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

Chapter 611 Yet they say the scenery of Jiangnan is beautiful

South bank of the Beiqing River.

Pingde Town, located 30 li northeast of Pingyin County.

After a bloody battle and a long march, the main force of the Taiping Army was exhausted and demoralized, and had no choice but to temporarily encamp here.

When Xin Qiji arrived with several hundred cavalrymen, he was also exhausted and hungry, but he dared not rest for a moment. He did not even have time to pay his respects to Geng Jing before he began to gather and count the troops and enforce military discipline.

After half an hour of fussing, Xin Qiji finally managed to count the number of the Taiping Army in the darkness of night.

After the great battle and forced march, various combat and non-combat casualties, plus desertions, the Taiping Army still had about 7,000 soldiers left.

The number of soldiers seemed large, but most of them were disarmed and even lost their weapons. They were also extremely exhausted, hungry, and cold, and were simply incapable of fighting any more major battles.

However, talent is the foundation for great things. As long as there is still vitality, there is always a chance to turn things around.

Xin Qiji comforted himself in this way, and he also comforted Li Tieqiang and Jia Rui in the same way.

The other two could only manage a wry smile.

The Taiping Army had suffered such crushing defeats before. In fact, before Geng Jing reorganized the army, the Taiping Army had gone from one defeat to another until it finally gained a foothold after destroying Shizhanxie in Dongping Prefecture.

These two men were not lacking in experience with failure, but this defeat was simply too humiliating.

Even in a head-on battle, being defeated wouldn't be this humiliating.

"Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!"

Xin Qiji quickly turned his head and saw Shi Baiju walking briskly towards him in the torchlight.

"What brings you here?" Xin Qiji asked, somewhat surprised. "Have you found the pontoon bridge?"

"No, we found a few ferry crossings, gathered some small boats, and brought some provisions." Shi Baiju wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned. "However, there's an excellent spot to build a pontoon bridge about five miles ahead, and I've already sent people there. Where's Brother Ye? I haven't seen him."

Xin Qiji's face stiffened, then he sighed and said, "Brother Ye led the army to cover the rear, and by now he is probably already..."

Shi Baiju was stunned for a moment before forcing a smile and saying, "Brother Ye is a lucky man. There are mountains and water all around. Once it gets dark, he may have already escaped."

Xin Qiji could only say, "Let's hope so, let's go see Geng Jiedu together."

Li Tieqiang finally spoke up indignantly: "What kind of things has my brother done?! Today I will definitely explain everything to him!"

The other Taiping generals were also filled with resentment.

This battle was a completely unexpected disaster for the Taiping Army.

The cause of this major battle was Geng Jing's reckless deployment; it can be said that from beginning to end, not a single strategic or tactical choice was correct.

Politicians bear political responsibility, and even Zhao Gou or Wanyan Liang were no exception. How could Geng Jing escape this responsibility?
However, when the group arrived at the house occupied by Geng Jing, they found that Geng Jing was already lying on the couch with a handkerchief covering his forehead and his face flushed, as if he had fallen ill.

Zhang Anguo stood to the side, holding a bowl of bean porridge in his hands. He was anxious to go forward and feed the child, but was shooed away and looked a little flustered.

"Brother..." Despite his anger, seeing Geng Jing so weak, Li Tieqiang still asked anxiously, "Brother, what happened to you?"

Zhang Anguo sighed: "I actually fell ill after crossing the river today. I forced myself to fight and sweat a lot. Then the cold wind blew on me, and I couldn't hold on any longer. I fell ill when I got to the town."

Moreover… and the governor is acting strangely for some reason, he's even refusing to eat. Fifth Brother, let's try to persuade him together.”

The Taiping generals who had gathered all sighed upon seeing this, though one or two secretly sneered.

Is Geng Jiedu feigning illness because he can't face his generals?

Seeing how weak Geng Jing looked, one could almost believe it.

"You... what brings you here?" Just as all the generals remained silent, Geng Jing opened his eyes, forced himself to sit up, and slowly asked, "Is the army all settled?"

Xin Qiji looked around and said with a forced smile, "Commander, now is not the time to make arrangements. Pingyin is only thirty li away. After we rest for a while, we must set off immediately and hurry to Jinan Prefecture..."

