Han Shizu

Chapter 510 The Last Perseverance
The news of the Han army's northward retreat floated across the river and spread to Jinling at the first time. When Tang Zhu Li Jing heard the news, he sat up from his sick bed in surprise, but this time it was a surprise.The courier who reported the report confirmed it several times in a row. Li Jing was completely relieved when he learned that Emperor Luan of the Han Dynasty and the Tokyo Imperial Army escorted the war rewards and tributes, and went northward along the canal in a mighty way.

Immediately issued an imperial edict to order the Southern Tang court to ship the last batch of tea and grain to Jiangbei.Then, Li Jing found that his illness seemed to be relieved, and he didn't mention moving the capital or abdicating.

Later, Han Xizai's ban was lifted, and he was promoted to a bachelor of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, and Zhangshi of Tongping.Chen Jue, the general of the defeated army, was taken out alone, criticized and questioned, and beheaded at the gate of the palace.He also demoted Li Zhenggu, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, and Wei Cen, an admonishing doctor. The most important thing was Song Qiqiu, the Duke of Chu, who was dismissed from all positions and sent to Jiuhua Mountain for "recuperation"

The Southern Expedition of the Northern Han Dynasty resulted in a great defeat in the Southern Tang Dynasty, losing half of the country, humiliating and seeking peace. Such a result still greatly touched Li Jing.Li Jing's actions are a decision made after a painful experience, and he does not want to cause the North and South parties to fight again, make the court into a mess, and lead to the defeat of the country.

Chen Jue was executed, Li Zhenggu and Wei Cen were demoted, and Song Qiqiu emigrated. It can be said that the "Song Party" that was very prosperous in the Southern Tang Dynasty completely collapsed.And Li Jing also deliberately wanted to reuse Jiangbei scholars and promote good ministers and generals. Apart from Han Xizai, Liu Renshan, Lin Renzhao and a few other generals were also rewarded.

However, Feng Yansi, who used to be the backbone of the Song Party and could even be unique, survived this political turmoil.The official position has not been reduced, but the juelu has increased, and his younger brother Feng Yanlu was promoted by Li Jing to be the governor of Jinling.

As a monarch, balancing is a basic skill.It can be seen from Li Jing's adjustment movements that he really repented and wanted to revive the national strength.But, is it too late now?

More importantly, although the scourge of party disputes was temporarily eliminated, the battle for the reserve position broke out again.The king of Yan, Li Hongji, had completely inflated his ambitions during this national change.

During the period of the Southern Tang Dynasty, when great changes took place, Liu Chengyou's car had already crossed north into the Huaihe River and turned to the west.Accompanying him are only the cavalry, Longqi, and Xiaodi armies.

Along the way, they are also inspecting the state and county situation.Not long after the end of the war, although it was not devastated, the towns and villages were also desolate.On the canal, in addition to public ships and military boats, there are also sailing ships.

However, what can be clearly felt is that although people's hearts are unstable, order is slowly being restored.Although the ruler has changed, in this spring plowing season, the common people in the countryside are already planting rice seedlings, no matter whether the sky is falling or not, they still have to eat.

Sizhou, Xuyi.

The whole of Huainan was dedicated to the Northern Han Dynasty by the Tang court, but Xuyi city still stood firm, and the Tang flag was still erected high above the city head.Outside the city, the Han army only set up a stronghold, guarding the city "stealed" by Guo Tingwei.

Guo Tingwei had his talents, but when Guo Rongfu returned, he mobilized troops and horses, and with more troops, more elite soldiers, and more resources, he was firmly blocked in the city.

Originally, the Sizhou navy was a big card in Guo Tingwei's hands, but after Xiang Xun was ordered to lead the main force of the Jingjiang army to the east for support, it soon became useless.The water and land flanking attack successfully broke through the Xuyi Water Village.

Guo Tingwei is also a very courageous and decisive person. Sensing the danger, he immediately withdrew all the sailors into the city, and burned the water village and warships to stop the Han army.

Afterwards, the city defenses were reinforced, and they made a gesture of guarding the isolated city and defending Xuyi to the death.Moreover, Guo Tingwei promptly plundered the rations and supplies of more than [-] people in the city, kept them strong, and then drove all the remaining people out of the city, completely turning Xuyi into a military fortress.

For Guo Tingwei's approach, even Guo Rong, can't help but feel a lot of appreciation for it.He ordered that those Xuyi scholars who were driven out of the city be sent to Linhuai in the north for temporary resettlement.

