Gao Pian's separatist rule made everyone in the vassal towns in the Jianghuai area feel in danger, fearing that they would be annexed and not dare to go to the capital.
Mutinies continued to occur in Shandong, Hebei, and Henan, and the heroes of troubled times merged with each other.
Wang Duo assessed the situation and adopted a conciliatory attitude towards the mutiny. As long as they were willing to go to Chang'an, they would not only be exempted from the crime of mutiny, but also be rewarded for their merit and promoted to officials and nobles.
So the warlords from Guandong (east of Tongguan) rushed to the river, creating pressure on the east side of Chang'an.
The mutinies in Kansai (such as Fengxiang) were also pardoned, and they gathered in Fengxiang to unite with the Xichuan Expeditionary Force to form pressure to the west of Chang'an.
A new round of competition between the Tang Dynasty and the Huang Qi regime began.
[Zhu Wen surrendered to the Tang Dynasty]
Although Huang Chao occupied Chang'an, the actual control scope of Huang Qi's regime was pitifully small. Within its territory were only Chang'an, Tongzhou, and Huazhou.
The governor of Tongzhou was Zhu Wen. Although he is just a small assassin, he controls one-third of the "Da Qi" country.
The Yellow River flows from west to east, and after passing through Tongzhou, it turns north, forming the character "ji", so Tongzhou faces the Yellow River on both its east and south sides.
On its south bank is Huazhou, while on the east bank is the Hezhong area of the Tang Dynasty.
The Hezhong area was also the gathering place for the Tang Dynasty's Guandong Group Army. Guarding the Hezhong area was Wang Chongrong, the Hezhong Jiedushi envoy, who was also a strong general.
Because Meng Kai was jealous of Zhu Wen, he deliberately let Zhu Wen capture Tongzhou. He wanted to kill people with a knife, and used Wang Chongrong's hand to get rid of Zhu Wen.
Zhu Wen and Wang Chongrong met their opponents in chess and met talented generals. They were both famous warriors. The two fought countless fierce battles on both sides of the Yellow River, with each other winning and losing, and it was difficult to tell them apart for a while.
After Wang Duo took command for the second time, the Kwantung Army continued to reinforce Hezhong. Wang Chongrong received additional resources and gradually gained the upper hand in the battle.
Zhu Wen also constantly asked for help from the rear in order to continue to maintain the strategic balance against Wang Chongrong.
However, after one urgent document after another flew into Chang'an, it disappeared without any news. Not only did Chang'an not have a single soldier or a single grain of support, there was not even a word of reply.
Tongzhou is about to run out of ammunition and food.
In sharp contrast, Wang Chongrong received another batch of military supplies in the river, a total of thirty large ships of food!
Zhu Wen found out the news and personally led more than a thousand people to set up an ambush at Xiayang Ferry and successfully intercepted the grain transport fleet. Just as he was transferring the baggage, Wang Chongrong sent a warship to rescue him.
"What I can't get, you can't get it either!" Zhu Wen ordered the grain transport ship to be scuttled. Thirty boatloads of grain immediately disappeared into the rolling waters of the Yellow River.
Wang Chongrong was furious after hearing the news. He personally led 30,000 elite troops from his headquarters, merged with part of the Kwantung Group Army, crossed the Yellow River, and surrounded Tongzhou with water.
"If you waste my food, I will waste yours!"
The food seizure incident not only failed to solve the resource crisis for Tongzhou, but instead became a breakthrough for the Kwantung Group Army. Wang Chongrong assumed a decisive battle and wanted to capture Tongzhou in one fell swoop.
If Tongzhou is lost, the Huang Qi regime will lose one-third of its territory, and the northeastern gate of Chang'an will be opened, leaving no danger to defend.
Tongzhou is in danger, Chang'an is in danger, and "Da Qi" is in danger!
Zhu Wen sent another urgent letter asking for help.
In less than a month, Zhu Wen sent a total of ten memorials to Chang'an asking for help, but received no reply.
The reason is simple, Meng Kai was detained.
There was Tian Lingzi in the court of the Tang Dynasty, and Meng Kai in the court of the Huang Qi regime.
At that time, memorials from outside had to go through Meng Kai first and then reach Huang Chao. However, Meng Kai deliberately wanted to kill Zhu Wen, so he deliberately concealed the military situation in Tongzhou.
Huang Chao had no idea that Zhu Wen of Tongzhou was fighting with the Kwantung Allied Forces in the Hezhong area. Under Meng Kai's control, the Huang Qi regime's attention was drawn to the west of Beijing. Shang Rang personally led the team to organize a counterattack. However, he lost the right time and heavy snow fell. The bad weather caused Shang Rang's unit to lose up to 30% of its non-combat troops.
