Han Shizu

Chapter 1017 Such an opponent
When the news was received, the Nanyue reinforcements had already arrived in Yingzhou, south of Shaozhou. However, the date of their final arrival in Shaozhou was later than Pan Mei expected. They did not slowly appear until the eighth day of October. In the south of Qujiang City.The Cantonese army was slow all the way, traveling no more than fifty miles a day, not out of prudence, but because of the lack of confidence in the army. In addition, Xu Yan, who was worshiped as the recruiter to the north, was really "not in a hurry".

It is said that Xu Yanzhen led the army this time, not like going north to defend against the enemy, but more like a parade, a demonstration, showing off his might along the way, not only asking for bribes, but also asking local officials and people to donate things.He also indulged his son and looted everywhere, saying that it was to supply the army to resist the Han army, but in fact most of the property went into the pockets of their father and son.At the same time, it was widely publicized that he would surely defeat the Han army and enter Hunan by leading an army northward.Sometimes, the brain circuit of many people is not normal, no matter how absurd and stupid things can be done, and it is beyond the reach of human beings.

In addition, this person neither rode a horse nor took a cart, but ordered someone to build a large sedan chair, which was carried by 36 strong men. He was full of style and ostentatious all the way. Tens of thousands of Cantonese soldiers became the background of an eunuch.

A series of factors not only affected the speed of its march, but also foreshadowed the final outcome of this army.Along the way, even the most ordinary people don't think that such an army can win the battle, and it will be the opponent of the wolf-like Han army.In fact, it is not unusual for the emperor to appoint eunuchs as commander-in-chief. After all, there are precedents, but if it was Wu Huai'en at the beginning, it would be fine. The employment of the Lord of Guangdong can be seen.Such a monarch, such a country, how can it not perish, it is unreasonable to not perish.

But in Qujiang, after Pan Mei got the exact situation and status of the reinforcements, he thought for a while, whether he was so cautious and scheming in the face of such an opponent, did he think highly of the enemy.

When Xu Yanzhen was late to lead the army, Pan Mei also slightly changed the battle plan. In order to give Xu Yanzhen confidence and boost his arrogance, he even sent an army to attack Qujiang City swaggeringly, which was also a tentative attack.Facts have proved that when only the governor Lu Guangtu and the general Zhi Tingxiao were on defense, the defenders of Shaozhou were able to demonstrate certain defensive capabilities, especially the will to resist.

The strong attack, with the powerful soldiers and powerful weapons of the Han army, can break through, but it is a matter of casualties.The Qujiang River was built between two rivers, and the terrain problem also seriously restricted the deployment of the Han army's strength. This was also the reason for Pan Mei's concerns. Of course, it was also because he looked at the overall situation and wanted to fight a complete victory.After learning that the Cantonese Lord, with Xu Yanzhen as the main general, went north to rescue, he had already planned a way to defeat the enemy.

After giving Xu Yanzhen enough face, after his army approached Qujiang, he withdrew the feigned attacking army and returned the camp with money.Then, Xu Yanzhen got the situation that when his army arrived, the Han army voluntarily gave up the attack because of fear.

Therefore, when the reinforcements arrived, the governor Lu Guangtu and a group of defenders opened the city to greet them, and what they faced was Xu Yanzhen's arrogant face.During a city entry ceremony, Lu Guangtu and Zhi Tingxiao stood together, looking at Xu Yanzhen's ostentation. Both of them looked very ugly. When they looked at each other, Lu Guangtu was worried, and Zhi Tingxiao was angry.

Among the bureaucrats of the Southern Han Dynasty, Lu Guangtu was a rare loyal and good minister, and he never kept secrets from the shamans. The state came to be the governor.Because of his virtuous reputation, he won the hearts of the people. After he took office, he also managed good governance, lenient the people, trained soldiers, strengthened defenses, and resisted the Northern Army. All along, he has been very effective.

As for Zhi Tingxiao, he was also one of the few remaining generals in the Southern Han army, quite mediocre.However, compared to Lu Guangtu, he was very dissatisfied with this Nanyue and Liu Yan, and had long since resigned and returned to his hometown. If it hadn't been for Lu Guangtu's persuasion, he would have been dismissed long ago, and would have sat and watched Nanyue's downfall.

Therefore, the reason why Shaozhou was able to stop the Han army was that apart from Pan Mei’s inaction, it was also due to the two factors. Serve and deal with the Han army.

Compared with Lu Guangtu's worries, Zhi Tingxiao's attitude can be described as clear. On the way to the government office, his voice was low but extremely angry: "Xingwang's mansion uses this eunuch as commander, how can Shaozhou be defended? Can Lingnan be saved? Huh? Duke Lu, if you keep going, you and I will eventually be captured by the Han army!"

If it was usual, Lu Guangtu might say something to comfort Zhi Tingxiao's remarks, but now, his expression changed several times, and finally turned into a sigh. There was a trace of fatigue between Lu Guangtu's eyes and the ground, and said: " The king's salary, the matter of loyalty to the king, that's all. If the country can't be protected, it's because we don't do our best!"

In the Shaozhou government office, Xu Yanzhen was seated, while other military and government officials waited in two rows below.In terms of putting on airs, no one present may be able to match him. Looking around, Xu Yanzhen said: "I was ordered by the king to lead a large army to defend against the Han army in the north. I will thank you all and do my best to assist. The south of Shaozhou is my Dayue. Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains must not be crossed by the Han army, and our shoulders are like a huge burden, to defend the country and the people! This commander encourages everyone!"

