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

Chapter 549: Half a Day's Choice
Wu Chao walked out of the Jiedu Mansion in a daze.

In fact, he was not qualified to attend the meeting, and according to his official position, he could only sit in a very back seat. He just went to attend the welcoming banquet and was allowed to have a meal in the Jiedu Mansion by chance. What happened afterwards had nothing to do with him.

The Flying Tiger Young Master, whom Wu Chao had high hopes for, didn't even pay any attention to him.

In the huge city of Linyi, although it was already June, Wu Chao felt the cold air was everywhere and didn't know where to go for a moment.

Yuan Qi also walked out of the Jiedu Mansion. This brave general, who was famous for his bravery in the Huaidong army, was now pale and speechless.

Even though he had known for a long time that Wu Chao's plan was nonsense, he was still at a loss when faced with such a dilemma.

Am I going to return to Song State in such disgrace?
Wu Chao looked at Yuan Qi and said with difficulty: "Do you feel wronged?"

Yuan Qi nodded, then shook his head. "No one's insulting us, or saying anything strange. But this is the biggest humiliation. Liu Dalang knew all about our actions, but he didn't care at all. He didn't even bother to intervene. It's like not bothering to swat a fly off your body. This is the most sad thing."

At this point, the fierce general was extremely depressed: "These Shandong people don't take us seriously at all. Alas!"

The so-called silence is the greatest contempt, and now Wu Chao and others have felt it thoroughly.

Wu Chao thought for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and stamped his feet and said, "I know who to go to. Go find Mr. Zhang Xiaoxiang and ask him to seek justice for us!"

Yuan Qi was slightly stunned, thought for a moment, and could only nod.

"It's no use looking for me."

By the time Zhang Xiaoxiang had time to entertain these two unfortunate men, it was already afternoon. However, this Prime Minister, widely recognized in the Song Dynasty, threw up his hands and said, "I'm new here too. For now, I'm only responsible for civil affairs. How can I interfere in military affairs?"

Seeing Wu Chao's disappointment, Zhang Xiaoxiang could only say, "And don't let your two thousand troops cross the Huai River to the north. Who in the court came up with this idea? Isn't it just adding to the chaos? Didn't you listen to what Liu Dalang said today? Shandong doesn't have much food to begin with. Who can bear to feed two thousand more mouths?"

Wu Chao was completely helpless. He slumped down on the stool and said, "What should I do?"

Zhang Xiaoxiang took a sip of tea, looked at the two warriors in front of him, and began to think.

It is true that he is temporarily unable to control military affairs, but that does not mean that he does not want to control military affairs.

Because Shandong is the "place where military force is used" and the front line in the battle against the Jin army, if one wants to gain prestige and respect, how can one not be in charge of military affairs?

However, the generals of Shandong all started their careers by following Wei Sheng and Liu Huai, and some of them were rescued from the dead by these two men. How could it be so easy for them to change their allegiance?
Therefore, these two Song generals naturally became targets that could be won over.

It must be said that this phenomenon of forming cliques is not only very common, but also as it should be.

It takes three to make a hero. Without your own team, you can't accomplish anything.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaoxiang put down his teacup and said, "You two, I can't bring a large army, but you two are both world-renowned generals. If you only bring your personal soldiers with you, I can introduce you to the Marshal's Office."

Wu Chao pondered for a moment before shaking his head repeatedly, "I'm a legitimate military officer of the Song Dynasty. How could I possibly defect to the Marshal's Office? Wouldn't that be self-degradation? Prime Minister Zhang, is there really no way you can introduce us to Liu Feihu?"

Zhang Xiaoxiang sighed with some disappointment, immediately lost the desire to speak, and raised his hand to see the guest off.

Why was Wu Chao so short-sighted? He regarded his two thousand men as so important, yet he actually said that joining the Marshal's Mansion as a general was a sign of self-degradation. How foolish!

After winning one or two battles with Wei Sheng, will the court not reward you?

A scholar-official like Zhang Xiaoxiang, who was willing to give up everything and come to Shandong to fight for fame and fortune, could naturally understand this mentality of military leaders, but he also looked down on it.

Wu Chao was a little annoyed when he saw Zhang Xiaoxiang send him away without saying a word, but he didn't dare to offend him in the end and could only bow and leave. Wu Chao and Yuan Qi, accompanied by their personal guards, walked towards Linyi Neidu and sat down at a tea stall.

