Shi Chaoyi listened with some despair to the shouts of killing outside the camp.
After Luo Yue offered two strategies, Shi Chaoyi fell into a dilemma.
However, the development of the war situation soon left him with no choice.
On June 10, Zhang Wu completely occupied Zizhou, and Nan Jiyun of Qingzhou changed his previous aggrieved attitude. Nan Jiyun personally risked the stone and took the lead in the charge, driving Shi Chaoyi's army completely into the mountains.
Already knowing that his home base was taken away, Fan Yang's army under Shi Chaoyi had no fighting spirit. After entering the mountains, soldiers kept leaving the army. By June 15th, Shi Chaoyi counted the troops again, and there were only less than 100 soldiers left.
Ten thousand troops.
These ten thousand people are now hungry, Zizhou's retreat has been cut off, and now supplies cannot be delivered.
While Nan Jiyun and Zhang Wu were attacking from both sides, Shi Chaoyi was busy hiding in Tibet every day. He didn't dare to light a fire for cooking during the day, and he didn't even dare to light a fire for lighting at night.
Fortunately, the weather has warmed up now. There is no need to light a fire to keep warm at night in the mountains and forests, otherwise the soldiers would freeze to death.
Shi Chaoyi was also hungry, his chest pressed against his back, and he once again recruited his subordinate Luo Yue.
"I regret that I didn't listen to my husband's advice. Now that the soldiers are scattered, I have less leverage to negotiate with the Tang army."
Shi Chaoyi said distressedly.
Until now, Shi Chaoyi only regarded his soldiers as bargaining chips, and was distressed that he could not preserve his position.
Luo Yue understood immediately that Shi Chaoyi was ready to surrender.
But it is still surrender, but surrendering now is different from surrendering before.
When Luo Yue persuaded Shi Chaoyi to surrender, Shi Chaoyi still had 50,000 troops and some cities in Zizhou, and he still took the initiative in the battle of Qingzhou.
At that time, if he surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he might be able to bargain. Even if the Tang Dynasty did not allow him to continue to be a Jiedushi, he could still get a position of third rank or above, or find a wealthy place to work as an observation envoy to retire.
But the situation is different now. Shi Chaoyi only has 10,000 troops at his disposal and has completely lost the territory of Zizhou. Now he doesn't have much leverage in negotiations with Datang.
Luo Yue sighed and said:
"My subordinate is willing to negotiate with Datang on behalf of the Major General!"
Today, Shi Chaoyi called Luo Yue. Actually, he was waiting for his words. Shi Chaoyi said overjoyed:
"Please give me a visit, sir! Your wealth will be indispensable in the future!"
Luo Yue quickly expressed his willingness to serve Shi Chaoyi, and Shi Chaoyi asked the generals to take out the remaining gold and silver and asked Luo Yue to bribe the Tang officials responsible for the negotiations.
At this time Shi Chaoyi asked:
"I don't know who to ask for surrender? Qingzhou or Zizhou?"
Now the troops besieging Shi Chaoyi were Nan Jiyun and Zhang Wu. Shi Chaoyi was also hesitant as to which side he should surrender to.
Luo Yue shook his head and said:
"Neither Nan Jiyun nor Zhang Wu can do it!"
Shi Chaoyi quickly asked:
"Why is this?"
Luo Yue said:
"Nan Jiyun is a general under Zhang Xun of Suiyang. Suiyang has a big feud with us in Hedong. Nan Jiyun has been fighting with the Major General for so long in Qingzhou, and he has already hated the Major General to his bones."
"Moreover, our army is exhausted now. If Nan Jiyun works harder, he can accomplish extraordinary feats. How can he accept the surrender of the Major General?"
Shi Chaoyi's face turned pale. Luo Yue was right. Nan Jiyun hated the Hedong army so much that it was impossible for him to accept his surrender.
"For the same reason, Zhang Wu can't do it either. Didn't the Major General hear what Zhang Wu did in Linzi? Divide the land and move the powerful. This is to dig up my roots in Hedong in the Central Plains. He can't accept the general.
Surrendered."
Shi Chaoyi's face turned pale. Both sides refused to accept his surrender. So what should we do?
I only heard Luo Yue say:
"Please surrender to the Crown Prince of Tang Dynasty in Bianzhou!"
"What?"
Luo Yue said patiently:
"My subordinates heard that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty took office in Bianzhou to supervise the water transportation of the Bianhe River. Bianzhou is not far from our place. We only need to travel day and night to reach it in a few days."
"Although the Crown Prince's errand is to supervise the water transportation, the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince after all. If we surrender to the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, other officials will always be wary."
"And now that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty and the King of Qi are fighting over each other, the Crown Prince urgently needs to establish meritorious service in front of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If the young general brings his troops to surrender, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty will definitely welcome him!"
Shi Chaoyi's eyes lit up, this is the truth!
Since he wants to seize his direct descendants, he must have soldiers in his hands. I heard that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is an empty show and has no military power at all.
If you bring your troops to join the prince, the other party will definitely accept it and even let you continue to lead the troops.
Shi Chaoyi looked at Luo Yue, bowed heavily and said:
"Shi's life will be left to Mr. Shi!"
