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

Chapter 69: Crocodiles look at each other and shed tears

Just as Shi Qilang led the way and took Liu Huai to find the Haizhou treasury in a hurry, in a small courtyard near the city gate, Gao Wenfu and his son Gao Anren were looking at each other in silence, panting.

This courtyard was probably also a public house, and the corridor was wide enough to accommodate war horses and soldiers to rest temporarily.

Yesterday, when Gao Wenfu decided to defend Qushan, he cleared the area and used it as a temporary garrison. However, he hadn't had time to expand it yet, so it wasn't very noticeable.

This is also the reason why Gao Wenfu and others were able to hide here during the chaos without being discovered.

But this is not a place to stay for long.

Finally, Gao Anren spoke with difficulty under the gazes of those around him: "Let's go, father, the situation is hopeless. I just saw clearly that the Wang family in the city has also rebelled. That bastard Wang Shilong has raised the banner of the Song Dynasty and surrounded the government office!"

"Yes, Lord, I saw it clearly from the top of the city just now. The Song army only has a little over a hundred cavalrymen and can't surround the city at all. We just need to spur our horses and we can easily break out. Once we return to Yidu Prefecture, it will be easy to make a comeback!"

Another bodyguard also tried to persuade him.

Gao Wenfu sat in the corridor for a long time, then pointed at his fat belly and said with a smile: "Erlang, do you think I can still ride a horse and break through the encirclement in this state?"

Gao Anren was stunned for a moment, but immediately gritted his teeth and said, "I will fight to the death to protect my father!"

Gao Wenfu held his stomach and shook his head. "Erlang, your father lost the state capital, and the situation in Haizhou has deteriorated greatly. Even if we escape, we will not have a good ending. Neither the Yidu Prefecture Military Command nor Your Majesty will spare a man who loses his army and territory.

On the contrary, only after my death will General Gao (Gao Jingshan) be able to speak calmly and protect you."

Gao Anren was heartbroken and fell to his knees, crying loudly: "Father... it's all my fault... I shouldn't have gone out of the city to fight. I was ambushed and even today there are no soldiers left to defend the city. I..."

Gao Wenfu shook his head and stroked Gao Anren's head: "Erlang, at your age, any mistakes you make can be forgiven. Victory and defeat are common in the military. If you lose a battle, at most you can gather strength for ten years and learn from it, and then fight back. That's why I didn't scold you the other day.

But at my age, I've had the power I deserve and the blessings I deserve, so if I make a mistake, I have to pay the price and give an explanation to everyone, from top to bottom."

As he spoke, Gao Wenfu took off the copper badge from his waist and hung it on Gao Anren's belt.

This is the proof of the hereditary Mouke of the Jin Dynasty.

Gao Wenfu continued, "Erlang, your elder brother is a scholar, and he has a bright future. But with the Song-Jin war resuming, it's going to be a chaotic time. As a warrior, you'll inevitably be on the battlefield. Promise your father that you'll think twice before you act in the future, okay?"

Gao Anren fell to his knees, sobbing.

Gao Wenfu paused, then smiled at the guards around him and said, "You are lucky today. You don't have to die with me. Protect Erlang and go find General Gao. You will have a bright future then."

These guards, as if they had been pardoned, quickly dragged Gao Anren onto the horse.

Gao Anren also wiped away his tears, and with a mixed feeling of shame, pain and anger, he ran along the north-south avenue towards the north gate where there was almost no one guarding it and no Song army, and left the city.

Gao Wenfu stood still in the yard for a long time before he sighed, then slowly walked out of the yard with his crutches and knife in hand.

At this time, the city was in chaos because a large army was entering the city. Ordinary people stayed indoors, while some bold ruffians came out. Some took advantage of the chaos to steal and fish in troubled waters; others followed the Song army, raised the banner of anti-Jin, and searched the city for Jurchens.

Although Gao Wenfu wasn't wearing official robes, the braided hair and golden rings on his head betrayed his status as a noble from the Jin Dynasty. Soon, several figures gathered around him from the corner. Gao Wenfu paused, his cloudy old eyes scanning the surroundings. He saw no Song troops, only a group of skinny, unkempt children in tattered clothing. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of disappointment and anger. He raised his knife and said angrily, "I'm here to fight the Song thieves to the death. You filthy bastards, how dare you come against me?"

After all, he had fought on the battlefield for many years and had experienced the founding war of the Jin Dynasty. When Gao Wenfu was furious, he actually regained some of his former heroic spirit, and those beggars immediately fled in all directions.

Gao Wenfu panted for a moment while leaning on his crutch, then moved his feet and walked towards the provincial government office where the shouts of killing were the loudest, which was once his.

Even if I die, I will splatter those Song dogs with blood.

Are the men of Bohai still afraid of the Han people who have been cowardly and incompetent for hundreds of years?
As he thought about this, Gao Wenfu felt a chill on his head. He subconsciously wiped his hands and found that they were covered in blood.

It was not until then that the pain came. Gao Wenfu turned his head slowly and saw a beggar on the wall beside him picking up tiles and throwing them at him again.

The second piece was not very accurate and landed two steps in front of Gao Wenfu.

Before Gao Wenfu could even begin to rebuke him, the beggars on the wall started cursing: "Why the hell are you running? If you run now, will you be able to find food? Kill this gold thief, strip him of his clothes and gold, and we'll have enough to eat!"

As he spoke, the beggar grabbed a tile from the roof and threw it with all his might, hitting Gao Wenfu right on the forehead and causing him to stagger back a few steps.

"What Commander Qu said makes sense! Kill the Jin thieves and have a full meal!"

Another young boy began to scream in a hoarse voice, and many beggars appeared in groups of three or two from inconspicuous corners.

Gao Wenfu was holding a steel knife in his hand, so the beggars did not dare to approach him. They just followed the lead beggar's example, picked up stones on the ground and threw them at the Jin Dynasty's Haizhou governor.

"Kill the gold thieves! Have a full meal!"

The noises grew louder and louder, the stones became denser and denser, and more and more beggars gathered around. When Gao Wenfu was knocked to the ground, he actually felt a little puzzled as to why there were so many beggars in his jurisdiction, in the state where he lived.

His consciousness gradually became blurred, and in a trance, Gao Wenfu suddenly remembered what happened decades ago.

At that time, the Bohai people could not bear the exploitation of the Khitans, so they rebelled under the leadership of Gao Yongchang. However, as soon as Gao Yongchang had some foundation, he proclaimed himself emperor and lived a luxurious life, exploiting them even more than the Khitans.

Gao Wenfu clearly remembered that it was a hot afternoon. His biological father went to the battlefield and never came back. His biological mother was sold by the same clan. He was alone and helpless and could only beg for food on the official road.

Just when he was about to starve to death, a strong general led his army to this place and saved him with a bowl of mutton soup.

The Jurchen commander named Wanyan Aguda said to him: Follow me, and I will make sure that all of you Bohai people can have enough food to eat.

Kill Gao Yongchang, kill the Khitan dog, and have a full meal!
Countless Bohai warriors shouted this and joined the Jin army, creating a great country covering thousands of miles.

Yes, people must have enough food to eat.

As Gao Wenfu gradually regained consciousness, he gained some understanding, but before he could grasp this glimmer of enlightenment, he fell into eternal darkness.

On July 22, the 31st year of Shaoxing, Gao Wenfu, the governor of Jinhaizhou, died and Qushan was recovered.

(End of this chapter)