A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 347 Without Soldier or Pawn

In Jinyang City, Bingzhou,

Li Yi quickly recruited a new army, composed of good men from Hedong.

The army was primarily composed of sons of prominent local families, powerful landowners, and other influential figures; refugees, retainers, slaves, and people of nomadic origin were excluded from the conscription. This new army even possessed some characteristics of a hostage force.

Bingzhou was the place where Li Yuan rose to power. He initially recruited 30,000 people from Taiyuan and Xihe to march south, and they were known as the Emperor's entourage.

However, in the eyes of powerful clans, family actually comes before the state.

Therefore, they actively supported Li Yuan's uprising at the beginning. However, when Liu Wuzhou arrived, top powerful families in Bingzhou, such as Xue Shen and Guo Jing, immediately opened the city gates to meet the enemy after Yuan Ji abandoned the city and fled.

Afterwards, the powerful clans of Bingzhou offered little resistance and mostly submitted to Liu Wuzhou. They even responded when Liu Wuzhou conscripted grain and soldiers in Bingzhou.

Of course, when Li Yi fought back, these people still didn't put up much resistance.

Apart from Xue Shen and Guo Jing's families, they are still guarding their respective fortified villages.

Li Yi gave an order.
These powerful families had no choice but to send troops, even if they had to bring their own provisions and weapons. Once they came, their past transgressions were forgiven.

If you don't come, you'll be purged.

Li Yi also gave orders to Xue Shen and Guo Jing's families, but they dared not come.

In fact, whether they came or not, Li Yi would definitely deal with them.

In the current situation,
Everyone could see that the Turks only wanted to plunder, and Liu Wuzhou was already at his wit's end.

Taiyuan had sixteen counties, from which four prefectures—Yuzhou, Shouzhou, Liaodong, and Taiyuan—were separated. Currently, besides the six counties of Yuzhou and Liaodong, there is also Jiexiu.
Li Yi had already recovered most of the seven prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Bingzhou General Administration. In fact, he did not encounter any obstacles. Liu Wuzhou did not leave many troops, and as a result, the Turks plundered him. When Li Yi arrived, he set up flags in Nibu and threatened Yuci, which surrendered after a little intimidation.

The remaining cities were basically guarded by local strongmen and their militia, and Li Yi pacified them by issuing a proclamation.

War is never a battle for a single city or a single town, and very few people can truly fight down to the last soldier.

There are very few cities like Puban that can hold out for three years like this.

Has Lord Li Boyuan of Loufan arrived yet?

Li Yi sat in the main hall of the Grand Steward's Mansion, with the imperial banner bestowed by the Emperor placed at the head of the table, demonstrating the authority of this young Grand Steward.

Banners are used for exclusive rewards, and decrees are used for exclusive executions.

The emperor granted Li Yi the special power to act expediently. He could execute officials of the fifth rank and below without prior approval, and he could also appoint or dismiss officials before they were appointed.

"Reporting to the Grand Steward, Li Boyuan is outside, carrying thorns to apologize," Sima Zhang Zhiang said with a smile.

"It's good that you're here," Li Yi snorted. Last time, when Li Zhongwen and his men were attacked in Taiyuan, this Li Boyuan and his 10,000 Ji Hu soldiers collapsed at the first contact and fled in one breath along the Fen River into the mountains, almost reaching Lanzhou.

This guy is just like his father, Li Jizhen, and his uncle, Liu Liu'er. People like him should be subject to strict military law.

But for now, Li Yi had no choice but to endure it, after all, he had 10,000 men under his command, and his father was leading another 10,000 men to fight in the south.

"Let him wait outside for now."

Li Yi tapped on the table.

All the generals immediately fell silent.

"Gentlemen, most of the cities around Taiyuan have been captured recently, but the three counties of Yushe, Pingcheng, and Yanwu in Yuzhou, and the seven cities of Leping, Liaoshan, Pingcheng, and Shiai in Liaozhou have not yet been recovered."

These seven counties are not located in the Taiyuan Basin, but in the mountainous area to the east.

"You all know the current situation. Although Liu Wuzhou deceived us in Jiexiu, he can forget about making a comeback. Now, his escape to Luzhou is nothing but courting death." Li Yi tapped the table. "This is Duke Yuwen, who just came from the Imperial Court. He is a fourth-rank General of the Cavalry of the Prince of Qin's Mansion, married to the Princess of Shouguang, and granted the title of Duke of Xincheng County."

