History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 733 Tanzhou Battle 2
Now, Ma Xiguang was in trouble, and Peng Shihao was extremely worried. After careful observation, Peng Shihao offered Ma Xiguang a strategy to defeat the enemy.

Peng Shihao analyzed: "The Langzhou army was immersed in two lucky victories and could not extricate themselves. Arrogance permeated the entire army. As the saying goes, arrogant soldiers will be defeated. Moreover, the Langzhou army was mixed with the barbarian army. There was no unified command and the people were not united. Although they seemed to have a large number of people, they were actually very easy to disintegrate among themselves."

Afterwards, Peng Shihao gave specific combat suggestions: he would lead 3,000 elite infantrymen, quietly cross the river from Baxi, detour to the back of Yuelu Mountain, and then launch a night attack, sneak into the camp and rob the stronghold to ensure that Ma Xi'e was captured alive.

Ma Xiguang agreed with this plan very much and was about to put it into practice when suddenly a general of great status raised objections. This man was Xu Keqiong, the son of founding hero Xu Dexun.

Xu Keqiong has been bribed by Ma Xi'e, and it is said that Ma Xi'e promised to divide Southern Chu with him and rule it separately.

Xu Keqiong said to Ma Xiguang: "How can the king believe Peng Shihao's nonsense? Peng Shihao and the Meishan barbarians are originally in the same group. They are not of our race, so their hearts must be different! My family has been loyal and brave generals of Southern Chu for generations. We will not let the king down. With me here, Ma Xi'e is nothing to worry about!"

People who are indecisive often have this magical skill, which is that they can perfectly avoid all correct answers. They will not adopt any suggestions that are beneficial to them, and they will accept any bad ideas that will push them into the fire pit.

Ma Xiguang was persuaded by Xu Keqiong to cancel the only military action that could save him. That was not all. Ma Xiguang also handed over the command of all surface forces - more than 400 warships - to Xu Keqiong; he also rewarded him with 500 taels of silver every day; Ma Xiguang often went to Xu Keqiong's camp to discuss military issues with him and leaked the most confidential information to this senior spy lurking around him in time; Xu Keqiong closed the camp and did not allow soldiers to explore the enemy situation on the other side of the river. He also told Ma Xiguang that this was to stabilize the morale of the army and prevent being bewitched, intimidated, and seduced by the enemy. Ma Xiguang praised this and said: "Xu Keqiong is a real general! What else do I have to worry about?"

In fact, the reason why Xu Keqiong strictly prohibited the investigation of the enemy was to facilitate his intelligence delivery. Xu Keqiong often drove a small boat alone late at night to the other side of the river to meet with Ma Xi'e, and directly relayed the news he had learned during the day to Ma Xi'e without reservation.

One day, Xu Keqiong, who had just taken over the job, was caught red-handed by Peng Shihao. Peng Shihao glared at him and loudly rebuked him. Then he went to see Ma Xiguang and said, "Your Majesty, Xu Keqiong is colluding with foreign countries and colluding with Langzhou to sell out Tanzhou. Please get rid of him as soon as possible!"

Ma Xiguang said with displeasure, "He is the son of Comrade Xu Dexun, how could he do such a thing? Stop talking and go away." In fact, Ma Xiguang did not say the second half of the sentence, "You are the son of Peng Shiran, what kind of person is your father, don't you have any idea in your mind?"

After Peng Shihao withdrew, he looked up to the sky and sighed: "The king is kind-hearted but indecisive. He does not listen to honest advice but trusts traitors. His demise is imminent."

The two armies were always in a state of confrontation. After entering the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell and the snow in Tanzhou was as thick as four feet.

In order to comfort his empty spiritual world, Ma Xiguang began to listen to the advice of the "experts", cast spells, and launched magical attacks on the enemy. On the east bank, he erected a huge statue of a giant ghost with a green face and fangs, raising his hands to block the enemy. On a tall building, he erected another giant ghost statue with a hideous face, glaring at the west bank, with his eyes wide open and his fingers pointed.

