Chapter 625 Wind, Frost, Rain and Snow Taiyuan City
Chapter 625 Wind, Frost, Rain and Snow Taiyuan City
Just when Yunzhou City was captured by Zhe Congyuan, Liu Zhiyuan was also ready to break out.
The Hedong Army could still muster about a thousand war horses. The generals collected them and gathered about 600 tooth soldiers and tooth generals who were deeply bound to them.
Food is the most important thing for the people, and the Chinese people have always been very particular and enthusiastic about the issue of food.
Although the Hedong Army was defeated so miserably in consecutive battles, the arrival of large pieces of stewed pork and large skewers of roasted mutton, together with enough soup cakes and a small amount of muddy wine, immediately boosted morale a lot.
In the early morning, at the end of Yinshi, the Hedong army once again dispatched more than 6,000 people, led by the mighty general Wang Yin personally, with a large amount of supplies, and tried to rush to Dazhai Fort in front of Jize County after having a meal at the sea. go.
However, as soon as they left the city gate, they were discovered by Zhou Jun's sentries. Although Zhang Yan only had less than 20,000 people and could not surround the entire Jize County, he never relaxed his surveillance of the city.
As soon as there was a noise in the city, the Zhou army immediately followed the previous battle plan and lit up bright fires in the west and north of Jize County, illuminating the entire west and north sides of Jize County like daylight.
Liu Zhiyuan screamed inwardly that he was unlucky, but he had to leave. The Hedong Army's six hundred cavalrymen, almost one man and two horses, rushed out of the city in the bright light of fire.
Zhang Gao woke up from his sleep, and just as he was about to give the order, Zhang Cheng's voice came from outside, saying that Bai Congxin and Li Cunhui each led a thousand cavalry to pursue him.
Of course, Zhang Yan would prevent Liu Zhiyuan from breaking out of the city. He could also guess with his toes that Liu Zhiyuan's best choice at this time was to run back to Hedong. Of course he would intercept him on the way. Li Cunhui almost never returned to the camp.
However, Li Cunhui was not an iron man. He had not had a good rest for several days and was slightly in a daze. He was immediately drilled out by Liu Zhiyuan.
After receiving the news, Li Cunhui was extremely angry and personally led more than a thousand cavalry to pursue him. Among the new tooth soldiers Liu Zhiyuan recruited were locals from Xingzhou, so they were familiar with the roads.
However, Li Cunhui and others had the advantage of the speed of their horses, and the two sides immediately started chasing each other in the wilderness of Xingzhou.
Xingzhou, also known as Xingtai City in later generations, is located in the northwest of Jize County.
But Liu Zhiyuan didn't need to run to Xingzhou City. He only needed to run to the Shah River, and then follow the Shah River all the way to Junji Pass.
Of course, Xingzhou's hundreds of Hedong troops and a large amount of supplies could only be abandoned.
One side ran and the other chased. At first, Liu Zhiyuan was able to leave Li Cunhui and Bai Congxin behind with the help of a guide who was familiar with the local geography and the cover of darkness.
But as the sky gradually grew brighter, the superiority of the Zhou army's horses became apparent. The pursuers behind Liu Zhiyuan were getting closer and closer, and he made a gesture to Bai Zairong.
Bai Zairong understood immediately, and he immediately arranged for ten Hedong Jingqi and dozens of war horses to wait behind him.
In the distance, the Zhou army's elite cavalry came galloping like thunder, but these ten Hedong elite cavalry were not timid.
It was getting closer and closer, and just when Yang Guizhong was beating the drum in his heart, thinking that these Hedong people were all capable of fighting with a hundred horses, the Hedong cavalry moved.
They unanimously loosened the ropes trapped on the horses' backs. In an instant, there were pieces of shining brocade, clattering white silver collars, priceless fine nutmeg, bay leaves and pepper. Just threw it on the ground.