His Majesty has now appointed him as the Pacification Commissioner of Bingzhou.
His Majesty is very pleased with our recapture of Taiyuan. All soldiers have been awarded a first-class merit, and their achievements will be recorded and recorded. Rewards will be distributed according to merit at that time.

In short, everyone made money this time.

Of course, Liu Wuzhou has not yet been completely wiped out; they still need to work hard.

Li Yi walked to the sand table in the hall.

"Liu Wuzhou fled to Luzhou, plotting to bypass Queshuling and connect with Song Jingang to the west in Zelu. He even thought the Turks were reliable, but as soon as he left, the Turks kidnapped him."

On the sand table,
The area south of Taigu County, southeast of Taiyuan, is mountainous, and Maling is a mountain range.

The Changyuan River flows north, passing through Qixian County, then turns southwest and merges into Wucheng Lake. On one side of the watershed of the Shuiyuan River is the Nie River. To the northeast of Maling, the Xianggu River flows northwest, passing between Taigu and Yuci before flowing into the Fen River. South of the watershed is the Wuxiang River.

The Nie River and the Wuxiang River converge in Wuxiang to form the northern source of the Zhuozhang River. It then flows south to join the southern source of the Zhuozhang River and flows southeast into Hebei Province.

From Taiyuan to Luzhou,

That is, at the mouth of the river valley on both sides of the Maling, there is Shihui Pass at the source of the Changyuan River, and there is a military camp at Guyao Ridge, the watershed between the Changyuan River and the Nie River. This is also the watershed between the Changyuan River and the Qinshui River, which leads to Qinshui Prefecture.

The last time Liu Wuzhou went south, he went from the north of Maling, along the Wuxiang River Valley. There is also a Mangche Pass between Yushe and Wuxiang.

Li Yi picked up the two small flags.
One side was planted at Shihui Pass, which borders Bingzhou to the northwest, and the other side was planted at Mangche Pass, which borders Yuzhou and Luzhou.

"For now, let's ignore Pingcheng and other cities in the east."
If we take Yuci and Yanwu first, we can then seize Mangche Pass and cut off Liu Wuzhou's retreat.

Then block the stone passage between Binglu.

Liu Wuzhou has no chance of escape!

There are two routes; the one to the north, Yushe, is easier to travel.

Deputy Commander Li Zhongwen still harbors resentment and feels deeply ashamed of his defeat at Taiyuan last time. Although he has been working hard recently, leading his troops to recruit and persuade others to surrender, he still longs to achieve new merits.

"Grand Commander, I am willing to lead my troops to capture the cities of Yushe and Yanwu, and then block Mangche Pass."

Li Yi smiled and said, "I've forgotten about the Duke of Loufan outside. Go and invite him in." Li Boyuan was led in, still feeling very apprehensive, and bowed to Li Yi to apologize.

"Lord Loufan, you deserted your post. I, the commander-in-chief, should have executed you on the spot to uphold military law. However, considering that your father is still serving the court in the south, I will send your head to you first."

Now I'm giving you a task. Are you willing to accept it?

"Please give your orders, Grand Steward."

"Take your ten thousand men and immediately head south from Yuci, cross Maling, and follow the Wuxiang River Valley to recapture Yushe, Yanwu, and Mangche Pass."
These two cities and one pass have few enemy soldiers. Can you take them?

Li Boyuan felt a chill run down his spine under Li Yi's gaze, and could only say, "This humble general is willing to die for you and will surely capture the two cities and the pass."

"Alright, I'll give you another chance. You have half a month to take these two cities and one pass."

Li Zhongwen said from the side, "Grand Steward, let me go. I only need ten days."

Li Yi smiled.
"Let's give Lou Fan Gong a chance to redeem himself. Deputy Chief Steward Li, you lead your troops out of Qi County to capture Shi Hui Guan and Gu Yao Ling Zhai."

If Loufan Gong fails to seize the opportunity, then you should sail down the Nie River and take Mangche Pass.

Two groups of people,

Li Boyuan led 10,000 Ji Hu troops, and Li Zhongwen also led 10,000 troops, but the number of soldiers was half new and half old, with 4,000 combat soldiers and 6,000 auxiliary soldiers, including 2,000 newly recruited soldiers from Bingzhou.

Li Yi then dispatched Li Daozong with a contingent of troops to recapture the remaining five counties to the east, block Jingxing, and prevent Dou Jiande from crossing from Shijiazhuang.