Hearing this, Geng Jing's eyes turned red as he ripped the wet towel off his forehead and threw it to the ground: "Wulang, what have I done to wrong you? Do you really want to submit to Liu Dalang?"

This wasn't the first time Xin Qiji had heard such hurtful words, and he no longer wanted to argue. He simply sighed, closed his eyes, and fell silent.

"And you all..." Geng Jing pointed to the generals of the Tianping Army who had followed Xin Qiji in: "Am I lacking your rewards or your servants? Why do you all want to leave me after just one defeat?"

Li Tieqiang, enraged, shouted, "Brother, wake up! Nobody wants to leave you, but we've been defeated like this today, with thousands of soldiers dead! We have to find a way out!"

Geng Jing looked at Li Tieqiang, his face a mixture of shock and disappointment: "Big Tieqiang...you...how could you betray me too? Kong Duanqi betrayed me, Shao Jin betrayed me. Wang Youzhi also betrayed me, and Ye Shichan and Liang Atai have also fled. Now you're going to betray me too?! You're one of my old brothers from when we started the uprising!"

With that, Geng Jing, filled with anger and resentment, shouted, "Get out! All of you, get out of here! Don't you all want to join Liu Dalang?! Go now! Go now!"

Faced with Geng Jing's angry scolding, Li Tieqiang initially tried to argue, but in the end, his face turned ashen, and he was speechless. He could only clench his fists and let the tears in his eyes stream down his face.

"Brother!" Jia Rui said through gritted teeth, "Kong Duanqi and Shao Jin betrayed you! But the rest of you died for you!"

"Brother, are you really confused?! No Jin bandits have shown up on the north bank of the Beiqing River today. The Jin bandits who are after us have really been stopped at Bozhou! Wang Youzhi is truly fighting to the death to stop them!"

"Liang Atai led several hundred men and fought his way through two waves of Jin bandits! Finally, he reached Shao's side, which gave us a chance to escape!"

"Brother Ye Shichan and his few hundred personal guards are facing imminent danger as they try to block the encirclement of the Jin army of ten thousand!"

"So many people died, died for you, brother! Is this all we get in return for being told everyone has betrayed us?"

Jia Rui finished speaking in one breath, his grief and indignation overwhelming him.

Geng Jing was struck dumb.

He was so paranoid today because of Kong Duanqi and Shao Jin's betrayal that he saw everyone as a traitor, to the point that he spoke recklessly, even cursing his trusted generals who had stuck with him all this time. "Atai... and Ye Er, they... they all..."

A lieutenant spoke up, saying, "I don't know about Brother Ye, but I saw General Liang being shot down by a hail of arrows from afar... I..."

At this point, the adjutant was also filled with resentment, but he didn't know who he was venting it on. His voice became choked with emotion: "General Liang was provoked by the governor's words and led the vanguard to break through the enemy's formation. Even if he is now dead, can't he get a word of loyalty in return?"

Geng Jing reached out his hand, as if to say something, but immediately began to cough violently, and soon blood was seeping from his mouth and nose.

Zhang Anguo quickly stepped forward, patted Geng Jing's back, and whispered to Xin Qiji and the others, "Fifth Brother, you should go and prepare the troops first, and let the governor rest. Tonight, we must escape to Jinan Prefecture no matter what. I... I will try to persuade the governor again."

Seeing that Zhang Anguo, a confidant of Geng Jing, had spoken, Xin Qiji and the others had no choice but to accept the situation. They knew that time was of the essence and this was not the time to discuss such matters.

They exchanged a glance, then turned and left indignantly.

Li Tieqiang stood there, and only after everyone had left did he move his feet with difficulty.

As he reached the door, he turned back and said, "Brother, do you still remember why we started this rebellion?"

Li Tieqiang did not wait for Geng Jing's answer; after asking the question, he immediately turned and left.

Geng Jing coughed for a long time before finally lying down on the bed.

A moment later, after Zhang Anguo had also left, Geng Jing hugged the blanket, curled up, and cried out, "I raised an army... I raised an army because I wanted you... to let you all live!"

More than half an hour later, the whole town finally calmed down, and everyone was taking the time to rest and look for wood and oil to make torches.

