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

Chapter 150: Only Togetherness, No Separation

On the morning of August 15th, news came from the rear.

Geng Jing finally returned to the army.

According to the military envoy, after Geng Jing fell into the water as the rear guard, he drifted downstream and hid in Mengshan on the west bank of the Anzi River. He lost his way in the darkness and no one knew where he ran to in Mengshan.

But because many defeated soldiers also fled to Mengshan, Geng Jing was not idle in the past few days. He gathered the defeated soldiers and looked for a way. Last night, he successfully walked out of Mengshan and returned to the banks of Anzi River.

Geng Jing originally thought that the Tianping Army had been defeated and shattered. He was ready to start over again, but he was surprised to find that the Tianping Army's flags were still flying high on both sides of the Anzi River.

Geng Jing was pleasantly surprised and was escorted back to the military camp. He was even happier to see that although the Tianwang Army had been badly damaged, the Rulin Army was relatively intact.

Afterwards, Ye Shichan felt grateful for Geng Jing's personal rescue, so he bowed deeply to him after they met, completely gave up his independent status, and led less than a thousand defeated soldiers to officially become Geng Jing's subordinate.

As for the other military leaders, they did not dare to disobey Geng Jing anymore due to the heavy losses, and they could not even criticize Geng Jing in private for harming his neighbors.

Because Geng Jing's Heavenly King Army also suffered heavy losses, even Geng Jing himself narrowly escaped death.

Geng Jing never expected that after he suffered a crushing defeat, his prestige actually increased a little, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed.

But after such a great defeat, how could everything go smoothly?

With so many things to think about, Geng Jing stayed up all night before he continued to work out the plan for the advance with the other generals. Just as he was about to take a good rest, Zhang Anguo came over to make some slanderous remarks.

Zhang Qilang usually doesn't hold grudges overnight, but the slap he received from Xin Qiji happened several days ago, and the swelling on his face hasn't gone down yet!

After listening to Zhang Anguo's hurtful words against Xin Qiji and even Liu Huai, Geng Jing became more and more annoyed. He felt that Zhang Anguo was becoming more and more narrow-minded. He wished that his ability to command the army was as strong as his ability to find trouble. After scolding him twice, Geng Jing simply threw Zhang Anguo out with his wooden bowl.

But Zhang Anguo's last words as he fled the tent in a panic pierced Geng Jing's heart deeply.

"Brother, when it comes to seizing power, it's never about whether you want to, but whether you can. No matter who has the ability, there will be countless people around to instigate it, taking advantage of the situation. Think twice, brother. You must always be on guard against others."

"Damn, that filthy bastard who eats dog shit." Geng Jing muttered and cursed Zhang Anguo, and fell asleep with a sense of crisis.

But at noon on August 15th, when Xin Qiji's troops returned all the captured horses, armor, and flags to the central army, all of Geng Jing's suspicions were instantly dispelled.

According to calculations, when Xin Qiji sent these things back, the news that Geng Jing had returned to the army had not yet been passed on.

What does this mean?
This shows that even though Geng Jing was not in the army, Xin Qiji still respected the authority of the central army.

These spoils, especially the delivery of the flags, inspired the entire Tianping Army. The generals swept away their previous fear of the Jin army and suggested pursuing the Jin army.

Geng Jing certainly knew their little thoughts.

Want to drink Feixian’s first soup?

But Liu Huai's words had also reached Geng Jing's ears. Combined with what they said when they first met and the shock caused by this great defeat, Geng Jing finally made the order to establish a system.

So Geng Jing immediately said that anyone who wanted to go to Fei County could do so, and they would all be under the command of Xin Qiji. There was no doubt that Xin Wulang would strictly enforce military discipline. If anyone did something he shouldn't have done or took something he shouldn't have taken, don't blame me, Geng Jing, if you die.

As the chief, Geng Jing wanted to continue gathering troops along the Anzi River until the military rations were used up, obviously intending to take the opportunity to annex troops.

Well, both ends are blocked.

Not to mention that all the generals of the Tianping Army were worried.

At noon on August 15th, more than a thousand Tianping soldiers finally walked out of the Mengshan Pass and arrived in Fei County.

After easily crossing the Jun River, we passed through a hilly area again and the county seat of Feixian was right in front of us.

At this time, the Xin army was surprised to find that Fei County was completely defenseless and the city gates were not even closed.

