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

Chapter 635 Rare and easily lost, it is all due to timing.

Tu Danyongnian is right. There are already undercurrents in Xuzhou. Once the Wujie Army takes any action, no one can be kept in the dark.

On December 7th, Liang Su, who was in Pizhou, received several intelligence reports from different sources and quickly deduced that the Wujie Army was about to take action.

"Zhang Silang, Cheng Feng handed me a note saying that the Jin bandits are gathering cargo ships to transport grain."

"This is a letter sent by Jiang Mingyi. The Jin thieves have given three days to have all the blacksmiths in the city take their families and leave with them, and to sweep away all the ironware from their homes."

He's currently just going through the motions, but he'll hardly escape this punishment.

"Meng Tang and Li Zhongqing came in person and said that while the Jin army was conscripting laborers, they were also making some moves in Dangshan County. Many elite cavalrymen had already gone to clear the roads and drive away merchants."

"There are others, some I know and some I don't, who either sent letters or delivered verbal messages, all of which have been compiled into documents."

"It's similar to the results we found with our scouts."

Liang Su concluded, "The Jin invaders are about to send troops, but not to attack Pizhou. They will head west or north. As for where they are going, we still need to investigate."

Zhang Baiyu stood before the rudimentary map, frowning as he looked at Xuzhou, constantly comparing the possible marching directions of the Jin army.

Liang Su continued, without stopping, "According to the military report that was delivered, the Commander-in-Chief has defeated the rebel army in Dongping Prefecture and a Jin garrison commander."

The Taiping Army also marched south to Dongping Prefecture and defeated Tudanzhen. Hey, that big blue rhinoceros is really not easy to deal with.

Wang Xiong also led his army to Yanzhou, and soon they would be able to join forces with the Tianping army.

After saying that, Liang Su looked at Zhang Baiyu: "Zhang Silang, Steward Zhang, given this situation, don't you have any thoughts?"

Zhang Baiyu finally spoke up: "Yes, of course there are."

After saying that, Zhang Baiyu turned around and looked intently at Liang Su: "My lord, uncles, elders, old friends and acquaintances, all fought to the death on the battlefield, some made great achievements and became famous in later generations, while others were defeated and died, leaving no trace of their bodies."

"Yet now, I hold the most elite Flying Tiger Cavalry of the Jingnan Army, and two thousand of the most elite infantrymen of the Dongping Army, yet I can only sit idly by in Pizhou, watching the turbulent situation unfold before me. My heart is burning with anxiety. Can Mr. Liang possibly understand this feeling?"

Liang Su held the letter and burst into laughter.

However, Zhang Baiyu asked again in a serious tone: "As fellow newly surrendered people, Li Tong, the Prime Minister, can oversee the logistics of the army and use this to interfere in local affairs. In the future, he may very well become the Prime Minister of the Commander-in-Chief."

Although Mr. Liang was personally hailed by the Commander-in-Chief as a future military leader, he has achieved nothing here because he and I have been holding back Wu Jie's army in Xuzhou. This slowdown could mean falling behind at every step. Mr. Liang, can you understand my feelings now?

Liang Su stopped smiling, sighed and said, "How could I not understand? The reason I joined the service of the Commander-in-Chief was because I had lofty ambitions and wanted to bring peace to the world. Now that I see others making achievements, I am naturally anxious."

But the Commander-in-Chief's military orders are of utmost importance; the Wujie Army is a formidable fighting force, and if they are not kept in check, it could truly lead to disaster!

Zhang Baiyu nodded and said, "Then please, Mr. Liang, come up with a solution that satisfies both sides!"

Liang Su was slightly taken aback, then pointed at Zhang Baiyu and laughed, "Zhang Silang, you really are all bark and no bite. So you were lying in ambush for me here."

However, Liang Su only joked for a moment before looking up at the map and analyzing the situation: "It's not all bad that Wu Jie's army is moving now. At least, that bastard Guo Anguo has finally come out of his shell in Pengcheng."

Pengcheng is situated in a small basin surrounded by mountains and rivers, a natural location for city building, a terrain that is virtually unique in the Central Plains.

Today's Pengcheng has not yet been ravaged by the Yellow River for over a thousand years, nor has it been covered by eleven layers of yellow mud. Therefore, Pengcheng's terrain is more than ten meters lower than that of modern Xuzhou, and the surrounding hills are more precipitous than in later times.

The Bian River and the upper reaches of the Si River converge at the northeast corner of Pengcheng, forming a natural moat. Although the Yellow River has changed its course, with its main channel taking over the Bian River and its tributaries taking over the upper reaches of the Si River, it still protects Pengcheng well.

Wu Jie's army could easily obtain food and supplies from Bianliang through these two rivers, while the attacking army was unable to deploy its troops due to the treacherous terrain around Pengheng.

The so-called strategic location that military strategists must contend for is just like Pengcheng.