Wu Chao sighed and said apologetically, "Brother Yuan, I thought I would have a good life in Shandong and a comfortable life, so I brought you here. Who could have known it would be like this? Shandong is so run by those two that it's impossible to get in. I'm sorry for the delay."

Yuan Qi looked a little sad, and shook his head, saying, "Don't blame Brother Wu. We all have a close relationship with Liu Dalang in Zaojiao Forest. We originally came here hoping to make great achievements, but who would have thought it would end up like this."

Wu Chao drank a cup of tea and asked, "What are your plans next, buddy?"

Yuan Qi did not answer, but asked in return: "Brother Wu, what about you?"

"Me?" Wu Chao laughed twice, shook his head, and said, "Of course I'll go back in disgrace and tell Lord Ye about what happened. I'll get some benefits from him, so I won't fall under the sway of Zhang Zigai and his gang."

Yuan Qi just nodded slowly.

After Liu Qi's death, the Huaidong army became a motherless child. The new general sent by the court to be in charge of military affairs was Zhang Zigai.

Although this guy held a high position and great power, his performance in Wanyan Liang's invasion of the south was really poor.

The Huaidong army had fought several head-on battles with the Jin army, but the Jiankang army had been hiding in the south of the Yangtze River. Zhang Zigai's cowardice was clearly revealed in this battle.

How could Wu Chao and other powerful generals accept this?
But when you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. If you don't curry favor with Zhang Zigai, you will definitely suffer in the future.

Those who really couldn't stand it, such as Li Heng, Liu Si, Wu Chao, and Yuan Qi, all sought ways out. Li Heng and Liu Si surrendered to Yu Yunwen, while Wu Chao and Yuan Qi requested military orders and came to Shandong to see if there was any chance.

Now that he has hit a wall in Shandong, it is not surprising that Wu Chao wants to return to Lianghuai to take action against Ye Yiwen.

Yuan Qi was silent for a moment. "My hometown is ruined, and I have a deep-seated feud with the Jin bandits. I will serve whoever can kill them. It seems that only Liu Feihu is a skilled killer of them. So, I'd like to follow Mr. Zhang's advice and seek a position in the Marshal's Office of Duke Wei or the Jiedushi Office of Liu Feihu. I'll definitely be able to use my talents in Shandong."

Wu Chao narrowed his eyes, drank another cup of tea, and then said, "Didn't you listen to what Liu Feihu said today? There won't be any major wars in the next two years."

Yuan Qi shook his head and replied, "It's Shandong that won't take the initiative to attack, not that the Jin bandits won't attack. Even if the Jin bandits don't send a large army, they will send thousands of soldiers to contain us. Then we will naturally fight back. And fighting between hundreds or thousands of people is exactly what I am good at."

Wu Chao remained silent for several times, this time for an especially long time. Finally, he smiled and said, "Brother Yuan, we all know your bravery, but the waters in Shandong are very turbulent. Even if we warriors can be driven back, what about those turbans who were sent here? If they are also driven back, then whether Shandong will ever return to the Song Dynasty is a big question."

Yuan Qi's words became firm at this moment: "Thank you, Brother Wu, for the reminder, but... I am a soldier. I only know how to fight, and I should only know how to fight."

Wu Chao only sighed when he heard this. He didn't know whether he thought Yuan Qi was naive or really believed that what he said made sense. He stood up, bowed and said, "Brother Yuan, I will say goodbye now. I hope to see you in the future when we are rich and powerful."

Yuan Qi also stood up and bowed.

The two soon parted ways. Wu Chao went to the inner ferry to look for a ferry, while Yuan Qi returned the same way and met Zhang Xiaoxiang here.

Zhang Xiaoxiang was naturally surprised and happy, and quickly welcomed Yuan Qi in.

Yuan Qi bowed directly and requested to meet Wei Sheng and Liu Huai through formal channels.

Zhang Xiaoxiang naturally agreed readily, but he also used the excuse that they were both busy with official duties to prevaricate the matter. He then wanted to win over this powerful general first to ensure that the other party would at least remember his kindness before discussing other matters.

Of course, Zhang Xiaoxiang was not lying. Liu Huai was indeed very busy now.

(End of this chapter)