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

Chapter 558: Planning a Big Plan with Selfish Motives

"Alang, this is the land title, this is the land contract, that has been signed by forty households in Fengfu County."

"Here are the thirty-seven households in Laiwu County who have pledged their allegiance to us."

“This is from Sishui County.”

"These are all excellent paddy fields!"

Xucheng, Confucius Mansion.

The housekeeper, smiling, divided the thick land deeds into stacks and placed them in front of Kong Duanqi: "Alang, these are our family's inheritance."

Kong Duanqi nodded, then picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Arui, if it weren't for my good-for-nothing sons, how could I do such a heartless thing?"

The housekeeper's smile suddenly faded, a trace of sadness on his face: "Alas, it's all my fault. I have no regard for the feelings of a clan member and I really don't give any wealth."

Kong Duanqi waved his hand and said, "Don't blame him. He also has a big family to support."

Although he said that he didn't blame it, his gloomy expression had completely betrayed him.

The Kong family is a large family that has been passed down for thousands of years and has many branches. Even if they look down on a peasant like Geng Jing, Yanzhou Qufu, under Geng Jing's rule, has to send some talented people to serve.

Geng Jing doesn't need to rely on the Kong family, but the Kong family must show their support.

The beginning signs of the world's surrender are showing.

But the Kong family felt that Geng Jing would never accomplish anything.

This is also the truth. Throughout history, the only peasant army that could accomplish anything was Zhu Yuanzhang. The Kong family did not know how to tell fortunes by counting on their fingers, so how could they predict what would happen in the next few hundred years?
Therefore, although Kong Duanqi, who was sent out, was of an older generation and had enough talent, he was ultimately a illegitimate child from a side family, the kind of person who could barely make ends meet with only two acres of thin land at home.

But who would have thought that Kong Duanqi was really valued by Geng Jing and was regarded as his strategist?
It would be unreasonable for a poor person not to make some money when he suddenly becomes rich.

After having the housekeeper pack up all the deeds, Kong Duanqi was about to give a few more instructions when he saw a man dressed as an officer running into the mansion at high speed: "Mr. Kong, the governor wants you over."

Kong Duanqi panicked, thinking his little trick had been discovered, but then he thought, those landlords were even more ruthless, and it was not his turn as the strategist to take the blame, so he stood up leisurely and said, "Okay, since the governor has ordered, let's go now."

As he spoke, Kong Duanqi followed the officer out of the gate. At the gatehouse, Kong Duanqi took out a handful of silver from his pocket, stuffed it into the officer's hand, and asked in a low voice, "What else did the governor say?"

The officer took the silver, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Nothing..."

Kong Duanqi was waiting for the next words when he saw the officer staring at him. He understood what was going on and cursed him inwardly, his appetite growing. However, he smiled and took out another handful of silver coins. "This is all I have with me today. I hope the general will tell you the truth."

The officer weighed it over and was finally satisfied: "Mr. Kong, the governor is furious, and he's not just pretending to be angry, he's really angry. I heard that it was Liu Feihu, the son of the Jingnan Army, who beat up General Shi Baijushi."

Kong Duanqi was startled, but then he forced himself to calm down, nodded reservedly, got on the carriage, and went to the governor's mansion with the officer.

As soon as he entered the Jiedu Mansion, he heard a rough voice yelling, "Liu Feihuzi! A stinky brat who hasn't even grown up yet dares to threaten me?! You really think I don't dare to get angry with him?"

Kong Duanqi paused, hesitating for a moment. Then, under the officer's urging gaze, he took a few quick steps forward and ran into the hall. "Jiedu! Absolutely not! How can we start a war with Liu Dalang at this time?!"

Geng Jing was shirtless, holding a knife and yelling. The personal guards around him all kept their heads down and said nothing. In the center of the hall, Shi Baiju was lying shirtless on a stretcher, showing the wound on his back to everyone.

Geng Jing saw Kong Duanqi, still furious, shaking out his foot-long chest hair. "Mr. Kong, that Liu Feihu went too far today! Hour, repeat what he said."

Shi Baiju raised his head with difficulty while sitting on the stretcher. "Yes. Liu Dalang said that if Jiedu Geng did this again and allowed the local people to plunder the people, defeat would be imminent."

After hearing this, Kong Duanqi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He thought it was Liu Huai who called him, but now it seems that he just said a few harsh words and was not even a direct threat. Geng Jing's reaction was too big.

However, Shi Baiju's next sentence made Kong Duanqi stunned.

"Liu Dalang also said that since Mr. Kong proposed this plan, he is naturally guilty. He will definitely hold Mr. Kong accountable when the time comes." Shi Baiju paused, looked at Geng Jing's face, and then said, "As for whether it will be exile, dismissal, or execution, that depends on Mr. Kong's performance."

Kong Duanqi was stunned, but Geng Jing laughed angrily. "This Liu Dalang is really arrogant. Not only did he beat up my general, but he even wants to punish my boss. It's clear that he doesn't take me seriously at all. If I don't teach him a lesson, how can I survive in Shandong in the future? Who will still take me seriously? Left and right, put on my armor!"

This time, Kong Duanqi leaped forward, slid to his knees, and came to Geng Jing. He hugged his thighs and shouted, "Jiedu, don't be impulsive! Now is not the time to go against Liu Dalang!"
The Jin thieves are still here, and the Central Plains are empty. This is the time for us to show our strength. How can we throw away our precious troops and money and food to fight against Liu Dalang's elite troops who have experienced many battles?"

