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

Chapter 298: Striving for the First Place and Embracing the Forward

Xiemao Zhanggu, who had inexplicably escaped the disaster, quickly put aside what had just happened, followed Dianlun down the city wall, and entered a house near the water gate.

At this time, the population of Yishui County had been greatly reduced. After the massacre of the Zhu family by conscription, which almost wiped out half of the city, Yishui County almost became a military city. Naturally, many of the houses were vacant, so they were occupied by Dianlun and used as a place for his fifty or sixty people to be stationed.

"That crooked guy just now, is he always so strange?" Xiemao Zhanggu took off his raincoat and shook off the water droplets on his body. "What's wrong with him?"

Dian Lun shook his head, took two porcelain bowls, and poured a cup of hot water for Xiemao Zhanggu. "He's usually smart and capable, and he doesn't tolerate any injustice. Who knows what's causing this hysteria today?"

Xiemao Zhanggu picked up the porcelain bowl, drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth and said, "Never mind, the commander-in-chief has ordered that the army will attack the city tomorrow. I haven't given you any specific military orders, so you have to adapt to the situation."

Dian Lun nodded.

Once a battle breaks out, no one knows where a second-tier, ragtag army like theirs will be dispatched, so they can only improvise and cooperate with the siege army.

"By the way, you've exposed yourself in front of that guy, so you can't go back." Dian Lun thought for a moment and then said, "Besides, we're really missing a powerful person here. The brothers of the Dirty Gang are good at gathering information and stealing things, but they're hard to fight in battle."

Xiemao Zhanggu smiled and said, "How difficult is that? I'm here to deliver a message, so there's no need to go back. But you have to find a way to get me a set of weapons and armor, a good bow, and two pots of heavy arrows."

Dian Lun shook his head. "Everything else is easy to talk about, but armor is out of the question. Putting aside the question of whether it's noticeable or not, my centurion squadron is purely auxiliary. I'm the only one in the entire army who has a set of shattered leather armor."

Xiemao Zhang Gu tutted his words, "Alright, how much is too much? But Adian, you're doing really well. It's only been a few days, and you've already become a military commander. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Dian Lun picked up the kettle and poured another bowl of hot water for Xiemao Zhanggu. He sneered and said, "Don't you want me to fill ditches and pave the way for knives? If you really want to help me, why don't you let me serve as a sergeant in the regular army?
Besides, they didn't show up when we migrated south, they didn't say a word when we were kidnapped by the rioters, and they didn't care when we were freezing and starving. Why are you pretending to be a good person now? By the way, how are my mother and fellow villagers?"

"They're all doing well. I passed by and met them ten days ago when I went to Linyi. They've all been dispersed and their fields have been divided. They've replanted some wheat and turnips, and with the food distributed by the officials, they're managing to survive. Your mother is also being well taken care of. She eats two bowls of bean rice a day and has a good appetite."

Dian Lun listened and nodded, then sniffed at the end, almost crying, and quickly changed the subject: "Since the siege is tomorrow, what should we do with Zhushuizhuang and Nanzhuzhuang in the south?"

Zhang Gu from Xiemao spread his hands and said, "Of course we have to act tonight, and we must capture him."

As he spoke, he looked up through the window at the sun setting in the west city and said, "It's almost about to start in a while."

Dian Lun also gazed at the setting sun, then thought of something. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Zhang Gu, I'm not one to gossip. You and I are different. I couldn't survive, so I just happened to be joining the Loyal Army when the commander arrived. I had to show some sincerity no matter what. But you are a meritorious person who risked your life to come and report the news."

Xiemao Zhanggu was a little impatient: "Adian, what exactly do you want to say?"

Dian Lun hesitated for a moment before saying, "I think my mother is right. If we return to our homeland in Liaodong, it's fine to bear a Jurchen name. But if we want to make a living in Han areas, it's much more convenient to be a Han Chinese. Zhang Gu, you should change your surname too."

Xiemao Zhanggu sighed and said, "Let me tell you the truth. If I had a mother who could help me make the decision, I wouldn't have so many thoughts. But now that my parents are both dead, I am hesitant.

