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

Chapter 586 Feint Attack and Main Attack Difficult to Distinguish

"Don't tell me!"

"Don't tell me!"

"Damn, he's really stubborn!"

Cao Dache's methods were crude; when it came to torture, he had no other options but to beat people.

Anyway, the place Zhao Baiying found to stay was very secluded, so she wasn't worried that anyone would hear the screams.

The two prisoners, already half-dead from Liu Huai's fighting, were now tortured to the point of near death. Finally, the officer managed to utter, "Sir... what do you want to ask?"

Cao Dache was slightly taken aback.

Didn't I ask?

But this guy quickly felt at ease: "This is called a warning stick! Before you spout nonsense, think about whether you recognize the stick in my hand. If you dare to evade my questions, I'll shove this stick down your throat!"

After threatening him again, Cao Dache finally turned around and said, "Young Master, these two bastards who died violent deaths have spoken."

Liu Huai took the meat bun that was roasting on the wooden stick and stuffed it into Cao Dache's hand. Then he clapped his hands and came to the two Jin soldiers: "I'm very reasonable. If you tell the truth, you'll suffer less, understand?"

The two Jin soldiers nodded like chickens pecking at rice.

Soon, the two Jin soldiers revealed everything they knew.

In fact, ordinary Jin soldiers didn't know much, and most of what they knew were trivial matters, yet they still revealed a crucial piece of information.

The purpose of conscripting soldiers at this time was to build a pontoon bridge in Pengcheng to cross the Yellow River.

This news lifted Liu Huai's spirits.

The Wu'an army that attacked Dongping Prefecture marched along the Nanqing River, which is north of the Yellow River, on the opposite bank of Pengcheng.

Therefore, theoretically, if the Wu'an Army wanted to travel this route from Pengcheng, they would also need to build a pontoon bridge.

So, what about the pontoon bridge that the Wu'an army used to cross the river?

Could it have been destroyed so quickly?!
Or perhaps it was because the Wu'an Army was stationed north of the Yellow River from the beginning, and they directly sent troops without going through the trouble of crossing the river.

Why build a pontoon bridge now? Are the 20,000 Jin troops stationed in Pengcheng also heading north to Dongping Prefecture? Why not do this sooner instead of at the last minute? Isn't Heshi Lieliangbi afraid that something might go wrong with the Wu'an army?

Liu Huai was completely baffled. After killing two Jin soldiers and resting for a night, the three of them continued on their journey.

The closer they got to Pengcheng, the more tense the situation became. Even the checkpoints on the official road had been guarded by Jin soldiers, and the road led by Zhao Baiying was becoming increasingly remote.

On the third day, the three had to find a boat to cross the Yellow River and try to find an opportunity on the north bank.

However, before even crossing the river, Liu Huai learned the answer he wanted from the old boatman whom Zhao Baiying knew.

"Sigh, Zhao family boy, war is about to break out, what are you doing doing business?"

The old boat owner's beard was already white. When he saw Zhao Baiying's request to cross the river, he did not immediately agree. Instead, he began to earnestly advise her: "In this chaotic world, do you expect all the rebel troops you encounter to follow the rules?"

Zhao Baiying said with a forced smile, "Uncle Li, I have to eat, after all! Fortune favors the bold, and maybe we can sell our goods for a high price now. Besides, I'm not entirely unprepared; that's why I brought my employer and the others to check out the market."

As she spoke, Zhao Baiying pointed to Liu Huai behind her.

Uncle Li just shook his head again, still trying to persuade him: "The Jin bandits are not reasonable people. We locals might give you, Zhao Da, a little face when we start an uprising, but what kind of people are the Jin bandits? They are vicious and ruthless."

As he spoke, Uncle Li pointed to a house outside the shed: "You've seen Cui Lao Er there too, guess where he went?"

Without waiting for Zhao Baiying's answer, Uncle Li revealed the answer: "His boat was requisitioned, and he was unwilling to accept it, so he was beheaded and his body was thrown into the river, leaving no trace of his remains!"

"His second son was also ambitious. Under the cover of night, he tried to swim to his own boat and set it on fire, but he never returned. No one knows whether he drowned or was killed. The Cui family dared not stay any longer and I heard they fled south."

Zhao Baiying's face stiffened, then she forced a smile and said, "Uncle Li, don't scare me. Your boat is perfectly fine, isn't it?"

Uncle Li sighed again: "That's because my son is a clerk in the county! Even so, all I have left is this one boat. I used to have seven big boats, a lifetime's work... all gone..."

As he spoke, Uncle Li's tone became distorted, as if he were choking up.

