History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 823: Conquer Haozhou

【Descend to Haozhou】

After Chai Rong returned, Nan Tang's skill cooldown ended, and he used his ultimate skill to counterattack again, possessed by Emperor Kai, a real man in eight seconds. This time, the one who started the fight was Guo Tingwei, the military supervisor of Haozhou.

Guo Tingwei was born into a family of officials. His father, Guo Quanyi, was the former governor of Haozhou. Guo Tingwei was diligent and studious, and was good at both civil and military affairs. He was skilled in poetry and calligraphy, and skilled in riding and shooting. With the support of his father, he soon became the military supervisor of Haozhou. When Chai Rong conquered Huainan, Guo Tingwei and his general Huang Renqian (also known as Huang Renjin) agreed to die for their country and defend Haozhou.

Later Zhou sent people to Haozhou with red-lettered iron certificates, high positions and generous salaries to lure Guo Tingwei to surrender, but Guo Tingwei closed the city gates and flatly refused. He also moved all the weak-willed people to temples and strictly guarded them. Skilled craftsmen were mobilized to make city defense equipment day and night. Later Zhou did not know the truth and did not dare to act rashly, so Haozhou was preserved.

When Li Jing heard about it, he praised it highly and called on all the people to learn from Comrade Guo Tingwei. He then asked him and Fujian General Lin Renzhao to rescue Shouzhou.

Afterwards, Chai Rong built a double city at Wokou and moved a pontoon bridge there to cut off the transportation line of Haozhou along the Huai River to aid Shouzhou, and then successfully captured Shouzhou.

This is the previous story.

In early April 957, Chai Rong ended his second expedition to Huainan and returned to Bianzhou, leaving behind the Xuzhou Jiedushi Wu Xingde to garrison Dingyuan County with his troops.

Guo Tingwei said to his general Huang Renqian: "The Wokou floating bridge is a great threat to us! The Zhou people won on land with their knights, and we won on water with our fleet. This summer, it rained heavily and the Huai River swelled rapidly. It was God's help! Give me two thousand naval forces, and I can cut off their bridge, massacre their city, and reach Shouzhou directly!"

He acted immediately. In July, Guo Tingwei led light boats and rushed to Wokou, launching a surprise attack. He successfully burned the pontoon bridge and a large amount of food and supplies of the Later Zhou Dynasty, captured and killed countless people, and the defeated soldiers of the Later Zhou Dynasty fled to the nearby Dingyuan County.

Guo Tingwei recruited local warriors, disguised as merchants, and sneaked into Dingyuan County for reconnaissance. Intelligence showed that the commander of Dingyuan was Wu Xingde. Guo Tingwei smiled and said, "God has given me this! Wu Xingde is a mediocre man, and he can be captured in one battle!"

Subsequently, Guo Tingwei mobilized more than 10,000 militiamen and 5,000 regular troops to conduct targeted training and exercises day and night, mainly focusing on raiding camps and ambushes. Soon, Guo Tingwei launched a surprise attack on Dingyuan County, and Wu Xingde fled in a panic, "only escaping with his life."

In the Battle of Dingyuan, Guo Tingwei killed hundreds of Zhou soldiers and seized a large amount of supplies. Some people offered bribes such as money and beautiful women to Guo Tingwei, but Guo Tingwei refused them all. He only kept 200 good horses and presented them to the court. The rest of the spoils were handed over truthfully.

Li Jing immediately promoted him to be the commander of the Chuzhou militia and the commander of the Shanghuai River for land and water support. Shanghuai refers to the upper reaches of the Huai River, which is Shouzhou. In other words, Li Jing entrusted Guo Tingwei with the important task of recovering Shouzhou.

Wu Xingde was defeated and returned. Chai Rong was furious and demoted him to the imperial guards to live out his life. Wu Xingde was a famous but not famous general. His life was also very interesting. The most well-known thing about him was that he was the first to jump out and oppose Zhao Kuangyin's "giving up military power with a cup of wine". His story will be detailed later.

Without the BUFF of Chai Rong leading the army in person, the combat effectiveness of the Later Zhou army was significantly reduced, and Chai Rong had to lead the army in person for the third time.

