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

Chapter 139: Nothing Can Be Desired by Music ( words)
"Hey, man, I see you're respectable people, and we're kindhearted. How about this? Hand over half of the grain and two horses, and we'll let you go! Otherwise, it's a fight to the bitter end!"

This seems to be the former garrison of the Jin army, as there are still bonfires on the ground and a large number of horse hoof prints on the road.

The most obvious trace was that there were a large number of corpses in the dike near Anzi River, and most of them were young and strong. Some of them had their hands tied behind their backs. It was obvious that they were subjected to planned massacre after being captured.

There were about thirty people who were neither soldiers nor bandits wandering around this small village. Among them was a young man who was soaking wet and drying his clothes by the bonfire, a middle-aged man who was chewing something unknown, and an old man who was searching for something among the pile of corpses.

After they saw Liu Huai and the others, they came to the wall behind the dike at the whistle of a leader, picked up their messy weapons and stood on guard, shouting out that classic slogan.

"I opened this mountain and planted this tree. If you want to pass this way, leave some money for passage!"

Liu Huai smiled.

Because the dike was built next to the official road and along the Anzi River, the more than 30 people left the main road open behind the dike's earthen wall, allowing the robbed people to come and go freely.

To put it bluntly, this is a group of defeated soldiers who don't even know what it means to be bandits.

The bald man in the lead saw Liu Huai's expression and suddenly became angry: "Hey, man, what are you laughing at?"

Liu Huai waved his hand and took two steps forward. "The Tianping army is only two miles to the north. How dare you rob here? Aren't you afraid of being swept away by the army?"

A young man with a fresh face looked up from behind the earthen wall. "What Tianping Army? Don't lie to us. The Tianping Army was wiped out by the Jin bandits yesterday. How can there be any Tianping Army left?"

Liu Huai asked: "Which army are you from?"

The young man answered loudly: "I am from the Baiju Army."

"Your commander, Shi Baiju, is in the camp over there, gathering his troops. You'll know once you see him." Liu Huai then looked at the others inside the earthen wall. "Almost all the generals are there. You'll know once you go back and take a look."

The bald man in the lead shook his head and said angrily, "I'm not going back, even if I have to become a bandit. Those generals and lieutenants look decent on a daily basis, but when things get tough, it's clear they're all idiots, just shiny balls of donkey dung! So many people died last night. Following them means death. How can we trust them again?"

"Jin Dabao is right!"

"What future do we have following those losers?"

There was another round of noisy discussions and booing.

Liu Huai nodded and said to the others, "Don't any of you want to go back?"

A few people were obviously tempted, but were scolded back by the bald man called Jin Dabao.

"Boss Jin, you're being unreasonable. Even if you don't want to go back, how are you going to stop the others?"

"I don't want to watch them die!" Jin Dabao pointed at the hundreds of corpses behind him and said, "The officials said they wanted to fight against the Jin, so we followed them without thinking.

On weekdays, we eat coarse food, while the officials eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks. When we ask, the officials say that life will be better after the anti-Jin war is successful, but they have to give us some hope!

When the Jin bandits came to attack, the officials asked us to go to meet the enemy, but they ran away. Now all those who have to eat coarse food have died, and none of those officials who lived a good life have died.

I can see clearly with my eyes that these peasants have escaped a disaster today, but if they continue to follow the great officials to do great things, sooner or later they will die here naked like these people lying here!"

Luo Huaiyan was listening quietly at first, but at this moment he suddenly realized why Marshal Wei and Commander Liu had to mobilize a large number of people to divide the land in the captured territory while they were still fighting on the front line.

Because we need to give ordinary soldiers hope, let them quickly share the fruits of victory, and change their war goals from the big and broad slogan of resisting the Jin to more realistic things, such as land, status, money and marriage.

To put it in a more noble way, money and women are just career and love, aren't they?
Therefore, although the number of the Loyal Army is small, its combat effectiveness is much higher than that of the huge Tianping Army.

Liu Huai didn't know what he was thinking. He was silent for a while. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a shrill cry coming from the dike.

“Grandpa!!! Grandpa!!! Ah!!!”

A young man was crying heart-wrenchingly while holding a naked dead body.

Jin Dabao looked back for a moment, finally sighed, and said somewhat dejectedly: "Hey, man, go ahead. I see that although you are also high-ranking officials, you are willing to talk to us peasants about reason. People are all made of flesh and blood, so I have to accept your kindness.

I know you want to save us. But in this world, all meat-eaters eat humans, and you can’t save us.”

Liu Huai sighed and just as he was about to turn the reins, he stopped immediately with a thought: "Jin Dabao, do you recognize me?"

Jin Dabao wanted to say, "How do I know you, bastard?", but he didn't dare to say it and just shook his head.

"I'm not from your Tianping Army. I'm Liu Huai, the former commander of the Zhongyi Army. My rank is similar to that of your commander-in-chief." Liu Huai pointed at himself and said, "I'm not saying this to show off my power. I'm telling you that although I, Liu Dalang, may not be a wealthy man, I do have some ability and status. My words count. Do you understand?"

Jin Dabao nodded in surprise. Liu Huai said loudly, "Then let me tell you, our Zhongyi Army is dividing the land, and the Tianping Army will also divide the land. We will use the land seized from the Jin bandits to settle you. Are you willing to return to the army?"

"Is this true?"

Before Jin Dabao could answer, the others behind the earth wall started to make a noise.

