The words Qin Zhiping spoke were his true sentiments.
He fully understood the thoughts of these people.
The Northern Line Army was defeated, and then its remnants were incorporated into the Southern Line Army. If the war is won in the end, will they benefit in any way?
It's very unlikely.
The most they could expect is distribution based on their combat achievements, but they would still bear the responsibility for the earlier defeat. Once that's deducted, they probably won't be left with anything.
However, if they could 'rebuild' the Northern Line Army, things would be different.
Although the previous defeat would still be an indelible stain, they hadn't been completely annihilated. Instead, they became an independent force and played a crucial role in the subsequent war. When it comes time to reward achievements, being an independent army group would certainly bring far more benefits than being a defeated remnant.
