On the other hand, he wanted these two young people who were capable of taking charge to go back. They would have the final say whether it was organizing the defense of Zhuangzi or contacting Wei Sheng.

He Boqiu glanced at He Laiye calmly and said, "No need. We can't do anything that will damage morale at this moment."

After saying this, he looked across the Anzi River and sneered, "Besides, our heroes from Hejia Village ultimately routed all the Tianping troops on the west bank. Those two Jurchens on the east bank conserved their strength and went through the motions, leaving the Tianping army with a solid camp."

Humph... The terrain on both sides of the Anzi River is like this, and the Jurchens are all cavalry, so who knows who will suffer the most!"

(End of this chapter)