The faces of the Hedong cavalry became both heartbroken and arrogant. They just took something here that ordinary people couldn't get in exchange for a year's hard work. Now they just threw it on the dirt. They didn't believe that the Zhou army on the opposite side was not tempted.
He was tempted! Soon Zhou Jun Xiaoqi's eyes cast greedy glances, but they were immediately replaced by other more fanatical things.
According to the Zhou army's practice, if Liu Zhiyuan could be caught, he would be at least ten ranks high and might be able to touch the Lord's side.
The former is a lifelong ladder of advancement, and the latter is an iron rice bowl for future generations. Compared with this, a mere few hundred guan is nothing.
And according to wartime regulations, if you take this money, you will be beaten as a son of a bitch!
Therefore, Yang Guizhong only paused for a short moment, then rushed over with his brothers roaring, and directly pushed the ten-horse and somewhat arrogant Hedong Jingqi to the ground.
The gorgeous brocade and white silver collar were also trampled into the mud by the horses' hooves.
"I don't know how to show appreciation!" Bai Zairong from a distance snorted coldly as he looked at the twenty or so cavalry chasing after him, "Here comes a hundred cavalry, let's teach these ungrateful Hexi thieves a lesson!"
Well.!
A quarter of an hour later, Bai Zairong was lying on the horse with a broken arrow stuck in his butt. More than ten cavalry soldiers were guarding him, and they ran desperately towards Xingzhou. Bai Zairong was so frightened that even Liu Zhiyuan was scared.
Don't dare to follow.
Just as he led his men to charge forward, a volley of crossbows was fired from the opposite side. They rushed forty steps, and the opposite side fired three crossbows, two of which were strange and terrifyingly fast-firing crossbows.
Another time was a saltpetre crossbow. This type of crossbow was a smaller concealed crossbow, mounted on the side of the horse. During combat, the knight only had to push lightly, and the saltpeter crossbow would fire. It was used to shoot and damage the enemy's war horse.
This kind of crossbow is a type of concealed weapon and is not suitable for large-scale decisive battles, but it is perfect for this kind of small-scale attack.
After three crossbow strikes, Bai Zairong's hundred cavalry suffered heavy losses. Yang Guizhong took the opportunity to fire out another pear blossom spear. The already frightened Hedong cavalry collapsed immediately.
Yang Guizhong shot two arrows in a row, but Bai Zairong was very lucky and was only shot in the butt.
However, Bai Zairong's butt injury was not completely ineffective. Liu Zhiyuan took advantage of this opportunity and quickly moved away from Zhou Jun's cavalry for a distance.
What's more important is that Yang Guizhong also lost five of his twenty cavalry, and he didn't dare to pursue anymore. Liu Zhiyuan still had five hundred cavalry in his hand, and he couldn't bear the sudden turn back to him.
So Yang Guizhong could only divide into two groups, front and rear, keeping Liu Zhiyuan hanging. Hedong Jingqi sent out a large force to intercept and bypass it, and when the small group came, they went up to break it up.
....
Nanhe is an important city by the Shah River. Liu Zhiyuan only needs to cross the Shah River from here, and then go up the Shah River to return to Hedong through Junji Pass.
Moreover, in Nanhe County, Liu Zhiyuan stationed 500 people and stocked up a certain amount of food and grass.
Liu Zhiyuan was greatly relieved when he saw that the Zhou army's pursuers were only a dozen people so far.
As long as he crosses the river, he can demolish the pontoon bridge on the Shahe River outside Nanhe County, and the Zhou Dynasty's pursuers will be completely unable to catch up with him.
However, just when Liu Zhiyuan was having a sweet dream, the sound of horse hoofbeats from behind rang loudly. Li Cunhui led Wang Quanbin, Wen Chongle, Yue Saonu and others to pursue him lightly.
Liu Zhiyuan was so frightened that he lost his mind. Liu Yun who followed him wanted to cut off the pontoon bridge, but Li Cunhui had already arrived on horseback. The green figure under his crotch jumped directly into the river and rushed towards the Hedong Army.
