Now, Ma Xiguang is in trouble, and Peng Shihao is worried. After careful observation, Peng Shihao offered Ma Xiguang a strategy to defeat the enemy.
Peng Shihao analyzed: "The Langzhou army was immersed in two lucky victories and could not extricate itself. The arrogant mood pervaded the entire army. As the saying goes, arrogant soldiers will lose; and the Langzhou army and the barbarian army were mixed together, and the orders were not unified. When people’s hearts are not aligned, it may appear that there is strength in numbers, but in fact it is easy for them to fall apart.”
Subsequently, Peng Shihao gave specific combat suggestions: he would lead 3,000 elite infantrymen to quietly cross the river from Baxi and return to the back of Yuelu Mountain. Then he would launch a night attack, steal the camp and rob the village, and ensure that Ma Xihe was captured alive.
Ma Xiguang strongly agreed with this strategy and was about to put it into practice when suddenly a very distinguished general raised objections. This person was Xu Qiong, the son of the founding father Xu Dexun.
Xu Qiong has been bribed by Ma Xi'e, who is said to have promised to carve up Southern Chu with him and divide and rule.
Xu Qiong said to Ma Xiguang: "How can your Majesty believe Peng Shihao's nonsense? Peng Shihao and the Meishan barbarians were originally the same group. They are not of my race, so their minds must be different! My family has been loyal ministers and generals of Southern Chu for generations, and we will not let him down. Your Majesty, as long as I am here, Ma Xi’e won’t have anything to worry about!”
People who are indecisive often have such a magical skill, that is, they can perfectly avoid all correct answers. They will not adopt any suggestions that are beneficial to themselves; they will accept all bad ideas that push themselves into the pit of fire.
Ma Xiguang was persuaded by Xu Qiong and canceled the only military operation that could save him. That's not all, Ma Xiguang also handed over the command of all surface forces - more than 400 battleships to Xu Qiong; he was also rewarded with five hundred taels of silver every day; Ma Xiguang also often went to Xu Qiong's camp to talk with him Discussing military issues, he promptly leaked the most confidential information to the senior spy lurking around him; he allowed Qiong to close the camp and not allow soldiers to explore the enemy situation on the other side of the river. He also told Ma Xiguang that this was to stabilize the morale of the army and prevent being attacked by the enemy. Bewitching, intimidating, and seducing, Ma Xiguang greatly appreciated this and praised: "What a great General Qiongzhen! Why should I worry?"
In fact, the reason why Qiong was strictly prohibited from investigating the enemy's situation was to facilitate his delivery of intelligence. Xu Qiong often drove a boat alone late at night to meet with Ma Xi'e on the other side of the river, and relayed the news he heard during the day directly to Ma Xi'e without reservation.
One day, Xu Qiong was caught in the act by Peng Shihao, who had just finished taking a call. Peng Shihao glared and scolded him loudly, and then met Ma Xiguang, "Your Majesty, Xu Qiongli has communicated with foreign countries and colluded with Langzhou to betray Tanzhou. Please kill him as soon as possible." Get rid of it!"
Ma Xiguang looked unhappy and said: "He is the son of Comrade Xu Dexun, how could he do that kind of thing? Stop talking and go down." In fact, Ma Xiguang did not say the second half of the sentence, "You are Peng Shiran's son, your father What kind of thing is this? Don’t you have any ideas in mind?”
After Peng Shihao withdrew, he looked up to the sky and sighed: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted but indecisive. He doesn't listen to loyal advice but trusts traitors. He will perish in a matter of seconds."
The two armies were always in a state of confrontation. After entering the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell from the sky, and the snow in Tanzhou was four feet thick.
In order to comfort his empty spiritual world, Ma Xiguang began to listen to the advice of "experts", cast spells according to the method, and launch magic attacks on the enemy. A huge statue of a giant ghost with a green face and fangs was erected on the east bank, raising his hands to block the enemy. Another statue of a giant ghost was erected on a high-rise building with a ferocious face, glaring at the west bank and making a halberd finger. shape.
