On April 29, Shao Shude personally led more than 9,000 cavalry troops to Changshe.
Zhao Jue, the governor of the Zhongwu Army, could no longer sit by the bedside and grieve over the spring and autumn. He tidied up his appearance, and then led the shogunate, state and county generals, and several miles out of the city to greet him.
"Zhao Situ, don't be too polite." Shao Shude dismounted himself and helped Zhao Jui up.
"I am ignorant and have helped Zhou do evil for many years. I feel extremely ashamed. Fortunately, with some kind words and advice, I am able to find my way back. I can still serve King Xia one day. I'm so lucky, so lucky." Zhao Jue said with a sad expression on his face.
"Why did Zhao Situ say this?" Shao Shude said with a smile: "The Zhao family has great kindness to the people of Chenxu. I still need Zhao Situ to help me look after these two prefectures and fifteen counties."
Zhao Jue was relieved at once. This was considered a public commitment. King Xia kept his promise and said it in public, so there would be no problem.
But he was still a little dissatisfied. King Xia only said that he would take care of Chen Xu and did not mention anyone else.
Zhao Jue's family knew about his family affairs. He was already forty-nine years old this year. He was seriously injured while fighting with Chao Jun. His body was in such bad shape that he could not live for a few more years.
Chenxuzhen was the foundation of their Zhao family. During the Qianfu period, the eldest brother Zhao Yan led hundreds of people to stage an event in Chenzhou and took charge of state affairs. The imperial court issued a posthumous decree to confer the title of governor of Chenzhou. In the second year of Wende (889), an edict was issued
Chen Xu was granted the title of Jiedu Envoy and Zhongwu Military Envoy, but in fact, since the fourth year of Zhonghe (884), the Zhao family has actually controlled the two states of Chen and Xu for more than ten years.
Zhao Jue still wanted to pass the great position of Xuzhou to his eldest brother's son, but now it seems that there are still twists and turns?
Zhao Jue wanted to test it more, so he said: "I have prepared a few seats in the city, and I would like to ask the King of Xia to show my favor."
"It doesn't have to be like this." Shao Shude immediately declined: "I led my army to attack Xuzhou. The movement was so loud that it was impossible to hide it from the thieves. It's not a good time to drink and have fun. After I defeat the enemy, I will return to Xuzhou to have a drink with you.
,must."
"This..." Zhao Jue wanted to persuade him again.
"Zhao Situ, the soldiers have come from afar and traveled hundreds of miles. They are trapped and their horses are exhausted. If there are any savings in the city, you might as well take some out. Our army is in urgent need of replenishing food and grass." Shao Shude said.
"That's fine." Zhao Jue decided to find an opportunity to say it later, and immediately gave orders to Zhao Lu and Zhao Yan, asking them to prepare rice noodles, hay, and black beans. They were all originally intended to be sent to Pang Shi's ancient army, and they were just saved for Xia Xia.
people.
Zhao Jue then introduced the generals of Xuzhou. Shao Shude patiently finished the ceremony, and then let people disperse and left for the camp.
Of course, it was impossible to cram all the nine thousand knights and twenty to thirty thousand horses into the city, and they couldn't fit them all in, so they had to camp near the city wall.
"Your Majesty." Xie Tong was thinking carefully about the strategy. When he saw Shao Shude approaching, he immediately stood up and saluted.
"Envoy Xie was thinking about it along the way, can he get anything out of it?" Shao Shude took off his cloak, handed the sword to Li Zhong, then ordered the soldiers to serve tea, and asked casually.
"Your Majesty, I have been studying and judging for a long time, and now I am convinced that Master Pang died without a burial place." Xie Tong said with a smile.
"Xie Suiji is very confident." Shao Shude smiled and said: "If Wang Zhongjun leads tens of thousands of swordsmen to kill, even though I have thousands of cavalry, I will not dare to attack them lightly. Why is Xie Suiji so sure?"
"Your Majesty spared no effort in horse power, and traveled hundreds of miles to Xuzhou in the middle of the night. He clearly had a plan in mind, so why bother to trick people?" Xie Tong said with a smile: "My servant just asked your Majesty, where is the Wuwei Army? Where is the Feilong Army?
"
The Wuwei Army has left Yangdi and headed south. It should be more than forty miles northwest of Xuzhou.
The Feilong Army set out this morning for the southeast of Xuzhou and is still on its way.
Hearing Xie Tong's question, Shao Shude laughed and said: "There is nothing better than catching a turtle in a urn, so don't keep me waiting for too long."
Why did the Zhongwu Army's rebellion cause Pang Shigu and Zhu Quanzhong to change their expressions greatly? Because Xuzhou is actually a main road crossing.
Leaving Xiangcheng in Ruzhou, there is a main post road heading east, which goes straight to Xuzhou. There are also four main roads in the north, northeast, due east and southeast of Xuzhou.
It leaves Changshe County due north, passes through Changge and Xinzheng County, and leads to Zhengzhou.
It leaves Changshe County in the northeast, passes through Xuchang and Weishi County, and leads to Bianzhou, where Weishi County is right next to the post road.
Due east, it leaves Changshe County, passes through Yanling and Fugou County, and leads directly to Caishui. There is also a post road from Yanling to Bianzhou.
It leaves Changshe County in the southeast direction, passes through Linying, Yancheng, Shangcai County, and leads directly to Caizhou. Linying and Yancheng are both next to the post road.
