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

Chapter 78 Where is the Road Ahead (Part )
The two generals who came to fight against Geng Jing at that time were not mediocre people.

The prefect of Dongping Prefecture was called Hesheli Zhining. Although he was a rookie and had little reputation, he was Wanyan Liang's most trusted confidant.

In the original history, several years later, Hesheli Zhining was not only the main general who participated in suppressing the Khitan rebellion, but also defeated the famous Song army general Li Xianzhong in the Battle of Fuli.

The one who led the army of Yidu Prefecture was even more famous. He was the Duke of Chu of the Great Jin Dynasty and the Grand Marshal Wanyan Bendu.

He was raised by Wanyan Aguda since he was a child. He was awarded a gold medal and promised a bright future at an early age. He was called "the golden young man" in the Jurchen army.

Wanyan Bendu experienced the entire war to destroy Liao and Song in the army. To put it in a more childish way, he was a remnant of the old era. In the last era, his comrades were Wanyan Zongmou, Wanyan Nianhan, and Wanyan Loushi, and his opponents were Han Shizhong and Yue Fei.

In the post-Jing Kang era, when famous generals were few and peace lasted for a long time, Wanyan Bendu was invincible.

Geng Jing's defeat was not unjust as he was attacked from both sides by the elite troops of the Jin army led by these two men.

"Also, we're running out of food," Xin Qiji continued. "Although the autumn harvest is coming soon, Tai'an Prefecture has few people and poor land, so we can't support such a large army. If we don't continue to attack the Jurchen farming army, we'll be out of food by October at the latest."

The Jin army was roughly divided into three categories: the imperial guards, the border defense forces, and the military farming forces.

Among them, the Tuntian Army was the Meng'an Mouke households that migrated inland, somewhat similar to the Manchu cities of later times. They often occupied the local arteries, built cities and forts in the most fertile land, and forced the farmers to become tenants.

This process was a one-size-fits-all approach. Regardless of whether the land belonged to landlords or ordinary people, any land that the Meng'an Mouke households coveted would be plundered.

Most of these lands were paddy fields and cultivated land, so the harvest would naturally be very good. In theory, these grains belonged to the Jin people, so the rebels had no psychological burden to rob them.

Geng Jing nodded. "We really can't stay in Tai'an any longer. The soldiers are all full of potbellied men, some with families, and we can't deny them enough to eat. Sigh, it's hard to be in charge. Wulang, you're a smart man, so where do you think we should attack?"

Xin Qiji hesitated, but said sincerely, "Personally, I want to return to Jinan, but out of public interest, I support fighting south. But we can't touch large prefectures like Yanzhou and Jizhou, and even more so, we can't touch prefectures and counties along the Huai River like Pizhou. If the Jin bandits move south, they will inevitably rely on the rivers to advance, and we can't defeat them head-on. We should go to Juzhou and Yizhou, as close to the Song Dynasty as possible."

Li Tieqiang frowned: "Isn't that getting farther and farther away from home?"

Xin Qiji shook his head. "That's not the truth. The Jin bandits stand between us and our hometown. If we can't defeat them, even if we return home, they will be driven out sooner or later. The more Jin bandits we kill, the closer we are to our hometown. If we can defeat them one day, even if there are thousands of mountains and rivers between us, returning home will be just a stone's throw away."

Geng Jing slammed the table and shouted, "That's exactly what I said!"

Xin Qiji continued, "Our Tianping Army must be patient until the war between Song and Jin officially begins. We can then go south to aid the Song or go north to disrupt the Jin bandits' logistics. Both are possible."

Geng Jing nodded heavily. "Wu Lang, you're right. How about this? Go and call those idiots over and tell them that Commander Geng has issued an order. Let's meet and discuss this matter. We can set a date for the dispatch in the next few days!"

"Yes!" Xin Qiji bowed and accepted the order, but then stopped and looked embarrassed.