Jin Dabao was stunned for a long moment before finally sneering, "Are you kidding us? The Tianping Army has been beaten like this. How can we defeat the Jin bandits again? How can we seize their land?"

Liu Huai said sincerely: "If the Jin bandits really won a complete victory, why would they withdraw? Now we are fighting for our lives. If the Tianping Army can defeat the Jin bandits in one breath, they will be like fish on the chopping board. If the Jin bandits hold their breath, you may not even be able to become bandits!"

Jin Dabao thought about it and it seemed to be the case.

Although these soldiers didn't know any strategy, they understood. If you were completely victorious, wouldn't you take this opportunity to strike back at the fallen? Why are you running?
These people were somewhat tempted, yet hesitant: "Can we really divide the land?"

Liu Huai patted his chest and said, "I know you won't believe me even if I say something like that. How about this: if the Tianping Army doesn't give you land, you can come to the Zhongyi Army and introduce yourself as Liu Huai, Liu Dalang, or Liu Feihuzi. I will personally give you the land!"

After more than thirty people murmured to each other for a while, they felt that with the backup of joining the Loyal Army, being a bandit was really boring.

Finally, under the leadership of the shy Jin Dabao, more than 30 people saluted Liu Huai at the same time.

"Thank you...thank you, General Liu, for your kindness."

"Don't thank me. Someone will come to treat the wounded and bury the bodies later. You can wait here or go back to the camp. Don't be a bandit anymore. What's the future of being a bandit?"

After that, Liu Huai took the two generals Heng and Ha and a half-grown boy and headed south along the Anzi River. When they met a defeated army along the way, he told them that the Tianping Army wanted to divide the land after defeating the Jin Army, and asked them to return quickly.

Of course, there were also real bandits and real rapists and looters encountered along the way. Liu Huai naturally did not tolerate these people. Apart from Luo Huaiyan, although Guan Chongyan and Pang Rugui were not capable of defeating thousands of enemies, they were also elite warriors, wearing armor, riding horses and carrying neat weapons.

With their support, how could a few bandits do anything to Liu Huai?

After walking and stopping for only six or seven miles, Liu Huai came hurriedly.

Xin Qiji was practically furious. He personally rode up to catch up with Liu Huai and said, "Liu Dalang, what the hell have you done? After those defeated soldiers returned to the camp, they clamored for you to guarantee the land for the Tianping Army. Now all the soldiers are rioting, including the Rulin Army and the Xinzi Army. The commanders have even been held hostage. They're asking us, the generals, to make a promise."

Liu Huai pretended to be confused: "If you don't use land as a reward, what will you use? Gold, silver and other valuables? You Tianping Army must have them!"

Xin Qiji reached out and grabbed Liu Huai's horse reins: "Da Lang, you know that's not what I meant."

Liu Huai continued to play dumb. "Are you worried about a lack of land in the north? You must be kidding. With such a vast land and such a sparse population, cultivated land might be in short supply, but how could there be a shortage of wasteland? The autumn harvest is almost over. We can use this winter to repair water conservancy projects, reclaim wasteland, and provide labor relief. Then, we can distribute seeds and start spring farming next year. What are you afraid of?"

Xin Qiji listened carefully and shook his head slowly. "Liu Dalang, don't play dumb. Just your promise to distribute land to the Tianping Army will cause such a big disturbance. You are so smart, you can't have imagined it, right?"

Liu Huai finally nodded seriously: "I can think of it, but I don't care."

"What?" Xin Qiji was finally stunned.

"My ambition is to bring peace to the world. I've heard a saying since I was a child: A true man's ambition should be like the Yangtze River flowing eastward to the sea. Why suffer the pain of being trapped in a shabby house?" Liu Huai finally grew impatient. "To achieve my ambition, I'm not afraid of even nine deaths. Why would I be afraid of a few storms and conflicts?"

Xin Qiji looked at Liu Huai intently.

Every time he thought he had seen through this person, the other person would always emit a dazzling light in an unexpected place.

"Then, Dalang, have you ever considered that if you do this, all your forbearance and restraint will be gone, and all the generals of the Tianping Army will think you are digging up their roots."

"I said, I don't care. Doing this is an upright and honest way to bring peace to the world, so I will do it, that's all. If someone hates me for this, it means that they are just a mean person, a mean-spirited person who is greedy for money. Why should I care about it?"

"Xin Wulang, I can tolerate and avoid anything, but I can't avoid the three words 'peace in the world', because that is my foundation." Liu Huai said seriously, "I'm very clear. If the Tianping Army is unwilling to properly resettle the people, I will take over. And if the Tianping Army truly allows the people to live and work in peace, then even if they are hated, I don't think it's a big deal."

Xin Qiji smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You have given me a big problem."

Liu Huai said, "I think with Wu Lang's ability, this little thing can be accomplished in a snap."

After a pause, Liu Huai continued, "Have you reached a conclusion? Is there anyone who dares to lead an army to hunt down the Jin thieves?"

Xin Qiji pointed at himself and said, "I will lead a thousand infantrymen, and Yelu Xingge will personally lead three hundred cavalrymen. They will be at your disposal."

Liu Huai raised his eyebrows, seeming a little surprised by the words "you are in charge", but he quickly frowned again: "Why you? Your greatest skill is obviously in organizing the army. You should be the one to reorganize the camp."

"Perhaps responding to changing circumstances and making strategic plans are not his strengths." Xin Qiji smiled bitterly and said, "I'll just take it as you praising me for being like Zhuge Liang."

(End of this chapter)