Are you panicking when such a well-connected place suddenly rebels? Instead of taking the main road, try walking through the wilderness? Don’t even need to carry your baggage?
Of course, there are definitely small roads. But the traffic efficiency is impressive and the road conditions are not very good. You can try walking. But if you have a choice, you must take the big post road.
Before the Jia Ma Army was destroyed, the Liang Army always had a rotating force in Xuzhou. Earlier, Dai Siyuan's Feilong Army often went to Chen Xu for supplies. With the remaining crooked melons and cracked jujubes of the Zhongwu Army, they did not dare to have them.
What kind of action? But these two troops were destroyed one after another, so Pang Shigu no longer had a reserve team on hand, creating an opportunity for the Zhongwu Army to rebel.
Therefore, the opportunity to annihilate the enemy was created by oneself, not given by the enemy. Liang Jun was so passive that it was inevitable that he would end up in this situation, sooner or later. It is already very good that they can hold on for so long.
, the Liang people did not lose in the combat effectiveness of their troops, they did not lose in tactics, they lost in strategy.
****
On the 27th, Pang Shigu spent a whole day improving military discipline.
The news spread so quickly that the hearts of tens of thousands of soldiers in the Kuangwei army were as panicked as if they were overgrown with weeds.
Seeing that strong pressure was no longer an option, Pang Shigu took advantage of the situation and took advantage of the situation.
He ordered the drums to be beaten and the whole army to line up.
"Have you all been away from home for almost a year?" Pang Shigu asked, standing on the high platform.
The soldiers rushed back and forth to convey his words.
The sergeants in the formation were buzzing, and the officers could not suppress it no matter how hard they tried.
"It's been a year." Pang Shigu sighed: "The millets and wheat in Bianzhou are delicious. How long have you not eaten them?"
"The wild jujubes we have in Bianzhou are still a tribute, and we haven't had them for a long time."
"Our crops in Bianzhou are moist and our cattle and donkeys are fat. I want to have a taste."
"How are your parents at home? Are your children still naughty?"
Pang Shigu asked questions one by one, and the soldiers ensured that his words were conveyed to every corner.
The sergeants were completely silent after listening to it, the original buzzing sound completely disappeared. Later, some even cried.
"Do you miss home?" Pang Shigu asked.
"Think!" the sergeants shouted in unison.
"Can I take you home?" Pang Shigu asked again.
There was silence in the field for a while. Suddenly, like a flash flood, tens of thousands of soldiers cheered in unison, and the cheers shook the heaven and earth.
"Go home! Go home! Go home!" The sergeants hit the ground with their sticks, looking crazy.
This is the deepest desire in the hearts of all soldiers. Pang Shigu waited quietly and allowed them to vent their emotions.
After a long time, the noise gradually subsided.
"But some people don't want us to go home." Pang Shigu drew his horizontal sword, pointed at the Xia Army camp on the west bank, and said loudly: "If we leave, the thieves will cross the river and chase us, and kill us while we are in a panic.
What do you think we should do if we are allowed to eat wild jujubes from our hometown, but are not allowed to see our grandparents, and are not allowed to hold another baby?"
"Kill them!"
"Kill anyone who dares to stand in the way!"
"kill!"
Tens of thousands of soldiers roared in unison and stared angrily.
"The Long Sword Army and the Youguo Army are also our fellow villagers. They also want to go home. Can we go with them?" Pang Shigu asked.
"Let's go together! Let's go together!"
"Very good." Pang Shigu smiled and said: "The officers and soldiers of the Long Sword Army and the Youguo Army must have thought so too. We all came out together, and we must go back together. We left our old brothers and ran home alone.
My mother-in-law came with a cane and asked, "Do you have the nerve to see others?"
"No!"
"Do you want to be loyal?"
"Stop talking, generals. We, tens of thousands of people, are walking together in a group. If we encounter anyone who blocks the way, we will kill them and hack them to death," someone yelled.
"Everyone can rest assured. As long as we are allowed to go home, whoever dares to abandon our old brother and run away will be the first to kill him."
"No one is allowed to run, only by walking together can we survive."
Someone kept talking loudly below, and the sergeants kept echoing.
Pang Shigu laughed loudly and said: "With such a strong man walking with me, why should I be afraid?"
Zhu Yougong, Kang Yanxiao, Xiao Fu, Zhang Shensi and others stepped forward one after another.
Zhang Shensi reminded in a low voice: "General, it's best to go faster. The crowd will be excited, morale will be high, and the morale of the army will be available. If it is delayed for a long time, the excitement of the soldiers will pass, and they may not be able to cheer up again.
"
"Of course I don't have to." Pang Shigu said: "You quickly send people to pack up the utensils, food, grass, and luggage, and be ready to leave the camp."
"As ordered." Zhu Yougong responded.
"I'm going to Wang Zhongshi's place. I'll be back at noon tomorrow at the latest." Pang Shigu said.
After speaking, he paused and then said: "If I have any shortcomings, I will leave everything to General Zhang Shensi."
"I will obey the general's orders." Everyone responded in unison.
Pang Shigu nodded, got off the high platform, and surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, rode his horse out of the military camp and headed south.
He did not forget to send someone to deliver a message to King Liang. He sent people to Chenzhou and Fugou, just in case.