Geng Jing saw this and quickly dropped his sword, leaned over and helped Kong Duan up. "Mr. Kong, why are you so desperate? I'm not afraid of Liu Dalang, but I'm afraid that Mr. Kong has been wronged."

Kong Duanqi stood up, tears streaming down his face. "What's a threat from Liu Dalang? As long as Chief Geng is in his prime, can he really rush in and kill me? But if Jiedu Geng makes a wrong move and ruins the situation, no one will be left unharmed. Then, not only me, but even General Shi won't be able to get away with just a beating."

Shi Baiju lowered his head, covered his face with the stretcher, and remained silent.

Geng Jing nodded suddenly, took Kong Duan's raised hands and said, "If it weren't for Mr. Kong, I would have almost made a big mistake!"

After saying that, Geng Jing quickly squatted down and said to Shi Baiju, "Xiao Shi, just bear with it for now. I promise you that I will never let Liu Dalang off when the time comes!"

Shi Baiju nodded repeatedly in agreement, but kept saying that his injury was a small matter and that the Tianping Army's important event must not be delayed.

By this time, even the more astute ones among the personal soldiers had realized that although Geng Jing was genuinely angry, he had absolutely no intention of going to war with Liu Huai.

It's just that Liu Huai beat Shi Baiju, scolded Geng Jing, and even threatened to kill Kong Duanqi. As the leader, he had to make some gestures.

Commonly known as political performance.

However, knowing it did not stop Kong Duanqi and Shi Baiju from expressing their gratitude at the same time.

Political statements have to come into play.

But Geng Jing changed his tone, pulled Kong Duan and said seriously: "Mr. Kong, even so, we can't forget what Liu Dalang said. How should we counter it?"

Kong Duanqi thought for a moment and said seriously, "The governor is right. We shouldn't overreact, but we can't do nothing either. We should send an envoy to Linyi. Don't look for Liu Dalang, but for Marshal Wei. Ask him if he wants to go to war with our Tianping Army."

Geng Jing's eyes lit up.

This is a good idea.

Now Liu Huai is obviously acting like a bad boy. He is young and frivolous and cannot be reasoned with. However, Wei Sheng is mature and prudent, and he has his own thoughts. With Wei Sheng stopping him, Liu Huai will not do anything extreme in anger.

This behavior is quite similar to seeking justice from an adult after being bullied by a naughty child.

"However, this is only a temporary solution, not a fundamental solution." Kong Duanzhi said seriously, "Geng Jiedu, the reason Liu Dalang can be so rampant is simply because he has elite troops at his disposal and the support of the Song State. We also have elite troops and the support of the Song State, but we still don't have enough elite troops, and our relationship with the Song State is not close enough."

"Geng Jiedu still needs to follow the previous plan. After the autumn harvest, he should lead his army to attack Bozhou and other places, expand the jurisdiction of our Tianping Army, and train some battle-hardened soldiers. This is one of the things."

"In addition, we must also add one more thing: let knowledgeable people go as envoys to the State of Song."

Geng Jing frowned and said, "Is it a bribe... No, a gift to the Song government?"

Kong Duanqi shook his head: "No, no, the Zhao family has always been weak and incompetent, and it is difficult to rely on them. The ones we can really rely on are the ministers in charge of Lianghuai. With their support, we can send troops to tie up the Jin bandits in the Central Plains. Then we can send troops without worrying about being attacked from both sides."

Geng Jing nodded repeatedly, but still hesitated: "The ministers of Song State, are they really so appropriate?"

Kong Duanqi stroked his beard and smiled, "I've already learned the details of what happened in Jiangnan from Xin Wulang and the others. Both Minister Ye and Minister Yu are extraordinary men. If they didn't have the ambition to achieve great things, they wouldn't have come to Lianghuai to govern."

Xin Qiji naturally did not tell everything, not to mention that there were some things even he did not know. Therefore, Kong Duanqi only found out about the struggle between the pro-war and pro-peace factions in the Song State, but that was enough.

Hearing Xin Qiji's name, Geng Jing's smile froze. He paused for a moment before continuing, "In that case, I'll trouble you, Mr. Kong."

After saying this, Geng Jing leaned over and patted Shi Baiju on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Shi, you should stay home and recuperate during these days. Come, give me some gold and silver."

After Kong Duanqi consoled Geng Jing with a few more words, he returned to his own residence. After driving everyone else out, he quickly called the housekeeper who was in charge of external affairs and said, "Go back now and return all the land deeds. Say this was a misunderstanding."

The housekeeper was surprised and said, "Ah Lang, they volunteered to join the army. No one would find out anything."

Kong Duanqi stamped his feet anxiously: "Just do what I tell you to do! No more nonsense, remember! This is a matter of life and death! Go! Go!"

Although the housekeeper was confused, when he saw Kong Duan's anxious face, he quickly grabbed the pile of land deeds and rushed out.

Although Kong Duan said he was not afraid, how could he really not be afraid?
If Liu Huai really insists on killing him, can Geng Jing stop him?
People are fragile, especially scholars like this, who are full of fear of force.

One arrow or one assassin can take his life.

Now we can only hope that Liu Huai can abide by the political rules.

(End of this chapter)