Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1455
It was already New Year's Eve, and the city of Changsha was dead silent.

In a short time, the city creaked open, and an army rushed in noisily.

Obviously, they won the battle, but everyone's emotions were not very high, especially the main general Ma Rong (cóng).

He had just led his army out of the city, and taking advantage of the Xia people's failure in attacking the city, he chased and hacked the rout soldiers, beheading more than a thousand ranks, which was a rare victory recently.

But this will not help resolve the current crisis.If you can't break the siege, what's the use of winning more?

The only good news is probably that after the death of Ye Guanglue, the former Lingnan West Road Jiedu envoy, Chen Ji made a rebellion in Yongzhou and killed more than ten Xia Ting generals, causing the frontline troops to be unstable.Xu Dexun and Ouyang Si took advantage of the situation to attack, defeated Xia Jun, and regained Yongzhou.

But this seems to be unable to fundamentally change the situation. Mian Ren, the son of Shao thief, led the army to the south to support Wang Shenzhi, Chu Shenyi and others. Yongzhou still has to see.

To this day, Ma Xi has persuaded his elder brother to surrender several times, but his elder brother was hesitant to ask about Liu Yin's end in Guangzhou, but he couldn't be right, so he dragged on.

Ma Rong sighed, let the soldiers unarmored, and entered the military mansion angrily.

Zhang Ji, the left minister of Tiance Mansion, Ma Cun, the right minister, and Gao Yu, secretary of Jiedu Zhang, were present, and they were actually having a banquet with Ma Yin——Tiance Mansion is an organization established by Ma Yin, and I don’t know why, maybe it’s the name nice to hear.

When Ma Rong saw this, he became angry, and said sarcastically, "Xia's bandit army came to the city, and the lords even lay down with wine, and I was the only one working together."

Ma Yin laughed loudly when he heard this, and said: "The third brother is here, please sit down."

Ma Rong snorted coldly, sat down, picked up the wine bowl and drank it down, saying: "Shao and Heng states are still desperately resisting, and occasionally go out of the city to harass the Xia bandits."

Ma Yin was very happy to hear that, and said: "When Liu Shuai was here, everyone was very united. But this summer, the thieves were besieging from all sides, and none of the old brothers surrendered. It's very good."

There were tens of thousands of Cai thieves back then, and after being encircled and suppressed by the imperial court, they scattered all over the place. Sun Ru was considered a relatively large one among them, but he also failed afterwards.Liu Jianfeng was regarded as the remnant of Sun Ru's army. He led his men all the way through Jiangxi, and then captured Hunan. His momentum was like a rainbow.

Liu Jianfeng was killed because he played with the guard's wife, and everyone promoted Zhang Ji as handsome.

Zhang Ji used to be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the former Tang Dynasty, and he had a great reputation. He also led the army to fight in all directions.After being favored by everyone, he did not refuse. He asked Ma Yin, who was fighting abroad, about his attitude, and after getting a reply of support from him, he prepared to succeed to the throne.

But on the way to the military mansion, he fell to the ground and was injured because of the horse standing upright.Zhang Ji thought it was unknown, so he gave up his position to Ma Yin. Ma Yin and him made many concessions, and finally became the commander-in-chief of Xiang. At the same time, he also trusted Zhang Ji very much and entrusted him with great power.

Overall, the atmosphere in Hunan is very good and united.Li Qiong has served as the governor of the Jingjiang Army for many years, and has always followed Changsha's orders, and has never acted domineeringly.

In contrast, descendants like Lu Shizhou are very unreliable, and Ma Yin blames himself very much.But everyone didn't complain, on the contrary, they comforted them a lot.

It is simply a clear stream among warlords from all walks of life.

Helplessly, their capital is too small, and now it has reached a critical moment.

"Brother, the envoys of the Xia people have already gone outside the city to buy the four prefectures in Hunan as county magistrates, so don't you think about it?" Ma Xi couldn't help it, and asked.