As if he knew what he was going to say, Li Tieqiang hurriedly said, "Brother Xin Wu, hurry up and go. It's already past noon. If you're any later, those idiots will think that Chief Geng is going to treat them to a meal!"

However, Xin Qiji still said with difficulty: "Jiedu, not only has the great cause not been accomplished, it is not even safe. How can you hang out with women? If the people below follow suit, not to mention how to fight this war, where will these women come from? By then, will we still be the army that rises up to save the lives of our fellow villagers?" After saying these few words, Xin Qiji felt relieved.

Geng Jing's expression quickly turned ugly. "Wu Lang, I've been bored lately, so Zhang Qi offered me two women. I just tried them. It won't become a regular thing, it won't... How about this, I give them some money and send them away?"

Despite receiving the assurance, Xin Qiji was shocked instead of pleased. He asked in astonishment, "Who? Zhang Qilang, Zhang Anguo? I originally thought it was a local tycoon trying to curry favor with the governor, but how could it be our old brother who did this? This is a serious matter of digging up the roots! No, I am the military secretary, in charge of military law. Please ask the governor to let me handle this matter."

Geng Jing suppressed his anger: "Wu Lang, I will handle this matter myself..."

Xin Qiji had been bowing, but upon hearing this, he looked up, even more astonished. "Jiedu, do you know that if they give you one point, they will keep ten points for themselves? Even though they are only giving you two women now, they may secretly do something to destroy their families! This matter must be..."

"I said! I'll handle it myself!"

Geng Jing finally lost his patience, his eyes widened and he shouted angrily.

Li Tieqiang hurried forward and pushed Xin Qiji out. "Fifth brother, didn't I just tell you to notify the various armies to hold a military meeting? This is serious business. Go quickly. I'll persuade the Marshal again..."

Xin Qiji did not insist and was pushed out of the room. He sighed on the steps, bowed to Geng Jing's figure in the room, turned and left.

Li Tieqiang turned back to the house and closed the door. "Gengtou, you have to trust Fifth Brother. No matter how harsh his words are, they are ultimately for your own good. He has no intention of harming you."

Geng Jing smiled bitterly, raised his teapot and took another sip. "Why wouldn't I trust Wu Lang? If I didn't trust him, why would I let him take charge of the seal and military documents? I even let him keep them after he lost them once. If I don't even trust Wu Lang, who can I trust? That bastard Yelu Xingge?"

"Wu Lang is well-read and has a wealth of strategic plans, a hundred times better than the rest of us. You say we're just a bunch of warriors, killing people is commonplace, how could we possibly understand how to march and fight? Without him, we'd be nothing but bandits, and the Tianping Army wouldn't even be able to form a military formation. How could I not take his words seriously?"

Li Tieqiang was puzzled: "Why is the governor angry?"

Geng Jing continued to smile bitterly: "Because he, Xin Wu, wanted to deal with Zhang Qi, he, Xin Qiji, is my confidant and confidant, so does that mean Zhang Anguo is not my hands, brothers, or eyes? The palms and backs of my hands are all flesh, and I can't bear to cut them with a knife."

Li Tieqiang thought about it and couldn't help stamping his feet: "Damn Zhang Qi did such a rubbish, he deserves to be punished."

Geng Jing glanced at Li Tieqiang and chuckled, "I've heard storytellers say loyal ministers are always honest and outspoken, while treacherous ministers are always flattering and fawning. But loyal ministers often end up in misery, while treacherous ministers often live a comfortable life. I think this old emperor is truly a tyrant. He can't even tell the difference between loyalty and treachery."

"But if it really comes to me, Zhang Qi always thinks of me when he gets good things. Can I still whip him? Let me tell you, those two women, hey, their butts are really..."

Seeing that Li Tieqiang was also looking at him with contempt, Geng Jing's old face turned red, and he felt bored and shut up immediately.

The two sat in the hall, looking at the willow branches blown by the wind outside the door, and fell silent for a while.

(End of this chapter)