Outside the city were the Tang troops on three levels inside and three outside, and Wang Chongrong, who was so angry that he gritted his teeth and stamped his feet, vowing to cut himself into pieces with a thousand knives. Zhu Wen from Tongzhou was desperate.
Zhu Wen was also lucky because the eunuch supervising the siege troops was Yang Fuguang.
[Negotiation expert Yang Fuguang]
When the war was unclear, the eunuch Yang Fuguang took action in time to instigate the rebellion of Zhou Ji and Qin Zongquan, brought the misguided Zhongwu Army back to the righteous camp, reorganized the "Eight Zhongwu Capitals", recaptured Dengzhou in one fell swoop, and hunted down Zhu Zhu all the way. Wen, drove Zhu Wen back to Chang'an.
Now, Wang Chongrong surrounded Zhu Wen of Tongzhou, and it was a fierce siege. At the critical moment, Yang Fuguang stepped forward again and stopped the siege plan in time.
Wang Chongrong was still angry and scolded Zhu Wen in front of Yang Fuguang, "The food can't be taken away, so it sinks into the Yellow River and is wasted. It's such a waste!"
Yang Fuguang listened quietly and allowed Wang Chongrong to vent his abuse.
When Wang Chongrong was tired of scolding, Yang Fuguang asked slowly: "Then what are you going to do?"
"What to do? Deal with him! Do you think I would be stupid enough to attack Tongzhou City? No way - Tongzhou has run out of ammunition and food, and if I don't attack on the outskirts of the city, I will trap him to death in less than a month. Capture Tongzhou, march westward, attack Chang'an, cut off Huang Chao's head, and achieve immortality."
Yang Fuguang listened quietly to his lustful thoughts. After listening, he laughed "haha".
"Master Yang, why are you laughing?"
"I laugh at you because you only know one but not the other."
Next, Yang Fuguang analyzed the interests for Wang Chongrong in a calm and unhurried manner.
First of all, Zhu Wen will not be stupid enough to starve to death. The trapped beasts still fight, and after a few days, a fierce battle to break out of the siege is inevitable. Even if we have more soldiers, we will injure the enemy a thousand and injure ourselves eight hundred. By eliminating Zhu Wen, Wang Chongrong's strength will also be weakened. At that time, the Kwantung Army will once again stage a drama of fighting for merit, just like the first liberation of Chang'an. At that time, I am afraid that it will be your predecessors, Wang Chongrong, who planted the trees, and the descendants of the Kwantung Army will enjoy the shade. Why do you bother to make wedding clothes for others?
Secondly, even if you, Wang Chongrong, are unparalleled in the world and kill Zhu Wen first, then Huang Chao, and defeat the grass thieves, what will happen next? Can you gain a foothold in the imperial court?
Although Wang Chongrong was the queen of the general family, his foundation in the court was still shallow and he had no backing. Moreover, when the grass thieves invaded Chang'an, he once led his troops to cause chaos and looted the river. He also surrendered to Huang Chao when he usurped the title of emperor. These were two lingering stains in his life. How many days has it been? Who can guarantee that after the thieves are calmed down, the imperial court will not counterattack?
Even if the court does not settle old scores, if the traitors in the court use this as an excuse to carry out political attacks, can you, Wang Chongrong, be able to withstand it? Kang Chengxun never surrendered to thieves or rebelled, but he ended up like that. Will you, Wang Chongrong, be luckier than Kang Chengxun?
Wang Chongrong suddenly realized it, but then fell into confusion, "Then what should I do? Please ask Grand Eunuch Yang for some guidance!"
"Conquering the enemy's troops without fighting and recruiting Zhu Wen will kill many birds with one stone. This is the best policy."
"Everything is subject to Master Yang's arrangement."
Yang Fuguang sent a letter to Zhu Wen to persuade him to surrender. The words were sincere and every sentence made sense.
Zhu Wen secretly summoned his confidants to discuss the matter, and they unanimously agreed to surrender to the Tang Dynasty.
The next day, Zhu Wen gathered all the officers and soldiers in the city and gave a highly inflammatory speech, which made the whole army burst into tears. He scolded Meng Kai for killing someone with a borrowed knife and Huang Chao for not saving him.
The officers and soldiers were furious. Under the leadership of Zhu Wen's confidants, they shouted "Leave Da Qi" in unison.
So Zhu Wen killed Yan Shi, the supervisor of Huang Qi's regime.
On September 17, the second year of Zhonghe in the Tang Dynasty (882), the autumn air was crisp and the chrysanthemums were in full bloom. Zhu Wen took the whole city and surrendered with a tight head.
During the surrender ceremony, Zhu Wen knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Chongrong, shouting "uncle".
