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

Chapter 577 It's easier to deceive yourself than others.

Liu Huai received news of the unusual movements of the Jin army in Xuzhou first, and only then did he learn of the outcome of the war in Hebei.

There's no way around it; that's how information transmission works these days. Although carrier pigeons have become quite sophisticated, if someone like Liu Huai is on a campaign and sets up camp in a certain place, they can only use carrier pigeons to send out messages. To receive the messages, they have to rely on the military envoy to deliver them on horseback.

Upon receiving the military report, Liu Huai immediately realized that something big was about to happen.

Seeing that Liu Huai looked rather grim, Zhang Baiyu stepped forward and asked, "Young Master, what happened?"

Liu Huai handed over the documents in his hand: "Take a look for yourself."

After taking the document, Zhang Baiyu quickly read it through before saying with a complicated expression, "The Jin bandits of Xuzhou are going to attack Dongping Prefecture."

Liu Huai frowned and said to Liang Su, his tone full of complaint, "Mr. Liang, you said that Zhang Silang could see the truth at a glance, so why can't Geng Jiedu understand it?"

Having already reviewed the documents, Liang Su shook his head and said, "When I was young, I witnessed an uncle give his life savings to a swindler, simply because the swindler claimed to have the Midas touch to turn stones into gold. At the time, I was curious; if that fellow really had such a method, why would he charge money?"

“I immediately tried to dissuade my uncles, but they chased me away with willow branches.”

As he spoke, Liang Su chuckled and said, "From that time on, I understood a principle: people will always believe what they want to believe. Even if the result is full of loopholes, people can convince themselves."

"Geng Jiedushi, or rather, all the Taiping Army members, have convinced themselves. My lord, no matter how many methods or reasons you have, how can you make those who have blinded you see the way clearly?"

Liu Huai also laughed, but after a few laughs he sighed: "I just didn't expect that someone like Xin Wulang would be caught up in this."

Zhang Baiyu, who had a good relationship with Xin Qiji, spoke up to explain, "It's not entirely Xin Wu Ge's fault. His position is too awkward. Even if he understands some things, he still can't say them."

Indeed, Xin Qiji was very famous, but his achievements were all made under the guidance of Liu Huai.

When he followed Geng Jing, he was repeatedly defeated by the Jin army and was driven from Jinan to Tai'an. However, he shone brightly under Liu Huai. Under such circumstances, if Xin Qiji dared to argue his case, wouldn't he be clearly saying that Geng Jing was inferior to Liu Huai?
To this, Liu Huai could only smile wryly: "Forget about that, the key question is what we should do now?"

Although there were only three people in the military council, it was still a military council. In accordance with the rules of the military council, everyone could speak freely and without distinction of rank. Zhang Baiyu spoke first: "Now that the Jin bandits in Xuzhou have left, we can make our move."

Two thousand troops are sufficient. The Flying Tiger Army and the Dongping Army will sail down the Yi River together, first capturing Pizhou. Then, my lord, you will wait in Xiapi while I attack Suqian, eradicating all the Jin bandits' strongholds on the river!

By the end, Zhang Baiyu's handsome face was contorted with rage.

Liu Huai nodded repeatedly, as this was all to be expected. However, after waiting for a long time for the document to be submitted, there was still no movement. Liu Huai looked up in surprise: "That's it?"

Zhang Baiyu nodded emphatically: "That's all!"

Liu Huai was speechless for a moment, then turned to Liang Su and asked, "Mr. Liang, what's your opinion?"

After pondering for a moment, Liang Su said seriously, "Zhang Silang is right. Xiapi has already been ceded by the Jin invaders, and we cannot afford not to occupy it."

Pizhou is located at the border of the Song and Jin dynasties and Shandong, and it is a strategically important location. If we let it pass, this place might become a military achievement for a Song general.

After repeating the same old things, Liang Su looked at Zhang Baiyu and said, "But Xiapi and Suqian are different. Suqian is not the most urgent matter. If the Song Kingdom wants it, it will just mean another Shanyang, which is not important to the overall situation."

"But Xuzhou is more important. However, we only have so many troops. If we want to gain an advantage against the Jin army, we need a navy. Zhang Silang, the Dongping army must not break away from the main force and act alone."

Zhang Baiyu nodded slowly.

"According to Mr. Liang, after capturing Pizhou, we should go straight for Xuzhou?"

