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

Chapter 862 All the Heroes of the Past Are Gone
Hou Anyuan immediately steadied himself, not daring to move an inch, for fear that his armor would make a sound.

For a moment, all he could hear was the thunderous sound of his own heartbeat.

Hou Anyuan recognized the speaker as Dalitai.

The Khitans... Do the Khitans also intend to submit to the Mongols?
Yes, now that the Han King's power is in southern Hebei and the Jin Dynasty cannot be relied upon, why can't the Khitans directly submit to the Mongols?
For the Qiyan tribe, this was a win-win situation for both the Mongols and the Khitans, and it also saved the Jin Dynasty from profiting from the difference in prices. It was a win-win situation, so why not do it?

only……

Hou Anyuan cried out in his heart: "It's all wrong, all wrong! The Han army's staff had never made such a contingency plan. Because whether it was Yelü Xingge or Xiao Qi, all the Khitans were saying that they were mortal enemies with the Mongols and that the two sides had an irreconcilable blood feud, so no one had any such idea."

Looking back now, it was a matter of life and death. As long as we could survive, what did it matter if we surrendered to the enemy?
Aren't there enough people like this?

Even someone like Jia Gu Qingchen surrendered to the Han army and changed his name to Gu Qingchen. Were all Khitans truly men of unwavering integrity and unyielding spirit?

This trip south by Dalitai was not to reach a preliminary agreement with the Jin Dynasty, but rather to try to negotiate with the Khitan tribes.

In the blink of an eye, Hou Anyuan had figured everything out, and then reached into his pocket again to grasp the firework.

These are small fireworks made by skilled craftsmen in Shandong. Once lit, they can fly five zhang (approximately 10 meters) high and explode in the night, making them easily visible.

This firework was also the rallying signal that Hou Anyuan and Liu Ba had discussed.

However, unless the others are blind or stupid, they will realize that Hou Anyuan is relaying a message, and at that point it will truly be a matter of success or death.

"What are you yelling about? Just because you're loud doesn't mean you're right!" A deep voice came from the neighboring courtyard. "Aren't you afraid the walls are listening?"

"I'm afraid of your mother's little maid! It's such a mess, with shouts of killing all around, and my personal guards have surrounded us. How could anyone sneak over here?"

Dalitai shouted, "Besides, why should I be afraid of others finding out about my plans?! At worst, we'll part ways and meet on the battlefield. Then I'll see who suffers the loss!"

Hou Anyuan lowered his breathing, pressed his ear close to the earthen wall, and listened carefully.

He had initially thought that it was Xiao Ping negotiating with Dalitai, but now the voice sounded different.

"Are you trying to coerce me?"

"So what?"

Dalitai's loud voice continued: "You scoundrel, you wanted to come but didn't dare to see me, and instead hid in this Blackwater Shop. Did you think you could escape this time?"
Have you ever wondered why I found your place so easily and cornered you here?
"Isn't it because some of you Khitans have also submitted to our Qiyan tribe? Even now, you still can't make up your mind?"

After a moment of silence, the Khitan man sighed heavily, but then heard a muffled thud, as if something had crashed down.

"Dalitai, since you are so coercing us Khitan tribes and so eager for us to hand over Linhuang Prefecture, why did you send troops to plunder? Do you think we are already a piece of fat meat?"

“Cao Zhuwo!” Dalitai finally called out the Khitan’s name, his words full of mockery: “Just from the fact that your punch only hit the wall and not my face, I know that your Khitan tribe is really no good.”

At this point, Dalitai's words became sincere again: "We were enemies before, but now the Great Jin is the one who oppresses you the most. The Tatar tribe, who took advantage of your misfortune, was also pacified by my brother personally leading troops. When facing the great Han country, all the tribes on the grassland should work together. What grudges can't be overcome?"

"Come with me to see Yesugei Khan! My brother has long admired the heroes of the Khitan. When the time comes, we'll go to the Central Plains together, regardless of whether we're Khitan or Mongol, to seize their women and kill their men. Wouldn't that be much more enjoyable than staying cooped up in this mere Linhuang Prefecture?!"

Cao Zhuowo remained silent for a long time, feeling dizzy amidst the shouts of battle from all directions.

He inexplicably recalled the scene when Yelü Saba rallied the Khitan tribes to revolt. On that day, the people were in high spirits and united as one, as if there was a chance to restore the Liao Dynasty.

At that time, there were Yelü Wowo and Yelü the Old Monk in military affairs, and Yelü Chenjia and Xiao Liujin in civil affairs, while I was just a person who sat at the very bottom.

Later, these people killed the Jin invaders, were killed by the Jin invaders, killed each other, killed Han people, and were killed by Han people, finally ending up like this.

In the end, all the Khitan tribes in the vast Linhuang Prefecture were left to me to make decisions?

However, Cao Zhuowo immediately thought of going back even further in time, when he was in Liaoyang Prefecture, carrying his elderly mother as they escaped the flood and were suffering from hunger and cold, and Wanyan Yong personally escorted several carts of disaster relief grain.

The taste of that bowl of wheat porridge still lingers in his mouth.

Now, in order to find a way for the tribe to survive, are they really going to betray their lord and benefactor as well?
Thinking of this, Cao Zhuowo became even more dazed, while Dalitai opposite him was no longer as reckless and rough as before, but was just waiting quietly.

"Who?!"

Suddenly, the Mongol warriors on the periphery shouted, threw away their torches, and drew their swords to slash at the figure in the night.