Xu Yanzhen is still very good at speaking, however, the boost to morale is obviously not great.How could he deceive others about his performance along the way, and no one would take such high-sounding words seriously.

Seeing that there was not much response, Xu Yan was really unhappy. He glanced at Lu Guangtu and said, "Mr. Lu, how is the city defense? How is the situation of the Han army?"

"In the past two days, the Han army tried to attack the city, but they were all repulsed. The envoys came to lead the army, and they have already returned the camp with money!" Lu Guangtu replied calmly.

With a soft snort in his mouth, Xu Yanzhen said: "I heard that the Han army only has [-] soldiers. How dare we attack again when we know that my reinforcements are coming? Otherwise, the Han army will not be able to stop our army's surprise attack!"

"The recruitment envoy seems to think the Han army is too simple!" Seeing his publicity, Zhi Tingxiao couldn't help but refute.

"General Zhi thinks highly of the Han army, so he has been fearing the enemy like a tiger, hiding in the city, and letting the Han army insult him?" Xu Yanzhen glanced at Zhi Tingxiao.

Hearing this, Zhi Tingxiao couldn't hold back the anger on his face, and was about to argue, but was gently pulled back by Lu Guangtu, so he gave up.Xu Yanzhen said: "This commander is not only here to defend Shaozhou, but also to find ways to defeat the Han army and solve the northern troubles. Send more people to investigate the movement of the Han army. When we seize the opportunity, we should attack decisively."

Next, Xu Yanzhen was almost speechless, not allowing others to intervene, and only after he had finished his liuzui addiction did he break up the discussion.Xu recruited envoys, because they were tired all the way, so they had to take a rest.

"Lambert, the villain must not be offended! If you offend him and slander the court, you will hinder the great affairs of the Han Dynasty, and you should put the overall situation first!" After stepping down, Lu Guangtu said to the sullen Zhiting.

"Lu Gong is right, why should I care about the same eunuch!" Zhi Tingxiao responded with a salute to Lu Guangtu, "Oh, I'll go check the city defense!"

"Thanks for your hard work!"

On the surface, Zhi Tingxiao's mood is very complicated. Lu Gong is a man of integrity, and he is willing to die for that stupid king and this chaotic country, but Zhi Tingxiao is not willing.Because Lu Guangtu didn't have much military knowledge, he didn't notice the danger, but Zhi Tingxiao heard the meaning of Xu Yan's truth, and took the initiative to attack the Han army?Isn't that courting death?
Early the next morning, Xu Yanzhen received an urgent military report, and the Han army broke out and retreated northward.Upon hearing this news, Xu Yanzhen was overjoyed immediately, thinking that it was the Han army who knew the soldiers in the city and feared his military power, so they dared not come to the fortress below the city again.So he summoned all the people and immediately announced that he would lead an army in pursuit.

This proposal immediately aroused the opposition of many people. The defenders in Shaozhou felt that the enemy's situation was unknown, and it was a risky move to go out of the city to chase the enemy. The benefits were not large, but the risks were not small. enemy.

Follow him to the north to the generals, because the reinforcements have just arrived, the soldiers are exhausted, and they have not rested and recovered, so they should not attack.Xu Yanzhen felt that before the daily march was less than fifty miles, it was cowardly to talk about exhaustion rather than hard work.

During the discussion, the scouts sent the latest news again. The Han army stopped after retreating [-] miles north, and was stationed on the spot, setting up camp.Upon hearing the news, Xu Yanzhen was overjoyed, and bluntly said that this was a fighter opportunity, and he could launch a surprise attack while the Han army was camping.Later, despite dissuasion, he decided to march.

And after Xu Yanzhen decided to attack, one member of the Southern Guangdong Army breathed a sigh of relief. The accompanying servant, Chen Yanshou, had a "mission".Xu Yanzhen took the initiative to attack, and he was behind the influence and promotion.

Ever since he returned from his mission to Kaifeng, Chen Yanshou had become a secret spy of the great man. Later, because of the recommendation of the great eunuch Lin Yanyu, his power gradually increased, and he once thought of ignoring the court.

However, after Liu Yu succeeded to the throne, the situation changed.In the kingdom of shamans and eunuchs, the shaman gradually became Fan Huzi, the eunuch was Gong Chengshu, and Chen Yanshou gradually lost power. As time went by, he had to be loyal to the court honestly and report spies.

Of course, there were also struggles among the eunuch groups in Southern Guangdong. For example, there was a struggle for power and profit between Gong Chengshu and Xu Yanzhen. Therefore, Xu Yanzhen was sent to lead the army for his own considerations.Gong Chengshu felt that if Xu Yanzhen was defeated, he could take advantage of this to make him better.Xu Yanzhen saved the defeat of the Han army, and then returned to the court with the power of victory, holding power
It sounds ridiculous, but it's always there.

And Chen Yanshou's role in it is to promote the Southern Guangdong Army to make mistakes at critical moments, which is where Pan Mei is confident.During those years in Pan Meinan Town, Liu Chengyou specially asked Zhang Dejun to contact Pan Mei and Chen Yanshou to facilitate communication.

While Xu Yanzhen was urging the army out of the city to attack the Han army, the news reached Pan Mei early.During the whole process, Lu Guangtu was worried, and Zhi Tingxiao remained silent.

(End of this chapter)