Li Yi was stationed in Jinyang City.

"Should we ignore Jiexiu City?"

Yuwen Shiji asked, he was not very knowledgeable about military affairs, but he was very surprised and impressed to see Li Yi recover so quickly as he traveled north.

Now, Li Yi is ignoring the 10,000 Wu Zhou troops in Jiexiu City and is about to penetrate deep into Luzhou before even clearing the eastern part of Bingzhou, which is somewhat worrying.

"There's no need to worry about the ten thousand or so people in Jiexiu City. If they abandon the city and try to break out, they will be ambushed along the way. If they continue to defend the city, they will only be waiting to die."

"Now we must deal with Liu Wuzhou first, completely blocking his route back north, and preventing him from leading his troops back to Daibei."

The military meeting ended.

Yuwen Shiji and Li Yi stayed behind to discuss the matter of pacifying Bingzhou.

"His Majesty's decree is that, apart from Guo Jing and Xue Shen, the others can be pardoned. But these two traitors must be executed."

Li Yi poured tea for Yuwen Shiji, saying, "This matter is quite simple. Although they are currently occupying fortified villages, it doesn't take a single soldier to kill them."

"Oh?"

“In the name of the Public Security Commissioner of Xincheng, send an official document to each of the two families’ fortified villages, stating that as long as Guo Jing and Xue Shen are handed over, the rest of Guo and Xue’s clansmen will be pardoned, and only Guo Jing, Xue Shen and his brothers will be investigated, and the rest will be left unpunished.”

The Guo and Xue families are now in a state of extreme panic and unease.

As long as the imperial court issues an official document promising to only pursue Guo Jing and Xue Shen, along with their father, son, and brothers,

The rest of the clansmen would definitely agree.

They were divided from within.

It's much easier than a direct assault on the fortified villages. These powerful clans have built their fortified villages over many years, and if they really want to hold them, they're not easy to attack.

For the imperial court, it wasn't necessary to exterminate their entire clan; as long as they handed over two families, the rest could be spared.

"I'm afraid they might not believe it."

"Believe it or not, give them a deadline to hand over the people. If they don't, I'll personally lead the army to attack the fortress. No matter how strong the fortress is, how long can it withstand the imperial army?" Li Yi knew they wouldn't dare to gamble.

Yuwen Shiji drank a pot of tea at Li Yi's place.

He followed Li Yi's advice and wrote to the Guo and Xue families. The matter was much simpler than he had thought.

Seeing that the various families who had previously sided with Liu Wuzhou were now being forgiven, and that their sons and daughters were being recruited into the new army, with some of their direct descendants even being selected as guards in Li Yi's general's office, and that the sons of these families who had served as officials in the prefectures and counties had their positions restored.

Now, the emperor's envoy has promised to only pursue Guo Jing, Xue Shen, and their father, sons, and brothers, and will not pursue the rest of their clansmen.

With almost no hesitation,

The two families betrayed Guo Jing and Xue Shen.

Whether it's the death of a single family or the death of an entire clan, these prestigious families are actually the most experienced in this matter, much like the choice between family and country. And neither of these two families put up much resistance.

On the day they received the official document, they escorted the two families to Jinyang City and then opened the gate of the fortified village.

Along with Guo Jing, Xue Shen, and their brothers, many carts of grain were also sent to Jinyang as a sign of their loyalty.

Li Yi accepted it with a smile.
Yuwen Shiji announced that all male members of the Guo Jing and Xue Shen families would be executed, the female members would be confiscated and sent to the inner palace, and all underage boys would be reduced to government slaves.
The family property was not confiscated.

No one bothered to investigate why Xue Shen and Guo Jing had led the way in surrendering the city to the enemy, nor did anyone question how many powerful families had followed them.

The powerful and wealthy families gradually returned to the city from their fortified villages and manors outside the city, and the common people followed suit.

When the powerful and common people returned to Jinyang, they would see the heads of the male members of the Guo and Xue families hanging above the city gates as they entered the city.
Dozens of severed heads were hung on the tops of the twenty-four city gates of Jinyang.

The once high and mighty scions of top-tier wealthy families,
They became victims of this war.

The Xue and Shen clans lost some members and donated a batch of money and grain, but they still managed to preserve their families and remain top-tier wealthy families in Jinyang City, though they were severely weakened.

(End of this chapter)