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

Chapter 447: Death is never a matter of honor

Black clouds are threatening to destroy the city.

Zhang Rong stood on the top of Yangzhou City, looking at the huge flag of Wucheng coming from the west. The fleet consisting of thousands of people and dozens of ships passed by, throwing the western camp of the Jin army into chaos, and then headed towards the northern camp. He couldn't help laughing.

Beside Zhang Rong, Li Heng and Jia Hezhong also stood solemnly, but when they saw that the Jin army camp was in some chaos, they did not show any joy, but frowned even more tightly.

The reason was simple. If the Jin army camp was well-organized, these two men could still use the Jin army's strict defense to deal with it. However, now that there was an opportunity to fight, they had no other excuses and could only send troops.

Sure enough, the next moment, Zhang Rong asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Li Heng was fine, but Jia Hezhong took a long breath and said, "Our army is naturally inferior to the elite Dongping Army. We only hope to follow General Zhang and attack the Jin bandits!"

Zhang Rong nodded, then looked at Li Heng: "What does Commander Li have to say?"

Li Heng was silent for a moment, then he saluted and said, "Our army has been fighting in Yangzhou City for a long time and is exhausted. It is difficult for us to fight alongside Commander Zhang. However, I can still lead the army myself and help Commander Zhang delay Xiao Qi's troops east of the city."

Zhang Rong nodded again and said nonchalantly, "Then let's do it."

Having said this, he did not even attempt to bargain. He wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and strode down the city path. He then gave a loud order, and the 4,000 Dongping soldiers who had already rested quickly stood up, put on their armor, and formed a battle line.

Jia Hezhong and Li Heng looked at each other. After a moment, Li Heng, a general who obviously wanted to retain his strength, snorted coldly, showed disdain to Jia Hezhong, and turned away.

However, Jia Hezhong still looked righteous, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. Then he also returned to the army from the city wall, called up his 5,000 soldiers and followed Zhang Rong out of the city to the north.

Two quarters of an hour later, the Dongping Army had already marched out of the city and formed up. Xiao En looked at the soldiers pouring out of the city, and at Jia Hezhong, who was at the forefront, holding a large banner with the Chinese character "Jia" on it. He couldn't help but frown and asked Zhang Rong, "Brother, why is there only Jia Hezhong's unit?"

Zhang Rong said nonchalantly, "Jia Hezhong will follow us into battle, while Li Heng will attack the Shenwei Army in the east to stop Xiao Qi's reinforcements."

Xiao En shook his head and sighed, "I never thought that in the end it would be Jia Lao Er who was so brave and resolute, while Li Heng seemed hesitant, but he was actually afraid of fighting."

Zhang Rong laughed and said, "You've got it exactly the opposite. Li Heng might still lead his army to fight to the death against Xiao Qi, but Jia Hezhong will definitely be a mere idler."

Xiao En was stunned.

Zhang Rong smiled and said, "That's alright. No matter what, the Dongping Army will fight with all their might today and live up to our country."

By the end, Zhang Rong's voice had become incomparably firm. "Xiao En, I will personally lead two thousand soldiers as the vanguard, and you will lead two thousand soldiers as my rearguard. Regardless of whether Jia Lao Er can catch up or not, if I advance, you must advance, and if I retreat, you must retreat!"

Xiao En bowed in agreement.

A moment later, the 4,000 Dongping troops lined up and marched towards the outer wall of the Jin army camp one mile away.

At the same time, Tushan Zhen and Tushan Yongnian had already met, and they were about to fall out on their first meeting.

If we add Xu Wen who was watching the show from the side and Gao Jingshan who had been fighting with Tu Shanzhen for a long time, the jokes made by the four high-ranking military and political officials of the Jin Dynasty were no less than those of the Song Dynasty.

"Didn't the military commander give the order to the Left Inspector?" Tushan Yongnian was the first to raise the issue. "If not, where is the military commander? If so, why didn't he speak to the commanders of the various armies?"

Tushan Zhen was already furious with Xu Wen and Gao Jingshan, and now, upon hearing Tushan Yongnian's question, he couldn't contain his anger. He pointed at Xu Wen and asked, "Wu Cheng's army has been defeated. I don't know how many Song troops are following behind them and charging towards us. At this point, the three armies can't work together. How should the Grand Secretary tell me to withdraw? Should I just turn around and leave? Are you going to keep all the money and women I've looted along the way?"

Tushan Yongnian paused for a moment, then asked, "Is the Left Inspector worried that if he issues the order to withdraw, the three armies will lose their command and rush to retreat, allowing the Song army to take advantage?"