Li Cunhui was still on the horse and shot three arrows in succession. Liu Yun, who was only wearing leather armor, was immediately covered in blood. He screamed and fled to the south and the county seat in a hurry, ignoring the pontoon. Dozens of Hedong cavalry also followed him around.
And disperse.
Seeing that Li Cunhui was so brave and could even cross the river with his war horse, Liu Zhiyuan could only give up the idea of destroying the pontoon bridge, took the more than 300 horses who were following him, and ran forward quickly.
But after running a few steps, more than ten cavalrymen in front came back covered with injuries. Murong Yanchao, who had gone to clear the way for a hundred cavalry, suddenly encountered hundreds of Zhou army cavalry and was immediately scattered. Murong Yanchao was completely
Lost the trace.
With interceptions in front and pursuers behind, Liu Zhiyuan could only draw his horse and head northeast, first to Nanhe County for temporary refuge.
This is an important stronghold of the Hedong Army, and there are hundreds of soldiers, but it can only be said to be better than headless flies running around.
As soon as Liu Zhiyuan entered Nanhe County, Li Cunhui and Bai Congxin chased him, and two thousand cavalry came one after another to blockade Nanhe County.
Li Cunhui, who almost let Liu Zhiyuan escape, was extremely angry and ordered the soldiers not to let Liu Zhiyuan escape again, even if they were sleepless.
Not long after, the men and horses who intercepted Liu Zhiyuan arrived in front. It turned out to be Zhao Kuangyin who was sent by Zhang Gao to pursue the Tuyuhun Rangers.
When Zhao Kuangyin saw Li Cunhui's presence, he hurriedly came over to report.
Of course, Li Cunhui also knew the little brother Murong Nobunaga brought to Liangzhou from Kaifeng Mansion in Tokyo. He also knew that this little brother dreamed of becoming the emperor's adopted son.
For this reason, Zhao Kuangyin not only often came to curry favor with Li Cunhui, he even licked Li Congyi, whom Li Cunhui considered a complete waste.
"My Lord! I was ordered to pursue the Tuyuhun people, and they were defeated in Renxian County, Xingzhou. Two thousand of their cavalry, named Helian and Li, were willing to surrender. The chieftain, Bai Zongyi, led hundreds of cavalry to flee.
Later, I sent someone to write to Guo Zongfang, the governor of Xingzhou. Guo was generally willing to surrender, and he personally led the Jian'er of Xingzhou, together with his servants, to defeat the first part of the Hedong Army."
With that said, Zhao Kuangyin introduced a powerful general behind him to Li Cunhui, and he was still saying good things.
"Liu Zhiyuan will definitely go to Nanhe County when he returns to Hedong. It is determined by Guo Ci's historical data. He and his servants have been lying in wait here for a long time."
Guo Zongfang was so praised by Zhao Kuangyin that he beamed with joy. He also gave Li Cunhui a big gift and then said with a smile.
"This servant does not know his master and was deceived by Liu Zhiyuan. Now General Zhao has prompted him to repent and is willing to lead one hundred thousand people in Xingzhou to surrender to the Emperor of Zhou. I also ask the Duke to say a few kind words on his behalf."
When Li Cunhui heard this, he took a serious look at Zhao Kuangyin. Only then did he really feel that this little brother was anything but simple!
In this series of actions, every opportunity was grasped very firmly. Even if there was a slight mistake, he would not be able to achieve such great achievements.
Of course, Li Cunhui was also very happy after blocking Liu Zhiyuan, so he said to Zhao Kuangyin and Guo Zongfang: "The emperor has clear rewards and punishments. Guo, the governor, has made great achievements, and he will definitely be the governor of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future."
Zhao Kuangyin was actually conservative, and his journey was extremely thrilling.
Zhang Gao only gave him 500 knights drawn by Youyu Linwei and Youjinwuwei to pursue the remnants of Tuyuhun. Zhao Kuangyin ran wildly for half a day and immediately caught up with these Tuyuhun people.
