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

Chapter 589 Loyalty and Righteousness are Where I Find Peace

"Big Iron Spear, what happened? Why are you retreating?"

Xin Qiji was covered in blood, his cloak and armor stained dark red. He was carrying two heavy swords and looked somewhat exasperated.

Li Tieqiang said with a wry smile, "It's Brother Geng's military order, and a strict one at that, ordering us to temporarily halt our troops and convene a major military meeting, which both of us must attend!"

Xin Qiji was furious, but he forced himself to calm down: "This must be something big. Has anyone tipped you off?"

Li Tieqiang shook his head: "How could I hide it from you? Change into your armor first and come with me. Once we get to the camp, you'll know everything."

Xin Qiji was still furious. He simply flicked the blood off his heavy sword, not even bothering to wipe it, and sheathed it again: "Why bother with armor? Let's just go like this. I want to see if that bastard Zhang Qi will say I didn't contribute to the siege again!"

"Calm down, calm down," Li Tieqiang quickly advised. "Fifth Brother, don't get angry with that scoundrel Zhang Qi. It's not worth it."

After managing to calm Xin Qiji down, the two quickly prepared their horses and, with their personal guards, headed south around the city.

Upon arriving at the camp, Xin Qiji immediately sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange and became secretly wary.

Could this be a move to strip them of their military command?

Could it be that Liu Huai wrote another letter scolding Geng Jiedu?
Thinking of this, Xin Qiji felt another wave of exhaustion.

This battle was already difficult enough, and Wanyan Shoudao was determined to defend Yuancheng to the death. Heshilie Zhining, who had retreated, was also making trouble. And now this kind of trouble has to come. It's outrageous.

So what if they strip him of his military power? He can just go back to farming!

After muttering his complaints to himself for a while, Xin Qiji still arrived at the commander's tent, still reeking of blood.

Once he actually entered the tent, Xin Qiji realized that things might be somewhat different from what he had imagined.

Not only was Geng Jing furious, but all the generals and clerks looked extremely grim.

Seeing Xin Qiji arrive covered in blood, Geng Jing smiled and said, "Fifth Brother, you've worked hard, and you too, Great Iron Spear. Please sit down and have a cup of tea."

Xin Qiji looked at the other generals and found that many of them were panting and covered in blood, as if they had just come down from the city wall. Most of them also looked confused.

"Commander! The defenders of Yuancheng are exhausted! Our army will take it soon, why are we retreating?" Li Tieqiang shouted.

Upon hearing this, some uninformed generals also chimed in, "Yes, Commander, our men have suffered heavy casualties. We finally managed to corner the Jin invaders. How can we retreat now?"

"We had just taken the city wall, and more than seventy armored soldiers had climbed it. We were about to drive all the Jin invaders off the wall. Why are you sounding the retreat?"

"Shut up, all of you!" Geng Jing finally snapped, shouting, "Do you think I'm going to withdraw my troops?! Zhang Qi, tell everyone what's going on..."

Zhang Anguo shuddered slightly before saying in a deep voice, "The Jurchen army has stormed Dongping Prefecture and is currently besieging Xucheng..."

"What?!" The generals were all shocked.

As the core of Dongping Prefecture, Xucheng housed the families of the Tianping Army officers and had a large stockpile of grain for the Northern Expedition. How could people not panic when it was now besieged?
Amidst the commotion, Xin Qiji shouted, "Shut up, all of you!"

"Commander, how many days has Xucheng been besieged? How many troops have the Jin invaders brought? What is the current situation of the battle? Where are the Song reinforcements or Liu Dalang's reinforcements?"

Faced with Xin Qiji's series of questions, Geng Jing remained silent for a moment before saying, "The letter of aid sent by A Jin's envoy stated that the Jin bandits arrived half a month ago, with only 10,000 regular troops, which he is struggling to handle. As for reinforcements..."

Geng Jing's face was grim: "Neither side has reinforcements..."

Upon hearing that no reinforcements were coming, several generals cursed loudly, but those with sharper minds, such as Xin Qiji, breathed a sigh of relief: "Ten thousand Jin bandits are alright... ten thousand regular Jin troops, and Shao Jin is defending the city. Xucheng is fortified, how could it not be held?"

Despite Xin Qiji's words of comfort, Liang Atai ignored them and instead asked Geng Jing, "Commander, when did this news arrive? Why were we not informed?"

This question put Geng Jing in an awkward position. However, Xin Qiji, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, seemed to become Geng Jing's most steadfast supporter: "Atai, the governor's move is also to stabilize the people's hearts. Otherwise, if this matter were to spread, the morale of the army would be shaken, and our army would be thrown into chaos for no reason."

Liang Atai nodded with difficulty, agreeing with this statement, but still had other questions: "Jiedu, why is this news being announced now? Has something else gone wrong?"

Geng Jing was even more embarrassed.

Zhang Anguo sighed and said, "The Jin bandits in Xucheng have reinforced their troops. Just now, Dong'e sent an urgent report that at least another 10,000 Jin regular troops have marched north from Xuzhou to join the siege of Xucheng."

Even Xin Qiji was unsettled. When the Jin army fought the Battle of Chaoxian, they only had three 10,000-household commanders plus Hezhameng'an and three thousand elite troops from Huaidong. Now, just for the siege of Xucheng, they have sent two 10,000-household commanders. The Jin state really thinks highly of the Tianping Army!

