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

Chapter 809 Exhausted, Siege Unresolved (Part 1)
Kiyotomi Kagaya's rapid advancement was certainly not without its challenges.

The Jin army's formation is now completely chaotic, and they are basically fighting on their own, or even individual fighting on their own.

In the past, the sound of drums and horns was enough to make friendly troops make way for the charge, but now someone has to step forward and shout at them.

This greatly slowed down Jia Gu Qingchen's march and gave Liu Huai an opportunity to fight.

Just as Jia Gu Qingchen had dispersed a group of chaotic soldiers in front of him and had not yet picked up his horse's speed, he suddenly saw the Flying Tiger banner rapidly approaching.

Jia Gu Qingchen was immediately startled and broke out in a cold sweat. However, just as he was about to dodge, he quickly remembered his position as the commander of the entire army and knew the disastrous consequences of his own banner turning off course. He could only grit his teeth and hold firm.

"The Flying Tigers are here! Prepare to meet them!" Jia Gu Qingchen shouted the order, and the more than two hundred armored cavalrymen who could still receive the order quickly moved forward, trying to flank their general.

But the next moment, the Flying Tiger Banner suddenly accelerated again, pressing forward together with the Azure Rhinoceros Banner.

"Your grandpa Bi is here! Jin traitors, prepare to die!"

The first to charge was a young general wielding a long axe. His face beneath the helmet still showed signs of immaturity, but that did not diminish his incredible strength. On horseback, he wielded the heavy weapon, the long axe, with incredible speed and skill, knocking several armored cavalrymen who tried to stop him off their horses. He then fought his way through the gaps in the battle formation.

Jia Gu Qingchen recognized the man as Bi Zaiyu, a trusted general of Liu Huai. After his fear subsided, he immediately sat upright on his horse, swiftly wielding his long sword and slashing towards Bi Zaiyu's neck.

Bi Zaiyu, however, seemed completely unconcerned, and with a flick of his long axe, he swung it down with equal force.

The long sword and the long axe collided in mid-air with a loud clang. Before the scattered sparks could dissipate, Bi Zaiyu had already passed by Jia Gu Qingchen. He then changed his move again, using the handle of his long axe to knock the Jin soldier on his right off his horse. Without pausing, he charged backward.

"Oh no... the flag..." Jia Gu Qingchen felt the soreness and weakness in his arm. The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn't have time to turn back.

Because that Flying Tiger Banner, carrying the force of wind and thunder, charged in along the path cleaved open by Bi Zaiyu.

The spear moved like a dragon, and along with the lightning-fast thrust came a loud laugh: "Jia Gu Qingchen, do you still remember your Grandpa Liu?"

Having gained two grandfathers in one day, Jia Gu Qingchen was naturally furious. However, when he saw Liu Huai's grinning face up close, he immediately felt fear.

Although Jia Gu Qingchen had been made the grandson twice today, he had already been brutally beaten by the Han army three times, and each time he had narrowly escaped death, so he was already traumatized.

Therefore, when the spear of Li Quan thrust towards his chest, Jia Gu Qingchen could only roar to dispel the fear in his heart, while his long sword reflexively made the most conservative response, blocking the spear.

Although his first attack failed, Liu Huai did not care. As his two horses passed each other, he used the butt of his spear to poke Jia Gu Qingchen in the back. Without stopping for a moment, he swung his spear and swept the Jin army guards off their horses, and continued to charge forward.

Jia Gu Qingchen's arms were completely sore and weak, and he had just suffered a heavy blow to his back. Although he was protected by heavy armor, he still felt a sweet taste in his throat and almost vomited blood.

Worse still, the immense force was transmitted through the stirrups to the warhorse several times, causing it to lose its strength and stagger with a whimpering sound.

As if things weren't going to go wrong, just as Kiyotaka Kagaya's symptoms of blurred vision were slightly relieved, a person wielding two incredibly long greatswords appeared before him, the two swords flashing like colorful ribbons in the sky, fiercely slashing down.

"This is... a Great Blue Rhinoceros..."

As Kiyotomi Kagaya forcefully raised his long sword, this thought flashed through his mind, yet he also felt a strange sense of honor.

Being able to withstand a series of attacks from three of the Han army's top generals is something he could boast about even in the underworld, when he meets the King of Youdu.

Regardless of whether this was due to Stockholm syndrome, he only felt a sudden ache in his arm, a feeling of emptiness between his legs, and the world spinning before his eyes.

Xin Qiji's powerful strike did not kill Jia Gu Qingchen outright, but instead knocked him and his horse to the ground. He then disregarded everything else and led more than ten guards to trample over him.

Just over ten paces away, the Jin soldiers guarding the Jiagu banner were quickly killed by Liu Huai and Bi Zaiyu. When Xin Qiji arrived, he took the opportunity to cut the banner in half.

"Young Master, let me have the credit for slaying the general and capturing the flag!"

Xin Qiji burst into laughter.

Liu Huai naturally didn't need such merit to demonstrate his authority at this time. He simply smiled and then ordered his personal guards to wave the Flying Tiger Banner and sound the horn to gather the troops.

Although Kiyotomi Kagaya, as the commander-in-chief, did not die after being trampled by warhorses, he was inevitably rendered completely incapacitated.

Especially after his banner was also cut down, chaos and fear spread like ripples on water. As more than two thousand well-organized Han cavalrymen rolled towards them, the two thousand Jin cavalrymen who had come out of the camp to fight finally could not hold on and scattered.

Unfortunately, at this time, the northwest and southwest sides were occupied by Han troops, and the south side was the Huan River. The only way out was the Jin army camp in the east. The defeated army had no choice but to rush back to the camp along the route they had just taken.