Zhao Baiying quickly steered the conversation back on track: "Uncle Li, what do the Jin bandits need so many ships for?" Uncle Li shook his head blankly: "I don't know what they're going to do with them. Some went north, and many others went south. According to the boatmen who escaped, they've already reached the Ju River..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Huai finally interrupted in astonishment: "Didn't they all go to Nanqinghe?"

When Li Bo saw Zhao Baiying being respectful to Liu Huai and noticed the extraordinary horse the other was leading, he knew that Liu Huai was no ordinary person. He immediately replied, "To answer this gentleman's question, there are too many boatmen on both sides of the Si River. Many of them have been requisitioned. How could they all go to the Nanqing River?"

Some small boats served as pontoon bridges, but many large ships couldn't be used as pontoon bridges; they could only be used for transporting supplies to the Jushui River, which was quite normal.

Liu Huai pressed further, "Uncle Li, is there a large Jin army on the ship? Or is there a large army that arrived at Jushui with the ship?"

Although the troop movements could not be kept secret, and no intelligence reports indicated that the main force of the Jin army was heading to Jushui, it was always good to ask.

Sure enough, Li Bo shook his head repeatedly: "Even if there is no large force of Jin bandits heading south, the Jin bandits have many warhorses, and it cannot be hidden from anyone."

After a moment's thought, Liu Huai dismounted and drew a map on the ground with his sword.

Xuzhou is at the top, and the Yellow River flows through Xuzhou and then southeast, passing through Xiapi and Suqian.

The first section of the Jushui River runs almost parallel to the Yellow River, while the latter section turns to the northeast and merges with the Yellow River.

The place where they meet is Suqian.

With the map drawn to this point, the Jin army's strategic plan was already clearly revealed, even to a simpleton like Cao Dache.

Zhao Baiying apologized to Uncle Li, then came to the simple map. After her face twitched a few times, she finally said, "Are we the target of the Jin invaders?"

Liu Huai stroked his chin thoughtfully: "It's not just us... Suqian... If the Song Dynasty sends reinforcements, a Jin commander of ten thousand men can quickly march south and occupy Suqian, cutting off the Song army's retreat. At that time, our army can still hold on, but the Song army will inevitably be thrown into chaos."

Cao Dache gasped, "Jin Gou has quite the appetite."

Liu Huai pointed to the Ju River: "Now we know why the Jin invaders abandoned Xiapi. It was to reassure the Song army and allow them to advance north. But this means they will have to fight our army in Pizhou."

Ah, to avoid being exposed, the Jin invaders didn't even send their regular army to the Ju River, only a fleet of supply ships.

Although the Jin invaders have many warhorses and can bypass Xiapi, they cannot transport their supplies there. The Ju River can be used to quickly transport provisions, and even catapults, carts, and siege ladders can be used to launch a swift attack on Suqian and hold it.

"At that time, our army will face a pincer attack in Pizhou... Damn, Heshi Lie Liangbi has such a vicious mind."

In the end, Liu Huai couldn't help but curse.

Fortunately, Yu Yunwen was prudent and Zhang Zigai was cowardly. If they had acted rashly and led 30,000 troops north to Pizhou, the Song army's morale would have collapsed after their retreat was cut off by the Jin army.

Zhao Baiying said thoughtfully, "So, the Jin invaders' attack on Dongping Prefecture is just a feint?"

Liu Huai shook his head: "It was originally a feint attack, but it might not be now."

"Do you remember what we saw in Lüliang Town before? The Jin bandits were going to build a pontoon bridge for their conscription."

"The main force of the Jin invaders is about to cross the river and head north along the Nanqing River to attack Dongping Prefecture!"

At this point, Liu Huai finally became serious.

Because now it's time to make a decision.

However, Liu Huai was never lacking in decisiveness.

"Uncle Li, I need some paper, pen, and envelopes." Liu Huai first asked Uncle Li for paper and pen, then quickly wrote several letters and signed them: "Let's go, let's meet up with Guan Qilang first, and then we can discuss other things."

With that, Liu Huai stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Uncle Li: "War is about to break out, Uncle Li, you should probably avoid it for a while. We'll meet again someday, take care."

"Take care." Uncle Li also stood up, watching Liu Huai and the others walk away. He felt a strange sense of emotion. "Zhao Da has finally chosen the right person to follow. Even if he is a merchant, it is better than living a life of danger. At least he is making a respectable living."

However, recalling what Liu Huai had just said about the impending war, Li Bo felt uneasy and immediately said to his confidant, "Quickly call Erlang back. That good-for-nothing clerk is useless. When it comes down to it, we'll have to rely on your boatmanship skills!"

"Ah Lang, where are we going?"

"Who cares where we go! We'll just have to stay in the water! Avoiding the fighting is the best course of action!"

(End of this chapter)