The two sides fought a battle outside Ren County. Zhao Kuangyin defeated 500 and 4000. He rushed to the front in person and killed three Tuyuhun generals. He forced the Tuyuhun people to land with a small number of troops.
Then he took the Tuyuhun people who had just been forced to surrender and rushed directly to the gate of Xingzhou City, rushing into Xingzhou City before the gate closed.
He also used tiger skin to pull up the banner, half coaxing and half intimidating Guo Zongfang, the governor of Xingzhou appointed by Liu Zhiyuan, to instigate rebellion. Guo Zongfang joined forces with him and killed more than 400 people from Xingzhou's Hedong Army.
Zhao Kuangyin then detained Guo Zongfang and once again forced Guo Zongfang to leave the city and ambush Liu Zhiyuan with him.
Xue Guizhong was left with 500 Tuyuhun cavalry and 100 Zuojinwu Guards elite cavalry to control Xingzhou City.
In just three and a half days, he directly defeated two major forces and blocked Liu Zhiyuan's retreat. The skill, will and foresight he displayed were unmatched by ordinary people.
At least Zhang Yan couldn't help but let out a long sigh when he received the report from Li Cunhui's Pegasus.
Putting aside the idea of wearing a yellow robe, whether it was Zhao Da in the later Zhou Dynasty in history or Zhang Zhou today, there is nothing to say about his ability or emotional intelligence.
No one in the younger generation can compare with him, not even Yang Guizhong, a descendant of the Anxi Army who was carefully cultivated by Zhang Yan himself, and Xue Guizhong.
Zhao Yanjin, Zhao Kuangzan, Feng Jiye, etc. who had been recruited could only help Zhao Kuangyin.
Only Gao Huaide's ability is close to that of Zhao Kuangyin.
When Wang Yisi and other generals around him heard about it, they cheered to congratulate Zhang Yan and Zhang Zhou for another general. No wonder they thought so, Zhao Kuangyin did a really good job.
....
In Nanhe County, Liu Zhiyuan suddenly felt that his whole body was extremely hot, but his bones were bone-chilling. The symptoms of wind evil invasion that had gone away for some time immediately returned to his body.
He heard the cheers outside, and it seemed like a familiar voice was calling his name, so he couldn't help but have someone help him to the top of the city to take a look.
Outside Nanhe City, a man wearing a black robe was escorted to the gate of Nanhe City. When Liu Zhiyuan took a closer look, he seemed to be an old servant of his inner house.
The old servant was kicked to the ground. When he saw Liu Zhiyuan, he burst into tears.
Liu Zhiyuan was so frightened by his crying. Could it be that something happened in Taiyuan and his family was captured by the rebels?
"What happened? Why are you here?" Liu Zhiyuan asked loudly, retaining his last trace of fantasy.
The old servant knocked his head to the ground and cried loudly, "Your Majesty, the Dalang Lord has already passed away on the twenty-sixth day of last month!"
Liu Zhiyuan suddenly felt dizzy. His eldest son, Liu Chengxun, had been his heart and soul since he was a child. He was his favorite son, no one.
Liu Chengxun was the eldest son born to him by Li Sanniang. He witnessed the take-off of Liu Zhiyuan's career step by step and was painstakingly trained by him as his successor for twenty years. When he left, Liu Chengxun was too ill to get out of bed. Unexpectedly, we were separated from each other.
Under the city, Zhao Kuangyin saw Liu Zhiyuan lost his mind and immediately bent his bow to shoot, but Liu Zhiyuan seemed to be demented and motionless.
He turned around and looked at the tooth soldiers beside him. These tooth soldiers had followed him so far and were hit repeatedly. The loyalty and admiration in his eyes were long gone. There was only confusion, fear and even ill intentions, because he, Liu Zhiyuan, had completely failed. What?
All gone.
In an instant, the great ancestor of the Later Han Dynasty in history felt pain all over his body, like thousands of arrows piercing his heart. The liver, spleen, stomach and kidneys in the center of his abdomen seemed to be violently twitching. He felt that his throat was a little fishy and sweet, and he couldn't help but open his mouth, wow.