This not only caused great chaos in the Jin army camp, but also scattered the Jin army that was trying to come out of the camp to provide support.

Zhang Baiyu was originally supposed to lead the central army in a slow advance, but upon seeing Liu Huai enter the battle, he immediately disregarded everything else and rushed to Liu Huai's side. Putting one's lord in such a dangerous situation, according to political custom, whether the newcomer was acting out of loyalty or genuine concern for the lord's safety, should have demonstrated their stance by attacking the accompanying personnel.

Just as Zhang Baiyu was panting heavily, staring at Xin Qiji, about to say something, Liu Huai gave the order: "Zhang Silang, you take all the troops and advance into the Jin army camp. Do you know what to do?"

Although Zhang Baiyu was equally exhausted, he still had more energy than Liu Huai, and immediately nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, young master, after I break in, I will immediately set fire to the west and make sure the Jin bandits are thrown into chaos."

Liu Huai nodded, but then shook his head and said, "Not only that, the elite of the Jin bandits are all cavalry. Since they are attacking the city on foot, their warhorses must be in the camp."

Our warhorses are exhausted. After you enter the camp, assign appropriate men to seize their horses! Our army will recover in two days and be ready to fight again!

Halfway through the conversation, Zhang Baiyu suddenly realized what was going on, and by the end he was even more excited, his handsome face full of eager anticipation.

Humans can endure hunger, thirst, and fatigue, but warhorses cannot. These creatures, which are somewhat intelligent but not so clever, will truly collapse to the ground and remain motionless when exhausted.

The Han army's long march resulted in the greatest loss of their warhorses.

Liu Huai's method can be described as a way to help both the rich and the poor and resolve their own dilemmas.

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Baiyu was about to turn his horse and leave when he heard Liu Huai continue to give orders.

"As for you, Zhang Silang, I demand that you not stop for a moment, break through the Jin bandit camp, rush to the city walls, and tell the Jin bandits, and everyone in Qixian, that reinforcements have arrived, and our army will surely win!"

"As ordered!"

Zhang Baiyu's voice rose even higher, and then he ordered his personal guards to sound the horns and beat the war drums. He personally rode forward, pushing the fleeing Jin army into the Jin army camp.

Liu Huai said to Bi Zaiyu, "Brother Bi, go and gather the warhorses. Let's rest here for half an hour, and then we'll set off!"

At the same time, Heshi Lieliangbi looked at the fallen Jiagu banner, but did not make any extra gestures, only sighing slightly.

The others, however, lacked the composure of Heshi Lieliangbi and panicked. Some staff officers even mounted their horses and galloped towards the outer perimeter, not knowing where they were going to escape to.

No one stopped them, because at this point, even Heshi Lie Liangbi's personal guards were in a panic and couldn't care less about the escapees.

Everyone was waiting for Heshi Lieliangbi's military orders, but he seemed equally bewildered and remained silent.

If things were like this at the foot of the city, it goes without saying that the Jin army, who had already climbed to the top of the city and could see even higher and farther, were in even worse condition.

Although many Han cavalrymen had fallen behind due to the long march and were unable to form an overwhelming force at the beginning, they created a constant cloud of dust in the northwest, giving the Jin army on the city walls the illusion that reinforcements were endless. This caused the Jin army, which had originally gained the upper hand, to panic. They abandoned their attempt to climb the city walls and instead climbed down the ladders.

After these retreating troops exchanged military intelligence with the Jin army that was preparing to storm the city, panic immediately spread like a plague.

Unlike Shi Dunzhong, Wanyan Cong did not climb the city walls, so he arrived the fastest. Upon seeing Heshi Lie Liangbi, he immediately cupped his hands and said, "Lord Liangbi, the situation is beyond saving. Let's withdraw the troops!"

Heshi Lieliangbi remained calm and nodded in response: "I have been building this pontoon bridge these past few days for this very situation. You should take your troops and retreat first."

Wanyan Cong did not expect that Heshi Lieliangbi would agree to withdraw his troops so easily. He was about to agree immediately, but then a great fear surged into his heart.

Retreat is easy, but where can we retreat to?

As if knowing what Wanyan Cong was thinking, Heshilie Liangbi immediately ordered, "Let's go back to Mengcheng and rest for a while by relying on the city walls."

Wanyan Cong, as if he had found his pillar of support, hurriedly nodded in agreement. However, after taking two steps away, he turned back and asked again, "Left Prime Minister, who will cover the rear if I leave?"

Heshi Lieliangbi turned to look at the camp that was gradually becoming ablaze, and said with a smile amidst the growing shouts of battle, "Naturally, it is I who will cover the rear."

Wanyan Cong opened his mouth as if to volunteer, but with the situation collapsing, not everyone dared to go against the tide and risk their lives. Therefore, Wanyan Cong could only silently turn his horse around again, without uttering a single word.

Heshi Lieliangbi said to the staff and military advisors around him, "You should also leave. If you can manage to return to Liaodong, that would be best. If not, you can either go to Mengcheng to hide for a while or go to Bianliang. It's up to you."

The civil and military officials who served as advisors around them didn't waste any words. A few even bowed, but most simply scattered, much like monkeys scattering when a tree falls.

However, the tribal soldiers who served as personal guards beside Heshilie Liangbi, though equally flustered, maintained a certain quietness, awaiting the decision of this Heshilie tribal chief.

Heshi Lieliangbi fell silent again, only looking up at the Wei banner on the city wall, letting his robe flutter in the north wind, still maintaining the demeanor of a prime minister.

(End of this chapter)