The battle between Huazhou and Liyang made Shi Jingtang see the vulnerability of the Weizhou rebels. He believed that Yang Guangyuan would definitely defeat all odds and capture Fan Yanguang in one fell swoop, so that he wouldn't have to worry about it and could just kill him. Moreover, this can also serve as a deterrent to other vassal towns. Otherwise, what kind of example would it be to be promoted to a higher rank as soon as one rebels?
However, Yang Guangyuan's military talent and dirty inner demons poured cold water on Shi Jingtang. Under Shi Bo's harsh words, Shi Jingtang had to re-weigh the pros and cons.
In the end, Shi Jingtang believed that the cost of accepting Fan Yanguang's surrender was relatively small. So it was decided to use political inducement to surrender to peacefully resolve the Weizhou rebellion. The eunuch Zhu Xian was sent to the city to communicate and convey Shi Jingtang's message. As long as Fan Yanguang was willing to surrender, Shi Jingtang would ensure the safety of his personal and property, and promised to transfer him to a military town of the same size and continue to let him serve as a military commander.
This condition is something Fan Yanguang would never dare to dream of. Isn't it just a dream to make such a big noise and just move the town? I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it.
Shi Jingtang: I lied to you that I was a puppy!
According to historical records, Shi Jingtang first said a lot of heartfelt words to Fan Yanguang, all of which were truthful. The main idea was that you are out of ammunition and food anyway and are in danger. If you don't surrender, you will die. I am thinking about it. Out of love for colleagues and old friends, I decided to leave you a way out. No one can make mistakes without being a sage. If he corrects his mistakes, there is no greater good. If he knows his mistakes and can correct them, he is a good comrade.
Finally, Shi Jingtang even swore a poisonous oath:
"If you surrender and kill them, how can you enjoy the country? It's clear that the day will come, but you can only say it!" - "History of the Old Five Dynasties"
"If I surrender and kill you, I will not be able to enjoy the country in broad daylight." - "Zi Zhi Tong Jian"
I swear to the sun in the sky - my sun, if I kill you after you surrender, then let me lose this country!
Fan Yanguang raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky, "Oh my god... I still don't believe it."
Shi Jingtang then gave Fan Yanguang an iron certificate of alchemy and a gold medal for immunity from death, changed his title to the Prince of Dongping County, and appointed him as the military envoy of Yunzhou Tianping Army. He also told Fan Yanguang that he could go directly from Weizhou to Yunzhou to take up his post without coming to the capital for an audience.
"So, you should trust me now, right?"
Fan Yanguang accepted. It can't be said that I was dubious, at least I had no other choice.
Fan Yanguang said to Li Shi, the deputy envoy of Jiedu: "Our Lord is the most trustworthy. If he says he won't kill me, he will definitely not kill me." So he removed the outer defenses, but he still had doubts.
His doubts were justified. Shi Jingtang would indeed keep his promise until he broke it. He never breaks his word until he breaks it.
Shi Jingtang sent Liu Churang, the envoy of Xuanhui Nanyuan, to the city again to comfort him. After Fan Yanguang saw Liu Churang, he finally made up his mind to surrender with peace of mind.
Who is Liu Churang, and why does he have such a great reputation?
Liu Churang's ancestral home was Cangzhou. He originally served in Cangzhou and was a subordinate of Zhang Wanjin.
Zhang Wanjin was Liu Shouguang's subordinate. After Liu Shouguang imprisoned his father and seized power, he seized Cangzhou, where his brother Liu Shouwen was stationed, and made his son Liu Jiwei the governor of the Yichang Army in Cangzhou. Because Liu Jiwei was young and ignorant and could not act alone, Zhang Wanjin was specially arranged to do so. He stayed in Cangzhou to assist his son Liu Jiwei.
Although Liu Jiwei was young and ignorant in the management of military affairs, he was a veteran in other aspects. It is said that he forced Zhang Wanjin's wife and daughter into indescribable force, so Zhang Wanjin launched a mutiny, killed Liu Jiwei, took over Cangzhou, and then expressed his disapproval to Li Cunxu in Houliang and Hedong at the same time. Attachment.