"I know you can't hold your breath." Ma Yin smiled and said: "I really miscalculated on this matter. I didn't expect Xia's bandits to advance so fast. In the blink of an eye, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangguan were all taken down. I heard that even Qian Liu also surrendered the land of Zhejiang and Zhejiang, and the development was so fast that I didn't expect it. By the way, is there any movement in Huainan?"

"I sent troops to defeat Qian Liu two months ago, what's going on now, my eyes are darkened, I don't know." Ma Yan said angrily.

Ma Yin picked up the wine bottle and pondered for a long time.

"Brother, you can't gamble now." Ma Yan persuaded: "That guy Qian Liu has always won less and lost more in battles with Yang Wu, but he always won't be killed. If Qian Liu is not destroyed, Yang Wo will not be able to invade Jiangxi .Furthermore, there are Xia bandits in Huaibei, and the main force in Huainan dare not move lightly."

"Is there any news from Chen Ji?" Ma Yin put down the wine bottle and asked.

"The West Road in Lingnan is empty. I heard that many prefectures and counties have been captured. I don't know how many more." Ma Xi said, "Just now I tortured the prisoners, and I heard that there were also rebellions in Guangguan and Guiguan, echoing Chen Ji. Xi Zhen My nephew is in Hezhou, riding alone."

"You son of a bitch!" Ma Yin scolded, but there was no anger on his face.

"Marshal." Zhang Ji interrupted suddenly: "The county magistrate's position is a bit low, but I made a mistake before, and now I have a chance."

"What chance?" Ma Yin asked.

"The Shao bandits never hold back those who surrendered and rebelled. I expect Chen Ji and others to die, and he must know it." Zhang Ji analyzed: "Now the Xia bandits on the South Road are shaken across the board, and the army is in a state of panic. If you come down here, you may get preferential treatment."

"After Liu Yin entered Luo, there is no news so far?" Ma Yin asked again.

"Marshal, Liu Yin is an isolated city with more than ten thousand soldiers, how can we compare with us? The thief Shao is also knowledgeable, and we have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and our combat power is not comparable to that of Liu Yin, Wang Shenzhi, and Shao Desheng. Yes. The counties have enough food and grass, and with one mind, it is not difficult for the Xia thief to attack the city and kill tens of thousands of people. If it drags on to March and the rain continues, it will last for a few months. It is not surprising that his imperial army suffered heavy casualties." Zhang Ji said, "Now is the right time to surrender."

"Then it's better to wait until the rainy season." Ma Yin said.

"Marshal, can you stay in Hunan for a long time?" Zhang Ji asked back.

Ma Yin remained silent.

"Brother, I can't gamble anymore." Ma Xi was anxious and said, "Huainan is unreliable, who knows where their soldiers are. Those barbarians in western Hunan are also unreliable, but when they receive gifts, they don't move at all. When Man Liao came, he ignored it. Besides Wuguan Chen Ji and others, brother, you don’t really think they can make a big wave, do you?”

"What do you think?" Ma Yin didn't answer, but turned to his second brother Ma Cun and counselor Gao Yu and asked.

"Brother, I think it's better to surrender." Ma Cun said: "In an array field battle, the five soldiers can still fight, and Zhao Kuangning's Jingnan soldiers can also bully them, but the Tielin and Konghe armies are really tough. but."

"You sent someone to contact the Jin and Yan people before, what did they say?" Ma Yin asked.

"The people of Yan were dissatisfied with Shao's refusal to withdraw and wanted to make trouble, but they were worried that they would not be able to defeat the imperial army, so they hesitated again and again, and they could not count on it." , independent, but was arrested and killed, and is being stared at every day, it is estimated that another group of people will die, and they will turn back when it is really unbearable."

"Why are the people of Jin so desperate? If they are willing to vote for me, what's the point of riches and women?" Ma Yin was a little angry.

In fact, Jin soldiers, like Cai thieves, are from the north.If they are willing to surrender, Ma Yin is still willing to accept it, which will be of great help to him in further consolidating his foundation in Hunan, and even accepting Wu Guan, but the timing of this meeting is obviously not yet ripe.