All that happened was a mouthful of blood spurted out.
"My son! My son! Kill me!"
Liu Zhiyuan screamed three times, tilted his head, and fell suddenly from the wall of Nanhe County.
....
On the seventh day of June in the second year of Zhangzhou Shaoming, Liu Zhiyuan led his remnant troops to break out of Jize County and fled to Nanhe County. After hearing the news of the death of his eldest son Liu Chengxun, coupled with the fact that he was at the end of his life and suffering from cold and cold, Liu Zhiyuan vomited blood in two mouthfuls. Nanhe County fell on his head and died on the spot.
After Zhang Zhi arrived, he ordered his men to collect Liu Zhiyuan's body and sent additional elite cavalry to continue chasing the Hedong soldiers scattered in the countryside. They must not be allowed to wander around and become bandits.
Immediately afterwards, Wang Yin, who was defending Jize County, was repulsed in his attempt to withdraw from the city. He defended the city for another two hours before opening the city and leading more than 9,000 Hedong troops in Jize County to surrender.
After the main forces in Jize County surrendered, in Dazhai Fort, which suffered heavy casualties from trebuchets, Liu Ci, Li Tao and other Hedong Army generals also led more than 2,000 people out of the city to surrender.
From then on, the battle involving the entire north of the Yellow River ended with Zhang Zhou's victory.
Zhang Gao first attacked the Khitan with 23,000 elite horsemen and killed the Khitan generals Yelvwuzhi, Xiao Han and others. The Khitan emperor Yelvruan committed suicide, and less than 10,000 of the 40,000 Khitan soldiers and horses escaped.
Zhang Gao then returned to the army and caught up with Liu Zhiyuan, who had been wasting his time at the gate of Beizhou City, at the Zhang River. He successfully crossed the river in the first battle and defeated the entire Hedong Army in the second battle.
On the Hedong side, Shi Hongzhao, known as the most powerful general in Hedong, died in battle, and the brave general Wang Jingchong also died in the battle at the same time. There were more than 4,000 dead and wounded soldiers. The Tuyuhun people fled first, and then Wang Yin led the remaining troops to surrender.
The entire Hedong Army sent a total of 44,000 troops, but almost no one could return to Hedong. The entire army was basically wiped out, and Liu Zhiyuan also died.
At this point, for twenty years, this routine of setting out from Hedong to conquer the Central Plains has completely ended.
On the eighth day of June, Bai Zairong, who had an arrow in his buttocks, was discovered by the Xingzhou United Army. During the resistance, more than ten of his fellow soldiers were killed.
On June 11, Li Rong, who was appointed the military envoy of Zhaoyi Army by Zhang Zhi, led an army of three thousand to Luzhou (Changzhi, Shanxi).
Civil strife broke out in Luzhou Zhaoyi's army that night. After the Ya soldiers killed Li Wanchao, the Jiedushi appointed by Liu Zhiyuan, they left the city and surrendered.
On June 18, Zhang Zhang sent Li Cunhui south and arrived at Fuyang, which was heavily besieged.
Li Cunhui rode into Fuyang alone. Guo Rong, the actual commander of the Hedong Army in Fuyang City, hid his face when he saw Li Cunhui and retreated to the government office to hide.
Li Cunhui immediately found the deputy commander Guo Jin. When Guo Jin heard the news of Liu Zhiyuan's death and saw Li Cunhui holding his leather belt, he burst into tears and said to Li Cunhui.
"The king's landslide has forced him to remain loyal. Please allow him to mourn for Liu Zhiyuan for three days."
Li Cunhui was stunned when he heard this. He initially thought that Guo Jin was going to commit suicide, so he was about to pull out a knife and hand it to Guo Jin. But it turned out that Guo Jin just wanted to mourn and immediately agreed.