On October 957, 10, Chai Rong issued an edict to launch the third expedition to Huainan. He appointed Prime Minister Wang Pu as the governor of Bianzhou and allowed him to "act as he sees fit."

It can be seen that Chai Rong did not want to have a fourth or fifth expedition. He wanted to achieve his goal in one battle and end this protracted war of conquest of Huai River. Giving the officials staying in the capital the privilege of "acting at their own convenience" was the most powerful proof of this.

On the 19th, Chai Rong set out from Bianzhou; on November 11th, he arrived at Zhenhuaijun (Wokou), crossed the Huai River at midnight that day, and arrived at the west side of Haozhou City the next day (4th).

To the northeast of Haozhou City, there is Shibalitan, which is actually a small island on the Huai River, surrounded by water on all sides, echoing Haozhou City. The Southern Tang Dynasty set up fences on this small island and built it into a simple defense. The people of Huainan believed that the people from the Central Plains could not cross the Huai River, so this small island was impregnable and infallible.

On November 11, Chai Rong launched an attack on Shibali Beach, ordering the imperial army general Kang Baoyi to lead hundreds of soldiers on camels to wade through the water and capture the camp, while Zhao Kuangyin led the light cavalry to follow closely. The Zhou army attacked Shibali Beach in one fell swoop and seized a large number of strategic materials including ships.

Winter is the best time for the north to move south, while summer is the time for Huainan to fight back. The main reason is the water level of the Huaihe River. Summer is the rainy season, and the Huaihe River surges, which is unfavorable to the northern army; while in winter, the water level of the Huaihe River drops, and in dry years it even faces drying up, so Huainan will "shallow". Today, Zhao Kuangyin and others can wade across the water on horseback, which shows how low the water level of the Huaihe River is.

After removing the nail from Shibali Beach, Li Zhong attacked and conquered the southern gate of Haozhou, thus tearing a hole in the first line of defense of Haozhou. Chai Rong's three expeditions to Huainan got off to a good start.

Guo Tingwei, the defender of Haozhou, hurriedly sent a letter to Shengzhou, requesting reinforcements, and saying that the offensive of the Later Zhou was fierce, and asked to be allowed to feign surrender as a delaying tactic (willing to humbly ask for peace and wait for an opportunity).

After receiving Guo Tingwei's request for peace, Chai Rong indeed suspended the attack and started surrender negotiations with Guo Tingwei. Guo Tingwei took advantage of this opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Later Zhou army outside the city.

Sneak attack is Guo Tingwei's specialty, and he has a lot of talent for it.

Guo Tingwei led a team of more than a thousand death-defying soldiers, left the city at night, snatched the camp and robbed the stronghold, broke into the camp of the Later Zhou Dynasty, and burned countless siege equipment such as ladders and cave houses. The Later Zhou army suffered heavy losses.

Chai Rong was very angry and the consequences were serious.

On the 11th, Chai Rong personally took command, and Wang Shenqi took the lead to capture the Haozhou Water Fort.

The Southern Tang army gathered a large number of ships in the north of the city and set up large wooden stakes in the water to delay the offensive of the Later Zhou army.

Chai Rong ordered the navy to launch a violent attack, remove the wooden stakes, burn more than 70 ships of the Southern Tang Dynasty (some say hundreds of ships), kill more than 2,000 people, and then take advantage of the victory to capture Yangma City.

Yangma City was a defensive fortification outside the city wall and within the moat or trench. The Later Zhou Dynasty's control of Yangma City meant that Haozhou City had lost all its outer defense lines, including the moat and water fort.

The military and civilians in Haozhou were greatly panicked.

On the night of the 14th, Guo Tingwei once again expressed his willingness to surrender. This time, he really surrendered.

According to records, Guo Tingwei originally wanted to learn from Liu Renzhan of Shouzhou and create greater glory, but unfortunately the offensive of the Later Zhou Dynasty was too fierce. In just a few days, all the defense lines and strongholds outside Haozhou were cleared, making Haozhou an isolated city at the beginning of the war. Moreover, reinforcements were slow to arrive, and Haozhou could not resist the attack of the Later Zhou Dynasty alone, and defeat was inevitable.