Shao Jin was only of average appearance. It was already quite an achievement that he could withstand the fierce attack of 10,000 Jin troops with the few thousand soldiers he left behind. Now that the number of troops had doubled, Xucheng was truly in danger.

"Where is Liu Dalang?" Xin Qiji said with a stern face. "The Song state is not reliable, but Liu Dalang is not the kind of person who would stand by and watch someone die. Where is he?"

Geng Jing shook his head and said sincerely, "I really don't know. Shandong is in complete chaos right now. News from more than half a month ago said that Liu Dalang went to Pizhou. But Wulang, if Liu Dalang really led a large army to Pizhou and then went north to threaten the rear of the Jin army in Xuzhou, where would they find two commanders of ten thousand to go north?"

Xin Qiji frowned.

Wei Sheng and Liu Huai had already made it very clear that Shandong East Road would focus on recuperation and development this year, and it was impossible for them to send a large army to support it.

The Tianping Army attacked Daming Prefecture because the Song state guaranteed that it would send troops to contain Xuzhou.

Now, Geng Jing's words make it sound like Liu Huai didn't try his best.
At this point, Xin Qiji didn't want to argue anymore and asked directly, "Does the military governor think it's time to withdraw the troops?"

Although reluctant to admit it, Geng Jing nodded: "It is indeed time to withdraw the troops, and we should do so as soon as possible. Xucheng does not seem to be very stable either."

Xin Qiji took a deep breath and continued, "Commander, it is difficult to retreat at this time. Not to mention the strong enemy ahead, the Heshilie Zhining behind us is also eager to make a move. Moreover, retreating for no reason will make the morale of the army uneasy."

"Fifth Brother, you can speak frankly. I'll listen to you today." Geng Jing knew the situation was difficult, so he put aside his suspicions and spoke sincerely to Xin Qiji.

The blood on Xin Qiji's armor had congealed, and the armor plates made an eerie clicking sound with every movement: "The governor needs to select appropriate troops as the vanguard and rearguard, and must personally oversee the central army. Under no circumstances should chaos arise from the central army."

Geng Jing nodded repeatedly.

"And Liu Dalang." Xin Qiji saw that Geng Jing's expression changed slightly, but he still gritted his teeth and continued, "Whether it is Duke Wei or Liu Dalang, their stance against the Jin is particularly firm. They would never stand by and watch someone die. Perhaps they have already sent troops. The Jiedushi and the Shandong righteous army are one entity. It is only right for them to cooperate with each other."

Geng Jing still felt somewhat uneasy, but he nodded in agreement nonetheless.

"Ye Erlang." Geng Jing's gaze swept across the faces of the generals, finally settling on Ye Shichan, who had remained silent all along: "You will lead your troops as the vanguard of our army."

“Yes!” Ye Shichan immediately bowed in agreement.

"Wulang, Big Iron Spear." Geng Jing then looked at Xin Qiji and Li Tieqiang: "You two will lead your troops as the rearguard of our army, and you must not be separated from the main force."

Xin Qiji and Li Tieqiang also responded loudly, saying that they had obeyed the order.

Seeing that his generals had not lost their morale, Geng Jing felt reassured. After offering a few words of encouragement, he ordered the generals to return to their respective camps and await the order to withdraw.

Xin Qiji and Li Tieqiang traveled with Ye Shichan for about a mile, remaining silent until they were about to part ways. Only then did Xin Qiji say, "Second Brother Ye, the situation is difficult, please take care!"

Ye Shichan sighed and didn't reply, but instead brought up the past: "Do you remember the night we were marching in Mengshan and were ambushed by Pusan ​​Damo?"

How could I not remember?
That battle was the first time Liu Huai displayed his abilities in front of the Taiping Army; after the battle, the Taiping Army's crushing defeat and their united will made Geng Jing develop ambition for the first time; and the silent death of the nameless girl named Er Ya also made Xin Qiji set his sights on great things for the first time.

Too many people and too many things changed after that great war.

Ye Shichan's gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if he was immersed in the past and unable to extricate himself: "That night, the Jin bandits charged at me. I was panicked and fled in a sorry state. It was Geng Jiedu who personally led the Heavenly King Army to save me."

Later, that scoundrel Pusan ​​Damo personally led an army in a surprise attack, and my troops were routed. It was again Geng Jiedu who stood in front of me with his long sword, letting me go first while he covered my retreat.

"After Geng Jiedu returned, I swore in my heart that I would give my life to Jiedu."

Ye Shichan turned to Xin Qiji: "I know that Wulang is a smart man, and Liu Dalang is even more wise. I am dull and cannot understand the ways of the world. But you two both say that Geng Jiedu was wrong, so he may... he really may have been wrong."

"However, whether Commander Geng is wise or foolish, since he has saved my life, I will naturally repay him with my life."

Ye Shichan pointed to his chest: "This will never change."

Xin Qiji and Li Tieqiang nodded in silence.

Seeing this, Ye Shichan laughed instead: "Don't look at me like that, as if I'm doomed. Fifth Brother, Big Iron Spear, it's tough for you two to cover the rear. I hope we can have a good drink together in Xucheng another day!"

Having said that, Ye Shichan didn't wait for Xin Qiji's reply and immediately spurred his horse and galloped away.

(End of this chapter)