Chapter 584: North Sea Bandit Suppression
Chapter 584: North Sea Bandit Suppression
About forty miles south of Linzi County, Beihai County, an army of several thousand people was hurriedly marching northward along the Zishui River. At this time, the Shandong Peninsula was also covered with ice and snow, and the Zishui River was frozen half a foot thick.
This army of thousands of people were all ragged and their equipment was in a mess, with sticks and hoes. The soldiers looked hungry. No one would have thought that this seemingly motley army was actually the once famous National Protection Association.
Although Gao Zhu was mediocre, he had faith and was determined to restore his country. He fought with a group of old Qi nobles who also wanted to restore their country. Although he suffered repeated setbacks, he never changed his faith.
Gao Shida launched a mutiny and killed Gao Zhu, and at the same time killed the faith of the Baoguo Society. Even Wang Bo, a strategist who was loyal to the Baoguo Society, eventually left in disgrace and defected to Liu Badao.
Under the leadership of Gao Shida, the army of Baoguohui became bandits and suffered heavy losses under the encirclement and suppression of Tu Wanxu. Fortunately, the emperor launched a war against Goguryeo, and Tu Wanxu's army was transferred away, allowing Gao Shida to survive.
Unable to stay in Gaomi County any longer, he led the remaining 3,000 troops to Niu Mountain, the border between Beihai County and Qi County, and continued to live by looting.
A few days ago, a heavy snow came unexpectedly. Gao Shida's army ran out of food, and they could not hunt for game or catch fish. The soldiers could only rely on peeling tree bark for food. The bandits complained bitterly, and Gao Shida had no choice but to make up his mind to do something big and rob Linzi County.
A few months ago, they attacked Linzi County, but only targeted the farmers outside the city and did not enter the city. This time, Gao Shida was determined to enter the city to loot. He also knew that this would attract the imperial army, but he could not take care of it now.
"Boost!"
Gao Shida shouted, "We can eat meat and play with women after we walk a few dozen miles!"
Eating meat and playing with women is the dream of every bandit, and it is also the fundamental reason why they are willing to follow Gao Shida. Farming cannot make it happen, and only by following Gao Shida can they realize their dreams.
Gao Shida's encouragement accurately touched every one of his men. The bandits sped up and ran towards Linzi County with full passion.
At this time, six thousand troops were ambushed in a forest. They were the Fourteen Guards of the Jiangnan Army led by Qin Qiong, which was the Qi County Army before.
On the snowy plain, a group of black dots were running quickly towards the ambush site. They were getting closer and closer, and the black dots were getting longer and bigger. Leading them was a bandit leader on horseback, who should be Gao Shida. The total number of people was about three thousand.
"Crossbow ready!"
At Qin Qiong's command, six thousand crossbows were aimed at the enemy troops that were entering the ambush range.
"shooting!"
Qin Qiong shouted loudly, and the clappers began to strike rapidly, "Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Six thousand crossbow arrows were fired at the same time, catching Gao Shida's army off guard. The bandits fell one after another under the torrential rain of arrows, and there were wailing and screaming. Gao Shida and his horse were shot like a hedgehog and fell heavily.
“Kill—”
Qin Qiong shouted, and six thousand soldiers rushed out. Cheng Yaojin ran in the front, waving his axe and rushing towards the enemy. He killed his way into the enemy group, raised his axe and chopped off three heads. He was ugly to begin with, and his body was covered in blood. He looked more like a killer god crawling out of hell. When the bandits saw him, they were so scared that they trembled all over and closed their eyes, waiting to die.
Cheng Yaojin killed dozens of people in one breath. When he raised his axe again, he found that there was no living person around. When he looked back, the bandits were fleeing in panic.
"You bunch of bastards, leave your lives behind!"
Cheng Yaojin led his soldiers to chase and kill them, and no matter whether they knelt down to surrender or not, he would kill them all with his axe.
Later, Qin Qiong secretly groaned. He originally wanted to not kill those who surrendered, but Cheng Yaojin did not give him any chance at all. He only picked on the weak and all the surrendered soldiers were killed by him and his men.
Qin Qiong could only sigh and shout, "The entire army should pursue and kill them!"
Six thousand soldiers were chasing after them, and after an ambush, only a very few people escaped, while the rest of the bandits were all killed. No one survived, and Gao Shida was also killed on the spot.