In the letter, Guo Tingwei sincerely expressed his willingness to surrender, but all his family members were in the rear of Shengzhou. If he surrendered without permission, Li Jing would definitely execute his entire family. Even if he could not become the second Liu Renzhan, he definitely did not want to become the second Zhu Yuan. So Guo Tingwei asked for a few days' grace period to allow him to write a letter to Li Jing to explain the battlefield situation and surrender after obtaining Li Jing's approval.

Chai Rong agreed to his request. In a battle to capture a city, even if the attacker wins, they will pay a very painful price, so as long as there is a glimmer of hope, the attacker is willing to accept the surrender of the defenders.

Chai Rong was not a fool. Although Guo Tingwei's words were sincere and heartfelt, who could guarantee that this was not another delaying tactic? It doesn't matter. Just cut off your fantasy.

On the 19th, intelligence showed that there were hundreds of Southern Tang warships to the east of Haozhou, and they seemed to be coming to aid Haozhou. Chai Rong immediately led the navy and land forces to attack them at night, beheading more than people and causing more than Southern Tang soldiers to surrender. The Later Zhou took advantage of the victory to march eastward, and all the people surrendered wherever they went.

On the 23rd, the vanguard troops of the Later Zhou Dynasty had advanced eastward to the city of Sizhou. Zhao Kuangyin took the lead in attacking the south gate of Sizhou, burning the city gate, and conquering the water fort and Yuecheng.

Yuecheng is a semicircular wall outside the main city gate, which controls the rise and fall of the suspension bridge. This semicircular structure is also called "瓮城", which is usually within the moat and Yangmacheng.

Chai Rong climbed up Yuecheng and continued to command his generals to attack the main city of Sizhou.

On December 12, Fan Zaiyou, the defender of Sizhou of Southern Tang, opened the city and surrendered, and was appointed by Chai Rong as the commander of the Suzhou militia.

During the attack on Sizhou, Chai Rong strictly enforced military discipline and did not harm the people. When Sizhou was conquered, no soldier dared to enter the city without permission. The military discipline was strict. "The people were all pleased and competed to offer fodder and grain."

After Sizhou was controlled by the Later Zhou Dynasty, the reinforcements from the east of Haozhou had no way to go.

Later, intelligence showed that hundreds of Southern Tang warships appeared at Dongkou. Chai Rong immediately sent cavalry to attack, and the Southern Tang warships retreated to Qingkou. Dongkou and Qingkou are both east of Sizhou.

The Southern Tang reinforcements were unable to rescue Sizhou, let alone Haozhou to the west. But we should not be afraid of thieves stealing, but we should be afraid of thieves thinking about it. This Southern Tang water force that retreated to Qingkou must be completely eliminated.

On December 12, Chai Rong led his army on the north bank of the Huai River, Zhao Kuangyin led his army on the south bank of the Huai River, and the other generals led surface ships along the Huai River. The three land and sea forces pursued eastward at the same time.

It was the dead of winter, and the water levels on both sides of the Huai River dropped. The banks were covered with muddy and cold swamps and covered with reeds more than a meter tall. However, the soldiers of the Later Zhou Dynasty, inspired by their victory and the power of the emperor, were in high spirits. They rushed forward tirelessly.

On December 12, the Later Zhou army finally caught up with the Southern Tang army. The Later Zhou army beat drums and advanced, and the sound spread for dozens of miles, boosting the army's morale. They chased and fought, while the Southern Tang army was only concerned with escaping.

The next day, the two sides fought to the northwest of Chuzhou, and the Southern Tang army was almost completely wiped out. The remaining Southern Tang army continued to flee eastward along the Huai River. Chai Rong ordered Zhao Kuangyin to be the vanguard, and he personally led the main force to continue the pursuit eastward.

The pursuit went on for sixty miles and the commander-in-chief of the Southern Tang reinforcements (the envoy of land and sea support for Hao, Si, Chu and Hai) Chen Chengzhao was captured alive; the acting county magistrate of Lianshui County, Cui Wandi, surrendered.

Lianshui County, today's Lianshui County, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, has Binhai County (affiliated to Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province) to its east, and the sea is to the east of Binhai County.

