Late Tang

Yanjing, on September [-]th, the Double Ninth Festival, local tyrants from Beiping and Hebei Provinces were invited by the King of Qin to gather in Yanjing. It has been a while since you took over Youzhou, and Qin Fan’s control over Youzhou is also increasing day by day. Everything is in order.In front of the powerful Qin army, and under the generous conditions of Qin Fan, the powerful families in the original Lulong Town can be regarded as one by one.

After this period of development, the Qin army gradually strengthened its control over Youzhou, wooing some, suppressing some, and promoting some, and Youzhou, the new center of the Qin Fan, was finally stabilized.

In the recent days, Li Jing's life can be said to be satisfactory.Take Youzhou and successfully disintegrate the anti-Li alliance.Lulong Town was wiped out, Yiwu Town was destroyed, Yanmen Town was hit hard, and Chengde Town suffered a lot.Although the Qin army did not take much military action after taking Youzhou, Li Jing refused to pass the army in the west, Sanguan and Hejian in the south, and Yiwu Town was completely attached to the Qin army.Qin Jun is gearing up for a new round of moves.

This time Li Jing convened the rich and powerful families in Hebei and Beiping provinces, just trying to further promote the improvement of the Qin feudal official system and the equalization of land.At this time, Li Jing received the latest battle report from Xuzhou.

The battle report from Xuzhou is a good news!

It has been several months since the siege of Xuzhou. The troops of the Jianghuai camp have been encircling Xuzhou without fighting according to Li Jing's arrangement. They have implemented siege tactics and have not forcibly attacked Xuzhou, an important town and an isolated city.

During this period of time, Li Jing lived comfortably in Youzhou, but brothers Huo Cun, Zhang Guiba, and Zhang Guihou in Xuzhou lived like years, because the elite troops in his hands were almost lost.Xuzhou has completely become an isolated city, surrounded by the Qin army, Yu Yu, Xin Xun and others.The most painful thing for them was that after the siege, the Qin army was not in a hurry to fight, but implemented the siege tactics of iron barrels.

All connections between Xuzhou and the outside world were cut off, reinforcements were cut off, and supplies were cut off.

People in the city are in a panic, and the days are like years.Although the Qin army did not attack by force, after besieging the city, they bombarded and attacked the city from time to time.The Qin army in the Jianghuai area was dominated by rural soldiers. This time, Zeng Yuanyu and Zhao Ji completely regarded the siege of Xuzhou as a training ground for rotation training of various troops.In particular, the Firearms Department of the Ordnance Bureau directly sent a team to test their various firearms directly in Xuzhou City.

Bombarded every now and then, testing various firearms, ballistas, and catapults.

Then the various engineering units also dug ditches and tunnels around the city day and night, conducting civil engineering training.Even the Special Warfare Brigade pulled a thousand members to Xuzhou for special training, using Xuzhou as a special warfare training battlefield, and engaged in night raids, infiltrations, assassinations, etc. at every turn.

The Qi army and Xuzhou soldiers and horses have been suffering continuous losses. Although this is not a large number of casualties in a short period of time, it is continuous blood loss.With no reinforcements outside and no morale inside, Huo Cun and others couldn't do it even if they wanted to fight the Qin army to the death.Huo Cun organized soldiers and horses several times to try to go out of the city to counter the night attack, but the outside of Xuzhou City had already become a large construction site.There are ditches, antlers, fences, arrow towers, and fights everywhere.As a result, every time the Xuzhou army went out of the city, they would be discovered immediately, and then they would become the prey of the Qin army.

After doing this several times, Xuzhou soldiers finally dared not go out of the city anymore.A dozen groups of dead soldiers were sent to Luoyang to break through the siege for help, but they persisted for several months without seeing a single soldier arrive.In fact, Luoyang received Xuzhou's request for help, and also sent reinforcements.The governor of Haozhou, Ge Congzhou, the governor of Yingzhou, Zhang Guimou, and the governor of Bianzhou, Zhu Wen, successively sent troops to rescue, but none of them could reach Xuzhou. Every time they were intercepted halfway, and finally returned without success.

After several consecutive rescues, Zhu Wenwen, Ge Congzhou and others finally discovered that the Qin army was not unable to defeat Xuzhou, but the complete opposite.The Qin army is fully capable of taking Xuzhou early, but it has been surrounding Xuzhou. This is obviously to attract the Qi army to rescue, and wants to besiege the city and fight for aid.

The main force of the Qi army has entered Guanzhong, and there are not many Qi troops left in Henan.The main force is Ge Congzhou, Zhu Wen, Zhang Guimou, Zhuge Shuang and other departments. If several main forces are destroyed, then if the Qin army takes the opportunity to attack and launch a wave of powerful offensive, it is possible that the entire Luoyang area will be destroyed. The Qi army collapsed.

Whether it is public or private, no one wants to take this risk.

Therefore, in the end, Xuzhou was completely abandoned.Although Chang'an's Great Qi Jintong Emperor Huang Chao has always claimed to send troops to rescue Xuzhou, in fact, no matter whether it is Chang'an or Luoyang, the Qi army from all over the country no longer sends a single soldier to Xuzhou.