This means that the once powerful National Protection Association will be completely destroyed and disappear in the long river of history.
Qin Qiong called Cheng Yaojin up with a sullen face and reprimanded him, "I didn't say that you can't kill those who surrender, but it's common sense not to kill those who surrender. You've been a general for several years, don't you even know this common sense?"
Cheng Yaojin hung his big head, but muttered unconvincedly: "These people have no food to eat, but they still refuse to escape. They are determined to follow Gao Shida to be thieves. Shouldn't we kill these thieves instead of letting them harm others?" Qin Qiong was speechless for a moment. Cheng Yaojin's words were rough but his logic was sound. Generally, once an army has no food, it will collapse and deserters will emerge crazily. But Gao Shida's army has fallen to the point of eating tree bark, but they still refuse to escape. This shows that these people are thieves at heart, born bad, and just want to kill people, set fires, and play with women. Even if they are released, they will continue to join the rebellion.
Qin Qiong said angrily: "Don't talk back to me when I'm talking. You have to endure it even if you don't agree. If you don't obey military discipline, don't follow me. I'll let His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin transfer you somewhere else!"
Cheng Yaojin's biggest weakness is that he cannot do without Qin Qiong. He has offended too many people. Everyone gives Qin Qiong some face and doesn't bother with Cheng Yaojin. Cheng Yaojin can live a good life hiding behind Qin Qiong, but if Qin Qiong really doesn't care about him, he may be shot and killed by an arrow of unknown origin on the battlefield.
Cheng Yaojin knew this very well, and he immediately accepted the criticism honestly.
"I understand. Just promise not to talk back."
"Remember this, those who surrender will not be killed. This is the rule of the battlefield. Unless I order you not to take any prisoners, you are not allowed to kill the surrendered soldiers again."
"I remember!"
"Go!"
Cheng Yaojin bowed and left with the axe.
Qin Qiong then asked the messenger next to him, "What's the matter?"
"General, Qi County has sent people to ask for help from the governor!"
"Where are the people?"
After a while, a messenger arrived. It was Qin Qiong's former colleague, Leng Zhankui, the warehouse keeper of Licheng County.
"Why is Brother Leng here?"
Leng Zhankui sighed and said, "Reporting to Brother Qin, we have received an insider message that Liu Badao is going to lead his army south to occupy Qi County."
Qin Qiong was startled, "Didn't Liu Badao get killed?"
When Liu Badao was at his most powerful, he had an army of over 100,000 men and called himself the Uncle's Army. He controlled the entire Douzigang area, but last year the emperor issued an edict ordering Zhang Xutuo to lead 30,000 troops to suppress the rebellion.
Ajiu's army collapsed and split into more than a dozen small armies, most of which defected to Dou Jiande, and there was no news of Liu Badao.
So Qin Qiong was very surprised to hear the news about Liu Badao again.
Leng Zhankui said, "Brother Qin, you don't know that Liu Badao has not been destroyed. He is hiding in the brine beach in the southeast corner of Douzigang, with more than 10,000 troops. Not long ago, one of his subordinates from Qi County sent someone to secretly tell us that Liu Badao is considering seizing Qi County and Beihai County as his base. The Yellow River has been completely frozen, and this is the opportunity for Liu Badao to send troops. I beg Brother Qin to rescue Qi County."
Xiao Xia's order to Qin Qiong was to wipe out the bandits in Shandong Peninsula, of course not only the bandits in Beihai County, but also the bandits in Qi County and Gaomi County.
Qin Qiong nodded, called Cheng Yaojin over again, and said to him: "I will lead the army to Qi County to resist Liu Badao's southward advance. I will leave you a thousand troops to guard Beihai County. You are not allowed to drink or gamble. Just guard the county honestly for a few months, and I will remember your contribution."
Cheng Yaojin patted his chest and said, "Brother, don't worry. If I gamble, I'll be your grandson!"
Qin Qiong glared at him and said, "Don't play tricks on me, not even if you drink!"
Cheng Yaojin immediately became listless, "I know!"
That afternoon, Qin Qiong led 5,000 troops to Qi County, and Cheng Yaojin led 1,000 troops to stay in Linzi County to maintain public order in Beihai County.
(End of this chapter)