"Zhang Wanjin caused chaos in Luzhou, slaughtering his family, and Shao's bandits are too dark, so they are also afraid." Ma Cun said: "An idiot can see Xia Ting's strategy of consuming people. If it is delayed until the rainy season, there may be a chance , but I do not recommend waiting."

"Secretary Gao, tell me what to do." Ma Yin poured Gao Yu a glass himself and said.

"Shao's bandit is obviously expending people." Gao Yu took the wine glass with a bow, and said, "I heard that the Baoning army went to Jiangxi twice, and the number of soldiers dropped sharply. Everyone complained. The possibility of rebellion is indeed not small. If they suddenly attack It is not impossible for the Xia people to defeat the Xia people and even capture the son of Shao thief. But as Ma Xiang said, they are also afraid and hesitant. I do not recommend pinning your hopes on these unreliable things. , it’s better to drop it.”

There is indeed a chance of a comeback, but even if they win this time and regain the entire territory of Hunan, so what?next time?It really angered Thief Shao. If he sends another 20 or [-] troops, will he win the second time?
People can afford to lose, but you can't afford to lose.

"You guys..." Ma Yin sighed, looking a little lonely.

Ma Rong, Ma Cun, and Gao Yu all looked at him, waiting for him to make a decision.

Ma Yin drank but did not speak.

Ma Rong patted the table and glared at his brother.

Ma Yin smiled, but didn't think he was disobedient.

They all have "shares", and the internal atmosphere is also good, not to mention that they are brothers, so he will not shout and kill because of this.

"Brother, you are too greedy." Ma Cong said angrily, "Do you really want to surrender in a lonely city like Liu Yin? You may not be able to keep your family wealth. Please contact the Xia people as soon as possible and send envoys to Zhiheng, Shao, Yong Zhuzhou, this battle - no more."

Ma Yin was repeatedly refuted by his younger brother, and he couldn't hold back anymore. He asked: "If I don't want to surrender, are you going to betray me and leave?"

Hearing this, Ma Rong got up suddenly, and said angrily, "Brother, why did you say that? If you don't want to surrender, can I force you to do so? At worst, I will die with you, and there will be someone to take care of you on the way. But the situation is the same, and I am also for my brother." , sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces, and for the sake of Hunan."

Instead of being angry, Ma Yin got up in person, held his third brother's hand, and apologized repeatedly.

Ma Xi sat down angrily, but drank mulled wine.

Ma Yin held the wine bottle and looked at the quiet courtyard.On New Year's Eve, it's a good festival, but the whole city is silent, and the people are uneasy.

"I followed Sun Ru around here and there, running around, not knowing where to go next." Ma Yin said suddenly: "After eating Guangling, I set it on fire, drove the people across the river, and went to eat Changzhou. After eating Changzhou Eating Runzhou, eating Xuanzhou, aimlessly, burning, killing and looting, the prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River is almost a ghost."

"Sun Ru was defeated and died. Liu Shuai led me to Jiangxi and back to Hunan, and finally settled down." Ma Yin continued: "After so many years of peaceful life, thinking about the past, it seems like a lifetime ago. Some time ago I was too greedy in [-], and I always felt that failure was a big deal and I just ran away. But just thinking about it, it turns out that the brothers don’t want to run away anymore.”

After speaking, he looked at his third brother, Ma Xiao.

Ma Xiao was a little embarrassed.He really didn't want to run away anymore. He used to be alone, with a low life, so he just ran away, what can he do?But now that he has tens of millions of wealth and more than a dozen wives and concubines, it is not easy to talk about running away!

"Burn the dragon robe." Ma Yin raised his head and drank the wine in the glass, and said, "Brothers have accompanied me to this day, no wonder it's not easy. I can't ruin everyone's future or even their lives because of my willfulness and greed."

"Brother, do you mean—" Ma Xi suddenly raised her head and asked.

"Shao Shude's reputation is not bad, and he has always given preferential treatment to surrendered people. This battle, let's not fight, let's surrender!" Ma Yin said with a sigh.

Ma Rong, Ma Cun, and Gao Yu looked at each other and said in unison: "You are wise."

(End of this chapter)