Gao Jingshan's hair and beard were all standing on end at this moment, and he was obviously extremely angry. He sneered when he heard this: "In my opinion, the left military supervisor is just trying to please you and is greedy for glory!"

Tushan Zhen turned around, folded his arms, and sneered at Gao Jingshan: "General Manager Gao, if not admonishing His Majesty would be a disservice to Him, then why didn't you die admonishing His Majesty not to launch the Southern Expedition?" Why? Empress Dowager Tushan died in such an unclear manner, and you, a Tushan, ask me why?
Gao Jingshan was about to retort when Tushan Yongnian waved his hand to stop the argument and looked at Xu Wen: "General Manager Xu, what is the situation of Wu Chengjun? Can he still fight?"

Xu Wen said with a composed expression, "The Wucheng army was attacked the night before last and suffered heavy casualties. They are no longer able to fight."

Tushan Yongnian said helplessly, "When I crossed the floating bridge just now, I saw Wu Chengjun's army formation. It didn't look like they were defeated."

Xu Wen still had that dead look on his face: "This is the best I can do to control it."

Seeing that Xu Wen still refused to give in, Tudan Yongnian just stopped talking and didn't want to continue.

This kind of thing can only be concealed for a while, but definitely not forever. When I return to China, there will be plenty of time to sort things out.

"Report! The enemy army has left the city and is heading towards our camp. Our general is here to request reinforcements!"

Just as the four high-ranking officials of the Jin Dynasty were blaming each other, a military envoy came to report that the Song army had actually taken the initiative to leave the city and attack the Jin army's siege camp head-on.

Tu Shanzhen immediately shouted, "What did I say, General Xu? I don't care whether your Wucheng Army was defeated or fled before the battle. As long as we withdraw from Zhenzhou, the Song Army will definitely take action without being threatened from the flank. General Gao, do you still blame me at this point?"

Gao Jingshan first stared at Tu Shanzhen for a long time, and then glared at Xu Wen fiercely.

Xu Wen was calm and collected, glancing at Gao Jingshan. "Don't think Zhenzhou is a good place. Six thousand soldiers are isolated and surrounded by enemies on all sides, with no reinforcements. Can the Wu'an Army really hold out?"

"Hmph!" Gao Jingshan snorted coldly, then bowed to Tushan Zhen, turned around and left to make arrangements to meet the enemy.

Tu Shanzhen sighed helplessly, "Grand Master, this is how it is. If the three armies had all followed my lead, not to mention Yangzhou City, even Guazhou Ferry would have been captured long ago. Liu Qi would have already fallen into the Yangtze River to drink its water. How could we be in such a difficult situation?"

Tushan Yongnian knew that the other party was bragging. Apart from anything else, if these three armies could kill Liu Qi head-on, Wanyan Liang would never let them hang out alone.

If we can kill Liu Qi, why can’t we kill Wanyan Liang?
You must know that for an emperor like Wanyan Liang who usurped the throne, the most taboo thing was to usurp the throne outside the city.

But Tushan Yongnian still agreed with what Tushan Zhen said.

If the three armies could work together, it would be possible to capture Yangzhou City and then besiege Guazhou Ferry.

At that time, Wu Chengjun was in Zhenzhou and Tu Shanzhen was in Guazhou Ferry, which was enough to firmly control the north bank of the Yangtze River, and Huaidong really belonged to the Jin Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Tushan Yongnian couldn't help but look at Xu Wen again, but seeing that he was indifferent, he suddenly had an idea.

Xu Wen had just arrived at the Jin army's Yangzhou camp when the Song army immediately launched an attack. The timing was a bit too coincidental. Could it be that Wu Chengjun had defected to the Song State?

Tu Shanzhen also looked at Xu Wen and said thoughtfully: "Until the Song army is dealt with, the Wucheng army must not act rashly."

Xu Wen nodded. "Of course. I also want to avoid suspicion. Until the Song dogs are defeated, I will stay in the central army tent and won't go anywhere else."

Tu Shanzhen nodded and said to his guards, "Let's get the men in formation and put on our armor. If General Gao can't stop the enemy army, then we can do it ourselves!"

The personal guard from the Tudan tribe responded loudly, then quickly walked out of the tent, leading the horse away.

"Grand Master," Tushan Zhen said to Tushan Yongnian sincerely, "If I had any solution, why would I mobilize my clan's soldiers and risk the lives of my own men?"

Tudan Yongnian could only shake his head and smile bitterly for a moment.

(End of this chapter)