Xin Qiji led his army into the city easily, blocked the magistrate of Fei County in the county government office, and easily beheaded the Jurchen.

After briefly questioning the officials, Liu Huai realized they were completely unaware that Pushandamo had already led the Jin army in a retreat. He couldn't help but feel certain. Although he had captured approximately nine hundred Jurchen cavalrymen along the way, over a thousand had still escaped. What if a Jurchen was truly resourceful, understanding the principle of self-sacrifice, and had brought back over a thousand helpless cavalrymen?

If we miscalculate the fighting strength and exclude these 1,000 cavalrymen, when the decisive battle comes, these 1,000 cavalrymen will come out with gnashing teeth and charge, and things will be very serious.

But now it seems that the Jurchens have been so panicked and defeated that no one has informed Fei County of the news and asked them to prepare.

"The Jin thieves are at their wit's end." Liu Huai hung his long sword on the victory hook and bowed from his horse: "Xin Wulang, Yelu Erlang, Fei County has been taken. I must return to my battlefield. Let's say goodbye now."

Xin Qiji and Yelu Xingge hurriedly returned the greeting, but saw Liu Huai leading Guan Chongyan, Pang Rugui and Luo Huaiyan, each with a spare horse, galloping eastward.

The two looked at Liu Huai's back, both feeling lost.

But they had just captured the city and were very busy. After they had rectified military discipline, counted the treasury, and comforted the people, it was already noon on the 16th.

After another rest, Yelu Xingge came to Xin Qiji and asked for leave.

"What? Where are you going to leave your Khitan cavalry behind?"

Xin Qiji was stunned.

"I'm not abandoning my tribe, but I want to see Liu Dalang's true ability." Yelu Xingge said, holding his belt. "He always says that his ideas are right. I've been following him all the way these days, and I think he is right. But to what extent Liu Dalang is right, we still have to see on the battlefield."

Xin Qiji put down the brush in his hand, tilted his head and thought for a moment: "You can't go. I just appointed Xin Jingwei as the deputy leader of the Xinzi Army. He can regulate the Xinzi Army, but he can't suppress the majority of the Tianping Army that is coming.

If we want to keep the people safe, Fei County can be considered one of our foundations and must not be wasted. Therefore, I need you to personally lead the Khitan cavalry to assist us."

Yelu Xingge nodded but immediately felt something was wrong: "No, you did all this by yourself, didn't you? How dare those filthy people do this in front of you? Oh, where are you going?"

Xin Qiji said calmly: "Of course I want to see Liu Dalang's true ability."

Yelu Xingge opened his mouth and felt that Xin Qiji was really morally corrupt and not a human being.

If I don't move, you don't move. If I move, you move around, right?

"Yelü Erlang, don't act so pretentiously. Even if you understand Liu Dalang's abilities, can you change the Tianping Army? Or do you have the status and ability to do so? Will Chief Geng trust you?" Xin Qiji donned his iron crotch jacket and wrapped himself in arm armor. "Only I can do this kind of thing, so I'll go this time."

Yelu Xingge thought about it carefully and was dismayed to find that what Xin Qiji said was absolutely right.

"Well, I'll keep the peace for you. But even though I won't be going, I still have to send my deputy general, Li Yi Zhenjin, to go."

"Okay, I'll take care of the military affairs and we'll set off in two quarters of an hour."

Xin Qiji seemed a little impatient.

In fact, there was another reason why Xin Qiji did not allow Yelu Xingge to go.

He was worried that after seeing Liu Huai's abilities, this guy would change his allegiance and take the Khitans with him to join the Loyal Army.

Don't say it's impossible. Yelu Xingge was the first general to get close to Liu Huai after that difficult night, and he was even faster than Xin Qiji.

Not to mention that the Hu people have the idea that the strong are respected, which is ingrained in their bones. Yelu Xingge is just living with Geng Jing, not swearing allegiance to him, so why can't he change jobs?

But if Yelu Xingge really did this, it would definitely affect the relationship between the Tianping Army and the Zhongyi Army, and it is possible that friction or even enmity would arise between the two sides.

Therefore, Xin Qiji had to take precautions in advance.

If Yelu Xingge knew what Xin Qiji was thinking, he would be extremely speechless.

The loyal army is obviously a well-behaved one. How can they maintain a relatively independent position if they surrender to them at this time?
A real man devotes himself to serving others, but he is determined to be loyal to the cause, whether he lives or dies.

How can it be so easy to make up your mind?
(End of this chapter)