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

Chapter 441 Su Dingfang Refuses to Surrender
midsummer,

On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the afternoon was unbearably hot and humid. Suddenly, the sky darkened and dark clouds rolled in.

In Zhangqiaodian Village, Zongzhou, Li Yi watched as the daytime suddenly turned into night. It hadn't rained in a long time, and this rain would bring some relief from the heat.

Huo Yu called him back inside, "Be careful of thunder."

"Thunder strikes bad people, but even good people like me will avoid thunder."

"Let's go quickly. The thunder will avoid you, but the rain won't." Huo Yu pulled him into the house.

Purple lightning ripped open the sky, illuminating the heavens and earth, followed immediately by deafening thunder.

The rain started pouring down.
The ground soon smelled of earth.
The rain curtains from the eaves fell like a broken beaded chain, and a layer of water quickly accumulated in the courtyard.

The thunderstorm came quickly, but it also went quickly; in less than half an hour, the clouds dispersed, the rain stopped, and the sky returned to clear.

The courtyard was filled with rainwater that couldn't be drained in time.

The air is fresh and cool.

Li Yi went to the corridor to enjoy the cool breeze.

If it weren't for Li Shimin's military order, Li Yi would have been reluctant to leave his post.

His current location is on the east bank of the Yongji Canal, in Zhangqiaodian, in the southern part of Linqing County.

This place was originally a small village, but its superior geographical location and transportation conditions made it a bustling market town. Although it was far from the county town, a bridge spanned the canal connecting the east and west, and there was a ferry crossing nearby. Gradually, it became a market town where people gathered regularly, which the locals called Zhangqiao Market.

Although the imperial court had decreed that markets could not be established outside of prefectures and counties, initially it was just a market in the form of a fair, held on the third, sixth, and ninth days of the month, with vendors gathering near the bridge. However, as the area developed, permanent houses and shops were built at Zhangqiao, and the vendors started to hold the market every day.

Because it was far from the county seat, people from the surrounding area came here to trade. Despite the war, under the leadership of wealthy households and merchants, fortress walls and gates were built, making it resemble a city. Dou Jiande also sent soldiers and tax collectors to garrison here.

Dealing with ordinary bandits and outlaws was no problem, but when Li Yi's army marched north, the bustling market at Hejin Ferry was beyond their ability to withstand.

However, since Li Yi took up residence in this area, he has not disturbed the residents in the slightest.
The market here actually became more prosperous due to the large number of troops stationed here and the transportation of various supplies.

Li Yi simply established a new Yongji County here, with Zhangqiaodian as the county seat, and separated the southern part of Linqing County into Yongji County.

This is also the only county town that Li Yi currently controls in Zongbei Prefecture.

Liu Shiche and Liu Rengui walked in together.
"Master Sikong, I have good news."

"Oh, Su Lie has surrendered?"

"No, that's not true. That guy is very stubborn. He's been captured for over a month and hasn't said a word. No matter how we try to persuade him to surrender, it's no use. The rocks in the latrine are both smelly and hard." Liu Shiche shook his head as he spoke of Su Dingfang.

"What good news is that?"

Liu Rengui said: "The three bandit generals Li Quhuo, Li Panmai, and Li Kaibi were generals of chariots and cavalry under Liu Shishan. They were all from Mingshui County."
After a period of persuasion, they heard that the Prince of Yan and his forces had advanced from Youzhou to Mingzhou to join forces with the Prince of Qin.
After our Great Tang army has successively captured more than ten prefectures in Hebei, we have decided to surrender.

"This is indeed a good thing."

In the Battle of Chanyuan, Li Yi captured more than 10,000 people. As for the ordinary soldiers, Li Yi stripped them of their weapons, armor, and equipment and then dismissed them.

Officers of all ranks above deputy squad leader will remain in their positions for the time being.

Officers below the rank of colonel who wish to stay will be demoted but retained, and will first serve as deputy positions at various levels within the military.

As for officers of the rank of colonel and above, those who were willing to surrender were first retained in the military camp as military advisors, while those who were unwilling to surrender were first imprisoned.

Li Yi has not yet incorporated the soldiers from Hebei into his own ranks. He has no shortage of soldiers and is too lazy to take them in.

The officers were not allowed to return, partly to prevent them from going back to Dou Jiande, since it is easy to find a thousand soldiers but difficult to find a good general.

