Zhou Dewei led the main force to attack Youzhou and sent a partial division to clear out the southern strongholds of Youzhou, such as Waqiao Pass, cutting off the connection between Youzhou and Cangzhou and blocking support from Cangzhou.
Today's Cangzhou Yichang Army Jiedushi is Liu Shouguang's son Liu Jiwei. It has to be said that these three generations are becoming more cruel and useless each generation.
According to historical records, Liu Shouguang's tyranny and mediocrity far exceeded that of his father Liu Rengong, while Liu Jiwei's licentiousness and tyranny surpassed Liu Shouguang's.
When Jie Yan faced a huge military threat from Hedong, Liu Jiwei did an extremely dirty thing: he broke into the home of Zhang Wanjin, the commander-in-chief of the Cangzhou army (capital commander), and forcibly raped Zhang Wanjin's wife and daughter.
Zhang Wanjin was furious and launched a mutiny to kill Liu Jiwei. Later, they told the general Zhou Zhiyu the reasons for the mutiny. The two then submitted a memorial to the rear Liang, announcing their surrender and submission. At the same time, they also sent envoys to Hedong to express their surrender to Hedong. Li Cunxu immediately ordered Zhou Dewei to enter the city and take over.
Zhou Zhiyu felt uneasy and did not know Zhang Wanjin's true intention, so he fled to Houliang.
Hou Liang changed the Yichang Army to Hue Army and appointed Zhang Wanjin as the Military Envoy of Hue Army. However, Cangzhou had been taken over by Zhou Dewei at this time, and the Yichang Army in Cangzhou was actually under the control of Li Cunxu in Hedong.
At this point, Youzhou Liu Shouguang lost his only internal support-Cangzhou Yichang Army. They can only be trapped in the isolated city.
The city of Youzhou was strong, and Zhou Dewei asked Li Cunxu to increase his troops for assistance. Li Cunxu sent Li Cunshen to lead cavalry reinforcements from Tuyuhun, Qibi and other tribes.
Liu Shouguang sent Yan Yan's famous general Shan Yangui to lead 10,000 elite troops out of the city to counterattack. Shan Yangui was confident and said that he would be able to capture Zhou Yangwu alive.
The last person who dared to say that he captured Zhou Dewei alive was "Chen Yaksha"; the last Yan general who dared to despise the Hedong Army was "Shan Wudi". Historical experience tells us that anyone who dares to despise the Hedong army and Zhou Dewei will pay a heavy price. This time is no exception.
The two armies were in close combat. Shan Yangui held a spear and ran straight towards Zhou Dewei. Zhou Dewei turned his horse's head and "escaped" to the side.
Just when the tip of Shan Yangui's spear was about to hit Zhou Dewei's back, Zhou Dewei suddenly dodged to one side, passed the tip of the spear, and swung the big hammer in his hand.
Shan Yangui must have heard of the Carrying Gun, but he had never seen the Carrying Hammer. Today, he was taught a lesson.
Shan Yangui fell from his horse and was captured alive by Zhou Dewei.
Later, Zhou Dewei escorted Shan Yangui to the front of the Yan army's formation to show the public. The morale of the Yan army collapsed immediately and they fled in all directions. Zhou Dewei took the opportunity to launch a pursuit and killed more than 3,000 people.
Subsequently, the Hedong Army fought successively and won a series of victories, and Jie Yan lost the city and territory. Liu Shouguang's most trusted general, Yuan Xingqin, fought against Hedong general Li Siyuan. He lost eight of the eight battles and finally surrendered due to being unable to resist. Li Siyuan recognized him as his adopted son. Yan generals Gao Xinggui and Gao Xingzhou also presented the city and surrendered.
Zhou Dewei led the main force to launch a fierce attack on the south gate of Youzhou. Liu Shouguang sent an envoy to send a letter to Zhou Dewei, asking for reconciliation. The wording in the letter was very humble, pleading hard and begging for forgiveness.
Zhou Dewei smiled coldly and replied: "I am waiting for the Emperor of Yan State to perform 'Something Happens in the Southern Suburbs' in the southern suburbs. How can I act like a weak woman and look pitiful? I was ordered to crusade against rebellion. As for reconciliation, I'm sorry, it doesn't matter. It’s my business!”
Liu Shouguang was greatly frightened and sent another envoy to plead. Only then did Zhou Dewei tell Li Cunxu. Li Cunxu sent Zhang Chengye to Youzhou to discuss with Zhou Dewei.
When Liu Shouguang heard that Zhang Chengye had come to the front, he immediately saw a glimmer of hope and sent someone to tell Zhang Chengye that he was willing to surrender.
