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

Chapter 803 Responding to the Bitter Autumn

Shi Ju and Lu You walked slowly forward until they reached a point less than a mile from the outer perimeter of the Jin army camp, where they stopped their horses.

As they drew closer to the Jin army's camp, Lu You noticed that the Chenzhou army's offensive was becoming increasingly difficult, and fewer and fewer officers were coming to report their victories. Meanwhile, more and more requests for reinforcements were arriving at the area.

Lu You looked openly at Shi Ju, only to find that the man still showed no anxiety and remained calm and composed, which made him somewhat hesitant.

Shi Ju seemed to know what Lu You was thinking: "Master Lu, since we are speaking privately, let's speak frankly."

Lu You didn't mince words and finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time: "I just don't understand, why must we fight the Jin invaders head-on tonight? Is it simply because I came to the army that Lord Shi hastily dispatched troops?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Ju burst out laughing: "Lord Lu, war is a matter of vital importance to the state, a matter of life and death, a matter of survival and destruction. How can it be treated so lightly? Of course, I had already made a complete plan, and Lord Lu just happened to be there."

Although Shi Ju was practically saying, "You overestimate yourself," Lu You wasn't annoyed. He simply cupped his hands and said, "I'd like to hear the details."

Shi Ju waved his hand in response: "It's nothing serious."

"Since I was in charge of Chenzhou, I naturally had some connections and backup plans. Therefore, after making up my mind to switch sides, I sent my trusted generals back to Chenzhou."

"Judging by the time, it should be just the right moment for Pusan ​​Zhongyi to receive the news but not yet have a chance to respond. This timeframe is very likely only two or three hours."

In the morning, he might not know the situation, but by evening he will be prepared, and our army will be unable to launch a surprise attack.

Lu You nodded slowly: "That is one explanation. Since the rear route was blocked and all the Han people in Henan rebelled, Pusan ​​Zhongyi could only lead his army back to Bianliang."

The Jin cavalry were numerous; if it had been a few hours into the night, the Jin army might have escaped.

Shi Ju gave Lu You a half-smile before continuing, "Lord Lu, you are mistaken. I do not intend to annihilate the Jin army here. My Chenzhou army does not have that capability."

"If the Song army could cooperate sincerely with me, or if Prime Minister Yu could immediately send out his entire army to assist our attack after seeing our army turn against us, there might still be a chance. But now that Pusan ​​Zhongyi has realized what's happening, there's no chance left."

Shi Ju's smile faded, and he said seriously, "My goal is to make Pu Sanzhongyi lead his troops away, so that our army will have the opportunity to pursue and wear them down. As for how many people can be left behind, that's up to fate."

Lu You paused for a moment, then reined in his horse and turned around: "I'll go find Minister Yu right now and have him send a large army to our aid."

Shi Ju chuckled again: "Lord Lu, you're still making the same mistake. You don't keep your word. Lord Yu, who does keep his word, didn't make up his mind to come in the first place, and he won't come now either."

Lu You, somewhat discouraged yet still defiant, said, "Lord Shi, I've heard that Pusan ​​Zhongyi is a renowned general. What if he fights to the death here?"

Shi Ju sighed: "This is the general trend I mentioned before. No matter how amazing or talented you are, you are just a mantis trying to stop a chariot in the face of the general trend of the world."

Pu Sanzhongyi was indeed one of the most famous generals in the world. He had won every battle since he joined the army at a young age. But he was not only a talented general, but also a commander.

Therefore, from the moment he remained in the western Jin state, grateful for Wanyan Liang's patronage, he began to bear a portion of the Jin state's fate and shoulder the weight of the nation's destiny.

"Lord Lu, tell me, how could anyone bearing the weight of the entire nation's fate so easily as to abandon the nation's elite troops and their own lives to certain death? If he dies, and these elite troops are also wiped out, what will become of Bianliang?"

As Shi Ju gazed at the Jin army camp where the fire was gradually intensifying, he spoke eloquently: "As long as Pusan ​​Zhongyi has the possibility of retreating, that is enough for me."

