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

Chapter 254: Death is like Returning Home

On the left wing of the army, on a relatively hard riverbank near Yishui, Xin Qiji frowned repeatedly in front of the military envoy.

After the general had left, Xin Qiji said to Li Tieqiang and Yelu Xingge, "What did Liu Dalang mean by that?"

Li Tieqiang, holding a large iron spear, said with a smile: "What else can it mean? I'm just praising you."

Xin Qiji glanced at the guy and said, "Speak nicely."

Yelu Xingge interrupted, "Liu Dalang really likes to flatter people, calling them heroes of the past...but he hasn't considered that our four hundred cavalrymen have been on a long raid, exhausted and tired. What else can we do?"

His tone was indignant, as if he was not angry because Liu Huai praised Xin Qiji, but because Liu Huai did not praise him.

Xin Qiji and Li Tieqiang both glanced at this man and sighed again.

The reason is simple. These three people are indeed the most determined rebels of the Jin Dynasty. At this time, they were filled with chicken soup by Liu Huai, and they really felt a little excited.

But their capital is too thin.

If all 3,000 of the Tianping Army's infantry and cavalry were here, what else would anyone say? Xin Qiji would have already led his troops forward.

Before, he dared to fight two Meng'an head-on. Now, facing only one Meng'an, with reinforcements on both sides, Xin Qiji was confident that he could beat the Zhuo Tuo'an on the opposite side into a pulp.

But it's no use saying this.

There are still more than 2,000 Tianping troops on the road, and there are countless people who have fallen behind. It will take two or three days just to gather the troops.

Xin Qiji stroked the brass hilt of the heavy sword at his waist. After pacing a few times, he sighed and said, "Although I am tired and my resources are scarce, if I remain indifferent in such a battle and fail to achieve any success, wouldn't I be ashamed of the trust of Chief Geng and Liu Dalang? Wouldn't I be ashamed of the people of Shandong?"

Li Tieqiang waved his hand and said, "Fifth brother, stop talking nonsense. We two rough guys can't stand it. Just tell me what we should do."

Xin Qiji was somewhat speechless. After gathering his thoughts, he said, "First of all, we can only fight with favorable winds. It's not impossible to defeat the enemy, but we need to rest for two days before we can do so. Therefore, our army cannot take the initiative to attack and draw out the fresh armored cavalry of the Jin bandits. If we then lose the battle on the riverbank, it will be a small matter, but it will destroy the entire front."

The other two nodded.

Then Xin Qiji said, "But since Liu Dalang has said that he wants to make me, Xin Wu, the leader, I can't bring shame to the Tianping Army. So, I can't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor, so..."

Xin Qiji pointed at the large Meng'an flag, a smile spreading across his face: "I'm going to pull that flag down."

Xin Qiji turned around suddenly, his expression becoming serious. "When the Jin bandits march out with their flags, no matter where they go, I will take the initiative to fight them!"

Li Tieqiang nodded: "That's right. I'll let the men continue to rest and go into battle in a while."

Xin Qiji said, "No, we don't need too many people. You lead the main force and work with Deputy Commander Yu to hold back the enemy troops. Select a few dozen of them for me, and I will attack from the side and kill this beast!"

Upon hearing this, Yelu Xingge didn't know what he was thinking about. Suddenly, he looked at the big Saker Falcon flag from afar and laughed. There was something indescribably hideous and strange in his smile.

Also grinning grimly was the Right Army Commander Zhang Xiaoyi.

"So, it was the Commander-in-Chief who sent me to my death?"

The military envoy who was questioned was speechless and shocked. He was so frightened that he thought Zhang Xiaoyi was resentful towards Liu Huai because of this order.

Li Xiu laughed out loud: "Xiao Yi, isn't it what we, the descendants of the East China Sea, have always wished for to die a worthy death?"

Zhang Xiaoyi smirked as he looked at the Jin army's banner in front of him and shouted, "That's right! That's exactly how it should be!"

At this point, the military envoy realized that Zhang Xiaoyi was not angry at Liu Huai, but at the enemy in front of him.

"Report to Lord Wei and the Commander-in-Chief, saying that as a general, I, Zhang Xiaoyi, have a deep-seated vendetta against the Jin bandits, and that I, regardless of life or death, will not hesitate! Also, ask the Commander-in-Chief to say that he will not betray me. If we can annihilate the Jin bandits, even if I die here, the Commander-in-Chief will have done justice to the world. Why should he be so stingy with my life?"

After saying that, Zhang Xiaoyi waved his hand and drove the military envoy away. The tattoos on his bare chest and armor appeared a warm red due to the surging blood, but it was still not as bright as the color of this guy's eyes.

"Brother Li, I will personally lead the infantry to break through the enemy's formation. You will lead the rear guard to form my rear and help me guard the flanks."

"Xiao Yi, we've been fighting for half a day, it's time to take a break. Let me be the vanguard..."

Seeing Li Xiu's objection, Zhang Xiaoyi raised his hand to stop him. "Brother Li, please don't refuse. If the Jin thieves really have an elite cavalry unit making a final attempt as the commander-in-chief said, then you will be needed to resist them."

"All two hundred armored cavalrymen are with you, plus eight hundred spears. Third brother, you can definitely hold off a few."

Li Xiu could only bow in agreement.