He claimed to surrender, but he attacked at night and regained the lost ground. He was defeated by Zhou Dewei one after another. The soldiers of the Yan army surrendered in an endless stream. Soon, except for Youzhou City, all the cities under Jie Yan's control fell to the east of the river. hand. Youzhou has become a veritable isolated city.
Liu Shouguang asked the Khitan for help again, but to no avail; so he asked for peace from Hedong, but was still rejected.
Finally, Liu Shouguang personally climbed up the tower and shouted to Zhou Dewei: "When the King of Jin arrives, I will open the door and kneel down to greet him." Zhou Dewei told Li Cunxu, who ordered Zhang Chengye to stay in Taiyuan and act as military and political agent while he rushed to Youzhou.
Li Cunxu rode alone and arrived at Youzhou City. He asked Liu Shouguang to fulfill his promise to surrender to the city and broke a bow in front of him as a token. "I swear to this bow that as long as you come out, nothing will happen to you!"
Liu Shouguang, who was at the end of his rope, was not willing to bid farewell to the stage of history. He still had some illusions, and asking Li Cunxu to show up was just a delaying tactic.
"Let's talk about it another day." Liu Shouguang retreated from the tower. Youzhou City is still closed.
Liu Shouguang had a beloved general named Li Xiaoxi. Li Xiaoxi was full of bad ideas, and Liu Shouguang obeyed him. When Liu Shouguang expressed his intention to surrender, Li Xiaoxi was filled with indignation, resolutely opposed, and swore a poisonous oath to defend Liu Shouguang to the death. Liu Shouguang was so moved that he put the surrender on hold for the time being.
This Li Xiaoxi sneaked out of the city that night, sneaked into the Hedong camp, knelt down with a thump, surrendered to Hedong, and told the truth about what was inside the city.
At the intersection of Pan and Ga, Li Xiaoxi seeks glory as a seller of strength.
The next day, Li Cunxu mobilized troops and horses to launch a fierce attack and captured Youzhou City in one fell swoop. Liu Shouguang escaped with his family, and Liu Rengong, who had been under house arrest in the city, was captured alive.
Liu Shouguang planned to defect to Cangzhou Liu Shouqi (the reason for Liu Shouqi's appearance in Cangzhou will be described later). It was the twelfth lunar month of winter and the weather was freezing. Liu Shouguang's feet were severely frostbitten and the pain was unbearable. He lost his way and fled to Yanle (today's Yanle). Northeastern Miyun County, Beijing), hiding in valleys during the day, walking at night, and going without food for several days.
Liu Shouguang asked his concubine Zhu to go to the village to beg for food. Seeing that she was different from ordinary peasant women, villager Zhang Shizao became suspicious. After interrogation, she finally exposed her identity and found out where Liu Shouguang was hiding. So he led his men to capture Liu Shouguang, his two wives, and three sons, and packed them away. Send it to the Hedong Army to report your merits and receive rewards.
Li Cunxu was holding a celebration banquet, and officials escorted Liu Shouguang there. Li Cunxu immediately joked: "Why did the master escape so far after hearing that the guests were visiting?"
Liu Shouguang was so ashamed that he and his father Liu Rengong were sent to Guanyi and received more comfortable treatment. Li Cunxu provided them with food, clothing, and living utensils.
Li Cunxu announced to the world the news of the elimination of Jie Yan and the capture of Liu Shouguang and his son, and wrote it in "Lubu".
Lubu originally meant an unsealed official document, indicating that everyone could read it. Later, it was mostly used for political propaganda, that is, the victory message was written on cloth or silk, and it was picked up with a bamboo pole or dragged on the ground for the common people to see.
Liu Rengong and Liu Shouguang, wearing handcuffs and shackles, stood under the cloth and endured the final humiliation.
Liu Rengong and his wife cursed loudly at Liu Shouguang, "You traitor, look how miserable you have caused our family!" Liu Shouguang lowered his head and was speechless.
Huozi's mouth eats meat, let alone fat.
A few days later, Li Cunxu passed by Dingzhou and went to the temple with Wang Chuzhi to burn incense. On the same day when he entered Chengde, Wang Rong personally went to the border to greet him.
On the first day of the first lunar month of the fourth year of Qianhua (914), Wang Rong went to Li Cunxu's camp to pay New Year blessings. At the same time, he made a small request, saying that he had admired Liu Rengong for a long time and wanted to take this opportunity to see the legendary Liu Kutou with his own eyes.