Zhang Baiyu nodded in agreement: "That's why we couldn't launch a proactive attack on Pengcheng before. Without an army of 100,000, with both land and water forces, it would be very difficult to conquer it. But, Mr. Liang, even if the Wu Jie Army comes out of Pengcheng, can our army really fight them head-on?"

Liang Su smiled and shook his head: "Of course not. I don't think the Commander-in-Chief had ever considered sending our four thousand elite troops to fight the Wu Jie Army head-on. Otherwise, Xin Qiji and Wang Xiongyi wouldn't have made a move."

Zhang Baiyu's heart skipped a beat: "So you mean we're going to merge our armies? Then who will be in charge?"

Liang Su's smile widened: "Although we haven't received military orders yet, if the Commander-in-Chief can arrive, then naturally the Eldest Young Master will personally take command. If the matter in Hebei is not over, then the commander will naturally be... Xin Wulang."

Zhang Baiyu's handsome face, which had been somewhat expectant, fell, and he sighed, saying, "It's pretty much what I thought, except there's still a sliver of hope left."

Liang Su shook his head and replied, "It's normal to have such thoughts. I've read the documents of the army's past battles. Ever since our army fought against the Wuxing Army in Yishui County, and Xin Wulang led two thousand Tianping soldiers to come to our aid, his position in our army has been unshakable."

As he spoke, Liang Su began counting on his fingers, saying, "At that time, the Loyal Army only had a few thousand soldiers. Xin Wulang served as a detachment, fighting against the Jin army's detachment to ensure the safety of the main army's flank. He was immediately integrated into the main army."

"With such merit, and the fact that the Taiping Army who came to support him were all fighting under his command, Xin Wulang naturally became the most important guest general of the Jingnan Army, and naturally became the eldest son's deputy. When the eldest son was not around, he would naturally become the general commander of one route."

"Just like during the Battle of Chaoxian."

"As long as Xin Wulang continues to make no mistakes and continues to achieve merit, his status will definitely gradually rise above others."

Zhang Baiyu was calm at first, but gradually became indignant: "So, only Xin Wulang is a commander-in-chief, while we are all generals?"

Liang Su shook his head repeatedly: "That's not how it's argued, Si Lang. How can there be any perfect preparation in this world? And how can there be people who are blessed by heaven? For example, when the Han Dynasty was first established, Emperor Gaozu started a rebellion by slaying a white snake. In less than ten years, he pacified the world with the help of the talents in Fengpei. Did all the talents in the world gather in just two or three counties?"

It's simply about surviving difficult situations, living on the battlefield where death is certain, winning battle after battle, and quelling one bandit after another. As long as you survive, you can naturally become a renowned general and a high-ranking official.

"Take Zhang Xiaoyi, for example. What a loyal and brave man he was! If he hadn't died in the Battle of Chaoxian, he might very well be vying with Xin Wulang for the title of the Han army's number one general. However..."

At this point, Liang Su sighed and looked at Zhang Baiyu seriously, saying, "Zhang Silang, I am not saying this to praise Xin Wulang or belittle you. It is because of fate and destiny. Although the timing is right, everyone has to fight for their own lives. Although you are in a subordinate position now, as long as you persevere, you will naturally have your day."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Baiyu turned away so Liang Su wouldn't see his expression. After a moment, he turned back and said with a smile, "Mr. Liang, you didn't just say these words to me, did you? Have you said them to yourself countless times already?"

Liang Su laughed again: "Of course it is so. I aspire to be like Zhuge Liang, the Grand Chancellor of a great nation. Li Tong and Lu You are nothing but passersby in my life!"

Zhang Baiyu: "In that case, Mr. Liang is determined to fight the Jin bandits before Xin Wulang and the others arrive?"

Liang Su: "That's right. As long as we can hold off Wu Jie's army and wipe out one or two thousand of them, who will dare to say that you, Zhang Silang, command elite troops but are afraid of fighting?"

Zhang Baiyu turned to look at the map again: "We still need to see the movements of the Jin invaders."

Liang Su stood up and stood before the map: "The Wujie Army only has a few directions. Either they go north and attack Dongping Prefecture, then Xin Wulang will naturally deal with them."

However, that's unlikely.

We can either head east and attack Pizhou, in which case we just need to hold the city;

Either head west, following the Yellow River back to Bianliang;

Either..."

Liang Su pointed to the map, indicating the most likely possibility: "Either head south, Si Lang. Do you remember that the Jin Dynasty's Left Chancellor, Heshi Lieliangbi, prepared some ships and provisions at the Ju River, attempting to use them to surround the Song Dynasty's reinforcements?"

"Wu Jiejun is very likely to reach Suzhou through this line in order to deal with our army."

Zhang Baiyu shook his head and said, "Never mind, Pengcheng and Xiapi are only 150 li apart. No matter how the Jin bandits react, as soon as they make a move, our army will immediately assemble and pursue them all the way!"

"Once we can recapture Xuzhou, who in the world will dare to look down on me?!"

(End of this chapter)