Xuzhou has become a piece of chicken rib, which is tasteless to eat and a pity to discard.

Rescuing Xuzhou may only be a refueling tactic.Huang Chao was reluctant to give up such an important town as Xuzhou.What's more, even if he wanted to give up Xuzhou at this time, the Qi army in Xuzhou city would be surrounded like an iron barrel and could not be withdrawn at all.

Such a result has created the strange situation on the Xuzhou battlefield.

The Qin army could clearly take down Xuzhou as soon as possible, as long as they were willing to spend some casualties, but the Qin army couldn't encircle it for a long time.On the Qi army's side, in an important southeastern town like Xuzhou, the Qi army just sat and watched him be besieged, shouting fiercely, but actually did not send a single soldier.

Although Xuzhou was besieged, the dead soldiers in Xuzhou City who asked for help could always stand out from the encirclement.Although a hundred are distributed at a time, only one or two may get away with it in the end.Once or twice, you can say that you are lucky, but it has always been like this. Zhu Wen from Bianzhou has already understood that things are not that simple.

Xie Tong, Zhu Wen's counselor, once looked at the Xuzhou messenger who came to rescue No. 18, shook his head and said to Zhu Wen, "Zeng Yuanyu is fishing, and he wants to use Xuzhou to lure the troops around Luoyang to take the bait."

Zhu Wen sent troops three times to try to go to Xuzhou for rescue.He dispatched troops three times, and once encountered an ambush by Xin Xun and Yu Jian in Songzhou, losing more than [-] troops.In the last two times, even as soon as he left Bianzhou, he fought against the three generals Xin Xuan, Kang Chenghui, and Yu Yu. Although the losses were not great, they were blocked at home and could not get out.

Since then, Zhu Wen has continued to play to Chang'an, saying that the Qin army is powerful, and he is going to attack Luoyang and ask for reinforcements.

In fact, Zhu Wen also knew that the emperor of Chang'an would not believe a word of his memorial. Li Jing clearly shifted his focus to the north, otherwise he would not have attacked Xuzhou, but the imperial decree issued was very encouraging and instructive. Zhu Wenguo thought of a good general, so he must contain the Qin army's offensive.

The Daqi court pretended not to know about Zhu Wen's false military report, which was also expected by Zhu Wen's staff.Now the situation in Jianghuai has completely collapsed, and the Daqi court can't send reinforcements to Henan at all, so they can only talk nonsense with their eyes open.

The Qi army in Xuzhou City was already in despair, and reinforcements were waiting for a long time. Although there was no shortage of food and grass in the city, there were fewer and fewer soldiers, and their morale fell to the bottom.What's more important is that the Qi army has not taken over Xuzhou for a long time. There are still 1 people in the original probation army in the city, and the wealthy local tyrants in the city are even more powerful people in Xuzhou.In the past, when Pu surrendered to Qi, the three armies of Qi, Qin, and Huai were intertwined in the Jianghuai area, and the situation was unclear.

But now, as the siege time is getting longer and longer, as the Huai army is defeated by Qin, and the Qi army loses one after another, almost the land east of the canal is completely owned by the Qin army.Under such circumstances, anyone could tell that at least in the competition here in Xuzhou, the Qin army had the upper hand.

Huo Cun also knew that the people in Xuzhou were not stable, and even many probation officers secretly colluded with Xuzhou local tyrants to discuss.But he was helpless. Although there were only less than 5000 people left in the probation army, the powerful local tyrants in Xuzhou City were not small.During the months of defense, Huo Cun also armed the servants of these people. Now the number of servants of these people and Xuzhou's young and strong armed forces has reached more than [-], which has surpassed the remaining [-] in the Qi army. .

What's more, even Huo Cun, the crazy thieves of the past, would not be crazy to think that the probation army and local tyrants in Xuzhou City would all be killed.Since many generals of the Qi army used to kill without batting an eyelid, they are still very smart.If they don't understand people's hearts at all, how can they develop to the scale they are today.

The so-called law does not blame the public, let alone the severe situation today.The city of Xuzhou has completely become a big gunpowder keg, and any slightly violent action of the Qi army may cause the explosion of the gunpowder keg.

The probation army that had surrendered to the Qi army is now gradually raising its head again. During this period of time in the city, there have even been many fights between the Qi army and the probation army.In the past, even if the probation army was bullied by the Qi army, they would not dare to speak up, let alone openly fight with the Qi army.But every time now, after Huo Cun knows, he can only try his best to suppress both sides, without punishing each other.The current Huo Cun no longer dared to punish the probation army.

However, Huo Cun's retreat did not improve the situation.On the contrary, seeing the retreat of the Qi army, the probation army became more and more convinced that the Qi army would be defeated.The boat is leaking and is about to sink. At this time, most people will choose to jump into the water to escape from the wrecked boat. If there is a boat nearby, it is natural to change the boat as soon as possible.