In this way, for a full month, the offensive and defensive game between Guo Rong and Guo Tingwei, the two people surnamed Guo, unfolded around Xuyi City.Even with a strong attack, it can be regarded as a combination of means, but Guo Tingwei firmly guarded them all.

However, the general trend was irreversible, and Guo Tingwei's persistence was meaningless after the two countries negotiated a peace and the news of Tang Ting's submission spread northward.The hearts of the people in Xuyi City are scattered and the morale of the army is turbulent. It can be regarded as an abandoned army. If Guo Tingwei had not had great prestige, it would have collapsed long ago.

At the head of Xuyi City, Guo Tingwei was expressionless, patrolling as usual for precaution, and could clearly feel the weakening of morale. Looking outside the city, the Han army camp was still so strict.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty!"

When they meet at the military academy, they all salute Guo Tingwei.Finally, an officer asked Guo Tingwei: "My lord, the imperial court has asked for a truce with the Han army. Why should I wait so hard to hold on? If the Han army is angered and the city is destroyed, the soldiers will also be buried with them!" "

If earlier, if someone under his command had spoken to Guo Tingwei like this, he would have shaken the morale of the army and executed him.But now, it is no longer necessary.

The Han army outside the city hadn’t moved for quite a while, so Guo Tingwei simply called out to the nearby sergeants, sat in a circle around him, and said, “Are you all thinking this way?”

Another commanding envoy said directly: "My lord, since the Southern Expedition of the Northern Han Dynasty, we have resisted with all our heart and fought hard. Hao and Sierlang suffered a lot of casualties. If we stick to the city, we would rather die than surrender, and we will do our best to the court." Loyal. Now, the two countries have negotiated peace, so why bother to support it. Now, there is no way out except surrender!"

Seeing this, Guo Tingwei smiled wryly for a while, and said, "How can I not know what you are worrying about? It's just."

A flash of hesitation flashed across his face, and Guo Tingwei said: "Forget it, how can I lead the soldiers to die now? The Han army outside the city has not attacked the city for a long time, so you know why? Guo Rong is also waiting for us to unload A has surrendered!"

"The envoy?" The subordinate asked urgently.

"Do you think it's better to surrender to the Northern Han Dynasty and Huaidong Economic Strategy, or to surrender directly to the Emperor of the Northern Han Dynasty?" Guo Tingwei said indifferently.

If this remark falls, if you get something.

And in the Han camp outside the city, the generals and academies of the Han army were also puzzled.Like Wu Xingde, he always wanted to take the blame and make meritorious service, but in the end he only spent a month in the Xuyi Han camp.In a hurry, he ran to the commander's tent and found Guo Rong, but saw him and Xiang Xun leisurely enjoying tea and playing chess.

"Guo Shijun and Xiangdu are both in good spirits!" Wu Xingde said.

"Mr. Wu, please sit down!" Guo Rong said, "Come here, let's serve tea!"

"Emissary!" Wu Xingde was obviously not that interested, and directly stated his intention: "Now Huainan states are all Han land, only this city is occupied by these remnants of the Tang army. If it spreads, it will hurt our army's prestige.

In Xuyi City, people's hearts are already scattered, as long as they attack him again, they will surely break the city.The dragon boat has entered the Huai River, and His Majesty is about to arrive. How will I explain to His Majesty then? "

"Don't worry, Duke Wu!" Guo Rong said with a calm attitude, "When His Majesty arrives, Xuyi will be destroyed. The overall situation is like this. It is best to take down the whole city and take the city lightly. Why waste the lives of our soldiers? Do that battle of spirit and spirit. One will be successful and the bones will be dead!"

Wu Xingde was a little dazed, and looked at Guo Rong: "Why is Guo Shijun so determined?"

Guo Rong didn't explain, he looked at Xiang Xun with a smile, and said to Wu Xingde: "If Duke Wu is really impatient, you can prepare for the meeting!"

Seeing this, Wu Xingde didn't hesitate much, and immediately agreed.What this gentleman thinks now is to try his best to make a good impression on the emperor's side, so as to eliminate the mistakes of previous failures.As everyone knows, Liu Chengyou didn't intend to criticize him harshly.

As for Guo Rong, he was so calm, but he had received a letter from Guo Tingwei before.The letter said that it wasn't that he didn't want to surrender, but that his family was all in Jiangnan, and he was afraid that he would surrender to Jiangbei and his family would suffer from Jiangnan.

It is similar to the previous Tang general Xu Xiang and others.To this, Guo Rongbao and Liu Chengyou had only one sentence in reply: I have learned it, and it will be resolved later.

On Xuyi's side, there seems to be a tacit understanding between the two Guos.

(End of this chapter)