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

Chapter 230: Coercion and Inducement to Speed Up
Xin Qiji was full of passion.

But in fact, war is a matter between two parties. The Tianping Army wants to attack the Wuxing Army, but how could the Wuxing Army be willing to be a punching bag?
Early the next morning, that is, on the morning of September 2nd, when it was still dawn and the Tianping Army was cooking, a scout came to report that lights were on in the Wuxing Army camp and there was a hazy mist, as if the army was also cooking.

Xin Qiji thought for a moment and felt that the Jin army was only going to attack the city or the Tianping army camp. No matter which one, the Tianping army could gain the advantage and defeat the enemy easily.

The Jin army can't possibly run away, right?!
However, the Jin army just ran away!
The strategic shift speed of the 2,000-man mule and horse corps was astonishing. They abandoned all their baggage, burned down the camp, and quickly retreated northward.

After a series of dazzling moves, before Xin Qiji and others could react, the Jin army crossed the Xianggong River from the north and rushed south again.

Is this a plan to cut off the Tianping Army’s retreat?
But what is the purpose of taking a back route?
Isn't it just to cut off the enemy's food supply and make them collapse without fighting?
But the Jin army had already abandoned all their baggage! They then went deep into the enemy's rear, sitting with the Tianping army and wasting food and grass. The Taiping army still had dozens of carts of beans, but what did they have?
Is there such a backdoor route?

The next moment, the Wuxing Army began to attack the defenders who were guarding the pontoon bridge south of the Xianggong River.

The Tianping Army had only about two hundred defenders on the south side of the pontoon bridge, most of whom were just civilians. How could they withstand the fierce attack of the Jin army?
Before Xin Qiji could send reinforcements, the entire army defending the south bank was defeated.

The Jin army did not pursue the defeated army, nor did they attack along the pontoon bridge. They simply cut off the bridge and then the entire army mounted their horses and headed southwest.

It took the Jin army only three quarters of an hour from the time they set out to the time they cut off the pontoon bridge, and almost everyone in the Tianping Army was unable to react.

It was so damn fast. After completing this set of tactical moves, his genius was fully revealed.

"You Jin thieves who eat dog shit!" Xin Qiji lost his refined demeanor and shouted loudly.

Li Tieqiang and Yelu Xingge were also very angry.

"Don't panic." Xin Qiji took two long breaths, forcing himself to calm his anger. "Big Iron Spear, those of your men who are good swimmers, quickly survey the hydrology of the Qingxiang River. Xin Wenyuan, send people to the city... Don't go to the city, but we have to find a way for them to ferry inland. Send people to the surrounding villages to search for boats. Also, send people out to cut down trees to make wooden boxes and planks for the floating bridge."

As he spoke, Xin Qiji looked at Yelu Xingge again and said, "The Han cavalry is ultimately not as skilled as the Khitan cavalry. Yelu Erlang, send the Khitan cavalry across the river on floating horses to follow those Jin thieves. Don't lose their message, and be quick!"

There was no time for them to say anything more, and they all took their orders and left.

At this time, Kai Zhao also opened the gate of Ju County, and many people rushed directly into the Jin army camp to put out the fire, trying to rescue some useful things from it.

Since the Jin army withdrew, the situation in Ju County naturally stabilized. Some wealthy families in Juzhou quickly began to speculate. Many people slaughtered pigs and sheep and prepared wine and meat to entertain the Tianping Army.

These people didn't know any big strategies. They only knew that after the Tianping Army fought a fierce battle with the Jin Army, the Jin Army returned to the camp and burned down the camp and fled within a day.

If this isn’t a great victory, what is?
How could they know that the strategic goal of the Jin army was to attack the front camp of the Loyalty Army? Giving up the battle with the Tianping Army at this time and making a desperate bet must be a desperate decision, with the determination to die if they fail.

As the saying goes, one must be in danger before one can be reborn. It is no surprise that such an army can create any miracle.

Xin Qiji was extremely confused and wanted to reject these wealthy families at first. However, Xin Wulang, who came from a wealthy family, changed his mind and thought that all the local financial and material resources were concentrated in the hands of these wealthy families. If he contacted them, would he gain anything?
With the idea of trying everything possible, while waiting for the pontoon bridge to be repaired, Xin Qiji suppressed his anxiety and cordially met with the wealthy families in Juzhou.