"Because if my Chenzhou army simply destroys the Jin army's camp, leaving his troops with no foothold, that will be enough to force him to choose to retreat."

No sooner had Shi Ju finished speaking than a thunderous roar of cheers and shouts came from ahead. An elite force broke through the Chenzhou army's formation, routing more than a thousand men on the right flank, and then charged backward with the fleeing troops.

In the firelight of the Jin army camp, the two could clearly see that the large banner carried by the elite cavalry was the inscription "Commander-in-Chief Pu San".

Shi Ju, who had always been calm and collected, was unusually taken aback.

Looking at Shi Ju's appearance, although it was inappropriate, Lu You felt a sense of relief, as refreshing as drinking ice water on a sweltering summer day.

Shi Ju was only stunned for a moment before he commanded the follow-up troops of Chenzhou Army to rush forward and block the gap. He couldn't help but laugh at himself: "I'm too used to being a bookworm, always scheming and calculating, but I always forget that things in this world can always be overcome by force."

Alas, having been tricked by Meng Rong in Bianliang, he never learned his lesson. Now, even if he is defeated by Pusan ​​Zhongyi and dies in the chaos of battle, who can he blame?

Upon hearing this, Lu You lost his interest in watching the spectacle and began to worry about the situation.

Now, although Pusan ​​Zhongyi was also a military nobleman, his growth process was quite different from that of others.

To be precise, he started going to the battlefield as a junior officer in charge of dozens of men from the age of fifteen. Every time he fought against the Song army on the front line, he was killed in battle. As a result, he was promoted time and time again, and at a young age, he inherited his father's position as Meng'an.

This experience led Pusan ​​Zhongyi to be unafraid to personally go to the battlefield to seek victory.

At this moment, after the Chenzhou army set fire to and destroyed half of the camp, Pusan ​​Zhongyi finally could not bear it any longer and personally charged out.

The Chenzhou army has rebelled, Chenzhou has fallen, and the rear route has been cut off. The main force of the Jin army will definitely have to retreat. Not only will they retreat from Xiachai, but Heshilie Liangbi in Suzhou can no longer continue fighting. They must quickly retreat to the north of Chenzhou before their supplies are cut off.

But is voluntary retreat the same as being driven away?
Not to mention that the entire camp's supplies and provisions could not be taken away, the morale of the troops would also be completely destroyed.

Moreover, if the Chenzhou army is not dealt a severe blow and is truly pursued by them, the Jin army will suffer a great loss when passing through Chenzhou!
Driven by various reasons, Pu Sanzhongyi could no longer restrain himself after seeing the weakness in Chenzhou's army and led his troops out to attack.

This is an extremely risky move.

War is not a game of chess where size is contested; war requires everyone in the army to perform their duties and act in their respective positions.

If the marshal personally leads the vanguard, it will inevitably result in a lack of authority and responsibility on his part. Of course, on the other hand, given the current chaotic situation of nighttime fighting, whether there is a commander-in-chief or not is no longer very important.

In the midst of this chaotic battle, Hou Yuanliang finally managed to drive Pu Chaping away through a series of means, including setting fires, and then led several hundred men into the Jin army camp.

"Set it on fire! Burn these bastards to death! Burn them all!"

Hou Yuanliang's helmet was nowhere to be found, and his hair was disheveled, his gray hair swaying like withered grass with his movements.

Although he appeared to be insane, he was completely unaware of it, and simply rode his horse forward, charging and killing the lone Jin soldiers.

Just then, Pu Sanzhongyi led his troops out to attack, but the Jin army did not follow up. This gave Hou Yuanliang the opportunity to lead his several hundred Han soldiers straight into the depths of the Jin army camp.

Moreover, Hou Yuanliang, perhaps having awakened his underworld memories, continued to throw torches, adhering to the principle of killing and arson under the cover of darkness, and soon created a line of fire behind the Jin army.