Shi Chaoyi sent his elite troops overnight to escort Luo Yue, and collected more than 20 fine horses from the army, so that Luo Yue could hurry to Bianzhou and ask for the surrender of Li Chu, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty.
Luo Yue also lived up to expectations and broke out from the mountains, then galloped south for three days and finally arrived in Bianzhou.
Luo Yue disguised herself and sneaked into Bianzhou City, then sent a bribe to Li Chu's mansion, and finally got the opportunity to ask for an audience with Li Chu.
Li Chu heard that this was a big businessman from Hebei who came to Bianzhou and brought important news.
The weather was perfect today, and Li Chu was still playing chess in the backyard waiting for Zhao Ke Ying to play chess. The game was in full swing, so Li Chu asked someone to bring Luo Yue over.
Luo Yue first presented a pure gold fan, and then said to Li Chu:
"I have something important to report to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Chu played with the fan inlaid with various gems and happily dismissed the guards in the backyard.
Luo Yue looked at Ke Ying who was playing chess with Li Chu. Li Chu said dissatisfiedly:
"If you have anything important to say, please tell me!"
Ke Ying quickly turned on the in-game camera.
Luo Yue lay on the ground and said:
"Your Highness, the civilian is Luo Yue, the military advisor under Shi Chaoyi."
After hearing the words Shi Chaoyi, Li Chu finally raised his head:
"What are you talking about? You are Shi Chaoyi's subordinate!?"
Li Chu thought Luo Yue was here to assassinate him, so he almost stood up and called for guards. Luo Yue said quickly:
"Your Highness, Cao Min is requesting surrender on behalf of the Major General!"
Please surrender?
Li Chu sat down.
Please surrender?
Shi Chaoyi was Shi Siming's biological son. He was the former military governor of Fan Yang and was a serious thorn in the side of the imperial court!
And Shi Chaoyi still has an army on hand!
If Shi Chaoyi surrenders, he can make great contributions to the court and recruit Shi Siming's army!
Li Chu's eyes brightened even more. He coughed and said, "Continue."
Luo Yue was the best at observing words and expressions. When she saw the look in Li Chu's eyes, she knew that this mission was mostly successful.
Luo Yue quickly knelt on the ground and said:
"Your Highness, my young general is willing to surrender to the Tang Dynasty and let your Highness do whatever he wants!"
Li Chu said playfully: "Let the Tang Dynasty handle it? Then is it okay for the imperial court to ask your young general to disband the army and just surrender?"
Luo Yue said respectfully: "It's all up to Your Highness!"
Li Chu was also very satisfied with Luo Yue's surrender attitude. He said:
"I was just joking. Can you tell me the conditions for Shi Chaoyi's surrender?"
Luo Yue calmed down and said:
"Your Highness, my young general knows that he has committed a serious crime, but the reason for the rebellion is because General Shi was deceived. The son can only be upright and surrender to the court first, and then find a way to save the family."
Li Chu was in a good mood, and he had a rare resonance with Shi Chaoyi.
The fathers are old and still occupying their seats in a daze and refuse to give up. It is time for their sons to do the work.
Li Chu's expression softened a little, and Luo Yue continued:
"The young general is only willing to become a pawn under His Highness, as long as he can forgive General Shi some of his sins in the future."
Li Chu was in a good mood after Luo Yue said a few words. He said:
"This requirement can still be met by the lonely king. General Shi Chaoyi can repent and re-submit to the Tang Dynasty, which is considered a great achievement. The lonely king will write a letter to the court to retain his right to lead the army, which will be regarded as a crime and meritorious service."
Li Chu thought for a while and continued:
"But the imperial court will not let General Shi return to Fan Yang. There are also heroes in Qingzhou and Zizhou. Is this right?"
Luo Yue said immediately:
"My general has said that he is willing to come to Bianzhou to join His Highness!"
Now Li Chu said with more satisfaction:
"I will write a letter to the court now and report this happy event to my father!"
Then Li Chu immediately sent an envoy to take a fast boat from Bianzhou to report the incident to the emperor of Chang'an and guarantee that Shi Chaoyi would surrender.
All of this was recorded by Ke Ying and sent to the staff in Longyou.
Almost at the same time, Zhang Wu received the news that Shi Chaoyi wanted to surrender to the prince from the intelligence sent by the staff.
Upon hearing the news, Zhang Wu immediately took action!
Shi Chaoyi had messed up the world like this, and now he was about to surrender. He was able to regain the attention of the prince and became a general of the Tang Dynasty.
Is there any justice in this world?
Shi Chaoyi oppressed the people in Zizhou, massacred the people in Qingzhou, and killed so many soldiers of the Tang army. Now it's all over?
Zhang Wu immediately wrote to the General Staff, stating that he would not accept Shi Chaoyi's surrender and that Shi Chaoyi, the instigator, must receive a fair trial!
The staff quickly replied to Zhang Wu. His Royal Highness the King of Yue agreed to Zhang Wu's petition and agreed to completely defeat Shi Chaoyi's troops before the court accepted Shi Chaoyi's surrender!