In this battle, the Later Zhou captured more than 300 ships of the Southern Tang, burned countless ships, captured more than 7,000 soldiers, and killed countless others. Chai Rong marched eastward along the Huai River from Haozhou, fought east of Chuzhou, and almost reached the East China Sea, clearing out the Southern Tang resistance forces on the Huai River.

According to records, after this battle, "all Tang warships on the Huai River were destroyed."

After the first campaign against the Huai River, historical records say that the Southern Tang's elite troops were exhausted; after the second campaign, the Southern Tang's senior generals died or fled; at the beginning of the third campaign, the Southern Tang's surface forces on the Huai River were wiped out.

At this time, the envoy sent by Guo Tingwei to Shengzhou also returned to Haozhou and brought Guo Tingwei a piece of bad news that should have been good news: the court was unable to rescue...

Haozhou ultimately failed to reproduce the miracle of Shouzhou, and Guo Tingwei's "false surrender" lost its meaning. Guo Tingwei wanted to ask Li Yanzou, the recorder of Haozhou, to draft a letter of surrender, but Li Yanzou decisively refused and blamed him for his loyalty and filial piety.

Guo Tingwei felt deeply ashamed, but the reason why Liu Renzhan was able to create the Shouzhou miracle was not only because of his unwavering belief in struggle, but also because of the continuous reinforcements from the Huai River. Now that the Later Zhou Dynasty has cleared the entire Huai River, and the court has clearly stated that it is unable to rescue Haozhou, what can we do? Don't make unnecessary sacrifices.

Besides, it wasn't you, the keyboard warrior Li Yanzou, who was the one who shed blood and sacrificed in the battle. You just shouted slogans, but let us go to die. It was you who remained loyal and unyielding. We shed our blood and sacrificed our lives, but we became traitors who surrendered? If you want to fight Zhou Bing, then go ahead!

You can you up, no can no BB!
The two men had a fierce argument. Finally, Guo Tingwei drew his sword in anger and put it on Li Yanzou's neck. With his other hand, he stuffed the brush into Li Yanzou's hand and said, "It's come to this. There's no point in saying more. You have to write today, whether you want to or not. This is an order!"

Li Yanzou threw down his pen in anger and cursed Guo Tingwei as a shameless traitor, "A real man would rather die than be a traitor who sells out his country!"

"I'll help you!" Guo Tingwei raised his sword and killed Li Yanzou on the spot.

Finally, Guo Tingwei asked someone else to draft a surrender letter and sent it to the Later Zhou army camp. After a brief negotiation, Haozhou formally surrendered. Haozhou was taken over by the Later Zhou, along with more than 10,000 fresh troops and more than 10,000 bushels of grain and grass.

Before leaving the city, Guo Tingwei summoned all the soldiers and wept and bowed towards the direction of Shengzhou in the south.

When the news reached Shengzhou, Li Jing was deeply moved and ordered Li Yanzou's son to be summoned to the court and rewarded with an official position.

As for the evaluation of Guo Tingwei, everyone has their own opinion.

Li Jing did not label Guo Tingwei as a traitor, "forgiving his weakness, which was different from other traitors", so he did not execute his entire family. Guo Tingwei's elder brother Guo Tingyu retired as "Prince Xima" during Li Jing's reign, and Guo Tingyu's son also served as an official during Li Jing's reign and was not affected by the fall of Haozhou.

Chai Rong's evaluation of Guo Tingwei was very pertinent. Chai Rong said to Guo Tingwei in person: "Since the army was raised, Jiangnan has been defeated repeatedly. Only you were able to destroy my Wokou floating bridge and attack my Dingyuan camp. These two things are enough to repay the country. The small city of Haozhou cannot be preserved even if Li Jing comes to guard it personally."

The capture of Haozhou wasn't your fault. You were just taking the blame for my strength. Now let me tell you how lonely it is to be so strong that you are invincible. Yaoyao, check it out.

Afterwards, he bestowed upon Guo Tingwei clothes, a golden belt, a saddle horse, utensils and other items, and appointed him as the Defense Envoy of Bozhou, and appointed his brother Guo Tingzan as the Governor of Hezhou, in order to reward him for his contribution in surrendering.

(End of this chapter)