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

Chapter 794 Night Raid Under the Bright Moon (Part 2)
Xiao Zhongda's approach was simple, even somewhat crude.

At night, lead your troops to charge over and stir up trouble around Qiao County, or simply set fire to turn the conscripted soldiers into a mutinous army, thus seizing the city in the chaos.

This was not a decision Xiao Zhongda made on a whim, but rather after careful consideration.

First of all, as a high-ranking officer in the Jin army, Xiao Zhongda was very familiar with the Jin's military arrangements.

In a vital transportation hub like Qiao County, far from the front lines, there would certainly be some Jin regular troops stationed there, but not too many, at most two hundred. Add to that the local soldiers mobilized from the prefectures and counties after the military control was implemented, and that would be enough to maintain the stability of the prefectures and counties.

In other words, if they could find a way to separate the local troops from the prefectures and counties and only deal with the Jin state's regular army, it would be easy to create a situation where they outnumbered the enemy.

Secondly, Xiao Zhongda was all too aware of the living conditions of the conscripted soldiers, especially when such a large number of conscripted soldiers gathered together, the slightest disturbance would cause great panic and turmoil.

This is only natural. Imagine a young and strong farmer who, while preparing for the autumn harvest, has his land plundered, his family driven away or killed, and he is herded like a pig or sheep, suffering from hunger and thirst all day long, while constantly witnessing the deaths of his fellow conscripts. After arriving at a certain place, he is then confined in the wilderness. What would he feel?

The gathering of so many people with similar experiences is like a powder keg ready to explode.

Finally, Xiao Zhongda understood his friend Xiao Caole all too well.

This guy may be a blockhead, but he's not stupid; on the contrary, he's quite clever.

However, his stubborn nature combined with his intelligence can make him extremely suspicious when faced with unexpected changes.

This gave Xiao Zhongda an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

The moon is high in the sky; it's midnight.

Two hundred miles away, as Heshi Lieliangbi and Jiagu Qingchen discussed the past and present, Xiao Zhongda, holding a long spear, bathed in the cold moonlight, looked towards the city wall of Qiao County.

There were only a few torches there.

"Light the torch! Men, let's raise a clamor!"

The two hundred-odd vanguard soldiers, who were struggling to march with their comrades by their belts, immediately lit torches, spat out gags from their mouths, and approached the conscripted army camp: "Qiao County rebels! Kill the Jin traitors!"

"They've rebelled! Kill the Jin invaders!"

The Qiaoxian soldiers maintaining order at the military camp immediately became alert. However, before they could take any action, Xiao Zhongda led his men to break down the door and kill anyone who tried to stop them, quickly plunging the surrounding area into chaos.

Zhu Changshui, who was waiting with a torch behind a grove of trees in the distance, saw this scene and immediately led his follow-up troops to give chase.

Although Xiao Zhongda had wasted two years, once he was allowed to go into battle, he still maintained the qualities of a top-notch general. He used both bows and swords, and his long weapons smashed wildly, killing anyone who stood in his way. He was almost no match for anyone.

In the midst of the chaos, the personal martial prowess of a top-notch general is crucial. After Xiao Zhongda killed three officers in succession through surprise attacks, the conscription camp was completely doomed, and a commotion resembling a camp riot broke out.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhongda dared not interfere any further. He pushed down several sections of the wooden fence, creating an escape route for the conscripted soldiers, and then quickly gathered his troops and withdrew.

At this moment, he was not leading the elite Shenwei Army, but a ragtag army of local militia and patrolmen. If the conscripted soldiers were to get involved, he didn't think he could bring his troops back.

Indeed, this was the case. After the mutiny, the conscripted soldiers scattered in all directions, causing the other conscripted soldiers' camps to become unstable as well.

Just then, Zhu Changshui arrived with the remaining thousand or so men. However, instead of immediately launching an attack, he shouted loudly, "Qiao County has rebelled! Bozhou has rebelled! The Central Plains has rebelled! Han Chinese of the Central Plains, kill the Tartars!"

Linhuan is only two hundred miles away from here, and the accents are similar. With their shouts in unison, it really created the impression that the whole city was rebelling.

Even the local soldiers who were still trying to maintain order began to hesitate and feel fear.

Could it be that they've really rebelled?

Why didn't anyone inform me beforehand? I didn't even prepare any flags!

In this situation, the single-minded yet extremely intelligent Xiao Caole indeed fell into a huge contradiction and began to doubt himself.

On the one hand, judging from Xiao Caole's insistence, he genuinely wanted to be loyal to the Jin state, and he also believed in his own abilities, which were sufficient to control the entire Qiao County region in recent days.

On the other hand, he also knew very well that the Han people of the Central Plains had endured several years of hardship and were finally about to reap a bountiful harvest under Shi Ju's rule this year, but the large-scale conscription of soldiers had caused the situation in the Central Plains to fall into complete chaos.

Given these ups and downs, the Han Chinese in the Central Plains might actually be planning a rebellion.

Therefore, amidst these conflicting emotions, Xiao Caole decisively gathered his two hundred or so regular soldiers together to prevent them from being easily wiped out by the "Qiao County Uprising Army" due to fighting independently, and to prepare for the upcoming changes.

There is no right or wrong in this choice.

In reality, when things are going smoothly, any choice you make might be the right one, but when things are going against you, any choice you make might be the wrong one.