Without weapons and equipment, ordinary soldiers are essentially just farmers when they go back to their hometowns.

In an army, the most valuable assets are experienced generals and officers, followed by weapons and equipment, while the most basic personnel are not so important.

Even if ordinary Hebei soldiers were released, they might not be willing to go back to Dou Jiande.

"Sikong, those three are powerful clans from Mingshui City, east of Mingzhou. They are willing to return to Mingshui City, lead their clansmen to seize the city, and offer it to the Tang Dynasty."

"Bring me the map."

Mingshui City is not large, with only two city gates, one in the north and one in the south. However, its surrounding terrain is very suitable for defense. There are rivers on all four sides, which surround the entire county town and form a natural moat. The rivers are more than fifty paces wide and three or four feet deep.

Most importantly, it's about his position.

Mingshui City is located in the east of Mingzhou, separated from Zhangqiaodian in Yongze County of Zongzhou, where Li Yi is currently located, by Ping'en County.

The western, southern, and northern sides of Mingzhou City are now under Tang control, leaving only the eastern prefectures of Zong, Bei, Ji, Shen, and Ying still in Xia hands.
Mingzhou also relies on the grain and troops in the east. If Mingzhou is controlled by the Tang army, although it still has several states in the east, its connection will be cut off.

Mingzhou City thus truly became an isolated city.

Are these three people reliable?

"They also had their sons captured, and they were willing to leave their sons as hostages."

The trees fell and the hozens scattered.

It seems that the Li family of Mingshui County, seeing that Dou Jiande was failing, wanted to save themselves.

Li Yi had seen too many powerful figures make this choice, so he wasn't surprised at all.

"Let's go see them."

South of Zhangqiao Store

A group of prisoners of war are pounding rice, a very arduous task.

The hundred or so captured Xia army officers were working diligently. These men were all captains and senior officers who had refused to surrender.

Li Yi didn't kill them, but he wasn't lenient either. He made them responsible for pounding rice, with a daily quota. If they didn't finish, they would go hungry.

As soon as he entered, Li Yi's eyes searched for Su Dingfang.

The tall, young figure was working diligently. After Li Yi captured Su Dingfang, he personally tried to persuade him to surrender several times, but Su Dingfang remained unmoved.

"General Su," Li Yi walked over to greet him, but Su Dingfang only glanced up at him.

"General Su, a wise bird chooses its tree, and a wise man knows when to yield. When the Sui dynasty lost its mandate, the whole world vied for power. At the age of fifteen, you followed your father, leading the local militia to protect the borders and people, attacking bandits, and doing many good deeds. Later, when Dou Jiande became the ruler of Hebei, it was understandable that you submitted to him."

However, the mandate of heaven now rests on the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty's momentum to unify the world is unstoppable.

The King of Qin led the army to conquer Hebei, capturing more than ten prefectures in succession. Now Dou Jiande is besieged in Mingzhou, and his defeat is imminent.

Why should General Su continue to be loyal to Dou Jiande?
Your actions will only temporarily delay Dou Jiande's defeat; they cannot prevent it. In the end, they will only cause the people to suffer more from the ravages of war.
Doesn't this contradict the very ideas you and your son had when you first started the rebellion?

Su Dingfang stopped pounding rice with the wooden pestle.

But he quickly buried himself in pounding rice again.

"General Su, please think it over carefully. You are still young. If you don't think about your own future, you should also think about the people of Hebei."

After he finished speaking, he turned to Li Quhuo and the others.

"Generals Li from Mingshui County, I am very pleased that you have abandoned the darkness and come to the light. Welcome to your surrender."

"By the special authority granted by His Majesty, I hereby appoint Li Quhuo as the General of Ningyuan, a fifth-rank official, and Li Panmai and Li Kaibi as the Generals of the Vanguard, both fifth-rank officials."

Emperor Li Yuan established twelve ranks of generals with informal titles, from the two major generals of the State and the General of the Garrison Army to the fifth-rank general of the Cavalry and the Distant Army. These were all for military officers who did not have formal positions.

Li Quhuo and the other two surrendered. They were originally fifth or sixth-rank cavalry officers, but now they are promoted to the rank of fifth grade and fifth grade, which is equivalent to an increase in rank.

Li Yi announced it directly in the workshop in front of all the prisoners.