Previously, Wang Chongrong stated in public many times that he would swear on the thirty ships of food that he would not kill Zhu Wen and he would not be a human being. Therefore, there was a rumor in the army that Wang Chongrong wanted to kill Zhu Wen.
Wang Chongrong thought Zhu Wen was shouting "help". Seeing Zhu Wen's respectful attitude and kneeling down, Wang Chongrong was at a loss for a moment.
"Uncle, I am your nephew!"
Wang Chongrong had a black question mark on his face and hurriedly looked to the eunuch Yang Fuguang for help.
Yang Fuguang signaled him to quickly recognize this nephew.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, under the influence of the Hu people, warlords in feudal towns became popular in adopting godsons, also called adopted sons, adopted sons, fake sons, and still sons. This trend has been spread for a long time, so much so that eunuchs also recognized their godfathers, such as Yang Fuguang's godfather. Father Yang Xuanjie. Even the emperor recognized his godfather, for example, Emperor Xizong of Tang Dynasty recognized Tian Lingzi as his godfather.
Recognizing your godfather has also become a popular method for newcomers who have just debuted. But recognizing my uncle is really new.
Zhu Wen had his own reason. Because his mother's surname was Wang, he said that his mother Wang and Wang Chongrong were from the same hometown and clan, and were distant relatives.
This is Zhu Wen's little cleverness. He came from a poor background, had no foundation in the government, and was a thieves who had just surrendered. If he didn't hold on, he would be dead. So with the help of his mother's surname, he stubbornly insisted that he and Wang Chongrong were nephews and uncles.
Wang Chongrong and Zhu Wen, one official and one gangster, were in similar situations and were equally isolated and helpless in the undercurrent of the political field. The two thus became a community of interests, and from then on they helped each other and became grasshoppers on a rope.
Yang Fuguang's look made Wang Chongrong understand and he quickly helped Zhu Wen up, "Oh, my dear nephew, long time no see..."
Tongzhou was restored.
When the news was reported to Chengdu, Tang Xizong was overjoyed and couldn't help but sigh that it was a gift from God. Therefore, Zhu Wen was granted the title of General Zuo Jinwu, deputy envoy to the camp in Hezhong, and was also given a very meaningful name to Zhu Wen: Quanzhong. After that, Zhu Wen changed his name to Zhu Quanzhong (for convenience of description, he is always referred to as Zhu Wen in this book).
Zhu Wen's surrender to the Tang Dynasty was of great significance.
From a tactical point of view, Tongzhou Zhu Wen's surrender to the Tang Dynasty was like Suzhou Zhang Xuannen's surrender to the Tang Dynasty in the "Pang Xun Rebellion". Opening a gap in the enemy's tight defense line, our army is like a sharp knife piercing the enemy's heart, making it impossible for the enemy to guard against it.
And its strategic significance is reflected in the political aspect. Zhu Wen's surrender to the Tang Dynasty was a good start for the Tang army's strategic counterattack, which strengthened the Tang army's belief in victory and undermined the enemy's fighting spirit.
Huangchao Group lost a strong man, lost one-third of its "territory", and even lost internal trust. A serious crisis of trust broke out within the Huang Chao Group, and a new round of purges began. Members outside the "Conglong Sect" and fringe people within the "Conglong Sect" were suppressed and ostracized one after another, making Huang Chao even more alienated. Huang Chao gradually became a loner.
For example, Huazhou is across the river from Tongzhou.
In August of last year (881), Li Xiang, the general of the Cao Army, defeated Gao Xun, the Jiedu envoy of Zhaoyi Army of Tang Dynasty, at Shiqiao and occupied Huazhou. He was immediately awarded the title of governor of Huazhou by Huang Chao. Gao Xun also died in a subsequent mutiny. Zhaoyi's army returned to the town and withdrew from the battle order. From this perspective, it was Li Xiang who lit the fuse of the "Zhaoyi Mutiny".
Zhu Wen and Li Xiang, who were stationed across the Yellow River, were good comrades-in-arms and had close ties with each other in Guanxi. Therefore, after Zhu Wen surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, Li Xiang was immediately bloody purged by the Huang Chao Group, and Huang Chao's younger brother Huang Ye guarded Huazhou.
The execution of Li Xiang became a signal for the disintegration of the Huangchao Group. After Zhu Wen surrendered to Tang Dynasty, Huang Chao no longer believed in "outsiders".
Within a few days of arriving in Huazhou, Huang Ye was expelled by Li Xiang's old troops, and then the whole city surrendered to Wang Chongrong. Huang Chao's great purge accelerated the decline of the grass army's power.
With the recovery of Tongzhou and Huazhou, the power of Huang Qi's regime was compressed into Chang'an.