Although the strategic direction had changed, Zhang Baiyu was not discouraged by the rejection of his proposal. Instead, he asked a crucial question: "Can our troops deal with the Jin bandits in Xuzhou?"

Including those who recited Chiang Kai-shek's passage repeatedly, many people know one thing: Xuzhou is extremely important. This has been said countless times throughout history; everyone knows it. Did the Jin army not know?
Even if Heshi Lieliangbi were to be overconfident, at the very least, there would still be a large number of troops remaining in Pengcheng, the capital of Xuzhou. At that time, it would be quite wishful thinking for two thousand men to attack a fortified city guarded by a large army.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say." Liang Su cupped his hands to Liu Huai and said, "Young Master, the current situation can no longer be handled by two thousand soldiers. Let's gather the main force!"

Zhang Baiyu's breath hitched, and then he looked at Liu Huai.

That is the uncertainty and destructive power of war.

War doesn't mean that if you don't fight the enemy, they will become stagnant and motionless like puppets. Enemies also have their own stances, and sometimes they will take the initiative to cause trouble.

Once the war begins, it will not just be a matter of thousands or tens of thousands of people fighting each other. The people who originally participated in the construction of bridges and roads will have to become laborers, and all the money and grain that were originally stored in the treasury will have to be taken out as military rations and rewards. The construction of the entire Shandong will be affected.

After pondering for a moment, Liu Huai slowly nodded: "Our troops are indeed insufficient for the situation, but Mr. Liang, this is not a decisive battle after all. We must find a way to get things done with the fewest troops possible!"

"I've made up my mind."

“Mr. Liang, write to my father and ask him to gather two thousand elite soldiers and send them to Xiapi.”

"Write another military order to Li Tong, instructing him to squeeze out some money, grain, and laborers to send to the front lines as much as possible without delaying the construction of Shandong."

"Issue a military order to Huyan Nanxian, instructing him to be on high alert in Yidu Prefecture and to send troops to support the Tianping Army if necessary."

"Issue a military order to He Boqiu, giving him the authority to summon troops from the garrison and coordinate with Huyan Nanxian. If Geng Jiedu is truly defeated, then he will have to gather the entire army from northern Shandong and attack Jinan Prefecture."

“In the name of the military governor’s office, documents were sent to the prefects, vice-prefects and garrison commanders in various places, instructing them to stabilize their localities and not to cause any unrest.”

"I will also write to Mr. Lu in my personal capacity, asking him to deal severely with any corrupt officials he encounters during his inspection tours, without any leniency."

After giving the series of orders, Liu Huai looked at Liang Su, wanting to see if the other party had anything to add.

"And there's also the place of Lord Yu of Lianghuai."

"Send a letter to Lord Yu, saying that the Jin army in Xuzhou is about to start a full-scale war with Shandong. Even if he wants to sit on the sidelines and watch the tigers fight, he still has to give us skinny tigers some food. We lack everything, such as food and weapons. Mr. Liang, you can ask for whatever you want."

Liang Su chuckled twice, then said seriously, "What if the Song state wants to send troops north?"

Liu Huai laughed too: "Then I really have to think more highly of that Zhang Zigai. Even if they only cross the Huai River and occupy Suqian, I would still praise him as a hero. But I'm afraid Zhang Zigai doesn't even dare to cross the Huai River!"

After mocking the Song army for a bit, Liu Huai's expression turned serious: "Zhang Silang, go and prepare the troops. Tomorrow, the whole army will march south and take Xiapi first!"

Before Zhang Baiyu could even respond with a couple of words after he had just finished speaking his grand words, someone came to report from outside the command tent.

"Report! Li Chengen, the prefect of Pizhou, has come to see you. He says he has brought with him some important military intelligence from Pizhou and Xuzhou, along with local dignitaries."

Liu Huai frowned and asked Liang Su, "Mr. Liang, did you say it was Xu Shu or Pang Tong who came?"

After thinking for a moment, Liang Su suddenly laughed: "Couldn't the person who comes be someone who sincerely pledges allegiance and is loyal and righteous?"

Liu Huai laughed as well: "Then why did you come now of all times?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Baiyu immediately stood up and said, "Young Master, Mr. Liang, I will go and prepare the troops now. I will not engage in any more witty banter with you two clever men."

(End of this chapter)