All the generals of the Taiping Army knew that tonight would not be peaceful, and there might even be a major battle.

Because if things were done normally, the Jin army would have sent a cavalry force to advance and drive the Taiping army away, preventing the defeated army from resting, and then crushing them in one fell swoop after the Taiping army had completely scattered.

However, apart from scouts and reconnaissance cavalry, there were no Jin troops around the town at this time. It can be seen that the Jin army was planning to win the battle in one fell swoop and did not want the Taiping army and the Han army to make contact at all.

The next time we engage in battle, the Jin army will likely be pressing in with overwhelming force once again.

Xin Qiji was very worried about this, and could only eat dry rations while inspecting the army and urging the troops to make preparations.

Of course, given that it was nighttime and the troops were defeated, many were bound to desert, but in the midst of panic and chaos, no one cared about such things.

"Brother Xin, the military governor has ordered a military council!" Just as Xin Qiji was busy and confused, a military envoy came to deliver the order: "All the generals have been summoned. The military governor says he has made a decision."

Xin Qiji was greatly encouraged.

At times like these, making a decision, even a wrong one, is better than making no decision at all.

Soon, the generals gathered again in the courtyard in the town. Contrary to what some had feared was a trap, Geng Jing had already rallied and was now wearing armor. Although his face was still pale, he sat on the bed, looking radiant.

Like a tiger that doesn't die but still retains its might, even in his illness, Geng Jing still displayed a heroic spirit.

However, at this moment, some of the generals were already disheartened, while others tried to rouse themselves but were still exhausted, so their salutes were somewhat weak and listless.

Geng Jing, however, paid no attention to these matters. He glanced around before saying, "The Ping army's defeat to this extent is all my fault. The state of Dongping Prefecture is also my fault; and the disloyalty among you all is naturally my fault as well."

Upon hearing this, someone tried to offer a toast, but Geng Jing stopped them by waving his hand.

“I know you haven’t left yet, simply because you have Liu Dalang’s place to go.” Geng Jing said directly, ignoring the change in expression on some people’s faces, “I’ve given my permission.”

"If the Jin bandits come after us, we won't be able to escape unscathed. Someone needs to cover our retreat. I don't want to be subordinate to Liu Dalang, who's only in his twenties. I'll lead my personal guards to do this."

After these words were spoken, none of the generals of the Taiping Army expressed any anger or dissuasion; they all hesitated.

Xin Qiji looked up, his gaze complex as he looked at Geng Jing.

Based on Geng Jing's behavior these days, he might be trying to draw the Jin army's attention with the majority of the Taiping Army so that he could escape with his trusted men.

This is very possible.

Wang Youzhi, Liang Atai, and Ye Shichan were all people who risked their lives for Geng Jing and were Geng Jing's core supporters, yet they were still suspected. What about the others?
Moreover, Geng Jing has just made it clear that all the generals want to betray him. Would Geng Jing really cover the retreat for a group of traitors?

Geng Jing's words were the only ones that sounded high-sounding and even led the Taiping Army to defect to Liu Huai, which could be considered quite upright and honorable.

A moment later, Li Tieqiang took the lead, cupped his hands and said, "Brother... take care on your journey. I will risk my life for you one more time."

The implication was that they would be even from now on.

The other generals also bowed and agreed.

After the brief military meeting concluded and the generals departed, Geng Jing remained seated on his bed, stroking the long sword that had been with him for so long, and said to Zhang Anguo, "Have all my personal guards been selected?"

Zhang Anguo nodded emphatically: "There are 213 people, all of whom are my brother's loyal followers and are willing to die for him. Even if we go to the Southern Dynasty, we will definitely protect my brother and help him make a comeback."

Geng Jing chuckled, then coughed violently once more.

However, once a person makes up their mind, even their spirit relaxes. Geng Jing felt that his head was not as painful as before, and after coughing up some bloody phlegm, he felt refreshed.

After he finished coughing, Geng Jing said, "Seventh Brother, you should go with Wu Lang and the others too."

Zhang Anguo was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something and burst into tears on the spot.

“Brother…you…”

Geng Jing turned away, no longer looking into Zhang Anguo's eyes, and slowly said, "You also need to control your temper. Liu Dalang's side has strict rules, and no one will protect you in the future."

(End of this chapter)