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

Chapter 168: A Man's Ambition Encourages Him to Join the Army

Compared with the Northern Expedition Army, the Jin Kingdom was indeed a behemoth. Although this giant was extremely slow and its joints creaked due to the emptiness inside, this giant was still a giant after all. Even if he pressed down with just one finger, the Northern Expedition Army would have to try its best to resist.

This kind of thing was understood by not only the high-ranking officers of the Loyal Army such as Wei Sheng, Liu Huai, and Lu You, but even the grassroots officers such as the team commanders and the generals understood it.

There is another tough battle to fight next.

But food must be eaten one bite at a time, and things must be done one step at a time. The Loyal Army prepared for war step by step, and all the necessary public trials, grievance meetings, and land distribution were carried out without fail.

"Cheng Da Niao, do you want to retire from the military?"

"I'm not resigning from the army. I never joined in the first place. I only joined you temporarily to kill the Jin bandits. Now that the Jin bandits have been destroyed, I just decided not to join the army."

"What a shame, what a shame for your archery and horsemanship skills."

In response to the captain's sigh, Cheng Da Niao sneered and continued to pack up the bedding.

How could these Song people know what kind of life he lived and how he acquired his skills in archery and horse riding?
Do you really think being a riding slave is a good job?
He became good friends with the Jurchen riding slaves when they were young. Three of the ten people died, and two of the remaining seven became disabled.

If there were another opportunity, Cheng Da Niao would be willing to use his skills to help his father, who depended on him, live a long life.

Thinking of this, Cheng Da Niao couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart again.

"Cheng Dalang, aren't you going to join the army?"

Just when things were quiet for a while, someone came to disturb us again.

Cheng Da Niao turned around impatiently, only to see a general as beautiful as a woman standing at the entrance of the tent.

"Commander Zhang." Cheng Da Niao quickly stood up and saluted.

This was not only because Zhang Baiyu was his superior, but also because Cheng Da Niao had seen with his own eyes a few days ago that this man had killed five Jurchen warriors in a row with his spear when he charged into the battle formation, and he was unstoppable when he charged left and right.

Originally, Cheng Da Niao was still complaining that Zhang Baiyu looked like a woman, but after this battle, how could he still dare to look down on the other party?
Of course, Zhang Baiyu didn't come here to show off.

Because in several Jurchen villages, there are about a thousand men who were born as cavalry slaves. Excluding those who are really unable to go into battle, there are about six hundred young and strong men who can be trained as armored cavalry.

These people's riding skills are far more proficient than those of ordinary Jurchens, because the Jurchens really do not regard Han people as human beings, and if they don't practice well, they will really be whipped to death.

It can be said that the riding skills of these riding slaves were acquired at the cost of their lives.

Cheng Da Niao is the most prestigious among these riding slaves.

Personnel is politics. If Cheng Da Niao had not joined the army, who knows how many cavalry slaves would have wanted to retire and live their own lives!
However, according to the policy of the Loyal Army, the regular army must not be forcibly recruited, otherwise it would not have sufficient combat effectiveness.

So, Zhang Baiyu could only appeal to his feelings and reason. "Cheng Dalang, why don't you join the army? Is it because Captain Tian and Captain Wang didn't explain the benefits of the future clearly? Or is it because the salary is too low? Tell us, we can discuss it."

Facing Zhang Baiyu's sincere words, Cheng Da Niao could only sigh and tell the truth: "If my grandfather were still alive, I would fight for any benefits, whether it was land distribution, gold and silver rewards, or promotions, I would accept them all. But...but my grandfather is gone, and I am the only one left in the Cheng family. What's the point of having so many things?

If you go to the battlefield, you have to fight to the death. I don’t even have a wife. If I die one day, won’t the Cheng family have no descendants?

Commander Zhang, I have made some contributions this time. Please be kind and let me go so that I can live a peaceful life farming."

Having said this, Cheng Da Niao paused, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "...Also, the rules of the Loyalty Army are so troublesome. I killed the Jin thieves for revenge, but I was scolded. How can this be justified in the world? I refuse to accept it."

Zhang Baiyu was speechless when he heard the previous words, but he suddenly understood when he heard the last one.

It's true that they want to live a peaceful life, but that's not the main reason. The most important thing is that they don't understand the Loyal Army's policy towards the enemy.

While Zhang Baiyu breathed a sigh of relief, he cursed the Zhang captain and Wang team leader for eighteen generations in his heart. It must be that these two lazy guys reported Cheng Da Niao directly without asking any questions when they heard that Cheng Da Niao was leaving.

No wonder Liu Dalang has always been telling the commander to be diligent. If he doesn't come over for a thorough heart-to-heart talk and just lets Cheng Da Niao go, there will be at least dozens less cavalry in the Loyal Army in the future.

Zhang Baiyu stepped forward and patted Cheng Da Niao on the shoulder. "Cheng Dalang, I don't want to persuade you. I just want to take you to see a few places. Come with me."

Cheng Da Niao felt a little puzzled, but since he had nothing to do, he followed Zhang Baiyu out of the tent.

"Don't think Commander Liu was scolding you on the battlefield because you killed all the Jurchen Zhuangzi." Zhang Baiyu explained as he walked. "There are class laws in the army. Aside from military intelligence, everything else must be discussed before you speak. Otherwise, how can we fight if you're all talking back and forth? You were negligent and talked back, so the fact that you weren't executed on the spot was a mercy."

Seeing that Cheng Da Niao still didn't believe him, Zhang Baiyu pointed at himself and said, "I am the fourth son of the commander-in-chief of the Dongping army, the commander of an army. When I had a disagreement with General Liu on the battlefield, some people wanted to kill me directly and punish me according to military law. How much more so you?"

Cheng Da Niao immediately shook his head: "Commander Zhang, if you put it that way, I'm even less willing to join the army."

Zhang Baiyu just smiled and said nothing, leading Cheng Da Niao to the public trial first.

At this time, the trial of the main culprit Jia Gu Shou was nearing its end. After another group of people came forward crying and cursing, Zhang Xiaoyi, who was presiding over the public trial on the stage, executed Jia Gu Shou by beheading him on the spot.

"It feels so good!" Cheng Da Niao cheered. He watched with his own eyes as Jia Gu Shou was cut in half. His upper body struggled and squirmed on the stage for a long time before he died. He felt indescribable joy in his heart.

These Jurchen thieves really deserve to die!
However, it was not over yet. The blood on the platform had not yet been washed away, and another group of people were dragged up. A clerk read the petition aloud and asked the victims to come to the stage to cry and identify the victims. Amid the roars of the onlookers below, several more heads were chopped off.

Cheng Da Niao watched quietly, but found that it was not only the Jurchens who were killed, but also some wealthy merchants and even some small Han landowners were dragged up and beheaded amid accusations and scolding.

"Cheng Dalang, I asked you to watch this scene because I want to tell you that even if you don't kill these evil people, we, the Loyal Army, will kill them openly and justly. We will not give up doing these things just because of what you do."

As he spoke, Zhang Baiyu waved his hand and asked Cheng Da Niao to follow.

(End of this chapter)