Then many monks were invited to recite Buddhist scriptures day and night. Ma Xiguang was also wearing a black robe, and he knelt down and prayed devoutly to the Buddha. He hoped that the heavens and the earth would be well and that God, Amitabha, would be honored. Amen...
The heavy snow only delayed the offensive schedule of the Langzhou Corps, but it never dampened their offensive enthusiasm.
On December 11, at Yangliu Bridge, He Jingzhen, the infantry commander of the Langzhou Corps, led 3,000 barbarian tribesmen, and had a tense confrontation with the 2,000 men of Tanzhou Infantry Commander Han Li.
He Jingzhen was overjoyed when he found that the flags on the opposite side were messy, saying that this was a sign of the panic of the opposing army. The flaw has been exposed and can be easily broken.
Therefore, He Jingzhen sent Lei Hui from Langzhou to change into the clothes of a Tanzhou soldier, sneak into Hanli's position quietly, and wait for an opportunity to carry out "decapitation operation."
Lei Hui slowly approached Han Li, then drew his sword and stabbed him, but missed. The assassination mission failed, but the Hanli military camp also fell into riots. He Jingzhen immediately mobilized the army and charged, and Han Li's army collapsed instantly.
Han Li was seriously injured and fled back to Tanzhou, where he died of his injuries.
The Langzhou Corps seized the opportunity of Han Li's defeat and launched a comprehensive general offensive.
Tanzhou infantry commander Wu Hong and Xiaomen envoy Wu Di encouraged each other: "It is now time to die to serve the country!" They led their troops to resist tenaciously. The fierce battle lasted from morning to noon, with each side winning or losing. However, Xu Qiong and Liu Yanxin stood still.
Wu Hong lost; Yang Di's soldiers fought fiercely for a long time, were thirsty, hungry, and exhausted, so they retreated to rest; only Peng Shihao led his troops to continue to resist in the northeast corner of Tanzhou City.
The barbarian tribe set fire to the city gate in the east of the city. The defenders on the city called Xu Qiong for rescue. At this critical moment, Xu Qiong tore off the last disguise, switched sides in front of the battle, and led all his troops to surrender to Ma Xi'e. After Wu Hong and Yang Di's troops heard the news of Xu Qiong's surrender, they collapsed and fled, and Tanzhou fell.
The Lang and Man coalition forces entered Tanzhou and, as agreed, openly looted it for three days. The soldiers killed, burned, and looted wantonly in Tanzhou City. All the palaces built since the Mayin period were reduced to ashes, and all the gold and silver treasures stored in the treasury were also looted.
Li Yanwen, who was stationed in Tuokou, saw a fire burning in Tanzhou City and immediately led his troops back to rescue. However, the Langzhou Corps had turned into a defender. Li Yanwen could not enter the city.
When Langzhou soldiers entered the city, Ma Xiguang took his wife and children into hiding. When he heard that Li Yanwen had returned to the army for rescue, he went to defect under the protection of Liu Yanxin. In the end, Li Yanwen and Liu Yanxin led more than a thousand people to protect Ma Xiguang and his family as they fled south, planning to flee to the south. Arrive in Huainan.
Zhang Hui, who had abandoned nine thousand soldiers in Yiyang, also surrendered to Ma Xihe.
Ma Xichong led all his subordinates to welcome Ma Xie and asked him to ascend the throne.
The situation was over, and Wu Hong, who was covered in blood, was unwilling to accept it and yelled at Ma Xihe: "Unfortunately, I was betrayed by Xu Qiong and was killed today. I am worthy of the late king!" Peng Shihao threw the big tree in his hand to the ground with great grief and anger, shouting loudly Seek death.
Ma Xi'e respected them very much and said to them: "You are pure men!" and ordered them to be pardoned.
The next day, Ma Xichong welcomed Ma Xie to the Tanzhou Palace and told him the good news - all the counterrevolutionaries were captured alive!