Before Li Cunxu conquered Youzhou, Wang Rong met with Li Cunxu at Niangziguan. Li Cunxu called Wang Rong "Uncle", while Wang Rong called Li Cunxu "Forty-sixth Uncle", and the two became in-laws. Wang Rong's youngest son, Wang Zhaojie, married Li Cunxu's daughter (a baby girl, Wang Zhaojie at this time Probably still a baby). Therefore, the friendship between Li Cunxu and Wang Rong was unusual.
Faced with Wang Rong's request, Li Cunxu agreed, and then ordered people to remove Liu Rengong and Liu Shouguang's torture instruments and bring them to the banquet for people to see.
The Liu family and his son knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Rong. Wang Rong kowtowed in return and gave him clothes, horse gear, wine and food. After a few polite words, the Liu family and his son actually sat down at the table without any hesitation and happily drank and ate meat without any shame. Their faces were thicker than the walls of Youzhou.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, during the Lantern Festival, Li Cunxu tied Liu Rengong and Liu Shouguang with iron chains like dogs, and ordered them to walk at the front of the team while the military band played a triumphant song and entered Taiyuan.
Li Cunxu brought Liu Rengong and Liu Shouguang to Li Keyong's temple to comfort his late father's spirit in heaven, and then went to the execution ground in person to supervise the execution.
Liu Shouguang was so frightened that he was out of his wits and shouted: "I knew I was bound to die, but there is one thing I refuse to accept! It was Li Xiaoxi who encouraged me to refuse to surrender, but he surrendered instead. The seller seeks glory, and I am unwilling to die!"
Li Cunxu found Li Xiaoxi and asked the two to confront him.
Facing her old master, Li Xiaoxi looked fiercely and scolded Liu Shouguang, "Is it also me who taught you the beastly behavior you had toward your parents and brothers (having an affair with your father's concubine, imprisoning your father, and killing your brother)?"
Li Cunxu couldn't help being furious when he saw the face of Li Xiaoxi who was a villain and rebelled against his old master, and ordered: Kill Li Xiaoxi first!
Liu Shouguang took the opportunity to beg: "I am good at horseback riding and archery, and I can be regarded as a general. The king wants to dominate the world, why don't you keep me at your service?"
His pseudo-queen Li and his concubine Zhu both despised him and reprimanded him: "After all, he has been an emperor, so don't be embarrassed, okay? Now that things have happened, even if you are still alive, what's the point? A real man has to die. , what are you afraid of?"
The two weak women went to die with their heads held high and their chests held high.
Liu Shouguang kept wailing until his death, and his cry for mercy echoed for a long time.
After beheading Liu Shouguang, Li Cunxu ordered Liu Rengong to be taken to Daizhou. In front of Li Keyong's tomb, Liu Rengong was cut open, his heart removed, and then beheaded.
Li Cunxu finally fulfilled his father's first last wish and eliminated the Liu family and his son in Youzhou. After Youzhou Lulong Army and Cangzhou Yichang Army were included in the Hedong territory, Zhenzhou Chengde Army and Dingzhou Yiwu Army also became the Hedong Group's sphere of influence. North of the Yellow River, only the Weizhou Weibo Army remained in Houliang's sphere of influence. , and was also surrounded by the Hedong Group on three sides.
After annihilating Liu Rengong and his son in Youzhou, Li Cunxu, Wang Rong, and Zhou Dewei held a meeting of the Three Giants in Zhaozhou, intending to take advantage of the victory and go south to capture the Xingzhou Dongzhao Yijun in Houliang.
Li Sizhao came from Luzhou to the west of the Taihang Mountains to join forces. Yang Shihou, the governor of the Later Liang Dynasty Weibo, led his troops to reinforce Xingzhou, and a fierce battle was about to begin.
At the critical moment, Cao Jin, a member of Hedong's army, betrayed the enemy in front of the Jin formation and defected to Houliang, betraying important military intelligence to Houliang. After comprehensive analysis, Li Cunxu decided to cancel the battle plan and withdraw his troops for rest. Both sides ceased activity.
Regarding the traitor Cao Jinjin, Li Cunxu could only announce that he would withdraw his word "Yun"... "Jin".
Liu Shouguang of Youzhou proclaimed himself emperor, which attracted the main force of Hedong, causing them to take the initiative to switch from offense to defense after winning the "Battle of Luzhou" and "Battle of Baixiang". This was an important opportunity for Zhu Wen to regain lost territory and launch the Northern Expedition, and this was not the only opportunity. Because at the same time, Wang Jian and Li Maozhen openly broke apart, and Qishu fought internally, which also helped Zhu Wen eliminate the crisis in the west.