The ensuing flashes and sparks illuminated the figures of the two men. In the blink of an eye, the newcomer had already knocked the weapon from the Mongol warrior's hand. Then, he leaped forward, his short sword flashing like lightning in the night. In just an instant, countless blades struck the Mongol warrior, almost tearing the man, who was only wearing a leather tunic, to pieces on the spot.

Dalitai was shocked to find that someone had silently breached the outer defenses and stood before him: "Who are you?!"

The newcomer simply placed an object on the ground, then picked up the torch that the Mughal warrior had thrown away earlier and lowered it slightly.

"I am under the command of the King of Han!" Hiss...

The fuse was lit, and sparks flew everywhere.

"The Tenth General of the Flying Tigers!"

boom.

Snapped.

Fireworks soared into the sky and burst into bloom.

Liu Ba, who was only fifty or sixty steps away, looked up in astonishment.

Having just stepped over the low wall, Wanyan Xiang, who was marching towards the Han army's ambush position, narrowed his eyes and then pointed in the direction of the fireworks.

Xiao Ping was gathering his troops outside the low wall, staring blankly at the fireworks in the sky. When he realized that they were rising from where Cao Zhuowo was hiding, he was immediately terrified.

In this small courtyard, Hou Anyuan, wielding two swords, roared at the nearly ten warriors in the courtyard under the glow of fireworks: "Grandpa's name is Hou Anyuan!"

"Kill him!"

Seeing that he was about to force Cao Zhuowo to give in, Dalitai was suddenly interrupted and became somewhat exasperated: "Skin this bastard alive!"

"what!"

Hou Anyuan kicked the torch at his feet onto a pile of firewood, then roared and launched an attack.

Needless to say, the Mongol warriors were momentarily flustered. Cao Zhuowo, who was standing to the side, was struck dumb when Hou Anyuan introduced himself, and became even more bewildered.

Unlike Dalitai, he had narrowly escaped death on the battlefield of Daming Prefecture. He understood the fighting strength of the Han army and knew how terrifying Liu Huai was.

Even though such a person only makes a move from a thousand miles away, he is enough to inspire fear.

"Quick! Ah Yuan is over there! Charge over there!"

Liu Ba knew that Hou Anyuan would never risk being discovered to set off fireworks unless he had discovered important military intelligence, so he couldn't care less about ambushing Wanyan Xiang and immediately rushed towards the small courtyard that was just a stone's throw away.

The rigorous training that the Han army's elite troops had undergone proved effective at this moment; just a few whistles were enough for them to discern the direction of the attack in the darkness.

The Han army marched in formation through the intricate alleyways, yet constantly converged, like a large net heading towards the burning courtyard.

The Mongol warriors guarding the perimeter immediately spotted the Han army. While sounding their horns to warn them, they also formed ranks in twos and threes and launched an ambush in the alleyways.

This is a classic case of the brave prevailing when paths cross, and as such, the battle between the two sides was incredibly bloody from the very beginning.

In a series of attacks where all defenses were abandoned and only assaults were launched, the Han army advanced toward their target with bloody footprints at every step. In less than a quarter of an hour, Liu Ba was the first to rush into the small courtyard that was almost burning to the ground.

Hou Anyuan brandished his twin swords like a bloodthirsty demon. Three Mongol warriors had already fallen to the ground beside him. However, his body was also covered in bloody wounds. If it weren't for the outer leather armor and the inner chainmail lining, he might already be dead here.

Although he could hold on for the time being, he could only retreat step by step in the face of the attack of two Mongol warriors. In his disheveled roll, he almost fell headfirst into the fire.

However, upon seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Hou Anyuan did not call for help. Instead, he shouted, "Cao Zhuwo and Dalitai have gone north! Go and capture them!"

Without any hesitation, Liu Ba assigned two Flying Tiger soldiers to rescue Hou Anyuan and immediately led more than ten men to chase after him along the collapsed low wall on the north side.

After chasing for about thirty steps, Liu Ba spotted Cao Zhuowo, who was sandwiched among dozens of Mongol and Khitan warriors. He was furious and shouted, "Cao Zhuowo! Why are you so ungrateful? Why don't you come to the enlightened ruler of the Central Plains and instead go to join some Mongol?!"

Before Cao Zhuowo could answer, a furious roar came from the north: "Today, I, Wanyan Xiang, have managed to wipe out the Han slaves, the Mongol barbarians, and the Khitan dogs in one fell swoop! My name shall resound throughout the world!"

"Kill the thief!"

Dozens of Jin soldiers roared as they pushed down the low walls and fences between the courtyards, threw torches onto the surrounding rooftops to ignite the thatch on the houses for illumination, and then charged forward under the leadership of Wanyan Xiang.

"You Jin people are already like donkeys with their balls cut off, yet you still dare to bray in front of me?!" Dalitai revealed his barbaric nature at this moment, pointing at Wanyan Xiang and cursing, "See if your grandfather can pluck your head to use as a chamber pot today!"

Cao Zhuowo coldly watched the Jurchens and Mongols fight each other, then drew his sword and, with a dozen Khitan guards, turned to look at Liu Ba: "Zha Ba, you say you have your reasons, I say I have my difficulties, but things in this world can't be explained with words alone!"

Liu Ba waved his hand to order the Han army to form ranks, and at the same time gritted his teeth and said, "If that's the case, then let's follow our Khitan rules: whoever survives wins!"

Cao Zhuowo finally burst into hearty laughter. Amidst the spreading flames, he strode forward: "Zha Ba, you've finally stopped putting on your Han Chinese airs! Good! Just like the Duke killed King Sa Ba, now let's have a good fight!"

(End of this chapter)