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

Chapter 94: Dealing with Difficulties (Part )
He Boqiu, Cui Hema and Zhang Chou were close to Zhuangzi, so they rode side by side.

After walking about two miles, Cui Hema finally couldn't help it. He turned back and signaled his companions to stop and distance themselves. He said to He Boqiu, "Brother, that's not what I wanted to say just now."

He Boqiu's face was solemn, and he nodded slightly: "I know."

"No, you don't understand the stakes." Cui Hema shook his head and sighed. "Given the current situation, someone will eventually give in, but why are you taking the initiative? Wouldn't it be better for those two Jurchens to do this?"

Zhang Chou also interjected, "Yes, big brother, you are the elder, and you usually understand everything. Why are you so confused today? The situation in the world is chaotic. The Jin Dynasty is aggressively pursuing war and is already on the verge of collapse. The Song people are also in the Northern Expedition. If... I mean if, the Song people can really succeed, those Jurchens will naturally not have a good ending, but we Han people will not necessarily be in dire straits."

He Boqiu reined in his horse, looked up at the sky for a moment, then turned his head and asked, "Do you really think the Song people can accomplish anything?"

Zhang Chou patted the horse's neck twice and said anxiously, "The key is not whether the Song people can succeed, but that we have a choice. Why bother to fight with those barbarians who can only go down one path until the end?"

"If Your Majesty fails in your southern expedition, and chaos breaks out in the north, and the Song people or the Geng thieves occupy Yizhou, then for the actions you initiated today, we will treat you as an enemy."

He Boqiu shook his head and said, "I will not surrender to the Song people."

Cui Hema and Zhang Chou became even more angry, yet inexplicably frustrated.

"You two are Han Chinese from Liaodong and moved to Shandong about ten years ago, right?"

Before the two of them could persuade him further, He Boqiu had already asked.

Cui Hema and Zhang Chou looked at each other and nodded.

Cui Hema: "I came here twelve years ago, and Ah Chou came here ten years ago. We were new here then, and we knew nothing about the weather and geography. The government didn't care about us at all. It was all thanks to you, big brother, who extended a helping hand. You first sent us seeds, then oxen, and taught us how to plant crops and understand soil moisture. Only then were we able to gain a foothold here.

We in Cuijiazhuang acknowledge these favors, and so do they in Zhangjiazhuang. Ah Chou and I both know that you, Big Brother, are like a father, brother, or relative. That's why we don't want to see you destroy your own path!

He Boqiu waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about the past. Shandong is in chaos and neighbors need to watch out for each other. I also have selfish motives in this matter."

After a pause, He Boqiu's tone turned sincere, and he said to the two Liaodong men, "But I also had brothers who were like fathers and brothers, and I also had close friends. Do you know where they are now?"

Seeing the two people's puzzled expressions, He Boqiu pointed in the direction of the farms and said, "Have you ever thought about why these two farms were completely deserted when you moved here?"

Cui Hema stroked the horse's mane and said, "I heard that he was executed for rebelling."

He Boqiu continued to nod. "These two manors were formerly known as Da Pang Manor and Xiao Pang Manor. Their owners were Pang Huiming and Pang Hu, respectively. They were my brothers, my friends, and my confidants."

"Twenty-one years ago, the Song Dynasty launched a massive northern expedition. General Yue Fei invaded the heart of the Central Plains and dispatched his generals to establish alliances with Heshuo. The man who arrived here at the time was Li Bao, a descendant of the Cheng clan in Shandong." Seeing the two men's thoughtful expressions, He Boqiu continued, "Oh, you may not be familiar with the name Li Bao. He is none other than Li San."

Cui Hema and Zhang Chou suddenly understood.

When Yue Fei was fighting in the north, Li Bao cooperated in Shandong, recruiting anti-Jin rebels and attacking the Jin army. The momentum was so huge that even twenty years later, some people still knew the name of Li San.

He Boqiu continued, his tone becoming more desolate. "My two brothers, seeing the favorable situation for the Northern Expedition, listened to Li Bao's lies and rebelled, seizing Linyi and cutting off navigation on the Yishui River. I was a coward at the time, and I really didn't want to risk the lives of everyone in the village, so I held back."

"I originally thought that after King Liang (Wanyan Wushu) was defeated by Liu Qi at Shunchang and then by Yue Fei at Yancheng, the Jin Dynasty was nearing its end. In Shandong, my two brothers had sent troops to occupy Linyi, and the situation in eastern Shandong was stable. I could just be a rich man, a guard dog. Why would I bother to achieve anything?"

"Who would have thought that this one thought could mean the difference between life and death?"

He Boqiu suddenly became excited: "The Song army has withdrawn!"

His voice became higher, like a roar: "That son of a bitch Zhao Gou actually withdrew his troops!"

Zhang Chou was startled. Although he was already outside the city on the official road, there were still people around. He Boqiu's shout really attracted many people's attention. Under the gaze of Zhang Chou and others, they quickly fled in embarrassment. He Boqiu ignored them and continued to speak angrily: "Yue Fei is not a hero, and Li Bao is not a good man either. They never considered that we carried incense pots on our heads and transported food and fodder. The Jin people knew all this. Now they are withdrawing their troops. How can we survive?!"