This was a successful and victorious meeting. No one dared to look down on Xin Qiji because of his youth. On the contrary, Xin Qiji's literary attitude of respecting the wise and humble made some wealthy people feel flattered and happy.

"General, you can stay in Ju County for a few days, and let me show you my hospitality." A wealthy old man put down the teacup in his hand and said anxiously.

Xin Qiji's smile remained unchanged, but he just shook his head: "My dear father-in-law, you are joking. The military situation is urgent. If we are not here to enjoy the mountains and rivers, how can we disobey military orders and enjoy ourselves here?"

That's good, that's good.

The wealthy old man felt a little relieved. These days, soldiers and bandits are indistinguishable, and no one wants to allow foreign troops to stay permanently in the area. Otherwise, who knows what kind of chaos will arise. But the wealthy old man's face showed regret. "The general is brave and the Jin bandits fled at the sight of him. It's just that I can't see his spirit more often. I have such a close relationship with him. It really makes me sad."

Xin Qiji slammed his teacup down on the table, his slightly martial demeanor startling the wealthy men in the general's tent. "Just talking about this makes me angry. I haven't even finished killing them to my heart's content, and how come the Jin thieves have already escaped?! This won't do. I, Xin Wu, am a man of my words. Since I said I would cut Wen Dunhun into pieces, I must chop him into pieces with nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine blows!"

Otherwise, wouldn't that be a breach of trust? Wouldn't that make the Shandong heroes look down on me? Wouldn't the thieves who come after me treat my words as nonsense?
"I'm so angry! Come, bring all the prisoners we captured yesterday and cook them in this tent!"

The wealthy old man was startled. "General, calm down, General, calm down. Killing prisoners is unlucky."

Xin Qiji's face had just been ferocious, but now he smiled at everyone in the tent, showing his fickle mood to the fullest: "Oh, yes, yes, you are right, old man, don't bring those disgusting things here to get in the way. Don't blame me, old man, I have killed so many people in the army, so I have some quirks.

I like to cook people alive, which is a good thing. I have a subordinate named Li Tieqiang. He got this name because he likes to string people up with an iron spear. He hangs them from mouth to anus, and then hangs them on the doorway. The people hung on the spear often wail for three days. If he can't hear the wailing, Li Tieqiang can't sleep. What a weird person.

The wealthy people in the account wiped their sweat.

Seeing that the time was right, Xin Qiji sighed once more in a pretentious manner: "I really want to cross the river quickly, catch up with those Jin thieves, put them in the pot, and cook them all. But the pontoon bridge is broken, and the army can't cross the river. Oh, my hands are really itching to do it."

What kind of perverts are these?! We can't let them stay in Ju County any longer. We have to send these plague gods away quickly.

The wealthy old man said quickly, "I've lived in Juzhou for a long time, so I have some connections. Even if I'm not familiar with the local geography and hydrology, I can always find someone I know. General, please wait a moment. I'll come up with a satisfactory explanation in half an hour at the latest."

Xin Qiji smiled, somewhat shyly: "How can this be good? Wouldn't it be disturbing to the people?"

The wealthy old man said righteously, "It is the duty of good people like us to fight against the bandits for the righteous army. How can it be considered as disturbing the people? Don't you agree?"

The last sentence was directed at the wealthy people around him.

Seven or eight people nodded in agreement.

"In that case, Xin Wu would like to thank you here." Xin Qiji stood up and bowed.

"No, no. Let's go back and prepare now!" The wealthy old man returned the greeting, and then led a group of wealthy people out one after another.

At the door of the general's tent, a short and strong man came quickly and started talking loudly before he even entered the tent.

"Fifth brother, it's not that my big iron spear can't do it, it's really this Xianggong River... Oh, father-in-law... you two go first."

When the wealthy people who were leaving the tent heard this person's name, their anus tightened, they saluted and fled in embarrassment without looking back.

Li Tieqiang scratched his hair. "What's wrong with these people from Ju County? Fifth brother, I just sent some good swimmers down to check. Although the Xianggong River is small, it's quite deep, making it difficult to build a floating bridge. There should be shallow fords along the entire river, but they're hard to find in such a hurry."

Xin Qiji regained his composure and said, "Big Iron Spear, try your best to find it, but I have already entrusted this matter to the wealthy families in Juzhou. They will have a solution in half an hour at most."

Li Tieqiang frowned: "Can these people do their best?"

Xin Qiji nodded with a half-smile: "I will definitely do my best."

(End of this chapter)