Guo Jin then wrapped two feet of white linen around his arm, cried a few times with the generals, and then took orders to go to the office to see Guo Rong.
At this time, Guo Rong was very confused. In terms of his heart, when he returned to Hedong from Zhang Zhou's army, he was deceived by his aunt Chai's serious illness, and his heart was not in the Hedong Group at all.
Now his aunt, whom he regarded as his mother, has passed away long ago. His uncle Guo Wei also has several wives and concubines, and three or four sons, so he is not missing out as his adopted son.
In addition to his experience in Zhang Zhou's army, in order not to arouse Liu Zhiyuan's suspicion, Guo Wei never got close to Guo Rong. The closest ones were his nephew Li Chongjin and his son-in-law Zhang Yongde.
In Guo Rong's heart, he actually regretted it for a long time. It was just because of the righteousness of his parents that he could not vote for Zhang early.
Now that I know that Li Cunhui believed him so much and rode into Fuyang alone, he was really ashamed and did not dare to see his old friend.
Of course Guo Jin knew Guo Rong's mood, and immediately advised Guo Rong: "We are at the end of our rope, but the emperor is still willing to appease us. The Duke of Shouchang County rides into the city alone. How trusting it is!"
Among the generals in Hedong, no one has this honor, which shows that the sage loves the general. If the general still avoids seeing him, he is ignorant of good and evil.
And after the general surrenders, he can also provide a step for Lieutenant Guo to come down."
After hearing this, Guo Rong immediately stopped hesitating and went out to see Li Cunhui. He then led the Hedong Army of 4,300 people to Kaicheng and surrendered. The Hedong Army surrendered in Fuyang, the most important stronghold in Hebei, without a fight.
On June 25th, Zhang Zhou's Prince Consort, Captain Zhao Kuangzan, the Jiedu Envoy of the Three Towns of Heyang Prefecture, sent the general Zhao Siwan to lead an army of 2,000 troops, and arrived in Jinzhou (Linfen, Shanxi Province) together with the court angel Wang Jiu.
Wang Yan, the military envoy of the Jianxiong Army in Jinzhou, Hedong, led 3,000 Jianxiong troops to Kaicheng and surrendered to Wang Jiu, and Jinzhou successfully surrendered to the country.
On June 27, Zhang Gao sent Yan Jin to lead an army of 20,000 to attack Liaozhou, and then approached Taiyuan from the southeast.
Li Rong, the military governor of the Zhaoyi Army in Luzhou, Shangdang Prefecture, also led 3,000 men to the north, captured Qi County south of Taiyuan, and then reached the foot of Taiyuan City.
Zhang Zhou of Yunzhou (Datong, Shanxi), Pingzhang of the Ningxia Province, was the commander-in-chief of Fugu Town, and the Marquis of Yunzhong Zhe Congyuan led the 10,000 forbidden troops of Fugu and Yangwu towns from Yunzhou southward, approaching the northern suburbs of Taiyuan.
On June 28, Liu Zhiyuan's wife Li Sanniang took Liu Zhiyuan's second son Liu Chengyou, and accompanied by Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother Liu Chong, left the east gate of Taiyuan and surrendered to Yan Jin.
Yan Jin did not dare to accept it, so he sent 500 cavalry to escort Zhang Liecheng, the commander of the Jinyi Guards. Li Fang, the secretary in charge of Wang Yi, entered Taiyuan and sealed up the Taiyuan treasury. He ordered the Taiyuan officials and generals to perform their duties and sent someone to inform Shang in Xingzhou to appease him.
Zhang Gao, a popular figure in Hebei Province, came to Taiyuan.
So far, among the Hedong warriors who supported Liu Zhiyuan, only Guo Wei, Bai Wenke, and Guo Congyi's tribe of 12,000 people in Shexian County were left, as well as the nomadic Tuyuhun people in Shizhou, Xizhou, and Lanzhou who had not yet joined.
All the rest were captured by Zhang Zhou, and Zhang Yan's strategy of unifying the north and south of the Yellow River was basically achieved.