Pu Sanzhongyi was both shocked and furious upon seeing this, but he also knew that this was an oversight caused by his absence. After leading his troops in another charge, he led more than 300 personal guards away from the battlefield and retreated to try to stabilize the situation in the rear.

But by then it was too late.

Hou Yuanliang set fires along the way and has already reached the supply camp, where there is a large amount of grain, hay, and horse feed. Once the fire starts, there will be no way to save it.

When Pusan ​​Zhongyi approached the supply camp and saw this scene, he could only sigh and say, "Send orders to all the troops to stop fighting and to leave the camp and assemble on the north side of the main camp. We have more horses, and the Chenzhou army cannot catch up with us."

Several guards immediately obeyed the order and left.

However, just as Pu Sanzhongyi was about to lead his troops away, Hou Yuanliang suddenly charged out from the side of the supply camp.

Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet.

"You bastard, you scoundrel! I'll finish you off today!"

Hou Yuanliang led over four hundred soldiers and charged forward recklessly, while Pu Sanzhongyi merely glanced at them with slight disdain before leading his personal guards to meet them head-on.

The results are predictable.

On one side were the personal guards of the Jin Dynasty's Grand Marshal, and on the other side were the private soldiers of local tyrants; one side had been resting and recuperating for a long time, and on the other side were exhausted from fighting for a long time.

With just one charge led by his armored cavalry, Pu Sanzhongyi caused Hou Yuanliang's exhausted army to completely collapse.

Of course, this small victory did not bring any joy to Pusan ​​Zhongyi. He simply ordered his personal guards to disperse and regroup the army, while Pusan ​​Zhongyi remained silent, watching the fire raging in the supply camp.

"marshal."

A guard stepped forward to inquire, but the servant San Zhongyi simply shook his head and said, "Let's go."

Having said that, Pu Sanzhongyi turned his horse around and was about to leave when he heard a roar behind him and a long spear fell to his side.

Pu Sanzhongyi glanced back coldly, only to see Hou Yuanliang, with his gray hair, kneeling on one knee seven or eight steps away, his right hand still in a throwing posture, his eyes fixed on this place.

Hou Yuanliang seemed to be at his limit. Not only did his spear throws miss completely, but he also collapsed to the ground after his final blow, barely breathing.

The Jin cavalry were furious and immediately wanted to go back and kill Hou Yuanliang, but Pu Sanzhongyi stopped them: "He is just a stray dog. Don't pay him any mind, and don't let him ruin our important mission."

As he spoke, the servant Sanzhongyi took the lead.

Hou Yuanliang lay on the ground, struggling to lift his head, watching the Jin cavalry leave the area, his heart filled with resentment.

However, having just been knocked off his horse, he was in pain all over his body and could hardly move.

Hou Yuanliang struggled to turn over, and just as he was catching his breath while looking at the bright moon in the sky, a long spear pierced his chest.

Hou Yuanliang had barely struggled a couple of times when a disheveled young man appeared in his field of vision, looking down into his eyes, pushing his spear forcefully, and gritting his teeth as he said, "Hou the Skinflint, when you pushed my grandfather onto the battlefield, did you ever imagine this day would come?!"

Hou Yuanliang had already gripped the spear shaft, but upon hearing this, he slowly released it, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, which was oozing blood.

The young man clearly hated Hou Yuanliang intensely. As he thrust his spear downwards with all his might, he whispered, "Remember this! When we get down there, tell my grandfather that I, Zhang Daliang, have avenged him!"

Zhang Daliang...

Hou Yuanliang's mind was already scattered. He muttered the name to himself, trying to grasp a glimmer of inspiration in his chaotic mind, but he could not remember where he had heard the name before.

never mind.

I'm sorry.

I'm so... sorry...

Hou Yuanliang muttered to himself, his voice barely audible, so that no one was sure he would hear him.

In chaotic times, human life is as fragile as mud. In the grand scheme of things, what difference is there between a mere powerful local magnate and an ordinary commoner?

(End of this chapter)