Yang Shihou, the powerful general of the Later Liang Dynasty, led his army to take over in a timely and domineering manner. Zhang Wanjin was afraid and offered the city, but Yang Shihou appointed him as the governor of Qingzhou, and later moved to Yanzhou.
Later, Zhang Wanjin rebelled after seizing the city and surrendered to Li Cunxu in Hedong. Hou Liang sent general Liu Wei to conquer the city. Zhang Wanjin closed the city and defended it, and sent Liu Churang to Hedong to ask for reinforcements.
At that time, Li Cunxu was fighting fiercely with Houliang, and the famous "Battle of Huliupi" broke out. Zhou Dewei, a famous general in Hedong, was killed. Li Cunxu marched into Deshengdu at a heavy cost. He was too busy to support Yanzhou, so he expressed his helplessness to Liu Churang and asked him to Comrade Zhang Wanjin may wish himself well.
Liu Churang cut off his own ear just outside Li Cunxu's tent, and begged Li Cunxu to send troops to help him by mutilating himself. He shouted loudly: "The reason why my lord Zhang Wanjin was besieged by the army is because he wanted to surrender to Duke Ming, but you did not." You must ignore him and trap him in water and fire. If you are unwilling to send troops, please kill me first!"
Then, Liu Churang, who was covered in blood, turned around, faced Yanzhou and cried loudly, "Master, I'm sorry for you, and I don't have the shame to go back to see you, so just let me die here to apologize!"
The sergeant from Hedong was moved when he heard this. Li Cunxu was also moved by his loyalty. Under the tense situation of the "Battle of Huliupi", he squeezed out thousands of soldiers and horses from his teeth and rushed to Yanzhou's aid. However, before they arrived, Liu Wei captured Yanzhou and Zhang Wanjin was killed. So Liu Churang stayed in Hedong.
Li Cunxu regarded Liu Churang as a "guest envoy", equivalent to a diplomat. The story of Liu Churang's "cutting off ears and suing the army" was widely circulated. People admired him as a righteous man in the world, with a heroic halo, and his diplomatic work was carried out extremely smoothly. Therefore, a team has been engaged in this field for many years and has been promoted repeatedly within the diplomatic system.
During the period of Li Congke, Liu Yanhao of Weizhou encountered a mutiny and was expelled by the rebel army. Li Congke sent Fan Yanguang to quell the rebellion, and sent Liu Churang as the transfer envoy to Hebei. At this time, Liu Churang had further interactions with Fan Yanguang, and the two Together they put down the military rebellion in Weizhou.
After the incident was completed, Fan Yanguang was appointed as the envoy of Weizhou Jiedushi, while Liu Churang was promoted to the envoy of Xuanhui Nanyuan and continued to return to the central government.
After Fan Yanguang's rebellion, Shi Jingtang sent Yang Guangyuan to take command and Liu Churang as his staff, and the two teamed up to pacify Weizhou. During this period, due to Zhang Congbin's rebellion in Luoyang, Shi Jingtang arranged for Liu Churang to send troops to Sishui Pass to assist in the battle. After Zhang Congbin was pacified, Liu Churang returned to the Weizhou front line.
Now, Fan Yanguang was hesitant on the issue of surrender, so Shi Jingtang arranged for Liu Churang to make a last-ditch effort.
"Earless righteous man" Liu Churang is the embodiment of loyalty. He represents honesty and trustworthiness. In fact, it doesn't matter what he says, as long as he appears, it represents Shi Jingtang's sincerity. Moreover, Liu Churang worked closely with Fan Yanguang. In both public and private matters, Liu Churang was Shi Jingtang's last trump card.
Sure enough, Liu Churang worked.
Fan Yanguang finally made up his mind to surrender. He first sent his two sons, Fan Shoutu and Fan Shouying, to Yang Guangyuan's camp, and they were transferred to Bianzhou to be taken hostage. Then he sent his trusted generals to Bianzhou to meet with him and expressed their willingness to accept the organization. penalties.