My mother is a Han woman who was captured, and my father is a Jurchen hunter from the Liaodong forest. If I follow my mother, I will naturally become a Han Chinese, but if I follow my father... I don't know if my father cares about this at all, and after all, my father is good to my mother and me. Well, let's talk about it later..."

At the end of the conversation, Xiemao Zhanggu also hesitated. After thinking carefully for a moment, he could only sigh and feel entangled. Also caught in the dilemma was Yu Yuan, who was preparing to march on Yishui.

Faced with two generals who requested to fight at the same time, Yu Yuan, the deputy commander of the Zhongyi Army, was completely at a loss.

"General, after all, we are all locals of Zhushui Village and we are very familiar with the road. Let's select two hundred warriors and charge in first under the cover of night. Isn't that better than anything else?" Zhu Changshui said sincerely.

Meanwhile, the Central Army Commander Zhou Xinglie said earnestly, "Boss Yu, this is the regular Jin army. Even if they're weak, they have soldiers like clouds and warriors like rain. How can we let Brother Zhu lead the charge? If all the brothers from Zhushui Village are killed, won't we all be left groping in the dark in the village?"

Zhu Changshui ignored Zhou Xinglie's sarcasm and spoke earnestly, "General, we're planning a night attack. Even if the Jin bandits were well-prepared, how could they possibly sleep with their entire army in armor? And even if it were the regular Loyalty Army, they wouldn't be wearing full armor and riding majestic horses to fight in the village at night, right?"

Zhou Xinglie glanced at Zhu Changshui and said, "But the Central Army is, after all, a regular army. They've experienced brutal fighting and have seen blood. Ultimately, they're better than ordinary people..."

Yu Yuan waved his hands impatiently, "Alright, alright... Old Zhou, Zhu Twenty-Five, why are you arguing about this? Can't you two learn from Zhang Xiaoyi of Nanzhu Village? The villagers and the regular army worked together so well, so they never had this kind of trouble."

Zhu Changshui stood up, bowed and said, "That's because Nanzhuzhuang can only muster thirty to fifty men. If you don't believe me, you can ask Zhu Qi, the leader there. If he can gather two or three hundred men, he will definitely give it a try.

"General, we are not seeking merit, but because Zhushuizhuang is our home. If we are unable to recapture our home, it is fine, but if there is a glimmer of hope, how can we let him control such a matter?"

Yu Yuan was a soft-hearted person. After listening to what Zhu Changshui said, he felt that there was some truth to it. However, when he turned to look at Zhou Xinglie, he felt that he could not offend his old brother.

After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Yu Yuan made up his mind: to smooth things over.

"Don't argue, Zhu Twenty-Five. Now is the critical moment, how can we change the military strategy? The farmers of Zhushui Village will lead the main army. This is a deal." After scolding Zhu Changshui, Yu Yuan's tone slowed down. "But you have some truth in what you say. Laws are nothing more than human feelings. I still have fifty pairs of iron crotchets here. I will lend them all to you farmers. You can take a hundred people to join the battle, okay?"

Zhu Changshui was a little excited. He took a long breath and answered loudly: "I will obey your orders."

Yu Yuan waved his hands and smiled bitterly: "Don't call yourself a junior general. You haven't joined the army yet. If my elder brother... the commander-in-chief knew that I sent you to fight on the battlefield, you might get killed again."

Zhu Changshui was already impatient and had no patience to listen to Yu Yuan's rambling. He cupped his hands and said, "General, I'll go back and organize the troops now. I'll bring everyone here in half an hour!"

Having said that, Zhu Changshui bowed again and left in a hurry.

"Alas, this Zhu Twenty-Five," Yu Yuan complained to Zhou Xinglie, "His men are all boatmen. Keeping them out of danger is protecting them. Why doesn't he understand?"

Zhou Xinglie no longer had the cockfighting look he had just had. He patted his knees and sighed, "I don't blame them. If I had ended up like this, I'd probably be in a much worse situation."

Zhou Xinglie stood up and saluted, "Boss Yu, I'm going to organize the troops."

Yu Yuan nodded and warned again: "Three quarters past midnight, don't forget!"

(End of this chapter)