Many monks were invited to chant Buddhist scriptures day and night. Ma Xiguang also wore a black Taoist robe and knelt down to pray to the Buddha devoutly, hoping that the heavens and the earth would bless him, and that the Lord of Heaven, Amitabha, would bless him. Amen...

The heavy snow only delayed the Langzhou Corps' offensive schedule, but never dampened their offensive enthusiasm.

On December 12, at Yangliu Bridge, He Jingzhen, the infantry commander of the Langzhou Corps, led three thousand barbarian tribesmen in a tense standoff with Han Li, the infantry commander of Tanzhou, who led two thousand men.

He Jingzhen was delighted to find that the flags of the other side were in disarray, and he said that this was a sign of panic among the other side's troops. The flaws had been exposed and it was easy to be defeated. So He Jingzhen sent Lei Hui from Langzhou to change into the clothes of Tanzhou soldiers and sneak into Han Li's position, waiting for an opportunity to implement a "decapitation operation".

Lei Hui slowly approached Han Li, then drew his sword and stabbed him, but missed. The assassination mission failed, but Han Li's camp also fell into chaos. He Jingzhen immediately urged the army to charge, and Han Li's troops collapsed instantly.

Han Li was seriously injured and fled back to Tanzhou, where he died of his injuries.

The Langzhou Corps seized the opportunity of Han Li's defeat and launched a full-scale general offensive.

Wu Hong, the commander of the Tanzhou infantry, and Wu Di, the small gatekeeper, encouraged each other: "It's time to die for the country!" They led their troops to resist tenaciously. The fierce battle lasted from morning to noon, with both sides winning and losing. However, Xu Keqiong and Liu Yantang did not move their troops.

Wu Hong was defeated; Yang Di's soldiers fought fiercely for half a day and were thirsty, hungry and exhausted, so they retreated to rest; only Peng Shihao led his troops to continue resisting in the northeast corner of Tanzhou City.

The barbarian tribe set fire to the city gate in the east of the city. The defenders on the city called Xu Keqiong for help. At this critical moment, Xu Keqiong tore off his last disguise, turned against his opponent, and led all his troops to surrender to Ma Xi'e. After hearing the news of Xu Keqiong's surrender, Wu Hong and Yang Di's troops collapsed and fled, and Tanzhou fell.

The Lang-Man coalition entered Tanzhou and, as agreed, openly looted for three days. The soldiers killed, burned and looted in Tanzhou. The palaces built since the Ma Yin period were all reduced to ashes, and the gold and silver treasures stored in the treasury were also looted.

Li Yanwen, who was stationed in Tuokou, saw the fire in Tanzhou City and immediately led his troops back to rescue, but the Langzhou Corps had turned the tables and became the defending army. Li Yanwen could not enter the city.

When the Langzhou soldiers entered the city, Ma Xiguang hid everywhere with his wife and children. When he heard that Li Yanwen had returned to rescue, he went to seek refuge under the protection of Liu Yantang. Eventually, Li Yanwen and Liu Yantang led more than a thousand people to protect Ma Xiguang's family and fled south, intending to seek refuge in Huainan.

Zhang Hui, who had abandoned 9,000 soldiers in Yiyang, also surrendered to Ma Xi'e.

Ma Xichong led all the surrendered generals to welcome Ma Xi'e and invited him to ascend the throne.

The situation was hopeless. Wu Hong, covered in blood, was unwilling to give up and shouted to Ma Xi'e, "I was unfortunately betrayed by Xu Keqiong. I am worthy of the late king if I am killed today!" Peng Shihao threw the spear in his hand to the ground in great grief and anger, begging for death loudly.

Ma Xi'e respected them very much and said to them, "You are real men!" He then ordered the pardon of the two men.

The next day, Ma Xichong welcomed Ma Xi'e to the Tanzhou Palace and told him the good news - all the counter-revolutionaries were captured alive!

(End of this chapter)