The probation army in Xuzhou City was invited to Luoyang after Shi Pu surrendered to Qi. Later, the probation army in the city was dominated by Liu Zhijun, a soldier and horse envoy known in the Yamen.Liu Zhijun, like Zhang Yun in Suzhou, was once Shi Pu's right-hand man and staunch supporter.After Shi Pu took the position of Jieshuai, the two of them were also able to take important positions in the probationary army as young generals.Since the siege of Xuzhou, Zhang Yun has been in secret contact with Liu Zhijun.

Liu Zhijun had seen the situation clearly early on, and had the intention of surrendering to Qin.However, Huo Cun is not stupid, he has been sending people to keep an eye on Liu Zhijun and others.

After waiting for several months, Liu Zhijun finally had a chance. He secretly instigated the probation sergeant and the family members of the local tyrant to clash with the Qi army, resulting in a fight.However, Huo Cun's concession made the probation army and Xuzhou people who had been dissatisfied all the time bolder. Finally, under Liu Zhijun's instigation, the matter gradually escalated. Finally, on the night of the first day of September, the probation army and Xuzhou's armed forces Jia Ding and Xie Fang Qing Zhuang suddenly broke out and attacked the Qi army's various barracks at night.

It was night, and the city of Xuzhou was ablaze with flames, shouting to kill and shaking the ground.

However, the city gate of Xuzhou was kept closed. A general suggested to take the opportunity to attack Xuzhou. Zeng Yuanyu glanced at Zhang Yun and said with a smile, "Order all the soldiers and horses to surround Xuzhou. Without this general's order, no one is allowed to attack the city without authorization."

The generals were a little surprised by this military order, but after dawn, the city gate of Xuzhou, which had been in chaos all night, finally opened.

After the city gate opened, what came out was not the Qi army who wanted to break through, but the bloody Xuzhou probation army, local tyrants and young adults.

After a night of melee, Liu Zhijun finally won the fire tie by virtue of being the first to strike first and having a numerical advantage.Liu Zhijun is a talented and ambitious person. After the original attack last night, he was able to open the city gate immediately and lead the Qin army into the city.

But he didn't do this. After he sent people to seize the city gate, he stood firm at the city gate, and then led his troops to surround and kill the Qi soldiers. In the end, more than 1 Qi soldiers were killed, and in the end there were only less than [-] wounded. The wounded soldiers surrendered under the leadership of Huo Cun.

Liu Zhijun had disclosed this action to Zhang Yun in advance, mentioning that he was willing to choose an appropriate opportunity to fight back and capture Xuzhou Xian and King Qin.In this battle, Liu Zhijun did not open the gates of the city and did not let the Qin army enter the city. First, he wanted to use the heads of the Qi soldiers as a token of honor. Second, he was still worried that after the Qin army entered the city, they would simply join them with Qi. The army is ready.For this reason, he did not hesitate to take the risk of dealing with the Qi army alone with the Xuzhou army, which has a large number of people but is obviously at a disadvantage.

He won the battle, annihilating 2000 Qi troops in one night's scuffle, and captured [-] prisoners including Huo Cun, Zhang Guiba, and Zhang Guihou, three generals of the Qi army.However, Xuzhou's soldiers also suffered heavy losses. Less than [-] of the [-] probation army remained, and nearly [-] of the [-] servants and young adults died in battle.

As soon as the general was successful, Liu Zhijun used the blood of tens of thousands of people to take an important step in joining the Qin army.

After Zeng Yuanyu entered the city, he couldn't help being moved when he heard the battlefield cleaning report.After this night, the city of Xuzhou became a hell. The two armies fought among themselves and killed more than 3 soldiers. More than one-third of the city of Xuzhou was destroyed by the flames of war. Another 3 people died in the war last night. among.

After daybreak, Xuzhou is full of Bai Su, and almost every family has filial piety.

Zhang Yun found Liu Zhijun and privately accused him of not doing this.If the Qin army had been released into the city earlier, there would never have been such tragic consequences.But Liu Zhijun smiled, kindness does not command soldiers, benevolence does not do business.He is the general of the Probation Army, and he cannot guarantee whether the Qin Army would wipe out the Probation Army if they entered the city early last night.Besides, although many people died last night, there is no one who survives a war.Although [-]% of the probation army died, the remaining thousands of probation troops have definitely gained the trust of the Qin army.Even the other rich local tyrants and common people in Xuzhou City also used their actions to show their loyalty to King Qin Li Jing.This is extremely important for Xuzhou, which is at the intersection of the three forces.

Zeng Yuanyu soon learned of the conversation between the two. Although Liu Zhijun's idea of ​​treating a gentleman's belly with a villain's heart was a bit ridiculous, he did not punish or neglect Liu Zhijun.Regardless of whether Liu Zhijun was right or wrong, at least he wiped out more than [-] Qi troops, captured several Qi army generals and more than [-] prisoners, and dedicated the important town of Xuzhou.Based on this battle alone, Liu Zhijun's right and wrong are beyond his control.

Picking up the pen, Zeng Yuanyu wrote a long and detailed memorial of the whole process before and after the capture of Xuzhou, and sent a messenger to report to Yanjing! (To be continued.)