After the Jin army withdrew from various key locations to the central government offices, Qiao County, a large county, was left in a brief power vacuum. This power vacuum did not mean that there was no one in charge; in fact, both the magistrate of Qiao County and the prefect of Bozhou were in the city. Given some time, they could rebuild the command system.

However, at this very moment, in key locations such as the city walls, city gates, and water gates, only low-ranking officers and leaders had the final say.

Zhao Wei reached out and touched the wounds on his shoulder caused by the whipping, but this action caused several wounds on his back to ache unbearably.

As the city gatekeeper, Zhao Wei is having an exceptionally difficult time these days.

First, a warrior with a Liaodong accent inexplicably whipped him, and then told him to go find Xiao Caole, saying that an old friend was waiting for him at the door.

When Xiao Caole arrived at the gate from the government office with some doubt, Zhao Wei discovered that the Liaodong warrior had disappeared again.

Xiao Caole thought this fellow was just making fun of him, and immediately flew into a rage. He ordered his guards to strip the fellow of his clothes and personally whipped him five times.

Zhao Wei was beaten twice in one day, and both times it was for no apparent reason. He was almost in tears.

However, this fellow was still a city gate officer after all. Although he was wounded both in front and behind, he dared not abandon his post in the current chaotic situation. After calling the city doctor to apply medicine to him, he continued to suffer in the city gate.

Despite the sweltering heat, Zhao Wei was still drenched in sweat in the shade of the city gate, which only intensified the pain in his wounds. He couldn't sleep soundly at night either, and as he thought about everything that had happened during the day, a wave of grievance and resentment washed over him, and tears welled up in his eyes in the darkness.

In his half-awake state, Zhao Wei heard a sudden commotion outside the city. He immediately grabbed his sword, rushed out of his house, and reflexively prepared to meet the enemy.

However, upon hearing the roars outside the city, Zhao Wei's steps gradually slowed down. Then, ignoring the dozen or so trusted followers who had already approached, he stood frozen on the spot.

Meanwhile, his trusted confidants asked anxiously, "Second Brother, what should we do?"

After standing there for a moment, Zhao Wei stamped his foot and said, "This must be because Sun Dabenshi and Hu Wazi couldn't stand it anymore, or they heard some rumors and started a rebellion."

Why didn't they invite me? Do they think I'm just a lackey, not a hero?

The confidants originally wanted to discuss the matter of quelling the rebellion, but they didn't expect Zhao Wei to say such a thing, which left them in a state of confusion and looking at each other in bewilderment.

Zhao Wei ignored his confidant's expression, inexplicably recalling his ordeal that day. Feeling the burning pain in his back and front, and the humiliation he had suffered, he stamped his foot again, drew his sword, and roared, "Open the city gates! Let the righteous army into the city! Today, our fellow villagers outside the city have all rebelled; we certainly cannot lag behind! Kill the Jin traitors!"

His dozen or so attendants couldn't see their commander's expression in the torchlight, but when they saw Zhao Wei had already thrown down his torch and was pulling the bolt, they could only follow.

If Zhao Wei were on the city wall at that moment, he would have realized that something was wrong.

In fact, the officers guarding the city wall above Zhao Wei had already noticed the problem. Although the people near the city wall were all shouting in their local dialects, they did not see a single familiar face.

However, there was no time for anyone to think about it anymore.

Xiao Zhongda had already led his troops to the city walls. Dozens of soldiers skilled in climbing had also taken grappling hooks and carried flying ladders, coming to the shadows of the torches, ready to seize the city amidst the chaos.

Just as Xiao Zhongda cleared his throat, intending to shout to the city wall to fabricate an identity for himself, he saw the city gate slowly open.

"Qiao County has rebelled! Qiao County has rebelled! Kill the Jin traitors!"

The slogans came through the city gate. Xiao Zhongda was only slightly taken aback before bursting into laughter.

"It is truly the heavens' help that I, Xiao Zhongda, deserve to perform this great feat!"

As he spoke, the man showed no fear of an ambush, spurred his horse to the city gate, and raised a torch.

Under the torchlight, Xiao Zhongda and Zhao Wei were both stunned. Then, one of them remained happy, while the other's expression changed drastically.

As Xiao Zhongda directed his troops into the city, he loudly proclaimed to Zhao Wei: "I am Xiao Zhongda, the magistrate of Linhuan County, a relative of the Flying Tiger Gentleman. This time, I have been ordered by the Flying Tiger Gentleman to lead the Han troops to drive out the Tartars and restore Qiao County."

"The Han dynasty is destined to rise, the Jurchens are doomed. With such a glorious future, do you still wish to serve the barbarians?"

Xiao Zhongda truly lived up to his reputation as a fanatical convert. Despite being of Khitan origin, he kept referring to himself as Han Chinese and Tartars.

However, the surname Xiao is also a Han Chinese surname, and the man was dressed in a turban and formal attire, making him no different from a Han Chinese, which left people speechless.

Therefore, when Xiao Zhongda spoke condescendingly and eloquently, Zhao Wei felt as if he were weighed down by ten thousand pounds.

Only when Zhu Changshui and his men had taken control of the city walls and Zhao Wei knew there was no turning back did he grit his teeth and say, "I am willing to follow Lord Feihu to drive out the Tartars!"

Xiao Zhongda nodded: "Since that's the case, I gave you a whipping during the day, and now I'll give you a great opportunity. Take me to find that scoundrel Xiao Caole, and I want to see what he has to say!"

(End of this chapter)