"When I heard the news, I knew something was wrong. I informed my two brothers to leave Linyi City immediately while hiding the Pang family. But it was too late. By the time the Jin Dynasty reacted, Linyi City was captured. Except for a few farmers from Pangzhuang and Da Pangzhuang who I sent south, everyone else was killed."

After saying this, He Boqiu gasped heavily, and after a long while he regained his composure, he continued slowly, "After the Song and Jin made peace, I humbled myself and finally gained the trust of the Jin. A few years later, I dared to go to Song to look for the former Pangzhuang farmers. I originally thought that when the Song treats meritorious officials, even if they cannot make them rich and powerful, they should at least allocate a few acres of small land for them to cultivate and support themselves."

"But who would have thought... who would have thought they would be reduced to servants and slaves! Their fathers, brothers, and sons risked their lives for the State of Song, but the State of Song said they were northerners and that 'southerners should return south, northerners to the north'. The south wouldn't provide them with an inch of land. Since they refused to return north, they were sold as slaves!"

He Boqiu took a deep breath and looked at Zhang Chou and Cui Hema with bloodshot eyes: "Just like that, they became slaves!"

"From that moment on, I understood one thing. Never align yourself with the Song. Enemies like the Western Xia, the Liao, and the Great Jin were worshipped as ancestors by the Song. But people like Zongze, Yue Fei, or my two Pang brothers were abused and humiliated at will."

"I dare to say this: even if the group of Song people coming to the Northern Expedition today, plus the traitor Geng who may defect to the Song State, can seize Yizhou, or even Shandong, and skin us alive and tear us into pieces, achieving unparalleled merit, they will not end well. Zhao Gou and the high-ranking officials in that small court will definitely not let them go."

Cui Hema was stunned, and Zhang Chou's cheeks twitched, both of them were speechless.

After releasing the words he had buried for twenty years, He Boqiu immediately closed his eyes and calmed himself. After a long pause, he turned to the two men and said, "Since you regard me as your elder, I will speak frankly. I have always been just a guard dog. While the Great Jin is here, I will be loyal to it. If a hero from the Central Plains ever pacifies the world, I will serve him. But I will never surrender to the Song Kingdom. How can anyone accept such humiliation?"

Cui Hema and Zhang Chou nodded silently, then bowed at the same time and ran towards their own farm with their companions.

However, Zhang Chou did not return to the manor directly. Instead, he went around the side of the manor, changed his clothes, and returned to the provincial capital.

Inside the government office, Pushandharma was still holding the Buddhist beads, standing on the corridor above the pond, staring at the fish in the water. Beside him was a woman in palace dress and a neatly armed soldier.

Zhang Chou recognized that these two people were none other than Madam Wang, the wife of the prefect Pushan, and his nephew Wang Xiongyi. He also knew that these two were Pushan Bodhidharma's close associates and think tanks, so he did not dare to neglect them at all. He bowed and addressed them as Madam and General.

Seeing that Pushandama was looking at him coldly, Zhang Chou did not dare to be negligent and told him everything that the men had said and done.

After hearing this, Pushandamo said calmly, "So, He Boqiu is determined, Cui Hema is indecisive, and Jiagu Shou and Shuhu Ali are simple. They were simply overwhelmed by force and became afraid."

"Ah Lang, that's hard to say." Madam Wang covered her mouth and laughed. "Everyone wants to survive. It's normal for people like Cui Hema to leave a way out. It's normal for people like Jia Gushou and Shu Hu Ali to be afraid. On the other hand, He Boqiu seems a bit hypocritical. You have to know that too much is as bad as too little."

Pushandharma remained silent.

Madam Wang continued, "On the other hand, He Boqiu has experience before. Not only was he the first to stand up to Ah Lang, he also reassured the other families. If he were a traitor, what would the others be? And is that ugly Zhang Sanlang really that reliable? Did he exaggerate or conceal the truth?"

Zhang Feng's forehead only sweated when he heard the words, but he didn't react at all, and even his expression didn't change.

Pushandarmo laughed and said, "If you say so, Madam, won't everyone believe it?"

Mrs. Wang nodded solemnly. "Indeed, it's true. Not only does Alang not trust them, they also don't trust each other, and neither do they trust Alang. Yizhou may appear to have soldiers and food, but the people are alienated and suspicious. It's like a house that's magnificent on the outside but rotten on the inside, and then it snows heavily. Who knows, it might collapse under the weight tomorrow?"

Zhang Chou finally managed to speak: "Madam, you think too highly of the thieves Song and Geng."

Madam Wang glanced at Zhang Chou and said, "The Geng or Song thieves are just a snowflake. The real heavy snow is the benevolent rule of your majesty!"

Pushandamo shook his head. "Madam, be careful with your words. You Han people are so educated and learned, but you don't know that everything in the world ultimately depends on force. The vast territory of the Great Jin Dynasty was not gained through benevolent rule, but through repeated attacks and battles. Your Majesty, this is what I believe, and I believe it too. As long as we can win the battles, all parties inside and outside will be subservient, and everything will naturally be settled. This applies to the country as well as to Yizhou."

Mrs. Wang remained silent. She needed to save face for her husband in front of others, but she was a strategic person after all. She wanted to ask Pushandharma, "With suspicions rising from both inside and outside, and fear rising from top to bottom, can either the emperor or the prefect really get anything done?"

(End of this chapter)