The three men attracted the attention of many prisoners of war who refused to surrender. The three men paid no attention to it. After being captured, they pounded rice every day, working harder than oxen and horses, and eating worse than pigs, surviving on just a little thin porridge.

Every few days, Li Yi would send officers to organize meetings for the prisoners to report on the latest developments of the Tang army. Hearing that the Tang army had captured a certain prefecture or city, not many people could sit still.

Yesterday, Li Quhuo and his group heard that King Xia had retreated from Ye City and retreated to Feixiang County, south of Mingzhou.

Meanwhile, the Tang army, led by Prince Qin Li Shimin, continued to press forward. The main force was still confronting the Xia king in Feixiang, and they also sent troops to capture Cizhou, Fuyang, Wu'an, Handan, and Cheng'an north of the Zhang River.

Mingzhou has lost all three sides.

The King of Qin's next target was Mingshui City.

Li Quhuo and his companions were all powerful figures in Mingshui City. They used to have their own armed forces, but later they joined Dou Jiande and rose to the ranks of General of the Cavalry and General of the Chariots. However, seeing that the Great Xia Dynasty was about to fall, they finally decided to surrender after pounding rice for more than a month.

Li Quhuo, nearly fifty years old, tall and robust, ignored the gazes of the other prisoners.
He bowed to Li Yi in gratitude.

"I will certainly live up to your expectations and take Mingshui City. Otherwise, I will bring you my head."

Li Yi helped them up.
"I believe in your sincerity in abandoning darkness and turning to the light. Come, I will prepare a feast for you."

"Minister Sikong, we wish to depart immediately. Once the matter is accomplished and you have arrived in Mingshui City, we can hold a celebratory banquet."

"it is good."

Li Yi released all the members of the Li family and allowed them to return to Mingshui City together.

This surprised Li Quhuo and the others.

"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. Go."

Li Quhuo and the others mounted their horses and galloped towards the Ming River.

"Isn't Sikong afraid they'll never return?" asked Sheng Yanshi, a soldier in white robes serving at the front lines.

Li Yi smiled and said, "They surrendered because they were forced by circumstances and wanted to protect their families."

The air is fresh after the rain.
Li Yi also began to mobilize his troops. Liu Lancheng, Niu Jinda, and Wu Heita, the three generals, each led a thousand cavalrymen, bypassing Ping'en County and heading towards Mingshui City.

"As soon as Li Quhuo takes Mingshui City, you will immediately enter the city to take over its defense, but you must also be careful."

"Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on the Li family," said Niu Jinda, the Duke of Langya County, frankly. Liu Lancheng, the Duke of Pingyuan County, added that no one could fool him.

"Duke of Ge State, Duke of Pingyu Commandery".

"The end will be here."

“You shall lead five thousand infantrymen and set off immediately for Mingshui. The rest of my troops will follow shortly.”

Zhangqiaodian is only about 100 li away from Mingshui City.

It can be reached in half a day by fast horse.

Midnight,

Li Quhuo, Li Panmai, and others, along with more than a dozen followers and dozens of retainers, arrived at the gates of Mingshui City and knocked on the door.
"Zongzhou City has been captured by Tang general Li Yi. We have managed to break through. Open the gate quickly."

The guards on the city wall recognized him as their elder and quickly ordered the city gate to be opened.

After entering the city, Li Quhuo immediately summoned the Li clan members, relatives, and friends in the city. He quickly gathered several hundred people, took control of the city gates, and sent people outside the city to welcome Liu Lancheng and his group to deliver the message.

Liu Lancheng's thousand cavalry served as the vanguard, closely following behind Li Quhuo.
He sent someone to report that he had captured the city gate, and Liu Lancheng immediately moved towards Mingshui County.

The city gates were opened as a signal to light a fire.

Liu Lancheng first sent a cavalry unit into the city to take control of the city gates and confirm safety before leading the majority of his troops into the city.

Before dawn,
With the help of the Li family, Liu Lancheng took control of the north and south gates of Mingshui City, as well as the county government office and warehouses.

Niu Jinda and Wu Heita arrived shortly afterward with two thousand cavalry and successfully entered the city.

Dawn.

Many people are still unaware that the world changed overnight.

Seeing the Tang cavalry patrolling the city and the Tang cavalrymen hanging high on the city walls felt like a dream.

(End of this chapter)