Zhang Xiaoyi led his personal guards forward, but after only two steps, he stopped and looked up at the sky. His ferocious smile softened, "Third brother... Ah Xiu, do you realize this? Father, Uncle Xu, Mother, and all the young and old men who started the rebellion two years ago are all watching us...watching us succeed!"

Li Xiu responded loudly: "Today, the heads of the Jin thieves should be used to sacrifice to the fallen villagers. Men of Donghai, don't you agree?!"

"That's right!" "Kill the gold thieves!"

"revenge!"

The soldiers of the right army immediately cheered. Although the soldiers farther away did not hear the conversation between the two commanders, they could understand what revenge meant, and the morale of the entire army immediately soared.

When Zhang Xiaoyi came to the front of the battle with his own flag embroidered with green waves and the word "Zhang", the entire right army cheered.

Immediately, the right army launched a full-scale attack on the opposing Jin army.

Hui Te Mile was almost unable to hold on.

The reason is self-evident. The Sixth Meng'an has been fighting for the past few days, accumulating many casualties, and the entire army is already very tired.

At this time, being in a narrow terrain, facing the enemy's thick formation and the continuous influx of reinforcements, the Sixth Meng'an could hardly suppress his frustration.

Not to mention the scene of beheading with the flags flying back before the battle, which happened less than two hundred steps away from them.

At this time, the three Mouke flags representing the Second Meng'an were still hanging behind the right army!
"General, our men can't hold on any longer!"

"General, are there any reinforcements?"

"General, ask the commander-in-chief for help!"

Officers continued to report the situation to Huitmile and became increasingly anxious.

In fact, there was no need for the grassroots officers to report. There was a battlefield with thousands of people in front of them, not a battle with tens of thousands of people. As a marching Meng'an, Hui Te Mile had not left the front line. How could he not understand the situation?

But just like being able to understand advanced math problems does not necessarily mean being able to solve them.

What’s the point of understanding the situation?

Hui Te Mile was helpless.

If the terrain were different, he might have gathered a cavalry team and fought from the flank.

But with a river on the west, a mountain on the east, and a road from north to south, the only thing he could do was to attack head-on.

It would be fine if the Loyal Army had no reinforcements, as the Sixth Meng'an had already suppressed the enemy just now. However, after the arrival of the Loyal Army's 1,000 reinforcements, it became a delusion to break through such a thick formation head-on.

Cheers and screams were heard at the same time. Hui Te Mile sat on his horse with an expressionless face and looked around the battlefield. Dozens of people on the left side of the battle line collapsed and fled backwards. But at the same time, there was some progress on the right side, and dozens of people in front of them were defeated.

However, both sides immediately had fresh troops to fill the gaps, and some generals waved their flags and gathered the defeated troops, making it impossible for both sides to expand their victory.

"General, we can't continue fighting like this." A marching soldier held his helmet and retreated from the front line in a panic.

"Ali, you also think it's not possible?" Huitmile frowned and said.

The marching officer named Ali didn't mince words: "It's definitely not going to work. Even if both sides have their victories and defeats, we won't be able to sustain them in the end. Remember, we only have a thousand soldiers, and they have two thousand... maybe even more!!!"

Hui Te Mi Le smiled, with a hint of bitterness in his smile: "Then tell me, what is the solution?"

Ali actually took off his helmet and threw it to the ground, shouting angrily: "I am a military commander, and I am expected to figure out how to win the entire army! General, what's wrong with you? Are you scared by this loyal thief?"

Hui Te Mi Le was not annoyed: "I do have a way, but I'm afraid you won't agree."

Ali stared into his master's eyes: "What method?"

"The warhorses are all behind us. All the armored infantry should withdraw and mount their horses. Six Mouke infantrymen will hold the fort. How about that?" Hui Te Mi Le said casually. "After all, our Great Jin was founded on cavalry. We should mount our horses and charge forward no matter what."

Ali stared at Hui Te Mi Le and asked, "Where are the armored cavalry going? Where are they charging?"

Hui Te Mi Le smiled and shook his head. "I don't know. Perhaps he's turning back to attack the enemy in front of him, or perhaps he's following the commander-in-chief to attack another large formation. Or perhaps he's simply staying away, waiting for the infantry to collapse and the enemy's formation to break apart before engaging them. Or perhaps he's simply conserving his life force and escaping, hoping for another day. Who can say for sure?"

Ali thought about it, and finally gritted his teeth and bowed, "General, since you have a plan, go ahead and do it! I'll watch over here. At worst, we can form a circle and hold it, so we won't be defeated."

Huitemiler breathed a long sigh of relief, then shook his head again. He dismounted and thrust the reins into Ali's hands. "You have some prestige, but you can't maintain the formation under these circumstances. Furthermore, if my Meng'an banner retreats, we might be defeated immediately."

Ali's expression finally changed.

Hui Te Mi Le had already taken out two melon hammers and put them on his waist. He then drew his eight-foot-long spear and said, "Go, take the cavalry and meet up with the commander-in-chief. Tell him what I have to say. Tell him that I, Hui Te Mi Le, am sorry for not being able to defeat the enemy in front of me. But to repay the commander-in-chief's kindness, I am willing to fight to the death. I can't guarantee more, but before I die, I will definitely hold the enemy in front of me for the commander-in-chief!"

(End of this chapter)